Echo denies poor Everton coverage

, 13 March, 85comments  |  Jump to most recent
The Liverpool Echo have strongly dismissed assertions that the local paper is "in the club's pocket, afraid to ask the tough questions" about Everton FC in an editorial today.

The unattributed piece addresses allegations that were reinforced by some fans following TalkSport's Kick Off program on Monday night where Stan Collymore relayed answers to a series of questions from Evertonians on Twitter he had put to a Club source earlier that day.

There are many fans who feel as though the Echo have been reticent to probe the Club's hierarchy on the more sensitive issues behind Everton's finances and the search for prospective buyers but the paper rejected those assertions by addressing a few of the topics raised by Collymore during the TalkSport broadcast.

We're not [afraid to ask the club tough questions]. Absolutely not. Ask Everton's board if they think the Echo is a sycophantic, timid pushover. I suspect with very good reason that you'll get a different answer. Very different.

So called 'startling revelations' and 'new facts' unearthed by some self-proclaimed bold and robust questioning may have come as 'news' to some people. But they did not come as news — or news of any real substance — to us. And they should not have come as news to regular readers of the Echo.

In the Echo's defence, it is true that nothing that was revealed by TalkSport should come as news to anyone who has paid close attention — or read ToffeeWeb with any regularity — to the goings-on at Goodison over the past few years. The praise for Collymore, it would seem, was more for the scope of his questions and his desire to "take the bull by the horns" to sate supporter desire for answers following the disaster against Wigan while there is a feeling among the fanbase that there is not enough from consistent pressure on the Everton Board from the Echo.

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Echo



Reader Comments (85)

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Peter Laing
1 Posted 13/03/2013 at 13:39:16
Check out the Echo website, story on there from an unamed author trying to dispel the 'myth' that the Echo is in the back pocket of the Club.

[Ed Note: Thanks, Peter for spotting this; I moved your comment over to this thread.]
Phil Sammon
2 Posted 13/03/2013 at 14:31:36
Yeah just seen that. It's reaks of Gregg O'Keefe. That man cannot accept criticism and the aggressive tone of the article is very like him.

This particularly cracked me up:

'The Echo checks facts before it publishes its own stories, as all good, responsible journalists should do.'

Sean Lloyd
3 Posted 13/03/2013 at 16:13:58
The article destroys its own credibility with the following line:

'Ask Everton's board if they think the Echo is a sycophantic, timid pushover. I suspect with very good reason that you'll get a different answer. Very different.'

What a ridiculous thing to ask, what are they going to say, anything other than what they want to hear? Idiots.

I wish the 'The Echo owe us a favour' emailgate leak would surface to completely put that to bed. Yes Echo, I think you are timid pushovers and you absolutely avoid confronting the real issues at hand. Where is the coverage on Everton's finances and the black hole of 'other operating costs' that plunge us further and further into debt year on year? You had fun picking holes in Hicks & Gillets refinancing of the club and interest payments they saddled the club with, think of 'other operating costs' as a financial noose around Everton's neck that is strangling its livelihood. You ran double page and even at times the first few front pages devoted to all things Liverpool at one point. The Blue Union tried to raise Evertonians' knowledge to the issues we have and I see that got about 1/100th of the coverage the Sisters of Shankly received.

What about the coverage into why the Middle East emerges just in time for season ticket renewals? How no board member has invested into Everton, period? Who actually controls Everton? — Instead of being content with printing Kenwright's: "He owns no shares in this football club. Nil. He is my friend and consequently your friend.... [Loud laughter from audience] I don't know why you think that's funny but he's a great friend to this football club. I promise you." response (in reference to Philip Green).

This man is without doubt the Elephant in the room when it comes to Everton having any chance of being taken over or attracting that splendid 'investment' yet he is continually overlooked from journalists at the Echo because Kenwright's lauding of this 'greatest businessman.'

I could go on but reading through the article just infuriates me.

Donald Twain
5 Posted 13/03/2013 at 16:31:55
Panic setting in as the ship went down! Rats!!!
John Keating
6 Posted 13/03/2013 at 16:23:09
The Echo is a complete joke and Prentice and O'Keefe the chief clowns.

The unsigned response in todays Echo just sums up all that is pathetic about the rag. Who wrote the piece and why didn't he have the balls to put his name to it???

Over the years, the paper has reported on SOME issues regarding the Club. One thing that the sycophants who pose as journalists have never done is actually got up and asked directly the questions their readers want asking.

During the DK debacle, yes, they reported more or less daily on the proceedings but when the major issues came to light they were more or less glossed over so as not to further embarrass the Club and their stooges.

To my knowledge, Prentice and O'Keeffe have never questioned Bill directly on issues or queries that have been in the supporters' domain and which have been ignored by the Management.

