Everton fan groups call for walk-out protest during Arsenal game

Leaving seats at a certain point during the match could create unintended outcomes such as upsetting fans who don't agree with the protest as well as other security-related issues.

The injury issue is a sideshow. Yes, we have missed Calvert-Lewin. Mina etc but that's because the squad is so thin and totally lacking in quality despite £600m being spent.

It's not fucking Rocket Science, is it?

But being an Evertonian is a life time endurance test, with no guarantees other than it carries a public health warning.

I'm as worried as anyone but save demos for after the game and let's do all we can during the game to encourage the team.

I had to miss this Mondays game so I will put that down to not turning up anyone fancy a few in town instead.

Cue camera shot on the directors' box. I think whoever suggested Bungalow Bill gets it right. 'Hey Bungalow Bill, what did you kill?' Oh yeah, our fucking club and our love of football.,

Like Pat K said, What if we are winning? (2-up is pushing it a bit too far, though, Pat.) :-)

I couldn't walk out on Everton if I tried to. Once I'm in, I'm in. It's been like that from as long as I can remember. My first memories are of wearing a royal blue shirt.

If I could be there Monday I would be and be there for the 90 plus minutes regardless of the score.

Forget my past following. This season, I've stayed to the end at home to West Ham, watched the penalties at QPR, been there to the very end away to Wolves (in the home end) and received a letter of complaint for the privilege, witnessed and been part of the furious outburst by the loyal Evertonians at Brentford.

I'll be there again on many occasions this season. But I won't walk out on them. I never have and never will.

No one’s happy with the way the club has been run in terms of what’s been happening on the pitch but to abandon the team when they are devoid of confidence and depleted in number seems to me to be a mutinous, divisive and even cowardly act.

I’ve long found the notion of the fan as a customer receiving a product which they have a right to be unhappy about as a strange one.

My view is you decide to support your team and that’s what you do. You don’t withdraw your support when things get tough. You support them more. Walking out after 20 mins (on Weds) is an act of cowardice as far as I’m concerned. You’re not resilient enough to endure the discomfort of standing beside your team while they get beaten and humiliated. These are the same thin skinned fannies who can’t get over Benitez referring to Everton as a small club as far as I’m concerned. Grow up. We would have lapped that up if our manager had said something similar about that lot.

We have a new manager who looks like he’s ready to break under the pressure. What good does it do us to add to the pressure? Will he make better decisions? Will he try harder? Will he no longer be the former Liverpool manager?

If he or the board snaps we appoint our seventh manager in six years, pay Benitez and one of our rivals a load of compensation and destabilise the team, and particularly our new arrivals. Who do we get in anyway? Your pick of Watford cast offs or some mercenary who’s ready to disappear if he sees a bit of leg from España.

The two issues need to be separated. Slaughtering the team and the manager (and Brands) is the wrong way to voice disapproval of the way the club has been run.

Pat asked what if we’re two up by then (27 mins)? This is fundamentally what’s wrong with the mentality.. If we’re two up that is surely a better time - if that is the way of protesting against the owners - when it would have a less, detrimental effect on the team.

Has anyone thought about what happens if these protests encourage Moshiri to jack it all in? Doesn’t that put our new stadium in jeopardy? The ‘I’d rather we were skint and giving it 100% every week’ line is the war cry of the biggest wimps. They’d rather not have a go, they’d rather return to obscurity away from the focus of the media and other clubs fan’s because they can’t defend themselves. They can’t answer back and they can’t deal with stress. They are the flat track bullies, they want it all on a plate or they don’t want it. As far as I’m concerned they can f*ck off and support the other lot.

Speaking of the other lot, they are rubbing their hands together aren’t they? ‘they are about to get a £500m stadium and they’re forcing their owners out’, I mean can you f*cking believe it? If I didn’t know better I’d say they were engineering this but, no, we are doing it to ourselves because of a few bad results coming off a bad run of injuries..

GET A F*CKING GRIP!

"As far as I’m concerned they can f*ck off and support the other lot."
I've heard this offensive rubbish before, and I dismiss it out of hand everytime. Significantly, I also dismiss everything and anything else that person may have said as well. The opinions of anyone who engages with their alleged fellow supporters like this are invariably worthless anyway.

"Speaking of the other lot, they are rubbing their hands together aren’t they? ‘they are about to get a £500m stadium and they’re forcing their owners out’, I mean can you f*cking believe it? "

The other lot are still posting memes about Agent Benitez and the 4-1 tonking they just handed out. This comes across as paranoid gibberish, from a deeply angry person.

Which I suppose it is.

If you agree with going out, raise your hand to show you're in.

And those of you not in about being out, now raise your hand.

And if anybody wants to come out, we'll understand.

And fair enough Drew, no song then. I'm in. Not in about being out, actually in the trenches with the club and its fans.

Its about time Everton fans voiced their displeasure.

I've been waiting since the 90s !

Points to be won. You're never out when you follow Everton.

See you at the next one!

Why add to the negativity. The very loyal Evertonian following at Brentford last Sunday voiced their displeasure in a way I've not seen since the Kendall out leaflets of 1983.

But for the majority of the 90 minutes we got behind the team willing them on to win or at least equalise.

The players and squad are a victim of the mismanagement of the club over decades.

Aim the anger at the board, but for those 90 minutes, they need us more than ever right now.

Absolutely crazy to walkout after 27 mins, surely something else can be organised for the 27th mins, placards etc.

That'll do, if we can find a big enough Pikestaff ! :-)

Maybe a ships mast would do the job. Could be one floating at Brambley Dock

Didn't spill my drink but I did splutter! The medium of dance! Maybe the limbo would be appropriate?

27 years of Kenwright's mis-management needs to come to an end and sitting at the Grand Old Lady, tut-tutting isn't going to cut it. These idiots need to be shown, in no uncertain terms, that enough is enough.

So a walk-out is necessary to show disapproval – and solidarity will only work if all take part. Anything else to me is making do with mediocrity.

The club doesn't seem to care and neither do the players; they did the same last season and this season is Groundhog Day.

Pointless sacking the manager when it's the board and players who are to blame.

I might hold my head in my hands (as on Wednesday night) and what I say about them between games is sometimes unprintable, even here... but, while they are actually playing for Everton, they will get my full support.

"Really? Well, I wasn't interested in improving the club I've invested millions in before... but, if they're temporarily leaving their seats, then I'd better do something quickly!"

What planet are these people on?

No need to change anything here. You keep communicating through TalkShite and Bill's vicarious nostalgic Fab 4 bollocks – these Scousers love that shit – and throw some Everton family pony in there as well, la.

Watch them stand to attention when they play that old Z-Cars number, prior to kick-off... What a Club! What a Tradition!!! No change needed here.

Btw, would that be a Twyla Tharp or Merce Cunningham interpretive dance? Or some Hugo Ball Dadaist thing?

There are a number of players in our team who really do care. We just cannot turn our back on them.

It would be far better to stay behind for 27 minutes after the game has ended – win, lose or draw.

If 20,000 stayed behind, that would send a clear message to the players that we are with them and a completely separate message to the board.

If true, I would not be surprised if Kenwright called for Brands to step down, and he reassures Moshiri that will solve the problem.

Nothing, but nothing surprises me with Bill, to throw someone else under the bus.

Those of us with decades of experience in the calamitous Kenwright era (instigated during Carter's limp leadership) surely know that, for once in our lives, with a squad replete with God-awful players, we need to do what we did a year or three before we won two championships and our only European trophy - and protest against the board during the game, volubly, visibly, preferably before the game starts.

If, by some hitherto unearthed sense of professionalism, the team then go on to win the match, we may look silly, admittedly (and Moshiri and the boardroom would love that)! But how long are we going to suffer in silence as we look forward to trying to resurrect the season from the relegation places we're likely to be in when we begin our January search for even more bog-standard players, this time only available for next-to-nowt though, to hopefully drag us to 17th minimum in May?

Something needs to happen; we've shown unbelievable loyalty and patience for so many years. We need a turning point of sorts.

I fear for Moshiri on Monday. If I was him, I'd release a statement in the matchday programme outlining his ‘understanding' of the fans' issues and what he hopes to do to address them.

He needs to play the PR game like he's never done before right now.

For Blues to say other supporters aren't proper supporters or they're going to upset the shithouse players, then that's out of order. The players don't give a shit about us. They'll just go home in their Bentleys and watch Cbeebies or whatever is in fashion.

I remember when we were doing everything we could to stop us moving to the Tescodome and supporters were calling us Kopities and worse.

Remember, if there are protests, then those protesters are as much a Blue as anyone and have every right to do what they do.

I watched us win the league in '63, '70 and the '80s team and I could fucking cry...

Farhad.

