I am getting the train to London at 9.30 this morning. Why am I not sound asleep you might ask? Because as a football fan - a young football fan - this is going to be the biggest game that has ever truly meant something to me. Of course I've seen some relegation scraps...some games that we've needed to win to clinch Europe..and theyve been fantastic. The likes of Cahill against Newcastle, Arteta in Villarreal and Fiorentina, even Neville against Villa last season...amazing moments that will really live with me. Moments that made you think "we are onto something special". The two cup goals did not lead to anything but heartbreak. Villarreal and Fiorentina were simply devastating; so I can only speculate as to the horrors of what being on the end of a Cup Final defeat will feel like. I do not spend long thinking about them, because that fear is too great to face right now. The fear of losing, and seeing our first chance of a trophy in 15 years slip away, perhaps not to be seen again for another 15 years, or longer. With football as it is - and our finances as they are - I really dont know if we'll even be in the top flight in 15 years.
What I actually think is that you cant always measure the stature of a club and its people on trophies alone; although of course on that front we can stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest, I think that you need to judge the character of the supporters. And I can testify, after meeting, speaking to, listening to the views of, being cheered up by and hugged by all the random Evertonians I've met, that we are a special breed. We are ******* speical, and we deserve better than the plastic fans that slither between the richest and most sucessful clubs. We deserve to win things, to enjoy great days out, European nights, because we were brought up to say Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.
And tommorow, for me, nothing but the best is good enough. And I know they will deliver.
Bring it home boys. Bring that cup home