The plight of the blue noses
By Bobby Ellis
April 1 2023
Whilst this hasn't been a great season for us, across the River Mersey, all is not well at Everton. The club are struggling to retain their Premier League status, caught in a dogfight that will likely go to the wire. Now, some Rovers fans might say this doesn't matter. However, many of us have had to endure years of being patronised by Red and Blue nose supporters, watching at least one of them flounder is no bad thing.
There has always been a perspective that Tranmere need to appeal to the Liverpool and Everton supporters on our side of the water. Dave Russell adopted Friday night football, and an all white strip, in part as a means to appealing to both sets of fans. Whether or not we have ever managed that is debatable. During our more successful period in the 90s gates were higher, but stubbornly stuck around about the 9000 mark. Whilst that's higher than current gates the uplift would, if the theory is correct, had've been higher. Yet we never really have become the third side of the Mersey, instead we have always remained a curiosity, often we have just been seen as a joke.
We have benefited from some great players joining us from Goodson and Anfield. Pat Nevin is arguably one of the greatest midfield players to have graced the Prenton Park turf. Currently Rhys Hughes also started his career with the bluenoses. There seem to have been more Liverpool players who have made the journey. Ian St John, Ron Yeats, Tommy Lawrence, David Fairclough and, of course, John Aldridge. Fewer players still have made the move in the other direction. Tony 'the tank' Thomas ended up at Goodison, and before that Dixie Dean went from Rovers to Goodson, whilst more recent many Tranmere supporters still feel annoyed about the 'theft' of Tom Davies from our youth set up.
The question is, does having two Premier League clubs across the river benefit us? I take the view that it doesn't really. Few supporters of either Liverpool or Everton come to see us. The footballing links aren't that great. Yes, occasionally we take players on loan, but we have taken players on loan from a range of clubs over the years. Added to this Everton seem to be haemorrhaging money. Recent media reports suggest that they have lost £305m over the last three seasons, the building of Bramley Moor Dock is behind schedule and they are currently being investigated for breaching financial fair play rules. Even if Everton aren't relegated this season their future looks a bit uncertain.
Doubtless there are many Rovers fans who could live with that level of uncertainty. The Premier League is awash with money. If a club like Everton can't keep their house in order few will spill any tears. Their's is a luxury of riches we can only ever dream of. Few believe it is possible for Tranmere to now rise much above League 1, those dreams of one day being a Premier League club seem to have evaporated as the gap between the richest and clubs at our level has widened.
If Everton are relegated it is likely to cause ripples in the local football economy. However, it might spur us on. We would be a Division apart, not two. Maybe some Wirral Everton fans, brought up on a diet of media over exposure and cash to burn, will see the light and ditch them for us. Yet that isn't how football works. I couldn't ditch Tranmere for another team. All I can do is watch with interest and hope that any fallout from an Everton relegation doesn't affect us negatively.
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H v Spurs
A v Man Utd
H v Fulham
A v Palace
H v Newcastle
A v Leicester
A v Brighton
H v Man City
A v Wolves
H v Bournemouth
By my reckoning it’s only really the Fulham and Palace games that don’t involve either teams pushing to secure a European place or to avoid relegation.
Quote:the kav
Everton won't go down, the way dyche has them defending as 4-5-1 with no space between the lines makes them solid. They will bore their supporters to death but stay up. Soton, Leeds and Bournemouth for me
Everton will be OK. May even finish above Liverpool! 😂
Either way it will have liitle or no effect on us
This April Fools Day joke from a few seasons ago was a bit of a giggle..
'You can get some 'Liverton' and 'Everpool' trainers ahead of the Merseyside derby, but you have to be quick..Bold Street store Transalpino launched the pair of "coming soon" limited edition half-and-half trainers. Only 40 pairs available paying tribute to the brotherly love that exists amongst our two sets of fans, customized gazelle will come with Liverton on one shoe and Everpool on the other, on sale tomorrow at 18:00 GMT.
I wonder if anyone fell for it?
Quote:haha me too yardley ..i would like them to go down mainly for the birkenhead bluenoses who totally snub us as non entitiesHardlyYardley
When I was growing up, I used to have a second team : Tranmere Reserves (in the Cheshire League).