Your chairman and biggest problem, Bill Kenwright, only knows failure and failure is no success at all.

He has to go.

Are we to keep changing managers, retaining them only for the duration of the "new manager boost" in an attempt to accidentally drop onto the answer?

The problem here is wider and deeper than one man; if this is not addressed, then what are the chances for a potential replacement, with all the same issues as Benitez and the previous string of failed appointments?

All within the club should be pulling together right now – everyone. If this reputed board meeting is part of that process, as opposed to a witch-hunt, then fine.

If the meeting is a real event, then it's very unprofessional that news of it has leaked out for attack in Drama World.

Hopefully the penny will at last drop for him before the alleged emergency board meeting in the next day or two and he at last starts to identify that his self-admitted football ignorance is way more valuable than that of the chief charlatan he made "enhanced" chairman.

Even more hopefully, he immediately sacks people and, instead of wasting his time and money in seeking the next ineffectual manager of the Finch Farm shit-pot, appoints people of competence to operate his multi £billion business from the boardroom.

I ain't hopeful though, like almost everybody else.

What about an absolute crazy, rapturous, raucous cheer on 27 minutes? Showing support for the club as an entity and the players on the pitch. At the same time, as long as the reasons for the cheer are known to the club, that we're not happy with their management, from Moshiri, to Brands and Benitez.

It wouldn't take much for ToffeeWeb, Grand Old Team and the other major Everton websites to simply report the reasons for the cheer. The message would get back to the club.

How much effect any protest, including a cheer, would have is another matter entirely…

I've got some Horah music you can borrow. The protesters can all dance in a circle. Holding hankies.

You are a very funny man.

I'm actually a Spurs supporter but they've no sense of humour...

If your choir ever makes it to the interesting (North) of Ireland, let me know!

40,000 fans for the Hokey-Kokey in the 27th minute.

There's applauding for Arthur in the 7th minute. Then temporarily leaving in the 27th minute. What can happen for the rest of the game? You've got another 88 minutes to work with.

Make sure you're home in time to bang pots and pans in your doorway for the NHS.

What is it with these gestures? They do nothing? It's just one attention-seeking individual after another trying to be the one who came up with something to go viral.

They don't achieve anything. A viral gesture didn't fund the NHS, it won't improve Child Protection Services, it won't reduce knife crime... and it won't convince an owner that they need to listen to fans.

All it does is make people think they did something, and gives a small number of people roughly the same feeling as successfully starting a Mexican Wave.

What happened to protesting and demanding answers, or voting with your wallet? Do we not really care that much?

Brendan #58, my new choir doesn't tour, but I'll make it up there myself one day and we can croon Wild Rover together in a friendly pub.

You've been an accountant for many a year
And earned lots of money in your career
But then you bought Everton and have thrown it away
Because you allowed the big conman Bill Kenwright to stay

And it's no, nay, never... no nay never no more...
Will you plaaaay that Iwobi...
No never, no more!

I'd like a good manager
But they're all very dear
And I spent all my money
And still relegation I fear

And it's no nay never…

The best way to achieve that is to save all protests until the AGM on Zoom and find a way to gatecrash that (I'm sure there are some tech-savvy blues that could do that).

We certainly do not need to provoke the loss of more points, and we don't want Moshiri & Usmanov to walk, so – other than kidnapping Bill (now that's not a bad idea) – I don't see what we as supporters can do. There were organized protests about Destination Kirkby and Kenwright's litany of deceit but that went nowhere.

I can't face seeing Coleman continue to disintegrate before my eyes.

If you hear a knock on your door shortly, don't be surprised.

I'm all for something... and it makes sense on a televised game, but it just sounds like a non-starter.

Good thing I didn't suggest "Roddy McCorley"... this could have gotten real ugly, real fast. Don't want to bring up neck ropes with this crowd.

Support the team during the game – cheer for a good performance, boo if it's shite – that is a fan's prerogative. This protest is against the Board, so leave it to before or after the game.

I like the idea of the bedsheets. The exposure worked before we got Benetiz. The media loved it, so let's do the same again only this time aim our frustration at the Board.

Remember, a good protest is to get maximum exposure. The fact the game is live and goes worldwide with Moshiri, Brands and Kenwright present is too good an opportunity to miss out on.

Kenwright and Co know these “protests” are only held by a tiny minority. The vast majority of match-going fans will sit silently to show the world just how loyal and civilised we are, not like that other lot across the park. We are better than that!

I've lost count of how many planned protests have fizzled out over the years and how those who have had the temerity to protest have been criticised and ostracised by the ‘silent majority' of 'take it on the chin and behave' fans.

Us, protest? Never!! We are better than that. God is good and will surely deliver us from evil. Bill will still be sitting in the Directors Box in 10 years time, smirking and thinking to himself, “What a bunch of fools this lot are!" Why should things change if the match-going fans don't demand it?

I don't have an easy answer to solve our conundrum but I do know, after decades of supporting Everton, that apart from a few cushions, groans and boos, Everton fans will do sod-all to really make their displeasure felt.

All it would take is one or two incidents like the complete knobheads throwing bottles the other night for this to develop into something very ugly very quickly.

What about something more passive, like the supporters taking along any of the old shirts they have and just holding them up on 27 minutes in silence to show the lot of them they are not fit to wear it?

Ridiculous idea!

If getting behind the team is pointless, then just don't go to the game. A low attendance would get the message over. But the fact that most of the ground is occupied by season ticket holders makes empty seats less likely.

Remember the late '70s and 16,000 gates? I do. The board were not getting revenue (before TV became more important than fans). However, TV cameras panning across empty seats embarrasses the hierarchy.

A no-show gets the feeling across better than anything else. Failing that, take a little banner folded up in your jacket that says "Kenwright Out", or "Where's the Arteta money?" etc, etc. TV cameras will surely zoom in.

I see a lot of posters are opposed to the idea and have offered more subtle, practical and reasoned solutions... but actually making them happen takes a bit of graft. I'm not seeing much of that.

Staying behind to protest after the game makes more sense to me, especially if we could try and get Moshiri, Brands or Kenwright to address the crowd, which would be a real achievement in itself, when you consider the silence we currently receive from our Board of Directors.

First thing that strikes me is the upset and commotion it will cause amongst fellow fans, with people getting up, trying to encourage others to join them, blocking the view of the game we love, and what will the players be thinking?

The most important thing on Monday is 3 points. The very people you are aiming at – the Board of Directors will be smirking and using the Tory tactic of Divide and Rule, sitting back and watching lifelong loyal fans tear each other apart. Then, the Police step in and it's all been in vain.

No, support our team and let the players know they have our backing and it will lift them. COYB

I agree with Tony above. Walking out will not achieve anything. The players know the score and it will make them perform worse on the day, not better.

It's going to be a tough enough match already. And the board will simply shoulder it. Civilised post-match demonstration could probably have more impact – and, if any of the hierarchy remain or not, it would speak loudly.

If there is any truth in the rumours that Kenwright has called a crisis meeting (Kenwright, for fuck's sake... why not Moshiri?) and Brands gets the knife in the back, I believe there will be a real revealing of affairs.

I said to a mate yesterday re Brands, "He's getting a lot of stick but I think I have some sympathy for him." He has not really had the opportunity to work with one manager (four I think so far) for any significant length of time.

Okay, some of his acquisitions have been a bit iffy but then no club is near 100% successful in getting it right every time, and clearly Moshiri (Iwobi definitely) and Kenwright have been interfering beyond their remit. Kenwright, I fear, maybe more than we might realise...

We should be able to give Arsenal and Palace a good game but both are on opposite trajectories from us – also just as unpredictable – but I think we might struggle.

What I can put my lunch money on is a walk-out will not help our performance on Monday evening – or any other matchday for that matter. Utter self-serving madness.

Maybe we would be better adopting Real Madrid's solution when their team isn't performing, which is to wave white hankies. Maybe we could adopt something like that. Which would be visibly more effective for those watching on TV than a walk-out would be.

The millionaires on the pitch won't perform any worse if the whole 40,000(?) walked out – they couldn't give a fuck, they've downed tools so they won't all of a sudden play shittier without a crowd – they did that last season with same results.

The board, if they hear the fan base is spilt, will be laughing all the way to the buffett and the bank on hearing this. Moshiri is so out of touch, he supposedly communicates with Jim White? Get your heads around that one...🤔

Sorry, there needs to be a show of solidarity and disgust at Kenwright and the stupidity of Moshiri to keep this loser on as Chairman – who's the bigger fool?

For some,supporting Everton is a distraction from their everyday lives, or a habit that was formed in their formative years that they just can't break; for others, it's the single most important thing in their lives.

To expect that sort of disparate group to rise up and speak as one is asking too much and to berate those who disagree with direct action is very harsh indeed.

