ToffeeWeb MailBag |
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 ToffeeWeb Letters from
December 2005 |
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Ferguson/Moyes
Second half completely different and it was end to end stuff but I thought Wigan shaded it. What really pisses me off is FERGUSON. WHAT A COMPLETE PRICK. A total lack of discipline and since we have a shortage of strikers already, I make it that we have McFadden as our only forward!!! TOSSER, TOSSER AND FOR THE RECORD, A TOSSER. As an experienced forward he should no better. Now as for Moyes, if he had any foresight he should have signed a striker long ago. Surely he must have thought 'What happens if Beattie gets injured', or 'What happens if another forward gets injured' or 'Someone gets sent off'. SUPRISE SUPRISE DAVEY ITS HAPPENED. What an utter knob and a total fucking arse wipe for not planning ahead. As I'm writing this piece we have 35 mins before the deadline. PULL YOUR FINGER OUT MOYES AND SIGN A STRIKER !!!!!
Well done lads, a good point earned and still unbeaten. Thank you, Dominic Clements!
Good old Dominic claimed he had heard on the "highest authority" that Nugent would sign for Everton on Monday. Great scoop, Dominic, but would have been better if any of it was actually true. I'm not saying you lied but maybe your "highest authority" source if full of shit? Anyway, a really good draw against high flying Wigan and it now looks like we have got this season going the right way again. We are all disappointed Moyes didn't sign a striker (although there's still 90 mins left as I write this) but we have to believe in Moyes and trust that he knows what he's doing.
No point wasting all our money on Nugent who could be another McFadden (not quite good enough). Moyes will use what little money we have to better effect in the summer. Deadline signings
Lighten Up, Blues
Recently I've been getting incredibly fed up with the negative mood in the Mailbag. Be it from guys posting, to the responses being given back. We're not having the greatest season, but when do we ever? We're a mediocre team and have been for a good ten years now, we scrape by with what we've got. I agree with the guys who say that Moyes is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. He could resign tomorrow and you guys would be slating him for being a coward. Why not stop moaning like children cos you're not getting your own way and get behind the team, if you've not noticed we're currently sitting 12th in the league with Wigan to play this evening. Hopefuly we'll get a result tonight, sign Defoe on loan at 5 to Midnight and end up finishing a not bad 3rd in the league Simple stuff.
IMWT Please, God, give us a striker!
I cannot believe that DM and the Board are just going to hope that we don't get relegated? Maybe they think because we have won a few games things are going the right way and why should they spend money (which they have not got) and the team will survive for another year in the top flight! I think "survive" is all they want for EFC and not to try and go forward, as this would be to much to ask!! We will get "Oh, we tried to get thingy and whats his name" but we all know the truth, don't we Billy? True Blue my arse!!! If he was he would move heaven and earth to try and get money into the club? I just hope the boys get the three points tonight and then we will be closer to the 40 points mark:-) Sorry for the rant, but I just feel let down again!
Fearing the worst
Don`t panic
Wasted Opportunity
I reiterate - Up to that point… Straight away my mind raced back to Euro 2004 when England sat deep and defended a 1-0 lead against Portugal who were brimming with attacking intent. England, it seemed were bound to finally concede and were left to rue the cowardice of a manager who brought on Phil Neville to try to rescue the game. Anyone who watched the match last weekend, would have known within the first few minutes of Naysmith’s arrival that Chelsea were going to equalise, and would have recognised the similarities between the two games. After wave after wave of Chelsea attack, with only Ferguson as the outlet, we defended deeper and deeper, until you felt it was just a matter of time. Infact it was as inevitable as the Titanic going down after its five watertight compartments had been breached. Sure enough after a great save by big Nige, Lampard finally delivered. I was fuming in my armchair. Chelsea had attacking players in the shape of Crespo, C.Cole, J.Cole, Duff, Robben and Lampard on the pitch. Hardly a side you want to defend against for 40 minutes! But because they had so many attacking players on the pitch surely the best form of attack was to bring on the youngster and try to stretch them at the back where they only had 3 defenders and Makelele. To compound matters Naysmith was truly woeful. Infact we might have well as played with 10 men. His ponderous attacks down the left went nowhere and we created more in the 3 minutes Anichebe was on than the rest of the 2nd half.
The draw for the Cup has really opened it up for us. If we can get past Chelsea we have a genuine chance of winning it. If the manager had shown a little more bottle and bravery, I believe we would already be there. He is very much as cautious and defensive as the much maligned England Manager himself.
Nugent would be nice
Putting a negative spin on this piece though, this doesn't necessarily mean that he'll be any good. I remember reading something about Arteta apparently arguing with the coach of Real Soceidad about the playing style and that he wanted to play "pretty football"... then he signed for us on loan?!! This leads to my next point which is in response to Mike Price's "Risk Management" letter. He complains that we always pay over the odds for players, while to my recollection quite few deals have fallen down because Moyes has felt that the club are being held to ransom. This almost happened with Arteta when we got him on a permanent deal. It is easy to point the finger at the Kroldrup deal... but look at the players like Ferrari and now Valente (since he's changed his Toblerone boots). We have been crying out for a striker for a while and while all thought Beattie would be like a "new player” this season it didn't start like that. I also genuinely believe that if James Vaughn had of come back when he was supposed to, we would have been seeing a lot of him now. I can't believe that Mike Price actually thinks that bringing Fowler to Goodison would be a good idea!! Lay aside the history, just the likes of somebody who effectively burned out at 23 but still commands a massive salary is not what we want surely. It is a shame that Moyes don't give players like Victor Anichebe a little longer on the pitch from the reports from Saturday. Still, Moyes is not a bumbling idiot. He's done exceptionally well in general and I'm not surprised he's trying to keep any interest he has for players quiet after the summer's hijackings.
I would say if there's one thing that the wryly Scot doesn't do is overspend, unlike his fellow countryman Mr Souness, who seemingly feels that you have to change the entire squad before you can be held accountable for results. Transfer Window Debacle
1 day to go
Dithering Dave
It's in the bag
Does he go for Arrowe Park, Hoylake, Royal Birkdale or West Derby?! Talking about players....
Samaras going to Man City for $6 mil and like some people mentioned David Thompson, Robbie Fowler on a free. Thompson, Fowler are players that fans know of, what they can do on the field. if you're skint, then these are the type of players to go for; on loan or frees. what harm can loan players do? they are after all a short term solution.
Lastly Joey Barton wants away from City. Barton anyone???
Tail End Charlies
Every other club has been doing business but we`re always the Tail End Charlies!Is it that the Ginger One can`t make up his mind until he absolutely has to or is money so tight that the Club don`t like parting before `the death?` Either way it`s no bloody good for my blood pressure! Nugent & Preston!
Dean Ashton had scored 20 goals for Crewe before his £3 million January move to Norwhich, Robert Earnshaw had scored 31 goals the season before his £3 million move to West Brom and Darren Bent scored 19 goals the season before his £2.5 million move to Charlton. David Nugent has only scored 16 goals in total during his year-long career at Preston and they are demanding £4 million for him??? I know he's Preston most valuable asset and they don't want to lose him on the cheap but is he really worth a million more then Ashton, Earnshaw and Bent? Preston think they can demand a high price because Everton are 'desperate' for a striker but I applaud David Moyes for refusing to easily part with our sparce funds.
Preston can keep Nugent for the time being and we'll get him in the summer. Result against Chelsea
Martyn Wright Hibbert Ferrari Neville Yobo Weir Stubbs Valente Pistone Osman Van Der Meyde Davies Cahill Arteta Carsley Kilbane Naysmith McFadden Beattie Ferguson VaughnJust goes to show what a good result our 'miniscule' squad achieved against the corrupt might of Chelski - though wasn't it Mourinho who wanted equal cover in every position? Ben Patchesa, York (30/01/06) Bart-on?
Don't know wether to laugh or cry
It's something they don't like to be reminded of, but for us it's no doubt a loss that he isn't playing for his boyhood club... In your Wildest dreams!!
Perhaps he is going to spring a mega surprise on us and tomorrow will parade Defoe, Nugent, Trundle and Gravesen all bearing blue shirts... in your wildest dreams, Pat Andy van Striker,my arse!
Soccerbase shows that in a nine year career, he has found the net just 23 times in 183 games. Now I suppose that in comparison to some recent Everton strikers (notably Bent) a strike record of circa 1 goal in 8 games ain`t too bad but as we can hardly expect him to make 8 appearances before the season ends, I`m not sure he`ll contribute much to our woeful goals tally!
No doubt another gem fed to the manager by our `cutting edge`communications department? Attendence
Riki? another one!
Moyes : I won't be forced....
However, what gets on my goat is when the official site quotes DM's poorly thought-out beauties such as, "We are still looking but I am not going to sign somebody who makes everyone feel good for three days and then when we see him play we are disappointed. I won't do that."
Surely it should read "I won't do that AGAIN." Risk Management
Instead we always seem to pay way over the odds for poor players that hardly anybody else wants. Moyes is particularly bad at this with his signings of Simon 'Mike Milligan' Davies, the ridiculous Per Kroldrup and the caricature that is James Beattie. That's over 15 million pounds risked on rubbish before you even get to salaries. Wouldn't it be prudent to sign players like Thompson and Fowler on frees, both of whom are better than the players I've just mentioned but with little risk attached? Is it lack of ability to identify good players, or motivate them, or convince them to sign, or be quick enough to get them to sign...or what? It just seems obvious to me, but we just carry on missing out on quality players whilst taking huge gambles for no reason, and always over-paying.
Personally, I think its Moyes' achilles heel and will be his downfall. Tactical blunder...again
Once again, our man Davie proves that while he may be a great coach on the training ground, he's lacking in experience/nous/the balls to take on, compete with and then beat the best. Saturday's home game with Chelsea was our one chance to progress into the 5th round. A draw is as good as a loss. Going to Stamford Bridge on a Wednesday night in ten days will serve to conjure the same old excuses from the management of draining the resources of a depleted and, dare I say, under-manned squad.
I'm old enough to remember a nearly manager called Gordon Lee, and his nearly teams. Seems like history has a knack of repeating itself. Some people
By my reckoning - Yobo, Ferrari, Pistone, Stubbs, Cahill, Carsley, Van de Meyde and Beattie (as well as the recently departed Bent and Kroldrup). That we were not dead and buried by half time was in itself an achievement. I think Old Trafford is the only other ground that Chelsea have not won at this season, but that is not good enough for some fans. The 'know it alls' think we would have won if Anichebe had come on - yeah course we would, John Terry would have shit himself I'm sure. Our Vic, who Mr Marsh believes has been scoring goals for fun in the reserves, has 4 goals in 15 appearances (according to the official website) and if we had a decent sized squad probably wouldn't have played for the reserves yet. With a one-goal lead do you bring on an international defender or a 17 yr old yet to make his 1st team debut - get real. Any groans for Naysmith were due to the fact that he was our only option. Get behind the team and get behind Moyes and hope that we can soon turn out our 1st team of Martyn, Hibbert, Valente, Yobo, Ferrari, Arteta, Cahill, Neville (or carsley) with Osman and Van de Meyde playing off Beattie. Doesn't look like a bad 11 to me and David Moyes bought 9 of them ! Off the pitch, for the correspondent who was asking why Buster receives so much stick, where do you want me to start ? He seems to pride himself on customer relations yet of the 6 or 7 e-mails I have sent directly to him with what I believe to be worthwhile comments or questions, I have yet to receive even a 'thanks for your e-mail' reply. Some of my questions have been asking why only 4 ticket booths are open for selling tickets when we have a 90 minute queue. Or why did I have to pay a £15 booking fee when renewing my 3 season tickets on-line - most businesses charge you less ! Maybe he gets stick from those people who were moved from their seats without consultation. Maybe he gets stick from those season ticket holders panicking about getting a ticket for Villareal or from the fans stuck at Liverpool airport instead of being in Romania. Maybe its because he has tried to single handedly tried to take credit for our improved financial position despite only taking over half way through the financial year. Or maybe it's because of the 30% of empty seats I see in the corporate areas every home game. Or maybe because every time he opens his mouth you do actually wonder if he has a brain never mind that he is taking home £177k of our money I could go on ! When I can see evidence of him bringing investment into the club, then and only then, will I believe him worthy of his salary. Neither of the only decent commercial deals we've recently done we through him (JJB and Chang). And I don't include a 20% rise in season ticket prices as bringing in investment
For me I wish the jury was only out on Buster but I'm afraid that passed a long long time ago Honesty & Clarity; Part Two
It is far too easy to look back on our recent good run and surmise that we were lucky and could have easily lost several of those games and therefore the `revival` is nonsense. How about putting the same theory to the defeats preceding this run; if Beattie's goals against West Ham and Liverpool hadn`t been disallowed, if Riley had penalised Baros' handball (and surely I cannot be the only one who is astonished that he has not at least been asked to explain his decision in public - it defies belief) and if McFadden's equaliser against Bolton had been allowed etc etc.
Games, of course, can be won and lost on such fine margins. Instead of being so negative let's be proud of the fighting performances we have witnessed recently and look forward to our run continuing. A balanced view next time please, Ray. Nugent looks certain?
Like most Blues, I have got everything crossed for the next few days. Re: Another chance blown
So we draw a game against the mighty Chelsea. That makes it 7 games unbeaten. And there my friends is where the good news ends. Do we, as honest and intelligent people, honestly believe that EFC are turning a corner? Open your eyes and look at what's in front of you. Sunderland: We were overrun in the second half and were lucky to get the winner. Charlton: Excellent win, but I felt that if Charlton had scored a second we would probably have been lucky to draw the game (and before anyone asks, yes, I did go to the game). Millwall: Okay, this was the FA cup, and yes, we were unlucky not to beat them, but they were bottom of the championship and getting hammered by some pretty dire teams. Portsmouth: Are getting beat by everyone and are probably going to be relegated.
Arsenal: Again, another good win, but I felt that we played the game as if we were waiting for them to score a goal. Also, this Arsenal team are, at least this season, not the best of travellers.
Chelsea: Excellent first half, and then on the back foot for the rest of the game. Now before anyone writes in and says that Chelsea do that to every team, let's be honest, if Everton had had someone with a bit of pace either in the midfield or up-front, do you not think that we could have gone on to win the game?
Now, go and look at Everton's run of fixtures between now and May.
How many points do you think we will amass? Be honest!
Even against teams that we assume (falsely?) we will gain points from (ie Blackburn and Birmingham home), are not as easy to predict as we think they are. Blackburn have beaten us in the past two home games and have only lost one game in their last five away games. We have struggled against Birmingham, who by the way are finding a bit of form and hitting the back of the net with more regularity. Newcastle away will surely be a hard game no matter how poor they are playing.
I didn't want to write something with a 'doom and gloom' attitude, but I am an honest person and I can't believe that we are getting carried away by Everton's current form.
Please, and for the sake of this great club, honesty has to start at the bottom and work its way up.
I say again, open your eyes and don't be decieved by Everton's current form. The next couple of months will surely show us how good our current form is.
Roll on next season.
I'm sitting back and waiting for your replies. Youngsters
Defoe in Airport? Sign for Everton? I'm dreaming?
David Nugent
Nice bit of buisness
Rooney Sale
Correct me if I'm wrong but that figure is not inclusive of transfer fees, so the official results says anyway. Therefore the Rooney deal has nothing to do with the 100k profit figure.
If anything the Rooney sale would have reduced the general revenue figures as he was by far and away the biggest marketing tool in the club.
The previous year we lost 17m surely these figures should be applauded not ridiculed.
I understand that we are far from being perfect as a club but a profit is still a profit and must be our first in years of neglect.
Nugent in the bag!
Locals say Billy Davies is furious but the Club is skint. Well done Moysey, but you`ve certainly made us sweat! Another Chance Blown
Then came the all to familiar tactical cock up by our manager.
With McFadden injured and the fans
calling for big Victor to be unleashed Moyes has a choice to make.
"OH NO! Not fucking Naysmith" was all you could hear as he stripped off.
Now I am no expert but given the
options available, a young pacey striker with pace to burn who has been scoring for fun in the reserves or an injury plauged left back who hasent kicked a ball for years and is crap when fit anyway.
To make matters worse, to accommodate Naysmith we had to mess around with the shape and balance of the whole side.
Kilbane who was having a great game out wide was pushed in to the middle. Osman pushed up front and that was that. Why didn't Moyes just change a forward for a forward? Keep things simple when they are going well.
In the end Victor got 90 seconds. 90 fucking seconds. What's the point? What a way to spoil a kid's debut for him. Before long Anichebe will be asking himself what he has to do to get a game.
Crippled left backs are ahead of me in the pecking order.
Our chance of progressing in the cup has now gone and it could of been so different. If Dopey Dave isn't going to sign any new players then he has got to start trusting in the kids.
Never mind all these useless twats we have got waiting in wheel chairs let some young blood in to the side and give us fans a lift for once.
Hughes, Molyneux and Anichebe are all young talents at Everton so let's give them a chance.
Naysmith, pistone Advm, Lie Tie, etc, are not worth a carrot. How Bizarre!
Is that coincedence? Are the other sites taking my post as actual news? Does David Moyes read this feedback site?
Well just in case Moyes does read this feedback I'd like to make another couple of suggestions.
Colchester Utd are the football leagues form side with defender Greg Halford (21) and Scouse midfielder Neil Danns (23) destined to play in the Premiership. They are well worth a look, Mr Moyes. Stop This, Please!
Yes, we were in a strong position to sign some top-quality players but it wasn't Moyes who failed.
Fact is Moyes identified his targets early on, Mikael Forssell, Scott Parker, Emre & Mohamed Sissoko and major efforts were made to sign these players.
Moyes decided to pass on Forssell after his medical (a good decision considering he's only scored 2 goals for Birmingham this season anyway), Sissoko decided he wanted to play for his old manager Rafael Benitez again and Parker and Emre decided to go for big-fat pay Newcastle pay cheques rather then join the Toffees.
I don't think you can blame Moyes for any of those transfers not happening.
Once all of his main transfer priorites had gone Moyes was forced to go back to the drawing board and did incredibly well by signing seven players, including established internationals Phil Neville and Nuno Valente, highly fancied Andy van der Meyde and fans favourite Mikel Arteta.
I think Moyes has the perfect transfer policy for Everton. Considering how much money we don't have Moyes has done miracles.
I personally wouldn't want to see a Harry Redknapp policy at the club where we sign every foreign player available.
Moyes is slowly building a team of very good players and we as fans need to stop moaning about him and get behind him.
If we don't sign a striker this month I won't be disappointed I will just trust that our manager believes he can get better quality and value in the Summer. Fresh blood
The main plus point for me was not the result- although it was a very welcome surprise- but the brief appearance of young Anichebe. I thought he has real presence and gave the impression that there could be a lot more to come from him.
With no obvious hope of any signings to supplement the squad it may be that David Moyes will have to play him more often and I for one would look forward to that. Beter than Chelsea?
The league leaders with over £200 million 'worth' of talent on show..
Everton with about £30 million worth of grit (Yobo and Cahill and Beattie would have perhaps boosted this to £50 million)
We made a £200 K profit last season (possibly)
Chelsea made a £150 million loss
We're a club in financial crisis... they're living in luxury
Does this mean that on paper we're better run than Chelsea?
Madness... complete and utter madness..
How did we let it come to this? How much money?
Seemingly we have at least £5M with the sale of Bent and Kroldrup? What does £5M buy in today's market? Could we postulate that £6.5M for Beattie was actually quite reasonable for a player with his track record in the Premiership?
If Everton do not sign a striker in this window (which is the most likely senario now) then how much will they gain in cash flow from the wages forgone for Bent and Krøldrup? Will that give the extra cash required for a decent player?
Of course, I have questions and no answers as I'm guessing at what finances we have available at the moment. But I would suggest if we had the money then we would have bought a striker of some calibre in this transfer window...
Do we have good enough scouts? i.e. being in Australia we do get to see quite a range of national soccer leagues on TV. Outside Europe (mainly South America) there is a wide range of talent. Even from our leagues a player (Archie Thompson) was signed recently by PSV. Although not an exceptional player it does show that some clubs, renowned for player development, spread their scouting wings far a field.
One more question.... what happened to that Brazillian guy that we signed last year? A midfielder I think... Spin?
So let me paint a scenaio. With bad finances, the People's Cub issues a statement.
"We have so much respect for our fans we thought it important to confirm that we have very little money and will be in this position for a few more years yet. This means we will not have a team of proven internatonals for the forseeable future and any player coming here had better work his arse off. We hope our fans now feel we have been honest and open and that they can see we always speak directly to them."
Well the result would be no player coming within a millon miles of us, numbers of fans dropping and players and staff losing the fighting spirit it is clear they bravely maintain at present.
The club could sink further, with the thanks of some fans who are almost infantile in their naivety when they demand a company like EFC lays bare its problems in the market place it operates in. Oh that will attract investors.
Never mind. I'm sure some pub-based accountant will tell us the economics are simple through this site... before tapping a tenner off his mate on Saturday night that results in staying in on Sunday lunchtime. An opportunity to get online and explain to us why he never had any problems with his piggy bank.
Get real. Read between lines and realise the club speaks to many different audiences and not just fans. Fowler Play!
Some balance please
I've been a regular visitor to this site and its forerunners for many years but am rapidly losing the will to log-on knowing that, despite a run of great results and huge effort from the players etc., my fellow loyal Evertonians will still be tearing the club to shreds.
I am NOT one of those who believes Moyes, Wymess & Kenwright et al can do no wrong, but most on this site appear to believe they can do no right!
Take the case of our CEO. Why does eveyone have to keep making remarks about his size and appearance? Why can't he be referred to by his name instead of some snide nickname? Does he not merit the same level of respect as anyone else? And while there's lots about the club and the way it operates one might criticise, why must it all the blame be laid at his door? Weren't the toilets, ticketing arrangements and pies cr*p before he arrived? The only fair thing to do is compare the state of the club before he arrived with how it is now (in light of what he has done to try and improve matters). Let's not forget his predecessor lasted days in the job before walking away wringing his hands and shaking his head - and based on the message that that sent out, we were lucky to get anyone to accept the job!
Does it not occur to folk that Wyness might just be doing some things right? No, instead he seemingly gets the blame for everything - including the state the club is in after two or three decades of miserable decline - c'mon give the man a fair go before you stone him to death!
I'm reminded of a scene in I think it was Hemmingway's 'A Farewell To Arms' (as an ambulance driver serving in the Italian Army in WWI the author witnesses the break-up of a defeated army). Hemmingway knew his side was done-for when he sees the army turning on itself in the face of setbacks and reverses, brave men being shot for failure and (supposed) cowardice. A sickening end and not one that deserved by men who were fighting for a cause and their only crime was to be on the losing side.
What a shame it is that when our lads are shedding blood on the pitch (literally) and getting us some great results, so many fans (or should that be armchair warriors?) just seem to want to claw at their backs!
Now, I can hardly wait to see what gets appended hereafter in bright blue font... Why charge me more for buying online?
Subs?
Time to wake up
What it turned into was an accomplished defensive display, scaring the life out of our rich opposition, Fergie bullying expertly, with Jamie Mac taking the Everton spirit at last (to the extreme), scoring a goal that not many teams will be able to score against the millionaires this season. The midfield did well to cope with their opposition, grandad in goal back as reliable as ever (best in Europe), maybe I'm dreaming but I put a small hope on us going there with Mr Ferrari and Cahill giving the extra pace we need, also the mountain young Anichebe looking as hungry as he does in the reserves as he should do what we all hope he can do and finish the job. Sharpy
Job for the experts
Kenwright
3 kids on the bench
Think about it - do you not think he would love to have 5 internationals fighting for every place, of course he would. Unfortunately, his only crime is that is doesn't bleat like David o'Leary about lack of support from the board, infact he does quite the opposite !
WE HAVE NO MONEY !
Tuesday is the last day we can get any meaningful money into the club before our financial year end (31st May) unless our creative accountants are at their creative best again, or maybe Bill will find something to factor again.
I'm sure if Yobo was in the country he'd be on his way, and don't be surprised if Man Utd midfield problems are solved by Cahill or Arteta by the middle of the week.
I'm probably the only person counting down to midnight on 31st in the hope that no more players are sold.
Good old Buster secured his place in Everton history and received a nice bonus on top of his £177k salary (which, incidently, is the same as Tony Blair gets for running the country) for bringing down the debt to £25m. Now without the income from Kroldrup and Bent we'd be looking at a debt of £45m, as it is I'd be surprised if it is less than £40m. Where I wouldn't be surprised is if Buster stands down before these results are published whilst his stock remains relatively high - You heard it hear first !
We are financially fucked and regardless of the amount of megastores Buster tries to open we will remain that way until the present incumbents are removed
Rather than get excited, my heart will sink every time I see the 'Breaking news' ticker on Sky Sports News - keep your fingers crossed our squad remains intact
David Moyes for manager of the month anyone ? Still in the draw
All over the pitch there were positives with everyone pitching in and in considering my M.O.M., I was torn between Hibbert and Neville, defenders yes, but both typified todays approach.
The only negative for me today was in having only a quarter fit Naysmith as the only experienced sub. A club and players who can hold the Champions twice deserve a deeper squad.
I think today's game dispels any notion that Moyes may have lost the dressing room but also highlights the need for adequate squad numbers.
