Soul-searching on great unknown

Aug 9 2007 Blue Watch by Mark O'Brien, Liverpool Daily Post

Soul-searching on great unknown

WELL, the ballot forms have been sent out, ready for the vote on one of the most significant issues that’s faced the club in its entire history.

Plenty of people have had plenty to say on the subject, and after reading and listening to most of it, a famous quote from Donald Rumsfeld springs to mind:

“As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.”

In short then, there are still a lot of things we don’t know. For a start, just what effect will a move to Kirkby have on Everton’s long-term support? A lot of Evertonians oppose the move, that’s for sure. Just what that percentage is though, nobody can tell.

The internet and the phone-ins give the impression that it’s a huge proportion of the supporters – certainly enough to have the club worried – but then we don’t know if they represent the wider fan-base or whether in fact there’s a silent majority who feel slightly different.

On the other hand we have no idea what happens if that majority do actually reject the move. Will Liverpool City Council live up to their newfound commitment to support the club in finding a new home within the city boundaries, for instance, once the threat of a moonlight flit to Knowsley has dissipated? And is the Bestway proposal really viable or just a pipedream, already under threat from businesses and developers already committed to investment in the city centre?

We do know that Goodison is special and that away supporters, for instance, love its location and the whole atmosphere of the place. We also know that very few seem to enthuse the same way about the Reebok, the JJB or the Madejski.

However, we also know that other clubs with equally cherished traditions have relocated from iconic homes and they have survived. We are also aware that everyone from Peter Johnson through to Trevor Birch, Paul Gregg and Bill Kenwright have all been of the opinion that the club require better facilities than Goodison has to offer at present if they are to even stand a chance of being competitive in football’s increasingly money-driven top-flight.

What a choice.

Once we’ve moved, to a location that is distinctly unglamorous compared to remaining near the heart of a vibrant city, we can’t undo it, even if we hate the new ground and that unique Evertonian atmosphere is lost forever. Stay though, and in years to come we might live to rue the opportunity to move to a purpose-built new ground, at minimal cost, as we continue to look for another realistic deal within the city boundaries.

Those who have cast iron convictions either way are the lucky ones – they’ve probably voted already. An awful lot of Evertonians probably still have a lot of soul-searching to do though before they finally commit their cross to paper.

As well as the ground move, there even seems to be confusion over whether Leighton Baines was an Evertonian or a Liverpudlian as a kid. He’s trying to be diplomatic, but previous indicates seem to make it clear that he preferred the other lot across the park. That’s fine, so did Peter Reid and Dave Watson when they were youngsters, but it hardly stopped them going on to be considered Blue through and through.