Whoever wrote that piece of shit of a reply needs to wise up. The Echo is supposed to reflect the people of Liverpool as a whole not just a few people at Goodison who control the freebies Prentice and O'Keefe get every other week.

Journalists??? — Don't make me laugh !

Alan Clarke
7 Posted 13/03/2013 at 16:33:36
What utter crap. He just sounds like a petulant teenager. Rants like this should be consigned to Wordpress blogs that no one reads. How the Echo have allowed this to be published shows what an unprofessional rag they are.
Paul Andrews
8 Posted 13/03/2013 at 16:33:24
Phil @831

Blame the club, the sports editor and chief sycophant David ("I was wondering if Bill is the greatest living Evertonian") Prentice.

If Gregg or any other journalist given the job of match reporting, and day to day happenings at Finch Farm, print any criticism they are immediately banned from Goodison and Finch Farm. Therefore putting their jobs at risk... what good is a reporter to the Echo if they can't visit the training complex, or indeed the match?

Michael Kenrick
9 Posted 13/03/2013 at 16:54:26
Sean (#851) mentions emailgate — the direct evidence of their complicity as viewed from within the club.

It's a pity we can't see that original thread on here any more; Lyndon was shocked and dismayed that it was published at all, and he was probably right from the strictly legal issue (cf WikiLeaks). But over a year has now passed and "Ethan Dyer" was never publicly identified, nevermind charged with any offense, and the content of those emails, which many doubted at that time, have surely proven to be genuine, with the subsequent dismissal of Ian Ross. But there was only minimal reporting of that cataclysmic episode, as I recall.

And the coverage of the real issues raised by BU has always been one-sided rather than neutral... although that position has been brought into stark relief through the astounding totalitarian stance take by Elstone over Dave Kelly's participation in the Shareholders Association meeting last night.

Paul Gladwell
10 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:00:26
That's Prentice words that letter, I received a fairly good couple of emails off him last year however the exact words about facts before print that are in this pathetic piece were in the email he sent me too, carry on digging that hole although the sad thing is , when Moyes and Kenwright do leave they will probably stick the boot in then when it's all over, shitbags the same shitbags who got barred by the club the other year and said nowt.
Mark Stone
11 Posted 13/03/2013 at 16:54:08
Just had a look at this in Echo. There's nothing wrong with it.
Paul Gladwell
12 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:21:13
Mark, it's not really that letter, it's the utter silence season after season from the paper and yet it takes outside stations like TalkSport to ask 'what's going on at that club' — and they don't know the half of it either. The Echo have been banned, a few journalists have been sent packing for asking the odd question too.

The Echo were like flies around shit over Hicks and Gillette but when it comes to Everton they are cowards.

I would like to hear Collymore's response to basically being called a liar too.

Barry Rathbone
13 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:25:48
It has all the angst of a forged letter from a kid at school excusing not doing his homework - "lost on the bus .... dog ate it .... nan died etc".

Complete amateurs at that red rag, no wonder such papers are on the bones of their arse.

Patrick Murphy
14 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:23:01
Mark, you may well be correct in asserting the piece has nothing wrong with it; however, it does seem strange that the local paper would go to such lengths to point out the inadequacies – from an unnamed reporter – of an unamed Radio Broadcast. Methinks they doth protest too much.

What truths are the local media and the Club hiding from us? There must be something given Elstone's petulant behaviour towards the shareholders and the local press's reluctance to ask pertinent questions.

When you consider the hatchet job this organ of the press carried out on Gillette and Hicks, albeit correctly, and its propensity to aid and abet Liverpool Football Club in every way possible, something that has been going on for decades. Also, compare the treatment that Peter Johnson got while at Everton FC even though he wasn't around that long – certainly nothing like 13 years you have to ask if the local press are only really interested in one club and really couldn't care less what happens to Everton FC.

Ged Simpson
15 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:35:54
"If Gregg or any other journalist given the job of match reporting, and day to day happenings at Finch Farm, print any criticism they are immediately banned from Goodison and Finch Farm. Therefore putting their jobs at risk... what good is a reporter to the Echo if they can't visit the training complex, or indeed the match? "

Nonsense.

Take that to it's conclusion.

Best headline ever :"Echo banned from Goodison."

Would never ever happen

Sean Lloyd
16 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:36:42
Yes Michael, I was closely monitoring the events surrounding that particular fallout and recall the next to nothing reporting of Ross' departure from the club following it. It rang nowhere near to, say, the FSG dismantling of the Liverpool regime and a one Damien Comolli for his poor performance in his role in the clubs dealings, which were splashed in the ECHO at the time.

Seeing Elstone's approach toward Dave Kelly last night, surprised but did not shock, Everton are going to the nth degree following the statements made by Elstone. The People's Club? Laughable.. At one stage I thought he was going to re-brand the club 'The Democratic Peoples Club of Everton' before threatening our shareholders with sanctions if they failed to comply with his requests.

