A Call to Arms
January 29, 2012 
2 Comments
Which came first the chicken or the egg or in Everton‘s case the atmosphere or the performance, asks David Martin.
Despite being just over a mere 25,000 attendance last night it was one of, if not the best atmospheres I have seen inside Goodison Park all season. The place has been like a morgue throughout the year and although performances can be attributed to some of that, a lot of it cannot. From the very first game against QPR Goodison has been far from rocking with moans and groans more likely to be heard than chants and cheers.
So, what changed last night? Was it that David Moyes surprised us all with a different lineup? Was it the potential clash of Dempsey versus Donovan? The improved performance or was it simply the magic of the FA Cup? Whatever it was it was a joy to see and something we really need more of this season. We have all been rightfully critical of our teams performances this season. Many of us have also been justified in our criticism of board and Manager. However, maybe we all also need to look inward and be critical of ourselves.
There is no doubting that this is a difficult time to be an Evertonian. However, the spirit and togetherness that has been characteristic of Everton and it’s fans in recent times seems to have been forgotten about this season as we spend our time bickering and in-fighting, booing and moaning and chanting for various people to get out. Maybe we should start concentrating our efforts and passions into getting behind the team instead or at least putting as much passion into it? Stood in The Oak with a number of new found Evertonian friends last week, I kinda got to thinking (despite the awful grammar of it all) that we need to remember that first and foremost we are a family and we should be getting behind the lads as one on the pitch regardless The team is starting to show some togetherness and spirit in adversity and maybe it is time we started doing the same? Perhaps we, both players and fans, should be looking to the examples of players on the pitch such as Denis Stracqualarsi, an Everton player far from gifted in technical terms but who got a standing ovation yesterday for playing the game with heart and showing passion. The man was openly crying on the pitch for God’s sake! It is this sort of love for the game and the club that we could all do we remembering a little more often.
I don’t expect anyone to forget that we are in a bad place at the moment, I am as much of a realist as they come but maybe, just maybe we can be as much a catalyst for change on the pitch as off it. Goodison Park needs to become a fortress again and we can play our part in that as we illustrated against Fulham. Our ferocious away support does us proud but perhaps it is time for us to do ourselves proud at home. As that great philosopher Delia Smith once said, “Let’s be avin yea” and Come On You Blues!
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For me, footballers have caused this issue. All to often we hear the comment ‘and he gets £50k a week for that’…
The lack of respect from some footballers, earning vast amounts of money that is available only because there are fans of the sport, is astonishing.
The counter is of course ‘I pay his wages’ or ‘I pay my money’ – like a play or a concert, a fan buys a ticket to be entertained. If they are not entertained, they don’t clap at the end – they simply walk out.
Why should football be any different? Why should fans cheer and sing only to be disappointed by the performance or, in more the case, lack of.
Whether you have invested £600 in a season ticket or bought a £30 ticket on the day, you can expect to be entertained. To then see Louis Saha mope around or Phil Jagielka hoof balls during a panic stricken edge of the box scramble just disappoints.
Its not necessarily even a winning or losing issue – its a work rate and spirit thing. Many, if not all, fans would be happy to add support and atmosphere if the lads gave their all but came away losers on the night. Rather that than get beat (or draw) because we couldn’t be bothered to show up.
Caveat – I mentioned Jags and Saha – there are plenty others.
Thats it. That is, articually, what Iv been trying to say to friends/non speaking friends at the moment. (they are bu. Im not)We are the club. We are the spirit.
The team talk at Stoke by Kendo was based on the away support. As was the byrn munic (home) half time talk. David Moyes named us the peoples club.1966 means the FA cup, or world cup to most. To me, it was when I fell in love with Everton.Since than iv nbeen trough the horrible 70s. The dizzy 80s, the desperate 90s and the moyes years.and trough it all Iv loved the Blues, but this season, with infighting amongst us, the club, im not enjoying my footie. This is a new thing for me. Whats wrong? Us. Everton all together now. Bill Kenwright, like you, like me, is a Blue. God bless him for saving us.