Is the first division the way to restore Everton's true passion?

Are we Evertonians as fickle as people suggest? Most definitely yes. As I'm sure we have established by now I am a fan of Walter Smith and I am part of the minority of fans who focus on the positive aspects going on the club. It is very rare that you find me moaning and groaning about a poor performance without taking something positive from it whether it is Campbell actually running, actually scoring or better yet not in the starting eleven.

As we know the top league in terms of hierarchy is known as “The Premier League” but due to mass commercialisation (selling out) the league is now known as “The Football Association Barclaycard Premiership League”.

This is a quick run down of the major footballing leagues in England, I apologise to those Evertonians who are based abroad and I doubt this will be of much interest to you.

Basically note how each league has a sponsorship, money is everywhere in today's football, the only person who seemingly doesn't have money is our very own Mr. Kenwright, although this is not an immediate problem as he is planning for the future of the club and letting Walter Smith handle the current goings on.

Back to the main point now. Does anyone remember what former Goodison favourite and Italian international Marco Matterazzi had to say about Everton? If you can't here is a reminder:

"I went to England for the money. I was earning 10 times the money, but Italian football is far more skilful."

So is money proving to be the deficit of Everton? A certain Francis Jeffers of Arsenal may be able to answer that for you, he is on double what he earned whilst playing at Goodison and yet he says loves Everton to the extent that he lives in London and still comes to the home games when Arsenal are not playing.

I think that somes it up actually, he loves the club, the fans, the history but he wants more money. This is why I'm trying to put forward the idea of being relegated to restore the passion that myself and the fellow Gwladys Street clan crave. If players want to earn more money let them go, sell them for ‘what they are worth' (overpriced – no player is worth 1million pounds, but for our financial situation let's pretend that they are worth at least double that!), this would rid Everton of all the mercenary players.

Although the best players will obviously have hired agents to get them better deals i.e. more money the true blue players, the best example you could find for this is our very own Alan Stubbs, the guy overcame cancer twice to play for the blues – you can not question his determination and loyalty to Everton, however this time last year I would have mentioned David Unsworth but since then he has signed a deal with almost £20,000 per week, these are the type of players that would be playing week in week out.

If the most passionate Evertonians could play for the club they love every week, we'd soon find ourselves in Halifax's position (bottom of Division three) as the majority of fans won't be able to cut it at proffesional standard but at least they would have the passion and put in 100% every week. If the fans want commitment then this is the way forward, if the fans want quality football every week then what we are doing is closer to this than selling the mercenary players for a profit.

Just to finish off I will name all the Evertonian professional players that I know of if there are anymore, I would be very much interested if you could e-mail me them at Louis.Platt@btinternet.com.

Bryan Hughes (Birmingham City)

Alan Stubbs (Everton)

Erik Bakke (Leeds United)

David Wright (Crewe)

Stephen Wright (Red S****)

Steven Gerrard (Red S****) – Everton have signed his cousin Tony Gerrard who is believed to be a very good player.

Michael Owen (Red S****)

Robbie Fowler (Leeds United)

Steve Mcmanaman (Real Madrid)

David Unsworth (Everton)

Gavin McCann (Sunderland)

Andy Harris (Leyton Orient)

Jamie Carragher (Red S****)

To think that the majority of these players have gone on to represent their country and earned at full international cap. It's always nice to think what could have happened, I wouldn't mind Erik Bakke in the midfield afterall.