I hope we can strenghthen soon and make todays heroes lives on the pitch a little easier. See you Tuesday -- UP THE BLUES Customer Service award?
"Our customer service department was recently up for a national award and our marketing and promotions area is on a par with any company of a comparable size. I handle large property transactions and run a business of 250 employees with all the HR complexity that involves. We run a major stadium under stringent safety regulations. Yes, we are a business and run on very businesslike principles."
Is this guy on crack cocaine? When was the last time he was stuck at Liverpool airport waiting for a flight to Romania? Or waiting for an apology. Or eating a cold pie after having queued up 15 mins to get it, although it was always visible in the oven throughout. An oven on nil points on the wattage score methinks to save money and just entice the punters in.
Or has queued for hours outside the Park End/ Main Stand because only one of the 'state of the art', 10 year old ticketing machines was working?
Why do I get charged extra to book online when the norm is to get charged less for booking online?
The only reason EFC Corporate is still viable is because there is no other vendor who can supply what the customer wants. If you want Everton, you have to pay Everton. Simple as. It's a captive audience and most of the people who read this website are totally addicted and beyond therapy. You can only buy your bi-weekly hit off Everton. That's the only reason this business model works IMHO.
I want a computer, so I buy Dell. Dell piss me off and I notice that Tiger OS/X on the iMac looks very sexy, so I buy a Mac next time. Bye, Bye Dell. Never to see my money again. Hello Apple - yours looks so much more sexy and never crashes; I'll buy your product from now on.
With football you don't have that choice. Everton are in my blood. I was born an Evertonian and no matter what product they release, no matter how shabby; I'll buy.
That said, spleen vented; Come on you Blue Boys.
Customer Service award; Wyness, you're 'aving a 'laff! What`s with three days?
Decisions,decisions.....
Great to be an Evertonian
Decision Time
What the f**k`s he been doing for the past 28 days, I wonder? He`ll never make a good manager as long as he`s got the proverbial! Everton get no praise yet again!
Franny
If memory serves, he always did quite well with a big guy up front with him.
Shame Moyes doesn't like him, although I always thought that it was the team that mattered and not the ego? Franny
This is going to sound crazy, in fact I'm not sure even I think its a good idea but I'm going to float it out there mainly because I want an opinion from others.
FRANCIS JEFFERS
OK OK hear me out before you all go mad. We need a striker desperately, there isn't one available who meets the Moyes criteria, i.e. quality at reasonable price.
So how about adding Franny to the squad to boost the numbers? Franny may not be the best striker anymore but he would surely be a useful addition to our depleted ranks.
Lets looks at his record, he was quite brilliant for us the first time around, scoring 20 goals from just 43 games, and remember that was under Wally Smith and in quite possibly one of the worst Everton teams ever.
We all know that Wally and Bully-Boy Knox didn't like Franny (or his mates Ball & Dunne) and when Arsenal made their offer young lug ears couldn't refuse.
At Arsenal Franny fell into the same trap most English players do, they can't get games under Wenger. Still Franny still scored 8 goals despite only starting 13 times for the Gunners.
Don't forget that during his spell at Arsenal Franny became a record breaking England U21 goalscorer and scored on his full England debut, which was also his only England Cap so far.
Moyes saw something in Franny and took him on loan during 03/04 but unfortunately it didn't work out and Franny spent most of his time on the bench waiting for a chance while a certain Wayne Rooney established himself in the side, still Franny did manage to score 2 goals from just 6 starts.
After that Franny has struggled, he just cant seem to get a chance, last season he was at Charlton where he only started 13 games but still scored 5 goals.
This season he's been on-loan at Rangers but again he can't get regular games.
I think Charlton would sell him for £1-2 million and at that price he would surely be a useful addition until we find that elusive striker Moyes is waiting for.
We also need cover for Centre Back and left back, but I'll wait until you have all finished blasting me for this post before I recommend Michael Ball.
One last thing, anyone still wondering why we sold Kroldrup, check out this link, the lad just couldn't head a ball:-
http://www.youtube.com/w/PER-CANT-ED?v=Jq4iTuilqZ4 Don't worry about tick tock, you may as well set your alarms for 5.05 on Tuesday 31st January.
This is the only way you will stay sane for the next couple of days..These clowns that run our great football club have not got a clue.. They will point to 4 wins on the bounce - but the phrase "paper overing cracks" springs to mind and don't we know it !! As he has signed for the shite, I think it is safe to assume we were never interested in someone who knows where the back of the net is.
Kenwright just fucking do one Peter Fearon
The chips are down
4 days to go
Surely I'm being set up here, surely Jeremy Beadle is going to jump out and tell me it's all ok we've signed 2 strikers and a young centre half. 4 days to go and no news at all. In case Moyes has forgotten, we play the Champions tomorrow, and we can't do it with 1 centre half. Jeremy, where are you, are you in the wardrobe? Free Transfers and Players.....
Recently read that West Ham trying for Nigel De Jong of Ajax whose out of contract in the summer. His teamates Steven Pienaar and Hatem Trabelsi (not young but former Gunners target) are also out of contract in the summer but Pienaar, it seems, has been snapped by Dortmund who also have Van Der Vaart (of Ajax). Also read somewhere an EPL club tring to get Gabri (of Barca) on a free in the summer.
Why is it that we don't try for these players?? Our scouts could be crap but at least the foreign players we have could recommend some from their former teams. I think the players themselves have the know-how of who wants out and so on and could influence a player coming to Everton. Are they allowed to recommend players to Moyes in the first place?
Nominal fee or totally free and could fit into the first team right away, players who graduate from the Ajax Academy and other well established Academies might not make it with their initial clubs but doesn't mean they are crap. Look at our Arteta (from Barcelona's academy). Their academies are obviously better than ours (it must be if Man U and Arsenal "steal" their youth players!) so why not try for these players who wants away?
On that not, how about Angelos Charisteas (yep, that Greek striker who won them the Euro Cup) to play for us? He looks like a typical centre forward that could do do the job for us and have loads of experience after playing in Greece, Germany and now Holland. Ajax would sell cheap... Tick tock, tick tock.....
Moyes! Bid for this player, Everton are a much bigger club than Zaragoza and we could triple his wages. I don't want to hear that clubs dont want to sell at this time of year, TEST THEIR RESOLVE, make a bid! He would walk into our side, and could help get us into Europe again. Tony Hibbert's Boots!
I don't think red boots reflects on Hibbert's passion for Everton, after all Wayne Rooney claimed to be the most passionate Evertonian around [once a blue always a blue]but he pissed off first chance he got.
I think Hibbert is very passionate about Everton, the way he threw himself in the way to clear that ball when Arsenal hit the post proves how he fights for the cause.
Hibbert may not have Beckham's ability to cross and he'll probably never score a goal for Everton but he's an excellent tackler who never hides on the pitch. He's got just the right amount of pace and has established himself as an important member of the starting eleven. Fiscal mess
Let's not forget the team is still frighteningly goal-shy and has one healthy striker in the first team. Ferguson can't guarantee fitness and Vaughan was crippled in a meaningless jaunt for Engerland. The Official website flashes spin-doctoring about young Anichebe, but he's just a kid and Vaughan, before getting, injured was a brighter prospect. What next a call up for Kissock?
Are we now to believe Billy Bushitter and Wyness are trying to glaze over big losses this season by recouping and not strengthening? Simple mathematics — the lower we finish the less cash we get, loan deals could boost our final placings in the league, whereas the Everton way of management is burying their ignorant heads in the sand and just two or three injuries could cost us very dearly.
I can't see any changes happening and I'll be the first to hold my hand up and post an apology on this Mailbag if the Ginger Misery pulls off a new signing or loan striker (note striker and NOT some 15 year old lower league defender or goalkeeper!) in the next few days, but I certainly won't be holding my breath as it's par for the course as a Bluenose to be ripped off by the club and disappointed by the current management.
Below I have detailed the warmness of Millwalls welcome to Everton supporters in the hope of spurring Kenwright and Wyness into action.
>On arrival in London greeted at Euston by the local constabulary to 'guide' evertonians to the ground.
If only Everton had shown such consideration when the barrow boys came north. I hope Bill reads this and makes immediate amends with free jellied eels and cockles supplied to those other laugh-a-minute wide boys, Chelsea, this weekend.
PS. I hope the Everton supporters extend as warm a welcome as they did to Millwall supporters last week too! Still here
Great battling football but not entertaining, and that is what you will always get under Moyes no matter how much he spends. Just an opinion, though. Please don't anyone get upset. Be warned, the dark days will return... As Time Goes By
If we get someone in who can score goals there is no reason why we can't finish as high as 7th or, who knows, maybe a UEFA place. That has to be our target, but, hey, David why bother actually trying to do your job, just keep on muddling, surely we're too good to go down. 5 days and counting... What, no grub?!
Getting Carried Away
In reality, nothing has changed apart from the effort rate, which for much of this season, has been abysmal. The same faults are still apparent—an alarming lack of pace, poor passing skills which constantly provide possession to the opposition and the inability to put the ball in the net from good positions.
Moyes's only game plan is effort and quick tackling which are only two of the many elements that make up a successful side. Fortunately, the paucity of talent in other Premier teams means that the game plan will succeed for a while until others match like with like. Only recent results mask the fact that we are still a very limited side and that the manager is still a baby when it comes to transfer dealings and in-match tactics.
So let`s hold the celebrations for a while and see what Febuary brings. I just have a terrible feeling that if we don`t see some urgent additions to the squad it may well be disappointment — again! Anderson Silva da Franca
Is he real? Or another Kroldrup...?
Hibbo's Boots n stuff
I see we still haven't signed anyone yet, ho hum, an injury to Beattie and we are back fighting relegation. Do you think the 'Moyesiah' is aware of that? I'm not so sure, perhaps we could bring back Super Kev next!! C'mon Blueboys! Opinion Polls
If ever there was an example of why these polls are completely useless, this is it. Presumably the Echo will now run one of it's famous campaigns, based on the fact that 90% of Kopites believe they are better than United (surprise!), to have Sundays result overturned. I urge all proud ToffeeWeb readers to do their duty...log on and vote for the Mancs! I have just read the letter sent in by Matthew Davies. I am over the moon about the results we have been getting but to say Moyes should get credit for these results is a joke. In the last 6 games, apart from Arsenal and Charlton we have been dire.
We were piss poor against the BOTTOM club Sunderland, we were that bad against Portsmouth I was nearly crying. And great tactics by Moyes to take off your only striker. And the 2 games against Millwall we were poor. On the other hand, maybe Moyes should get some credit - credit for us playing some shite football. I like Moyes,and would love him to be the man to take us forward, but I just can't see it. Last season was great, and Moyes deserved all the praise being heaped on him. That's now in the past and we have to look at the present, and in my opinion, we are piss poor. One great result against Arsenal,does not make up for the hidings we have took this season.I just hope and pray that at the end of the Chelsea game, I'm walking out, wondering who were going to get in the next round. I actually think were going to turn them over. Top to bottom
Being based in Australia he wouldn't have read The Sunday Times this weekend - or specifically a sizeable article entitled 'Welcome to Goodison, the Away Trip to Hell'. In it Rod Liddle details amongst other things that how as an away fan at the Millwall game:
Now I know this may be a one off but I doubt it. Everton Football Club is a business that should be delivering just as much off the pitch as we want them to do on it, and at this they are just not good enough.
Those who may still be in the belief that one does not affect the other are in need of a reality check. Everton FC is now a brand and the definition of a brand is not a logo or a shirt or a team but 'a collection of perceptions in the mind of the observer' and if you were a player working out whether to choose us over another club there are plenty of factors other than the team (and the coach) that may or may not sway their decision.
In short, if we are going to attract the investment/players/media support that's going to get us back to being widely seen as one of 'the' big clubs then we need to get our house in order at every level that this club operates at, and then make a few people on the outside see a glimpse of what we see.
Sorry if that seems negative again but there is are basic organisational issues that need sorting out at EFC and whilst the club continues to operate its communication policies of spin and doublespeak then this mailbag is one of the few chances we have to address what the issues are, and maybe get through to someone who may be in a position to change things.
Then again I doubt it. (oh no, negative again!) COYB. Dear Dick
Mr Kenwright with someone 10 times as rich.
Until such time as this can be achieved then I hope the above show determination to improve.
Bit of a problem at centre back looms for Saturday. My solution if Farrari fails to make it: Try Valente and cross your fingers that Naysmith has a blinder at left back.
There you are, Dick. All solved. Easy this football lark, innit? Typo Correction
The Everton Fan
Where have these doom merchants gone now then we ask? Moyes seems to be playing the same team as usual and he hasnt really done a thing in the transfer market except offload unwanted players, with off corse the exception of Alan Stubbs.
I'll tell you why they have gone: The Everton Fan is a fickle one we have suffered so badly in the past from dodgy managerial descisions to propsed investors that all we can do is look at the bad side of things, but now that Everton are stringing a few results together no-one seems to be giving him any credit.
All I'm basically trying to say is that maybe us Evertonians should learn to sit back and look at what David Moyes has actually done for the club. Now lets all move on from the terrible start off the season and get behind the team for a European place.
A interesting statistic from the icLiverpool site in which they are conducting a poll:
The question - Do you think the Blues will qualify for europe? Hibbo
Doomsayers
As there aint much news this week and the world of Everton is all seemingingly good after beating Arsenal I was wondering if Toffeeweb's next poll could be this..
Q: Which would you prefer, a top 6 position playing negative 'hussle and hope for the best' football (like now), or a Mid-Table position playing contructive 'school of science' football (like...err years ago)
Would be interesting to see how desperate the average evertonian is now for a bit of success. Krøldrup - The Fact's
Oh and bring on the Chelski — I've got a good feeling about this... Beattie hatrick anyone?? Great typo
Disappeared?
Facts And Figures
That brings me to the "Krøoldrupgate" scandal.
I have it from a very good source that the Krøldrup fiasco has cost Everton the tidy sum of £3M. The Danish papers were reporting this as an accurate figure over the weekend and again in yesterday's dailies. Apparently we paid £5.1M for Krøldrup, the whole lot up front.
We are recieving £2M from Fiorentina with another £1.6M
being paid on the never-never depending on all kinds of crap. The Wayne Rooney deal all over again.
As for Krøldrup, he took an instant dislike to England and his new surroundings and wanted away as soon as he got here. No wonder Moyes wouldn't play the crying little shit. The poor bastard didn't like
the area he was living in. Millionaire's row in Heswall wasn't good enough for him.
That is the Krøldrup story from some one who is very close to the
whole messy affair and it just about sums Everton up at the moment. Me, I couldn't care less about the big Gobshite. Good riddance to him but what I do care about is the gross mismanagement of our
club funds. In effect, Moyes has wiped out his transfer kitty with this latest fuck-up and Kenwright just sits there and lets it happen.
Please try and get to the bottom of this piece of information and
let our fans know the truth. They deserve it.
That game against Leeds in 1964
Leeds were the most dirty team I've ever seen they surpass the crazy gang at Wimbledon and the likes of Bolton by miles.
I wonder how modern day Refs. would cope with a game like that? The interesting thing is 12 months earlier we had the same ref. for a game against Blackburn and he sent Tony Kay off. Another little midfield little general called Bryan Douglas was orchestrating the trouble that day as Bobby Collins did for Leeds. You don't have to be a 6'-plus athlete to mix it in a game as seems to be the requirement nowadays. Tony Hibbert
Onward Evertonians
Please prove me wrong once again DM and learn to smile. In fact take a chance now and then, go on I dare you. Send an Everton team out to entertain; let them all know we're Everton; we're here to win with style. Case for Defence
But seriously, surely Moyes must have realised he was going to be out on a limb in defence? Sure bringing in Stubbs is ok for cover; but what about Huth on loan? Or slapping down two or three million for Phil Jagielka at Sheffield United?
He's perfect for us. At Everton we seem to cross each bridge as it comes. Up here, Celtic have already signed Gary Caldwell from Hibs for next season!
Get organised Moyes!!
Stubbs - get real!!!!!
1. With Ferrari (not the old banger) on the field we defended higher up the pitch and allowed the midfield to compress Arse. This created an impetus that took us to at least half time.
2. As the game progressed we sat further and further back because of the cronic lack of pace in the middle of the back four. Arse were not good enough to exploit this but our midfield could no longer harass theirs and we ceded most of the possession.
3. Ferrari marked Campbell and Campbell did not win a header when he was on from any set piece. Stubbs marked him in the second half and he won 2 easy headers at corners but they were poor. The next thing that goes after pace as you get older is the ability to jump from a standing position or with a minimal run up — ask any sports analyst.
4. Henry spent the first half on the wings and rarely attempted to come into the centre. In the second half he targetted Stubbs and Weir and constantly got in front and drew them out, fortunately the rest of Arse were not good enough to exploit any weaknesses.
5. Stubbs was allowed to go last year and we all accepted that it was the right decision as his and Weir's lack of pace was being constantly exposed. They are both 6 months older and slower so how can that improve our defence? Weir now looks sharp!
Finally if a hear one more - 'he's one of us' I'll puke. He's the one who encouraged Rooney to leave and he's the one who slagged us off in the press. What he is is someone who could see a mug who would continue paying him when he's long passed his sell-by date - now DM that's another issue!!! Large shape on the horizon
"Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka arriving on loan is a strong possibility"? Seems a strange thing to say given Moyes's ruling out MV last week. I can certainly see why Boro would want rid, given Viduka's chuckles with Henry when 4-0 down against Arsenal, caught on camera. Maybe Dom has learned something... I think Davey will ultimately go for a deal like this for the rest of the season, see how much money he's got in the summer, then go for Johnson. Transfer fees and the gooners
Great win on Saturday though, so well done to the team.
New Kit
Shame they didn't read bit about the kit on Bluekipper being a mock-up of a fan's idea, isn't it?
People in glass houses....
Ha ha!
More embarrasment
....REJECTED by most players we tried to sign in the summer, FORCED to re-sign Pistone, DUMPED out of two European competitions, KNOCKED-OUT of the Carling Cup, LOSING a shit load of games in a row, BEATEN by Pompey, Wigan and West Ham at home, HAMMERED 4-0 by Bolton, Villa and fucking West Brom, MUGGING bottom of the table Sunderland of three points, BUYING and SELLING Koughdrop for a 2 million loss and TAKING BACK Sunderland bench warmer Stubbs as well as enduring the number of ridiculous soundbites that Billy Bullshit, and Keith "6 necks" Wyness have to offer, I thought to myself...
"Could any more embarrassment
be heaped on our beloved club"
Then I clicked on Blue Kipper to see our proposed new kit. I'm sincerely hoping that this is some kind of sick joke. I know Everton as a football club are going backwards, but all the way to 1979 surely not?!?! I guess the feeling within the Boardroom is since the club is being run by a bunch of twats the way the team look might as well mirror them. Neville's Freudian Slip
"So Phil, do you expect Sir Alex will field a weakened side somewhat for the Carling Cup tie on Wednesday?"
His reply?
"No I don't expect so, its not a cup we've won for a few years now so I expect to see a full strength side."
How embarrasing! Richard Keys and Jamie Redknapp had to correct him! To be fair, apparantly he then went on to talk about how great Everton is and how he doesn't regret the move one bit! Chris Marks's Observation
To Neil Vaughan:
Relegation-placed Birmingham: 5 — Pompey: 0.
Shopping like a crazy housewife-Redknapp, losing games. Oh, I wish I was a Pompey fan! Imagine spending £12M plus in January! That would have been something, huh? Seriously, I'm wasn't very excited about changing Krøldrup with Stubbs, but who cares as long as we're winning? I for one am still very happy Moyes is in charge of Everton, and not the lot writing in on ToffeeWeb. Spin Doctored
During the summer, all the world's agents and managers knew that he was sitting on at least £20M and we were held to ransom as a result. Anyone who has the misfortune of working in the London media (as I do) knows it is always better to keep your cards to your chest and say nothing at all - and Davey is doing so now. Unfortunately this means that he cannot release a small announcement on EFC website stating, "Don't tell anyone, but I have £10M left over from the summer... strictly hush hush though" just so that we have peace of mind.
The overall picture from the vague announcements the management have made seem to indicate that they are doing their upmost to secure re-enforcements but cannot spell out their intentions for fear of being gazumped — as they were in the summer — at least three times. Krøldrup. I can't believe it....
That we (supposedly) made a loss of £3M on a young, highly rated international defender who was supposedly worth £5M last summer and is now worth less than half that. The DM statement that we made a profit on Bent (so it's ok) - has nothing to do with the fact that the Krøldrup deal was unfair to the player, awful business for a club 'with no money to spend on new players'.... smells of either bad judgment in the first place, not giving the player a real chance to prove himself (how can he improve or adapt if he doesn't play ?), and patethic business.
I'm perplexed as to why our wonderful club did this - if our dealings in the transfer market continued like that we'd be more then bankrupt very soon.
It is most unacceptable to throw our money around like that — and then to 'expect no new signings'.... sorry but I'm pissed off.
This has nothing to do with the fact that I'm delighted with the three points at the weekend - well done guys & gaffer. But these are seperate issues and this is another EFC scandal. Fact.
Back to basics
If the team comes off at the end of a game defeated, yet they have sweated blood, fought tooth and nail, and are kicking the advertising hordens into row Z through frustration, there will be few complaints from us fans.
I'm pleased to see some passion back in our game, but I won't be completely conviced until we do it against the likes of Fulham, Wigan, and Man city.
Another fifteen portions of the same please boys, with plenty of salt and vinegar! New Kit
Moyes Again!
Given the financial resraints he's under and todays corrupt (Sven's words not mine) transfer market I think he's done a decent job.
Every manager has a skeleton in their closet, Ferguson has Veron & Djemba Djemba, Wenger has Jeffers and countless goalies even Chelski's genius Mouriniho has managed to pick up duds (Wright-Philips).
So Moyes lost £2 million on Kroldrup, to most managers thats next to nothing, just look at the money Newcastle and Liverpool have lost.
So Kroldrup aside how have the other Moyes signings faired?
Joey Yobo
Dickie Wright
Iain Turner
Nigel Martyn
James McFadden
Kevin Kilbane
Marcus Bent
Tim Cahill
James Beattie
Mikel Arteta
Simon Davies
Phil Neville
Nuno Valente
Andy van der Meyde
So really only Kroldrup and Wright can be described as poor signings. Others like Beattie, Davies and McFadden have some work to do but could still live up to their price tags but most of Moyes signings have been very very good. A Matter of Opinion...
There are a lot of things wrong with the club at the moment, and I don't particularly enjoy the style of football we are playing, but I do take delight in the sporadic victories and rare glimpses of quality.
I would love to see us playing attractive, flowing football, but not at the expense of a trip to the Championship. I would also love to see some players of real quality and flair playing for us week-in and week-out, but I would hate for us to have to pay the inflated wages that would be needed if this wish were to be fulfilled.
It seems that everything I want, I can't have...bugger! The Ferrari Effect
As for the rumors of Ferrari's departure, well one only had to observe the players reaction to the injury that he was desperately disappointed. I suspect the emergence of Ferrari with his ability and pace had much to do with Moyes's decision to off-load Per Krøldrup. I would still like to see us sign Michael Brown from Spurs — he would certaintly give us that added edge in the middle of the park. EVERTON 1 - 0 Arsenal
Everton won yesterday — not David Moyes! On the BBC vidiprinter I did not see David Moyes 1 - 0 Arsenal. Get a grip of yourselves aye! Moyes is an employee and long after he has gone I will still be there supporting my beloved Everton.
On another note, I am glad Stubbs is back. It is farcical that Moyes would let him go and then re-sign him 6 months later nobody can deny that and that's what all the controversy is over. Seeing Stubbs getting interviewed after the match, it's always good to have a scouser in the side — especially one with the ability to lead, and hopefully the captain's armband will at last be taken away from the 'does more talking in the Echo' Wier. I am not fooled
'Maimed goat' or SiberianTiger?
I’m beginning to consider that I might have been wrong about Osman… I really hope so. The last few games the lads looked a tidy little player.
One more thing: I’ve been labelled a ‘Moyes lover’ in the past because I’ve tried to counter some of the more ‘emotional’ subscribers’ bile-filled and fanciful pseudo-arguments with what I consider to be rational analysis based upon logic and reason not blind-hate, supposition and character assassination; seemingly for the sake of them making a louder noise than anyone else. As usual Shakespeare sums things up: “As a tale told by an idiot… full of sound and fury but signifying nothing” (Macbeth)
Let’s set the record straight for ever… I don’t love Moyes… I don’t love Kenwright far from it… I’m deeply critical of both. However, as Marx put it (Karl Not Groucho) “Men make their own history but not under conditions of their own making.”
To understand the mess Everton are in, you need to look beyond transitory personalities. Kenwright inherited an Everton which was plummeting to financial oblivion and has at least pulled us out of the crash dive (for now). I’m deeply critical of his methods but it could have been so much worse if he’d not stepped in. (Would we really want to be Chelsea…? what happens when the ‘Godfather of oil’ goes home…? or if football cleans up its act re who controls ownership?)
Moyes has had an up-and-down time at the helm of our once-great club (He’s been consistently inconsistent… or inconsistently consistent - I dunno, it’s late !?!). I’m honestly not sure he’s the right man for the job… but who is?
Nevertheless, what we saw on Saturday was the ‘maimed goat beating the thoroughbred Stallion in the Hay dash’ and it was fucking great — forgive me if I wallow in it.