Decent place that North Korea..

Paul Gladwell
17 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:55:18
No doubt we shall receive a page full of patronising "sit down, shut up" bollocks in Prentice's Fridays Echo column...
Kev Johnson
18 Posted 13/03/2013 at 17:43:50
A) As Mark (871) said - there's nowt wrong with what the Echo wrote. I didn't listen to all of the Talksport broadcast, but I heard nothing I hadn't heard before. It was in no way revelatory.

B) Ged - it just doesn't work like that. Journalism depends on a network of contacts. Being banned by EFC would not, repeat not, be a great headline for the Echo. That doesn't mean they have to be in the club's pocket, they need to strike the right balance between being independent and having all the right connections. OK, maybe they're not doing that. I don't know, I don't live in Liverpool any more so I don't read it.

It bugs me how ignorant people are of how journalism and the media works. Wakey, wakey - we live in an infortainment age! Why? Because so many people love that shit! They lap it up. If the people of Liverpool wanted to read a lot of serious investigative journalism then the Echo would reflect that. It doesn't, so they don't. There is no conspiracy.

Paul Gladwell
19 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:14:42
Kev, you never listened to Collymore but heard nothing new! And you don't read the echo but disagree with the criticism!
Paul Gladwell
20 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:19:07
I just want someone at The Echo to say what the fans are feeling and at the moment the vast majority of match going blues have had enough. They want some answers.

There were people walking out at halftime on Saturday, screaming for Moyes and Kenwright Out — and alls we got was the usual false rallying cries that don't wash anymore.

Kev Johnson
21 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:13:24
I said I didn't listen to ALL of Collymore's show, Paul. I listened to about half of it, and I read the summaries of what was said. To repeat: I've heard it all before. I mean, yeah, great to hear our club seriously discussed on radio for a couple of hours, and credit to Collymore for trying to get to the bottom of the issue, but it was nothing new - I've read it on TW for a start. There was - as the Echo said - no STORY there.

I also clearly said, they may or may not have got the balance right, as a non-reader (unless I'm back in Liverpool to see my folks), I wouldn't know. But I do know that they were not obliged to cover the Talksport transmission because it was not a story. Of course, it probably didn't help that the Echo is owned by Trinity Mirror and Talksport by Sky, so they are in direct competition. That's still not a conspiracy, though, it's just business.

For all I know, the Echo may be rubbish in all sorts of ways, but in this instance they were probably right not to publish an article commenting on the Talksport transmission, that's what I'm saying.

John Keating
22 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:16:44
Kev

if you don't live in Liverpool and don't read the Echo what the fuck are you talking about! Is this a wind up?? What network of contacts??

Prentice and O'Keeffe only cover Everton, for fucks sake. If they don't know what's going on nobody doe! They don't need a "network" — they go to Finch Farm every day!!

They may act stupid but they are not. They know exactly what's going on at the Club. They know exactly what the supporters want to know, and, believe me, they know exactly what web sites such as ToffeeWeb are talking about.

As mentioned they do absolutely nothing other than report the usual shite: "Neville says we must bounce back quickly"... "Distin says the players are hurting." — Fuck me, I could write that shite!

They never ask anything that could be construed as controversial — never. Look at the free ride the Echo gave the board after the debacle that was DK.

You said that they have to strike the right balance. Well, let me tell you, it's not that "maybe they're not doing that" — it is that they are definitely NOT doing that. Maybe you "don't know" but I certainly do!

The Echo does do a lot of investigative journalism when it wants to... but, when it comes to our intrepid Everton correspondents, the triple G&Ts take precedence.

They are a disgrace to journalism.

Paul Gladwell
23 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:33:16
Kev,

It was not the TalkSport transmission people wanted broadcasting — they just want The Echo to say what the fans are feeling.

Instead, every week off Prentice and O'Keefe it's all that "Be careful what you wish for" bollocks. They are not talking like the Evertonian on the street is; they are living in a Doddy bubble.

Paul Andrews
24 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:35:39
Ged @ 880

It has already happened. On more than one occasion, and with more than one journalist.

Always best to know the facts before coming out with nonsense.

Kev Johnson
25 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:52:40
Paul - fair enough. My points are solely related to the Echo piece which was in response to the Talksport show. Reading Michael or Lyndon's original post, that's what I understood this thread to be about. I am serious when I say that you should write to the paper and tell them they are not representing the views of Evertonians. If enough people do that then they may listen.

John - I'm making a broader point than you, about how newspapers (and magazines and TV) operate. You may well be right that the Echo doesn't strike the right balance, but otherwise you are blissfully clueless about how journalism works, what it entrails, what the skills are, what the pressures are - the whole caboodle basically. Just a little thought to leave you with: all printed media is at the mercy of its advertisers - and the Echo is no exception.

