Where did I mention Martinez lad ? For that matter where did I use the word 'entertained' ? although it's worth mentioning the idea of watching a game of football is to be vaguely 'entertained' isn't it?
I started watching Everton in the 60s and to witness our decline in stature and ambition during the intervening years has been heartbreaking. But I still hope to see us return to the top one day and I do not believe we will begin that journey under a man who plays such reductive football as Allardyce does. Winning games by scoring your one and only shot on goal may be efficient but, my god , it's tedious. It is also unlikely to prove successful. Yet this is the modus operandi of our incumbent manager. Look at his lengthy record , you will see he overwhelmingly produces draws, followed by losses with his win column containing the least amount. This is not coincidental it is the direct product of playing a style of football which isolates the striker and habitually packs 10 men behind the ball in the final third surrendering the middle of the park to the opposition, among other failings. It is the football equivalent of hiding behind a rock and hoping to escape, it's cowardly football.
You know what?, I didn't use the word entertained but in retrospect why shouldn't I ? When I and thousands like me scrape together money we can barely afford on STs and travelling across the country in all weathers to watch our team ,why is it so wrong to expect some entertainment? What's the point otherwise? ,because the irony is the most successful teams play some form of entertaining football, including every successful Everton side I have supported.
In addition to all that I find the public persona of Allardyce himself ugly , self absorbed and generally repulsive. He has throughout his career given the impression that supporters serve football when in fact football serves supporters. It is the presence of the fans that give football its value not vice versa.
I do not expect us to become Barca or Real overnight , next season or indeed ever but I'd like us to at least give the impression that it is the journey on which we are embarked, under Allardyce we are just doomed to walk in mid table circles whilst all the while our once glorious history recedes further into the distance and becomes less relevant.
In the end I am just asking for hope and this man gives me none whatsoever.
But there is always the beer.
