Moyes rueful but realistic over transfers

, 1 February, 91comments  |  Jump to most recent

David Moyes has admitted his disappointment and not being able to add to his first-team squad in the January transfer window but insists that it shouldn't detract from how well his squad has been playing this season.

"[W]e are concerned we didn't add to the squad because we know we needed something extra," Moyes says in The Guardian.

"It wasn't for the want of trying, though. We didn't go scattergun at the end when we didn't get Leroy Fer but we tried to add some good players who would make a difference to the first team.

"And, if that didn't happen, we looked at bringing in young players who could be ones for the future and add value."

In a separate interview with Sky Sports, Moyes revealed that, " a couple of targets we had in mind possibly for helping the first team right now, they were gone, probably a few days before [deadline day]."

After seeing Yann M'Vila drawn to big-spending Rubin Kazan in Russia, Moyes had identified Fer as his top target and looked set to have landed his man until a complication arose in his medical scans and the Club were unable to negotiate amended payment terms with FC Twente.

"We are disappointed obviously. Fer is a top player and it's a shame it turned out like that, but we are still one of the contenders to be in the top half and in and around the top four."

That has left Moyes having to wring the most he can from a shallow squad for the remainder of the season, something he admits will be a challenge but a Champions League squad is not beyond his players.

"We are short," he said. "For different reasons it didn't work out [in the transfer window]... If there is any criticism then maybe we could have tried a little bit earlier."

The manager wouldn't be drawn, however, on the specifics behind the delay in moving for Everton's targets and also remained tight-lipped regarding his contract which expires in June.

"I wouldn't discuss my contract," he added. "We are just one day through the window and it's not the right time.

As ever, Moyes is pragmatic about his team's chances this season and where the Club stacks up versus its more wealthy competition:

"Maybe where Everton finish is where Everton are as a club. I spoke about the need to get off to a better start and we've done that. The top clubs have that ability to maintain it over an entire season, but perhaps we don't.

"One thing I would say, though, is that we've shown incredible consistency in our results. We don't lose too many even if we are not quite there. There is disappointment [over transfers] but it doesn't alter how this team has been playing and what this team has been doing."

"What the players have done up to now has meant that we are more than confident going into the rest of the season with what we have got," he told Sky Sports.

Quotes or other material sourced from The Guardian, Sky Sports



Reader Comments (91)

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Mike Kennedy
1 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:09:25
Moyes is not happy.
Barry Thompson
2 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:12:11
"But a couple of targets we had in mind possibly for helping the first team right now, they were gone, probably a few days before (deadline day).

Three questions Davey:
1-when did the 8.5 million materialise
2-if there were a couple of targets in mind why wait until almost the end of deadline day by which time they were gone
3-if it was because your priority was to sign Fer, why did we not try and sign him earlier in the window or was it that we tried to sign Fer so late because your other targets had gone

Jimmy Sørheim
3 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:23:34
Too many "buts". What has been done is behind us, what matters is getting the right players to win games.

Moyes cannot afford not to use some of his best youngsters, the oldest of them can do a job if they are being played, but Moyes is afraid to try anything that involves using young talents.

Give our oldest youngsters a spell of playing time here and there David Moyes and you might very well be happy you did.

Dennis Shaw
4 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:37:08
"We are still one of the contenders to be in the top half"

Thanks for that can all ease up on Kenwright now because Moyes is hitting his target of reaching the top half of the league.

How incompetent that the end of this transfer window crept up on them we were threadbare at the begining of the season and have been throughout so we should have bolstered our squad in early January not buying kids at 10pm on the final day.

Graham Mockford
5 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:46:03
Dennis I like how you finished your quotation marks at the point to support your point of view
Brendan McLaughlin
6 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:48:42
Dennis #889
Selective or what? I notice you've left out the "in and around the top four" bit!
James Morgan
7 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:59:29
"If there is any criticism then maybe we could have tried a little bit earlier."

No shit, Dave?

James Flynn
8 Posted 01/02/2013 at 23:34:28
"Three questions Davey:"

Three answers Barry:
1. When Kenwright and them said so;.
2. Because it's not his money;
3. All of the above.

Dennis Shaw
9 Posted 02/02/2013 at 00:21:03
Let's be honest BK doesn't want the top 4 because he cannot support a push in Europe so "Around the top four" will suit him and his supporters amongst you who think we are performing above expectation and should thank the wonderful board that we managed to keep hold of Fellaini and Baines for a few more months.
Robert Poots
10 Posted 02/02/2013 at 00:26:03
I'm not playing Devils Advocate here but........