Dennis Shaw
26 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:55:07
The bit I found alarming was the denial by the club that they spoke with Collymore and provided that £125m when hounded and put on the spot. The lies and deceit from the fools running our club can not be allowed to continue.

Collymore should bring this up with the club and the Echo. I never thought we would have Collymore championing our cause but he has nothing to lose unlike the idiots Snodin and Horne.

Ste Traverse
27 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:44:15
A few weeks ago in his Friday column, Dave Prentice was asking the question whether Kenwright had attended more Everton games than anyone still alive. I mean, what the fuck??!!

He pussyfoots around him. That's about the biggest searching question regarding Bill Kenwright you'll ever get out of Mr Prentice.

James Morgan
28 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:07:33
Kev, the best bit of your last post, using "entrails" rather than "entails."
Sounds about right.
John Keating
29 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:09:00
So Kev
being blissfully clueless about how journalism works - obviously unlike you and your far superior knowledge - why can't Prentice or O'Keefe ask ONE relevant question to the Clubs hierarchy ?
Which advertiser do you reckon is putting pressure on the Echo not to ask any questions of the Board ?
Do you reckon its the same advertiser that encouraged the Echo to lead the revolt at Anfield against Gillete and Hicks ?
Iain Johnston
30 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:36:55
This is my first post, although I read all the comments daily. Living in South Wales, I only manage 7 to 10 games a season now. Saturday's game was utterly unacceptable — so is the apathy within the squad, management and boardroom.

Collymore's comments are the first from any media source to question what is going on, why? The Echo should be at the forefront of this debate, not cowering in the corner. We've been asking these questions seriously for five years now.

The Clubs lack of transparency is suspicious. None of them believe we have have a right to question them on any topic from finances to tactics to player performance, including the manager. The Echo made Hicks and Gillette's position untenable, they clearly see the Everton model as the way all clubs should be run.

Kev Johnson
31 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:19:31
John - this isn't a journalism class, I'm not talking you through the whole thing. You're starting the ask the right questions, though, instead of thinking you already know the answers. Keep at it. Oh yeah, and one piece of good advice: as 'Deep Throat' says to Woodward in that heroic-journalists-save-western-civilisation-as-we-know-it film, 'All The President's Men' - "Follow the money..."
Shaun Brennan
32 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:27:05
Well one thing is for certain, at least the echo is consistent. It's always had a siege mentality. Which why it appeals to the vast majority of their readers.

"outraged at everything, ashamed of nothing".

John Keating
33 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:33:03
Kev
you should get a job on the Echo.
You've spouted on and answered nowt and not made a blind bit of sense doing it !!
Paul Gladwell
34 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:38:20
Someone just reminded me of Barry Horne, we have to put up with him this Saturday telling us all to wrap up too, this man was dissing people who were ringing up moaning on the phone in after the Swansea home game I think it was, he had been commentating at Wigan and was having a go at lads who'd just paid to watch a negative game of shite at Goodison,Southall got it right on Monday calling this ex players who work at the club' brown noses'
Ste Traverse
35 Posted 13/03/2013 at 18:44:15
A few weeks ago in his Friday column, Dave Prentice was asking the question whether Kenwright had attended more Everton games than anyone still alive. I mean, what the fuck??!!

He pussyfoots around him. That's about the biggest searching question regarding Bill Kenwright you'll ever get out of Mr Prentice.

Danny Broderick
36 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:42:42
I think what Kev is trying to say is that the clubs put a lot of money the Echo's way, so they have a lot of influence. With Hicks & Gillette, the whole club wanted rid of them. The ex-players were calling for it, Benitez was, the fans were, and there was a revolt in the boardroom.
At Everton, there is clearly a division between what the club wants the Echo to publish, and what we, as fans, want them to publish.
The Echo is basically spineless. It should stop pretending to occupy the middle ground and represent the fans. They are no more than club puppets.
It was easy for them to criticise Hicks & Gillette, as they were simply going with the flow. The whole club wanted rid of them - the club and the fans - so they went along for the ride.
On our side of the park, the club has got them by the short and curlies, so expect more articles on how great the banter is among our players (instead of why the board have not managed to invest a penny in 13 years).
The fans want the board out. The club are never going to let the Echo print that though. Any such rumblings would see the club threatening to withdraw from advertising in the paper (if Kev is right) and to also stop providing interviews with local journalists, snippets when we are signing players (rarely happens, but still!), access to the training ground etc.
As the famous e-mails said, 'the Echo owes us.' That says it all about the relationship between the paper and the club. i.e. we'll give them a call and get them onside.
Gavin Ramejkis
37 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:59:39
If its not in Kenshite's back pocket why didnt it scream from the rooftops when it was named in the email leaks? The Echo is, has and always will be a useless rag pandering to Bill Jong Ill
Eugene Ruane
38 Posted 13/03/2013 at 19:37:53
A truly venal, putrid rag the Echo - genuinely hate it.

