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?And the dead arose...?
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I know one swallow doesn't make a summer ? and in Andy's case let's hope its been a swallow-free summer which will continue into the season ? but could it be possible? Have we actually got one of those mythical 'new players' who are already on the payroll?
I wish Andy VDM the very best in his recovery, and let's face it, we could do with a bit of good fortune now and then.
Keith Glazzard, Posted 14/07/2008 at 17:16:17
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I think we should trust Moyes on this one. If he thinks he?s good enough and fit enough he?ll play and us lot should get behind him and give him a chance rather than prejudging him. Moyes sees him in training, we don?t. Moyes knows his character and surely he?d ship him out if he thought there was a problem.
Here we go again, because we haven't bought anyone, we are now relying on a gobshite to come and rescue us. He should have been fucked off ages ago. I feel sorry for DM, he has to swollow is pride and keep him in the squad because the purse holders are killing us.
He is good enough. I have no doubts about that. Even a half fit Van der Meyde showed flashes of quality.
The question is does he want it. We’ll have to wait and see. If he could get himself fit he’d be a useful squad player to have. I watched the Sion game the other day and he looked alot fitter and slimmer. He also gave a decent account of himself and put and shift in. According to Osman, he’s come back with a different mentality and actually looks like he cares.
Hopefully he does contribute next season. It would be good for him and Everton. He could be get his career back on track and he’d be a useful player to have for us. Personally despite the negative press he gets I’ve never had a problem with him.
I’m sure he wants to contribute. It’s up to Moyes to see whether he’s up to it or not.
The question is does he want it. We’ll have to wait and see. If he could get himself fit he’d be a useful squad player to have. I watched the Sion game the other day and he looked alot fitter and slimmer. He also gave a decent account of himself and put and shift in. According to Osman, he’s come back with a different mentality and actually looks like he cares.
Hopefully he does contribute next season. It would be good for him and Everton. He could be get his career back on track and he’d be a useful player to have for us. Personally despite the negative press he gets I’ve never had a problem with him.
I’m sure he wants to contribute. It’s up to Moyes to see whether he’s up to it or not.
Come on ladies and gents its taken three fucking years to get 90 minutes out of him in one go, he should have been given the elbow years ago but for being tied to a contract and no one in their right mind willing to take him. It’s sad that "a never was" is all we have to get excited about or another bloody defender.
I cannot believe some people are giving Andy Van Der Twat another chance!!!!!!. We hear the same shit from him every pre season, another new hairdo, promises bloody promises, get the idiot out, get him out now, get him out yesterday, he is a complete piss taker, the fact that we have no money for new signings, should count for nothing, just get him on a boat out of the country as soon as possible.
For me he should of gone 2 years ago as he has been an expensive non-starter. However, if he pulls his weight now we may as well make use of him (if Moyes sees fit). At this moment in time we would not get a brass button for him but by the end of the year he may prove to be invaluable.
Wish him all the best? Wish him all the best??? Jeez, some people really are naive or just plain daft. This shyster has took the piss for the best part of 3 years yet you still want to give him a chance? There's hope for Peter Sutcliffe yet.
I think after the wages he has squirelled away for doing sod all, the least we should expect and demand is that he should want to play. Ok, I acknowledge he’s had personal problems so I don’t want to be too harsh, we all have them, but were talking premiership money here, big licks going out of the club for nil return. It beggars belief that we should be grateful just to see a lean version of him in training, willing to put himself about. I’ve no objection to a player taking a leave of absence unpaid for personal reasons but that hasn’t been the case here has it? As a contractor, if I don’t show up, I don’t get paid. If something similar applied in footballers contracts then I think we’d see the motivation levels increase no end, injuries not withstanding. He’s making some noises about wanting to give something back. I very much doubt it’s wages so lets hope it being available for team selection week in, week out for the remainder of hos contract. Put your problems behind you now VDM and put some crosses in
Moyes will be giving VDM as many 90 mins in pre-season to get his fitness levels up and to see if his attitude has changed. I did not watch the match on Saturday but I have heard he has slimmed down a bit. As an idea, would anyone like to see him play in a FREE ROLE position? As we all know what ability he does have but may take a little time to get fully match fit.
