ToffeeWeb MailBag |
|
 ToffeeWeb Letters from
April 2006 |
|
|
Moyes (and those loveable reds) Now, about Moyes the man. I heard a story regarding the family of the late Bernard Murphy (died at Leicester 20/3/04). His son is a Liverpool supporter but is rather disheartened with his club. Firstly, they (along with Chelsea) were the only Prem clubs not to send flowers to his dad's funeral. Secondly, Moyes offered to buy the lad a season ticket for Liverpool (out of his own pocket) but guess what... When the Murphy family approached Liverpool the gobshoites said.. we can't make an exception as everyone will want one.. needless to say the lad was gutted, he still supports his team, but the club?? Remind me again why we hate those lovable reds?? As for Moyes, I believe he still drops in on the family for a cuppa,
and for this, Moyes has gone up in my estimation as an honourable and
decent man. (As a manager, I'll give him another year...) And The Defender Signing Is... Joleon Lescott Robert Huth Sol Campbell Matthew Upson John O'Shea Dan Shittu Andrew Webster One thing is for sure, whoever the player turns out to be this really
is an exciting time to support Everton. Transfer news Shut it! Instead, I'm much more interested in speculating on Moyes' predicted signing in the next few days. There's Huth and Lescott who've been linked but as someone said before they don't look too likely at the minute. I can't think who else it could be though. If another signing does happen, I think the key point is that Everton
must have learnt to keep these things secret at last! How many deals
have we had hijacked after weeks of public dithering in recent years? Unanswered Question So has AJ signed a five-year contract, can anyone confirm that? I
checked ToffeeWeb squad list, but it hasn't been updated yet. I really
hope it's five as he is a natural striker and want him to be an Everton
legend, like Big Dunc, for as long as Dunc was! God-Willing of course!
Whoops!!! Colm, I do however stand by my opinion that AJ/Beattie can be a
partnership worthy of any Prem team. It's not the medication talking — I
just rate them both very highly. For Shame, ToffeeWeb Editors Dutch is correct it was Peter Johnson who sold Duncan to Newcastle but it was Bill Kenwright who was in charge when Nyarko signed. I feel sorry for Dutch, he makes a comment about AJ and Beattie being a potentially world-class partnership (I happen to agree) and Colm replies somewhat childishly with a cynical comment about medication. Then he makes a simple mistake regarding Nyarko (something he later apologised for) and Michael is really rude. Michael you could have just pointed out his mistake rather then the verbal bashing you felt obliged to dish out. I read a lot of Dutch comments and I agree he sometimes looks at things with rose-tinted glasses but he is never rude and never attacks anybody. I would rather read his comments then some of the others who seem to delight in excuses to slag of my beloved club. If this is how you treat fellow Everton supporters you should be
ashamed of yourselves. Just thinkin' 1.It will be a central defender. ....could it be Sol Campbell? Erm, actually And the admin misunderstood Dutch with reference to the most shameful of episodes — it was Johnson who flogged Duncan to Toon, whilst Smith was in charge — I give Smith the credit for taking a stand at such manouevres by his Chairman and helping oust the cretinous cancer of a man. Anyway, perhaps Dutch could have been clearer as to what he was referring, and perhaps the board admins could just calm down a little when dealing with Dutch instead of jumping to conclusions (in this case the wrong one). ps: Wherever Alex Nyarko is, I hope he along with Slaven Bilic are in
a lot of pain (similar to the pain they put us fans through when they
decided they were bigger than Everton and bled the club dry). Just a quick note Thing is that, although we've been crying out for a player like Andrew Johnson with pace but also who can hit a barn door, let's not forget about James Beattie. He seemed as excited when he joined (if only less articulate), but it's been a bit like playing Peter Beardsley upfront on his own and expecting magic. Beattie has faced a lot (some deserved) stick, but I think that alongside a natural finisher like Johnson we'll see far more for our money where JB is concerned. Not going to do a Dutch and claim it's as "good as any in the Premiership"... but it's good - and as good as any I can think of for Everton since, well, when I started supporting them in the early 80s. I can't really comment too much about it then as I just wanted them to win without really understanding much about the game. Anyway, babbling on now, but I think AJ 8 (as he had it at Selhurst)
Beattie gets 9, which he so wanted last season and these two mates can
really make it exciting next season — especially (as stated by others
including Nick) given a little extra movement will give the midfield
more opportunities. Good Luck, AJ! What you talking about Billy? Any midfield who can even on occasion accommodate that "Zidane of the
North West": Gary Naysmith, needs an overhaul. Cahill's like a fish out
of water and VdM still has fitness issues. We need some depth there at
the very least, probably at least two players. Need I go on? Christ, we've got options!! Huth is regularly employed as a sub by Chelsea for his attacking prowess and he also has an incredibly powerful long-range free-kick on him which, even if the keeper reaches, is very difficult to hold on to. Enter super quick Johnson for the rebound and we've scored!!! Or
maybe I'm getting a bit too excited.... Someone owes Dutch an apology. Am I Wrong??? It then claims the fans reaction to the transfer was so bad that it
forced Johnson to resign. Duncan was sold to Newcastle August 2000.
Nyarko was signed July 2000 which means Johnson was still in charge.
Unless of course the information on the Duncan Ferguson profile is
wrong? My old Dutch In this distant outpost, just like Dutch, I struggle to keep the Blue
flag flying. Unlike him, my battle is against fans of other clubs. Matt Traynor, Cyber Pint! So, So Exciting Everton's starting line up next season could be Howard (26), Hibbert (25), Valente (31), Stubbs (34), Yobo (25), Arteta (24), Osman (25), Cahill (26), Van der Meyde (26), Beattie (28) and Johnson (26). The average age of the team is just 26. And that will fall if/when Moyes signs a young defender (Huth/Lescott). Moyes has always stated he wants to build a young team capable of
winning something and the AJ transfer is a big part of the jigsaw. Four or Five? Well, for a cyber pint, can anyone guess which club handed a 5-year contract to someone who was on a 4-year work permit? I'll give you a clue: the player was Alex Nyarko. So Dutch, tell us how well our club is run again? On a roll It's obvious a 'fight' to get picked for the first eleven and to stay
on for the full 90 mins will be enough to get the players motivated to
prove their worth. Here's hoping for a good start to the next season. AJ I only have one concern and that is that the club have been very quiet about the finances i.e. where the money came from and the specifics of the deal. As Aristotle said 'One swallow does not a summer make'. We need to hang on to our better players and there's a lot of rebuilding work that still needs to done on our squad. That means hanging on to our better players like Arteta & Yobo and not cashing in on them to 'rob Peter to pay Paul' so to speak. Mind you, I have no objections to selling Cahill — for reasons that
Michael and others have gone into at length. Arteta Mr Johnson Whether he will do the business for us, only time will tell, but in
one fell swoop, signing Johnson has put a buzz round Goodison that
hasn't been felt since ... well, fill in your own last line here. What
has made me happiest of all is the fact that we have at last shown some
AMBITION, which is so important to us fans but even more important is
the effect on other possible signings. Word will inevitably go round
that maybe Everton are now a club worth joining, who want to do more
than just survive in the Premiership. Thank you, AJ, for believing in us
and... good luck! Contract And again Dutch's lacklustre e.mail is comical. But he thinks 'being
happy' with the Board is supporting the club? NAH! They did good now but
telling it how it is is what REAL supporters do. They still have a lot
to answer for, like the Fortress Sports Fund. Let's not live in cloud
nine with the hippies, thinking all is golden, shall we, Dutchy? The Everton Board Pete St John In all seriousness though, do you think that Kenwright being away has
helped our cause? Humble Pie I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank ALL those
involved in bringing Andy Johnson to Everton. I'd also like to request
some custard to go with my humble pie...... Credit where credit's due.
C'mon you Blues!!!! All going swimmingly From my lonely prison wall, I hear Keith Wyness call... ....Kenwright is on holiday" Clearly Bill is making cowboy movies, so can't interfere with our
transfers. I think that last scene needs shooting from the top, Billy
Boy! Arteta rubbish There's no more news on Man Utd coming in for Carsley then? AJ Value Any Improvement?? Whether all that can be revived again is debatable; certainly the Johnson signing can't do any harm. What was most telling was the team we had that season — I would back it to beat our current team in a match no danger! How the hell has that happened? We started the campaign at home to Spurs with an attack minded 4-3-3 formation with Rooney playing behind Campbell and Radzinski and Tommy Gravesen in the middle pulling the strings. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but, even discounting Rooney, we had passing midfielders with energy and vision (even Li Tie looked handy!), a striker (Campbell) who bagged 11 goals (we were buzzing last season cos Beattie got 9 or 10) and a tricky Brazillian winger on the bench (I know he got injured but can you imagine Moyesy going out and making an exotic signing like that nowadays?). I remember being at Ewood Park, we were 1-0 up, on the ropes and holding out and Moyesy threw on Rooney instead of another defender — that was such a positive thing to do. He'd never do that now would he? Anyway, perhaps now isn't the time for negativity, what with the club finally making a signing to match our own ambitions. One thing I would say is that, with Radzinski in the side, he thrived on through-balls from Gravesen and (don't laugh) Li Tie. Johnson is similar in style to Radzinski (although much better) and so surely Moyes must be looking for someone to put those type of balls through from midfield — Cahill and Neville, although handy in other ways, simply can't do this. That is now the priority surely? Time to bring back Tommy? Just heard Simon Jordan on Sky saying he
had got a call confirming Johnson had passed his medical so we can rest
easy on that now. I hope. Exciting New Signing????? Who will be next to arrive/depart? Who knows? In addition, I would
like to wish England all the best for the World Cup. Everyone up here is
right behind Becks and the boys. All the best. Man Utd Also DM should sell that arrogant over-rated McFadden to Rangers or Celtic for Ł3-4 million. I reckon he would suit the game up there and that would help pay for the AJ transfer. Let's hope that recent events might bring some hope for next season
because the depression oozing out of this mailbag in the last month has
been awful. Oh yes we do have De Silva to look forward to? Hehe... Formation, formation Once bitten... twice shy With regards to Joseph Yobo, he has stated his ambition and also gone on record as saying that he is looking forward to signing more quality players. All said and done it is up to Yobo where he sees his football future and if he decides to go then so be it. However, what really pisses me off is this continuing rumour-mongering regarding Mikel Arteta, this idle talk is both damaging to the Club and also to the morale, Arteta has gone on record and said that he intends to be at Everton next season, enough said. The Everton way has always been don't count your chickens as we have
a history of having the rug pulled from under us, but for once let's
enjoy this new found optimism and let it breed confidence. Arteta Presumably I should now be harassing my 12-year-old cousin at the
Academy to find out if the Chairman has called them in to discuss, over
sherbet sticks and Tango, the transfer of Yobo to Arsenal. Thats More Like It This is more like it, long may it last. ?????? AJ Thanks for the link to his goal tally for Palace, he seems to have scored every type of goal for them and looks like a good foil for Beattie. I particularly liked the headed goal against Liverpool. I actually watched that game on Scandinavian TV and remember him running them ragged. He looked like a top player that day, I was really impressed with him, and he can't be a mug if he managed to score 21 goals for Palace playing up front on his own. Slightly worrying for me is that I have it on very good grounds that
Arteta is going to United in a couple of weeks time. The youth squad
were apparently pulled in at Bellefield and told that he is going there
in a few weeks. I hope that is not the case, but I'm wondering where
we're getting this money from to chase AJ and Lescott from Wolves... Leon Osman When he loses the ball, the reasoning goes he's too weak or too slow. Yet the same thing happens to Beattie, Cahill, VDM etc. but nobody mentions their size. The truth is that, after Arteta, he is the most skillful player we have and should be cherished as such. He never hides and will only get batter as the years pass. His goal tally is perfectly acceptable and if matched by all our midfielders would put us in the top four or five. To those who would sell him — who could you buy in a similar vein?
You would have us buy a big strapping midfielder but we would still be
short of the subtlety that every successful team needs. Especially if we
can qualify for Europe. And probably the most important aspect is that
he is one of the few players we have I actually enjoy watching play,
doesn't that say something? Call me cynical... Andrew Johnson (i) Penalties AJ has scored, how do you think baldie no-eyes Shearer got his goal tally up for the last five or six years of his career? Please, someone, give us the statto on that as I'm sure he scored more pens than anyone else.I am really looking forward to getting a decent strike partnership to watch, which I and everyone I know has been screaming out for, for what seems like an eternity. I think he'll keep the Number 8 and JB will switch to Number 9. Colm: great point about numbers by the way, I much prefer the 1-11 too. Gavin Ramejkis, Upholland (29/5/06) Football On Merseyside There are some fantastic black and white photo's from the 1950's including on page 145 a pitch invasion at Stamford Bridge when Everton were the visitors and two middle-aged manic looking spectators complete with long raincoats are about to confront the Everton 'outside-left' Laverick with a view to throttling him. Who said pitch invasions are a curse of the modern game? There is also a full and scripted account of the celebration dinner at the Adelphi Hotel in August 1892 to mark the opening of Goodison Park. The ground was officially opened by Lord Kinnaird, president of the Football Association, along with Mr G Mahon, president of the club. Interestingly, in his reply to the toast of the club, he stated 'that it was his endeavour to save the game from the taint of rowdyism and betting' Sky Sports, watch out! I'm sure there would be sufficient interest if anybody decided to
publish a re-print of this book. If you're lucky enough to get hold of a
copy then do so; it's the definitive early history of Everton Football
Club. AJ (presumed signed) I've seen quite a bit of AJ over the past few seasons and - like Lineker before him and Ian Wright (another Palace man) — while he is on the pitch you always feel that you're going to get something out of the game. If he'd played in the Premiership this season, the busted flush that's Sven G E wouldn't be destroying the confidence of an untried kid in Walcott or considering Rooney's foot like some medieval relic. AJ's hard as nails — when he goes down, he's straight back up again (that Iain Dowie 'bouncebackability', maybe). He tackles efficiently, has very good control and doesn't mind how they go in — tap-ins, from distance, chasing a long-ball — and his Skippy factor outjumps even Tim Cahill. He's no diver, either. Rather, he goes in where it hurts and where defenders have to take him on. His running off the ball will not only drag defenders and create space for Beattie, but give our midfield an intellgient passing option. The only downside is that if things aren't going too well, he has a tendency to track back to get the ball. He's a good pro, modest — no 'crowing' when he beat his former club
Birmingham — and, I believe, will prove excellent business at Ł8.5M. I'm
only sorry he's signed for just four years. Will he still be ours when
South Africa 2008 rolls along? But that's a Toffee with a fatalistic
centre for you. Ossie Ossie Ossie I would sell Osman and McFadden then use the money to put towards a
quality midfielder. I only say this because they are the only two squad
players we have with any value. You can try and sell Kilbane and Carsley
but I think you would only get a packet on nuts for them. Is Moyes Shrewd? If AJ and Huth sign it gives us a much stronger spine through the middle and both players are still quite young, which is only good for us. But 1) AJ hasn't signed yet 2) Huth hasn't signed yet. So we are still up a certain creek without a paddle for the moment with the current crop. Happy days if they sign and God-Willing they will. BUT we still need strengthening in midfield and attack and fear that there is little dosh left to do that. And regarding Paul Coleman comments on Ossie should leave and SWP signing on loan? Neither will happen! Osman is one of our best players so I find that statement utterly bizarre! And lastly oh my dear Dutch! Your sad attempt to even sound happy
about AJ signing was so shallow it is and was laughable. He really
enjoys us being shite its disgusting. Will we see you at Wednesday press
conference in a trench-coat with a banner saying 'Moyes don't sign AJ,
he is far too good. Instead sign Paul Dickov, he is the right age and
price oh Moyes my leader'!!! Finances Huth I'm excited too!!! Howard Hypothesising, yes, but I too am more excited than I have been as a
supporter in donkeys years. If a team like the above does come to
fruition, then it represents a quantum leap in quality over what was
endured during the Smith era. It also shows that the penny has finally
dropped with those behind the scenes (anything to do with TV money I
wonder?). I know it's taken time and as Evertonians we remember the
constant disappointments, but let's get right behind them now. Roll on
the mid-week press conference and hopefully a few more to follow!!! Everton by David Prentice The best book I've ever read on early Everton history is Football
on Mersyeside by Percy M Young. I think it was written in the 30s so
memories were still fresh and some of the people involved in the
earliest days were still alive. I would make this book compulsory
reading; talk about "if you know yer history!". Number 9 Also, does anyone know if Anderson Da Silva is returning for this
season as he must have surely got a work permit now? Reign my horses Hopefully his presence in the lineup will free up Moyes's attacking mindset. Beattie will also get better because of this, since he no longer needs to hold the frontline, which is NOT what we bought him for. I feel very optimistic for the striking department though: we now have AJ, Beattie, Vaughn, Anichebe, Faddy etc. It's a pretty solid group. So yes. I am a little excited, of course. But much work still needs
to be done. I will not attempt to even suggest potential signings for
other positions (defence, midfield) since somehow that qualifies as pure
wishful thinking and 'Football Manager' comments. Please, if anyone has
played FM before, they know that even if you buy the best players in the
world, you still need a decent manager and tactics to find a winning
formula. All hands on the deck now, all eyes on David Moyes now to see
if he can prove that. Signings The problem is that over the years we have a bad habit of buying good players and then selling some of our existing good players to finance the deals. This could happen this year with the sales of Van der Meyde and Yobo. I want to see us keep our better players and just add to them. Could you imagine where we could finish next season with our existing squad + AJ, Huth, Shaun Wright-Phillips (loan), and Kevin Nolan? Let's not forget Scott Spencer who we could throw in if any of the front two get injured. By all means, Davie, sell Kilbane, Osman or Carsley but don't get rid
of any of our better players or it will just be one step forward and two
steps back. Just can't hide it! I was going to wait until the medical had been done and dusted — but I'm so excited (and even more so having seen the vid link from Michael's piece titled just that). Genuinely think that we'll see JB completely transformed too — he's not a out-and-out striker, but together with AJ could be really exciting. I hope that it turn will free up Cahill (I don’t think he's deserved some of the shit he's had on here). Only worry is obviously the pensioners at the back, but I'm so happy at the moment I don't care. Looking forward to the World Cup, and let's see if we get a good enough bid for Yobo to strengthen some more (I know he's not playing in WC but obviously waiting for proper "crazy season" to begin; otherwise, he'll just have to attract clubs by playing well for us next season — he might even decide he wants to stay after that?!). Anyway, thank you DM and BK - keep up the positivity Dutch! COME ON
YOU BLUES! (God, I'm going to look like such a tit if there's a prob in
the medical!) No 8 or No 9? I don't imagine Everton will leave it long in deciding this, as obviously fans will rush to get the new shirt with Johnson's name and number on the back! (Me being one of them!) Either way, it'll be another indication as to Everton's marketing
prowess! Johnson It is great that a player wants to join us as we are one of the biggest clubs in the British game as it goes a little way to slowing down the decline of the club. Hopefully, from this day, others will follow suit and we will rise like a phoenix from the flames... or maybe not. Next season may prove to be an exciting one, Beats and Johnno up front, Van der Meyde (if fit), Howard, Arteta and Cahill are all players most Premiership teams would snap up in an instant. I just hope there is enough to get another wide player and a couple of centre halves. The Board take a lot of stick from us, something I am guilty of too,
but praise were praise is due — let's just hope he carries the form from
Palace to Everton. Here's to next season. Moneybags or what? Midfielders needed Winning the battle for midfield allows teams to dictate the pace and dominate possession of a game. Great central midfielders of the past like Keane, Viera and further back Reid and Souness, were strong characters, leaders who dragged the rest of the team on with them. They had a presence and instilled fear into opposition midfields, and also they could pass and tackle. I know its a little unfair to contrast our midfield with such great players but if we are looking to build a successful team I think we need to be looking for players with at least some of their qualities. I feel we only have one recognisable central midfielder at the club, Carsley. Other players used there (Neville, Cahill, and Arteta) are not suited to that position and are not effective — hence the need for five in midfield most of the time. I would be happy to get Gravesen back and maybe take a chance on Joey
Barton. Anyway I hope central midfield is addressed while we are
throwing all this money around and the optimism can continue. Up the
Toffees. The Truth About Cottee Like Adam, I was chuffed when the Mirror ran the headline ‘Tony’s a Toffee’ (days after the Sun had written ‘Tony’s a Gooner’). That season was when we spent a pile of cash to revitalise the squad (okay, forget about Neil Mac…). We’d finished 4th as defending Champions, and that simply was not good enough. (This is probably best kept to another article). I was privileged enough to be inside Goodison when TC scored after 30 seconds, and went on to claim the match ball. During his time at Everton, he scored 99 goals — a lot of his appearances under HK II being as sub. Yes, he was capable of missing from 2 yards, but what I feel a lot of people missed was the fact he was, in fact, a natural finisher. I got the distinct impression he wasn’t liked in the dressing room, but having met him a couple of times, I am pretty sure he had the Everton fans in his heart. His autobiography was called ‘Claret and Blues’– the Blues being an obvious reference to his four years at Goodison, before being kicked out back to West Ham in exchange for David Fucking Burrows… (HK will always be a legend, but we have to be realistic in assessing his second and third spells – particularly the third). Moving swiftly on to our current situation with AJ (and at the time
of writing I don’t know if BK has found enough coins down the back of
his sofa to make this happen), but I like what I’ve read — courtesy of
TW, the lifeblood for some of us expats. He’s making all the right
noises in what he says. After the retirement of our pigeon fancier (he
won’t play anywhere else), Everton fans are crying out for a hero,
someone to love. For whatever reason, Beattie doesn’t do it. Step
forward AJ — your adoring fans await you… Fat Lady? Sorry, this here ever eternal pessimist still needs convincing... no
matter what it says on the EFC website! Who is next? I go to away games and I would be interested in the thoughts of other
away fans who see both sides of the players, including the ones who
disappear when the going gets tough. Also, if AJ scores enough goals to
climb a few places, will he still be over-priced? Reply to Michael Kenrick I have an 'EVERTON' by Matthew Graham, pen name of a newspaper
journalist. His real name is not mentioned in my book that also has a
blurb 'Enlarged 1987 Championship edition.' The year may be different
but I wonder if Matthew Graham is actually David Prentice who wrote the
1989 'EVERTON' Hi Michael If anyone from the club reads this site they will realise the
significance of ONLY 17,000 Evertonians reportedly taking up the offer.