If the club have aimed financially at a top half finish and come 7th at worst then that is potentially 3m more than projected.

Surely thats a good thing provided its invested sensibly?

Jackie Barry
11 Posted 02/02/2013 at 00:27:43
What a load of BS this is all just a cover story to feed the fans and make the gullible ones (far too many) jump to defend the likes of BK,
Steve Edwards
12 Posted 02/02/2013 at 00:36:14
There's times when I don't know why I bother and after reading the above comments from our manager, this is one of them.
Si Cooper
13 Posted 02/02/2013 at 00:50:55
"If there is any criticism then maybe we could have tried a little bit earlier."

I would love to know what this statement actually means in terms of how much earlier and what factors mean that he can say 'maybe'.

It is also unnerving to think that looking to buy the 'something extra' we need right now (paraphrasing a bit) precludes the equally necessary building for a slightly longer-term future, since bringing youngsters in and turning them into saleable assets is apparently one of our main business strategies.

Patrick Murphy
14 Posted 02/02/2013 at 01:13:55
David Moyes does not purchase the players he doesn't raise the funds, he only identifies the players he likes and probably the order in which he would like the board to approach each target. So even though he says we, he doesn't necessarily mean that he was part of the process or dictated when targets were approached.

What I don't like is the negative vibe he is sending out to the players and fans, even though it is understandable that he would be a tad annoyed and let down. The other thing that is crystal clear is that he has no intention of talking about his contract until the end of the season.

Jackie Barry
15 Posted 02/02/2013 at 01:29:06
Talking about his contract at the season and raising his income more like. Seriously he needs to win something if he is thinking of asking for more money surely?
Eric Myles
16 Posted 02/02/2013 at 01:34:18
Dennis #889, exactly what I thought, if their 'ambition' is to remain in the top half of the league no wonder they weren't too bothered about getting players in to push on for CL qualification.
Si Cooper
17 Posted 02/02/2013 at 01:39:41
Interesting to see that Alex McLeish is apparently furious that the Roger Boyd transfer was kiboshed by using the lad's less-than-perfect eyesight as a bargaining tool.

Glad that we can rest easy knowing that DM would have got similarly stroppy had the collapse of the Fer deal been due to comparable shenanigans.

Si Cooper
18 Posted 02/02/2013 at 01:48:30
That should be George Boyd!
Rich Williams
19 Posted 02/02/2013 at 02:30:39
Re: the move for Fer an athletic center mid. 2 assists for a similar premier league player in the week, Hope Akpan
Harold Matthews
20 Posted 02/02/2013 at 01:40:53
I think the Leroy Fer business was all about Fellaini going or staying It surely cannot be a coinctdence that they are the same height, the same build and play in the same position. If Fellaini moves in the summer we'll probably try again, knee or no knee.

Flitcroft. Barnsley manager. Radio interview. Friday.

" John Stones is a great prospect and a wonderful human being. He is a Phil Jagielka type player,very consistent, adaptable and mobile. Eventually he will become a centre back but at the moment he plays fullback in the modern manner which necessitates him being proficient in three positions. ie. fullback, right midfield and winger. This move will be just as important for England as it will be for Everton because that is his assured destiny."

Moyes interview. Friday. " He is one for the future. ".......and we all know what that means

Mike Gaynes
21 Posted 02/02/2013 at 03:09:16
Rich (922), give it a rest.

Akpan has spent the last season and a half at Crawley, distinguishing himself only with a leg-breaking challenge and posting anti-gay comments on Twitter. Now he's a substitute on a side likely to be relegated.

He had a great six minutes the other day, and now he's The One That Got Away... or The One Moyes Gave Away... or whatever. What a crock of crapola.

Harold Matthews
22 Posted 02/02/2013 at 06:12:38
It now seems that decreasing the wage bill has become an urgent priority....hence no loans.
John Crawley
23 Posted 02/02/2013 at 07:37:06
The transfer fuck up is down to the board! We had the reports from The Times journalists that moyes had asked them for £20 million to spend from next seasons extra tv revenue. He wouldn't have done that without having a list of players he wanted. Instead they've told him he can spend some money at the last minute when most of his targets have gone.
The rest of this interview though is Moyes' negative defeatist bullshit that he comes out with from time to time. Add in his bizarre comments about the pitch and you can see what his outlook is at the moment. With this outlook we haven't got a hope of getting top 4. So stop sulking and start the fighting talk.
Trevor Lynes
24 Posted 02/02/2013 at 07:38:05
We are up with the best at loaning OUT !!
Loaning IN is difficult it seems.

