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Reassure us on the pitch, not in the press

By Paul McAllister :  29/09/2010 :  Comments (37) :
Over the last week or two Everton's players and in particular club captain Phil Neville have spent more time reassuring fans that Everton will soon be out of the trouble were in than actually going out and doing something about it. Phil Jagielka recently said Everton needed to relax more in games and be smarter on the pitch, yet no man in the entire team seems to be unable to guess what the other players are thinking on the pitch and leaves us looking pathetic.

On the pitch Everton continue to waste golden opportunities to score or are either handing them out to other teams. Phil Neville after the Brentford humiliation said Everton had no more excuses and needed a kick up the backside. Well, no-one seems to have delivered that kick as Everton still can't buy a win and even at some points in games look amateur.

Another poor result against Fulham later and Everton are still trapped in a black hole and don't look like escaping anytime soon. Some would think a point away from home is a good result but it wasn't; we needed a win badly against Fulham and didn't get one. Phil Neville again spoke out, saying the team needed to roll their sleeves up and get our season going. But I have a different suggestion: instead of repeatedly saying the team will soon improve ? how about going out on the field and actually doing it!

Everton are notorious bad starters and this season has been our worst start in decades. The players keep trying to reassure with their wisdom of the squad and the game by saying we're in a false position. But you know what? We're not in a false position because face facts, we've been the worst team so far this season and the table at this moment in time correctly reflects that. But, while Phil Neville and others are busy trying to brush the whole thing off and tell us things will soon change, they don't seem to be actually doing what would assure the fans ? and that is start playing the way they can.

So I say to Phil Neville and the others who echo him, whether it's one of his teammates or anyone else connected to the club, instead of opening your mouth and going off about how Everton fans needn't worry about our predicament as we'll soon get going, why don't you actually go out on the pitch and do what would get Everton out of trouble and put the fears of loyal Evertonian who have endured the misery of this campaign so far to bed ? start playing like the real Everton!

I say, instead of talking about it, do it! I say, put up or shut up! We badly need a win against Birmingham at the weekend; otherwise I believe we're doomed to the humiliation once again of losing the derby and being bottom of the league for a long time. Unless we go into the derby on a win, we've got no chance. Unless we get a win against Birmingham, I fear we'll get stuck in a scrap with the lower teams for a long period. Unless we get a win against Birmingham, we'll be facing the very real possibility of becoming relegation candidates.

Reader Comments (37)

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John Nelson
1 Posted 30/09/2010 at 05:17:43
I know Phil Neville has had enough said about him these past few weeks but he is really starting to get on my nerves and I just wish he would shut the fuck up.

His latest yapping is about Yakubu getting back to his best and Seamus Coleman being a "warrior"... now regardless of the last statement being embarrassing, seriously who the fuck wants to hear what he's got to say? Also why at the moment is he talking to the media every bastard day, repeating shit he has said for the past 5 seasons?

I'm sick of the fucking has been now ? come on Moyes fuck him off.

Shaun Brennan
2 Posted 30/09/2010 at 08:14:11
Well, with Phil Neville being club captain, I'm sure it's all part of the club's PR spin. What else fills the back pages of the Echo? Still it is very tiresome.

What was a bit odd was the soundbites from Distin last week. Does he even sound arsed?

Chris Jones
3 Posted 30/09/2010 at 08:40:31
I'm sure you'd have more to say if he came out and said nothing at all. What kind of message would that send? He's the club captain for fuck's sake ? he is the voice of the dressing room and it's right that he speaks after each game, even if you don't necessarily agree with everything that he says.

As for slagging off the Fulham performance ? did you actually watch the game?
Andrew Fair
4 Posted 30/09/2010 at 09:06:18
We couldn't score against Fulham, that's all. All we are lacking in all games except Newcastle is that finishing touch. As for Neville, like Chris #3 says, he is our captain. He represents the players-to-fans link and the team-to-press link. If he didn't say anything at all, we would all slag him off for having no passion. Only a matter of time before our season turns around. COYB
Dave Toby
5 Posted 30/09/2010 at 09:46:44
I'd respect the guy a lot more if his next Echo piece went along the lines of "I've said all that needs to be said for the time being and you won't hear from me again until we have new ground to go over." After all, why do we owe that terrible RS paper a daily 'story'?
Shaun Brennan
6 Posted 30/09/2010 at 10:14:17
Oh yeah seen that "Coleman being a "warrior". Truly what the hell is he on about. I think our club captain may have finally lost it there. Going a bit around the bend. It's a football field not a battle field.

