COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From a Worried Fan
By Ken Buckley : 20/08/2008 : 
Comments (34) :
Comments (34) : Eleven days to go, the clock seems to be ticking that much faster and even gossip pages in any media outlet you check show no signs of even players having permission to speak to our club.
After attending our first two games v PSV and Blackburn it wasn't the results, type of play or anything else that happened on the pitch that caused my gut churning feeling that some thing is mightely wrong at our club.
A glance at the list of players handed numbered shirts showed not just a lack of players available at the moment but even when the injured and Vic are back it shows we are very unbalanced.
No specialist central midfielders on the books and just one top-draw striker.
It could be argued that we have players who could perform those duties but none with the ability required to create or cover as befits a team with ambitions to improve on last season and add this to the fact we have already played our first competitive game in this position and paid a price for it beggars belief.
All this and the fact that when the customary injuries and suspensions kick in as they inevitably do then cover looks thin indeed.
I believe that every Evertonian in the world can see this and that is where my real concern comes in. I am positive that Moyes and Round will have been well aware of this and who and what is needed long before last season finished. As professionals guiding our on field business they would have put their case to the board yet no action to date.
I would have thought the core business of a football club was primarily its on-field activity supported by the off-field activity. So even if the manager had submitted his plan and costing to the board only to be told that at this time the club didn't have the money for his first choices he would still have known where the deficiency lies and would have acting accordingly to ensure that come kick off we would have the positions covered with the best available at the price we could afford.
The fact that just nothing has happened to date seems to me just a little ominous.
I am not one to speculate as I have no idea whatsoever what goes on within the boardroom and maybe its all explainable and three or four players for the required positions will arrive but the very fact that we have got to this position leaves me worried.
For a club as big as we believe Everton to be to be unable to cover for six unavailable players on opening day will inevitably lead to widespread anger and speculation.
At the stage we are at now I think it is time for the club to put out some sort of statement to its paying customers whether players are signed last minute or not.
To an outsider this seems a most odd way to run a professional football club,to a fan it seems a disaster.
I just hope all is not as black as it appears.
UP THE BLUES!
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Excellent comment Terry.
You’ve hit it squarely on the head. We’re not an established ’big’ club anywhere but County Rd at the moment.
Moyes himself said he needed up to 5 years to have a good chance at cracking the top 4 and making a realistic attempt at the Prem title - and thats with everything going according to plan!.
Most of the problems that cause those on this site, who’re getting a well-earned reputation as miserable ba$tards, to be so utterly dismal is a lack of realisation that developing a reputation means more than two top-6 prem finishes and a halfway decent trot in the UEFA!.
When we’ve had two or three more top-6 finishes, even if there is a blip or two on the way, and another couple of European runs and actually perform consistently well against the likes of Kharkiv and Zenit. Then we’ll see the Arshavins and Moutinho’s pushing their agents to talk to us.
Maybe then we’ll see an end to halfwit Evertonians who scream at Moyes first to not bring in journeymen, showing no ambition for the clubs future, and then for not bringing in journeymen and depleting the transfer pot on dross!.
You’ve hit it squarely on the head. We’re not an established ’big’ club anywhere but County Rd at the moment.
Moyes himself said he needed up to 5 years to have a good chance at cracking the top 4 and making a realistic attempt at the Prem title - and thats with everything going according to plan!.
Most of the problems that cause those on this site, who’re getting a well-earned reputation as miserable ba$tards, to be so utterly dismal is a lack of realisation that developing a reputation means more than two top-6 prem finishes and a halfway decent trot in the UEFA!.
When we’ve had two or three more top-6 finishes, even if there is a blip or two on the way, and another couple of European runs and actually perform consistently well against the likes of Kharkiv and Zenit. Then we’ll see the Arshavins and Moutinho’s pushing their agents to talk to us.
Maybe then we’ll see an end to halfwit Evertonians who scream at Moyes first to not bring in journeymen, showing no ambition for the clubs future, and then for not bringing in journeymen and depleting the transfer pot on dross!.
Good article Ken, and just about sums up the feelings of most supporters.
You say "At the stage we are at now I think it is time for the club to put out some sort of statement to its paying customers".
I suspect that if we got a ’truthful’ statement then we may be even more despondent than we are now(if that’s possible).
I think we are in a deep hole, digging frantically, and getting deeper.
You say "At the stage we are at now I think it is time for the club to put out some sort of statement to its paying customers".
I suspect that if we got a ’truthful’ statement then we may be even more despondent than we are now(if that’s possible).
I think we are in a deep hole, digging frantically, and getting deeper.
I agree with Terry, well put mate, It would be great to see top quality players coming in but we just don’t have any pulling power, I do think M’Bia would be an excellent signing, I would like to see Milito (realistic?) his club suffered relegation and he still netted 28 times, surely he could be prised away for 8m, we need to replace LC (Someone who has the experience and could be a good mentor for JR) I like the look of Zenits Tymochuck) Just watching the England game last nigh! I mean we could be as bad as that! The Czech’s don’t have superstar names in their ranks but they all know the roles and respect each other, they work for the team to enable the team to work better as one unit, its the same with a lot of our european neighbours, Croats etc... they all look comfortable on the ball and can pick out a pass, linking, passing and moving and look at the fifa rankings! you don’t need supersatrs to make a good team! Real Madrid for example, the real superstars are the players that work for each other to improve one another.