Going to the games is a habit and if that habit starts to decline,
especially with habitual renewers of season tickets, then we are not
'Boot Boys or Hard men' as you have it, but those who vote with their
feet. Small numbers of hardcore fans are always harder for clubs to deal
with than great numbers. My concern is that the Club progress to 30,000
habitual renewers of season tickets who do so in anticipation. Patience For all the fancy Dans who write incognito on all things Goodison I say, for God's sake, come and join us for a full season and then make your mind up on whether we have had a good season or not — don't rely on your crystal balls and over-the-top posters who are mostly fictitious. Us, the faithful ones, we criticize only on what is — not what might be. Last season, we gave Moyes and the Board a bollocking and have beseeched them to try harder. If they heed that then they will have made us happy; if they don't then expect the 17,000 hardcore fans to do far more for the furtherance of this club than all the computer game fans can ever do. Check the text by all means but it won't be until the end of August that we as fans can start to determine the outcome of the window. We will have kicked off and I am confident we will be seeing postings here of likely outcomes without the posters realising that a season comprises of 38 games. Bill, Keith, and Davey will be once again judged over those 38 games and the overall verdict will be delivered. The trick for the Board is to know how far to push the 17,000 hardcore fans. We are a voice, maybe relatively silent, but a big big voice. May the seasons dealings leave us with just a shout of something positive. World Cup? When do the pre-season friendlies start? UP THE BLUES Everton — long shot Oh for Jacob's sake Yes, I would like the money not all to be blown on one player, but
with Moyes at the helm he would have blown it on useless players anyway!
And speaking of useless: How many games did Naysmith play this season?
SO WHY RENEW HIS CONTRACT! Even if Johnson signs there still is trouble
abrewing at fort Goodison!
Thoughts As for selling Joey Yobo? Great player but prone to mistakes. Yobo himself seems a bit jaded lately and maybe needs a fresh challenge. Selling Yobo and using the money to balance the books and bring in Joleon Lescott sounds like a good deal for all parties. Is AJ going to sign??? Exciting times for the Everton fans. Hows about a homerun? Shrewd investment policies are all very fine and well but, due to the gross negligence and incompetence of PREVIOUS boards (dating back to the halcyon days when we were on a par with the 'mighty' Arsenal), we don't have two shillings to rub together — so investment in times of an economic lull (???) is the purest fantasy. So Everton FC being the unique financial opportunity (the one that
has seen BK not get a full night's sleep due to offers for the club)
goes to show how any "shrewd and effective businessmen or women" must be
waiting on tenterhooks at the idea of "running the club and reinvesting
in it to expand it to where it could and should have been." Cyprus You Did It Again!!! What about more objective options like, 'It's a lot, but given the over-inflated prices in the market, it's worth paying / not paying'? Christ, guys, I know you do sterling work, but as someone who kinda dabbles in journalism, that's not good writing (and our Singapore readers will know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!!). My fear is, assuming the guy signs, he's going to have a huge load on his shoulders before he kicks a ball — weighed down by expectation. Anyone remember Tony Cottee? (I repeat - overall, you do a great job on this website. So many of
us live by it, and so few actually write in...) Bill's not that bad 'Would another season for Andrew in the Championship do him any good and, if we're talking money, would it do the club good if he's not setting the world alight next season?' WTF? On a lighter note, try this link.
It's produced by a friend of mine - and she likes me enough to consider
doing an EFC-centric one. Ideas on a postcard... Yobo? Moyes's quote shows his naivety in the post-Bosman ruling era. Players have more power than clubs, therefore it's important we give an extension when he has two years left or sell him if he doesn't agree... Never ever let it run below 24 months!!! Unless Yobo signs a new contract, he will leave Ł2-Ł3 million or on a
free transfer at the end of next season. Goal scoring midfield We only have Cahill with a goalscoring instinct. With JB and AJ up front it, would be difficult for defenders to track Tim's late runs. He has earned the right to a place in the new set up. On another note, I hear that old friend Collina is getting a mention
in the Juventus / Referee's scandal. Everton Thank You, Luq Yus Paul Coleman has the answer; unfortunately, it's
built on monopoly money. To me, the one definite is that Yobo must be
kept and not sold on to create funds or pay for Johnson. Andy Johnson Also, I don`t think Johnson is 5 or 6 million pounds better than
Nugent; after all, they both played in the same division last season
with nothing to choose between the pair of them. That would then give us
more money to spend where it really matters on a quality ball-winning
midfielder. And if Bolton sign Johnson, they might want to sell Kevin
Nolan to recoup some money... Missing The Point I think he is wrong and supplied examples of players capped whilst at unfashionable clubs. There are more, Kevin Phillips, Gareth Barry, Chris Powell, Danny Mills and even players like Lampard and Cole were capped whilst at West Ham. There is no evidence that Sven does not use players from unfashionable clubs if he deems them good enough. Chris cites the example of Phil Neville and Heskey unwanted by Sven since leaving big clubs. Phil is not good enough to hold down a regular place in a top four Premiership club nor at international level. His strength is as a squad player who can cover a number of positions from the bench or to be brought on to close a game down in the latter stages and in those roles he rarely lets anyone down. Unfortunately, you only need one in your squad and England have decided that Carragher can cover not only full back and holding midfield but also centre back. There is no conspiracy: he has simply been replaced by someone more versatile. As for Heskey there is certainly a case for asking why he was chosen in the first pace but it is also true that both Sven and the Red Frenchman had both tired of him before he went to Birmingham were his miserable goal scoring record has got even worse. The simple truth is that we don't have an international class player
on our book and if site contributors can't agree on whether Neville,
Osman and Hibbert are good enough for us, how can Sven be blamed for
overlooking them? Ouch!! Wigan nearly outbid Everton for a player, Michael, fucking Wigan! This is the competition to which I am referring. Competition from clubs not fit to wipe our hole, at least historically. There will be no Sunderlands next year as teams will be willing to over-reach their budgets over the summer to get their share of the TV windfall. I feared we were going to stand still and watch as others passed us by but we have not, to Kenwright's credit. That was the reason for my post and not as you suggested that I was somehow brainwashed by the Fox/Sky PR machine into believing that anyone could win the league.
I also do not understand why living in the States somehow devalues my opinion. 90% of my info comes from your own website! You don't have to live in Liverpool to follow the progress of the club in fact somtimes distance gives a little perspective. Service Good business In two years, that top twenty list Buster's always blathering on about will be comprised of 80% English clubs with a couple of the usual suspects from abroad. The Premier League will soon actually live up to its name and I'm glad that BK/KW/DM are prepared to do what it takes to make sure we are a part of it. This TV money is the kind of carrot that attracts new investment and
BK knows that he needs only to preserve the status quo for a year and a
half before he cashes in the old 'train set' and rides off into the
sunset (no cowboy movie reference intended) as the man who saved
Everton. Who Next?? Nolan I want because I think he would like to come to Everton and he
would be quite easy to get hold of. The only problem is that this will
likely push our summer spending to near Ł20 million again. Need a midfielder...? At last!?! Things are looking up at last. If we can get Yobo to sign a new deal then couldn't we offer Weir with cash for Lescott [not FM just an idea]? And how about getting Gravesen back? He could be a cheaper option than most and I haven't of heard any one being after him lately. With Gravesen and Arteta in the middle, we might be able to get a good deal for Cahill [if he has a decent World Cup] Maybe it's time to start wheelin' and dealin', Mr Moyes??? Chill Pill to Mr Pseudonym Yes, you can bleat about the lure of the "big smoke" in attracting foreign players and young heads can be turned far easier with a wad of cash. But Arsenal and Everton were similar in stature in the 80s — they had the luck of getting businessmen running the shop whilst Everton got our gentlemen's club with its in-house squabbling and pocket-filling with little beyond self-interest ever achieved. Every time Everton gained success they blew it. The Japanese have a very shrewd investment process during times of economic lulls; they invest ready for the upturn to have a head start on competitors. The so called "big four" (with the exception of Chelsea — and they are an exception in Football full stop) built up a steady business stream to exploit every penny they could from the Sky deal, knowing that every penny they reinvested on the pitch would pay back dividends. So the "wanting to be Arsenal" isn't so much wanting to be Arsenal
and more of a wish we could have a business like that, which we haven't
— but could and should have. Let go of the "unfair" and "what if"
whingeing and just get on with having shrewd and effective businessmen
or women running the club and reinvesting in it to expand it where it
could and should have been. Moyes blows it all on AJ? Johnson and Lescott (or Curtis Davies) plus the Yobo signing a new contract is enough for a good assault for a top 6 spot. IN MOYES WE TRUST! Internationals The point with Neville is that he has won (rightly or wrongly) 50
caps while a bit-part player at Man Utd but, despite playing all season
at Everton, he is behinds the likes of Owen Hargreaves. If players
believe that playing for Everton will reduce their international
chances, will they really want to come? Lesson Learned? Hopefully this deal will go through and AJ and Beattie can form a
strong partnership up front, which is what we have been missing for a
long time. I just hope there is enough money left in the kitty for a
centre-half, and maybe a midfielder on loan (SWP would be nice). Get In! I was very, very low at the prospect of Wigan and Bolton beating us to this signing; the prospect was so depressing. I will give no stick to the management for this signing, basically in the end it had to be done. Anyway I remember West Ham paying over the odds for Dean Ashton but it now looks like it has paid off for them. Next season a BJ partnership up front then! Ambition with Johno Personally, I think it is the most ambitious move we have made since Kanchelskis, and it makes me feel good to be an Evertonian. It doesn't happen often that we sign a player for big money... so enjoy it. He will get goals, he will also create them (I just hope it doesn't collapse). It would be interesting to see competition for the most coveted Number 9 shirt in the English game. If Johnson signs today it will be a good birthday present for me: two
very good strikers we will have in Beattie and Johnson — we haven't had
that since Warzycha and Barlow!? Let's start being positive — Negativity
is contagious! Am I Dreaming? For too long Everton have been the laughing stock of the Premier league and this deal, if it happens, could be a turnaround in our fortunes. For once, a decent player has chosen us above others and I am fucking made up. In fact I might even come home to wallow in the feel-good factor you lucky twats are enjoying at the moment. Wait a minute, though: we still have the meeting of AJ and Moyes to get through. It could turn in to another Bellamy episode. The whole deal may yet be fucked up by the ginger whinger. No, that's silly; there's no way Davey Boy will fuck this one up on us. At last we the pace-starved thousands will get to see a player turn on the turbos and blast away from opposition defenders. The goal famine is over the flood gates have opened we are back. See how one good signing can give a man hope, please let it be true
and not just another PR stunt. Champions league here we come Again
YIPPEE. Season tickets CLICK HERE TO RENEW YOUR SEASON TICKET ONLINE Is this just another stunt to get us to buy our season tickets?
Because, even if it is, Bill Kenwright is just going to shit himself
when Andy Johnson agrees to join us? BK then knows he's got to spend
Ł8.5M, which means he will probably pull out. Another season where we
supposedly "go for a top forward" that gets us to buy our season
tickets, the funny thing is Palace haven't even confirmed they have
accepted our bid yet. Everton Thoughts I have to say I am pleased about AJ's signing if in fact it does go ahead. Who could blame Moyes for seriously addressing our one major problem all of last season (and a long time before)? Isn't a decent striker what nearly everyone (both anti- and pro-Moyes) has agreed that we need the most? It's possible we may be able to buy a striker from overseas for a few million less (e.g. Benni McCarthy), who really knows? But signing someone with experience in the Premiership and the English game seems a logical way of thinking. Admittedly this didn't seem to make much difference in the case of Beattie who hasn't delivered what his large transfer fee demanded. Perhaps Ł8.5M is a lot but I think Everton are simply paying what the market is requiring at this point in time. There are 2-3 other Premiership sides in the chase for his signature and there simply aren't many English strikers of good quality available. How many more transfer windows are we to wait before attempting to solve this problem? Johnson being quite young also has a decent chance of holding some or all of his value over the coming years. He is fast and can score goals (anyone remember that?), and could soon be playing at the highest level. It's no coincidence that he is in the England back-up squad over many other established young strikers in the Premiership, and it's important to remember that he was also selected with the added disadvantage of being a Championship player. The fact that he wants to play for Everton (or reportedly does) is another big plus. Who knows if he will become a great player for EFC, but he certainly fits the mould of what could be a good signing. I think this time around it's a case of credit where credit is due
for Moyes and Kenwright; at least they are finally showing some ambition
and it has to have hurt to almost certainly forked out way more than
they would have originally hoped to pay. If Moyes manages to sign
another decent central defender, or at a minimum keep Yobo, we will have
taken a few decent steps in a positive direction. Just a few more decent
signings away.... Jordan — Wanker; Johnson — probably shit
Sounds a bit like we've been here before — Beattie, but I'm prepared to give him a go. He's got pace and he looks like a lairy little shit. Believe me I'm not getting all Football Manager here but Arsenal have just paid significantly less for Rosicky who is probably the most elegant footballer I've ever seen. I remember him form Euro 04 — absolute class. Not happy about being mugged by that complete tosser Jordan. He seems to treat everyone exactly how he doesn't expect to be treated himself and seems to get away with it. Tosser. Also, he's the spitting image of Kevin Arnold's brother in my
favourite American TV series — The Wonder Years, and he played the role
of a complete tosser too. We could have cast our nets further Why, oh why...? When did a certain element of Everton support become such whiners? "We should be more like Arsenal" — "We should be competing with Man Utd, Liverpool and Newcastle" WAKE THE FUCK UP! They have money, we have fuck all. Do you want to get really down to the truth? They have good facilities, goood stadia, good training setups, good media relations, good scouting networks, good youth policies, AND EVERTON FC HAVE NOTHING ANYTHING LIKE AS GOOD. I don't support Everton based on any other promise, I know we have
nothing; I don't like it, but I accept it, BECAUSE NO AMOUNT OF CRYING
LIKE A PUSSY WILL CHANGE IT. Great News! ... Or is it? Or are all Everton's pre-conditions of appearance money and sub-clauses deliberately designed to antagonize Palace and therefore allow Kenwright to get off the hook? Maybe I'm getting cynical. AJ Forever Blue!!! Come on Kenwright! Part two He hasn't even signed and yet the club wants to sucker us into buying season tickets! This makes me even more suspicious of this bid. Is it real? Seems like it's another ploy to rob us of our money. And has anyone noticed Dutch has disappeared? Seems like he has informed Everton of the discontent of the fans, and
now a bid of blue? Tossers! Come on, Kenwright! Kenwright: This is your chance to redeem yourself to us fans for the
years of neglect and incompetence! COME ON AND SHOW THE PREMIERSHIP WE
ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH! Unless this is another Scott Parker
event! Toffees..... Reinventing The Wheel The issue isn't what Johnson is worth, the issue is what can Jordan and Palace get. Wigan and Bolton have allegedly accepted Palace's valuation, there fore Everton have to pay up or get out. It's the same with Lescott and Nugent and anyone else. You have to pay the market price, that's basic economics. Please don't tell me in two days time we've resigned for a third time
"the fox in the box", Jeffers, because he's cheap (and crap.) Blinkered Lots of good players have been overlooked (eg Nolan and Barton) so why do we have to whinge. The fact is that we moan all the time about the gap between the big four and the rest of us so why would be surprised that the best players play for them? If our lads play well enough they will get in: Rooney, Ball and Jeffers did it. No Blue played for England from 1947 until Labby Broke through in the
60s... was everybody against then as well? More AJ This is a very dangerous game of 'chicken' Everton are playing here.
Not only do they risk antagonising Palace, but they risk giving Johnson
the message: "You can come here if you want, but we aren't that fussed".
