IT’S often said that there are many similarities between ourselves and today’s opponents Manchester City but I’d argue that the DNA of the two clubs are very different.
Yes, we’re both big clubs in our own right who claim to enjoy the lion’s share of support within our respective hinterlands despite competing against more successful local rivals who are ‘global brands’ but unlike ‘Citeh’ we’ve not sold our souls – yet.
Having already moved from their beloved Maine Road home into the ready-made Eastlands Stadium, the Sky Blues of Manchester were an attractive purchase for first Thaksin Shinawatra and now catchy-named Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited.
Although Robinho apart, Mark Hughes hasn’t had much chance yet to flex his huge financial muscles, City will learn that there are only so many top players to go around and no matter how much cash you’ve got, most of them aren’t going to join you unless you’re already competing for honours.
Given the current world financial climate it’s sickening to see seemingly every Premier League club chasing an overseas billionaire sugar daddy to wave a magic wand.
The problem is we’re one of those clubs, desperate to follow City’s lead and our current supposedly Evertonian owners are all to eager to up sticks from our spiritual home just because we can get a cut-price stadium next to a supermarket up the road.
