Dwight McNeil’s partner criticises Crystal Palace after move collapsed

I know that McNeil will get through this, especially with a strong partner like his girlfriend. I hope he gets it together with Everton over the remainder of the season and things go well for him and his wonderful girlfriend.

Now, his bird's giving us a sob story like I'm supposed to feel bad for the lad. If she thinks a failed move to Crystal Palace is heart-breaking then they need a dose of the real world.

I'm quite sorry but finances do come into it… Do we all understand that Premier League footballers only train for 90 minutes a day! When our lads show up to training each day, it's only for 90 minutes. And they get £30-100k a week.

Meanwhile, I'm working 50 hours a week for a tiny percentage of that… Palace sold Eze, Olise, and almost Mateta. Then tried to replace them with Dwight McShite 😂

Tin pot Palace.

Fucking hell.

Palace should be forced to pay compensation for their disgusting behaviour towards you and your family.

Anyway, we'd be in the Championship without Dwight's goals. In various spells, he was our main threat. He's been asked to play out of position for a club that's been in turmoil while trying to cope with extremely serious health problems his partner was suffering from.

Last night, a fresh start was dangled in front of him and then snatched away at the last minute with no explanation. He's got every right to feel pissed off, but he'll probably do what he's done throughout his career. He'll train hard, and put in a shift on a Saturday if he's selected.

We all know he's gone through it in recent years, and we all know he's a tryer. This is a red line for supporters. You either support a player who's had a bad time, or you maggot away on your keyboard bitching about someone who's done far more for our club than you would ever do.

Let's build the guy up, it's in our interests if nothing else.

It's easy to forget that these highly paid guys react just the same as anyone else would if you let them down; poor show from Palace.

I would love to see him do that.

I think the majority of supporters would like to show a bit of sympathy at a depressing situation and help pick up a fellow human being, irrespective of what happens on the field.

A lot of fans seem to see players as robots or commodities and forget that they are human beings like everyone else.

That does not mean that I wish the lad any ill will. It is simply a sporting opinion on his ability as a footballer.

Hopefully he can settle back in and contribute to the second half of the season.

I agree about the behaviour of Palace and an explanation or apology should be forthcoming.

As Dwight McNeil's partner wades in on failed Crystal Palace transfer, who is she and are they married?

I'm what's known in these realms as a keyboard warrior. The internet gives me the freedom to spout off whatever I want without any repercussions, especially since it's just my own opinion anyway.

What a time to be alive! If anyone thinks Dwight is quality and benefits our team in any way, shape or form, then absolutely get to fuck!

He's one of the stragglers left from the dark days. Anyone involved with those calamitous, highly unprofessional dark days can do one. Jordan and Jarrad are exempt.

McNeil doesn't deserve the abuse you were allowed share on ToffeeWeb. As an Everton fan, it's appalling.

Him and his partner went through a very tough time, and were probably looking for a fresh start.

Very unprofessional of Palace, I hope he can have a good 2nd half to the season here.

A little bit of thought for a fellow human being's circumstance would not go amiss.

Anyone who lacks empathy is shown up online. You can see it on this thread. Footballers are also human beings with lives and families outside of Everton.

I'm an Everton supporter for 67 years, 45 as a season ticket holder. I've seen, in my opinion, far worse players wearing the shirt than McNeil, believe you me.

Your comments, again in my opinion are a disgrace. Wind your neck in, lad.

These days, it doesn't really matter whether partners are married or not but the strength of the partnership is what counts/ I think Megan and Dwight seem to have a very strong and loving relationship, I think you would agree with that, Kevin, wouldn't you.

I don't know Megan or Dwight personally but wish them all the very best luck and good health in the world in their future time together.

I'm going back to Reddit to talk big shit. Adios, snowflakes.

Yes, a move could have given him a fresh start so let's hope this will spur him on with the 3,000+ travelling fans getting behind both him and the team.

Fingers crossed he plays a blinder from now until season's end and then maybe moves on.

Sad to see anyone having a tough time personally or professionally.

If he gets chances on the pitch from now to the end of the season, it is up to him to take them.