Either they can afford it or they can't. I don't see that many players
of Johnson's proven quality on the market, so they ought to make all
efforts to sign him - period. Big Dunc for Blue role Everton Internationals It works the other way too. Neville and Heskey, England regulars at
one time even if unjustifiably so, now never considered. Nugent, McCarthy.... In this subject I would ask those of this opinion... how many times have they actually seen either of these PLAY and what makes them believe either would be an asset to our club based on what they've seen (and not what they have read in the press). Having seen both on a number of occasions over the past couple of seasons, I would suggest that neither is a consistent 15-20 goals-a-season striker as can be proved by their records over the past season(s). I think Nugent has about 8 goals this term and McCarthy even less... NEITHER has any pace. With that in mind, how is either going to be the answer to our goalscoring problem? I seem to recall not so long ago there where many Evertonians screaming for Walter Smith to spend Ł5M on ZAMORA (based on the number of goals he had scored in the lower divisions). Thank god he didn't listen. Everton need a PROVEN goalscorer with PACE and like it or not that's
what Johnson is...and to cap it all apparently he WANTS to come to
Everton. FOR FUCK'S SAKE, SIGN HIM !! Once a blue, always a blue How to do transfers
How about approaching Simon Jordan to be out Chairman? He seems to
know how to conduct transfer business for players under contract at his
club. The Mighty Everton FC Living in the south, most of my mates support London teams and after a bit of banter with a Gooner about transfers, it took me back to Tony Cottee. That when he signed for us the competition was Arsenal who at thay time we were on par with, maybe a little better than. We had similar sized grounds, support and history of success. They have just moved to a new stadium, have an exciting team of players (one of whom will always be in the running for player of the year), and have a standing in the game that we can just dream of. A bad decision during their biggest game of recent times cost them a chance to win the greatest prize in the European game, whereas a similar situation cost us a chance to qualify for that same competition. That was our biggest game of recent times! As much as I love Goodison, she's looking her age, and our best
player can't make it into his own county's World Cup squad. How the
mighty fall! Andy Johnson Why not take a couple of risks on other Championship players (á la
Kendall) and see if they pay off? Cameron Jerome for Ł3.5M has just
passed us by, so let's look at some others. The money we save should be
invested in our disgrace of a youth academy, which has worse facilities
than our local pub team! Johnson We'll not buy anyone with any sort of class this summer, just like
last year!! We're going nowhere as a club and it is highly depressing!!! The Eyes Have It As a fan, I want to see a goalscorer (PLEASE!!) at the club so I hope we buy him even at Ł8.5m — I know he's not worth that but I WANT a striker. Minus 15 anyone? But I don't mind as it's not my job to balance the books. From BK's perspective, would you let DM get his hands on big money as his dealings thus far have been disastrous — Per Krřldrup, Davies etc. He also lets players go and then resigns them a few months later, for Pete's sake. From DM's perspective, he is a dour Scot whose game plan (he has no Plan B) is based entirely on the Protestant work ethic (although he did play for the wrong Glasgow side strangely then) who wants hard graft, sneak a goal and defend for the rest of the game. From the selling club's perspective, it's right to start a bidding war between clubs to push the price up and get as much as you can. From the player and his agent's perspective, the higher the transfer fee, the bigger the wedge to be trousered. Also, saying you prefer to play for one of the clubs does your fee no harm either. Could be a red herring after all. Hopefully we will get the spine of the team sorted out — we've got a
keeper (for a year) and we need a centre back, a creative midfield
playmaker and a striker — AJ or not. Have we got Ł20M? Reward And as for improvement, try improving the team by buying some decent
talent who can actually play the game. Mr Wyness, you are a total idiot
if you think the fans will swallow this latest PR stunt. We come to
watch football — not to marvel at the latest technology aimed at
providing companies with fans' spending habits etc. Wigan's whipping boys The rumour mill bit about AJ signing for Bolton already is the biggest load of shite I've read so far "...has opted for a move to the North-West", well done on the geography Scott, inspired journalism! To use Rick Tarleton's Freudian-titled letter "Johnson, if we want him, we have to pay the pric" — we are... we can't and shouldn't go higher than this figure, but it sounds like the he actually wants to join us — and we need some pace and a proven goalscorer. Vaughan and Anichebe will hopefully be given time to develop too. Admittedly a large number of AJ's goals were from the spot in Palace's Prem season, but then the same could be said about Alan Shearer, whilst at Blackburn especially. Whatever players we go for — unless Danny Mills appeals — the price will get bumped up. We can hardly be surprised Wolves want more than a handshake for Lescott. But we can't and mustn't be out muscled by the likes of Wigan (fucking Wigan!!), who've just put in a bid in for Huth of Ł5.5M (though to be honest the novelty of shouting "HOOOOOOOOOOOTH", whenever he touches the ball would wear thin quickly). Last summer, DM acted as Souness's scout... let's not allow ourselves
the same humiliation this summer but with the likes Wigan and Bolton
pissing on our "dreams". Professor Moyes On the official website - When you click on the news story 'Moyes to bolster his defence for next season with the signing of Alan Stubbs'...in the middle of the story there is a trailer for the new X-Men movie. Is this some sort of cryptic message?? Or just horrible irony?? Bunch of freaks fighting against the rest of the beautiful, normal
people in the Premiership, ahem, I mean world. Maybe that's the story
behind Gary Naysmith's horrible facial hair, shall we call him
Wolverine? Disgrace A laughing stock It is an embarrassment and quite frankly the sooner Johnson moves to
Bolton, the better as I am already pissed off by another Scooby
Kenwright Do moment! This time it isn't Moyes the weak link, but they
all should leave TONIGHT! To AJ or not to AJ? At some level, someone from the club has declared their interest in Johnson off the record. I suspect that Buster, Billy and Davey were hoping to take Johnson on a part payment arrangement with installments, or matching Palace's valuation, which they expected to be nearer to Ł5M-Ł6M. Either way, to declare that publicly would be incredibly embarrassing, considering that -
Sure, Johnson is probably overvalued and his stock has no doubt reduced because of playing in the Championship. However, look for it to improve should he bang in 15-20 goals for Bolton or Wigan. With that scenario, that price tag of Ł8.5M could look cheap in 12 months time. I do think people forget how effective AJ has been for Palace. In a league, where their squad quality is no better than above average, Johnson has continued to knock in the goals. The same happened in the 2004-05 season in the Premiership, where he did what Darren Bent has done for Charlton this time around — and some. People can also say that Johnson's not a big player, but neither was Tony Cottee. I certainly didn't have any complaints about Cottee. Our Diddy Men in the late 80s and early 90s were certainly more effective than any big target man since. If it's a choice of Ł8.5M for Johnson who is proven at this level, or Ł4M for Nugent who isn't, there's no contest in my eyes. We really shouldn't allow ourselves to outbid on Johnson. He's a
quality player, and if you are trying to send a message to potential
investors saying "this club is going places" (i.e. not down a division)
what better way to start? So, though there is time for Everton to match
the Bolton & Wigan bids, you have to ask that if the money's there, why
they haven't already? Rather than leaving us to wonder whether it's a
lack of funds or Dithering Davey to blame, I do wish the club would come
out and be honest with us. We know they won't though. We are a joke Wake up! This is business and if they believe he would turn down
lucrative terms from either club then Kenwright & Moyes need to wake up
and smell the roses. The truth is Everton have not been a big club since
the 1987 title win and we will never attract players of real quality
(Arteta excepted) whilst Bullshit and Dithering are around Why Not? What is going on here? Surely if we don't have the money for him, why are we putting in a bid of Ł8M? How come we can afford Ł8M but not Ł8.5M? Why is Ł500k so important? It's almost as if they are deliberately going out of their way to wind up Jordan (and AJ). Can't they see what this type of behaviour does for morale both within the club and amongst the fans? What is needed here is leadership, a message indicating what direction this club of ours is going. If you want a decent striker who will score goals in the Premiership, you usually have to pay top wack. If Moyes had been more decisive in the past we might have been lucky and got Bent, Bellamy etc at a more reasonable price. The fact is AJ is too well known, he was never going to be sold for a more reasonable Ł5M. Why can't Moyes and Kenwright see that the extra Ł3.5M is what they are now having to pay for past ineptitude? We are not in a position to 'unearth a gem' at a cheaper price. We
can't take a risk on this. Our goal difference is absolutely diabolical
and has been so for years. A proven goalscorer would help to fill the
team with confidence and go a long way towards improving the way we play
as well. Everyone knows that when you can't score you are always playing
under pressure and so the long boot out of defence becomes the dominant
feature of your game. We have no pace, AJ provides pace. He scares
defences and causes them to make mistakes thereby reducing pressure on
his own defence. For God's sake, can't they see Ł500k is therefore
neither here or there. Unless of course they are playing a game with
their own fans and trying to show themselves competing for a player they
have no intention of really signing? Surely this is a conspiracy theory
too far... isn't it??? Don't kill our season with one player!!!
At the the end of the season, I said to many a blue folk, "Moyesy needs a centre half (under 25), a midfielder and a striker... Oh and they must all have one thing: pace!!!" It's been clear for the last two to three years that, to do well at a consistent level, you need that burst of energy and pace, which quite frankly we lack! To the defence: Lescott has been talked about. Ok... he is young and meant to be fast but Ł4M is what I think it's going to rise to with Villa joining in — that is just far too much! Grygera at Ajax is avail for Ł2.5M. Then Midfield is anyone's guess. If the coffers are tight, why not try Dave Thompson on a free? I would rather spend Ł3M on Jerome from Cardiff than Johnson — Jerome scored more last season — or we could have everyone's fave rumour merchant —Nugent! Bottom line: I think is Mr Moyes dillies and dallies too much for my liking and we get left behind! Love the site, fellas, as I'm on it mostly during work time so it
keeps me sane!!! Heres to next season (oh and a defender, midfielder,
striker.....) Hang on It seems to me Moyes can't win. Whatever he decides to do, he'll be wrong to splash out over the odds on one player and wrong if he buys the cheaper version and it doesn't work. If I was Moyes, I would think, "Bollocks, if Ł8.5M is the price then we'll pay it. If we don't, someone else will and whoever it is will look a pretty shrewd manager if he bangs in 20 goals next season." But either way you lot wont be happy on here? Andy Johnson — outbid?? Well, folks, we have to face reality. Pre-season 2005, we were looking at possible Champions League or even a decent Uefa Cup run. Thus, our dear friends running EFC would have budgeted or forecast financial year 2005-06 with a decent upside in money as compared to previous seasons. (Thus, we were putting in bids for Owen & others with crazy money.) Pre-season 2006, what are we looking at right now? A decent run in
the league and FA Cup? We simply do not have the money to spend on
transfers based on the current situation. Hard times we're facing here.
It's not a mystery why the season ticket sales are so important right
now... Who's paying his wages? The summer and the January window are really the 'silly' season, but
it's where hope for the future is found. Why else would we all be
checking all the news sites first thing every morning trying to find
some tiny scrap of evidence that Everton are buying someone with some
talent? We're all nuts, supporting Everton should come with a Health
Warning or at least free anger management classes. Andy Johnson At least now, if we are going to make a bid that will bring him to
us, Bolton's bid has forced our hand into doing it. It's possible AJ
would have turned Wigan down but now unless — Kenwright goes for this
once and for all and stops prevaricating — we've lost out yet again! The Big Transfer debate Money. money, money... Whether or not you think Johnson is worth the money offered for him, it has now been confirmed that Everton are a smaller club than those twin giants of Northwest football, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers. Can Bill Kenwright please turn the lights out when he slithers out of
Goodison Park. Thank you... for nothing. Should we, shouldn't we ? Last orders, please! I will boycott home matches as I refuse to fund this betrayal any
further! And I strongly suggest that most of you out there do the same,
as it's not like there are a batch of loyal fans waiting to replace us. Johnson... A thief in the night He even almost reduced Shankly to retirement when he brought Howard Kendall to the club and spread a story the day before that he had signed for Liverpool. Compare this to Dithering Davie as we look forward once again to having all our first choice transfer candidates stolen by lesser clubs. And we can be sure that the Everton bullshit machine we be in fine
form, assuring us they do whatever it takes to sign proposed targets,
and then not sign them. All the time Bill '24/7' will be poncing around
in the Wild West with his latest production which he never seems to
struggle to find finance for, even though he spends every hour of his
day searching for finance for his beloved club, apparently... Will Moyes ever learn? He has now found himself between a rock and a hard place: if he doesn't sign him then he looks a twat for being outbid by Wigan; if he does sign him then he looks a twat for spending too much on an over-rated player. SURELY there are foreign players out there with equal ability but who will come at half the price! While Dutch is right in saying Moyes doesn't yet deserve to be sacked, the likes of myself, Tony M and Luq Y all know the ending to this story: it's as obvious as night following day. Moyes should go now before blowing the rest of our transfer kitty. I also play FM, my Everton team consists of Southall, Maldini, Baresi, Carlos Alberto, Roberto Carlos, Peter Reid, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Maradona, Pele and Ronaldo ! I changed the game so that Everton could fill a 150,000 stadium and I have waited for three seasons for fucking Kenwright to build us a new stadium! That game might be more accurate than you think. The wheels on the bus... oh no — we are on
bricks Dithering Davie and Bullshitter Bill strike again with no-one half-decent suddenly appearing at Goodison before the World Cup kicks off so prepare for more smoke and mirrors bullshit that even my one-year-old son would be able to see right through now of bullshit offers and no new striker. Wigan are outbidding Everton for two straight-forward reasons, the first being they are selling reasonable quality to replace it, funds coming in to go back out again. Everton yet again have the Premiership's smallest squad the majority of whom are shite so no chance of selling most of them, and it would be suicide to sell our miniscule band of quality players. The second reason is a Chairman fat with pounds sterling and one amazing thing nobody has bleated about is that a good chunk of it is from yours truly — the paying Everton fanbase; who the fuck do you lot think owns JJB Sports? Fucking lemmings to the end the lot of us. Sit back and enjoy the painful slow sinking into obscurity that is Everton Football Club. Sing and reminisce about our history but look at the other founding members of the Football League — where are the majority of them now? For those that don’t know, here are the founding twelve:
Maybe we should all take a leaf out of Tony Marsh's book and take
what seems to be a very long holiday somewhere hot with cheap beer and
more entertaining views on offer. Enough is enough The joke has worn VERY thin and it's no longer funny. He has nothing valid to say and just pisses in Moyes' pocket every opportunity he gets. Maybe the odd letter every now and again but the guy sends in complete drivel nearly every day - for the love of God, STOP! Thanking you in advance. PS - the same should also apply to Tony Marsh who's the ying to
Dutch's yang but even more irksome. It's going to blow at GP Will it be Dichov or AJ in terms of ambition for Everton? America and
Germany may not be far away enough for Bill and Davie this summer. Gasp Please leave Moyes, Weir and Kenwright! This is a horrible existence
as a football club. And on a lighter note I played Football Manager and
it is so unreal its laughable. he ideal of James McFadden winning
European Footballer of the Year is quite funny! TeamCard Here's a thought... How about improving the team to allow us to play some exciting, fast-flowing football with the prospect of some GOALS??!! Now that really would be a service... Two words: Shite... and, Shite!!! How come even mickey-mouse teams like Wigan, Bolton etc can get to the top-flight, stabilise, buy decent players, upgrade facilities etc etc — and we do/get fuck all sorted? The latest 'transfer' (or NON-transfer) fiasco just does it for me... its like pissin Groundhog Day! We've obviously got no ŁŁŁŁ, so stop pretending (lying) to go for the 'top' transfer targets. Like many Evertonians on this site have said, "buy the other (probably cheaper - maybe even better player) option ... it's not rocket-science! The so-called 'star' players won't come here anyway ... even if we DID piss loads of ŁŁŁŁ in wages on them. Over the years, how much ŁŁŁŁ has the club got from fans/ticket-sales/merchandise/Sky TV etc etc? It must be a shit-load... so where's it all now, eh? the Champions League 'false dawn' proved to be just that. Sorry to
say, but I just KNEW it'd be a fuck-up! ... blah-blah ... rant-rant ...
could go on, but too pissed off now ... roll on next season for more of
the same ... shite!!! Just as bad as each other... As far as I'm concerned, BOTH he and Kenwright are to blame. Moyes because he can't attract players (or doesn't believe they're worth the money) and Kenwright for letting him get away with it! Time and time again, Moyes has proved he's shite in the transfer market. he chooses the players he wants (Wright, McFadden, Davis, Van der Meyde, Krřldrup, Naysmith, Pistone...) — not Kenwright. Kenwright's fault is that he has proved that he is just not capable of running a club of Everton's stature and is happy to be an also-ran. (A loyal true blue he may be but ruthless Chairman of a football club he is NOT!) Well, unfortunately for him, I'm not happy to be an also-ran — and neither should any Evertonian be. It's a sad day when WIGAN ATHLETIC are proven to be bigger than
Everton. Money Also, I am sure we will sign a new striker before next season, D
Ferguson, name ring a bell? Please Go... NOW! Whether Johnson is worth that kind of money is not the issue. We all know that we need a proven goalscorer with PACE (like it or not, that's what Johnson is!) and to get such you HAVE to pay the going rate. Don't blame Jordan — he's just getting the 'BEST DEAL AVAILABLE' for Crystal Palace (á la Kenwright when he sold the family jewels). At the beginning of last season, Moyes told us he had bid Ł12M for Kuyt and was prepered to pay 'whatever it takes' (quote/unquote) to get Owen (i.e Ł17M). If this was the case, how come 12 months on we can't afford Ł8.5 million?... yet Wyness wants us to believe we are in the top 20 richest clubs in the world — not the country, but the WHOLE WIDE WORLD... BOLLOCKS !! Being out bid by Wigan Athletic — say it again, WIGAN ATHLETIC, is FUCKING EMBARRASSING. If press reports are to be believed, they've also outbid us for HUTH as well. Will the debacle ever end!?! When are we going to stop being 'interested' in players and actually sign some instead? (and not Dickov, Sutton, Heskey etc) Once again Bullshit Billy (and the ever invisible Gregg and Woods) is conspicuous by his absence whilst Dithering Dave fucks up yet again in the transfer market. If you want them, get them (other clubs seem able to do it), and stop taking the piss out of the loyalty of your supporters. This time last year he could have had Parker and Bellamy but ended up with Krřldrup, Van der Missing & Davies — we all know what a great success they have been!! Time after time again this has happened... enough is enough... BOTH
OF YOU, PLEASE GO... NOW!! Response to Rick We criticised them for doing it last year when we notified other teams (re: Parker & Sissoko), but they seem to have learned their lesson and have said nothing, yet you still find time to give out. Check your facts first, Rick. But for Jordan confirming our bid, I have seen nothing official to say we are interested. Also, when were we after Huth? Because the Mirror says so?? A gutter
rag says we were outbid and you believe it and dismiss us out of hand
again? Too much of that happening... AJ However, the lack of funds available and being outbid by Wigan and Bolton is a Bill Kenwright area. I will question the job Kenwright is doing. He's allowed Wigan to become a bigger club then Everton. For shame, Bill. It's a Con In neither scenario are we seriously trying to buy the player. What Kenwright, Wyness and Moyes are doing is pretending their involvement in the hope that we, the gullible idiots, for whom this club represents our hopes and dreams, will be placated and believe that they are really trying to make us a club to compete with Bolton, Portsmouth, Fulham, Wigan etc. It's a con, full stop. The Arsenal method is the way real clubs do
business. Glass Doors Bullshit and con-tricks is all that this shower of cunts who run Everton know. Moyes is just as bad for going along with these clowns every season. To be honest, three's not a lot any one can do, apart from stop going to the games... but then what? Saturday shopping, as I have said before!!! Those of you out there who have been creaming your Y-fronts at the thought of AJ signing — get a fucking grip! Stop believing the shit that we are fed every few months and maybe you wouldn't be so crushed when it all goes tits up. Get this will you: We will never get any one to sign for us who is
wanted by other clubs as long as Moyes and Kenwright do their double
act. End of story. Dreaming It still baffles me why we didn't keep Ferrari. I know it's only
paper talk, but wouldn't it be a sad day if it was to be true, a small
club like Wigan out-bidding us twice??? Woohoo! Go get 'em Davey! Deja Vu! We have underbid for Lescot as well. The board must think we are
stupid... hold on! Maybe they are right! Kenwright is holding us back
and this latest bit of gamesmanship is a disgrace. What happened to the
title of 18th richest club in the world? Arse tennis Of course, it is not just Bellamy; Darren Bent for Ł2.5M; the electric paced Henri Camera who destroyed Stubbs and Weir while playing for Southampton two years ago, cost less than Ł3M. If I was Moyes, I would go for Collins John who is strong and, more importantly, quick. We could probably get him for Ł3M, which would leave funds for a centre back and maybe Nugent if the fee wasn't too high. The only positive of spending all our money on Johnson would be that
we have good young reserve strikers (Vaughan, Anichebe) as back up.
