Step forward, our Chairman!

Much has been written of late of our stumbling performances. There's really no denying it. We have faded badly and the players do have to share some of the responsibility for this. However, let's be fair here. It's obvious, to me a least, that the decline is inetxricably linked to the lack of investment in the Summer of 07 and January 08, making the outcome that we now see (and feel) as absolutely inevitable.

Look, therefore, no further than Kenwright and Wyness. I can sympathise with the caution demonstrated in the Summer of 07 - however, in January, with clear opportunities lying ahead, they (again) sat on their hands.

Ask yourself, honestly, how long have we known about the limitations of certain squad members? Squad members that now regularly line up in the First Eleven. Where's the shock that Neville and Carsley limit our options going forward?

Kenwright, knows in his heart of hearts that he has got away with it - results/performances with such little investment is a rare combination these days. All the more baffling that the man that espouses 24/7 has 'struggled' to find investment - as it's clear that there's a lot that's right about Everton presently.

It's clear that he's hanging on for the stadium move as then, and only then, will his stock be at a level that he can realise his exit monies. Between now and then, it's purely down to the tolerance thresholds of Moyes, the players and fans in putting up with this charade.

I am worried that Moyes is now joining a section of fans and seeing Kenwright for what he is ... a shamming blusterer. The summer of 08 will be revealing...

Reader Comments

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Karl Masters
1   Posted 13/04/2008 at 19:24:59

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It most certainly will. Watch this space.......
Tony Williams
2   Posted 13/04/2008 at 21:05:04

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What an absolute load of bollocks. So our poor run of late is down to Kenwright is it? Do me a fucking favour.

If that is the case the 12 game unbeaten run must be down to him also.

The team put out yesterday was good enough to beat Birmingham but the players didn't perform, it makes no difference if Kenwright and Co can?t bring the money to the table in matches, it?s whether the players can play to their potential or not.
Jay Harris
3   Posted 14/04/2008 at 05:48:18

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Although I am one of Kenwright's biggest critics I agree with Tony Williams that we cant specifically lay the blame of our recent slump at Kenwright?s feet.

In typical Moyes style teams I think the players have put so much in to the first 3/4 of the season they are now running on empty,carrying knocks and generally feeling a bit edgy after a run of poor results following the Uefa Cup exit in such a cruel way. This has aslo affected the fans who are now getting at players rather than encouraging them

However, it is also very apparent that we have spent far less than other teams around us and started with a threadbare squad to begin with. I believe the board?s main responsibilty is to provide good commercial management and ensure adequate investment. I am afraid on that score I do lay the blame at Kenwrights door:

Poor marketing(our income from commercial activities outside of Sky and gate receipts is abysmal.

Poor operational management (Ticket, travel fiascos, NTL, transfer cock-ups, continuous operating losses,etc.)

But most of all I fear the lack of investment that he has supposedly been "looking for 24/7" for the last 5 years together with selling off/mortgaging all the clubs assets will mean any extra commercial money received for doing well this season will go into the black hole.

I am also convinced that the only reason he is hell bent on Kirkby is that it will facilitate a large mortgage say of £100 million plus which offers scope for an awful lot of creative accounting.
Erik Dols
4   Posted 14/04/2008 at 07:57:26

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Although I hope that Moyes will have a huge transfer kitty this summer so I hope Kenwright will step up, I think your article contains some flaws. The most obvious being about ’the lack of investment in the summer of 07". We spent about £21.65 millions (figures taken from this site). Even if you take away the £5 mil for Naysmith and Beattie we still had a net spending spree of £16.65 millions. Now that may be a lot less than the barcodes, spurs or even villa, man city and pompey throw away each year, but for us it was the biggest spending spree in a long, long time
James McPherson
5   Posted 14/04/2008 at 09:07:30

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Tony, thanks for your (direct!) response.

If you read my article, I did state that the players have to absorb their fair share of the blame. For example, we all know a ball bouncing off Carsley’s shin instead of him controlling it with his instep, has precious little to do with Kenwright sat 50m away.

Yes, we have played very well this season. Our football on occasion has been totally refreshing. My point is that there is now a strong track record of our fading badly towards the end of a season. This is down to squad numbers and the complete lack of options for Moyes to change and freshen things up. That lack of quality in numbers is down to Kenwright - thats’ my point.

If we are to progress to the next stage, Kenwright has to play his part and support Moyes. Else this cycle of strong starts and middles of a season followed by a fading away will continue to pepetuate itself. My argument was that January heralded a real opportunity to kick on. Sadly it was missed. The results therefore (in my view are in spite of the lack of investement)

Hi Erik, I believe (from a figure used on Sky last week) that our NET spending since 2002 is £27M.
Tony Waverleas
6   Posted 14/04/2008 at 10:57:22

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James, no offence but I’m sick of hearing this "January was a missed opportunity" line.

