The Mail Bag

The future...?

Well, it looks like we've sold 3 players for ~£18m, and signed 2 loan players (who 80% of us have never heard of).

Any business is about confindence and i wonder now quite how much damage the release of the BK interview has done?

Arteta was quoted 3 weeks ago saying he had no intention of leaving and wanted to stay and win things. Yet 2 hours before the deadline he apparently wants to leave (and after the last couple of weeks who can blame him?).

How hard now is it going to be to keep Fellaini, Baines, and in a couple of years Barkley?

I appreciate the Blue Union were doing what they thought were best, but can't help feel in publicising the plight of the club (which i'd say was unknown to the majority of the players), has done far more harm than good.

Happy to be covinced otherwise, but definitely a sad day for me.

Martin Paice     Posted 31/08/2011 at 23:41:30   Comments (182)

Something's rotten in...er... Holland

Following on from speculation that we're in for Royston Drenthe, I looked at his Wikipedia entry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royston_Drenthe - to discover this...

"Royston Ricky Drenthe (born 8 April 1987) is a Dutch footballer who potentially could be on his way to lesser side in Merseyside, Everton FC. Unfortunate for him it may be, he will at least be guaranteed first team football.

Probably written in haste whilst trying not to expel both bladder and bowels into ones Liverpool branded tighty-whities (or reddies in this case). Sadly, it's already been taken down.

Silly Billy.

James Davies     Posted 31/08/2011 at 17:42:54   Comments (39)

Yakubu and Beckford

Having just read the news that both Yakubu and Beckford may be leaving us, I have to say I will be impressed by Moyes if this holds true.

Yakubu has not looked sharp enough since his tragic injury, and Beckford, for all his pace and effort, looks too often like a headless chicken to lead the line.

More importantly, Yakubu's wages at Evertom are right up there with those of the top earners at the club.

Moyes frustrates me with his tactics, but he is generally pretty astute in his transfers. I am sure the club will take flak for this but I don't think criticism is warranted in this instance, as fashionable as slaughtering the club has become of late.

Anthony Jones     Posted 31/08/2011 at 17:37:58   Comments (27)

How Can We Compete?

I read an article in the Times this morning about sheik Mansoor's investment in Manchester City. According to their figures which I dont doubt they believe he has bankrolled City to the tune of £1.3 billion. Also remember that they didn't have to purchase a ground so the majority of the money has been spent on the playing staff. Now having spent this fortune he is still not guaranteed to win the Premier League.

When you also consider what the present Champions have spent, and what Liverpool have spent to try and get into the top 4, where does that leave us?

Even if there was an investor out there, based on these figures, he would have to be prepared to spend nearly as much as the owners of City, because we need a new stadium as well as players. Now does anybody in their right mind believe such an investor is out there? Somehow I don't think so.

So that leaves us to run our club as a business that means maximise our profit and reduce costs ? in short, sell the best players till we can pay off the bank and increase admission charges. Seeing as we are one of the cheapest grounds to watch Premier League football, that needs addressing first as well as selling players.

Then we will be in a position to buy new players provided we don't go down the route of paying over £50,000 per week to any player. Not very palatable but the only solution.

Brian Harrison     Posted 31/08/2011 at 13:33:13   Comments (13)

Rodwell ? Where was he on Saturday?

Just seen Rodwell with Under-21s today, he looked okay, doing sprints etc . Anyone have any idea why he didn't play on Saturday ? not even on bench?
Mike Oates     Posted 30/08/2011 at 20:33:42   Comments (36)

Good Chairman, shame about his advisors!

As a longstanding supporter of Chairman Bill, I do have to query who advises him on his choice of advisors!

All the way back to the infamous Christopher Samuelson, the worthies (or otherwise) he has chosen to rely on have sold him well short.

Of late, the likes of Wyness, Ross, Harris and Hatton have hardly enhanced his standing amongst Evertonians... and even top businessmen like Green and Leahy seem to have sold him bum steers.

It also disappoints me that he has actually sought to make a virtue of naivety ? as with his response to the financial questions posed at his recent inquisition.

I continue to believe that, at heart, Blue Bill is an all-round `good chap` with the best interests of our club at heart. Whether he has the wisdom and judgement to see us through this crisis is all together a different matter.

Certainly, he could hardly do worse were he to reject the `help` of his ill-chosen hangers-on!

Richard Dodd     Posted 30/08/2011 at 13:48:03   Comments (49)

Who do you think you are........

I have just revisited the video interviews from the games at the weekend and would be interested to know what people's thoughts are as to just the way David Moyes comes across since the start of the new season.

In my opinion (if I wasn't a blue) the man is bordering on arrogant, snide, belittling and just plain unpleasant. As an ex-sports journalist, the guys interviewing him are just doing their job and at no point did I perceive any of their questions to be unsuitable.

One point in particular where the guy asked whether he was happy to "sneak" the win, the reponse from DM was damn-near sneering. My point is we have all been here in the past, bemoaning the myopic opinions of Ferguson, Wenger et al, but to my mind our chap seems to be even worse.

At a time when the fans are bordering on damn near anarchy as to the deafening wall of silence from our club, how and why is he appearing in company suits portraying the club in such a negative manner?!

The steely eyes and patronising manner are all well and good when we have been unjustly treated (Collina & Villarreal etc) but why be like that when we have won?!

If I'm brutally honest his manner made my skin crawl and whilst I fully respect what he has done for the club in his tenure, he is also not without his critics and for good reason with our style of play and people in wrong positions.

Arrogance is all well and good when in an untouchable position of success, but he does not have this. His interviews are rapidly resembling a spoilt child and treating the press with such disdain is not an image I associate with our great institution.

Mark Yeomans     Posted 30/08/2011 at 12:02:57   Comments (39)

The Price is Right!

I?ve posted during the summer basically saying that the most obvious key to any sale of Everton is directly related to the price being asked by the current owners. This seems to be the one question no-one will answer but it seems clear to most ordinary people that if you are asking way in excess of a realistic price then you are very unlikely to sell.

Minor shareholders such as myself and other fans have no idea if this is the case but without being told the asking price we cannot form a proper opinion. I?m sure everyone is a willing seller of their house or car at two or three times the market value and I think the same view applies to most things including football clubs!

The latest information from the infamous Blue Union meeting with Bill Kenwright indicates that the only pre-condition to the meeting imposed by Mr. Kenwright was that they would not ask him the price being sought for any sale. This pre-condition was agreed to but surely the answer to that question is the most imperative to the future of Everton Football Club?

Furthermore, if the club is genuinely for sale then why are the current owners so unwilling to indicate an asking price?
Andy Riley     Posted 30/08/2011 at 11:48:06   Comments (11)

What is Bill Kenwright Hiding?

Everton are up shit creek and we are expected to believe Bill Kenwright can't even account for £24M going out of the club this year alone. Are we seriously expected to believe our chairman hasn't made it his business to find out when he claims he's had to plead with the banks not to kill us and has been unable to provide Moyes with transfer fees and is unlikely to be able to do so for the foreseeable future?

Simon, ?Just going back to the finances, this conversation has gone all over the place?..you were saying before that you can account for where the money has gone?? Bill, ?I didn?t say that, what I said was the accounts are there? Simon, ?Yeah, I know and to be honest I don?t think that anyone is taking a salary out or anything, but one of the things that people are scratching their heads about is this rise in other operating costs, it?s gone from?? Mark, ?It?s gone to £24m so there?s twenty odd million there that Evertonians don?t know about? what?s that?s going on; that?s why we?ve come here, we?ve asked Robert to fill us in?? Bill, ?When you say other operating costs what do you mean?? Simon, ?That?s what it says in the accounts, other operating costs? Mark, ?That?s why there?s so much confusion, they?ve steadily risen?.? Bill, ?I?m sure? whatever accounts you get they go through the most stringent structure imaginable; It?s just a heading, what?s the heading again?? Mark & Simon, ?Other operating Costs? Bill, ?And how much is it?? Mark, ?£24m? Simon, ?And that has steadily risen over the?? Bill, ?Hold on hold on; then you haven?t got the £53m for the players? Hold on, fifty three plus twenty four, well that leaves you four or five for the other???are these other operating costs David? I don?t know, I have no idea?

Mark ?Well, surely as Chairman you should be aware what these other operating costs are?? Bill, ?No, absolutely not, and why should I? I can?t break down the accounts for you??

What does Kenwright take us for and why hasn't the likes of Dave Prentice taken this up rather than taking snide digs at the very same fans Kenwright insults with the shite he spewed when questioned on the Other Operating Costs?

Andrew Earlam     Posted 30/08/2011 at 07:47:52   Comments (16)

Tactics holding us back

Watched the raid at Ewood park on Saturday and although elated with the result, the performance was Sunday league. Now before I begin to state my point I'm no Moyes basher and believe he's one of the best in the business at signing players and has assembled a good squad of players. However, tactically he is stubborn, too defensive and restrains players.

Firstly, watching on Saturday, I was alarmed by our fitness levels/sharpness; we were second to every ball. Golden rule in football is to compete first then the football will come second, that's why I believe Arsenal have never won anything in the last few years. Maybe this explains our infamous slow start, our players are playing catch up to the others in terms of fitness.

Secondly, why the hell is Heitinga in midfield? Last season, I thought he was filling in doing a job because of injuries, don't get me wrong I think he's an excellent CB but no holder. On Saturday he was the anchor man meaning Fellaini was the box-to-box all-action midfielder... he's not that player I'm afraid; he hasn't got the pace.

Everytime I've seen Fellaini playing in his natural holding role he looks world class and we look like a different team, wins headers tackles and starts moves from the back ? does Moyes not see this? He should be the fulcrum of the midfield, allowing our other midfielders to get up the pitch.

I believe midfield is the strongest position in our squad and we have the potential to contain teams and dictate play. We may not have tricky wingers but have players who can play the ball and be creative in Arteta, Osman, Rodwell, Barkley, Cahill, Coleman, Gueye etc. These players need to be allowed freedom to express themselves, interchange positions from time to time and be allowed to roam to find space, not restrained by Moyes's rigid tactics. When Coleman returns, why not throw him right back and allow him to provide width from the right much like Baines does on the left?

Another tactical decision which leaves me bemused is why from defending corners do we put the whole team into the box? There was a period against Blackburn when we couldn't get out of our box because every player was in it. It's not rocket science ? when we do that, it invites pressure... at least leave one up top/edge of the box to challenge for the clearance.

Now I believe that if Moyes could relax a little and stop being so hands-on all the time, give his players some responsibility on the pitch instead of playing like robots, we could do surprisingly well. We have the players now and, fully fit, have a decent bench, healthy competition for places.
John Gilfoyle     Posted 29/08/2011 at 11:09:30   Comments (64)

Misery Loves Company

So... just 3 weeks into the new season and the outlook appears somewhat bleak to say the least.

There's a civil war in progress between board and fans, our financial worst fears have been confirmed, and one or more of our better players look likely to depart (possibly with very little cash to reinvest in return).

There's no respite on the park either as, even with most of our 'stars' fit and ready, our team looks demoralised, unbalanced and largely clueless against some of the league's weakest opposition (QPR and Blackburn both have to be relegation favourites).

Yet somehow, despite our woes, we're not the gloomiest fans on the block this weekend...

Spurs, one of the sides who appeared to storm past us in recent seasons as we were labouring in neutral, sit solid bottom of the table with nil points from two games and a -7 goal difference having been tonked by both halves of Manchester and are labouring amid some player strife of their own with Modric clearly wanting away.

Their rival North Londoners seem in even more dire straits, with just 1 point to show from 3 games, an even worse goal difference after an 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Man Utd, and a squad which has been decimated by the loss of their most creative midfield duo to rivals and over half of their first choice defensive line-up to bans and injuries.

Between them at the bottom, Woy's seemingly resurgent West Brom are looking fresh out of boing-boing with nothing to show from 3 games... just above a Blackburn side who are looking all too much like turkeys having failed to gobble a single point against Villa, Wolves and a very out of sorts Blues (despite 2 generous penalty gifts).