However we would have to try and do a Ferrari-type loan deal for a
centre back. Also, I think Stubbs signing a one-year deal is good news;
however, Weir should only be kept on as a reserve in case injuries hit
the squad, and Neville or Stubbs should be made captain. Is this what we have come to? The first of these ‘events’ is the fact that Everton are about to get out-bid for a player by… wait for it… WIGAN, for Christ’s sake. A small fuckin' rugby town in Lancashire by the way. The second is the fact that Reading are hosting the England B International this evening. Fuckin' READING...!!!!!! I seem to remember my Dad saying that he once went to a World Cup semi-final at Goodison. I remember that we used to host FA Cup semi-finals at Goodison. Alas, I fear that a tent in the back yard of the Park End are not the kind of ‘facilities’ that the FA are looking for these days. Basically, this translates into two hard facts: a club like Wigan has more buying power than Everton, and a club like Reading as better facilities than us. Mind you Rushden and fuckin' Diamonds has a nicer stadium than ours! We need to get out of or redevelop Goodison, and fast! We also need to secure some investment from somewhere otherwise this wonderful Football Club of ours will end up in the same position as Sheffield Wednesday — FUCKED. It is time to move into the 21st Century, along with the rest of the
footballing planet.... or die! That reminds me The hysteria surrounding the AJ transfer is starting to get right on
my tits. No player anywhere is bigger than the club. At Least We Know We Bid!!! The despicable Simon Jordan reflected on Wigan's Ł8.5M bid (and we've bid Ł7.25M apparently) — 'And another good thing about Wigan's bid — it's money up front'. I wonder what terms we'd offered? ps: Although AJ is a decent player, a disproportionate amount of his
goals in Palace's relegation season came from the spot. Although
obviously with our quality wingers he'd score loads... So there is some crying being done I don't understand my fellow fans' problem with overpriced footballers; it's as though paying over the odds was a sign of credibility and ambition. Spurs aren't paying the earth but they are signing YOUTHFUL QUALITY players that will mature and develop into a formidable side the longer they are together. As for all the baloney about the new TV revenue deal, 'extra cash' means a lot less when all your competitors have the exact same 'extra cash'. I would like to see our meagre squad strengthened, but I don't want to see a single penny wasted. Blues look around at Wigan and Bolton and wonder how they can pay hugely inflated transfer prices... What kind of debt are they wrestling with? Are they able to use the majority of their ticket and tv money to strengthen their respective squads? Because Everton can't; we have to keep paying off the crippling interest on our enormous loans. The longer we remain in the red with the bank the more difficult it will be to pull ourselves out of it. Talk about new stadiums and world class training facilities are nonsense, there is not one area of Everton FC (besides its supporters) that does not need immediate improvement. I hate to say it, but 20 years of chronic underinvestment, financial mismanagement and improvement of our competition see us in the position we currently find ourselves in. We cannot turn the clock back and I am not suggesting we just accept it and give up. But I certainly do not have the solution that will have us back in our 'rightful place' (and don't start suggesting throwing money around — we have none). As far as I can tell, the plan seems to be steady (slow) improvement
of the playing staff, whilst trying to get on terms with our creditors.
At that point, we might be able to look at stadium improvement or
relocation, which will benefit us in the long term. Johnson, if we want him, we have to pay the
pric If Johnson ends up with us, then we have to change our structure. Assuming that we would therefore play Beattie and Johnson up front, we would then need a four-man midfield: Arteta as the creative player on the right; Neville the holding player; Van der Meyde or Kilbane on the left; and Osman as the attacking player. No Davies, and no Cahill. As people have been pointing out, Cahill's style of play is very exciting and effective in a very good team whereas, in a more moderate team, his ability to "ghost" into scoring positions is a luxury. Cahill as a combative midfielder is not very effective, he is prone to give away far too many free kicks. Perhaps it's time to cash in on him. Davies can only be sold at a loss or kept on the bench. Please tell me that we are going to fight to keep one of the great central defenders in Joseph Yobo. Moyes needs to be sorting his contract out rather than worrying about Stubbs and Weir. Without Yobo and with a possible four man mid-field, I fear our very
slow defence would be exposed. It survives at the moment because
Everton's midfield see their main job as being to protect the defence.
Their attacking contributions are secondary and that is the main reason
why our goals for total is so appalling. AJ What does annoy me is that bloody Wigan have outbid Everton. Not so long ago Everton were considered one of the Top 5 teams but now even a little team with a small fan base like Wigan can bully us out of a transfer. It really sucks. Ambition? Yeah, the price is inflated and I would doubt that AJ is actually worth that much. But that is the name of the game these days and if Everton want to remain in the big league for another decade they have got to be prepared to pay inflated prices for players who are in demand. I am not suggesting that the club should be prepared to pay 'anything' — there has to be a limit — but if Everton have any ambition at all I would expect that tomorrow morning I will read that Everton have matched Wigan's offer and that AJ is on his way to Bellefield for talks. If I don't read that tomorrow then I will need to consider what a
miserable misjudgement I have made in renewing my season ticket. (Please
excuse the poetic licence...I would have renewed the season ticket even
if we'd been relegated!.. perhaps that's the problem!) This is, jokes
aside, a bit of a Rubicon for the Blues. For me, it's one they have to
cross as the alternative is the realization that we are doomed with
relation to any expectation that we are a club on the 'up' and that (as
suspected) Tomasz Radzinski was right|!! Andrew Johnson "Hi, Dave, it's Bill here from Everton." “Bill, Chairman of Everton FC." “Well, actually, Dave, it was regarding the boy Johnson; I understand
you are after him as well.” “I thought if you and us bid the same it will save a bidding war, the
only winner if that happens is the Palace. Then that leaves the boy
Johnson to make his own mind up as to where he wants to go! It's a
belting idea — I did it last year with Deadly at the Villa when we got
Beattie. What do you reckon, eh, Dave?” “It's Bill. Anyway, Dave we thought that we would offer Ł1M up front,
Ł500k if we won that League cuppie thing that you were in this year, Ł1M
if we win the FA Cup and Ł2M if we win the league — we've got them by
the short & curlies with that one cos we aint going to win that, are we?
Then we thought that we would make it up to Ł8M if the boy captains
England! What do you think?” “It's Bill!!! Dave, you remember me I gave you those comps for Billy
Elliot last year!” “Thanks, Dave. You won't be sorry!” Phone rings at the Jordan residence... “Hi, Simon; it's Dave Whelan here. What's the crack with the boy
Johnson? I've just had soft lad on from the West End trying to stitch me
up.” “OK, Si, you drive a hard bargain. Send him up for a chat and if he
likes us I'll send you a cheque!” Another embarrassing episode in the comedy that is Everton FC. Johnson again Why didn't we sign Ashton for Ł3M? I fear Nugent will be the next
cheaper young talent we miss out on who will be "worth" Ł10M in one or
two season's time when we get round to putting a bid in. If Kenwright
and Moyes manage to pull their fingers out and sign a striker under the
age of 30 this summer.... well, I don't know what I'll do because it
won't happen! Here we go again Are we now supposed to think Stubbs is a great signing, and, for the
way forward, Moyes is bullet-proof simply because he never gets his
first choice options due to money problems? If BK is as big a fan as he
claims, he must see he has to stand down and find a credible
replacement. The lack of investment boarders on criminal neglect. Is it that bad? Now I know we DIDN'T finish there, but IF we had picked up just two more wins than we did, I don't think we would have half as many negative posts on this site as we have. I have just spent the last couple of hours reading the recent posts... Kenwright is this, Moyes and the team are that, and I agree with most of what is sent in (the positive and negative). As far as I can see, there is no easy solution. If we sack Moyes, we're going to be going after the same standard of managers that Charlton are currently seeking: Davies, Dowie etc.. Let's give them at least one more season, coz at the moment, we're
between a rock and a hard place! Krřldrup, Ferrari, Yobo... Once we were equals Now I am not intentionally bigging Arsenal up as I am a committed
Evertonian and this is a forum for matters concerning Everton but merely
as an envious reflection on how we continue to operate. Added to
transfer conduct we have the seamless construction of the Ashburton
Grove stadium and it becomes a bitter reality that what was a Club we
were once equal to are now in a different stratosphere. 20 years of
neglect and flannel have resulted in a Club that can no longer even
compete with the likes of Wigan and Bolton when it comes to prospective
transfer targets. CEO talks Yes, Sky and Setanta will lavish the "new" TV money on the Premier League clubs. However, this money does not magically appear out of a monkey's arse. The fans that buy the TV packages will stump it up. Those fans that do pay will pay more to get the same. Those who go to the games, your cash-cow season ticket holders, will be further inconvenienced for the privilege due to uncertainty over kick-off times. Oh, there is no respite by just going down to the pub to watch. The price of ale will go up and it is likely fewer pubs will be able to afford the increased charges so where you watch the game may become less of a choice. Also, in a relative market, the extra money available to ALL the Premier club sides will, in the way football behaves, be channelled into higher transfer fees, wages for playing staff, agents fees and salaries for people like you, Keith Wyness. No wonder you are smacking your lips! Why should we, the fans, be pleased? The product will not improve. Only “Football People”, which we are constantly reminded we are not, will benefit. Why should we be pleased about that? What you are doing is taking the piss and you do this rather a lot Keith. What should really happen, but it won't, is that this money should be channelled into fans and facilities. By the way are you still hanging on hoping for a ground share with our bitter rivals? Keith Wyness, stop your patronising shit. The cynic in me does not
need to be even remotely questioned to recognise that you have no
conscience and you don’t even believe your own blag. Tell you what,
Keith, keep your gob shut and leave it to Moyes to communicate with the
fan-base or just provide us with facts. We are quite capable of work out
the pros and cons for ourselves rather than just the cons that you
present. Huth? 'You train and train only to be told you are not in the starting line up.' Quick, someone stuff Joseph Yobo into a cupboard! The way to do transfer business? When was the last time Everton made a quality stealth purchase? Every recent purchase or "supposed" interest has been leaked to the press way before it should have for reasons many sceptics would say is to put bums on seats or blag the fans that we really are going for quality with our only true purchases being one-horse races paying over the odds. The AJ saga is different I will admit with Simon Jordan milking the press to bleed a better price for his player but Rosicky was sold just a few years ago for Ł18M so surely his profile should earn him a few column inches? Arsenal's management yet again show how to scout, negotiate and sign quality players without getting involved in public auctions; Fabregas to name at least one other. Where are the Everton scouts? Where are the management performing covert deals? Answer to the first one is "Do we have any besides Moyes and Irvine?" — if we do bleeding sack them. Second is poncing somewhere else lining their own pockets or talking utter shite to journalists. If Buster can spout shite about this new Ł28M a year revenue stream
then surely he can start earning his brass and getting quality deals
done with it á la Arsenal. RE: Begin at the beginning As for me needing to wash my mouth out for airing the O'Leary
suggestion, if you had actually read the entire message you would have
realised what was being said — especially this part "I'm glad we don't
have an O'Leary or the likes of him who would happily piss the money
away twice over". How long has he been here? Sinking Summer Feeling Can't believe a first division team are looking for Ł10 million for anyone, that seems ridiculous. That Simon Jordan comes over as a bit of a cunt most of the time, but that's taking the piss. I think blues getting their hopes up that we'll sign Johnson, or anyone refreshing for that matter, should brace themselves. Time and time again under Moyes we've been rumoured to be interested in so many fantastic new players but it's always the same story. We never sign anyone exciting, someone who could give the fans a bit of a lift, someone who'll breathe fresh air into the club (Cahill turned out to be a slight exception for a season). After a lot of these posts Colm or Michael have said look for us resigning Big Dunc, Weir etc... that's alot more realistic than it is us signing Andy Johnson or Lescott. I may be proved wrong, but I envy anyone with high hopes for decent signings this summer. We're more likely to offer our shitty 'reliable' players new contracts than we are do anything else. It's a shit feeling to feel this hopeless, but I suppose you just get
used to it! Will it make any difference However, he is also not 6'0" tall... which is a problem when playing up front for David Moyes's teams. If he isn't careful, he could end up the next Tony Cottee unless Moyes adds a bit more craft to the midfield. Anyways, let's hope Cahill and Neville (haha) have incredible World
Cups and we can cash in on them. Then we can splash the cash and
hopefully say, 'Bring it onnnn Watford!' with a bit of optimism. Cynical or just plain true? Now has he done the best he can do with his money? Probably not, he needs more Arteta's worthy of the "School of Science" but I am sorry there are not many of these around and everybody wants them. In a world where players are coached not to make mistakes rather than express themselves, I am afraid fans of most teams will have to get used to it. (even Chelsea buy into this... literally). Gone are the swashbuckling stylish teams of the 60s as unless you have the personnel it gets you nowhere (and the financial losses are too great). We are in the era of the 4-5-1 and Greece winning the Euro champs. Come on, ask yourself honestly — Would you ask this Everton team to play like Arsenal if you were manager? If you did, you would be out of a job in 10 days. Results over performances, end of story. Anything else is just a pipe
dream, we must just get used to it and stop complaining. Dutch Also, it looks like Palace won't let AJ go for less than Ł10M, and according to the papers Villa had a Ł3M bid turned down by Wolves for Lescott, and we're told to come back with another Ł2M on top of that. It looks like it would take Ł15M to land these players, have we got that sort of money? Have we my arse! The only hard graft Moyes does is when he's spouting shite and spin
on behalf of Kenwright and Wyness. Over-reactions Cahill: Campbell's piece on Ferguson: Transfers: Moyes: There's no right or wrong on these issues. What worries me is that
some Evertonians seem to think that it's disloyal to question anything.
Look at all the successful clubs — they question everything in order to
improve. Nobody's moaning for moaning's sake — we just want genuine,
long-term progress, rather than the current week-by-week,
sticking-plaster approach. On the menu Moyes On Fire! I think Moyes knows he disappointed last season and that's why he's
so pro-active in preparing for next season. It's great to see an Everton
manager with fire in his belly desperately trying to improve things. The
hardest working manager in the Premiership. Void Is it just me, bu't dont you just sense that any decent player doesn't really want to sign for him. They delay as long as possible, and if absolutely nothing better is anywhere in sight they reluctantly sign. I really don't blame them because he seems to stifle creativity and good football. Apart from Arteta, he seems to strangle a players career with his horrible, negative, boring football. The longer he stays, the worse it will get. We may get the occasional step forward — a blind man will hit the bullseye every now and then — but several steps backwards will always follow. The cancer that is David Moyes is seeping through every part of our
club and many fans' psyche. The man now sounds like a shell of his
former self, whether it be managing our expectations or carefully
preparing his exit strategy. I really hope it's the latter and the
sooner we get rid of this pariah the better. Light Relief Football Teams as we know them! Chelsea: Unconfirmed reports from Stamford Bridge say that Chelsea will be releasing a new record at the end of the week, "I'm forever blowing Doubles"! Manchester United: Apparently, they've found Bin Laden, hiding in the Manchester United trophy room. He said it reminded him of his cave in Afghanistan; Large, dark, empty... and just been taken over by Americans. Liverpool: Q: Why do Sumo wrestlers shave their legs? A: So they not mistaken for a Female Kopites! Arsenal: The seven dwarfs are down in the mines when there is a cave-in. Snow White runs to the entrance and yells down to them. In the distance a voice shouts out "Arsenal are good enough to win the European Cup." Snow White says "Well at least Dopey's alive!" Tottenham: Did you hear about the Conservative MP who was found dead in a Spurs strip? The police had to dress him up in women's underwear in order to save his family from the embarrassment. Blackburn Rovers: Blackburn Rovers FC is apparently under investigation by the Inland Revenue for tax evasion; they've been claiming for Silver Polish for the past 20 years. Newcastle United: Q: What do you get when you put the girlfriends of a dozen Toon fans in one room? A: A full set of teeth! Bolton Wanderers: Q: What's the difference between a Bolton fan and a Chimp? A: Ones hairy, stupid and smells, and the other is a chimpanzee. West Ham Utd: A West Ham supporter walks past a shop window and notices a video for sale entitled "West Ham —The Golden Years". The supporter asks the shopkeeper "How much for the video mate?" The shopkeeper replies "Ł200." "Ł200 for a video?" says the fan, 'You're having a laugh.' "Oh no" the shopkeeper replies "The video's only a fiver, but the Betamax player will cost you Ł195" Wigan: Q: What do you call a sheep tied to a lamp-post in Wigan? A: A leisure centre. Everton: Q: What's the similarity between Everton and a 3-pin plug? A: They're both useless in Europe. Fulham: London Underground have decided to start sponsoring Fulham. LUL think they are a suitable team because of their regular point's failures. Charlton Athletic: Q: Why does NASA send their astronauts to train at The Valley? A: It's the only place in the world with no atmosphere! Middlesbrough: Q: Why should you not allow Middlesbrough fans a coffee break at work? A: Because it takes too long to retrain them. Manchester City: Q: How can you tell when Man City are losing? A: It's five past three. Aston Villa: Q: What have General Pinochet and AVFC got in common? A: They both round people up into football stadiums and torture them! Portsmouth: Q: What's the difference between a Pompey fan and a Walrus? A: Ones fat, greasy and smells of fish —the other's a Walrus. Birmingham City: Birmingham City Lipstick — Ideal for kissing goodbye. (To the Premier League, as worn by the players) Ł0:99p each. WBA: Q: Why does Bryan Robson keep visiting Argos? A: Because that is the only way he can pick up any Premier points! Sunderland: Q: What's the difference between the Black cat keeper and a taxi driver? A: A taxi driver will only let in four at a time. The New boys Reading: Two blokes were walking through a cemetery when they happened upon a tombstone that read: "Here lies John Sweeney, a good man and a Reading fan." So, one of them asked the other: "When the hell did they start putting two people in one grave?" Sheffield Utd: Q: What do you get when you cross a Blades Fan with a pig? A: I don't know, there are some things a pig just won't do. Watford: I'm sorry no joke here, because any team which sings "Are
you watching, Luton Town?" doesn't need the piss taking out of them
anymore. Slight Correction It was well documented at the time that Bayern Munich were offering him a huge salary (based mainly on his performance against Germany in a friendly several weeks prior), much in excess of what Rangers were offering. He turned down that offer in order to play for his boyhood team. He was earning much less than Bayern had offered. When he joined Everton initially, it was on a lower wage than he was getting at Rangers; when he re-joined Everton it was on a much reduced salary to what he was getting at Newcastle. Now I will not disagree that the majority of players are greedy bastards (can you imagine telling a prospective employer that $50k per week is not enough?), but I don't think that money was the main factor in any of Ferguson's transfers. May also be worth reminding people that when he first broke into the first team at Dundee Utd, earning just a few hundred quid a week, he was known for taking all his mates from the youth team on nights out, and insisting on paying for everything. Sometimes this would cost him over two weeks' wages. These are not the actions of someone motivated solely by money. Begin at the beginning Working on a budget with one hand tied up behind his back, Moyes has managed to bring in some quality. Look around in the Premiership and quantify the amounts spunked up the wall by numerous managers of opposing teams. Moyes hasn't had this luxury; Everton cannot afford to write off the millions Man Utd did on Veron, but as of next season they will be seating 78,000 so-called fans into their (I hate to say it) pretty good stadium. Say Ł30 per seat, and it's 2.3 million on the gate, every fortnight. Then add in consumables and merchandise, and we can see that certain clubs have spending power Moyes and a few other managers can only dream of. So where does it leave us? — Scrapping around looking for bargains, taking the odd risk and hoping for a payoff. In this situation, can you really criticise the man (any man) for being cautious before frittering away what little monies there are. I am glad he is Doubley sure about incoming players, I'm glad we don't have an O'leary or the likes of him who would happily piss the money away twice over and leave us in a precarious financial position. So, looking at Moyes's signings, he has made some good, and some bad. Looking at the football, we have looked great but more often we have been dull and not entertaining. The thing is was it any better when we had NYARKO, GEMMILL, ALEXANDERSSON, PEMBRIDGE, LINDEROTH and a whole plethora of players devoid of the 'nil satis...' skills? There were few good points back in those days — I recall more under the tenure of Moyes than I do of all the others. We have improved, despite all the odds, and the only person that can take the credit for said improvement is our current manager. Saying all that, let's keep at him, weigh him down, constantly snipe
and make snide remarks, maybe just maybe we could force him out. The way
I hear it, O'leary might be available sometime soon... don't forget 'Nil
satis nisi optimum'. If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody Last night, Gerry (The Great Red) Marsden was on BBC Look Northwest saying his goodbyes to Freddy from the Dreamers. I have it fully recorded on Sky Plus. So there can be no denial. He said that Freddy was a "good Manc" and they often discussed "Everton and Man United games together"... He embarrasingly corrected himself to say "Liverpool and Man Utd games". Now, I have always heard Marsden was a blue and turned his coats because the Kop started singing his record. Well this, my dear friends, is living proof. You would never make this mistake when recalling a memory. You simply would not mix up your supported team. Get him exposed... You know it makes sense! Let's have a full exposé
of this Schisster, eh. Turncoat for profit, and a red icon. Get him
exposed... Collins John Hot Air What a load of shite. None of yer know the real amount of the tranfer kitty (if there is one) and none of you are in a position to influence the decisions made by EFC as to who they buy or when it happens. So, just shut it and wait and see. Stop dancing to the newspapers' lying crap or the toad agents and their upping-the-ante spin. If Johnson doesn't come... so what?! Why is he suddenly the one?
