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Nothing Left In The Tank

By Tony Marsh :  28/01/2011 :  Comments (41) :
It's so hard to get up for games these days. I can't ever remember a time when the fanbase at this once great club was so disillusioned and drained of all life as it is now.

It's a combination of poor leadership, crap football and a sense of going nowhere as a club/team. We are a rudderless ship heading for the rocks.

I honestly don't have a clue what needs to happen to turn things around at the club but this situation cannot and must not persist like this. The notion that doing fuck all and hoping for the best is a plan astounds me beyond belief.

Let's be honest: Kenwright is a grade A fool if he thinks he can stay put and function at a football club with nothing to contribute but hot air. He has well and truly been found out and the Kings Dock fiasco has finally come home to roost.

Being short of funds is no crime but trying to compete in the Premier League with the slummy out of your arse pocket is. Make no mistake, this could be our last season in the top flight if no one comes in and takes over.

As for the football being played, it's as bad as it ever was. The disgraceful display against West Ham last week was shocking. Now I know we are skint but that was our strongest side out there and we were out-classed by the Hammers!

Blackpool have virtually the same team that got them promoted last season and they knock spots off us as a footballing unit. Blackpool are skint also but do the basics right and their manager and players can out-think and out-play other top sides on a regular basis. WHY the fuck can't we???

I feel the pain we all feel as Evertonians right now and I don't see it getting any better any time soon. We are heading for oblivion with this crowd of jokers in charge. Where the fuck is Rocky when we need him? Why can't Sylvester give Billy Boy a Sub?

Kenwright is a spiv, he has syphoned off all the petrol and we are running on fumes. Unless investment is found soon, we will be getting out to push the old banger down the street to the Championship.

It's heartbreaking to watch us self-destruct and the less we see and hear from our Beloved Bill the more worrying it becomes. Where the fuck is he and What the fuck is he doing?

I don't give a shit about Saturday's Cup game as a win over Chelsea would only paper over the cracks and give Bill a stay of execution. It needs to get a whole lot worse for us before we see any change. What purpose would a win serve other than to create a another smoke screen?

I can't hack it any more. I hate football at the moment. I hate everything about the game. I long for the 1980s and the fact that we all had a chance to compete on a level playing field back then.

Forest, Villa, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal all won the League title back in that decade and many others came close. Now... it's just a spending and paying salaries competition. Players don't give a fuck any more ? all the twats want is another Baby Bentley for their tart to ponce around in.

I'm in serious talks with my self at present debating whether or not this is my last season paying to watch shite and have multi-millionaires take the piss out of me every week. Surely this can't be where football in this country ends up... can it?

My view now is that watching football these days is like visiting a terminally ill friend in hospital every week pretending to yourself they will get better. Deep down, we know the truth... and, no matter how hard we try to put a brave face on it, we know the end is near.

Heartache and misery are two off the things Evertonians know most about. Now though we are becoming sick and tired of it all. Chins are on chests, shoulders are stooped, and there is no spring in the step. We drag ourselves to the game with a sense of fear and trepidation... No fun and no enjoyment guaranteed.

Well, if that's all we have left then it's no wonder so many want to opt out. As for me, I am still having a talk with myself about the whole sorry affair.

Please don't tell me there is still the FA Cup to play for either ? we all know what happens when Moyes gets near to success... don't we? And if that's the case, then no wonder so many want out.

Reader Comments (41)

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Paul Columb
1 Posted 29/01/2011 at 06:03:24
Fuckin' spot on......as for a trip from Alaska this year...I'm up for it: Chelsea at home last day. Flashbacks to lads teetered on the old church corner clock not so long ago...a relegation decider. But deep down, despite getting up at 3 tomorrow morning for the cup tie, I'm starting to not give a fuck. Shame. I've ben committed for 27 years now but I have seen some grand times. Can't imagine being 20 something willing my ids to sign up for a lifetime of this shite 'n misery. There'll be no new generation. Cheers BK....
Derek Thomas
2 Posted 29/01/2011 at 05:54:28
Shouldn't that be...Nothing left in the BANK.?

Fair point about Blackpool, even more so as one of our least worst players, Coleman, was in the squad that got promotion and they are doing it without him

The same squad that as you say are making a semi decent-ish fist of it (bless em, they probabley don't know any better).

Rumours of serious cash shortages, if not quite administration. A shortage of strikers, yet we loan them out, to save on their wages??

The way it's going the supporters buy out won't have to get too much cash together. At this rate in a couple of seasons you will be able to pick the club up for a tenner and a handshake.

