Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

We've got the Blues

By Adam   Luszniak  ::  17/07/2011   23 Comments (»Last) The sense of frustration is palpable. Evertonians are fed up; we've got the blues, as it were. Many on this website will state that groups such as Evertonians For Change and The Peoples Group are widely supported by the fanbase, in their view that the alleged ineptitude of the Everton Board of Directors deserves, and can only be remedied by, their immediate dismissal.

The club, however, will state that this view is held by a small minority of fans who are badly misinformed. I would not expect a Board under attack to state anything else; this however, does not necessarily make them incorrect.

I do not know whether the majority of Evertonians believe that the Board of Directors must go. I'm sure many are unhappy with the current state of affairs, and others equally unhappy with the idea of attacking a club they fervently support. I do not believe these two views to be mutually exclusive. There are those on this website who will say that, if I do not whole heartedly agree that the board should go, then I am either blind, stupid, or living in the past. There are others who will argue that, if I refuse to buy a season ticket in protest against the current status quo, I'm only harming a club that I love, and that stirring up a witch-hunt gets us nowhere.

I am not here to argue the case either way, and although many will shout me down for ignoring what they perceive as the club's imminent downfall, I'm getting a little tired of the argument. I'm not blind, I do love my club... I don't know whether the Board should go.

For the sake of argument, let's suggest we oust the current one and put in an interim board. Does this get me a new striker for the coming season? No, it does not. Investment has not been forthcoming during Kenwright's tenure, why should it suddenly land in our laps if he were to go?

Many will argue that he has essentially warded off any potential investment in our world-beating historic club over the years through his own actions. Others might argue that the investment hasn't materialised in part because of a global economic meltdown, and that we should be happy that, even if our club does not have billionaire backing, we at least have less than half the debt that our neighbours across the park are saddled with. I do not know who is right or who is wrong, but I do know that an interim board will not provide the cash injection we require.

Again, let's say for the sake of argument that Kenwright stays and manages to find us billionaire backing in the next few seasons. Do we want this? I mean, I want progression as much as the next fan... but at what cost? Do Man City have the respect of the fans of the other clubs in the Premier League, or are they looked down upon as a team who have bought their way into the top four? Myself, I see that kind of meteoric cash-fuelled rise as, well, soulless.

For me, Moyes optimises the Everton I love. We may not have the best, but we do well with it, and we do it sensibly. I have a great respect for the kind of loyalty Moyes has for our club, because it's the same kind of loyalty I have for it. OK, Chelsea have won more, but with how many managers? What does that say about a team if you chop off the head as soon you stop winning silverware? So then, as much as I want a new striker this coming season, maybe I don't want it so much that it sees the nature of the club turned on its head.

But to return to my point; the Board has no money, and even turfing them out will not make cash appear in our bank account. So what options are left?

This is were it gets tough, because I think I have to criticise the man I was just eagerly piling praise upon in my previous paragraph. My point is this: the only way we can raise any money in this window is to sell players. Admittedly, this is not an option I like, but putting aside the 'If only we had an interim board' argument for a minute, what other option have we actually got? I hope that I am proved wrong, and that Moyes is merely waiting, cash in hand, for the right time to pounce, but I fear this may not happen.

We have tried to offload players, but these sales have not gone smoothly. Yobo is back at Finch Farm instead of out in Turkey, where he should be. Gleaning the small amounts of info out of the mass of drivel written about Everton this transfer window has led me to believe that we are so cash-strapped we have to clear people from the wage bill before we can even sign players on a free. So, if we are this tight, why are we relying on the sale of our own rejects to push the club forward?

I know we are all sick of googling 'transfer news' only to find Sunderland have made yet another signing whilst we are yet to get the cheque book out. "How are Sunderland doing this?" ? I cry... "Why are we not buying?"

I did some research and found that, not surprisingly, we have a higher turnover, less debt, and lower wages as a percentage of turnover. Then I had a look at their transfers this window, and discovered that over half of the money they've spent on new players is covered by the sale of Jordan Henderson. So I began to think, why can't we do that?

We have highly rated players in Baines, Rodwell and Fellaini to name but a few. To some, these names are part of the core of the team who are simply not for sale, and certainly it is apparent that Moyes holds this view. In part, I would agree, in that they are definitely part of the backbone of the squad. But they are also our best financial assets at the moment. Could we afford to do without one of them on the pitch?

I think so... Rodwell or Fellaini in particular play on a part of the field where I think most people would say we are comparatively overstocked. Can we actually make the sale? Again, I think so. Rodwell has been in the press repeatedly this summer as a £20M-rated player, and Fellaini is reputedly yet to agree a new contract. Do we want to let him go for peanuts ? like we did Pienaar?

As I have said, I have great respect for Moyes, and I do think the way he will fight to hold on to key players is an admirable quality in a manager. But perhaps this tactic can sometimes be a little shortsighted? If we need to sell to buy, then sell the players who we know we can sell for a price that will allow us to invest in the players we need; don't spend weeks trying to peddle off Yobo for a trifling £3.5M. At least if we sold one of our big players, we could bring in some fresh faces, increase competition in the squad, and hopefully, turn the streak of draws we had last seasons into wins in the next.

I don't know if the majority of Evertonians believe Kenwright should go. I don't know if the majority of us believe the rest of the Board lack a clear drive and ambition. But I think I can say with confidence that the majority of us believe we need more teeth in front of goal next season. Can an interim board get us a new striker? Probably not. Can we afford one if Moyes sells a highly rated player? Almost certainly.

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