I don’t love Moyes or Kenwright… but I do love Everton – unconditionally; and this weekend was a great one to be an Evertonian… Pity I’ve got to wake up on Monday...
Change the System (off the pitch)
Now I know that this system has failed on a fair few occasions in English football (most recently at Portsmouth), but it doesn't seem to have done either Chelsea or Spurs much harm of late. David Moyes is clearly a manager who is hands-on with the players in training, rather than a Wenger-style approach of leaving it all to his coaches. So why not let him focus on that and bring someone in to improve our youth academy plans, scouting and transfer strategies?
This seems to me to be the main area in which DM is deficient. Overall I would like to see DM stay in the job but he clearly needs some help in this area. The Per Krøldrup saga is unacceptable for a club where cash is not limitless, so let's see the Board take some action to make sure their money is effectively spent.
Dare I mention Bobby Robson? I think he's getting a bit past it in terms of full-on club management but it is well documented that his network of UK and European contacts is immense. If not him, then there are other candidates like Roy Hodgson, Terry Venables or even the likes of Ruud Gullit or Claudio Ranieri who have a lot of nous in these matters.
Would it upset the balance of the club and cause problems for DM? Not necessarily, I actually wonder whether he would welcome the opportunity. I kinda get the feeling he knows damn well he's very short of experience in this area.
If Moyes and the Board were to look at this option now, perhaps we could have a summer transfer window this is a lot more productive than the last one?
I know Moyes isn't perfect
Do you not think that he would have been quite happy to wave goodbye to most of the out-of-contract players last season? BUT he had about £15M to spend and needed at least eight more players as it was. If Weir, Pistone, Kilbane, Carsley, Naysmith, Ferguson and Osman had all been released he would have needed 15 new players! How many quality players do you think he would have been able to bring in at an average of £1M per player - please tell me as you obviously have all the answers.
For the risk of repeating myself, until Moyes is sufficiently backed and is able to add players to a team rather than having to buy players to give us sufficient numbers then how can you judge him.
I totally agree that we are playing unattractive football, but I watch a lot of football and I can't really think of too many sides who play attractive football these days and I include methodical Chelsea in that. Maybe you were riveted by WBA and Sunderland this evening?
Finally, Hibbert and Cahill are suspended next week, Stubbs is cuptied. No doubt we will have some untried youngsters on the bench - again who's fault is that? If you can't answer that one try this one - Do you think David Moyes would rather have a squad the size of Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool etc or a small squad? Radio 5 Live
No two games are the same
If we can take that commitment into the rest of the games then we can survive and give us fans some hope.
I was absolutly delighted with today's result and can't wait for the the Chelsea FA Cup tie, but what prioity will the manager put on it?. Hey could it be be that things are looking up and we may all have to to put a different hat on when writing in. I hope so.
Today my MotM was Tony Hibbert; who was yours? Who cares... we stuffed the Gunners and until the next in depth debate from the lounge I will glory in today and accept the quirkes of football will always elude me.
See you Sat -- UP THE BLUES Get behind Moyes ....
Also do you think moyes wants to have the smallest squad in the Premiership? He has to subsidize the inability of this Board to provide any meaningful funds (and I don't include selling Rooney, Gravesen and Radzinski as the board providing Moyes with funds).
Moyes took us to 4th place, and even now we are only 2 points behind Man City who supposedly currently have the greatest manager in the league and we are above Boro, Newcastle and Birmingham (Steve Bruce by the way took a £2M hit on Pandiani in 6 months) all of who have consistently spent millions and millions.
If Moyes had the money, he could do exactly what Martin Jol is doing and spend £4M on every 1st division English midfielder under 20 yrs old... but he hasn't so he can't. I'm sure if Moyes could offer £80k/week in wages to Edgar Davids he would but he can't so he doesn't.
The best phrase I read yesterday was that David Moyes has to firefight — that is absolutely spot on. Do you really think he would prefer to re-sign Pistone or would he prefer to buy Wayne Bridge for £8M??
Moyes has three centre halves (two of them top class) and needs cover for 3 weeks, what should he do? Spend £5M on a 3rd or 4th choice centre half or bring in someone he knows to do a job for 4 months? If big Sam had bought Stubbs it would have been a masterstroke
Anyway today's game — you know that Stubbs lad and Weir (both re-signed by Moyes) didn't do too badly against the £50M rated Henry and £20M Reyes. Ferrari prior to his injury looked top class as well (please remind me who signed him?). £1M Valente I thought looked class as well today now he has started to string a few games together. As for £2M Cahill and £2M Arteta — they seemed to dominate the midfield but then again they were only up against Pires, Ljungberg, Fabregas and Gilberto! And I thought Beattie gave both Campbell (England centre half by the way) and Senderos an absolutely torrid time mostly upfront on his own, just think if Moyes ever had any reasonable funds to buy him a partner. One goal from two chances for me is not a bad return.
All this from a squad of players who quite clearly don't want to play for the manager — remind me is it 26 pts from the last 15 games?
Soon Wyness will have a bigger squad of deputy CEO's than Moyes has players - who do you think is to blame - NOT THE MANAGER Good Team Performance
Fantastic Win!
We are a better side now then we have been for a long time and we continue to improve. Moyes is doing a good job and I doubt anyone could do better given the poor side he inherited and limited resources it his disposal. I'm angry at the fans who are always on his back and will be even more cross if any of you take any joy from today's result. Getting better
Do we want the same things?
Oh and just because many of us hate the football he has us playing and think he is way out of his depth at Everton, doesn't mean that we're not just as happy when we chisel out great results like today's. I'm still concerned about our safety, and just hope we can get out of the other end of this season without making it any more of a disaster and backward step than it alteady is.
Sorry to be a miserable sod on the day of a great victory, but the over-celebrators are contributing to the lowering of our standards and of what we should be expecting, IMHO! Better!
It was also extra nice to see the whole team pulling in the same direction, and I would say everyone played well. However, if Beattie had slotted that chance, fair comment to give him man of the match, but our two smallest players Hibbert and Osman deserve the most praise by far.
Best of all was the fantastic atmosphere at Goodison, Love it! Lay off Now! — 2
What exactly ever pleases the Ed and his cronies? We've just beaten the bloody Arse, on the back of a good run — and still no smiles on your faces! Only happy when we're losing you lot - so you can snuggly say I told you so - BUT we won today and will be winning again - Alan Stubbs is back, it's a New Year — go on, smile, your face won't crack you know.
I'm with Richard Dodd on this one — lay off Moyes and the lads for bit — you never know, it might even help! Only Better when Squad gets smaller
Lay off NOW!
What a shrewd move it was to bring Stubbsy back and if David feels we need additional cover for Beattie, then I`ve no doubt he`ll do something about it — when it`s right to do so. I know that there are thousands of Evertonians who, just like me, never lost faith — what a pity a few more of them don`t bother to write to ToffeeWeb! Some people are so clueless!
If anyone else comes out today and has a go at Beattie then they must have been sitting with the sun in his eyes! I'm only 16 years old and even I could see over the season that Beattie's fitness has improved greatly. Why can't you cut the guy some slack? He scores as many goals as he can without a proven goalscorer playing off/with him.
It just annoys me so much that some fans are so blind to the fact that even when Beattie gives 100% in all his matches they expect more from him! I thought we were meant to be the fans who appreciated players who give everything they have in all our matches. I for will continue to praise Beattie for all his efforts. Yes, I know Beattie has his problems (sometimes blasting shots to Stanley Park for one!) but he also has so many good attributes he brings to the team. Please get behind Beattie and when we get a proven goalscorer to play with him up-front he'll become even better.
Just to give another editorial angle I'd like to add that not all the ToffeeWeb staff are as cynical about James Beattie as my good buddy, Michael. Every time I've seen James Beattie in the flesh this season, and also on TV, he looks interested, tracks back and gets involved. As you say, he would really benefit from somebody playing off him and, in my opinion, is often a victim of his own enthusiasm by chasing balls which pull him out of the position in which he's needed. Personally I think that Beattie is the best centre-forward we've seen at Everton in many-a-year but would really benefit from a Marian Pahars type player alongside him. - Garry Full Circle
So many gripes about Moyes's handling of the Kroldrup saga... Agreed that a whole lot of fuss might have been avoided by some proactive due diligence; however, I am not convinced that we know the whole story yet (or we ever will). Time to put this all behind us now (yeah, I know a £2M loss is not very easy to put behind us) but do we really know the whole story?
Just a little question for all Moyes bashers: before you sack Moyes, can you name ONE contemporary manager, that could take this current squad and get them to do what they did today? Broken dreams
What a miserable, snivelling, negative so-and-so I was.
Six games undefeated and Arsenal vanquished. So can we get behind the lads now?! Chelsea in the cup, bring em on! Beginning of the end?
Being very hard-nosed — and about bloody time — perhaps he`s been told that, as there is no longer much fear of relegation, what have we to gain by paying over the odds for players at this time?
I do realise that all this is pure speculation but if none of us would send Moyes to buy a half-time cup of tea, why should his masters think any differently?
It just could be the beginning of the end for Mr Moyes. Here comes summer! Home to roost!
It's not just his lack of likeability and man-management; I think one of the main reasons we are the pariahs of the Premiership is the appalling football we play. I'm sick to my stomach of the total shite that's served up every week; even if we scrape out results, there has not been one single performance this entire season, that you could be proud of.
The 'style' of play, his shocking disregard to the importance of pace, his unpopularity and poor man-management, and his comical lack of nous in the transfer market... Wright, Beattie, Davies, Krøldrup, Pistone, Naysmith etc, make him a complete and utter liability to everyone connected to Everton Football Club — from the fans to a number of the players to the shareholders.
Our future is grey, and quite possibly black until he goes....and yes I know, 'he's going nowhere'...yet. Responses to a few points
Ashton was overlooked through ponderance and anyone that went to the Everton v Crewe cup game saw him stroll through the Everton defence, so the untried against top flight just wouldn't wash. Yes, you can take a bath on some untried players but a Catch-22 example would be Bobby Zamora; very poor at Spurs but returns with West Ham older wiser and shows he can score in the Premier League.
Sidwell at Reading now voted twice as the best player in the Championship with an inflated price tag which we may once have been able to afford first time around.
It's the club scouts and manager's job to scout, shortlist and select targets then up to the chairman and money men to agree the budget available. None of this appears to happen at Goodison anymore; we see last-minute panic buys at over-inflated prices, no movement at all, or Billy Liar's favourite: phantom bids.
Other postings calling for the likes of Hasselbaink, erm even fat boy Beattie has scored more goals than Jimmy the mercenary so no thanks - Kev Sparke would put this one in the bread-head category for sure. As for even mentioning Sourness, a quick thought for you: he is reputedly paying Emre and Parker £60k+ a week, the golden council estate escapee is reportedly paid £50k a week; go figure! A manager who pays a player's worth and one that spends in a desperate attempt to save his job — when did Newcastle last win anything? Money to burn
It's an absoloute disgrace when you think what two million pounds could do in the real world. In fact it makes me wonder did we sell Bent for 2 million or was that just a convenient ploy to say "look everyone we lost 2 mill on Per but made it back on Marcus".
No matter what way you look at it, if any person makes that sort of money just dissappear on nothing then they should be hung. Great Expectations?
So, with this in mind, looking at our January transfer window activity, yes it's not good in terms of what Evertonians expect in their hearts (what is these days?) but it's surely not that bad put in context?
1. We make an unexpected, fantastic profit on a striker who lacked finish and whose 'heart and soul' for the cause was on the wane at best.
2. We cut our losses on a defender who: wasn't fancied, was a crock, couldn't head, didn't want to train or for whatever reason just wasn't right, and ship him back to Serie A while his reputation there still held some stock. Moyes has admitted Per was a mistake and hopefully lessons have been learned. Nonetheless, its safe to say it probably won't be Moyes's last mistake either but you can go through probably every manager in the Premiership and find a number of transfer mistakes for each.
3. We get in a proven Evertonian, who's swallowed humble pie and therefore has something to prove, and will give his defensive all for the cause on a short-term basis until the end of the season. Remember, Stubbsy had been offered a year so would have been here anyway if it hadn't been for the contract issue, so what's the big deal? I'd concede that going back for Pistone was embarrassing because we clearly, and rightly in my view, didn't want him; but this is different with Stubbs!
If a reasonably able and priced striking option is added (although I'm still not holding my breath!), for me this transfer window will have been as good as could reasonably have been expected. A Bent in the hand is worth a lot in the bush
Why So Angry?
Good God
In response to Tommy Caldwell:
Stubbs
Question of style
Last-Minute Shopping!
Moyes has stated publicly that he's tried every name that any of us can think of to no avail. A comment like this is solid proof of the lack of proper scouting and pre-planning by Moyes and his staff, and the departure of £5m, 2-game man Krøldrup only underlines this point further.
The other problem with strikers is they tend to be the most tempramental and outspoken players in most squads. Maybe this is a result of pressure for goal returns, and everyone knowing they are usually the highest earners, but whatever the reason, and not only under Moyes, Everton FC have struggled to find a reliable (nevermind proloific) striker for far too long!
I hope that David Moyes can make me eat these words in the coming 10 days. Changes
The bit that got to me, though, was the manager's explanation of his reasons for letting Per go. I just don't buy that. After watching him many times in Italy and for Denmark he signs him for good money then says he can't hack the Premiership. I just can't believe Moyes is that far off the mark with his scouting acumen. Maybe Tony can get a view on it from the lounge as there is a right story to be heard about this. Let's hope for a good display tomorrow. UP THE BLUES
Dave's Dane Dealing
For every Nigel Martyn, there’s a Richard Wright; for every Cahill a McFadden. Unfortunately for Moyes, the fact that funds are so tight at Everton means that he has to be especially careful with what’s available. Whereas Wenger can go out and buy half of the French youth team (they have 39 players in their first team squad), on a good day Moyes has eighteen players, tops, to choose from.
If Wenger buys ten players and just one of them makes the first team then he’s a genius. If Moyes buys one dud in three then he’s earmarked for crucifixion… out of the door, one cross each, line on the left.... If you add to that the fact that we simply can’t afford to pay the high transfer fees and wages demanded by the top targets then we are always going to struggle to attract the quantity and quality of players to compete against the top clubs in the league.
At this point I hear you ask: “Aha, but what about so-and-so or what’s-his-name?” But I ask you, just look at the top targets Moyes has ‘missed out’ on during the last year or so, what’s become of them? In the summer we were looking at Forssell – he’s played about three games all season; Earnshaw — can’t even get a game for WBA; Owen, Emre and Parker — all struggling at Newcastle for form and fitness; Darren Bent — the exception that proves the rule, i.e. that the transfer market is a massive gamble, a gamble Everton can ill afford to lose. And even when a transfer is a success, for example Dean Ashton, it doesn’t necessarily mean success for the team. Would you swap David Moyes for the likes of Frank Worthington, Steve Bruce or Graeme Souness, managers who are supposedly more dynamic in the transfer market; managers who regularly ‘beat’ Moyes to players’ signatures?
The point I’m trying to make is that the transfer business is a difficult and unpredictable one to be in, you have to rely on gut instinct and, more importantly, luck; and even when you get it right, there’s no guarantee it will bring success on the pitch. Moyes may appear to be ponderous, but he’s certainly not stupid. He’s honest, hardworking and has the best interests of the club at heart and even on the budget he’s had, he’s still managed to unearth a couple of absolute gems.
Matteo's one of us
A Player SIGNS!!!
Please be a striker... please be a striker - er, no... another defender - and he's fairly old... oh and we did have him anyway last season.
To be fair, I am quite glad that we've got Stubbs back and do rate him. Good we've covered the Yobo absence... but then it looks pretty definite that we are losing Kroldrop - so actually we haven't. We've simply lost a million quid odd getting rid of a 26-year-old and bringing in a 34-year-old. Jesus wept!
Where to, Guv?
"Where are you going boys?" I asked;
"Nowhere" was the joint reply.
"Where are Everton going?" I countered.
"Just a bit further along and then down the pan, please" they wagged.
Calling international rescue!! Enough is enough
For the IMWT brigade — we are not out of the woods yet and our annual drubbing against Arsenal and defeat against Chelsea will signal yet another crisis of confidence.
On the bright side - we have now reunited the quickest central defensive pairing in the Premier League... oh sorry — that was a joke! Smelling of roses......
Not that I have anything against Alan Stubbs either, in fact I was quite pleased when he signed from Celtic, but he is in his mid 30's and any pace he had left him long ago. Does the club have this never ending urge to constantly show itself up on a regular basis? Something is starting to smell at Goodison and a new coat of paint won't cover it up this time.
This season is another to write off and go back to the drawing board. If we struggled to get in 'the players we wanted' last year when we could sell the possibility of playing Champions League football, then what have we got to offer next summer?
Message to the Board. 'Get a decent striker in pronto!' Nugent from Preston would be a good place to start. Cue Roy Orbison....
Look at the debacle now. I never wish to be personal...but Stubbs? I see the banner picture shows Moyes bolwing a celebratory kiss. Well I can only guess that he is kissing goodbye to the last vestige of respect he might have still had amongst many Evertonians.
Not blindly anti-Moyes, I have on occasion had a degree of sympathy for him. The Champions League draw for one was particularly cruel. However, you have to now say that he is doing himself no favours whatsoever and deserves the resulting derision. I have for a while now firmly believed that he is not the man for the long-term. However, (I do not wish to re-open old wounds) unlike Mr Marsh I do not believe in bulleting someone without a contingency being in place.W e just have to look at this sorry saga to see the damage that can cause. His time however is up. He should be replaced in the summer. But I fear he will not as he is Kenwright's linchpin.
Finally, there was an interesting article by Steve Guy regarding our (poor) media profile. I responded stating that we had to be brutally honest and look inwardly at how we conduct ourselves as a club. If proof were needed as to why the club's chronic image poblem gives rise to it being viewed as a laughing stock... this without doubt is it. Oh dear
Per Kroldrup
Stubbs should just be a deputy to fill in if there are any injuries. He can't play every match until May!
Moyes, go and sign Hasselbaink and Lovenkrands on free transfers, and see what they can do. We can afford to pay Hasselbaink's wages if we aren't paying a transfer fee. The buck doesn't stop...
Moyes Explains
I hope he is brave enough to also admit he made a mistake in buying Beattie; I would take £4mil for him right now.
I know you want us to be positive, but that’s the best I could do.
Decisions, Decisions
By the way, here's a message to all the IMWT brigade who like to hurl abuse at us non-believers: We all support Everton, we all want Everton to succeed. Some of us happen to think that there's more to managing Everton than spending £20 million to mix boring 1-0 wins through deflected goals with 4-0 hammerings by mediocre opposition.
Four years into his reign, it would be good if somebody from the IMWT camp, or even the club, actually explained the great man's transfer strategy, his playing tactics and some positive reasons for keeping him as manager beyond this season.
I know he's going nowhere, neither are we. In my business I like to make informed decisions. Let's have some information! If you can't do your job, get someone who can!
No offence to Stubbs — he was been a rock to Everton when we needed it, but he is 35. If anything he should have been brought into our existing team, also keeping Per. But my main concern is the strike force. Beattie having found a bit of form lately has found himself with nobody to play with. I think it's time to say Moyes, You cant sign players, you can't sell players, we're bring in a sporting director to help you out, or you're going to ruin our team. Pathetic, embarrassing...
At the end of last season, Stubbs looked finished to me, and I was relieved when he left, if only for the sake of his own dignity. To bring him back now only highlights the utter bankruptcy of ideas from our manager. David Moyes has also now sold another defender at a loss £2 million six months after signing him. In any other walk of life someone would lose their job for such incompetence, but not our Davy.
On the back of a few narrow wins against poor opposition Moyes will be able to hang onto his job for a little longer. But Evertonians like me have seen Moyes for what he is, which is a man hopelessly out of his depth. In fact, all the words I used at the beginning describing the move to bring back Stubbs to Everton could easily apply to the manager himself. Final, final, final straw for Moyes
Stubbs and Weir
Can the management of this club really get any worse? How much deeper are the depths that they have brought us to going to get? What appeared to be a decent young defender sold and an ageing, slow and mistake-ridden replacement brought in. And please, spare me the cries regarding Stubbs of, 'Well at least he's a blue!' — it didn't seem to stop him slagging us off in the summer! 10 steps back
As far as a striker is concerned we may as well give up on that as well, Nugent is a good player but it is too much to put a burden like ours on a player who is untested at the top flight. Bill and Moyesey should take a long hard look at themselve once this season is over. Is Bill Kenwright allowing Moyes to become too complacent? A good chairman should be pushing his manager to get more out of the players, not accepting poor shows because 'we have the best young manager around', this attitude is starting to wear thin, I wish we would start protesting at games to get Kenwright out, its drastic action but the fella ain't got the cash to run us properly. You wouldn't belive it if it was in a comic
I lay the blame firmly at Moyes door for this. He must have known that Krøldrup was leaving for whatever reason. Why on earth did he not have a replacement lined up?? I'm not saying centre halves grow on trees, but surely he could have found somebody? We are a Premiership club for crying out loud, surely we have the means to find a bloody player.
I'm not an absolute Moyes hater, but his transfer skills are lousy. He couldn't attract a fly to shit. Unless of course the fly is 40-years-old and he'd just chased it out the window a couple of months before. Absolutely despondent. Blue Farce
Stubbsy in, Striker still needed.
If we've got around £6M or £7M now after selling Bent and Krøldrup surely we should be looking at someone better than Mark Viduka, Robert Earnshaw or Lee Trundle?!! That Leroy Lita has got potential; Peter Lovenkrands is an international who's been scoring in the Champions League; and why not try again for Andy Johnson? These are players we should be looking at rather than Middlesboro's and West Brom's cast offs. What is going on?
Financial Trouble
I, along with I expect 7,000 others, will not renew my season ticket next year.... due to a club not matching my ambitions. I will be voting with my feet, until the Chairman leaves his posistion. Kenwright Out!!!
WWWWHHHAAAATTTT!!!!!!!!
What a shambles
A few recent results aside, we have been diabolical all season and for the second half of last season. As I can see, we have made no improvement on or off the playing field since January of 2005. A few 1-0's get pulled out of the hat and the exits of 3 cup competitions at the first hurdle, 4-0 drubbings to Aston Villa and Bolton, a £5M flop defender, a £6M flop striker et al are forgotten about.
I am a season ticket holder and will remain so, but as a paying fan I am entitled to my opinion. Mine is that this man simply is not good enough to be Everton manager. His 'achievements' are matched by his unwanted records which he has broken since he come here. He is naive and the man is a liability in the transfer market, proven. I just wonder how much of our depleted pot he will get to squander on more shite. I mean, a 34-year-old defender has had to be bought back to 'bolster' the squad. Fucking hell, why am I even writing this... joke. The final straw
Moyes and Kenwright, you have lost all credibility in my eyes and I am no behind-the-goal ranter and raver. I'd like to think that after 40 years of watching and supporting as well as playing at a decent semi-pro level, I have a reasonable understanding of football. What this does is destroy all faith I have in either of you being able to lead this great club forward — sadly this shows to me you have both lost the plot and having never previously called for anyone's head I do so now with both of you.
GO PLEASE GO BEFORE YOU DAMAGE OUR CLUB BEYOND REPAIR What is going on!
After last season, a big club like Everton should have built on that success, but it's one step forward, two steps back and no doubt there will be some more record-breaking embarrassments around the corner. It is plain to see all the talk about signing players like Owen was pure lies to keep us sweet, where did that money go? Did the gas bill come in Bill? It's about time someone at the club stopped treating us like mugs and told what the hell is going on! I'm not even going to get started on the Krøldrup fiasco. Danish Superstar Defender!!
Moyes is making a quick cash grab to give him the funds for a striker, and the players he's getting rid of are expendible. With players coming back from injury, we have enough defensive cover (when Yobo returns) to last us until the end of the season, especially with a versatile players like Neville & Ferrari. And with Carsley due back soon it means that there's cover for Neville moving back into a defensive position.
If we get a good striker out of loosing the wages of Krøldrup and Bent then the sale of the two will help us ensure Premiership safety and put us in a better position for the start of next season. Obviously in the summer we'll need to find some replacements for some of the older players left in the squad, and make sure any of the contracts that are running out are renewed! Krøldrup Gone
Trouble
In Reply to Ed
The Joe Mercer lounge is where I
watch the games from and have been in there or the Alex Young
suite since 1995. That's eleven years of mixing with all types of
people connected to Everton FC.
At virtually every game I attend,
I find myself chatting to players past and present, players family
members, scouts, managers from other clubs, security staff etc.
Recently I have had coversations with both Kenwright and Wynesss.
If any place inside Goodison is going to give up its secrets then these lounges are that place.
As for proof of what I hear people telling me, what would you have me do? Take in a recording device? I am not Tom Cruise and its not an episode of Mission
Immposible. It's just people who are connected to Everton FC talking before and after games.
As for who said what to whom, I will not name names. What I will do
is invite one of the ToffeeWeb staff to accompany me to a game this season so they can judge for themselves. If nothing else, I will guarantee they will get at least five minutes with Bill Kenwright.
The offer is there, boys; you have my e.mail address. It may not prove
all the things I say but its the best I can do for you.
As for today's transfer dealings, why wasnt Thompson snapped up? The lad is a quality player and would slot straight in to our midfield — no problem. He would have cost nothing on loan and would have jumped at the chance to return 'home'.
