The Mail Bag
Shandy's Timing
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Seems about right that Andy van would pull something just before the team fly out to the USA, considering he is scared to fly! Does anyone know if a ticket for the flight was even purchased? Would love to know.
Philip Jones, Posted 26/07/2008 at 13:00:39
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That’s 2 spare tickets then, coz AJ wasn’t on the manifest either. Looks like he’s going after all.
I’ve just seen the players names travelling to the US on the OS. Agreed - its a shame that AvdM’s comeback may have been so short-lived, and the clearest possible evidence yet that AJ is travelling elsewhere. That must mean £10m or so into the kitty, so DM must have a good idea about who it will be spent on.
Whether its needs must or not, its still good to see the young players included in the trip.
Whether its needs must or not, its still good to see the young players included in the trip.
"Striker Andrew Johnson and Andy van der Meyde, who limped out of Friday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, were not part of the travelling group."
http://tinyurl.com/6mrsqt
Clowns.
http://tinyurl.com/6mrsqt
Clowns.
According to the squad list that is up at the minute (16.05 bst), Baxter isn’t going either despite him being in the photo at the top of the page... maybe the got it wrong with AJ too and he really is going! :)
The OS has 13 outfield players listed who have made the trip to the US including 4 who are just coming back from injury, they might struggle to name a team for the 2nd match the way things are going...
I'm more worried that the club keeps lying to its fans, don?t we pay their wages.
Tom,
No we don?t pay their wages. Presumably that's the players you?re talking about. The club is a privately run company that has a number of ball-kicking employees on its payroll. We (the supporters) pay the club to watch them play and for tatty merchandise, what they do with that cash is their business.
No we don?t pay their wages. Presumably that's the players you?re talking about. The club is a privately run company that has a number of ball-kicking employees on its payroll. We (the supporters) pay the club to watch them play and for tatty merchandise, what they do with that cash is their business.
OOOH! Thats a can of worms opened..!
Peter, I think you will find that, if we didn't pay for tickets and merchandise, the club wouldn't be able to pay their wages, so we are paying for them and we have a right to know what's going on.
Tom
Do you believe you have a right to know the inner goings on (including the right to demand to know if a random staff member is likely to be leaving the company) at W H Smith when you buy a newspaper? I mean, you are paying their wages.
Of course you don?t. The only difference there is that you don?t care. You are curious, so you try to make out you have a right.
The truth is, it?s the club's job to get the most money possible for Johnson, if indeed he is to go. To that end, they have to act publically like they don?t want to sell. What do you expect from Everton ? a handwritten letter saying "Dear Tom, We intend to sell Andy Johnson to raise funds for Moutinho, who we are DESPERATE to sign. Oh, but don?t tell Fulham or Sporting. Love, Bill Kenwright. PS Do you know any multi millionaire investors? One called yesterday but I left the number in my jeans when I did the washing last night. Doh!"
Do you believe you have a right to know the inner goings on (including the right to demand to know if a random staff member is likely to be leaving the company) at W H Smith when you buy a newspaper? I mean, you are paying their wages.
Of course you don?t. The only difference there is that you don?t care. You are curious, so you try to make out you have a right.
The truth is, it?s the club's job to get the most money possible for Johnson, if indeed he is to go. To that end, they have to act publically like they don?t want to sell. What do you expect from Everton ? a handwritten letter saying "Dear Tom, We intend to sell Andy Johnson to raise funds for Moutinho, who we are DESPERATE to sign. Oh, but don?t tell Fulham or Sporting. Love, Bill Kenwright. PS Do you know any multi millionaire investors? One called yesterday but I left the number in my jeans when I did the washing last night. Doh!"
Shame for Shandy really. It was quite obvious he wanted to prove everyone wrong this season and was looking up for it in the pre-season games. He?s a very unlucky player both on and off the pitch.
Hopefully he bounces back and contributes, that's all we're looking for really.
Hopefully he bounces back and contributes, that's all we're looking for really.
How long are they over in the States for? Presumably there’ll be no signings for the duration of this jolly?
I’m not so sure James. Pienaar signed and joined us in America, something could happen.
I dont know about anyone else but the size and make up of the squad for the USA stint is an absolute joke .
only 13 outfield players and of them 2-3 just on light training post operations (Vaughan) or injuries (Arteta & Osman)
How the hell can you have enough players to basic skills,ball retention, 5 a sides(3 teams only) and then play 2 tough games.