Very worrying times.
I ignored all the conspiracy theories we?ve been hearing all pre-season, but a week after the season has STARTED and we?re scrapping together a team, it?s now clear that that our finances are far more worse than we ever imagined.
Taking weeks or even months and can?t tie up any deals speaks volumes. It?s like going into a BMW showroom saying "i?ll take that one, but i?ve only got got a fiver on me at the minute"
I was very optimistic for this season, but that?s turned into stomach churning dread.
I should have known better i suppose
I ignored all the conspiracy theories we?ve been hearing all pre-season, but a week after the season has STARTED and we?re scrapping together a team, it?s now clear that that our finances are far more worse than we ever imagined.
Taking weeks or even months and can?t tie up any deals speaks volumes. It?s like going into a BMW showroom saying "i?ll take that one, but i?ve only got got a fiver on me at the minute"
I was very optimistic for this season, but that?s turned into stomach churning dread.
I should have known better i suppose
Good clear article Ken . I suspect the summer has been one of those which has got worse and worse as the weeks have passed - I’m only guessing but what must looked a reasonable amount of money to spend last May for Moyes & Co, I suspect has become totally useless at todays inflated prices.
As the summer has progressed the "other" news items of DK, Wyness etc have only made our situation worse as regards ability to raise sufficient monies to compete.
What I find galling is that we knew that we couldnt compete financially with the Sky 4, but now add Spurs, AV, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Fulham, Newcastle, Man City and even bloddy West Brom !
What a state this great club has got itself into - I’m sure Moyes will leave and then Arteta, Lescott, Yak etc.
As the summer has progressed the "other" news items of DK, Wyness etc have only made our situation worse as regards ability to raise sufficient monies to compete.
What I find galling is that we knew that we couldnt compete financially with the Sky 4, but now add Spurs, AV, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Fulham, Newcastle, Man City and even bloddy West Brom !
What a state this great club has got itself into - I’m sure Moyes will leave and then Arteta, Lescott, Yak etc.
Given that lack of numbers was a very well and widely known fact, a long time before the season start, I am amazed we haven’t brought in some free transfers or loan moves just to beef up the squad a little. They may not be world class players but even lowly Fulham have managed to get the likes of Zoltan Gera on a free and not Man City are getting Cisse on a loan deal! These players were free and their wages cannot be that high they break the bank. For us not to be able to be a better option than the likes of Fulham is a sorry state to be in. Still - 10 days left and counting (hoping)! If we don’t get players in you can forget top six - we’ll be battling in the bottom six.
Denis,
Problem is that Moyes has been caught in a bit of a cleft stick owing to the success we’ve had on the pitch.
At the end of last season the noises were being made that ’just a few high-class players’ and we could be right up there challenging with the top-4. To a journeyman like Gera then we looked like a place where he was going to sit on a bench for a good chunk of the season. If he can get reliable first team footie elsewhere then he’s going to look there first.
Its only now, when we’re all terribly suprised that other clubs dont like letting go of the kind of highly-skilled players so we can go up a notch, that we are starting to think of the journey men as a fallback.
One idiot on another thread even went to the extreme of castigating Moyes for not picking up a couple of "£2mn squad types" at the start of the season. As if we just had £4mn to throw about when we we’re trying to land a couple of big ticket price Internationals!.
The main problem here is the expectation of some Everton fans that we should be challenging for glory when they should be looking at the last 5 seasons or so and realising that progress is slower than that unless you have an Abrahamovitch holding the purse strings with a very loose grip.
Worst case, from now, is that we dont sign anyone new before th window closes. Struggle for numbers until Cahill, Vaughan and Pienaar get back by about October and then just about hold our own until January when we try and strengthen again for a big effort 2nd half of the season.
Tthe team we put out for Blackburn plus Pienaar and Cahill is enough to get us at least mid-table in this years Prem in terms of talent....and that is worst case!. Remember what our worst case was in 2001-02?!. Thats how far we have come - plus we’re lucky - Man City could be wound up before the Jan window the way their chairman is going...thank god your not a City fan!.
Problem is that Moyes has been caught in a bit of a cleft stick owing to the success we’ve had on the pitch.
At the end of last season the noises were being made that ’just a few high-class players’ and we could be right up there challenging with the top-4. To a journeyman like Gera then we looked like a place where he was going to sit on a bench for a good chunk of the season. If he can get reliable first team footie elsewhere then he’s going to look there first.
Its only now, when we’re all terribly suprised that other clubs dont like letting go of the kind of highly-skilled players so we can go up a notch, that we are starting to think of the journey men as a fallback.
One idiot on another thread even went to the extreme of castigating Moyes for not picking up a couple of "£2mn squad types" at the start of the season. As if we just had £4mn to throw about when we we’re trying to land a couple of big ticket price Internationals!.
