More midsummer musings

I've followed this site for quite a few years, and it has led me to meet a few contributors, including Tony Abrahams on a number of occasions.

Tony is a rock-solid Evertonian, a very nice guy, who is generous in his efforts to help fellow Blues. I have never read anything on here where he has claimed to have any special knowledge (other than playing football at a very decent level), he has just reported things he has heard.

He doesn't need anyone to stick up for him, nevertheless I fail to see to understand why he has drawn such cynical comments from one of the Editors.

Peter,

Tony has picked me up once or twice and driven a cab full of us to the Bramley Moore pub after the match.

I think I know Liverpool well, but he knows those streets between Goodison Park and Bramley-Moore Dock like a Paratroop Pathfinder!!

Tony, I think you could do it blindfolded!!

Hi Peter,

I agree with you when you describe Tony Abrahams, it's likely that we both met Tony at the first get together at the Central Hotel in 2018 when I was celebrating my 80th birthday. I regard Tony as a gent who went out of his way to drop me and one or two others to the Bramley Moore Pub on more than one or two occasions.

I would agree 100% that Tony is a top bloke, must take after his dad.

Sometimes I think Michael’s comments come across as more cynical than they are actually intended. Just saying like….,

Oh and good to see you posting John Mc, I hope you are well.

Danny, I am going to both so look to seeing you. I haven't received a ticket for Salford yet, in the post apparently.

The relationship and loyalty amongst the fan base is astonishing I agree, like you say, “family”.

Well, for my part, I've disliked this Tony Abrahams character since February 1988, when he set up an equaliser for Nottingham Forest's Lee Glover in the dying minutes of a 3-3 draw in the 4th round of the FA Youth Cup. Our boys lost the replay and were denied a chance to beat Liverpool at Anfield.

To the best of my knowledge, he has never even apologised.

Thanks for that memory, Peter.

Although I did score at Anfield when we came back from the dead and scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to force a replay, which we won easily, if that's any consolation mate!

Strange editing.

Tony's obviously humorous comment aimed at his Dad is removed but his Michael K retaliation (albeit mild) is allowed to stand.

I think we need VAR on ToffeeWeb.

Goodison closes its doors in 11 months, Brendan, and if you want to get over, that offer for a couple of tickets still stands.

Peter:

Do you happen to know who Dave Abrahams supported in that match mate?

Brendan @38,

Not sure what you saw but, if it was from Tony, he must have edited his own comment… perhaps to avoid inter-familial angst?

There's no comments not showing… although I'm sorely tempted with some of the banter-bypass nonsense being posted by the usual humourless suspects.

Michael,

No family angst. Tony is his own man and his own opinions, we never always agree, especially about Everton.

I think the only time he wanted to land one on me was when I wouldn't sign the schoolboy forms that would have tied him to Everton.

I preferred to wait but maybe he would agree now that he did okay going to Forest – not just in football terms but learning about life in general.

Dave,

Thus affording him (inadvertently?) direct personal and professional contact with Brian Clough – plus striking up a lifelong friendship with a (then future) Everton manager...

Priceless!

I enjoyed my time at Forest, Dave, but looking back it definitely wasn’t the right club for me and, in my heart, I have always felt that I would have done so much better if I’d signed for the club who I want to get beat every single fucking week.

I'm sure you can get your own match ticket, Michael, but, if you want to do us all a favour and take a week off doing those awful match reports, Michael (just my opinion!) then you can also sit in my seat before Goodison closes its doors forever more.

My brother, who is also called Michael, sits next to me, and you and him would get on like a house on fire, slaughtering me — unless Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still playing because he hates him even more than you!

Goodison closes its doors in 11 months, Brendan, and if you want to get over, that offer for a couple of tickets still stands.

Thanks Tony,

Bit like you, I recently became a grandfather... three boys in 15 months so we're flat out baby sitting.

However, we've managed to free up a bit more of the week and, as soon as I get a wee foreign jaunt and our oldest son's wedding out of the way, I mean to make plans to take you up on your very generous offer.

Michael K, I'll match Tony's offer.

If my match-going mate can't make one of the games this season, I'll let you know and if you can get to Goodison I'll make sure the ticket is yours for the day.

Very generous, Tony, but I couldn't possibly deny you a home game watching your beloved Blues.

Responding literally to your excellent jibe, the match reports are not intended for ardent matchgoers like you, but more as a personal record of proceedings that may be useful for anyone who is neither at the game nor watching a live stream. But perhaps I can now train one of these large language models to generate them for me in a suitably robotic style?