I think the hierarchy is by now fully aware of all of the complaints and dissatisfactions, and it may well take action to address some of those concerns. Those actions may not fit with every single one of us, in fact, any actions they take might agitate some fans even further.

There is one missing ingredient for any protests carried out by Evertonians, the mainstream media will not be that interested in helping the 'cause', not in the same way as they helped Kopites and Stretford Enders to effect change at their clubs.

We might not like it but the only power we have as customers is to stop spending our hard-earned cash on all things Everton if we are not happy with the product.

Notice the Premier League clubs' reaction to the appointment of an independent regulator, we are merely customers and we can't be allowed to damage the 'brand'.

Kenwright may announce after his board meeting that he has sacked Brands, banished Barrett-Baxendale back to EitC, and resigned as Chairman.

Long live the Revolution ! :-)

But we need to make a point that this isn't good enough. I've never got the Director of Football, so I'm not going there. Why blame Kenwright? Did he pick the transfer targets, and let's face it, some decisions, along with the contracts offered, have been simply baffling.

How about this for a protest? I was at Wembley for the semi-final against Man Utd, the one we won on penalties. Before the game, an interview with Mikel Arteta had to be stopped because the Blue end erupted into a version of Z-Cars. The Man Utd fans fell silent, it gave out a powerful message, using the thing that, even after 60 years attending games, my first as a 5-year-old, still causes the hairs on the back of my neck to bristle and a lump come to my throat.

Can you imagine the impact if 35,000 people sang Z-Cars on 27 minutes. The TV couldn't fail to pick it up, the players would see it as support, and the board would know what it symbolised.

Far better than any walk-out. IMO

Come on, you Blues.

What did sicken me on Wednesday was people walking out after 20 minutes. I know the team are performing dreadful at the minute but walking out... I ask you.

There won't be no mass walk-out on Monday – it just won't happen. Don't really know what the fans are supposed to do but walking out won't help the team when they need us more than ever.

A previous poster put on about bringing old shirts to the game and holding them up to show the players they're not fit to wear them. Good shout, that... but it needs a collective effort. I'm not sure it will get much response because ToffeeWeb is only a small vehicle in the grand scheme of things.

I feel sorry for any young fan under the age of 30 because all they've ever witnessed is a club being ruined from top to bottom of mismanagement.

Coyb

Sack Benitez? We already complain about an imbalanced team and no discernible pattern of play, brought about by umpteen different managers in the last 5 or 6 years. Why compound the problem? Unless he has clearly lost the dressing room, stick with him and allow him to rebuild.

Protest against the Board by all means, but before, during or after the match without impacting the players whose confidence must already be at rock-bottom.

Am I missing something?

Not quite the storming of the Winter Palace, is it...

I won't be leaving my seat – I will be cheering the team on to a much-needed 3 points.

Post #11 – Exactly my thoughts.

And what will this achieve precisely? They should be more worried that Moshiri walks out after 27 minutes and doesn't come back!

So, suuuuuure... let's just happy-clap them along… it's making a worrrrld of difference!

ps: I just had a memory come up on my Facebook timeline, 2 years ago today, me moaning at Brands and Silva after a slapping I clearly believed “could have been 9” and bemoaning that Keane and Mina were a poor hope as first-choice centre-backs, and the lack of competition at full-back (replaced one with a centre-back that day too, according to my post) was killing us…

Absolutely nothing has changed. How long do we keep happy-clapping for? How low can we tolerate?

I was envious of the Super 6. Winning things – what a novel concept that is. Never take on at the home of Z-Cars. Keep singing, guys – that'll show them. Hopefully the away cohort will show their displeasure at the Palace game, if it's still bandy.

Far better to give Kenwright and Co some well-deserved stick at the end, with sheets and Barca white hankies on 27 minutes.

It's vital we get a performance on Monday. If they start like they did against Liverpool, the match will effectively be over by the 27th minute, but if everyone gets behind the team (like they did after Gray's goal) from the kick-off, we might at least have a chance.

John (100), yes, I remember that Glasgow derby when thousands were on their way out of the ground, no protest, near the end of the game when one of the teams scored an equaliser and half of the supporters scrambled back up very steep steps, resulting in the tragedy of many deaths.

As an aside to the tragedy, true story: a Catholic priest in Glasgow won a great deal of money on the pools with the Glasgow derby ending in a draw which got him the eight draws up. He donated a big sum to the fund which was set up in response to what happened that day.

On the serious side of it, there should be lots of white sheets with clear criticism of the board and especially Kenwright. No need for dirty words as the coppers will throw them in anyway.

Maybe an idea on 27 minutes to show disapproval would be do what the Real Madrid supporters do when they are not happy and that's for the whole crowd to wave white handkerchiefs in the air. This always got the attention of their leaders and players.

I think this originated from the bull fighting when a bull was being gored too much without the death blow and was suffering. The crowd would show their disapproval of the matador by waving the white hankies.

I've sworn a lot this week after another derby humiliation but swearing at those dickhead leaders of ours would only give them something to throw back at us. They are like Royals and are so far removed from working-class people, it's not funny. They don't understand the true hurt of football supporters when it comes down to paying good money and getting shit in return.

We will be fine mid-table and out of cups by Christmas again. I don't know what all the fuss is about.

Every week, there are grumbles and full-blown articles (on ToffeeWeb and beyond) about the incompetence and wastefulness at the club.

Every year, there are calls to implement some form of protest which never comes to fruition. This frustrates those who are more radical, despairing at the apparent passivity of fellow Blues in meekly accepting their lot.

Again personally, I don't think this initiative is a particular good one. But equally, I am not going to condemn the supporters suggesting it. They are at least attempting to be pro-active in how best the collective can display their discontent to the club's guardians, rather than bleat on a football forum and convince yourself that you've 'done your bit'.

Let it be the starting point of a discussion which attracts alternative ways to protest that has broader appeal and acceptance.

I've long thought that, at the game, there could be two timings nicely spaced when an in situ protest which doesn't require a mass exodus from the stadium could be implemented.

1878. The 18th and 78th minutes.

Simply turning your back on the game for a minute, maybe staring at the Directors Box, could be a simple, but powerful, message. It would be eye-catching for the TV cameras also.

Brilliant and 100% correct, bollocks if it upsets the players and club – they have let us down for the last 27 years.

I still can't get my head round the acceptance of Benitez; it absolutely baffles me, Sack the board and take the Fat Spanish Waiter with you.

The 18th and 78th minutes do have a familiar ring to them... but... like Hilda Baker used to say, "I must get a minute hand fitted on this watch." :-)

Yes, I do go to the game. I just believe that any action that undermines the players' fragile confidence is counter-productive.

Protest by all means... but probably best after the match. We were crap going into those relegation battles versus Wimbledon and Coventry but we protested effectively once the game had ended.

Most of these players are on God knows how many thousands per week and their confidence is fragile? Aw... diddums.

Not half as fragile as our collective patience has been for nearly 30 years. Come on, stop making excuses for these. How much cosseting do they want, need, or deserve?

Who cares if he does? Everton will still exist.

We take mediocrity and under performance as the "norm" for want of a better word.

We never protest and spout shite like "It's not the Everton Way". I don't have answers but as long as Bill Kenwright and his self-appointed sycophants are in charge, we are doomed to years of this shit.

He perpetuates this by spouting "We have the best supporters in the land" and "Everton are the best run club... blah, blah, blah."

Something will give in the end and I fear it will be our Premier League status.

A walk-out on 27 minutes will achieve diddly squat. If you want to protest, go for it after the game and direct it at the Board and Benitez, if you think he's co-responsible.

I have not approved, or agreed with the 27th-minute walk-out either, but I definitely feel enough is enough and something has to happen, and very soon, or we will be playing Tranmere in the future derby matches.

This new ground is vital for us and EFC and will give us pride. He has spent a shed load on transfer fees and manger compensations. On the pitch it hasn't worked but his comittment is not in doubt.

Sack the board? Like a lot of Blues, I didn't want Rafa but, now he's here, I support him. If you support a manger, you don't sack him in December. He will try and filter out the remaining players who can't cut it and bring in those we need. Rondon was a terrible signing by him though.

I am just as frustrated as you and everyone else after 60 years of visiting Goodison and certainly not totally averse to protesting – but it mustn't be counter-productive.

Like a bunch of spoilt kids. We’ve got a shit team playing shit football. It’s not the first time or the last that I’ll witness that in my lifetime.

Some moves toward visible accountability of main functions within the club are in order. He is an accountant, he knows that already.

He has built a board room with his cronies, he's a snide fucker who'd put a knife in your back if it suited him.

Barrett-Baxendale et al... people who know nothing about running a football club but will vote with him at board room level.

