ToffeeWeb MailBag |
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 ToffeeWeb Letters from
January 2006 |
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Three burning issues In Hibbert's case, it's simple because he is at Everton! Personally, I adopt the Man Utd stance of not giving a toss about England and only caring for my club. Like Michael said, I hope he never plays for England — as Neville will obviously not. Second is Dave Allen's article: OUT: Wright, Weir, Pistone, Davies, and Cahill. Total: £8.5M. You're having a laugh if you think Moyes would sell our second best player! You're mad and very mad for expecting a penny for the rest of them raggy dolls! But they must go — that's granted! IN: Westerveld, Ferrari, Webster, Lovenkrands, Da Silva, Andy Johnson, and either Nugent or Jerome. Total:£12.5M. Webster? Is that Kevin Webster from Corrie? Da Silva is free, injured but a possibility. Moyes can't spend £10M on Johnson as he hasn't got £10M to spend, and, well, I'm hoping as you are the rest will come as they are good cheap players.... except Jerome! Thirdly its good to see AvdM back in training — I just hope that
he'll play ten games before he breaks down again! Fantastic signing if
he stays fit! Tearing down the wing while Kilbane sits on the bench
wondering why he isn't playing. Ohhh... I can't wait!!! Van der Bluddy Who? And, do you know, if Moyes and his medics read ToffeeWeb they would have known he was serially unfit because, as soon as VdM`s name came up, a Dutch guy wrote in and told us all his history! I just looked it up - as they should have done: less than 160 starts in a nine-year career, so I guess we`re doing ok from him so far. But then, as one of your writers said today, he`s got flair! NavAl Gazing? I`m totally with Rick Tarleton and John Curtis in the belief that what has been on offer quality-wise under Kenwright & Moyes has plumbed the depths. And don`t tell me it`s no better at the likes of Charlton — I don`t pay them huge amounts of `Hard earned` — so they are of no interest to me. (Although, having said that, who wouldn`t rather have Darren Bent as second striker over Jimmy Mac?) Anyway, all the `other` teams have scored more than 19 goals this season so their fans MUST have had a bit more excitement, mustn`t they? No, the Moyes method sets out to strangle the opposition and in so
doing manages to strangle every vistage of entertainment from the game.
Like the other correspondents, I`m voting with my wallet from now on
—Anybody want two together in The Main Stand? Life on Mars Last summer, we had qualified foir the Champions League qualifier through hard work and battling and were about to reap the rewards by strengthening on and off the pitch. I fell asleep and since then we have strengthened the defence on paper yet done nothing about one of the least productive forward lines in the league. After seeing a few forwards failing medicals, we bought a quality flair player... with an injury-prone reputation. We have a £6M striker who is reduced to a running workhorse, doing everything for the team except the main task of scoring goals. Our manager keeps talking about a lack of quality up front, yet does nothing to add to that quality. We keep being told that we're the 18th richest club in Europe, yet we never seem to have any money to spend on improving the squad. Worst of all, people like me are being slated for having the optimism to think that Everton can play attractive, winning football, if the management really wanted to. I'm sick of the mediocrity of the last two years being dressed up as genius. Are Evertonians really genuinely happy with a mid-table team with one striker, no strategy and no entertainment? Am I mad? Am I in a coma? Can someone help me to wake up? Isn't there
more to Everton than this, or is 'y' history' just a line in a song? Even if we're short of cash With little money to spend, here is my recommendation: OUT: Wright, Weir, Pistone, Davies, and Cahill, yes Cahill (to raise cash). Total: approximately £8.5M. IN: Westerveld, Ferrari, Webster, Lovenkrands, Da Silva, Andy Johnson, and either Nugent or Jerome. Total: approximately £12.5M. With a net outlay of just £4M we could increase the squad size,
introduce pace allround, and reduce the average age. A forward group of
Beattie, Johnson, Vaughan, Nugent, gives us power, pace, potential and
HOPE. COYB Neville exposed Personally, I don`t give a tuppenny fuck that Sven doesn`t pick
Hibbert because, if he got in with that lot, he`d be gone from Goodison
in no time. Look what happenned to Rooney! Wish List
BSD Lover, Sydney, Australia (28/2/06) Moyes/Kenwright Right on ther Nail Sven's Logic! No wonder budding internationals like Jeffers, Ball, Barmby & Rooney were convinced to leave Everton. In the past, Everton have been burned when players finally do make
the international scene but I still want to see Hibbert (maybe even
Osman) pull on an England shirt. Internationals raise the profile of the
club and are something to be proud of. If Tony Hibbert had been a Man
Utd player, he would have been an England International for a number of
years by now. Whippet re: Naval gazing 'Kenwright is a useless Chairman who cannot finance the club he professes to love. Moyes is therefore inadequate (there are other reasons for his inadequacy), and his team lacks enterprise and flair.' How is moyes inadequate as a result of 'a useless chairman lacking finance' I don't see how one flows into the other?(He does say 'therefore'!) Of course the team lacks enterprise and flair, compared to the top 4, but what about the rest of the Premiership? Do we really compare so badly to the likes of West Ham, Man City, Charlton, etc? I suggest some people watch other teams in and around us and not keep watching Everton with those shit-tinted glasses on! I know to compare us to these teams is hardly befitting of our motto, but I have seen some good football occasionally break-out and some flair too! The key is to keep improving the squad, as we are, and not replacing like-for-like. I don't think Davey is averse to buying flair when it becomes
available (and in our price range). Arteta and Van der Meyde would be
described as flair players by some, and Ossie is capable of flashes of
magic. But there is a time and a place for flair, and the only teams in
my mind that maintain flair players outside the top 5 never break into
the top 5 — 7 just look at West Ham a few years ago. Playing for England..... It was inevitable that Phil Neville would no longer be picked, as it
is inevitable that, if Hibbo is every given a chance, pigs will fly.
Think I'm kidding? Whatever happened to Emile Heskey who used to get in
the England squad time after time... oh yes, he signed for Birmingham!! I have to agree with Ajay Rooney's sale did not keep the club afloat. If he had stayed a season
or two longer, the club profile may have improved worldwide with his
help as shirt sales and other things would have made the club better
off. Man Utd are getting these benefits now and have well had their
money back on him. If you want to remind us all of past players then
keep up with careers of Barmby and Jeffers. They are all the same to me. Unfair England I know it's not the best stadium in the country but it's still as big
as a lot of others England have played in. We could use the financial
and profile-raising boost of an International at Goodison. This week
England play another friendly and guess which stadium they are at...
Anfield, again. Does this bother anyone else? Insert bad Ferrari pun here
Ted Turner, Nottingham (27/2/06) Derby Tickets Yes, I sit in the lounge seats does that make me any less an Evertonian? And, no, I do not plan on going across the park to be spat upon and have coins rain down on me to watch the club I have supported since I drew breath. Why do supporters who sit elsewhere in the ground assume that people who sit in the lounges are any less a fan than them?? I used to sit in the paddock but decided a change would be nice.
Sorry if this offends, sorry if I can afford to pay over a thousand
pounds for my season ticket... I work bloody hard for it all year. Get over it The art of not scoring goals The fewest League goal scored in a season is 35 in the first league season in 1888-89. However, this was over 22 matches. The lowest ever goals scored in a longer season is 37 in 1971-72 - an average of 0.9 goals per game. Out of the 42 games played that season, Everton failed to score in 19 of them. They scored just 1 goal in a further 15 games, meaning that in the remaining 8 games, Everton scored more than 1. One of these games was an 8-0 victory over Southampton!! Including the recent Newcastle game, we have scored 19 goals, and need to score another 19 in the remaining 11 games to beat this record. If we score another 15 goals in the remaining 11 games then we will have managed a better goals per game average than the 1971 season. The fewest goals scored at home in a League season is just 21 in the 1983-84 season. The 21 matches at Goodison Park that season saw 7 games where Everton failed to score, 10 games where they scored just 1 goal and the remaing 4 games seeing mor than 1 Everton goal. Everton have currently scored 11 goals from their 13 home games this season, so a return of 11 goals from the remaining 6 will see this record remain intact also. However, Everton should manage to beat the record for the fewest away
goals in a season which is currently held by the 1948-49 team, which
managed to score just 8 goals in 21 away matches. 14 of these saw
Everton failing to score, and just 1 goal was scored in another 6 games.
The only time Everton scored more than once was a 3-2 defeat at Derby
County. In this season, the first eight away games saw a record of
played 8, lost 8, goals for 0, goals against 23! The next game at Aston
Villa saw Everton register a 1-0 victory, before another run of 5 games
without an Everton goal - that's 14 away games and just 1 goal! Fragile Stubbs & Weir are generally excellent at dogged rearguard actions when they have the full support of the midlielders. They know their limits and don't take risks. When we go a goal down, however, those same midfielders have to push up more to support our obviously poor attack. Any kind of pace will always cause them problems in these cicumstances. I believe David Moyes is of a naturally defensive mentality. He may try to to sign more strikers and creative midfielders in the summer. He may change the line-up to incorporate Andy van der Meyde — if and when he's fit. This may make things click for Beattie. If he does start scoring more freely, opposing defenders will obviously be more afraid and leave spaces for Cahill & Osman to feed off. Goal threat plus solid defence is obviously a great combination and we all know which part of the equation is missing. I don't think Beattie is Bob Latchford waiting for a Dave Thomas, but he is an old-fashioned No 9 and he needs service. Don't, however, expect Moyes to play a 3-4- 3 formation. He might be
tempted to play two strikers at home against Sunderland, but it will
always be one up front away from home and at Goodison against the
biggies. I suspect that even with an unlimited budget, our playing style
would be more similar to Chelsea's than Barcelona's. Derby Tickets So, if you’ve never been to an away game in your life but rich enough
to sit in a lounge then you can get a ticket – is it just me or is that
plain wrong? From next season I might stop going away and the money I
save I’ll buy a ticket in a lounge, get myself one share and hey presto
– I’m guaranteed a ticket for the biggest away game of the season even
though I haven’t been to one! Beattie getting carried away So, whilst one goal every four matches is prolific from a forward in
this dreadful Moyes era, I would suggest that Master Beattie cuts down
on the self-hype and puts a bit more time in on goal-scoring practice. Sorry, cheerless mess Our treatment at John Lennon Airport last August should have been the last straw but with our money committed, we`ve hung in there up to now for what must rank as the most boring, unentertaining season in the great Club`s history. As a custodian of the Club, Kenwright is a joke — an archetypal luvvie who waxes lyrical at the slightest provocation but totally fails to address the underlying problem of the Club — underfunding. Moyes is the ideal foil. A miserable, indecisive curmudgeon who has taken the beauty out of the beautiful game. A manager who despises flair players because he totally lacked that quality himself. What need of a goalscorer when we can finish fourth with a negative goal difference? I`ll leave comment on Wyness and his crew to others who have suffered at their shortcomings but, all in all, it`s a sorry, cheerless mess which has long since failed to provide what we pay for — entertainment! Once a Blue, always a Blue... but I ain`t keeping this lot in cigars
and champagne. No, sir! Navel Gazing Apart from the odd comment about Tony Marsh's letters, it's almost as if every correspondent wants to re-invent the wheel. There are, I admit, one or two idiots who think we (Kenwright, Moyes, the team, the club) are doing fine. Let's dismiss them: they are cock-eyed optimists who can't see that our goal-difference and inability to score two goals in a match is a real indicator of fundamental inadequacy. Evertonians, don't let's repeat the same point. Let's combine and say Enough is Enough: Kenwright is the problem and the other problems stem from his lies and inadequacy. No further comment is necessary. Best Deal Possible A. The Carling Cup Q. Which is the only trophy won by Man Utd since that historic transfer? A. The Carling Cup. You couldn't make it up ! Who needs stars? Then look at James Beattie. The Southampton and England sharp-shooter listened to the Moystro and has now been successfully transformed into a Marcus Bent clone: he runs all day and snatches at chances which successfully reach Row Z! No, with Moysey it`s all about discipline and work rate —just like it
always was at Cambridge, Shrewsbury and Preston. "Get rid, son, and you
up front: start chasing your arse!" So, dear Peter, forget signing stars
and look forward to a summer full of Davieses, Kilbanes, and — if we`re
really lucky — the odd Phil Neville. Who needs stars? Bill Dean is in good company... The Youth System I think the problem is that Moyes views every single game as vital
and can't afford to take a chance of the youngsters. Maybe they are just
not good enough. I remember when people used to shout about giving
Chadwick and Jevons a chance but they have hardly go on to great
careers, have they? Don't lose heart yet Nuno Valente was OUTSTANDING. Everton MotM for me. But I can't believe that Kilbane was that awful at the same time... maybe he needs a rest? Davies was nowhere to be seen either... I don't think he is the sort of player suited to the 4-5-1. Apart from that, everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. We couldn,t score from so many clear-cut opportunities. Wier had a good game (despite being the culprit for the first goal). He could have easily had a goal to his name. Life is not fair I suppose. Hibbert and Neville back will make a big difference next week. COYB What chance have we got? Miami Flip-Flops We seemed to flatter to deceive all through the game with some good passing and movement floundering when anywhere near thirty yards out. The words power and pace kept going through my mind. Yobo looked ill at ease in the right back position; Kilbane had a day when he couldn't do right from wrong and I have just checked the morning paper to see if Davies was playing. Being so deficient in three positions is always going to make it an uphill task and so it proved. Our lone attacker, Beattie, was not given any service whatsoever due to this imbalance. The return of the suspended players, especially Hibbert, will help as this game proved conclusively our need for a deeper squad. No matter what the manager may have done with what we had, nothing would have made much difference. MotM was difficult last night: I would go with Arteta on the basis that he gave the ball away least. Heres to a more injury-free run in for we still need a couple more wins. Off to see Eastenders live now. See you Saturday --- UP THE BLUES Our 'Welsh Wizard' And don't get me started on Barry 'sit on the fence' Horne in the Offical match commentary. Several times this season, he as praised Davies and called him the best player on the pitch! I've even heard him on the radio calling him our "Welsh Wizard" and "Simon Davies was out of this world again today!" — yea he was out of this world — that's why no one fucking noticed him! Spurs must be laughing their heads off at £3.5M... and guess what? They replaced him with Aaron Lennon for just £1M. That's Everton all over: we could so easily have had him instead! Next season, we want some young hungry players with a bit of pace,
please! Oh and while you're there, Davey, is it possible we buy not one
striker, not two strikers, but threee strikers to make up for
each transfer window you failed to sign one! Goals I thought several months ago that a few strikers will out-score the whole of the Everton team by the end of the season. Christ, what a laughing stock we have become. Out of interest, does anyone know what the lowest Everton goals in a season is? Ah well, at least we can all stop up to midnight on 31st August to
find out that we didn't get that striker after all... Or, if we did,
it's total class in the name of Nugent or Trundle. Leadership I assume Weir is on the pitch for his experience and leadership
qualities because it can't be for his tackling(another Cisse moment for
the first goal today). If he's not going to bring either, maybe it's
time to sit him down. You can complain about Moyes all you want but
someone on the field has to be able to light a fire under the players as
well and I don't think Weir is the man. Performance; back to sqaure one The clincher is this - can any true Evertonian, hand on heart, believe that we don`t have two or three reserves deserving of a place in the team more than Davies, McFadden and Cahill on this season`s performances? And if not why not? Good luck to the lads at West Ham but there where far too many shades
of West Brom & Villa there tonight for me to feel comfortable.
Toothless. Sandra - (I know it's spelt wrong)!! Oh Yes... I forgot to mention.... ONCE A BLUE, ALWAYS A BLUE! Goalscoring The real blame lies with the two negative Scots on the touchline; we
never get numbers in the box when we attack because he is to scared of
getting caught on the break — because he has bought no players with
pace. The stats don't lie: we have now played 36 competitive matches in
all competitions and have failed to score more than 1 goal in 34 of
those — in other words, if the opposition score then we don't win. Our
19 league goals so far is on course to be the lowest in our history
which was 37 in the early seventies and even that season we managed to
win a game 8-0. Not all bad! Everyone performed really well today (except Kilbane, Davies and Beattie). Westerveld was excellent and I really think Moyes should think about signing him up as a reserve for Martyn and shipping out Wright after today's performance. Overall it was the same old chestnut, the lack of strike power, that did us. I won't gun the strikers too much but we must have the poorest strikers in the league and today it shows with Beattie missing another golden chance. But well done lads for at least playing football (or trying to) in an attacking manner. But I must have a moan about Davies. I'll keep it simple... he is
USELESS! Is it blind hatred from me or does everyone else think this
also? Roll on West Ham next week!!! Just unlucky You may be pleased, David, but... I saw Everton have three clear-cut chances to score in the first half and dominate for a solid period but could not put one away. That’s primarily because we don’t have any teeth to speak of up front. I saw us become increasingly negative as the match went on, presumably on his instructions. I saw an aging central defence that had a harder and harder time dealing with the pace of Newcastle as the second half minutes went by. And I saw Beattie, yet again, and Davies and Kilbane, having no impact on the game whatever. What won this match for Newcastle was their willingness to attack in numbers and with fluid pace with players who gave themselves numerous options. We had two ideas: (1) punt ahead to Beattie and pray, usually too far ahead for someone that slow and cumbersome; and (2), cross to a defender from a set piece. Just as upsetting, we completely gave up on this game almost from the moment they scored their first and we had given up on getting more than a 0-0 draw even before that. That’s the match I saw. I certainly didn’t see a game in which “the players played well.” If that performance pleases David Moyes, I’m worried. Incidentally,
Beattie’s standard performance made the midweek talk about an England
call-up absolutely laughable. He has the same chance of an England place
as I do. Zero. Which coincidentally, is also his value to Everton. Newcastle game I despair Not my words but those of our very satisfied manager, totally
ignoring the stat put to him that when Everton go a goal behind, we
always lose! Talk about no Plan B, he doesn`t even see the need for one.
When we concede,w e`re fucked — so what, there`s always next week. I
despair. Different planet? We've been North of the Artic Circle all week and went to a bar in Helsinki to watch the blues only to find us playing a bleedin red nose in goal — and a crap one at that! Why the hell him, please send him back to which ever stone they found him under. Stick with the keepers, if they are our reserves then stick by them.
