Three Bedsheets Outside Everton, Moshiri

I've said before that I used to despise Benitez, but something obviously changed, because I'm even prepared to give him more than a token chance now. My biggest interest is to see if the manager is backed, and to see who he can shift out the club in the next few weeks, and this might maybe even tell us why Moshiri wanted Benitez in the first place?

If he's backed, they must want him because they feel he's the best man for the job, and want him to try and take Everton forward. But, if he's not, then I'd say they must first and foremost see him as an experienced steady hand, and a man to steady the ship, and to try and reduce the wage bill, after years of reckless spending.

Just to get well dug in on a complex situation, this was a business fix not a football solution. This does rhyme with your notion that Benitez was a necessity. It may be an argument for him that with our international and veteran roster could respond better to him than some others available. The mismatch between his preferences on defense with our present lineup is a concern. Here we get right back to what seems to be a recurring carousel problem of only being able to back a manager as we ship out previous managers' misfits.

While Rafa is complicit in signing up for this gig I'm rather focused on Moshiri for the time being. Rafa gets a chance to do his thing without a peep from me until results roll in. To be clear, I am not preparing a Rafa dart board.

Returning to the main complaint. Moshiri should have come to the mic if he wanted us to believe that he and Alisher were on a cleanup mission. This is a couple of business types puffing up at the table and getting some reputation rehab opportunities. Masters of the Universe strike again.

One week to go and I still hover over my season ticket renewal button, unsure about whether to press submit or walk away. I'll probably submit both physically and mentally and be at Goodison on 14 August.

Will I be looking forward to it? Not really. Expecting a host of new hungry players? Not really. Expecting to see the players who are on international duty and doing well in Everton kits come the start of September? Not really. Expecting the whole thing to go pear-shaped by Christmas at the latest? Very much so, Everton have become a bit of a reality show type club – and Moshiri didn't even have the foresight to sell the live footage of it all to a TV producer somewhere.

There's always next season or the one after that but there are not too many of them remaining at Goodison Park, we have to find a way to see off the old place in a fitting manner, but, somehow, we'll probably just leave with a whimper, with only a few old souls who remember what it was like to see the glint of silver with the backdrop of the Archibald Leitch criss-crossed stands.

If Benitez still occupies the managerial seat when we move from Goodison, it'll come as a major surprise to most of us, but stranger things have happened, especially to Everton.

I hope you feel a bit better having got all that off your chest.

We have, for the most part, all been thinking, saying and feeling the exact same things. Moshiri has been just awful for us, and how he has gone about it is puzzling to say the least. I'm pretty sure he doesn't drink, even mulled wine.

The only thing that makes me feel a little better is seeing that picture of him standing next to Duncan with a cap on with a big Everton badge on it.

Wonderful and I believe entirely accurate description of the likely crowd attitudes towards Rafa (from "You can write the crowd reaction... " onwards)

In the case that the results start going mammeries up, a lazy journalist might wish to cut and paste some of your words now, since I am sure they will absolutely come to pass.

No pressure Rafa. You really do need to pull your tripe out and fast.

I said elsewhere, he should have put the boot into the shite with a convincing "mea culpa" over his notorious jibe but the initial presser came and went and he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Another Carlo / Koeman nob'ead who has no idea what's needed here.

A very high-risk strategy, which is thought of as not being high risk by Moshiri & Usmanov, with other parties already positioning themselves for failure.

For, to stand any chance, Everton needs a unity of purpose, which it can only have by change within the Club. As Don#8 says, this has been the case from the start of this saga. Moshiri is not the only party to this saga.

As Mao said in his Little Red Book: 'A leader a mile in front of his Army is a fool'. Moshiri may need Usmanov to push the button on the weapon of mass destruction.

I've been trying to retain some positivity as that is all I can bring to the party, but it is similar to the kind of positivity I exhibited when I felt compelled to stay until the end of a 0-5 defeat in a derby. Forlorn.