Oh I forgot... there are no good players available in January.
Moyes is a tosser. Kroldrup, Anelka and other things
Which leads me nicely on to Anelka. We are told that Anelka's consortium of agents sounded out Everton as a possible destination. I actually believe this as his agents would be looking at clubs who were desperate for a striker and hoping for a big pay day. Once his agents spoke to the club and realised that even though we were desperate we would only cough up £30k/week thats probably when Anelka stopped "dreaming" of playing for Everton
On to Krøldrup. In my ToffeeWeb Xmas piece, What the next year will bring, I stated that in January Krøldrup would be sold basically because we can't afford him. Now, let's think about this; the club and their mouthpiece the Liverpool Echo made a big thing about our long-term debt being down to £25m or so. Since those figures were published, we have spent at least £12M to £15M on players, spent money on upgrading corporate facilites without filling them, increased the squad size, only progressed passed the 1st round of one cup competition and would be expecting at least £4M less prize money than last year.
So it doesn't take an Einstein to calculate that if we can only make £100k profit in our most successful Premiership season with such a small squad then I would be amazed if our debt is not now higher than the reported £40M to £45M before we sold Rooney. Therefore this transfer window is the only opportunity before the end of our financial year to bring in some money, so don't expect any new players — although we could of course always get an advance on next year's Sky money !
Finally, I'm not ashamed to admit that I am still fully behind David Moyes. Yes, he has made some bad buys... but who hasn't? And until he is properly backed in the transfer market then he is always going to be Dithering Dave. He had £20M to build a squad in the summer, not a team, a squad. Benitez by my reckoning has probably bought a similar amount of players in the last 12 months as Moyes and spent £70M. The likes of Birmingham, Middlesborough and Newcastle have spent millions upon millions in the last 3 or 4 years and none of them currently have more points than us. Do you not think he knows we need a striker? He even said so at the AGM.
Ask yourself this question - why has he not done anything about it?
Answers on a postcard please to Bullshit Billy and his Lapdog Buster, but heres a clue:— WE'VE GOT NO MONEY!
Can Moyes Ever Win?
Fans have been complaining all season that Everton lack a decent striker, fans have also consistantly complained that Marcus Bent couldn't hit a barn door. This very site described Bent as hard working but not able to score goals. So Moyes makes a decision and sells Bent to raise funds which will hopefully lead to a new striker being brought into Goodison. Do the fans rejoice? Do they heck! They give Moyes stick for selling a striker when and leaving the squad so short. Selling the very average Bent in an attempt to raise funds for a better player was a very big decision, how many other managers would be that brave? Thats a major gamble for Moyes who has been laughable called indecisive in the transfer market.
The other thing I wanted to address in that the Per Krøldrup situation has caused some fans to question Moyes ability to man-manage players and maintain a happy squad. Personally, I think that's crazy.
MAN-MANAGEMENT
On this very site Michael complained that players lose form under Moyes; Which players have lost form under Moyes? Yobo has been developed into one of the Premiership best defenders, youngsters Hibbert and Osman have established themselves, Cahill and Arteta are going from strength to strength, Beattie is getting back to form, Martyn is enjoying his golden years, average players like Bent, Carsley and Kilbane have played their best football at Everton, Ferguson surprised us all by enjoying a final hoorah and that's without mentioning Wayne Rooney being developed into a world class player. I would argue Moyes has got the best out of his players.
Now I'm sure you're going to defend your statement by offering names like Per Kroldrup, Richad Wright and James McFadden as proof of loss of form and I agree there have been a couple of players who have not prospered under Moyes but that's just football. Do Arsenal fans use Francis Jeffers and Richard Wright as proof that Wenger can't man manage? All managers sign players who don't work out.
TEAM SPIRIT
ONE THING IS FOR SURE: A TEAM WITH SO MANY MEDIOCRE PLAYERS HAS NEVER QUALIFIED FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, getting a very average team to finish 4th takes almost superhuman man-management skills and an incredible amount of team spirit.
Give David Moyes a chance, this time last year many fans were complaining that his decision to sell Graveson would cost us a chance of European football but it didn't, did it!
IN MOYES WE TRUST Team Spirit
So, if you take the facts as they present themselves, it’s another Moyes cock-up and another nail in the coffin many are building, based on his perceived shortcomings in the transfer market. Krøldrup’s imminent departure is galling; although I’m a season ticket holder, I have actually never seen him play. I haven’t a clue as to whether he is class or a donkey. Whichever of the latter is the case, Moyes does not come out of it well. If he was class, why (as many have suggested) wasn’t he playing ? If he was a complete mare, then why was he bought in the first place and for £5M !?
Krøldrup exemplifies my current ambivalence regarding Davie. I genuinely want to believe that he is a good manager who will get better and that we are all on a journey which will end with Everton back winning trophies. The apparent mis-management of Krøldrup, whether donkey or class act, declares that the opposite is true; Moyes has lost the plot and the football world has got it very wrong when they laud him as one of our brighter stars.
However, an alternative view might be that Moyes is putting team spirit above short-term issues of squad strength. Many contributors and readers of this site will be in some sort of team. Like myself, you might even manage one. Either way, you will know how disruptive and corrosive it can be when the team are all trying to pull one way with one individual pulling the other. I reckon Moyes has had two like this, Bent and Krøldrup.
Whether recent rumours of unrest in the Everton camp are accurate or otherwise, I don’t think that Bent or Kroldrup are likely to have helped matters in the dressing room. The body language and general demeanour of Bent has been well documented and was there for all to see from the minute Beattie arrived. He’s made little secret of his unhappiness with his place in the pecking order. Krøldrup has now gone on record saying he wasn’t given a fair chance at Goodison; I for one can imagine the amount of whining, half heartedness and face pulling that he will have been doing on the training pitch and elsewhere.
As a result, Moyes may feel he is better off without either, regardless of the negative effect on available resource, if it means that the rest are left in a more positive frame of mind. I really hope this is the case and that we see the effects in coming weeks; both in the performances on the pitch and new faces purchased with the money the players’ departure has released. The alternative is that Moyes has really lost his way and that would be really worrying for all of us.
£5M?
Our season, if no-one comes in, hangs on a thread because of lack of personel in crucial positions. Injuries to either Beattie or Weir/Ferrari and we are fucked. Squad depletion
Transfers
Ask the journos
In short, he's known as a miserable sod who thinks the whole world's out to get him. His seige mentally is echoed in the way his teams play. Krøldrup was a class act who just couldn`t take the bollockings. Sorry!
I have to say that this week has seen your regular correspondents at their best with half of them saying good riddance to Marcus Bent and the other half saying Moyes somehow made a good player into a bad one — come on lads, make your minds up!
David Moyes will, I am sure, be the first to say that he was disappointed with Per Krøldrup, a player we know he watched on many occasions prior to signing. Per never got to grips with the English game and, as I understand it, was far too casual in his training routines.
If the deal to return him to Italy goes through as expected, Davey will have shown himself to be a shrewd operator in the selling game TWICE in a week — so stop knocking please!
Just in case your doom-mongers have missed it, we have now gone five games unbeaten, are up to 15th in the Premier (soon to be improved on further) and safely through to the 4th round of the FA Cup. Who said this season was a disaster?
COYB, IMWT! Strange about Per
Both Copenhagen Post and Borsen say that he was not happy with your coach and failed many times to get meetings.Strange because he is technically good player and his English is perfect, although he never got to sound like Jan Molby!
We think also that money said to be transfer fee was not right figure but newspapers exaggerate many times. From all in Copenhagen we wish your team well for season remaining. Wait until the Summer....
My dad always used to say that the problem with Everton is that "it's always next year". How right he was. "When we get rid of Campbell etc. then it will be Moyesy's team and we won't have a massive wage bill". "People will want to come to us cos we've got Rooney". "Now we've sold Rooney we'll have some money to spend"."Once we get into Europe then people will want to play for us" etc. etc.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Blues and always will do but they don't half test our patience!!
In terms of a replacement for Krøldrup, I can see us bringing Stubbsy back. Whilst we're at it, I wonder what Ratcliffe and Watson are doing these days and whether they have a few Saturdays and weeknights free.
Ever expanding transfer kitty!
However, if this means that we have about £5M to add to the £2M we got for Marcus as well as the reported £3M that was available then that gives us a possible £10M.
Methinks it is time then to pull out the fingers and get in a replacement defender and at least try for two strikers. As ever with the Blues it is a race against the dealine. For once, let's beat the bastard! Incompetence, Incompetence, Incompetence
Moyes Bashing and ''KoughDrop''
Ok, we're not doing so great but any team whether football or business needs time to gel. Any kid doesn't play football for the potential money; they do it because they love the game. This is what clubs such as Newcastle and M’boro fail to realize – they go after the wrong characters. On the Krøldrup saga, you have to accept that for a young lad moving to a foreign country it isn't easy. I've just done it to the States and they're similar to us (although a little fatter). Some people just don't adjust to the culture change. It's not so easy to go from sitting around in a cafe drinking expresso all day to pie, peas and pint please mate. Having said that, I think it’s over-looked in football that players need support when moving over and perhaps Everton failed to do that with Krøldrup. Perhaps Duncan showed him his pigeons and it frightened him off!
If we manage to flog him for the same money or more and get a good replacement, no massive harm done. The guy probably joined us off the back of our European qualification and had personal goals to perform in Europe – he’s now realizing that it’s not going to happen and you can’t really blame him for wanting to leave and realize his potential. People do this every day in their regular jobs but football just has the spotlight. The wages are massively inflated but that’s just the nature of the market – anybody in any industry wants to make wages parable to the market average, you cannot fault players for that. I honestly do believe that we don’t have any money-grabbing bastards at Everton – and Moyes and the Kenwright clan must take credit for resisting the signatures of players once they realize that all they’re after is more money. So take a break, have a brew, we’re in a blip of good form – save the complaining until we get hammered by Arsenal at the weekend! Central defenders
Any chance of quality replacements has, of course, vanished as we have rejoined the ranks of Premiership also-rans, confirmed in the striker department by our being linked with Trundle, Earnshaw, etc. Next summer no doubt Cahill, Arteta and Yobo will be targeted by
"better" clubs and we'll be back to where Mr Moyes started four years ago.
Meanwhile poor old Davie Weir will soldier on and lose us yet more
points. Tony Marsh
Krøldrup
Krøldrup — some answers please.
1. Why wasn't he given a fair crack in the middle of our creaking defence? Reap what you sow
Our £5M centre-half is kept out of the team on the basis he'll come in in Jan when Yobo's off. Now it looks like Per's off to Italy. Will it be Ferrari & Weir as first choice centre-backs now? Who will be the cover? And then Millwall last night. Watching poor old Beattie reduced to hugging the right touchline knocking in crosses for Cahill & the boys was so frustrating. Like buying a sports car and using it for the school run. If Moyesie isn't buying anyone to avoid paying inflated prices then he's taking a big gamble. I like Weir but he's seriously past his best and a shite captain. Yet what happens if he gets injured in the next match? Hibbert and Ferrari defence?
Much as I hate to say it, we're now paying the price for Moyes's very poor negotiations over last summer. I saw a lot of things talking about how Moyes wouldn't go above his valuation of a player — hindsight is great but now he looks like he's paying the price for being obstinate and small-minded. From Inter To Swansea
I am 100% against the idea of signing that fat plastic scouser from Swansea, in fact I would consider it a disgrace if Moyes tried to get him. In the space of a few months, we have gone from signing players from the likes of Porto, Roma, Inter and Man Utd to haggling for local lads from the lower divisions, Moyes has lost it!
I will still keep an eye and ear out regarding potential transfers though even though my expectations are not high (today The Mirror says we are trying to get Viduka!). I expect Moyes to sign that dodgy player from Last Minute Utd, whats his name? Panique Bye! We Are Not Very Good
The players at Everton look as though they are just going through the motions and dont really want to be here. Some of them have even said as much in the press. Every other day there are reports of players falling out with Moyes and bust ups at the training ground but a lot of our fans just seem to dismiss it as rumours and bullshit. I happen to know different. Moyes hasn't just lost the dressing room — the dressing room has emigrated never to return! I think half of the bullshit Moyes comes out with regarding us not signing any one is just cover for the fact that no one wants to sign for Everton while he is there. There are managers in the Premier League already thinking about next season and beyond. What players they will need to compete and the direction they want to take etc. Moyes can't even sign players this season in the transfer window. Does Davie even have a vision of what our future will be? I don't think he has. Its all one game to the next and no forward thinking at all.
How much longer have we got to put up with this crap? Next season will be no different from this if we continue doing things this way.
If Moyes fails to attract any new players by the end of January the fans will surely tun on him. By this I mean all of them. Let's hope Davey Boy is pulling a fast one and there are loads of new signings in the pipeline. We could do with a few for Saturday....
Let's go forward
I'd like to see DM go for Lovenkrands of Rangers as he can score goals and is a good crosser of the ball which both Beattie and TC need. He's an established Dutch international and has played regularly in the Champions League where has scored often too. Surely a better bet than Dickov as he's younger and wouldn't be seen as a stopgap signing.
As for the 'Incredible Sulk' that is Nicolas 'No Mates' Anelka saying that we should stop 'dreaming' of signing him, I've been having nightmares of DM actually touching him (or his brothers) with a bargepole.
Optimistic, me?
Millwall thoughts
We seemed to start as 4-4-2 but without any player playing to the system and floundered. The Moyes shake up at half-time saw Tim back to midfield and Ossie up in the hole and still we seemed at sea. Thank goodness for a Beattie mis-placed pass for Tim to stab home. My overall feeling of this match was that an abysmal Premiership side edged an abysmal Championship side. In tomorrows papers I expect Cahill to be given MotM although a case could be made for Osman, but for me I would give it to Valenete purely on the grounds he made the least mistakes on the night. No two games are the same but if we we perform like we did tonight and Arsenal perform like they did against Boro... Oh dear. I still think we lack a lot in midfield but I am willing to leave it up to Moyes to make my matchday experience that bit better by making a silk purse out of a sow's ear and running the Gunners close. The next cup tie: Please let it be better than the last one. See you Saturday. UP THE BLUES! In response to Sack the Juggler
As for selling Bent, there are not many who wanted him at the club, and I'd add many at Milwall and at home boohed him off. Shame on yer for that. I think the sale of Marcus has been accelerated by fan view, but as an Evertonian, I am surprised he has been sold without a replacement deal done. I believe there has been a cock-up here; a cock-up over a signing has happened and our cover striker was sold.
Hope Marcus does well in Charlton, equally I want the new striker that will progress the club; yes, I can wait till the summer. Old-timers, the unproven and J Foreigner
It sickens me that these seem to be our visible options but it is the reality to be dealt with. The days of us being in the frame for top players are long gone and, I fear, never to return without an Ambramovich-style investment.I pray that there is something better up Moyes's sleeve in the immediate term, a loan deal or something - but I'm not holding my breath.
Not these boyos, please
Now to Robert Earnshaw, who did great for the Bluebirds but was never going to hack it at top level. He'll suit our style as he`ll run round all day but don`t expect him to find the goals in the Premier — ask Robson! If Moyes genuinely can do no better than these two, our mob suggests he keeps his window closed 'til summer. Bye bye, Bent
I'm not forgetting how he played in his 1st year, when he did as much as anyone to get us to 4th place, but his work rate had dropped and he was no longer the same player.
I'd like us to get either Prso or Lovenkrands from Rangers. They need the money, and Lovenkrands is out of contract at the end of the season. Let's just get him, even if it takes £2million to persuade them to let him go now. It's only the Bent money, and he's got 9 goals in his last 7 games. I'd also gamble on Lee Trundle. We definitely need bodies up front, and we may need to pay over the odds to get them. Let's face it, Charlton just have. Whether Moyes will or not is another matter... Lee Trundle?
Lovenkrands?
Crap surgeons
Classic goals
Oh, and a big up to everyone who works on what must be the best independent fan's site on the web - this and BBC online are the only ones I go to every day Credit where it's due
He also seems to be finally realising that Tim Cahill is actually a striker and not a midfielder. Play Cahill up front in a two-man attack and he will score goals.
I hope Moyes can continue his very recent impressive form by signing Trundle or Nugent or both and not Earnshaw, Dickov or Anelka.
Moyes — between the devil and the deep blue...
He was getting slated every time he played Bent; everyone was telling him to get rid of the lazy waster, never to play him again, and that we should have sold him in the summer and got £1.5M. When there was a rumour that Sampadoria wanted him for £3M they were screaming that we should bite their hands off. So he sells him, and gets £2.5M for him, and he starts getting stick off fans for selling him without having a replacment!!! Now he's sold him, certain fans are hounding him to buy Trundle, or Nugent, or just "someone" as we need cover. And if he doesn't buy "someone", fans will get on his case for taking a huge risk with our club, for "dithering" in the market and missing out on players. But if he does buy someone and brings in Dickov, or Trundle, there will be yet another set of fans moaning at him for buying crap, or for panicing and wasting our funds. If we do buy someone and their scoring record for us is just as bad as our current players, they'll have a go at Moyes for buying that player because he's not good enough. And if Sutton suddenly becomes a scoring sensation, those same fans will be again be angry at Moyes for "missing out yet again" on a bargain. What I'm trying to say is that for each fan who comes on here, there is a different opinion about who we should play, in what position, and who we should buy, and who we should sell, so whatever Moyes does there is always someone having a go at him and i'm glad that he, at least, is being a man about it and not panicing and getting on with his job, his way. Don't get me wrong, I want him to buy someone too, in fact I'm sure that Moyes wants to buy someone, but for god's sake let the guy get on with his job without a committee of 40,000 fans giving him a hard time over every decision he has to make.
... and you know what the final irony will be? Marcus Bent could become Charlton's leading scorer and there'll be fans on here saying "Moyes should never have sold him...." Bad Luck!
At least the domestic cup draws would be kinder right? Nope, for the League Cup we get have more bad luck drawing Premiership opposition Middlesboro. Then FA Cup turns up a difficult away fixture to Millwall, which despite many saying would be a giant killing, we manage to get a draw and a replay at home. Great, I thought; there's a good chance we could beat them at home and finally progress in a cup competition... but then our bad luck returned and we drew unbeatable Chelsea in the next round. Our luck has to change soon, right? Paul Dickov
Moyes has always talked of creating a young side and his transfers have mostly backed this up — players like Yobo, Arteta, Cahill and Wright were all signed in their early 20's. I really don't want a return to the quick-fix Wally Smith transfers. If we are to bring in a striker, let's go for potential. Nugent would be ideal but maybe he's not available? If no-one is available, Moyes should hold onto the money and wait for the summer. If we get desperate Osman and Cahill can play as strikers and we could always recall Paul Hopkins from loan. Whats wrong with my name?
Actually, has anyone wondered why Moyes is happy to let his strikers go? Perhaps he's done as predicted and settled on playing just one up front again?
I do hope we don't buy Earnshaw though... we'd end up with three tits up-front (if you include Beattie's)! Is there a plan ?
Whats the betting we will be scrambling around on this and other sites at 4.59pm on the 31 January for any glimpse of a last-minute signing? These people are custodians of our famous club — they need to take a long hard look at themselves!!!
Nevada Smiths
I am letting you all know as I had to watch the shit that was the derby there, and don't want anyone else to be caught by the scam! But give them their due the American kopites know an awful lot more than the pricks here!
Apparantly Cahill will be playing off Beattie tonight; we are becoming a bit feeble now, some clubs must be pissing themselves at us! At least before Kenwright was at the helm we could attract players, and seemingly all by himself he has managed to make Goodison look like Chernobyl where no player would ever want to go to!
No need for a new striker!?!!
Cloudcuckooland
Until we can attract and realistically afford players like Walcott again, we'll never consistently compete with the Liverpools and Manchester Uniteds of the Premier League (let alone Chelsea). It's a sad indictment of how far our stock has fallen that we're not even mentioned as potential suitors of this very talented player.
Dickov probably would have been a good buy three years ago, but now his legs are in a worse shape than the 'Big Yin's' (Have you watched him recently?) and taking into account Beattie's ‘lightning pace and darting runs into the box’ (I wish) our forward line would have the mobility of a line-dancing team at a one-legged suffragettes reunion.
I get your point Mike, but we should be thinking more SAS (Speed and Shots) than 'Dads Army'. If Moyes does go for Dickov that buy would have ‘panic’ written all over it and confirm how deeply in the shit we really are. Please Davey… Noooooo!!
Dickov
Colm's Latest
If Rob Fox ever wants to learn to write articles — as opposed to meaningless long winded bullshit — he'd do well to start here.
PS - I've no desire to let people on this site know my {distinctive, as it happens} last name, my e.mail address, or even whereabouts I reside. That's my personal information; I don't see why a bunch of strangers on a footy site would need ANY of it.
Goodnight Marcus
ps. D`ya know if they`re looking for `subbies` at the Echo? Davey's dilemma
ps: Please tell me that we haven't sold one striker without another one (or two) already brought in..... yet again!!! Bent over double laughing
Please Say Its Not True!
Spineless Deserter?
I'll settle for this - read the mailbag. I'm not the only one who's had enough, indeed there's been quite a few complaints about the Keenwright regime, and quite a few people who've indicated they're taking a similiar course of action to myself. And many more who are slowly heading in that direction. If that makes me a spineless deserter, that's fine.
Goon at the Toon
If he read the News of the World at the weekend, this pompous goon might have discovered that any desire to be re-united with his erstwhile Anfield teamate is doomed to be a short one as the Gerbil has made it clear (to Sven anyway) that he doesn't want to 'waste his time anymore' trying to save Mr Souness's neck. Fuelling the economy
These days it`s more about offshore bank accounts with most `football men` spending more time trying to spell Netherlands Antilles than they do thinking up ways to screw the fans!
Another Irishman, the late Danny Blanchflower, once wrote of a gangly centre-forward from across the park, `He`s not for scoring, you see, more for buying and selling, a commodity to oil the football economy. `I thought of that as dear old Marcus trotted off to his ninth club in ten years... BET!
Beware of Millwall
Go on!!!
Hopeful we'll sign someone...
I'd like to see Nugent or Jerome come in depending on price. Maybe even Earnshaw. Also any news on Vaughan? He's been out for months, which is worrying for a young lad with a knee injury. I hope its not more serious than the club are saying. Uh oh... Dave's Got Dosh
Let's assume that our transfer fund was in the region of around three million prior to the Bent deal. That now leaves Davey Moyes with around five big ones in his back pocket. I can see it now: chairmen all over the country rubbing their hands together with a big smile on there faces. Davey's got Five Big Ones!!! Agents all over the world wheeling out thier men from the physio rooms and hospital wards. "Get up, you twat! Davey's got five big ones." Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is no longer available on a free —he now costs five big ones. This is the scenario I fear. Can we as a club trust Moyes to do the right thing? Will this money make Dave's dithering even more intense. These are questions only time will answer. If past form is anything to go by, and assuming he is given these funds to dispose of, it worries me. Dave's next move is his biggest test yet in the management game. Fuck up now and we are toast. Make the right move and the fans will be back on board. Imagine Moyes going out and signing a striker who bangs in ten goals by the end of the season. The words hero and saviour spring to mind. Go the other way and sponk the dough and he is dead meat. One thing's for sure: if we do bring in a new striker, we will have to change our plan of attack. Pumping aimless balls down the flanks just doesnt work. For the next few days, Evertonians every where will be glued to Sky Sports, Talksport, this website, anywhere they can to sniff out a bit of info.
Come on Bill; give Dave the dosh for one last go at the big time. Me, I cant wait to see what happens next. It's more exciting than X-factor and Big Brother put together. Well thats what I tell my missus anyway. Millwall next up; after wittnessing these lovely fans at the New Den in the last game, I really hope they get a good old fashioned Scouse welcome. Nice little earner
Mr Flynn's Monday challenge
Bye-bye Bent.
Re: ''I'll Bet You...''
Bargain Hunt
Typically harsh critics
Nice Business
All I hope is that he won`t expect whoever he gets to be an extra defender. All the tearing around in the world don`t make you a goalscorer but perhaps I`m stuck in the timewarp of Lawton, Royle, Sharp and Latchford.
God, it used to be great at Goodison.
ps: I know... Yawn, yawn, yawn.... Marcus Bent et al
On the subject of guts and determination what about Arca and Lawrence of Sunderland? They played well against Chelsea yesterday and showed not a little skill, especially crossing the ball from the flanks. I guess they would prefer to stay in the Premiership (am I being overly optimistic?) with Everton rather than go down with the Black Cats. Monday challenge!
The fact is, I can't think of someone who could genuinely do a better job long term. Some might say get a lower league manager, but isn't that what we did with Moyes, and we'd replacing him with a person of less experience.
Answers on a postcard...... And if anyone says Mike Newell....
Farewell to Marcus
His first 6 months as a player were outstanding especially for £450k. Then Moyes bought Beattie for £6M and at that cost Moyes clearly felt he had to play him (Krøldrup being the exception). Since then, Bent has been very poor. I actually prefer Bent playing upfront on his own to Beattie — just remember the Man Utd home game to see the difference he made to the side's general build-up play. I think if you combined Bent and Beattie together as one player you would have a decent player. Unfortunately for Bent, Everton's politics got the better of him, in the end he gave up and £2.5M is a good price for him.
