Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Where have my mates gone?
31 Comments: I missed the Villa game as I was away on a family holiday; however, I got a text from my mate saying he felt a bit sorry for Billy after reading the Daily Mail spin. I responded with a few replies, as like most of my mates he gathers his Everton news and info off Bluekipper and the National and local press, so unlike people on this site and a few others he does not delve deeply into the club affairs, so he won't understand shit like how Bill tells the AGMs the truth, when he infact banned them a few years back etc.
He was once a great match-going blue who has stopped going now and the reasons are certainly not financial.
On Saturday, I saw another mate of mine who also spouted anger at the Blue Union, because his brother struggled to get down Goodison Road against Villa because of the protest march; he said its not what Everton do (What do Everton do?) He never went the game and seldom does now.
I am saying all this as, not too long ago, me and my mates used to average around 12 to 14 in number and around 10 of those were season ticket holders. On Saturday, there were four of us; against Sheff Utd, I was sitting on my own... and this coming Wednesday we are looking at two of us.
My reason for this letter is that the drop in our gates is nothing short of drastic and still the local press has said jack shit about this. It's all well and good my mates and others defending Bill and slagging the protestors off whilst they waltz around Asda or sit in the pub sipping beer when we are playing at home, but the proof is in the pudding. Work it out for yourselves how much we are losing every home game compared to last season.
I have to say, many people cannot afford to go these days, but there are also thousands who can afford it but just don't want to because of the state of the way we are running the club and the boring football on offer, they prefer to sit in the pub and watch us on the box home or away.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you want to air your view then take a look at these missing thousands and ask yourself what is the blame for this? And certainly don't dismiss the protesters, when we have lost more home support this season than we have in decades, if not our history.
Paul Gladwell, Posted 20/09/2011 at 08:09:54
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Given a scenario of being poorly run, no new signings, poor football on offer, dire UK finances, head-shaking EPL model, etc etc - surely a reduction of paying fans is the only logical extrapolation?
It's not rocket science. There isn't just one factor to blame here, and its no surprise numbers are down. Probably most of the premiership is wondering the same. Of course a lot of people will jump up and down and point at Bill, but thats a very short-sighted view.
Truth is that Bill isn't directly putting out an 11 without a striker, at home, to poor opposition. He doesn't make the EPL finances run the way they are and he certainly hasn't planted 2 billionaire owners at other premier league clubs who can afford to run the team as a plaything and invest hundred of millions of pounds. Last I checked, credit crunch wasn't his fault either.
I suspect most are like your mates not interested in the workings of the club just what they see on the pitch, and this Moyes stuff is defensive shite with the odd flash in the pan serving only to make you wonder what could be.
In itself it wouldn't be bad - if we won something or were even competitive - but neither apply, we just exist in the division.
Plenty accept it - those asking how this club has become such a non-entity are treated like the enemy.
I can afford to go but won't.
"smartarse" comments?
Maybe it's just some other people have different opinions to you, , or they try to lighten the mood on what is and should be a forum for discussion and entertaining.
If you want to be all doom and gloom be my guest, but there's no need for having a go at others.
maybe......or maybe they don't realise they come over as a smartarse and don't like it when pulled up.
You'd have to ask them.
Maybe you are right. If I came over as a smartarse, I apologise, as I was simply trying to lighten what is other a dark and humbling admission of the position we are in.
To be fair to myself, I did try to point out my humour by saying in my next post "in all seriousness...". if its my second post which was smartarse, then I clearly just didn't articulate my own feelings very well, which were just matter of fact - there are several problems with EFC at the moment, not just directed at one thing. Not saying I can pinpoint all of them - but they are there one way or another.
Support comes from sucess , what i mean is all the young lads around 6 or 7 will start to support the local team with the greatest sucess at that time , i realise some will be influenced by family , so if we say our last good period was mid 80s those lads of 5 and 6 will now be in there early 30's a time when kids come along and monies tight and going the game gets sacrificed for little uns birthday party.
I dont go the games anymore i'm self employed and i'm skint , although i do go the reserves, £4 a pop does me.
However, I buckled this Saturday and took my 7 year old lad to his first ever game.. He knew nowt about fotball, and I had to explain every rule and white line etc before the match as we sat eating our chips...After 15 mins, he said to me "Dad why do they keep going sideways instead of towards the goal?" .. I though "fuck me" the lads sussed us out already...
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum...
Then Bill will be able to see why the gates are down and where the supporteres are.
What I am saying is, we have people backing the board and Moyes and slagging the protesters off, yet these lads have stopped going beacuse of the shit football on offer and the state the club is in, they are all in their late 30s and 40s with years of going the game and have stopped going because of the clubs problems and yet defend the people who are part of the problem and attack people wanting to challenge the problem.
Not a turncoat or fair weather supporter, FFS I've sat watching teams that would make this one look like Barca, and never lost the faith.
I suppose if I was to put it into words is that football should be about getting away from the daily shite that is life, but being an Evertonian it has BECOME the daily shite and we talk more about the depressing financial stuff than what we do about football.
It would be interesting to see over the last year or so how many articles on TW were about football as opposed to finance/Kenwright, my guess the ratio is about 1:5
The financial situation does not help, but the fact that teams play under strength sides, in the carling cup, just adds to the reason for not paying to watch.
The financial situation does not help, but the fact that teams play under strength sides, in the carling cup, just adds to the reason for not paying to watch.
The financial situation does not help, but the fact that teams play under strength sides, in the carling cup, just adds to the reason for not paying to watch.
The financial situation does not help, but the fact that teams play under strength sides, in the carling cup, just adds to the reason for not paying to watch.
These sites can be over the top at times but they also find hidden truths like the shite and lies that have seen the Chairman, Elstone and Sharp all give total different stories regarding The Park End debacle so if you don't like these sites go elsewhere.
"The proof of the pudding is in the eating"
..and anyway, it doesn't apply here.
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