Even in mid-table, Sunderland and Fulham, sides suggested by some as likely to surpass the Blues this year and push Everton further out of the top 6 with their new appointments on the field and the touchline respectively, are looking decidedly uninspired with just draws on the board and negative goal differences.

So, if it's true that misery truly does love company and further adores those who are even worse off, fellow Blues must be feeling soothed and slightly less bitter in the knowledge that we're not the most hard-done-by this weekend.

In fact, despite the panto and the now familiar abject start to the season, when the dust settles our position isn't actually that bad and there are at least 5 reasons to be (relatively) cheerful:

i) We may not have deserved it, but we've won a game and have points on the board which is an improvement on last year and could be just the catalyst to boost confidence and give us something to build on.

ii) We've not been left for dead, indeed we're sat in mid-table with a game in hand that, should we manage to win it, would see us breathing down the necks of the CL spot.

iii) We now have a couple of weeks breathing space to settle any transfer business, calm the club down and get the players fit (Coleman/Gueye) and geed up ahead of two eminently winnable fixtures.

iv) We do have most of our senior players fit and available (barring transfers) and in Baines, Howard and Felliani at least they are starting to show some form.

v) Most crucially, in the shape of Ross Barkley we seem to have produced another genuine fresh talent, along with fellow youngsters Coleman, Gueye and Vellios/Baxter)

So then, whilst the blue glass may well be cracked, there's still a case to say that it's looking at least half-full. COYB!
Chris James     Posted 28/08/2011 at 18:04:43   Comments (40)

Just suppose...

Just suppose recent transfer talk was correct and we were offered Bendtner and cash for Arteta ? would we be any worse off?

We were also offered Gibson and cash for Rodwell ? would we be any worse off?

We were offered £3 mill for Beckford from Soton and £3 for Anichebe would we be any worse off?

I'd look at it as Bedtner for Beckford - must be a plus... Gibson for Rodwell, the way Rodwell's progress has stalled, is it really that bad of a swap? Anichebe is no miss at all.

So I take it we're down Arteta and really what has he done the last 12 months?

Plus we'd have some cash to keep the bank happy and I am afraid that is the most important thing we need to do to ensure the survival of our club.
John Keating     Posted 28/08/2011 at 15:44:04   Comments (45)

Learning from mistakes?

I have quite a few friends from other clubs across the country; given Everton's 'plight' and of financing, I am repeatedly reminded ''we are lucky to have Moyes'' and ''Moyes is the next Man Utd manager''.

Now, in some respects I think EFC and Moyes are a perfect fit. I think he does have some negatives though, and I also believe that other clubs will never touch Moyes for these key reasons:

1) Transfer activity ? Davey's transfer dealings are better when he has little to spend; give him too much and he's like a kid in a sweet shop. I also disagree with his decision to hand out such a bumper contract to Arteta. The guy plays x amount of games a season, is hardly ever fit and every decent player we have now will want parity to him. Like Pienaar as well, if they feel they are worth the wages, Everton can't afford to let them go in search of it.

Everton's wage structure is surely a cap below £70k/wk, I think our accounts mirror this. Why we signed Fellaini and Yakubu for such extravagant amounts I'll never know either, we will not recoup much from either and the 'Fellaini talks' are I believe a smokescreen. If we get what we paid he'll be on his way. This probably wasn't helped by the fact they were last-minute buys, which brings me to my second point...

2) Dithering ? It's no coincidence that Wolves did all of their dealings early this year and have started positively. OK, they may not last the course but signing the likes of Roger Johnson early appears to be paying dividends. Year on year, Moyes waits till the last minute over everything, sometimes this has been due to maybe players going to fund new deals (eg, Lescott) but I can see that it's not just with transfer activity... He dithers with tactics etc also. How many times does Moyes leave it to the last ten minutes to bring on a sub, sometimes in games we are chasing?

3) Season Preparation ? Everton have lost their first game of the last four seasons, sometimes failing to ignite till at least 7 or 8 games. Surely after the many seasons he's been at Everton he'd have learnt to get his house in order earlier?

4 ) Stubbornness ? Everton are crying out for a striker at the moment also, so why buy someone for a record fee only to not even play him now? I don't know what has gone on with Moyes and Yakubu but he is a proven goalscorer and, given the alternative (Beckford), he must be worth a punt again. I am not Yakubu's biggest fan but...???

Ferguson is as stubborn as any manager, he went on record saying that getting rid of Jaap Stam was a mistake. He got good money for him and over time has replaced him successfully. If we look at Moyes and Yakubu, signed for just over £10 million, surely Moyes would be keeping him in the shop window to sell him now. He'll go for a free in the summer guaranteed.

I get the feeling Moyes has gone stale at Everton but, like I say, I think we are a good fit ? I just wish he'd learn from his mistakes.

Allan Jones     Posted 28/08/2011 at 10:31:38   Comments (24)

Ross Barkley

With the sales of many young players fresh in the memory, I think it is absolutely vital that Everton as a whole make Ross Barkley feel appreciated, wanted, and needed here at GP in the coming season.

Already, Moyes has pointed to errors he has made and I just hope that Moyes himself has learned from the Rooney situation. Barkley has talent, that much is obvious, and the board must be licking their lips in anticipation!

We cannot take for granted that we will continue to produce such talent from within, and must do all we can to make Barkley feel a Goodision hero. I implore all Everton fans who go to matches to really make Barkley feel part of things. Because he IS one of our own and deserves to be a fans favourite. We can already see how eager he is to help us win games and to try and get on the scoresheet.

My concern, though, lies with Moyes and the board in terms of lowly contract offers and kind of not appreciating what we've got. I just hope Moyes can establish a real working relationship with a lad whose talent he recognises, but whose value to us in terms of a potential sale I'm sure he does also.

Evertonians were sick to lose Rooney, and we would be equally as sick to see Barkley go if he has a similar start to his career whereby he forces himself into England squads and the like. Please Moyes and the board, don't screw this one up.

Sunil Mudgil     Posted 26/08/2011 at 13:43:04   Comments (35)

A few suggestions

Firstly, for those that are not aware, I fully support the agenda of the Blue Union and in particular The People's Group. However I do see a number of obvious issues the club could be active on immediately to try and show leadership and demonstrate to the fans that, although some things take time and will be difficult to achieve, i.e. a sale of the club, there are plenty of things that should be done to deal with the situation of having a £5 million deficit per annum.

My suggestions (none particularly original but useful none the less) are as follows

 Remove Keith Harris from the selling process of the club;

 Appoint an interim board to sell the club whilst bringing a fresh, business-savvy approach to maximising earning potential, turnover etc;

 Get an undertaking from Earl and Woods and Carter that they will invest personal wealth into the club to the tune of £10 million if this is the amount Kenwright claims to have invested also ? show the fans that the board is committed and that we are ?in this together? and not just out for a quick buck.

 Proactively and openly commence discussions with the Council and with Liverpool FC to bring clarity over the issue of shared stadia, and a football quarter, development of Goodison;

 Look into naming rights sale;

 Fully consider a share rights issue;

 Move quickly to bring clarity around the Park End development and in the meantime brick up that damn wall!!

 Actively look to reduce the wage bill in January. If we need to lose some of the more expensive earners to reduce overheads then do so. The likes of Heitinga, Neville and Cahill are not contributing enough these days to justify wages £60k and above.
Grant Smith     Posted 26/08/2011 at 13:33:42   Comments (21)

Mr Prentice goes to Town

Mr. Prentice has done it again; patronising Everton supporters with his latest Echo missive. He's received a letter where the sender describes how his 29-year-old son is very upset after attending the QPR game. However he's not upset at the crap served up on the pitch, he's unhappy that Evertonians protesting about Kenwright and the Board got into an argument and a scuffle with other fans who just wanted to support the team on the pitch. Sounds like TW but with action and sound!

Prentice then uses this as a call to the "real" fans to come together and support the Club; our unity has been our strength, "where will be if we lose that?", he states ominously. Without naming sites, he then goes on to have a right go at critics of the Club who use the internet to come up with any number of what he calls conspiracy theories and the recent Earl loan scenario is cited and he uses this to effectively pooh-pooh anyone getting concerned about these things as hysterical mischief makers. Only the lads at WSAG have got it right he says, stop moaning until a buyer comes along. See what he did there? He took comments from WSAG out of context. Really it's what Prentice wants to say but won't now, for fear of another backlash from fans.

So to Mr Prentice, well done! Another insightful piece! Toeing the party line yet again, instead of asking the Club the fundamental questions. Why were the fans arguing? What (or rather who) has brought things to this sorry state? How can a solution be found to get the Club out of the increasingly sorry mess it is in.

I explained our financial constraints to a couple of Leeds fans recently and their instant response was "that sounds like Leeds before the drop". So OK, Dave Prentice, we'll all just shut up and let the Board and the Echo get cosy whilst the Club we all loved before any of you turned up ? and will still love after you are all long gone ? is consigned to history because we didn't speak out.

Steve Guy     Posted 26/08/2011 at 09:34:49   Comments (52)

Rupert's Tower

I have a small question which has bugged me for many years: When did the club, chairman, whoever change the club badge?

When I wore Everton kits in the 70s and 80s the badge was like the one on the ToffeeWeb logo, i.e. sloping at the bottom from left to right. Now it is symmetrical at the bottom.

The reason why I ask is because I believe it was around the 1994-95 season and we ain?t won bugger all since.

As footballers, managers and supporters are a suspicious lot, I can?t look at the badge without feeling it just isn?t right. I know it is such a minor point but it really does bug me as I see the badge nearly every bloody day.

Mark Jensen     Posted 25/08/2011 at 15:12:53   Comments (31)

Phil Jagielka

Speculation seems to be growing everyday with regards to Phil Jagielka and Arsenal.

Personally, I really like Phil Jagielka, I like the way he hasn't rocked the boat in the style of Joleon Lescott whilst there is the whiff of a big money move in the air. He seems to be one of the very small band of current Premier League players who show a bit of loyalty.

Now although I do like him and his attitude, I have to say, anything upwards of £15M and he has to go.

I don't think he has been the same since his injury, to be quite frank, I feel like he's an accident waiting to happen every time he plays. This has been proved where he could perhaps be blamed for the two goals we have conceded this season. The cynic in me says his concentration is going as he has no real competition, Moyes is never going to drop him.

The big fear of course is what would happen to any money recouped. It's been stated that it would all go to the bank but, after reading all the fallout from the Blue Union Meeting, would this be such a bad thing?

In an ideal world, we would sell him for £18 million, and spend that on Daniel Sturridge and Adam Johnson or some other Football Manager style scenario. But what will probably happen is we sell him two minutes before the deadline passes and spend precisely nothing of the money!

So what do you think ? stay or go?

Franny Porter     Posted 25/08/2011 at 13:47:58   Comments (54)

Match Information Display

Was it just me or is the NEW information screen struggling to keep up with match information.

You watch the game and the Blues completely dominate play for the first 20 mins, and yet the information system tells us that we have only have 43% possession.

Then Everton get the first corner of the game and, according to the information system Sheff Utd have already had 2 corners, which was later reduced to 1. So, if it is not telling you what is ACTUALLY going on, why bother with it?

OH! and please bring back the old score board, timer and clock at the Park End.

Kevin Worthington     Posted 25/08/2011 at 12:48:20   Comments (7)

Six Years and One Day

Here's Collina explaining his decision to rule out Ferguson's goal in '05. Apparently someone other than Ferguson caused an infringement but I can't find any footage online ? Conspiracy!

Feed your hate here

Nick Entwistle     Posted 25/08/2011 at 10:37:59   Comments (23)

End of Beckford?

Maybe I'm just reading to much into it but it seems rather odd that Beckford is not only not in the starting line-up but he's not on the bench either?

For me I thought it would have been a good opportunity for him to get some match fitness/sharpness against a lower league team and help him build up a bit of confidence ? a couple of goals tonight could send him into the game against Blackburn full of confidence.

