EFC FAN VIEW: Time to pick ourselves up

Apr 5 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Would it be a fair shout to just ask both camps to shut up, grow up and behave themselves?

The petty and frankly embarrassing incidents on Sunday and the subsequent finger jabbing and name-calling is right in keeping with the spirit of the Capital of Culture, isn’t it? Idiots.

The derby capped off a sour month for Everton, one which saw hopes of going to City twice killed off and a top four finish all but headed west. The post-derby fall out was just the icing on the suddenly stale bun loaf.

Even typing the words “pick themselves up” has a hollow feel to it now. In a season that has promised so much but will at best now deliver qualification for the UEFA Cup, it’s hard to get excited about the visit of already relegated Derby County on Sunday.

But that’s what we’ve got to do. As fans, as players, as a club. There is no such thing as a meaningless game as far as Everton are concerned. Every single game is there to be won, every point there to be gathered and stockpiled until there are none left to play for.

It’s about being the best that we can be at all times. It’s about never lowering our standards, or settling for less than we know we’re worth. As the famous flag said, it’s about pride, please.

We’ve been given plenty to be proud about this season but at the same time, there will be a lot of disappointment and frustration amongst the players after the events of the last month. And six teams left to take it out on.

Wipe the floor with them, gents – they’re down there for a reason.