Some of us are past the denial stage and you've deffo done the anger stage. I'm not sure which is next? is it dispair or resignation?

Bill is on the London stage doing a silent mime type act pretending to be a chairman of a struggling football club.

Me? I'm at the Hail Mary stage.
Alan Clarke
3 Posted 29/01/2011 at 07:06:02
The whole thing's a mess. I can trace my family right back to the very start of Everton FC and it is so sad to see what is happening and it is going to get a whole lot worse.
Ged Simpson
4 Posted 29/01/2011 at 07:03:02
Hey Tony

Post after post I have written you off as a ranting nutter but I feel no joy in agreeing with most of what you say this time.

I'm not usually one who thinks the end is nigh but I am seriously worried about the club at present.

If we have reached a stage where even a loan for half a season is beyond us, then this is serious.

But like you Tony, I have no idea what the solution is. And the worst thing about it is I fear this may just be harsh market economics.

Bottom line is, if no one wants to invest in us (as seems the case), then what do we do.

But then I look at the rest of the division and wonder how smaller clubs are better off.

We inevitably arrive at the door of BK seeking an explanation.

Mick Owens
5 Posted 29/01/2011 at 07:14:10
Right on Tony ,feel exactly the same way .Football in England is all me arse,& my local team here (perth Glory ) isn't much better.Must be that kopshite robbie fowler draggin them down.
Matthew Lovekin
6 Posted 29/01/2011 at 07:36:35
Unfortunately football in this country has gone exactly the way that you have described it. Sky, the CL and the PL have been great for the media darlings, but below that, everyone else is struggling.

Clubs massively in debt, being run in the slight glimmer of hope that they one day might get a shot of finishing in the top4, no chance of any silverware, being forced to pay average players massive huge wages that the man in the street can only dream of earning. Fans being ripped off at the turnstiles and in the club shops.

The only good thing about football now is Everton, and we are still there. I'll still support them, they may be down but we are not out yet.
Dave Wilson
7 Posted 29/01/2011 at 07:49:17
This isnt a million miles away from the truth and in many ways you`ll have been proved right all along.

But whats all this "I dont give a shit about the result against chelsea, what purpose would a win serve" ?
If Everton get to the latter stages of the cup you`ll be the first down the M1.

As far as you were concerned Tony, Chrimbo was on, then off, then on, then off . . you very nearly treated us to a round of the Okey Cokey.
Of course you care about the chelsea game. if we get to Wembley I`ll look out for you, you`ll be easy to spot. You`ll be the fella shaking it all about
Andy Amey
8 Posted 29/01/2011 at 08:12:12
Good article. It puts me in that very difficult position of agreeing with it yet blindly hoping it isn't true.
I am 45 and will be a Blue all my life.I have seen us be the best team in the league(if not Europe) and all of my life has been with Everton in the top division.
I just don't know where this ends.I want to put COYBB and obviously really want to beat Chelsea this afternoon, but I am at the point where blind optimism isn't enough.
Lee Courtliff
9 Posted 29/01/2011 at 08:29:35
Blind optimism is all we have left Andy.You never know,if we win the cup it might signal a new beginning? COYB.
Dick Fearon
10 Posted 29/01/2011 at 08:28:55
Mick # 5, whats dragged Perth Glory down has been a succession of dour scots managers. Fowler played a part in it also.
Duncan McDine
11 Posted 29/01/2011 at 08:49:51
I agree with you Tony... the club seems to be in big trouble financially, and the team are in big trouble motivation-wise. A big win today will only be followed by an uninterested display in the league, so I understand what you mean when you don't care too much about today's game.

As much as I hate the way football has gone, what I'd give for some rich c*nt to invest his spondooneys in Everton right now!!!
Joe McMahon
12 Posted 29/01/2011 at 09:08:55
I've always agreed with you Tony, often got slagged to the point of abuse on here myself (that's why I don't bother posting anymore). Still to all those who have always said, at least we ain't in the dark days of smith, and I'd rather have our Blue Bill as chairman than some Foreigner. Well lets look at that again shall we. What does it say when even Vaughan is loaned out to free wages., Martins to Birmingham, Vela to West Brom, I could go on.

We are going down this year and all the "better off with with Bill than Johnson" brigade better explain themselves to justify thgeir anger at people such as ourselves who have (righly so) questioned what has been going on at our club for many years.

Nick Wall
13 Posted 29/01/2011 at 09:35:38
It's been a very disappointing season and a depressing transfer window for all Evertonians. But I don't share Tony's attitude for a number of reasons.