What is the point in having reserves if you never play them? Newcastle Game Why? Why are we still suffering this same problem — why can we not score when clearly superior? I admire Moyes for having the bottle not to sign the striker our pitifully weak squad demanded but, surely to Christ, even he can see the desperate need for someone to play up with Beattie??? The thing I worry about most is no strikers signing this summer and,
for the third season in a row, we end up frantically searching for
deadline-day signings. Of course we will have blown all our cash on
defenders so we end up with Jeffers or some rubbish like that. After a certain style..... I disagree with some points of view. Rooney isn't the greatest product of our junior ranks, that honour remains with Colin Harvey. Those who saw Harvey could tell you that he is exactly what we need now; Rooney would just be an accoutrement, Pavorotti to Puchini. I have no personal dislike for Bill Kenwright but I remember when he was putting together a consortium to buy out Peter Johnson (for £50M... finally for £25M) that he stated that a few years previous he could have bought it outright for £5M. That told me he had neither the vision nor the competence to run this football club efficiently. Perhaps it's age, perhaps clouded memory but I would love to see an Everton playing good football again and Harvey, Ball and Kendall saying that it was better than anything they could remember. Let's hope it doesn't become something beyond the memory or hope of
most Evertonians. Deception in the Boardroom A chairman who has to mislead his fellow shareholders and board members is straying into very dangerous territory. It takes a lot of energy and time to construct such a scheme that also involves feeding the local hacks with soft-ball PR stories and finding time to make international calls to Europe while fighting over his main stand seat with his fellow director. It takes a lot of guts to stand in front of your shareholders at your AGM meetings to perpetuate a charade with serious consequences. So.... was all this time and energy committed in an effort to find real investment? NO! ...it was done so that a chairman could keep his hands on the trainset. That is that most damning indictment of all, that a chairman who is aware of his own shortcomings would be prepared to do us over in an ugly squabble to keep his trainset. There is no going back for this chairman. Once the perception of a lie is inside the minds of the fans, it is just a matter of time before the general apathy of the fans will turn to the ferocious roar. I for one hope the end will come quick because I see a chairman who is prepared to manage long-term debt rather than turn over the club to a chairman who has the vision, leadership and the business skills to show the fans that we can be so much more than we are under this leadership in the boardroom. I leave you with this thought, not once have I ever heard from this chairman's mouth to the fans the yearly goals for the club both on and off the pitch. Why? ... because to set goals you have to have the vision and consummate leadership skills to ensure that you will meet the goals. Instead, we hear of shifting deadlines and whispers to the local press of what could be or what may not be. This chairman said that his separation from the club would be
horrific... I beg to differ: his involvement has been horrific for 6
years. Time's Up! Taken to the Cleaners What the Oligarch is doing at Chelsea is more akin to squandering — but he's got so much of it that by the time he does decide to move on, it'll just amount to the interest he would have earned anyway. To invest in a football club anywhere is to merely be a benefactor. Very few brands... sorry, football teams, offer real commercial returns. You also have to remember that the land that Goodison is on is worth peanuts, and any commercial planning application would be difficult. So if Terry Leahy, Paul McCartney or Freddie Bloody Starr are Evertonians but don't want to throw their money away then so be it. Like a number of people on this site, I know Bill has Everton in his
blood, but I don't think he's the man to take us to another level. Some
people think he's obstructing investment, I just don't think it's out
there. Goalkeepers Stand Up if you wanna Sit Down Like a lot of others on this site, I too was at Villa Park that awful day - in fact, I got a bloody great bruise on my side after a surge when Pat Nevin scored the winner, but I think Steve (and even those who responded) have missed the real point - design and operations. I appreciate it's still an emotive subject in Merseyside (and beyond) still, but ultimately the bad design of the Leppings Lane End and the failure of crowd control on the day were significant contributory factors. L Without wishing to bore you, accident investigation is a remarkably straightforward procedure. There's a theory called "root and branch" where you look at all of the contributory factors, and how in combination it led to disaster. That's why planes have been downed because a cleaner forgot to remove some sticky tape, to quote just one example. I think what Steve is forgetting is that people are not campaigning for a return to terraces on four sides of the ground, with 50-60% of stadium capacity being standing. What people are asking for is SAFE standing. The stadia in Germany that have standing areas have been designed with that in mind - normally they are located in the corners, and it's also normally about 10-15% of stadium capacity. I've not been in the Gladwys Street lower stand for about 8 years now, but it's terrible. To simply concrete over the old terracing and put seats in was not the answer. Anyway, just my view. Personally, seeing as I'm about to turn 35 I'd prefer to sit. But I'd still like to see the opportunity to get some limited standing back in, in a properly designed and managed way. Who knows — might bring a bit more atmosphere back? (Rather than depending on refs like Peter Walton to create it!!) But I won't lose sleep if it doesn't happen. Like I said, Steve's
opinion is valid, and on this one it's time to "agree to disagree" and
move on. A bitter-sweet symphony "I love the club, I love the fans. And even if I could go back in time I'd make the same decision 10 out of 10 times. I think the move to United really has improved me as a player, this has been a difficult season watching Chelsea do so well, but I believe there's a great future ahead at United. That's what you play for, to win trophies. We've a chance of winning the Carling Cup and the FA Cup this season, and we want both. I think the last trophy I won was playing for the Under 12s" — Daily Mirror, 18/2/06 I have highlighted this statement to allow for some balanced perspective on his transfer and that of the persecuted complex that some hold in believing that he really didn't want to leave. I personally feel that the sale of Rooney was the biggest travesty to happen to the Club since Heysel, its magnitude was such that it felt like the death knell of the club. The club made a tidy profit on its protege and the banks / board may have been appeased, but facts are facts — Rooney made his intentions known, his agent sniped and weaseled through his cohorts in the media and press and the deal was done. Once a blue always a blue, my dream is to captain Everton and score the winner against Liverpool in a derby, Real Madrid, AC Milan, no I love Everton, quotes he made when signing his first contract with the club. I can't remember any of those moments, do I have a poor memory or Alzhiemers? Who knows? ... maybe he would have become a better player with Everton, a lot can and should be attributed to maturity and games under the belt. Conspiracy theories will always exist, Stretford had the audacity to question the integrity of the club and demanded to see the books and financial affairs of the club. It will be interesting to see if Rooney is the star of Germany '06 as
he was Portugal '04. Everton are the poorer for his loss, but no player
is bigger than the club. Give it a rest! Kenwright has backed Moyes to the tune of £45 million when other chairmen have expected their managers to make do and mend and given today`s news I reckon, if truth be told, our finances are in as good a state as the club over the road! So give it a rest, will you? Let`s enjoy the good times we`re having and focus on the climb up the table towards another excellent season-end position! ps: For Tom Collie`s benefit, I am not a Kenwright placeman, but a
humble council clerk who just likes to see credit where credit`s due! They are all at it! Now I mention this not to gloat but to indicate that the crap we are
fed in Annual Reports is just that! Even Billy Liar would be hard
pressed to come up with a whopper of those proportions, so those
currently screaming for his head would be wise to accept that he is not
alone in his incompetence - they are all at it! Europe Watching him play for Madrid brought back memories of how he used to
play when Wally Smith was in charge... shiite! He's OK if you give him
some freedom though! Interesting Professional journos and PR merchants spring to mind, employed by the
club... the same person? Surely not??? Damned if you do... damned if you don't..
However, while DM may have been able to use inexperience as a legitimate reason, had either of our young keepers let in a few too many, I can't see a certain section of our fans calmly accepting that. If we'd have had another WBA debacle with Turner or Ruddy between the sticks there would have been howls of outrage about Moyes erring again by not bringing in an experienced keeper. Damned if he did... damned if he didn't. The other issue with playing kids at the end of the season is it's just not (to a club in our poor financial state) a real option anymore. Also, with each placing in the League worth an additional half a million pounds, a drop of 2, 3 or 4 spots is no longer tolerable. Makes me thankful I'm not a manager. Careful what you wish for! I would hope that we can eventually become an attractive, competitive, upper-echelon Premiership team. If you look at attendances, the Premiership is what matters to most of us. Even the domestic cups are becoming more and more irrelevant and tend to overstretch the smaller clubs. I really hope that we secure our safety, progress to playing some attractive attacking football but miss out on the inevitable humiliation of low grade Eurotrash football. Attractive and Moyes in the same sentence.... I'm not holding my
breath! Sit down Goalkeepers Turner's back after Saturday so then we are back to two keepers. Yes, they are both young but, in a season where we are not going to get relegated or qualify for Europe, now's the time for these young lads to gain the experience required. Let's not just stop with the keepers let's blood some more
youngsters. You only gain experience by actually playing in the top
flight games. Back to work For most regulars on this site, the result will determine further the views they alresdy hold. For me, it will determine only my mood as I have long since learned that, no matter who is in charge, no matter how much money they have, the actual 90 minutes we observe will be unique and have no bearing on previous or future matches. Enjoy the match, lads; hope we win, cheer them on and —whatever the result — live it for a week and then contemplate the next one for it is sure to be different. Following the Blues encompasses all views expressed on the site, but only on a game-by-game basis. See you Sat. --- UP THE BLUES Standing Kenwright I heard a guy named Bilic who amassed a fortune in the 90s had an
interest in buying the club. Spin As quite rightly put in anothger posting but sadly missing from others, the whole lack of financial input to Everton has always rested on the controlling interest factor, even the fabled Fortress Sports Fund bullshit mentioned the percentages. Bill Kenwright and his henchmen have sought money for little return deals where investors' cash would gain them very little say in how that money would be invested; hence, anyone with any sense has steered well clear. The second from another posting is the example of Liverpool and their lack of finding suitable funding. As a former resident of Jersey I am fully aware of Steve Morgan's value even after his former wife Pamela's well deserved divorce settlement. Some supposition admittedly but again this investment opportunity appears to have dropped when the powers at that club refused to allow Mr Morgan to get his money's worth and gain control. Do you honestly believe anyone with the capability and acumen to
acrue significant wealth in business would then hand over the cash to
another party for no return? Get real and allow this to be added to the
debate as to why investment isn't happening. I wonder if...... The season before last Everton got embroiled in a relegation battle and couldn't get out of it until the last moment. This year they have got out of trouble emphatically and early. I wonder if it was due to lessons learned from before. This year's European campaigns were a disaster but I wonder if the lessons learned from them will lead to a more successful sortie next time (a win at the weekend would leave them 7 points off 4th). I would agree with anyone who argues that, as a top-flight manager, Moyes is not the finished article and I agree that the football played by his current Everton side is less than awesome. But I wonder if Moyes is learning how to make Everton an effective footballing side. As Bill Shankley once said - if you want entertainment then go to the
circus. Kenwright here to stay As several correspondents pointed out a while ago, even Aston Villa with no debt and a model stadium cannot attract a serious buyer... so what price Everton? Deep in the red and a grumbling mausoleum for a ground? Like many Evertonians, I`ve lost all respect for Kenwright, basically
because he tells so many lies; and Moyes leaves a lot to be desired,
particularly in the transfer market. But they are about as good as it
gets or is going to get, I`m afraid. So, like it or lump it, neither are
going anywhere — believe me! Sander wisdom? Kenwright I was just wondering who, apart from Gregg, has asked for a turn with
Bill's trainset? Kenwrong Out Instead, we get Fortress Sports Funds and lorryloads of bullshit to prop up the regime. It's interesting that Paul Gregg has basically been silent since Billy Liar announced the {of course totally non-existent} Fortress Sports Fund. I think Mr Gregg is well aware that "our Bill" has scammed him good and proper, and he ain't getting his cash back anytime soon. Being a Blue is a good attribute, but I'd really prefer someone
honest, more open, better resourced, with a bit of commercial sense in
charge. They're more relevant qualities than having grown up watching us
play! Kenwright Once a blue always.... Little return can be guaranteed for investment other than possible success on the field, there are massive overheads off it, and running a football club is like a poruous jug that leeches money. Jack Walker was a custodian and benefactor of Blackburn Rovers, he invested heavily in the team and stadium and was repayed with success. Yet, a couple of years later, relegation happened and since his death Blackburn have operated a more prudent approach. The situation with Leeds United is a shining example of what happens with a policy of speculation. And regardless of Chelsea's success, they have recorded huge losses in this financial year and continue to rely on their benefactor Abramovich who continues to launder his dirty cash but may become bored and walk away at any time. In respect of Rooney, did we really have any other choice? His latest comments in the press and media would suggest his personal intent and that of his agent / family to engineer a move to Man Utd, with the possible sum total of a Carling Cup medal to show for two seasons of football. In respect of Everton being a top club in terms of financial power, we would need to go back to the days of John Moores and the Mersey Millionaires tag for that to be true. Even during the successful period of the 80s, we should be considered as a selling club: Lineker, Steven and Stevens... Philip Carter — and his handling of the club during this period — is to blame as much as anyone for our subsequent demise. The 90's were subsequently riddled with the shady dealings of agent
Johnson. OK, Kenwright is not the long-term answer, but in the last 3-4
years under David Moyes we have made undoubted progress with limited
resources / funding and in the face of adversity. The only genuine
solution at present would be to continue as we are or hope that a
consortium of rich Evertonians put an investment package together to
take the club forward. What this does not take into account is ego's
working relationships etc which would prevent this from happening. There
is always the other option - is Paul McCartney really an Evertonian?
(Don't make me laugh!) Smelling Salts Please Cast your minds back to the time when Peter Johnson wanted out (and his money back): err... don't remember the stampede to buy into the financial disaster called Everton FC? So ask yourselves the next question, and be brutally honest, would you re-mortgage your home to raise the finance to purchase your beloved football club? I certainly wouldn't, not if I knew the local bank was looking to call in the heavy mob because of the level of debt that the club was carrying. Also let's dispell a few myths surrounding the Rooney deal, the £20M was just about the best we could hope for once the little shit decided to hold a gun to the club's head two weeks before the end of the transfer window, plus there was only United willing to pay that price as seemingly Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid were not interested, we were also not helped by the fact that it was plainly obvious (and common knowledge in the city) that Rooney was going to United and nowhere else. Thanks Mr Stretford. Sure, Kenwright has made a number of PR gaffs, The Kings Dock, the Fortress fiasco, but he also had the balls to take over an ailing club who had long lost the mantle of being one of the 'top-5' elite in the country. In terms of not being able to attract outside investment, wake up and smell the coffee! Just have a look across the park at our neighbors, the current Champions of Europe, who have a massive worldwide reputation. They have done the hard part and obtained the neccesary planning persmission for a new ground — what do you think is stopping them going ahead? You guessed it, 'not being able to attract outside investment', so where does that leave Everton in the eyes of these mythical money men with dollars to burn? Abramovich apart, they simply do not exist, people bandy names about like Terry Leahy, the Tesco Chief Executive —have you seen him at Goodison this season? Perhaps he was in the Lower Bullens counting his cash. OK, have a go at Kenwright, but until you can come up with a
realistic alternative willing to sink £100M into the club, get real. Kenwright Out He has lied consistently to the fans ("Rooney — he is going no-where, EFC are not I repeat Not a selling club."). Everyone knows the move was being planned 12 months before, to give Everton some money to make the accounts look good. He is no good for EFC. Everton are bigger than Portsmouth... how come they can get a mega-rich Russian to pump in milllions? Because they allow the people with the money to control their investments. Kenwright hasn't got a pot to piss in — in comparison to the needs of a Premier league club. Why can't he see that and resign as Chairman? Anyone can get a mortgasge and buy a fucking big house but if you have got no money, it will crumble around you. Kenwright will allow Everton FC to crumble before he will resign then it will be too late. Why? Why will the shit not resign and allow someone anyone with investment to take over? It will be interesting to see which massive sponsor takes over from Chang — no doubt one of Bullshit Billy's major potential investors? — don't make me laugh! A message from supporters: Bill, we know you love the club but if you
do, then FUCK OF OUT OF IT NOW!!! Well said The thing that is holding us back in the last few seasons and will
continue to hold us back in the future is lack of money. Kenwright
hasn't got any and nobody will give him any so he should make way for
someone who is prepared to invest in the Club. Kenwright's Wrongs That’s all well and good and I must admit to being amazed at the relatively little anti-Kenwright feeling displayed on this board. Looking at the problems associated with our club on a holistic basis as opposed to the reactionary rants that we are all prone to, surely our anger at the lack of any real long-term progress should be vented at the Chairman? When you look at the big sides (I remember when we could genuinely call ourselves one of those!!!) and the massive financial investments they make on a perpetual basis, it makes our odd £5-10M spends pale to insignificance. Given the money we haven’t spent over the long-term, it’s small wonder we aren’t firmly entrenched in the Championship á la Coventry City, never mind moaning that we aren’t high enough up the Premier League. Anyhow, that brings me to my point, WTF has Bill Kenwright actually done for the club? He hasn’t brought in any notable investment. He’s sold the world’s best young talent to the world’s richest club for cherrybobs on an interest-free loan. He lied constantly on the King’s Dock business. He’s failed to provide the Youth Academy. (Have you seen those Portakabins??? Ashville Reserves in the West Cheshire League have a better set-up!) He’s lied through his back teeth with regard to the Fortress Sports Fund nonsense. He’s failed to progress the new ground (what new ground?) beyond the occasional bit of Echo spin AND, most importantly, he failed to support the manager last summer when it REALLY could have made a difference. We are surviving and that’s all we’ll ever do with him in charge. We are a selling club and always will be until we find some investment. Perhaps a change of Chairman would be a better option than a change of Manager??? He’s clearly skint so would we not be better off with a skint business brain as opposed to a skint megalomaniac? Gimme the Prozac… What about the future? Whatever your views on Moyes's record and his style of football, it's clear that for the last year or so, the club and team have seemed to exist on a week-to-week basis. Hanging on heroically and desperately for 4th place, throwing all the Rooney money into one financial year to make us look rich and this season 4-0 hammering to 4-0 hammering followed by 1-0 win to 1-0 win. I'm really pleased that we've moved from relegation fears to mid-table. I'd be even more pleased when I'm told about the club's future strategy on and off the field. Are we going to find and buy players who help us win games rather than avoid defeat? If we carry on with the current tactics, will any skillful players actually want to come and play for us? More to the point, will anyone want to invest in us? I'm not demanding the mid-80s all over again. I want us to build on
whatever improvements Moyes has made. It's a big club waiting to take
off again and I don't think shouting 'In Moyes we trust' will be enough
on its own. All successful businesses and sports teams constantly
question their work and look for improvement — why should Everton be any
different? Moyes — Mid-Term Grade for 2005-06: C- Is this the football we want to see in the years to come? No thanks. But it's ok because, as long as we finished 4th, there are no problems... aside from the fact we have not won a trophy in nearly 10 years. Apathy is so vogue Europe We currently have a squad and a manager good enough to accomplish
these goals in a league low on quality teams. To have a sustained
campaign in three competitions is a realistic target for next season
(look at Middlesbrough). Without more European nights at Goodison, even
against no-name opposition, we risk reverting back to a
bottom-half-of-the-table team trying to avoid the drop. To challenge for
these dubious goals is the only way ahead for a team and a club at a
crossroads. Beautiful Football I have only the Championship-winning seasons of 84-85 and 86-87, but I agree the 84-85 winning team won for fun by the odd 3 or 4 goals and it was fantastic to watch. Practically the same team of 86-87 was rather dogged in fact downright shite, but we were the Champions and too look back we automatically think of the fanatastic games of that season whilst forgetting the shit ones — of which there were quite a few. We have been playing shit football by and large (apart from the odd
match here and there) for 20+ years. Is that all Moyes's fault? I dont
think so. To change 20 years of shit in just 4... are we being too
critical? Yeah, thought so. Put It To Bed In the main, people express their views without trying to ram them down everybody else's throats - this makes for good debate. But haven't we reached the stage now where our friend Tony Marsh has well and truly made his point about David Moyes? Yes, Tony, we do understand everything you've said - and said - and said again - and again - well, you get the idea. Reading your latest post ('As much as I try, I just don't seem to be able to get my message across to some fans on this website') it's clear that, not content with expressing an opinion, you want to ram that opinion down our necks until everybody says that you were right about Moyes all along. Yes, you HAVE got your message across — believe me you have... but give us a break and stop trying to beat us all into submission. Maybe some people just disagree with you. We know you think Moyes is a clown and we know you have the inside track on all things Everton. We also know that as a manager Moyes has many failings, because most of us understand the game without a daily 'What Davey Fucked Up Next' posting. He's going nowhere — unless you know different — so it's a case of living with it, whatever your view. It's not all about 'for' and 'against' Moyes, the club is far bigger than that. Have a go at me by all means, it's only my opinion. Maybe it's time to move on and talk about something else in case
you're in danger of 'losing the mailbag' in the way that Moyes —
allegedly — lost the dressing room. (Although he seemed to find it again
by the Blackburn game). Come on Tony, point made, put it to bed now. Enjoy! From Carey to Moyes, I have put up with them all: so enjoy, Tony. Pay
your money and wattch the atch... or not! Tradition In August 1977, as I attended my first match, Everton were a very big club in every sense. An enviable history (that hasn't changed), big fan base (ditto), the ability to compete with anyone in the transfer market, and one of the best stadia in the country. The media treated us with a certain respect. We were one of the 'big five', a 'fashionable club'. Almost 30 years have passed and a lot has happened since then. We've hit the highs and the lows — in a results sense and an aesthetic sense. We are no longer the Mersey Millionaires and the School of Science was closed down a long time ago. Goodison is outdated and a lot of players seem to find Blackburn, Birmingham, Bolton and Middlesbro a more attractive prospect than EFC. Yes, part of our tradition seems to have disappeared... However, I feel that an integral part remains intact. Namely, a chronic inability to sustain success. Bad luck has been mentioned as a factor and with some justification. I mean it is a little inconsiderate to start a World War just when we're getting into the groove... TWICE! Then there was the European ban. Yes, we could harp on about conspiracies and curses from here to eternity (well, I could anyway), but there are other examples of going to extremes. We were relegated in 1930, two years after winning the league. We came straight back up and won the league and cup in successive years. FFS, we even have a chronic inability to sustain failure! To conclude, when we look at Moyes's record of successive finishes:
7th, 17th, 4th and ?th — we can clearly see that he's a manager in the
true Everton tradition... the key factor being the ?th place finish....