There will be no more jokes like this:
Chris Kamara “There is a rumour that Everton’s number 7 is bent!“
April Fool Come Early
Headless Chickens
According to the press lads at the Charlton match, Li Tie, Ferguson and Kroldrup are the latest targets for Moyes's cold-stare, no-speak treatment with Krøldrup at breaking point. I`m amazed he gets any bugger to play for him, but then again we won on Saturday! Moyesey...
£2.5 mill, my arse!
Havin`a laff!
Another Tickets Fiasco
Marcus Bent!
Personally I would take a chance on Trundle, Nugent or Earnshaw, two of which are Evertonians and the latter will always get you goals even though he looks like a madame tausauds of Ronaldinho! I also read that Henrik Larsson is an Evertonian (as per the match programme from Saturday!)so maybe that is worth an enquiry!
Moyes has seen an opportunity to correct a few wrongs here and get rid of crap hopefully to bring in someone who can provide a fresh impetus. I think a lot have fans have lost faith in Moyes and whatever choices he makes, right or wrong, will now be challenged; to be honest I think that is an absolute disgrace — he is our manager, you should still be behind him! Official Site
Not too excited
Moyes goes on about Beattie's work-rate being brilliant but before his arrival, nobody did more running than Bent so where`s the gain for all that money? All I know is that every time Moyes sets out to improve the team he just makes thing worse so I`m not getting too excited about how he`ll spend the cash! The Supposed 'Official' Site
Krøldrup Next ?
There are also plenty of rumours flying about that Krøldrup is the next one to be shown the door, and should be gone before the week is out. Whether we recoup the fee we paid for him remains to be seen. We can only hope that Moyes has suitable players lined up to replace them, and doesn't spunk all the money on useless cripples, or four new left backs. Methinks you boys at Toffeeweb are in for a busy week with the mailbag!
With reference to Steve Sweeney's recent comments; Steve I bet you a hundred quid you'll have a season ticket next year!!! Transfers
He gives us excuses in the summer window and excuses in the January window. Either Dave is incompetent in the transfer market or there are no funds whatsoever. It's as simple as that. Time for Kenwright to remove all doubt! Conspiracy theory
Moyes is not dumb, he knows now that a couple of injuries might leave him with ZERO strikers to play. He has also played down all signing hopes (he's been burnt earlier by hyping up names... eg, Owen, Keane). He has also shown the ability in the past to make "quiet" , hype-free and smooth signings (e.g. Krøldrup, Neville). This is all leading me to believe only one thing. A NEW striker, of course!!! I expect the signing before the window is over. Will this new "mystery" striker be the salvation to all our problems remains to be seen... Marcus Bent
When Beattie was bought, Moyes had to go with him no matter what in order to justify the ridiculous outlay... even when it was clear to all of us, including Marcus Bent, that he was slow, fat, unfit, not capable of playing the lone role, and well, basically shite!
I think that the whole episode led to a deterioration in team morale... Bent was clearly pissed off, and I'm sure lots of the other players were too, when a substandard player was reducing team effectiveness and he was getting paid more than most of them. Beattie and the aftermath was the beginning of the end for Moyes at Everton... even though it unfortunately looks like that end is a long way off. Tony Marsh
Stop supporting Moyes; he makes them play this crap. Let's force that twat Kenwright out of our club, together with all his fucking luvvy mates. EFC will not get any money from me next season. I have had enough. I have had a season ticket for over 25 years but that loser Kenwright is not getting my money again. Mystery transfer
http://www.evertonfc.com/news/index.php?page_id=8809 Just in case it is a hoax and has now been removed I have saved a copy of it. It is regarding the transfer of Marcus Bent to Charlton for £2.5m. Although it had been rumoured for a while, I cannot find anything on Charlton's web site or any other sports site that makes it offical. Thought I'd share it with you. Supermarket Sweep
The mark of some managers is their ability to discover diamonds others have overlooked. Big Sam at Bolton does OK with cast-offs. So of course did Kendall in the 80s. Moyes should be given due credit for his signings (and attempted ones) which, to be fair, is rarely forthcoming.
Thank you, Howard!
Then I ask myself would I be any happier if my team was suddenly transmogrified into say Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, West Ham or Charlton? — All of them clubs in the top half of this wretched league. Of course, the answer is no. They are all bloody awful and the `football` they play bears the same `close it down` stamp. And why`s that?
Because all these clubs have another thing in common — each has a British manager. So is that the reason for the dross? Almost certainly yes, because to get their licence to manage they have all had to attend the same coaching/management courses-designed for the FA by that high priest of exhilerating football - Mr Howard Wilkinson!
Well, I ask you, what hope is there for any of us? As Colm once said - `Football`s well and truly fooked!` Journalist Poetic License?
Kroldrup has endured nothing but frustration during his time at Goodison Park. Hernia surgery ensured he missed the start of the season, while the form of David Weir and Yobo then prevented him making his debut until Boxing Day at Aston Villa.Now did I read that right? The form of David Weir??? Don't get me wrong, the guy was a steal from Hearts etc. etc... but form? What season is the venerable Mr King referring to?
I think we should be told... New Motto
A little nugget to share. Years ago, during the Kings Dock debacle, a company I worked for was invlolved. The Director concerned was a mad Blue, and told me, right from the off, it would never happen. There was EU Objective One money on the table. But our lovely Chairman couldn't fulfil the somewhat meagre financial commitment required. If only Rooney was born a couple of years earlier, we could've had the new stadium.
Ho Hum. Gong Fa Xi Cai to our Chinese-speaking readers. Cheesed
Back from the game ...
On the positive side, I thought Yobo and Ferrari looked a decent pairing — in fact, I thought the whole back four looked ok today. It was going forward where we lacked the quality and guile and when chances were created the finishing left a bit to be desired.
I agree with the manager that January is not the time to be looking for the quality that we so patently need; it's just not available.
We now have Wednesday to look forward to and on a decent pitch I am sure the football will once again flow.
Overall a good three points, a bad match, and oh what about those subs near the end — Priceless!
See you Wed.-- UP THE BLUES Tony Marsh Moan
With regards to yesterday's game, when you play away from home sometimes digging in and dragging your heels is required... especially on a pitch such as their's at the moment.
Portsmouth had 4 new signings in their team on Saturday... it could have quite easily gone the other way and Mwaruwawi could have bagged a hat-trick and stole the weekend's headlines.
Leave off... maybe except until Arsenal next week!! Composure
The point I want to make once again is COMPOSURE!!!! Osman should have scored in the first couple of minutes had another effort tipped round the post and Cahill actually headed the ball into the ground!!! If we put these chances away it could have been 0-4. I know it's easy to say in hindsight but we would have been more pleased at this result then scraping for a 0-1 victory.
Goals breed confidence and with confidence I feel composure will come to. I know we have a poor squad and more players need to be signed but 3 wins are 3 wins and slowly but surely we are edging out of the relegation zone.
Another win and we are in the top half of the table!!!! All we have is hope dont we? Bates link
As said a number of times in the past and again recently, a top-down change could make a world of difference and give this club the wake-up it desperately needs. Going European
I don't think he has done too badly with his signings, although I thought that Blomqvist was one of the most exciting players to pull on the blue jersey in recent years and I was sad to see him go. But to spend £5M on Krøldrup to warm the bench is amazing. I wouldn't put it past Davey to not go back in for Benny McCarthey, a proven goalscorer, a Champion's League winner, desperate to come to England and the right sort of age and fee, just out of spite because Porto pulled the plug on the deal last year. It might be good for us to have someone at the helm who knows the European game and can be decisive when it matters. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could bring in the cream of young players from around the world? I know that we have the academy in Thailand and we have brought the Brazilian Anderson Silva, but what about Scandinavia or eastern Europe? A director of football could cultivate the scouting network and even make sure that we bring some Scouse lads through! He could help us to develop a buying policy like Spurs (Young, English). He could let Davey concentrate on the team. Viva le revolution! Want to have your say?
I know you're good Evertonians, but whoever it was that said power corrupts, he wasn't wrong. When people post, they're speaking to all Evertonians. They're not, and God forbid they ever should be, trying to please anyone at ToffeeWeb. So don't feel the need to slaughter everything you don't agree with. Stalin's dead, you know.
The Beautiful Game
Against my better judgement I have
recently decided to lay off Moyes
and hoped today that I would see
some decent football played against a pub side called Portsmouth.
Moyes failed to deliver.
Reverting back to his favoured
4-5-1 system, we were simply hopeless. I am now starting to feel sorry for Beatie up there on his own with ball after ball pumped in to the channels.
I cant believe that the style of football we play is the idea of the players. It must be Moyes and Irvine who come up with this shit.
I know we won but I just don't see
where we are going playing this way. It's all hit and hope, scramble
and scrap but no football is ever played.
To top it all off, Moyes introduced
his new ground-breaking formation late on in the game.
With two strikers on the bench and the away fans calling for a change to the attack so we could finish Pompey off, what does Moyes do? He takes off our loan striker
Beatie and brings on Wier! We then went in to our new formation
5-5-0... or was it 6-4-0? Anyway the whole of our end just groaned and I believe some even started to cry.
No striker on the field against a
piss-poor side like Pompey is a joke. Maybe our line up against Arsenal will be a 8-2-0 and we can try to defend 0-0 for 90 minutes.
What ever happens from here-on in,
playing decent stuff won't be part of our agenda; we don't have the know-how.
I am still going to go the games
but it is becoming harder and harder to watch this crap. All I ask for is that, as each season passes, we make a little progress
in the football department and start entertaining the fans a bit.
Is this to much to ask for or should we just put up and shut up?
Let's see Bill put the prices up next season... Build on good fortune now
OK, we`ve got away with it up to now with lucky toe-ins and the like from midfielders but that luck can`t last. Moyes must do what he ain`t much good at and that`s build on the good fortune we`ve had and boost the strikeforce NOW. Otherwise, believe me, we`ll be right back down there again in no time. Interviews
Youth setup
Now I'm pretty sure that Mick Lyons must know Colin Harvey well and therefore must know something that we don't.
Does anyone know anything more about this mystery?
Colin Harvey was undoubtedly a master at bringing through good, young players and if he's being kept from the club for any reason other than retirement then I think we should know. Paul Hopkins!
Hopkins has a big reputation and Moyes has done a smart thing by sending him out on loan to gain experience. Hopefully Hopkins will be an Everton star of the future. Goalkeepers Turner and Ruddy are also gaining experience from loans. I think Moyes is doing a grand job with the youth — far better then Walter Smith who bullied out young players like Jeffers, Ball and Dunne. Lighten up, Toffemoan
Is it that nobody bothers to write in when we get a result or is it, as we all believe, you don`t like having to carry anything positive about the Club?
I think I know the answer to that one but, for God`s sake, if you have any role to fulfill, it`s surely one of positive support for the Club we love.
Even today`s match report is written in a grudging and curmudgeonly manner as if you`re all pissed off that Everton won! There`s more to being an Evertonian than constant carping, you know, and don`t tell me it`s because you care so much. Bollocks to that one because even when the manager — who, like every one of his profession, makes mistakes — does something positive like winning a bloody match, your lot will find something to moan about.
So for Christ`s sake, lighten up, get a bloody life and start to enjoy the privilege of following a top club — otherwise you may find you`re addressing your venom to an audience restricted to a collection of manic depressives. Seb Gordon and Me
Great win; we now compete with Fulham
Interesting to note when looking at the {Premiership table, of the old 'Big Five' clubs only Everton are at the wrong end of the table.
It is thanks to the combined effort of succesive Everton Chairmen, directors and managers that we find ourselves in this position and without a glimmer of hope that something may change in the near future.
Moyes, Kenwright and Wyness have little ambition for our club other than the odd cup run and a spot in Europe every five years. I wait in desperation for an ambitious and capable director to emerge at Everton who will change this appalingly mediocre management structure.
3 points and a magic fix... maybe
Let's hope our midfield can keep it up as the strike force can't but three points is three points. Scared by the Arsenal scoreline but throws a new contender into the scrap in Boro — out of interest, does anyone else think are in financial trouble? Suddenly unloading all their top earners and showing less fight than anyone else at the bottom of the table?
ps: Tony Marsh.... bravo, keep it up. Everton's Media Image
What intrigued me also is that I then looked at the mailbag (not something I have done a lot recently due to the tiresome repitition of the same comments) expecting to see lots of responses. There were a few but not that many — why?
I wonder if we are happy to wallow in our history and the injustices of Europe etc. At the Man Utd game last year when Carrol was hit by the bottle, a guy in front of me actually suggested that it was just what the FA/UEFA wanted so they could thwart our Champs league inclusion - and he really believed it!!! Did the articles not provoke many responses because we quite like to have something to moan about?
I hate Liverpool as much as any blue but whinging about their media staus compounds our inferiority complex about how we are treated. We need to up the ante for ourselves — no-one will do it for us — or rather the club need to.
The comments about how badly the club is run are all very valid and not acceptable but the response by HKLC was the most telling from a football industry insider; clearly our press office is totally incompetent and that is a direct, measurable reason why the media is ambivalent towards EFC.
Man City are a direct comparison with us and have been even less successful but are quoted as one of the best to deal with and get a good press — all this isn't rocket science is it?
More like these please. Smoking Mirrors.... Again
Today's Moyesism
I dont want to start another Sparke v Marsh here but Richard Dodd must surely be out of his mind to think Wyness's "fiscal skill" is ongoing! It ended with selling the club's crown jewels to keep the club out of administration and his own admission that virtually since that day all he has done is filled his own pockets on the club's time with his own business ventures. Has anyone heard of any more cash coming into the club apart from hiked ticket prices to existing fans, increased merchadising costs to existing fans — two key words in both sentences; "existing"?
The farce which was the AGM showed no brilliance, no new ideas, no future plans — just a daisy chain of Billy Liar and his henchmen patting each other on the back. New Everton Motto
Richard`s Official Line
As ever Richard feeds in what always sounds suspiciously like the `official` Club line — nobody can be that naive unprompted, surely? Whether or not this is the case, I think it reflects Moyes`s and the heirarchy`s thinking perfectly. The manager believes, as I do, that the present squad are just about good enough to avoid relegation and he is probably assuring them that Wyness`s budgeted 10th place is attainable. His recent comments about January not being a good month for bargains is no doubt made in the light of the mugging he got with James Beattie a year ago. He knows that had he held on, Southampton would have been glad to `unload` in the summer at half the price he paid and I have personally heard Doug Ellis of Villa say that he was relieved when Beattie chose Everton because he was grossly over-priced! Again, I should be amazed if Moyes has not used the `faith in the current squad` line as a motivator in preparations for today`s game although with only 14 goals to show from 21 games he must have greater faith in the defence holding firm that I have. So what if it all goes pear-shaped and we get tonked by both Pompey and Arsenal? Will he move for re-inforcements then? My bet is that Billy Boy will panic and persuade Moyes, against his better judgement, to have a punt in the market but I see no way that he will risk £40k a week on the likes of Jimmy Floyd or `The Toxteth Tosser`.
So, if the worst comes to the worst, you may yet see us `trundling` into February with a new name on the team sheet. What will be left to write about then I wonder? Trials and Tribulations
Do us a favour, Davey, and drop a bung
'Are you going to throw us a bone here?' The answer would seem to be that he is not and that gives me plenty of time to wonder... why?
In discussion with countless sources (big bro and me arl fella), as well as a quick visit to Luton, I have come up with the solution. Davie isn't dithering — he's just honest. In the sleazy world of Premiership managers, chairmen and agents Mr Moyes is in fact fighting a lone, secret battle against bungs and backhanders. Whilst all the other managers meet at Knutsford Services to pick up their brown envelopes, our white knight is out on the training pitch where he belongs. Shouldn't that make us feel good? You Couldn't Make It Up
The trouble with this latest comment is that Davie has now made a rod for his own back. Imagine if he decides to get his head out of his arse and try and sign someone this month then that someone will automatically assume that he is one of the limited players Moyes was talking about. So now we have a situation were all potential signings feel as though Dave Moyes thinks they are shit. How good is that? Can it really get any worse than this? Yes it can. The only players who would sign for Moyes now are in the Jock 3rd Division or the Conference. Well done, Davie you have just alienated every proffesional footballer in the land! Who said Moyes had poor man management skills, oh that must have been me.
Well, boys and girls, I will give you a full unbiased report when I get back from Pompey. Let's hope Beatie can pay back some of the faith Moyes put in him and get us that avalanche of goals he promised to get us when he was fit. He is fit now... isn't he? Only one solution
These are things that people who have been in any job, in any company, for a long time find very difficult to do. I suggest that BK is in this position and it effects everything else that happens at EFC. Having read the debates that have been taking place on these pages in recent days, weeks, months, above all other issues, one things seems abundantly clear to me. The club, the company, needs a change of direction. For this to happen, the man at the top must go. I'm not saying this will solve everything. There are other issues to resolve, but this is clearly the most important. It is the root of all other problems. For so many years the club has been strolling, willingly, down a cul-de-sac of discontent.If it was in any other business, it would be no more. In terms of customer satisfaction, how does Everton Football Club Co Ltd do, taking into account its performance over the last 15 years? In the world of real business, Everton would have gone the way of C&A a long time ago: bust. I suggest we need to do a Marks & Spencer. I speak as someone who doesn't make the effort to get to Goodison much anymore. I live in London now and would love to go, but when it comes to a choice of how to spend my hard earned cash, it's either a weekend away visiting mates or going to the match to watch poor quality football and probably an Everton defeat, there's only one choice to make. A couple of years ago now, I made a decision not to put any more of my money into the club whilst BK was still owner. I haven't been to a home match or bought any merchandise since. I still love the club as much as ever, but will not contribute to the shit that is being served up. I am voting with my feet. Perhaps this isn't the way to do it, perhaps it's the easy way out. Either way, it's the way I've chosen. I just can't abide by what BK is doing, albeit, I believe, in good-faith, to Everton Football Club.
Look at what's happened in the last couple of years. There's a list of massive errors, Rooney, Kings Dock, Fortress. Not small things. Big, big once in a generation opportunities. He's messed every one up. He is incompetent. He has to go. Done. Tic-Tacs
Sad thing is, it's not that far off. I mean, he hasen't actually shown any balls in the transfer market. And all this "We're not looking to make any additions" crap, and "January is a bad time." During the two months in the summer he hardly brought the best money could buy. The man's as slow as a slug in salt when it comes to the transfer market. This is only an attack against his transfer dealings not his management... although he was a little slow to realise 4-4-2 was better than 4-5-1. But in general he is a good motivator and is still learning management at the top level so is bound to get better. Perhaps someone else helping him with the first impressions bit of signing players might help. [Hint: try fucking smiling!] No more sticking plaster
Under the admirable stewardship of Keith Wyness, the Club is now being operated along sound financial lines and, at the present time, it appears that only minimal funds can be made available to secure transfers. Moyes accepts this situation and is not prepared to take on second-rate players — either via free transfers or — loans just to pacify those sceaming for new faces. I am sure he believes that this stance will not only conserve funds to put towards meaningful targets in the summer but will also be seen as an act of faith in the present squad and thus spur them on to maximum effort.
This kind of co-ordinated and responsible management of resources is a dimension which has been lacking from the Club for all too long. Let us, therefore, rejoice that the era of the knee-jerk reaction and the sticking plaster is over and, instead of looking wistfully at players totally outside our grasp, all get together to encourage the lads towards achieving a good end-of-season position in the League. Investment at what price
Let's get things in perspective, we are at best a poor mid-table team [one who got extremely lucky last season], that needs fresh investment. If Kenwright and Wyness do not deliver (god knows they have had long enough to find and embrace investors) then they should go in the summer.
Would it have hurt them to lower the Millwall price to £15, at least the ground would have nearly been full. Agger
Sorry to say.
Thank you, Tony Marsh, for stopping me feeling like a twisted pesimist; good to know I am not alone, just seen it early on, like you. Will the real Messiah please stand up, Mr Marsh,the stage is yours. Top half
COME ON YOU BLUES !!!!
ps: don't tell Gavin it's Friday 13th ! Fortress Money
Then the season we had I think the
extra money for finishing 4th
(instead of 4th from bottom as was the our goal according to our Skipper Kevin Campbell after
the Arsenal game and extra TV money we received probably came to
the amount Fortress were prepared to pay for 30 per cent.
So Bill got lucky. If we had ended up 4th from bottom, I wonder what
state we would be in now...
We'll start at the end - weeks, possibly months in advance of Bill Kenwright, or anyone from the Club, admitting in public that the Fortress Sports Fund investment was dead in the water: "A means to an end" Not my words but instead the words from within the Club. Bill had got lucky with Moyes and the team performing not a minor miracle but a major one. Finishing fourth, ahead of that lot, Champions League looming on the horizon, increased revenue from a higher League placing and television revenue at its highest. Bill could afford, eventually, to say whatever he liked about the possibility of the Fortress money: it could be labelled a bad deal for the Club "at this time", under the terms originally agreed; it could've been dismissed for a variety of reasons. Whether genuine or not, investment (and I say that word loosely) from unknown people located far and wide was always going to be rejected, I believe, by the majority of shareholders if brought before the shareholders for ratification. It's too simplistic to say it never existed. I believe Due Diligence was performed but the point forever made by those of us who viewed this whole exercise as nothing but a case of smoke and mirrors was that it was simply designed, at the time, as a mechanism to be used to prevent the attempt at the time by Paul Gregg and his own investors to wrestle control away from Kenwright. The one good thing to emerge from this sorry debacle was the end of True Blue Holdings. Whatever did happen to Christopher Samuelson, lifelong follower of Everton, wheeled out by Bill Kenwright at the AGM? Does he remain a lifelong follower of Everton Football Club and if so does he continue to work on our behalf over in the Far East, as he claimed last year. The cynic in me reckons if I were ever to attend one of Mr. Kenwright's Broadway shows I just might recognise the frame of this individual, singing and dancing, playing to someone else's tune from the back row. Smoke and Mirrors. Everton style. "A means to an end...."
Bill Kenwright continues to search for investment..... - Colm Matt Jansen
Say what?
How gutted will he be if Beattie ends the season on 99 goals after this punt? Comical words, that serve as a reminder that, with a microphone in his face, poor old Davey is not best taken literally. Remember, Toffeewebbers, not to let the ridiculous, throwaway verbals get you down. Glib Moyes
Taxi for Moyes...and co
On the same note, the ginger misery dropping gems like "January is a hard month to buy players," for god's sake you useless miserable turd, Jansen — FREE — goes to Bolton; at that price he must have been worth a try over Marcus Bent or headless chicken McFadden. Portsmouth sign Sean Davis and two other fringe Spurs players that are better than at least two of our present midfield. Not heard but has Brown left Spurs yet either? At £1M he would be a steal. Agger goes to those that should not be named across the park - hey that's just like Sissoko, Moyes is consistently shit at not making his mind up if nothing else. The club is a fucking disgrace and the mugs we are; the paying fans, are being taken for a ride by Billy Bullshitter, fat pockets Wyness (the slimy version of Fred Elliot), and the clueless and incredibly poor ginger misery himself Moyes. How can anyone condone or support these three clowns any longer?
I'm really finding it difficult to justify next season's season ticket with a young family to support and a club ran and controlled by people that obviously doesnt give a flying fuck beyond their own interests. And I've had a season ticket for years before anyone says fair-weather fan shite — and I have spent a fortune following the team in lean and good years. Strikers
Matt in the Hat
How very true!!
As for Everton's Youth Academy policy... I do think the Administrative side at the Club needs shaking up. At the beginning of December, I received a 'phone call from someone representing EFC who asked if I would agree that the Club could have a monetary payment based on my BT phone bills. This had been agreed with BT and EFC would be given as a cash amount based on my phone bill. This would be given to EFC towards Youth Academy Funds. I had no hesitation in agreeing and was informed that within a week I would receive a letter of thanks from EFC .. I am still waiting!! As my next telephone bill is not due to the end of February I cannot even check if there is any reference to the above on the bill. Has anyone else received a similar call? No last minute winners,please
Since when is 40 old !!!
Re: Accountability
Your response does, however, raise an interesting issue; and the allegation that Kenwright created the potential Fortress Sports Fund investment to ward off Gregg and his potential investors sinks deeper than the surface suggests. Directors of companies have, as a matter of common law, duties to behold, and one of them is to act in good faith for the benefit of the company as a whole. This is a fundamental principle of corporate law and your allegation suggests that our Board is run by an immature bunch of schoolboys only concerned by their self-interests rather than the stakeholders of Everton FC. Indeed, if Gregg did have potential investors, and the whole Fortress Sports Fund idea was a fabrication, would Kenwright have a case to answer? An interesting question perhaps. A decade without a goal scorer
It is generally considered that a 'recognised' goal scorer should score more than 20 goals a season. The last player who did that in an Everton shirt was Peter Beardsley, way back in 1991-92. How much longer are we fans going to have to wait for our club to have a striker of that quality again? I was 12 years old the year Kanchelskis scored 15, let's hope this problem is remedied before I hit 30! Mr Ferrari
It's at times like these I wonder what the fuck David Moyes is up to. We couldn't play any worse with the defensive combinations we've tried. With Ferrari playing alongside Yobo, we look to have a foundation for the future (this includes Krøldrup). Now we potentially have to find another defender with no money to spend.
