Ian Mills has an update that includes an eyewitness account of Bill Kenwright coming out to talk to the fans on the occasion of the Press Conference called to announce his appointment. 

 Royal Blue Mersey

Well for those who are interested, I'm not doing too badly with my A-Levels but that's not the topic. What I'd like to talk about is obviously Everton, but more importantly...

"Captain" Duncan

He may not talk to the press before or after games, or talk to them at all come to think of it; he may not write a captain's column in the matchday programme; you don't see him on the telly in things like A Question of Sport...  But Duncan Ferguson's last reign as Everton captain saw him produce the kind of form that made him a legend at the Club — the sort of form that led such an awful team back in 1997 (such names as Farrelly, Oster, Williamson, Thomas, Thomsen and Branch) to survival.  

With the recent news that all his past injury problems could have been due to a blood disorder which is now getting controlled, Duncan could once again re-capture the kind of form that made Evertonians so proud to see the big man leading the blue boys out on to the field every Saturday.

Against Fulham, Duncan looked up for it from the word go.  From his first appearance to the tune of Z-Cars, when he gave the Gwladys St end the fists of war, to when the whistle blew, he chased every ball for 90 minutes and put in a captain's performance.  He really did lead by example. 

David Moyes said after the game that he thought Duncan would thrive on being captain and it would not only give him (Duncan) a lift, but the fans and players as well.  Similar words to what Howard Kendall said back in 1997 when he made Duncan captain against Bolton in which the blues won 3-2 and Duncan scored his only hat-trick for the Blues to date.  Signing an out-and-out goalscorer is still a priority and a must for the summer but, if Duncan and Tomasz keep themselves fit, then that partnership will be a very hard one to break up.  

And let's not forget Kevin Campbell.  There have been rumours that he will be off in the summer and I dont particularly think that he would be a major loss on the field.  Just four league goals from around 15 starts isn't a record to be proud of.  Although he will work his socks off for you for 90 minutes, he has missed some good chances this season and fails to get into the kind of positions that Franny Jeffers, Tony Cottee and even Paul Rideout used to get in. 

If Kev goes then we must sign two forwards and the lad Zamora must be a real target.  David Moyes has already said that he is an admirer of Bobby and that youth is the way forward for Everton.  25 goals in Division Two is a good record and the lad must be raring to have a go in the Premiership...  Why not then?  We'll have to wait and see.

I did attend the David Moyes press conference last Thursday night.  I arrived with my mates at the Park End stand at about 7pm.  The press conference was called for 7:15.  We were told we had no chance of getting in, but Moyes was expected to come out and greet some of the fans, which was fair enough. More fans gathered: from the four of us, there were now around 100 fans outside the Park Stand.  Bill Kenwright to a nice round of a applause.  He gathered the group of fans together and talked to us for a good 15 minutes.

Now Bill has had his critics, but what a guy!  On a freezing wet night, he comes outside and stands with the fans to answer any questions they want to ask.  Top man!

Most questions were about money.  He said there will be money available and that the refinancing package came through earlier that week.  He said he had spoken to Walter nearly every hour because they are friends.  He said that when he met Moyes, he was swept away.  He has such a good football mind and Moyes told Kenwright that he hates losing; he wants to get rid of any players who don't give a damn about the shirt and any players who won't play 40 games a season. 

He also said that Moyes is big on fitness and the players will train twice a day for the first time since the 80's, apart from pre-season.  He said that Ginola and Gascoigne will probably leave (2 days later Gazza was off); the Assistant Manager's job will be sorted in the summer, etc.  Lots of questions about Zamora and Koumas; Kenwright responded by saying if David wants them, he'll get them.  He then went back inside, to another round of applause.

For Bill to do that, in my opinion, was a fantastic gesture.  He could have sat in the Director's Lounge with hot coffee and croissants on a leather couch and relaxed.  But, the true blue that he is, he decided that he would come out and talk to the fans who had turned up in the freezing cold.  Magic!  Just like Duncan, he's taken the flack, but now he deserves some praise.

I'd like to see Jesper Blomqvist stay on at the end of the season.  He's the only out-and-out winger in the squad apart from Idan Tal.  It will be interesting to see what happens with Idan in the summer too!

Wouldn't in be great to see a passionate Evertonian as Moyes' Number 2?  Liverpool have Pinoc... I mean Thompson and its worked a treat for them.  I just think someone like Kevin Ratcliffe or Dave Watson — someone who cares about the club deeply and knows what its all about — would make a big difference around the training ground and in general.

Did anyone go to Boro and West Ham in the space of 5 days?  Did you feel as sick as me?  I bet you did!

Anyway that raps it up.

Take Care

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Ian Mills

21 March 2002