Same old stuff from him every pre-season. It makes sense, he just wants another season-long wage out of us. Yes, he has ability, but he doesn’t posess the character or mental stability to be a top class footballer in this day and age and that won’t change.
I just can't believe this club. We finish 5th all the talk is of pushing to get into the top four... we ought to be consolidating and adding two or three top quality players. Yet all we hear is of the club trying to sell one of their top players from an already depleted squad. He?s not happy... the manager's not happy.
AVDM would have been sold at any other top club by now; having him anywhere near the first team is total desperation... WTF is going on? If DM signs a new contract, he will be swallowing a huge chunk of humble pie.
Daniel Howard - You are spot on here, I was just going to make this point but you beat me to it.
You meet loser’s like VDM in all walks of life & I’ve managed ( Disiplined/sacked) a few like him in my time.
They are always going to sort themselves out, usually when they Know their job/wages are on the line.
In business he’d have been sacked two years ago.
How much money has this ’joker’ had off us lot in wages !
You meet loser’s like VDM in all walks of life & I’ve managed ( Disiplined/sacked) a few like him in my time.
They are always going to sort themselves out, usually when they Know their job/wages are on the line.
In business he’d have been sacked two years ago.
How much money has this ’joker’ had off us lot in wages !
No one?s saying he?s the missing link or he?s going to be our great hope this season. All people are saying is it would be nice to see him do well here and at least contribute as a squad player.
People say things like "get rid" and "fuck him off" but it means nothing. He?s going nowhere and whilst he is here we may as well see if we can use him. We are still paying him so we may as well.
If it doesn?t work out it, doesn?t work out. It?s not like we?ll be missing him as he?s never actually done anything for us. If he does then great.
People say things like "get rid" and "fuck him off" but it means nothing. He?s going nowhere and whilst he is here we may as well see if we can use him. We are still paying him so we may as well.
If it doesn?t work out it, doesn?t work out. It?s not like we?ll be missing him as he?s never actually done anything for us. If he does then great.
To be fair, Moyes has played him in a friendly, our first, and some hack wanted to do an interview with the guy who gave no more than a few quotes. I don?t think anyone at the club is making noises on what he is or isn?t going to do, and if he is trying to fight back to get first team contention, fair enough.
If I was a footballer who already made his cash, and then my daughter fell gravely ill, football wouldn?t mean fuck all to me. Not like his mortgaged is he?
But, now he?s supposedly back and hard at it. Cool. If he really wants to stay and makes a success, how about signing a new contract (if offered) and sign for nothing or give it all to former players foundation... ok, I dont expect that to happen but would be a fine gesture.
If I was a footballer who already made his cash, and then my daughter fell gravely ill, football wouldn?t mean fuck all to me. Not like his mortgaged is he?
But, now he?s supposedly back and hard at it. Cool. If he really wants to stay and makes a success, how about signing a new contract (if offered) and sign for nothing or give it all to former players foundation... ok, I dont expect that to happen but would be a fine gesture.
Connor, if we were a charity with the stated aim of giving a helping hand to life’s hopeless cases, I’d definitely agree with you. But we’re a cash-strapped football club striving for the next level and looking for every employee to pull together. We cannot carry passengers in our position. And I don’t agree that it would be nice to see him do well. Why? What has he ever done for the club to make me care? I’d rather see his priviliged position given to somebody who treats it with the respect it deserves.
Can someone tell me why the words "cash-strapped football club" always seem to follow Everton's name?
Daniel Howard, that is exactly my point. We can?t carry passengers so why not use him? We can?t get rid of him so we may as well. If he gets fit he?s got enough quality to contribute.
In my opinion, it would be nice to see him do well. My opinion not yours. I?ve got nothing against him. For me he?s someone who?s surrounded himself with the wrong people. He?s got a lot of personal problems and if he was to turn it around then I think it would be great. I?m not putting my hopes on it but I?ve got to admit for me it would be nice to see.
If he improves and gets himself in shape it will only help Everton. Hopefully he does.
