The Mail Bag
White Rabbit out of a Hat
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As the curtain-raiser to the season approaches, the long-awaited decision on destination Kirkby looms large and the unsigned contract of Mr David Moyes gathers dust in the out-tray of Keith Wyness's office, the tension within the fanbase of Everton is not just palpable but reaching Richter scale levels. Couple these factors with the scheduled trip to the US and Andy Johnson's apparent disgust at being hawked to potential suitors then the recipe of distrust is becoming like a molotov cocktail ready to explode.
Either Kenwright and Wyness are playing a mean hand of poker knowing that a white rabbit is going to be pulled out of the hat to appease David Moyes and the fanbase with a war-chest of funds executed to precision to acquire the five or six quality signings that the Manager has demanded, or we are likely to witness meltdown as the Club careers into the abys of the DK fallout.
Others have commented on the importance of the next week in Everton's history... not for the faint hearted but has it ever been any other way supporting this Club we adore?
Peter Laing, Posted 26/07/2008 at 23:01:07
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This wouldn’t work with a defensive workman type of player.
What’s more perfect than to dazzle the fan base with a tricks and flair to shift thoughts from the depressing alternitive that is reality. Beware false idols and all that.
The postee Peter has just called Everton on their shit (some jive Americana of you) and if they try this last chance smoke screen, this email leaves them with a beacon to their... I can’t find the right word there... can you help?
Or of course we May Still Get 6 signings, yet again, folly to our own selves, getting flustered and panic stricken despite Dave’s penchant for late sprees.
So it’s one of the other. What’s your money on?
Superb post...
What’s more perfect than to dazzle the fan base with a tricks and flair to shift thoughts from the depressing alternitive that is reality. Beware false idols and all that.
The postee Peter has just called Everton on their shit (some jive Americana of you) and if they try this last chance smoke screen, this email leaves them with a beacon to their... I can’t find the right word there... can you help?
Or of course we May Still Get 6 signings, yet again, folly to our own selves, getting flustered and panic stricken despite Dave’s penchant for late sprees.
So it’s one of the other. What’s your money on?
Superb post...
I’ve been stressing for weeks and it really seems to be coming down to the wire. Here’s hoping for the miraculous.
What amazes me is that some Evertonians just think we are doom and gloom merchants to be so worried. Even if we do by some miracle get Moutinho by a convoluted and complex financial deal then we are still 5-6 players short of last years ultra thin squad and realistically 10 players short of a squad large enough to challenge the top 4. I watched our kids at Forest and some show great potential but they were boys amongst men.
We have been fucked over by selfish, power mad twats at the top of our club who are so dense they never seemed to appreciate that the Kirkby deal might collapse. Moyes going would or will be the final nail in our coffin. Some Evertonians may want to continue to dream but reality is closing in. This week may indeed decide our destiny.
See my post on A Radical Solution. Nuff said
How long can this whole ’call in’ business be delayed? It just seems all the time now we’re being told "48 hours" or "next week". Is it some RS high up in government holding up this decision? I expect nothing to happen on the DK decision until 31st August at 11.58pm at the request of Wyness.
Also to the Billy liar apologists, can you account for the supposed £8 million we had lined up for Fernandes last summer and the £5.5 million we got from McFadden and the money saved on wages by the trimming down of the squad by 6 players from last season? Even without the DK decision and the sale of Johnson we should surely have £13 - 14 million to spend. Why the fuck are we so skint? Over recent years we’re supposedly the best of the rest and we really can’t find any investment? Even though rich businessmen the world over are clamouring for a piece of Premier League action.
The real false prohpet is Kenwright himself, supposedly rescuing us from the devil (Johnson) but in the long run he will have inflicted far far more damage on our club.
Also to the Billy liar apologists, can you account for the supposed £8 million we had lined up for Fernandes last summer and the £5.5 million we got from McFadden and the money saved on wages by the trimming down of the squad by 6 players from last season? Even without the DK decision and the sale of Johnson we should surely have £13 - 14 million to spend. Why the fuck are we so skint? Over recent years we’re supposedly the best of the rest and we really can’t find any investment? Even though rich businessmen the world over are clamouring for a piece of Premier League action.