The whole squad size etc is now becoming a complete farce - Wyeness or Kenwright have got to get their act in gear and get at least 5 players into the club in the next 2 weeks . We cannot properly prepare for the Blackburn game with the size of the squad we have now.
I feel totally embarressed , we are looking foolish not only to the outside world but I suspect also to the established internationals in the squad - Lescott, Jags, Yakubu etc - who must be thinking how the hell we target 4th with a squad likely to down by about 5-6 players than we finished with last season.
Anyone else feeling the same?
only 13 outfield players and of them 2-3 just on light training post operations (Vaughan) or injuries (Arteta & Osman)
How the hell can you have enough players to basic skills,ball retention, 5 a sides(3 teams only) and then play 2 tough games.
The whole squad size etc is now becoming a complete farce - Wyeness or Kenwright have got to get their act in gear and get at least 5 players into the club in the next 2 weeks . We cannot properly prepare for the Blackburn game with the size of the squad we have now.
I feel totally embarressed , we are looking foolish not only to the outside world but I suspect also to the established internationals in the squad - Lescott, Jags, Yakubu etc - who must be thinking how the hell we target 4th with a squad likely to down by about 5-6 players than we finished with last season.
Anyone else feeling the same?
Being in the States or anywhere else in this day and age of global transportation and communication is a red herring, you could theoretically fly anywhere on the planet within 24 hours and as the mechanism of the actual deal should be down to the CEO and not DM then it shouldn’t make a difference. I’m convinced our lack of deals is not down to the lack of sale of AJ which would suggest a "pot" of approx £10m to strengthen the squad which at best would see two signings and perhaps a loan deal so three in and seven out.
I think we?ll have a lot more than £10 million to be honest, Moyes would walk if BK give him that amount.
I?m a little worried but anything could happen. Something could go boom and we could get two or three players in.
We are definitely in talks with Moutinho despite what people say; Fernandes is always an option as well as a few others.
Hopefully we get some deals done.
I?m a little worried but anything could happen. Something could go boom and we could get two or three players in.
We are definitely in talks with Moutinho despite what people say; Fernandes is always an option as well as a few others.
Hopefully we get some deals done.
I too believe that we must have a pot of about £25-30M available after Johnson is sold for ~£10M. The problem is that , without a Johnson sale, Moyes would have to splash £18M for 1 player (Moutinho) only and he knows we desperately need at least 5. He has to wait until he knows Johnson is sold then he will commit to Moutinho and hopefully will be left with £12-15M left for the other 4... whoever they may be.
What I?m sure has happened this year is that the £5-6M players budgetted for back in May have now become £10-12M players in today?s totally inflated market. Alonso , Barry, Keane £18M!!! players , a year ago they would fetch about £8-10M. Everton?s budgetting process partcularly for "Champions League" type players has been blown apart.
What I?m sure has happened this year is that the £5-6M players budgetted for back in May have now become £10-12M players in today?s totally inflated market. Alonso , Barry, Keane £18M!!! players , a year ago they would fetch about £8-10M. Everton?s budgetting process partcularly for "Champions League" type players has been blown apart.
Simon
I did not say I wanted to know the goings on inside the club, all I said was if the Fulham bid was accepted why can't the club just say so instead of lying saying they haven't, surely it's in their intrest to keep their own fans informed or better still don't tell them anything. Lying will turn fans away ? what happened to the People's Club?
I did not say I wanted to know the goings on inside the club, all I said was if the Fulham bid was accepted why can't the club just say so instead of lying saying they haven't, surely it's in their intrest to keep their own fans informed or better still don't tell them anything. Lying will turn fans away ? what happened to the People's Club?
It’s hard not to ridicule the naive innocence of Tom Green’s demands. Fans seem to believe that, because they support the club, they have certain "rights" when in reality the only right you have is that of withdrawing your support (especially financial) if you are not satisfied. Because, cynicsm aside, your financial support is the primary interest the club ("People’s Club??? Give it a rest!) has in you. As for telling you what’s going on? Don’t be so silly!
At this point, I wanted to refer you to the "Customer Charter" that used to be available online at the Official Website. It says it’s still there (on the Club page) but I can’t find it. Anyway, it’s been a couple of years since we were last regailed with fascinating details about how well they were living up to it: number of complaints satisfactorily resolved... etc. Don’t think it promised anything tho in terms of keeping you informed.
At this point, I wanted to refer you to the "Customer Charter" that used to be available online at the Official Website. It says it’s still there (on the Club page) but I can’t find it. Anyway, it’s been a couple of years since we were last regailed with fascinating details about how well they were living up to it: number of complaints satisfactorily resolved... etc. Don’t think it promised anything tho in terms of keeping you informed.