The ultimate Warrior! ha ha Neville you tit.
Sam Hoare
7 Posted 30/09/2010 at 10:55:53
Agree that there is too much paper talk and pointless rallying calls from players. If they happen every week they kind of lose their effect.

Disagree about two things:

A point at Fulham is not a bad result. It's not great and yes we needed 3 points but not many teams will dominate Fulham at Craven Cottage the way we did.

Not picking up 3 points at Birmingham does not mean we are in a 'relegation struggle'! There's 32 games to go!! If we are still thereabouts at Christmas THEN we are facing the possibility of a relegation struggle. Till then we have had an awful start. Nothing more.
Rob Hollis
8 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:07:24
Lots of teams will dominate Fulham because they are now managed by Mark Hughes.

Ian Kearney
9 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:09:29
I really wish Neville would do a Big Dunc and just shun the press, and save these tiresome speeches, but if he did that the Echo might have to start hiring Journalists again!
Chris Briddon
10 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:11:02
My goodness - what a shocking revelation - Everton captain speaks to local media at least once a week!

Get a life please, this happens at every club all the time, they do pre game stuff on a Friday, post game on a Saturday and have a media day on a Tuesay - every week.

As a result, the local press will print the interviews so what else do you expect him to say -

"My goodness we are crap aren't we, personally I'm not sure how I get in the team when St Seamus is around. Talking of Round have you seen the Yak these days still at least he can pass the ball better than Jags - I mean I don't see why we arent in League 2 based on current ability!"
Thor Sørensen
11 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:13:26
Well, what do you expect Phil Neville to come out and say?

That Osman should never again play on the right? That Distin should be dropped? That David Moyes should play players in their proper positions? That we should bring on a second striker in games, not just substitute like for like?
Criticise Moyes' pre-season preparations?

Now that would've raised a few eyebrows........and surely done wonders for our dressing room spirit. :-p
Tony J Williams
12 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:25:37
Didn't we have a nother post saying roughly the same thing no too long ago.

He is club captain and has to give these daft interviews. I wish they would also shut up and just get on with playing football.

Old Red Nose has it right but unfortunately isn't there a clause in the $ky contract that says teams have to do these daft interviews?
Chris Fisher
13 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:32:28
I think this has been an issue for a while, I first REALLY noticed it just before the Carling Cup semi-final against Chelsea a few years back, there was a lot of talking and I thought that's fair enough, and then the game was played and we were pretty crap considering what had been said and my mate (unfortunately a Chelsea fan) said that Phil Neville talks a lot of crap doesn't he!

From then on, he appears to pop up most weeks saying this or that and I just think (especially at the moment) just shut up! Go and get it done on the pitch and then talk about the game afterwards, safe in the knowledge that you will not look like a tit by making stupid promises or predictions!

Ian Kearney
14 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:55:20
This whole 'club captain' thing seems to yet again be creating more problems than it solves, just like when Davie Weir was becoming surplus to requirements, though I dont remember him making quite so many cliche ridden speeches
Jimmy Hacking
15 Posted 30/09/2010 at 11:56:27
I do honestly believe that Moyes should put his foot down and impose a media blackout until we are out of the relegation zone. Neville is making himself, and by extension the club he captains, look foolish.

If we dont beat Birmingham (and I've got a horrible feeling it will finish 1-1, hope to f**k I am wrong), again the same old bollocks will be spouted to the press, except it will be intensified with the Liverpool game coming up.

It makes no difference anyway. I have read thousands of passionate statements and interviews from players of every club, the day before their team loses in a dismal performance, with the interviewee being particularly inept. there was even a sort of curse associated with the Observer newspaper, whereby whichever player had a 2-page interview on a Sunday, his team would inevitably lose that day.
Tony J Williams
16 Posted 30/09/2010 at 12:03:35
Jimmy, it nearly always ends up a draw with those feckers.
Eugene Ruane
17 Posted 30/09/2010 at 12:52:50
Paul (and Jimmy), agree totally.