And.... I haven't heard a word from the manager about what he feels.
Until he parades who he has bought before the press at Goodison Park, as
a completed deal, I don't fucking care... and you shouldn't either. AJ — a worthy Ł10 Million? Everton have also been linked with Fulham's Collins John. 20-year-old scored 12 goals last season and would probably only cost Ł3 million leaving Moyes in a situation of not having to sell anyone and still have more money to spend on other players (Lescott). Does Moyes go for broke (Johnson) or take the sensible option (John)?
I'm sure he'll make a good decision — he always does. Desperate Housewives! So let's not celebrate until its official either way on AJ's future.
Personnally I would pay Ł4M for Benni McCarthy and Ł2M for James Milner
— forget an over-priced AJ. And what is all this silly talk about
Cahill? Yes he has the touch of a rapist and the vision of a bat, but he
is the best out of a terrible bunch! In an ideal world we would shop him
off and buy better, but here is a newsflash — WE ARE SKINT AND MOYES'S
BARGINING SKILLS WE WON'T GET BETTER ANY TIME THIS DECADE! Victor Meldrew
I just tuned in to Century FM phone-in and Sharpy is at it... having spent the past three years havin a go at the club for not speculating to accumulate and showin ambition, Andy Johnson looks like he might sign for Ł8 million and its "far too much, we should be lookin for bargains". Quick — sign Dickov instead, eh? Jesus. I don't fuckin beleive it. Ta for that feel better now.
AJ: Ł10 Million Why can't I find...??? Pub Talk One thing I have learned over the years is that, if some guy down the pub tells me some football related story, then it has to be true. Why would he lie? Whats in it for him? So Cahill will leave for Barcelona; Yobo will go to Rotherham; and Beatie will make the World Cup squad. Kenwright has been on a yacht with the Arabs, and Wyness has lost two stone. That' s what they are saying down the pub, so it must be true. I am off to get leathered. Return to the fold I've posted in the past that our management has always seemed to be an old boys' network rather than hard-nosed businessmen with the acumen to bleed the Sky dollar dry. Look at other teams that were inferior to Everton before Sky, not Chelksi as that's a one off but the others, who remembers Man Utd in the 80s? If only a poor cousin, Everton looked a class act in the 80s but those days are gone as well as the boat in being on a par with the middle tier of Premiership teams. Read between the lines on the teams around us though and for all Dave Whelan's money something appears wrong at Wigan: Bullard goes back to London, arguably their best midfielder; Chimbonda wants out, their best defender; and rumours Roberts is on his way too — surely three of their best players? Troubling times though they were last season, Everton survived. I personally still can't believe the form that pulled us from the brink. Now is the time for ruthless business savvy, the pitch earns the public interest which should then be used by Buster to generate new income instead of relying on old money which will no doubt be down this season. Let's go for players who can earn us that chance. Yes, we are no Chelski but like the blue rinser famously said "a five million pound player doesn't cost five million". Players I would admire in a blue shirt: have to agree with Pennant; Davis from Villa; Johnson — but only at the right price;, Lescott looks solid enough and always dependent on how Moyes wants to play the game. Then a look at someone like Zigic, yes he costs a lot more than we have and he would be another target player too similar to Beattie but unlike Beattie he is solid on the ground with his feet watch this for proof — halfway down page goals against Roma, so apologies for CM mode but as supporters and fans we will honestly never be the manager beyond our kids teams and maybe Sunday/Pub leagues but let's have our day on this message board. Roll on what is going to be a really important transfer window and
early start to the season for Moyes and his bosses. Johnson I'm sorry, but I know footballers aren't the brightest bunch, but
even the dimmest (and I don't count Johnson here) isn't going to be
convinced by whatever optimistic blather is fed to him by the Everton
hierarchy. I know I wouldn't and I LOVE the club. What chance then for a
lad from Bedford with no emotional ties to Everton? Johnson et al What this will do, however, is show what sort of management the club really has. It's one thing putting in a bid for Alan Smith when we all knew he'd go to Man Utd, or Owen to Newcastle etc, but this time we should be the best option (no disrespect to Wigan or Bolton). If we can't beat these two in a transfer auction then it will show the board up for what they really are. I don't think that they will have the balls to try it three years on the trot, especially now given the competition. God, five minutes writing this and the excitement seems to have gone,
and the reality is starting to come back. Perhaps it was something I
ate! Why? Tim Cahill You're an absolute bunch of losers. Pennant or Milner It has been said we have only around Ł10 million to spend. The big
question is, do we spend a large portion on Johnson or do we spread the
money on cheaper players? The Kenwright Saga We, as fans, have all played the game at some level (even if it's just being nutmegged by our own children in the garden) and we certainly all believe we could manage and play the transfer market better than any current boss. So our little knowledge allows us some empathy and stokes our opinions. But our chairman? A critical role in any football club — nowadays THE critical role with finance playing such a huge part. And yet the chairman is the person most distant from the fans in terms of empathy. The average fan isn't anything like as familiar with boardroom as they are with bootroom. Hands up how many of us can honestly define "corporate governance" or "due dilligence" without looking it up? Other than saying "should have got more money for Rooney", how many of us can accurately pick apart the business process of a football transfer deal to see how well or badly it was handled? And on top of the frustration that our own lack of knowledge brings, we have our chairman's background and persona. If you think of people like Dave Whelan at Wigan, the late Jack Walker, or even that prick Freddy Shepherd, these are men who we at least feel like we can judge as one of our own type. Straight-talking men, hard-nosed business people, mostly working in traditional industries we're familiar with. When you have a chairman outside of this type (like BK) they tend to create bad feeling very easily. The classic example is Rupert Lowe at Southampton, a man who you get the feeling probably prefers fox-hunting to football and wouldn't wear a team shirt because it doesn't go with his tweed suit. And the man is hated for it, despite delivering a nice new stadium for his club! We have Bill, who is perceived as a proper fan unlike Lowe, but suffers from the same stigma of just being too much of a fancy dan to really be one of us. The fact he can't keep his gob shut and tends to spout all manner of luvvy crap doesn't help. All that theatrical prancing about nonsense? Fuck off and be a proper tycoon! Anyway, when you actually look at it, Bill Kenwright Ltd boasts a permanent staff of 24 people (excluding the cleaner) so it's hardly a gargantuan outfit. I can't give you any info on the current state of the company sadly as according to Companies House the latest accounts (due 31/10/05) are overdue. Oops, early signs of a lack of ruthless financial efficiency! The same is true of a sister company Bill Kenwright Films Ltd (has Bill actually produced any films??). But with theatreland suffering falling ticket sales anyway, it's hardly surprising Bill isn't wallowing in cash right now. Does this make him a bad chairman? Not really, plenty of other clubs don't have chairmen with huge pockets (Bolton, Charlton etc) and they do ok in balancing the books and spending what money they do have wisely. It comes down to the ongoing financial management I referred to in my last post and having a clever strategy for both the medium and long term that reduces debts and lets the team be developed. I doubt Bill has much of a hand in developing any of these plans to be honest. More likely, BK dreams about spending Ł7M on AJ until Buster Wyness refuses to let him sign the cheque unless it's post-dated to 2013. So maybe we should stop aiming all our venom at Bill and spend it on
really keeping Buster on his toes. I'm glad to see fans on here sharing
the letters they are sending to Mr Wyness outlining what they feel is a
mis-use of the monies that keep the club afloat. A concerted effort to
improve transparency and proof of a sound business plan is what we
should all be keeping a very close eye on this summer and not the
transfer gossip pages! Clear the tarts first Oh to Be a Chairman of a Club Ultimately, success on the pitch is what drives the financials off it. Whilst secondary revenue from shirt sales or pies is important, they are ultimately secondary! There are very few clubs that are PLCs (even fewer since Roman and Glazer appeared on the scene), and most of them are shite investments for the small shareholder anyway. They are merely one of a number of ‘manufacturers of the same product’, and inherently are flawed by the thing that drives them — fans. Why would anyone buy shares in Leeds Utd, for example, if you’re not a fan? Some football chairmen have very successful business track records behind them that got them to the position where they can spunk vast amounts of cash on their teams (I can’t personally think of a recent case where a chairman has actually made any money out of investment into a club). Therefore, some of these guys transfer their business acumen into the football business. And fuck, we’ve got Bill. That he’s a fan is not for dispute. Whether he’s a successful businessman certainly is. Michael and Colm (amongst many others) have alluded to the fact that Sky has fucked our game. (Okay that’s my interpretation of your comments guys, apologies if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am on this occasion). But what has happened? Think Agents. Think Contract Clauses. Think Bosman. Think Image Rights. With the exception of Agents (who are still relatively new in football), all of these terms appeared in the game post-Murdoch. Why? Because footballers are now greedy little bastards who are more concerned about whether their latest ‘model’ girlfriend has enough Prada Handbags than they are about the game, or the employer they work for. Fans? Don’t make me laugh. I’m lucky enough to have met players like Pat Nevin and Duncan Ferguson. Believe me, these guys really cared about us. On the Dark Side, I’ve also been lucky enough to meet people like Ian Rush, Steve McManaman and Steve McMahon. They all cared about the fans. A couple of them still harbour massive affection for Everton. I also met ‘King Kenny’ (who I’m not ashamed to say was the best ever footballer I saw play). He couldn’t (in my opinion) give two hoots about supporters. The point that I’m really trying to make is a lot of these guys (McManaman excepted as he was later) earned peanuts in comparison to these pampered pussies today. I still retain some hope. That for every Ronaldo there’s a John Terry. For every Drogba there’s a Thierry Henry. Did this all change because of Sky? I think it certainly had an
impact. Bitter? You fucking bet I am. Utter madness... Cahill may not be a big bloke yet he punches his weight unlike the
puny Osman, Kilbane, Van the missing man and Davies. I for one am tired
of seeing those nonentities turn to water when the going gets tough. If
they did their job better then Cahill would not have to plug the gaps
their weaknesses create. Should he be released to a club with a half
decent midfield, his knockers in my opinion would be forced to eat their
words. Carsley to Man Utd? No more rejects A limited player like Cahill could fool a couple of clubs into paying
over the odds á la Proborsky, Baros, and half the African players the
world gets enamoured with after every major tournament. Just please no
more Man Utd rejects in return. One 'jack of all trades' is enough. Fees.... or wages? That, I believe is where the problem lies — Everton are not willing/able to match the salaries offered by other clubs. Johnson, like any other professional, will be looking to earn as much as he can from his next contract — we all would. He might be prepared to take a slightly smaller wage if all the other things on offer were attractive — European football, great facilities, brilliant players, exciting future... none of which, if we're honest, can currently be offered by Everton. The Board can therefore rest easy, knowing that, by bidding a large
sum, it looks as if they are prepared to provide funds while, in
reality, the rest of the package on offer ensures that transfer
discussions with Andy Johnson, or anyone else of any stature, will not
go any further than first base. Pires anyone? We need quality, short term or long term we still need quality and
Pires would give us that next season so I'd love to see the boy in a
blue shirt. He's a top footballer who is clearly still in good shape —
that's why good sides like Villarreal have noticed his availability.
Come on, Moyesy: bring him on board! I wish.... But stats suggest you've not seen him play! Otherwise you'd not be
looking at stats you'd be looking proformances. I'll agree he's not been
looking as prolific as last season but he's still one of the better
players at Goodison Park. I wish! Some people don't realise how shite Cahill was this season. He is built up to be this creative attacking midfielder who scores a lot of goals but stats suggest otherwise. He goes missing for 89 mins and the 1 min you do see him is because he is kicking out and getting booked because he can't keep up with the opposition midfield (eg, Spurs). Fair enough, he does pop up with a header now and again but does he ever create a goal or go on a skilfull run? NO! When he gets the ball, just watch him: he always passes it sideways because he doesn't know what to do with it. I think it would be good buisness to cash in on him to strengthen — and even Yobo as well because, not only is he a liability at times, but he doesn't want to play for the club, as his performance against West brom showed. Some Blues claim Cahill is more important than Arteta... They must be joking! As for Johnson, I would love to belive it because he is the perfect
partner for Beattie but I won't build my hopes up because of our bad
reputation in the transfer market. Is this just another publicity stunt
to get us to renew just like: Owen, Kyut, Alan Smith, Shearer and even
Collymore!! Maybe we're flush! As far as I'm aware, Everton haven't denied they have offered Ł7M
quid so they would look pretty silly if AJ turned up for talks next week
and the cash wasn't there!I don't think even this board could be that
incompetent.... or could they? Season ticket sales Some thought Moyes would keep quiet about the available funds so he would not be met with inflated prices. Others may think Moyes has a small pot to buy and sell. If the latter is the case Moyes is bidding for players with money Everton don't have. The realisation of poor sales will hit home in late June or July and
a flourish of panic buys will ensue, thus a slight surge in season
tickets and we are back as we were last season, only Big Dunc is
available this time. You can fool some of the people etc, but surely it
won't work again? Cahill — irreplaceable or surplus? Well, I think it's down to tactics. In 2004-05 we played the 4-5-1 system. Carsley holding, Tommy trying to be creative and Cahill always attacking late — in many ways Cahill was the critical player and statistically he scored many goals in the 1-goal wins using this system. I suggest HE needed this system to play because when he is analysed he has relatively poor control, passing that is erratic, and too often is drawn into poor tackles and conflict. So what happened this season? Well, we all agreed that that 4-5-1 (or the "Go out to defend and hope to pinch a goal" system !!!), is never going to do anything other than frustrate and ultimately become ineffective if teams score first against us. So we moved to a more balanced 4-4-2 system. But what happens to Cahill? He has midfield responsibilities, is expected to track back, cover, pass effectively etc but can he do it? Well, if we are brutally honest, those are not the things he is good at, and suddenly he looks less threatening and becomes far less effective. So where does that leave us? Well it probably means we have to revert to 4-5-1 to get the best out of him and possibly 10-12 goals. However, what we are all hankering after is a forward to play up front in a 4-4-2 system — one who will score 15 to 20 goals. Plainly the two systems are difficult to accomodate, and before anyone says you can use one and then if things go wrong change... well just think that through.
So where to Cahill? A real poser that, his enthusiasm and commitment is great to see. He adds a degree of challenge and bite in midfield but I dont really think that he's a 'good' midfield playmaker, rather he's a good 'scoring' midfilder. I would rather see another forward, someone who will score those 15
to 20 goals in a 4-4-2 system, and sadly if that means we cash in on
Cahill then as hard as I find it to say — let's take the money!! Hahahaha Here we go again Cahill to Utd Incentives? There's no point in selling to buy (certainly when we have so few
marketable players) if there is no net improvement in the quality of the
squad. If the squad is not improved we will go down and Wyness won't be
crowing about how financially successful we are. Big Dunc But one of the best has been Duncan Ferguson in his prime, when he
really was awesome. That is why shite articles like the one in The
Guardian shows the writer does not have any idea about the passion
of football supporters. We're (always) three players short of a decent
sid Problem being, this might have some weight when we look at the squad we finish each season with but, by the time we get to the new season, the three 'new' players have replaced three of the players we thought we should keep. For example:
Defeatist? I try every pre-season to look to the future and scan the
websites and papers incessently to see who the three players we need
will be — only to start each season saying "we're just two or three
players short of being ..." well, you know the rest! Question of ambition It's understandable I remember Johnson saying we were going to get a world class manager and we ended up with Kendall for a third time. One summer we "bid" Ł7M for Smith then we sold Rooney and Radzinski. Last summer, it was bids for Kuyt and Owen. Our Board set themselves up for it by signalling their ambition but never proving it. I'm a little envious of people who are still positive about Kenwright
because they're not as miserable as me but I think it will hurt them
more when the big fist of reality smacks them in the face come
September. About a Boy... I used to stand at the front of the Gwladys St terrace, on top of a sawn-off ladder that had originated from when we had bunkbeds. (PS — I'm 'only' 35!) To paraphrase a quote, I didn't choose, I was chosen. And I like that. It made me feel kind of special at a young age. Roll on from my formative years, and I wake up one day and realise that Everton 'controls' the way I think in business. I may hope for the best, but expect less. I can honestly say that this philosophy has dictated decisions I have made! I've learnt to appreciate the 'highs' in my job, because the lows are just around the corner. Luckily, I've not had many of the latter. Maybe it's because I live my life by a certain motto... But seriously, I'd love to know if anyone else has had this
'syndrome'. I think it's been to my advantage! Guardian 'Article' on Dunc Then I read, 'Image wise some liken him to Lee Bowyer but without the charm, while to others he is an Everton legend' I'm sorry, but Guardian, you've just lost my respect. That is lazy journalism at best. To my knowledge, Duncan wasn't an allegedly racist thug, tried for
it, and off thanks to the efforts of the Daily Mirror. He's guilty of a
lot of things, but for God's sake, don't extrapolate it beyond the point
of reason. Transfers Everyone and his dog knows we cannot afford Johnson, but let's get our bid in first so the fans know that at least we tried. As stated before, Howard (as part of the Rooney payments) and a couple of has-beens from Europe... Watch out for the massive signing on deadline day, though: "Big Dunc Is Back". I will not be renewing my season ticket this year. To be honest, I too feel a little bit like Dave Lynch, but what really made me say enough is enough was Ballack signing for Chelea for Ł135k per week and McFadden thinking he is worth a million a year... and EFC will probably pay it. Sky and arseholes like the twats who are running my club have nearly
fucked up our game. Give them a couple more years and we will all be
expected to pay to watch a Euro league while the Evertons, Man Citys,
WestHams, etc will play in the equivalent of the League Championship.