I have no doubt his teammates and the club will support him.
COYB.

He never won a thing for us and almost took us down. “Oh but his goals saved us” -- no they didn't! His overall lack of ability, and his teammates, was the reason we were in that position in the first place.

Him and Iwobi on the wings will forever haunt me. All jokes aside, Dwight is the slowest player I've ever seen play for us. Ever.

He is a Goodison giant and my grandkids will one day know how good he was… he really did keep us up! The Maddison penalty save is a thing of legend.

McNeil and his girlfriend were offered a fresh start after a difficult year and to have it dashed away is extremely disappointing.

As someone who was grateful in my own modest life for a fresh start, I can sympathise with them -- two human beings.

On a footballing note I am gutted the move fell through as he is a very poor very slow Premeir League player.

Part of it seems to be about people's response to the issues of others laid bare on social media. It's very sweet to see so much empathy and understanding expressed by the loving members of ToffeeWeb...

But I must admit I have serious reservations about anyone who takes to social media to bleat about how awful everything is and especially when they play the 'mental health' card.

Sorry but life can throw tough things at you. Something like a transfer is never complete until it is complete -- a bit like buying a house -- there is always a gut-wrenching risk that it will fall through.

Do we all need to share in everyone's highs and lows, anticipation and anguish over such highly personal things? Is this really what social media has given us?

Have a word with yourself. McNeil not for one minute did not keep Everton in the Premier League not at all. Yes, he had his moments but, let's face it, they were few and far between.

Nice left foot... nothing else, no pace. A winger who can't go past a man and doesn't weigh in with enough goals. He jumped out of a tackle last Monday and I've never heard a crowd turn on a player like it in all my years of going home and away.

He must've knew he was going and I said that to my mate in the ground at the time.

Not nice Palace's end what happened to him last night... but he's not the first and won't be the last.

As for his bird getting involved... words fail me, and I've had plenty of messages criticising her for her twopenneth this morning.

He's still a footballer earning ridiculous amounts every month, just that he will probably be benched until the end of the season, and rightly so, because he's a very average player.

Oh, and as for your "he kept us up" argument -- he never. If anyone did -- and no one did because it's a squad game -- it was the keeper, and my god doesn't he get some grief on here at times.

He's really gonna go off on me today lol. I'm in so much trouble! 😱

Oh well... she can always watch her boyfriend not giving 100% every week in the knowledge he's getting a vastly overpaid salary most of us can only dream of. COYB. UTFT..

Wouldn't she legally be his common law wife and should it be anybody else's business?

Let him who has always been without a partner cast the first stone as you've not much else to do and probably for good reason.

A lot of us were happy for him to go, with our best wishes (he did a lot for us in trying seasons, but we're trying to move past that, and he doesn't fit the current tactical set-up). But he's 1) still our player, and 2) still a human being who deserves a bit more respect and decency than some people are apparently capable of summoning.

It's no wonder so many players fail at this club, there's barely a more unforgiving fanbase in the country.

Nothing is completed until it all goes through and he's wearing that shirt and met his new team mates. It's a shame, yes. That's life.

But he got to pick himself up now and do his best for us.
Shove any negative comments and social media nonsense up their arses. < He's an Everton player. That should be enough.

We all go through shit. Especially us taxpayers who work to barely survive and don't earn £40 grand a week.

Support the lad when he's next on the pitch. Maybe if he performs, he'll find a different club in the summer who won't mess him about.

Your comments make me almost speechless. So humane.

Yes, I agree with Michael about posting on Social Media but that doesn't change the facts that the deal was pulled after hours with no explanation to the player. That's not only unprofessional but also shows complete lack of respect. He's better off without them.

I thought it was a good move for both at this stage but I smile when I saw the outcry after our win against Forest that we changed the team which included McNeil on both occasions... ToffeeWebbers can be so fickle.

I don't think that's entirely true about a more unforgiving fan base than ours.

Us paying fans have been put through the wringer season after season, going to bed worrying where the next points are coming from, it's been downright miserable.