Anyone else think/wonder that with all the recent rumours of bids for him Moyes could be looking to get rid? ? I hope not as I think, given a run/a bit of support up top, he could be a good player ? he will never be amazing but better then what could be brought in to replace him with what we'd get for him!

Like I say I probably am just reading to much into it ? but I find it very odd so thought I'd see what other people thought!
Mat Smith     Posted 24/08/2011 at 19:44:12   Comments (25)

Another take on That Meeting

Sorry about another post on that Blue Union meeting with Bill Kenwright but I have read and re-read the transcript and there are a couple of points I would like to highlight. I would also add that I have been calling for Kenwright to go for at least 5 years.

The first:

The Chairman was aware that information from the meeting would be supplied to supporters. The only confidentiality exercised surrounds matters concerning the chairman?s private and family life, which he is clearly entitled to expect and we are equally happy to respect.

How can he ever have thought that a transcript of the meeting would not be published? A number of times he encouraged the three Blues to "write this down" and "Make Sure that you get this down"

Second.

?Of course Keith Harris is involved?.Keith Harris is involved on a daily basis."

My only comment on this would be, well, why is he still involved? He has produced nothing, indeed according to Bill the only interest if believed was from The Inventor and the ICI impostor The next comment really had me scratching my head...

Bill, ?Well I?m speaking on behalf of Robert, Jon, Arthur and Philip; we?ve got the club, we own 75% of the Club.

He then later on in the interview goes to great lengths to say that Phillip Green is just an advisor and is not interested in owning any part of the club. Very Strange.

I Think publishing the transcript of the meeting was the right thing to do in the present circumstances. BK is doing again what he did so cleverly and successfully with the failed Kirkby Project. He is dividing the fanbase, for that he he should be totally ashamed.

The one clear impression I got from reading his comments was that he clearly is delusional. For me, well done Blue Union.

Steve Sweeney     Posted 24/08/2011 at 18:24:51   Comments (25)

A road to the promised land?

Regardless of the result tonight, important decisions have to be made quickly to save this club. I believe we should sell players and raise £45million to clear the majority of debt along with a public statement from the 'board' offering the club for sale. Cut the remaining players & manager's wages, offer half price season tickets NOW to fill the stadium for every game.

The purpose of all this, to make everyone responsible for their failures, board, manager and players and supporters.

Board: To advertise the club's intentions and what they want from a prospective buyer.

Manager & players: Stop all bonuses, play for your overly inflated and frankly disgusting wages.

Supporters: If the tickets are half price there is no excuse for not attending, if the above happens there's no excuse to stay away, we constantly harp on about being the biggest club on Merseyside and the most loyal.. so prove it!!

Follow my plan and it'll lead you to the promised land!! (or maybe not).. Now then girls n boys, be gentle with me and don't expect a reply tonight from me as I'm off to the game (who signed me up to the autocup scheme?).. ;-)
Tommy Gibbons     Posted 24/08/2011 at 16:49:56   Comments (17)

A bit short notice but hey?

It seem?s the tide is turning. Where there was once a great deal of support for our ?true blue? chairman there is no longer the same level of support for the man. Listening to the phone-ins post-match after Saturday?s awful performance, many a caller was calling for Kenwright to go. Now this is very short notice but to anyone going tonight?s match and is against the man who is running our club into the ground, please let?s attempt to get something started and try to remove this cancer from our club.

I got paid today, and have sorted out my ticket for tonight?s game only now. But if you want to do something about the con-man ruining Everton Football Club then join me tonight and start something. Usually when I can I?ll sit/stand in the Lower Gwladys but tonight I?ve got my ticket for the Upper Gwladys so hopefully I can attempt to hang a banner I?ve made over the front row of the stand. It might get taken down just as soon as it goes up but hopefully if somebody influential in either the media or the board itself can see it, then maybe it?ll be a start.

Call me naïve if you want but frankly nothing has been done so far. This might not even work at all, but I?m 17. I was 11 months old when we last won a trophy, and it fucking hurts knowing that for as long as Kenwright isn?t willing to give it up we won?t be able to compete for a lot longer yet.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum?Yeah right.

COYB! See you tonight hopefully?
Adam Cunliffe     Posted 24/08/2011 at 14:50:23   Comments (26)

Kenwright, Money & Moyes

Most of Bill Kenwright?s press releases over the last few years have seen him look like a broken man. A familiar sight it has been of him looking up to the heavens with tears in his eyes, almost hoping for some divine inspiration when he declares ?I?m actively looking for new investment.?

I didn?t have a problem with this as such because he always seemed genuine and his love for the club is irrefutable, but only recently has he been saying that he wants a ?buyer? for the club. So with a debt of approximately £50m (as reported), a stadium in need of repair or a new stadium, season ticket sales that go directly to a bank to pay off loans, gate receipts being used to pay wages, and then the price of buying the club (whatever it is) - my question is: ?Why would somebody buy the club, clear a debt and then throw money at Moyes??

Don?t get me wrong: I?m not on the Bill Kenwright hating bandwagon, nor am I a lover of the man?s tactics, but I am a realist. Unfortunately I think Bill has made some bad decisions when it comes to running the club, but I think he?s also made decisions that have kept us above the parapet; just like when everybody went mental when Rooney was sold until the reasons came out as to why he was sold. The next season we finished 4th!!

So my point is instead of going over the same old gripes and moans I?ve decided to keep on going the match and supporting the team because this is still the squad (minus Pienaar) that we all had high hopes for last year and really the backroom/boardroom stuff hasn?t changed all that much at all. Moyes still doesn?t have any money and still gets the players to give that bit extra most of the time so all I?ve got left is...
COYB

Chris Moris     Posted 24/08/2011 at 10:48:37   Comments (29)

Are we partly to blame?

Now this is bound to cause arguments but it is my observations from Saturday. I went to the game after waiting 12 years for QPR ? my best mate's team ? to play us.

I do not get to lots of home games but did notice, as did my first-timer mate, that the atmosphere was dead! Before the game outside, not one song! Only once did the crowd even show a glimse of atmosphere during the game. We only really sang when Arteta came on.

My point is I know they have to give us something to sing about but my feeling is, had we been rocking from the start, it would have got them going!

"Is this a library?" from the away fans ? that really annoyed me.

Get behind them Wednesday night... make it loud, and we will see a result!

Rob Lyons     Posted 23/08/2011 at 11:15:38   Comments (83)

Arrested Development

Why do our promising young players go backwards under Moyes?

When our young promising players make the transition to the first team under David Moyes and Steve Round, they seem to go backwards.

If Anichebe, Rodwell, Vaughan, and Coleman had been at Man Utd, they would be great young players by now... but instead, they have not improved and, in Anichebe's and Rodwell's case, they have got worse ? what is going on?!!

I'm worried about young Barkley now... the place needs shaking up with better technical coaching for our young stars.

Paul Holmes     Posted 22/08/2011 at 23:31:46   Comments (29)

Not a 'real fan'

So after 39 years...I discover I'm not a 'real fan'

"I know that the real fans are with us." ? So says our inspirational club captain, whose special talents have been rewarded with a new two-year contract.

Well, Mr Neville, thanks for the lecture.

Do 'real fans' renew their season ticket when their head and bank balance say they shouldn't ? I did, and I'm wondering why I bothered.

By the way, Mr Neville. 'Real players' can accurately pass the ball.

'Real players' (in the absence of any other discernable ability) don't appear on the Match of the Day title sequence pointing into the middle distance.

'Real players' do their talking on the pitch - with inspiration, skill and determination.

When 'real players' do well we will praise them. When they don't, we won't.

That's life in a competitive environment. Now get on with it.

Regards

A lifelong blue (feeling 'really' patronised by your comments)
Alan Chadwick     Posted 22/08/2011 at 20:58:36   Comments (63)

Time for a shake-up?

Looks like nothing's going to change in the way of the board and management so I was thinking of ways things could change in other areas.

I?m sure many of you will probably disagree with this and say I?m playing Championship Manager or living in a dream world but I think we should use the rest of the summer to look at making things stable for next year ? if Arsenal want Jags and Arteta then sell them ? clear some players out, clear some debt off and look at rebuilding around the younger players ? Fellaini, Rodwell, Barkley ect?

First off, I?d look at selling the below players (if we have takers):-

£17mil for Jags
£8-13mil for Arteta
£3 mil Yak
£2 mil Yobo
£2/3mil Anichebe

If we sold all those we would be looking at what around £32 mil to £38 mil ? you could pay £25 mil off the debt and still leave Moyes with £7 - 13mil ? he could then look at bringing in a couple of squad/young players or a couple of loans to bulk up the squad and see us through to next summer when we could hopefully look at rebuilding fully then ? with a clear overdraft and hopefully a bit more cash left over from reduced wage bill and less interest payments on the debt.
Incoming ideas:
Onuoha
Christian Benteke striker from Standard
Daniel Sturridge (loan)
Wright Philips ? not his biggest fan but he would add some pace!

Next, as many people have stated on many posts, it?s time for a formation change ? I think with the players we would have left we should give 4-3-3 a go. We can?t do any worse then we are now... it's something I can?t ever see Moyes doing though! ? not defensive enough. - only using the players we currently have (and if the above players were sold) something like (4-2-1-3):-
Howard
Heitinga Distin Coleman Baines
Rodwell Fellaini
Barkley/Osman
Beckford Saha Bily
Subs:- Mucha Nev Cahill Hibbert Vellios Duffy Osman/Barkley

t would be easy to also switch this to 4-4-2 if needed. Play Baines and Coleman as wing backs with either Rodwell (who Moyes said is a Central defender) or Felanni dropping back to help cover the defence (look at playing Nev in place of Rodwell or Fellani in some games too ? or if you want to protect a lead).

I?m not saying Rodwell and Fellaini should be parked in front of the centre backs but we should always have one playing deep to allow for the wingbacks to serge forward.

Barkley/Osman get a free run of the midfield ? Barkley looks like he could be so dangerous playing in the centre. You then also have two other people playing up top with Beckford ? and hopefully see some decent balls played to him. I?d love to see Billy given a proper run player further up the pitch!

And remember this is with no new signings! ? so add a couple of new people and it could really shake things up!

I know it?s never going to happen but it?s an idea I had given the situation we are in and the players we have got. I just thought I?d see what people's thoughts were on it? [be kind ;) ]

Mat Smith     Posted 21/08/2011 at 17:35:48   Comments (44)

The morning after...

A bad week for Everton and a very depressing week for supporters. I would like a new board and a new coach but that isn't happening any time soon. So what next? What straws are to be clutched at? Is there a silver lining?

When David Moyes took over, he stated that he wanted to remove the label "crisis club" from Everton. To his credit, he achieved this. The label is back but bigger. It's got to be dealt with. We need to be looked at differently.

Maybe we can re-brand ourselves as the first club to embrace reality. At present it looks like Jagielka is our most likely saleable asset. Of course I'd like to keep him but £17 million is good business and we can cope without him. That money should go straight to the bank reducing our debt substantially and make us look less cash-strapped and more, err, prudent. Offloading the Yak and Yobo will cut the wage bill again. (I'd keep the Yak but that's unlikely.)

As for silver linings... well, by all accounts Ross Barkley is it. Plus a pal who was at the match, who is admittedly a staunch Moyes supporter, is adamant we didn't deserve to lose.

I have stated on other threads just how disgusted I was yesterday but this is where we are and life must go on.

Andy Crooks     Posted 21/08/2011 at 11:24:52   Comments (45)

Everton and Arsenal - not that far apart...

Not in terms of a league finish, no. But in other ways Everton and Arsenal are going through very similar problems. They are as follows:

Manager ? Both clubs neither know, nor dare think about what life will be like after their managers have left. Their managers have become institutions; unquestioningly supported from above and stubborn in their ways. Both managers refuse, pointblank, to deviate from their age-old methods.

