Relief and Indignation Should Replace Jubilation if Everton Stay Up

Surely the new owners, whoever they may be, can’t be as useless?

Today’s West Ham win has given us a slight false sense of security. Leicester shouldn’t win but football produces aberrations, every Evertonian will be praying it’s not one of those days.

Also, It is still a mammoth task for us to get the win against Bournemouth. Injuries in key positions and lowest goals scored means we have to be at our very best and mistake free. Any complacency and we are done for. Does anyone think Bournemouth will fear us after October’s capitulations? We will have to be 100% on it for 99 minutes to win.

If we stay up there will be inevitable elation, but that will quickly subside. The issues of gross incompetence and amateurism at board level need addressing at once. There is no confidence left that they can be trusted to take us forward.

I think things will happen quite quickly after next Sunday, with new investors and new board. That is the cause for the real celebration as it may well being real change for the better, give us back a club that is well run and the craved year on year incremental improvement. Only this will eventually bring European football and silverware.

It will be a big summer for Kevin Thelwell too, some signings have not been well thought out. Parallel to this he wanted and nearly got Kudus, his priority signing was Gibbs-White who has impressed me and has improved throughout this season, Ouatarra was another big target who opted for Bournemouth, looks a very good acquisition.

He’s often been operating in a financial straitjacket, but at the same time made mistakes with recruitment. Maupay was not the type of striker we needed, the Onana money could have been used where strengthening was much more critical. The jury is out big time for Kevin and he needs proper financial support.

Next Sunday may get us out of the raging sea and into the lifeboat. The big step is to get back to dry land.

Reflecting on last year I recall Kenwright beaming and with false modesty pointing at Frank saying “it’s thanks to him.” Just think about that for a minute detached from the emotion of the game. As chairman/owner Kenwright has run the club for 25 years. Within a few years of his takeover over we’d won the cup, a decade beforehand we’d won the league. Then quarter of a century later he’s giving Frank he sole credit for simply keeping us in a division we’ve spent more seasons in than any other club. Whilst the jubilation/relief from fans was understandable. I suspect in hindsight Bill saw it as another opportunity to lower the bar. Rather than with fake modesty pointing at Frank, he and the board should have been embarrassed that a passionate, likeable yet inept manager has been tasked with keeping a weak, imbalanced and hugely over paid squad in the EPL.

If we survive again, a better response might be similar to one I heard just before Kenwrights time in the Park End. Bakayoko another relatively expensive flop had gone three months without a goal before finally scoring one versus Southampton. Around me there was initial euphoria before one very elderly but very old man roared over the crowd “well it’s about fucking time you scored lad.” Cue laughter from all those around us. It’s all about perspective. Yes any goal much less one that possibly saves us from relegation will be wildly celebrated but sober realism needs to kick in very very quickly if we ever want our club back.

My emotions have rarely changed over the last 48 hrs, and although I was nervous and had bad vibes before the Wolves game, I honestly woke up calm this morning, after convincing myself that the West Ham fans would be in carnival mood, and this would help them carry their team over the line today.

I’m worried about Leicester though, but hope that a similar carnival atmosphere at St James’s Pk, helps put the baton firmly in our hands once again, and then our schizophrenic squad, can find the strength to save us once again next Sunday.

My emotions still haven’t changed, and these emotions are full of despair and anger, at what Everton Football Club, have been allowed to become over many, many, many, mediocre seasons, with my own thoughts on the reality of our situation being, that we have brought most of it on ourselves.

Everton has never stood for being best of the rest, and us Evertonians, only have ourselves to blame, for accepting the awful title of plucky little Everton, but the man who has kidded more people than Jimmy Seville, will soon be gone, and this is where I’m certain the anger will be voiced, whatever happens next Sunday.

We have been awful this season, and retain the capacity to be so, particularly without a centre forward and full backs.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves - we could draw next weekend and still be relegated. We have one objective - beat Bournemouth.

I thought last season’s greetings of the team coach was very authentic, but it never felt this way against Newcastle, so I never attended. Maybe getting thousands to meet at Bramley-Moore, before marching to Goodison, might bring more authenticity into next week’s game, especially if this allowed everyone to get into their seat, at least 30 minutes before kick off?

It’ll take me time to recover from the last two catastrophic seasons. My love for my club has been severely tested but I’ll be back next season be it in the prem or the championship. If Kenwright and his band of shithouses leave at least it will restore some of my confidence.

I think we’ll survive this season but my god, Everton owe us big time for sticking with them.