McNeil has played his part in that malaise so therefore should take some of the blame alongside others, 3 or 4 exceptions mind.

I'd say we all know lads who were great footballers who'd give their right arm to be in his position, and there's a certain fella on here who probably thinks I was well better than him.

He'd obviously never say that because he comes across as quite humble, we all know who I mean.

I'm quite a forgiving person and if I see a player giving his all I'll voice my opinion... but on the other hand, if I see what I saw last week from McNeil, he'll get it with both barrels.

Sure, it's still a decent swedge. But he's a young man, who didn't go through education, who's been playing football since he was a child. He's still subject to health, mental health problems, just like the rest of us. And, unlike the rest of us, who may have some control over our lives, where we live, etc., he's a commodity who can be traded and moved.

The problems are relative, for sure. But he's got problems like the rest of us. Every player, manager, club official, etc., should be subject to scrutiny and critique. But I'm not sure what value is added from being a cunt with no empathy or decency, other than a momentary dopamine hit from the thrill of being horrible online.

How humane; we're human beings, first and foremost.

Makes me smile when I hear stuff like Angela Raynor worked in a care home and therefore, because she has worked in such a role, she is suitable to run the country.

By that reckoning, shall I promote my office cleaner to CEO of the company? We would be in administration within 2 weeks.

Embarrassing from an Evertonian that.

Give your head a wobble and come back when you're willing to have a serious discussion. The absolute state of you.

I agree with you about social media sharing every aspect of your life but most of us on here are older. Stiff upper lip, don't share your dirty laundry in public. That's the world we grew up in.

The younger folk have been presented with a different world where every restaurant meal, every vacation has to be shared in social media. Every flat tire is a public despair, every cold or headache is life-threatening.

So McNeil, Dele, etc this is just how the world has been presented to them so, for better or worse, they participate in a way that was established as the norm by some attention seekers of our age group, eg, the Kardashians.

Anyway, I'm not Dwight McNiel's biggest fan but some of the nonsense posted above is bang out of order. The lad has scored a few important goals for us. What Palace have done is disgraceful, to leave the lad in limbo. He'd probably said all his goodbyes and everything, he deserves a round of applause next match.

12 years ago, I went through a business collapse and I didn't know my arse from my elbow. I didn't look for sympathy but got great support from family and real friends. Thank god you weren't in my circle and won't be.

I'm lucky because, with that support, I bounced back. I'm stronger than ever in box of crayons dept. All my colours are in a row, lad. Do yourself a favour lad and keep your gob shut when you don't know what you're talking about.

Dwight McNeil was never my favourite player and I hope he bounces back because the bounce is amazing when you have proper people beside you. Cretins like you belong in the cave.

Seemingly Palace changed their minds about buying him when everything had been in place previously and they were happy with the deal they had been negotiating for 48 hours.

But to accuse Palace of "toying with the player's emotions" still seems just a bit rich. It's more likely what I would call the Bad News Silence that descends when people don't want to have to address something bad that has happened until some undefined period has elapsed.

It's a weird one. Reports they first wanted to change from buy now to a loan after Mateta's sale fell through which would make sense with FFP. Then they ditched it all together.

That said, Palace fans thought it was a weird deal as they've got others to play in that position, so he wasn't needed. Maybe there was another clash behind the scenes between their soon-to-be ex-manager and owner?

Regardless, you'd think when you're dealing with large sums, not to mention people that you'd have your ducks in a row before the deadline expires. But again, why leave it to the last minute?

Mateta made it clear he wanted to leave weeks ago. McNeil was as available on 1 January as today, so why wait until the 11th hour to do the business?

Having said that, I can't believe so many footballers at the top end can't use both feet. It was a given when I was younger. Being able to competently use left and right put you in good company.

My second thought is that Dwight is lucky to have Everton around him. I have no doubt his mates and the club will be there for him.

With regards to Palace, yes, transactions fall through and it's a part of life, but to ghost the player like that isn't business. It's inexcusably unprofessional.

