Everton: 10 Reasons FA Cup Glory Can Be a New Dawn

Despite failing to see off the threat of Sunderland with the aid of home supremacy, Saturday's 1-1 draw in the FA Cup quarterfinals means Everton's dream of lifting silverware this season still lingers on.

True, the task grew in complexity, with a challenging replay at Sunderland set to determine who meets Liverpool in the semifinal, but hope will remain on the blue half of Merseyside.

Should the club go on and hoist the trophy, not only would it be a remarkable triumph, considering the teams left standing in their way, but it could also prove to be a launch pad for an exciting new era at Goodison Park.

It Would Give Everton a Foundation to Build from

The 1995 FA Cup was the last time Evertonians toasted silverware, a date stretching back the best part of two decades.

For a club of Everton's stature, this is far too long.

With that success in 1995, after vanquishing Manchester United in the final, the win left Everton on a total of 15 major honours won—nine domestic leagues, five FA Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Back then, only Arsenal (on 16), Aston Villa (19), Manchester United (21) and Liverpool (35) stood ahead of the Toffees as the most successful clubs in English history.

Over recent years, and with help from some generous benefactors, the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham have now surged past Everton's stash of silverware.

From being just one ahead, Arsenal have enjoyed their most trophy-laden spell, and now sit on 27, whilst Manchester City are sure to threaten the Toffees' standing in the not too distant future—considering the fortune they now have at their disposal.

By capturing silverware again, it would breath a new-found confidence and aura into the entire hierarchy at Everton and provide the club with a stepping stone from which to build on from.

Victory Puts Everton Back on the Map

Partially continuing on from the last point, should the Toffees' trophy drought reach 20 years, an entire generation of football fans would be almost oblivious to Everton's illustrious heritage.

Too many would assume Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham would have always been above Everton, and blind to the fact the Toffees have actually won more league titles than these three trendy sides combined.

One of the most decorated clubs in English domestic football needs to return to the headlines, and there is no better way to do this other than earning success.

With a Trophy on His CV, David Moyes' Stock Would Rise

For over half of this barren run that has seen Everton exist without silverware, they have been in the hands of one of the game's most respected managers.

Three LMA Manager of the Year awards, as well as countless other managerial honours punctuate his tenure, yet not one single medal has been won to define it.

Should Moyes get his hands on some craved silverware, his reputation would soar.

Soon after Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth—a manager with an inferior Premier League win ratio of 37 percent, compared to Moyes' own record of 40 percent—he was suddenly in the frame for most vacant managerial posts.

Few were then surprised when Redknapp landed the Spurs job, a position Moyes could well be in the running for in the summer.

New Contract for Moyes

Whilst winning the FA Cup would undoubtedly enhance Moyes' stock, and make him a more fashionable choice for other sides, it could also fully convince him that Everton is the place for him.

With his own contract winding down, David Moyes may well spend this summer deliberating over his future.

With a managerial merry-go-round likely to occur, involving top clubs such as Tottenham and Chelsea, his name should feature high up on a few shortlists.

Moyes has always been a man with a five year plan, and this summer will be the period he plots out his next career steps, whether it be at Everton or elsewhere.

Whilst FA Cup success would clearly champion his cause, it may also assure him that his ambitions can all be achieved at Everton. 

Where else would he be able to have his hand so prominently in so many departments of the club?

He has gone on record several times pronouncing his gratitude to Bill Kenwright for freely allowing him to run so many areas of the club, something that is so rare in modern day football.

Something that was the norm in Brian Clough's era, it now only accompanies longevity, and Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson are the only Premier League managers to enjoy similar roles.

It is something Moyes obviously cherishes.

Add physical success on the field to the privileges he has earned during his lengthy tenure, and he may well consider Everton to be the most sensible choice for him.

Trophies Attract Top Players

On the back of Everton's last cup success, victory quickly made them a far more alluring and enticing proposition for the premium brand of player.