The main problem here is the expectation of some Everton fans that we should be challenging for glory when they should be looking at the last 5 seasons or so and realising that progress is slower than that unless you have an Abrahamovitch holding the purse strings with a very loose grip.
Worst case, from now, is that we dont sign anyone new before th window closes. Struggle for numbers until Cahill, Vaughan and Pienaar get back by about October and then just about hold our own until January when we try and strengthen again for a big effort 2nd half of the season.
Tthe team we put out for Blackburn plus Pienaar and Cahill is enough to get us at least mid-table in this years Prem in terms of talent....and that is worst case!. Remember what our worst case was in 2001-02?!. Thats how far we have come - plus we’re lucky - Man City could be wound up before the Jan window the way their chairman is going...thank god your not a City fan!.
I should say scrap all plans c included.Of all I think we should go for that guy I justcame a cross on youtube:-
http://www.youtube.com/results?search=related&search_query=%20mohamed%20zidan%20%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF%20%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%20%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AF%20%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1&v=KTIj1i1mRRM&page=2
http://www.youtube.com/results?search=related&search_query=mohamed%20zidan%20foot&v=m5oxYtvVLaA&page=2
Zidane’s heir apparent, a real gem,could turn us around IF Davey could accomodate
him and his worldbeating talents.At least the adventurous streak in Davey could be let loose a bit.
All this would have ,of course,to be done away from the prying eyes of SAF and Arsenic Type W and the evil media.
Can anybody send this discretely to Moyesy or Trevor St for that matter, one of ours making the first move instead of moneygrabber Pini.
Methinks Lorik Kana and Mohamed Zidan
would go a long way getting us where we belong.
Fellow Evertonians ’ave a look in and make a move a la John Hughes. What
d’yu think ,he? IF we have 30M as is being
rumoured or are we skint.
Lorik Cana would cost in the region of £15-£20million as stated by his club when rumours of interest from ourselves and Arsenal (Is it me or are Arsenal becoming the next Newcastle in rivalling us for players? Moutinho, M’Bia etc).
Also, I can’t see Loric Cana staying on the pitch for many full 90 mins, he is mental!
Not heard of the other bloke but watching YOUTUBE clips is not enough to get a good idea of what a player is like cos if you watched the best bits of my amateur career (Goals) you would sign me up to any non-league or even league 2 side around, on a top wage too. Other than that I was always a lazy b@astard, I can just hit a ball at 90mph.
Also, I can’t see Loric Cana staying on the pitch for many full 90 mins, he is mental!
Not heard of the other bloke but watching YOUTUBE clips is not enough to get a good idea of what a player is like cos if you watched the best bits of my amateur career (Goals) you would sign me up to any non-league or even league 2 side around, on a top wage too. Other than that I was always a lazy b@astard, I can just hit a ball at 90mph.
Ken is correct we are in a total mess from board to the manager and the player situation.
the boar for all the lies that have been spouted over the close season.
The manager must have to take a lot of the blame for the lack of signings , i mean what player is going to sign a 3 ,4 or even 5 year contract when even the manager wont sign to stay , what sort of a statement is that .
and finnaly the team , players paying out of position , school boys starting prem games , i mean come on did anyone really think 3 points were on the cards on saturday once the team was announced.
one word somes everton up at the moment:
shables
the boar for all the lies that have been spouted over the close season.
The manager must have to take a lot of the blame for the lack of signings , i mean what player is going to sign a 3 ,4 or even 5 year contract when even the manager wont sign to stay , what sort of a statement is that .
and finnaly the team , players paying out of position , school boys starting prem games , i mean come on did anyone really think 3 points were on the cards on saturday once the team was announced.
one word somes everton up at the moment:
shables
SHAMBLES that is
Nobody’s signing for two reasons
i) The also-rans we’re going in for (Smith, M’bia) are asking for wages we won’t pay or we won’t pay the fee
ii) Both reasons apply for the good players we go in for (Moutinho, Milito)
Meanwhile Bolton and Sunderland seal deals for Cisse, Bullard and other players that would do a good job for us, portraying the impression to the entire country that they are bigger clubs than Everton.
i) The also-rans we’re going in for (Smith, M’bia) are asking for wages we won’t pay or we won’t pay the fee
ii) Both reasons apply for the good players we go in for (Moutinho, Milito)
Meanwhile Bolton and Sunderland seal deals for Cisse, Bullard and other players that would do a good job for us, portraying the impression to the entire country that they are bigger clubs than Everton.
You have to be worried watching Sky this evening and Osman interviewed saying the kids can do it for us, speaks volumes of even our players expect no new team mates. If you want to add names of worthy additions to the squad can we please be sensible and not include the likes of Alan Smith as a striker as his career finished when he broke his leg at Analfield and hasn’t scored for two years, even Biffa had a better return than that and he was hated by the time he did one. We don’t want to get stuck signing twilighters either at 30+ just looking for their last meal ticket if they are not even as good a standard as the few players we do have.