Thanks, Steve.... Polarisation (my arse!) Tension equals debate and discussion and polarized views… Who’s for… who’s against and it unfortunately leads to rigid, staid and ultimately stalemated argument as each side becomes firmly entrenched within the bastions of ther own particular viewpoint. There is just one slight flaw to this theory… and that is in the real world it is complete and utter bollocks! The reason, you see Gavin, is I’m really not that convinced by Moyes, in fact I’m deeply critical of quite a few things that he has been a party to, including: team selection, tactics, buying and selling players etc… if you’d read my posts instead of merely spouting generalisations you’d know this. So, what have you got? A black and ‘dark grey’ argument, which equals no polarisation, no binary opposite viewpoints, no simplistic moralising about who is right and who is wrong, no dialectic battleground… unless you want to invent one, (which you seem to have done very nicely and then informed us of just how bored you are with your own creation!?!) Let me repeat this again for your benefit in case you didn’t quite get it: I am deeply critical of Mr Moyes. I want to see Everton play football that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I want to see players that do justice to our motto and history, I want to see flowing attacking football and I want to see it every week and I want to see it now. Moyes is not delivering this lofty ideal, therefore I’m critical, but critical with a purpose… Given the other circumstances surrounding the club (financial position of the club and of the game in general, injuries to key players, dickheads getting themselves sent off for acting the ‘hard man’ when needed most), I’m invited to wonder sometimes… could anyone else do a better job? z And let's give credit where credit is due: in the Premier League we are on a winning streak and have had some excellent victories since the New Year. If Mr Moyes takes the flack when we get beat, surely he should take some of the credit when we win. To deny him this would be churlish and a signifier that your arguments are based upon prejudice and not upon reason and observation. One final point; Michael recently asked one of the contributors to this site ‘how do you feel when Everton win?’ In my final contribution to this debate and site, I’ll sum up how I feel… fuckin' marvellous! Now let me qualify this, I view football primarily as an aesthetic activity, it’s not called the beautiful game for nothing you know, and in my time I’ve witnessed some beauty not always wearing the blue of Everton. I’ve seen some great players do some great things with the ball and been at Goodison for some of the great occasions. Last week we beat Blackburn Rovers against all of the odds… there was not much beauty on display but oh the tension, the fighting spirit and the will to win. If you never enjoyed that you’re in the wrong ball park, get yourself to a heart transplant unit at once, ask them to remove the block of granite and replace it with something that beats. IMIT (In Moyes I Theorise) Ta ra In defence of Tony Marsh This has got to be one of his most subtle postings yet and you still feel the need to admonish his views, he didn't discard the Blackburn result he was happy as every other supporter and fan was. He merely stated what he has stated so many times before that given the money spent and the players available the club could have been so much better off than it currently is and he believes that David Moyes is not the man to do that job. I think we have all had enough of the polarised battles between Tony
Marsh and Kev Sparke and Richard Dodd, this is a site that should be
rightly proud of its ability to show all views. Yes, have comments by
all means — it's your site — but accept the submissions as they are
posted; an individual's perspective. The list is endless! Here is a list of players who have pulled on the Everton blue and are
not fit to lace McFaddens boots: Mick Ferguson, Alan Biley, Brett
Angell, Mikael Madar, Paul Wilkinson, Marcus Bent and many more. Lowering The Bar Now, if we were in this position with no money spent, then I wouldn't really have a problem. The thing is, Moyes has spent a right lump of money in the past twelve months and we are not much better off than when he first came here. I know all managers make mistakes in the transfer market — we are often reminded on this site how Ferguson and Wenger make mistakes etc. But they are bringing in young kids from abroad who just don't handle the Premier League. Moyes buys other teams' crabs from within the Premier league — [players that no one else wants. But his biggest failing is the players he doesnt sign. Every time Darren Bent slots another quality goal for Charlton, I feel like crying. Imagine him in a blue shirt. Ee had first refusal on him at the end of last season and Moyes didn't want to know. Why? The kid is now one of the top strikers in the country and we could have got him for £3M. He is now a £10M player — easy. Instead, we got Andy van der Meyde and Simon Davies.... Tell me it's not true! Add Dean Ashton to the list of players who wanted to come here but Dave didn't want.... it's criminal! Scotland's National side are ranked lower than Tonga and New Zealand but they all manage to get a game for us. I despair when I read things like "Don't you think beating Blackburn with ten men was a great achievement?" Yes, it was... but sadly that is going to be the highlight of a season that should have and could have been so much better. As many times as we win one nil this season, I will never be in the
Moyes camp. David Moyes will always do his best for us but his best will
never be good enough. McFadden Thanks to Steve Flanagan Is it true that neither Celtic Rangers or Hearts have ever been
relegated? Switch chaos For God's sake even before the current roadworks which have dragged on for years, the whole traffic system is a complete dogs dinner where most people ignore the box junctions and traffic lights so it's hit and miss whether you can proceed across one of the many junctions because they are blocked or because some idiot is still flying past from your right. If a ground got built there, then I am certain the same blinkered town planner would think of some other hare-brained scheme to introduce a few more lanes and traffic lights, which — going by what they are trying now — would take at least a year to complete if not more. Do you honestly believe forty thousand football fans plus the regular
traffic over the space of say one to two hours max at this junction from
hell would be a clever idea???? Bottoms up... Having said that I am sorry Stephen to take on that role by asking,
when you speak of years in the Top Flight did you allow for there
existing a lower or lesser Flight? Cheers and once again many thanks.
Keep Everton In Liverpool Coming from Wallasey, and using public transport like many other fans to watch Everton home and away, the current location is perfect in terms of how long it takes to get there and the price. A lot of grounds, such as the Reebok Stadium, are being built with corporate facilities and good access for people coming to the match in their cars; I am unable to come by car and rely on public transport. Ultimately, leaving the city's boundaries could leave us the poor relation in the future in terms of investment from the local council and Liverpool FC could have rule of the roost of the city of Liverpool. Personally, I would like to see us move to a location in the heart of
the city instead of moving to another Pride Park and becoming
Liverpool's poor relation. A Bit hard, Michael We (Tony Marsh and I... and I suspect most Evertonians) want to see the present Everton team win in style. Like Tony Marsh, I cannot see the present squad and the present manager delivering much glory — and like him I resent that. Maybe it is an age thing, but what Everton represents to me is winning with style. They have that as a tradition and while I admit Moyes has turned the season round, I don't admire or thrill to the excitement of the present team. Yes, they fought magnificently against Blackburn and I was proud of them, but don't let's kid ourselves that this is a team to challenge the best... or one that is capable of playing in Europe. Is it wrong of romantics like Tony Marsh to dream of us outplaying
another team and scoring three goals in a game? Longest ever in the Top Flight Firstly, let's get one fact straight, in that the English league is the oldest league in world football. Plus, as at the end of this season, second place in the English all-time table, in terms of seasons in the top-flight is held by Aston Villa who are currently enjoying their 95th top-flight season. In other words, no other English club will reach 100 top-flight seasons until 2010-11 at the earliest!! From what I have found on the internet, the following is the small list of clubs who have spent 100 season or more in top-flight football in their respective countries (including the current season):
Also, from this research I have found that Everton have been in the
English top-flight longer than most countries have had professional
leagues - and I'm talking about at least 95% of leagues in the World!!
This has also taken into account the question posed by Brian, in how
long top-flight league have been going. When doing this research, it was
taken into account that a number of countries do not count leagues as
being top-flight until professionalism was introduced. However, in order
to better quantify our lofty position, I have taken into account seasons
played by various top-flight teams in what local historians define as
their strongest league at the time. Who is in denial? Rather I think it may be exactly those who level that charge who are in denial. They still think we are a huge club and one of the automatic top 6. We are still the School of Science, we still smash transer records and build huge new main stands. Well that's not been the case for a long time and to see a gradual, if small, improvement after years of decline is encouraging to those of us who have seen the real picture over the last 20-odd years. There is a classic pyschological game played by the depressed that keeps them firmly buried in their depression called: "Why don't you?...... Yes but....". Some contributors are fine players of this. Imagine if we got an investor with significant wealth. "Isn't it brilliant?" Response to Brian Denton's hypothesis I'm, again, fairly sure the German and Italian leagues, for example,
started earlier in the century. They were, however, equally affected by
the two world wars. In conclusion, I think, as the editor says, any
threat to our claim to being the team with most years of 'top flight'
football will come from north of the border. I agree that it is worth
proving and, once proven, shouted from the roof tops. I'll be back. Middle of the road Waving your credentials around (age, amount of games etc) whilst
complaining that everyone associated with the club is a 'tosser' or
Moyes the messiah isn't exactly meaningful. I suspect the vast majority
of blues currently inhabit this middle ground and not the cloud cuckoo
land of some corresondents on here who think Moyes should be shot or
given the freedom of the city. Nooo!!!!! Rooney told the Daily Mirror: "I've no regrets whatsoever about joining United. I love the club, I love the fans. And even if I could go back in time, I'd make the same decision 10 out of 10 times." Now he can go fuck himself! That hurts... at least the money has
helped us! Confessions of an Everton fan Michael asked what his thoughts are when Everton do actually win. Well, I suspect it goes someting along the lines of, 'Thank fuck for that! Another terrible match to watch but we've got 3 points and I don't have to worry about relgation so much, nor getting the piss taken outta me at work.' Which, as you have probably guessed, is remarkably similar to how I feel when we win. I don't actually get much satisfaction out of the performances, just relief... which I think is pretty sad considering how much money Moyes has spent (and yes I know it's not a lot compared to Chelsea, but there are still a lot of managers who would like to waste the same amount). Yes, you could say I'm expecting too much and I'm lucky to have seen decent teams in the past but I still expect a bit more thought being put into how we play. (ps: Mr Marsh didn't pay me to write this) Meet in the middle? Maybe they could meet up at Richard Dodd's birthday party and have a
drink. It's bound to be a brilliantly sunny day and all the glasses will
be full to brimming!! Shock as TM admits Moyes is great!!! Remind me again... who was in charge of the team when you felt so uplifted? Admit it, you just don't like him because he's got red hair... Personally, I felt a bit worried about Everton's prospects after the Arsenal result... But you felt... "THIS IS IT: WE ARE ON THE MARCH; THE TEAM, THE CLUB... IT'S GREAT! I can't wait for next season and Champions League football..." So... just who is the over-optimist Tony? Darwin It goes to show that, in spite of how they purport themselves to be the purveyors of world class entertainment, Sky's only true achievement is to have made the strong stronger and broadened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Probably explains why the league, in competition terms, has merely
become a southern version of the SPL. In A Nutshell < If you are happy with what has followed since then you are both in serious denial. We don't even make the CL group stages and get bombed out of the Uefa cup by some Romanian peg sellers at the first hurdle!!! Moyes, being the genius that he is, doesn't sign any players with genuine pace or goal-scoring ability and as for the new striker... Ha, Ha!! — don't make me laugh. It's now mid-February and we are out of both domestic cups in the early rounds and in the bottom half of the league with a goal difference that would look great on a Tiger Woods score card: -15. Surely you don't think that this season we have showed signs of being a club moving forward? David Moyes is at fault for all our problems. He had the money and wasted it. He didnt have the foresight to see what would be required to compete at the highest levels in club football. He did not or could not attract the players that were required at the time and foolishly thought that the team which limped across the finishing line the previous season would be good enough. Our one shot at the big time came and went so quickly — and the whole of the country just laughed at us. As for most Evertonians, we just carried on going to the game, all our hopes and dreams destroyed. What good did a fourth-place finish do us in the end? We didn't capitalise on the opportunities that were before us — and I blame Moyes. I am no longer going to get into the "Moyes is crap"; "Moyes is great" arguements — what's the point? ... facts dont lie. At least there are two Evertonians with smiles on their faces out there saying, "Nice one, Davey; what a great job you have done." Me, I will make my way to St James's Park next week to watch a mid-table nothing game, like the gobshite I am, thinking to myself: "Moyes, YOU TOSSER! Where's our season gone???" As for talk of Europe again this season... PLEASE, STOP IT! What do you think would happen this time around? The way Moyes sets his stall out, we would be fodder for any half-decent side. No pace, no strikers, no tactics... nah, I dont wanna go through all that again. My opinions on Moyes are my own and I am not asking anyone to share
them — I am just airing them on a website so don't take it personally,
lads. Maybe you are just like those moths who fly in to the flame...
they always get burned. Go for it! If there is a real chance of us getting a new home at such a readilly
accessable venue, then let`s go for it and not be such Luddites as we
have been in the past. And, by the way, being in Salford hasn`t exactly
done much to harm Manchester United`s image has it? Rich list, poor reality Sky Perceptions Unfortunately I can't help feeling the stats are a bit meaningless as they are. Yes, they show we've performed poorly in front of the Sky cameras, but we've performed poorly in general since Sky invented football. If you look at our overall Premiership record, using a similar analysis to Stephen, we have a "success" of 45.96% (compared to 42.31% in front of the cameras). Similarly our overall home "success" is 55.82% (compared to 50.00%) and away it is 36.09% (compared to 35.37%). So, it would suggest we perform slighlty worse in front of the
cameras that we have done in general Premiership matches. This could be
explained if most of our televised games are against clubs who have
out-performed us since the start of the Premiership, like Manchester
United and Liverpool. That is, more of our televised games are against
top-of-the-table sides, who we are less likely to beat anyway. I don't
have Stephen's commitment to look into this, though. Statto Question If this is true, we need to go about proving it.
Brian Denton, Liverpool (16/2/06) Since the Football League (and its successors) constitute the oldest league in the world, and Everton are just four shy in terms of top-flight presence, it shouldn't be that hard.... should it? I'd be worried about Rangers or Celtic and a few other Scottish clubs though... — Michael Great to be an Evertonian And before you start aiming your tasteless dementia accusations at
yet another of the correspondents who keep you in business, may I add
that I celebrate my 30th birthday on Sunday! Grey Power Out of Town Blues A drive-through burger, a swift pint at a chain pub, then off to the ground for some choreographed chanting, a la Nuremburg. Hail the future! Defence The traditionalists would say 'don't change a winning team' and would pick Weir and Stubbs, however, the futurists would say 'what about the future' and pick Yobo and Ferrari. I think it really depends on who we play and what Everton want to achieve this year. Do we want to challenge for Europe or do we want to build for the future? Whatever, I'm sure Moyes is mindful of the long term future as he's brought in a much younger squad than he inherited. I'm quite sure that he's also mindful of the immediate future and what a European place would mean to Everton Football Club. For the future I'm quite sure it will be Yobo and Ferrari, but in the
short term that might not suit the Club and managers aspirations. Intertoto cup Sorry Yobo Perhaps someone could do the figures over last and this season to see
if I am right at least as far as results are concerned. Don't Patronise 2 Given that, like him, you can do without the opinions of us older folk whom you indicate may be on the threshold of dementia, I shall, in future, resist all urge to contribute to your site which I guess will please you and your columnist very well! And to think you refer so easily to free speech and China! Van der Meyde Umbrage I do have one point to make though. Why do both the MOB & IMWT camps lay claim to an inherent majority? I think it's far more likely that both camps are actually in the minority! Like a general election, both extremes have a hard core of support but its the people in the middle that decide who keeps a job and who loses theirs. FYI Laurent & Tony Marsh - I think the "silent majority" lie in an entirely different camp altogether. The "jury is still out on Moyes" camp. Moyes has done well at some times, poorly in others. I reckon most Evertonians are still making their mind up whether Moyes is the second coming of Howard Mk I or the second coming of Howard Mk III. I really can't decide which he is, nor do I have a clue as to what he might eventually turn out to be. Things are very seldom black and white, it's usually shades of grey, and our esteemed manager is a textbook case. Things aren't as polarised as they appear to either camp, thats my point. BTW - I think Alex Ferguson enjoyed success because he inherited one
of the most talented groups of youngsters to come together in the
English game. {And was canny/fortunate/lucky enough to hold onto them}
The slow departure of aforementioned generation seems to have coincided
with a fall in the fortunes of ManUre. I feel it had little or nothing
to do with the fact he had been there for four years. Moyes doesn't have
a similiar group coming through, so I wouldn't expect an upturn in
fortunes because of his length of service. Man Utd Don`t patronise me, Laurent! As one who has criticised Moyes in the past — and will no doubt do so again unless his performance in the transfer market improves 100% — I am happy to hand out the plaudits to all who contribute to performances like last Saturday`s but I do not subscibe to the now widely held view that everything is AOK with `Team Everton`. One glance at our `goals for` record continues to show that little or nothing has been done to address a crying deficiency in that department — and we can scream blue murder all season about reffing decisions that go against us but all other teams constantly regard themselves as victims in the same way! Anybody who pays the entrance money to watch the Blues has the right to make judgements on Moyes and his team and to express them sensibly and forcibly in or on any forum available to them. OK, so a few go over the top, but so what? I don`t expect they cause Moyes & co to lose much sleep and where would the game be if it didn`t provoke arguement? So, for the record, Mr Corneille, I grew up many years ago — almost
certainly before you did — and I am still not convinced by Mr Moyes. So
is Rainhill, or possibly the Tower, your next step for me? National Bramley Apple Week!!!! "Everton's Andy van der Meyde and ladies first team players, Amy McCann and Danielle Hill joined local schoolchildren this week to take part in celebrating National Bramley Apple Week"....the article went on to include a "great recipe for Oatey Bramley Crumble"... What the fuck! This raises many questions; is it April 1st? Why the hell do I buy the programme? Isn't there more productive ways for our £25k a week salary to be spent? Hasn't van der (ginerbread) man already had one too many apple crumble's for our liking anyway? Am i trivialising the pages of ToffeeWeb's mail bag? Thank fuck Saturday's match was good otherwise I would have been tempted to read the whole article.... anyhow this got me thinking - what other weeks/occasions our hero's will be celebrating, all for the sake of filling up the match programme...(these are all real events by the way):
James Ford, London (14/2/06) Spot on, James. I used to be an avid Programme reader but the drivel that now fills those glossy pages is seriously lacking in substance. I finally weaned myself off The Evertonian and I think I'm better for it. When the amount of real information in the Matchday Programme finally reaches zero, I should be able to cancel that too. As one example, the day whem the programme would carry full match details, teamsheets, results, tables and player features for the reserves and academy players are long gone.... perhaps in recognition of the shrinking importance this vital section of the club once was — at least as a nice little earner on the side... — Michael Progress I've lived in Spain for 13 years now but keep abreast of all things Everton. The fact is, a month ago, every Evertonian would have been made up with West Ham's win against Birmingham last night. Today, however, how many of us can say we're not disappointed that Birmingham didn't get a result? I'm not saying we're in with a realistic chance of Europe, and I'm
not particularly happy about the football we play, but everything is
relative. The (realistic) prospect of a top-10 finish doesn't fill me
with elation but it does satisfy me. Three out of four seasons in the
top half would be progress when you compare it to our recent past.
Obviously if we continually compare it to the great teams of Kendall and
harp on about the School of Science, of course it's not good enough. But
if you know your history, you should know that it is history and be
aware of footballing present. Keeper With regards to the central defensive question, which is a good one
by the way: I can't believe I am saying this but it has to be Weir and
Stubbs (Moyes will agree too); Yobo and Ferrari definitely for next
season. Also with Hibbert out who will play right back at Newcastle?
Options.... Yobo, Ferrari, Neville (with Carsley coming in to centre
mid, he likes a free kick up there). Interesting one... Moving goalposts Earlier in the season he was telling us all that relegation was an absolulutely certain, that Moyes had lost the dressing room etc. No mention of this now of course. Instead it's dissasfaction wih our style of victory, claims that finishing fourth is a waste of time and the absolutely absurd implication that Walter Smith was in some way responsible for this success anyway. He tops it all off with a new line of argument, namely that managers such as Jewell and Pardew are light years ahead of Moyes and all without spending any money! How does Tony think Wigan have steamrolleed their way into the Premier League? It is a well-known fact they have had plenty of money to spend over the last five years. Oh, and that Paul Jewell has led two of the teams he managed to relegation. As for Pardew, he finished sixth in the Championship, something Moyes has done twice before. He was also the victim of a concerted campaign to have him sacked as West Ham manager for most of last year, before his success in the play-offs. Oh and he has just spent £7M on one player, beating Everton's transfer record in the process. Tony complains that all he wants is to express his opinion. Fair
enough, but it is because the stuff he writes in is ill-informed,
ill-conceived and tainted with biasthat he gets criticised, not because
he has an opinion. Turners Red Card And no, I'm not saying Turner got sent off on his orders..... Future Centre-rocks And a little note to Moyes and the boys; Well done, lads and Moyes.
Although I hate Moyes's style of play and mad team selections, when you
get the team to graft like that, it makes me proud to be an Evertonian! Admitting your mistakes Compare this to Souness at the barcodes. Having paid greatly over the odds for Boumsong he must have realised ages ago that the lad was a duffer — and a lazy one at that. Souness stuck with him to the end when everyone could see that he was out of his depth. By admitting his mistake DM has shown everyone that he can take decisions — he may be ultra-cautious but not stupid. Bringing Stubbs back to replace PK must have been an equally bold decision but it had to be done and has for now paid off. We will still need to replace Weir and Stubbs of course — but then that's what DM gets paid for. On the other hand, when Dunc makes a mistake (or maybe getting a
six-week holiday isn't one) we don't hear even a whisper from the big
man. This business of not talking to the press is ridiculous for a grown
man. He owes the supporters and the club an apology for his latest
stupidity and should look to Beattie as an example of how a professional
not only admits mistakes but learns from them. Five Straight Games
On the bench a choice of Neville, Vaughan, McFadden and Kilbane and
insert backup goalie here. Whilst I understand this team does not
guarantee a level of chemistry or fight needed to be successful, I still
feel that they have the potential to play good football and win games.