I'd like to think that people could come on here and express their support, disdain, or otherwise without being attacked for the way they support the club or what they do or do not choose to do at the match, or elsewhere.

Of course it gets heated when one person's 'support' is another person's 'shithouse behaviour', and we do have to have some firm lines. On here, that line is crossed when it involves insulting other fans.

Obviously you disagree but using this website to call other Everton fans "fucking frauds" is not acceptable for any reason.

It's not just 'knowing nothing about running a football club'. They know nothing about running a business.

Bobby @3 is probably right about them sticking up a picture of Kenwright on-screen and half the ground clapping. Good job it's not a Trades Union cos they'd throw us out.

Liverpool have Hogan as CEO who has come up through the business ranks and got them out of one deal to get a fantastic one with Nike apparently.

Our CEO is an ex-teacher and charity runner who has never run a business before. Record losses last year. The only club with FFP problems.

After 20+ years running EFC, Kenwright said last year “I haven't a clue about business.” Record losses next year probably. Further FFP problems.

Who do you think you are? What's with the disparaging 'food bank' remark?

If you had a crackhead family member, would you unswervingly support them as they sat in front of their neglected kids, shooting up? Or would your love for them cause you to offer some tough love and intervene?

I don't think a walk-out mid-game is useful but, if people are angry at seeing their money fritted away on a terribly run team, then they're entitled to voice their concern in whatever manner they see fit.

I don't think the blue Union ever claimed to represent every fan as they, like all of us, know it's a divided fanbase. But if they were frauds they wouldn't care, and wouldn't have tickets to the game.

I think their act is misguided but it's painful for them to feel the need to take this step

Sitting pretty, Bill?
Time to stand down...

Oh wait….

Or how about something more apt: "Fuck Off, Bill, You Maggot"?

Unless they are stone cold, in which case this would make no difference anyway, I think the people who run this club are well aware us natives are restless, to put it mildly. In fact I suspect they are already figuring out, individually and collectively, who is going to be the scapegoat: Benitez, Brands, Kenwright or Barrett-Baxendale (though it's none too clear what the latter actually does as CEO).

Not that I think a victim is going to make much difference right now. The way back is a long one from where we are today. It goes beyond one individual.

And I think the last thing the team needs at present is an in-game distraction. They look distracted enough as it is. If we get another pitiful performance, I'm sure people will make their feelings known at the end.

I still say best action is to all turn your back on the game for one minute and chant "Sack the Board"

Short but straight to the point; get banners out as well, if needed.

"It is designed to bring attention to the majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri who despite investing £685 million approximately since February 2016 has not seen an improvement in the club's fortunes, with multiple managerial appointments, a weakened and less competitive first team squad and declining performances on the pitch.

"The campaign welcomes and acknowledges his financial commitment to the club. However, the campaign draws attention to the governance and management of the club during these last six years.

"The campaign recognises that without investment and fresh recruitment in the board and executive teams the prospects of a change in fortune in the club remains slight.

"The fans' emotional investment and financial commitment to the club are totally aligned with Farhad Moshiri's investment. We seek the same outcome, a better return for both our investments.

"We call on Farhad Moshiri as major shareholder to make the management changes necessary to see an improvement in performance.

"We call on Farhad Moshiri to communicate in future through official club channels. We call on Farhad Moshiri to engage, meet and discuss fan concerns with the fans."

Moyes leaving was the catalyst for this shit-show. I'm not saying he was great, I personally thought he was a bottler.

What I'm getting at is he was allowed to talk to Man Utd behind the backs of the fans. There was no way Kenwright didn't know what was going on... in fact, I think he was party to the negotiations.

Birmingham, Leicester, Wigan and more have yo-yoed up and down the leagues but still won trophies in that time.

So there has to be something inherently wrong with the bones, the culture.

27 years (or 35 for the league) – one man, one common denominator. Take a bow, Bill.

Ask Duncan if he wouldn't mind taking charge of the team for Monday night, a couple of weeks, and get us some points as he did before. In the last crisis, he didn't do bad regards points.

Now, here is the dilemma: Does Moshiri ask Duncan to continue? Well, if he gets 10 points out the next 5 games (3 v Toon), that's a pretty good start.

Or does Moshiri hit the panic button and ring Big Sam and Sammy Red Nose to dig us out of the crap again?

I've said it a few times, he's the only manager who has delivered his remit. Got paid, did the job. The back few: Williams, Cuco Martina, Kenny??? A young Calvert-Lewin??? 8th. Get ourselves into that position, then take a real look.

But Big Sam would only come on a proper deal. Not a "No thank you" in May.

I'd take that for 3 years, more if it bit brought us stability, winning games, points, a fortress. Go home less angry after games. If anyone can guarantee Premier League Status better than Sam, I am listening.

I don't think a walk-out is the answer. I think a vocal response before kick-off and at half-time.

How did big Dunc take to turn around players attitude and mindset last time? Did he threaten to kick them through the toilet door???? No, but he didn't need to... it's Big Dunc. He set up properly to try to play to the teams strengths.

This manager, Rafa, only played Sunday League. Play out against arguably the best press in world football. Yet we got a goalkeeper who can pass it into their 18-yard box. Remember how Duncan played when he took over? Route 1; we didn't complain, it was the only way we could play.

Five choices:
1) Keep Rafa.
2) Sack Rafa
3) Big Dunc, game by game, job's yours if you keep getting points.
4) Big Sam, for how long.
5) Hobson's Choice: another new manager who don't know owt.

Oh, Eddie Howe, when Toon sack him and employ Rafa. 🤣🤣🤣

A few big banners saying "Taxi for Kenwright" where the TV cameras would see them, would have more impact.

Don't let Bill divert attention with an emergency board meeting. The truth is out there, in plain view

Any protest should be directed fairly and squarely at board level. The team still deserve our support

UtFT

Sacking Rafa, of course it makes a difference, if only silencing the "Rafa Out" crowd. Rafa has picked Rondon, he is not known for playing youngsters, he plays two central midfielders against the 3-man RS midfield. He doesn't play Gbamin when he could be eased in; instead, he throws him in at the deep end in, again, a 2-man central midfield.

His subs are very strange at times: he plays two wingers who – surprise surprise – get pressured out of the match. His training techniques aren't working, trying to play counter-attacking football with a side that struggles to defend.

Rafa ain't perfect, apart from making out he is not to blame. Big Sam was more competent! Unfortunately you make one change and reassess.

It's either Rafa or Brands; Moshiri may think sack Brands and Rafa does the purchasing of players? But let's face it, Moshiri's form on decision-making is as pathetic as the first team's performances.

I think Kenwright will support Brands and I think they will say Rafa is one loss away from the sack. So, if we beat Arsenal, they will hang fire in the hope of a turn in fortunes.

Rafa has been really disappointing in my opinion; I expected him to at least win ugly and make the team hard to beat, difficult to score against, and most of all – organised. He has failed as far as I am concerned.

I was wondering that. Imagine if Richarlison goes down in the box on 27 minutes and it goes to VAR?

Brendan and Andrew,

Their intent seems pretty reasonable: we appreciate you, Moshiri, but get rid of Kenwright and Co. But of course Kenwright tries to subvert it onto the manager and owner – with the help of his acolyte, David Prentice.

There's no easy fix but Everton desperately is in need of a fresh start in terms of the running of the football and commercial side, and a new era, and identity and purpose to be successful in football.

But who will have the formulae and how to get to that point, remains to be seen.

Hope eternal for better times, and starting by putting in a good performance and beating Arsenal.

We know the team is poor but, in my view, they gave their all the other night and there was a period after we scored when it was a pleasure to be inside Goodison Park.

We have a better chance of a win on Monday and I shall be doing my bit to give the team my 100% support.

Yes, the management from Board level has been poor but, if the team are doing their best, in my view, they are entitled to our full support. Some fans behaved poorly on Wednesday evening, and that's embarrassing. When things are going badly, we should unite and pull together and now, more than ever, the team need our backing.

What a shit-show we've become under his Chairmanship. I think in the history of EFC, this Chairman will go down as the worst.

If we want to live up to our motto, our ethos, he has to go – it's beyond a joke... but, like I said, I doubt it.

Having said that, here's hoping for a win on Monday, and hopefully Mina is back as we've missed him. Our defence is awful, I feel sorry for Allan and Doucouré having to slog in front of that back line.

A lot of better suggestions above (including everyone just applauding and cheering on the 27th minute). I'd go with the “medium of dance” as said above... 😂

I agree with you. For 15 minutes before Seamus got it wrong, the match was in the balance, to some extent.

I think Benitez is the right man and that we will be fine by the end of the season – I understand that many don't – but I am pleased that our mess of a Board is being required to answer for itself.