Naive innocence is the mark of the true blue died in the wool fan, and should never be ridiculed. Ridicule should be kept for Kopshite RS apologists who claim that tapping up players of other clubs is OK unless someone with more money than them comes along and wants one of theirs.
We all feel frustration in one form or another. As I am very old I can sit a little longer and wait - but not for too long.
We all feel frustration in one form or another. As I am very old I can sit a little longer and wait - but not for too long.
Slightly off-topic but I saw VDM for the first time in the flesh on Friday night.
Even though he was on for just a short while, he seemed to be in a different class to the rest of the team. Unfortunatley, it was a class below. I thought it was a pretty poor performance. My tuppence worth anyway.
Oh, and I?m no sports therapist but doesn?t a muscle pull during a ridiculous long range shot smack of not warming up / preparing himself properly?
Do you think CSKA would accept a swap deal?
Even though he was on for just a short while, he seemed to be in a different class to the rest of the team. Unfortunatley, it was a class below. I thought it was a pretty poor performance. My tuppence worth anyway.
Oh, and I?m no sports therapist but doesn?t a muscle pull during a ridiculous long range shot smack of not warming up / preparing himself properly?
Do you think CSKA would accept a swap deal?
Chris Gallagher,
How can you possibly judge, or feel it worth commenting on a player you saw for the first time, who played only ?a short while?, before being taken off injured?
I don?t think anyone has seen enough of him in a blue shirt to comment on his ability or class.
Regarding your assumptions that he hadn?t warmed up, are you blaming the player or the staff? I found your snotty comments to be very irritating and unhelpful.
And generally for other people commenting on VdM, refering to him as ?Shandy Andy? etc is also very demeaning and not at all funny. It appears to me like he is trying his best to prove himself and we should give him a break. He has had problems, he is human and he deserves a little bit more respect.
How can you possibly judge, or feel it worth commenting on a player you saw for the first time, who played only ?a short while?, before being taken off injured?
I don?t think anyone has seen enough of him in a blue shirt to comment on his ability or class.
Regarding your assumptions that he hadn?t warmed up, are you blaming the player or the staff? I found your snotty comments to be very irritating and unhelpful.
And generally for other people commenting on VdM, refering to him as ?Shandy Andy? etc is also very demeaning and not at all funny. It appears to me like he is trying his best to prove himself and we should give him a break. He has had problems, he is human and he deserves a little bit more respect.
Don’t be so prescious, Jay Symes (or whatever your name is... and it does ask for your both names). These players are paid an absolute bloody fortune to play the game. Shandy Andy, as he has been affectionately known on the pages and elsewhere for some considerable time, is no exception. We are Everton fans, we expect the best from our players, our manager, our Chairman, our club. Andy van der Meyde, in his extended spell with Everton, has fallen well short of the mark. Being human is no excuse ? that applied to everyone when we last checked.
I was at the game Friday night and bitterley dissapointed to see Shandy Andy go off, because I honestly think everybody deserves a chance. The man wants to have a go at providing some joy for us Evertonians as he said in an interview "give something back to the club, repay the fans". He knows he hasn?t set the world alight in his time with us but he has got talent; if we could only find the way to unlock it.
David Moyes doesn't strike me as a naieve person so do you honestly think he would be sucked in by playacting? And the physios are payed enuough not to hide it from the main man!
On a more positive note, although i was dissapointed with the result and peformance at Forest, I think there were a lot of positives to be taken from the game, not least the efforts or the youngsteres trying to establish themselves in the team. I thought a lot fell short but not Rodwell (he did a good job filling Carsley's boots) or Jose Baxter (exceptional goal for someone so young) and Gosling (who put himself about and who I didn't know who the fuck I was watching until I made enquiries after the match).
I?ve been on something of a tangent here but I?ll leave you with one thought: I?ve supported Everton since the 1986 FA Cup Final wen i was jus 6 years old and able to make my own mind up coming from a family of stout reds but I?ve never looked back. The best times I?ve had are with Moyes in charge and i know he?s gonna surprise us all with some top sighnings and all this worry will be forgotten about. IMWT. Sorry for droning on but I am twatted after the Australian Pink Floyd :)
Jay
On re-reading my post, I still don’t think I’ve said anything particularly caustic, just offering my opinion.
I saw him play on Friday night and thought he was pretty poor. As I said, I’ve not seen him play in the flesh before but I was singularly unimpressed.