Centre backs Turner Red Card The law is clear on this, as covered on both MOTD and the EFC web site. Unless the goalie denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, he did not have to be sent off. Mr Moyes's current paranoia regarding the FA should not have
prevented the club from appealing. Central Defenders! WEIR/STUBBS WEIR/YOBO YOBO/STUBBS YOBO/FERRARI FERRARI/STUBBS FERRARI/WEIR So what do the rest of you think should be Everton's Central Defence
team? Ground Tough decisions needed The Enlightening Kev Morris It's always more interesting reading Evertonians views of Everton, rather than Evertonians views of other Evertonians. Your first message seemed to be a smug "fuck you" to anyone who doesn't share your opinion of Moyes. Your last effort concentrated on why you have a positive opinion of Moyes. That was what made your letter interesting and enlightening. As it happens I agree with a few of your points. {We'll have to agree to disagree regarding JR though}. I'm looking forward to reading more of your contributions and
opinions on the Blues - if they're in the same vein as your last effort
that is. Goals scored.....almost! Keepers... Wright and Turner are definitely out; sounds like Martyn will be
struggling (he must be pretty bad). I think he should start with Ruddy
and have an experienced loan keeper on the bench (not Russel Hoult but
someone of that ilk). I may be wrong but who remembers Espen Baardsen? I
do — I was there unfortunately! Crystal Balls 2 He will still have some transfer value and no doubt he could command a higher rate of pay via a transfer to a club that CAN and DO pay more than Everton. Most significamtly we cannot afford to allow him to let his contract run down. Do any of us expect loyalty from footballers, managers or those in the boardroom? Look forward to the summer and "enjoy" the spin. Of course I hope I am wrong. Signs It's a similar situation with Dickie Wright, could be a decent player but falling out of lofts and tripping over signs are a clear indication that he's just never gonna make it at Everton. I wonder how Iain Turner feels? Joy at making his Everton debut but despair at conceding four goals against Chelsea, Joy at making his Premiership debut but despair at being sent off 9 minutes into it. Has he had a good week or a shitty week? One thing's for sure: a 19-year-old called John has had a Ruddy good
week. Moyes is a promising young manager The reason why I look at this site is precisely because it isn't full of idiots telling people to go and support another club, just because you dare to criticise Moyes. I think we're all entitled to our opinions and still be 'true' Evertonians. An interesting table in last Saturday's independent showed that out of all the British managers in the Premiership, only Ferguson and the three promoted managers had a bigger average points tally than Moyes. My consistent view has been that Moyes is a promising young manager, learning the job. He is neither the genius that some claim him to be, nor the idiot others claim him to be. The interesting fact is that — while his detractors point out the dull football, the inability to buy strikers, the flip-flop transfer policy, the inability to deal with going a goal down, the near-paranoia regarding playing young players — his supporters seem to drone on about 'finishing seventh and fourth, he's brilliant, he's God, he's the best cos he is', etc. Let's hear some rational, long-term, forward thinking pro-Moyes arguments, please! Right now I think Moyes is among the best of the British managers who can cobble together a reasonably organised side that doesn't give much away and can pinch a few wins. God knows there's plenty of 'em! So if we're going to carry on in our skint state, let's stick with him for the sake of stability. Of course in an ideal world, we'd get some serious investment and find someone from abroad who can actually get the team playing real Everton football. Over to you Blue Bill! By the way, am I the only Evertonian who would gladly take an FA Cup
win over an artless struggle to finish fourth, two CL qualifying games
and then humiliation in the Uefa Cup? Sickening... The game has gone now and it will all be forgotten but I feel it needs pointing out that these two men should never referee at this level, or any level for that matter, ever again. Games, at this point of the season, can often decide fates. Its fortunate for us we aren't still in the relegation mire, but this man was so unashamed in his decisions it defied belief. I would love for the FA to do the right thing for once and sit for 90
(PLUS 4??) minutes and watch Saturdays game in its entirety. They should
then hang the referee and his assistant by their bollocks. Chelsea v Everton II Sun 23 Everton 1 - 1 Chelsea 36,042 Premiership Sat 28 Everton 1 - 1 Chelsea 29,742 FA Cup Wed 8 Chelsea 4 - 1 Everton 39,301 FA Cup Coincidence ?? My Mate Dave Another reason for our current run, is the consistency of Arteta (our only true class player) and the improvement in Beattie, they were bought by Moyes were'nt they? For you Davey boy to compare Moyes to Royle, please. Don't get me wrong: the FA Cup win was great but the highest he finished in the league was 7th, compared to Moyes's 4th, and I don't seem to recall Royle winning the Manager of the Year award either. Ask any team in the league, would they rather win the FA Cup or partipate in the Champions League I think even you know the answer, so that is the reason he is the best manger we have had since Saint Howard. Saying the 4-5-1 leaves little room for error did entertain me, all I can say is welcome to the premier league! Any side can beat any other despite the ('workmanlike') formation on there day, and if you don't like the so-called negative football or 1-0 win it provides then save your presious 30 quid and stay home, but be sure to remember to ride the gravey train when it brings you European football again. I must say again we will not turn from a bottom of the table club to
entertaining world beaters overnight. Yobo... Top Gear Neither do I fella; What a strange thing to attribute to me? I see your point Michael re good strikers instinctively knowing where the net is. I was referring in part to McFadden’s snap shot that hit the bar yesterday; but more generally to another aspect of his game during attacking moves, which is to take the wrong option more often than not. When I watch McFadden I really can see the potential the lad has. The best footballers can not only run at speed, they can think at speed and when their legs desert them as they drift into their thirties, the quick brain often compensates for a while. Zidane, the best attacking midfielder I ever saw (live) could think at lightning speed, Rooney’s also got this quality. With McFadden it’s like having a Ferrari with the carburettor from a black cab… all the bits look stylish and the engine sounds great, until you ask it to do anything. I’m not knocking him, I think if he can find that missing cerebral piece to his game he can be one of the best. I hope so. Yobo's not out of contract Goalkeeper debacle I am concerned though as to our goalkeepers. I heard on Sky that Moyes is looking for an emergency keeper on loan!! Can we do that? I didnt think that it was allowed? Don't we have to look at our U18's keeper? Surely the FA will say 'its your problem not ours, should have signed someone in the window'. Any ideas??? Watching football Yesterday was a truly heroic day and a day to be proud of being an Evertonian. Yet it hardly seems to have punctuated the pointless and repetitive toing and froing on the letters page. The debate is totally polarised for most contributors and the cat-calling and sniping between the IMWT and MO camps has simply cemented people's positions, making the debate pretty pointless most of the time. Maybe I've missed something but I thought we were all supposed to be Evertonians and how any Blue who was at the game yesterday (or was able to watch it all from sunnier climes on some jarg Norwegian channel) could have their feeling of pride and well-being fade so quickly is beyond me. Sometimes it is not just about the manager or the chairman but the here and now and this weekend is a time to feel very proud to be a Blue after overcoming the odds so deservedly. Maybe, just this once, it would have been right just to praise the players for their efforts and leave the war of attrition until, say, Monday? Just a thought. In Moyes We Trust As for the arguments that seem to circle the Moyes debate, what kind of person takes satisfaction from saying "I told you so"? So what if someone was cynical about the manager? Or if they have an overwhelming sense of optimism? If my viewpoint was one of cynicism I certainly wouldn't push it in the face of those optimists (who also happen to be paying Blues) in some kind of bizarre satisfaction that we're as crap as I'd predicted. At the same time it seems a tad arrogant and self-righteous of optimists to say "I told you so" to pessimists, as if those pessimists (or are they realists?) aren't real fans because they don't walk with their heads in the clouds all of the time. That just winds people up and is unfair. People praise 'cos they love something but also criticise for the same reason. My personal feelings on the state of our team are that Moyes is the right man for the job and will sort it out but I don't chant his name willy-nilly anymore 'cos I think it's something he still has to earn after our start to the season. However, I do understand the affections of those who worship him! I am regularly without voice due to singing my lungs out every home match and I am chuffed at any win we have but think we need badly to sign some players with pace (& I mean badly). I'm off to dream my life away on the back of the Blackburn game,
let's hope I'm not bought back down to earth on the 25th! It wouldn't be
the first time this season... Still going upwards Everton now lie 5 points behind Arsenal... is that the performance of a manager operating a league above his ability, in charge of a club to big for him? To deride the team for finishing 4th in the league last season is frankly, well am almost lost for words. At 37 years old I can safely say I’ve seen much worse teams than this one. Brought up in a household of three brothers and my dad (all reds, as they say you don’t become a Blue you are born one) I have had to defend Everton against ridicule for a lifetime so I can understand constructive criticism of Everton. I’d like to say well done to Bill Kenwright for sticking to his guns and not sacking Moyes when certain sections were calling for his head. There have, and will be, good times and bad times under Moyes but I firmly believe with him in charge we are heading in the right direction. Arteta, Yobo, Cahill, and Valente are starting to look good; Hibbert looking the part; Beattie showing his worth, Osman hopefully starting to do it consistently; Ferrari and Van der Meyde we’ll have to wait and see. All players of the right age, I think we are a couple of players off from being a strong team. Moyes is correct to take his time with the funds available to get the right players in. Expectations are higher around Goodison than they have been for a
while which in turn may bring its own problems. Smug and Self Satisfied That said, it's been a long time since I've read such a smug self satisfied letter as Kev Morris's: it pissed me off no end! Why? Well, unlike Kev Sparke, I don't remember any letters defending "the best manager since Saint Howard" when we were getting tonked by such mighty teams as WBA and Villa. A quick search of the mailbag archives for the last three months confirms my memory. It's a bit rich pointing out the Moyes Out brigades silence when Kev Morris has only now stuck his head above the parapet - after a seven game unbeaten streak in the league. I'd find Kev's support for Moyes more credible if he'd written when we were getting slaughtered by some very average teams. It doesn't end there though. "But really can we all deny the fact he is not the best manager we have had since Saint Howard?" Ummm... yes. Remember a bloke named Joe Royle? Royle's and Moyes's achievements are comparable - but under Joe we actually won something. I don't recall 5-1 tonkings at the hands of Romanian journeymen in our ECWC run of 96 either. "Another point I wish to raise are those who dare to critise the 4-5-1 formation or the 1-0 win. Sure it's not pretty at times, and it doesn't keep the football Gods breathless with excitment but at long as it get's 3 point's then what's the problem?" The problem is there is a fine margin for error playing with such a negative system. The problem is that Everton are totally incapable of chasing a game due to their reliance on this system. The problem is that when it doesn't get us 3 points, you've got thirty thousand plus people who've handed over 30 quid {74.76 Aussie Dollars} to watch football at its most depressing. The problem is it looks workmanlike when we win, fucking awful when we lose. You don't get any extra points for style - but you don't lose any for having it either. "Any other point of view is either childish or ignorant..." No comment required here. "To the Moyes Out club, I'll hear from your 'glass is half-empty' and 'doom and gloom' point of view, when we lose, shock horror, two games in a row!!!" And I suppose we can expect to next hear from you when we win 7 games in a row in the league again right? "In the meantime, have a chat to Mr Souness I think you'll find you'll have a lot in common..." Funnily enough, I've just read that Souness is thinking of a move to Australia, if he isn't offered the Rangers job. So perhaps you could have a chat to him for all of us? I'm not trying to start an argument, but I had to address this particular letter. Debate on Moyes's merits is fine - letters that patronise a significant proportion of Evertonians are not. Next time you write Kev, how about telling us why {IYHO} we've turned
it around, or why Moyes is the best manager we've had since Saint Howard
{Mk I, II, or III?}? I'd find that a lot more interesting and
enlightening than this effort. Andy van der Meyde Moyes and Beattie out!?! Everton are currently 1-3 points behind some teams that have been considered European qualifiers the entire season, and 5 points behind Arsenal. Teams like Blackburn, Man City, Wigan have had very good seasons in many people's view. (I know we are a bigger club, but is that view on merit if you look at our club over the last 15 years?) Still, Everton are currently equal to them and with a much better league form. I am therefore confident that we will finish above Wigan, West Ham and Man City, at least. A season should be evaluated after 38 games, not after 12-14. And "The fat, incompetent, lazy, goal-shy" James Beattie is playing some of the best football of his life, scores goals regularly and is currently one goal behind "the saviour" that we so desperately needed, Robbie Keane, and close behind stars like Rooney and Crespo. Beattie has one thing in common with other, more expensive players like Drogba and Defoe, and that is their goal-total in the Premier League. My question is whether some still will consider this season a failure if Everton qualify, or come really close to qualifying for Europe, and Beattie scores say 12-13 goals in the league? I find it truly, truly amazing that some fans advocate the view that players should be jugded after one or two games (ie, that Greek fellow on Man City who has played less than a full match in the PL) and that managers ahould be sacked everytime the team hits some poor form. As a fan, I am entitled to my view, and that is that thank God some of the impatient ones are not on the Board of Everton and hereby would have sacked Moyes ages ago, and thank God that none of them is the manager of Everton and would have sold Beattie because he played a few poor games and didn't score for 6-7 games. It is clear to see that progress is being made, but the season is
long and Everton have been in a very poor condition for more than a
decade. That takes time to rectify. Keep the faith! Moyes Out? I really question the loyalty the 'People's Club' have towards the man who brought us Europeon football when we were living a relegation life throughout most of the 90s! Another point I wish to raise are those who dare to critise the 4-5-1 formation or the 1-0 win. Sure it's not pretty at times, and it doesn't keep the football Gods breathless with excitment but at long as it get's 3 point's the was the problem? We need to be realistic, we're not going to become relegation fighters, hammering sides 3-0, week in week out, over night. Any other point of view is either childish or ignorant when it comes to modern football. Realistically were not rich, we haven't won anything for 11 years, so we must build a foundation, and that is what Moyes is doing. To the Moyes Out club, I'll hear from your 'glass is half-empty' and
'doom and gloom' point of view, when we lose, shock horror, two games in
a row!!! In the meantime, have a chat to Mr Souness I think you'll find
you'll have a lot in common. Moyes Out? I think not. Crystall balls We know that Newcastle have a dodgy defence. Joseph has impressed the tasteless humbugs in the past. Consider Joseph plays, plays well. Come the summer and an offer for Jospeh arrives on Bully's desk. Yobo to Newcastle.... "a move that suits all parties". Stranger things have happened, or have they? Decisions, Decisions ......... David Moyes spoke in his aftermatch interviews in a very frank (brutal!) way about goalkeepers and the need for experience in their decision-making — no reference however to Stubbs's decision to head the ball back when the lad was clearly setting himself to clear the ball downfield! What then about David Moyes and his decision-making? The team have clearly put themselves in the frame for a shout at Europe for next season, but are the decisions DM takes in the next two months going to be short-term or long-term? He constantly goes on about a long-term plan for the club, well here is his dilemma. The long-term future at goalkeeper and centre-half does not rest with Martyn, Wright or Weir and Stubbs. The future will rest with Turner (Ruddy), Yobo and Ferrari and any new signings he might bring in. Is DM willing to really look to the future and give these players an opportunity to bed in this season, possibly at the expense of Europe? In my opinion, if he does not he runs the risk of Yobo and Ferrari leaving in frustration. If Turner is not given a chance, accepting he will make mistakes but cannot learn any other way, then when he is called on (perhaps if we are struggling), what experiences can he draw upon? Martyn, Wier and Stubbs have all been stalwarts in different ways but are not the future. So, David, is it short-term results with aging players that next year will be between 36 and 41 in age? Or younger players with a future, who have been allowed to gain experience through trust and belief in their ability? Decisions, decisions, decisions .... Thanks a bunch! Culture club? Blimey, there's not been as much culture associated with Everton FC since Kevin Sheedy's left foot! Though, I thought Beattie’s goal yesterday was sublime and it took me right back to 1978 and ‘Big’ Bob Latchford. I agree that we don’t play an awful lot of ‘sexy’ football, we don’t really have the players with enough talent to be able to achieve this lofty ideal right now. However, I’m quite convinced that we do have players in midfield who, when they all get their acts together at the same time, are quite capable of getting damn close to the aesthetic pleasure of winning with style. Winning with grit, determination and a ‘thou shall not pass’ attitude will do - for now. One last point and a word of advice to James McFadden; learn to ‘look
up’ son. You’re nine tenths on the way to being a very good footballer.
If you can find that split second in your game where the ‘footballing
brain’ resides, the place where the correct decision is made, you’ll
probably achieve greatness. Zola had it, so did Sheedy and Steven, so
does Lampard and Giggs. You’ve got the skill, you’ve got the bravery,
you’ve got the pace and balance… you lack judgement… which then affects
your confidence; if you can develop the cerebral part of your game, I
believe that your name will not look out of place amongst the greats…
it’s up to you. Southall School of Goalkeeping 'Four-nil to the Everton' Chelsea v Everton Ruddy Hell — my glass is full The game from my seat was one that caught the passion of most Evertonians in the ground who in turn transmitted the extra man to the minds of the players. In truth, Blackburn were a ghost of previous achievements and the determination, passion and dammed hard work of our players left them rueing a bad day at the office — that is mighty Goodison on days like this. My matchday was more about the day rather than dwelling on shortcommings that may prove to be pertinent to whoever whenever. Today was one off those days that makes saving up the season ticket money worthwhile and definately worth celebrating. Nominating a MotM is difficult considering the effort and skill put about around the pitch by all the players — and even a rusty Carsley added that little bit at the right time. But overall, as I observed at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, Tony Hibbert is in England form and if he continues in this vein after he serves his five-card ban then Sven should consider him. Anyone who can't take a positive all round after today's performance and celebrate the result against all odds whilst still keeping a perspective on what can be improved and built upon should join Tony Marsh and his few at their next meeting in the telephone box on County Road. See you St James-- UP THE BLUES Nous devons cultiver notre jardin Moyes has produced a team that has guts and resilience, but Disraeli was wrong, there are lies, damn lies, but statistics don't lie. Look at our goals scored, no other team outside of the awful bottom two has scored less goals. Look at the goals difference, it's dire! Can anyone remind me of the last good Everton goal? The one scored with a great strike from out of the box, the wonderful volley to complete a flowing move, the superb dribble to beat a man. They all seem to be like Weir's against Man.City. Incidentally, Mr Marsh, I'm older than you, I've been watching them since Hickson and Co — over 750 matches and counting and I'm with you in that, Arteta and Yobo excepted, this is the least footballing team I've ever seen in the shirt of "Nil satis nisi optimum" Mediocritas is the correct Latin word that sums up the present club,
but for me Moyes is only part of the problem; Kenwright and his
sycophants are the real problem. The Goalkeeping Crises I have complete faith that Moyes will sort it out, as he does
everything else. In Moyes we trust. Please please respond "Argue with that" What's the point. "In 35 years as a blah, blah, blah, I have never seen a blah blah blah." 1-0 today. Exciting. Spirited. Committed. What football is about? Or perhaps I'm not expert? Still, at least you drove me to respond and you will be happy about that. You're forever blowing bubbles. Cliches and praise Today's referee and assistants were shocking, the decisions for countless decisions would have tested the patience of a saint and I don't mean the sending off, countless bad tackles unanswered and ridiculous bookings and free kicks for blatant dives or none at all. If the FA wants to weild the sword of video evidence then today there is a fine example of plenty of video evidence for some downright terrible decisions by so called professionals, three guesses if they will ever choose to weild this sword on their own. Finally, but my most important posting is that it would be impossible
to single out a man of the match performance today as every last player
deserved it, even more so when you add the extra time actually played
equating to the fact that Everton played for ninety minutes with ten men
and still won. Tonight I'm proud to be a blue even more so than normal,
I'll be watching Match of the Day tonight to see if at least two of our
disallowed goals really were out of order too. Is there a Mrs Marsh? Erm.. what would you have preferred — 4th from bottom? What does it
take to make you happy? If you have a look at today's table you'll see
we're 3 points off 6th place. Walter Smith anyone? And I think to myself..... I was amazed at the number of contributors who think every other (if not more) contributor is negative. May I take a liberty and ask how many of you have seen Everton play good football? If the answer is "NEVER" then what do you think good football is? To me it is Brazil of the '70s. Never seen Everton do that? Now you may have some idea how we older Evertonians feel. It wasn't invented by Arsenal (as told by the Full Monty) but they are the English team that most reminds me of the best Everton teams that I have seen. If you think 1-0 crap is what it is all about then we really have reached a new low. What should be done about that? Ferguson Regardless of this, being tried for the same crime twice is pathetic. The referee sent him off without even seeing the Chimbonda incident. Therefore he is off the field of play, he shouldn't receive an additional punishment on top of this. Adding a seventh and extra game on for apprently, his failed appeal,
is insult to injury. Aargh! I am tired of the pathetic excuses from Moyes that players are not available, the players did not perform, etc, etc. It is about time Moyes held his hand up and accepted responsibility. It is fine to win by grinding out 1-0 wins and I won't complain about them but even the most diehard Moyes fan must admit the football is dire and their have been cockups in the transfer market. As a parting shot, we now have Moyes blaming the European adventure for our poor start to the season. I take then for the future under no circumstances should we qualify for Europe as we cannot cope. On no account is it his failure in the transfer market, tactics, strategy, management, oh no anything but! Davey get a life. Opinions for all We are currently a mid-table side who are capable of playing effective if not pretty football (the School of Science ideology has well and truly been done away with by dour Davie). The fact is that Davie has presided over more drubbings than I can ever remember of any other Everton Manager. His transfer policy is bizzare and we have some important games coming up so of course we need to get behind the players. My biggest porblem is that we seem to have to do this almost every
year and we never seem to learn. This year, if we have suspensions (as
all clubs do) and our fair share of injuries then we will start to
plummet again. We have no cover and in all honesty, I fear for us at
times. A loss to Balckburn today will destroy our frail confidence and
then it is in the lap of the gods.