It's a structural problem, too many cooks and too many egos. When you're in quicksand, don't panic and stay as still as you can.

Bill is the biggest problem. By all means, get rid of Brands, but Bill has to go as well. Somehow, I feel he will slime his way out of it, deflect the blame elsewhere, and still be there as Chairman.

Forget the walkout on 27 minutes, but by all means everyone vent out their anger towards the board on the 27th minute, and for that minute.

A mass walkout... it will be tricky if a lot of people do it, only because in some areas, it's tricky to get out. So it may look took staggered to be effective.

But, like others have said, if they show Bill's fat teary theatre luvvie mug on the big screen on Monday, after the initial boos will come the applause.

Who do you think you are?

Also others on here calling fans who left the ground early the other night, whether it was after 20 mins or 79 mins, they are entitled to walk out anytime, in fact anyone staying to the end must be a fucking masochist.

The frauds in the boardroom must love this divided fanbase and will do all they can to further isolate and slander any groups gathering momentum of genuine dissent.
As for the Blue Union, I wasn't aware they were still active but they were fantastic in their opposition to Number One Evertonian Kenwright's plans to take this once-proud club out of our home city, where we would now be known as Knowsley FC.

You can "get behind" these players all you want but they do not have the ability or bottle to drag us to mid-table mediocrity. I advocate a scorched earth policy, clear the fucking lot out, boardroom, coaching and medical staff, and the vast majority of shithouse players, they will all be scrambling to desert the sinking ship anyway at the end of this tragic season.

We already have fans running onto the pitch at full time to remonstrate with players. We already have streams of fans walking out of a derby after 20 minutes. We already have videos of fans heaping abuse on the club executives. We have emergency board meetings. We have angry and abusive supporters of the club all over social media, and the talkback shows.

The anger is there. To my mind, doing something constructive with that anger is a much better outcome than waiting for a random psycho to chin Benitez or whatever. Perhaps the likes of Tony Abrahams are more correct – maybe protest should occur separate from the game itself. Or maybe the group advocating this demo are correct – that a visible protest during a televised match is more likely to lead to the change the club so badly needs. But expressing some of this frustration, dissatisfaction and anger needs to happen, because it's happening regardless.

I'm mystified as to why certain supporters think fans expressing their anger is the problem in and of itself. The anger so many supporters are feeling is a symptom of a much larger disease at the club. Yet many here are treating it like the disease itself. That part I don't get.

The anger is, as you say, very real, and a much better feeling than being apathetic, so hopefully something good comes out of it in the end.

Brands let his guard down the other night, and I think if we could get the man to elaborate, then it would be better than any protest. It's much better to listen than scream, and if the man was prepared to tell us his true feelings, things might begin to make a lot more sense.

Brands we know is part of the problem but Bill is the biggest problem at the club. No two ways about it. Get rid.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, as it's been said, football is a game of opinions and I respect yours. But for you to say "Who the fuck do you think you are, Paul Niklas @117" is out of order.

We're all passionate Evertonians and it's hurting at the moment but, like thousands of others, we've all got family, friends, workmates who won't desert the club – it's in our DNA.

Hands up – I went to all the meetings, I supported the Blue Union, I did everything I could to prevent the Club getting the Tescodome

Never actually worked in a food bank but I have to admit I'm a big contributor.

Helped out many local pensioners during the pandemic.

So I suppose that, in Mr Niklas's eyes, must make me a militant leftie.

Over 60 years going the match and now I find I'm not a real supporter.

Learn something every day, including the fact that some fellow Evertonians are real pricks.

There are literally tens if not hundreds of things that should cause people to take a stand; the way that Everton Football Club is run isn't a very high priority, as far as I'm concerned

Perhaps some Evertonians, although extremely concerned about the plight of the club, have more pressing matters to deal with out in the real world? Christmas is almost upon us, which makes extra demands of those with children; the winter has started off pretty cold and therefore costs for heating will rise, whilst many will worry about all of the things in the world that could shape their immediate future.

I do accept that there is a need for Everton Football Club to bring itself into the 21st Century and stop behaving like a newly promoted outfit that feels lucky to be part of things but refuses to recognise that its methods and business practices belong firmly in the 20th Century.

I'm just uncertain to what degree any demonstrations – cool or uncool; heavily backed or led by a small group – will have on people who live in a different stratosphere to the majority of fans.

Hurtling down from the Main Stand, they were a sight to behold... and still bring tears of emotion to those of us there in the 70s. The tears of those laid out down below and still suffering headaches from the impact is a different matter... but you can't make an omelette without cracking eggs.

Anyway, my mate knocks out inflatable cushions for the camping market; I'm sure I can get us a volume discount if enough want to smuggle them into Goodison Park. Pop a few Everton mints in pre inflation for ballast and they'll fly like an arrow.

[Lateral thinking, kids, you can't beat it!]

At my job over Christmas, we typically volunteer to put in a few shifts at the local food bank, packaging up basic foodstuffs for people who've fallen on hard times.

After Paul's post, I'll have to do a head-count this year and see how many other Fairweather Evertonians are there alongside me.

Maybe if we finish early, we can knit some half-and-half Everton and Liverpool scarves... or see if we can find Everton on a map. I'm sure it's in Norway somewhere. Up the fudges.

I wonder how many of the supporters who are berating others for the planned walk-out flung cushions from the balcony back in the day? Or nodded along approvingly as they flew onto the Goodison turf?

I agree, Barry. They have a special place in my heart. Contemporaneous with the Frisbee era too, so each was good training for the other.

Wonder where those cushions ended up. There should be one in the trophy cabinet... plenty of room.

Stephen Meighan, hope it's Stigga, hope you're well, mate.

27 Minutes Live broadcast

This fella is worth twenty Liverpudlians.

Only twenty Liverpudlians, come on mate !

Actually l think l will just sit there and support my team. I think the Everton board already know the fans are not happy and we have pissed half a billion up the wall.

It's over to them to fix it.

Maybe the organisers can just sit and hold their breath.

FARHAD.
BILL KENWRIGHT HAS TO GO.
27 YEARS OF FAILURE.
DO YOUR ACCOUNTS and STOP THE ROT

IT IS YOU OR HIM !

We will get through this our run of injuries is improving but to late as we are going through a brutal run of fixtures. Our team needs our absolutely steadfast support exactly right now. If there is a behind the scenes rift then surely we would all have to back Raffa just on the basis that he is the only one behind those scenes who isn’t tainted by the stench of failure. Yet.
This whole thing has been stirred up by a lot of internet sites who are rewarding themselves with a little pre-Christmas goosing of their online traffic by

John Keating #170, respects, sir, well said.

The anger is understandable but I can't for the life of me see any benefit in the 'walk out' idea. To my ageing brain this seems to just hijack the team while the players are trying to win a game. When the chips are down, what is the sense of rubbing such a massive amount of salt in to the wounds.

Fans are hurting. I am, having supported the team since 1953. But there must be a more positive way to demonstrate. Negativity begets negativity.

Ultimately, all of us want the same thing and that is a successful team/club etc. This will not be achieved with negative actions.

There has to be a better way, but be careful what you wish for: Moshiri’s ( Usmanov’s?) undoubted generosity so far may evaporate if the complaints become too vitriolic.

None of us really know what goes on behind closed doors, who is making the decisions etc. All I would really like is some clarity on that and what exactly our D of F is really responsible for or is he operating merely as a puppet. To my mind the Club and playing style have no direction. What is stopping that happening? Incompetence or interference and by who?

You won’t be any closer to knowing by walking out after 27 minutes.

My two oldest friends support City and LFC
and both wonder why I hate Kenwright so much. They say he has had no influence since selling out to Moshiri. I remind them that in any normal business the chairman is a key position, as is the CEO, occupied by his lackey Denise Barrett-Baxendale.

Monday night will be a massive opportunity for supporters to direct their fire at Kenwright in the presence of Moshiri. Whether or not he has been promised the position of Chairman indefinitely, he must be sacked by Moshiri. For all I care Denise can return to her old job in charge of EitC, but we must have a new Chairman and CEO.

I will be more than happy to contribute to Kenwright’s long, long overdue demise on Monday by chanting for his dismissal. Walking out is not an option.

First and foremost we need the three points on Monday night and we must get behind the team come what may.

The time for protests is at the end of the game or after it.

Sacking the board is also a non starter. What we actually need is additions to the board (it's painfully weak in numbers and expertise) and some sort of independent, non executive, oversight.

Charlton is a good example. Never as big as Everton but a good team back in the day. Scarier part is looking at where they are now along with Sunderland, Sheff Wed, Portsmouth and Bolton, all once top teams now scrapping it out in the third tier. What did they all have in common? Inept Chairmen.

Moshiri is the bloke that needs to be held to account. It’s he who’s made the bad calls and it’s Kenwright who’s fought against them on many occasions I suspect.

