Lyndon Lloyd 11/09/2024 16comments  |  Jump to last

John Textor says that he is ready to handle the pressure from Everton's fans having been baptised in the fires of footballing passion at Botafogo in Brazil.

Speaking with confidence that he will be able to complete twin deals for his 45% stake in Crystal Palace on the one hand and a buy-out of Farhad Moshiri's 94.1% shareholding in the Toffees on the other, the American entrepreneur told Sky Sports News' Alan Myers that he is adept at handling fanbases that can be as "nasty" as they can be "wonderful".

The 58-year-old Missouri native's Eagles Holdings own controlling interests in Botafogo, Lyon in France and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium and when he was asked by Myers if he was ready for the Everton brand of expectation and yearning for success, he mentioned the Brazilian club who also hadn't won anything since 1995 when he took over two years ago.

"Yes, I am. I've been punched in the face a lot. I know that business can be bloody. In football, I don't think you can face a more angry, nasty while at the same time wonderful crowd than the one I have down in Brazil. It's been difficult on my family at times.

"I don't think I could walk into more hatred and pressure than I've seen in Brazil but we've also turned that crowd around. When someone is acting crazy, the first question you have to ask is why they are acting in this way.

"A great champion in Brazil that hadn't won a title since 1995 is Botafogo. The manner in which they've lost titles between then and now has led to an expression, 'it can only happen to Botafogo'.

"We have had that sense of greatness before, of being on top and then losing that. It's like Milton's Paradise Lost... you don't understand pure evil unless you've experienced pure goodness and joy.

"It's the same with Lyon in France where they have an expectation of being champions having won seven straight titles. Their ultras are horrible but wonderful at the same time.

"You get up every day and take a step at a time. Fans look backwards at history — I can't look behind. I look forward. I'm prepared for it.

"I know if I become the owner of Everton, there will be those who think l make decisions that look idiotic, and people will say that I don't know football and I can't make my way out of a wet paper bag. I'm going to be mocked and not trusted.

"I work for the anonymous fan whose father and grandfather loved the club, the 10-year-old fan wearing his Everton colours. Admit your mistakes and work hard."

 

Reader Comments (16)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()


Simon Harrison
1 Posted 11/09/2024 at 22:04:13
For me this is file under, "It isn't going to happen".

Just my opinion, probably wrong as usual... 😉

Jay Harris
2 Posted 11/09/2024 at 22:31:32
Sorry, Simon, for me file it under "It is finally happening."

We can move on to a new chapter in our history.

Simon Harrison
3 Posted 11/09/2024 at 22:43:35
Jay [2]

As Michael K keeps reminding me, rather than guess or what-not, why not just wait and see...

I hope you're right Jay, I really do.

However, even if he did takeover, would it be the panacea to our immediate problems, or would it be out of the frying pan, and into the fire...?

Only time will tell.

Good wishes Jay, and thanks for the comment!

I just want the club to be able to progress and be aspirational again. Please...

Lyndon Lloyd
4 Posted 11/09/2024 at 23:14:02
There'd be an awful lot of empty comment sections on TW if we had to wait and see on everything!

Conjecture, pontificating and musing is what we're here for!

Christine Foster
5 Posted 11/09/2024 at 23:22:21
Haha thats so true, Lyndon, it's the life blood of TW!

But having seen the false dawns and hopes shattered on several occasions, I just want to see the deal done so we can move on in hope of a better future!

Ben King
6 Posted 11/09/2024 at 23:31:21
Lyndon #4

Of course you're right. But as an Evertonian and someone who used to be positive and optimistic, this great club have broken me so many times that now what's left is a bitter, cynical, ‘wait and see' carcass of a man….

Nigel Scowen
7 Posted 12/09/2024 at 09:49:14
Simon @ 1

Mate, out of interest why don’t you think this is going to happen?

Michael Kenrick
8 Posted 12/09/2024 at 09:56:42
Ooo, Nigel, me sir [hand up]!

Coz Paul Quinn said not.

Paul Hewitt
9 Posted 12/09/2024 at 10:24:55
Someone please tell me why this isn't going to happen?

Am I missing something?

David West
10 Posted 12/09/2024 at 23:20:36
Is he a good hurdler? Because there's many to be scaled.

Are we as blues just now happy to have anyone that's not Farhad Moshiri? I'm not convinced. I'm definitely not an expert, and like most people thought Moshiri was the "Mosshiah"… So what do I know !!!

If he fronts all the millions, sells Palace to buy Everton, he's seeing an opportunity. Wish he'd just stay quiet though, just seems like he's trying to flog his Palace shares by talking on Sky News.

Can he bring Eze and Wharton with him??

Simon Harrison
11 Posted 13/09/2024 at 00:17:10
Nigel [7]

I see you've been on the "Textor confident of..." thread.

So, I presume (dangerous I know for me) you saw my comment at [35] there Comments from thread

Sorry, I can't get a link to work directly to [35], but just Ctrl-F or search [35 or Simon H and it pops up quick enough.

Those are some of the reasons why I don't think this deal will get done.

PS Michael K or Lyndon, if you could edit the link directly to the comment I would greatly appreciate it, and it saves spamming here.

Thanks for polite enquiry unlike someone directly below your comment, Michael... very disingenuous! 😛

Simon Harrison
12 Posted 13/09/2024 at 00:23:47
Michael K [8]

No it isn't and why are you always picking on me..? 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

I feel very victimised right now... 😭

Can someone not express their very own opinion, which goes against the current narrative or flies in the face of the popular flow, without being accosted by the Mod (NB Not you Lyndon... 😇) without having vulgar accusations hurled at them?

Hehe, all in good spirit Michael, keep it coming I can take it... "Adrien... Adrien..." 😁

Simon Harrison
13 Posted 13/09/2024 at 00:26:40
Lyndon,

That would be the perfect forum, or News Forum, all the stories and threads published, with the comments section closed until the veracity of each story comes to light; then, you could open the comments, and we could all congratulate or commiserate with each other!

That sounds idyllic to me💭😀💭 Seventh heaven in deed! Hehe.

Kieran Kinsella
14 Posted 13/09/2024 at 00:49:07
This guy reminds me of Michael Knighton years ago with Man Utd.

Making a whole spectacle of himself, attracting attention with all his plans, then it came to nothing.

Danny O'Neill
15 Posted 13/09/2024 at 06:16:07
Well, right or wrong before anything is finalised, he's saying too much. I did see a rumour yesterday that he was about to get £200M for his shares in Palace. But I don't pay too much attention to rumours.

If / when it happens, I'll believe it.

Either way, I like his language. The parallels with Botafogo are uncanny. Once great but hadn't won anything since 1995.

Some may not like it but, if he does get in, he may just deliver the shake-up the club needs to move forward.

George Stuart
16 Posted 13/09/2024 at 06:40:36
Handling expectations?

Honestly, and how times have changed. I'd settle for a few years of comfortably sixth from bottom.

I want us to be at the top again but realistically that will require a new era which is not around the corner.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


How to get rid of these ads and support TW

© ToffeeWeb