Kev (885) - "It bugs me how ignorant people are of how journalism and the media works. Wakey, wakey - we live in an infortainment age! Why? Because so many people love that shit! They lap it up"

I agree (more or less) completely, people love shite, consequently the Echo (and loads of other papers) supply it.

I also agree when you say - 'If the people of Liverpool wanted to read serious investigative journalism, the Echo would refelect that"

The reason I say 'more or less' though is that I think these 'rules' apply more to the general content of the paper (any paper) and that there's a big difference (certainly in a city like Liverpool), when it comes to your team/football.

Football supporters generally don't give a shite if a paper is full of nonsense about Lady Slag-Ga or 'RiRi' or..whatever the fuck sells papers.

Not saying they BELIEVE what's printed, but (apparently) they don't give much of a fuck either, which IS why (as you suggest) we have the press we do

If nothing else, I suppose all the rubbish stimulates conversation in the alehouse - "See Jordan just got married again? Must be like a fuckin' burst sofa!" - discuss.

Local sports reporting however (I believe) WILL be seen differently.

It WILL be seen as important and WILL be scrutinized MUCH closer and people (ie: supporters) WILL give a fuck.

For a local paper to not cater for local supporters and to be seen as party to hiding the 'truth' (whatever that might be) I would suggest is not good business in the long term.

Imagine if supporters could buy the Echo and be 99% sure that what was being reported was fact instead of some fluffy spin?

Wouldn't they sell more?

The argument against always goes 'Yes but Everton would ban them" etc.

So what - in any organization there are people who aren't happy, who feel undervalued, shat on or whatever who WOULD get the news out.

A ban wouldn't mean no news, just no spin.

I have been buying Private Eye magazine since about 1978/78 and the entire magazine only exists because there are people (in government, opposition, business etc) who feel that (for whatever reason) the truth must out (nb: the ONLY place to find out how Britain's papers work is in Private Eye's regular 'Street Of Shame' column - imo)

Everton banning the Echo would be great - we might actually (finally) find out what IS going on

Right now, I don't expect the Echo to listen to what Everton supporters are happy or not happy with because they ARE (undoubtedly) hand-in-glove with with fat-head and his slippery mob (and wouldn't dare bite that hand).

Do they deny this?

Of COURSE - what other option do they have?

They're hardly likely to say.. "Yes we're a shower of piss-weak, lily-livered shit-houses, who would sell our souls for continued access to Bill's free sausage rolls, vol-au-vents and bevvy"

Personally, I could think of no better news than hearing it was 'on the bones' and was going to fold.

"GETYOURFINALISSUESOUVENIRECHO!!!"

I'd buy THAT one.

Paul Andrews
39 Posted 13/03/2013 at 20:46:45
Eugene,that would be a welcome change for the echo to print a full and frank exposé "the truth".We both know that wont happen though unfortunately.
John Keating
40 Posted 13/03/2013 at 20:45:33
Eugene
the only time you would hear our illustrious investigative hacks,Dumb and Dumber, rebel against the Board is if Blue Bill cut back on the old "other operating costs" and reduced the hacks' treble G+ Ts to doubles.
Obviously the reduction would not apply to Board members.
Kevin Tully
41 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:03:35
Guys, guys, you all have a very short memory, there was an exposé ran about the inner working of the club:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2011/09/15/david-prentice-visits-the-dixie-dean-suite-at-everton-s-goodison-park-and-enjoys-some-fine-dining-100252-29423895/

Patrick Murphy
42 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:08:52
How do You Solve A Problem Like Everton? An overview of Everton's plight in the International Business Times, it could have been written by our Editors or one of own posters.

http://www.ibtimes.com/sportsnet/how-do-you-solve-problem-everton-1124629

Robby Burns
43 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:13:44
Not sure if I've got this right but didn't Walter Smith say the club nearly went under during his stint as manager? If this was true, I don't recall The "I wouldn't use it to wipe my arse" Echo banging down Comrade Bill's door down to ask Why?
John Keating
44 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:23:41
Patrick

Mark Godfrey for sure will be banned from Finch Farm and Goodison should he ever attempt to darken their doors! This man can have no shame.

Thank God we have real journalists like Dumb and Dumber who will at least give us the truth about the team we love.

How dare he cast aspersions on our leaders. Treble gins all round! !!

