The song they sang relentlessly captured the tone of the night. High up in the East Stand, and in a huge chunk of its middle tier, 9000 Evertonians kept on hollering about ‘The Spirit of the Blues’.
It’s been part of the Everton lexicon since the 1980s but it has had a huge surge in popularity in recent times, becoming a soundtrack during the successful fight against relegation last season. The words are emotive and illustrate the pride this group of fans have in their team.
Things have been challenging for Frank Lampard, so much so it seems a case of when rather than if he loses his job as manager, but there was never going to be anything other than goodwill towards him at Old Trafford from Evertonians, who are sick to the back teeth of off-field affairs.
It was more woe for Frank Lampard who’s Everton side were defeated 3-1 by Man United
The win means Erik ten Hag’s United side will advance to the next round of the FA Cup
So they roared themselves hoarse, refusing to lie down and accept their fate in Manchester, even when Antony, a winger whose approach can comfortably be described as ostentatious, put United ahead within three minutes.
Lampard and his players need every bit of assistance that is possible right now, as they face up to what it is another inevitable scrap for survival, and for a considerable chunk of the evening they were dogged and determined and desperate not to submerge.
A prerequisite for Evertonians is to see running and hard work, a desire to win tackles and pursue lost causes. Those in the stands give their all, no matter what, so the least they expect to see is the same kind of commitment during 90 minutes.
The loss is a concerning one for Lampard who’s tenure at Everton could soon be up
Brazilian forward Antony put the hosts 1-0 up after a quick start that caught Everton napping
Conor Coady soon equalised for the Blues pulling them back into the cup tie at 1-1
They also want to see it in other areas of the club but that has not been happening on the watch of Farhad Moshiri, where bluster and blunder is never far away. He lives in a bubble, seemingly oblivious to the depth of feeling and frustration that is festering, but now he must pay attention.
On the eve of this tie, Moshiri received an open letter from a group of fan organisations and websites to make clear that enough is enough.
‘For too long, despite your investment, we have seen diminishing returns, that now threaten our existence as a Premier League club,’ they wrote. ‘Act now while we still have a chance. Change the culture of the club.’
Despite a 1-1 vs Man City, results have been poor for Everton who haven’t won since November
Things were taken a step further, too, by the Liverpool Echo who carried a forceful commentary alongside a front page that carried a screaming headline, which declared: “Silence is not an option.”
The request for answers from Moshiri could not have been starker.
Everton is crying out for energy and reinvigoration and it must happen before the proposed move to the new stadium on the waterfront in 2024-25.
The idea Moshiri has that chopping and changing managers will unlock the key to success is utter twaddle.
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Given the way Everton were beaten by Brighton, it would have been easy for them to fall asunder but, like the travelling fans, they showed oodles of spirit and frustrated United.
It wasn’t always pretty but it was effective and it enabled you to draw one firm conclusion.
It was a frustrating second half for the away side with Coady’s own goal putting United ahead
Woes continue for Lampard as Alex Iwobi was removed from the field with a nasty injury
Lampard has had just one transfer window during his 12-month tenure at Goodison Park
The players are with Lampard, plenty of them think he is top class and, with the right assistance, he could become a very good manager.
He has made mistakes, of course, his tactics haven’t always worked, but he has had one transfer window and lost his best player last summer.
He needs help, not being shown the door. The supporters, evidently, have no desire for more upheaval.
If Moshiri has anything about him, he will listen and understand what is required. The worry is that old habits will die hard. If that is the case, no problems will be solved.
Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri (left) could now look to remove Lampard from his position