FAN ARTICLES

Signs of an Era ending...

So there's been a lot of frustration after the latest debacle on the pitch.  Having read all of it from start to finish ? all ToffeeWeb mailbag items and fan articles, and responses ? I wanted to share some stories that you may not know about... stories that may cast events and our management and playing staff in a different light.

Some of these conversations where with people who work in the football media; some work in football as agents (not all are bad eggs); other clubs... and some are friends of people who work for Everton FC.  Their names aren't important but if you're one of those who demands names of sources, then stop reading now.  This is all conjecture, in case any Lawyers are reading...

In April last year (so this is an old story), I was working with some people in live music events, and there was a gig going on with a top indie / rock band from Leeds.  The particular lads I was with were not working on this gig, but a mate of mine who's a sound engineer from Liverpool was, and he'd called me up to say to drop by the venue and collect him, and we'd go for a pint.  Anyway, we got there and they were having a problem with some software for the lights, and one of our guys managed to get software dropped off within 10 minutes that meant they were finished (rather than looking like they'd need to work through the night for the next day's show), and so pretty much the whole crew and a couple of the band decided to come for a pint.

After putting a few beers away, and putting the music business to rights, the conversation turned to football.  The band were mad Leeds fans... then it came onto the team I follow.  The Liverpool-based engineer told me that his house on the Wirral, which he rarely stays at as he's always touring, happens to be next door to someone who works on the coaching / fitness side at Everton.  Now this lad wasn't particularly a fan of football, but if he had to follow a side, he'd be a red due to his family, but he told me that this neighbour of his told him that our manager was not popular with the players at all.  Moody, kept his distance etc. (I've always believed a manager should keep a professional distance as he has to make the hard choices, but I digress).

So I got to thinking why things have been going downhill over the last 3-4 seasons.  We have well known team spirit that people in the media often refer to.  And I realised that, whilst the players may like each other, and some of the staff, it doesn't necessarily mean they like the manager.  (Some of you older heads will remember some of the disastrous team-bonding attempts with previous managers, Chinese restaurants in Southport, etc.)

So also spoke to some people from the TV side I know and met at an event.  One of the pundits said that they were always tipping us as the "surprise package", and usually ending up with egg on their faces come the season end.  There has to be something wrong.  So here's a number of theories and then over to you for your opinions:

• We all know we're skint, and the manager is annoyed at not having the money to spend to take the team to the fabled "next level".  With the major outgoing transfers in recent history, only two were demanded by the players ? Rooney and Lescott  ? and we got decent money for them, some of which went back into the team. Most others were sales sanctioned by the manager to raise funds (we did get what we thought was good money for players like AJ for instance, who most definitely did not want to leave).
   
• Moyes had his contract impasse, which was done to try to force the Board to get investment in.  He gets himself a top wage out of it, and almost certainly amongst the top managerial earners in the Premier League (for a team that isn't amongst the top teams and doesn't have any cash).
   
• At the same time, he makes what I thought was a mistake, where he admitted publicly he considered leaving.  That probably further put a strain on his relationship with the Board, and the dressing room.  As part of that, he admits that one day he would like a crack at managing a top side, as he didn't think Everton would be a financial force in his remaining career.  So begins the media speculation about him being lined up as Ferguson's successor (he won't be ? most decent Man U fans wouldn't put up with his brand of football).
   
• So now he's painted himself into a corner. A few years ago, as the "best of the rest", we were probably the pinnacle of his career.  But now, under his stewardship, we're slipping into mid-table obscurity (er, hopefully no worse than that!).  He's still painted as a "bright young manager" ? he's been here for 8½ years now!  Benitez I think is actually slightly younger than our manager, and yet has still won European trophies...
   
• So now his stock is waning, after EFC's decline in form.  And who will he blame for that?  The Chairman.  Some on here have pointed out he's unsackable ? we couldn't afford to pay him off.  If he were to go to another club, they'd have to pay compensation to EFC.  And probably that was the deal-breaker if he really was Villa's first choice. (Villa, like Man City, and Spurs etc. were all teams we finished above when we had the 4th-, 5th- & 7th-place finishes, but how many of us really expect to finish above them now?) If he was to resign, and unwilling to pay EFC that compensation himself, EFC would be within their rights to put him on gardening leave for the remainder of his deal, as they would still be obliged to pay him.
   
• So our Chairman probably now realises that, giving him that 5-year deal, but not being able to deliver on his 24/7 investment quest  has come back to bite him in the arse... alongside other let-downs like Destination Kirkby, following on from Kings Dock etc.  If football financing really is on the slide, as many commentators would have us believe, then once again, Everton have missed the boat.
   
• But, even worse: a lot of our "top" players are all on long-term, big-money deals.  I think if they were being honest, most would admit that as a top 6 / borderline top 4 club, Everton was about as good as they were going to get.  So they got their best deal possible at what for a lot of them will be the last major deal they earn as players.  (But we don't feel sorry for them, do wee?). But now, if EFC can't arrest this slide, we won't be that top 6 club anymore, and some of them may be regretting signing such long deals.  But don't worry, because if the Arab money, or the Russian money does come calling, we'll get a decent transfer salary, so our Chairman can keep the "debt manageable" and we have to keep unearthing the "next Rooney, or Rodwell".

My prediction: for Moyes, I think this will be his last season.  He may take time out for a year or so, and see if anything comes up.  He did have a modicum of success in his early years; he did stabalise the team to some degree and bring in some good players.  But, he's admitted as much himself, he did set a lot of unwanted records / firsts in our history as well.  And a lot of you pay good money to watch football that drives you mad.

This last weekend, I watched the game with some mates who support other teams, and they all asked the same thing ? how can you play that bad with a decent squad?  Then the substitutions happened ? I can't remember who the summariser was on the feed we had, but I think it may have been Mark Bright, an ex-pro ? going mental that we were chasing the game, after our worst start in Premier League history, and still playing with one up front!

I have read how some of you, suffering under the credit crunch, have stopped going.  I made a tough decision to move abroad 6½ and a half years ago.  I'm now finding it hard to even watch us on TV.  Fans of other teams used to hate playing us, cos we were always capable of winning on their ground.  Now they hate playing us cos they think we drag their teams down.  I've had some media people admit they hate being rostered to cover our games now for the same reason ? they're not entertained and have talk up the game!

Players and managers come and go.  EFC will always be there. Football goes in cycles... Maybe we will get back some time in the future.

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