The real false prohpet is Kenwright himself, supposedly rescuing us from the devil (Johnson) but in the long run he will have inflicted far far more damage on our club.
Moutinho has made it clear that he wants to join Everton after a interview with the media last night..
The sticking point for Everton will be how long Moyes wants to punish AJ for walking out at Preston, in other words rather than flog him fast which would obvioulsy seem the best scenario now as it's clear AJ wont play for Everton again, Moyes may drag it out which in my opinion whne we are desperate for the funds is a pathetic idea, I mean for the sake of sense the season is starting in a few weeks and we need bodies..
I think its dissapointing to say the least that AJ is leaving as this would not have been in my idea of summer squad building but the fact is he is going. My worry is who we get to replace him now. I fear we will not get a striker in like when we sold Rooney and Radzinski in 2004 and brought in only Marcus Bent.
Moutinho must be brought in though as this guy will only enhance the style of play which we are striving to achieve and that is a style of play that involves the ball on the grass instead of the fresh air. It would be a tremendous coup for Everton FC but we will still need at least three others with Moutinho.
We are desperate for some heavyweight in the middle of the park and in all honesty we still dont have any natural width at the club and of course a striker is a need once AJ leaves..
If people believe we need a ’grock’ in our midfield, then I’m sure Moyes knows what’s required. Re Moutihno, he’s absolute quality, small but able to provide genuine quality that we lack at times. The absolute one thing that Moyes has earned in his time at the club is to be trusted on players.
I really do think things are now freefalling into the abyss. I run a business and I would never consider running it like EFC is being run at the moment.
Where is the contingency for failure of DK? Although, to be fair, the club openly stated that they had no contingency for such a scenario! Where are the replacements for the half dozen players let go from an already paper-thin squad that struggled badly in the last quarter of last season? Moutinho may be on his way, but unless he is bullet-proof and can play 5 positions at once, he is not going to be enough.
Where is the multi-millionaire deperate to get his hands on a sleeping Premiership giant? Why doesn’t lifetime Blue Sir Terry Tesco put his hand in his pocket and bail us out? Not just giving us a cut-price (allegedly) stadium so he can further his retail empire.
I never used to jump on the panic bandwagon, but unless something huge is about to be announced, I fear we are about to flush ourselves down the same shitter as Leeds Utd.
Where is the contingency for failure of DK? Although, to be fair, the club openly stated that they had no contingency for such a scenario! Where are the replacements for the half dozen players let go from an already paper-thin squad that struggled badly in the last quarter of last season? Moutinho may be on his way, but unless he is bullet-proof and can play 5 positions at once, he is not going to be enough.
Where is the multi-millionaire deperate to get his hands on a sleeping Premiership giant? Why doesn’t lifetime Blue Sir Terry Tesco put his hand in his pocket and bail us out? Not just giving us a cut-price (allegedly) stadium so he can further his retail empire.
I never used to jump on the panic bandwagon, but unless something huge is about to be announced, I fear we are about to flush ourselves down the same shitter as Leeds Utd.
I am not anti-Wyness or BK but I am VERY concerned at not only the lack of transfer business but also the Moyes contract, DK and the AJ saga.
We SHOULD indeed have cash from the deals pointed out earlier and i agree that even 5 or 6 signings will not mean we differ much in terms of numbers from last year?s squad that by Moyes? own admission was probably 5 or 6 short of mounting a serious challenge for the cup competitions and perhaps even snatching 4th spot.
If AJ does eventually leave then even if we play 4-5-1 at the start of the season that would only leave us with the Yak as JV not fit yet (and how long can he then stay fit?) and Vic away. Hence we urgently need another striker.