Transfer policy ? Both clubs are absolutely resolute in their stereotypical transfers (while Everton still made some). Arsenal buy potential, technically wonderful players who are young and not ready. Arsenal do not buy 'grafters' or 'workhorses'. Everton buy (used to...) utility players, grafters and are deeply suspicious of talented 'natural' players.

Money ? Arsenal have it, but won't spend it. The supporters find this maddening, but their manager is in complete control and is acting out of stubborness. Everton don't have it, and don't spend it. Everton supporters find it maddening.

Tactics ? Whoever the opposition, whatever the tie, whatever is at stake, Arsenal will attempt to pass through their opposition, even when it is failing and they run out of ideas. Whoever the opposition, whatever the tie, whatever is at stake, Everton will pack the midfield and play percentage football even when it is failing and they run out of ideas. Neither side has a Plan B.

Supporters ? Arsenal supporters are utterly fucked off with being told how lucky they are with what they have. Everton supporters are the same. (Lawro on MotD singing Moyes praises instead of talking about his substitutions.)

Future ? Arsenal are losing ground with the teams they are used to competing with (Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Spurs). Everton are losing ground with the teams they are used to competing with (Aston Villa, Spurs, Stoke, Sunderland, Man City).

The main difference is, I guess, Arsenal can spend their way out of this current inertia. Everton cannot.
Mark Tanton     Posted 21/08/2011 at 08:11:17   Comments (11)

Live by the Cahill; Die by the Cahill

Dear Mr. Moyes,

Any sympathy Everton fans had for your financial restraints were thrown out the window yesterday...

Our team only plays well when the pressure is off. That's a mentality which filters down from the top and can only be changed by you. If you think your tactics, team selection and substitutions yesterday are going to help you get a Champions League job then you are sadly mistaken.

Please accept the following points as a 'way forward' guide:

1) Tim Cahill should not start at home. 4-4-2 please. Even if you have to start with strikers from the Everton Academy...

2) Heitinga should only be used as a centre half. Even if it means having to pick up his toys at the end of every game...

3) Barkley should be used in the middle of the park.

4) You are setting up Jack Rodwell to fail. When he leaves he will find a manager who knows how to use him.

5) Arteta should be banned from taking set pieces.

6) When Coleman is back Neville should be no more than a squad player.

While I appreciate your loyalty to the current squad, it's obvious we need wingers. We have a lot of depth down the middle of the park. If sell-to-buy is the only route then please revive this squad. Yesterday's game was full of players who weren't worried about their spot in the team.

And finally a word for Mr Kenwright: In the real world you succeed when you combine ambition with a bit of realism. You have neither. Everton fans are divided because of the fear you and Moyes have instilled in us with regards to what lies on the other side of the wall of smoke and mirrors that the two of you have built.

Everton FC has fans all over the world and I have had the pleasure to meet them and share the Everton experience with them on all 5 continents.

This club is bigger than you and Moyes and it might have to get worse before it gets better but I can guarantee one thing: no-one will leave this ship. I only hope we can drop you off at the next port...

NSNO
Mohammed  Horoub     Posted 21/08/2011 at 05:10:24   Comments (26)

Outstanding Manager

Don't worry. It will all be ok because, according to Lawrenson, we've got an outstanding manager. If that's the case then we won't be seeing any more of the following;

1. Best players left on the bench until it's almost too late. If they are fit, they should start.

2. Players played out of position, Rodwell can't play out wide and shouldn't be asked to, it's ruining him.

3. Defenders in midfield. Heitinga is NOT a midfielder, we might as well play with one less player.

4. The lone striker, Beckford can't do it, Saha can't do it. Play them together, we might get somewhere.

5. The Cahill role, whatever it is. He's not playing as an attacker, he's not playing as a midfielder. He was most effective playing in midfield and breaking forward, if he's not worth a place in midfield, don't pick him.

6. All 10 outfield players back for corners, even when the opposition only send 4 players up for it.

7. Bizarre substitutions. For 10 weird minutes, losing 1-0 at home and we had no strikers on the field!

8. Launching long throw-ins into the box whenever we get in range in the hope of a flick on. It never works.

9. Negative interviews in the media telling everyone how much of a struggle it's going to be. We know. Start talking the team up.

No doubt our outstanding manager will realise that, in the 21st century, we have to play bold attacking football with lots of movement and speed in order to compete (Aston Villa played Heskey, Agbonlohor, Bent and N'Zogbia in their win today).

The sad truth is that he has no ideas left; we are doing nothing new, nothing original, nothing creative. The football is slow, dull, unimaginative and outdated. We are standing still and being overtaken by other teams. He is not inspiring or challenging anyone to do better and there is a disaster looming unless he is bold enough to do something different.

For the sake of his career and Everton he should go because he just has nothing left to offer and I am sorry to have to say it.

Peter Carpenter     Posted 21/08/2011 at 00:14:09   Comments (21)

Lord Grantchester

This guy is joint 53rd on the UK Top 100 Rich list and he owns 8% of our club. He is the grandson of John Moores. He is worth £1,200 million, and yet he doesn't seem to want to put his hand in his pocket.

I e.mailed him the other day ? because he is a Lord you can get his parliament e.mail address quite easily by doing a Google search. I am not expecting a response, but I basically told him that we need him to help us out now; the club that his grandfather loved and bankrolled is now the only club in the 4 leagues who haven't bought a player. We are barely breaking even on the back of 5 or 6 reasonably high finishes in the Premier League.

What would happen if we finished 15th, say? Would we have to start selling players to pay for the drop in revenue from a lower league finish?

How are we going to replace Neville, Distin etc? Even when we sell players at the moment (Pienaar, Vaughan, Yobo) we don't seem able to buy anyone.

This guy could help us out big time, without it so much even making a dent in his fortune. If any of you have a spare 10 minutes, why not e.mail him also? Make him understand the gravity of the situation.

We need to keep up this momentum and act now before the ticking time bomb (which is the current board and an ageing squad with no investment) explodes...
Danny Broderick     Posted 20/08/2011 at 20:39:53   Comments (20)

Moyes to Blame for This One

The humiliating performance against QPR has nothing to do with Bill Kenwright, the Bank or a lack of investment.

This was down to poor coaching, poor management and miserably inadequate pre-season preparation that gave neither Saha nor Fellaini adequate playing time, which was surely obvious when they came on. Yet again there was total reliance on Beckford who is an adequate Championship striker at best.

Yet again there were no game-changing moves to be made because frankly Moyes has nothing more to offer. He totally misread QPR, fielded a team he thought was able to handle them with minimum effort and was unable to retrieve the situation from his miscalculation.

I think Moyes will be managing a Championship side next season. I just pray it won't be us.

Peter Fearon     Posted 20/08/2011 at 17:19:47   Comments (105)

Is Kenwright the new David Icke ?

I've read the Blue Union report a few times and I'm mortified by the Kenwright delusion and how he conducts himself ? more importantly, it explains why we're dead in the water and why we'll remain that way with him in charge.

Stating no-one is a bigger Evertonian, then declaring he doesn't want to be here before trumping it with ?How can I get out and leave my Football Club?? ? It's like a blissful child talking gibberish to his favourite toy.

Pressured on the "no sale" of the club, he produces a roll call of names adding ?I don?t know?.I have no idea why they can?t sell it." I wonder if he's ever played Pontius Pilate washing his hands, I thought.

No, flummoxed by the Elston/Keith Harris conversation he trumpets "no-one can sell the club better than me??. Adding in the refusal of seeing the purchase of LFC and Blackburn as "major sales" these are ramblings of a deluded man.

But the "Uncle bill" routine is entirely self-serving, when queried on Elstone's Enquiry declaration that no major shareholders were looking to sell - he swerves it like the "Golden Vision" at his best. One of the most crucial features of the meeting because a conclusive answer shows one or the other has been lying.

Away from that trap he continues his obscure utterances slowing only to vent his ego again: "make me President" he says, and on the subject of an interim board to sell the club: ?No, because I don?t agree that anyone can do a better job?it?s me, it?s me?" ? what a dangerous mindset.

The conversations about stadia and the fact the Blue Union lads knew more than him was painful illustrating his ineptness but not knowing where 24 million quid has gone!!! For an enterprise dying on it's feet through lack of money, this is obscene. This exchange on the operating costs encompassing the amount is enough to have the man run out of Goodison.

?Well, surely as Chairman you should be aware what these other operating costs are?? Bill, ?No, absolutely not, and why should I? I can?t break down the accounts for you??

There was loads and loads of stuff were the general attitude to the lads was patronising and obstructive but the clear picture was he feels he's doing a great job completely in line with the aspirations of the fans.

David Icke, the sports presenter who suddenly thought he was the son of the godhead had followers you know ? maybe we could get blue tin foil hats!
Trevor Mackie     Posted 20/08/2011 at 00:17:35   Comments (11)

The Fallout

After the events of this week I think that the future of this club is going to be very interesting. The next two years are going to determine whether we are on a set path towards ruin or can rise like a phoenix to where we all believe we should be.

The first point of the fallout that will affect us I think is the Blue Union meeting. It was great hearing some home truths from Bill but where is that going to lead? I think that potentially it could do us more harm than good. We knew we were skint, the players knew we were skint, but now in big neon letters, the rest of the country knows as well. To put it into perspective, if someone like Spurs want one of our players, they know they just have to offer a bit more than the valuation to force our hand. Bill admitted the banks want us to sell our players, so therefore other teams would surely force our hand over the next 12 months.

The second fallout will be the players themselves. Moyes has built a squad who in large parts are loyal to the badge (or to the wages) and therefore will stick together. Jags, Baines, Cahill, Osman, and Arteta to name a few will shun advances from other clubs to play for us. However players like Billy, Heitinga, and Fellaini are players who will want to leave. If they can get to a better team in a better position in 12 months time do you doubt they will still stay knowing nothing will change anytime soon?

Looking at it from a wider angle, Coleman, Rodwell, Barkley (in two years) are players that will be sellable assets to balance the books. These players may want to leave if the likes of United and City came in for them, just to increase their chance of success in their career. Arteta may be the other asset we are forced to sell, as his wages will become a factor in the long run if the banks do have to get involved at least.

Finally, the other massive loss we could have will be Moyes himself. He will not stay too much longer if he has no chance of progressing with our beloved club. If he is forced to sell big players then he will know it is time up at goodison. Whatever you think about his managerial ability, you cannot deny another manager would surely have panicked and sold players to 'improve' the team by now. Where Moyes will go I haven't got a clue but he will know one day when he has to walk, which could be 12 months or if we carry on and cross our fingers, the end of the contract.

The way I see our predicament is simply that the 12 years looking for a buyer has to suddenly happen in the next 12-24 months. After that, then it will be anybody's guess where the future of one of the founding clubs of this league will end up.

Chris Ashton     Posted 19/08/2011 at 18:51:32   Comments (14)

EFC Major Shareholders

Given the scrutiny the club is currently under, I was browsing through the Club's Annual Report statements and came across something that I found interesting regarding shareholders.

The accounts for 2009 and 2010 state that the major shareholders are :

? Kenwright 8,754
? Woods 6,662
? Earl 8,146

However, when you look on the official website, the shareholdings of both Woods and Earl are the same number, whereas Kenwright?s shareholding has INCREASED to 9,044.

Now I don?t profess to understanding how Everton shares work, and how their value changes, but unless they increase in value pretty quickly, why would he buy more shares in an organisation he is desperate to sell? Can anyone offer some rationalisation?
Gary Rowlands     Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:02:07   Comments (12)

Alakazam!

This mail may end up being appended to one of the various threads now set up on TW to deal with the fallout from the Blue Union meeting with the Dear Leader last Friday.

However, what has become increasingly clear today and leading (hopefully) into the weekend, is that the BU / BK meeting has had the desired effect; namely the national press are picking up on the story and we have the forum and coverage so many have been wanting.

Where the momentum now takes us is anyone's guess. It may just fizzle out after a few wins on the field, or it may continue to combust off the back of another poor start to a season, or the selling of one or more of our better players for what we now know will be to clear financial debt.