Blabbing to the Echo about as pointless an exercise as I can think of.

Give them the injury list, who is fit and who isn't and fuck them off.

I think there's some PL rule about someone having to talk to Sky after the match but that's about it.

Surely "We're going to to..." blah blah blah, is just putting extra pressure on themselves.

And Chris Briddon, you ask 'what do we expect him to say?'

Er I think point being made is say fuck all.

And while I'm here, what the fuck does 'get a life' actually mean?

Someone has a point of view and posts it on TW.

You have a different point of view and post it on TW.

But somehow, they don't have 'a life' and you're living in a 1970's Martini ad?

NOBODY said it was a 'shocking revelation'.

We know WHAT happens, the question is WHY.
Steve Collins
18 Posted 30/09/2010 at 13:37:50
Most of you need to relax.

Players nowadays especially captains are obliged to do more media events. The media and football teams and players go hand in hand.

Anyway what do you want them to say when someone puts a mic to their face? No comment???

If that were to happen then most of you lot would be slating the guys for being w*nkers for not saying much and not giving the fans insights into the club.

In fact most teams have a class setup to teach their kids how to handle themselves.

It's modern day football.

So GET OVER IT!!!
Jay Harris
19 Posted 30/09/2010 at 13:43:31
It has to be bette reading than fans coming on to websites to moan about anything and everything.

The fact is we have played reasonably in every league game except Newcastle without having the goals that a fully fit Cahill, Saha or Yakubu would normally convert.

We all know that the defence and the RM should have been beefed up in the close season but with "Black Bill" in charge that was never going to happen.

The support at Fulham, unlike some of the posts on here was first class and is needed to help make up our deficiencies.

So my message is stop moaning and get behind the team at least until we're in a respectable position.
Chris Briddon
20 Posted 30/09/2010 at 14:18:45
Eugene ? But there are posts like this every week. As I have stated earlier the club have a media day during the week and talk to the press on a Friday and Saturday, as such lots of fairly inane comments come out from all clubs.

If you read the London local press or the Birmingham Press ot the Sheffield Star they are always full of inane drivel from players because unless you have a midweek game there is chuff all to say yet the press want to here it anyway!

If clubs don't talk to the press ? then the press stops being their friend and it makes life an awful lot more difficult generally for both parties. The current arrangement suits almost everyone (but for a few on here who like to have a go at minor insignificant things that really affect nobody).

It's similar to Bill Kenwright ? people say why do you only see him when we are winning or spouting nonsense when we are bottom? ? Well, funnily enough, being bottom or winning lots are the only times Sky are remotely interested in our football club, and as such the only time they want to talk to the chairman of it!

You only see Dave Whelan when Wigan are crap or on a good run - same applies to chairmen of Bolton, Stoke etc. If you are in midtable not threatening anything, nobody else in the country is remotely interested.
Ian Kearney
21 Posted 30/09/2010 at 15:01:19
One of the biggest problems is Neville just doesnt come across as an impressive speaker, he looks every inch the supply teacher reading from the manual.
Eugene Ruane
22 Posted 30/09/2010 at 14:45:45
Chris, I believe that what makes 'life an awful lot more difficult' is putting pressure on yourself week after week by telling all and sundry what you are going to do on Saturday then...not doing it.

And if there are 'posts like this every week' it must be obvious that many people think it's NOT a good idea, despite you insisting that it is good to be 'friends' with the media.

And presumably, using your logic, we must have done something truly horrible to the national press, as they spent the summer telling us 'Jags for Gunners', Arteta for Barca' and 'Pienaar for everyfuckingoneelse'

Oh and now after your 'get a life', we get Steve Collins telling us to 'get over it'?

What is this Vally Girls? (Everton Valley girls?).

What next - "you should like SO totally not even go there"?

Steve Collins, you say..

"If that were to happen then most of you lot would be slating the guys for being w*nkers for not saying much and not giving the fans insights into the club".

Really?

Is that REALLY what we'd be saying about 'the guys'?