In a nutshell One parent offers unconditional love, refusing to accept the child has fallen from grace. In this parent's eyes the child can do no wrong and thinks with support and love things will turn around. The other parent can see the problem and realises that something needs to be done. This parent is asking difficult questions and enforcing new rules in the hope of forcing the child to change. Both parents love the child the same amount but have different attitudes. We are the parents, Michael (in a non-gay way, obviously). Optimism By the way, I see Djimi Traore is available as a replacement for
Yobo. Honesty I wouldn't want or expect the fans to run the club, that's the
businessmen department. What I would expect is honesty, not that the
endless bile pumped from our CEO and Chairman. I know that's too much to
expect but again if we were all along the same lines, life would be
bearable among the dire situation we find ourselves in. A Question Of Support! When Everton are linked with a player like AJ, I want to believe there's a chance the deal could happen. Sure there's a chance that it's just another Owen stunt but I need to believe that we are going to sign him. When David Moyes says he wants to win something with Everton, I have to believe him. Sure there's a chance he won't be able to make it happen but I cannot think like that otherwise I may as well give up and start supporting another team. I don't understand the mentality of some fans who continue to pick apart the club and the current management. How can you say such things about something you so dearly love? If I felt like that I would have to stop supporting Everton because it would drive me mad. I know things aren't as great as I make out but I will never stop beliving that they will be some day. Positivity and support rather then continual moaning and groaning is
far more benefical to the club and your own peace of minds. Actions, Not Words, please? After last summer's transfer disaster our supporters have little confidence in the club to get some deals done. Based on way too much prior experience, our fear is that these news stories of Everton’s interest in a few decent players are just hype. What we need to see is a formal bid made for Andy Johnson — not rumours and stories, and not some scrimshankers bid of ₤2M plus 25p a week based on appearances. If all we hear is continued news-spin then we can draw some solid conclusions and confirm our worst fears. It’s time we saw for real what ambition Moyes, Kenwright and Wyness have for our club — if we don’t have the money handy then find it someplace else and use it! Don’t start on the ‘we’re one of the richest clubs in the world’ angle if you’re not prepared to spend some of that money where it counts — on the pitch! I understand that we need to be fiscally responsible, clearly we
can’t go off and do a Leeds, but for heaven’s sake there are some
quality players available this summer and whether we make the deals
happen or not depends on whether we are determined to succeed or are
willing to settle for mediocrity. Colm? So which of Bolton or Wigan will we be selling Beattie to, Colm? ;-) Mmmm No chance So excited!! Get behind what though, mate? BUT I disagree with his optismism about 'bidding' for AJ. Weren't we SUPPOSED to bid for Owen and Kuyt for Ł12M last summer, yet didn't have two pennies to run together when it came to Ferrari and Krřldrup. The reason why the majority of fans moan is because of the lies and betrayal of the board, rather than the lack of quality on the pitch. If we (the fans, board, manager) sung off the same song sheet, at the
very least we would be more forgiving for the lack of sucess on the
pitch. So as the current state of affairs are at Goodison there is not
much to get behind! Andy Johnson From pop bitch At least it didn't mention pies! BTW leaving this as anon in case it's legally a bit dodgy! It's an age thing! Supporting a football club is a purely emotional bond. We give our love and our cash to the club but receive no power, authority or official forum to air our views in return. I don't see any reason why Messrs, Schaeffer, Yus, Marsh or Dodd spend so much time posting on here other than the fact that it is very cathartic to see your own opinion on public display and Toffeeweb is as close to do doing this officially as we will ever get. Those fortunate enough to witness the School of Science first-hand will never accept that the club cannot return to that status. Those under 25 know no success so it's not hard to see why 11th might be acceptable to them. I'm 31 so remember 80s glory and 90s misery equally well. I actually choose to let neither era cloud my judgement of the present. As Michael says "Sky hadn't invented football back then". And he's right. The two eras have so little in common it's not worth comparison (which is probably why I got so incensed at the whole Moyes vs Catterick argument — it's meaningless). I prefer to look around me now at other clubs, as both teams and businesses. The top echeleon have a financial power that it would take 10 years of extremely astute business management to catch up to. At best, it's 10 years away... and at worst, never — under the present regime. So, other than making a long-term plan, forget 'em for the moment! What I do see is a lot of other Prem clubs having exactly the same struggles we do. Villa & Man City are the closest in type. Traditionally run, large support, some money to spend (but mostly wasted) youngish manager who is frustratingly inconsistent (actually, no: O'Leary is consistently awful in all respects). So I'll be happy to judge EFC on two fronts. Progress in contrast to this lot and quality of football. Clearly a lot to be done on the second part but if we can maintain progress on these fronts, it'll make a lot more sense to me than just pining for '66 or '85. Oh and Steve Guy, you should post more often. Dont mind reading Dutch
or Tony Marsh so much as long as I can have a bit of "balance" as well
as the two extreme views of those gents. Enough already A case in point Dutch (Everton supporter) makes an argument against Rooney (Man Utd scum) and everyone here supports Rooney and slates Dutch. Supposedly we bid for AJ, thats exciting news, but here's its twisted and used against Kenwright/Moyes. I can count on one hand how many positive posts I've read about Scott Spencer. He's an exciting prospect but instead of positive posts the ToffeeWeb feedbackers choose instead to use the news to condemn Moyes and the youth system. Maybe it's just me but it seems every single bit of news or rumored
transfer is twisted and used as an attack against Everton. I love the
club and have supported through much darker times then these. Stop
bellyaching. Where to next? One season we push for Europe and the next we are fighting
relegation. One minute we are spending millions of pounds and the next
we haven't got a pot to p1ss in. Moyes is so negative and being a season
ticket holder I no longer look forward to going to the match on a
Saturday. Kenwright has stated in the past that when Moyes goes he will
follow. I personally cannot wait for this day so Everton can find new
investment and bring in a manager e.g. Aidey Boothroyd and take Everton
forward again. What do you think? Transfer targets? Nope, I don't think so. Then again, it's no less believable than the
assertion in the Mirror article that Everton have met Crystal Palace's
valuation for Andy Johnson. Seven million quid? I'd wager we haven't got
seventy quid. Re: Talent spotting He’ll be called disloyal, not a proper fan and some tosspots will probably even accuse him of being a kopite. That’s the problem at Everton; we have become accustomed to nothing more than piss-poor mediocrity. Whilst some fans appear to be happy with their lot, there are many out there who aren’t. There are Championship clubs that are run more effectively and
efficiently than Everton. The best demonstration of a club’s ambition is
its transfer policy. Apparently, Everton are in the top twenty richest
clubs in the world and they are the most profitable club in this
country. I’m willing to bet my kidneys we won’t be going after any of
the players that the other clubs from that twenty will be after. Editor responses ALL talent is marketable at some point or other. We can only applaud any attempt to widen the net, scouting wherever talent may be, and in general raising our profile, particularly overseas. — Colm Thank you Colm for providing a positive reply in the mailbag. It
makes a refreshing change. Michael, I really hope you use an electric
shaver in the mornings, I would hate to think you have razor blades
lying around. Selling club In response to Peter Laing's article, what kind of shit would we be in without the Rooney sale? Ball, Jeffers and McCann have hardly left to provide the impact of losing the most talented young prospect in decades. We could have easily built a team around Rooney... in fact, we tried — finished 17th. How hard and annoying must it have been to put your shirt on in that dressing room, knowing that — even if you ran the length of the pitch, took the ball from any strikers foot, turned away from another player, one-two'd it all up the pitch then had a shot from 20 yards, keeper saves it with the save of the season, it fall's to Rooney two yards out who bangs it home — the papers and majority of fans next day would scream "Wayne does it again!". Selling that great player for that price made good business sense as it's nearly all profit. We cannot build a team around one player, we cannot build a team around four players who are not what we want, we dont have the money, However, Osman and Hibbert have come through the ranks and they are both solid team players. Hopefully, with more to come, I freely admit the club have seen little comeback from the sale of Rooney but what money we have had has been mostly well spent. And as for "Bully Wyness" if he really needed Ł60 from each fan, why
offer the price freeze? A 50-quid discount on your season ticket? It's a
favour to dickheads like me that still think one season soon we will
come good again, And guess what? It's next season (or maybe the one
after that). If not, then the one after that. What's happened to my beautiful game? Was it realy because we are a crap team with a poor manager coupled with a Board of Directors that couldn't run a market stall? Or was the underlying reason that I had fallen out with football, full-stop? I began to reminice about the days when 3pm kick-offs were the norm and everyone played on the same day (namely Saturday) until along came Sky and fucked it all up. This got me thinking about just who is dictating when I go to the match and at what time; it used to be the FA with input from the clubs, but not any longer. Money-hungry TV is now dictating the game; it changes KO times and match dates to suit... and, like fucking idiots, we turn up all the same. What's worse is the clubs and the FA do jack shit to stop it, furthering my opinion that they do not give a toss about us the average fan. All they care for is their wedge off the TV company — and there is worse to come: now that the TV rights have been divided, there are going to be more KO times and date changes, because you can bet your life that the tv companies will get together so as not to have their viewing figures affected by matches clashing. It will be us dickheads who will have to re-arrange our lives to fit in with them. The whole game is being poisoned and the players are not without blame here. Take Macfadden (please, someone... take him!): this overated Scottish journeyman has the fucking cheek to ask for a million quid a year on the back of doing fuck all except losing the ball and missing sitters. A few others who I despise are Drogba, Ronaldo (Man Utd) and Shearer. Shearer's goal-scoring ability is not up for debate but the rest of his game revolves around harrassing referees to send people off, diving, and elbowing any poor bastard within arms length. The other two are diving cheating bastards and the game is rife with them. I actually feel sorry for referees (exept Mike Rielly cos he's shite) because they have to deal with the cheating bastards and usually end up being scrutinised themselves. As for Everton, unfortunately I am a whore to them and always will be
for as long as I live. But, for now, football can fuck off until it gets
its priorities right. Its priority should be the fans but, sadly, this
is as far from the truth as a politicians speech, and I for one am
having no part of it. Balance and objectivity missing I like the odd rant myself, but hope that I try to balance this out with looking for positives where they present themselves. I say all this because I am exasperated to read the way in which the acquisition and nurturing of youth seems to be received by ToffeeWeb readers (and some editors). So far, Moyes has brought through Vaughn and Anichebe. With regard to the former I firmly believe he would be a first team regular now, but for the injury he received. In Anichebe's case, I believe Moyes has done well to resist the pressure from all around to 'blood' the teenager sooner. Again, I have no doubt that he will feature more regularly next season. In addition to the above, Moyes has brought in players who came highly recommended and who were being chased by others... Vidarsson, Ruddy and latterly Spencer. In terms of youth development I am not sure what more the manager can do. If you know then tell me... please... but don't cite Rooney as an example of Moyes getting it wrong (as is so often reported. The widely held view (especially on TW) is that we had to sell and that the Club spun it so that it appeared as though Rooney engineered the move. Well try this one instead... EFC did not have to sell, they had been given an indefinite line of credit which meant they could buy instead and afford his wage demands. Rooney wanted the move and forced Everton's hand (with the help of Stretford). Everton did the best they could in the circumstances. Bill Kenwright was too distraught to take any meaningful part in the final negotiations, but both he and Moyes tried to remain dignified throughout the ensuing witchhunt from disbelieving supporters (including myself). It seems that even today it is easier to see Roswell levels of conspiracy around Rooney's transfer and not see his subsequent comments (or lack of) and actions (again, or lack of) as confirmation that playing for Everton was just a tick in the 'been there, done that' box on his CV. The above scenario is far nearer the truth than one which sees Rooney (and us supporters) as the victims. Finally, on a separate point, I seem to be in a minority of ToffeeWeb
contributors who are actually prepared to support the club through the
turnstiles. I make this comment based on the seeming consensus of
statements of non-renewal that appear in the mailbag. To those of you
who have made that decision, this is clearly your prerogative, but don't
claim the moral high ground as your qualifying statements seem to do. I
won't either, in stating that I renewed on 7 May in the firm belief that
the worst is past and youth will come through — and I want to be there
to see it. I wonder, wonder who? This Premiership manager may be be short on transfer funds this summer after his indiscreet chief executive was overheard in the pub ridiculing him for having wasted Ł25 million on bad signings.`Now they`re not saying it refers to Moyes and Billy Bunter but the ajacent columnist`s name is Colin Wood and we all know which patch he covers... don`t we? Harry Meek, Worcester (18/5/06) Billy Bunter (Chairman)? Or Bully Buster (Chief Executive)? Either way, 2 + 2 = ... — Michael Equally as amusing, from the Daily Mirror's somewhat 'humorous' 3pemmys column, the following appreciation:- "Best PR: The Premiership spin doctor who texted a pal with a series of four-letter observations about how much they disliked the club's manager....but pressed the wrong button and sent the rant straight to the boss himself." Couldn't be, could it? Surely not! - Colm The mystery third kit The Moyes Factor Forget McCarthy: there's no chance. Can you imagine the Moyes pep-talk prior to signing? "Look, Benni lad, I want you out on the left wing cos Jimmy Beatie takes up the right wing position most games. Sometimes you'll need to drop all the way back to protect the midfield cos its shite. I want you making wild challenges all over the park even on the edge of our own box — just like Jimmy does. "And, no matter what you might think about a striker's role, I don't want you in the oppositions box getting on the end of crosses or going on any mazey runs and finishing with a goal. It's just not the Everton way. You can argue over free kicks if you want but make sure you blaze them in to the crowd, just like JB. "Look, Benni, here at Everton goals are not important — it's work ethic we like, not fancy Dan stuff. Right,son, sign here." Cue dash back to the airport in limo. Later that day signing for
Bolton or Wigan. Yes that is the way our Davey likes to do things. Just
you ask Craig Bellamy. Big name signings and David Moyes go together
like like a Tory MP and a Female... It just doesn't happen. Worldwide scouting Or having read Peter Laing's article it could be just another way of
finding marketable talent? Surely not... I hope not! Double Dutch Arise, Sir Dutch, you crazy diamond. Peter Laing I will never forgive Rooney for running over and gloating in front of
the real Everton fans when he scored for Man Utd this season. He's not
an Evertonian. He's a money-grabbing tosser and I for one am glad his
World Cup is over. The Moyes revolution of youth is still quietly
wor While we don't have the finincial capabilties to do a Tottenham by spending millions on British youth to sign The Lennons, Dawsons, Huddlestones, it's nice to see that we have scouts all over the world scouting for the best young foriegn talents. The next few years will be an exciting time for us, to see the likes of Turner, Ruddy, Spencer, Kissock, and the Icelanders kids make the backbone of our team. UP THE BLUES! Abracadabra... Using this 'High Efficiency' training aid guarantees recovery from three-goal deficits, usually by smashing one in from 72 yards in the last minute of added time. It works in European games, including the final and FA Cup games, including the final. In Premiership games, even if you lose a man to a poor decision, you will still win the game by a two-goal margin, and the referee will subsequently suffer from food poisoning, and probably die. This proactive system also ensures that, should a game go to penalties, you will never ever lose, no matter how badly you have played or how crap your players are. Manchester United used a similar system for many years before their subscription ran out. David Moyes has looked at the system but has stated he needs more
time to evaluate it before possibly making his mind up... or not. Youth policy European Refereeing Very unlucky Gunners: better luck next time. The Message! If Osman were at Man Utd he would be a regular now. Their midfield consists of the fading Paul Scholes, striker-played-out-of-position Alan Smith, jack-of-all-trades John O'Shea and the frankly rubbish Darren Fletcher/Ji-Sung Park. Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo are probably the only midfielders
Man Utd have who I would say are better then our Leon. Funny you should mention, again, Tony Hibbert and the possibility of him being a Man U player......only last night I was chatting to a fella, related to someone working in a fairly high profile position at Everton who suggested he'd heard that United were keen on taking Hibbert to Man U! Naturally, I don't believe it myself and could have it verified if needs be...but interesting that you should opt to name Hibbert and United! - Colm bEATtie Offered Ł20 to order takeaway, James opts for barbecue spare ribs, salt-and-pepper chicken and Singapore noodles. Also, pizza is good for you as long as you order the right one. He says, "When you've probably burned 7,000 calories, I think everything is acceptable in moderation." Oh and don't go calling him fat bastard because he only carries 9%
body fat. So there. I suspect that Naysmith and Wright will not be the
only pair of tits on show on the first day of pre-season training this
year... The Message If Hibbert & Osman were at Man Utd, they'd probably be struggling to get into the first team, just like Phil Neville was. They are two young, promising professionals doing a great job and saving the club loads of money. Right now, the pair of them are nowhere near England class. Just think, if our great manager played more of these youngsters for more than five minutes a season when there's nothing at stake, maybe he could save the Ł7 million he spent on journeymen like Neville and Davies and buy the quality striker we apparently can't afford. As for Spurs, they're getting the big sponsorship deal because, off the pitch, their directors are attracting decent funding and on the pitch, their manager is finding it strangely easy to attract good young professionals to a club that hasn't won anything for over twenty years. It's not rocket science. It's simple football logic on the pitch and simple business sense off it. When our management becomes more attractive, I'm sure the players and investment will follow. God, I hope Bill and Davey prove me wrong, but if they couldn't do it
last year, how will they do it now? Something that will never happen It would be hard to stay away for those with a passion for the club, but being cruel to be kind can and might work. Voicing an opinion does not seem to work; actions speak louder than words. Do it and see what happens. The Club will always be there, and if we
are on a slide by Christmas, it may be better than watching them playing
League Championship football in 2007-08. End of season DVD When Sky invented football You can find news about Hull, Plymouth and every other even relegated
team but not Everton — for me, this is embarrassing. We are a complete
mess at the moment — out of money, out of vision for the future, out of
everything. Exposure A horseracing analogy springs to mind. Phil, being no better than a handicapper anyway, is now 'exposed', i.e any perceived potential, improvement, hint of class etc can safely be disregarded. He's in the grip of the handicapper and until he drops in grade he's
unlikely to win much. High Goal-Efficiency Football What's the point? Listen, the only opinion that matters is the opinion of the clueless moron that manages the team and his equally clueless management team. You had better start getting used to the idea that us supporters are virtually surplus to requirements since Sky invented football and all that matters is book balancing and profit margins. They do not give a toss how we feel or for that matter what our
opinions are of the club or its players. What matters is money and
Premiership status: whether it is 1st place or 17th place is irrelevent
to these people, so stop this useless exercise 'cos it does not matter
as we are going to be served up the same rubbish next season regardless
of how us expendable fans rate the players. OPTA 'Only four teams attempted fewer shots than the 346 mustered by Everton, but quality was also lacking in that only two teams converted a lower proportion of their chances.So in short, we can't keep hold of the ball and when we do we just lump it up front because we can't pass it very well and because the strikers (or striker in most cases) can't hold the ball up it comes straight back and we are forced under continual pressure. Still at least we put in a lot of crosses. Concerned.....? — I am! We can't go out and do Ballack-type signings or pay that type of money. But if we are to get better players in then I think a more enthusiastic approach may help. If we do manage to get some new faces in. I hope they are young and
have a bit of pace and someone has the tactical ability to allow them on
to a pitch and play decent football. re; Ferguson/Kanu partnership We've had no money? Four years since Moyes's arrival and promise of a young, vibrant team, I'm still waiting for it. Please stop peddling this money argument, especially when your hero has spent over Ł20 million in the last year. As Moyes consistently proves, money is useless unless the manager can spot, buy, integrate and improve quality players. If, after four years, Moyes decides to turn over a new leaf and buy some strikers and attacking midfielders who can consistently do the job, I'll back him to the hilt and recognise some progress. Until then, I will speak out, as most of us have done with all the other Everton managers. We don't 'demand' trophies, all we want is some entertainment and the
excitement of a cup run, like most of the other 'failure' managers have
provided in my lifetime. Football did exist before Mike Walker and
Walter Smith, you know! The difference in attitude "We do need a stronger and younger squad going forward," confirmed Allardyce on the club's official website. "All my focus will be geared to bringing in the players we need to improve our standing. Do Everton FC ever talk about meeting raised expectation levels? No,
we are slapped down and told we have over-achieved, to be realistic by
the imposters wrecking a club that has been competing at the top level
of the game since the football league was formed, and who treat us as
imbeciles. An International Striker — Transfer Fee: Zilch!
