Can a player be an "Everton Great" without winning a trophy?

[raithrovers94]

I'm going to put my neck on the line here I choose everton not for their success or lack of but because I had a feeling for the club and travel hundreds of miles to see them I have actually seen Raith rovers win more cups in the last 20 years. For me an outstanding playervis not measured by trophies here's where my necks on the line Steven Naismith to me was an outstanding player in the last few years always gave 110% every game he didn't ask to leave

 

[McMagic]

Probably that time he scored loads of goals consistently over a 14 year period, became Man United and Englands top goalscorers of all time, and won 5 league titles, the Champions League and the rest. If I had to guess, chief.

That being said, he's clearly in decline now and we should swerve.

Liked all but the swerve.

 

[Mountfield1985]

Liked all but the swerve.

Could not be bothered with all the media frenzy around it, or the astronomical wages, or the precedent it sets to our other young players that you can give your best years to our rivals and still come back a hero.

I would let all of the above go if he was still the same player as 4 years ago, but he ain't, and his career is only going south from here on. Watching a mid 30's Rooney panting around Goodison looking like De Niro at the end of Raging Bull is not appealing to me.

 

[MartyMcFly]

Could not be bothered with all the media frenzy around it, or the astronomical wages, or the precedent it sets to our other young players that you can give your best years to our rivals and still come back a hero.

I would let all of the above go if he was still the same player as 4 years ago, but he ain't, and his career is only going south from here on. Watching a mid 30's Rooney panting around Goodison looking like De Niro at the end of Raging Bull is not appealing to me.

This time last year I wouldn't have been against Rooney coming back but he's finished now. He could still probably do a job but the points you make far outweigh what he offers on the pitch.

Unfortunately I can see the cheap asses making him Rom's replacement.

 

[Zezti]

I read this thread title as "Can a player be an "Everton Goat" without winning a trophy?"
So many goats on this forum

 

[McMagic]

Could not be bothered with all the media frenzy around it, or the astronomical wages, or the precedent it sets to our other young players that you can give your best years to our rivals and still come back a hero.

I would let all of the above go if he was still the same player as 4 years ago, but he ain't, and his career is only going south from here on. Watching a mid 30's Rooney panting around Goodison looking like De Niro at the end of Raging Bull is not appealing to me.

Can't really argue with what you say, but if he came today, he'd be our second best striker by a country mile, our second best midfielder
without a doubt, our second best defender if Baines fails to get fit and definitely our third best goalie.

 

[VaguelyBrown]

Seems quite subjective as an idea, but it's interesting to consider.

Personally, I would say that a player can become a hero figure to the fans without winning anything, a category that players like Cahill would fit into, but to become a true great, a club legend like Big Nev or Dixie....you gotta win stuff

 

[Tony Hibbert's 3rd leg]

A great question. I think to be a great, you need success and achievements. But there needs to be a romanticism attached. A transcending aura about the person.

Great clubs will truly only have a handful of truly 'Great' players. There are many players who have numerous trophies to there name. They may even technically be among the world best, or be the world's best. And I suppose the denotation of being a great refers to being the best.

But if you ask people their choice in choosing who is the greatest ever in anything, many will choose the best on achievement or merit. So it may seem a strange logic when people choose a person who may have in fact won less than another person in whatever sport or particular field.

It's almost unexplainable, but you'll know a Great is a great when people just acknowledge it without bringing into question why.

To answer the question, for Everton we are talking Dixie Dean and Kendall from a general perspective. Obviously their achievements speak for themselves, but both are unforgettable Legends and we as Evertonians acknowledge them as greats because it is folklore. They are greats measured on our adoration towards them as much as their achievements.

 

[Mountfield1985]

Can't really argue with what you say, but if he came today, he'd be our second best striker by a country mile, our second best midfielder
without a doubt, our second best defender if Baines fails to get fit and definitely our third best goalie.

Haha very true!

 

[Deleted member 28206]

No