Everton: Sky Sports pundit backs Gary Lineker after comment riles ‘incredible’ fanbase
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell believes it is not a problem for Everton to rely on the “incredible” support of the fanbase after a negative reaction to Gary Lineker in recent weeks.
Speaking on Match of the Day after the 3-1 defeat at home to Fulham on 15 April (1h 4m 20s) Lineker had said Toffees fans “need to rally”, leaving many online feeling aggrieved that it appeared the supporters were being handed the responsibility the team wasn’t taking.
But former Everton skipper Campbell doesn’t think it is unfair for the players to look to the famed support from the fanbase to help motivate them, because that’s what they are part of the club for.
“No it’s not unfair at all, that’s why you have a fanbase for,” the Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Goodison News.
“Look, fans are frustrated and demoralised, and it’s another a season in the same position.
“But let me tell you something, them Evertonians, they’re going to dust themselves down and they’re going to support their team, that’s for sure.
“It’s not going to be, ‘Oh no we’re just going to down tools’. That’s not what the Evertonians are about.
“There might [have been] a sense after the Fulham game where they felt really down and they’re just reacting to what Gary Lineker said or whatever.
“But we saw it last season, we saw it the season before. Last season was incredible but sometimes that’s the only thing the club have got that makes a real difference, is the fanbase. And they’re going to have to turn up again.”
The fans have been put through it by the club for years now, and the team has too often followed suit over the past couple of seasons, so it is no wonder that frustrations have been shown at times.
But the supporters have always been there, and were finally rewarded with the stunning 5-1 win at Brighton on Monday night (8 May), to provide a huge shot of belief when hope was starting to look lost in the relegation battle.
It has to be a give-and-take relationship between Everton and the Evertonians, and at times the latter have appeared more committed to the cause, but as former Toffees both Lineker and Campbell know the importance of this fanbase, and if the players can provide a few more performances like the last one they will start to pay that support back.