I realise though there is absolutley no chance of this happening. As we are becoming too aware, any hint of flair is a definite no-no under the current regime. An increasingly despondent Evertonian The Message It's not just Neville either, if Hibbert or Osman played for Man Utd they would have been England Internationals a long time ago. Probably even Stubbs would have been capped. Some may argue that we don't need them to be Internationals, that it's extra work for the players and puts them in the shop window. But what sort of message does the fact that England ignores Everton players send out? What will England hopefuls like Andy Johnson, Kevin Nolan and Darren Bent think? Certainly they wouldn't want to sign for Everton knowing it effectively ends any chance of an England career. Someone complained that Spurs have annouched a massive sponserhip
deal; I bet having several England Internationals in the side helped
raise the amount. Asia presence re: Wright v Turner! "Turner conceded 6 goals from his 4 appearances and he stupidly got sent off after only 9 minutes against Blackburn. So I rate that D-." Good heavens, Dutch, you're bigging up a guy who has failed to impress in FOUR YEARS at Goodison. He's had no end of chances, runs in the team and whatever you like. Sure, Turner got sent off after nine minutes, but it doesn't compare to not being able to comprehend the meaning of "Not in use: please practice in the temporary goalmouth". How you can rate him higher than a 17-year-old who has spent only 576 (first team) minutes on the pitch in his Everton career? Wright has had plenty of time to impress the fans, and it doesn't matter how many creamy swirls and chocolate sprinkles you dress it with — shit is still shit at the end of the day. OK, Howard will most likely get the nod for August, but I doubt you'll find many Evertonians out there who would agree with your comparative assessment of the two guys. If there's any justice, it'll be Wright who's sent packing and Turner who's given a chance to improve next season. As an aside, I seem to remember that Wright was signed for Ł3.5M
rising to Ł4.5M on appearances. Is there any chance he hasn't passed
that threshold and that the Moyes policy of buying guys on deals like
this will work in our favour for once? Probably not, after all Moyes is
just as shit as Wright. I'll have one too As I remember, it was a quirky piece about a group of Everton mad
fans. Re: Top Players Last season, we had Cahill in the Top 30 overall so he certainly must
have been in the Top 20 (in England) of his position. Top Players Just a thought... Excuse me Mr Smart? Now I have written in it was nice to see old Daniel Amo'taxi'
expressing such fondness towards the club and fans. He and Dunc can have
a happy retirement together as they are good mates! Reply to Dutch Schaeffer article Full Term Report! 16/5/06 I thought I would give an honest opinion on the efforts of the Everton players during the disappointing season 2005-06. Nigel Martyn: Too old; has to go. Dickie Wright: Never been good enough; has to go. Iain Turner: Potential — worth a place on the bench John Ruddy: Potential — should play for reserves as back up Sander Westerveld: good keeper - better bet than on loan Howard; could have got him on a free. NOTE ON KEEPERS - Should never have sold Thomas Myhre Gary Naysmith: Not good enough has to go. Joseph Yobo: One of the best young centre halfs in the country, we should be building our team around him. Per Krřldrup: What an embarrassing episode for EFC; someone should be made accountable. David Weir: great servant, sadly has to go. Alan Stubbs: Ditto Phil Neville: Sorry, not good enough, Phil. Nuno Valente: Quality — must wonder what he is doing here. Tony Hibbert: Solid, dependable. Alessandro Pistone: Good enough but injury-prone, has to go. Matteo Ferrari: Liked him but didn't see enough of him; not surprised he is on his way Simon Davies: Not good enough; waste of money again, Davey Boy! Kevin Kilbane: Hard worker but not good enough for the School of Science. Lee Carsley: Average player; we can do better. Tim Cahill: Get the feeling he thinks he is bigger than the club. Leon Osman: I like Leon — neat little footballer. Andy van der Meyde: If he was any good he wouldn't be playing for Everton. Get Shut James Beattie: Potential... needs help Marcus Bent: Not good enough, had to go James McFadden: Oh my lord! Ł20k? No chance! Victor Anichebe: If you're old enough, you're good enough. Duncan Ferguson: Thanks for the memories but bye bye. David Moyes: Sorry, Davey, me old son; not good enough. Richard Dodd Would he be happy to see these clubs finish above us next season?
Also, to say we have no right to expect us to win trophies has got to be
a joke. I have every right when I pay a fucking fortune every season to
that bag of shite! And by the way, Moyes a great manager, my arse!!! re: Arggggh That's the last time I buy one of their stickers on Flag Day. Wright v Turner! Turner conceded 6 goals from his 4 appearances and he stupidly got sent off after only 9 minutes against Blackburn. So I rate that D-. Dickie Wright is far from good but he did have a few good games. He
never fully inspired confidence but he did make some great saves. Plus
he kept 5 clean sheets. So I rate that D. Any ideas Be careful what you hear...! As a part of the deal, Davey Moyes will take up the post of technical advisor to the School of Science with special responsibility for promoting attacking flair. But.... there's better to come!! As Sven told the Sheikh, David Beckham and Michael Owen will follow him anywhere (or words to that effect) and they're coming too!!! (I hope you're taking this seriously as these two piss artists are usually dead reliable) One of them even said that he'd heard that, on learning about this, the Metatarsal Kid is having second thoughts about where his future lies (mind you... they're all Metatarsal Kids aren't they?) Has anybody out there heard this rumour too? Or am I just the third
piss artist? Maybe I'm better just relaxing and waiting to see what
actually transpires this summer because, especially at Everton, seeing
is believing and we can't afford any more cheap rumours can we? Doing great, really! What right have we to expect our club to win trophies in the manner of the Big Five when we only have a modicum of their resources? Even in 2004-05, when we finished fourth, the site was awash with moaners and groaners, so what purpose does it really serve? Whilst we would all like our club to be amongst the honours, by
retaining a position in the top eschelon, year after year, under our
most successful Premier ship manager, the vast majority of us recognise
that we are `doing great`. So please give the sniping a rest, will you!
Gottcha! Arggghh! Interesting though that he didn't rate Moyes. Donaldinho Club's ambition? We are being run by a gang of amateurs from top to bottom; this current Board and management team have successfully made Everton look and act like a small club. The height of our ambition is to finish in the top 10 two years on the trot. I am not one for slagging our own club off but when it is deserved it should be said. We/they have continuously failed to improve our squad in the last three transfer windows. When we finished 4th, we had the best opportunity for over 20 years to try and begin to fulfill our potential. The Champions League was the one carrot that was supposed to be needed to tempt the quality players that we know we need. The shambles in the transfer market is embarrasing, we should have had three or four players getting ready in the pre-season for the Villarreal games; all we got was Phil Neville three days before (nothing personal but he is a decent but average player). The players that should have been thanked but released were:- Weir, Naysmith (crap) and Pistone. The two players who were worth another year or two were Stubbs and Watson. We did the opposite; even worse — we give some of them 3-year contracts! After the shambles of Per Krřldrup, we sold a striker in the January window bringing in a total of Ł5M, and still failed to buy a striker. The only other real striker available after Beattie was young Anichebe in the reserves, but Moyes being Moyes is so negative he only gave him 10 minutes in the last game of the season because the crowd demanded it. Anichebe should have been put on when Mcfadden went off against Chelsea in the FA Cup, but Moyes bottled it by saying it was a game for men so he put on Naysmith (crap). In my opinion, we could have well gone on to win that game with two proper forwards. I would rather see attractive football and get beat than this crap that is served up now. We have been brought up with the knowledge that EVERTON is one of the big clubs, the fans should be demanding that, but I fear that the Board has done a good job of muting anyone who thinks like that. What happened with us trying to play with the best and buying the best? Why is there no investment into the club? Where is the new ground? You do not hear anything about these issues... do they think we are stupid! Kenwright only speaks when something good happens, that "I am a real fan" act is a disgrace. If he really ment that then why is he serving us up really average boring football? — Do something about it! Get investment or step aside for someone who has. All the top clubs are run by professional people at the top, this then filters down through the organisation. I do not think Moyes can honestly provide us with the type and standard of football that we demand, I would love it if he could because I think he is a decent fellow, but the style is no different then Walter Smith. One up front and keep it tight. Get the correct players and let them play the football they naturally want to play. If Yobo wants to go — can you honestly blame him? He has played second fiddle to Weir for the best part of three years — unbelievable! The team should be built around a good keeper, Yobo, Arteta, Beattie and probably Cahill. The rest? I am sorry to say are so average if you put them all up for sale I would like to see who would be bought. So let's do something about it and demand that we get answers to questions that MUST be asked:- WHAT IS THE AMBITION OF EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB? Youf today, eh! I'm thirty-something and yes I was lucky enough to see us do well but, for the most part, it's been pretty mediocre. However, deciding to accept this level of football is just wrong, IMHO. Everton were in the 2nd division (now called the League Championship) in the 50s but the club did its best and I'm sure annoyed the pants off the fans until our very own original moneybags turned up (John Moores). Even when Billy Bingham nearly won the title in the 70s, the fans protested at the style of football... so it's nothing new that we are moaning. If anything, to me it shows that we care about what we force ourselves to watch every week — and that's what hopefully made us different from the majority of other clubs. I personally would rather finish 14th playing entertaining football than 7th playing high efficiency football at the moment but I'm sure that after three seasons or so, I would get fed up with it and expect more from the team. Yes, football is different now and we are no longer a big player but it doesn't mean we have to accept the inevitiable dross that Moyes has created. No matter what people say, he HAS spent a lot of money in comparison to other teams in the league and yet they still finish above us playing a better standard of football. All I want is a happy medium of entertainment and efficiency. ;o) Missing Dutch Wait a minute, don't all Everton Club employees get time off around
this time of year??? Standards for EFC I realise this is a depressing and barely acceptable point of view for those that remember the 80s, but those very fans have to bear in mind that the younger generations do not remember, or only have dim recollections of what success feels like. This tiresome argument that 11th is not good enough for Everton is understandable for us in one sense; only the best is good enough. But I sometimes think my generation are more realistic in their expectations than the more seasoned fans, who know more than the money-soaked football we all follow. Surely we must accept that the 2004-05 campaign was a one-off, and
that we don't have the resources to compete at that level year-in,
year-out yet? I do think next season Moyes will stand or fall on his
decisions, but as yet, let's not get carried away; at the end of
October, I'm sure 99% of Evertonians would have viewed 11th as a good
league placement, considering we were bottom of the league with three
points. Management Trio
God help us! What you see is what you get All criteria related to size and weight not skill. Depending upon position, youngsters from 15 to 17 had to be within a given range or they did not get a look in. My memory is vague on the conditions yet for example a goalkeeper aged 16 needed to be 5'10 and 10 stone. Different positions and ages had other sizes etc. I am not suggesting that is the way to go but it is noticable that some of our first team regulars despite an abundance of skill are unable to withstand a physical challenge. It is also noticeable that even these days the 'other lot' rarely
have what could be described as puny players. Now I await Michael to
shoot me down in flames. Mystery of the forgotten signing Time to get angry I honestly believe the whole future of the club is at stake; youngsters nowdays don't fall for the bullshit issued by the club and will simply follow anyone putting themselves in the frame for success. The fact that the morons ruining Everton can't even accept that we are not even in this frame means that our future fanbase is being constantly eroded to the point where, if families with a history of generations of Evertonians drift away, they will never be replaced by today's glory hunters and bandwagon jumpers. It is indeed time to get angry. Arteta As for Arteta, this could cut one of two ways. Because he's not taking part in the summer World Cup suoermarket sweep, he's less likely to register with teams looking to improve. On the other hand, Mikel may want to move somewhere where he is able to realise his international ambitions (ie, not Everton). I'm sad for Arteta, because I think of all of our players, he's the one who deserves the chance to play in Germany next month. I'm sad for us, because our profile and reputation has dipped to an all-time low, to a point where you could insert our name instead of Accrington Stanley into a certain milk advert. Everton Football Club, who are they? Sack the Board.... I'll tell you how... with a team that tries to play open attacking football, a manager who's prepared to sign YOUNG players with desire, pace and drive and a board who knows what it is doing to attract proper investors to the club. Kenwright for the sake of Everton FC PLEASE LEAVE NOW and take your
invisible cohorts and your 'miricle man' with you !! Everton's the Team that Plays!!! We then come to our lack of a cup run. Cup football is all about going out to play with a cavalier winning, devil may care attitude. It's about nothing else — just that game against 11 other players. It's about seeing if our team are better than their's, it's about showing them what we've got. It's not a game of chess, it's not about approaching games with the weight of the world on your shoulders. David Moyes is in the last chance saloon and he has to ask himself the question: "Am I capable of sending a team out to play beautiful football?" This is the make-or-break season. It's now his team, we have been in
the top 8 spenders in the last 18 months. There can be no further
negativity or silly excuses. The squad compared to Chelsea's is weak but
compared to Wigan, Man City etc it's on par. Two or three good signings
and we have a squad capable of playing good football. Are you capable,
Mr Moyes? Big Summer for Everton (again!) When Davey Moyes arrived, one of his aims was to reduce the average age of the squad. This has happened somewhat, with the signing of Joseph Yobo, Mikky Arteta, Tim Cahill and a few others. We have also signed people like Phil Neville, James Beattie and Nuno Valente which blew a lot of the transfer budget. These are good players, don’t get me wrong, but there are surely younger alternatives: for Beattie read Ashton; Neville read Reo-Coker; and Valente read Leighton Baines or Michael Ball! I have no problem with the club offering new contracts to people like Stubbs and Martyn as a stop-gap measure, but the people we sign need to be the right side of 25 so they will be coming into their prime at Everton, and have a good resale value at the end of their contracts. Can you see us getting much for Phil Neville and Beattie in 3-4 years time? Exactly — this money once used for transfers is effectively gone forever, where if we had paid an extra million and gone for say Dean Ashton, he would be worth at least his value and probably more at the end of his contract. David Moyes needs to have a real look at this as our old boys will not go on forever so we need to build a young side from now on. The academy also needs sorting out ASAP; just look at Middlesbrough — what an example of a great Academy, and surely players would rather play for us than those Lego Stadium bandits! This must be a priority, although I don’t know how many Moyes would play, as he has never really seemed to champion the cause of youth players. Rooney he couldn’t ignore, Tony Hibbert was and is the only right back at the club, and Leon Osman was only given a chance when we were struggling. We need some real talent coming through the ranks, then all money can be spent on very good players rather than several journeymen. We now all wait with baited breath for the rumours to start in
earnest, and how many World Cup one-offs we will be linked with...
Daniel Amokachi, anyone!?! Donaldinho Nick Armitage Joe Yobo Poll Then let's have another poll in August just before the season kicks
off. When we have Stubbs & Weir at the back and Beattie alone upfront.
D'ya think the results might be different? Just a litte information "So what do you think of Everton FC?" "It was a great club, with especially great fans." This coming from one of the most skilled central defenders in Denmark for a long time (only outbeaten in my personal view by kopite Agger) and we gave him two apperances!! As fans I like to think we should appreciate these words coming from a player who, in my eyes, was treated very unfairly by the club, but still recognises how great this club's fans are... And having watched the utter shite of this season, it seems to me
that this is the only thing left to be proud of... A manager with vision I have watched Everton from 1955 onwards and still have the most vivid and happy memories of the pure football played, and the quality of players brought to the Club, during the all too brief spell when John Carey was our manager. Without a shadow of doubt, this man did most to earn for the Club the title of The School of Science. His abrupt and undignified dismissal by Moores was the greatest folly and a disastrous turning point for Everton Football Club. We have suffered in comparison with our nearest neighbours, and other Clubs, since that fateful day. When I first started to watch football, Everton and Liverpool had the same number of Championship trophies (five) and Everton also had two FACup successes. I contend that Moore's impatience and lack of true footballing vision contributed to the subsequent disparity in trophy gathering between Everton and Liverpool (and some others) in the years that followed. Everton gained 4 further Championships, 3 further FA Cups and the Cup-Winners Cup during the next 44 years. During that same period of time, Liverpool collected 13 Championships, 7 FA Cups, 7 League Cups, 5 European Championships and 3 Uefa Cups. Catterick failed to follow up each of his two Championship triumphs
with further titles but at least he was give time to try. John Carey was
denied the opportunity to develop his team into one capable of winning
several titles but I am convinced that such success would have been
inevitable. Everything about Everton It's about time we started playing some youth for once, buying some injury-free, more than half-decent players, actually finding out what money we've got in the club, changing stadiums. It's about time this club started developing again! The only player who I think that would even make it into our 80s squad is maybe Mikel Arteta; no-one else would even come close. We finish in the top 10 one season, then the bottom 10 next — and it happens over and over again. That's not moving on; it's what you call a manager who doesn't want to get better — he just settles for nothing — happy sp long as we don't get relegated. Last summer we had a chance to develop a team that is capable of winning things — competing for Europe each season then building to competing for the title. We had around Ł20M to find top quality players. We could have actually bought them as well because we weren't just in the Uefa Cup but we were in the Champions League qualifier A chance to compete with Europe's elite — a chance to make a name for ourselves. But Moyes bought:
The only future we may have is John-Paul Kissock, IF (and
thats a big IF) he makes it there is a lot of potential but
others have had a lot of potential and failed. Hopefully by the time he
makes it, we have a manager who has a clue because what will we do? we
will just sell him for Ł10M maybe Ł20M and get some more shite players.