I'm not going to comment on Sean's posts except to say that to go through life with a total paucity of generosity of spirit -- which has been on display before -- must be a pretty grim existence. And also that Dwight's relative wealth, earned by a lifetime of hard work and success against the odds, is not a painkiller.

Andy #40, over the three grimmest seasons in this club's recent history, McNeil was far and away our most effective attacker with 33 goal involvements through that dire stretch. I strongly doubt we could have stayed up without him.

Some despicable comments on this thread.

He was a key contributor and deserves credit for it.

You have heard a crowd turn on a player to that extent or worse. We've been doing it for decades but it's got a lot worse over the last few years because people get wound up far too easily.

A woman sticking up for her partner during a difficult moment is heartwarming. Your WhatsApp group (or whatever) sounds like it's full of sociopaths if they can't even have basic empathy. My advice is to dump them before they turn you into the kind of person who can ignore the tribulations of others on the slim justification that they earn well.

Ian #54, a rare privilege to see you post here. I hope all is well with you.

Get paid.

Very good post.

Player of the Month as well as Goal of the Month nominations.

Score a screamer at the weekend when on as sub to claim 3 points. That'll silence a few.

But now I hope they go down!

I still get nightmares thinking back to the left winger who came in to replace the brilliant Sheedy, Ian Wilson. Oh my God... how poor was he? Makes McNeil look like Messi!

And Palace really did stink the place out last night.

I never saw a more glacial player in our shirt than Gareth Barry, but damn could he play the game.

The same treatment, if not worse, happens at a lot younger age when players are flavour of the month then get released or frozen out. It's a merry-go-round of very young kids being mistreated.

That's a harsh mental lesson for most aspiring footballers. I
think that's why most footballers are super resilient due to dealing with knock-backs.

The bigger picture is McNeil has dodged a bullet; Palace are only going one way whilst the Blues are on the up.

He will no doubt get game time between now and the end of season.

Same goes for Dibling.

And yes, he isn't blessed with pace (I've always thought No 10 would be his best position) but I've no doubt, if he's asked to do a job, he'll do it professionally until the end of the season.

Let's have it right we all have tough times, do we really need our Mrs to go out online to the world to big us up cos we didn't get a new job?

Yes, I get it his life was messed about a bit, not to worry too much, his current employers will still pay his £3M a year and his life will still be pretty good especially in comparison to the rest of the world.

Nothing against McNeil btw, he's done a fair job for us, but come on, he's not been left homeless and hungry now, has he?

This heroic 'keyboard warrior' who wants to 'talk big shit' (but then comes creeping back five posts later) is a fecking disgrace to these pages.

We don't all have to think the same, Paul Griffiths; it's a place for debate. Hopefully without name-calling, badgering, browbeating, gaslighting -- whatever you want to call it -- that you enjoy engaging in far too often.

Oh and the last thing you should try and do is to tell me how to think and what to say.

They have enough to cope with with her unavoidable illness without some wally at Palace adding to their stress.

Obviously it would have been better for all parties if he'd moved on to where he could get regular minutes, but the situation is what it is.

“The background from their perspective to the deal, was that, initially, they were led to believe that they could get the player for around £10M. That was a very attractive deal considering he is a player who is versatile, can play on the right, can also play as a left wing back, which is very important to the system that Crystal Palace play under Oliver Glasner.

“I think after talks, it became clear that the deal was actually not going to be £10M, it was going to be £20M once various clauses were layered into the deal. And at that price, Palace felt there was always a risk that the deal was not going to happen. I am being told that was communicated to the player.

“The deal was finally agreed just 45 minutes before the deadline at 6:15 pm last night, but of course that left very little time for the deal to be completed. Even after the agreement at 6:15, I think there were some discussions about the payment structure, and the complications surrounding that, that were not agreed either.”

To describe this as Palace "playing with emotions" is a bit of an overraction to what is fundamentally a business deal.

It was unfortunate in a few ways but much worse for Mateta, who now has his entire future threatened because he failed a medical.

All relative and depends on your perspective.

A couple of things. Terms were agreed, at 6:15 he'd passed a medical, and there was a 2-hour extension. Palace couldn't get a deal done in 2 hours 45 minutes.