The Board's reaction to the publication of extracts from that Friday meeting on one hand beggars belief, yet at the same time comes as no surprise, given their previous track record. BK's best bet would have been to say nothing. Instead he digs his grave deeper with self-obvious platitudes about the state of the world economy; on a day when QPR find a new owner and when in recent times two other Clubs also changed hands for significant sums.

The ultimate sin, however, has been the threat to take legal action against the Blue Union and "websites"; in other words, to take action against supporters of the Club ? the very people BK purports to represent. I would not be surprised if this ill-advised tactic is followed up in the next few days with other attacks from within the Goodison fortress. Alienation from the fanbase is virtually complete.

With foot firmly in mouth, Billy Liar has managed to make an even greater arse of himself than I thought was imaginable (having read the transcript of the Friday meeting).

He has one final lesson to learn from this miserable saga: once the genie is out of the bottle, it's impossible to get it back in.
Steve Guy     Posted 19/08/2011 at 23:07:52   Comments (69)

Everton Ladies

Really random question...are Everton ladies financially tied to Everton?

If so, how much profit/loss comes from the venture and is it worthwhile?

I'd ask the responses to be business minded rather than "women should be allowed to play and it's great that we help" or "women should stay in the kitchen" etc.

If it has any net cost whatsoever I think we should pull out of the women's game altogether because it's an extravagance we cannot afford; however, if it's making us money, I'm all for it.

Dave Trudgeon     Posted 19/08/2011 at 19:45:11   Comments (20)

Does ToffeeWeb Matter? (part 2)

The first item I ever posted on ToffeeWeb, and it was quite a number of years ago, was titled "Does ToffeeWeb Matter?" At the time I was younger and, frankly, still a bit optimistic. To my mind the site was a little bit negative. If I recall properly I asked what on earth would the players feel like if they read some of the criticism they were getting. I believed it could do no good.

I wasn't always a miserable git, you see... and even today I try to avoid attacking individual players. I would never do it at a match because it simply does no good. I was reminded of this when reading Mick Rathbone's excellent autobiography, "The Smell of Football".

In his view, an essential requirement to play at the top level is is the ability to perform to one's best in front of a big crowd. In fact, his own career was blighted by nerves. Astonishingly, this never occurred to me. I've often thought along the lines of "Fuck me, if he's not up for it in the Cup Final when will he ever be?"

Anyway, the point of this ramble is to ask: Does anyone know of any players ever reading this site? Should they? Would you if you were a player? Or do they not care enough? If you are a supporter who has a go at individuals, do you think it helps? ? by the way, that's not a criticism; I think it might help me if I was a player.

Finally, if ToffeeWeb matters, I hope Bill Kenwright is reading it today.

Andy Crooks     Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:53:33   Comments (21)

Can't WE do something?

So Bill tells us something we already know: we're skint. In today's world of recession, banks are calling in debt, people struggling to find jobs, and Rooney is spending 30 grand for a sirrup.

Still, Bill's hand was forced to come up with his latest statement, and in my eyes, has not done us any favours. With cash-rich clubs on the alert that we are potless, many may feel that the likes of Fellaini and Jagielka could be on their way to service more debt.

I know that this has been muted before but have the Blue Union thought about setting up a scheme whereby fans could contribute by their own means towards the club in either buying shares or launching a takeover? I would happily part with a few quid to see this through and I'm sure so would many others.
Steve David     Posted 18/08/2011 at 14:40:10   Comments (48)

Would you sell Beckford

So Svens been knocking on Moyes's door asking to buy Beckford, knowing that the club are short of a bob or two, thinking that we would sell our players on the cheap. The same Sven who took the Yak on loan last year but didn't want to part with the cash at the end of last season to take him full time.

I'd like to ask one and all... would you sell Beckford and for what price?

Having spoken to some diehards who went to the States and the games in Germany and Ireland, they claim that Becks has not had a good pre-season and would let him go for about £5M. Sorry but I just can't see the sense in letting go a player who I think has a lot to offer and with a second good season in the Premier Leageue, could well be worth 3 to 4 times or even more than the £4M/£5M that is on offer now.
Simon Smith     Posted 18/08/2011 at 00:04:58   Comments (41)

Lying Partners

I was flicking through the booklet that I received with my season ticket and saw the usual: David Moyes not taking us for granted, Elstone had copied and pasted one of his 'We're moving forward' speeches etc, but then, I saw something a little more unusual...

In with all the usual ads and offers I actually saw what appeared to be a good deal! I'm talking about the 188Bet free shirt offer. Open an account, place a £40 bet and get a free home shirt! Awesome, I thought.

It had a little + next to it which I read that the offer ended 30 September 2011 ? get in! I quickly went to the website to be met with a big 'PROMOTION NOW CLOSED'.

Now either I have travelled in time, or even our club partners now think they can spin us any old crap and we will likely swallow it. I'm scared I will get laughed at if I pull my season card out at the Noble House now!
Dan McKie     Posted 17/08/2011 at 18:47:24   Comments (12)

Team selection v QPR

Fellow Toffeewebbers,

What first XI would you pick on Saturday? I predict this line-up (4-4-1-1):

Howard;
Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines;
Neville, Mikel, Fellaini, Osman;
Cahill;
Saha;

Cue Moyesie shouting from the touchline.....

"Down the line, Hibbo!!!", "Keep centre forward Louis!!!" etc....

Answers on a postcard please...
Eddie Tully     Posted 17/08/2011 at 16:04:54   Comments (33)

Ship the kids out...

ON LOAN!!

Good to see the likes of Mustafi and Duffy amongst a few others get a run out the other night but I don't see how a few minutes against a poor side is going to help their development.

I think the two mentioned ? along with Baxter, Wallace, Nsiala and Forshaw ? should have 6-10 months in the Championship to get used to playing proper football at a decent standard.

If they struggle badly then I think it's fair to say at their ages then they probably won't cut the mustard for us.

I don't see the point in having lads around the ages of 19-20 playing youth or reserves football.

Stephen Kenny     Posted 17/08/2011 at 10:20:26   Comments (18)

History repeating itself?

Just been browsing Toffeeweb and stumbled across what may be "The Blu-Vinci code" heres a couple of paragraphs on Peter Johnson with stark contrasts with our current plight:

"The painful succession of broken promises deeply hurt loyal Evertonians who had trusted Johnson (Kenwright) and given him the benefit of the doubt. After a summer of discontent in 1997 (2010), Everton Football Club had become something of a laughing stock, and the fault was clearly seen to lie at the feet of Chairman, Peter Johnson (Kenwright).

By the summer of 1998 (2011), perhaps Johnson (Kenwright) had learned his lesson; the crowing promises were replaced by silence from the club, as actions behind the scenes augured for a new beginning. Howard Kendall (David Moyes) was replaced by Walter Smith (Dave Jones?), although many Evertonians believe this transition was shamefully conducted as a club legend was publicly humiliated."
Vinnie Chang     Posted 17/08/2011 at 02:21:52   Comments (9)

Get behind Kenwright & the team

I recently ran into a debate with a fellow Evertonian regarding his take on the current situation at the club. He appears to blame everything on Kenwright and, similar to the riots in London last week, was calling for the whole place to be burned down and the club to start over. Indeed, hearing the dribble that came from his mouth, it reminded me of a curry I had a few weeks back that didn't agree with me and had run out somewhere else .At most times he's as intriguing and interesting as Steve Davis or Ken Barlow but it just worried me that his dross may become contagious. So I'm going to do something not too often seen by ToffeeWeb readers ? a post in "SUPPORT" of Bill Kenwright.

I, like all Everton supporters, would love the club to be in the position of challenging every year for the league and best players but reality dictates otherwise. We have to evaluate the options available and in my opinion, Bill Kenwright is our best option ? unless a billionaire comes along ? which, let's face it, is fairly unlikely. My argument is based on a number of points which I will outline below.

When Kenwright first took the reigns as Chairman, the club was in a mess. The team was teetering every year in a relegation scrap. The squad was garbage and had some players who wouldn't make most Sunday paralympic league teams let alone the Premier League ? eg, Samways, Farrelly, Barrett etc. Kenwright's arrival in my opinion brought stability.

We may not have inherited a billionaire but what we did get was someone who was a True Blue supporter, had passion, and the club's best interests at heart. He brought in a young, talented and motivated manager in David Moyes, who shared his vision and enthusiasm for getting the club back on track. Since then, we have managed to establish ourselves as a top 6-7 team, attract top players like Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini etc and enjoy some European football in-between ? as opposed to a relegation scrap. I look at other clubs like Birmingham & Newcastle and this reassures me that we have the right chairman in place.

Furthermore, he does not give me the impression he intends to sell to anyone unless they also share the club's interests which I personally like the man for despite the critism he receives daily from fans. The fact that Moyes and players like Cahill regularly sing Kenwright's praise for me speaks volumes about the guy.

My final point is that, if the fans call for "Kenwright Out!" ? what will it achieve? The club will slip back into chaos, our manager who is loyal to Kenwright will move on and the players will look at the crisis and also engineer their moves. Instead of Baines, Arteta & Cahill, we will end up with Stephen Hawkins up front and Heather Mills at the back.

How about we all get behind the team and Kenwright and put aside the flaws and appreciate what we have in place? No doubt more dribble will come back from disgruntled fans. Go look at Birmingham, Newcastle or Leeds before you add any response and think hard what it is you want.

Paul McMullan     Posted 16/08/2011 at 21:50:11   Comments (75)

Something doesn't add up

Today I emailed Graham Sharp to ask him why David Moyes has stopped doing aftermatch interviews and why he has stopped talking to the fans. Well, Ian Ross, Communications Director, came back with the following e.mail:

'Afternoon Steve,

Well, David hasn't been gagged by the Chairman - or by anyone else.
As ever, he is free to say whatever he wants - whenever he wants.
Regards,
Ian

Name: Ian Ross
Position: Communications Director
Address: Goodison Park, L4 4EL

While not exactly answering the question, it seems as if he is avoiding it by answering a different one...

Some will say that is all he has to say, but personally I think there is quite a lot he is not telling us. At least he has to talk to the MotD interviewer next Saturday after the QPR game... doesn't he??

Steve Cotton     Posted 16/08/2011 at 21:09:27   Comments (40)

Beckford & Leicester City

It seems that Leicester City are chasing our very own Jermaine Beckford, at least according to some media outlets and Sky Sports News.

A bid of £3million has apparently been made and considering the fact that we signed Beckford for free a little over a year ago, this would be a huge profit on him.

There will obviously be major concerns regarding the availability of any money, however with the sales of other players in recent months, we SHOULD have £8.5 million available if Beckford is sold.

What are your views on any potential deal?

Will Beckford become a top Premier League striker if we keep hold of him, or at his age should he already be playing and scoring regularly?

I like Beckford, however unless Moyes is going to play him week-in, week-out, I see no point in saying no to £3M.

That's IF of course we are allowed to spend the fee.

Maybe the cash could go on a top loan signing such as Sturridge, Johnson etc.
Anthony Jaras     Posted 16/08/2011 at 14:44:58   Comments (38)

Any Clues?

While the Bohemians game may have been a valuable run out for new and fairly new faces, did it also provide an insight of Moyes's tactics for the QPR game?

In light of the fact that Rangers have just been on the back end of a home-game 4-goal hiding from Bolton, will we throw the kitchen sink at them from the off or will Moyes employ his usual pinch-a-point style.

It may be early in the piece yet I look upon Moyes's tactics in this game as being the measure of the man.

Dick Fearon     Posted 15/08/2011 at 23:05:40   Comments (38)

Fellaini: the key man?

Who do you think will be the key man for Everton this season?

Leighton Baines was, hands down, the best player in a blue shirt last time around and I think he will actually push on again. He seems to have found the confidence in his own ability that eluded him early in his career, and the ridiculous Ashley Cole finally has some serious competition for his England place (not that I give a toss about that).