For me, he's always seemed a negative manager – that's why I was against him… but hey ho, let's see. What's clear is Moshiri ploughs money in but has no clue about footy.

"Jamie Carragher, phlegm-firing football pundit"

Hahaha.

Martin I think we all know exactly what he meant, however much people try to interpret it

I am ambivalent, I suppose, I always want Everton to do well, but will have to through gritted teeth should his tenure prove to be successful, which – as you alluded to – is a great doubt.

My stand against him was not solely based on who his ex-employer was, or indeed his 'small club' remarks, but purely on what he has achieved in the last few years, and where his ambition for Everton to do well would come from. We craved a wealthy investor for long enough but, if the last few years are anything to go by, it has been more of a curse than a blessing!

FYI, I, and various others, have recently been saying precisely the same thing as John, but with admittedly way less embellishment.

I'm with Derek #24, hoping for the best. We certainly thought the arrival of the millions would have produced more results and more comedy than tragedy.

Just when I had drifted from the 'rs rafa can do one' camp to, 'he's here now, so I suppose we'll have to just see how he goes, because you never know' camp... you come along and blow me back on course.

We used to be NSNO, now were the RSRC - Red Shite Rafa Club.

This is our 2nd (in a very, very, long line of contenders) worse decision ever, the worst being – Not paying the rent increase in 1892.

It will all end in tears.

Very witty but scarily so close to the bone and frighteningly true. You nailed it, unfortunately.

We are not getting any better with this appointment.

My neighbour (a red who I haven't seen for a couple of weeks) asked me yesterday what I thought of the Benitez appointment, adding that he is viewed as a “good manager”.

My reply was that Adolph Hitler was supposedly a “good artist” but I don't want his pictures on hanging on my wall.

“Unclean” just about sums up how I feel at present.

Yet, there was none or very few available with the experience of Benitez, who always got Liverpool into the Champions League when he was manager, who has about the same amount of money for transfers with Everton that he had with Liverpool. How many managers available have got that on their CV?

A Top 4 finish is the best Everton fans should wish and hope for, which is doable under Benitez.

Like Tony, I had reconciled myself to hope for the best. It will obviously turn to shit pretty quickly. Christ! Carlo had us top of the pile and look what happened to that.

Who the feck do we think we could attract to join our bunch of second-rate mercenaries who have let every manager down, bar Dunc's short tenure?

Depressing that we are owned by a moron who makes Blue Bill seem a football genius.

If I'm correct, how's your book coming on?

Your post encapsulates my feelings completely. There have been many excellent posts on ToffeeWeb over the years but this is the best I have ever read.

I would just go a little bit further and say I could well imagine, when he finally leaves, then the reasons for him not being successful will be:

"The board promised to back me with substantial funds but that never happened." There will be a side-swipe at the players either not good enough or not buying into his style. Then finally, he will tell the world and his wife the fanbase never gave him a chance and made it impossible for him to be successful.

How do I know? That's simple: it's what he has said about practically all the clubs he managed and left.

Again, that was unofficial, and may have been hearsay, but just about anything our once magnificent club does would not surprise me one iota. As I referred to in my previous post on this thread, our long-awaited windfall has turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing!

Being the Devil's Advocate here, but Rafa has a reputation for not tolerating any form of lethargy or free-loaders, and that goes from top to bottom of those he has control over (obviously not the dysfunctional Board), so he may, however long or short his tenure is, be able to flush out some of the miasma and detritus that has pervaded us for too long now.

I believe, like many have said before, that there has to be something drastically wrong, we have had m,any players and Managers, through our seemingly revolving door at Goodison Park and Finch Farm. Basically with the same, or similar disappointing results and final Premier League positions, in addition to minimal desires to extend any cup runs, which definitely do not reflect the amount of money expended.

I know Bobby Brown Shoes had defensive issues and a poor season prior to his sacking, but what have we done since? In the meantime, he was so poor he landed the Belgium job and, until recently, they were considered the World's Best Team. I think, had he been given adequate funding, things could have worked out very differently. One thing is for sure, we couldn't (hypothetically) be any worse and £500M blown than we are now!

