That was our fault, apparently
I know that's their excuse. Thing is, the ban hurt Liverpool more than any other club, and we still managed ok.
The reality is piss-poor management on their part. Not replacing departing players. Complacency etc... It's all just a bit too convenient to blame others for the demise of their brief run at the top, but if you could win trophies for blame-shifting and shirking your own responsibilities, Everton would be the most decorated club in the country by now. Many things hold Everton back. Their infatuation and obsession with Liverpool being one, but another is their complete inability to look at themselves for the reasons why it all goes pear-shaped so often. They are responsible for their own mess, and the sooner they accept the fact and address it, the better for them as a club.
I won't hold my breath, though. It's just far too easy for them to look outside themselves for the reasons they are floundering in relative obscurity, and maybe it's too painful to admit that they generally do it to themselves. Their few sensible heads know the truth, but the rest would rather absolve themselves of all responsibility and blame the nasty old RS instead. It's what lazy arsed people do.