In my opinion, it would be nice to see him do well. My opinion not yours. I?ve got nothing against him. For me he?s someone who?s surrounded himself with the wrong people. He?s got a lot of personal problems and if he was to turn it around then I think it would be great. I?m not putting my hopes on it but I?ve got to admit for me it would be nice to see.
If he improves and gets himself in shape it will only help Everton. Hopefully he does.
A bit of pragmatism wouldn’t go amiss boys ...
- The guy is under contract for one more year so we have NO CHOICE but to pay him.
- ’At any other club he’d have been sold’ - I don’t think so - who to? Who would have paid good money for him, the way he has behaved?
- If we have to pay him for a year then surely the least we should do is to encourage him to get in shape so that we can use him occassionally, even if it is in the League Cup to give someone else a rest.
So boys pick up your dummies and engage the brain first.
PS. I do agree he’s having a laugh though.
- The guy is under contract for one more year so we have NO CHOICE but to pay him.
- ’At any other club he’d have been sold’ - I don’t think so - who to? Who would have paid good money for him, the way he has behaved?
- If we have to pay him for a year then surely the least we should do is to encourage him to get in shape so that we can use him occassionally, even if it is in the League Cup to give someone else a rest.
So boys pick up your dummies and engage the brain first.
PS. I do agree he’s having a laugh though.
Tony Part
In answer to your question.
He’s known as "the illusionist" and he’s an expert at selling anything of value (including players) also called the "pulling rabbits out of hats " syndrome.
In answer to your question.
He’s known as "the illusionist" and he’s an expert at selling anything of value (including players) also called the "pulling rabbits out of hats " syndrome.
OK, all points of view understood, but it goes back to Marc’s point, in any other industry he’d have been shown the door. Why we have not done that I don’t know, but if we really, truly cannot get rid of him and are forced to keep paying him, then we should think about changing our standard employment contract because it’s scandalous that he is still taking money from us, when he has not performed his side of the bargain. I wonder what grade he got out of 5 in his last appraisal !
Tony Part, It could be because the latest rumour is we are pulling out of the Everton in the Community, training the kids, because we can no longer afford the cost. Whether the guy who told me was just on a wind-up, I don't know but he trains the kids and mentioned before all the rumours started, that we had nowhere near the cash to spend that the fans think.
I don’t question the fact that, to date, AVDM has been a complete waste of space. He has cost us a lot of money in transfer fees and wages (plus I hear the club are regretting putting on a free bar at the last Christmas party!) No matter how bad his personal problems are, he is very lucky to still have a job.
However, if he gets fit and starts to perform where it counts, I am more than willing to get behind the lad and support him. I am willing to forgive and forget. Many of you will disagree, but I’m sure pretty much everyone on here has a point where they would start to forgive him. 15 goals next season including winning strikes in both derby matches for example? Unlikely, yes. But all I’m saying is that I don’t think that even this "schiester" that we should have "fucked off 2 years ago" is beyond redemption. IAVDMWT!
However, if he gets fit and starts to perform where it counts, I am more than willing to get behind the lad and support him. I am willing to forgive and forget. Many of you will disagree, but I’m sure pretty much everyone on here has a point where they would start to forgive him. 15 goals next season including winning strikes in both derby matches for example? Unlikely, yes. But all I’m saying is that I don’t think that even this "schiester" that we should have "fucked off 2 years ago" is beyond redemption. IAVDMWT!
The official website simply recycled last year’s article on VDM. Another groundhog day article from Everton.
VDM has good stats in PES though and quite useful.
VDM has good stats in PES though and quite useful.
I just hope he puts in sufficient to warrant a regular spot for the first part of the season so we can actually ship him to some poor sods who think he’s come good and are willing to pay his salary demands sufficient for him to walk from us before he backslides or gets serious injured (’a-gain’, as Forrest Gump would pronounce it). As to your "changing our standard employment contract’ point, Daniel Howard, unlike most employees who are engaged under a contract of infinite duration terminable by either party upon the contractually agreed express amount of notice (or, if there’s no expres provision, the law implies a term as to ’reasonable notice’), footballers are engaged on true ’fixed term’ contacts which (absent, perhaps, serious misconduct) cannot be unilaterally terminated by one party during term of the contract without that party being liable to the other party for damages (the measure of damages being the value of the unexpired portion of the term) - which is why we’ve been lumped with AVM for the duration. No professional footballer (except, perhaps, those who are at a low level and have no other suitors) will agree to a contract of infinite duration terminable upon notice (or otherwise) during the term by the club. In other words, no-one will sign the type of ’standard contract’ you’re after.