If we do play 4-5-1 (and if we don?t then amend the above to be TWO strikers urgently needed!) then we desperately need another Cahill type player. AvdM is never going to be an option so we really need a left sided midfielder. We know we need a defensive midfielder to replace Cars (and as good as Rodwell has been looking we need an experienced player in that position in my view) and we really need a bit of physical presence in midfield.
Defensively we?re ok at left back in Baines and Nuno and centrally we have 3 vying for 2 positions then at right back we have Neville only until Hibbo is fit although Gosling could be a back-up option.
So, aside from experienced back-up for Howard that?s 1 striker and 4 midfielders we DESPERATELY need and that?s before we start to build the squad. Given the quality we need to take us forward it makes it even more worrying and helps explain why Moyes contract goes unsigned. If DM managed to pull 5 rabbits out of the hat as he did with Lescott, Arteta, Cahill etc. then we?re still talking about £20m but more realistically I think it will take double that to fill in the gaps and perhaps even another £20m if we want to get a few more additions to get the squad size up sufficiently. Oh well, I guess is AJ goes for £10m that?s only £30m to find!
We SHOULD indeed have cash from the deals pointed out earlier and i agree that even 5 or 6 signings will not mean we differ much in terms of numbers from last year?s squad that by Moyes? own admission was probably 5 or 6 short of mounting a serious challenge for the cup competitions and perhaps even snatching 4th spot.
If AJ does eventually leave then even if we play 4-5-1 at the start of the season that would only leave us with the Yak as JV not fit yet (and how long can he then stay fit?) and Vic away. Hence we urgently need another striker.
If we do play 4-5-1 (and if we don?t then amend the above to be TWO strikers urgently needed!) then we desperately need another Cahill type player. AvdM is never going to be an option so we really need a left sided midfielder. We know we need a defensive midfielder to replace Cars (and as good as Rodwell has been looking we need an experienced player in that position in my view) and we really need a bit of physical presence in midfield.
Defensively we?re ok at left back in Baines and Nuno and centrally we have 3 vying for 2 positions then at right back we have Neville only until Hibbo is fit although Gosling could be a back-up option.
So, aside from experienced back-up for Howard that?s 1 striker and 4 midfielders we DESPERATELY need and that?s before we start to build the squad. Given the quality we need to take us forward it makes it even more worrying and helps explain why Moyes contract goes unsigned. If DM managed to pull 5 rabbits out of the hat as he did with Lescott, Arteta, Cahill etc. then we?re still talking about £20m but more realistically I think it will take double that to fill in the gaps and perhaps even another £20m if we want to get a few more additions to get the squad size up sufficiently. Oh well, I guess is AJ goes for £10m that?s only £30m to find!
Those of you who believe we will have signed SIX quality players come 31st Aug...Haven?t you learned yet Everton do hthis EVERY year? They fool us into thinking that finally we are about to push on and become real contenders then they KICK US IN THE BOLLOCKS !!!...and each time they kick us they do it harder than the previous year. Even Moyes appears to had enough of the charade that is our Board of Directors,
IMO there?s only one reason we do not get significant investment & that?s because Mr Kenwright is living his dream and doesn't want to give up control of the club... simple as !! Whilst he is living HIS dream he ( & WYNESS) ARE destoying OURS....Six new players... HAHAHAHA !!
It?s all speculation, but my guess is that the Kirkby deal delay and possible failure is behind the lack of transfer activity.
If Kirkby is given the OK, the money will be there (because Tesco can help the club raise it as part of the large finance deal). If Kirkby gets the KO then we?ll have to do something with Goodison. No banks are lending money for infrastructure that doesn?t show a handsome return, and there?s no return in patching up Goodison. So the money for any remedial work there would have to come from the club. £10-£15m fixing Goodison means £10-£15m not spent on players.
Like I say, I?m speculating, but the banks have little money to lend and that?ll have a major impact on Everton raising cash outside the Kirkby deal.