I’m very doubtful there will be any signings now, just like the three months since the end of the last season, these last few days will fly by and the silence will be deafening followed by some lip service rubbish what have become regular lines:
we tried but the players we wanted were not available (a well used one)
we were let down by agents (this years new model which doesn’t appear to have affected any other team)
we only wanted to add quality to the squad and will keep the money until January - by which time it has miraculously disappeared (again another old one)
The argument about needing consecutive runs at high league placings and cup runs are out of the question given our abysmally small squad which is smaller than the one which barely limped over the finish line last season.
I’m very doubtful there will be any signings now, just like the three months since the end of the last season, these last few days will fly by and the silence will be deafening followed by some lip service rubbish what have become regular lines:
we tried but the players we wanted were not available (a well used one)
we were let down by agents (this years new model which doesn’t appear to have affected any other team)
we only wanted to add quality to the squad and will keep the money until January - by which time it has miraculously disappeared (again another old one)
The argument about needing consecutive runs at high league placings and cup runs are out of the question given our abysmally small squad which is smaller than the one which barely limped over the finish line last season.
Everyone at EFC is to be blamed for the mess we are in..it is impossible to believe that teams like Stoke and sunderland can make signings in seemingly hours while we are motionless..I for one am not going to a match until something is done to address the situation..I just get angry and end up calling the players...DM stays because he has a huge salary and the senior players can play for as long as they like because we have no alternative...they are probably quite happy to pick up paychecks until they get fed up and ask for transfers..I have NEVER blamed Rooney for leaving, the lad had ambition and wanted to win trophies...EFC seemingly do not.
Gavin,
Our abysmally small squad is, save for AJ and Carsley, the same one that performed so ’poorly’ as to finish 5th last season. AJ didnt even have all that much impact on the season if we’re honest either.
We’ve got injuries, thats just a factor of football, look at ManU at the moment theyre hurt just as bad as we are. They are trying to do something about it with Berbetov just as we are with M’bia etc.
Bottom line is that, when we get over these injuries, we have enough in the squad to get through to the Jan window without finding ourselves in the arse end of the table - if we match last seasons effort. We had enough to take down Blackburn last weekend save for some dodgy defending.
We get the bid accepted for M’bia on Monday and we’ll hold our own well enough.
Our abysmally small squad is, save for AJ and Carsley, the same one that performed so ’poorly’ as to finish 5th last season. AJ didnt even have all that much impact on the season if we’re honest either.
We’ve got injuries, thats just a factor of football, look at ManU at the moment theyre hurt just as bad as we are. They are trying to do something about it with Berbetov just as we are with M’bia etc.
Bottom line is that, when we get over these injuries, we have enough in the squad to get through to the Jan window without finding ourselves in the arse end of the table - if we match last seasons effort. We had enough to take down Blackburn last weekend save for some dodgy defending.
We get the bid accepted for M’bia on Monday and we’ll hold our own well enough.
Ste jones
Spot on mate you are correct to say the squad is virtually the same, I for one did not rate Carsley orAJ for that matter. Two reasonable signings and we will be as good if not better than last season.
Spot on mate you are correct to say the squad is virtually the same, I for one did not rate Carsley orAJ for that matter. Two reasonable signings and we will be as good if not better than last season.
Cant believe the comment from Ste Jones, we will be alright until January. What utter bollocks, January is harder to get players in than now, and the prices are further inflated. I can understand Moyes, Gave soft shyte a list and said go and get these players and I will sign a new contract, thus matching my ambitions, if you dont then we are going backwards. Moyes will leave in 12 months and we will be stuck with the Big "you dont know what youre doin" Sam, Peter Reid or Bryan Robson. players coming, we are praying that we sign M"Bia, who has actually watched the guy, is he another Alex Nyarko, we dont know, basically we have left it too late to get our targets or shopping list, we had to wait until the Sky money came last week, MacFadden money gone, servicing our debt. Bill has basically fucked our great club up, he is the guy who employed Bully Beef who sold everything blue for a bag of chips. People have said thank god we are not Man City, doesnt seem to bother Mark Hughes much does it.
We will have to start working out how many points soon that will make us safe. This has got to be the worst time at the moment to be an Evertonian, and I remember, Gordon Lee, Bingham and Mike Walker, signings like Brett Angel, Mike Walsh, Mick Ferguson, Paul Holmes and David Smallman
We will have to start working out how many points soon that will make us safe. This has got to be the worst time at the moment to be an Evertonian, and I remember, Gordon Lee, Bingham and Mike Walker, signings like Brett Angel, Mike Walsh, Mick Ferguson, Paul Holmes and David Smallman
Are you two having a laugh? Carsley was quietly our main man, we also lost Faddy... and what happens if Howard gets injured? The Yak or Arteta?
We also lost Manny and we don't want to be just holding our own, what sort of shout is that.
We also lost Manny and we don't want to be just holding our own, what sort of shout is that.
Ste I dont want to get in a slanging match mate and I suppose it is just down to opinions but you mentioned we had enough to take down Blackburn but we never, Blackburn could say similar to you regarding bad defending or shite goalkeeping and apart from a good 20 minute spell we were a disgrace mate, the first half was as bad as anything because we were stuck in our own half chasing shadows against a crap team who where also meant to be in a crisis, can you imagine the half time score if we had be playing someone with an ounce of class?