WE are Everton, WE are THEM, Everton is US.

Who the fuck are They? THEY do not exist - so let's forget THEM.

It's US it's EVERTON. Colin, I know that's what you meant.

The plain as day reality is that our price plummets if we're relegated. That's attractive to buyers. Survival boosts our price, and that's attractive to Moshiri, albeit it'll negatively affect our budget for new players (providing Moshiri's fishy accounts withstand proper scrutiny).

The plain as day reality is that our squad is a disaster of mismatched, slow, rarely fit, untalented-in-the-basics really expensive, fabulously overpaid players.

Romantic, bloviating "Captain Killybeggs" mantras encapsulate the sentimental mess the club's senior incumbents revel in as we get ever worse under their reality.

Easy to forget that the Moyes years ended 10 years ago. Which means the decent Martinez year was 9 years ago. Nothing since then has been worth the price of admission.

I'm in my 40s so I've had some 'good times'. I got the tail end of the 80s (vague memories, except for the cup final defeats), I got to go to Wembley and see us win a trophy (actually, twice in a few months). I got the mid 2000s where we were in the 'best of the rest' hunt.

Anyone in their 50s on obviously got more than I did.

If I was in my teens to early 20s, having never really experienced anything better than midtable, then I might see this as another great escape worth celebrating. Top table place preserved for another season. I'm sure our younger supporters see us as a big club, but our performances in their era have been more Burnley/Bolton than Big 5.

If there's any kind of hope for those supporters... those older than me will remember the Gordon Lee and early Kendall years before our greatest ever period in the 80s.

And I was 14 when we beat Wimbledon in 94. We were on our arse, we had to sell players. We did get ourselves back into Europe, won a trophy, competed in the top half of the league.

If it has happened before, then it can happen again. Keep the faith and Up the Toffees!

Either works. But where does Moyes fit in? Who as of tonight apparently plans to quit WHU and find a job close to home in Lancashire ….

And you need to do it season after season. Look at some of the teams around us that spent big recently. They may have survived this season, but can they maintain this spending year on year?

Signing any new player is a gamble and a % won't work out and need to be moved on. Unfortunately, that % at Everton recently seems very high and most of our current squad are in this category.

Even if we survive I don't think we can afford to replace many of them.

I am not belittling the situation with the board/management but this is a harsh reality.

If you have a business plan and smart club management, you can succeed without flushing tons of cash. Our problem is no plan and top management that completely sucks. Not a lack of spending.

Mike and John #33, please show me a club in a somewhat dire situation that didn't have to spend money to break the cycle.

The Brentfords and Brightons have had years working up from the Championship to establish these processes and practices. We're going to have to change the wheels on a moving bus with little time/money and that's going to be tricky.

Expecting the same management + players to change direction will be the definition of insanity.

Newcastle did it recently but they had to spend their way out.

This all changes if we're relegated. We will have a couple of seasons to reset everything.

If Brighton and Brentford have shown anything it is that the team in the back ground must also be of the highest quality and as well as knowing their own responsibilities must speak up and stop interference from others regardless of their position within the club the exception being matters of budget, which should be known to all from the beginning, eh Mr Ancelotti.

If nothing about Bill Kenwright would surprise me, then nothing that certain Evertonians would do for our club, would surprise me either.

The one major difference is that the actions of the supporters, is born out of a genuine love for Everton FC, whilst the actions of William Kenwright, have always been about what is best for the great man himself!

The reality is that it’s going to be one hell of a long week, and although we have another month, before we reach the longest day, waiting for tonight’s Newcastle game already feels longer, and I’ve only been out of bed for half an hour.

In my opinion we need a pacey centre back,a first choice left back, a playmaker, two wingers / inside forwards and a centre forward to even begin to compete.

If we do survive, my emotions will be of anger and frustration that our great club has yet again been put in this position, by poor performances, poor recruitment and an owner and a board, who have disrespected the supporters and the history of the club.

We do have a core of current players who can be part of a Premier League squad next year, but the removal and recruitment of players has to be a priority whichever way that is done, by loans, buys, sales and contract termination. That all depends on FFP and other financial rules.

Kenwright’s bank account has definitely been pollinated, but I’m more concerned about getting him, his cronies on the board, and “his once billionaire amigo” out, so the descaling and disinfecting of our once great club, can begin.

They have left us in an absolute mess, but as always there’s a contradiction, with a beautiful new stadium growing on the horizon of the Royal Blue Mersey.