Reading DM's comments I sense a man seething with disappointment and frustration.
He now for the first time has a serious chance of europe with a team that definitely will make a better showing if we get there.
But we have no backup and its now even less with Gueye gone.
What will our bench be against Villa and for the rest of the season ?
Im feeling sick to my stomach at the thought of us falling away due to fatigue and injuries with no genuine premiership class players on the bench.
This board is a shambles !!

John Ford
25 Posted 02/02/2013 at 07:49:57
That's what I read into this Trevor. Clearly Moyes isn't happy. Under these circumstances he deliberately sends mixed messages, and he's certainly done so this season.

There's a strong message to the board expressed in his dissapointment and resignation. At the same time he knows how well the team have done.

I'm more convinced than ever that's he's off in the summer.

John Audsley
26 Posted 02/02/2013 at 07:59:54
Well

We all know that Moyes scouts every player many times and then takes a lot of time looking into them as a person. Is it dithering as some put it or Ferguson like planning??

I blame Kenwright, Woods and Earl for not putting a penny into EFC and not planning for the future but Moyes clearly decided that if he couldn't have the players he had watched then it was pointless buying/loaning players like Jenas etc to fill the numbers

He will live and die by that decision while Kenwright/Elstone will Spin and blag all the way through it...

Stones could be a really good player for us, id have him on the bench today

Mark Tanton
27 Posted 02/02/2013 at 08:14:39
If Moyes goes, I wonder if he'll take our best players with him? If he ends up at Chelsea then Baines is an ideal Cole replacement. Fellaini might go with him too.
John Ford
28 Posted 02/02/2013 at 08:25:46
Mark, I reckon those players will indeed leave, and we are left to rebuild with the proceeds. I really can't see Moyes being convinced by any more BK pleads or promises of whatever funds. I get a strong sense that it was either now or never.

Of all the points ,speculation, gnashing of teeth and whatever else we've been reading on TW since Thursday, the outstanding and obvious question for me is - why did the board wait so long into the transfer window before they became active?

Paul Ellam
29 Posted 02/02/2013 at 08:34:02
From the moment we missed out on Odidja-Ofoe last summer we should have been checking and getting a list together of who we wanted. Then January 1st – get some phone calls made and get cracking on some deals. It's not rocket science. At least then, if Fer (as an example) was not coming we would still have plenty of time to get others.

We did not learn from last summer and that frustrates me. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Moyes stays and that the board get their act together and we get some much needed players in early in the summer. Yes, it may cost a bit more at the start of the window but this waiting on til the last few hours hasn't worked so we need to try something different.

John Audsley
30 Posted 02/02/2013 at 08:46:00
John Ford

Bang on Sir

Moyes probably has had it and who can blame him, maybe Bill was trying to save on wages so bid at the last minute...

At least he hasn't come out saying how he was on the phone till 10.59 pm or desperately trying to fax places at the same time etc etc bleeding etc

Mark Tanton
31 Posted 02/02/2013 at 08:58:56
Incompetence or dishonesty? That is the stark choice when deliberating over Everton's transfer window. Did we bollocks it up by leaving it far too late or were we just dicking about in the first place, with no real conviction to sign anyone?
Christine Foster
32 Posted 02/02/2013 at 08:41:26
I was convinced Moyes would be gone at the end of last season, he stayed and is seeing out his contract, but he is clearly driving it home that he has done all he can at Everton. This season the team has had a good start that has faltered but not come off the rails. Injuries, suspensions and top players out of form have been the cause of so many draws, but we have hung in there with a good shout of CL qualification. But Moyes knows as well as we all do that we are a couple of injuries short of a poor finish, anything else happens then we have little to fall back on, Moyes reluctance to play youth questions why we have any at all, if he thinks they are'nt good enough then why are they still there?

He knows that this season we could and should be in a position to push on, without the players needed being brought in, the chances are that much slimmer.

The questions being asked by posters are on the money, But the key ones for me are,

1. When was the money available?
2. Why weren't approaches made earlier?

It may well be that the first question explains the latter, in which case it's inexcusable of the financial management of the club OR in the management of approaches, assuming as written, that all targets had been identified. In which case it's not Moyes fault but sadly, how the club is managed. If someone from the club, can explain the background then we could all understand, but given Moyes obvious annoyance and frustration, it's clear heels have been dragged.

If its not incompetence then why did it not happen? We know well in advance when the window occurs, if it was discussions with the bank the what happened?

If memory serves me correctly, Moyes said he would be discussing his contract at the end of January. He certainly has little appetite for further discussion and it's understandable to see why.