Believe me, that starting eleven WILL go to bits if they go two down, they will not have the experience and strength to pick themselves up and I would not be suprised if it happened tommorow, I hope to god I am wrong.
And Eric I never rated AJ I thought he was mentally weak and went to bits with the stick he recieved or when he missed those penalties but I would love him in my squad tommorow, I thought it was right to sell him providing we bought better, but I would have him everyday over Vic and for all the class Vaughan seems to have when does he actually play? he will miss at least half the season through injury or suspension.
I wish I had your belief, can you imagine what will happen if we lose tommorow? where do you think our first points will come from?
Believe me, that starting eleven WILL go to bits if they go two down, they will not have the experience and strength to pick themselves up and I would not be suprised if it happened tommorow, I hope to god I am wrong.
And Eric I never rated AJ I thought he was mentally weak and went to bits with the stick he recieved or when he missed those penalties but I would love him in my squad tommorow, I thought it was right to sell him providing we bought better, but I would have him everyday over Vic and for all the class Vaughan seems to have when does he actually play? he will miss at least half the season through injury or suspension.
I wish I had your belief, can you imagine what will happen if we lose tommorow? where do you think our first points will come from?
Paul I know what you are saying about Carsley, but, for every good match he had a bad one last season. Pacier players would skip round him and he’d have little option than to chop ’em down and as he got on thru the season it was happening more and more. I’m glad we let him go when we did so I can remember him as a good servant of the club...I dont think he would’ve been this season.
AJ I thought hadn’t been given enough of a chance to pair with Yak. Making him surplus to requirements off one poor-ish season I think is just stupid. That said if Moyes was aware that his fitness was going to be patchy this season too....maybe good business!.
Either way neither of them is necessarily a huge loss considering what they’d bring to the squad this term.
I know what you’re saying about inexperience...if we go two down...but the defence is still the same quality as it was last term. I know we used to heavily screen the defence with the midfield, but, there is enough quality in the defence for that not to be crucial...if they apply themselves better than on Sat!.
Where are the points going to come from?. The matches when we have the injured lads back I’d say.
AJ I thought hadn’t been given enough of a chance to pair with Yak. Making him surplus to requirements off one poor-ish season I think is just stupid. That said if Moyes was aware that his fitness was going to be patchy this season too....maybe good business!.
Either way neither of them is necessarily a huge loss considering what they’d bring to the squad this term.
I know what you’re saying about inexperience...if we go two down...but the defence is still the same quality as it was last term. I know we used to heavily screen the defence with the midfield, but, there is enough quality in the defence for that not to be crucial...if they apply themselves better than on Sat!.
Where are the points going to come from?. The matches when we have the injured lads back I’d say.
Ste - sorry to disagree but if our injured players come back we will still not have a squad good enough to challenge anywhere near Europe or even top half. With Pienaar, cahill, Hibo, vaughan & Vic back we will still need to include a couple of green teenagers in EVERY matchday squad - keep in mind we had 7 in the squad for Blackburn. Added to this we do not have a single proven defensive midfielder in the whole club which is a ridiculous position for any professional fooball club to be in let alone a PL club supposedly gunning for Europe. Take all this and add in the 50 odd games we expect to play this season - when injuries and suspensions kick in we will be struggling to stay off the relegation places. I’m not normally this pessimistic but that squad against Blackburn had me sh*tting bricks. SEVEN defenders in the start XI for a HOME game and 7 green teenagers in the matchday squad!! As said above, if teh Yak or Arteta gets injured who is there to replace them?
Ste totally agree with what you say regarding most things but they should not of been sold if we could not replace them.
As for the next points ,Cahill is a month away and Pienarr even further so by the time they come back we could be in shit street with zero confidence, I only pray to god Arteta does not get injured.
I have thought Moyes was superb in all this shit, but the longer it goes on I have realised he has a lot to be blamed for too, as someone mentioned in the week, Nigel Martin basically said he does..... dare I say it dither a bit.
As for the next points ,Cahill is a month away and Pienarr even further so by the time they come back we could be in shit street with zero confidence, I only pray to god Arteta does not get injured.
I have thought Moyes was superb in all this shit, but the longer it goes on I have realised he has a lot to be blamed for too, as someone mentioned in the week, Nigel Martin basically said he does..... dare I say it dither a bit.
The situation is a poor one thats for certain. Moyes has some responsibility for the way things have gone too. In my view he’s allowed himself to be too swayed by the idiots who reckon we’re ready for a serious top-4 challenge.
Too much concentration on the flair players who will ’take us to the next level’ and not enough attention paid to the fact that the level of player we had was enough for decent results and we just had too few by the end of the season.
We need to be looking more at the Arsenal model here NOT the frigging Liverpool one. Arsenal fans know they arent going to challenge properly for a couple of seasons cos Wenger is bringing his kids through and shaping the team in his own way. Their fans know what good football is, have faith and it will surely pay off for them.
