catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
It’s funny you say that mate. On another thread Davek pointed out we are iconoclasts compared to Liverpool fans being idolaters and it is very true.
The truth is, we don’t rate most of our own players, never mind players for opposition teams! I have seen games where Osman has scored the winning goal and he gets slated.
There’s something in the DNA of Everton fans which is holds the message of Nil Satis Nisi Optimum as being more than just a few words on a badge. I think it comes from the clubs scouse roots and how they remain prevalent to the club. Nothing will do but the best.
Very few players are good enough. Expectations are very high. Even for those who do make it, they are only a few poor games away from being criticised again. Remember this is the club who’s fans attacked a championship winning manager Harry Caterick due to him dropping Alex Young. And by attacked I don’t mean rang a fanzine, a group waited behind after a game outside the ground to physically attack him. If this is how a true great Caterick was treated, then Stirling or Januzai have little chance!
I don’t say any of this to try and slag the fans. The high expectations that Everton fans have differentiate us from many fans. Often those expectations fly in the face of any sense of realism. This is inherently who Everton are as a football club though. We expect the very best and we are merciless in dealing with those who don’t hit that standard.
When people say Januzai is rubbish they don’t mean he won’t be a good football. What they mean is he is not as good as Kevin Sheedy or Johnny Morrissey. (When Tommy Lawton signed, one of the first things they said to him was “you’ll never be as good as Dixie”).
It makes Everton a harsh place to play at times and I’ve seen many players and managers fall by the wayside due to this pressure. But it is what makes Everton so special. When you read Southall’s book and he talks of the expectations Everton fans place on their players it fills me with pride. It’s what makes the club quite unique. Probably why Alan Ball said “once Everton touches you nothing will ever be the same again”.
Januzai has lost his way a little bit. It would be a terrific loan move to Everton. He wouldn’t need to relocate. Martinez is a progressing attacking coach who thrives on using young players. He would also be playing for a club which has those high expectations which would be great preparation for playing for United.