I would hate to go to Everton and hope we lose so I can have a go at
the manager. Yeah when he cocks-up have a pop, but when things go our
way then tip your hat in his direction. In support of 'Toxic Tony' and ToffeeWeb
Personally, I want to be able to read Mr Marsh’s overly pessimistic opinions and be given the opportunity to expose just how silly some of them are. This excellent forum provides a space where most views can be aired and what’s more it is vital that are; because you’ll not find this level of debate on any official site or forum. I’m quite sure that in a very real sense Mr Marsh is also a first class supporter, a far better supporter then me. He puts his money where his mouth is and travels the length and breadth of the country following his beloved blues. I, on the other hand, gave up my season ticket when ‘Spuddie’ owned the club and I pick my games; I won’t buy expensive replica kits, presumably made by nine year old girls in Far East sweat shops and I won’t pay for an official e-season ticket to listen to the Blues when I’m not in attendance. (I can get that for free here!) The fact that Mr Marsh seems to get no joy in following Everton is neither here nor there; who are we to determine how a man feels? He’s going to tell us ad nauseam in any case. Nevertheless, a lesser known quote by Voltaire suggests we should ‘Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers’ — and it is at this point where me and Mr Marsh part company. Tony doesn’t ask questions because he already has decided upon the answers and it seems that anyone who does not agree with him is not only wrong but deluded. Tony has regularly misquoted, misconstrued, misinterpreted and misattributed me in order to get his points across. I try not to do that and I respect other contributors who follow the same line. The pity of it is that there is a great deal of validity in much of what Tony says, just that his method of saying it fucks up his message (to get all technical). Finally, I wish David Moyes all the best in winning the ‘Manager of
the Month’ trophy for the third time; it was well-deserved using results
as the criteria… I wish you’d found a striker though, my instincts tell
me that all the good work you’ve done in the back two thirds of the
field will continue to not reap its rewards due to the lack of a cutting
edge. Arrgh! Ste Summers your beloved Davey was not up to the job when it came to bringing in the men we needed to compete in Europe's top competitions — and that's a fact. The team that played most of the successful part of last season constited mainly of Walter Smith signings: Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Hibbert, Carsley Gravesen, Ferguson. Once Graveson left Moyes never had a clue what to do — and that's another fact. As for this season, I have never in 35 years of watching Everton seen a team in blue so clueless and easy to sweep aside as this shower. Every time we concede first, we get totally destroyed — even by crap sides. Is this my fault as well? No, it's not; it's because Moyes is managing a league above his capabilities and Everton and the Premier League are too big for him. When was the last time a David Moyes side came back from going behind? As for money being spent, he has had more than most this past year. Next time you feel the need to rant and rave defending Moyes, take a look at Wigan and West Ham. Lovely footballing sides with very little spent compared to us. Both came from the league below and their managers are light-years ahead of your boy Davey. Argue with that! Award's Curse Loadsa Money! It made me feel better for a while. But it is a simple fact of modern day football that you need to have the biggest 'wad' if you are going to be successful. Many might not agree with me, but I don't want some Albanian billionaire (are there any?) to come and buy the club and spend tens of millions on players. Chelsea SHOULD win every game they play for the money that they have spent, but is that what it should be all about? There is too much money in the game for anything to change short-term, but I think that it would be a more interesting league if the teams were playing on a level playing field - it's becoming as boring as the Ferrari dominance was in F1. Anyway, we haven't got enough money, there are no Albanian billionaires (I've just checked), and we've got what we've got for a while to come I suspect, so there you are. My glass is half-empty, but I am optimistically off to fill it up. Cheers! FA Punishment Thank fuck DNA has proven we all come from the same stock Out of Africa ~70,000 years ago. Perhaps people could eventually just stop noticing that it constitutes a difference and get on with worrying about more importnat things in life. This racism bullshit gets right up my nose. — Michael Suspension Negative Attitudes Today, our manager has been named Manager of the Month. Instead of wholeheartedly congratulating him, there has to be a snidey dig at Richard Wrights idiotic injury and the Chelsea result. Cheer up. Things aren't all bad, Moyes is doing well and the players
seem fitter and hungrier. Just enjoy the good times and analyse the bad
times. The site is good but it puts me on a downer too often. IYKYH. Moaners.... Kiss of Death? Re: Smug Bastard First you say... "Slagging off Everton fans and calling them Whingers and Bellyachers because they are not living in the clouds with Kev and others like him. These supporters waste there hard earned money to go and watch this shite and are entitled to their opinions just like you Kev."Then you go onto say....... "Please, please Kev and all you others out there who write in thinking they are being clever defending Moyes and his policies, stop it. You will only make fools of yourselves in the end."We pay the money too. We're entitled to our opinion just like you said, so don't patronise us just because we don't jump on the 'Moyes out' toffee bandwagon when things arn't going great. I find the level of animosity towards Moyes pathetic and frankly
embarrising. Our fans supposedly have a reputation for being canny and
having a good understanding of the game. As far as I'm concerned that's
all been pissed down the toilet over the last couple of months because
people think they're being clever by undermining the management of our
club. Preparation H For the management I'd suggest the preparation for next season starts now, and that should include a style of play and a future that messrs Arteta, Ferrari, Yobo, Cahill, etc still want to buy into. I only hope they communicate their plans and aspirations better to the players than they do to us, or we'll really be in the shit in September. That said, we have surely learnt the lessons of last year and a new
team of scouts will be now in place, scouring the globe and marking out
fresh young (inexpensive) talent to bolster our ageing and threadbare
squad... aren't they??!! Basics Onwards and upwards Firstly, I persume you either slept through the 90s or were too busy moaning to notice that Everton (that's the team you support and in your case I use the term 'support' loosely) were lucky to finish 4th from BOTTOM, not the top. Secondly, if you can't see that Moyes is trying to build a team from scratch in "Europe's top league" whilst still managing to finish 7th and 4th (that's from the TOP), winning two Manager of the Year awards (recognition from his peers of the feats he has achieved), and all this on limited funds. His work in the transfer market has been reasonable; some good, some bad. Unfortunatley his bad ones seem to be highlighted. Liverpool ( Diao, Diouf, Cherou, Cissy) Total that little lot up then tell me how bad Moyes is again. I could go through every team in the Premiership and point out expensive mistakes in the transfer market. I believe Moyes has once again raised expectations around Goodison and long may his reign continue. Now seeing Everton winning has the added bonus of keeping whingeing,
miserable bastards like yourself away message boards like this. Finally
ToffeeWeb seems to pride itself on its objectiveness, unfortunately I
have to disagree its reputation now seems to be one of negativity, which
appears to be encouraged and welcomed by the writers of this site. Mick Stanley Just a quick note on Man City recruit, Mr Samaras. After some of his
touches in our last game I'm glad we didn't buy him, he looks awful. Subs Instead Moyes was putting Carsley on [another defender] WHY!!! we had nothing to protect. That changed because Osman was injured and Carsley who will be eased along gently introduced. There was nothing left to lose and it was something different. Just as well Wright got injured or we would never have seen what Turner was like. Give the substitutions some thought. Keepers galore The Turner Prize I thought we started brightly and for five minutes I thought we were going to give them a game,then Chelsea put a couple of balls past us and ran after them, at that moment both myself and the Chelsea players saw we were less than confident when dealing with direct running and duely built up a 3-0 h/t scoreline. Looking around our outfield lads only Hibbert and Ferrari seemed to be at it. The second half saw Beattie replaced by McFaddon who seems to have loads of talent and promise but just drives me mad by giving the ball away during our sporadic attacking moves. My man Valente was taken off for his own good as much as ours. We drew the second half and looked better but I won't let that kid me. Its always embarrasing to lose by four but you got the impression as the game wore on it could have been another seven. Looking for a M-O-M was easy as Tony Hibbert was the only Blue who Jose would give a second glance at. Still a new game starts Saturday and we are at home against a team from our own league so I hope I have something to cheer. See you Sat -- UP THE BLUES John Ruddy Italian Football Commentary It is of absolutely no interest to me and (I hope) other Evertonians as to what he is doing now. Or, if this is to become a trend on ToffeeWeb, then perhaps whilst your at it, you could be more comprehensive in your reporting on EX players. Update us on the whereabouts and match form of such luminaries, as Nick Barmby and Don Hutchison; or any number of players who thought they were somehow not appreciated at Goodison. If the mailings are some attempt to show poor judgement by Moyes, then they miss the mark. Kroldrup playing well in Italy and Moyes decision to ditch him fits very nicely into an argument that seeks to question the latter's judgement, but smacks too much of glorious hindsight. Would you still have written in, if he'd scored three own goals in four matches and got sent off twice (praising Moyes' acumen into the bargain)? I doubt it. Face it, Kroldrup got off to a injury troubled start and sat brooding about Italy and all he had left behind, to sit in cold, damp Merseyside and pay regular visits to the treatment room. When he was finally fit, he saw his backside about not being put straight into the team (with some justification, no doubt, given our form at the time). However, instead of buckling down and waiting his chance he did a moody and for the sake of the rest of the squad (morale wise) Moyes got shut of both him and Bent (the other major bottom lip trembler) asap. It's no coincidence to me that our form improved once they were gone. My only memory of this "maestro" was his poor display in our pre Christmas hammering by Villa (of all teams). If he is playing well for his new team, back in his comfort zone,
then good luck to him. Just pack in the Bravo channel commentary; if I
ever want to know how he's doing (which I don't), then fear not, as I
subscribe to SKY and can find out for myself. Thanks. The 'Moan' Ranger (No doubt Mr Angry will be employing one of his many nom-de-plumes to back up his rant - Yes Tony,… we all know you do it...) I was under the impression that our war of words had been curtailed by the Toffeweb ‘ref’… ‘no names no pack drill’ but it seems that hostilities have recommenced. Ok I surrender. You win Tony, we’re shite and the fact we’re unbeaten in the Premier League in 2006 is down to luck. We never nearly beat Chelsea in the cup at Goodison Park, we made them look bad because we were so pitiful and they could have stuffed us any time they wanted, they just didn’t feel like. We are still fighting relegation instead of being a mere 5 points between us and a European qualifying place. Arteta, Cahill and Osman are not looking better every game. Our defence has not improved immeasurably. (Last night excepted… but could anyone have stopped Wright Phillips and Robben?) We’ve got billions in the bank and can afford any player we want. The reason we don’t buy players is because our manager is such a tosser. It’s always raining and the pies are fucking horrible! ENOUGH!!!! Careful lads! So imagine my disappointment at 1.30am... But just one thing to add to that old glass half-full/half-empty stuff. Did you know that there is growing scientific proof that optimists live longer than pessimists? And do you think that it might be even worse for a pessimistic Evertonian? I would shift into positive mode asap if I were you boys! Oh, also congrats Michael on getting posts on so quickly - you must
work through the night! Per Showpony Moyes has shown that with proper organisation, commitment and a bit of luck you don`t need to be banging them in every match - `we start with a point, so take the bugger off us!` Can`t wait till Saturday to see Nev, Tiny and Co sort Lily out once
and for all. COYB! Delusional! We finished 4th last season and he thought we were a top team that players would love to sign for; one that would be 'aiming for the top 3' this season. The reality was, we were lucky, played ugly football, and ever since he switched a pacy striker for Beattie as a lone striker, have been completely ineffective. Most people and potential signings realised this, but Moyes thought it would be easy to attract players and thought the limited players of last season really were top quality; we all know what a mistake that was. So after blowing our 'good fortune position of strength' in the summer, we string together another run of ugly but necessary, ground-out results which has pulled us away from, but not out of, the relegation scrap. Suddenly we start hearing about how our quality players are only just getting over our European disasters and that we're really good after all. NO we're not.... and we never will be without some pace in the team, particularly in attack. And the icing on this particular delusional cake is, Beattie for England!!! Either he's really lost it, or he's talking him up so that he can sell the useless tart at the end of the season. The only thing left for us this season is to hope our luck doesn't
change, we dont get 'found out' and we can scramble together another 10
points. How sad is that? .... Thanks a lot, Davey. The end is nigh Gob-smacked How long are we going to have to put up with scrappy backs-to-the-wall games (and thats when were leading) and then have the gobshite make totally inept substitutions, giving us no chance at all of retrieving the game or, at the very least, giving the young strikers a bit of much needed experience — because believe me we are going to need them before the season is out. As for the second-half performance, I'm sorry Davey boy but the game
was already lost and they took their foot off the gas, in fact they
never got out of second gear all night, you tosser. Tony Marsh I was very disappointed we didn't sign anyone in the window but the amount of crap we have bought in the past - Tony Thomas, John Spencer, Claus Thomsen, Brett Angell are just a few examples that buying isn't always the answer, just look at Pompey. I would rather muddle through with what we have than buy similar standard players to them. I am a huge supporter of moyes and won't hide that but I admit he has made mistakes. Getting Everton back to where we all know we belong will take either lots of money or patience in the right man, I think David Moyes is that right man. The quality of the squad is far greater than when he took over and he hasn't really spent a great deal. Losing to Chelsea was disappointing but remember they were able to bring in a player worth more than our 11 on the pitch in transfer fee terms (SWP). Let's get some prespective in terms of money we have spent because sadly that is what the sham of the Premiership is based on nowadays. IMWT 'Dickie' Wright Krøldrup Goals Smug Bastard You know the type: a couple of flukey wins and they are shouting there mouths off about how great a side we are. What a great job the managers doing, BLAH BLAH BLAH. After last nights pitifull display I wonder how smug Kev feels now. The last few months have seen results change but the displays are pretty much the same. Negative crap. Any of the games we have picked up points in could easily have gone the other way its lucky for us that our luck changed. Portsmouth away we won thanks to an own goal. Wigan away another own goal earns us a point. Man City last Saturday, the ball hits Wiers hip and bobbles in, etc etc. Take a look at our league position: bottom half having scored fewer goals than Birmingham and only one goal more than Sunderland — who are the worst Premier side ever. Slagging off Everton fans and calling them Whingers and Bellyachers because they are not living in the clouds with Kev and others like him. These supporters waste there hard earned money to go and watch this shite and are entitled to their opinions just like you Kev. Your standards are set so low, I am starting to think you are a Hartlepool supporter trapped in an Evertonian's body. Your gushing praise for Moyes his team and his tactics make me want to spew up. As long as fans are prepared to put up with the abysmal way the team and club are run then more of the same will be served up. Maybe that's the problem we have become so shite that even mediocrity is enough for some now. Please, please Kev and all you others out there who write in thinking they are being clever defending Moyes and his policies, stop it. You will only make fools of yourselves in the end. Moyes is out his depth and we will never get anywhere with him or his
sidekick Irvine in charge — and you can take that to the bank. Mud, mud, glorious mud!! In the interview after the game, David Moyes gave an honest opinion and assessment on his players' performance and that's what I like about the man... he is honest, says what he thinks and calls "a spade a spade". Compare him to whingeing Benitez after their game against Chelsea. As for Chelsea, having spent all their roubles on the world's best players, they obviously haven't any left for a decent pitch. My God, what a state, even the pitches in the local parks are better than that. You would think with all their money they could afford to employ the best groundsmen around. Didn't they have a similar problem with their pitch a few seasons back - no one but Chelsea could win there as it was so bad, but of course, that was before they had millions to spend on world class players. Well I for one, wish Colchester luck, that pitch just might suit them
and I hope they pull off a draw so they get them back to their own
ground, make some money, and hopefully wipe that arrogant look off
Mourinho's face. TV Hell Progress indeed! Progress indeed. And with all the extra TV money we've earned from
last night, I can't wait for the striker we'll sign in the summer... or
maybe the next January window... or the next summer. And if he's as good
and as clinical as Beattie, wow! If Newcastle come in for Moyes though I
think it would be unfair to stand in his way! At least it wasnt 5 I'm personally sick of this... It's gone on long enough and is embaressing. We've just come to the end of a 9 match unbeaten run but I can't honestly remember any vivid moments of this 'glorius' run (except perhaps Beattie scoring against Arsenal). I'm finally gonna bite the bullet and say....get rid of Moyes. I'm never gonna enjoy watching his teams play even if they do finish 4th; I'm never going to respect the type of players he likes to ; I'm never going to respect how he is 'developing' our youth structure. Who should replace him? Tony Marsh? Mike Price? Well, I'm not going to kid myself: Everton is not a good place to come to to further your managerial career at the moment so we are gonna have to have to give another chance to a young manager. Mike Newell seems ok and I know he played for us but he was still a Red. Aidy Boothroyd is doing a good job at Watford — but will either want to ruin a promising start to their managerial careeers? One last thing... why do some fans always say get a young coach in and Bobby Robson as an experienced old hand to guide him along? I've never understood this as Howard Kendall won a damn site more league championships than him and is a blue, was good at balancing the books and knows whats it's like to run Everton on a shoestring budget. Another option I suppose is to just say, 'stuff it' and go bankrupt
and start from scratch again... we might even have a chance of beating
the likes of Rochdale ;) Attacking Football The way we set our stall out is so transparent it is untrue. We must have the most tedious manager in the Premier League, if not the whole football league! There are no excuses for not wanting to play attacking football, I won't accept any argument against that as that is what football is all about. You score, you don't concede... you win. You play a game of complete and utter defending and more often than not you will be on the receiving end of a beating, as we were last night. Out-played and out-classed, which is understandable... a shocking inability to put your opponent under any sort of remote pressure is offensive. I am happy that we have put together a good run of late, of course I am. Similarly, I am not one of those people waiting for Moyes to fall flat on his arse. I am though, sick to death of our dire, sometimes appalling game play. As someone else said further down the page, Colchester will give Chelsea a better game next week, and why? Because, they haven't got a submissive, negative manager like we have. They will go there with nothing to lose in defeat and play open, attacking, attractive football....just as we should have. The emphasis this morning is on the ankle of a goalkeeper who nobody
really wants at the club, and not on the humiliation in crashing out of
yet another cup with a spinless performance. Roll on Blackburn and
another backs to the wall, one nil'er. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum? Per class The FA Cup History = Mystery As fans we merely ‘spectate’ and then we speculate; history will be written by the record books and interpreted by those who were there. (I and a few like me find hope… where others see and indeed look for despair.) You’ve made the point on a few occasions that irony does not travel well down the Ethernet cable especially when it is poorly written (like wot mine wus). I think this proves it. As to our exit from the cup: if you put a flyweight against a heavyweight, nine times out of ten the mismatch will only go one way. At Goodison, Amir Khan nearly KO’d George Forman with a sucker punch… last night Forman hit back. (Ouch!) However, Khan went down fighting instead of rope-a-doping like we’ve done so often in the past. I see the knees are jerking already re Turner. Get real people, Southall in his prime probably would have got nowhere near two out of the 3 out-field goals (I won’t count the penalty). I think the lad shows promise. Now onwards to Blackburn… we owe them one! Vision for future development Last night, we were 4-1 down against the Champions with no chance of coming back and there is only 10 minutes to go, so what does DM do? He brings on a defensive midfielder instead of giving the young lad a chance against the likes of Terry and Huth as a career development path. What was Carsley going to do? 10 minutes against a team coasting isn't going to get him fit, his only real contribution (albeit because he is so far out of synch with the game he can't get his thinking boots on) was to nearly chop Essien's feet off with a ridiculous tackle. If I were Anichebe, I would be thoroughly disillusioned by now. What does this kid have to do to get even a tenth of a game? Does his face not fit? Is he not good enough? Then if so, don't put the kid on the bench when he has no chance of a game!!!! Getting changed every Saturday just to watch the game is soul
distroying for the lad. I bet now if Carsley is on the bench Saturday
that Anichebe wont be, this will be last straw for me as DM will
positively display a total lack of vision for the development of the
youth in EFC. Everton Star in Hollywood Link Errrrrrr????? No knee-jerk; we are shite! Why oh why is uncle fester (Neville) playing in centre mid when he is the best left-back we got? Why is Simon (one good season in seven) Davies even in an Everton shirt? How can fans even say they trust that fool Moyes when arteta swings ball after ball into the box and NOBODY was there! BOLLOCKS! Yes, Chelsea are the second best team in Europe... but our lack of quality is embarrassing. The only praise is for young Iain Turner who was confident and a presence (unlike Wright EVER); Ferrari who must be signed as he is the only other quality centre-back; Hibbert and Arteta who was again class. Oh yeah, and good old Lee Carsley who must come back to play the holding role as Neville can't do it! Playing such negative football isn't to our advantage as Beattie
needs support. He can't lead the line as he has no control and is too
slow! It's not knee-jerk; it's the truth... and the only reason Everton
are 12th is because the Premiership is a poor league! And the reality
hurts! Moyes and his love children (Weir and Davies) out!!! Another Reason To Remain Calm! It's true that Chelsea outclassed us and deserved the 4-1 win but
when you consider the entire starting Everton eleven was purchased for
only £16 million, the same price as Chelsea paid for Hernan Crespo
alone, well is it any surprise we can't compete? Three points this
weekend is more important anyway. Negativity I know we were unbeaten in 9 matches or so prior to this game, but for fuck's sake show some attacking flair in the line up! Playing a 4-5-1 formation is SO NEGATIVE!! We have tried this twice this season and drawn both times AT HOME. Does Moyes really think that we can hold them and nick it 0-1 at Stamford Bridge!!! Chelsea have not been beaten at home in 3 years!!! Its the FA Cup; anything can happen... why not try 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 and attack them? We created something like five shots all game, this is utter shite. Why couldn't he put on the young lad (Anichebe) with Osman and
Beattie up front? Or when the substitutions came on, why play Carsley?
He's not fit; give the youngster a run out for 10 mins, the game was
lost anyway. I am just baffled. Men Against Mediocrities When you have nothing up front (as we have), there is no way to relieve the pressure on the back, which is why we so often find ourselves under the cosh, even when playing relatively well. In effect, our formation has become 4-5-0. Surely, at some point, David Moyes has got to realize that, to achieve success as opposed to simply avoiding disaster, we need to attack in numbers and we need to score. That suggests playing two able strikers up front. There is no shame to going out to a team like Chelsea, but it is
shameful to go out showing the opposition and fight of a Conference XI.
Colchester will give them a tougher time. I was worried some of
Chelsea’s players were going to fall asleep. Why so negative Too many fans are thinking we should perform like last season. The only way that will happen is if Moyes is given the funds to bring in the talent he can. Look at his buys so far: Yobo — a brillant centre-back; Nigel Martyn — our best goalkeeper since Big nev; James Beattie, starting to find his feet and gettiing the goals; Tim Cahill, Arteta.... Moyes is the man to bring this club too the standard of the world's
top clubs... so give him time and get off his back. Zola??? I ask you! Another classic is the frequent references to Beattie `emerging as a striker of genuine class`. The bugger`s taken a year to get himself fit and scored just FOUR bloody goals in open play all season — class, my arse! Now, like everyone else, I`m delighted that Moyes is extracting us out of the shit (of his own making) but please, let`s keep a sense of proportion here. Almost any of the recent one-nillers could have gone either way and then the same idiots who hail Moyes like the second coming would have been screaming for his bollocks! Let`s face it, just like nearly all the teams in the Premiership, our quality of football is dire. Outside the top five, anybody can beat anybody on the day - so let`s just keep counting off the points till we reach the magic 40, shall we? Then we`ll allow ourselves to relax and have a minor celebration. Until then let`s go easy on the superlatives... Zola, I bloody ask
you! A tale of two tribes The current upturn in fortune has led to a shifting in these tribes, re-branding themselves as the ‘glass half-empty’ and ‘glass half-full’ tribes. However, now there is a shift in the view on the present. Surely a nine-match undefeated run would satisfy the ‘glass half-empty’ supporters, but apparently not. Perhaps this says a lot about us Evertonians — not so much that we will accept nothing but the best (á la - Nil Satis Nisi Optimum) but that, unlike the rest of society, we are no longer content with a quick fix. We want a more sustained run of success than has been maintained under David Moyes. That is quite commendable in a way but, given that we all know Moyes
is not going anywhere for the rest of this season and that we will have
the same group of players on the pitch, maybe now is the time for a more
positive attitude from both tribes. If long-term success can’t be
achieved under Moyes & Kenwright, surely everyone would take the quick
fix of a top-half finish or Uefa Cup spot in the meantime. Your guess is as good as mine Who is responsible for Everton’s recent excellent run of results?
