Everton09

I first became fascinated with the game during Euro '08 which was covered relatively extensively in the US. During the 09/10 season I started to read up on the top professional leagues, which I previously had no knowledge of, in preperation for South Africa. Eventually I gave most of my attention to the EPL (language and other considerations) and around this time Donovan signed with Everton. So it was Donovan who brought my attention to Everton at a time I needed a team, but it was the spirit of the club, the manager, the fans, and players like Cahill, Baines, Pienaar, and Arteta that made me a Blue and still has me waking up early to watch derbies and shout at the TV.

United, arsenal, spurs, chelsea, newcastle, and liverpool all home the first time through.

That was my feeling also. Was in a bar with 150 others myself and it fell perfectly silent there as well.

Cheers Twintown - you're not the only Twins/Toffees fan from the cities here (although I just started posting with the buildup to today's match pushing me over the edge). Anyway, great to have a fellow Minnesotan.

Ha - thanks for answering my dumb question. For some reason I was thinking that was a semi (though obviously not).

Reading here for a while but never posted til now. Wanted to hear a few opinions without derailing the discussion too much: given the opponent and the circumstance, tomorrow's tie is the biggest for Everton since __________?