Kev Johnson
45 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:31:18
John - journalists don't drink gin. This isn't a 1970s sitcom.
John Keating
46 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:37:48
Kev
I know a couple, actually a few, journalists they definitely drink gin and anything else they can get.
Journalists, Doctors and Ambulance chasing lawyers seem to be well into the old gin.
Maybe you know a few ?
David O'Keefe
47 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:44:34
Prentice does read Toffeeweb btw.
Peter Laing
48 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:37:34
It is Kev, didn't old blue Bill star in one and the Club have been stuck with the old school tie mentality ever since.
Joe Bibb
49 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:46:10
It's not just O'Keefe and Prentice. If you read the crap that Barry Horne writes every week, you would think that the supporter that pays to watch has no right to a say. He calls any opposition to his views as anti-Moyes fans but we are pro-Everton fans we don't get free tickets, free meals, free transport to away games or a free programme, Mr Horne, we pay to watch EFC and what we are seeing is crap and a Manager that is not doing anything to stop the rot. "It's just been one of those days" is his pathetic response to criticism.

Tranmere Rovers have a manager that has the guts to say what the fans think and act on it.

Kev Johnson
50 Posted 13/03/2013 at 21:43:51
Sorry, John - I hold my hands up: my remark (saying journalists don't drink gin) was a stupid one. I have known a good number and they sink bottles of wine by the dozen, but never gin. Of course, that proves exactly nothing, since my cross section is not large enough. Having said that, the drinking culture surrounding journalists is very different than it used to be. At one time it was almost seen as part of the job. Now, what with job cuts and people doing more work for (proportionally) less pay, that's not so much the case. Er, so I've heard.

Nick Entwistle
51 Posted 13/03/2013 at 22:54:54
They defend themselves against not asking the tough questions by highlighting their coverage of the club being for sale. Is that it?
Joe Ainsworth
52 Posted 13/03/2013 at 22:23:37
In my gin-addled state I'm wondering exactly what this big exclusive is that my fellow Blues think the Echo should be splashing across their fish and chip paper.

From where I'm slumped there is no conspiracy. The money isn't being syphoned off into a Cayman Island slush fund, it goes on the wages of Fellas who turn their back on the ball when it suits them and on running a club that operates, like most of us, on the edges of its overdraft.

So maybe they should be hounding Kenwright like they hounded the cowboys at Anfield. I can see the headline now, 'Cough up or get out Bill'. Except that'd be like chasing a wino down Hardman Street in the middle of the night for his last can of Special Brew.

So maybe the big expose is 'Dozens of Billionaires Put off By Blues Pricetag'. Cos they're all out there you know, the Sheiks and the Oligarchs, knocking on the door at Goodison trying to stuff their cash through the letterbox as Philip Green puts on a bird's voice and shouts 'get lost, he's not in...'

Or most frightening of all – what if the news is that no-one worthwhile is interested in a club with a land-locked ground worth about thirty bob, still £45M in debt despite the repeated selling of its prize assets, with a crowd who will struggle to stomach any hike in ticket prices and a broadcaster who'd rather show a Man Utd under-9's game than our first team.

I'm no apologist for the Echo, by the way, I buy it solely because the national press do a good job of ignoring Everton completely so it's all I've got, but I think this is a classic case of a blind man looking for a polar bear in a blizzard. You can ask all the questions you like but what if there is no story worth printing? What if we're just stuck?

Eugene Ruane
53 Posted 13/03/2013 at 23:12:00
Jim Bowen will be elected Pope before anyone at the Echo asks Kenwright anything probing.

- Switches TV news on -

What the FU..

Guy Hastings
54 Posted 14/03/2013 at 07:02:59
Years ago Crystal Palace banned the Croydon Advertiser football writer from the ground. He just turned up at the gate every Saturday, paid his eight bob and reported from the terraces. Coverage continued, paper got good coverage and CPFC looked stupid.
Ian Bennett
55 Posted 14/03/2013 at 07:25:15
Joe 995 - I suspect they are aware of a lot of things but will not risk the relationship or the legal action.

They do continue to report bill Kenwright as the great everton saviour when he and his board have continued to run the business into the ground. Get a piece of paper, put a line down the middle and write his successes on one side, and his failures on the other. Watching dave hickson seems to cover a lot of sins, and the echo lap it up.

Yes, they cover everton well when the rest of the media couldn't give a toss. Does that excuse the above, frankly no it doesn't. Any good journalist worth his salt must be frustrated playing to this tune. Thankfully social media can and does, which is clearly killing off the echo slowly very much like everton..