I would love to share John's article with him.

Another ex-red, devoid of any journalistic ability, stealing a leaving with asinine, witless observations and gormless betting advice.

I think you're looking too deep into it. He's done what all modern-day sport mercenaries do on and off the pitch. He knew the job was too much for his very average vision and ability and just done one soon as.

As for being told he had to get the likes of Delph, Gomes, Bernard and Sigurdaaon off the books, I doubt that would be a reason. In fact, if clog-gob does the job he's paid, he will find a way to get rid of them… albeit at a big loss. Especially Iwobi.

What his strategy is now god knows, the real stars won't sign for us, but a couple of top players are just what we are short of.

Pretty much sums up a lot of feelings and sentiment. Many didn't want this and remain uncomfortable and as you say, see it going toxic early if things don't go well quickly.

But, having gone with what he wanted and got his man, the owner has to back him. He has passed the line of departure as they say on military operations and there is no going back now.

I personally wish we would drop all this "People's Club" and "History" sentiment as a driving factor in our branding. I'm a big believer in heritage, history and tradition and very proud of it, both personally, with the city of Liverpool and Everton Football Club. But history is built on past achievements. Forget the FA Cup, we haven't achieved anything notable that made the football world sit up and take notice for 34 years.

We need future achievement to continue those proud histories and traditions. Like our iconic new stadium, we need to be looking upwards and outwards, not continuously stuck in the past or wrapped in nostalgia. I'm terrible for it, but it should be a reference point and something people like me reminisce on late into a Saturday evening / Sunday morning watching Howard's Way for the 1878th time. Not the basis of our identify. Let's give the younger generation something to bore their kids with.

Make history, don't just live in it. Shamelessly stolen from Chelsea fans' mockery of Liverpool during the first Mourinho stint in response to the "you've got no history". I'm tired of being nice and plucky little Everton who other big clubs "don't mind". I for one, want to be disliked. In the UK, we have a particular culture of resenting success. I want Everton to be resented.

That took me a few reads, but thank you. By the way, I wasn't sick as a dog, but my dogs have been worried sick about my state of mind these past few weeks.

This "Daley accuracy" seems to be catching.

Your description of Didi Hamann reminded me of an old Robin Hood scene. Talk about splitting the apple.

Yet another ex red "living stealer" who has trouble hiding the fact that he has been stained by the brush of gobshitery

You articulate the case for the impending embarrassment that will be the "Benitez era" far more clearly and logically than I think was perhaps your intent John.

This isn't going to end well because it quite frankly has no fucken chance whatsoever of going well. Nothing actually sums up how unfit for purpose our owner actually is than this appointment – Moshiri is an utter spud and it's easy to see why he has quite literally wasted hundreds of millions of pounds. And will almost certainly continue to do so.

Thank you for writing this, John, I cannot agree with it enough.

This makes it near impossible to bring in big names, even if they wanted to play for Everton. Even the top players we have would rather play for their country than Everton. This season, I believe, will make Everton or finally break the resolve of the supporters of Everton.

*Shudders*

If we end up looking back on this era more fondly than we do the "Allardyce era", then Rafa will have exceeded my expectations.

I've set the bar that low.

It's up to Brands to get buyers for Bernard, Iwobi, Gomes, Sigurdsson… even crock Tosun etc. Albeit at a big loss but at least get them off the wage bill. Failing that, the Benitez era will be no different with this group.

It does feel dirty doesn't it Jamie?

My bar is higher. If I maintain consistency with Ancelotti and take into account this is a manager that has achieved (albeit in the past), then I expect European football to be our target next season, not survival.

I want him to succeed in doing that.

I'm off to shower. I shall use bleach rather than shower gel.

It doesn't delay the likes of Leicester who have a plan, a strategy. It's called acting like pros instead of reacting to one crisis after another. (I'm still waiting for the Lukaku reaction! As in "Find a striker, maybe"). Anyway let's hope I'm totally wide of the mark.

