View from the stands: Why do we do it?

Oct 6 2007

A RATIONAL mind would ask “why do we put ourselves through it”?

Watching Everton is always a combination of heartache and heart-attack. The match in Ukraine put us through every emotion known to mankind but thankfully ended in one of relief.

If supporters are only just getting back to reality following the Metalist game, you have to wonder how prepared the players are going to be for the match tomorrow at the Barcodes.

While Rafa is barracked for his rotation policy, the ability to chop and change to rest players is something Moyes dreams of.

Physically and mentally, the players are going to have to get themselves focussed again rapidly. Drawing positives from Thursday’s game is rather difficult, but the performances of McFadden, Pienaar and Lescott stood out.

While we’re hoping they carry their good form into this match, the opposite has to be said of Yakubu. In such a short space of time, the Yak is already in a position of having to win over many fans. The effective performances of Anichebe recently have exacerbated the lack of impact Yak is currently having on the team.

A leopard would be changing it’s spots if we were to see the Yak putting in lung-bursting efforts, so the only way he’s going to win over fans is by putting the ball in the net starting tomorrow – which is why we paid so much money.

Realistically, I wouldn’t be too disappointed with a draw from this one. However, I love nothing more than putting one over on the club who are the specimen example of why a city should have two teams.

With no rival fans to bring them back down to Earth, the Geordies have this self-imposed claim of being one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Get an early goal and the ‘best fans in the world’ will soon become Everton’s 12th man by jeering their own players.

A win here and all the travelling to Ukraine and Tyneside and back will all be worth it. And it’ll also help the health of Evertonians!