John Otway
56 Posted 14/03/2013 at 07:36:28
I'd like someone from within the media to get to the bottom of the odious, potty mouthed Mr Topshop's involvement with our club. I suspect he's Harry Corbett to Kenwright's Sooty and we all know what that means in terms of where his hand is.
Richard Jones
57 Posted 14/03/2013 at 07:28:39
But Joe if the club is priced at £125 - £150 million then we wont have anyone knocking down the door to purchase the club. I'm afraid mate you do seem to have bought into the company line hook - line and sinker ! You really should question everything you read you know.
Matt Traynor
58 Posted 14/03/2013 at 08:32:50
Joe #995, in your gin-addled state, you've stumbled upon the problem. "what if the news is that no-one worthwhile is interested in a club with a land-locked ground worth about thirty bob".

It's a vicious circle. The £125m quoted is for the shares of 3 directors, and ergo values the club at £180m (a price stated on here by I and others months ago). In his interview with the BU, BK stated that he'd employed (from my memory) Keith Harris (although his company Seymour Pierce seems to be in a spot of bother now); PCP, Leon Angel and a couple of banks, including DB. These people operate on a commission - either front end, from seller, or back end, from buyer. The fact that there's more than 1 of them means there's no exclusivity - hence they are not going to pour resources into selling something that others are also pushing. Given that the business is a "fixer-upper", it's not going to attract a Middle East Sovereign Wealth fund-type as they want the finished product, which they can throw money at the playing side.

Even if that price is an opening gambit, the actual price they're willing to accept is probably too high. It's all well and good BK et al stating they want to avoid attracting carpet baggers (and I would hope they will take the deal that is best for the club, not them), but given they bought at £21m, have invested nothing, enjoy the trappings of being a PL Club Director, and want to sell for multiples of their purchase price is carpet baggery of the first order!

Kevin Tully
59 Posted 14/03/2013 at 08:58:20
Joe, there were billionaires knocking at the door who walked away - Jain group.

The Echo reported this interest, don't you think it would be prudent journalism to enquire why they didn't want to do business?

Phil Bellis
60 Posted 14/03/2013 at 09:46:19
I stopped reading the Echo well before its sycophantic, blatant bias and pandering to Liverpool FC in all areas caused it to be, rightly, referred to by Blues as the Red Echo
Only worth looking at to check if you're in the obituaries

At least the Post had an Everton slant but it's buggar-all use since it became a weekly

The Echo'll end up a Christmas Annual

John Keating
61 Posted 14/03/2013 at 10:01:33
Joe
I don't think the supporters are looking for a major exclusive.
I think the supporters are just looking for truthful answers to legitimate questions.
As the shareholders are now unable to question the Board and the Club are not interested in answering questions from the rank and file, the only way we can get input and output to and from the Club is via the media.
The Echo is our local paper and you would expect they at least try to be impartial.
It would be easy to keep the supporters off the Boards back, just be truthful, unfortunately openness and truth are commodities the Club are not blessed with.
Carl Sanderson
62 Posted 14/03/2013 at 10:17:13
The Echo has ALWAYS been the same; entirely biased toward Liverpool FC. I recall Mr Chris Bascombe - now cheerleading for the red side in the Telegraph - writing a derby match report without once mentioning the word "Everton".
Phil Bellis
63 Posted 14/03/2013 at 11:18:44
Spot on Carl
And hacks must be the only people who write things like "quaffing champagne" and define everybody, in writing, along the lines of
"Betty Rubble, 52, divorced, unemployed mother of 3..."
Eugene Ruane
64 Posted 14/03/2013 at 12:22:24
"Scoffed Phil Bellis, sarcastic lounge lizard and Jesuit-educated Evertonian"
Mick Gallagher
65 Posted 14/03/2013 at 12:32:38
One of the joys of working offshore you don't have to read the red rag.
Kev Johnson
66 Posted 14/03/2013 at 12:34:42
Nice word, "quaffing". I'd like to see it used more often.

"Skipper Leighton Baines quaffs Champagne after Everton secure the Premier League title" would be a superb sentence.

Eugene Ruane
67 Posted 14/03/2013 at 12:44:15
Kev - ""Skipper Leighton Baines quaffs Champagne after Everton secure the Premier League title" would be a superb sentence".

Indeed it would.

However with the present regime in place, most likely headline featuring the words 'quaffing', 'Everton' and 'Skipper Leighton Baines' is..

"Skipper Leighton Baines quaffs Pomagne after Everton secure Premier League status"

John Shaw
68 Posted 14/03/2013 at 13:14:07
Close Eugene (068)

But it's more likely to be something along the lines of:

'Former Everton Skipper Leighton Baines was today pictured quaffing champagne, after forcing through his last minute deadline day dream move to Champions Manchester United.' Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright said "We moved heaven and earth to keep him, because he's one of us, unfortunately Leighton made it clear he wanted to move and we had no option. I was fortunate to see the great Ray Wilson from the Boys Pen, and Leighton was right up there with him as a great, but he wanted to leave and I didn't feel we could stand in the way of what he called his 'dream move'!"