The whole situation smacks of mismanagement by Moshiri. Sure, he’s invested £100 millions to his credit, but ultimately this investment has failed to deliver any improvement on the pitch as his bad decision making has undermined his own financial investment. I strongly believe Kenwright has battled against the director of football model, and to some extent Moshiri, and I’m with him on that.

If Brands were genuinely the Director of Football responsible for having a coherent strategy for recruitment of players and managers... then he wouldn't still be at the club.

I suspect he rides it out because he's not got that clear responsibility.

Whose fault is that? Chairman? Board? Owner? Who is being held to account for not having anyone with any responsibility?

The answer is no-one. No-one gets sacked. That means no-one is being held to account. That means it has to be an absolute shambles behind the scenes.

Walking out does not change that

Really enjoyed last night, if that's the right word, the Twitter Podcast, re : 27 minutes/ 27 years, and although I am not a Subscriber to Twitter or any Media Platforms, I got it through Barry Hesketh's link, so thanks Barry for that. I believe because of the amount of subject matter, and the many requests to say something, they are continuing it tonight. I didn't catch exactly what time it will be on, so if anybody can clue me in, and possibly others too, I will be agog.

I listened to Paul The Esk who spoke very eloquently and as usual had his finger firmly on the pulse, and noticed amongst the listeners our very own Lyndon Lloyd, Paul Traill and quite a few other subscribers. I was very impressed by Astro, who usually does comedy sketches and impersonations, and being a cousin from across the pond, was surprised by his obvious passion, concern, and knowledge of our Club. Kudos to you mate.

We all love Everton, and it's a crying shame that a Club of our History and Stature, has been ' allowed ' to get into the state it finds itself in now. Action by us, the fans is long overdue, and I mean by way of peaceful protest to oust this Charlatan who proclaims to have Everton's interest first and foremost, substitute Bill Kenwright for Everton and it will be just about the truth of the matter.

My only concern is, that many will leave, if only temporarily to the concourse, with the intention of returning after a few minutes or less. The Health and Safety aspect of that many people heading for the exit at the same time. History has shown many crush victims in different scenarios but with the same cause ' a rush for the exit '.

Long Live The Revolution ! (long overdue btw)

Kenwright didn’t appoint managers who have never previously worked at clubs that have a director of football. Moshiri did.

Kenwright didn’t say ‘ we’ve invested heavily into a group of players – they’re all internationals so we think they would benefit from someone with pedigree.’ Moshiri did. In other words he thought he’d done his bit and bought good players they just needed a better manager. We all knew the squad was the issue though.

Kenwright didn’t appoint Benitez. Moshiri did.

Kenwright wanted Moyes back. Moshiri didn’t.

The Blue Union disbanded but I bet most of them, if not all of them, are still going to the game because they loved, cared and worried which way the club was going under the owner then, they never worried about the owner, they didn’t have to, he knew how to look after himself, despite all the crocodile tears, and did very, very well out of it with more to come.

Have to agree that there are potentially serious logistical and health and safety issues with this proposal. It takes several minutes to empty a stand and none of our concourses can accommodate the full capacity of the sections they serve. These areas are also designed for relatively uniform flow either all entering or all leaving at a steady rate. The worst disasters at football grounds have often involved a disturbance to or deviation from that process. I think some kind of chant on the 27th minute would actually be a far stronger demonstration...
And might spur the team on too. Haven't heard "Come on you blues" for many a year how about for a whole minute?

Give it to the board, not the team.

Just thinking about it - it's not beyond the bounds that some of the players might feel like joining in.

I haven't said that Moshiri is without blame. Far from it. He thought he could play absent landlord and throw money at it while leaving Kenwright in charge (as Chairman) if you think the chairman has had no say in the past 5 yrs I think you're kidding yourself.

Also, you're completely ignoring the effects of the many previous years that created the club that Moshiri has had to bail out to the tune of a small fortune. A whole littany of lies, failures and manipulation well over a decade long in the making all swept under the carpet. I could list them but there have been threads galore covering it, so I won't bother now.

However, I'll put it this way who do you think we can most afford to lose right now? The fella with more cash than sense who trusted a serial liar and failure or the serial liar and failure?

I doubt many will boo, either during or after the game.

I doubt the ground will be full of banners, waving of white hankies, throwing brought in cushions or tennis balls.

I doubt many supporters will not attend in protest

Whether you support the present regime or are against it. Whether you want change or not.

My argument is that all Evertonians have a right to express, or not, their displeasure in any way they see fit, as long as it's non-violent.
For any Evertonian to call those protesters not proper supporters or intimate that they are somehow a lesser supporter, certainly from them, is an absolute disgrace.

We all want what's best for the Club and we all have different ideas how to achieve that but suggesting people are, not "real" supporters, militant lefties etc etc is completely out of order and shameful

As the Queen of Hearts would have said (well almost) in Alice in Wonderland " Off with his big fat ugly head " !

Nobody is telling me that there where no other interested parties, he wanted an owner who would let him still have an active and controlling role at the club and he eventually found one.

Shame on him, he is a self serving narcissistic bastard, who like all narcissists loves the adulation but not the negativity when it all goes wrong.

He surrounds himself with sycophants and yes men, who, he will throw under the bus at the first opportunity.

Will the main men and lady be too busy drinking sherry and talking rubbish, whilst the team are out on the pitch, trying to get the victory? or will they be in their seats from the 28th minute onwards?

If anyone is a PI, or has expertise in Surveillance, we could sure do with a Bug planted so we could hear what this Arsehole is planning and be ahead of his ploy !

Ignoring the farting when he goes for a piss of course ! :-)

For me the whole point of what Usmanov wanted was for his lackie to sell his shares in Arsenal that Usmanov gave him and reinvest that money buying Everton. He probably thought Everton are always around 7th in the Premier league so lets pump a few hundred million in and that will make them competitive, we will build a new stadium and then sell for a decent profit. That for me is still their plan obviously relegation would completely scupper these plans, so despite issuing a vote of confidence in the manager via Jim White I wonder if the threat of relegation make them change course. Also we should be extremely worried that our owners think communicating with a host on Talksport is the way to address fans fears, then maybe we should be really worried going forward.

As someone who I seem to remember happy clapped and supported BK throughout the Destination Kirkby debacle, I'm glad to see you've changed your tune.

The only thing real supporters should do on Monday.night is turn the atmosphere so intense and intimidating to the Arsenal team at the same time lifting our players to victory.

Thats our job whether we like it or not.

What our job isn't is thinking and believing we have a right to run the club, we don't and never will so lets stop this fantasy trade union ethos that is an embarrasment.

Arthur Scargill will be showing up next.

He will say I told you Benitez was a bad choice, but he will still be there, long after the meeting, still chairman.

We could agree Yes Brands is shite, could also agree about Benitez, but they have not been there these past 20 odd years.

Kenwright needs to step down, but he will not, he will come out of this smelling of roses, with some fans still supporting him, unbelievable, but everyone I suppose is entitled to their own opinion.

One parting shot, I was on my way home from the hospital visiting in Liverpool, very windy, rain and bitter cold, one guy was walking about in shorts and tshirt, madness I know, but I bet if you questioned that guy, even he would want rid of Bill.

No need to mate. Just a photo of BK, and his sycophantic cronies, the League Position and the style of play should do the trick, oh and the FFP Statement too !

By the way, the US coverage is still trying to make it seem it is Rafa on borrowed time. NBC’s coverage seems to envy the manic ESPN crap that serves for sports journalism.

I'd agree but then disagree. We've been badly run most of my life (born 1971). Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey personally provided some welcome and ecstatic relief, but other than that, it's mainly been an emotional rollercoaster.

Talk about resting on your laurels. We can point to Heysel (I often do) and yes, that probably impacted us more than most, just as we were on the cusp of something potentially great.

But we still failed to capitalise on being at the top table of English Football once more. We lamely bimbled into the Premier League era as Manchester United and then Chelsea started to plan strategically for the next era. Not Everton, we looked back with nostalgia on what could have been and moved backwards.

I was never as enraged with Kenwright as some were. His time was done long ago, especially when he eventually found an investor. Does that make me passive? No, not quite. The club has been in decline since we last won the league in 1987 and Howard Kendall walked out. Then as now, poor leadership at boardroom level. Who was that Dr David Marsh by the way?

Being honest, the divisive Kirkby debate fascinated me as much as it bemused me. My preference? Absolutely not. But we needed to move or seriously reinvest in Goodison. Me and my mates (Blue & Red) used to have those discussions in the mid 80s.

My preference was to bulldoze the Gwladys Street School and those terraced rows off the back of the Bullens Road and basically do what Tottenham have just done; spin the pitch around by 90 degrees.