It's good to hear that at least one of your kin is well-named and seems to demonstrate excellent analytical judgment when it comes to football matters…

I don't know how you manage to write those reports live, Michael.

I struggle watching the match and normally give myself a day or two to reflect!!

There are plenty on here who can get you a ticket for Goodison and you can meet some of the characters at one of the usual watering holes near County Road.

It would be good to meet in person.

Michael, as Danny says, it would be great to meet up and you will always be more than welcome at a host of the locals.

Don't forget to bring cash though, credit/debit cards not accepted.

Speaking of tickets, as it's already been mentioned and I know the season hasn't even started yet, but I'd really like to get up to Goodison Park this season.

Is there anyone who already knows they're going to miss a game this season who has a ticket to sell? For me down south, it takes a bit of planning!

Those live reports from MK are unique. I rarely use the live forum and those reports are how I follow Everton if I can't see the game. It is proper live reporting.

Tony, I'd love to see MK sit with Cameron. Hope he's okay, by the way.

In the absence of footy. I switched to the all-Ireland Hurling final on BBC 2

God knows what's going on, but nobody is rolling around feigning injury. Nobody is looking to play it sideways, and nobody in this crowd is leaving early.

Fantastic watch!

Dave, I’ve tried to push the game on here but was probably going on too much.

An incredible sport. Glad BBC have started showing. Football final next Sunday

Hurling fascinates Yanks. It is a good watch.

There are some who seem to have enjoyed my posts of yesteryear.

I recently submitted three posts concerning Frank Swift [Manchester City and England].

Tommy Lawton [Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal, and England]

Joe Mercer [Everton, Arsenal and England].

The editor refused to accept any other posts of nostalgia which would have included,

Johnny Carey [Manchester United and Ireland.]

Billy Wright [Wolverhampton Wanderers, and England].

Stanley Matthews [Stoke City, Blackpool, and England.]

Raich Carter, [Sunderland, Derby County, and England.]

Wilf Mannion, [Middelsbrough and England.]

Tom Finney, [Preston North End, and England.]

I wasn't surprised by the editors decision because he and I have crossed swords in the past, but I feel I had to get it off my chest irrespective of the outcome, and if 'God spares me' I look forward to meeting up with the boys in either the Harlech Castle or Bramley Moore

Shane, hurling looks dangerous.

People waving what look like riot batons at each other!!

Curling however, I can only describe as a combination of crown green bowling and brushing the kitchen floor on ice

John, you have a richness of Everton history and you've educated me on occasion.

I too look forward to the next get together at the Harlech and then onto the Bramley Moore pub. God bless John Senior.

Danny and yet you never see a man lying down.

Epic stuff today after extra time today.

Hurling — not being biased, but the best game in the world, played by amateur players, unbelievable.

Paul,

Blood is thicker than water and I wanted Forest to win but kept quiet when Forest scored that equaliser. I wish there was a video of how Tony set that goal up, it would give an idea how good he was with the ball, a dead ball in open play.

Anyway I couldn't control myself when Forest scored the equaliser at Anfield with another goal from Lee Glover, what a footballer/ goalscorer he was, from the Midlands but born in Scotland at his dad’s instructions so he could play for Scotland, which he did playing for Scotland's U21s at 17.

Injuries, and plenty of them, spoiled this kid of a very good career.

John Mc Snr, what was your opinion of Billy Wright?

He's considered one of the greats of English football but my dad said he was rubbish and totally overrated.

I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Hurling is what I do after a few bevvies.

Billy Wright was average at best and certainly no Bobby Moore.

Played in a very good Wolves team of the Fifties back in the day of much different boots and ''caseballs'' (casies as we called them).

Billy Wright.

Overrated.

Congratulations on becoming a grandad, Brendan, even though it sounds like you've got your work cut out right now.

I suggest this non-Everton thread is left open 24/7. Michael and Lyndon, what do you think?

Someone was asking for tickets to a game at Goodison, before she closes her doors forever, earlier, and now I can't find out who it was.

I'm away early in the season and won't be going to the Bournemouth game. I've told my mate Andy C, but haven't heard if he's going to be able to get over and if he can't, I'm sure someone would like the tickets in a season they might just become hard to obtain?

Tony, I think it is Peter Day at post 6 above

Shane/Christy, this Yank loves hurling, but US TV shows it all too seldom.

I also love Aussie Rules football, for the same reason you mention -- nobody rolling around feigning injury. The Aussies wouldn't have it. I get 4-5 games a week here.