He has done all he can, the players have. The board clearly hasn't. The end of Jan may prove to be the end of days for David Moyes and Everton FC he certainly is taking the stance that he and his team have done all they can.

David Moyes delivered a side that has challenged for a top four position, whilst the board are happy to be in the top half. Says it all.. No ambition, no desire. He has been let down somewhere along the line and I think it's the last time.

Brian Waring
33 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:13:38
Mark, if someone comes in for Fellaini in the summer, he'll be gone whether Moyes is still here or not. Also, if Moyes walks, where does he go?
Mark Tanton
34 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:16:07
Brian I think Moyes is the oustanding option for Chelsea. I think Abramovich wants to change the way he runs the club, wants more stability and long termism. I think Moyes' top four attack this season and Abramovich's evolving policy have created the perfect circumstances for Moyes and Chelsea to come together. Moyes could take Baines and Fellaini shortly after leaving for a new job. That's purely speculation obviously, but that's how I see it playing out.
Christopher Timmins
35 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:11:58
David Moyes has brought the team as far as he can, I have no doubt that there are few if any managers who could have done more given the resources. If Everton do not finish the season with European football to look forward to then I am sure that he will move on. If that's the case then he leave the club in a far better state than he found it.
John Ford
36 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:11:36
John A, so ya reckon the late flurry of activity was a money saving punt by BK? I guess that's possible.......we wait and wait until the only saleable players remaining will be scooped up on the cheap from clubs in need of cash? Talk about high risk. If that was indeed the approach , then we got our pants kicked.

Spot on with the summary Christine.

John Ford
37 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:23:39
Brian, I'm not sure he even needs to go anywhere. I get the impression he'll walk away, reputation in tact and will get back into management in the near future. Christine's thinking seems sound to me.

I wouldn't begin to predict where.

Paul Andrews
38 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:19:57
Christine Foster,

David Moyes will 100% definite sign a new contract.

Brian Waring
39 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:20:48
Thing is Mark, would Moyes be happy with Abramovich interfering all the time? Abramovich has gone out and bought players whether the manager has wanted them or not, also, he has supposedly in the past interfered in team selection. With us, Moyes has total control over everything, can't see him getting that at Chelsea.
John Ford
40 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:27:36
Mark, Abramovich seems to focus on names who have proven experience in Europe. I think Moyes would do a good job with the cash at Chelsea, but his is not their usual CV of choice.
Brian Waring
41 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:29:09
IMO, Moyes will sign a new contract.
Brian Waring
42 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:32:03
Also meant to say, it was only last week Moyes was on the radio praising BK because he had found him cash from somewhere, he was also praising the board, saying how happy he was because they were backing him.

Now, unless something has happened between BK and Moyes during the last few days of the transfer window, in his interview, he sounded content to me.

John Ford
43 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:42:01
Moyes is pretty shrewd with the politics of this. It doesn't really matter what else he says about BK or the board.....the critical point has been made, repeatedly, and it remains.....he wants financial backing. His latest interview contains these deliberate mixed messages - it can spelt out in simple terms - 'we're doing well, but actually this isn't really going anywhere.'

The message is crystal clear, and any praise Moyes reserves for BK is just the usual relationship maintenance you would expect from a manager.

Brian Waring
44 Posted 02/02/2013 at 09:53:42
We had all this last time though John, when it was, will he/won't he sign his new contract. We had lads saying he was pissed off, we had lads saying Moyes was waiting to see if there was cash available etc, everything being said now, was what was being said then. Then, Moyes signs a new contract with a huge pay rise to boot and I think he will sign again and come out with something like "I was always going to sign a new contract, there was just other things I had to concentrate on"
Tommy Hesketh
45 Posted 02/02/2013 at 10:22:51
How good would it be if just or once DM showed a bit of bottle just like Di Canio is doing with the Swindon Board. Maybe just maybe it would show this bunch of amateurs for what they really are. However 3.5m a season it seems integrity can be bought.
Patrick Murphy
46 Posted 02/02/2013 at 10:09:51
The most telling comment from Moyes "Maybe where Everton finish is where Everton are as a club", that's not a mixed message, that's a shot across the bows of the board, telling them that they'll only get what they pay for.

If it goes wrong today and Everton get knocked out of the FA Cup by Oldham, BK should seriously think about biting the bullet and asking Moyes to sign or resign, that's not what I want to happen, but if we lurch through the rest of the season with a manager and squad who have given up it will do serous long-term damage.