Football being played is "as bad as it ever was" ? What nonsense. We're playing much more attractive football than we did even five years ago. Our midfield pass the ball sweetly and we've got class players the likes of Baines, Cahill and Fellaini. The more other teams allow us to play open football the better we look - as shown by wins at Goodison over the last 12 months against Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs and LIverpool.



"this could be our last season in the top flight " - again, nonsense. We're in the bottom half only because we've drawn more than anyone else. We've lost about the same number of games as Chelsea. If anything we deserve to be a little higher than we are. There's no sign of the kind of crumbling or morale among the players that might see us drawn into a relegation dogfight.



Where you're right is about the disillusionment and the sense of going nowhere. Some of us have been saying for years that Everton have been punching above their weight under Moyes. This has created a feeling of entitlement - an expectation that we'll be in the mix when trophies and European places are handed out - which makes it harder to swallow when we find ourselves where we are now. I'm not convinced that we're heading for any kind of meltdown or relegation as Tony suggests, and unlike him I do give a shit about today's game and I desperately want to see a glorious Everton win. But when you see good internationals like Pienaar and the Yak taking the exit door and the club having absolutely no means and no apparent strategy to replace them, it is depressing and one has to fear for Everton and to wonder whether we're consigned if not to oblivion then at least to irrelevance for years to come.
Martin Mason
14 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:02:57
It really is very bad and I agree that it isn't just Everton, it's the sport itself.
We aren't going to get a buyer because we aren't worth buying and sugar daddies are in short supply. Relegation isn't out of the question by any means and if not this season I'd put money on it being next year. Sometimes going down can help but only when you can see a future and know that it'd be temporary. I see no limit to how low EFC could go including eventually going out of business. It's a shame because we have to vote for some kind of change with our wallets and voices but I really don't see any potential for things to get better.
Richard Dodd
15 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:08:25
You are right ,Tony,the game has gone down the pan in the way you describe.But you fail to give Bill Kenwright credit for resisting the temptation to follow the rest into the madhouse.By insisting that the club `wipes its nose`,he is ensuring that Everton will be here for the next generation...and the one after that.I`m not sure that will be the case with some of the mad spenders who are currently above us in the league!
Andy Codling
16 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:15:06
Spot on Tony, Ive already made the decision not to renew next year and wont be renewing until the current regime has been changed.
Karl Jones
17 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:35:15
Totally agree with you Tony...I too yearn for a level playing field. You only have to watch ESPN classics to see what football used to be like before the main tactic became denying the opposition space. 100 metre runner first, footballer second.
Chris Jones
18 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:47:16
Tony I'm with you, but I bet there'll be a fire in your belly when the game kicks off today. BK out!!
Oliver Molloy
19 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:24:52
BK has a lot of explaining to do regards the financial mess we are in and the tide of opinion is turning on him,I'm sure he is also aware of this.
Regards comparing us to Blackpool that is a joke.Lets see how long they stay in the Premier League.
Holloway knows he has nothing to lose and his "entertaining" approach his teams play is in the full knowledge that this is the case.

Steve Sweeney
20 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:58:04
Doddy
Its because of the likes of you
that BK is still in charge.
Hope you and him enjoy watching the blues
in the Championship.
Because if he is not forced out, then we are
as the saying goes DOOOmed.
Phil Rodgers
21 Posted 29/01/2011 at 10:54:19
I think the biggest insult of all is watching teams around us buying players while we let 2 first teamers go and dont replace them. Does anyone believe we will bring someone in now? I was always proud that we did well without spending vast amounts but even doing that has left us in dire straights. Imagine if we kept rooney and lescott.
Denis Richardson
22 Posted 29/01/2011 at 11:10:50
Unfortunately have to agree with most of the above but for the next couple of hours I will put on a blindfold and hope for the best in the Chelsea game.

Big IF but if we can get through, I would love a good cup run. The cash from it would be f all but at least it would be something to cheer about,

A up run will have little effect in the medium to long term and we will jsut have to see how things pan out.
Denis Richardson
23 Posted 29/01/2011 at 11:10:50
Unfortunately have to agree with most of the above but for the next couple of hours I will put on a blindfold and hope for the best in the Chelsea game.

Big IF but if we can get through, I would love a good cup run. The cash from it would be f all but at least it would be something to cheer about,

A up run will have little effect in the medium to long term and we will jsut have to see how things pan out.
Phil Martin
24 Posted 29/01/2011 at 11:37:31
Totally agree with this !

Although lets just see how long Blackpool survive in the Prem. on their limited resources.