Funny that because that's not what we said about Duncan's refusal to engage with the press?

Think you'll find it was actually more along the lines of "Fuck em' off big man, tell em' fuck-all, shower of gobshites'.

I suggest most Everton supporters, indeed most football supporters are fully aware that what they get from the media by the way of 'insights' is asinine, pointless, NON-insight cack.

Paragraphs full of words that tell us....nothing.

But I'm happy to be proved wrong.

Maybe you could give us some of these 'insights' that have resulted from our captains seemingly endless prattle.

What's that, Osman is nicknamed 'Ozzie'?

Rodwell is a 'level-headed young man with a big future'?

Exactly.

But I'll tell you what, in the spirit of compromise, how about this.

Everton players continue to answer questions from the press but ONLY if the questions are not stupid, inane and/or lazy.

So, the first question/statement along the lines of "So Phil, you can't be too happy with the start you've made", it's fuck off Echo time.
Fran Mitchell
23 Posted 30/09/2010 at 15:50:34
What you seem to be missng is it is not Neville phoning the echo everyday saying this and that, it is one interview and then the echo/sky/bbc will spin it out to make numerous artices or 'excluives'...its called filler. an it is pretty much the only thing the media have, as sport does not give much room for reeveant discussionwhen nosport i actually being played.

You ask them to prove it on the ptch, well there is only 1 game week while newspapers an Sky news are pretty much 24/7. thus you get these pointless filler articles.

'Phil Neville after the Brentford humiliation said Everton had no more excuses and needed a kick up the backside. Well, no-one seems to have delivered that kick as Everton still can't buy a win and even at some points in games look amateur.'

There has only been one game since then, and it did apppear a kickup the backside occured. Not a great peformance, but not 'amateur'.
Paul Loins
24 Posted 30/09/2010 at 16:43:40
Very negative Paul and concentrating on the wrong person. Phil is trying to keep spirits up off the pitch and you can be sure in the dressing room and pitch he will be getting the fighting spirit into the team. Remember when Phil is on the pitch we look a better side. Maybe your anger should be centred on the Manager who lines his team up in a negative fashion with no strikers, unfit and unsharp strikers, or strikers no up to the job.
Jon Cox
25 Posted 30/09/2010 at 18:15:33
Eugene, correct and from experience, the twats that write for the music press are exactly the same.

COYB
Ian Kearney
26 Posted 30/09/2010 at 19:54:42
Thats right Paul, he's also selected a crap captain!
John Fatherly
27 Posted 30/09/2010 at 19:45:30
You're Spot On Paul - to often have our 'stars' talked a good talk, and Moyes should have put a stop to that years ago. The truth is that after nine years Moyes has built a team that is deficient in so many areas, a new manager wouldn't know where to start. Could you imagine any Premier League club coming in to buy Osman and Hibbert?

It's long been acknowledged that our team is lacking in a midfield enforcer and pace, but when he has been given the cash to buy, Moyes has bought Bily and Heitinga, yet plays them sporadically, preferring Osman. He has bought some decent players, but let's not forget Krøldrup, Simon Davies and Richard Wright!!

A good manager manages the club, and Moyes has passed up many opportunities to enhance our finances, eg, Richard Wright being allowed to run out his contract; refusing (reportedly) to cash in on the cripple Saha last summer; letting cash hungry Pienaar run his contract down... It may be sacrilege to say so, but taking a good return on Cahill now because of his age would be good business, and would demonstrate that Moyes isn't scared to 'Manage' our club.

Moyes has done okay, but he's run his term - we'll never do anything with him at the helm, and after three poor starts to three seasons in a row, the total responsibily has to belong to Moyes.

David Price
28 Posted 30/09/2010 at 20:12:46
Whatever the article, it seems to drift towards a bit of Moyes bashing. I think we started off with Phil Neville chatting to the press.

Don't read it then it's just how it is when trying to fill the pages, nothing to get to this level of negativity towards Neville but understand the article's general concern over our position..

Dean Adams
29 Posted 30/09/2010 at 21:35:55
Oh what! Moyes has achieved more than most managers in the Premier League. So we start slowly, get a grip on where we finish being the only factor that counts and you will see that Moyes has done a lot. Moving to the next level is proving to be a bit painful.
Michael Kenrick
30 Posted 30/09/2010 at 21:57:13
I don't like the term "Moyes bashing" because it sounds like you're claiming it's somehow unfair or unwarranted.