Quote:before our famous win the bhead bluenoses scrawled on the walls in halfway house "tmrw 3pm evton v dog and duck.they werent seen around for months ,they celebrated when we lost on pens to villa and also when we lost to fgr.so you wont find me feeling sorry if they go down ,but they will find a way of surviving ,intimidation beeing 1waydave-p
To be fair, a Birkenhead bluenose got me into the Tranmere Directors' Box for my birthday once.
Quote:Loyden1Quote:before our famous win the bhead bluenoses scrawled on the walls in halfway house "tmrw 3pm evton v dog and duck.they werent seen around for months ,they celebrated when we lost on pens to villa and also when we lost to fgr.so you wont find me feeling sorry if they go down ,but they will find a way of surviving ,intimidation beeing 1waydave-p
To be fair, a Birkenhead bluenose got me into the Tranmere Directors' Box for my birthday once.
too true Loyden. And they always scrape out of it, sometimes by cheating (remember the Anders Limpar dive...).
I remember the "Everton" Echo made constant fun of us (their report Len Cappelling, or Len Crappelling we used to call him). Silenced forever with that 0-3. Thank you Steve Yates and Jason Koumas ... and of course Aldo!
When you have 8 squad players a week prior to the season starting, then unless the manager is seen as a weapons grade @#$%& trumpet, that 0% of available players would touch with a turd spattered stick, then you have to look at the boardroom and wonder what the guy in charge is doing for the best part of 3 months.
The most unbelievable turnaround I recall, was a few seasons back when Hamilton Academicals had a slim chance of pipping Ayr United to promotion to the Scottish Championship. A win and a slip-up by Ayr would hand Hamilton the promotion.
Hamilton were then docked 30 points for financial mis-demeanours and needed to win their final game against Queen of the South just to stay up. They lost and went down, but then proceeded to get 3 consecutive promotions to the SPL.
Not a bad way to bounce back.
However it should be said the same was not possible for Tranmere, although what a turnaround it would have been to be relegated on PPG, then be starting this season with a home game against a side like Chelsea.
Unfortunately Tranmere have failed to recreate the Hamilton effect, but then in a league system that includes 72 EFL clubs, it would be considerably more challenging.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Quote:Matt34
Most relegations are deserved, with the exception of Blackpool to league one when Jose Vega got the job. Oysten left him with 8 players in the squad a week before the first league game, Lee Clark inherited the remnants of the farce mid-season and the club was about 20 points from safety with 6 games left and dropped.
When you have 8 squad players a week prior to the season starting, then unless the manager is seen as a weapons grade @#$%& trumpet, that 0% of available players would touch with a turd
spattered stick, then you have to look at the boardroom and wonder what the guy in charge is doing for the best part of 3 months.
The most unbelievable turnaround I recall, was a few seasons back when Hamilton Academicals had a slim chance of pipping Ayr United to promotion to the Scottish Championship. A win and a slip-up by Ayr would hand Hamilton the promotion.
Hamilton were then docked 30 points for financial mis-demeanours and needed to win their final game against Queen of the South just to stay up. They lost and went down, but then proceeded to get 3 consecutive promotions to the SPL.
Not a bad way to bounce back.
However it should be said the same was not possible for Tranmere, although what a turnaround it would have been to be relegated on PPG, then be starting this season with a home game against a side like Chelsea.
Unfortunately Tranmere have failed to recreate the Hamilton effect, but then in a league system that includes 72 EFL clubs, it would be considerably more challenging.
Morning Matt, slightly related to this, if Queens park go up this season they will have achieved 3 in a row since casting off their amateur status. All without a home ground.
Play in our massive stadium for nothing, or a player can get £250 a week to play in a 4,500 standing room / partial seater stadium.
One of Dwight Gayles early teams was Stanstead, playing in front of 20 people, it would have looked a bit odd if he was playing for nothing and Stanstead's stadium had been Wembley.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
They have realised they are being laughed at calling for the manager to be sacked every 3 months and have moved onto Mr kenwright now.
The club cannot cede to them again, even if they go down, the supporters cannot run the club. If they sack kenwright the supporters will be screaming to sack his replacement if they get off to a bad start next season.