‘Smug Bastard Its Scary On another topic, I see that Per Krøldrup is doing OK at his new
club. Just maybe he didn't fill the bill at Everton — a bit like Stubbs
at Sunderland, eh? Outsourcing Outsourcing doesn't mean paying someone to do something for you. It means bringing in someone who is better than you at that operation — a specialist if you like (not to be confused with franchising a la McDonalds). You can rest assured that JJB will be on a load of KPIs and incentives — but the bottom line (for that is what it's all about) is that net revenue to EFC should increase. Catering is outsourced at Goodison. Betting is licensed (with a commission going to the club). One last thing about 'that lot from Wigan' and EFC. One is a
successful well run business that has generated massive surpluses down
the years (even if the Chairman is a despicable so and so the way he
treats the working classes etc). Which one? Steve Guy is right Money hasn't bought McClaren or Bruce success — but I doubt neither
of those two garners the support like Moysesy. We're a special club,
with special support. I think we've got a special manager who fits us —
difficult, underachieving, proud, but ... fuck me, talks the talk and
(occasionally) walks the walk. So Unfair! RE: Closing the deal Even in the unlikely event that Moyes had £10 million to splash, it would not have been prudent to buy an overpriced striker for around half that money (i.e Nugent, Samaras) — even if it was there — particularly as he may need to go and buy three centre-halves, a keeper and a testosterone fuelled maniac come July. And we all know that 5 million pounds doesn't buy a 5 million pound player :-) Oh and if Davey does need to supplement the threadbare squad with some free transfers, there will be a few more of them around at the end of the season because a few player contracts end around then if I'm not mistaken? Anyway, there is the small matter of a little cup tie to play today
... with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work our boys could pull a
rabbit out of a hat and beat them! Now winning that game would be
'entertainment' ... and I don't care how we do it! COYB!!! Closing the Deal I'm sure I will get pelters for raising this again but one thing is still really bugging me, the Moyes e.mail to fans last week explaining the lack of transfer activity in January. In particular the statement he makes: 'Bill Kenwright and the Board of Directors at Everton ensured money was available to spend plus there was the added funds from the sales of Marcus Bent and Per Krøldrup.'So there was money already AND then there were the ADDED FUNDS (not the profit on Bent netted out by the loss on PK) from the two sales. That has to make at least £5M. And yet there was nobody, not a single player, that could be found to improve our squad in spite of us having a long list of targets and the whole month to deal in. Some of the target players had doubled in price, apparently. That's when you need to be able to negotiate — something which we seem unable to do, AND that's when you need to sell the club and its ambitions/history/style of football to the target player — something else we can't do. Really that's at the heart of why my cup's Half Empty. Firstly, we don't have anyone (BK/KW?) to do the negotiating, their combined commercial acumen has now led us to outsourcing the retail operation to JJB for God's sake. Assuming BK/KW can't do it, we should hire a professional negotiator with sound commercial experience (should really be the CEO but never mind) to close the deals for the players we want. Too often our interest is telegraphed, we get out-manoeuvred or we reveal our hand too soon. Secondly, Davey obviously struggles to sell the club and himself to
the target players. Like it or not he has a reputation for not being the
best man-manager, and our style of football is not going to attract the
sort of flair/attack-minded/goalscoring talent we lack so clearly. That
we couldn't attract anyone at the "right price" when we were storming up
the table makes it even worse. Maybe there should be an additional
answer in the New Poll to go with Dithering Dave and No Money Available
that is Couldn't Close the Deal. Reminder I'd forgotten this, as had no doubt many others. When Moyes came to Everton, he was feted as one of the most promising managerial talents in British football; but this was tempered by the word 'promising'. Moyes has since been on a steep learning curve, which has seen Everton's fortunes veer between near relegation and Champions League qualification. Even this season has been a learning curve, with his recent admission, that the early exit from Europe affected the players more deeply than even we had imagined. It has taken him half a season to get them back to something like the form of 2004-05. Moyes has his own way of doing things, whether it be training, transfers or team bonding. We should know by now he won't change fundamentals, but he is continually adapting. The thing I like most, is that he tells it like it is (or at least how he thinks it is). Ferguson ?? — 'too right he should have been sent off, he let us all down' — but complemented by a very black and white view of the FA compliance committee and possible victimisation of Dunc for his reputatation. Transfers?? — answered with an unexpected open letter to fans. You can pick as many holes as you like in that statement's content, but you also have to accept that Moyes didn't need to say anything. I'm still not brimming over with excitement at the football we are playing, but it isn't that bad either. We are now six points off the European places (as much because of the inconsistency of the teams around us as our recent excellent run). In December I couldn't see where the next point was coming from, but I'm now looking at the remaining fixtures with confidence. Both of these conflicting scenarios are down to Moyes. I now fancy Everton to finish well this season and that the learning curve is now far less steep than it once was. Proof of this will be how Moyes handles transfers in the summer and how we start next season. So, as a recent contributor stated, my cup is definitely half-full —
and Moyes is the man who has made it that way. Iversen Moving on, Radio Merseyside this morning are linking us with a move for Steffen Iversen, the 29-year-old ex-Spurs player who is out of contract having just left some Spanish club?! If, and it's a big if, he did turn up, where would that leave Moyes's
speech? No short term measures? No quick fixes? Retail Sell-Out At a time when most clubs are working hard to cut out the middle-man
and bring everything `in house`, it is typical of Everton to go in the
oposite direction. But you can`t be expected to do everything for a
paltry £170,000 a year, can you? Moyes After repeatedly defending David Moyes on the forums earlier in the season, it is nice to see an about-turn from rational thinking fans, yet the start to the season seems to have left a permanent stain on the manager's ability in many fans eyes. We will always see different opinions through any cross-section of people, even those with common interests, especially if that interest spawns passion. But how can the same person be hailed as the best man for the job in one quarter (awarded twice by his peers) and be labelled an amateur lower-league manager incapable of tactical guile and transfer market ruthlessness just as staunchly in another? We all watch the same players/games and see the same things. So what makes our opinions differ so much? We all interpret things differently; it's human nature... but why we interpret things differently is usually down to a combination of factors, experience being the main one. And our ability to place experience into perspective, by our awareness of relevant context. I myself for instance have experience of being an Evertonian in the eighties: I was ten in ’85, I was not going the match at that time, but followed the club passionately on TV and radio. I cried for hours after Whiteside scored in the FA Cup Final. And it’s still as tangible to me, as Beattie’s recent goal in the Arsenal game. As is ‘THE’ Wimbledon game, when Graeme Stuart made us realise how far we had fallen, and saved us falling further! I experienced the whole of the 90’s as we slipped further down the pecking order, and clutched at every false dawn. And every season made me realise what it is like to support a team with little hope. And while hope should be the least any club should afford its fanbase, there was many an October when we all sighed, resignedly. I believed all the detractors were merely suffering from a lack of patience during our dismal spell, but those who are pre-determined to judge on current form alone should surely be back in the pro-Moyes camp. Yet there are still those who interpret Moyes’s ability as substandard I believe these people to be just as intelligent as those who disagree, but our own personal experiences, and which of those are subconsciously tangible to us individually as Evertonians, shapes our opinion. How many of those who truly do not believe in David Moyes can say they truly experienced the ‘90s? I can honestly say I have had all hope restored as an Evertonian, and
that’ll do for me, for now... The glass is half empty Great start for Krødrup Just a pity that Moyes could not have done big swop with the Viola -
Krøldrup for Lucca Toni, ace scorer who was rumoured to be on way to
England. Lets hear it for the girls!! I have always been a staunch supporter [my Dad would be proud of me!]
having seen my first game at the age of 6 sitting on his shoulders. My
first senior solo game was in 1956 to see Jimmy Greaves make his debut
for Chelsea and we beat them 3-0 that day. What a long time ago but once
a blue, always a blue. Big Dunc Derek Wadeson Analysis Just Hoof It Per! Hoof It!!! I am made up with the fact that we are out of the shit, relegation wise; however, I refuse to jump on the Europe here we come bandwagon (let's just see what happens, aye!). Most of the criticism Moyes has come in for this season has been completely just and I am not even gonna go into it. Looking forward to the summer, though, I still wonder how Moyes is going to improve on this team because everytime he tries to take us in a different direction he seems to fuck up. We will never play attractive football and score bags of goals under Moyes because he likes his teams to play just like he did, a dogged defender and that is why, I believe, Per Krøldrup must have been sacked off. I really can picture Moyes and Co giving him loads for trying to play it out of defence! Thats why he doesn't give a shit we have no strikers because you only need one jammy goal and a clean sheet to get three points. I just believe that this is a classic case of taking a team as far as
they can. Whilst some people seem to be content with mid-table
mediocrity and shite footy I for one am not. Alan Stubbs Osman Club Fine? Thankfully the balance was redressed later when Davey Weir scored the winner without knowing it as the ball cannoned off his knee and ended up in the net thus bringing our goal difference up to the dizzy heights of minus 14! Whatever next? A striker scoring a hat-trick? Don't write in to reply guys, my tongue's firmly in my cheek. Martyn
and Wright can score as long as we win. Half empty, more like! Your writer dreams of Van der Meyde (who he?) sending over a stream of crosses for Big Dunc to nod in — some hope, I say! Unless I`ve missed something, the useless lump hasn`t found the net since last April and I for one shall be glad if we`ve seen the last of him. Like many Evertonians, I am far from convinced about Moyes`s ability
to bring much more than the boom and bust sequences we`ve seen from him
so far. How anyone can get enthused by the crap we`ve seen this season —
and I include much during the present `success` —is beyond me... but
each to their own, I guess. New Poll Transfers Technical Krøldrup What's that then Mr. Kroldrup? The technical skill of heading a
ball?! After 3 everybody..... 1...2...3... WHAT A WANKER! RE: Empty Seats Lee aka Moyes In common with all Evertonians, I am delighted with the present run of results, but I am reminded that under Lee we once went a record 19 games without defeat and still won nowt! The final similarity, if my maths are right, is that as of last night the two have identical winning ratios of a smidgeon under 40%! Where the similarity ends, however, is that under Lee we did score
goals for fun (Latchford, Sharp et al) and Duncan Makenzie alone was
always worth the gate money. Empty Seats Great to see the team at its peak again ø it proves that Moyes is
great at putting together a well-organised low-risk side. Let's hope
that the progression we waited for last summer is with us this year.
After all, maybe you could argue that last season may have taken us too
far too soon? Patience is a virtue. The difference is Ferguson can get his cheque book out and try again; we can't afford that luxury. So reflecting on Moyes's decision not to be cohersed or blackmailed by clubs who knew we were desperate for a forward, can you not understand his reluctance to buy a shit Johnny foreigner, just for the sake of it? Moyes will sort it out — we're not doing badly at the present, are we? Just remember this, patience is a virtue. The Morning After Back to the game yesterday, Everton are back to their jammy best. Nick a goal and hold on for dear life. Don't get me wrong; I'll always take a win — no matter how fortunate — but the second half Everton were awful and I would like to see a bit more adverture in our play to 'kill' off teams as we won't always be that fortunate (remember the start of the season?). It's no fluke either that we are winning with Osman in the team and Davies out of it. Osman brings attacking flair and skill to Everton's midfield; Davies brings a mop of hair! Davies must improve or sell him to buy a geniue winger like Simao. Lastly, if money isn't a problem at Goodison, then secure the signing
of Matteo Ferrari now! I've seen enough to know he will be an excellent
centre-half, so we nust get him to avoid losing him to bigger fish (like
we almost did with Arteta). Are you listening, Mr Moyes??? The Pendulum Swings I won't dissect the game as others will do that better than me, but what has been noticeable is that our luck has definitely changed. Earlier this season (admittedly the football was dire) we were suffering all sorts of bad luck - referees, woodwork, fluke goals against. Whilst we had the better of posession than Citeh, at least this time we are starting to benefit from the luck. Maybe 2005 was just Moyes's annus horribilus? Finally - re the comment from Tom Sharpe. Yes it's easy to say we're
the best fans in the world etc. But my (recent) memories of away games
often includes incidents of extreme bad behaviour from the 'no visible
means of income' lot we attract. Every club has them, and we're no
different, sad to say. Glad to say that at many away games I'd meet up
with friends from opposing teams, who would often say that the best
supporters they ever saw were Blues. Hope springs eternal... let's hope
it extends to Wednesday!! Moyes for Newcastle United? Stupid fans! Why is it that sometimes our fans have to take it too far! Against Liverpool two seasons ago, he had writing on a vest under his shirt 'Once a blue, always a blue' and if he scored he was going to take his shirt off! He was at Everton as a kid but they let him go because they said he was too small! What happened in Thailand with Richard Dunne was about Joey arguing with an Everton fan (Danny Murray) over who was a bigger blue! Murrary is a good blue but he is a little shit and kicked Joey up the arse first! Joey Barton has done nothing to Everton whatsoever! So does he really
deserve to be called a murderer or a 'scruffy racist bastard' or get
taunts like 'your brother's gettin' bummed in the showers'? We have got
good support but our fans let us down sometimes with sick chants! It was
embarrassing today! Thanks to David Hall Still, Gordon Lee's Everton did have some big highs for me — knocking
Liverpool out of the cup, scoring goals galore in 1977-78, etc. He was
also unfortunate in that he managed us at a time when Liverpool
dominated English football to the extent Chelsea do today. Not so Dicky any more? Hope the next one comes a bit quicker... and the one after that... and the one after that. Confidence breeds confidence breeds good players. Moyes safe Today's game typified the Blues for me. A positive start that saw Osman put in a high class performance, his move to single-handily shred the City defence and shave the bar got everyone going. We continued in that vein and got a somewhat fortuitous goal via Wier's thigh but the lead nontheless. All this in the space of six minuets. A number of us thought we would continue in this vein and get a goal fest; sadly we were wrong as Osman became less of a threat; so did the rest of the attacking play. The Blues, as though programmed, seemed to say to City: "We have got our goal now; it is up to you to break us down." They could not do that, which made the encounter mesmerising from the 6th minute until the 94th minute — just in case they did. It was no wonder when considering MotM I was left with choosing anyone of the back four. My shout went to Valente but could easily have been any of the other three. Does anyone else think that Valente is the best left back we have seen since Ray Wilson? I have had many a moan re Moyes but I do believe that, whilst not the best manager in the country, he is certainly the best manager AVAILABLE to this club. I really hope that both manager and club can build on what is becoming a good second half to the season and, with some inspired buys in the summer window ,allow us fans some hope for a whole season's worth of results. To the Moyes detractors, I would say you have a point but let him continue learning at this level as I feel he really wants to make a mark with us, which can only be good in the long run. I enjoyed my matchday today because we won but I do feel a sense of more to come due to a bloody-minded approach by the manager to anything other than he sees necessary. Many may see my thoughts as merely papering over cracks but as I have no other information regarding the Board, manager or CEO. I can only express my feelings based on what I see from my seat in the stands. Today I cheered and next week I hope for more of the same. Next up:
the Cup... and who knows! Hangonamo However, we are on a 10-game unbeaten run where most of the games have been won by scrappy single goals. I'm awfully sorry, but isn't that just what we did for the whole of last season? Grind out the results? Was the football fantastic last season? Was the squad brilliant? Did we have more than one decent striker in the squad? The answer to all these questions is... NO!!! Now, was it good enough to get us a fourth position finish? Was it good enough to get our manager the Manager of the Year award? Was it good enough to get us a Champions League qualifying place? YES. This season hasn't been the best, but we are slowly getting back to
ours, which is, ashamedly, scrappy battling football. It's what we do,
and it's good enough for me. Now the moaning has to stop! Like most Evertonians, I couldn`t give a stuff about whether
Kenwright owns the Club or some other faceless prat, and I couldn`t care
less about the bank balance — all I`m interested in is a winning team —
so please, all you knockers do us a favour and shut up! Boring Football How many strikers have West Ham, West Brom, Birmingham, Blackburn, Man City, Liverpool, even Reading (the list is endless) all got compared to the mighty Everton!!! We have become used to boring, negative football with one upfront — and for over £30 a game. Who else would want shite like Kilbane, Davies, Naysmith and, yes,
Duncan Ferguson. Come to think of it, who else would want David Moyes? Get in there Gordon Lee Like most, he started well and fell away. His successive `finishing` positions were 3rd, 4th, 19th & 15th. He was a thoroughly nice man and although his Black Country accent never endeared him to Evertonians, he was as straight-forward and honest as any of our managers, before or since. His full managerial record follows:- Port Vale P258 W94 36.4% That, I submit,is the career record of a very competent manager and
his record for Everton is far superior to that of many who followed him!
Transfers At the same time, market analysts (Deloite or something like that) are predicting a slump in transfer activity next summer. Also at the same time the current team is doing well and spirit is high. I think I would be tempted to see this season through with current squad with hopefully some additional income from a top 10 place, and then be in a position to get a decent player or two in the summer. Many will say "Not good enough". Well... probably not, but makes
sense to me rather than disrupt team and spitit now (how many
transfer-window additions really change a team's fortunes?) and be broke
in the summer. Is there to be no let up? The anti-Moyes brigade think they can fool most of the people some of
the time etc... yet they don't fool me. I recognise the fact that, on
the field and economically, our cherished club is battling to survive.
There is no billionaire sugar-daddy waiting in the wings. Given our past
histoy of mis-management, we are making a damn good fist of it and much
of the credit is due to Moyes. Quote of the day! Time To Support! Does anyone in the club know what they're
doing? I'd love to be putting money into Blue companies such as my own, but the club don't seem to be interested in getting businesses involved with Everton. Is there any wonder they can't attract an investor? Football clubs need to be run like a business these days, but we seem to have one foot in the past. This is not a moaning letter, but perhaps an opportunity for
ToffeeWeb to capitalise on the club's failings and perhaps arrange a
networking event of its own. What can we do??? For those against Kenwright and Wyness and Moyes: simple, get your banners out, display them home and away, organise a protest, sit in, hunger strike, e.mail them, ask for Q and A, whatever. Get the shareholders to petition to oust them, find investments for Everton on your own and present them to the Board or better still, form a conglomerate of buyers and buy the club. Fact is we will never know what goes on up there (within the Boardroom and the club offices) 'til we are up there ourselves. We will never know the true situation of debts or profits or transfer kitty or wages 'til we are part of them. It's easier to shoot our mouth without really knowing what the true situation is — and we will never know, will we? All we can do is speculate and have hypotheses or conspiracy theories. This ain't a democracy! This is a business company and its called Everton Football Club Co Ltd. In a business, customers (in this case, the fans) always have a choice to continue to be patrons or to walk away. But we will find it hard to walk away from EFC cos it's not just a club, it's our club: all of us are born blues and we have blueblood in us. It may be a love-hate relationship to some but admit it: you can't walk away, can you?? It's just frustration to see or rather not see what we want come to fruition and its our nature to always question those in charge. Hey, it's just like the company you work for where you have a bunch of knobheads running it and you always think you can run it better. No matter how many times people at the top are changed, they are always knobheads and we always will think we can run it better. They could be salvation one minute and the devil another. We have no new players, no new investment coming in, no apparent changes to the management team or Board... so stop griping about it! What we have is what we have and thats a fact!!! Sure, you have an option to voice your say and gripe and moan and praise and flatter... but since all we gripe about aint changing anytime soon, why don't we just transfer all that energy into doing what we do best. And that is getting behind the club and the players. I don't like the way things are now either but complaining won't change a thing and it just raise your blood pressure, stress and needless worrying — all for something that won't change anytime soon. I would rather channel it into supporting the club cos honestly what can I do to change things??? Nothing!!! For those who can, then Do Something instead of just griping coz actions talk louder than words!! ps: I'm gonna get a lot of stick for this, methinks... Fed up of getting laughed at.... He was also at the derby game to laugh at the "beat Nev in goal, oh no, the teams are coming back out" half time fiasco.... Just as well we don't care what the red shite say! :) RE: Gorden Lee Well said, Gavin, your contributions are balanced and truthful and
represent how many of us feel. January Money it's a hit, don't give me that!!!!