The manager has made it clear that he wants to get it right at the back, and build from there. Despite the form of Yobo we wont be in any stronger position than when Moyes came into the job. I hope he partners Ferrari and Yobo this weekend against Pompey and gives Krøldrup a chance when fit. May David Weir never play more than a role on the substitutes bench again this season. If you think I'm being harsh just recall Cisse scoring the third a few weeks back. Gregg in??
Support for Tony Marsh
For the younger generation, our motto: Nil satis nisi optimum is there for a reason. We were a great club and we can be again. We just need a bit of luck...any rich Russians, Thais, Americans...you will receive a warm welcome at Goodison. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics
Failing that, Ossie Ardilles while at West Brom returned a better percentage than Benitez at Liverpool (9th and 10th respectively) and Barry Fry (Southend) comes in at 25th - any takers? The study shows a strong correlation between a club's wage bill and its win percentage, though. Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool have the highest of both but just about every club lies on a straight line except Jewell and Allardyce who are doing better than expected, whilst Macarthy and Perrin's figures are worse. Moyes is neither succeeding nor failing but performing in line with that which his resourses dictate. There is one interesting little table showing a table of a club's improvement in league postion during a manager's reign. Obviously this is biased toward lower positioned clubs as, say, Mourinho at Chelsea inherited a top 5 side so only had 4 places to play with. Nevetheless Moyes appears here as joint 23rd for his time at Preston.
It's a cold hard fact of life but at Everton we cannot get the rules of football changed or the honours system altered just by complaining - unlike some clubs we could mention. No doubt mistakes have been made this season but hopefully lessons have been learned. Personally, I hope Moyes is given the time to apply the experience gained at Everton Footbal Club to Everton's advantage and not to someone elses. What goes around comes around, I'll be waiting when it arrives.
Past performance means nowt!
It was as though such companies started believing all the complimentary crap that was written about them in the press and took their eyes off the ball. Often, flattered by all the plaudits they stopped doing what they were good at, broadened their horizons, and went straight down the pan! And that`s exactly the same with our Mr Moyes. Instead of concentrating on finding and developing talent from the lower leagues — of which he had a plethora of experience — he stopped looking for the Cahills because all the big boys said he was a genius. Instead, he got in thrall with the big-time agents who lumbered him with all the crap no one else would sign. The rest is history. Just like the QAI, honours bestowed for past performance mean nowt. It`s here and now that matters and here and now Everton — and Mr Moyes — are in the shit! Youth not Moyes's fault
Reading through your mailbag earlier I saw a person state that only a few players progress to be premiership quality. Haven't we already seen 4 players in Hibbert, Vaughan, Osman and Wonderboy himself prove themselves in this league? Alright Hibbert may never be world class but nevetheless he is playing in the top league. These players have only been given their chance under Moyes's stewardship of the club. I know people may disagree with me on this point, but hasn't Moyes already upgraded another 4 players to the first team, they train with the team and even appear on the matchday programme's teamsheet. I think those 4 players have been put there on merit and are obviously more skilled than others in their youth academy. Moyes will have a plan for restructuring our Youth System.(wasn't he the one who pushed hardest for the development of our new academy, Finch Farm, as soon as possible?) I find it hard to see the reason why Moyes would have brought two youngsters from Cambridge on trial, as he has just done, if he had no desire to change this Youth System. Can we just leave him to this part of his job for now and concentrate on getting behind the team? Give Moyes two more years at least to have the Youth system changed. I'm sure picking holes everywhere in Moyes's stewardship will do no good for anyone even the fans.
ps: I just thought you'd like to know you've certainly got young fans on this brilliant website. I'm only 16. Michael re Anelka
Looking inward
In the article, he refers and accedes to recent comments made by Ian Bonnar. Well done for that too Steve, because Ian's letter was absolutely on the mark. Read collectively, they make a great deal of sense when trying to fathom out the general malaise that now underpins the whole club. Just one point on the 4,000th game. I believe you should look inwardly at this - directly at our PR guru Ian Ross. An inept man, so lacking in what is needed in this role, it is alarming. Then again, look who appointed him. I'd change a lot at Everton... wouldn't we all! Ian Ross would be near the top of my list.
"If you know your history"... looking back.. always looking back.. that is how Bill Kenwright's misty-eyed era can be summed up. Perish the thought of actually making history.
Steve is the Guy
Come back Mr Gregg, all is forgiven!
OK, he isn't a true blue but if he can draw some actual money to the club from investors then I think now is the time. Mr Kenwright, for all of his passion etc has to come to the realisation that it is the club that is most important here. It's all well and good the team over the park fighting off new investors because they actually have their own plan, but we seem to be hoping that we'll just get by and build on at our own unique pace, (slow!). With the south coast port of Russia now spending like a kid in a sweet shop with his dad's credit card we can no longer just be hoping on three teams being worse than us!
I'm sure that things are happening in the background that are improving the club, but it all seems to be about bringing us up to date. We need to step up a few gears and start moving forward before its too late. The Golden Vision
I was amazed to read the other day that BBC 4 had shown The Golden Vision a couple of years ago. I am desperate for a copy. Would anyone out there have a tape or DVD of it? I would obviously pay well for it.
Oh and by the way, I think Osman should be starting. There you go. Nero Fiddles
It would now take a remarkable turnaround in form and subsequent results to salvage what has been a disastrous season. I was at Villa Park for the latest 4-0 tonking and whatever support Moyes enjoyed amongst the rank and file supporters, pretty much evaporated after the third goal. Whilst no-one doubts his passion and commitment to the cause, I believe technically he is found wanting as a premiership manager. The current non-activity in the transfer window is disturbing on two counts; 1) Our relegation rivals are all making serious efforts to strengthen their respective squads,not counting the recent cash injection at Portsmouth, I believe Harry Rednapp would still have managed to find a number of 'loan' players to improve the current squad. 2) It's not simply a matter of Everton signing new players in the transfer window, both players and supporters need a boost new players can often bring. Like a tired old card sharp, Moyes cannot shuffle his pack any more, we have simply seen all the permutations, particularly up front, Bent/Beattie, Ferguson/Beattie, McFadden/Beattie, Beattie on his own, each combination threatens briefly, then fades dramatically. I believe he displayed a remarkable lack of insight in the summer when he (or his network of scouts) couldn't at least identify one or two forwards from either the U.K. or Europe, who would have brought some much needed pace up front. Whilst, no one can take away the achievements of last season, we have been on the end of some humiliating hidings in the last 9 months, (7-0, 4-0, 4-0, etc etc); this coupled with the 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Dynamo Bucharest, tells me that tatically, we have big, big, problems. So what of the future ? Clearly, the financial pot is empty, unless the current facade is just a smokescreen, and we are about to land a couple of big buys to pull us out of our current predicament. No, I believe the stubborn streak within Moyes will mean he will stick with what he's got, despite the chronic lack of goals in the side, and the real danger that for the first time in my lifetime, I will see my team be relagated.
Sorry for the doom and gloom, but if you don't score goals, you don't win games. Nero fiddles whilst Rome burns. Accountability
The missed opportunity that was the Rooney money together with the alleged investment by the Fortress Sports Fund means that the club has missed the boat financially; and judging by the most recent transfer dealings, it seems that this is what counts the most, Moyes factor or not. If Moyes was a factor, I don't think Beattie would've joined us (and gone to David O'Leary at Villa instead).
Given that the Fortress Sports Fund was well publicised on the club's official website (and drawn out for that matter), the fact that nothing ever came of it (or any reasons given for its failure) amounts to gross incompetence. As a person who works in the financial industry, people work towards deals and negotiation is the name of the game. People do not generally walk away from deals unless there is a very good reason(s) to do so, and normally such issues are resolved at the start or negotiations would not commence. The fact that this"deal" disappeared into thin air is a travesty and its time we knew the true story as to why this club has once again fallen by the way side when the opportunity was there in the making. Can anyone please stand up?? What about Florent Sinama Pongolle?
What does £7M get you?
Even though we desperately need a striker, we need more cover in other departments too. Why is Moyes so reluctant to dip into the loan market if we are skint??? There are many players out there currently not happy with new acquisitions by their clubs. Now is the time for us to get them on loan with a view to a permanent move.
And now we hear moyes is bidding £7.5M for Olivier Thomert??? Even though it's just rumours and speculation but who the heck is Thomert??? At £7.5M, I'd rather have those three above... at least we know their potential and limitations and increase our squad size. Moyes is just so undecisive when it comes to transfers and our targets seems to end up in other clubs. I'm wondering sometimes are we scouting talent for them??? He definitely needs help like a Director of Football or something. I am with you, Daniel Mckeown!
Of course, I am not happy about our current league position. But for the younger fans, the Everton side under David Moyes represents a slight change of direction, which has seen us finish 4th and 7th in the last 3 seasons. And on top of that we have a gaffer who during his relatively short spell at Everton has been awarded with two - TWO - manager of the year awards! Sack him? I agree with Daniel again when he claims Moyes hasn't had many bad signings. What Moyes has set as a standard in his transfer dealings, is that he wants players who really want to play for Everton, instead of people wanting to play here because we can offer them more cash than the next club. I think this is a smart transfer policy for a club in our state.
I think the reason the majority of the fans seem to be fed up with the form and style of Everton FC, and David Moyes for that matter, is that they have experienced better eras. It is not weird at all that they hold every league position up to the ones from our most successful seasons, and our winning ways. But to be fair, do you think that any gaffer could change Everton into a capable side once again overnight? It obviously takes time, and for me, it looks as though Moyes has the ambitions we need. Does he has the talent? Time will tell... What will it take?
Latest No Chance Signing Rumour
On a much brighter note, Matt Jansen is available on a free - has started 13 Premiership games in the last 3 years, serious doubts over his short- and long-term fitness after suffering a terrible accident: now he sounds JUST our sort of player! Get the treatment table ready, Basil. In Marsh we Trust
Academy and Anelka!
This brings me to the Transfer debacle which does my head in every time I access the web!!! The case in point is the rumours about Anelka .... £7M for a player who although talented has caused problems in every club he's been in, shows consistency only when its not his time of the month and will want to leave in 6 months Or we take a HUGE GAMBLE! and go for David Nugent from Preston for £3M. A young keen a goal scorer and a team player — exactly what we need alongside Beattie. Ok, he's never played in the Premiership but we got Cahill by default as Moyes couldn't find anyone else so he was the last option and he's proven himself. There are lots of players in the lower leagues who would be a better bet than some of the clowns we are connected with, and a lot cheaper. Isn't one of the major problems at the moment the size of the squad? Could that be because we pay too much for Premiership Quality Has-beens, rather than investing in young talent? Wouldn't you think that the current injuries and suspensions would have opened up opportunities for some of the Reserves to make debuts? but OH NO, we roll out Naysmith onto the subs bench, even though he's not played football for a year... and are we ever going to give Li Tie a game??? He can get a game for the Chinese National Team but he's too much of a risk for our beloved Everton!?!
The bottom line here is that we don't have the cash or the capabilities to compete with the likes of Chelsea (or even Portsmouth now!!) to fill a side full of £5M+ players most of whom are not worth that anyway; we need another option.
Seems that the 'play it safe' strategy of David Moyes and his Management Team are the problem and in danger of killing the club ...
Reply to editor
The end!
The start of the demise, as I suspect we all secretly know, was the sale of the one person who could have lifted Everton back up to where they belong. Moyes was undoubtedly partly culpable in this, as time will show. The second he thought Beattie worth signing, never mind for a staggering amount, was the moment I realised we were really in trouble. His transfer dealings, and remarkable aversion to pace, have led our club down a very rocky road. We have the second worst squad in the Premiership, a much higher wage bill than most of the Premiership, hardly any saleable 'assets', and play the worst football I have seen in over 30 years of watching Everton. Unfortunately, a fast becoming jaded soundbite, a flukey season, a recently signed lucrative contract and the fact that our Chairman will be basically admitting gross incompetence by admitting he was wrong all along about Moyes, is protecting the most out-of-his-depth manager I have ever seen at Goodison Park. This is a man who cannot relate to skill players; a man who players don't really want to play for, or sign for... we are all suffering for his failings.
What he has achieved is a legacy that will haunt us all for years. A club nobody wants to come to, if they are any good, and a squad of unbelievably average players with no pace whatsoever, that will be millstones around our necks for years after this fool has gone. And to think I didn't think it could possibly get any worse after Walter Smith. About our youth policy
Danish defender
Players must want to play for Everton
We had a chance of attracting top players last season with qualifying for the Champions League but that's gone now. David Moyes should not kid himself into thinking we can attract such players. He should be looking at the lower leagues or emerging talent in Europe. Nugent, Sidwell, Ashton etc are the type of players we may be able to attract. They are also younger and may prove a better investment. The top players want big money, European football, great stadiums and talented managers. We at present can't offer any of this. 2006-07 Season
The end of last season was the pinnacle for any blue supporter in recent times. Full of hope and optimism for the near future. Unfortunately, that's gone flying out the door quicker than Craig Bellamy after his alleged meeting with Mr Moyes.
We currently are a club who are reactionary in our transfer dealings rather than having a clear set of goals for the players we want. DM seems to be too close to the action to have the insights that many supportes see as plain as day. Probably the worst and only reason for his lack of successful transfers to date. Cheeky Bastards
They boot out supporters from seats in the lounges they have held for years. I know one guy who had the same seat for 40 years in the Joe Mercer/500 club and left when they hiked the prices up to double what they were. It's now 2 grand a seat. The Alex Young suite last season cost a grand — that's gone up to £2750 a seat. All of this was done out of greed and the fact that the club was in the champions league... HA HA. The Alex Young has been sold out for years; now there are 53 unsold seats this season out of 200. What a way to run a business! Treat your most loyal customers like shite and then when your greed and stupidity backfires on you, go cap in hand with the begging bowl. Every home game this season, Rita London and her lackies come in to the Joe Mercer suite trying to sell tickets for the other empty lounges. Can you believe this shit? Everton FC being run like a garden fate tombola. Can any one out there imagine a situation like this arising across the park or at any other club in the Premier League for that matter. The whole club is rotten from top to bottom. Corporate facilities, ticketing, youth policy, transfers, the way the first team is run its all a mess. Steptoe and Sons scrap yard is run better than Everton FC. Yet still we turn up in our thousands every week, home and away, desperate for a slight glimpse of success... only to be crushed at every turn. I take my hat of to my fellow Evertonians all of you. We suffer more than any other fans in the world yet still we soldier on. What happens from now is anybodys guess. Me; I haven't got a clue. What would I know? I just talk shit and make things up. See you at Pompey boys. Where have all the young men gone?
The famous educator Robert Shaffer said, "We must view young people, not as bottles to be filled but as candles to be lit." This applies equally to young players as to undergraduates. All too often, Everton's young players appear to have been filled like bottles and not lit like candles. I completely agree with the analysis of Everton’s youth policy by Chris Marks but it’s just one symptom of the whole spectrum of neglect. Over the years, with money tight, we neglected investment in training facilities at Bellefield, neglected Goodison Park and neglected the entire youth set up. This is tragic because you can spend many millions and end up with a disappointment like Beattie, but developing a star player from youth level costs far less and is far more profitable in the end. We need not only to rebuild the infrastructure of our youth system in terms of facilities, we need to actively go out and recruit young players from all over Europe and North Africa, and light them like candles. Juventus literally goes from village to village, suburb to suburb in a bus trying out young talent, and so do many other clubs. Only a handful of young hopefuls ever make it at any level at any club, but we seem to have forgotten how to recruit and fully develop young players - and worse, we seem to have lost interest in doing so. That would be a serious problem even if our dealings in the transfer market were usually successful. Unfortunately, we are not only leaving it to others to develop youthful talent, too often we seem similarly inept at purchasing new players.
Windows — Blues edition
We then declare an intrest in £5M & £6M players. Odd or what? I tend not to bother too much about anything until such time as I may see someone waving the shirt for the Post and Echo photographer and declaring Everton were the only club they would have come to. I assess each window as it closes to see if there is anything to give me hope of progression because at the opening of a window I always wonder if the manager will bring in the type of player that I have perceived we need from my seat in the stand and invariably I am disappointed. For this window my hope is for a striker that can fit in with Beattie and form a partnership which is different than just signing a striker. My big hope is we can sign a strong fit central midfielder who can pick a pass, crunch a tackle, score a goal and get around the pitch lifting both players and fans. Just hopes of an individual fan. I will now switch off Windows and keep my eye on the back page photos in Post and Echo. UP THE BLUES
This guy has been paid by Wyness
Moyes is a poor judge of players and the examples I offer for this are:
Peter Pridgeon, New Zealand (12/01/06) Peter, in fairness to Daniel, I believe he's a young fella (unlike the rest of us aged curmudgeonly arl gits!) and it's nice to read what a young Blue thinks - irrespective whether we agree with him or not. What frightens me when reading some comments from younger Blues is that they know little else bar surviving Premiership relegation battles. Last season was alien to them. Any wonder EFC marketed "The Magnificent Seventh" a few years back! - Colm The recent focus on the disappearance of `The Likely Lads` is yet another nail in the coffin of `The Great Moyesiah`. Your columnist, Daniel McKeown, must be the only person on Merseyside who thinks Moyes has done anything but waste the untold millions provided to him and there is little dispute that the quality of the football he dishes up is appalling. But given all these failings is he on the way out? No, Moyes survives - and will continue to do so - on the back of a sequence of favourable results achieved over a year ago and some mighty shenanigans in the season before. He is indeed fortunate that the part he played in the Rooney move will keep our illustrious chairman in debt to him for some time to come.
But one day all those chickens will come home to roost-just let`s hope we are not down in the Football League by then! Why does the club make us look like a laughing stock? With so much need and hope for new players, this month makes our club look totaly pathetic. Rumours of new players, talk of deals going through, and every international star being linked to us, but what normally happens: No activity until the last few hours when we get a journeyman has-been (signed for a 'nominal fee'), an average player from the Championship and an unknown foreigner on loan till the end of the season (all of which are probably carrying injuries). The spin that comes out from Moyes, Wyness and utimately Billy 'Liar' Kenwright is ridiculouss. The stories and comments that come out about the club from these people are amazing. We all are hoping and expecting for a striker in January, but Mr Moyes annouces that he doesn't envisage any action on the transfer market this month as we've no money. Then the news that our £7.5M bid for Thomert has been rejected. WHAT? So within 24hrs we've sundenly found a transfer target and magically £7 million has appeared from nowhere. So what are the fans meant to think now? We are tying to buy players and there is money for it. Along with the lies and misleading about the transfers, there is the more serious matter of the clubs finances and future. We need the truth about the future af this club; no more lies and false expectations, give us some real hope. The last thing I ask is to Messers Moyes, Wyness and Kenwright, please be honest with us. We are loyal fans who follow this club through thick and thin, that would do anything for this club. PLEASE TELL US THE TRUTH!
Direction
Our youth system went down the pan when Colin Harvey retired. It's no coincidence that the last two times we have won the Youth Cup have been periods when he was in charge of youth development. He was the one who helped produce the Youth players mentioned in the article. Times are now different and, despite Moyes squandering £30 million of various examples of shite, we are still living on a financial tightrope. This is in some way explains why Moyes gives free transfers to all the Academy staff at the end of every season (why waste money retaining potential stars of the future when you can waste it on current 'stars' such as Wier and Naysmith...HA!). This seems fair enuff methinks but then Wyness announces that we are going to create a new footballing academy that will be the envy of the premier league at no expense spared, I think "Whats the point?". What's the use in having a state-of-the-art academy complex if the manager is going to give them all free transfers at the end of the season? The new training complex may produce one or two better players but, given Everton's current record in the Premier League and now the relatively poor record of the youth teams, why should a decent youngster want to sign for us in the first place? I want Moyes to decide what he's going to do with the club. When he started, he said he wouldn't sign over-the-hill players and would give the youngsters a chance. Initially he did this but lately he seems to have lost 'focus'. He has a choice I believe, either (a) He invests all available money in the first team and continues his current policy of letting all the youngsters go; or (b) He invests in the youth team, gives them a chance and gets rid of the old gits (regardless of who they are) in the first team squad. To me, the club is going around in circles at the moment (or ever decreasing circles on a downward path!). In the past, we had a clear image of what Everton stood for: A stable club who has one the odd trophy every now and then but always playing an attractive brand of football. Today, we are more likely to be known as a boom-bust club whose style of football bores the pants of most TV viewers (who in the end will be potential future investors in the club whether we like it or not).
We need some re-branding of our image and clarification of what direction the club is going to take in the next 5-10 years (a youth orientated club building for the future, selling players like Rooney and wiping out our debts) or a quick win club hoping to compete with the likes of Bolton any position from 5th to 16th scraping away, barely keeping the debtors away each season?). Jeezez!
Sign Him Up
Downing Steet for Daniel
`Moyes hasn`t made many bad signings` is another gem which most Evertonians would seek to disagree with. Apart from Arteta and Cahill, I don`t imagine there would be much of queue of Premier clubs if Moyes made most of his `scoops` available for transfer. Of the £40M he has spent since his arrival, I think most of us would say at least two thirds was wasted; so wrong again Danny Boy!
I do hope my comments will not put you off further contributions to `the great debate`, Daniel, but do try to be realistic in your appraisal of the club`s situation and the `ability` of its manager. Otherwise we shall be packing you off to Downing Street where your type of spin will be very well received! Matt Jansen
He will feel he has a lot to prove and is not a trouble-maker — the lad just wants to play football and has proved that by publicly saying he wants to end his stay at Blackburn for a new challenge. Surely David Moyes isn't stupid enough to pass up this opportunity to sign him ,which will then give us a decent, hard-working ALL-English strikeforce? I think the Beattie-Jansen pairing would go well together.
He's got to be worth a try? If it doesn't work out for him then at least we've tried to improve things up front instead of coming out with pathetic claims that we are trying to sign Nicolas Anelka. Explanations
"The Millwall game summed up our season - bags of chances". We did create more chances from open play against Millwall than we have done during the rest of the season but maybe there is a simple explanation for this - maybe playing championship teams like Millwall is our correct level; maybe it is also Davie's level.... "I just like to think of this year as a transitional period " Does this mean there's another one due in 2007-08?
The 'Big Yin'
Yet I’m a reluctant fan of Ferguson, because in an era where heroes are at a premium, he was, and still is genuine ‘hero’ material… though, I’m left pondering ‘what if?’ and I suspect at the end of his career… so will Duncan. I think the best assessment of Duncan was made by Joe Royle… ‘He was a great player before he was a good one’ Finally, ‘Kraut-smacking…’ Oh dear Nick… Nick, sentiments like this belonged at Dunkirk or the Anzio beachhead or Arnham circa 1939-45. But the war is over (for you 'Tommy') The game is called ‘football’ Nick and lauding Duncan’s Neanderthal tendencies using quaint and antiquated terminology does him no favours. I prefer to remember the sublime (Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal goals) rather than the ridiculous (bang! Sent off and another 3 match ban!).
Duncan was devestatingly effective at times, but given the choice I'd rather have Sharpy, Gray, Cottee or even Heath in my team any day of the week.
True Blue
To quote the great man: ‘If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?’ I think you’ll find that there is many a ‘True Blue’ who is ‘bleeding’ right now over the state of our once great club… but this doesn’t mean that we have all lost our sense of reason. I wasn’t defending Moyes Mr Marsh; I was attacking idiots who feel the need to resort to sophistry and peddling un-sourced shite and gossip to get their points across. (I’m glad you felt that this applied to you by the way, it was intended to). Do yourself a favour Tony, have a read of Harry Conn’s book The Football Business. It’s a little bit dated now but should help you to find a focus for your irrational and badly constructed outbursts. In this book you’ll find the real villain in Everton’s downfall and if our story is ever to have a happy ending, understanding the plot and subplot of this book is a good place to start. For a glorious five minutes it seemed as if we’d found a genius who could bring Everton back to the top despite all the years of financial mismanagement, despite the fact that we were competing against teams who were able to buy the best players in the world when we can't even buy the best players in the Championship, despite the fact that our boy prodigy had decided his future lay with a ‘big’ club and our small-thinking chairman was happy to offload him for an outrageously small fee. Sadly, as so often is the case, our genius is only a bloke after all; and though I enjoyed the campaign, and we won a few battles… it looks like we’ve lost the war and perhaps the general should fall on his sword. But for five oh so brief minutes it looked as if we just might achieve the impossible... however reality reared its ugly head and it turns out we were wrong. Tony, please don’t take this personally, but I’d rather live for five minutes as an optimist than a lifetime in your shoes.
Now kindly get out of my face!
New Formation
What did you expect?
Damned if he does.....
Those of us who continue to believe that our manager knows more about the game than we do are happy to leave things to his judgement. After all it`s his job at stake and it`s one he`s done pretty well in up to now. Anelka?
Cynics are right
Millwall replay
Window washout!
Allowing Fulham to sign Niemi without making a bid is a mistake. Nige is struggling with injuries, and Niemi is a proven Premiership keeper. The fee is undisclosed, but believed to be in the region of Richard Wright and a packet of Jaffa Cakes. As far as a striker goes, Anelka is a proven goalscorer, but like Bent he's had more clubs than a senior tour golf pro! I know Rob Earnshaw may not be ideal to most Evertonians but he does score goals, has pace, he's dying for a fresh start, would fit the wage structure, and in my opinion is worth a swap for Bent, half a mil, and a few copies of Pistone and Killa's pornos! Add a few million to that for sending McFadden and Naysmith back North to the slow league were they belong, and you have funds for maybe one or two more !
