Is This the Worst Period in Our History

[Harryflashman]

I think the period from 96-02 was worse.

That was a prolonged period of pure, bleak football with noting good whatsoever.

We've had three really bad years because of the off the pitch stuff. Before then we had the carlo season and players like Digne, Richarlison, James, and before that we were a solid midtable team at worst and looked like we were building towards something.

The last three years have been garbage, but even last season was nowhere near as bad as a lot of the stuff in the 90's.

I'd say our worst period is 87-94. We went from being one of the best teams in the world, to almost being relegated within seven years.

We've been by far the biggest failure of the premier league era.

No reason why we couldnt have done what United, or Arsenal have done, but we've been so behind the curve we've let all our once rivals surpass us to the point where we look up to teams like Brighton and Aston Villa.

Could just merge 87 to 2024 as one prolonged era of failure and massive underachievement.

For me this feels worse , the Bingham and Lee days certainly feel a lot brighter . Walter smith was a tough watch but I remember some really good days and , maybe this is recency bias but I’ve never felt so disconnected from the club .

I can’t even get angry any more , I’m apathetic about it all . If it wasn’t for the company and a few pints there is a real chance I’d not bother any more.

In your last paragraph the 95 cup final was a glorious day and we’ve certainly had some decent runs during the time scale you mention . Yeah it was failure but some cracking times in there , at the moment it’s bleak.

 

[Lanolin]

In line with that last sentence how do we see the recent seasons for Aston Villa?

Villa are seeing the results of putting the right plans in place and being ambitious over a 5 or 6 year period. In terms of infrastructure with the academy etc they were miles ahead of where we are now and that's played a big part in them doing what they've done. The squad they had a couple of years ago when Gerrard was there - Martinez, Digne, Watkins, Konsa, Luiz, Bailey, McGinn etc - was way ahead of what we have now too. That being said, I'm not saying it's impossible to make up the ground if a new owner comes in and makes a great managerial appointment and spends big like Villa have done, only that it isn't easy. This isn't like a couple of years ago when you felt the nucleus of the squad was decent and it just needed some extra quality, we've got 2/3 good players and some of the others are borderline out of their depth.

 

[Raino85]

Yes. But in context. I know we're not out of the top tier. We've got a new stadium which is like a once in a 100 year move.

We've had ups and downs through our history. But it's the sorry state of the club that has been since the PL began and even before that. I remember Arsenal beating us in the League Cup semi in 88 knowing we were no longer competing. I recognised even then. I think it's more the last few years that has made my blood boil that the club themselves don't see us as anything more than making up the numbers. No ambition. No longer seeing themselves as a big club.

Like some mighty department store that has gone full circle. Lewis's. Our only hope is TFG.

Could always do a Marks & Spencer and rebrand ourselves as a supermarket?

 

[Raino85]

I think the period from 96-02 was worse.

That was a prolonged period of pure, bleak football with noting good whatsoever.

We've had three really bad years because of the off the pitch stuff. Before then we had the carlo season and players like Digne, Richarlison, James, and before that we were a solid midtable team at worst and looked like we were building towards something.

The last three years have been garbage, but even last season was nowhere near as bad as a lot of the stuff in the 90's.

I'd say our worst period is 87-94. We went from being one of the best teams in the world, to almost being relegated within seven years.

We've been by far the biggest failure of the premier league era.

No reason why we couldnt have done what United, or Arsenal have done, but we've been so behind the curve we've let all our once rivals surpass us to the point where we look up to teams like Brighton and Aston Villa.

Could just merge 87 to 2024 as one prolonged era of failure and massive underachievement.

Villa are a huge club mate!

 

[Bryan+]

After we lost Martinez, Lukaku, Barkley etc - just as we had assembled a competent team that scored and defended somewhat better - this all went to [Poor language removed] of course - I fell out of love with the club, we appointed Koeman who I already hated and signed a load of players for ridiculous fees and overinflated contracts like he who shall not be named, I realised footy was no longer a source of enjoyment or pleasure. So I’d say around that time I decided to check out mentally, I have no problem with us winning or losing anymore I simply don’t care cos the mental pressure of relying on a team of millionaires is a notional embarrassment.

 

[Charro]

Villa are a huge club mate!

No bigger than us, but they're miles ahead of us.

We should be competing with them, not looking up to them.

We went 2-0 up against them and not one person watching, or in the ground thought we'd win.

I actually said to my mate I'd take a point at half time.