I also appreciate that he’s had quite a few personal problems and I’d absolutely love it if VDM could regain his top form. He really would be like a new signing for us. Fact is, he’s a long, long way from that form at the moment and there comes a point where you have to seriously consider other options.
I do take your point about it being perhaps a combination of staff and player to ’blame’ for not being warmed up enough/correctly - if indeed a muscle pull is the actual injury.
I purposely made no comment regarding the initial subject matter (play-acting) and in fact prefaced my original comment with ’slightly off topic’.
With a younger player breaking in to the team I wouldn’t have had time to form an opinion on them just yet and wouldn’t say that they were a poor player. In fact, I’m not even saying VDM’s a poor player. However, his performance on Friday, when measured against the benchmark of his own top form (i.e. not at Everton), was substandard. Hence the comments which I stand by.
On re-reading my post, I still don’t think I’ve said anything particularly caustic, just offering my opinion.
I saw him play on Friday night and thought he was pretty poor. As I said, I’ve not seen him play in the flesh before but I was singularly unimpressed.
I also appreciate that he’s had quite a few personal problems and I’d absolutely love it if VDM could regain his top form. He really would be like a new signing for us. Fact is, he’s a long, long way from that form at the moment and there comes a point where you have to seriously consider other options.
I do take your point about it being perhaps a combination of staff and player to ’blame’ for not being warmed up enough/correctly - if indeed a muscle pull is the actual injury.
I purposely made no comment regarding the initial subject matter (play-acting) and in fact prefaced my original comment with ’slightly off topic’.
With a younger player breaking in to the team I wouldn’t have had time to form an opinion on them just yet and wouldn’t say that they were a poor player. In fact, I’m not even saying VDM’s a poor player. However, his performance on Friday, when measured against the benchmark of his own top form (i.e. not at Everton), was substandard. Hence the comments which I stand by.
Perhaps VDM was told there would be no drinks on the flight and no duty frees!!!!!!
I just can?t believe our fans continue to think we an get nything out of him - another sad joke on us.
I just can?t believe our fans continue to think we an get nything out of him - another sad joke on us.
Chris Gallagher,
He played for ten minutes, not long enough for you to judge him. From what I remember he skinned a fullback, ran the full length of the pitch with the ball at his feet and had a long range shot. I’d call that a bright 10 minutes personally.
He’s done well in Pre-season and actually been one of our best players. He’s tried to contribute which is all people are asking for, I really did feel sorry for him the other day whereas in the past I would have laughed and moved on.
He looked like he actually wanted to get his season back on track and wanted to contribute. A big shame in my opinion but I expect him to be back and play is part. He’s got 4 games under his belt which will do him well.
He must be the most unclucky player to play for Everton. He always gets injured or robbed when he gets a few games together.....shame really.
He played for ten minutes, not long enough for you to judge him. From what I remember he skinned a fullback, ran the full length of the pitch with the ball at his feet and had a long range shot. I’d call that a bright 10 minutes personally.
He’s done well in Pre-season and actually been one of our best players. He’s tried to contribute which is all people are asking for, I really did feel sorry for him the other day whereas in the past I would have laughed and moved on.
He looked like he actually wanted to get his season back on track and wanted to contribute. A big shame in my opinion but I expect him to be back and play is part. He’s got 4 games under his belt which will do him well.
He must be the most unclucky player to play for Everton. He always gets injured or robbed when he gets a few games together.....shame really.
Shandy doesn?t mind flying.
He?s more worried about taking part in the Karaoke.
He?s more worried about taking part in the Karaoke.
Nice one Baloo!
Unluckiest Player to play for Everton...well VDM must be up there but how about a shout for David Smallman and his catalogue of injuries in the 1970’s or Paul Bracewell in 1986 (2 years to sort out his ankle injury and never quite the same player afterwards).
Other suggestions welcomed!
Other suggestions welcomed!
It’s far rarer to find VDM playing for Everton than yeti sightings.
Unluckiest player of last 15 years had to be Tony Grant. Poor lad had glass ankles but whenever he was in the team we always went on a good run. Shame he never got to fulfill his potential
VDM does not deserve to be mentioned on the same page as Paul Bracewell. One was a model pro who was desperate to pull the blue shirt on. The other prefers to pull pints instead of wearing the shirt. Get real people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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1 Posted 26/07/2008 at 14:41:58
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It’s a real shame too because he was just starting to get much needed match fitness and the trip would have done him the world of good.
Moyes thinks he’ll be out for a while with the injury he has, hopefully he’ll be back before the PSV game in an attempt to win a place on the bench for the Blackburn game.