However, in light of his past record of transfers, I wouldn't trust Moyes to cut a decent deal in an Amsterdam coffee shop! Call me cynical but....
Why do we end up with managers like this
14 GOALS this season, our top scorer was a midfielder last season and this clueless prick we have as a manager doesn't sign a striker in the summer. It carries on, another one won't be arriving this January! Pompey will get plenty of players in, Birmingham will hit form with a better squad & West Brom have the personnel to score (7 strikers to choose from) OH DEAR — we are going down, and Davies, Kilbane & Co won't get us back up. We have old wooden seats in the stand, and we have old wooden players on the pitch.
It really does sadden me, when I look at Liverpool - has the gap ever been so big? Cashflow problems
Anelka
No New Signings (surely not)
Having painfully watched the latest efforts of messrs Bent and McFadden, I would dread to think what would happen if either Beattie or Ferguson (or both) were to get seriously injured. If Moyes wants to drive head on into a brickwall without wearing a seatbelt, then I don't want to be his front-seat passenger. I only hope that his latest quip about no new signings is some kind of Glaswegian satire; otherwise we're on a first-class trip to oblivion. Oblivion, by the way, is just outside Burnley. A Crank
Sean Doherty
I've spoken to OOFIF and they just reckon he wasn't very good even though Fulham paid a lot for him. Same story in Holland where they let him go early.Any help, any gossip would be great.
Good luck against Pompey at the weekend! Nick on Dunc
Le coq sans tete
IS: 'What's with thees taclinback and running round like le coq sans tete, I don't do thees stuff. I am great goalscorer! GW: 'Listen laddie, when ye play for me ye'll do as ye're told. We have a work ethic here and I'll no have ye hanging aroond yon penalty area tae get all the glory - we have a wee Aussie tae do tha and I'm nae happy wi him neither! IS: 'Mon frere! Theese is a big mistake, I am so unappy. Get me a move as soon as signing cash in bank-next I fancy Brasil, they are ready for my skills. GW: 'Nae lad, I dunna care how much ye've cost us, ye'll warm y'arse on bench till ye see sense. Anyway, I'm away noo, I've a left-back tae sign!' calm down everyone
Toffee crumble
I now live in Portsmouth and, to be honest, I am a little jealous of their chairman Mandaric! Although the man has sold half of his shares is dodgy (in my opinion) he has managed to find a keen investor. Now, if their chairman can sell a small city club with a limited fanbase, why can't Billy Liar sell our great club? My backside the fella is doing all he can to sell the club to the right person. The club keeps his face in the spotlight and earns himself a nice few quid I bet! My point is is that a team like Portsmouth, crap as it is, is run by an astute businessman who actually knows how to run a football club. I am not old enough to remember the true great days and only have the '95 FA Cup win as a great memory (maybe last year as well, but Kenwright spoilt it seeing his face on the Season Review DVD!) and I am afraid that, if this fella is in charge of this club much longer, I never will see this club challenge the big guns again, sad as it may be. If anyone disagrees then they really are stuck in the 80s! A big club we are no longer, and the longer this fella is in control, the smaller we are becoming! Cool it!
More worryingly, it is reported that Anelka is a top target and if it so be this would be another cock-up to add to DM'S ever growing list. Amongst the attributes to consider in potential signings are character & temperament: Anelka scores a big zero on both counts. Somehow I don't think the mix between manager and player would be safe — just light the blue touchpaper and stand well back.
Big Dunc
Big Dunc is my idol.. when I see him come on to the pitch, I grin from ear to ear. Old crock he might be but the opposing team are still frightened by his presence.
He endeared himself to me — a true blue for 50 years — the day he had the Everton crest tatooed on his arm.
He is idolised by thousands of Everton supporters because he brings a bit of life to our games. The day he has to retire will be a sad one for me. Lack of Goals
James McFadden, Marcus Bent, Duncan Ferguson or James Beatie seem unable to do an a regular basis.
If you're ill, you go see a Doctor, he is the man for the job, you don't see the Dentist. Same principle. New players
Well said, Nick Armitage
In some ways the debate reminds me of one a generation ago, about another Duncan. I could never understand why some of my fellow supporters couldn't see that THAT Duncan was special too, statistics nothwithstanding. How many people remember Jim Pearson now — and yet there were Blues who maintained that he was 'more use' to the team than his more memorable colleague.
Perhaps a club needs heroes more than functionaries to keep the flame alive. Anelka
Anelka
Why cant we get rid of the crap we have (Bent, McFadden, Naysmith and Pistone, the porn star lookalike!) and use the fiver we get for them on a lucky dip on the lotto? Anelka
In Moyes we trust... Ha Ha Ha!!!
Some of us have been on to Moyes and his way of doing things since last season and some of us have blindly stuck by him. After these latest comments I don't see many rushing to defend him now. The Moyes brigade have been having a right go at me lately on this site for daring to Question Darling Dave's abilities. Are they still so sure Dave is the man for them? What makes me laugh more than anything is that it is Moyes's own words that condemn him this time — not mine. Why didn't he just keep his mouth shut and say nothing about transfers? — at least some of us wouldn't be on suicide watch. Moyes has finally proved what a poor manager he really is and how little he understands about us Everton fans. We expect better leadership than this. It's that bad that I am no longer arsed giving this clown stick any more... what's the point when the blind still follow him [including Kenwright]. I bet Kev Sparke feels a little bit daft now after his latest posting. If only he had waited 24 hours he could of saved himself the job of defending [wrongly] his beloved Dave.
Come on Dave prove me wrong: go out there, lad, and bring us a top striker who will get us some goals.
I wont be holding my breath. Red Herring?
Having been gazumped on so many occasions during the last transfer window by the likes of Graham Souness and Steve Bruce when EFC publicly announced they were interested in buying a player, perhaps David Moyes is putting out a red herring by saying he won't be buying a striker which he knows, and we all know, we badly needed last time — never mind now!! Perhaps this comment has been made so other Managers don't know who he is interested in bidding for. Doesn't it make you sick, though, when you see other Clubs making transfers, whilst we poor sods search the website and Sky Sports in vain for news that we have captured a decent striker.
Give us something to feel happy about please Davey!! Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse
Now we hear we’re not getting a striker. Brilliant! Ferguson wants to retire, Bent wants away and Vaughan is injured. I don’t count Jimmy Mac as he’s never been given much chance in the striker’s role although this may have to change now. So between now and May we could have one recognised striker (who has recently had injury and fitness problems) or none depending on injuries and suspensions.
Moyes also said “The people I would prefer to bring in are not available.” Davy lad, they NEVER will be because the players we all would prefer go to the richest clubs. Maybe DM is only kidding and we’ll get another unfit midfielder or defender who'll make their debut in April.
Good memory
A view from the window ledge......
I have never been a supporter of Kenwrong as I don't think he has what it takes, money or otherwise, to successfully run a Premiership football club. But he did, whether on the drip, the never-never or through the Rooney money, provide Moyes with sufficient transfer funds at the begining of the season. It is, therefore, ironic that Moyes's only excuse (unless there are no transfers whatsoever by any club!) seems to be that the backing from the Board is not what it should be.
It also seems unlikely that the financial situation will improve before next season (although relegation could have an opposite effect), we have no juniors coming through and selling the only players (any raise on two?) worth anything is not going to improve the situation unless Moyes suddenly rethinks his "available" players policy.
Blue Bill, who seems to be the only Premiership Chairman who has actually lost a Russian oligarch investor, has indicated that Moyes is going nowhere (a Chairman's vote of confidence?) and we can only hope that the same can be said at the end of the season for Everton's long held status in the leading football division.
Transfer news
EARNSHAW - are we bothered?
Earnshaw
Earnshaw
Perfect partner for Beattie, who will come good with the right support. Take out a loan if you have to, swap Bent and Naysmith in the deal... Just do something! Surprise Surprise
What does this say for Everton's attitude toward's the rest of the season? Forget a cup run for starter's, top-half finish is at best what we can hope for. I really feel so sorry for the poor supporters who have had to put up with the worst football at Everton in a long time this season, who can all remember every goal scored (which is not hard really). Taxi for Billy Liar... Well-connected up-and-coming foreign manager
I think that this is a great point made by Tommy C. But since DM is going nowhere we might as well bring in a well-connected up-and-coming foreign ASSISTANT manager. He can provide the contacts and, in case DM screws up, the person can take over. Back to the future
Extension "Everton are going nowhere; end of" Extension end. So two entities have something in common.
No new arrivals!
When will the Board realise that getting by is not what we as fans want? Show some bloody ambition and let's get on with it. If Portsmouth can attract £100M worth of possible investment why can't we. Lets start selling the School of Science and the Nil Satis motto and get someone who can take us back up where we belong. There is something very wrong with the club if we can't land a decent striker, even on loan, or attract some more money from investors. I'm not asking the earth but hoping for a top-half finish is not good enough. Terrified of the drop
The cap has been put on it by the article in the Daily Post saying there is no money for a new striker this January. Everton, as one of the big five, instigated the Premiership with all its financial potential, never dreaming they might be threatened with the drop. Kenwright is crapping himself now and knows that, if we go down, we are doomed. And don't be fooled that he is thinking of the fans — not the people; just himself as always. Bad for my health!
Certainly this afternnon`s news that we should not expect any addition to the `strike force` has put my `top figure` back over 200. Although I just can`t believe that Moyes is so stubborn/arrogant/intrasigent or plain bloody incompetent to think we can see the season out successfully with the jokers he laughingly calls strikers, I do know if he doesn`t do something we are doomed. Just look at the records of our non-scoring strikers over the past 12 months:-
Bent 43 appearances, 2 goals = 1 every 21.5 games; Surely,somewhere in the world there is a Brian McBride who could come in for a few weeks and do better that that lot.... O God, I`m having another turn..... Miserable Moyes does it again
Yes, I'm glad we didn't buy Sutton as he is crap but oh for some decisiveness and a big slice of what could have been if Moyes hadn't blown the cash on cripples and crap when he had the chance! A decent goalscorer, a holding midfielder and a solid centre-half... instead, we are stuck with a striker who doesn't give a toss in Marcus Bent. My only thought now is Davies has a huge pebble in his left boot that pulls him off the right wing into the centre of the park even though he cant play either position well, and a centre-half made of tissue paper or glass in Koughdrop. Why the hell can't Everton get it right and constantly settle for this rabid mediocrity? Too many of this team are a laughing stock. Hmmmmm
With Ferguson knackered, Vaughan injured and McFadden and Bent playing like pub players (no offense to the pub boys) SURELY we need a striker of some ability. If Moyes is saying that player isn't out there then we are in a lot of trouble. Unless he is playing mindgames... but something tells me he isn't. Oh well; let's hope Beattie stays fit, who would have thought we'd be praying for that! David Moyes, you had better be pulling the wool over everyones eyes when you say 'no new arrivals'. All we ever hear from you is "there is no-one available". Well lets try looking outside the English divisions shall we??
Get a grip ditherer before you are demoted to coach. Weir
Misunderstood
The point I was trying to make was the attempt to sign Roy Keane was a dreadful decision by Moyes and showed a complete lack of ambition in the transfer market. What could Keane give us!? People say 'leadership', but good players do not need a kick up the arse every game; good players have always been self-motivated — that’s why they are the best in the first place. On rare occasions that good players do need a bollocking, it should come from the manager. But it seems that Moyes needs to do this every other game, hence the attempt to sign Keane. This effort to sign Keane only confirmed that we have shit players, as shit players need a kick up the backside. Moyes shouldn't be signing 'stop-gap' players like Keane, Neville, Davis, Valente, Bent, Kilbane, Pistone and Naysmith. He should save Everton's money and just sign good players who don’t need the extra motivation. Some say it's not lack of ambition that we couldn't sign the likes of Scott Parker but in fact that we wouldn't pay their wages. As I see it, Moyes spent £7M on Davies and Neville and their combined wages must be £50k or £60k per week. This is exactly the cost of Scott Parker; I know who I'd rather have.
Moyes has simply bought in poor players, wasted £20M and the chance to get us back to where we belong. We are back to square one.
What we need is a well-connected up-and-coming foreign manager who can bring in unknown, cheap good players from abroad. I don’t want us to keep wasting our money on overpriced technically inferior British players.
Passing the buck
True supporters?
My observations of Moyes during the game reveal to me that his animated gestures are in fact covert signals to a strategically placed sub-orbital satellite which traverses the upper atmosphere on match days. I’ve yet to decipher the code but I’m almost sure that ‘Get forward Killa’ accompanied by energetic waving of the right hand means ‘Put $500 million on 1-0’. I can’t prove anything I’m saying; its actually idle speculation, but hey, doesn’t this mean I’m a ‘True supporter’ now that I’m concentrating upon pure character assassination and embarking upon un-sourced flights of fantasy fuelled by hearsay. (Courtesy of ‘you know who’...) I guess what it is I’m somewhat convolutedly trying to illustrate is analysis is good, even if I personally don’t agree with it; it creates debate and is enjoyable to read and respond to. Delusional rants characterised by emotional flatulence, usually aimed at a convenient scapegoat, say nothing beyond illustrating that the ‘ranter’ has very little of value to contribute to the debate and he really should be treated with compassionate contempt. If I’m a little touchy on this subject it is I had to give up a bloody good seat because of a ‘True supporter’ who would regularly slag off a certain player every game; often before the bloke had kicked a ball (once when he wasn’t even playing!). This completely ruined my Saturdays as I spent an inordinate amount of time restraining my urge to chin the bloke for screeching ‘HE’S SHITE’ down my earhole every five minutes, after yet again picking out bits of spattered steak pie from my flat-top haircut (well, it was 1983). The player in question became our post-=war top goal-scorer and it gave me an obscene amount of pleasure when this player found himself in our company at the end of a distinguished career and my ‘True Supporter’ mate was fawning all over him; to ask my mate to repeat some of the things he used to shout on match-days in front of this player now. He declined until the player was out of earshot and then my mate consistent as ever spent the rest of the evening explaining exactly why this player was overrated.
You can’t win with these people… we theorise, think and are convinced by reasoned argument… they already KNOW and don’t need the inconvenience of speculating WHY.
Tsk... 40 years a blue and I still can’t hack it as a ‘True Supporter’ — perhaps I never will.
Lazy Bastard
Yesterday, Valente took a throw-in towards the near post to set up a free header for Bent about 7 yards out but he couldn't even be bothered jumping. Our fans went crazy and hurled loads of abuse at him (rightly so) but not just then — on numerous occassions throughout the game. I have been on to him for a long time and am glad everyone else is now; that's why he got booed off the pitch yesterday. Hopefully, Moyes will soon open his eyes and notice how low his effort levels are so that we never see him in an Everton shirt again.
This is probably why Bent has had so many clubs; no matter where he goes, he is never happy. The first thing he did when he came to us was complain about the training facilities! Doesn't he realise how lucky he is to even be an Everton player? We are by far the biggest club he has ever played for — or ever will! Get him out because he we don't want him and he doesn't want us! Duncan Ferguson
Since we bought him back, he has three red cards in the League; Neville
has two in 20 games so far.
Duncan is known worldwide and I am
sure he has added fans to the gates and shirt sales over his time.
Someone mentioned we could have bought some younger player's with the money paid to bring him back.
We could have bought Ashton and Bent for less than we paid for Beattie and if all three players
were sold now there would be a
nice profit on Ashton & Bent... how
much would we get for Beattie ?
I think Duncan has done well for Everton. I would have liked to see a younger Duncan playing with
Duff and Robben. Goal shy and striker shy still
Another posting about Beattie's one-trick pony move brought a smile to my face. Whenever I watch the game from the Park End and see the ball heading for outer space from five yards out during an Everton attack on the Gladyws Street goal, I don't even have to guess that it's another Beattie shit-or-bust toe-poke. In the derby match he had a difficult but not impossible chip over the already grounded Reina to make and blasted it over the bar at the Park End. And, in more games than I'd care to mention, he has done the same when a placed shot or tap would have been the obvious way to score.
Sadly, all I hear on TV is that Jol appears to have found his ideal strike partnership of Mido and Keane — so that boat has sailed, even if we had the cash - now blown on the likes of Davies and Krøldrop. Tal;king of whom, is he or isn't he going back to Italy for a fiver? Usher lookalike Defoe will be too expensive, anyone else half-decent will go elsewhere — Agger to Liverpool, Niemmi to Fulham, Ashton to Portsmouth — just wait and see for a £15M bid for the unachieveable and then disappointment with an injured mercenary... or Moyes saying we have to mend and make do. Shrewd he ain`t!
True Supporters
The Evertonians who are not helping the club are the ones holding on to the crazy notion that Moyes is a decent manager. I am not going to go over the facts again but everything that's happened since the end of last season proves that. If we had more supporters like Tony Marsh it would be for the better. How many of these Moyes supporters are now prepared to hold their hands up and admit they said Gravesen was crap a couple of years ago when in fact he was our best player? Not many I suggest! But I remember them. Can ToffeeWeb remind us? Neville
Consistantly giving the ball away (see Liverpool & Chelsea games), and unable to give any form of dominance, people seem to be easily pleased. (Why did idiots clap when he was sent off in the derby?) "But he is a model pro" they cry. Well, so is my mate John at the bottom of our road, but is he a good player?
At manager is judged by his signings. Both Phillip & his mate Davies (actually worse than Mike Milligan, if that's possible) are not good enough. Results speak for themselves.
And if anyone is asking why we are skint, have a look at these two characters, because they are the supposed heartbeat of the worst Everton side I have seen in 30 years (statistics back that up!). Mike Newells Luton Play Better Footy Than Us
I know we are crap at the moment but there is absolutely nothing to be proud of in the watching the players (no skill), management (not even interesting to be interviewed!), or the way we play at the moment. I could accept being crap but only if we tried to at least make an attempt at being creative and entertaining rather than just turn up and hope the other team doesn't score first (as is the case now).
And I'm sorry I've tried to be patient in the past but if we had been beaten by Millwall then I would have asked Moyes to go...and no I don't care if we have no replacement now, I just can't take any more humiliations. Big Dunc
Rueing missed chances...
And I know of one going begging at roughly that price if not cheaper - Yakubu! He's one of the top goalscorers playing for Middlesborough, he's hit 10 already this season, a quality international and proven goalscorer. The word prolific might even be used! We might've even had a million to spare, which could've been spent more wisely... or saved until now, where we seem to be able to afford nothing but loan deals!
It's a sham! He's spent nearly half of his transfer kitty on two useless mugs. His wretched transfer buys frustrate me - and probably him, too! No Faking
Firstly Steve this Tony Marsh that you think doesnt exist is the same TM that left the house at 7am this morning to catch the 8am train to London for the Millwall game [were you there?]. I have just walked through the front door to my house and it is 11.55pm. I make that a 17-hour round trip to watch Everton. Most of the day was spent being treated like human cattle and getting locked in a concrete prison they call the New Den. Now I am not complaining in fact I LOVE it. I have been doing this kind of thing for 30 years and will keep on doing it until the day I die. Watching the blues is in my blood and if you and J Mcpherson want to have a pop at me over my views thats OK by me — that's what its all about: opinions. I will admit I sometimes go a bit over the top were Moyes is concerned but sometimes I do have a point. If worrying about Everton and being passionate with my support is a crime then I am guilty as charged. Over the years, I have come to realise that Everton will never win much as regards to trophies and titles so all I ask, like many thousands who go to the games, is that we play a bit of decent football and show some pride in the shirt. We all have are own views on the team we support. At the moment I think our football stinks and we are going no where fast but, if some people are happy with it, that's up to them. Personally, I would like to see a bit more out on the pitch and only the manager has control over that. Moyes is not my cup of tea and I don't rate him as a manager and that's that.
As for me not existing, just you ask my Ma — she will vouch for me. Back from the game ...
Nige and Joe being replaced was fair enough as they are both carrying knocks but the rest of the changes made no sense at all to me. For all of our teritorial advantage, we still looked at sea when it came to understanding. This means our next game will feature a changed line-up and all that goes with it. So after such a horrendous start to the season, just when we seemed to be getting something together, it's all change again and I just can't see the logic in it. It took the substitutions that the manager eventually made to restore us to what should have been the starting line up for us to draw level and indeed we should have won it. Some people may say they were excellent substitutions at the right time. I don't. I think the manager played only lip service to the FA Cup yet with Chelsea having all but won the league this is the big one now and wins can improve confidence, even in such teams as ours (who are experts at failing in the first round of cup competitions this season), to help with Premiership performance.
Overall, I thought we should have won despite the manager's selection; my forgoing rant may prove I would be a useless manager but, as a fan, I was disappointed we didn't put out our best players and go for it.
Now it's a replay, which would have been best avoided, that is looming.
I just hope there isn't another cock-up on the ticketing front. See you Saturday — UP THE BLUES
Neville
Neville can play in four different positions and do a job effectively in all areas. In sSome positions, he is stronger than others but the fact is that he can play in all these areas. No other player in our squad can do this. Secondly, continuity for a player is extremely important. The lad seems to be in a different position each week to 'do a job' because of injuries etc. Give him a lengthy run in the centre of midfield (which he claims is his best position) and he will show his worth. Thirdly, to say he doesn't command his role effectively is in my opinion, unjust. He shouts at players, gives them instructions to press and squeeze etc, or to get tighter to players, and is therefore commanding. He has won something like six Premiership titles, FA Cup winners medals and a European Cup winner medal. This experience at top flight football is crucial and trying to pass his experience on to his fellow pros in this way is superb. You can't beat experience, and our side at present has none in terms of Premiership, FA Cup or European titles. I honestly believe that Neville will be a great player and great captain for us. He just needs time in one position. We will get Millwall back to Goodison and give them a right arse-whipping. We created a lot of chances today and, with a bit more composure on goal, the game would have been dead and buried. With the home support behind us, we will beat them comfortably.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!!!!! Why?
Neville
I am just wondering if any of the people that are writing these letters have actually played the game. I don't mean a five-a-side match or Sunday League but actually to a decent standard. If they have they will understand what Phil Neville is going through. Not getting a run of games to get settled in one position is very annoying for a proffesional footballer. To be playing at full-back one week then midfield the following can take some getting used to. It is a different ball game(pardon the pun!). It takes a special player to be good in a variety of positions at the level that we are talking about. You don't see Kilbane, Osman, Hibbert or Fergie playing any other position, not yet anyway. The argument about Carlsey being better in midfield is a bit dubious. His best games were when Gravesen was in there with him. Maybe with Carsley and Neville fit we won't be such a walk-over in the middle.
As for the game against Millwall, come on: two clubs struggling for money, a chance to get another game in for more revenue... it was obvious we wern't going to settle it down there. See you all for thr replay. Get Real, Richard!
Mike Newells Luton Play Better Footy Than Us
To David C
No picnic
Tactics are all wrong
No good position for Neville
Just my opinion anyway, would be interested to see if anyone else has started to feel this way. I'd still expect to see Carsley (when he's fit) slotting in ahead of Neville in any place in Midfield.
Tony Marsh
Safety in numbers
Scouts and/or vision?
Can anyone shed any light on this? Without wanting to have another bash at Davey and suffer the wrath of the pro-Moyes brigade now resurfaced, we only seem to see limited scouting by Moyes and or Irvine themselves or the token tidbits from Billy Liar and his lapdogs insulting our intelligence with reports of bids for players way beyond our reach.
Surely somewhere in Europe, Africa, North or South America there must be some gems waiting to be scouted and trialled when the price is right and the player is right? Regarding: Slow-witted !
Point made!
Between them — with the possible exception of Phil Neville — they made so few appearances in the months before their transfer that any scout sent to watch them would have been hard-pressed to ever see them in action.
During Moyes`s tenure, I have always suspected that the video machines (no doubt supplied by friendly agents) were by far the most active scouting tool employed. And if you pick your players that way, you don`t even have to waste your charm on them! Big Dunc and Bungalow Bill
The game started with us fighting like the terriers that we had been that first half of the season. Then they brought Big Dunc on. He lasted no more than five minutes, if that - floored a Charlton player and off he went — and down we went 2 - 0. It all seemed to go down hill from there. Big Dunc's momentary lack of control spoilt the team momentum. Ironically compare that to his motivational performance last week. He probably represents the heartbeat of the team like no other Everton player. And a word on Bungalow Bill. When, invevitably and continuously, he was asked about our ambition when we were flying high in 4th last year, I was sick and tired of him (and later Moysey) saying that we were just grateful to be up there. He was even saying it before the Champions League kicked off - he even said it before the Uefa Cup kicked off! I bet he will be just as grateful that we stay in the Premiership this season.
Bill, you are supopsed to be a leader! Show us ambition and set us targets. Don't rest on laurels. I would rather you were unrealistic in ambitious expectations (some of it would rub off and even attract outside interest in the club) than just to be thankful for what we have acheived so far. Always aim high! It will be interesting to listen to Martin Jol and Daniel Levy in the coming weeks and months.... When it becomes personal....
Regarding Moyes, the disparity between his views and mine are actually not that wide. The single biggest difference is the timing of the event. My view is that, in any walk of life — be it business, sport or whatever — you should not remove something/someone without there being something better to put in its place. Enough of the views...let's look at the delivery. Mr Marsh, quite simply you have lost the plot. Your letters now are no longer constructive, never offer a solution and the latest offering is pure vitriol... no more, no less. The supposition you make surrounding Cahill's goal celebration is as absurd as it is tenuous. This imbalance deepens further when you allude to Moyes' physical approach during a game. What is wrong with a manager standing up giving instructions? It's part and parcel of the role. Furthermore, having read (countless times) your vilification of the team's lack of passion, solely attributable to (you've guessed it) David Moyes, your statement smacks of rather ludicrous double standards.