What's this big debate going on about the amount of money EFC spend on transfers? If we take out the big four, there can be very few teams in Britain who have spent more than us in the last 10 years. We have done that with low league positions, no cup runs, and fans amongst the lowerst spenders (on club merchandise) per head in the Premiership. Why not belive the figures? It's not the CIA... I also think BK owns
the club because he's the only one who as ever shown an intrest in
buying it. By the way, I along with others have been invited to an Q&A
session (Evertonia) at the club on February 13th. Any suggestions? Stating the clouded obvious, I hope... If I was running a busines like Everton FC and it was up to its neck in debt, I wouldn't tell anyone either. This wouldn't put off any investors as they will know the truth through "due diligence". Besides, if they can't see that they are buying something undervalued or with potential they won't be interested anyway. What I do notice is that whenever things look so dire it is best if public pronouncements are left to somebody like David Moyes who, at least, has the camp split in terms of support. His latest pronouncement was going well until he said that he thought it was better that Krøldrup continue his career in Italy. Why, I ask myself, does the Manager think he can play better elsewhere particularly a league known for its defensive capabilities? So what is the problem? Did we sell the Banks a dummy on the basis that our overdraft could be extended until after a successful European run, in either competition, and the position would be reviewd at the end of the year? You know what they say: if you owe the Bank a million you are in trouble, but if you owe them £100M then the Bank is in trouble. But if the deal was to settle/review at the end of the year then it makes sense that you follow previous solutions and sell to reduce the borrowings, overdraft or whatever. Krøldrup to reduce future payments and Bent to reduce the overdraft. And when would you have to declare this, the next AGM? It is all supposition but few of us would deny that the truth, for whatever reason, has been clouded and less than forthcoming. The Fortress Sports Fund was nothing more than a Boardroom squabble to prevent Gregg from recovering his £7M. If you have prospective £12M investors then you are hardly likely to be wound up for the lesser amount. But again, I am no expert in these matters and stand to be corrected. The problem could be put down to the spin that takes a while to be identified but in the end is seen as not the whole truth. Why am I so concerned? This not like running ICI: it is a business based on public support, tribal or otherwise. However, how would someone like Kenwright rise to such a position of ascendency but we all feel that it is the family business of being an Evertonian? I do feel this is incomplete but as I've moved from the grain to the grape it would not be wise to progress this. Pick holes where you will but this Evertonian of more than 50 years thinks we should be getting more than we now are. Strangely, this seems to have been the Everton way, with the exception of the Moores years, but like most others, all will be forgiven when we start playing winning and stylish1 football. After all isn't that all that we want? Moyes speaks out It's clear that Moyes has been told to write this by Bill and Wyness to try to appease the fans, but I trust we will see through it. What it comes down to is we now have a weaker squad, but more money
in the bank. The only people who can be happy with this outcome is BK
and his sidekick Wyness. The fans, and I hope, the manager want a
better, stronger squad. To be told we couldn't achieve this with £5M+
that was available either means we have an incompetent Manager or BK
wouldn't let him spend it. Or both? 'We're NOT skint,' says Moyes And the winner is.... If I win tonight, I'm going to make old Billy Boy an offer he can't
refuse (how much do you get for 1 number?). This time next week chaps,
I'll be running this club..... Well I can dream, can't I? Gordon Lee Response : Our level of debt Toffeeweb Car Sales Why Krøldrup leaving is a positive sign Incidentally, look at how long El Hadji Diouf was allowed to arrogantly strut around and put in bad performances, poisoning the morale of the Liverpool camp, a few years ago (and bringing the club into disrepute - spitting at fans etc.) because the manager didn't want to lose face on such an expensive signing. Not at Everton, thank you Moyes. Striker For a club the size and stuture of Everton, this is an absolute
disgrace, and is further evidence of the gross mismanagement of the club
from top to bottom. Any lay person with even a basic understanding of
football would recognise that you can't expect a football club to move
forward when, arguably, in the most important area on the pitch, all it
has at its disposal is an ageing and often volatile individual, along
with another who's injury record is comparable to that of Darren
'Sicknote' Anderton. I only hope that after we have thrashed both Man
City and Blackburn, and turned over Chelski in the cup, fellow blues
will be on here to slag me off. However, without trying to sound too
blase, I somehow can't really see that happening. Reality Check Signing players with potential is an obvious key to future success, but I for one was pleased to see Robert Earnshaw drop down a divison to a league in which his talents will flourish; he wasn't good enough for WBA or the Premier League and £3M for him was good business. The same logic should apply to Lee Trundle (too old) and David Nugent (unproven), with West Ham paying well over the odds for Dean Ashton at £7M. Stikers, yes are a necessity, but their availability and ability to score goals at the top level are a rarity. This fact has been proven by Liverpool's recapture of Robbie Fowler (and no he wouldn't have joined Everton), Chelsea's reliance on Frank Lampard and others to score goals from midfield, and the habitual topping of goals charts by Henry and Van Nistelrooy. Stop-gap signings are a costly and risky business; our form has
improved considerably since we have reverted back to the 4-5-1 type
system employed last season, and ok the football is not pretty with
little room for error and lack of goals evident but, unless there is a
knight in shining armour with £100M+ to pump into the club, a large dose
of reality medicine is what is needed. Wrong, Michael Michael, this reply is in regards to getting rid of Bill Kenwright as is the ever increasing thoughts of the fanbase. I think you are very wrong in your "get used to it stance". Of the last 20 Chairmen to have parted company with their respective clubs, how many were down to the sheer voice of the fans? I don't know the answer, but as a betting manager I would stake high on that outcome being the vast majority. I think you have forgotten that THIS IS EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB, and love it or not, if there was enough support behind ousting him, it would happen. Believe me. We shouldn't have to stand for secong best as we have for so long.
The club crest highlights how the ckub should be ran. It's not, plain
and simple. BK isn't good enough, I reserve judgement on Wyness because
I happen to think he would excel should someone be on board that can
attract heavy investment. I for one do not want to put up with this
mediocrity for the next two decades and maybe it will take a united
front in demanding Bill make way for someone more ambitious to drag this
club out of the doldrums. It doesn't belong there and with him at the
helm we will remain in this mess for a very, very long time. Butter wouldn't melt? Dunc should not have reacted the way he did with his bully-boy tactics but isn't the one thing we all love about him is that he could come on the pitch, with his commanding presence, and the players of the opposing side are worried by his presence. Okay he has had 8 red cards in the last 11 seasons but I am convinced
that if his name had been something other than Duncan Ferguson he would
only have had four of those red cards, likewise people like Veira,
Cantona etc. It's unfortunate that one's reputation preceeds any
incident. Dear Old Dutch Honesty my arse, they are getting wise to The Ditherer — just like
most Evertonians — But at least it fooled The Dutchman! Let's sack Moyes... On a more serious note, I fail to understand what exactly would satisfy some of the mailbag posters here. If you repeat a lie often enough, it starts sounding like the truth.
I am getting a bit sick of pretty much the same posts being published
here again and again and again. Balanced opinions I can understand;
however how about being a little bit more constructive ? Chirpy Finch / Transfers (or lack of them)
Isn't this the same Finch who fucked up on the Brazil v Japan tickets at Goodison, not to mention a few other abortions? FA Cup tickets 95 anyone? So if the Echo would like to pontificate on where we would be now with Finch's continued involvement I can give them a straight answer - somewhere in the lower divisions and long forgotten – up shit creek without a paddle, no less. Unfortunately, Everton & disappointment go hand in hand so it was no great surprise to see sod all happen in the transfer window yet again. Unfortunately when you have been hurt and disappointed so many times you develop a second skin and that is the sadness about being an Evertonian. Any success is always tempered with a feeling of what next disappointment could be around the corner. Given the financial climate which dominates the modern game the only way things will change for the better at Goodison is if the operation is radically overhauled from top to bottom. As Mr Marsh rightly points out, things are organised better at a church tombola stall. I won’t stop supporting cos you're chosen, you don’t choose. Maybe explains my fruitless clicking of refresh on the BBC football transfer update right up until midnight...
My negativity syndrome regarding the club has taken a tighter grip since
I started reading this site so maybe for sanity reasons I should
withdraw completely and just be another one of the unquestioning
lemmings. After all, isn’t that what football support is all about in
the modern era? Why The Fuss? Why the fuss about relegation? There's at least three teams worse than us, we'll muddle on to the end of the season, then the cycle of mediocrity will start again. I think the real debate is: What sort of team do we actually want? I want to see Everton playing with pace, passing the ball to feet, with exciting players and strikers who score goals. Am I on my own, here? I don't care who the manager is, as long as he serves up decent football. It scares me that an increasing number of Evertonians seem to revel in the fact that we battle and scrap our way from game to game. As a club we seem to be drifting away from our tradition of skill and flair. Fair play to Moyes for his statement on the website re transfers. I don't doubt his honesty, integrity or commitment, but I'd love to hear him tell us about his long-term strategy for the team, what kind of football he wants to produce. He's been here four years, he appears untouchable. What would he have to lose by speaking out a bit more? My blind faith is restricted to supporting Everton. I need hard
evidence to support the manager. If the best his cheerleaders can come
up with is: 'He got us to fourth last year.' 'IMWT' 'Who else can we
get?' and 'Shut up and support the team'... etc, then maybe it is time
he told us himself about any strategy he has — if he has one! So, what
kind of team do we want? We're not Skint.......??? The proof is in the pudding.... Fair play for making this statement though, it takes balls! I would
much rather he save money and us be mediocre for a while, rather than
spend £50M, be shit anyway and then sack the manager... vacant Newcastle
job anybody??? Our level of debt Danny, that figure was as at 31st May 2005. Since then we have bought and sold Krøldrup and bought and not yet sold Arteta, Davies, Valente, Van der Meyde, Neville as well as taken Ferrari on loan. Now I can't imagine us paying anything like the quoted fees for them but we are still looking at £12-14M extra that we didn't pay out last season in our record-breaking £100k profit season. We also have a bigger squad than last season although I'm sure if the transfer window had stretched to the end of February we may have tried to reduce it further! If we finish in our current position of 12th (of which that isn't certain) we will be £4M. Believe me, without the sales of Kroldrup and Bent we'd be looking at a debt of £45M and even now a debt of £40M come end of May won't be out of the question. Now see why we didn't strengthen in January? Dreams! Fuck Villa; Chelsea three seasons ago almost went under and along
came a Russian sugardaddy. Likewise Portsmouth, even though they're
still crap. And nobody can tell me that Portsmouth are a more attractive
club than Everton so if they can get investment why can't the toffs?
WHY? Because the top wigs are intent in running Everton into the ground
due their love of the club. Yeah.... but the point is even if Kenwright
goes, Wyness walks and we don't get investment, AT LEAST get good
businessmen in to prepare and take the club forward. Is that too much to
ask all those loyal Kenwright followers who's visions only extend to
their beer bellies! It's the Peoples Club and without us Everton would
die. Right or wrong? Kenwright out!!! David Moyes! Personally I felt Moyes had no need to explain his decision; it's his team — let him sell and purchase whoever he wants — but Moyes felt it necessary to address the situation because he knew some of the fans were upset. His letter makes perfect sense and his decisions are completely understandable. It's his honesty with the fans that I most appreciate. Not only does he recognise that the fans are upset; he chooses to address them in a honest and frank manner. No spin, no bullshit. I am so proud of our manager and hope he continues his excellent work for many years to come. Keep your hands off, Newcastle; Moyes belongs to the People's Club. Armaggedon Bill Kenwright: would proclaim his love for the club and engage in a bout of nostalgic reminiscences telling everyone he used to stand right where the epicentre of the crater was. Then he’d curse the state of the modern game announcing that ‘Everton means much more to me than you can ever imagine… I wish I had the cash to rebuild the pitch… but have you seen the price of turf?’ Keith Wyness: Would deny that the asteroid had actually hit Goodison, but had in fact landed in the Park End car park, where it had struck a subterranean oil field releasing enough revenue to push us into the top ten clubs. He’d then announce a sale of shards of the asteroid on a ‘first come first served basis’… and neglect to inform the season ticket holders till 20 minutes before the sale was due to commence. David Moyes: Would announce that ‘We looked at the asteroid but it was just not our sort of asteroid’ then after some musing he’d add ‘It probably would have failed the medical in any case… I think… probably… what was his name again?’ Duncan Ferguson: Would have twatted it before it fell James Beattie: Would have regretted missing the asteroid… but wait till he’s fit… he’ll hit 30 a season. David Weir and Alan Stubbs: Would still be chasing the asteroid as it beat our offside trap… The Liverpool Echo Would repeat Wyness’ and Kenwright’s line about the asteroid… word for word. Announcing ‘Everton’s season starts here’ ToffeeWeb: Would publish a series of letters from a prolific contributor proclaiming that the asteroid ‘Was all Moyes’s fault… and only he saw it coming… he’d heard it straight from a source at the training ground… but did we listen?... did we fuck’ … and I’d probably spend a 1000 words pontificating between the
difference between an asteroid, comet and a meteorite finally reaching a
conclusion that it was clearly down to the ludicrous way that the game
was financed and asteroid hits were obviously the fault of the nabobs
who run FA Premier League! Faddy is the Daddy! The number of times I have seen and heard Everton fans calling him shite, saying they want rid of him every season is unbeleivable. In my eyes, he is one of our better, more exciting players. Every season he seems to be set for a strong run in the team to prove himself, yet Moyes seems very apprehensive to give him that run he needs to build his confidence and to keep scoring goals. He's a fantastic player, very elusive and now hopefully after Big Dunc's knockout blow on Tuesday night, he might get the opportunity to really show what he could mean to the club. I think a bit of optimism is needed; give guys a chance instead of
labelling them shite, lazy, etc... and then maybe it might actually rub
off! Never mind The club are obviously looking financially to the future as we are not going to have the prize money of last year's proportions to look forward to. By missing the boat of the Champions League we are now suffering; £20M does not go that far these days. David Moyes has now been labelled as dithering but if he knows what he's got to spend and has burnt his fingers once or twice already, he is going to be cautious. In my opinion, Moyes is a good manager and with a realistic transfer budget each year can take Everton on, though maybe not as far as us fans would want. Kenwright is going with his heart when he needs to use his head. Given the right pitch, Everton will attract the correct sort of investment, but in today's world we are unlikely to see it come from a lifelong blue. As hard as it sounds to the fans who turn up to each home game, it is
clearly time to let a business-minded person to take us on. We have the
fanbase, the history, the nucleus of a good team and now we need to push
on and move away from the also rans that we have been since the Premier
League was formed. Wishful thinking maybe, but the Everton empolyees
must read this site (— what true Evertonion doesn't?). In the meantime
let's stay behind this team who are working their socks off at the
moment. I for one want more good Saturday nights! Playground politics As an aside, I hope that one day Rooney may come back. I'm sure it would be in his latter years, but if he's still a useful addition to our squad, I'd be pleased to have him. No matter what people may say about sell-outs, traitors etc... remember, he was a manipulated teenager who basically saved our club and has had nothing but abuse spewed at him by Evertonians since, even though he and his family are clearly Blues. The fact that Moyes didn't sign anybody was no surprise to me. He sold our one striker with any pace, but after his mis-management of Bent then that was probably inevitable. Our season is basically over... assuming we can stay out of the 'still too close relegation battle' that is. Thanks for blowing our best chance in generations to move this club forward and for taking away so much hope. The reasons Moyes blew it are many and have been discussed at length,
but he really did cock it up in spectacular fashion and, whether he
stays or goes, he will always be the one that lost the lottery ticket. Registration plate EFC for sale Save your breath So were there any takers for this bargain outfit? Just two: one who
offered about half the value and another who Ellis agreed terms with but
can`t come up with the cash! I mention all this to illustrate that when,
in frustration, Evertonians scream for the removal of Kenwright & Co
they are whistling in the wind. There would just be no takers so just
save your breath, please! Well done boys Patrick Marks The CEO says......
So Mr Wyness, please don't spout utter drivel like "There was no-one suitable available" Get a grip man, either start telling the truth because all you and the Everton Board are doing is heaping more misery and embarrasment on your loyal supporters. And a message for Billy Bullshit, who is more likely to be prancing around a stage than wanting to know what his fellow "True Blues" think: You may own Everton FC in the role of major shareholder, but just remember, this club just as much belongs to the fans who offer unconditional support to their club through thick and thin. So, in the best interests of our club and its supporters, step aside and let some real business men with the proper vision and investment try and repair the damaged reputation of this club, to which you have undoubtedly contributed. Being only 20 years old, the only success I've experienced is the FA
Cup win of '95 and last season's 4th place finish, and I know enough
about our history to realise that this is not enough for Everton
Football Club and its "True Blue" fans. Is it me? The rest of Wyness's piece is surely meant to amuse us -our customers
come first, other Companies copy us! This from a man with a track record
second to none of cock-ups and a total disregard for customers unless he
can throw them out of their seats to make way for empty corporate boxes.
A CEO who hasn't secured a penny of lnvestment. Sure I bet Tesco and
Shell etc wait with bated breath to see what Wyness is going to do
next... 2 and 2 But we all make mistakes and life so let's hope he learns, but if he
is part of the smokescreen that many people believe is prominent at the
club then his statement that we are the People's Club is probably the
most condecending lie ever told to Everton fans in our history and for
that he should be hung, drawn and quatered with his ashes spread over
the other side of the park as a warning to all those who take liberties
with our undying support. COME THE REVOLUTION ! and all that. Moyes the Magpie??! It's not Bill's fault we haven't signed a
striker I believe it is a mistake on his part not to get anyone in. Fergy and Beattie have been injury prone for us, and that's being kind to Duncan by not bringing up his disciplinary record. McFadden needs a partner really to play up front. A lot of people criticise Bill for not bringing investment into the club, but it is hardly a secret that Everton could be bought. The fact of the matter is that business people aren't interested in buying us. If anyone was really interested, they would have bought us by now. Who is going to invest upwards of £30M to buy a company that would need a new stadium (an extra £100M), and a team that will need to be improved too (an extra £30M?). If you did all this then sold the club, you wouldn't get £160M back to cover your outlay. Our only hope is that a fan buys the club, but the problem is that we are a working-class club and always will be. We don't have a rich fanbase; most of our fans live within 5 miles of the stadium, and are working class. This is the reality that the Board face. I think Kenwright has done a decent enough job for us. He backed
Moyes with over £20M last summer, and he has got rid of our massive
debt, which was dragging us down every year. OK, he sold Rooney to do
it, but the club would have eventually folded if we hadn't got rid.
Think back to the 90s, we sold the crown jewels how many times
(Ferguson, Speed, Jeffers, Ball, Kanchelskis, Barmby etc) and we were
still £30M in debt. All of those sales just paid off interest, and we
were still in debt until Rooney went. Kenwright isn't perfect, but the
reality is there is no alternative. Just like Moyes as manager I
suppose. The shadow of Deadly Doug As I see it, Kenwright long ago realised he was getting in deep water — and failing to attract any no-strings investment — put the business firmly in the hands of his Chief Exec. This has resulted in the introduction of the Doug Ellis school of football management which firmly lays down that you don`t let the manager spent what the club ain`t got. By my reckoning — and picking up on all the quotes and rumours — Moyes was asked to clear his Krøldrup loss with the sale of Bent and was allowed ~£2.5M to invest in `the window`. As he would, or should, have been party to the budget setting, he had to be seen to go along with this in his public statements. The Marsh view is that, however little or much he has to spend, Moyes cannot make a decision. The evidence over several `windows` bears that out and I suspect that once the price for his prime target, Nugent, went above his budget figure, he was ill-prepared — or too late — to look elsewhere. In my very humble view, both Richard and Tony are partly right.
Richard will say that, at last, the Club is being run on sound
commercial principles whilst Tony will continue to scream for heads to
roll. Where do I stand? I guess it`s with the majority. n general terms,
Moyes has done as well as any other Everton manager in Premiership
history and, at least in theory, Wyness, seems to know how a club should
be run from a financial perspective. So both should be given more time
to see if it all works out. Sad to say, exciting it ain`t — ask any
Villa fan! Financial meltdown? Scared Oh yeah... looking through mailbag and actaully quite scared about Jez Clein. Not because of "Question Time" but because of his well written letter called "Kroldrup, Anelka and other things" dated (19/1/06) which links to the quite spooky Mystic Jez — What the next year will bring article. Jez isn't short for Jesus or anything is it?!! If so all the
Moyes-moaners might actually be happy come 21st May. Football not handball No Transfers — Should be OK Why? I figure that to make sure that we are playing in the Premier League again next year we only need 3 wins and a few draws more in the next 14 games. Looking at the fixture list I think that anyone would be hard pressed to believe that we wont achieve this. In fact, I believe that the squad will do better than this.With the money saved, we will have more to spend in the summer and also have a bigger pot to choose from. Is it possible that this is actually some good business sense from the manager and his peers? Additionally it seems that quite often the winter signings are not
too effective in the second half of the season. This is due to not
having the correct fitness for the managers game play style or not
understanding all the players. Yes, they may play 1 or 2 games well, but
lack the general consistency to make a good impact. Although a younger
Kevin Campbell was an exception. 'For when I am weak, then I am strong'
Jason Heng, Singapore (02/02/06) Kenwright out! But who's to blame? Moyes for him fast becoming Howard Wilkinson? the Board? or just one member of the Board who's sucking the life out of our club? Yep: it's the leach Kenwright who's attitude and lack of ambition makes my blood boil over! Like we did with Peter Johnson, every home game sing 'KENSHITE OUT' until he leaves us alone and maybe someone can invest into a dying giant before we end up like Swindon. Oh yeah Moyes, if you're reading..... please either play Davies right flank or sell him! The Spurs lads give me loads of stick coz of that Welsh wasock and his general inabilities! Still loyal, still blue... unlike Rooney! Genius. I think not... Lookalikes The truth? More worried thoughts My worry is the current finances as stated in my last posting and as pointed out earlier the fact that we have a reduced squad were injuries to just two or three players could decimate our chances of gaining any more wins this season. Scarily I'd forgotten that add to injuries, internationals (African Nations) and suspensions (not just straight reds but think how many are balanced waiting for just one more yellow). A simple scenario, Weir or Stubbs injured in training or midweek game and out for a few weeks, Moyes plays Neville centre half and he gets booked, bye bye Neville for next game and we have one fit centre half again and no emergency ones unless our miniscule kids squad can supply one, then welcome to the Premiership for a player whose first game may be a complete nightmare. The second scenario you dont even need to imagine, our sole fit striker McFadden starts a game well, the opposition team decide to turn him into a piece of corned beef with some decidely fierce tackles, then who do we play up front? Imagine Osman trying to win a header from a punted long ball against some six foot plus centre half or get a free header from a corner against the same size defenders. We would be forced to lay the ball on the floor, can our midfield hold and distribute the ball enough to do that? To those thinking Moyes had been shrewd with not adding to the squad through quality, well, can anyone explain adding to the squad even for numbers should we get injuries, internationals and suspensions????? Bring on the kids, how many do we have left as most seem to have been shown the door and dont forget the best one is months away from playing again (Vaughan). He added at least two crap players that didnt even get a game last season in Plessis and Bosnar, so surely loans for free and only picking up wages can't possibly have been out of the question unless the wage cupboard is bare. Oh then comes the summer sales, its the end of a World Cup, agents will be rubbing their slimy hands at the prospect of touting their prospects at over-inflated prices to anyone needing a player so the shrewdness of saving the cash until the summer doesnt even wash. I'd love a campaign to oust Kenwright and can see one starting soon
as the loyal fans can surely take only so much as they did with Agent
Johnson before he was walked down the gangplank. Question time
Save your anger at Moyes and console yourself with the fact that, thanks to Buster, we handle the sale of more tickets than any of this country's great theatres (if that's really the case, you would have hoped that he had learnt how to do it by now!) Finally a criticism of Moyes from me. I heard yesterday David O'Leary
saying that Villa would not be buying any players in January because the
cupboard is bare and they have no money — a bit of honesty, Dave? Let us give thanks
Just in case anyone has missed it, we have climbed the League at an incredible rate over January and are absolutely on course to hit the budgeted 10th position.