If Kirkby is given the OK, the money will be there (because Tesco can help the club raise it as part of the large finance deal). If Kirkby gets the KO then we?ll have to do something with Goodison. No banks are lending money for infrastructure that doesn?t show a handsome return, and there?s no return in patching up Goodison. So the money for any remedial work there would have to come from the club. £10-£15m fixing Goodison means £10-£15m not spent on players.
Like I say, I?m speculating, but the banks have little money to lend and that?ll have a major impact on Everton raising cash outside the Kirkby deal.
Seriously, why does anyone think we or anyone else will "break" into the top 4?
It just isnt going to happen; with every passing season they get stonger, richer and more powerful. The likes of Everton, Villa, Spurs can do what they want but when it comes down to it, it aint gunna happen.
To come 5th is a fantastic achievement for a club as mismanaged as ours. Even if the lying bastards are overthrown, can you see a knight on a white horse riding over the horizon? To pump millions into something they will never see a return on? That's the harsh reality of it and we need to deal with it.
I am forever the optimist, but even I am starting to get a little anxious. The season is less than 3 weeks away and the important issues aren?t resolved:
1. Moyes STILL hasn?t signed a new contract.
2. Kirkby STILL hasn?t been decided one way or the other.
3. The 5 or 6 new signings Moyes wants look nowhere near signing.
The longer these go on, the worse they are going to get as well. If Moyes doesn?t sign a new contract by January 1st, does that mean he can start talking to other clubs like players can?
We need a decision on Kirkby to know where we stand as a club. This is the most important issue for the club and a decision either way will let us plan the next stage. A lack of a decision and everything else is put on hold such as Moyes?s contract and new signings.
The 5 or 6 new signings do not look like signing anytime soon, is this due to Moyes?s uncertainty or lack of funds? It looks like we have to sell AJ to finance any deal, but Moyes also wants quality signings and the likes of Moutinho do not come cheap. Apparently Moyes was looking for about £50m at the start of the summer and if a quality player is £10m and he wants 5 new players, that makes £50m total. If we need to sell AJ to fund one new player, where is the rest of the money going to come from. The only reason we have broke our transfer record for the last two seasons and had the Fernandes money available was due to remortaging GP, not because the money was available to spend. Any decent bosman signings have all been snapped up by now as well.
Moutinho signing will be a rabbit out of the hat and would be an amazing signing, but we would still need the 5 or 6 new players as we would have to sell AJ and the general squad still needs major strengthening to challenge the top 4 and compete in Europe. We haven?t replaced Carsley either who played in virtually every game last season and have no-one else for this position.
In summary what we need from these next 3 weeks is:
Moyes to sign his new contract.
Kirkby to be decided on either way.
A ?Moutinho? (world class) type of signing.
A Fernandes (defensive midfielder) signing.
A back-up keeper, another 1 or 2 midfielders and a striker.
If by some miracle we can pull all of that off in the next 3 weeks, then we are ready for the new season and an assault on the top 4 and Europe. Bring it on!
1. Moyes STILL hasn?t signed a new contract.
2. Kirkby STILL hasn?t been decided one way or the other.
3. The 5 or 6 new signings Moyes wants look nowhere near signing.
The longer these go on, the worse they are going to get as well. If Moyes doesn?t sign a new contract by January 1st, does that mean he can start talking to other clubs like players can?
We need a decision on Kirkby to know where we stand as a club. This is the most important issue for the club and a decision either way will let us plan the next stage. A lack of a decision and everything else is put on hold such as Moyes?s contract and new signings.
The 5 or 6 new signings do not look like signing anytime soon, is this due to Moyes?s uncertainty or lack of funds? It looks like we have to sell AJ to finance any deal, but Moyes also wants quality signings and the likes of Moutinho do not come cheap. Apparently Moyes was looking for about £50m at the start of the summer and if a quality player is £10m and he wants 5 new players, that makes £50m total. If we need to sell AJ to fund one new player, where is the rest of the money going to come from. The only reason we have broke our transfer record for the last two seasons and had the Fernandes money available was due to remortaging GP, not because the money was available to spend. Any decent bosman signings have all been snapped up by now as well.
