Source: Liverpool_Echo
GREG O'KEEFFE: Everton FC should raise the bar on those DVD releases
THE joker in the Park End summed it up. As Everton scored their fifth past a pitiful Hull City en route to Sunday's crushing victory, that wonderfully self-deprecating Goodison humour kicked in.[LNB]'Go on Blues,' he shouted. 'Make it six and they can bring out another DVD.'[LNB]Everyone was in stitches, but the unfunny thing is that he was probably right.[LNB]Had Yakubu been near top form, Moyes's side would have at least matched their 7-1 destruction of Sunderland two seasons ago. It could have been more, such is the imbalance of any game which contains Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar on one side, and the Yard Dog's Yard Dog Paul McShane on the other (coming to a Sunday League pitch near you soon).[LNB]So far, there's been no DVD hailing the victory over Phil Brown's side, but would you be surprised if one was on the shelves by the end of the season?[LNB]This week saw the release of Nothing But The Best, a DVD featuring the fantastic victories over Chelsea and Manchester United this season.[LNB]They are games that Bluenoses will cherish for a while, Chelsea in particular, put to the sword for the first time under David Moyes' reign. Both matches were testament to achievement in the face of adversity, and contained some truly impressive football from the Toffees.[LNB]Nevertheless, many supporters will have winced at the news that the games were being released on DVD.[LNB]Evertonians of an older vintage will point to a time when wins over Chelsea and Manchester United were routine, and nothing to particularly cherish.[LNB]Certainly, times have changed and now wins over any of the top four are something to celebrate, but packaging them up as a DVD leaves the club open to accusations of being small time.[LNB]Now before I go on, it's vital to acknowledge that there is no doubting the business sense behind the DVD releases.[LNB]Go back 10 years and Everton's merchandising operation was distinctly average. The club was woeful at making money for itself commercially. Fast forward to the current day and things are different. Thanks initially to the much-maligned Keith Wyness, and now of course the ever-dynamic Goodison chief executive officer Robert Elstone, Everton are a resourceful business which exploits every commercial opportunity.[LNB]Just look at the booming trade which the two Everton stores do. Supporters should be grateful the club has finally got its act together in terms of making money.[LNB]The DVDs are another way of generating cash for a business which needs every penny it can get. Understanding that makes it harder to criticise them.