However, there is one player in Everton's ranks who I believe has the potential to be an even bigger influence than Baines, provided he can stay both injury- and suspension-free: Fellaini. I was pleasantly surprised to see the big-topped Belgian being hyped up on the 'Mirror Sport' website as being probably the best midfielder in the Premier League right now...

Surprised because (a) it's unusual to see an Everton player receive such praise from the 'Sky 4' obsessed press; and (b) I presumed everyone outside of Goodison would view Fellaini as basically a big, dirty, talentless, grock (a view strangely still held by some of our own supporters).

Anyway this is what the Mirror had to say about the lad:

Key player: Marouane Fellaini
He?s not only got the best hairdo in the Premier League, he?s also got the talent to match. Over the past two seasons, in between depressing bouts of injury that have hit Everton?s prospects badly, Fellaini has offered glimpses of an all-round game to match any midfielder in English football.

One game stands out in particular, where he dominated Manchester City?s pampered millionaires, to suggest he is a natural heir to Patrick Vieira when the Frenchman was in his pomp.

The injuries though, have become a problem for both player and club. His all action style has forced him to miss big chunks of the past two campaigns, and there is little doubt the team suffered in his absence. Who wouldn?t miss a player who can tackle, head, pass and score goals with the best of them?

The good news is, he?s almost back to full fitness, and the current injury has at least discouraged any summer bids? for one more transfer window at least. The bad news though, is he hasn?t yet agreed a new contract, and at the end of this season will only have one year left on his current deal. Talks are progressing, and if he signs an extension, then expect the Belgian international to confirm, this season, his immense talent by proving himself the best all-round midfielder in the Premier League.

Jesus, it's nearly even stirred a bit of enthusiasm in me for Saturday... bet you the motherfucker goes and gets himself injured now!

John Daley     Posted 15/08/2011 at 21:34:24   Comments (28)

Jagielka and Arsenal

Like almost all Evertonians I don't want Jags to leave. But if Arsenal do come in with a serious offer we shouldn't be upset - we don't have to say yes unless it suits us.

You may like your house and don't want to sell it. But if someone wants to live right there and is prepared to pay extra ? wouldn't you like the option? Of course you would... You can always say no.

I'm in the apparent minority here who believe ? with no inside knowledge ? that owners and management are probably trying their best for the club. So I would rather they had some options than none.

Peter Hall     Posted 14/08/2011 at 23:01:27   Comments (33)

No-one to fear

After the first set of matches of the Premier League season, I honestly believe a top-four finish is within our grasp this season.

Having watched the so-called 'Big Clubs' in action, I think we stand every chance of breaking into the Champions League gang. Man Utd and Chelsea will get the top two, but after that there's a lot of clubs that we should be able to mix it with no problem if we can start well. (A big IF I know...)

Arsenal ? about to lose their two best players. Unless Wenger buys quickly, they're going to really struggle.

Liverpool ? too many midfielders... they can't all be kept happy; if Carroll or Suarez get injured, they will lack goals. The King Kenny factor will also wear off by Christmas.

Spurs ? unsettled with Modric wanting to go and no goalscorer plus 'Arry's mind will be on landing the England job after Euro 2012.

Man City ? I believe their dressing room will implode this season. Tevez & Balotelli issues will take their toll and affect them.

Chelsea ? will take time to settle for their new manager; Drogba to throw his toys out of the pram about being a bench warmer...

Man Utd ? will walk the league, sadly.

So, a home win vs QPR next weekend should get us off to a good start, then an early derby win vs Liverpool should get us going on a long unbeaten run that will set us in good stead for the season.

No new signings... who needs them? Gueye and Barkley will come through and show their potential. Beckford to score 15 goals, a full injury-free season from Cahill, Fellaini and Arteta will drive us home.

That's what my blue-tinted glasses foresee anyway...

Andy Rowlands     Posted 14/08/2011 at 20:11:22   Comments (44)

Retirement Announcement

To begin, I'd like to thank you for coming here and I'll get straight to the point - I'm announcing my retirement from English football. Before I go on I should apologise for making this announcement on the eve of the season, but I can't pretend anymore.

As others around me, and everyone here, has been excitedly looking forward to the new kick-off, I've really struggled to muster any enthusiasm... To be blunt, I've lost my hunger for the game.

If I'm honest with myself, this has been building for some time. As I've gotten older, I've thought more and more about leaving. Every old pro will in any sport will tell you that, when the time comes, you know it; my time has come and it's a decision I'm comfortable with.

During the 30-plus years I've been assocoiated with this great club, I've seen some wonderful times that will always stay with me ? FA Cup wins, European triumph and, of course, League success. I'd like to thank everyone at Everton for those thrilling times and the memories.

Of course, over that time there's been great changes in the game too, and not all of them have been for the better. The focus on the athlete over the artist and the increasing dominance of the weathly at the expense of healthy, broad competition. And as we all know there's been the aimless drift into mediocrity and stagnation of this once great club.

I know some people will condemn me for making this decision and say that I'm walking away when my support is most needed. But I feel it's the right decision for myself and my family, to whom I owe an enormous debt of gratitude for allowing me to indulge my passion all these years.

To those of you who will remain here, I hope you have the success and joy in the years ahead that you so richly deserve.

Good luck and goodbye!
Paul Kish     Posted 14/08/2011 at 05:08:25   Comments (51)

Players linked to & missed out on

I was just watching Sky Sports News and couldn't help but notice the amount of players that Everton have been linked with and missed out on. Some of them even free!

• Daniel Sturridge ? Chelsea
• Shane Long ? West Brom
• DJ Campbell ? QPR
• Chris Eagles ? Bolton
• Charles N'Zogbia ? Aston Villa
• Nigel Reo-Coker ? Bolton
• Andy Lonergan ? Leeds
• Jay Bothroyd ? QPR
• Keiren Westwood ? Sunderland
• David Vaughan ? Sunderland
• Charlie Adam ? Liverpool
• Wes Brown ? Sunderland

I know there is a lack of or no money at the club but surely we could attract some of the freebies? Have we totally lost our appeal to attract players? It's getting a bit disgraceful when players are going to the lesser teams even when we have been in the mix for European football for the last 3-4 years... A little depressing seeing them go to Sunderland, West Brom or QPR!

Is it any wonder we are being tipped to go down because of the lack of activity in the transfer market. 17 days left of this Transfer Window and I fear that we will lose big players rather than bring in any.

Peter Keating     Posted 14/08/2011 at 00:35:47   Comments (30)

BBC and the 'Big Six' bias

I've spent parts of the last few days shouting with incredulous venom at the radio and tv, primarily BBC, and their "big 6" garbage. I finally cracked and wasted my time by sending them an e-mail, below. Am I right, or perhaps is it Everton's own failings that have seen us becoming the invisible club of the Premier League? Dear sir/madam, A new season, yet the same old ignorant, elitist coverage of the Premier League on the BBC. Who has suddenly decided that there is a big 6? It used to be a big 4 but now that your darling Liverpool FC have slipped, it's now a big 6. You've probably already guessed that I support Everton, yes, that club that the BBC ignore and only speak about with ignorance.

Less than an hour ago I listened to Motty on Five Live say that "we know who the top 6 are going to be", and that Bill Kenwright has "tried hard" to get investment for Everton. If Motty did his research into the summer campaigns against Kenwright, he would realise that Kenwright has done anything but try hard.

I listened to Mark Chapman on Thursday night, with Hansen and Dixon (who I like, Dixon that is) and his 90 minute Premier League preview. Again, only 6 clubs were covered bar a quick fill-some-time 2 minute closing regarding who would be relegated. Hansen kept going on about the big 6 this, big 6 that. Check out last season's table, the mighty reds finished 4 measly points above Everton, who were a bigger margin ahead of the chasing pack.

Then we had football focus today.... the same 6 rich clubs discussed. Eric Cantona was asked if it was between the same 5 clubs.... suddenly Liverpool had been pushed into the top 5, what had Spurs done to merit this? No mention of Everton, Sunderland and their 11 new signings, West Brom, Villa and McLeish etc..... A level playing field eh? The show ended with a classy musical montage with, yes you've guessed it, the same 6 clubs shown.

Then I read the predictions by 30, yes 30 of the BBC football people. Yet again, the same 6 teams mentioned, and only Alan Shearer mentioned Spurs! Incredible. Has football become so predictable, so elitist, that only the rich clubs matter?

It's no wonder so many of today's impressionable youth support these clubs when they are the only ones being glamourised and promoted on the BBC. Sort it out, and get rid of the biassed pro-Liverpool people running your football coverage. And stop showing Everton last on MoTD!"
Errol Stafford     Posted 13/08/2011 at 14:28:41   Comments (37)

Building from the back

First off before anyone gets a cob on I think were fairly solid at the back.

Secondly I think the Jag and Dizzer are good players individually.

But I don't think they work well as a combo and we looked a lot less solid at the back than we have ever done last season.

I think in the unlikely event that Arsenal come back with top dollar for the Jag it'd be a good move on our part to take the dosh. Watching us get the run around all second half against the cheatin submarines after constantly surrendering the ball has made me think we need a player at CB who can play the ball out of defence.

With defensive solidity already lacking why not try and incorporate a new style of play into the side from the back.

Perhaps it's Johnny or perhaps it's time to move the one time boy wonder into what's supposed to be his natural position? At least then we can say one way or another if he's got what it takes there.

One things for sure we haven't got the players at the back to play football or the players up top to play long ball so something will eventually have to give if were going to find a style of play that suits this squad of players.

Stephen Kenny     Posted 12/08/2011 at 17:38:35   Comments (22)

Barkley or Gueye, who will shine?

Following a long and boring pre-season we now await Everton to kick off the new season against QPR at home... I'm looking forward to see if Moyes can give us a new first team player out of the youngsters we have.

Now I have a feeling that he will go for the safe alternative and give Barkley the most game time, as he is kind of a safe bet as he has the most quality to begin with.

Next to Barkley, I will tip Gueye as the next candidate to shine this season. I think we will see the same amount of game time being given to Vellios and Gueye. That is my hope at least, as I feel Vellios could be our new Duncan Ferguson in a way, and certainly a much more upcoming and exiting option then Peter Crouch would ever be.

Can Gueye hack it at this level? That is another question, and I do have doubts about him being a good enough passer of the ball as well as having enough pace in order for him to grab hold of the left midfield position. Currently we don't seem to have many options other than Arteta and Osman, so it will be difficult for Moyes to find a good enough option.

I have found out that Everton is still a big part of my life after this boring pre-season; no matter how little we spend on players, I will still love this club and the passion I have is shared best on this site rather than the official website of Everton as they censor every negative thing you say.

I value the passion people here have for this club and I just want to thank the guys that runs this site as you do a great job and long may it continue.
Jimmy Sorheim     Posted 12/08/2011 at 16:33:41   Comments (23)

Talk to us, David Moyes!

I have seen more and more articles about fans who have taken notice of Moyes`s deafening silence throughout this pre-season, starting from the week after the Chelsea game. Now this could be a sign of many things:

1. He is protesting against Kenwright's lack of funding;

2. He is giving the loud supporters the silent treatment as he can't bare any criticism;

3. All of the above... plus he is trying to do exactly the opposite of what he did last season because he has seen what a blunder it was going out and giving false high hopes to the fans and players.

I don't know what his reasons are for treating us this way, but we are the supporters, the backbone of this club, the glue that holds this club together. Look around you and try to find any other Premier League manager who does the same thing. You can't, because every other manager would never be that stupid, as when you apply the silent treatment for a long period of time, you will surely lose as the supporters will stand up and pressure the board to sack you.

Now I ask all of you: Is Moyes that much of a god that he does not need to talk to the fans at all ? or the press?

My answer is No, but I belive he gets away with murder just because of what he has done in the past!

Will you be able to forget all about this bad behavior? Perhaps, if he gets us back into Europe again, we could all forget about it and forgive him... but, if we were to fight relegation, as we surely will, following no new players coming in, we then would cry out for Moyes to get the sack.

