We shall not be moved.

The People's Forum

Erm....I don't know what to say. I thought I'd be bouncing off the walls however in the event it just a smouldering layer of confused happiness. Everton will finish the season 4th, above our lovable local neighbours and in a Champions League qualification spot. I am still kind of stunned.

On Saturday Goodison was nervy and tense...it started off happy enough. The Gwladys Street roared into life (We even had a chrous of The Royal Blue Mersey) but as the game progressed jitters set in for both fan & player alike. It was sheer relief when Davie Weir snuck in at the back post to knock a header into the Park End goal. After that it seemed a bit more straightforward (Tim Cahill suckered one of their players into swinging at him...adios my stupid Geordie friend) and we finished the game 2-0 to the good and 6 points ahead of liverpool & Bolton. A wonderful way to end a fabulous season. Goodison was awash with happiness "We shall not be moved", "We're looking down on the redsh*te" and "We're the pride of Merseyside" echoed from the rafters. The final whistle went and that was it............................erm........Wow.

The players paraded round the ground and we saluted them like the heroes they are. We all knew that one more point would see us guaranteed 4th....touching distance from the unthinkable. Some bluenoses point out, quite rightly, that it's sickening that 4th spot is being touted as the ultimate glory. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum means that we should be craving the league title and our 10th championship....Still, in this day and age of the G14 rich-kids only club 4th place with a truly laughable budget is a pretty fine achievment...........now how to celebrate?

If there is a finer matchday pub than Tha Black Horse on County Road then I really look forward to visiting it. Decent beer, nice staff, lots of televisions tuned to the footy and a top bunch of bluenoses with which to enjoy it all with. After the match on Saturday the place was rocking and even the most cynical & unemotional Evertonian was beaming with happiness at what our side has done this season. We sang ourselves hoarse and realised what it meant to everyone. Even the most optimistic blue bought their season tickets convinced we were on our way out of the Premiership. When we predicted headlines of "Everton on the brink" we didn't think it would be the European elite we'd be on the brink of. Yet there we were....smiling and hugging each other and trying to put it all into words. At the end of the day we gave up and joined in the singing.

Sunday was a nervy affair.....liverpool could still take our place from us. They had the difficult task of beating Arsenal at Highbury...in the first half the Gunners battered them and went into the break 2-0 to the good. The second half was different...an utterly comical dive from Alonso was rewarded with a free-kick that was deflected into the net and in North London and Merseyside backsides began to twitch. Arsenal spent the rest of the half defending for their lives but held out and in the end won 3-1. We were there....and I'm still not sure what to make of it all.

We've been in the top 4 since mid-September...we are there on merit. Champions League here we come. "We shall not be moved!"