I've heard it banded about this net place lately, the latest one being J Heitinga esq: “he gets it”. It’s weird to step back and consider this because in the cold light of day we all have the self protection mechanism of labelling all top professional players as mercenaries who would sell us down the river as quick as you could say here’s an extra 15k a week and Champions League football. Aimed at no one in particular.
It set me wondering about who out of our players past and present , got or get it. And here’s my predictable list, feel free to pull it apart as you usually do. Oh, and it’s in no particular order.
1 – Alan Ball. An icon to those who were lucky to witness his masterclass of displays in a Royal Blue Shirt, before my time but to watch me arl fella get all misty eyed when recollecting ‘the day’, you know he was something special. Loved us and very much loved back and embodied the commitment when pulling on an Everton shirt required by all. And obviously when he says “Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same “. RIP Alan.
2 – Brian Labone. A Evertonian gentleman, and utterer of the famous: "One Evertonian is worth twenty Liverpudlians” not that I'm basing he gets it on hating that lot, far from it. RIP Brian.
3 – Howard Kendall. As a player and manager, the latter our most successful ever. Most of us have wiped out the second and third reincarnations and instead remember those hazy, hazy days when we swept all before us playing nice soccer but always with the nark where needed. As a player, part of arguably our finest midfield combination. To quote the man himself, on returning to Everton “You can have love affairs with other football clubs. With Everton it's a marriage."
4 – Bob Latchford. A number nine and no mistake. Bearded, brave, aggressive and scorer of absolute tw*ttings of headers in front of the Gwladys Street, what more do you need. He got it, he lived it. We loved him.
5 – Neville Southall. Bit of bias here as the greatest Everton player I’ve ever seen. Strangely had to sit down and really consider who was the candidate/s from the mid 80s as the general consensus amongst many of my mates is that they were demi Gods in a blue shirt but mostly massive snides. Neville though, was a fine blue and wore the shirt no fewer than 750 times through the average, the amazing, the alright and the absolute tosh. His half time rest against Leeds point to a man who didn’t like the averageness associated with a once brilliant side. He was just f*cking boss anyway.
6 – Dave Watson. An Everton man. Used to be a Liverpool fan like but no doubt that he got it. Despite a weary start he became the stable of a side one massive shitey slide from grace. But while that was happening, every ball that was pumped into our box was met with the considerable resistance of Waggy rag arsing the hell out of the opposition defenders. Lifted the cup as a reward from Karma herself. Managed us in an hour of need. Got it.
7 – Duncan Ferguson. Idolised over two spells and retired with an Everton crest on arm. When we were proper [Poor language removed] he gave us those all too rare moments of consequenceless glee. Hugging absolute strangers as another earth shattering header found the away net. He despised the [Poor language removed], lived our fantasies in hunting down and shamelessly bullying their players that we’d most like to kick up the hoop. And the goals against them, like no other. Did I mention he had a tattoo?
8 – Tim Cahill. All over the place, hustling, harrying, antagonising, scoring. Don't let this seasons Tim fool you, when he leaves it’s a sad day. For the majority of the Moyes era he’s been the main protagonist in most of our superb wins. As ToffeeDan pointed out, in excess of 25 winners alone, the next highest is the predecessor in this list with 8. That corner flag has seem some right tw*ttings and we’ve all gone nuts. In nearly his every media talk he’s professing his love for the club and another with indigo ink of our club on his arm. Takes great delight in making our neighbours snarl too, oddly enough.
So there it is. I've probably missed some reet blatant ones, some who didn’t make the list but were considered: Reid, Parkinson, Arteta, Royle, Dean & Moyes.
If the Dutchman wants to truly get it, then he isn’t short of role models to aspire to. A few fist pumps and crazy eyed stares work better than that badge kissing guff to be honest. Or a very public dislike of the [Poor language removed] and a tattoo.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.
It set me wondering about who out of our players past and present , got or get it. And here’s my predictable list, feel free to pull it apart as you usually do. Oh, and it’s in no particular order.
1 – Alan Ball. An icon to those who were lucky to witness his masterclass of displays in a Royal Blue Shirt, before my time but to watch me arl fella get all misty eyed when recollecting ‘the day’, you know he was something special. Loved us and very much loved back and embodied the commitment when pulling on an Everton shirt required by all. And obviously when he says “Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same “. RIP Alan.
2 – Brian Labone. A Evertonian gentleman, and utterer of the famous: "One Evertonian is worth twenty Liverpudlians” not that I'm basing he gets it on hating that lot, far from it. RIP Brian.
3 – Howard Kendall. As a player and manager, the latter our most successful ever. Most of us have wiped out the second and third reincarnations and instead remember those hazy, hazy days when we swept all before us playing nice soccer but always with the nark where needed. As a player, part of arguably our finest midfield combination. To quote the man himself, on returning to Everton “You can have love affairs with other football clubs. With Everton it's a marriage."
4 – Bob Latchford. A number nine and no mistake. Bearded, brave, aggressive and scorer of absolute tw*ttings of headers in front of the Gwladys Street, what more do you need. He got it, he lived it. We loved him.
5 – Neville Southall. Bit of bias here as the greatest Everton player I’ve ever seen. Strangely had to sit down and really consider who was the candidate/s from the mid 80s as the general consensus amongst many of my mates is that they were demi Gods in a blue shirt but mostly massive snides. Neville though, was a fine blue and wore the shirt no fewer than 750 times through the average, the amazing, the alright and the absolute tosh. His half time rest against Leeds point to a man who didn’t like the averageness associated with a once brilliant side. He was just f*cking boss anyway.
6 – Dave Watson. An Everton man. Used to be a Liverpool fan like but no doubt that he got it. Despite a weary start he became the stable of a side one massive shitey slide from grace. But while that was happening, every ball that was pumped into our box was met with the considerable resistance of Waggy rag arsing the hell out of the opposition defenders. Lifted the cup as a reward from Karma herself. Managed us in an hour of need. Got it.
7 – Duncan Ferguson. Idolised over two spells and retired with an Everton crest on arm. When we were proper [Poor language removed] he gave us those all too rare moments of consequenceless glee. Hugging absolute strangers as another earth shattering header found the away net. He despised the [Poor language removed], lived our fantasies in hunting down and shamelessly bullying their players that we’d most like to kick up the hoop. And the goals against them, like no other. Did I mention he had a tattoo?
8 – Tim Cahill. All over the place, hustling, harrying, antagonising, scoring. Don't let this seasons Tim fool you, when he leaves it’s a sad day. For the majority of the Moyes era he’s been the main protagonist in most of our superb wins. As ToffeeDan pointed out, in excess of 25 winners alone, the next highest is the predecessor in this list with 8. That corner flag has seem some right tw*ttings and we’ve all gone nuts. In nearly his every media talk he’s professing his love for the club and another with indigo ink of our club on his arm. Takes great delight in making our neighbours snarl too, oddly enough.
So there it is. I've probably missed some reet blatant ones, some who didn’t make the list but were considered: Reid, Parkinson, Arteta, Royle, Dean & Moyes.
If the Dutchman wants to truly get it, then he isn’t short of role models to aspire to. A few fist pumps and crazy eyed stares work better than that badge kissing guff to be honest. Or a very public dislike of the [Poor language removed] and a tattoo.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.
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