I strongly believe this season to be make or break for this club's future; if we don't reach Europe this season, we will lose Fellaini for sure, plus we would have to sell Rodwell or Jagielka to not go bust. I am trying to stay a positive towards Moyes and our future but Moyes is making that very difficult right now.

To go back to this season, I hope Moyes will start using Gueye and Barkley like he did with Coleman last year. This will be very important to give the first team some fresh blood and some new ideas when it comes to the passing which is poor and a new formation to find places for both Beckford and Saha.

It remains to be seen, but I hope he does try something brand new, because without this we will be relying too much on Arteta and Fellaini. I hope we can start focusing on football again now, Mr David Moyes.

Jimmy Sorheim     Posted 11/08/2011 at 21:21:39   Comments (50)

I wonder who this could be???

I just read an old article about one our former players and, although it won't be too difficult for the 'older' generation to know who this is, I was a little taken aback by his comment at the end of the article... made me get goosebumps... and no, my eyes are watering cos of allergies. :-)

Set up in 1998, the charity is a fan-run benevolent fund for former Everton players who have fallen on hard times. His involvement with the foundation seems to have deepened his love of the club. 'Evertonians are so enthusiastic about their players,' he says. 'It staggers me every time I come over.' I ask him, with his Midlands roots and home in Germany, where his heart lies. 'I might have started at Birmingham,' he says, 'but my soul is at Goodison.'

Tommy Davis     Posted 11/08/2011 at 21:22:17   Comments (44)

Why is it the right decision, Seamie?

According to Coleman calling off the Spurs game was..."The right decision tho"

First of all, he's missed out the 'ugh!' Or did he anticipate that would be the response of many Evertonians to his reasonings. So come on, Seamus ? why is it the right decision to postpone ONLY the Everton game, when Spurs had earlier in the week announced that the game would go ahead?

Subsequent to their announcement, no more disturbances in the whole of London, never mind Tottenham. What more did they know this morning that they didn't know earlier in the week?

I'm sure you can guess from my tone that I have spent a small fortune to take my whole family down to London for the weekend (my only way of justifying going to the game). So no question of refunds. And I'll have to go anyway and kick my heels around London on Saturday afternoon.

Oh yes, right decision tho!

I'm sorry to pick on Coleman. I think he's great and his tweets are usually great. But this particular statement has infuriated me.

It's not the right decision. regardless of how out-of-pocket I may be. It's a ridiculous decision. And players should be more sensitive to the dedication of those fans who plan their summer around the fixture list. (Cahill came out with similar drivel.) From all I've heard there is scant justification for postponing this game on the strength of an incident almost a full week beforehand.

Not the right decision tho.

Geoff Harrison     Posted 11/08/2011 at 16:04:23   Comments (78)

Dead on Our Feet

Editor's Note: As I scanned the following submission from our old warhorse, Mr Marsh, I couldn't help feeling that he was scrapping away, once more, at the bottom of his own particular barrel when it comes to comment on Everton and his particular nemesis ? David Moyes.

Now, I'm admittedly not the Manager's No 1 fan by any means... but, by the time I got to the end of yet another entirely predictable diatribe ? complete with the now requisite and increasingly laughable "I can't be arsed any more" ? I had decided this was not worthy of publication.

However, with the postponement of the Spurs game, and another week now added to this painfully hollow and depressing pre-season... made only worse by the cause of and reasons for that postponement ? I can't think of any better way to punish the perpetrators of those crimes than subjecting them just one more time to the polarizing prose of our Master Agitator... Tony Marsh!

---

Qualification for the Champions League places after the 2004-05 season now seems a long long time ago doesn't it? Even back then, some of us had our resevations about Moyes, Kenwright and the direction the club was headed. It now appears, after all this time, the fanbase has wised-up to the fact that we are a poorly run club and abysmally managed at all levels ? including on the pitch.

It has taken a while for most to wake up to the real issues that affect us now from the poor mismanagement of the past. David Moyes is as much to blame as Bill Kenwright for the pile of shit we are now up to our necks in! Moyes just keeps on picking up his wage packet and says and does fuck all as the club heads into oblivion. Some manager Moyes is! Where's his backbone, his pride, or his voice for the ordinary man in the street? The fans want and expect more from the Everton of Everton FC.

I have never seen our support so demoralised, apathetic and worn down as they are now. The atmosphere in the ground is like a morgue which in turn reflects on Moyes. It's his team and his persona that makes us what we are... Grim and depressing to watch with no ambition. If Moyes had any ambition, he wouldn't still be at this club, would he...?

Fans are turning their backs in droves as it becomes easier to give up on the Blues than to continue supporting a club that is being run in to the ground. Basically, the whole lot of us ? Manager, Players Chairman and supporters ? have chucked in the towel and no-one has a clue what to do next.

Other clubs we have tried to keep up with in the League now have so much money to spend that it's now become pointless trying to compete with them... An exercise in futility is what I see it as.

I got asked to go to Spurs at the weekend but I refused. What for? What's the point? Win, Lose or draw ? nothing will change. To be honest, I can't be arsed any more. I'm sick of feeling conned and sick of being lied to. I'm sick of watching the hilarious Zombie football and feeling ashamed of my team's displays.

It won't be getting any better soon either. Virtually every club in the country has had at least one takeover and a new Stadium built in the last 15 years but not us... WHY? Are we less attractive a proposistion as the likes of Boro, Bolton, Sunderland, Wolves etc??? Even poxy Leicster City have got new owners and money to spend!! How can this be???

Frustration has turned to apathy... which has turned to anger, which is now leading fans turn away. The truth is the club no longer earns or deserves our support and that's how many feel. It's a feeling that is eating away at the core of our support and destroying the heart and soul.

The moment David Moyes wants to stand up for the long-suffering fans and stop hiding behind his lackie Round, I might start to respect the man. Until then, Moyes is a spineless Yes-man without a care in the world and all those out there who sing his name at matches are no different to me... Blind leading the Blind?!?

Who would take over they ask? A Poyet-Wilkins combination would do me just fine. Ian Hollaway even. Any fucker is better than what we have now surely... That Deaf, Dumb and Blind Kid sure does a real fuck all...

Moyes ? sling your hook back to Scotland and let's breathe some life back into the club while we still can... Then again, what soft twat would pay you £75 large a week to win or do nothing?

Tony Marsh     Posted 10/08/2011 at 13:35:56   Comments (83)

What if it all goes right...

I was just reading the article about Saha and started thinking to myself about the untapped potential Everton's squad has.

What if this year Louis Saha could remain mostly injury free?

What if Rodwell showed the promise that the plaudits were suggesting?

What if Arteta returns to his best?

What if Baines has another season like last year?

What if Gueye gets promoted to the first team and shows the promise he has in the last two pre-seasons?

What if Billy can score a few more blinders and doesn't look so tired all the time?

What if Ross Barkley has a breakthrough year?

What if Fellaini can remain uninjured and and become the kind of talisman that he showed in the odd game?

What if Cahill continues to score ten headed goals this year?

What if? ... A cup? A Champions League spot?

Come on you Blues.

Lewis Barclay     Posted 10/08/2011 at 07:00:45   Comments (74)

Nothing but the best, Bill...?

Reading a lot of the mail bag comments with interest... Bill Kenwright's silence is deafening. I'd like to think he now knows that his once unquestionable tenure is under serious threat from the very people who have paid for the upkeep of this club for the past 12 years.

Two cup final appearances and a handful of top 6 finishes is disgusting in 22 years ? that's a fact.

I'm not saying I'd want to be taken over by any Tom, George or Harry but, for God's sake, any Evertonian who is still siding with this Master of Bullshit needs to wake up. This man has not had the decency to come out and defend himself against the growing frustration against him. Blue Bill, The People's Club and all that other crap he has come out with is tiresome now. It's been 25 years since we were a big club and a big team. We didn't move with the times 15 years ago and we still haven't yet.

This man must answer questions and produce a 3- or 5-year plan. What is it? Where are we headed? What clubs have gone under from being taken over? ? none. We need to speculate to accumulate and I've no doubt the cautious amongst you will disagree completely.

It's excitement and anticipation the fans want, not the same excuses for being skint and mediocre year after year. Give it to them, Bill. Let go of your toy and enjoy retirement.

I'm in no doubt there are buyers out there who have been silenced regarding asking price, conditions of sale etc etc. We need change desperatly, we need to take a risk in order to progress; for me, it's blatantly obvious and I'd be willing to take it if it meant we stood any kind of chance of bringing back the mid-80s success.

If it's another 25 years of this then, in the words of Peter Jones & Co... "I cannot invest in this ridiculous business... and for that reason, I'm out".

Phil Burkert     Posted 09/08/2011 at 14:05:46   Comments (33)

Fans' Support Essential

I think this coming season the support of the fans is crucial.

Look, I know we usually do get right behind the lads, but I get the feeling with no new signings there seems an apathy about our fans at the moment.

Last season, we all believed that it could be a special season... but, after the poor results of the early weeks, understandably the optimism waned. This led to the crowd being very quiet for large parts of games. Bit like a kid being told his trip to Alton Towers has been cancelled.

Because of the lack of signings, I think that if we don't start well, some fans will then use this as an excuse to slag off the team. I just hope that the fans get behind the team for the full 90 minutes, because I think this year their support is crucial to us doing well.

Brian Harrison     Posted 08/08/2011 at 15:35:54   Comments (54)

Team against Spurs

Well guys it's time to get serious and concentrate on the important games now. The usual unimpressive meaningless friendly results are behind us and all we really know is that we still have fitness problems. We knew Coleman would be out for the Spurs game along with Bily and now possibly Arteta and Fellaini? Do we have any thoughts on Moyes's selection for this game?

Will he play the usual 4-4-1-1 thereby ensuring Spurs will dominate and hoping that Cahill (or Beckford) will do the smash and grab? In this set-up, Beckford is a better option than Saha.

However, Moyes may finally realise that it's time to be positive as Spurs do play open football and Everton have had some good games against the higher class opposition in recent seasons.

My team is:?

Howard;
Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines;
Neville, Hietinga, Rodwell, Osman;
Cahill;
Saha.

This is pretty predictable as I don't think Moyes is ready to pitch in the fringe players from the off just yet...

Tom Bowers     Posted 08/08/2011 at 14:12:04   Comments (50)

Crouch for Rodwell??

Just seen the rumour about Moyes wanting to swap Rodwell for Peter Crouch. I know it's just a rumour but if it is to be the case then God knows what our football is going to look like.

Enough of us complained about Moyes's hoofball tactics when we had Andy Johnson as a target man FFS. I can't bear to imagine what our play will look like with Crouch up front.

When many in the football world are looking towards the style of play demonstrated by Barcelona and Spain, ie, passing and movement (two words which have sadly been erased from Moyes's Dictionary of Football), EFC ? whether or not this rumour is true ? seem to be stuck in a time warp or even going backwards.

With the debate going on elsewhere about naming rights for football stadia, perhaps we should consider renaming Goodison Park as Jurassic Park because that seems to symptomise the direction our ginger tactical genius is taking us.

Rob Williamson     Posted 08/08/2011 at 11:25:39   Comments (37)

Just a thought

Whilst watching those last 20 sobering minutes of the Villarreal game from my Upper Bullens vantage point, a thought occurred to me:

Perhaps Moyes was playing the right-sided axis of nightmares (Hibbert, with Neville on the wing in front of him) along with the comical sight of Yakubu lumbering along on the left wing ON PURPOSE as a message to the chairman sat in the comfy seats.

The message is, "Look what I have got to work with! This is the reality of our season ahead if you don't find me some dosh! Act now!"

We can only hope so.

Think about it. What other reason to play such a formation against the ticky tacky kind of football that would show it up the most? What other reason to leave Bily on the bench and play Yakubu?

As the recurring dream-nightmare that is our Evertonian Summer draws nearer to the opening whistle of the new campaign, perhaps Davie is sending Bill a message.

Tim Kelly     Posted 07/08/2011 at 10:18:07   Comments (26)

Here we go again

The friendly games are over and we now enter the fray. What have I learned from the friendly games?