I believe there is a serious debate to be had concerning Moyes's tenure. Your style of argument, and its purely personal tirade, weakens the cause of the critics of Moyes. I suggest you take a break from the site, take stock and return with contributions that offer balance and contain an element future potential solutions to the admittedly shocking situation the club presently finds itself.
Tony Marsh....
Tony Marsh
So Moyes demands maximum effort from his players on the training ground and they do not like him for it as they object to his "sargeant major" style of management? Personally, I want a manager who will make the players earn their money every day of the week and will not tolerate anything less than 100% effort. Cahill was on television following the Sunderland and Charlton games saying that David Moyes was quite right to be critical and demand more from his players as performances have not been good enough. As for no decent players being prepared to sign for him, then why did Beattie, Davies, Krøldrup, Arteta, Valente, Van der Meyde, Neville etc have no problem in committing pen to paper. You might counter by arguing that the above are not what you would call decent players given recent performances, but the fact is that all had pedigree prior to siging for Everton under David Moyes's stewardship within the last 12 months.
Bring back Walter Smith!!
Big Dunc - A legend
Ideal striker
Arrrggger!
I think Moyes now should try to get Brede Hangeland once again. He's developed since the club last monitored him and has established himself as first choice in the Norwegian National team. Tall and pacey, definetely not injury prone. In Norwegian papers he is linked to Leeds and Sheffield Utd at the moment, but he's definetely too good for the Championship. Quiet Times A Head
The way we have shaped up this season you would've thought Davey would have had at least one player in place to come in as soon as the window opened. Just one signing would have given the whole club a lift and the fans could start dreaming of better times a head. Well this is Davey Moyes I am talking about and he probably has other ideas now we have won two on the bounce. I will tell you where there has been plenty of activity over the holidays: Bellfield. Moyes and Tim Cahill had to be pulled away from each other during a training session not long after the Derby game. All season long, Moyes has held Cahill back and played him in a defensive type role and Cahill got fed up and it all spilled over on the training ground. Whatever was said or done, it obviously worked: Cahill scores three in two games and is seen at his most dangerous all season. We heard about the set-to the day before the Sunderland game and are wondering if Cahill's new goal celebration is anything to do with it? Anyway, Cahill can join Marcus Bent, Duncan Ferguson, and very soon Mikel Arteta as players who are at war with Moyes. From what we are hearing, training and playing for Moyes is like being in the army and Moyes is like a Sargeant Major. You only have to look at Moyes on match days to see what he is like. He never sits down and lets the players play. He is constantly on their backs, screaming and shouting with his eyes bulging out of his head. It's no wonder the players make silly mistakes with him on their case for 90 minutes. Believe me, any decent players we have got will not stick around much longer and work under Moyes; as you have said on this site before, no decent players will sign for him because they know what he is all about. And we all know he is not getting sacked, so where will that leave us in the future???
Ah well at least Chris Sutton got away. Slow-witted !
A great manager, one worthy of bringing Everton back to the top, needs three qualities: man management, good tactics, and ambition in the transfer market. Moyes has done well on the first two points, but so far he has done terribly on the last point. Has he learnt his lesson? We will see this January. He has spent £20M+ on average players while missing out on the likes of Roy Keane and Michael Owen. I include Owen in this because it showed a great difference in ambition between Souness and Moyes. Newcastle wouldn't take no for an answer when trying to sign him; they forced the issue and Owen was won over by their ambtion. In contrast, all Moyes did was call Owen and ask if there was any chance in him joining Everton. Newcastle easily won even though they were in the Uefa Cup and us in the Champions League. Moyes needs to really go for his targets — and quickly.
I have been calling for Moyes's head recently because of this flaw but I will change my mind if he can do a couple of great deals this January, assuming he really didn't go for Chris Sutton! Oh, Tommy, Tommy...................
"The Everton fans are a special breed who have a really strong relationship with the club. That's why I prefer to play for one club in each country, because there's so much rivalry. I think it's more appropriate to move away from the country entirely, so you're not in their faces.' Answer: Thomas Gravesen - May 14th 2005 - The Guardian.
What price he ends up at Old Trafford or St James' Park then?
What about Norway?
One thing has always amazed me, and that is the Toffees' lack of interest in Norwegian players. Yes, Thomas Myhre had a good run for a while and is still cutting it at charlton. Someone at the club should open the door to some real talent playing here at the moment. These players can be bought cheaply and are always excellent professionals (apart from Erik Bakke). I have tried to pass the word on to Goodison but it is not easy.
A name to watch out for in the future is Christian Grindheim, a young midfield player already established at national level and twice as creative as Simon (run all day and do nothing) Davies. Now just watch as some team like
Portsmouth or Fulham buy him for peanuts then sell him for a fortune next year, probably to us. WHY CANT WE EVER WISE UP!!! You have been warned.
Transfers
New Striker?
Fergie
Whatever he has done in the past, it's probably only half the story as like most other things we only see part of the story, he obviously inspired a down-beaten team to a great overall team performance against Charlton and screamed non-stop at Beattie which saw him do more running than he had done previously in months.
I'll take the highs and lows as long as it got the results, although I agree, some of the sendings-off have been ridiculous in the extreme. But then who in the press has a go at Rooney when his passion gets the same or when crease-head Gerrard (seen yet again clearly smiling as he stamped on Nolan) goes unpunished or slated by his own fans? Big Dunc
I bet you weren't complaining when he was scoring some great goals over the years; Man Utd, Liverpool... Need I say more?? Who needs srikers?
But don`t worry, folks; he`s persuaded Big Dunc to make one more sacrifical effort for the cause and go on accepting his albeit reduced salary of £16k per week right up to the end of the season!
Who needs strikers? Prescence
Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?
Duncan being sent off seems to affirm for many fans how much he cares, when for me it illustrates what a poorly-disciplined and selfish sod he is. Never was I more embarassed as a blue than when the Big Man was sent off to rapturous applause in a game we were being hammered in, with one genius screaming 'Go on Duncan, if we can't beat them at football, let's beat them at fighting'. A minority view, perhaps and I can't really blame Duncan for that sort of reaction. But it remains one that's always summed up the Big Dunc enigma for me. For every time his undoubted ability has benefitted Everton, there are scores of times when his stupidity has cost the club. His legend was born more through circumstance than design, and I'm certain that he's a player who could have only ever made his mark at Everton when the club was at such a low ebb. His brutish style of play was the perfect antidote to the cack Evertonians were used to watching when he first arrived. But all too often his apparent willingness to get stuck in has been confused for actually contributing in a positive and consistent way. We should never have brought him back from the barcodes, and I for one won't be attending any testimonial the club throws in his honour (which will no doubt have the air of importance usually reserved for a royal funeral). He's already had enough out of my wallet.
He did his bit, but let's not get all sentimental about him. Everton Football club is definitely better off without him, shite as our striking options are at the moment. Big Duncan
My best memories over the last 10 years involve Big Dunc with that Blue Nose at the FA Cup final, Big Dunc scoring goals in big games against Man Utd and Liverpool, scoring that hat-trick against Bolton! I love watching him whip his shirt off and go mad when he scores, you can see his Everton tattoo and see how much it means to him, if only Rooney had that kind of passion for Everton. One last reason I love Duncan, how many other fans can boast that their Captain kicked the shit out of two intruders who made the mistake of entering Castle Ferguson? Ferguson
The 2006 squad. Thanks Dutch
The original content contained within the article has proved invaluable to me in my quest to understand the Something FC 2006 squad. Gems like Nigel Whatsit may not be able to hack it any more because of his age and Tim Thingie is one of our best players - well, I never did. My only complaint is that Dutch didn't mention the name of the ground where we play, which is useful information to know when heading for a game at - well, wherever we play. I think it's Good, Goodis, nah, it's gone.
Two questions. Did Dutch ever attend the University of The Bleedin' Obvious? Was it a quiet week for articles at Toffeeweb Towers?
Osman's new-born-foal-like balance!
In my opinion (and it's by no means qualified), for a player like Osman, upper body strength isn't essential. What's more important is his balance and this has more to do with lower body strength and the positioning of his centre of gravity. Osman's problem is that his centre of gravity is probably too high in comparison to his height. This means that, generally, he can't stay on his feet long enough to do some damage to the opposing teams and looks like a new born foal taking his first steps. Players like Zola, Juninho and Kinkladze all had great power in there legs and low centre of gravities (like most good footballers). Better examples would probably be Pele and Maradona - but I'm not expecting that level from Osman! Some people are born with those attributes, but if for somebody like Osman, who doesn't have them, one solution would be to get him running or hiking up steep mountains at least once a week, aswell as his usual training. This would be better than using weights on the legs, as it would better prepare his legs for the rigours of a football match. I would hope that the Everton coaching staff know infinitely more on this area than me!
Having watched Osman since he first made the first team its a crying shame that he hasn't pushed himself onto a higher level of performance. But, hopefully, as his body matures he should, if he looks after himself, develop into a extremely effective player. Ferguson - what do people see?
Duncan Ferguson has robbed our club of millions and played on the emotions of those people who have never seen a decent centre forward. How does he compare against Sharp or Latchford? He has now reached the stage when he can't jump, won't run and doesn't know how to shoot. When he did the overhead kick against Charlton we all burst out laughing - the efforts of an ageing over-rated thug. How many times has he been sent off and cost us games? And before all those people jump to his defence. list the games that he has won for us and if you get beyond 5 over the last 3 years then I obviously attend the wrong matches. It's time to wipe the sleep from peoples eyes - a goal in a derby win does not allow someone to bleed us dry of millions in wages and influence a style of play that is absolute garbage. When he's on the pitch, look at the way players hump the ball forward - I for one will be only to glad to see him retire and replaced by someone who plays regularly, scores goals and contributes to a style of play that we can appreciate. A tattoo should not make you an icon at Everton, players who have skill, vision and ability make you icons players like Labone, Ball, Harvey, Kendall, Latchford, Sharp, Sheedy, Steven, Gray et al are icons Ferguson is just an over-rated thug. Things not right?
3rd Eye, Top Balc (3/1/06) Payment by the minute
Michael, if you know & don't want to disclose it, fair enough, but if no-one knows, it stinks, to me. More good news?
I think this conclusively proves... well I'm not entirely sure what it proves — but still... good news! Alex Riddle, Bognor Regis (3/1/06) Errr..... Let's think about this. Earning points is good; having a positive goal difference is good. Each on it's own merit: the bigger the better. I could understand it if you were to add these things together. But if you take a good thing (points) and subtract another good thing (goal difference), you get... nothing much to speak of. Especially as (in our case) subtracting a negative goal difference actually means adding a large number to the points total! Nevertheless, for remarkable ingenuity and bullshit quotient, you win tonight's Star Prize in the category Lies, Damned lies.... and Statistics. — Michael Signing African Players
The reason I asked is hopefully we can get some players from African nations who would be playing in the World Cup this year. Surely they will be motivated to play against the best players in the world in Premier League. By the way, African players have great pace. Killer to Celtic??
Ferrari looked good
Let's not kid ourselves
Strikers, strkers, strikers
Sign Robbie Fowler???
Maybe you should take a peek into his autobiography. Try suggesting we should sign him once you have seen the 'kind' words he has to say about Everton Football Club and its supporters. If we signed him, it would be an even bigger farce than the Harry Redknapp - Portsmouth/Southampton/Portsmouth situation was.
Also, perhaps more importantly, you seem to be forgetting the fact that as a player, Robbie Fowler is now .. well .. basically.. WANK!
The current poll
All we expect
Most of us were just kids during the brief revival under Joe Royle but we have seen little success apart from last season`s unbelievable fourth spot. And quite frankly we don`t expect success on a regular basis — only the chance now and then to celebrate a victory. Why so many old timers want our club to be viewed by the media in the same light as Man Utd or Liverpool is beyond us; if it were we`d probably lose interest anyhow! Over the years, we`ve developed a seige mentality and wouldn`t be without it. No, all we ask is the priviledge of going to Chelsea rather than QPR, or Newcastle rather than Hull: good results are a bonus.
And ps: Moyes is King! re Osman
To me he does lack upper body strength but more importantly he lacks balance and poise. The three players you mention Michael; Juninho at Middlesbrough, Kinkladze at Man City and my personal favourite Zola at Chelsea, all had balance in abundance and were able to distribute their body weight at speed in such a way that attempts to knock them off the ball either looked clumsy and crass and were ineffective or the opposing defender/midfielder would be forced into overstepping into foul play. As to whether the game is more physical now; I’d say that it is much more physical… above the waist. 20 years or more ago tackles were certainly more ferocious, but there wasn’t the constant wrestling, elbowing, shirt pulling and gouging that goes on now. I’m not saying this sort of thing didn’t happen but referees were much more likely to penalise upper body contact than a ‘meaty’ slide tackle. I suppose it’s all down to Fifa directives and a cultural shift. (By the way, just how does Gerrard get away with it!?! If Big Dunc had done that to a player he’d have been sent down for 5 years hard labour) I’m not sure balance and poise can be coached and unfortunately Osman is probably never going to quite make the grade as a Premier League player.
Hope I’m proved wrong. Foxy
Osman was fine
On the other hand it could simply be the way the player chooses to play. Juninho at Middlesbrough, Kinkladze at Man City and Zola at Chelsea all proved that even the smallest, weakest of players can make a difference. I'm not suggesting that Osman is in their league, but what those players did have were footballing brains that got them out of physical situations before they got into them; perhaps an asset Leon Osman has yet to gain. I'm sure playing, almost exclusively, for the reserves and youth team 'til he was 23 hasn't helped. — Garry Back from the game...
Today, I found it hard to believe that the manager gave us a line-up that gave us a chance going forward. You have all seen it and no doubt we deserved the win. In our pub after the game, the banter was "Who was Man of the Match?" and it all resolved around Cahill or Arteta, fair comment. But I thought Ferrari was a revelation in not only defending well but organising the other members of the back four. I also thought he freed up Yobo to play his own game without worrying about cover to his defensive partner. Okay, it took him 20-odd minutes to get the pace of things but after that I thought we had a gud un. My only worry is that he is here on loan. I thought Moyes got most things right; could this mean we are progressing? I am willing to give the bloke a chance but I still hope he tries to plug the obvious gaps in midfield and that much-sought-after striker is on the agenda.
I may be targeting the wrong man as I am not sure who is in charge of signings but, after today's performancem is it not worth building upon? Over to you, Blue Bill.
UP THE BLUES Payment by the minute
There's no point in fans getting emotional about supporting a team if there's some accountant or mathematician behind the scenes picking the team based on sponsor's fees, salary bill and transfer creditors. Let's get Robbie
Well said, Eamonn Byrne!
So before you start calling for Moyes's head, just remember that there are plenty of Sounesses around. Moyes has done, and is doing a good job for Everton. Regardless of the current position, the squad is far stronger than it has been in years. All the players he brought in last summer were International players. But injuries have been bad and a larger squad with so many new players will take time to settle. And top class strikers with pace, and powerful midfielders with great passing skill are few and far between. I am not saying it's all rosy and sweet, but stability in management is crucial to long-term success, i.e. Arsenal and Man Utd. The performances this season have been pretty much unacceptable, but Moyes knows that as well and no one is working harder than him to rectify this. Besides, one should not forget the players who have actually played, when discussing the league position. It's a fact that Cahill and many others have not been firing on all cylinders this season. And it's not all Moyes's fault that these players have under achieved... I have faith that next season we will again be challenging for Europe. We will stay up this season, but if it's in 17th or 11th place is hard to predict. Do I like that!
At last
Notably, it was the same referee, Uriah Rennie, who was relegated to refereeing Championship games a couple of years ago for making similar mistakes on a regular basis. — Garry Two Games - Six Points
Expect a torrent of "this is the turning point" "told you Moyes was the right fella for the job" "we're going to Europe if we win all of our games for the rest of the season". I'm personally looking forward to Rob Fox's magnum opus, "Life, the Universe and Everything in Relation to a Football Club in Merseyside England"
Regardless, I think we can all agree on one thing - more performances like today's will lead to a rise up the table. And that's all we care about isn't it? ;} Irvine
Trading Standards
Although we can only go on the figures posted at the time of transfers, I make Moyes`s expenditure to date ~£45M against Smith`s ~£55M. However, when we look at sales we find that Smith managed to generate well over £40M from `transfers out` of 27 players against Moyes` ~£25M on just seven sales of which Rooney accounts for at least £20M!
I know it will be said that Smith left Moyes little that was saleable but, on the same account, what will be the legacy of our next manager given the pitiful standard of the present squad, I wonder? Relegation the end
`They need to get relegated` was a debateable philosophy even before the birth of the Premier League but nowadays it is a recipe for meltdown. Although `parachute payments` temporarilly ease the cash penalty of relegation, the dramatic fall in income and the need to service players` contracts and long-term debts is usually catastrophic. In the total absence of saleable players and with such a weak boardroom/financial structure, I am positive that for Everton it would be much more Sheffield Wednesday and Nottm Forest than West Ham, Bolton or Charlton. Just remember, even Leeds were able to raise £30 million in their `fire sale` and it hasn`t exactly been easy for them!And we`ve already flogged our crown jewels and blown the cash!
No, Mr Leong, away with you — relegation has always been a dirty word but for our Club it might well spell The End. Poll Result
I have a theory about this. I firmly believe that younger generations are so entrenched in the ideology of celebrity that Moyes and his lucky soundbite about being the People's Club, has earned him cult status.
Well to me, if he sends us down (and I really think he could) then he will not be a cult figure, more of a c**t figure. Billy's train-set
I know he's got some bizarre methods of achieving it! But as the largest single shareholder, there ain't any point taking pin money out the club, and having to share it around. {Our after-tax profit was £100k for chrissakes!} Much better to get consistent success, and consequently watch the club increase in value to a friendly {or hostile} bidder. That's Billy Liars dividend; as much as it kills me, he wants success as much as anyone at the club.
He's just not prepared to relinquish or dilute his own role to see success achieved. And that's why I loathe him. Good Luck From Japan
The Charlton game is the same — it doesn`t matter if we scramble along if we get a win. They too have a `soft centre` which we can exploit. Wins can breed confidence etc. Not sure of who we`re buying but if Sutton costs only £250k he is a chance worth taking, especially as he can also play centre-half. Anyway, just watched a few J-league games and can say that the pace of the game is nearly on a par with our league, but that the Japanese players seem technically superior to most of ours. There are never any meaningless humps upfield. Nakamura Shunsuke, currently of Celtic, is the big star here and they are looking for him £ôo star in Germany 2006.
I`m off to the hot springs followed by a few beers and hot noodles. Hope you all enjoy the game tomorrow and all the best for 2006. If we keep winning, I may well never return... Phoenix from the flames..? My arse!
Relegation would be an unmitigated disaster for our club. Financially it would tip us over the edge, into the abyss. Forget new stadium, new investment for a few years, we would be rebuilding totally from scratch. Put that up against a number of Championship clubs which are already better run than we are, and show me where guaranteed promotion is the following season? Or during the following 5? If the other 'big clubs' who've suffered relegation in the last few years do make it back into the Prem (thinking Leeds, Sheff Weds, Forest) then what guarantees their squad can sustain that position? Sunderland were a team like us earlier in the past decade - occasional good positions, followed by consistent flirting with relegation. They went down, rebuilt, came up, went down etc. So, sorry Terence, but this isn't NFK (sorry for non-Singaporean-based readers!) There would be no Phoenix from the Flames — just the ashes of the dreams of all the fans.
And, I understand you wouldn't appreciate this, but to have to put up with the gloating of those lucky skanks from across the park would be too much for many.
Happy 2006! New Years Resolution
It's easy to say "Get rid of the board, get rid of Kenwright," etc but the truth is no one else wants the club. We call him Billy Liar as if he is the only football chairman ever to spin a few porkies. They are all at it. Peter Johnston, Alan Sugar, Doug Ellis, Martin Edwards, Freddy Sheperd, John Moores [the red one], Mandaric, Peter Riddsdale... the list is endless. They all lie: it comes with the job. What I want to know is, who will take over at Goodison if Bill Kenwright wanted to chuck his hand in? Is there a scouse Abramovich I haven't heard of waiting to pump untold Millions in to our club? No there isn't. Kenwright is all we have got at the moment and, like it or not, he is going nowhere. Maybe we should hand the club over to Paul Gregg so he can turn Goodison in to a drive-through McDonalds. Where we go from here I don't know but calling for Bill's head is a none starter. I am am all for change but where is change going to come from? It would be easier to sell Ian Rush memorabelia in Juventus than to sell Everton. I am honestly losing sleep at nights worrying about this football club of mine but it won't stop me from going to Millwall at the weekend, that's for sure. Moyes is staying; Kenwright is staying — thats the way it is and we have just got to get on with it.
All I want for Xmas is a Fourth Round draw. No Investment
We did well last season, picking up £9M off Sky for our 4th place finish, and in the last year we have been on TV almost every other week, with those appearances netting us an average of around £350k per game. I realise there are players' wages to take into consideration, but surely they are well covered by gate receipts, shirt sponsors, kit sales and corporate functions etc. Plus we don't exactly have the biggest squad anyway ! Unfortunately, our Board seem un-willing to put money into the team, yet they go on about having the best year in the club's financial history, new stadiums and all the investment which is supposed to be coming in but never materialises. Steve Smith made a comment in an earlier post that the directors may be taking back-handers. Well, lots of Blues have thought that over the years, but the shareholding directors are fully entitled to take dividends at the end of the clubs financial year, and don't think they won't be taking them in a year showing good figures! The players we did manage to buy in the summer were mostly shite or injury prone, and if you add to that all the crap we re-signed, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out why (YET AGAIN) we're all now shitting ourselves over the drop.
At least the fans are reliable! Happy new year!!! Robbie Fowler
I'll tell you what.....
Everton lack quality
I know Moyes was without several key players but surely anyone wearing an Everton shirt should be capable of a little more than this. If we are to do anything other than stay in the relegation dog fight, money will have to be found to bring in some real quality over the next month but when I said this to my Dad, he said he wouldn't trust Moyes to buy him an Everton programme!
Is he really that bad? Where's all the money gone?
What about all that money we had to bid for players in the summer? Big bids for Andy Johnson, £10M bid for Dirk Kuyt just before the close of the transfer window and big bids for other players such as Emre and Scott Parker. Granted the bids all failed but the money seemed to be their, and it wasn't spent elsewhere. A few months have now passed by and I hear Moyes saying we have little money to spend so we will have to play the loan market! So no chance of Gravesen returning then or a top class srtiker coming in! Maybe a board member is taking a tidy little back hander??? Moving Averages Plots
Historically, does a greater variation in error herald a new dawn or is consistency the portent of a happier era? What are we prepared for?
As so clearly elaborated by many, the real problems lie within the boardroom, and it permeates through the dressing room. When we consider the lost opportunities to seize leadership of the league during the golden 80s, be it in talent scouting (Fowler, Mcmanaman, Owen, Carragher, Gerrard), or improving the stadium (the 1st club to have underground heating, the imposing stands, which today are described as old and tired), attracting investments, overseas fan base, etc, it is clear that the root of it all lies in the boardroom. Unless that changes, our improvements might be nothing more than cosmetic. As long as we continue our top-flight status, the impetus to change is quite unlikely. If Moyes again pulls us out of the current woes, the board will only hide behind the situation, throw in a few quid to purchase players & appease the crowds but not really change the status quo. If Moyes fails to meet our expectations, the board will sack him (just as it did with Smith), and again the emphasis will be on how bad the manager is. We need a violent shake up within the club before it can see greatness again. That kind of shake-up is unlikely to come if we cling to our Premier League status. If we are ever going to see true change, it might require something so drastic that the current powers that be will be willing to relinquish their reins on the club, and allow others to step in and really get something done.
We are no longer part of the Big 5, unless you want to hang on to statistics. Maybe we first need to go down before we rise again.
Fact or fiction?
It seems that Mr Fowler is set upon a move to his spiritual home and, if Blues fans accept it, he will sign on the 6th of January. Stranger than fiction? Happy New Year to ALL Blues. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. It's not Moyes's fault, really...
Looking at Joe Royle's time, once Claus Thompson was brought in and Speed left, well, they paid peanuts... and, as the saying goes.... Walter Smith had a tasty midfield of Barmby, Collins, Hutchinson, Ball... Guess what? ALL SOLD! He then spent out on: Nyarko, Gravesen, Alexanderson. So why were they sold? So they could move on to BETTER clubs.
It seem's Moyes is having the same problem's that has afflicted other Everton manager. If you see Moyes with an expression that says after another defeat 'What am I going to do...' — HE DOES KNOW WHAT TO DO! It's just that the solution went over the road in 1987... Agree with Glasgow Blue
I agree that we could search into the lower leagues to find some talent but I think we need a couple of match winners, some star names — not just to get us out of this mess but to move us in a new direction. But do we give him the keys to the kitty going on his past form? And if we do, who would want to come to Everton now if we couldn't attract people when we had a potential Champions League place beckoning?
I do not expect great things in the next month. |
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