Ha alan green has p*ssed the bitters off
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:42 am
Nice one Alan 
Wake up and smell the coffee, David!
By Alan Green
ALL SUPPORTERS love to dream of success, particularly at the dawn of a new season, and the media generally loves to feed those dreams.
That's why you see headlines such as "We Are The New Invincibles" over arrogant ramblings by John Terry and read claims from Gary Neville that Manchester United can go through the campaign unbeaten. The players should know better.
But nowhere is in more need of a hearty dose of reality than Everton Football Club. No sooner had they finished 4th in May, principally due to a wretched league season from Liverpool, than David Moyes was pronouncing his team the "New Kings of Merseyside."
You'd have thought such delusions wouldn't last beyond a certain night in Istanbul, but no.
Amidst many ludicrous statements pre-season (see also Peter Kenyon's "small group of one"), I thought that of Moyes topped the lot "our target is to finish higher than last season."
I think he should see a doctor.
And then I read the programme for Everton's opening fixture against Manchester United. It advertised "superb Everton v Villarreal t-shirts (with Everton in Europe logo and map on the back). We have some left in stock and they are a 'must wear' item for supporters on the night of the 2nd leg, wherever you are in the world."
I wouldn't rush to buy one at £8.99; they'll be on sale at a fraction of that price in just over a week's time.
They talk big at Everton; the truth is harsher. All summer, there have been boasts of how much they have to spend, the players they're after and who wants to go to Goodison. I even saw James Beattie interviewed about how 'new signing' Milan Baros would fit in alongside him.
Sorry, have I missed something? Instead, the reality is that Everton have bought Per Kroldrup, a defender I hadn't heard of, and two players clearly discarded by their clubs, Simon Davies and Phil Neville.
Isn't it so that no one really wanted to join a team who'd performed beyond their wildest dreams for one season and are now likely to drop back where they'd come from? Not even Craig Bellamy who changed his mind after talking to the manager. Nice one, Dave.
Moyes should be dampening expectations, not feeding them. He should be relieved that he managed to persuade his best players, Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta to stay on.
He should be telling supporters to think of a top 10 finish at best, not speaking of third place or better.
Everton supporters can dream but they're not fools. Moyes says his team didn't get what they deserved against Villarreal. Most everyone else knows better. The Spanish side controlled the game without having to exert themselves. It will require a miracle to reach the group stages.
You see, their eyes were so dazzled by the headlights they failed to comprehend they hadn't actually qualified for the Champions League, only for a qualifying round.
And Manchester United, apart from one superb save by Edwin Van Der Sar, were in easy command of Saturday's game.
Most dishearteningly for advocates of the so-called 'School of Science', when Everton failed to trouble Fergie's men they quickly resorted to their standard 'Plan B', bring on Duncan Ferguson and lump the ball forward. Inevitably, it failed.
Evertonians may dream on but trust me; normal service has resumed at Goodison Park.