In fact the best way that Moyes can answer the board's incompetence is to squeeze every last drop of energy out of his team and try and win as many games as possible, after all he's done that for the last 10 years, so it's only for a few months more. Then if he decides to leave, he can do so with his head held high and the focus of more supporters will be switched to those who are truly responsible for the position the club finds itself in.

So whether you like or dislike Moyes, get behind him and his team for the remaining games, see where it takes us and then BK can squirm in his seat as the fans realise who and what is holding the club back.

Mark Griffiths
47 Posted 02/02/2013 at 10:28:47
I too think he will go in the summer stating he has done all he can and wants a fresh challenge. I can see him going to possibly a German club, maybe an up-and-coming team in Germany with a bit of money to spend (he has already stated he would like to manage in that league).
Martin Mason
48 Posted 02/02/2013 at 10:36:04
Patrick, that is exasctly what I've been saying since first posting here. We will end up in the position we are as a club.

Moyes is sweating the asset. When he goes I believe we'll sink.

Bill Griffiths
49 Posted 02/02/2013 at 11:20:05
Given our situation over the last 10 to 15 years Moyes is/has been the ideal manager for us given the circumstances and I dread to think what will happen when he does leave us which is bound to happen one day for some rerason or other. I hope it is later rather than sooner. Even though I would not change him for any other manager he still manages to infuriate me with some of his decisions regarding team selection, team formation and substitutions etc but given that we are 5th and within touching distance of 3rd place I guess it's hard to say he is doing anything wrong. My biggest moan is regarding the likes of Gueye who are far as I am concerned showed a long time ago he is not up to Premiership standards. However he was on the bench every game and used on odd occasions as far as I am concerned getting paid for nothing. Oviedo on the other hand who has also been on bench regularly and when used has shown he has ability and potential is constantly ignored for the likes of Naismith who again is not up to Premiership standards. Now Gueye has been farmed out on loan back to France. Why did we not get rid of him ages ago rather than paying him for more or less doing nothing? I would prefer to have promising youngsters from the Academy on the bench rather than the likes of Gueye and Naismith. Though I find these aspects of Moyes management frustrating I think that on the whole nobody can argue against his achievements at this club.
Steavey Buckley
50 Posted 02/02/2013 at 11:35:39
Moyes determind style of management is suited to Everton because of the financial situation. That's why Everton stayed in the prem. and made headway up the league against all the odds.
Colin Glassar
51 Posted 02/02/2013 at 12:15:59
Spot-on Bill Griffiths. Moyes seems to appreciate blind loyalty from certain of his players over talent. He'd rather have the likes of Naismith, Neville, Heitinga etc... in the pitch/bench over talent like Vellios, Duffy, Barkley, Oviedo etc... who apparently are just ignored.
Zaid Omar
52 Posted 02/02/2013 at 12:15:13
If Everton do make Top 4 , Moyes will stay.. If not its clear he will move on.. This season , given the good start that we had , will be a good benchmark to see where we finish off.. If we don't make the Top 4 , Moyes will feel that thats the best he can achieve with the financial constraints currently at Everton and he will move on
John Ford
53 Posted 02/02/2013 at 12:52:42
Good shout Patrick. I'm looking forward to today's game more than usual. I can't say why.

Brian, you maybe right and it could be groundhog day, but I just get the feeling Moyes has seen enough this year.

Peter Warren
54 Posted 02/02/2013 at 12:54:31
Can't see him going. We had no money (or refuse to shell out big money) and this is why the board waited last minute trying to take advantage of other club's money worries and forcing their hand. Unfortunately it didn't work.

However I'm glad we got a really good promising youngster as opposed to a loan with no real view to sign him long term. We should only but quality players or real prospects and this is what we tried to do and I'm if r with that.

James Stewart
55 Posted 02/02/2013 at 13:00:11
Agree with Trevor and John. The constant failings of the board will get to the point where DM says enough is enough. You can't really blame him. Our dealings this transfer window were a disaster. I very much doubt even if we made the top 4 we would bring anyone in! There is an interesting piece on the bbc about how galatasary turned their finances around. Especially the share issue.
John Audsley
56 Posted 02/02/2013 at 13:19:29
John 968

Well, it wasn't much of a flurry but I think if you want people you sign them asap in the window. It always seems in the summer that we leave it late rather than pay wages from June

i wouldn't be surprised if Bill went for the 31st Jan idea to save a few grand

Dennis Shaw
57 Posted 02/02/2013 at 13:26:32
Bring Di Canio in now at least he's willing to stand up to the board and have a go when they fail to back him. Moyes has failed us for the last 4/5 seasons by continuing to praise Kenwright and refusing to condem him he has a strong hand and is in a good position what is Kenwright going to do sack him lets get real.

