Tragic news about Mr Everton and tough luck for Tim
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Everton | 26 April 2006
When the legends die, the dreams end, there is no more greatness. Tecumseh
So as Everton’s season crawls to an end, the demise of Gentleman John Lyall is followed by a loss felt really deeply by Evertonians, that of Brian Labone, a man who's Blues career spanned 3 decades.
Many Evertonians will never have seen him play but he stands out as someone whose reputation precedes him. This seems to be beyond the usual platitudes afforded to the death of most famous and successful people, Brian genuinely seemed to be a real gentleman of the game, as well as being a highly successful player. 2 League titles and a FA Cup win for the Blues will bear scrutiny against many, many Everton players and all of the current crop.
Reading all the kind words written, one story which stands out is that fact that Brian Labone asked not to be considered for the ’66 World Cup final squad because he was getting married. Can you imagine Sol Campbell, if he was that way inclined, ducking out of Germany 2006 to do the same. This provides a good insight into the totally different era in which Brian played his football.
One of the good things about Everton is that we are not over-sentimental about the sad loss of a former player, but Brian appears to be a really special case. Pleasingly his immortality in a Evertonian sense is guaranteed by his 20-1 quote. Great that.
Elsewhere, and maybe another illustration of the amazing transformation which has taken place in the past 40 years (as if we needed one) is the ‘unsavoury incident’ involving Tim Cahill at the weekend. Apparently our Timmy bumped into some celebrating Liverpool fans after the semi. Thankfully nothing too heavy ensued and without knowing the details it kinda makes you proud. In fairness to Tim, he's also scored for the last 2 seasons at Anfield so he’s stuck it to them in the right way too. Sadly he’s out for the last 2 games and could miss the World Cup, whch would be really tough on Everton’s best signing in the past 5 years.
Elsewhere, Villarreal finally bite the dust and the fact that we coulda (maybe shoulda) beat them shows what a weird competition the old Champos League is. Next month we could conceivably see it won by the 5th best team in England for the 2nd year in a row. That’s too mad.
The myopic Wenger described them as ‘a bit lucky’ so you know that translates as ‘spawny as fuck’.
That’s it for the time being. A Middlesbro preview will follow next. Now surely if they’re playing on Thursday night we can get something up there, can’t we?? It looks as though the usually cautious Moyesy may give the kids a chance with Victor Anichebe, Bjarni Vidarsson and Iain Turner in with a chance of ‘figuring’ on Saturday. Let’s hope so eh?
Comments
I met Brian Labone for the first time 2 years ago and then again last year.
For a man of such footballing stature he was just a thoroughly pleasant fella. The sort of bloke that makes the world a decent place.
I'm not a sentimental fella but it brought a lump to my throat.
Beefy
