The last two weeks has been a microcosm of our entire season.
An inept performance when we expected better, followed by a wonderful performance when we expected worse.
No consistency whatsoever. And, amazingly, that is actually the most predictable aspect of Everton - how unpredictable we are.
As soon as we beat Sunderland so convincingly ahead of Wembley, I pretty much knew how we'd perform against Liverpool. As soon as we capitulated so badly against Liverpool, I knew exactly how we'd play today.
And the other predictable reaction is from the supporters. After the loss against Liverpool, the side was apparently not good enough, David Moyes was hamstrung etc. etc. Yet after today, we apparently have fantastic players chock full of potential, with Moyes using them effectively.
Both statements can't be true. The truth of the matter is somewhere in between.
We have a pretty talented side who are mentally weak, exacerbated by a manager who can only manage his side when the pressure is all but completely off. Hence the constant terrible starts to the season followed by a revival from January onwards.
As a Moyes critic, I still recognise that he can get us going when the odds are against us, and that's the reason we'll never get relegated under Moyes.
But I don't understand the staunch support Moyes when he gets it wrong.
Moyes fans need to learn to take the rough with the smooth. You can't dismiss his failings due to lack of money, but then celebrate results like today as the players at his disposal are the same each time.
As far as today goes, I loved it. It was Fergusons face at 4-2 which did it for me, and the commentators unbelievable quote of "time doesn't really matter now" with 20 minutes to go. So the comeback was superbly sweet. Yes, it opens the door for Man City, which from my point of view is annoying (as I detest Liverpool and the 20th title will stick in their throats. I'm bitter, so what?) But even I was delighted to see Ferguson's sour gob at the end, knowing that Everton fully deserved the draw and probably the win on the balance of play.
Yet I know that when next season starts, unless Moyes and his players address their mentalities, I fully expect us to drop points early doors again.
But let's hope that doesn't happen. Because we're only a few decent signings and the correct mindset away from something very, very good at Everton. And that potential progress should not be hamstrung by narrow-mindedness from the fans on both sides of the Moyes divide.
In short, let's recognise what we do right, acknowledge what we get wrong and learn from both.
An inept performance when we expected better, followed by a wonderful performance when we expected worse.
No consistency whatsoever. And, amazingly, that is actually the most predictable aspect of Everton - how unpredictable we are.
As soon as we beat Sunderland so convincingly ahead of Wembley, I pretty much knew how we'd perform against Liverpool. As soon as we capitulated so badly against Liverpool, I knew exactly how we'd play today.
And the other predictable reaction is from the supporters. After the loss against Liverpool, the side was apparently not good enough, David Moyes was hamstrung etc. etc. Yet after today, we apparently have fantastic players chock full of potential, with Moyes using them effectively.
Both statements can't be true. The truth of the matter is somewhere in between.
We have a pretty talented side who are mentally weak, exacerbated by a manager who can only manage his side when the pressure is all but completely off. Hence the constant terrible starts to the season followed by a revival from January onwards.
As a Moyes critic, I still recognise that he can get us going when the odds are against us, and that's the reason we'll never get relegated under Moyes.
But I don't understand the staunch support Moyes when he gets it wrong.
Moyes fans need to learn to take the rough with the smooth. You can't dismiss his failings due to lack of money, but then celebrate results like today as the players at his disposal are the same each time.
As far as today goes, I loved it. It was Fergusons face at 4-2 which did it for me, and the commentators unbelievable quote of "time doesn't really matter now" with 20 minutes to go. So the comeback was superbly sweet. Yes, it opens the door for Man City, which from my point of view is annoying (as I detest Liverpool and the 20th title will stick in their throats. I'm bitter, so what?) But even I was delighted to see Ferguson's sour gob at the end, knowing that Everton fully deserved the draw and probably the win on the balance of play.
Yet I know that when next season starts, unless Moyes and his players address their mentalities, I fully expect us to drop points early doors again.
But let's hope that doesn't happen. Because we're only a few decent signings and the correct mindset away from something very, very good at Everton. And that potential progress should not be hamstrung by narrow-mindedness from the fans on both sides of the Moyes divide.
In short, let's recognise what we do right, acknowledge what we get wrong and learn from both.