Moyes is a mid table steady Eddie manager and we have him because that's what we deserve because too many of the fans are content with him and Kenwright as they base their views on the Premier table and odd snippets from Hansen on MOTD. For those of us subjected to his negativity week in week out we can tell you now he is nothing special and wouldn't get a job as the Chelski coach driver never mind their Manager.

Nick Entwistle
58 Posted 02/02/2013 at 13:42:16
Denis "BK doesn't want the top 4 because he cannot support a push in Europe".

Quite what supporting a push in Europe means I'm not sure, but if we qualify for the group stages that's £7m just for turning up. €1m for a win, €500k for a draw, and the window will still be open upon qualification.

Plus the extra TV cash and it would be the perfect year to qualify. Doesn't want top 4, there's another shit circling around BK so making stuff up isn't needed.

Ian Allaker
59 Posted 02/02/2013 at 13:48:18
Yes, bring in Di Canio now, who has done nothing to prove he could replace Moyes. You only have to look at Lambert to see when push comes to shove, the managers put forward as the best potential successors to Moyes are nowhere near the class of Moyes.

Nick Entwistle
60 Posted 02/02/2013 at 13:55:52
That's should read enough shit, so another shit won't make a difference.
Eric Myles
62 Posted 02/02/2013 at 14:23:41
Brian #978, what happened was the board failed to bring in an new players that the manager wanted.

Now if Moyes doesn't renew his contract and goes to another club then we get no compo and no 'no poaching' clauses for our players.

Eric Myles
63 Posted 02/02/2013 at 14:49:15
Patrick #996 "the best way that Moyes can answer the board's incompetence is to squeeze every last drop of energy out of his team"

You're not advocating that Moyes shoud 'sweat the asset' are you?

Eric Myles
64 Posted 02/02/2013 at 14:55:45
Dennis #054, the problem with bringing Di Canio in is that he would be gone after a couple of weeks of the BS from BK.
Harold Matthews
65 Posted 02/02/2013 at 13:51:36
£4ml. is a helluva wage packet to give up. Can't see it happening despite the obvious frustration. He is probably just as much at fault as BK and Co., giving in to greedy players and agents and pushing the wage bill through the roof. In fact, he may well be the main culprit, insisting on getting Pienaar back despite the inflated salary and demanding we hang on to certain squad members no matter the cost.

Fergie has always stated that DM's best signings are the ones he managers to keep but these achievements have ripped the bottom out of our transfer basket. Between them, Moyes and The Board have made a huge financial cock-up and the slowly,slowly recovery began with this latest transfer window. Do not pick up the brush and attempt to paint a niaive, innocent portrait of DM. I,for one, will not buy it.

Eric Myles
66 Posted 02/02/2013 at 17:06:33
Harold, what inflated salary for Pienaar? I seem to remember we signed him for less than he was on at Spurs? Maybe I'm wrong?
Harold Matthews
67 Posted 02/02/2013 at 17:52:16
Eric. I am unable to give figures but on another thread one of our Toffee Web financial geeks said he was 3rd highest behind only Moyes and Fellaini.
Harold Matthews
68 Posted 02/02/2013 at 18:14:40
Incidentally Eric, I did not say his wage is lower or higher than it was at Spurs. I said it was inflated, which it is. In fact, it would come as some surprise to discover that he is not on substantionally more than his original Everton wage.

Whatever, I still stick to my guns. They are all in it together and at 78, I am far too old and experienced to allow them to pull the wool over my eyes .

Clive Rogers
69 Posted 03/02/2013 at 00:15:47
When following the press reports about the Fer deal falling through, my heart dropped when I read that Elstone had said we had alternatives like any good club would have. His track record is that everything he says, the opposite seems to happen. I remember him saying what a good thing the Kitbag deal was for the club. He's a smooth talker but it's all bullshit.
Patrick Murphy
70 Posted 03/02/2013 at 00:37:44
John Champion in commentary said that Fulham were now debt free due to Al Fayed turning loans into equity, how does this work?
Drew O'Neall
71 Posted 03/02/2013 at 00:52:32
Clive 314

Yeah Sissoko for £1.8m didn't look a bad alternative, pity we left that to Newcastle while we were scraping scratchcards for most of January.

Eric Myles
72 Posted 03/02/2013 at 02:55:38
Patrick, it means that the owner had put money into the club as a loan which was expecteed to be paid back so was therefore recorded as debt.

Turning that debt into equity means that he took shares in the club to the value of the debt, so it comes off the books.

If you're thinking we can do that then we can't because our owners have never put a penny into the Club but loaded the debt from external sources.