It's not rocket science what the problem is at goodison this season, they needed to break the bank and buy a goalscorer, not keep sacking managers
Quote:dave-p
They've equalised. But will it be enough?
99th min equalizer dave, how important is that goal gonna be?
Quote:the kav
I think Leeds will win against a cba west ham. It will be out of Everton's hands
i had to check up what 'cba' meant Kav. lol....got it now, 'Can't be a*sed'
Quote:hong kong roverQuote:dave-p
They've equalised. But will it be enough?
99th min equalizer dave, how important is that goal gonna be?
Same as last season, thy had match where they scored in the 99th minute, in a game with 18 minutes of extra time in the second half.
Some of the matches these days have stupid amounts of extra time in the second half. it wouldn't hurt to put a cap on extra time.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Quote:gary anderson
I don't really care not interested in Everton or Liverpool where they finish what they do .my only interest is Tranmere rovers fc the team I support.
Is right Gary lad - focus on The Rovers! SWA
***SPORTY VIKINGS - BBC Radio Merseyside with Sean Styles****
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Quote:Loyden1
Dropped 'the toffees nickname in favour of 'the floaters' a turd that refuses to go down

Even then though, Everton might not survive, Noises about a legal challenge from the relegated clubs as the Fair Play investigation has not been completed and any penalty will be carried over until next season. It may run and run.
Quote:Crazylegs Cranebird
Its in our interests that the reds and blues mess up. We want them out of Wirral.
Last time I looked , they were across the river. And if you simply mean supporters, by definition they will support them regardless. It’s what being a ‘supporter’ means. None of this fair weather nonsense that has crept in to Tranmere support. ‘
Quote:NickNotTheGreek
If Everton get relegated, that surely jeopardises the Bramley Docks project and puts many Merseyside based jobs at risk. For that reason I hope they stay up.
Not sure it will but if it does I am with you. Let's be honest we play a different sport, certainly different rule book
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:05:23:17:18:24 by hong kong rover.
Quote:NickNotTheGreek
If Everton get relegated, that surely jeopardises the Bramley Docks project and puts many Merseyside based jobs at risk. For that reason I hope they stay up.
I dont think it would. Leicester built their Kingpower stadium whilst in the 2nd tier, Derby Pride Park as well. If they go down they also get parachute payments
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Quote:My understanding is that if they go down it increases the likelihood of us ground sharing with them whilst our new stadia is built. Rumour has it that they refused overtures from us in December hence the delay, or abandonment, of the Bidston feasibility study. However, the loss of Premier League income may mean that option could be back on the cards.NickNotTheGreek
If Everton get relegated, that surely jeopardises the Bramley Docks project and puts many Merseyside based jobs at risk. For that reason I hope they stay up.
Quote:err great rumour zint, im sure 2000 tranmere fans would make a big difference to everton costs for a matchday held at bramley dock🤣ZintQuote:My understanding is that if they go down it increases the likelihood of us ground sharing with them whilst our new stadia is built. Rumour has it that they refused overtures from us in December hence the delay, or abandonment, of the Bidston feasibility study. However, the loss of Premier League income may mean that option could be back on the cards.NickNotTheGreek
If Everton get relegated, that surely jeopardises the Bramley Docks project and puts many Merseyside based jobs at risk. For that reason I hope they stay up.
Every ball's a white ball
'Well, she's in luck...The Missus is getting an extra 30 seconds tonight, lucky girl. Although I think I will have to employ some time wasting techniques.'
Quote:and bramley dock floodsBored rover
Cant believe it, can only hope they get a 20/30 point deduction next season.
They will likely face a heavy points deduction and, I suspect, may be barred from signing new players as part of their punishment, in which case we might be here this time next season. Yet I doubt it. Luton will be one of the favourites for relegation, and I suspect Wolves and Bournemouth will occupy the other two berths. Time will tell.
In the end celebrating Everton’s demise would have been about tribalism. Sometimes, tribalism matters.
Massive summer for the Bluenoses if they’re to avoid another relegation battle. They should improve, but you still wouldn’t back against them shooting themselves in the foot again.
Bitterness might best be saved and directed towards the nouveau riche media darlings of North Wales next season.