Jimmy... "IAVDMWT!" Ha ha!
Nice try fella - I just can’t see it catching on though!
Nice try fella - I just can’t see it catching on though!
Nothing to loose here. He won't be going anywhere until his contract expires anyway. The people fortunate enough to have seen him play, a long time ago, before he arrived at GP, know that there is a very talented player in there somewhere, if he can somehow recapture that, consistantly, he will be loved.
Can't see too many blues holding their breath though...
Can't see too many blues holding their breath though...
Yes we have had a poor return from our investment in AVDM. There was and is no doubt about his football ability, he has played at the highest level and played very well. So when he signed for us I was more than a little pleased. To say that I have been disappointed would be an understatement.
However, I don?t believe the guy is beyond redemption. Yes there can be no doubt that some of his problems have been of his own making and he has to recognise that. However, I am not sure how I would react if I had a child who was seriously ill, I doubt whether I would be able to be totally focussed on work.I think if we are honest most people would be the same.
I am not stating a case for the "bleeding hearts" brigade. As I stated AVDM has caused some of his problems himself; however, he has also faced some issues which would test anyone of us. I am not saying we should go overboard on one good pre-season performance. I would not say we should do that if he starts the season with Man of the Match performances in our opening 4 or 5 games.
However, I don?t believe the guy is beyond redemption. Yes there can be no doubt that some of his problems have been of his own making and he has to recognise that. However, I am not sure how I would react if I had a child who was seriously ill, I doubt whether I would be able to be totally focussed on work.I think if we are honest most people would be the same.
I am not stating a case for the "bleeding hearts" brigade. As I stated AVDM has caused some of his problems himself; however, he has also faced some issues which would test anyone of us. I am not saying we should go overboard on one good pre-season performance. I would not say we should do that if he starts the season with Man of the Match performances in our opening 4 or 5 games.
I am basically saying he?s not beyond redemption and let?s give him a chance and hope that he does himself justice in this coming season. Wouldn?t we all rather see the bloke playing the football we know he can than fail? I know I would rather see him make a comeback than become another "If only" ? like Billy Kenny .
All this talk of us being the only club that would hold on to someone like this... Rio F missed a drug test, Patrick Kluivert killed someone in a car crash, Tony Adams/Paul Merson drugs & gambling, Gazza everything and don't even start on Joey Barton. There are thousands of other examples. The stories about his daughter are true and many people in life turn to booze.
I've heard many people come out with the "form is temporary, class is permanent" line and AVDM defo had the class for the first 4/5 years of his career. I honestly believe he sees this as a chance to repay the blues (although only likely in the Carling Cup).
I've heard many people come out with the "form is temporary, class is permanent" line and AVDM defo had the class for the first 4/5 years of his career. I honestly believe he sees this as a chance to repay the blues (although only likely in the Carling Cup).
I do remember a run when Beats scored a few that VDM looked like a top class prem winger. I don't understand the problem, if he carries on being shit he gets written off as a bad signing; if he comes good and gets 15 assists next season will everyone boo him? I don't think so. That's the way football is. It isn't any other walk of life so give the lad a last chance. What's the worst that could happen!?!?!?
Dave Wilson and others, I have seen him play a lot before he went to Inter. Often on the telly but also inside the stadium a few times. He was good, but no worldbeater. He should have stayed at Ajax for another two years at least. And already at that time he had problems with his mentality which were reported in the press. It is easy to say in hindsight, but all his problems here were to be expected. He was and is the type of player that does well in a good side but will not make the difference when we’re 1-0 down or so. Add all the personal stuff...