Not a lot... as I put them down to player and squad conditioning for the coming season and hope they have left us ready to compete with all and sundry. At the final whistle on Friday, only Arteta and Coleman are unavailable... so, assuming no further additions to the squad, the team will be selected from what we have. Will Barkley be handed a start? Will Rodwell be trusted? Will Saha survive a week's training? Has Jags had his head turned?

Spurs away is never a cakewalk so will the manager find a way to win and will any fan give a toss about formation, style of play, or any other nuance ? so long as we win?

There seems a resigned disappointment amongst fans that no incomings have occurred yet again; will this transfer itself to players and manager and result in a less than determined performance? I doubt that as the travelling hoards will ensure commitment and endeavour ? even if not victory. Full allocation taken again and a London trip is never cheap.

I see we now have a joined up group of protesters, will they achieve much? I doubt it... yet I am all for protest but not in a way that suggests any particular group speaks for all. In my experience, it is the very people being protested against that in the end cause the mass to protest. It happens as if out of nowhere when the vast majority of match-going fans decide as one that enough is enough and, from all sides of the ground, an explosion takes place that no protest group could ever arrange. It's happened before in our history and the board would do well to heed the lessons of that history.

Don't worry overly regarding protest groups but be vigilant in gauging the mood of the masses. Uppermost in most fans minds at the moment is, I would wager, how will this season pan out? The big question ? and the very reason I follow the Blues. I have no real idea except to ponder that, if we can't allow the manager the option of moving his squad forward in terms of progression, then league championships and indeed any silverware will be hard to come by... but bizarrely this doesn't put me off or diminish hope of achieving something. Even when it's obvious we can't win anything, I am still up for every game and ever hoping to win. Must be something in the Mersey water. Anyone else feel the same?

People say we have the best group of players for many years and I can't argue with that... but one of the few advantages of being around for a long time is that the winning teams we have produced in the sixties, seventies and eighties give me a benchmark of what a Champion team looks like and plays like. I can say we are not there yet but, with just a level of investment to allow the manager to complete his personal jigsaw, he may well reap rewards that allow the club to thrive and a new stadium may no longer be pie in the sky. I wish those in charge the best of luck.

So, come the 13th, off we go again; win and we forget all troubles... lose, and everyone is to blame. We will go once again through the agony and ecstasy of no two games being the same ? even no two halves being the same ? but ever hoping for a consistency and luck with injuries that sees us in contention until May.

Welcome to the roller-coaster that is EFC ? Enjoy.

UP THE BLUES.
Ken Buckley     Posted 06/08/2011 at 22:15:00   Comments (12)

Zombie Football

Last night against Villarreal showed off David Moyes's philosophical approach to football.

Where Barcelona have 'Tiki-Taka Football' ? short, one-touch passing and swift movement ? and the Dutch had 'Total Football' ? swift interchanging of positions and free movement of players ? and Brasil had 'Joga Bonita Football' ? quick passing and all players available to attack from all parts of the pitch... Moyes has come up with 'Zombie Football' (trademarked to DM enterprises).

In this style of football, the players have part of their brains removed so they can lurch slowly in a disjointed fashion around the pitch, stumbling over their own feet, bumping into each other, not knowing where to go or what to do.

In 'Zombie Football' you can sometimes see a faint glimmer of recollection in the player's eyes when they see the ball or catch sight of the goal that somewhere in the past they had known what to do but the long distant memory had been destroyed by Moyes so as he can gain total control over all movement.

This can be seen when a throw-in is gained and the player can be seen to wait until Moyes tells him where to throw the ball.

In a recent interview, Moyes explained how the concept of 'Zombie Football 'was developed.

DM: "I had watched Sir Alex develop his style of football and noticed how he seemed to have missed a trick by allowing his players to do what they wanted with the ball within a loose framework or formation.

"For some reason the players all seemed to have minds of their own and could run, tackle and pass to whoever they wanted. Some of them even dribbled and had shots WHENEVER THEY WANTED TO!!!!

"I was shocked at the the lack of control shown by Sir Alex and I thought this could be improved if I just removed that part of the players brains that governed initiative and motor skills. I asked Bill who said,

"'Whatever you want, luvvie, as long as it doesn't cost more than a tenner each player!' and 'Zombie Football' was born.

So far its' going great... apart from the odd accident when I forget to tell them they can use the bathroom."

Ray Said     Posted 06/08/2011 at 11:17:49   Comments (59)

Pathetically Pedestrian

I know some will argue it's still pre-season and the players are working up to fitness etc. but for me the same old problems persist: We can't keep clean sheets and we can't score goals.

Tactically, especially at home, we need to push further up the pitch and dominate teams... while away from home, I would be happy for us to contain teams and nick points.

The main problem as I see it is a real lack of pace throughout the team.

We go on about a pacey winger but what about a pacey centre-forward, a pacey central-midfield player, a pacey right-back etc?

Our play is totally pedestrian due to a lack of pace and movement off the ball.

I really wish I could be more optimistic but the evidence is staring us in the face. The squad is aging ? not maturing ? and slowing not quickening.

We are only good at passing sideways and backwards and that only invites pressure.

Jay Harris     Posted 05/08/2011 at 22:34:17   Comments (54)

Booing Hibbert???

While watching the game to-night with about 20 mins remaining hibbert came on the pitch and nearly every touch he made was met with a chorus of boos from the fans. Why was this? We all know Tony isn't the best going forward but this really did puzzle me...
Jamie Carroll     Posted 05/08/2011 at 22:37:24   Comments (36)

Maroune, Jack & Joey

I'm sat at home with a broken leg and lots of things Everton going around my head so I thought I would see what you all had to say.

Firstly... What has happened to Fellaini? He played the first friendly then said it would take time to get fully fit, but I haven't seen him since or heard where he is.

Secondly... Why was Rodwell left out of the Bremen game? Again no news from the club as to why he was missing.

Lastly and quite simply, should we go for Joey Barton? He is a pain in the ass but he can play football!

Thanks for keeping me entertained.

Scott Jenner     Posted 05/08/2011 at 15:16:26   Comments (19)

Are we special?

In the increasingly likely scenario that we see no new arrivals this window, would that be a first for a Premier League club?

Does anyone know whether any other club has gone a whole summer window without a single addition to the first team squad?

How about this: Everton become the first team to achieve a top six place using no new players?

Yeah right.

Chris Jones     Posted 05/08/2011 at 03:03:53   Comments (8)

Kitbag's failure

Being a subscriber to the magazine 442, I opened this month's delivery looking forward to seeing our new home strip in the advertising section. When I got to the section, I was stunned to see a two-page spread of Kitbag's goods and no sign of our new strip.!!!

What is the point of a contract with Kitbag as the only suppliers if they are not going to promote us in one of the very few general football mags? This must be a failure of their contract with us and a way out of this one-sided fiasco.

Paul Brannan     Posted 03/08/2011 at 22:48:59   Comments (46)

Stanley Park Lease

I read in the Echo yesterday that Liverpool's lease for the Stanley Park site expires in September.

Does anyone know the FACTS about the lease and whether we would be able to take a lease of the site once LFC's lease expires?

I know we can't afford to pay for the stadium BUT if we paid for the lease, then that would add a lot to the value of the club. If Kenwright really wanted to sell us, then he could do so more easily unless he gets the cash register eyes.

Again more openness needed from the Club.

Henry Jones     Posted 03/08/2011 at 10:40:39   Comments (47)

A question from the Locker Room

It was 7:15pm Monday evening. I'd just finished my weekly 5-a-side session and, after a satisfactory rub-down in the communal shower, I emerged into the locker room to see a man of a certain age (that is, mine), a stranger to me, wearing the royal blue of my (and your) beloved Everton.

Being (and I quote) "a lovable twit", I ignored social convention and British reserve and said "It's good to see a fellow Evertonian in Woking!"

He turned, smiled and we began a discourse on a number of issues à la Everton. Him, a fine figure of a man proudly wearing his brand new home strip; me, stark bollock naked... It was during this surreal intercourse that my new "bessie mate" said something that got me thinking....

It was his considered opinion that he would rather watch Everton "as is" than if we became "like Man City". At first, I thought "You mad impetuous fool" (although of course I did not express this verbally). I was thinking, "who wouldn't want a Sheikh, an Oligarch or an American Sports Franchiser spending lots of their limitless lolly on our boys?"

It was on my drive home that what this fellow Blue's opinion started to make sense to me. The positives and negatives of having a munificent foreign benefactor have been well aired on these pages. It may be interesting, however, to take a straw poll, with the simple question being "Do you want to be the next Man City or Chelsea?"

The early results from Woking are in and it's 2-0 to the Noes...

As for the Evertonian in the Locker Room in Woking Leisure Centre who stimulated this question, I never did ask him his name. I know he wasn't an apparition (like some Spaghetti Westernesque "Pale Rider" Man with No Name) as I did limply shake his hand goodbye, towel firmly clasped to my nethers. But if you are reading this, my friend, then see you at 7pm next Monday? (Actually make that 7:15, I'll be suitably attired and quite frankly less embarrassing.)
Alun Willis     Posted 02/08/2011 at 23:35:33   Comments (56)

Putting some money in to the club

Here's a thought: We have all seen the comments about BK not putting his hand in his pocket for the club and Elstone not having any commercial sense. Well the BBC have done a survey on prices and we are almost 50% cheaper than Liverpool.

So why don't we do a deal with BK and the board and tell them we are all happy to pay, say, 30% more (about £10 each) if they match the increased receipts and Elstone can still market us as the cheapest team in Liverpool.

In the last accounts, our gate receipts were about £19M so this would bring about £12M into the club.

Any takers?

Thought not...

John Chambers     Posted 02/08/2011 at 21:10:57   Comments (39)

The next England Manager

From what's been said in the press (and most of the time you don't believe it) Harry Redknapp will be the next England Manager, but who will take over from him at Spurs? The popular choice of Spurs fans is our David Moyes.

They have money, they have a good squad and decent prospects to take on the big boys. They've had a taste of the Champions League and will want another go. If that happens, who do we get?

Des Kenny     Posted 02/08/2011 at 17:02:32   Comments (23)

Good effort, Yakubu!

I just wanted to congratulate Yakubu on the birth of his 2nd child.

What interested me more though was his commitment to his team. Whilst the party was traveling to the Birmingham game he was present for the birth and then he made the trip down making it in time to come off the bench for the last 20 minutes.

I just thought he should be commended for his commitment and maybe if he stays and can get fit it would be a massive positive going into the new campaign.

We all know the financial constraints in which we are operating so I don't want this to descend into another article about the failings of the board. I would just love to see the old Yak beaming after smashing the ball in the net on the opening day of the season at Spurs! Feed the Yak and all that...

Andrew Herbert     Posted 02/08/2011 at 09:45:04   Comments (38)

Don?t sign ?Dick? Barton

I have just heard that Joey Barton has been released from Newcastle on a free at the same time Sky Bet have made us 5/2 on for us to sign him. For all our financial problems and relatively threadbare squad I hope and pray we don?t move in for this idiot. I don?t care if he was as good as he thinks he is, remember he proclaimed himself to be the best midfielder in England at some point last season! It would be a massive error to sign him.

The fact is the guy is clearly a corrosive character that has been committed of assault in the City Centre, attacked a 15-year-old Evertonian and stubbed a cigar (or was it a cigarette) out on a teammate's face whilst at City. I don?t care what arguments are made about us needing a combative midfielder ? we don?t need someone that combative.
Ed Fitzgerald     Posted 01/08/2011 at 16:27:43   Comments (232)

'Being careful' could prove reckless

The "be careful what you wish for" brigade, will have lots to answer for if they are anywhere to be found if action is not taken soon:

Tim Howard 32
Tony Hibbert 30
joseph Yobo 30
Silvain Distin 33
Tim Cahill 31
Phil Neville 34
Leon Osman 30
Louis Saha 33
Yakubu 28 in doggy years

Andrew Earlam     Posted 01/08/2011 at 11:56:04   Comments (47)