What Ben Foster said about Everton is exactly why fans are inspiring Goodison Park change

Everton supporters making a pro-active change to the atmosphere at Goodison Park is something that they shouldn't really have to do.

This is an under-performing squad of players - that's been the case for far too long if we're all honest.

Those stars should have been inspiring the supporters to much more over the course of this season - they should be putting more smiles on faces.

But the desire to remain positive since the demoralising defeat to Newcastle United in midweek has been hugely heartening to see.

And comments from Ben Foster, which were made at the beginning of the month, but which have resurfaced today, show exactly why this kind of change could be so crucial to the Blues in the battle to stay in the Premier League.

"One thing I will say is, if you can get on top of Everton early doors, the Everton fans are horrible to Everton players. They get right on top of them. For sure they get into the players' heads," he said on his podcast.

"All we said before the game is, 'right lads, we need to start fast and get on top of them'.

"We won the game 5-2 and we make a point of saying it, the Everton fans are horrible. If it looks like we're overrunning them, they get on the Everton players like crazy."

Horrible. That's really the key word there.

Evertonians over the years have taken some sense of pride from that word - because opposition players usually describe the feeling of playing at Goodison as horrible.

It shouldn't be the case for Blues players themselves, but it's an indictment of how much the fans have felt intrinsically let down in recent weeks, months and even years.

However, Everton are in a relegation fight now. Things have to be a little bit different.

Supporters are desperate to get the stadium back