But point well made. Cash is the king and unfortunately we can't even manage our pauper like finances.
Chris Jones
25 Posted 29/01/2011 at 12:01:03
Off topic I know but been watching ESPN for half an hour and Everton haven't been mentioned yet. Now I remember why I cancelled my subscription!
Al Reddish
26 Posted 29/01/2011 at 12:13:13
Chris it pissed me off yesterday when they were asking guests on some 5 live program if they fancied playing Chelsea in the next round!
Neil Vaughan
27 Posted 29/01/2011 at 12:01:28
It's not just Kenwright to blame....both he and Moyes are in it together

It's Moyes' team...he bought the players and he decides the tactics and pattern of play...which quite frankly are SHITE !!

I gave my season ticket up this year after 16yrs...just couldn't take Moyes' style of football any more and I wont be going back anytime soon. The feelings Tony is now experiencing is exactly how I felt this time last year...doesn't mean I don't love Everton cos I do...I just don't love the Chairman and Manager who try to con me every week so they no longer get my cash.

A manager who gets paid more than his players (who has NEVER won a trophy) is a joke and it wouldn't happen anywhere else...how people class him as great is totally beyond my comprehension.

Nick Wal.....l if you think we play attractive football then you are either blind or have no idea whatsoever what good football is...just like our manager.>
Both Moyes AND Kenwright have to go asap
Neil Vaughan
28 Posted 29/01/2011 at 12:01:28
It's not just Kenwright to blame....both he and Moyes are in it together

It's Moyes' team...he bought the players and he decides the tactics and pattern of play...which quite frankly are SHITE !!

I gave my season ticket up this year after 16yrs...just couldn't take Moyes' style of football any more and I wont be going back anytime soon. The feelings Tony is now experiencing is exactly how I felt this time last year...doesn't mean I don't love Everton cos I do...I just don't love the Chairman and Manager who try to con me every week so they no longer get my cash.

A manager who gets paid more than his players (who has NEVER won a trophy) is a joke and it wouldn't happen anywhere else...how people class him as great is totally beyond my comprehension.

Nick Wal.....l if you think we play attractive football then you are either blind or have no idea whatsoever what good football is...just like our manager.>
Both Moyes AND Kenwright have to go asap
Mark Griffiths
29 Posted 29/01/2011 at 13:02:36
Where is the matchday thread?
Marc Williams
30 Posted 29/01/2011 at 13:24:51
Tony... If we are "running on fumes", then with Bill in charge they'd have the faint whiff of bullshit !
Graham Griff
31 Posted 29/01/2011 at 15:53:18
I couldn't've said it any better. I'd love to see Moyes with cash... I just can't see why we have had no investment. Time is up for Bill, we need a cash injection and he can't do it.
Neil Vaughan
32 Posted 29/01/2011 at 16:45:55
Moyes has had cash but wasted most of it....wouldn't trust him with any more i'm afraid
Mike Allison
33 Posted 29/01/2011 at 16:55:08
I've been seriously annoyed with you over the years Mr Marsh and almost always disagreed with you, or at least seen things from a different point of view. In fact, I'd even say that at the moment you're managing to slightly overstate the situation.

However, I don't really feel anything other than sympathy with your point of view. Its clear that you're a die hard blue, its been a massive part of your life and your passion has been second to none, and with all that in mind the most important thing, rather than pointing out my differences is to sympathise with you. Football does stink in many different ways and on many different levels, and being a relative pauper as we are now is difficult. The worst thing to me though seems to be that the club hierarchy don't seem to be of a mind to do anything about it. I believe our situation is far from irretrievable, relegation this season is still highly unlikely, and our short to medium term future with the status quo is one of boring mid-table mediocrity rather than despairing and disastrous free fall.

I understand that as someone who lived through the 1980s that's unlikely to cheer you up, but my formative Everton supporting years are the 1990s, and there were plenty of times then that I thought we were going to be stuck in the lower divisions for plenty of time to come. At least we are competing, we're not shit, and we're in a position that if we can effect the right kind of changes the distance to the top level of domestic football is bridgeable.

Maybe you're sick of going to the game, so take a break. Go shopping with the missus for a couple of Saturdays. I'll bet you a hearty handshake you'll be looking forward to the next visit to the Old Lady by the time you're on you're way out of the third shop.
Simon Temme
34 Posted 29/01/2011 at 22:01:57
Good post Tony,

I watched the West Ham game last week and all of my mates agreed that we are in a very dangerous decline both on and off the pitch.

I would like however to point to another post: "Time for a supporters trust" to get back some positivity.