Patrick Murphy
73 Posted 03/02/2013 at 08:43:03
Thanks Eric, I was never under the illusion that we could do it, I think we have probably done the exact opposite and turned equity into debt.
Clive Rogers
74 Posted 03/02/2013 at 18:02:53
Think he's going now. When asked about possibly going back for Fer in the summer, he gave a very negative answer. Sounded to me like he won't be there.
Dennis Shaw
75 Posted 03/02/2013 at 19:28:25
Clive - the deceptive magic trick of bringing Fer in was performed by BK in this window like Paul Daniels once said "never repeat the same tricks with the same props the audience will work it out" so wait till summer when we perform the same trick with different props. Debbie Maghee (Moyes) will be there to ably assist the illusion as he has for the past few years.

Clive Rogers
76 Posted 03/02/2013 at 21:26:00
Dennis - I know what you mean, but I feel that he's going. His body language is different. He hardly celebrated the equaliser. I think even he has had enough of our impossible financial situation which just seems to go on and on. I've accepted that Kenshite will never sell. He's there till he snuffs.
Trevor Lynes
77 Posted 04/02/2013 at 15:21:00
I fully agree with Christine's summary.

The excuse to not sign Leroy Fer indicates to me that this board is not far short of criminally inept. If a club seriously is committed to bringing in fresh faces then the deals are not left to the last minute.

We have taken on plenty of players with injury histories far longer than Fer's and I know as an ex-player that there is hardly a pro footballer who would not show up an old injury when a scan is performed. The fact is Fer is playing for his club and is not being subbed. The lad plays midfield so cannot be nursed.

Ofoe missed out through lateness in the last window so what happened during this window? Did the lad lose form or get injured??

Newcastle signed five players some of whom cost very little and Sissoko looks a bargain at half what we payed for a player of the 'future'. We badly need good players NOW not at a later date. Newcastle who consistently finish below us are making a laughing stock of our board and by contamination our supporters.

I'm sick and tired of reading articles by fans who are actually making excuses for this board. I do not believe we are as broke as we are led to believe. DM is a punching bag for them and should be supported not castigated.

The present first eleven when fit and fresh are a really good team but now they are carrying minor injuries and are jaded. Every other team carries a better bench than we do and it's not good enough. We deserve better and so does the team who have done so well this season.

Ray Roche
78 Posted 04/02/2013 at 15:46:21
Trevor Lynes, when I posted similar concerns and comments to those you have voiced @757, I was accused of being a conspiracy theorist, despite protestations to the contrary. If the club or Moyes could possibly explain why Ofoe was dropped from our list of "alternatives like any good club would have" (Elstone), it might go some way to placate the fans who are dismayed at our failure to bring in reinforcements to an already small squad.

The failure to add to our number when there were obviously prospects out there, like Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran, a midfielder and forward, when we are apparently looking for strength in those positions – and who could BOTH have joined for less than we were supposedly prepared to pay for Fer – leads me to suspect that we weren't serious about signing him in the first place. Unless, of course, we could re-jig the payments to suit BK's empty pockets.

Incidentally, I am NOT usually a conspiracy theorist; I believe man landed on the moon; I believe there was a Holocaust... and I believe that Leroy Harvey Osman shot Kennedy...

He might as well have judging by the stick he gets on ToffeeWeb.

Trevor Lynes
79 Posted 04/02/2013 at 16:04:42
Ray, thanks for reading my comments but I have been saying most of what I have written for a long time. I'm a very long standing Evertonian and remember the bad old days of relegation and the heights of League Championship wins. I actually had the pleasure of playing against one or two of my hero's when at Southport.

I do not just believe all the defeatist, "short of money" excuses for this board of multi-millionnaires. I have never in the past seen EFC fall short when chasing transfer targets. Our gates a regularly high and we consistently finish in the top 8. DM has done a hell of a job with very limited support and he is the frontman taking all the vitriolic abuse that should be directed at the board.

They fall into a few categories, one of which is total ineptitude in dealing with transfers IN. If they are not inept then they are liars. How this manager can continue to pay lip service to this bungling board beggars belief.

Our players look jaded and some need a rest but we have no adequate replacements. Newcastle signed FIVE and that's what we need — not "one for the future". Our bench is now even weaker because one backside is on loan in France.