Couldn't or didn't want to? I'd go with the latter.

It doesn't take mention the Mateta deal falling through unexpectedly late in the day, forcing Palace then desperately backtracking on putting up £20M for McNeil. At no stage yesterday was a figure of £10M mentioned.

But yeah, it is a business deal at the end of the day, but Palace are spinning it.

Yes, deals fall through, time was used to blame the fax machine, but I think Palace were poor yesterday. If you can't agree a deal, tell the player or agent, don't just hide.

Anyway, we move on. Get heads down, only absentee is Grealish now, final push, near full compliment of players.

The south London club initially entered into negotiations anticipating the 26-year-old would cost around £10million-12million ($13.7m-16.4m). The negotiations that followed pushed up that price but, once their own sale of Jean-Philippe Mateta to Milan fell through, Palace pivoted to a loan with £20m obligation structure for the winger. Even then, the potential fee was deemed too far good to turn down for a player who will enter the final year of his deal this summer.

McNeil travelled to complete a medical, terms were thrashed out and a deal sheet was submitted. All seemed in order, with ample time left to complete the move. Then came the final cruel twist.

Palace's paperwork to rubber-stamp the transfer never arrived. That was the first indication both to the player and Everton that all was not right. And at that stage, it was already too late. It was only through their lack of communication that it became apparent Palace did not intend to proceed.

The series of events has left a sour taste in the mouth on Merseyside and McNeil devastated.

“Even now I'm still in the dark,” he wrote on social media in the early hours of Tuesday morning. That was in response to a post from his partner Megan who described the “cruel” way in which the move had been “torn away at the last second, with no explanation”.

Everton have missed out on a remarkable fee for a fringe player with just 18 months left of his contract. McNeil, meanwhile, is in limbo, left to pick up the pieces and plot a new way forward.

Sounds like his agent was the villain here as where otherwise would Palace have been led to believe his price was half of what it was?

I suspect Palace got focused on the deal, got carried away despite the price hike, then probably wisely had buyer's remorse.

That said, since his decision to re-join the rest of us Toffees, our Dazza has significantly modulated his tone to fellow Toffees.

Hell, as ever when he's not slaughtering the rest of us for complaining about his vitriol to those he used to denigrate, I actually still agree with almost all of his comments on the club and the people in charge.

I just wonder though, is he a confidante of Sean Kearns?

'The internet gives me the freedom to spout off whatever I want without any repercussions, especially since it's just my own opinion anyway'.

No it does not. I love the idea of the 'internet' as something that gives -- what? -- immunity.

Not that many of us need reminding of this, but this is, needless to say, a false statement. In terms of this site in particular, there is a process of moderation that does include potential 'repercussions'.

More generally, internet activity is subject to legal process, intervention, and possible prosecution and punishment across national borders (ie, 'repercussions').

#2 and #12 (et al) are in my opinion 'disgusting' and revealing about our own self-proclaimed 'keyboard warrior'.

It is also simply an opinion to write that social media is not really a place for the sort of message posted by McNeil's partner. It clearly is and it seems that some people do not like or are uncomfortable with this sort of discussion about a crucial contemporary issue that is expanding and overwhelming anything in place to cope with what is an epidemic.

The more public discussion, knowledge, and ackowledgement, the better.

I remember the minority -- and it always is, thankfully, a minority (just as on this thread) -- who got worked up about the talking bench which was both a tribute to Gary Speed and a practical resource of help for mental health.

Maybe 'real men' don't do mental health.

Over 40% of office workers report mental wellbeing issues - stress, anxiety and depression. The issues always existed but there was stigma and shame about admitting to them. The big challenge is making people feel comfortable speaking up and asking for support, particularly men.

5,300 men commit suicide daily in the UK (14 per day), and men account for 75% of all UK suicides, therefore let's move away from cliches, jokes or stupid assumptions like higher earnings make you happier or immune from such challenges.

They don't.

