Ok, before I write this post I want to say that I am a human being and that sometimes I react with a blert like fashion. That is my nature, and I'm sorry about that. I'm man enough to hold my hand up and say so.
Other people channel their passion through pastie ratings, I channel mine through demonic possessions. Besides, it entertains half of you lot, and you'll miss it once it's gone.
For far too long Everton have been in the shadows of Liverpool, even when we were ace in the 80s we were still in their shadows of the great moustaches of the world. It's clear that Bill Shankly built as he put it 'a bastion of invincibility', and then Paisley and ***en continued it. Since then and under Dalglish the decline began, slowly but surely the worm started to turn, but towards Manchester. They picked up the mantle in emphatic and dominant fashion, whilst we carried on with the belief that if we keep doing what we are doing, we will get there.
Now this waiting game, or belief that we will get there is a complete false dawn on how you achieve anything at a football club. I remember reading the promises from Peter Johnson, I remember seeing the reports that Andy Gray was so close to signing as manager for Everton, but he must have seen something in Peter Johnson early, something that we eventually saw ourselves.
Meanwhile Liverpool had continued to decline, clinging on to a reputation built up by great men of the game, but destroyed by people who had no desire to think forward, and felt that just being Liverpool was enough. Which to be fair won them a fair few games. Then they got lucky and discovered a world class player in Gerrard, along with a miserable but gritty Carragher.
We however relied on the brute force of Dogs of War and Duncan Ferguson, coupled with the odd glimmer of hope from Cadamarteri, Branch and Ball. Unfortunately the powers that be gave no love to the academy based players and believed that to be successful you need to bring in old pro's who had long since past their best.
Hughes, Ginola, Gazza, and so on...
Apart from Kevin Campbell we were devoid of any real passion to succeed, and this sparked the new dawn with David Moyes. Unknown really, untried and lets be honest a massive risk.
Has he achieved what any other manager in his position couldn't? Probably, although I would like to think he can still reach his pinacle at this club and hopefully with some more backing and the academy conveyor belt continuing to produce, he has the makings of winning the title with this club. I truly believe that, and that is why I was so frustrated when he and his team were just not producing and believing their own hype. My so-called kneejerk reaction was just that, and a heat of the moment, but it was also to see what other people really thought. Didn't realise it would touch a nerve so much.
But I hold my hands up and admit I wouldn't want anyone else at the helm.
Meanwhile across the park Liverpool had won the Champions League through Gerrard's sheer desire (not Rafael's tactical genius), this seemed to spark a surge of new fans on the back of this win, who talked like they had followed Liverpool all their life.
Since that win not much has gone right, and although they almost won the league, and probably should have done - the fans felt the need to point the finger at the owners for wrecking their club, even though they knew what they were getting themselves into and if they had won the league, not a flag in sight would have been burned.
So where are we now?
Everton have just beaten a full strength Liverpool side, with 4 of our own top players out injured, and 3 of them going off injured in the game. We had a £60,000 right back destroying their left back and setting up a goal, while they had a £26m super god moving slower than Goat does after a hardcore session.
Liverpool don't really seem to have much youngsters coming through, mainly because I don't think they believe they are more useful than say a tattoed Portugese thug for £20m. The mentality over there is, if we can sign someone for loads of money then that equals success.
The reality is it doesn't equal anything if you can't fit that player into your side or train them and tactically make use of them. Rafael Benitez had that ethos, but at least he showed the arrogance to think he was better than he was - Woy has a losers face, losers attitude and to laugh and joke when you have just lost the derby, badly, just epitomises what they have at the helm.
We on the other hand have a great team spirit, some legends in the making, players proving their worth when other's (including me) had questioned their abilities - Hibbert being one, Yak and Distin being the other 2. Billy still has to do more, and we may have to just cut our losses on that one, but what interests me the most and if we play it right we have the power to compete without having to spend £200m or whatever.
We have the academy chock full of kids who have the abilities to really break into the league with Everton and do what Man U did. Of course having the £50m a season to strengthen the side, either through transfer fees, or paying our players enough money to stave off interest from the vultures, personally I prefer the latter.
Players like Fellaini who is still a baby, Arteta and Cahill still have a good 3 or 4 years in them. Yak also, Coleman and Baines are young, maybe Pienaar may realise his best option is here. Jags is world class, Distin although slightly erratic is a good defender.
Then we have the likes of Rodwell who we were told was better than Rooney at his age, in terms of technique, and I don't think many can argue - but then we hear that Barkley is better than Rodwell, and then you think jesus, this is power we can really harness if we do it right. Unfortunately the lad is out for a while, but hopefully he will come back stronger and mentally more equipped.
Baxter may well turn out to be the player his potential promised if he can get over his blert factor and not turn into Billy Kenny.
Jake Bidwell is another lad, Garbutt another. Femi lad from Southend. These are all talented kids who we can really use to our advantage, and that is how we can step out of the shadows of Liverpool. Show that we believe that we are a better club and better side than them.
Today is the first day of stepping out of those shadows, and I am a proud Evertonian today, because for the first time in a while for me, we matched our potential and showed Liverpool that they no longer can look down on us.
COYB!
