Football News part deux

[Steveo]

The Everton thread is closed. So I'll put this here....

They've a brand new stadium, they had a pre-season game against Roma, a Legends game, and literally no one is there..... Never a big club, not even close.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNJHDSPsMKv/?igsh=MTJ2enRtbmdyN2RzZg==

Possibly today but “never” is a stretch. They absolutely were a big club - that’s a matter of fact. Before Shanks rocked up they were easily the biggest and most successful club on Merseyside.

[justincredible]

Possibly today but “never” is a stretch. They absolutely were a big club - that’s a matter of fact. Before Shanks rocked up they were easily the biggest and most successful club on Merseyside.

Both Everton and Liverpool had 5 First Division titles each up to Shanks arrival at Anfield in 1959....
Everton had 2 FA Cup wins up to Shanks taking the Liverpool job, and Liverpool had no FA Cups to brag about admittedly...
and yes, Liverpool were a bit of a shambles until the great man took over..
I'll also admit I loved the rivalry with them in the 80's. Some good league battles and in the cups too....
Used to have a soft spot for them, but in the mid 80's it started to change in the derby games and then Hillsborough happened and it definitely turned more bitter in our games with them...

[justme]

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Doak, Nguhoma.

[Ravo19]

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Doak, Nguhoma.

Weak bench which includes 2 kids and 3 players who could be sold,although 2 injures and gravenberch given time off highlights squad weakness

[justme]

Yeah am im thinking a bit weak myself

[Jenson78]

Now Palace have won, EZE will probably now go to Arsenal to strengthen them more. Guehi will most likely leave for free at end of the season.

[redebreck]

Palace have lost their appeal against demotion from the Europa League.
Probably aren't corrupt enough and/or unable to offer CAS enough of a bung.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1kzzpp04kgo

[Steveo]

Both Everton and Liverpool had 5 First Division titles each up to Shanks arrival at Anfield in 1959....
Everton had 2 FA Cup wins up to Shanks taking the Liverpool job, and Liverpool had no FA Cups to brag about admittedly...
and yes, Liverpool were a bit of a shambles until the great man took over..
I'll also admit I loved the rivalry with them in the 80's. Some good league battles and in the cups too....
Used to have a soft spot for them, but in the mid 80's it started to change in the derby games and then Hillsborough happened and it definitely turned more bitter in our games with them...

Mate seriously - it is a matter of fact I promise you at the time there was no debate about it.. Ask anyone alive today who was going to games back then. They will tell you. Shanks turned the tide in our favour. before that Everton were seen as the bigger club with more fans and what was then a far better legacy. 2 FA cups to zero might not sound that great a gap but in those times is was a chasm.

[Steveo]

FYI:



The Blue Kings of Merseyside: How Everton Eclipsed Liverpool Before Shankly's Revolution

For any Liverpool supporter today, it's almost unthinkable, but for a significant portion of footballing history, the city of Liverpool was painted royal blue, not red. Before the transformative arrival of the legendary Bill Shankly at Anfield in December 1959, Everton Football Club were not just a rival; they were widely considered the senior and more successful club in the city, boasting a larger trophy cabinet and a more established reputation on the national stage.

A Tale of Two Clubs: The Origins

The very origins of the two clubs set the stage for Everton's early dominance. The Toffees were founded in 1878 and were one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. Their original home? Anfield. A dispute over rent with the ground's owner, John Houlding, led to Everton moving to their newly built Goodison Park in 1892. Left with a stadium but no team, Houlding founded Liverpool Football Club to occupy the vacant ground. From its inception, Liverpool was, in essence, the second club on the scene.

A Chasm in the Trophy Cabinet

The most compelling evidence of Everton's superior standing lies in a simple comparison of major honours won before Shankly took the helm at a then-struggling Second Division Liverpool side.

| Trophy | Everton (pre-Dec 1959) | Liverpool (pre-Dec 1959) |
|---|---|---|
| **First Division Titles** | 5 (1890-91, 1914-15, 1927-28, 1931-32, 1938-39) | 5 (1900-01, 1905-06, 1921-22, 1922-23, 1946-47) |
| **FA Cups** | 2 (1905-06, 1932-33) | 0 |

While both clubs had secured five league titles apiece, Everton's FA Cup triumphs stood in stark contrast to Liverpool's empty slate in the world's most famous domestic cup competition. The Toffees had been a consistent force in English football, regularly challenging for and winning the sport's biggest prizes.

The "Mersey Millionaires": A Sign of Stature

In the pre-war era and beyond, Everton garnered the nickname the "Bank of England" club due to their financial might and willingness to spend big on top players. This reputation for being one of the country's wealthiest clubs was a reflection of their ambition and status. This financial muscle and forward-thinking approach further solidified their position as the city's premier footballing institution.

This reputation for lavish spending would later evolve into the famous "Mersey Millionaires" moniker in the early 1960s under the backing of Littlewoods owner Sir John Moores. While this specific nickname blossomed just after Shankly's arrival, the foundations of financial power and big spending that it represented were laid long before, cementing Everton's image as the glamorous, big-money club on Merseyside. They were innovators too, with Goodison Park being one of the most advanced stadiums of its time.

A City Divided, But with a Clear Senior Partner

While it's difficult to quantify fanbases from that era with modern precision, contemporary accounts and the sheer weight of their success point towards Everton having a larger and more widespread following. As the older, more decorated club, they were the natural choice for many aspiring football fans in Liverpool. Their consistent presence in the First Division, while Liverpool experienced periods in the second tier, would have also contributed to a larger and more engaged supporter base.

The narrative of a dominant Everton and a secondary Liverpool was the accepted reality for decades. It was into this landscape that Bill Shankly arrived, famously declaring he would build a "bastion of invincibility" at Anfield. His subsequent success story is legendary, but it's crucial for any true student of the game, including the most ardent Liverpool fan, to understand the historical context. Before the dawn of the Red empire, the kings of Merseyside wore royal blue.

[jinky]

If you wrote this it's the best piece of writing I've ever read on here. Exceptional