Too many here though seem to thnk that we ’just need a couple more players’ and we can sweep allcomers. Who does that remind you of?!. The Redsox over the park have been saying that for a decade and its always bull.
Full strength we have Howard, Pip, Yobo, Lescott, Valente/Baines, Jags, Pienaar, Cahill, Ossie, Arteta and the Yak. THAT is still enough of a team to take on anyone in the division....possibly barring Chelski this time round!. Its a dangerously thin squad certainly, but, the core of quality is still there and, if we’re lucky with injuries, its only got to get us to the January window.
Too much concentration on the flair players who will ’take us to the next level’ and not enough attention paid to the fact that the level of player we had was enough for decent results and we just had too few by the end of the season.
We need to be looking more at the Arsenal model here NOT the frigging Liverpool one. Arsenal fans know they arent going to challenge properly for a couple of seasons cos Wenger is bringing his kids through and shaping the team in his own way. Their fans know what good football is, have faith and it will surely pay off for them.
Too many here though seem to thnk that we ’just need a couple more players’ and we can sweep allcomers. Who does that remind you of?!. The Redsox over the park have been saying that for a decade and its always bull.
Full strength we have Howard, Pip, Yobo, Lescott, Valente/Baines, Jags, Pienaar, Cahill, Ossie, Arteta and the Yak. THAT is still enough of a team to take on anyone in the division....possibly barring Chelski this time round!. Its a dangerously thin squad certainly, but, the core of quality is still there and, if we’re lucky with injuries, its only got to get us to the January window.
Ste Jones,
You should start by reducing your medication. We are 2 injuries away from not having a full sub’s bench. We had two recognised midfielders on Saturday against Blackburn. Baines & Arteta are nowhere near match fit. Moyes himself stated only five of the first team squad had a full pre-season in training. We finished fifth in the worlds’ richest footballing division. We have sold 16m worth of talent and signed no-one since last January.
When I paid (in advance) for my season tickets, I assumed I would be watching Premier League footballersn not academy or reserve players. We are a Laughing stock, please read the national press.
It really doesn’t matter who is to blame, but you cannot defend the indefensible.
You should start by reducing your medication. We are 2 injuries away from not having a full sub’s bench. We had two recognised midfielders on Saturday against Blackburn. Baines & Arteta are nowhere near match fit. Moyes himself stated only five of the first team squad had a full pre-season in training. We finished fifth in the worlds’ richest footballing division. We have sold 16m worth of talent and signed no-one since last January.
When I paid (in advance) for my season tickets, I assumed I would be watching Premier League footballersn not academy or reserve players. We are a Laughing stock, please read the national press.
It really doesn’t matter who is to blame, but you cannot defend the indefensible.
We have injuries - it happens!. Ask a ManU or Hammers fan.
We haven’t signed anyone because Moyes was listening to the halfwits who said we should be challenging top 4 when we had a squad depth that barely kept us in the hunt for 5th!.
You make noises saying you are signing top quality players and the journeymen will opt to go elsewhere where they stand a chance at regular 1st team football!. Thats not revolutionary thought.
Neither is it revolutionary that the kind of quality players we need to improve our side are, relatively, few and far between and those clubs that have them dont want to let go. We’re no different....would we let Arteta go easily if some club waded in wanting him to take them to their next level?. Of course we bloody wouldnt!.
So we’ve scared the journeymen off and failed to prise the quality targets loose, so far, for a raft of reasons. Obviously all David Moyes fault of course....shoot the b@stard!!!.
Of all the players that have moved to Prem clubs in this window how many of them would really have taken Everton on in any measurable way?. Deco - by his form so far is one, Keane - for 20mil LOL, Jo - crocked and unproven?. Maybe the Croatian lad thats signed for Spurs?. Answer is not many of them.
Just maybe you want to remember that bringing players in to a club, in the real world, isnt the same as it is in Premiership Manager!.
We haven’t signed anyone because Moyes was listening to the halfwits who said we should be challenging top 4 when we had a squad depth that barely kept us in the hunt for 5th!.
You make noises saying you are signing top quality players and the journeymen will opt to go elsewhere where they stand a chance at regular 1st team football!. Thats not revolutionary thought.
Neither is it revolutionary that the kind of quality players we need to improve our side are, relatively, few and far between and those clubs that have them dont want to let go. We’re no different....would we let Arteta go easily if some club waded in wanting him to take them to their next level?. Of course we bloody wouldnt!.
So we’ve scared the journeymen off and failed to prise the quality targets loose, so far, for a raft of reasons. Obviously all David Moyes fault of course....shoot the b@stard!!!.
Of all the players that have moved to Prem clubs in this window how many of them would really have taken Everton on in any measurable way?. Deco - by his form so far is one, Keane - for 20mil LOL, Jo - crocked and unproven?. Maybe the Croatian lad thats signed for Spurs?. Answer is not many of them.
Just maybe you want to remember that bringing players in to a club, in the real world, isnt the same as it is in Premiership Manager!.
