Everton Jury May 26

'THE Dying Swan' was a ballet from Le Carnaval des Animaux a piece d'ocassion first performed in St Petersburg in 1905.

Yet none of the 4,000 appearances by Miss Anna Pavlova in the role could have eclipsed the performance by Jon Obi Mikel on Sunday.

The game epitomised our season as we finally triumphed over adversity.

Seventh place after being left on the grid at the start of the season was a commendable achievement. At Everton we cling on to some of the old traditions – so we might play in a scruffy old stadium, but we still know how to treat people the right way. Sacking the manager in the corridor after the game? It just showed a lack of class, lack of dignity.

Finally, what do Man United, Arsenal and Everton all have in common?

During the last season they're the only top flight clubs where the owners didn't invest any money. The Glazer Brothers loaded Man United down with debt and Arsenal made a mint out of selling Highbury.

Over to you, Mr Kenwright..

Everton Jury May 19

OUR last away game of 2010-11 ended with a whimper at West Brom.

I felt sorry for Bily – under pressure to get some tackles in; by the standard of his red card Nigel de Jong would never last 90 minutes.

It’s been the ‘what if’ season. But go back to 2004 and after the era of ‘Agent Johnson’ we were the laughing stock of the top flight, the club in free-fall, Rooney gone, favourites for relegation, we couldn’t even sign a player on a loan deal.

Between them, Kenwright and Moyes rescued the club and on a minimal budget we’ve over-achieved.

‘Evertonians for Change’ have been selling amber and gold scarves outside Goodison; it’s not on the scale of the Newton Heath revolt and Kenwright is not the Glazer Brothers.

However, there are some un-answered questions on investment.

Jury

Everton Jury

UNLESS you were hiding behind an 18 foot brick wall you couldn’t have missed that global spectacle – extravagant wealth; some participants acting like spoilt children; over-hyped PR; sycophantic, oleaginous commentators and hysterical spectators.

Yes, apart from the Royal Wedding, we also saw the worst and the best of the ‘beautiful game’ in the UEFA Champions League.

Everton might not be in the top 20 of the world’s richest clubs (Manchester City have climbed from 20th to 11th place) but our success is due to honest endeavour, not some quick money fix from a billionaire or sheikh.

Another disturbing trend in football is the cult of the manager – Wenger, Ferguson and Mourinho.

Contrast them with the understated David Moyes who just gets on with the task of getting the best out of his players. No whining, no mind games, no excuses.

Everton Jury

IT’S the fag end of the season with nothing to play for.

Injuries to our best players – Arteta, Fellaini, Cahill, Saha, and a subs’ bench that looks like the old Youth Training Scheme, a bunch of willing lads with no experience.

But we are Everton, so being contrarians we produce our best form in unlikely circumstances.

As a fan, I never really enjoy the Old Trafford experience – overpriced tickets and parking charges, getting body searched by over-zealous stewards before you even get in and then the knowledge that any banner that doesn't profess undying love for Man United and all of its players will be instantly seized and confiscated by jobsworth officials.

As for the 'atmosphere' (Everton fans excluded) how can 70,000 football fans be so quiet? Shhhhhh...

This Saturday it's our best chance for years of getting a result. Good to see at Wembley that United haven't lost the art of losing gracefully – not.

Everton Jury April 14

WITH so many of our best players injured, David Moyes asked for others to come to the fore. So step forward Leon Osman.

If he could recreate his persona on Second Life, he’d change his nationality to Brazilian and would be known simply as ‘Leon’.

Every time he scored or made an assist, his agent would be hinting about a move to the continent: ‘He loves playing at Everton, but...’

When he was dropped to the bench he’d have a hissy fit, throw his toys out of the pram and complain about the lack of shopping facilities in the frozen north.

Inevitably there’d be the missed training sessions and when he did turn up, there’d be the customary strop with the manager.

However, in the age of celebrity football, he’s always going to be Leon from Billinge and then there’s Tony from Huyton...

Everton Jury March 31st

ALONGSIDE Antiques Roadshow, there are two other word combinations that are guaranteed to induce the advanced stages of narcolepsy – ‘England Friendly’.

A currency that has become completely debased, the FA desperate to fill Wembley to pay off the debts. So many substitutes it’s impossible to keep track of who is playing.

You don’t need more than 100 words to describe the utter futility. So, eat my socks! Ghana, with their will to win and backed by 20,000 impassioned fans, created a fantastic atmosphere.

Baines should be starting every England game, he is without doubt the best full-back in the country. Now that Jagielka has signed a long term contract I’m not willing him to have a mare in the England games – in case he gets poached by another club.

Who knows I might start watching England now. Terry, Lampard, Cole, Gerrard, Carroll, Rooney... Hmmm, on second thoughts...

Echo