Suicide is the leading killer of men in the UK under 50 years old. Two-in-five men at any one time report anxiety or low self-esteem. Men are more vulnerable than women to mental health issues and suicidal thoughts or suicide. The male suicide rate is significantly higher than female rates. A reason for this is that men are less likely to share their 'issues' with others, including mental health professionals. Precisely, MK, why any discussion of mental health anywhere, including social media, is to be welcomed.

Important research shows that wealth is in no way a shield. It can, in fact, be a contributory cause, not least when, like footballers, these people are constantly subject to public assessment.

Fucking 'snowflakes' right 'keyboard warrior' and 'big shit' talker Mr Kearns?

Reminds me of that David Brent scene in The Office: 'Ooooooooh you're hard'.

https://x.com/ClassicEFCGames/status/2018443478674608187?s=20

Some beauties in here and look at some of the football we played!

Spot on. The editor of this site sets the standard. The apologetic support he offers Mr Kearns will only serve to make him believe his comments are acceptable.

He warns Paul not to tell him what to say and how to think... but somebody needs to.
.

I do apologise MK if I misrepresented you, as you did me in your first response to me. My goal, as ever, is to work with you and respect you over these many years now.

The first, 'keyboard warrior' and 'big shit' talker and 'snowflake' Mr Kearns, note that lad.

I have worked with EitC many times over my many years in the charity sector in Liverpool. EitC lead the way and still do brilliant work delivering relevant projects that meet real, evidenced need.

I don't know financial relationship details with the club in detail nowadays but I hope current owners maintain a strong, supportive relationship.

It may not make the back page amongst the £25B transfer rumours but, within our city and the wider charity sector, it is recognised consistently as right at the top of the game.

Thanks Ged and EitC.

The amount of young people walking around, obviously medicated, is shocking.

Regardless of how much money anyone has got or hasn't got, this illness can get anyone.

The "he's getting £xxxxxx per week, what's he got to be depressed about?" shout is ridiculous.

I would also add 'Gary Speed'. No one knows what a person (player, builder, teacher) is going through and wealth does not stop them having issues as bad as everyone else.

Maybe give the benefit of the doubt when someone speaks openly about their private life, as far as I am aware they don't normally make their private lives public.

Palace have had a horror show of a window and this pretty much put the cherry on that.

And chatting or viewing shit on social media is at the root of that. Far too many can't conduct themselves civilly online.

Does it not occur that these people pushing this stand to gain massively (as in billions) by pushing a world where the moment anyone mentions 'mental health' they must instantly not be questioned, and led to the nearest doctor for a prescription?

If this is all so real, how come we were fine for the first five thousand years, and it's only since Big Pharma got hold of our politicians and our media, that it has come to light?

Or are we saying there was always this latent fragility in the population but throughout history we just brushed it under the carpet, and it's only now, thanks to 'science', we are able to dose ourselves up, and, what, get better?

Cos it really looks like things have got better, doesn't it???

Remember in the summer Marc Guehi transfer to Liverpool like Dwight's was completed only for Parish to pull the plug just before the official signing took place.

Maybe Palace should be banned from the next transfer window... maybe that would discourage Parish playing this same stunt again.

Well certainly one of them has been to give a virtue to the hierarchy where previously none existed. Suddenly, Everton becomes not this greasy capitalist multi-million agent dope factory, but a force for good which is not to be questioned.

That's bloody convenient if you're Bill Kenwright!

Fans fighting amongst themselves, getting booted out the Europa League, selling best players, Glasnergate, overpaying for Strand Larsen, etc.

They could well go down if they're not careful. Shame, they were good to watch last season.

There should be more football clubs getting involved in mental health assistance imo. The more awareness, the more help.

A football club is a common denominator for a lot of people; some are scared to tell anyone how they are feeling, they see it as an ego thing.

If you have ever had a family member, close friend etc suffering with this, you may want to take a closer look. Have a look at the suicide rates amongst young people.

You right on Kenwright, btw.

Yes, and for the avoidance of doubt I'm not doubting that people can become clinically depressed, or just generally down. My objection is that bad actors are weaponising it, and have made things a lot worse.