I agree, we hope (that word again) there is a strategy. I'm hoping (again) that maybe the Euros is just holding things up.

Striker; Schick. Not just his performances for the Czech Republic. He's been under the radar at Roma and Leverkusen for a few years now.

Stryger Larsen, the Danish right sided player who can slot in as right back or wing back and Dumfries.

Still need an attacking midfielder, but can't think of a realistic one right now.

For the recent record, old Didi proclaimed England would easily fall to Germany, then Denmark. I'm sure they keep employing him so readers make a fortune opposing his tips.

I'm believing, in Everton but it's got to the Bob Hope, No Hope stage, with this preseason. Surely Benitez is on a genuine mission rather than a covert mission to whack Everton.

I believe his intent is genuine, and the first Derby will be great and some interesting times lie ahead for next season.

The supporters keep me going, the past success, keeps me waning, and hope eternal in all matters Everton keeps me alive.

It's a Biblical tale, and who knows, but the European Championship, could deliver some good transfer targets for Everton at market rate, decent prices.

All have a Ball this weekend.

2) My guess is 5/6 months from now, TWers will look back at this article and say "But how could he have been SO accurate? It's like he could see the future."

3) The word 'dumb' is one that I find myself constantly saying/thinking re Everton and it's been this way for years. That pass, that attempted short-corner, that free kick, that substitution, that director of football, that ground in Kirkby, that manager, that owner, that song, those supporters, me - dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumbdumbdumbdumb. So given this appointment (for all the reasons JD mentions) is about as dumb as it gets, maybe we can take some crumb of comfort for being incredibly consistent. Consistent how? Everton, like Ivan Ackerman in Annie Hall, ALWAYS..

Link

Well..um..maybe..erm..ish.

But imo it's the 'many words' (and how they're put together) that give this piece impact. It's why the article is memorable and something (nb: I know for a fact) that many Evertonians have sent to each other with the instruction 'read this!' (that's how I was made aware of it).

Remember Shakespeare (on 'Ye Webbe off ye Foffee') could have said "It is what is is lad..swear down on our baby's life, know what I mean like?"

But he he decided on..

"To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub."

Or..something.

Anyway Eugene you were up early this morning, or maybe you were going to bed after a good day and night yesterday, hoped you enjoyed it anyway, as Gareth Southgate said last night “ For want of a shoe a horse was lost, for want of a horse a battle was lost” Or maybe he said. “ I didn't half fuck it up choosing those penalty takers” Cheers Eugene, when are coming back to ToffeeWeb on a regular basis? You are missed you know.

That's age.

I'll be 62 on the 20th of this month and find these days I have very little influence re when I get to wake up and get out of bed.

Now every 4 hrs or so my bladder shouts "TIME FOR ANOTHER SLASH YOU OLD TWAT, GET UP!" and I do as I'm ordered.

Ageing isn't kind to most people but particularly hard on me, a man once described* as Huyton's Great Gatsby.

* by me.

Are ToffeeWeb rolling out all the revered literary stalwarts in a time of crisis such as now?

A (very lengthy!) microcosm of what the vast majority of us are thinking, and even more so a few weeks on after a so far underwhelming transfer window.

Has anyone else noticed that Everton women seem to be signing 2 stellar foreign signings every other day while the men's targets diminish from Denzil Dumfries down to Phil Jones? Is DBB now Director of Footy, or does Moshiri think that the Women's team winning something will erase the 26-year agony ??

I renewed my Season Ticket on the understanding (mine) that Benitez is bulleted before he takes us to the Championship, and so I can have dibs on a seat at Bramley-Moore Dock when it's good to go.

By the way, Eugene, welcome to the '62 club, where you can easily piss 4 pints for every pint of Guinness drank.

A ToffeeWeb poll of whether we would rather be poor and proud pre-Moshiri, or minted and Moshed up as now might be in order.