I have absolutely no expectations of him this season (or ever again for us for that matter). I would love him to prove me wrong but he needs to move and get a new chance somewhere, ideally at a mid-table team in Holland so he gets the space and time to do his things and where he has a defensive midfielder behind him covering his lack of defending.
I have absolutely no expectations of him this season (or ever again for us for that matter). I would love him to prove me wrong but he needs to move and get a new chance somewhere, ideally at a mid-table team in Holland so he gets the space and time to do his things and where he has a defensive midfielder behind him covering his lack of defending.
A whole squadron of pigs are seen flying over Goodison!!!!! VDM going to make a positive contribution to Everton !!!! Bottom line he just can?t.
It is like Joey Barton convincing any idiot stupid enough to listen that he doesn?t believe in violence and will never ever ever honest beat up anyone else. Do me a favour... VDM should be ditched ? cut our losses ? and free up his wages and his XXL kit. Speechless that anyone believes this.
Steve, I know all that, but its the misconduct point I was getting at, a contract is a bargain whereby both parties must perform their duties, or risk termination for breach. I would argue that the way he has behaved could (or should) amount to breach, entitling Everton to terminate. But I understand that in modern football, you can do just about anything and not be terminated (look at Joey Barton). That doesn’t make it right tho, and maybe one or two should be made an example of and hopefully then courts would be sympathetic to the club if the player sued.
No DM’s got it sussed, he’ll get the best out of AVDM this season, he’s had those advertising hoadings with the rolling ads installed at Goodison. He keeps hold of the remote control for them, plays AVDM & every part of the ground he wants him to run to he brings up the one the bottle of Chang on.
Steve Williams, you?re talking sense. I?ve been harping on on this site for months about AvdM. I?ve seen him play at Ajax and please believe me this man has talent.
He has had loads of problems, some self-inflicted, but I really think he has not had a fair chance at our club. If DM gives him a run in the side he will prove the majority of posters on this site wrong.
If AvdM fails this season I will admit that I am a total wanker who knows fuck all about football. However, I expect,come December, to be reading "who the fuck would have thought it". Believe!!!
I agree, Daniel - any ordinary employee even if they were on a ?fixed term? contract would have been seen off on that ground had they got up to the stuff that AvdM and I?d bet on the courts upholding the employer?s position. Obviously in our case we don?t won?t to cop the risk of losing and being up for his costs as well as the total balance of the contractual term - clearly becuase no other club in their right mind would have him, he?s not going to be able to mitigate his loss. (I?d add a further ground in AvdM?s case: total failure of the consideration - i.e. we didn?t get what we bargained for: someone who could actually play EPL level football!)
At the end of the day he is going to run his contract down and we can't sell him. That plus if we throw him out we will have to pay his contract anyway so it makes sense to try and get a bean out of him for maybe his last season. Not saying he will be great but he could actually be good for us, in the fact that we desperately need a winger and Andy van der Meyde could be the man. You only have to watch clips of Inter versus Arsenal or the 10 mins before kick off when he's training. He has talent, I just wish we could see some. I think he owes it to himself but more importantly us.
Andy Crooks - Thank you for entering the VDM predictions category of todays online copetition. I think you will have a winning entry so I’m off down the Trophy shop today to get your ’NOBBER’ award ready for December.
This is not just any trophy but a genuinely tacky plastic, well urmm you know what,
to stand proud on your mantlepiece !
If I’ve judged your entry incorrectly then I’ll just have to present it to myself - ( shit not another one ! & why does my wife spend so long cleaning them in that maids costume ? )
Until December then but please note : The judges dececision is final & there is no cash alternative ( as its been spent on VDMs wages )
This is not just any trophy but a genuinely tacky plastic, well urmm you know what,
to stand proud on your mantlepiece !
If I’ve judged your entry incorrectly then I’ll just have to present it to myself - ( shit not another one ! & why does my wife spend so long cleaning them in that maids costume ? )
Until December then but please note : The judges dececision is final & there is no cash alternative ( as its been spent on VDMs wages )
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1 Posted 14/07/2008 at 18:28:05
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1. The amount of time he?s been out of the Premier league pace.
2.The "Gazza" syndrome = the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.