I assume you can show me a list of players who were available and willing to join us?
I’m also assuming you can tell us what we would they would have cost in terms of transfer fees and wages?
Can you? Actually, I’m assuming you can’t do any of that.
Personally, I assume we didn’t sign anybody because David knew the players he wanted were unavailable, (he is on record as saying January is a bad time to buy for that very reason), and therefore felt it best to wait until the summer.
But, no, a few disapppointing results at the tail-end of a largely satisfying season and out trots the notion of signing players for the sake of it.
And James, I know you didn’t word it like that but I’m afraid that’s what it boils down to.
Ciarán McGlone
7   Posted 14/04/2008 at 11:30:50

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Tony,

Are you actually trying to imply that we didn’t need to sign players in January? Or are you just making excuses for the fact that we didn’t?

It’s seems quite obvious to me that our midfield is severely lacking.

To suggest that there was no players in the world who could’ve come in and done a job for us..is just gibberish.

January’s window was a lost opportunity, that’s a fact. Perhaps the problem was that we were only willing to pay Everton’s valuation of players...a opinion that has often been expressed by the hierachy at this club...and one which quite frankly flies in the face of rudimentary market ecomonics.
Tony Waverleas
8   Posted 14/04/2008 at 11:56:38

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Ciaran, it’s not gibberish to say that he players David thinks will improve his squad were unavailable to join us in January and that he didn’t want to waste money on players he didn’t think would be any use to him.

Neither am I making excuses for David: I believe we didn’t sign anyone because (I repeat) the long-term targets David wants were not available to sign in January.

Simple reallly.



Ciarán McGlone
9   Posted 14/04/2008 at 12:16:15

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Well, it is gibberish, because it’s no more than hearsay or soundbites...to suggest that a premiership manager cannot alter his opinion on what is needed according to the situation in hand is nothing more than excuse making.

The fact that Neville gets played in midfield, despite every man and his dog knowing that he’s probably the worst midfielder we’ve ever had...more than cements the point that we needed new recruits in January.

If it was a simple case of Moyes long term targets not being available, then perhaps he should have reconsidered those targets, and re-evaluated. A little bit of dynamism is hardly too much to ask.
Tony Williams
10   Posted 14/04/2008 at 11:55:08

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James, sorry about the "directness" of my post, I had had quite a few beers in me from watching the matches in the pub.

I agree that the lack of squad numbers is down to Kenwright per se and also Moyes, I know it is a gamble, which is biting us in the arse now, but Moyes will not buy in squad players, he is always looking to better the players he has now, so he will not bolster the squad with bench warmers, as I said risky.

Our injury list this season has been unbelievable and the fact that we have had to lose players due to the AcoN.

We have probably the biggest squad we have had for a while but we have also the biggest injury list also.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but in January I didn’t think we needed new bodies in after the Fernandes loan was revealed, unfortunately now it seems that we probably did need them but Moyes will never buy squaddies on a maybe.
Jay Harris
11   Posted 14/04/2008 at 13:43:49

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Tony
There was no Maybe about it. WE knew McFadden was going (for a good price)from an already depleted squad for some weeks so we could have easily brought in some cover. Add to that we knew Grav had knee problems, Osman was injured and the Afcon situation.

Although I agree we should have got cover for MF in January, I am prepared to wait and see what we do in the close season and then pass judgement the powers that be.

In the meantime I think its really important that we get behind the team to drag them over the line to 5th.

Tony Waverleas
12   Posted 14/04/2008 at 13:18:46

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It may be an oversight on your behalf, Ciaran, but I think you?ll find we did recruit a midfielder in January and, for whatever reason, it hasn?t been an unqualified success so far. Which if you like "cements the point" that January may not be the best time to sign players.

As for the dynamism you allude to I?m guessing what you?re asking for is a manager who at all times has ready-made clones of every single one of his first choice side who can slot seamlessly into the team at the drop of a hat. Nice idea but hardly realistic.

Furthermore, as for reconsidering his targets, well I?m not sure what you mean by that but I for one like to think we?ve got a manager who actually knows what those Latin words on the club crest mean.


If David does want to wait until the summer to sign the players he really covets then I personally have no problem with that.

Because if it?s a choice then I?ll take quality over quantity any time.
Ciarán McGlone
13   Posted 14/04/2008 at 17:08:13

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I never considered Gravesen coming back as anything other than for comedy effect...

And all that cements is the fact that if you pay penuts you get monkeys...A lesson I thought Moyes had learned a long time ago.

As for your suggestion that our transfer policy is so rigid that we’ll never sign anyone unless they’re Moyes first choice and they become available...If thats the case then I fear for this club...

However, i think you’re wrong.

P.s NSNO? Phil Neville? surely not.
Tony Waverleas
14   Posted 15/04/2008 at 09:25:41

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Erm....

Gravesen was signed in the summer transfer window.
Fernandes was signed in the January window, (or, the "lost opportunity window" as you probably like to call it).

I’m guessing you don’t like David or how he goes about his business. Fine, but at least try and get the facts right.


Ciarán McGlone
15   Posted 15/04/2008 at 10:42:13

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Apologies, getting my threads mixed up..

I think there’s a bit more reasoning for the Fernandes problem...one of these posssibly being the fact that he didn’t play much when he came and watched a midfield dynamo such a Neville getting on ahead of him...and his obvious lack of fitness and personal problems back in spain

As for your suggestion that I don’t like Moyes....I believe he has a lot of learning still to do..but I think he’s the man for us.


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