Kev Johnson
69 Posted 14/03/2013 at 13:29:34
How about "Luis Suarrez quaffs his own medicine after his last minute own goal - and subsequent sending off after ugly fracas with Gerrard - consigns Reds to derby defeat against resurgent Everton"?That has a nice ring to it.
Eugene Ruane
70 Posted 14/03/2013 at 14:00:32
Ouch John (068) - I thought I was a cynic.

Kev (075) - That would be wonderful but John's version has the awful cold wind of reality about it.

James Martin
71 Posted 14/03/2013 at 14:15:17
Speaking of Leighton Baines any else hearing rumours today that he and Fellaini came close to blows in the dressing room of the Wigan game....can't say I blame him to be honest.
Phil Bellis
72 Posted 14/03/2013 at 14:23:47
EJ
I see neither of us got the job then
Although, I withdrew my application over the celibacy requirement - I told the Vatican I wouldn't be able to give it up
AMDG
Ian Bennett
73 Posted 14/03/2013 at 19:00:38
That's a great point Matt. £125m gets you what 60% odd. That's ridiculous.

No one wonder he always has that smug grin. They guy clearly needs sectioning.

Barry Rathbone
74 Posted 14/03/2013 at 19:08:27
Matt Traynor 034. cracking post.

Need more analysis like this to get through to the masses - I'd say contact the echo but .....

Eugene Ruane
75 Posted 14/03/2013 at 19:35:27
Phil (088) Yes, overlooked again. I was also disappointed the new Argentine Pope chose the name Francis. In his position I would have definitely called myself 'Pope Malvinas" (anything to to piss off readers of the Mail, Telegraph, Sun etc).
Karl Masters
76 Posted 14/03/2013 at 22:42:02
A couple of years ago, I suggested to a football journalist pal of mine, who I went to school with and covers Everton quite often, that he might want to get to the bottom of the ' Philip Green conundrum' at Everton.

I gave him plenty of information and leads to go on, but he turned up nothing. It seemed that there was a bit of a 'ring of steel' around the whole subject from either people at the club or people who also cover the club and he got very little encouragement to take it further.

You could argue that there is no story here, but you could also argue that too many people who know so something don't want to say anything for fear of endangering their own cozy situation with the Club. To be fair to my friend, he relies, as Kev Johnson alludes to, on a network of contacts and goodwill and nobody wants to rock the boat.

What is needed is somebody with nothing to lose digging here, but is it enough if a hot topic to get a heavyweight journo interested? I firmly believe there is something rotten in the core of our Club, but proving our suspicions is another matter altogether.


Eugene Ruane
78 Posted 14/03/2013 at 23:06:07
Karl (287) - See the bit at the end of this piece on Greens tax arrangements, that lists all the things that could be paid for with the £285m he avoided paying.

Surely a new ground and a load of new players for us should be top of that list.

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/targets/3

(yes I am kidding..ish)

Colin Wainwright
79 Posted 14/03/2013 at 23:17:05
A stand at least, Eugene. The greedy bastard.
Brendan McLaughlin
80 Posted 14/03/2013 at 23:30:38
Colin # 296
Bit of a wag yourself
Seriously like
Colin Wainwright
81 Posted 14/03/2013 at 23:39:38
Was that meant to mean anything (to anyone) Bren?

(strange fella)

Eugene Ruane
82 Posted 14/03/2013 at 23:57:50
I also have to know Brendan - what is/was that about?
Colin Wainwright
83 Posted 15/03/2013 at 00:02:57
Tbh Eugene. I think he's posted on the wrong thread. Still only just makes sense on the correct thread though.
Eugene Ruane
84 Posted 15/03/2013 at 00:08:50
Posting on the wrong thread - I see empty cans.
Colin Wainwright
85 Posted 15/03/2013 at 00:12:51
Breaker?
Matt Traynor
86 Posted 15/03/2013 at 08:49:27
So those of you who use twatter will be used to getting emails with suggestions of tweets you might be interested in.

Imagine my surprise when this dropped in:
Boycott The Red Echo @RedEchoBoycott
Remember this pathetic apology about the Arteta money @LivEchoEFC?#embarrassing #theyoweus pic.twitter.com/Eu7aK9l8ky

Further down was this nugget!
Kenwright OUT @KenwrightOUT
Call yerself an Evertonian, Bill? #KenwrightOUT pic.twitter.com/wsAiuitBNs

Alan Xavier
87 Posted 18/03/2013 at 15:08:45
Well, why should people turn to the Echo? In all the reaction to the Wigan defeat, one thing struck me.

Of the two Echo defences, if the Echo cannot get the CEO, major shareholders, owners or chairman to speak on the wider issues facing the club - stadium etc - this is a glaring admission by the paper that it has no clout.

And into that vacuum are people prepared to hound for the truth.

Exit, Echo.


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