Just speaking for me, but I don't want lectures from Everton about inclusion and racism in the workplace, or how there is a mental health epidemic, I want them to tell me what time the kick off is, and the to STFU.

As far as the suicide rate for men is concerned, young men especially apart from sport hardly get a favourable mention in the media today.

Women in the past had a bad deal, there's no doubt, but it's gone full circle now — it's as if men are surplus to requirements.

I have absolutely nothing against him as a person, I'm sure he tries his hardest, but he is not very good and £20M would have been a great deal for us.

It looks like Palace have messed him around but to me, that comes with the job. It's the price of getting paid millions.

Comparisons to everyday people are a bit absurd: how many of you get a job transfer and your new employee pays your old one tens of millions?

I'm into data so I was interested in the talk about suicide rates. I see no increase in suicide rates; if anything, the long-term trend from the 1980s is down. Men are roughly 3 times more likely than women to commit suicide but again, the long term rate is down.

The highest rate, for men at least, is not the young but 50-59. As I suspected, we are among the lowest in Europe, only really Italy below us. Surprised me to see places like Switzerland and Norway well above us.

Suicide is associated with deprivation in the UK and globally, Lesotho leads the way. Yet very poor countries like Syria, Egypt and Grenada are among the lowest.

Pick the bones out of that.

Everton involve themselves in mental health as they are responsibilities for their employees.

EitC is a community impact charity that supports needs in the local community, ie, Liverpool -- across a wide spectrum of areas.

Rather than passing judgement, educate yourself. Contact EitC and offer your time as a volunteer.

Is this a new phenomenon? I guess there's historically been higher numbers who felt stigmatised to declare. A big cultural turning point for me was Covid. Lockdowns, exclusion, followed by significant non-attendance at school, massive step up in social media use, less face to face meeting and talking, working from home in some cases.

There's been a cultural shift in behaviour that we, that's the big 'we', need to talk about.

I think that is because all the Swiss are reservists and get to take their guns home with them.

By the sounds of it, you haven't had to avail yourself of seeking mental health support from the NHS, because you probably won't get what you need, when you need it.

The waiting lists are horrendous, so community organisations like EitC fill that breach. They're literally life-savers. I know that for a fact. Every club should have one because they're at the heart of a community.

I think it's become clear to a lot of people that Covid was used to try and completely reset the world, and a lot of people are suffering because of it.

Your old road is rapidly aging,
please get out of the new one
if you can't lend your hand,
for the times they are a-changin.

This digital world will be the death of us, not all of, but a large percentage, I'm sure. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm paranoid, but something doesn't seem right, especially when you listen to what Elon Musk said the other week at the World Economic Forum.

I'm absolutely certain that a large percentage of people who suffer from mental health would definitely benefit from being encouraged to take part in some physical training.

I'm sure you're right about that. But that doesn't affect my view that this system is the wrong one.

I don't want to be feeling grateful to Everton if my uncle is fast-tracked for a pacemaker, or singing their praises cos their charity has done (no doubt) useful work.

The Premier League is run by amoral billionaires, and we don't want to be made to feel beholden to them for anything. But these initiatives help them to butter everyone up, and people are then less likely to want to hold their feet to the fire as they wreck our society.

I see many instances of posters creating their own argument rather than addressing what was truly stated in a previous post.

I don't know if it is lack of attention or seeking too much attention, but it is fuckin' annoying.

Not looking for academic standards here, just some decency and respect for those reading.

But I wouldn't take anything Elon Musk says remotely seriously.

1. Did people with what we now call mental health problems have them 4,500 years ago? Of course. It is the description and terms that evolve. Just like some of us have or try to. They change../ but sure Henry VIII was fine, as was his gardener who kicked the shit out of his wife or someone.

2. As for EitC. If one does a good thing, always you will get some prat questioning motivation. Often because the prat does little for others beyond their immediate self-interest (family et al) or argue some "sad" sense of "community" is a myth and and loves first bit of All for One and... oh, forget second bit.

I am very uneducated about the finer details of our club now but, not this subject.

But I won't react everytime to those with the same knowledge of the charity sector as my knowledge of footy tactics. I played County Rugby.