Ste Jones, the appalling squad and I stand by that, in your mind if we have another Cahill injury (he has broken the same foot three times now) or Arteta or Yakubu injured and who from our illustrious "same" squad would you play? We have one senior striker at the club, the midfield is so thin it’s transparent and you accept injuries and suspensions will happen, so who will we play when it does? Whether the players we have released played or not they could be called upon when injuries hit, as it happened they made little impact but what happens if you have to bring a sixteen year old kid on against Chelski or Man U or Arsenal or the RS? You will get torn a new one and the kid’s morale will be through the floor at the bell end they will get from the fans.
Ste Jones,
How old are you ?
I ask this question ,because you don’t seem to understand the following; EVERTON FC HAVE NOT GOT A FIRST TEAM OF 11 FIT PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALLERS ! !
The club knew this before the season started. WTF have Deco & co. got to do with this precisely?
How old are you ?
I ask this question ,because you don’t seem to understand the following; EVERTON FC HAVE NOT GOT A FIRST TEAM OF 11 FIT PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALLERS ! !
The club knew this before the season started. WTF have Deco & co. got to do with this precisely?
It is now 10 days till the window slams shut. We are no where near the team we were last season. Anyone who thinks we are is as mental as the board!!! I made it NINE youth or reserve team players in the team/bench at the weekend. 7 on the bench and 2 in the first team. What people don’t realise is that the players we are missing were important players. LC did alot for the team. Do you think that that defender would have scored at the parkend? Do you really think he would have got there before LC would have taken the ball and the player???
Not signing players has also done very bad things for the rest of the squad. The players need a lift. They need to see players coming in. Lescott, Yobo, Howard, Yakubu, Arteta - they all look down. Moyes too.
We need someone behind the scenes who knows what to do as far as signing players & dealing with agents.
God only knows what we will get from WBA. They looked half decent against Arsenal. If we turn up with the same negetivity as we did against Blackburn we will get turned over. Example PN gets the ball 10YARDS in the Blackburn half turns on his heels, runs 20YARDS BACK into his own half and passes back to the goalie..... that said it all about our class or positivity.
Not signing players has also done very bad things for the rest of the squad. The players need a lift. They need to see players coming in. Lescott, Yobo, Howard, Yakubu, Arteta - they all look down. Moyes too.
We need someone behind the scenes who knows what to do as far as signing players & dealing with agents.
God only knows what we will get from WBA. They looked half decent against Arsenal. If we turn up with the same negetivity as we did against Blackburn we will get turned over. Example PN gets the ball 10YARDS in the Blackburn half turns on his heels, runs 20YARDS BACK into his own half and passes back to the goalie..... that said it all about our class or positivity.
INJURIES for Fux sake!. They happen!. We arent the only ones in the situation. Open your eyes and look around!
How many should we bring in to cover for injuries 5 players, 10 maybe 20 just to be on the safe side?????????
Jesus Christ some of you halfwits seem to think we find players lined up at the end of Scotty Rd?. Maybe when you’re playing your computer games thats feasible...in the real world it doesnt work like that.
What does Deco etc have to do with it???. Good Christ you’d better hope that I’m not some spotty 14yr old mate because I’m about three orders of magnitude up the ladder than you!.
Look at the dross that muppets like Roy Keane have signed...Malbranque, Cisse, etc. THEY get away with signing crap like that because it really does add something to their squads. What would they bring to us?.
Cover?. Well guess frigging what....cover costs money!. We spend on bring in modest, journeyman, players for bench detail and we go through the resources that we’d use to sign the Moutinho’s that idiots like those on this site DEMAND we bring in to ’take us to the next level’.
Back to the PC now Kevin...so who else you can buy for Everton on your game. Mug!.
How many should we bring in to cover for injuries 5 players, 10 maybe 20 just to be on the safe side?????????
Jesus Christ some of you halfwits seem to think we find players lined up at the end of Scotty Rd?. Maybe when you’re playing your computer games thats feasible...in the real world it doesnt work like that.
What does Deco etc have to do with it???. Good Christ you’d better hope that I’m not some spotty 14yr old mate because I’m about three orders of magnitude up the ladder than you!.
Look at the dross that muppets like Roy Keane have signed...Malbranque, Cisse, etc. THEY get away with signing crap like that because it really does add something to their squads. What would they bring to us?.
Cover?. Well guess frigging what....cover costs money!. We spend on bring in modest, journeyman, players for bench detail and we go through the resources that we’d use to sign the Moutinho’s that idiots like those on this site DEMAND we bring in to ’take us to the next level’.
Back to the PC now Kevin...so who else you can buy for Everton on your game. Mug!.
Ste Jones,
You really must read your posts back to yourself before you press the submit button, or ask one of your friends if it makes any sense.
We can’t have jouneymen or squad players because of the drain on resources and all the "idiots" would like Moutinho or players of that calibre.W.T.F??
Injuries do happen, you are quite correct there. Now for the 64 million dollar question.
Did E.F.C know we would be without Cahill, Hibbert, Fernandes and Carsley for the start of the season ?
Next , did we know we would be without Andrew Johnson and James Mcfadden ?
I am sure you can stop typing and ask a grown-up what this will mean we we need players for the Prem, U.E.F.A. Cup, Carling Cup and F.A. Cup.
