I live in Germany. Perhaps the best analogue for an Everton relegation and what happens to the relegated giant afterwards is Hamburger SV. HSV were the best team in Europe in the early-1980s, 1983 European Champions, so their very best years very nearly coincided with ours. The team of Horst Hrubesch, Manny Kaltz, and Felix Magath were feared across the continent and played in three European finals between 1977 and 1983. HSV were known as the "dinosaurs" in Germany as they were the only club to play in every top flight season after the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. After years of mismanagement and humiliation, the dinosaurs finally fell through the trap door a few years ago - and are still waiting to get back.
The bigger they are the harder they fall. We will drop like an anvil through netting if we fall. Like HSV, much of our self-respect stems from our tradition. Part of that tradition is being ever-present at the top table of football. When that goes, a lot of the self-respect goes and we become stripped of much of what made us what we were. We become just another formerly successful club with a giant fanbase and ancient history that becomes a burden. Basically, we must stay up.
Even if I am no longer as arsed as I used to be, like...