Let's keep things very clearly in sight here: Moyes has guided our club to the BOTTOM of the league, in just six games. No wins ? the ONLY club out of the entire 92 without a win. I think he's going to come in for some criticism because of that, and much of the criticism is going to be entirely justified because of our atrocious position and the largely inadequacy of his response in rectifying it... so far.


Things could start to improve ? you claim they have already based on a better performance at Fulham. However, in terms of league position, all we have done so far this season is get worse.

3 points in 6 games extrapolates to just 19 points over the season. Some fans are concerned about that kind of form, and rightly so in my opinion. Having the captain spout so much shite each week just rubs salt in the wounds, no matter how reasonable the excuses may be.

Ciarán McGlone
31 Posted 30/09/2010 at 22:24:25
I'd prefer it if Phil Neville didn't go out and do his talking on the pitch actually....

He'd be more useful if he stayed in the hioues...
Kunal Desai
32 Posted 01/10/2010 at 11:56:38
I don't wish to listen or read what these idiots half the time go on about and being all apologetic i.e letting the fans down, not good enough performance etc etc. Heard it all too often. These people for crying out loud paid in a week what people don't get paid in a year!! The reality is that its pathetic. Would you say to the rest of team and colleagues at work sorry I haven't done well or got the work done this week i'll do better next week or the week after or the week after.........NO I think you'd just get sacked!
You didn't hear the bankers coming out and saying sorry for the crisis and recession they have caused.
You just get on with it and shut up!!
Tony J Williams
33 Posted 01/10/2010 at 12:47:06
You don't hear the banker KunaL because they don't have an obligation to do press conferences and they are all on holidays paid by us

Mike Jones
34 Posted 01/10/2010 at 23:05:44
Michael K #30 IF we win tomorrow = 32 points extrapolated. IF we win tomorrow and next week = 43 points extrapolated and so on and so forth. If Liverpool lose on Sunday = 32 points extrapolated. IF Liverpool lose on Sunday and next week = 29 points extrapolated and so on and so forth. Substitute Everton or Liverpool for any other team or score and extrapolate = and so on and so forth
Michael Kenrick
35 Posted 02/10/2010 at 04:58:22
There's a difference, Mike, and the difference is this: the extrapolation is based on established fact... reality; what has actually been achieved to date. What is true and exists here and now in the Real World that we live in.

Whereas your hypothetical extrapolations are just potential future scenarios, possibilities, not probabilities, simply put: fantasy football that exists only in the mind; based on what may happen, or what may not.

But 3 points from 6 games is the reality of where we are now, and that is the only valid future extrapolation of established and recorded history to date. To come up with anything else and claim it somehow has merit is an affront to logic.

Of course, in the future, as the season unfolds anything is possible, but as of now, there is only one extrapolation based on what is already written in stone in the record books. And at each point going forward, there is only one possible extrapolation. That extrapolation likely changes with each new result, but form any point in the season, there is only one valid extrapolation.

Today, as we stand, that extrapolation is 3 pts from 6 games = 19 pts from 38 games. I'll make a point of calculating it again after the next game if you like. It doesn't mean anything beyond a mathematical abstract; however, under the rules of maths, there is only one possible extrapolation. Not a whole host of them, as you seem to be suggesting.
Michael Kenrick
36 Posted 02/10/2010 at 20:04:46
Now the extrapolation is: 6 pts form 7 games => 33 pts over 38 games.
Mike Jones
37 Posted 02/10/2010 at 23:14:34
Michael #35.

My possibility is, as you say, potential future scenarios. Your extrapolation is, as you say, based on established fact.

Where does your indication of 'probabilities' in your extrapolation fit? Does 3 points from 6 games mean an actuality of 19 points. Does 'probability' 'exist in a real world.

Anyway, despite my comments, which might look confrontational (they're not meant to be), I love the site. As a Scouser, 4 generations as Blues including marriages, I am all for EFC websites, there aren't enough. So, thank you.

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