I know ,let’s go and sign some squad players for cover as we were short last season, and now we are seven first team players down!!
By the way, Neville is a doubt for the West Brom game, so we can blood some 15 yr. old tomorrow. You are a fucking genius.
You really must read your posts back to yourself before you press the submit button, or ask one of your friends if it makes any sense.
We can’t have jouneymen or squad players because of the drain on resources and all the "idiots" would like Moutinho or players of that calibre.W.T.F??
Injuries do happen, you are quite correct there. Now for the 64 million dollar question.
Did E.F.C know we would be without Cahill, Hibbert, Fernandes and Carsley for the start of the season ?
Next , did we know we would be without Andrew Johnson and James Mcfadden ?
I am sure you can stop typing and ask a grown-up what this will mean we we need players for the Prem, U.E.F.A. Cup, Carling Cup and F.A. Cup.
I know ,let’s go and sign some squad players for cover as we were short last season, and now we are seven first team players down!!
By the way, Neville is a doubt for the West Brom game, so we can blood some 15 yr. old tomorrow. You are a fucking genius.
Im non plussed at DM saying that the transfer market has altered and that other people are involved besides managers and club chairmen...This is nothing new..players have had agents acting for them for years..how is it that WE are taken by surprise when new managers like Keane can sign player after player while we are totally static...WBA have signed NINE players to enable them to compete at the top level...they see the value of at least trying to do something to stay up. We are continually out manouvered by every other team and STILL nothing has happened since BK’s Watch this space soap opera started...A lot of the ostriches on here actually make excuses for their ineptitude at managing our club..If this was repeated in any other industry the managers would be held responsible...the people at the top are on vast salaries for doing what ?????
I am from Singapore. Just to let you guys know that BPL or Barclay’s Premierleague is the League to watch in this part of the world (South-east Asia). Every week, every soccer fan will be glued in front of the TV set to catch the ’live’ action.. My point is BPL is BIG..
Everton ( no matter what, as compared to the medias’ Big Four) is a club with History and Tradition. It is one of the ’Big’ clubs in one of the Biggest league in the world. But the way that it is run, just to be it mildly, is a SHAME..
I just give 3 examples..
1) CEO left just when the league was about to start
2) No players signed leading to a team of teenagers sitting on the reserve bench in our first game
3) Overseas marking is non-existent. Its online shop is not at all user-friendly to overseas customers
Really, I hope that Everton achieves the Best, Nothing but the Best is good enough, but I think we can forget this season and look forward to the next one.
Everton ( no matter what, as compared to the medias’ Big Four) is a club with History and Tradition. It is one of the ’Big’ clubs in one of the Biggest league in the world. But the way that it is run, just to be it mildly, is a SHAME..
I just give 3 examples..
1) CEO left just when the league was about to start
2) No players signed leading to a team of teenagers sitting on the reserve bench in our first game
3) Overseas marking is non-existent. Its online shop is not at all user-friendly to overseas customers
Really, I hope that Everton achieves the Best, Nothing but the Best is good enough, but I think we can forget this season and look forward to the next one.
Kevin,
"We can?t have jouneymen or squad players because of the drain on resources and all the "idiots" would like Moutinho or players of that calibre.W.T.F??"
Right we’ll take this slowly in deference to your needs mate:
We go out into the market at the end of the season and buy squad players...we spend money.
We spend money.....we have less money for expensive players like Moutinho.
We have less money for Moutinho then we dont get anyone of Moutinho’s status.
We dont get Moutinho types in then the massed ranks of the shaven-headed whinge, cry and bleat on ToffeeWeb about how we’re being sold down the river by all and sundry without bothering with the small details like who could make things better for us?!.
So the situation is we kept our powder dry to keep in the hunt for the quality that has been ’demanded’ to ’take us to the next level’ and in doing so made ourselves look less appealing to reasonable quality squad players who, not suprisingly, want regular first team footie.
I hope that is now clearer for you....I do apologise for the lack of clarity I am more used to talking to educated adults and explaining things to this depth isnt usually required.
"We can?t have jouneymen or squad players because of the drain on resources and all the "idiots" would like Moutinho or players of that calibre.W.T.F??"
Right we’ll take this slowly in deference to your needs mate:
We go out into the market at the end of the season and buy squad players...we spend money.
We spend money.....we have less money for expensive players like Moutinho.
We have less money for Moutinho then we dont get anyone of Moutinho’s status.
We dont get Moutinho types in then the massed ranks of the shaven-headed whinge, cry and bleat on ToffeeWeb about how we’re being sold down the river by all and sundry without bothering with the small details like who could make things better for us?!.
So the situation is we kept our powder dry to keep in the hunt for the quality that has been ’demanded’ to ’take us to the next level’ and in doing so made ourselves look less appealing to reasonable quality squad players who, not suprisingly, want regular first team footie.
I hope that is now clearer for you....I do apologise for the lack of clarity I am more used to talking to educated adults and explaining things to this depth isnt usually required.
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1 Posted 21/08/2008 at 14:50:59
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