Soon after their win, the Toffees smashed their transfer record when they were able to prise Manchester United's Andrei Kanchelskis away from Old Trafford, and the Russian simply electrified those fortunate enough to watch him at Goodison Park.

Victory in this year's competition would make the blue half of Merseyside a far more appealing destination for players of a greater calibre than Everton have recently been able to pick from.

Extra Funds for Moyes

Of course, an FA Cup win secures some much needed income for the Toffees.

It is well documented how much Everton have struggled financially over the past few years, with debts rising and David Moyes becoming increasingly thwarted in the transfer market.

So far, by reaching the quarterfinals, the Toffees have already cashed in almost £200,000 in prize money alone, excluding TV income, match-day gates, and other marketable perks of progressing on to the latter stages.

By winning the competition, Everton would see their reward multiplied up to ten times from what they have secured so far.

The winner's cheque is just shy of £2 million, and that, added to several other juicy add-ons, would certainly help the Toffees predicament and provide David Moyes with some extra ammunition in the summer transfer window.

Fewer Reasons for Top Talent to Leave

On the flip-side, Everton's financial struggles result in their best players constantly being courted by other sides in the Premier League.

Although they are still notoriously seen as stingy sellers, racking up considerable amounts for Wayne Rooney and Joleon Lescott, the fact that those players have left the club—along with the likes of Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar—frustrates fans.

FA Cup glory would surely cause many to realise they can achieve many of their footballing ambitions at a club like Everton.

Of course, if they do not agree with that viewpoint, at least a trophy on their CV would crank up the Toffees' asking price and make a move away far more arduous to construct.

Return to Europe, Where Everton's Younger Stars Can Shine

Possessing the current champion side of the youth team game, entry to to Europa League—guaranteed should the Toffees make the final—would provide several of these youngsters with valuable experience.

Everton are one of the few English sides to take the Europa League seriously with their selection, yet giving game-time to the likes of Ross Barkley, Apostolos Vellios and Shane Duffy (with one or two more), would hardly dent a side's competitiveness, and only increase competition for places in the squad.

As well as being a breeding ground where Everton can continue to hone the talents of their youth, obviously the Europa League is also another avenue to silverware, income and notoriety.

A Chance of Payback Against Liverpool

Twice this season, Everton fans have had to digest particularly painful defeats at the hands of their bitter rivals Liverpool, with consequences around both matches proving especially hard to stomach.

Loosing to your nemesis is unbearable in itself, but doing so in such unsatisfactory ways as Everton have this season has riled many supporters.

In the first clash, after an even opening 20 minutes where both sides jostled for position, Everton had Jack Rodwell sent off for an innocuous challenge on Luis Suarez.

They then went on to lose 2-0, after being forced to play 70 minutes with 10 men.

Just last week, before the second encounter, Everton were on a roll having beaten Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham.

With momentum in full flow, fans were quietly confident they could trouble an out-of-form Liverpool.

However, keeping his best players injury and suspension-free for the FA Cup, David Moyes surprisingly made six changes to his side, choosing several individuals desperately short of form and fitness.

Unsurprisingly Liverpool romped to victory, and many fans have since chastised Moyes for this radical move in such a crux encounter for fans.

Were Everton to lift the FA Cup, in doing so they would dispose of Liverpool on route, giving their fans the last laugh for this season.

Advertise the Club for Essential New Investment

Of course, the toxin to all Everton's forward progress on the pitch under David Moyes is the lack of investment available to the club off it.

A buyer is desperately needed to stabilise the financial department and help the club move forward.

A new stadium and rising debts approaching £50 million are crippling the Toffees, and need urgent attention.

With football's money men generally residing on foreign shores, winning England's premier domestic cup competition only enhances their appeal, and would give them a much better chance of catching the eye of a potential backer.

Should it ever come, considering the admirable framework in place in so many areas of the club, it truly could be an exciting new era at Everton.

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