Moutinho signing will be a rabbit out of the hat and would be an amazing signing, but we would still need the 5 or 6 new players as we would have to sell AJ and the general squad still needs major strengthening to challenge the top 4 and compete in Europe. We haven?t replaced Carsley either who played in virtually every game last season and have no-one else for this position.
In summary what we need from these next 3 weeks is:
Moyes to sign his new contract.
Kirkby to be decided on either way.
A ?Moutinho? (world class) type of signing.
A Fernandes (defensive midfielder) signing.
A back-up keeper, another 1 or 2 midfielders and a striker.
If by some miracle we can pull all of that off in the next 3 weeks, then we are ready for the new season and an assault on the top 4 and Europe. Bring it on!
Reading this mornings papers has left me thinking that the MP George Howarth has a lot of sway within the new Labour setup. Apparently, he is well-connected and well-respected and if he is in favour of DK then I think (sadly) it will get the green light. Apparently, he sees himself as a king-maker. I previously thought he was just a gormless looking git but it may well be that our fate (and that of the Prime Minister) rests in his influential hands. Does anybody know if he has any interest in football and which team he supports?
I'm highly surprised we havnt been linked with Vinnie Grella. I?d bet my house Tiny Tim hasnt failed to mentioned to Moyes his national team mate is looking for a move to England. He is an incredibly undervalued DM. National pride aside, I would say he is a much better player then Carsley.
Maybe Moyes has asked for £30 - £40m. So the club have said there is 15m - 20m in the kitty but if Kirby gets the nod we can double that to 30m - 40m or if Kirby gets the knock back you will have to sell AJ. Maybe that explains why they are delaying the sale of Johnson because if Kirkby gets the go ahead he is staying at Everton.
That would also explain why we haven?t bought yet because Moyes isn?t sure how much money he has and will have to alter his shopping list accordingly.
That doesn?t mean negotiations haven?t already started for these players though and that deals can?t be completed quickly once the financial side is sorted out. I am still not panicking and will be happy if we sign two CM a left winger and a striker (if AJ leaves).
That would also explain why we haven?t bought yet because Moyes isn?t sure how much money he has and will have to alter his shopping list accordingly.
That doesn?t mean negotiations haven?t already started for these players though and that deals can?t be completed quickly once the financial side is sorted out. I am still not panicking and will be happy if we sign two CM a left winger and a striker (if AJ leaves).
Does anyone think we’re not in the shit? And if not is it just blind faith that makes you think that?
In many ways this isn’t entirely about the squad being ready, its about the fans being ready for the new season also.
If we go into the Blackburn game with the current squad minus any new signings, I can see it being a very painful afternoon, fans having to watch the same old, the line up will on paper be weaker than the team we finished with against Newcastle which is just a depressing thought!
It’s quite obvious to me and most others that our spending swings on this stadium decision, and until then any signings will have to be funded by sales ie AJ.
I struggle to see how we are going to play two games in the US this week with such a threadbare squad.
If we go into the Blackburn game with the current squad minus any new signings, I can see it being a very painful afternoon, fans having to watch the same old, the line up will on paper be weaker than the team we finished with against Newcastle which is just a depressing thought!
It’s quite obvious to me and most others that our spending swings on this stadium decision, and until then any signings will have to be funded by sales ie AJ.
I struggle to see how we are going to play two games in the US this week with such a threadbare squad.
Just on the Moutinho thing;
Apparently Sporting want ?25 million - Everton have bid ?15 million with the difference being based on future payments made only IF Everton qualify for the Champions League.
Comunicado sobre declarações de João Moutinho
Na sequência das declarações prestadas ontem à Comunicação Social pelo jogador João Moutinho, nas quais manifestava vontade de ser transferido para outro clube, facto que já transmitira ao Conselho de Administração e Director Desportivo da Sociedade, por alegadas razões de natureza pessoal, o Conselho de Administração vem informar o seguinte:
1. No passado sábado o agente FIFA Pini Zahavi, munido de uma carta de representação emitida pelo Everton FC deslocou-se à sede desta Sociedade tendo transmitido ser intenção do referido clube inglês oferecer 15 M? pela aquisição dos direitos desportivos do jogador João Moutinho, podendo a esse valor eventualmente acrescer um montante ainda não definido no caso de o Everton FC se qualificar para a Liga dos Campeões.