It’s still getting pollinated, but how ironic would it be, if the world’s greatest Evertonian, never sets foot inside Bramley-Moore, to watch his beloved Everton play?

I can't see another pitch invasion as last year's encroachment was pure release. Now, I just feel ashamed, disappointed and disillusioned. More likely a pub invasion.

Whichever way it goes we have been beyond poor. Survival will be we about how lucky we are that three clubs have miraculously been worse than us, and that's not worth celebrating.

We'll be lucky to survive, and deserve it if we go down. Sad days.

Our one charge might well prove to be more punitive than City's 115. The authorities will want to make an example of someone and it won't be the golden boys.

I hope I'm wrong. COYB.

For now tho, let’s just worry about tonight. Come on the TOON!!

The Goodison crowd will get us over the line against Bournemouth and we’ll be safe for another season.

And if so, given the same KO time for all games, watch out for some "mangaing the clock" towards the end of the game if things are close. Lots of injuries, time-wasting to get other games to end before yours.

The management team Mr Moshiri selected has led the club to be possibly sanctioned by the Premier League because the board has made little effort to control our finances in line with the rules. They appear to have failed to convince Mr Moshiri to avoid the crazy appointment of Mr Ancelotti which I believe started our fall. Ancelotti was brought in after half a dozen other failed managers appointed by the owner. For me, the problem is Mr Moshiri. He owns Everton and can choose whoever he wishes to manage his asset. Realistically, supporters can't change the Board. So let's hope we get a new owner, and as a result, a new management team.

The same complaints we are making are being repeated at Man U, Tottenham, Chelsea, Leeds, Leicester, etc etc. so we are hardly unique. Failure of the team on the pitch is always the fault of the board, it's an easy assumption to make. But I look at the players we have and some of them are quite embarrassing and it will take some time to change our recruitment model. We sold Messrs Digne, Richarlison, Gordon, none of whom can now get a game at their new clubs. Maybe those sales were good business?

There will be a lot of dreadful team performances to watch before we get clear. It's going to take a lot of time.

I've got the feeling it'll be a very nasty atmosphere at Goodison on Sunday after the final whistle...regardless of whether or not we stay up. Last season felt like a real occasion and a one-off after 20 plus years of not even thinking about relegation. We had a young manager that many of us got behind, we thought it was just just bad luck with injuries and a poor managerial appointment in Benitez.

But this year feels very different.

I don't know if we will stay up but I know we have a better chance with Dyche as if we had kept Lampard for any longer I believe we would have finished behind Southampton.

Well, with one game to go we will either end up with 36, 34 or 33 points over a 38 game season. The table does not lie after 38 games.

Tony, when you said Everton were never meant to be the best of the rest, how many teams make up the rest at this stage?

For what it's worth it would not surprise me if neither Everton, Leeds nor Leicester picked up a win in the remaining games.

Dyche may not be a world beater but it looks as if he is going to keep us up.

But, that requires us not to lose on Sunday. Our last 4 results against Bournemouth are played 4 lost 4. We’ve scored 3 goals in those 4 games and conceded 13.

We haven’t won at home for 2 and a half months and lost 3 straight games at Goodison, scoring 3 and conceding 10.

I think that we have also lost 10 home games in a season for the first time.

Given all of the above, my prediction is Everton 2 Bournemouth 1

Opted for Bournemouth! Sighs.

Results have in the main been going our way and we need Leicester tonight to lose by a few goals, they are a 7/1 shot but nothing is certain as we know.

Our game with Bournemouth scares me the most, they have beaten us twice already and even with a full side we are not good things to win.
I'd be inclined to give Dominic a few pain killers if he's willing to do that because we need him to take part in this game.

For me and my age group, it was failing to build on the success of the mid 80s. We stood still.

Others go back to the sale of Alan Ball and Sir John letting go of the club.

Either way, poorly owned, mismanaged and badly run since 1970.

Howard's first reign gave us hope, but then we slipped into a dark period.

Anyway. We have Bournemouth to beat on Sunday.

But then change has to happen.

Oh
We hate Bill Shankly
And
We hate St John
We also hope Bill Kenwrights gone

Etc etc

But, I saw “the good times” as well so I can’t complain now that we are in what I hope will be a “rebuilding time” with new Owners.

Many thanks to all you contributors to ToffeeWeb and the fantastic travelling supporters. It’s always a good read through the week.
COYB’s We Are EVERTON.

We have had enough embarrassments over 30 years. There needs to come an end to all this and all supporters have to unite here for a better Everton in the long term.

Appreciation for the players not giving in until the end.