And I love bits of skills on the video I have seen of our new signing.

I like him and he's played his part in keeping us afloat these last few years. It is time for him to move on though and he'll get good offers.

I don't see this as a heartbreaking situation -- he's still living my dream.

Your throwaway 'anyone and everyone' is, needless to say, glib, the best research that we have suggests the figure ranges from one-third to four-in-ten of men suffering from some sort of mental health issue. Is that too many for you? Snowflakes eh.

Your point about 'kopites' is just plain stupid. It's in the name: Everton in the Community.

More pure ignorance or perhaps more fairly talking about something you know nothing about: 'If this is all so real, how come we were fine for the first five thousand years, and it's only since Big Pharma got hold of our politicians and our media, that it has come to light?'.

I can only speak for the period 1500-1800, but would you like me to give you a very extensive bibliography of historical research on madness, suicide, depression, anxiety, and melancholy in those 300 years?

Ged

I have to be a prat do I, if I question the current setup? Right. And this is you being reasonable. You just can't bear 'ill-informed ' people muddying the water,s I suppose. If only the editor could intervene and just ban my contribution altogether. Oh well.

The things that benefit suffers are time, patience and listening ears. The dumb Mr Kearns unfortunately doesn't show any of these qualities and instead spits his bile on the sufferer. God help him if he's in need of a listening ear.

I hope McNeil and his partner get through this together and they become stronger for it. Always remember the lines in Labi Siffre's song, Something Inside So Strong. The line says “Just look 'em in the eyes and say, We're gonna do it anyway.”

Good luck, McNeil, and will someone give Kearns a candle for the cave.

Bear with me, Kevin M, as I have to be at a faculty meeting at 3:15. If you really want this list, I can post something for you. Happy reading.

We, of course, do not have the sources to know with any precision the percentage of the population under medication between 1500 and 1800, or the percentage of the population being treated by doctors for mental health problems.

The medication process is rather different, as you might expect. And it is very very limited because of those who were able to administer it. I can. most certainly provide you with a short discussion of diagnosis and remedies for depression, madness, suicidal thoughts etc.

We have to study these issues qualitatively rather than by quantification until the19th Century when a less than satisfactory national process of asylum admissions was introduced. But that is just for institutions. The vast majority of the afflicted would not have got that far.

What we do know now is that 20% of the US population are being medicated. That is an astonishingly high figure, and I'm prepared to bet that there weren't 20% of the population going to the doctor 200 years ago for depression.

It's got significantly worse, and at the same time we have an industry getting stupendously rich off the back of it. An industry incentivised to keep you popping pills. This is what I object to.

I'm not advocating we don't support people with mental health issues, I am questioning how this is done. Why on earth mental health outreach might be being done by an organisation as partisan as a football club???

The whole thing is nuts. And that's not to say that Eitc don't do good work, but it shouldn't be being done with a football aspect to it. It allows for the club to then brand stretch and start basking in the reflected glory of good news stories related to mental health. Which seems to me to be highly inappropriate.

But, all I can give you is my philosophy for the last 15 years in the charity sector. I used to tell my team that our aim and hope is to be not needed.

The argument about where money that helps someone comes from is a daily struggle and involves a lot of policy thought. Does the person who benefits care? Or should they continue to suffer if many folk won't pay the true cost of services needed through tax.

All I am really, badly, saying is it is not a simple argument.

Ban your contribution? I would absolutely hate that.

We can all learn from that.

My real objection is how the role of the football club is morphing. Its voice is growing louder over a number of different issues, and I don't like it.

I think the bastards who run things use footy for a number of different agendas, and promoting sensitivity on mental health is high on their agenda. 50 years ago, if a football player had complained his mental health had gone in the bin cos a club had pulled out on him, we'd all have had a wry chuckle.

Now, it's 'oooh, say no more. Deepest sympathies'. It's almost taboo to question someone if they reference this. which makes for a very fragmented society. Our group identity lacks all cohesion if we lose the confidence to call BullShit on things we all share.

Not a model I love either.