2. A proposta foi liminarmente recusada, tendo sido transmitido ao Sr. Pini Zahavi, que agia na dupla qualidade de representante do jogador e do Everton FC, que não era intenção da Sporting, SAD transferir o jogador.
3. Como é do conhecimento público, o contrato do João Moutinho foi substancialmente melhorado no ano passado e prevê uma cláusula de rescisão no valor de 25 M? que pode ser exercida até ao dia 15 de Junho de cada ano. Quaisquer propostas apresentadas depois dessa data, apesar de não serem vinculativas para a Sociedade, terão de obedecer a determinados requisitos, o que não se verificou.
4.Por outro lado a Sporting, SAD acredita que as suas estruturas terão a capacidade para criar as condições para que um atleta, que muito preza, ultrapasse as questões de natureza pessoal que enfrenta e que possa continuar a sentir-se bem e feliz no seu seio.
5. Por último, releva-se que os motivos pessoais que o jogador invoca para se transferir são totalmente alheios à Sporting SAD e à relação laboral que mantém com o jogador e, nessa medida, não poderão justificar em caso algum um acto de gestão que não defenda adequadamente os interesses da Sociedade e dos seus accionistas.
Lisboa, 27 de Julho de 2008
Apparently Sporting want ?25 million - Everton have bid ?15 million with the difference being based on future payments made only IF Everton qualify for the Champions League.
Comunicado sobre declarações de João Moutinho
Na sequência das declarações prestadas ontem à Comunicação Social pelo jogador João Moutinho, nas quais manifestava vontade de ser transferido para outro clube, facto que já transmitira ao Conselho de Administração e Director Desportivo da Sociedade, por alegadas razões de natureza pessoal, o Conselho de Administração vem informar o seguinte:
1. No passado sábado o agente FIFA Pini Zahavi, munido de uma carta de representação emitida pelo Everton FC deslocou-se à sede desta Sociedade tendo transmitido ser intenção do referido clube inglês oferecer 15 M? pela aquisição dos direitos desportivos do jogador João Moutinho, podendo a esse valor eventualmente acrescer um montante ainda não definido no caso de o Everton FC se qualificar para a Liga dos Campeões.
2. A proposta foi liminarmente recusada, tendo sido transmitido ao Sr. Pini Zahavi, que agia na dupla qualidade de representante do jogador e do Everton FC, que não era intenção da Sporting, SAD transferir o jogador.
3. Como é do conhecimento público, o contrato do João Moutinho foi substancialmente melhorado no ano passado e prevê uma cláusula de rescisão no valor de 25 M? que pode ser exercida até ao dia 15 de Junho de cada ano. Quaisquer propostas apresentadas depois dessa data, apesar de não serem vinculativas para a Sociedade, terão de obedecer a determinados requisitos, o que não se verificou.
4.Por outro lado a Sporting, SAD acredita que as suas estruturas terão a capacidade para criar as condições para que um atleta, que muito preza, ultrapasse as questões de natureza pessoal que enfrenta e que possa continuar a sentir-se bem e feliz no seu seio.
5. Por último, releva-se que os motivos pessoais que o jogador invoca para se transferir são totalmente alheios à Sporting SAD e à relação laboral que mantém com o jogador e, nessa medida, não poderão justificar em caso algum um acto de gestão que não defenda adequadamente os interesses da Sociedade e dos seus accionistas.
Lisboa, 27 de Julho de 2008
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http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/07/28/SOCCER_Everton.html
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1 Posted 27/07/2008 at 01:20:37
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We live in hope, maybe we will go for him and Topal after all they both want to come, apparently.