Total relief that we can fight another day.

No celebration.

And we are not there yet.

When we are, will express relief, not celebration.

Proper Tottenham fans, must have loved hearing Conte, criticizing the clubs lack of real genuine ambition, or maybe it was an eye opener to a lot of fans who support a club, that has never been nothing more than an occasional cup team.

Everton haven’t even been an occasional cup team, for a very, very, very, very fucking long time now, and we have had a loser’s mentality since the day Bill Kenwright kidded thousands, again imo.

Twice in successive years!!

That truly is pitiful. Something better change.

I think if Everton do get safe, after a lot of genuine Evertonians, must have definitely thought that this was the season, that are acceptance of mediocrity, and the total mismanagement of our football club, was going to end in relegation, then after the relief, I’m certain the next emotion for most people, will be pure unadulterated anger?

Let’s just hope that we are relieved and angry on Sunday afternoon, because the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.

It's not out of the question either. Leeds draw at best, Leicester get no more than 2 draws, and we lose.

Winning by 3 with 5 mins to go might see a few anti board chants but if the unthinkable happens carnage will ensue.

But no one can deny that our fans a first class, passionate and loyal.

We need to get behind the team and show the world we will not be moved...

Once we drag this slumbering club of ours over the line again, then that is it.

We are now all focused on beating Bournemouth. That is what matters.

But, they've had their 9 lives.

There will be relief, but that will swiftly turn to anger.

It can't be ignored anymore.

Never to late for a better Everton and it WILL happen now.

The reason we couldn't sign a DCL back up- and indeed why we had to sell our other goal threat in Richie, goes back a little further back, to other moronic decisions. The massive cost of replacing managers and their teams on an annual (or more basis). This does not come cheap. Bizarre contract decisions such as giving Holgate a long contract when he's not much good; the truly astonishing Dele deal where we seem to be on the hook for £5m a year for the next few years, but can't play him because it will trigger a transfer fee we can't afford. All the money lost on the Icelander. Signing Gomes on a big fee and contract. Signing Gbamin. The list seems endless.

To try and find a positive, I think Patterson and Garner may prove to be decent signings.

Maybe you are right, but owners before Moshiri are just not relevant now, Kenwright, Johnson,. Moores, they are all history. Mr Moshiri came in and as 90 something percent owner, he can change whatever he wants. Evertonians don't like his management team so that is all down to him. He also chose many failed managers.

Difficult to be optimistic after so many poor choices were made. I am hoping for a new owner. And have you noticed how many other club's supporters are saying the same thing.

Financial issue galore, an inept owner and inept board. Players in the squad that are really no better than Championship standard. Very few assets to sell in order to refresh a very stale squad.

I just keep feeling like we're kicking the can down the road, postponing the inevitable.

Yes we're more than likely getting new capital investment along with a new stadium. But the toxic, underlying rot that has been festering ever since Moyes left this institution has not been eliminated.

Two big ‘ifs’ there.

I've said what I can about Sunday's forthcoming fixture and on what Moshiri needs to do almost as soon as that final whistle is blown. We all know what needs to happen once we are secure and safe.

On the emotions.

1994. I was stationed in Cyprus and was eventually found in a storm drain outside my house quietly asleep. I almost got there, but close enough. A neighbour, fellow Evertonian and colleague spotted me and came to assist, but was in a similar state to me, so ended up joining me in having an outside nap. Both our wives came and picked us up and escorted us the very short journey home. A sense of celebration, I'll admit.

1998. I was living in Woolton but couldn't attend. I watched with my best mate, Dave (RIP), in our house. We spent most of that second half pacing around the garden, unable to watch. I don't smoke, never have, but he put away at least 20. The kids, aged 3 and 2 were somewhere in the house. I was looking at the Tulips and asked him to go in and tell me the news.

Jubilation at the end of that one.

I suppose the difference in those two instances is that we still remembered and were close to the success we had experienced relatively recently at the time. In hindsight we foolishly thought this would be the trigger to get us back there on both occasions. Never again.

Well.

Unlike many, I wasn't fond of the dogs of war and Dave did warn me when I travelled up and we went the match, that it wasn't pretty. He wasn't wrong, but I thought Joe Royle was going to achieve something. He gave us a trophy and Kanchelskis, but then wasn't backed by the board.

Familiar story in hindsight. Lack of ambition from one of England's biggest clubs. I am sick of blaming managers for the predicaments they have put us in.

Last season was different. I've well documented what I witnessed against Palace. One of the best nights I've experienced at Goodison for the wrong reason.