After that, pretty much what we're now doing and the Kings Dock before it.

When Kirkby came along, if we were going to do that, I never quite understood why we didn't consider Speke. Now, as a native, I know I could be accused of being biased. But motorway links, Airport, Liverpool South Parkway and, at the time, a lot of available land. But I guess the majority and the preference lent towards a north of the city location.

Kirkby was a poorly thought out idea, but I was never opposed to it on the basis of invisible council boundaries as some were. Our training ground is in Halewood and Liverpool's in Kirkby. In the Liverpool City region, with an "L" postcode. I don't believe such a stigma has ever bothered Manchester United as they've racked up the trophies over the years. Different debate, but this goes back to the insular view of what constitutes Liverpool and what doesn't.

This side of Fords (Speke) or that side of Fords (Halewood). This side of Mackett's Lane & Purple Wheely Bin (Woolton) or across the road on the same street and different coloured Wheely Bin (Halewood).

Tell Steve McMahon, Peter Reid, Steven Gerrard, Tony Hibbert, Jamie Carragher and John Conte they aren't Scousers.

I've rambled, but the Kirkby debate, aside from being a bad idea, always took me there. Liverpool as a City, for too long hasn't embraced the regional approach in the way Greater Manchester did and we fell behind, just as Everton have. I think we're getting there, but tribal disputes over which side of the road a stadium is built bring it back to roost. And if I recall, the way the stadium was going to be built meant that technically, some of it would have been in Liverpool?

Isn't part of Chester's ground technically in Wales?

Given this some thought and research.

Rafa, loved by Toon, he stayed went down, came back up.
Spent 2/3years introducing the lady financier to club.She knocking on Saudi 's, well she went to the top.
Rafa, went to China had enough.

But he didnt see Carlo going to Real, did we.Pandemic???

Timing,!!!!Rafa got the job in July, at that time Saudi' not going to do the deal, Premeir League not sure they would allow it.

Decision time Rafa.

Take the Everton job???despite all the crap.New Stadium, owner who will eventually spend money.

Takes job, his Second Choice.

Then Toon purchase happens.

About the TIME OUR FORM TAKES A DIVE.
Rafa says all the right stuff to keep fans onside.He wont leave, but he will get the sack with another couple of defeats.
He can blame, injuries.

He can blame, squad not his.

He cant say he was forced out.

Eddie been in post 3 weeks???Rafa see's the Newcastle job as his.
No coincidence our bad run started when Toon was bought.
He said he was going knowhere.

If we sack him, will Toon turn on Eddie.
They have a really tough few games, finish with us at home 30Dec.

£365billion they have as worth.???

They can afford to take Rafa, give us Eddie.

I think id take that right now.Eddie hadnt exchanged contracts on his new house.
The decorators aint been in the Office yet.

So would that calm the Goodison crowd.

I think it would and it aint to far fetched.

Boyhood club to Eddie us.

🙄🙄🙄🙈🙈🙈

The last time a walk out was planned was in the 78th minute of Sam Allardyces last game. A small few did walk out but nothing significant and wasn’t even reported on.

I struggle to see how this would work and, as others have already stated, it sends the wrong message to the team.

Turning our backs on play in theory is a good idea but difficult to get sufficient buy in to make it effective. It may also present safety problems in the Top Balcony where it is steep.

Banners have an immediate impact and are not lost on the cameras. Chants can work too as long as they are clean, otherwise the TV censors will dub them out.

I am assuming that Mondays board meeting will be held after the game at the ground. If that is so, then doesn’t that present an opportunity for supporters remaining in their seats demanding action from Mr Moshiri?

If so, it's probably curtains for the chief executive as well as half the coaches and medical staff as a new broom enters left to give obeisance only to the owner and his master.

In an effort to 'keep face', our club's greatest supporter will almost certainly be expecting to keep a hand on the board room gin and a seat 'in the box' as 'President Emeritus'. Oh, and a stand named after him at BMD. Not a bad deal if he can pull it off - don't bet against it !

There's an Old Saying From Down on The Farm, Ooh arr ! " The Arseholes who created it, are never very far from the Dung Heap "

Actually just made that bit up, but if there was, it could easily apply to the Boardroom at Everton FC ! :-)

Moshiri decided we needed a director of football, but has appointed several managers who’ve never previously worked in such a structure, and don’t want to.

Moshiri now has a director of football in place that can’t buy top quality players because of FFP. It’s a pretty pointless role, yet we pay Brands to do it.

Moshiri has stated he thinks our squad is full of internationals that he’d spent £100 millions on and the problem wasn’t the squad but the manager. This is the fundamental issue, poor player acquisitions which Moshiri is in denial about. He can’t bring himself to acknowledge the stark reality that he’s wasted a fortune.

Moshiri not wanting our best manager in the past 20 years, Moyes, back. We’d have been in a much better place if Moshiri had made that call and got him back. But like his judgement about our squad, he made a bad call.

Your simple assertion that as we haven’t won anything for 27 years, that represents 27 years of failure, is exactly that, simple and lacks context. Everton had a huge financial crisis in the early 2000s, our club could easily have gone into liquidation. The years of Moyes’ reign were hugely successful relative to income spent and resources available. We were more often than not finishing in the top 6, despite having little money to spend. That though, was never good enough for a core minority of supporters who lived in a land of unicorns and thought we should have been ‘winning the league’ - yes they did really used to write this on here. These fans felt there was a strong case for sacking Moyes because we weren’t winning the league, and they we emboldened, in their minds, by his ‘knife to a gunfight’ comment, which still persists today as some form of justification to defend their past views on Moyes. Conveniently these fans ignore Ancelotti stating last season that ‘he wasn’t a magician’ (Conte said the same about Spurs a couple of weeks ago too) and ‘we’re a better team without the ball’. Presumably this core minority of fans think these two world class managers, are also defeatists like Moyes. The reality is that these statements are examples of managers being realistic, something which the dreamers who think Everton should have been winning the league in the 2000s couldn’t, and still can’t, grasp.

Davey not doing too badly now though is he, but that reality doesn’t fit the previous lazy and plainly wrong narrative created by this hardcore minority of fans, that Moyes wasn’t good enough or ambitious enough for EFC, so it’s conveniently just ignored by these fans. Can’t have facts get in the way of rhetoric and prejudice (repeated, lazy, anti Moyes ‘ginger’, ‘dour’ meaningless rhetoric posted on here every week for years at that time).

Now these same fans have once again turned on Kenwright, despite the fact he’s not the one who made the bad strategic calls (Brands position), appointed multiple managers that don’t fit our managerial structure, is deluded into thinking we have a good squad of players and talks total nonsense anytime he gets near the media. That fella is Moshiri, our apparent saviour has turned out to be pretty hopeless at investing in a football club. More of his money may yet get us out of the downward spiral once the FFP chains currently around our club slacken. Until then, blaming Kenwright for all the problems with our club whilst bizarrely referencing his very successful career in musical theatre (‘luvvie’ used frequently to describe Kenwright in the same way the same types described Moyes as a ginger or a dour whatever) as some justification for their apparent hatred of him, just makes them look like the sort of folk who form opinion based on prejudice not real evidence.

I’m sure Kenwright will have made mistakes in the past, everyone does, but the main focus should now be on Moshiri. There’s a huge amount of real and indisputable evidence that Moshiri has made a series of bad calls and you do know what Moshiri’s views are of Everton’s fan base don’t you? Not exactly all complimentary.

You're right, my memory probably isn't what it used to be. but it would be impossible to forget a pro-BK poster as prolific as you.

Once we had finance in the club then BK became a major problem. He had seen Everton survive very hard times and tried to get a new ground on the tick Whatever it is though he isn't fit to be a chairman of a EPL club. He needs to follow Mr Brands out of the club along with the ex-Everton team that fills key positions and, sorry to say, Benitez.

Link

It’s easy moaning on TW via a keyboard but actually doing something is totally different.

Let’s just stumble on as we are eh, much easier.

The protest on Monday has created a noise and has media attention. Even if its not successful it has got people talking.

As for the blue union and Evertonians for change without the noise and protests we created we'd all be watching Everton in a souless Tescodrome in Kirkby.

Fans always will be the true custodians of the club. The owners are merely there to look after it for them.

When the owners fail at that job they should be called out.

You're being quite revisionist there. there was little or no ambiguity in your support of BK and DK during that debacle and you went quiet as the numerous lies were exposed as it collapsed under the weight of those falsehoods.

So as I say, I'm glad to see that you have finally changed your tune (at least partially).

It's a shame a bit more joine-up thinking couldn't happen. Those that want to walk out go, those that want to stay but also are not happy stay but raise a banner on the 27th minute.