 

[Ed_Winchester]

The bleak Smith years and Howard Version III was a grim period.
Mitch Ward, John Spencer, Tony Thomas are names from the past to make you shudder.

Are we much better off now? We’ve splurged the cash and are right back where we started.

The Martinez first season was the last chance to take the club forwards but his unwillingness to address defensive frailties started the slide to where we are now.

People talk about Kevin Brock’s backpass as that turning point for success in the 80’s.
Well, 2-0 up at home to West Ham, then having Mirallas sent off, Lukaku missing a pen and Niasse coming on, and losing 3-2 was the beginning of this current nightmare for me.
We managed to paper over the cracks for a while, but it was the start of our slide.

 

[everton1953]

The use of "prolonged" makes me answer yes. Maybe I am getting too old for this, but I cannot remember the last enjoyable season. Everyone has a bad spell but this bad one seems endless.

 

[barneygumble]

We've not won a trophy for 30 years.

In those 30 years; we've finished no higher than 4th, reached one final and had 15 (soon to be 16) seasons finishing in the bottom half.

Since winning the cup in 1995, we've qualified for Europe and whopping 6 times.

So yes, it's categorically the worst period in our history and it's not even close

 

[Daytripper]

Yes, elevated by willing participants who are either supposed to be fans or journalists or both, for their own personal benefit to not say anything remotely critical or provide minuscule scrutiny at best.

All that silence and gaslighting, it’s not worked has it.

 

[davek]

Some fantastic players, like Martin Dobson though.

...speaking of whom...

Out in December...

 

[Swartzy]

As per the op; depends if we stay up or not.

Go down and we will be the club that spent a load of money on a stadium and couldn't keep it together on the pitch.

Survive; we sacrificed a few years financially for our lovely new home.

I think we stay up for what it's worth.

Sorry m8, but we've already used up all the luck a club could dream of in recent years, we are painfully heading South, no stops on the way...

 

[Drico]

Just following on from a previous post, is this the worst prolonged period of Everton Football Club

Just had a look at other contenders would be

1947-1960 - finishing 14, 18, 18, 22, 7(Div 2), 16 (Div 2), 2 (Div 2), 11, 15, 15.16.16, 15 10 bottom half finishes, 1 relegation plus 3 seasons in division 2

1992-2002 - finishing 13,17,15,6, 15,17,14,13,16,15 9 bottom half seasons with 2 last day relegation fights, plus others. Offset with a 6th place finish in the middle and an FA Cup win

2019-2024 finishing 12,10,16,17,15 plus probably around 15th this season 5 bottom half finishes, 1 last day escape, plus a couple of close calls (Palace)

What do we think? I think personally, now is worse than the 90s as i feel the gap from relegation fodder and becoming good again has got so much larger, back then that gap could get solved with 1 decent signing (Kanchelskis) or a very good manager (Moyes)

The word "probably" is doing a lot of heavy, optimistic lifting here.

But yeah, it's unremittingly grim. Only the thought of new owners and a new stadium alleviates the stress. The 1990s were worse overall - because it was an era that lasted about 15 years (1989-2004) - but at least it had the Dogs of War for 18 months or so. The Walter era was grimmer than grim. Dyche is at those levels now. To be fair, the terror of the points deductions put this one over the top for me.

 

[Preki]

If you look at yesterday's games, there really isn't much in it, from top to bottom, being clinical with chances to score is the key.

Hold no fear of our next group of opponents anyone can beat anyone this season, five subs, PSR and glut of extra fixtures will start to level things up over the festive period.

But not with this manager.

 

[matty1878]

Just following on from a previous post, is this the worst prolonged period of Everton Football Club

Just had a look at other contenders would be

1947-1960 - finishing 14, 18, 18, 22, 7(Div 2), 16 (Div 2), 2 (Div 2), 11, 15, 15.16.16, 15 10 bottom half finishes, 1 relegation plus 3 seasons in division 2

1992-2002 - finishing 13,17,15,6, 15,17,14,13,16,15 9 bottom half seasons with 2 last day relegation fights, plus others. Offset with a 6th place finish in the middle and an FA Cup win

2019-2024 finishing 12,10,16,17,15 plus probably around 15th this season 5 bottom half finishes, 1 last day escape, plus a couple of close calls (Palace)

What do we think? I think personally, now is worse than the 90s as i feel the gap from relegation fodder and becoming good again has got so much larger, back then that gap could get solved with 1 decent signing (Kanchelskis) or a very good manager (Moyes)

one of many. but this could have worse outcome than all

the overall record of dyche is disgusting

he has to go