But that was more relief rather than how it felt in 1994 and 1998.

Never again.

Surely that was the ultimate kick up the arse for the club? Apparently not.

They ended up being hamstrung because of the years of mismanagement.

This weekend will be relief. Followed by anger. But save that anger until after the final whistle. And personally, I won't target that at the players or manager.

Let's do what we do best and, as Saturday proved, don't lose faith. Push those players to fight for us. Us, not those who I hope will remain absent and never return.

They will want to win the game even if they are safe. Our players will be a bundle of nerves and the crowd will be too. Bournemouth will be well aware of this. I just hope they don't get an early goal.

Whatever happens, I can see us having a very frustrating time next season.
Hopefully we will stay up and have ambitious new owners who will rid the club of all the boardroom hangers-on.

It's an interesting role reversal. 2 years ago we had the same game on the last day of the season.

We were and had been for months "on the beach" while Bournemouth needed a win to have a chance of surviving. We kindly laid down and let them walk all over us -- albeit other results didn't go their way.

Hopefully this time they will return the compliment.

This weekend, we're fighting, yet again, to stay in the top flight of English football. What's that, the fourth time in recent years and twice on the run? I'll be cheering my head off for the players and for us all supporting them.

Then, if I've got any voice left I'll be shouting "Sack The Board" as loud as I can. I might have a special farewell sonnet for Kenwright as well, there might be others to blame but way out in front, while he's lined his pockets with gold, Kenwright as Chairman has overseen our demise and has the cheek to tell us we've had some good times.

Well, no thanks to him.

It was never explained by Kenwright what attributes the 'right' person would have. I will try and explain what I think, from observing what has happened since those words were spoken, what he meant by 'right' person and that is why we are in the state we are in today.

The 'right' person needed to possess a bundle of readily available money, no real knowledge of pro football and, because of that, would be content to leave the running of the club in the safe and capable hands of the present incumbent and his team.

I would suggest that Moshiri was well and truly conned in his eagerness to invest. That was the start of our problems. Because of this initial stitch-up, I feel somewhat sorry for him (Moshiri) although, once he had been stitched (and he must have realised it at some stage), his neglect in not doing anything about it worries me even more (or he was very well stitched up and would find it too difficult to do it – which wouldn't surprise me).

A clear-out upstairs is essential when whoever is our new investor arrives. I think we all were aware of this need and are holding our collective breath hoping that it happens.

I mean what the absolute fuck!!! So much for pulling together for one last massive must-win match.

When I read about it today, my first thought was “ludicrous and stupid rumour, only a complete set of morons would even consider it.”

That then made me think it might be true.

There have been persistent rumours that Kenwright had a signed legal agreement that he remained chairman after the sale to Moshiri. The longer that has gone on, the more I believe it, especially with the problems the club has had and the fans' reactions.

Thanks for commenting with what I believe to be true and that indicates how Kenwright has manipulated the Moshiri takeover to suit his own ends and has continued ever since. He will continue in this way until he is stopped. However, I can't help thinking that Moshiri has been his own worst enemy and was seen initially to be the 'right' investor because of this.

I am nearly 80 and have been a supporter since I was about 8 so have seen the good and bad times and it took me many years to realise what Kenwright was all about. He's not about being a True Blue but intent on power and feathering his own nest at our expense.

It must stop, whoever follows Moshiri into the hot seat.

The thing that makes me believe it's true is the fact that the man linked is a poor man's Vitor Pereira.

Firstly, he is 61 years old and has never coached in a major league. Secondly, he seems to quit or get fired every 12 months. Thirdly, his only notable role prior to Botafoga was at Shakhtar Donetsk where he inherited champions and turned them into also-rans.

He has no pedigree, no success, he probably doesn't speak English. He is the kind of outlandish ridiculous appointee that no-one in their right mind would consider for Everton. That's why it's probably true as it is too ridiculous to invent.

As the massive regeneration of the North end of Liverpool around the docks, was the plum that would fall into their hands if they got the stadium go-ahead. I think that's why they, well Moshiri, are part owners of the Liver Buildings.

The way I look at it, in their eyes we are a big club that needed money to fund transfers, and presumably they thought, a modern stadium too. I believe Moshiri, also fancied himself as knowledgeable about football; and interfered (as he saw it, helped) choose a DoF and a number of players.

I can only think that the only real power he had was to choose (and sack) the DoF's and managers. I feel certain that your view of Kenwright holding a legal agreement to remain as Chairman, is right.