Keep the faith Tony, we need Blues pulling together.
Eric Myles
35 Posted 30/01/2011 at 03:50:55
Well said Tony, as usual.

Kenwright OUT
Trevor Lynes
36 Posted 30/01/2011 at 11:06:27
I've actually supported EFC since 1948 and been there through relegation, title wins and having a few great sides. I have been proud of the fact that we have spent more time in the top division than ANY other team and when I worked in countries like Egypt, Yemen and even Iraq, I converted many of the locals to becoming Evertonians through my tales of past glories.

Now there is no longer a level playing field and the title is devalued, much like the SPL. Liverpool actually won all their titles when money was not the deciding factor... But the pundits seem to believe that football history in England only began at the inception of the Premier League.

Our city were the tops in title and European honours over EVERY other city in the country. Man Utd had great players but won no titles between 1967 and 1994 but that is never mentioned.

Like the article writer, I am growing heartily sick at the way football is being run nationally and at our club in particular. I can only think that embezzlement must have been a factor in our demise as I am completely frustrated at being told that we have no money for transfers and we can only afford loan deals... what did clubs do before loan deals were allowed???

We should be able to compete in the transfer market with most of the clubs and I cannot see much point in continuing to pay money to watch football which is not entertaining, especially when our squad is dwindling. I cannot see our better players staying around too long and we appear to be a sinking ship.

I have been lucky enough to see our great sides of the 60s and the times that we were a chief threat during Liverpool's domination. Chelsea were a joke team as were Man City. London clubs were hammered every time they came to Merseyside and we were Man Utd's bogey team...

I am really hurt at the club's current position and really cannot see a solution... no player of any real worth seems to want to play for us!!!

Liam Wilson
37 Posted 30/01/2011 at 15:41:38
Tony, don't beat yourself up so much. Seems from your post that you're having too many conversations with yourself. Fear not: "You're never alone with a schizophrenic". NSNO
Jim Lloyd
38 Posted 30/01/2011 at 23:57:35
Richard Dood, if I ever see you in the Freshfields, I would really like to have a heart to heart discussion about all things Everton.

Tony is right. There is malaise in our club, which we occasionally fend off when we have a good match. Overall though, we are on a downward spiral where our chances of getting in the top six are looking more and more remote.

Trevor Lynes (#36) ? You have certainly been privileged to see our great side of the sixties and, as a kid, I couldn't believe that football could be so magical as what we played during the first years of that decade. It's all the more depressing to see our club crumble away in front of our eyes.

Jason Lam
39 Posted 31/01/2011 at 01:44:46
Tony, the voice you're hearing is from the Pied Piper, and Z-Cars is his tune.

I wouldn't put any more hope to see replacements coming in this January window for a start. First step to recovery.
John Roberts
40 Posted 31/01/2011 at 03:24:35
Tony,

Another grear article... SO TRUE ? the man is a phoney!! And make no mistake, his side-kick Elstone will be appearing soon asking us to get season tickets early so to help the manager get funds for players ? that's his usual fantasy quote!

I just can't understand where all the money goes! We cant even afford £1.5 mill for a Championship player e.g. Eagles!

Then we're struggling to score goals ... so let's get rid of two forwards!!?? And bring none in!!!!!

Then there's the fact there is no sign of discontent within the ground! COME ON! WAKEY WAKEY!! WE CAN STILL support the team but not the Board ? if that's what you can call them!!

WE DESERVE BETTER and answers!! Someone help! Or it's the Championship!! Come on, BLUES... KENWRIGHT OUT, OUT, OUT!!

David Israel
41 Posted 31/01/2011 at 22:29:06
Tony, how I understand you! I watched the title winning sides of 1970, 1985 and 1987 and all that, I celebrated as Bob Latchford scored his 30th goal in an otherwise barren period for us, but I also watched those scary relegation battles of not so long ago. I'm currently an expat, so I have no real choice as to whether I go to Goodison or not (but I've been there twice this season, just the same), but I manage to watch most games either on TV or via a web stream, so I can appreciate the frustration.

But somehow we always seem to hang on. Remember that only two teams have always been in the top flight in the past 50 years, and that's us and our hosts of tomorrow night.

I know just the mention of his name will anger a few people around here, but I have a secret hope that Sir Terry Leahy, who's retiring from Tesco in March, will organise a consortium to take BK & Co. out of their misery. Mind you, I was no fan of DK, but let bygones be bygones. He's not just a fan like the hapless incumbent, he's a fan with business skills and drive.

Derek # 2: we don't have a shortage of strikers: we have a shortage of strikers who can score goals!

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