So let us give thanks for a job well done. Don't be silly! Mike Price, cheers for your input but please tell me you're joking. Just because you used to be paid to play football does not mean you know any more than my mum. How many crap managers used to be paid to play football?? too many to even consider. Football is full of idiots, Moyes is NOT one of them. You argue about Moyes in the transfer market but actually his record is pretty good. Yobo, Cahill, Arteta, Martyn, Beattie, Valente - starting to look really good, Van der Meyde - give him time, Ferrari. These are all good players who, with the exception of Martyn and Valente, have age on their side. Add to that Kilbane who is not very good but clearly worth what we spent on him. Suddenly you realise that Moyes is actually quite shrewd in the market, something you might have been saying last year when we finished fourth. I'm sure you're thinking - what about Davies, Wright, you might not like Beattie and go on say it - Per Krøldrup. Krøldrup, Krøldrup, Krøldrup. How many times do people want to bring him up?? Most managers would play him even if they know he's shit, Moyes on the other hand had the balls to stand up and get rid. He may have lost just over a million on him but he gained just over a million on Bent about a week before. Every manager makes bad signings, even the best. Wenger spent £11M on Wiltord, £9M on Jeffers, £17M on Reyes, However much on our very own Richard Wright!! Mourinho spent £24M on Drogba, £8M on Del Horno and Fergie's had some shockers in his time too. How can you say Moyes is out of his depth?? Twice manager of the
year, he's only been Everton manager for 4 full seasons. I wrote an
article - defending Moyes - called 'Get a grip' that was put on the main
page about a month ago, a day after we got pissed on by the shite. I'm
pleased to say things have got a hell of a lot better since then,
infact, we're looking pretty sound again. Bosh. Sorry, Dutch Everton mess up again It was obvious to all on sundry that we were in desperate need of a forward BEFORE this season started. We missed out in the summer, so had the month of January to make up for the lack of firepower which has seen us drop out of two European competitions in the first round, and become the club with the least amount of goals in Europe. What do we do? Nothing! We miss out on a huge amount of good quality players that would add to our much depleted squad, with the excuse of “no one was available” the only one on offer. We’re an absolute embarrassment, ran by a Board with absolutely no business sense, and a manager who is starting to show where the ‘Dithering Dave’ names came from. The only consistency we have shown as a club comes from it’s unwavering, unconditional support. We’re not a ‘Premiership’ team like Newcastle — we’ve been around from the start and deserve better. Typical Everton, bull-0shitting the people that keep them alive. Duncan, Go Now! No doubt his delay in calling it a day was more to do with the Club`s refusal to pay up his contract than any real desire to help the cause but we have now reached a point when Everton — and football — can do without his brand of thuggery. So, if you do really love this Club, go now while you still have a
semblance of dignity left and let Wyness & Co put your still grossly
inflated wages towards a summer replacement! Sale Time Blues What do you all think? This makes me think, about Walter Smith, the 98/99 season, same time, same situation, we can’t score, badly in need of points and goals, and, no funds for transfers…. Then came Kelvin Campbell. And we all know the rest. He’s on loan, didn’t cost a cent. Then the following couple of seasons, we see the likes of Richard Gough, Joe Max Moore, again for free… By the way, Smith miss out on Viduka because of Peter Johnson f I’m not wrong… Then we look the current situation, are we being too harsh on Smith? I mean, he has no money to spend for 2 seasons, was forced to sell Ferguson, Kanchelskis…. Yet the money didn’t go to his transfer budget… Then he did somehow signed the above players… I not saying Smith is god, but to look at him and Moyes…. Well, I mean, are we such a bad team that no one wants to come even on loan??? To look at the loan signing made by pompey and Blackburn just makes me so so disgusted… So I’m really curious to see how you fellow evertonians see between these two managers in terms of signing the correct players at the correct time… I can’t help but to imagine if, I say if Smith have had 10m to spend during the 00/01 season, would we be seeing the Everton we are seeing today? Well, let me stress again, I’m not anti Smith, neither do I worship
him, but somehow, I always feel that he is in such a helpless position,
no money, high expectations…. What happens on the field doesn't count?
IT'S A DISGRACE He has turned us into a laughing stock and before anyone says we're
unbeaten in January so everything must be fine, be in no doubt that in
nearly every one of these games the result could have gone the other
way. And what we have achieved in January is in spite of the manager
with bits of luck like Davies getting injured so Moyes was forced to
play Osman which has helped enormously. If Moyes could only sign players
like he can fall out with them we'd have a great squad. It's a disgrace
that this fool is allowed anywhere near our beloved club. Fickle We didn't sign a striker, and this was irritating, but I find too many Evertonians are letting their imaginations overcome their intelligence. It is right that Moyes buys only the players right for the club, and I back the man in his decision making. Why the elaborate theories that there are people within Everton Football Club desperately plotting our downfall through not signing Chris Sutton? Take it easy la, we're doing very well under Moyes, so take a breath and look at the bigger picture. ToffeeWeb take note; it is vital that you scrutinize, but it is not
always necessary to do so in the form of a seven year old boy who didn't
get the bag of sweets he wanted from Sainsbury's. Lyndon is my homeboy
so no beef there, bruv. Where have all the signings gone? I remember writing to "The Echo" when Steve McMahon was moaning about the derisory offer that he'd received from the club. My point was that Everton needed to speculate to improve. Unfortunately the situation has not changed. The mystery to me is how Liverpool and United came through the post Heysel years without selling their best players (we sold Lineker, Steven, Stevens and Van Den Hauwe) and managed to be in a position to compete when Europe allowed us back in. I look at Tottenham who were allegedly on the verge of administration five years ago, yet who are now capable of signing a plethora of mid-fielders. Where did the money go? Why did Johnson jump ship so quickly? What was the true nature of the money the grantchester family took out of Goodison and above all why hasn't the present board done anything about getting real investment in this club. Like you I believe that Kenwright is in it as an ego trip. I also believe his breakthrough onto Broadway has been his main emotional and business objective recently. I am firmly in the Moyes out camp, but equally feel that with the present Board it would be very difficult for any manager to succeed at Goodison. Kenwright and his inefficiency in attracting real investment, not
Fortress, notfictional Russian bilionaires,not raising £20 million by
selling the best British player of this generation, is the real problem
at Everton.I want a Board that does its job, not a bunch of Kenwright's
men and another camp which criticises, but fails to put its money where
it is needed. Simply Not Good Enough Guess what, there are absolutely NO players who could have come in on a small fee or loan to bolster our attacking options!! So, with one statement, he has discounted hundreds — no, thousands of players not good enough to wear the Royal Blue of Everton; in the meantime we are probably the only club in the Premiership who started last night's game at Wigan with a forward line of 'converted' mid-field players. Virtually, all of our rivals strengthened in some shape or form before the deadline; some begged, some borrowed, but all made the effort. Another opportunity has been squandered, whilst the team continues to grind out results, somehow justifying his plain stubbornness. I believe we tried to sign some guy from Turkey on the last day...
typical, never straightforward with Everton! By the way David, Turkey is
often labelled as the gateway to Asia, but I guess you don't 'do'
continents? No bluff Calm down, calm down! All these guys writing in criticizing Moyes have not got a clue what the real situation is like behind the scenes. Only Moyes knows what he’s got to work with, not irate fans sitting at PC’s with all the business sense of a monkey. It comes down to money, of course, and we have GOT TO BE CAREFUL with it. We know that in reality we made a tiny profit last year, and if Moyes starts blowing even more money on players that will become a big loss. I genuinely believed that our team was good enough for ~10th place this year. It is such bad luck that we have had so many injuries and suspensions, and I feared the worse after the awful start to the season. But now we are 12th, playing well, and well on course for that 10th or higher finish. If Moyes achieves that, and correct me if I’m wrong, it will be the first time the club has finished in the top 10 in back to back seasons in a long, long time. So quit griping, and start believing! Smells of Billshit ! Personally, I won't be calling Moyes for this, as it looks like his hands have been tied and he's been made the scapegoat. The real culprit is Kenwright without a doubt. We are never going to get anywhere with this man at the helm, he doesn't have the finances to take us forward, and ploughs us with endless spin and lies, so he can maintain his beloved throne for better or worse. This guy needs to go! he needs pushing out ASAP, and there is only the fans who can do it. We did it with Johnson, so why not Kenwright? I'm sure there have been plenty of enquiries by bigger better people to takeover Everton, but we're never going to hear about them whilst Kenwright has got hold of the reigns. Just look at the bullshit he came up with to stave of Gregg's advance (FSF etc)! Anyone who wants to see our club change for the better and move
forward should make Kenwright target number 1. Go and play theatre
somewhere else Kenwright, the fact that your a so called "true blue"
only makes your crimes against us worse ! Mike Price, Thailand The words and language Robbie Fowler has spoken about us Evertonians in the past are disgusting, petty, out of order and completely childish. Your suggestion that Moyes should have even approached Robbie Fowler is absolutely pathetic and would have been a disgrace should it have come off. The way your post came across was that you are just another football fan who sees it fit to chop and change managers/players as and when it seems the 'fashion' to do so. What David Moyes is trying to do is to build a squad around team-spirit and a togetherness, and to some degree - has achieved with some success. I and the majority of Evertonians admire this and his stance on not buying players in for the sake of it. Go back to your Wally Smith days of happily throwing money away on
players that whinge, moan and wantaway from the club. You maybe do need
to be patronised should you be able to perceive Robbie Fowler in an
Everton shirt. One would have done... Any of the above would have done, all cost nothing or next to
nothing, even on 6 month loans. Leon Knight is young, fast and was at
Chelsea not so long back. Costs f*ck all, its a cheap gamble, if it
fails, so what. Somethings not right at Everton. We are falling further
and further behind our rivals. Rivals that used to be Man Utd, Liverpool
and Arsenal are now Portsmouth, Wigan and Charlton. Its a disgrace and
we are time bomb waiting to go off. The squad is as threadbare as I have
ever seen it and we have no fit strikers. We have a goal difference of
-15 and we dont buy or loan a striker. If we have no money then they
should say so, surely a loan signing isnt too much to ask? Kenwright,
please go. You are killing this club. Guess... Something is clearly rotten to the core at the club and I wouldn't be the first or last to think we are skint and deep in the shit again with the bank. Despite passionate pleas for honesty and information the fans have no chance of ever getting clarity from the club. I do worry deeply as to who is next out to pacify our creditors. The tokens of players not suitable, available, etc etc simply isnt good enough given the amount of loans that were made by other clubs and the fact we reduced our pitifully small squad further with the main weak point of striker being reduced despite over 12 months worth of David Moyes saying we need a striker, we will buy a striker, etc etc. A loan player is not the same as £5m on a player you havent seen play then play for 146 minutes then sell for a £2m loss, yet even this was not forthcoming. Two options ladies and gents, keep buying your season tickets and
marketing like lemmings (as loyal as it is) or watch the match on TV
(giving the club the same loyalty they are currently dishing out) and
see the club sink further as it's last guaranteed incomes stall and
lower. What the fuck? As a life long fan (30 years) I can just about remember the good times but those memories are a fading fast! Can anyone shed some light on just how bad of a state our beloved club is in? I don't blame Moyes for the lack of transfers as I think it comes from the board. I just don't understand why they tell us Moyes has limited funds (£2 mil) before the transfer window, then we sell two players for £5 mil and then fail to sign this much needed forward that Moyes keeps telling us we need (not that we need telling!) Having sat up last night waiting for the good news about our lastest
buy I was once again left with an empty feeling that I should be getting
use too by now! Something has to change sooner rather than later. Start
at the top and work down before it all goes completly tits up! Shambles If we had an efficient scouting system the players needed should have been identified long before January. The supporters have identified that we need a striker, a goal difference of -15 means you dont need rocket science to tell you we are not scoring enough goals. The failure to bring in investment and the failure to secure good
players on long term contracts rests with the Board and whilst they
dither we sink further in the mire. Only at Everton Not surprised but then I looked at the spin the club will put on it "Unbeaten in Jan, More cash to spend in the close season as we've saved it now, Moyes will probably be manager of the month, The Quality just wasn't available, tried 24/7 to get a striker" Basically it will be a case of "What are you all complaining about, EFC is in wonderful hands and all our problems will be solved in the close season when we sign a top class striker etc, etc, etc" Moyes can't make a decent transfer decision to save his life. A new striker might have won us 3/4 matches between now and May and that could mean the difference between finishing 7th or 17th. Think of the Premier league cash we might have got at £500,000 a position. It could have paid for itself but NO, we're left with Mcfadden upfront by himself on Saturday against City, unless we play 6 in midfield Looks like Cahiil, Ossie and VDM upfront from time to time then, i hope he gives Anichebe a chance on Saturday, it couldnt hurt could it? PS: Im waiting for a "New Investors talk to Kenwright exclusive" on the Official site or the Echo site in the near future Spin, Spin and more Spin Only at Everton Dont blame Moyes.... Dross Now obviously there isn't much money around at the club or is there? Maybe the board dont trust DM with any more money? Personally I wouldn't give him 10p to go the shop with! I think DM has taken us as far as he is capabilities allow him! God knows what the rest of the season holds for us. As for the "HERO" that is Duncan Ferguson, what an absolute IDIOT!!
He should be booted out the club, never to return (although 9 1/2 years
too late) - he has left the whole club with NO recognised strikers
available. Ah well lets hope we get to the end of the season still in
the Premiership??? I for one think its time Evertonians stopped
accepting pure Sh**e. Why So Angry? Personally, I'm a little disappointed but I accept the decision by Moyes. Why should he spend all his money now on a player he doesn't really want just to make the fans happy? That money is now saved and hopefully during the Summer Moyes can get someone he really wants. Sure we are short of stikers but fans on here complain all the time that McFadden never gets a decent run and the youngsters never get a chance, well now they will. A lot of responsiblity falls on McFadden now and by the end of the season we'll know for sure if he's good enough or not. Youngsters like Victor Anichebe, Paul Hopkins and James Vaughan will now have to be blooded just like the fans have wanted. There's so much hate for Moyes which is surprising considering he's enjoying the best form of his Everton career right now. Give the guy a break and lets judge him after the season has
finished. Frustrated Everton Fan My point: I’m left wondering: DM could not sign one decent player, even on loan
till the end of the season and why did he not send someone to watch the
African Nations Cup, there were some great new talent on show besides
the Drogba’s etc. Spurs and others picked up some talent at this
tournament; Everton who are desperate for talent did not have the
foresight to send a scout. What’s going on? Up yours! Anybody that knows anything about football would have been thrilled to sign Fowler and Thompson for free, on short term, no risk contracts... it's not rocket science; they are good players, coincidentally Evertonians, and if they'd have done well, would heve been a massive bonus for us. If they failed it would have been a minor loss. Just another thing folks... just because I currently reside overseas, don't patronise me or others like me who live away. I'm a born Evertonian, former season ticket holder and got paid to play football for many years before I left, so don't assume overseas inputs are lacking in some fundamental way...it's incorrect, jingoistic and annoys the many Blues that live abroad. Also I have to once more agree with Tony Marsh...he is simply stating
the obvious and the thrust of his inputs ... that Moyes is out of his
depth, will eventually become stunningly obvious to even the most
blinded, and seemingly many, Moyes supporters. Another I told you... I know you are only giving your opinion but you must be the most negative fan I have ever come across.) I do realise that you are voicing what some Everton fans think, but there is an old saying.."if you can't say anything nice..then don't say anything at all." (Can we add constructive to that?) But, having seen the transfer window come and go without the much needed striker we need, it's time questions were asked. Not only of DM but the entire board. People have to be made accountable and they need to tell us: a) if there REALLY was any money available during this window? b) if not, why not? c) what is the REAL level of debt at this club? d) and was Bent sold to keep wolves from the door? We need, and deserve answers. Not more lies and spin. It's time we as a group demanded it. And it's time the Fourth Estate started asking them too, not that
they'd have the balls. And for my next trick... While it seems worrying enough that we cannot find any players in what will be a year at the next opportunity, we do not seem to be moving to secure those worthwhile players we do have. There may be some movement behind the scenes but it appears that Ferrari will probably be returned after his loan spell and that Yobo, whose contract I think runs out at the end of next season, will be the next money spinner. Other clubs seem to renegotiate wanted players contracts in plenty of time but at Everton everything seems so unplanned and last minute. Still, Mr Kenwrong does have the cash for their replacements, doesn't
he? Another 'I told you' Did any one really think Moyes was going to be sensible for once and buy the striker we desperatley need? Talk about crushing the spirit of the fans. I don't give a fuck if we are on a mini-revival at the moment. This joker Moyes ruined our season long before now. How stupid can a so-called football manager be? Virtually every club just above or just below us have strengthened with new signings but as far as Davey Boy is concerned we can make do with what we have got. The truth is Moyes, as I have said before, is clueless. He has all the badges the FA can throw at you but being a manager of a football club the size of Everton takes a whole lot more than Howard Wikinson-approved coaching badges. A couple of signings now would have given the whole club a lift and put the fans out of there misery [for a while]. Instead, we get rid of a striker and bring none in. How is that sensible buisness for a club in our posistion? Yet, while there are fans out there happy to put up with this nonsense, we will never get anywhere. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry when Everton fans started getting excited about Defoe being spotted in Liverpool. Are we that fucking daft to think he would sign for us? Get real, people: I knew all along Moyes wouldn't deliver —he never does. Next season will be excactly the same — just you wait and see. His failings are there for all to see so open your eyes. Yobo, Arteta, Cahill... kiss them all goodbye in the near future.
Last one out switch off the lights. Another point Two teams who for whatever reason played a brand of football that could leave many a watcher wondering just what division they were from. Taking the Blues performance I thought we started very well and got the early goal and looked as though we could build on it then for some reason thought we could hang on to the lead by going deeper and deeper,we paid for it. Overall I thought the point was about right and was earned on a great back four performance because the players in front of them didnt have the best of nights in terms of ball retention and understanding. I would absolve Kilbane from this as I thought he put in a great shift of graft and determination. Given our predicament regarding team selection the above may be rather nitpicking but there were players who I thought could have given more in technical ability rather than out and out trying. My M.O.M must come from the back four and I would give it to Stubbs who just shaded the other three. I must mention the Dunc debacle as when he came on I thought he altered things and there was renewed expectation but then he proved he may have more pidgeon eggs than brain cells. Still I came home with an away point and a pie and can look forward
to City. Had a quick look at Sky sports transfer news but that's another
story. See you Sat -- UP THE BLUES The last straw To me the failure to make a suitable signing,given that our resources are so stretched, borders on negligence. With a goal differential of minus 15 only a fool would think that with only one fit striker-who averages 1 goal every 4 games!-we can hope for anything but a white knuckle ride till the end of the season. Sad to say, the Everton of today have absolutely no ambition-the only
interest is in Premier survival and come season ticket time they will
start to pay the price. Perhaps when Kenwright is congratulating
his`brilliant young manager`on his prudence he`ll reflect on a season
which could and should have been the turning point for the Club but
which, for so many of us, has been the last straw! Let Down Let down by: - Let down by: - And finally I have let my son down: - We are Leicester, Coventry, Ipswich and now there is no use trying to pretend we are not. Big Club? No, BIG JOKE! I sat in with the Wigan crowd tonight and watched the Blues Boys in the North Stand give their all, singing shouting, an absolute joy. The team on the night gave 100% with the exception of the lunatic substitute, but why do we do it? I can only think that we are the footballing equivilent of a lemming. Being an Evertonian at this time is like being tortured by Smooth FM! Still...................... I'll be there
Saturday..................with the rest of you LEMMINGS! And there you have it... Its ten past midnight, I have scoured every website there is for news on ANY transfer for EFC and, you guessed it, FUCK ALL!! Good old dithering Davey!! I hope you know what you're doing Davey Boy...... (maybe the morning papers will reveal some better news) |
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ToffeeWeb Letters from
January 2006 |