The whole aim of the protest is to raise awareness, this has worked, it is in the media. Something does have to change.

Personally, I'm not sure walking out for 5 minutes then getting back in will work as the concourse is not designed for this. However, that's what's been suggested.

I take two 10-year-olds to the game – my son and nephew. They are rapidly losing interest in going to the match despite both having season tickets for over 4 years now.

My nephew is not going tonight and my son doesn't want to either. The midweek games are a nightmare for young fans who have school – not that Sky care (whole separate discussion); the way we are playing makes it even worse.

As a lone parent, I'll either have to force my son to go or miss the game. It should not be like this.

If I go, I'll be tempted to leave at 27 minutes in solidarity... but not return as I don't want to be hanging around the concourse. Does this make me any less of a supporter?

We are all fans and supporters, no matter where we live or come from; some of us can get to the game and have season tickets, some wish they could. For our sins, we are blues and we all want the same thing. Everton to win.

Those fans that choose to walk out tonight will do it with a heavy heart. Doesn't mean they are any less of a "real" supporter than those watching on TV at home, tut-tutting at what's happening.

Either way, we need to remember we all want the same thing – a successful Everton; let's not forget this.

Your argument would hold more water if Kenwright hadn't been Chairman throughout all of those decisions. You can only speculate about what he has or hasn't agreed with during that time. However, you can state categorically that he has been entirely ineffectual in that role if he has been against everything that you claim he has, and yet it has all been allowed to happen.

Moshiri was the greatest thing since sliced bread according to him and he just gave Brands a new contract and glowing appraisal only a few months ago. So you can't have it both ways.

As regards 27 years without a trophy, yes, it might appear simplistic; however, you could also say it is perfectly succinct and factual. As I said previously, there is a whole litany of well-documented lies, deceit and failures during Kenwright's tenure that you are completely ignoring.

They are the things that have slowly managed our decline from the top table, when he first joined the board, to (sometimes) overachieving nobodies now – all on his watch.

Everything from lying about remortgaging his own house; increased debt; sale of assets; loss of Kings Dock due to his infighting with Paul Gregg; Fortress Sports Fund and Samuelson the stooge used to deflect; Pip Green being "a great friend of our club"; the Destination Kirkby debacle, built entirely on lies; suspension of AGMs when all of these lies were exposed – are all his doing, and shaped the basket case that Moshiri has had to spend fortunes on.

Is Moshiri responsible for the old pals' act throughout the club? For all those failings and the position we now find ourselves in. He is the one common denominator. Simplistic or just plain glaring fact?

I've tried to get my own lad interested in Everton or even football, but now he's virtually a man, I'll have to concede failure.

"Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same." is the famous Alan Ball quote. For the younger generation, Everton just doesn't seem to be reaching them anywhere near as often.

If I was in Liverpool right now I'd offer to babysit your lad in a heartbeat. All the very best to you mate, you're one of the good ones.

The internet has made the running of all businesses far more complex. Manure and the Poo would just be limited to a UK fan base the same as the rest of us. There would be a fraction of the commercial income and the whole league would be a far more level playing field.

Where Everton have failed significantly is to take advantage of the technology over a period of time. At the time the internet came to fruition (1989) we were in the top 3 sides in the country and although events conspired to deprive us of expanding on that hard won prominence (yes I'm a bitter blue), we never recovered.

We are in a modern league and we are being run by someone who still thinks that football club chairmen are local hauliers and steel merchants.

At least Phillip Carter, for all his faults, had the vision to be involved in the EPL at its birth. It is a crying shame that no one had the gumption to take that advantage forward.

We desperately, desperately, need Bramley Moore Dock and we need to go there without the millstone, that is Kenwright around our necks. All of a sudden this has become a 10 year project and the past needs to be nothing more than an insight into how not to run a modern business.

As you know I was working at City when Sheik Mansour took over. He knew nothing about football, but he knew that he knew nothing about football and immediately employed people who did, nor did he interfere in the decisions that they made. The whole club was made professional from bottom to top in the minutest detail.

Look at the City Group now, 10 clubs across the world, influencing local communities in a way that our lovely EitC can only dream of. We had the opportunity to be part of that. Breaks my heart every time I witness us hoisting white flags when we play City.

Ideally just before the walk out, a very loud and vociferous voice of:

YOU'RE NOT FIT
YOU'RE NOT FIT
YOU'RE NOT FIT TO RUN OUR CLUB
YOU'RE NOT FIT TO RUN OUR CLUB

(you all know the tune!!)

Each to their own, protesting or not!!!

I have not had much cause to be proud to be an Evertonian recently, but this debate has restored a good part of that. Still the best fans in the world, bar none.

For my part, I've read too many smart peoples opinions on what needs to happen to our club, and then seen the club ignore every single piece of advice. If this action tonight finally gets the door open for a Paul The Esk or similiar to engage with Moshiri then it will have all been worth it.

That's why I'm supporting it, that's why I think it needs to happen. But once again, my thanks and deep respect for those on the other side of this debate.

PS: Please read the incredible Andy Duffs posts on this thread as well. He's made the case so much better than I could ever have done. We - Evertonians, right now - owe it to the next generation to do something.

What is frustrating is I had to battle with my ex his mum that he was going to be a blue. As a blue I can't imagine ever not being one. Part of me feels guilty that I didn't just let him enjoy football and winning and let her win or let him choose. I made him a blue and he now suffers like the rest of us.

He has fallen out of love with going the game, we are not great to watch, the atmosphere is toxic and away fans outsing us. We are going to lose a generation of young fans of things don't change. You can see it already. Reds outnumber Blues in his class.

What makes it difficult now is football is everywhere internet, tv, Fifa on the PS etc. As a lad when I was going the game we lost, we would be back next week, you had time to get over it. Now kids can't escape it, it's football saturation and Everton at this moment in time are an embarrassment.

I had my son watch Howard's Way despite the language as it was important for him to see what we once were. I really want him to see it first hand like I could.

If this club carries on as it is, that might be the last league title he ever sees.

Maybe tonight will achieve nothing, maybe it's the start of a battle.

Either way doing something is better than doing nothing

I'm all in favour of the peaceful 27th min movement, admittedly for me it would be a much needed 2 minute toilet pit-stop in this cold weather before retaking my seat.

I think Brands leaving shows the owner isn't happy either but it's his money and his mistakes that have put us where we are.

Another rich owner with little understanding of the game and how to successfully run a Premier league club.

He needs to put his trust in a football man, but sadly the 2 DoF he's employed haven't done what is required.

I'd like to know what Brands responsibility was and what he has actually done.

Will this change his thinking?
Will he put more trust in the manager?
I'll await Jim White to tell me..

My own view is that regardless of the manager, the FF coaching is dominated by ex-players who belong in the dark ages. And it is the fans who insist that they remain - even regularly calling for a dinosaur manager. It may eventually be a good idea to let one of them have it - so that we can get relegation done with and start to rebuild from scratch

Brass monkey weather, wrap up well fellow Blues.

Every. Single. Word.

I've seen people calling for those who walk out to be booed and even calls to physically stop them from leaving their seats.

I’m not planning on walking out, but if it makes Moshiri consider how foolish he’s been since he bought Everton, then I might still change my mind.

Kenwright has been connected to Everton for a very long time, and Everton have either been punching above their weight or treading water since the second rate actor came along, kidding thousands, and all in the name of love.

To all of those condemning them, and there are many, I would say this: In today's world, there are too many charlatans who want your money, who don't want to know you, their only affinity is to your money. Everton FC are sinking because of an inept owner, a self-serving chairman, and their grip on the fans. They are not your friends, they are not your family, their hopes and dreams are not yours.

I will drink my tea in the kitchen for 5 minutes, but my heart and soul will be at the back of the Gwladys Street stand, walking down the steps. Call their bluff.

And so, apparently, did 38,785 Evertonians in the ground who stayed in their seats and started singing and chanting.

Wet squib.

That’s what happens when you react positively in the face of adversity and I’m proud of Evertonians tonight.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

We are all Everton fans/supporters. Some people seem to think match-day is a day off from contemplating catastrophe, or at least incessant mundanity, but ALL fans and supporters want the best for our club.

In a nutshell, supporting the team during a game we won for once is manna from Heaven to those dickheads in charge who've so seriously damaged us.

Paul the Esk has spelt it out on TW this past few weeks, confirmed by tonight's Press coverage.

They say that signing anyone of any note in January, at all, can only be POSSIBLY feasible if we sell one, two or three of our few best players.

This is almost certainly going to remain the case for the next two years too if you read the likes of Paul.

So, a welcome three points for sure as we seek to achieve 40'ish points as a priority.

Everton that!

("What's brutal about football? – is what I can imagine at least half of Everton's squad asking tonight – the ones that downed tools once again!)