Ray Roche
80 Posted 04/02/2013 at 16:52:22
Agreed, Trevor, my support for Everton goes back to the late fifties and it's most unpleasant to see us struggling to bring players in. Moyes, basically, has done a tremendous job at EFC and it is shamefull for Kenwright to hide behind Moyes achievements in making us a side striving for European football as opposed to striving to stay in the Prem.
Newcastle have shown how it's done, invest in the team and have a good scouting network. I'm glad we don't have to face them again this term, they have the looks of a team who will give anyone a match.
Roman Sidey
81 Posted 04/02/2013 at 16:04:42
Didn't BK come out a couple of seasons ago and admit that the club needed to do business late to save on wages?

As much as I'm a flag waving MOBster, I'll try to be as balanced as I can here. What happens at the end of this season will be probably the most pivotal in the next five-plus years of the club. Firstly, how Moyes (to an extent the board too) reacts to where we finish will say a lot about his ambition (and the board's) and expectations. If we finish 5th and hear anything but how disappointed he is, it won't fly. Secondly, if he signs a new contract (which I think he will) knowing the board haven't and won't back him when he needs it most, then no one can have sympathy for him. He knows what he's getting into, and if he CHOOSES to work under the same conditions, then expectations MUST rise.

If we finish 4th, I'd back us to make the group stages, but that's about it. People keep saying how next season we get more TV money and ECL gives us x amount of money from playing and extra TV coverage, but none of that extra money from either source is going to be paid on day one of season 2013-14. I am sure it will be sprinkled into the club over the course of the season, which, let's face it, the board will pump onto our interest bill and into the "other operating costs" which is obviously their kick-backs and junkets that they are too tight to pay for themselves.

On the transfer window that just happened, if Stones doesn't get a start before the end of this season, then the club has really fucked up by spending 3m (a lot for us) on nothing.

Clive Rogers
82 Posted 04/02/2013 at 19:57:01
Moyes is definitely going now. Alan Stubbs virtually said so in the interview detailed on toffeeweb. Also in Saturdays post match interview, Moyes was asked would EFC possibly be going back for Fer in the summer. He replied curtly that he couldn't answer that. To me that means he won't be there. When we scored our three goals on Sat he didn't react as normal.
Tony J Williams
83 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:15:05
Clive, I wouldn't blame him if he did go. A slim chance of a push for 4th and he is not backed by the board. He is probably thinking, "Enough is enough".

He doesn't need to work ever again but if he does leave, I doubt he will be out of a job for long.

Ian Bennett
84 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:20:27
Everton do late business to reduce the risk of being gazumped and to keep prices realistic. How many times have we been outdone by going in early, without the fee or wages to compete?
Clive Rogers
85 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:14:33
Roman 793, agree with all you've said apart from Moyes signing, see above. I personally am convinced he's decided to go. Talking finance, EFC seems to be a financial black hole as you suggest. When the Sky money shot up last time every other club seemed to benefit bar us. Since then, we now have to pay out for the training ground rental, the ground rental and interest repayments on the ever growing debt. Selling off our assets was a really bad move by Kenshite and will affect the club for years. What happened to the money anyway? We've lost control of our expenditure. Kenshite will never sell. He's there for another 15 to 20 years.
Brian Waring
86 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:27:12
Ian, It wouldn't suprise me if it's more to do with the club saving a few weeks wages on a player if they leave it till the last minute.

Also, if Moyes signs a new contract,that must then mean he is happy with BK and the rest of his cronies, because if he isen't, then the only thing he can do is walk. IMO though, and I said it the other day, I think he will sign a new contract, get a pay rise and then say he was always going to sign his new contract, but he needed to concentrate on more important things.

One question, if Moyes does sign a new contract after the board not backing him etc, what will it say about the man?

Roman Sidey
87 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:38:17
Clive, I just watched the video of his Villa conference, having read the quotes first. His demeanor is suggestive of a departure I must admit.

Brian, as I alluded to in my last post, if he signs a new contract with us I think it's because he knows his limitations as a manager.

Kevin Tully
88 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:42:27
MK or Lyndon, maybe it's time for a famous Toffeeweb poll, as to whether or not Moyes will put pen to paper on a new deal?
Joseph Foster
89 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:45:12
Yep that's moyes gone
Brian Waring
90 Posted 04/02/2013 at 20:56:01
What will be interesting Roman if Moyes does sign a new contract, is the reasons for him doing it from his followers.
Ian Bennett
91 Posted 04/02/2013 at 21:19:41
Yep Brian, phil Neville or dave jones are so appealing.
Brendan McLaughlin
92 Posted 04/02/2013 at 21:25:55
Brian #859
Not quite sure why you think it will be such a watershed. It will be "same o, same o"....Moyes will give his reasons and the MOB will slate him for it and the Apologists will applaud. You expecting something different?

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