There is no future at this club; Moyes and Kenwright out now, we need a
change. NOW!!! A Few Thoughts... Andy van der Meyde is reportedly fired up and ready to fight for his Everton career. Did Moyes really want to sell him or was it just a clever ploy to get a positive reaction from the player? Is Moyes being pro-active releasing players and making new signings
now because he wants a head start on next season or is it because he
knows he won't have much time over the summer because of his TV pundit
duties? Whatever Happened To The Team? I was just wondering what happened to the 'team'? I'm referring to the team spirit, team-work and the rest of its elements that carried Everton to 4th place just 12 months ago. It seemed that 'Team Everton' got transferred out or onto the treatment table along the way down to 11th. Now who was responsible for the 'Team'? Or more importantly, who's
responsible for bringing it back into action? Bet at least it won't
burst our transfer budget... Double standards So what is the greatest comeback in 40 years article alluding to then? I am so gutted for West Ham for obviously reasons and because of the BBC bias towards the red shite! But credit for West Ham who played the game exactly how it should be: Attacking flair, even with inferior players. Hmmmm, interesting, eh Moyes — isn't that. Maybe we should go after
Pardew as Toffee manager. And Da Silva does not look too great I'm
affraid lads but he is still young so can develop (hopefully). Very disappointed However, if Moyes thinks he is going to win anything with Gary Breen
in his team, then he really does need to go to a shrink. He couldn't get
his place on a very bad Irish team. And with possibly Denis Wise as
well, we will have useless and next to useless. Breen is not worth Ł350
a week, much less Ł35,000. Depressed Dutch Schaeffer Sack the Board Having spoken to a number of staff at the club, it is apparant that the whole club is in turmoil. Virtually 100% of the staff want rid of Gregg, he's an arrogant git who is simply using the club to make money, nothing else. Whilst Kenwright apparantly comes across as a nice guy, he has absolutely no idea how to run a football club, and is dragging Everton into financial dire straits. It is a known fact to many staff that Rooney was pushed out of the club, and the whole debacle was manufactured by Kenwright as we needed the cash to hold off the banks. The Newcastle bids were false, and United won't pay anything else... hence why we got neville and now their goalie for a year. The club purposely encourage links to good players, when we haven't got two pence to rub together, and the frozen season tickets were a gimmick to improve the end-of-year financials. Kenwright and Gregg need to be replaced ASAP... where is our
saviour?!! I'd happily launder Russian mafia money if it meant we got
rid of that smarmy shite Kenwright and Shylock Gregg. This Howard deal... But now I hear that the Alex Ferguson has no intention of letting Howard leave Man Utd and the loan is just a way of getting Howard games so he can regain his form and eventually take over as Man Utd's No 1. What are we? — the Man Utd reserves??? We give Howard games, help him regain his confidence, and then he goes back to Man Utd a better player??? When Howard returns, who will take over as Everton's No 1? Turner or Ruddy will have spent the entire season on the bench behind Howard so they won't be ready. This is not cool, Mr Moyes. The season after next, Man Utd will have an in-form Howard and we'll be back at square one. Moyes, I normally back you all the way but this totally sucks. Youth and Pace! My greatest concern is whether the youth will be given a fair chance in the coming season, or will the manager again be over-cautious like he was with Rooney? I'm a firm believer that if they're good enough they're old enough, and in the case of Anichebe, I doubt anyone can say he lacks physical maturity. Our dire goals tally in 2005-06 is an embarrassment, and I think a chronic lack of pace throughout the team has played a huge part. When was the last time any of us watched an Everton player burst through a defence and slot the ball home? Personally, I can't think of once in the last campaign. Along with a prolific goalscorer, pace is a comodity Everton have lacked for far too long, yet it's one of the most important assets to have in the Premier League today. We get punished in defence because of our lack of it, and 34 goals speaks for itself at the other end. Obviously you still need to be able to finish, but fast players stretch defenses, which creates more space for others, and even more importantly, they excite the crowd... and we could definitely all do with some of that!!! Not surprisingly, we're already hearing the annual cries of poverty from the board, with Ł6M being reputedly too expensive for a proven goalscorer. I'm sure Kenwright will have his lapdog Wyness file the standard spin report to us fans on how many people he's been talking to this week about investment into the club! Talking of Kenwright, I can't say I respect any man who does things like walking in on Radio City's post-match phone-in after the Charlton game to gloat, yet the same guy is nowhere to be seen when the fans are asking for answers on the club's current state of affairs. The fact is the man doesn't have the money to help us stride forward, and he's not willing to let anyone else have a say, which is why we have a lack of investment, and a lack of the above-stated. Ah well... another summer of hope is in store! Reining it in I felt the same back in January, yet despite all the speculation, there was no cigar. I just don't see how with a kitty that is probably realistically no bigger than about Ł3M-Ł4M that we could afford either of them. Palace would be mad to sell Johnson for less than Ł8M IMO and as far as Lescott is concerned, if he really is as good as his press suggests, then Wolves would surely be looking for around Ł5M. Unless there is some secret stash that is being made available (I await the AGM with anticipation), I don't see how we will get either club to agree a fee, and that's before we go about convincing the players themselves that Everton is a step up. If we do have money to spend (a big 'if'), look for players to signed on shorter contracts or for them to have release clauses. Thinking back to Olivier Dacourt, it is not inconceivable that someone should join the Blues just to increase their profile by being in the Premiership only to leave after a season or two. By the way Michael, I think you misunderstood me in my last post. I
was making comment based on the fact that 'Dutch' and others are
aliases. Considering the strength of opinion, it would be better if
people could stand by their comments rather than hide behind fictional
names. Like I say, just my thoughts. Malbranque — French but ok Only problem is he's been overlooked by just about every club over the past few years despite appearing to be a quality player for quite some time. This usually suggests there's something wrong with him, maybe he's a total wanker, but hey, Bellamy's a total wanker and Blackburn havn't done bad. His contract is up next summer so I reckon we'd be able to take the piss a bit too, expect an imminent offer from cuddly Bill of around Ł150k — depending on appearances mind! Just done a little raincheck on the Frenchman and despite looking older than Roger Milla he's actually only 26! COME ON YOU BLUE-NOSED BASTARDS. General disappointment Personally, I don't think Andy Johnson is the answer, we need a nippy lil 'un to partner Beats but this will force us out of the 5 in midfield formation. What to do? Sometimes it sucks supporting a team that continually cocks-up, but
you know what? I wouldn't change it for any other. That's what being a
Toffee is all about. Hmmm Here we go again In reality we get David Weir, Jimmy McFadden, Stubbsy etc and no matter what WE FOLLOW, we trust in EVERTON. I have not been as upset as I was at Dunc's last game — not 'cos he was going but the awful booing of Simon Davies. Sorry, but that's shite, lads: you don't boo a blue jersey, you just should not do it. Two-nil down to West Brom, people left the ground. They walked out saying they were fed up with it all. Again, you should not do this! I stayed 'cos even with the clock going down I belived and hoped and cared. I've a red fan cousin who said he was listening to the game and he knew we would get at least a draw... Why don't WE feel like this? At two-nil down, that was a great result no matter how we got behind in the first place. I couldn't give a monkey's who we buy before the season starts but, come the first game, I will be there. Delighted to be part of the Goodison family again, hoping but not expecting a win, enjoying the fact that I support one of the great teams in this country and getting rat-arsed afterwards no matter what. But hopefully we will do something. And if we don't, I will be there
the season after this, and next and next and next and so on. Because I
love this old, failing, battered, past-glories team. It's easy to slag
us off, call us names, pick holes in the team,... but think hard and
think blue, care and love the team. It's dead easy isn't it? All in the game revealed? Sorry if this stirs up the same letters again but, if nobody watched
it, no harm done. Oh just read the Rumour Mill on Lescott; if we do sign
him, all my Wolves mates will be gutted if they get less than Ł5M for
him, they say he's that good. Positive prospect for the new season West Ham had a great season because most of thier signings were a success. Gabbiddon, Reo-coker etc... were all gambles, but gambles that proved to be right. I'm optimistic that next season will be a good one. There are good youngsters like Vaughan, Anicebe, and Spencer to look out for. Davies, VDM hopefully under a good pre-season will be blazing on the wings next season. We just need to get the right with signings, one centre-back, and one more striker. On paper it looks good. Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Valente; Davies/Arteta, Arteta, Neville/Cahill, Van der Meyde; Johnson; Beattie That's a top 6 line-up, IMO. and if there is a stat to give you hope is this: 2002-03: 7th (up) Cheer up, everybody! Scott Spencer and Dutch By the way, I wish Dutch and others wouldn't hide behind aliases -
just my four penn'orth. Scott V's John! Spencer's permanent Everton career consisted of a further three
appearances, still never managing to score a goal before new boss Wally
Smith gave him to Motherwell on a free 7 months later. Scott Spencer has
to be better then that, right? Peter Bartley, Liverpool I cant be bothered to work it out but I bet the average age of the
squad is about 24. Not exactly Dad's Army. Answer to Colm For Allan Price Dad's Army! Sarcasm! Spencer and Dutch No need to pounce on any opinion he has everytime, he doesn't put you down over your opinions and neither should you. I believe Spencer will be a very good player for us. I have a mate living in Oldham and therefore have seen Spencer play twice before for Oldham and he has been impressive to say the least. Just hope our Academy doesn't undo all the good work or it will be
another player down the drain. Great site by the way, keep up the good
work lads. All in the game All My Support's a Circle.... If the impossible happened and you changed places with him, where would you raise the money to have Everton again amongst the recognised "big clubs"? Who would you appoint to run the financial side? What would your practical vision be? Or would you forsake the dream? Let's be honest, the only Manager we've had with a vision of the "right" sort of player was hard-nosed Harry Catterick, before his illness. He might not have been a tracksuit manager but he had Wilf Dixon and bought and raised players who wanted to succeed and demanded it of others. But so did his Boss. Howard Kendall bought a load of rubbish at first and his improvement coincided with the appointment of Colin Harvey. But somehow Everton always stumped up the cash for record buys, Latchford, Dobson, Cottee etc. Has anything changed?... Other than we are no longer the club throwing the money around at the expense of others? Quite often, I feel sorry for Moyes. How many of us disagree that Ferrari looked a worthwhile buy? That Krřldrup must have had something to do so well in Italy? But if we are to believe rumours, both had to be sat on the bench and then released as we had bought players we couldn't afford to play! I have no such sympathy for Blue Bill as he has been there through the incurrence of most of the debt even if he wasn't the top dog, and the transfer debacles including the "you don't need Ł5M to sign a Ł5M player." Not to mention the fact that he has seems to be less than frank, consistent and forthright. What I find difficult to believe is that we continually release so many juniors (is Rooney an aside or included?) while being seemingly unable to discover worthwhile players from the lower divisions. Look at our great players of yesteryear, the majority have been players on their way up, interspersed with proven players. We are led to believe that the long term debt has been considerably
reduced in the last three years (Ł42M to Ł10M) to the point, I suppose,
that we could expect to be out of debt in the very near future. I
suppose the question is, do we think that the people who have led this
financial recovery are the same people who can lead a similar revolution
on the pitch and will we have to wait a similar amount of time? Joleon! Joleon! I have had the benefit of being dragged along to a few dire Wolves games over recent years by my long-suffering Wolves-supporting father and this guy truly is a quality footballer. Strong, a bit of pace and also the ability to pass the ball when is necessary. Oh... hang on a minute, not much chance of Moyes signing him at all
then really! McFadden is shit Wow! USA Trip Should be revising but... Anyway back to revising for the law exams, just four weeks left to go
and then I can stop procrastinating — ie, indulging in conspiracy
theories. Not sleeping AvdM These are the same guys who are whinging that we are offering Faddy a
new contract — Faddy is not a Premiership player, but AvdM is just as
poor. He was a poor signing in the 1st place; name one thing of any
significance that he has brought to the side - apart form a bum-chin
bigger than Dickie Wright's.... Spencer Signs! Stating the bleeding obvious.... The Liverpool Echo has even gone on record as stating that David Moyes's transfer kitty is likely to be in the region of Ł6 million, with the squad so threadbare and desperately in need of bolstering, what will this stretch to? I have renewed my season ticket as it is a long summer regardless of the mouth watering football fest (sic) that is about to be broadcast from Germany, and the prospect of weekly trips to B&Q and DIY post-August simply do not appeal. We are however promised some plasma screens at Everton an improvement
in catering facilities (Does that mean not having to queue for 25 mins
for an insipid sausage roll at half-time?) and maybe, just maybe,
someone might actually win the depreciating Kia this season after
hitting the bar. Classic Moyes Quote David Moyes 12/05/2006 on why he let Ferrari go. Stubbs and Weir...
priceless! Nick Armitage Please go! And on your way out, take Moyes with you! Quick to offer McFadden a
new contract and ever quicker to eject Andy van der Meyde, it's just
silly now. Moyes won't go for now but at least Weir can spare us another
season of pathetic defending! Sentimentality I can't honestly say any of the top four clubs — Chelsea or Man Utd especially — have been afflicted in this way. If their managers haven't seen players as making the grade, they are shipped out; any unrest is nipped in the bud before it spreads like a cancer. Everton's only shipping out of players seems to be at youth level. Maybe these players are deemed unfit to ever make the top-flight grade but, when you look at the journeymen and inferior players we currently have, it makes you stop and think. Our hands are now tied through fiscal constraints but that's the consequences of never rising to the opportunity of suckling the media whore which is Sky and being left in the wake of minor clubs with the likes of Wigan, West Ham, Blackburn and Charlton making us look like the badly run business we are. Sentimentality is for the fans in my mind: great memories, heroes and
folklore. It will never be our job to deliver that product; we rely on
what I hope is a hard-nosed but credible top-down management team — but
that's a pipe dream as this is Everton: run by a poor lying businessman
and his team of yes men and a manager whose stubborness and lack of
changing obvious faults is removing the fans perception of sentiment,
heroes and positive memories. Sack the juggler Unfortunately for McFadden the premier league is all about pace, strength and guile none of these attributes does he possess. He looks very ordinary in a very poor Everton side, he would probably look good for a championship side or back in the scots premier. After 3 seasons I think most fans have seen enough to make a
judgement and now is the time for Moyes to offload him and recoup most
of the Ł1.25m that he shelled out. Moyes tried and it hasnt worked out
but at least he's 23 and still with enough prospect to command our money
back. Problem is it is likely that a contract will be offered to
McFadden on his terms as he fills a variety of positions and we are
short of both money and numbers in terms of the size of the squad. All Our Yesterdays What has actually changed since then. Has our constant barrage of abuse done anything at all. The answer is NO it hasen't because nobody inside Goodison gives a fuck. The people who run the club, the players, the owner the fucking lot of them. The only one who does care is Moyes but he is so far out of his depth it's embarrassing. What can we do? well fuck all really just turn up and watch the show. No amount of website posting or season tickets not being renewed will make a blind bit of difference. It's always the same and always will be. We have too many guillible fans for it to ever change. Give them a top twelve finish and they will part with there money quicker than Wayne Rooney in a pensioners disco. I include myself in this scathing attack on Evertonians. Why else would I want another year of misery and shame? Maybe it's because, deep down, we think it will all turn round — that this will be our season after all; that Moyes is a good manager and will get it right; Kenwright will find a scouse Abromovich and top class players will sign for us. Nah, not me, lads. I am not kidding myself any more. The memories of last season still haunt me and I have never recovered from our European misadventures. Let's just hope another top-twelve finish is possible this coming season — then at least Butch Shaver will be happy. The diehards are still somehow finding the time and energy to go through it one more time. God bless you all. Why is it when there is any speculation about potentially controversial managerial decisions eg, vdM leaving, everyone jumps on Moyes's back?? It might not even happen, people! Calm down! Secondly, no need to fuss about Weir staying. Yet. He might not even sign the contract! Thirdly, where is all the Zigic and Davies/Nolan swap malarky from??
'Avin' A Laugh Why all the fuss about VdM? Who will sign him for a fee? The only hope we have of getting rid of our crap players — and is that 80% of our Squad? — is for Ferguson to Die, Hughes go to the Mancs, and Moyes to go to wherever is left after the merry go round and take his useless wasters with him. Also, more money for Rooney? NO! We got Howard on Loan. There will be no money for players from season ticket sales cos that money is spoken for. Everton have really pissed me off; Kenwright: it's time for you to
go. Insults on top of insults Short termism Having managed to sell every asset we once had, ie, land around the ground, car parks, megastores, training grounds... and still finding us in debt, Buster tells Moyes he has to sell players (Bent and Krřldrup last January) and is not allowed to buy anyone at least until our financial year closes, which is end of May. Why was Ferrari not signed? — was it because Moyes thought Weir was a better long term bet? Of course not; it's becasue it would mean parting with Ł3M — the fact that in two years' time he could be worth Ł6M-8M is irrelevant to Buster as he is only interested about today - SHORT TERMISM WBA took a chance on Davies for Ł3M and now they are quoting Ł12M for him Old players signed on cheap short contracts - SHORT TERMISM Selling "frozen" season tickets in May is short termism. Why? because the Ł10M we receive will all be included in this financial year's accounts and will all go to reducing the debt. By 31 May, the debt will be artificially reduced by Ł10M (the Echo will be orgasmic) and Buster will get his nice bonus. But it also means we will have very little matchday revenue coming into the club each week next season. So what will Buster do next year to massage the numbers? Well, don't be surprised if this time next year we are offered two year season tickets — at greatly reduced prices — only for our loyalty, of course. Also don't be surprised if JJB have given us a nice little upfront payment in return for all the future profits on our merchandising for the next 5 years. Is it just me who fears for our future in 3 years time? Divine Intervention A Critical Analysis Moyes bought Andy VDM when he was crocked and couldn't play. If Moyes now sells him because he's crocked and couldn't play that tells us more about Moyes than Andy VDM(or it should!). Moyes bought Davies after having kept him under scrutiny for a long time (or so he said) Throughout that long period of scrutiny, Moyes never noticed that Davies was crap! I happen to believe that, if McFadden played in a side with a midfield that made things happen, the lad could develop into a decent player. But he's been pissed about at Everton; asked to play in a variety of different positions and has had difficulty finding a consistent role in the team. Whose responsibility is that? Stubbs is an average defender who has the uncanny and rare ability to send glorious balls accurately down the middle and unerringly into the arms of the opposing goalkeeper (even more so now that Dunc's head won't be there to occasionally intervene). To add to this, he's lost any pace he had (which wasn't much in the first place), so there's no reason why Moyes should not extend his contract. Weir?... ditto... but even slower. Moyes? We all remember the gaffe by Yobo when he gifted the
Metatarsal Kid that Goal. What distressed me more than the goal though
was Moyes's bollocking of Yobo afterwards in which he allegedly told him
it was his job to boot the ball up the pitch. Well, sometimes it is and
sometimes it isn't. This, and the above, tell me all I need to know
about Moyes and his philosophy of football. Dunc's replacement Royalty Blind spot Apart from the witch-doctors in Aus trying to exert their influence, there are another set doing their thing. Currently every voodoo master, morlock and witch with ruby slippers is attempting to tell us about signings, contracts, and the financial situation at Club Goodison. So, can the ToffeeWeb Mailbag help me out? I'm trying to gauge the financial status as of today, 11 May 2006. Sponsorship cash, Ł4.8M from the league, three first-team squad players off the wage bill, the money available in January that wasn't spent, the Bent and Krřldrup cash, and finally the first (or last?) of the three seperate Ł1M installments of the Rooney money. Again I'm unsure of the numbers yet it appears to me that we might
have more than a few pennies to work with, but perhaps I am being
myopic. Then again, when it comes to Club Everton I try to be
optimistic... perhaps this leopard cannot change his spots. One point... You can also forget Johnson. Nearly every team in the Premiership looks a better option football-wise than Everton. The only player who might sign is Nugent and that's only because he's supposed to an Everton fan. I don't hold out much hope for any really big names to come here at
this rate. And, given his track record, I expect Moyes to be linked with
Soljkaer [many a true word said in jest]... Mark Wynne In Moyes I Trust Moyes has received a net outlay of Ł4.5 million per year. In 4 years, he has achieved 7th, 17th, 4th, and 11th. So, OVER 4 YEARS, MOYES HAS GOTTEN US WITH AN AVERAGE FINISH OF 9TH PLACE, ON JUST Ł4.5 MILLION A YEAR. I know we Everton expect nothing but the best. But the big Question here, can anyone — be it Wenger or Rikjard — better Moyes record on the same 4.5 million per year?? The answer is NO. Journalist Bull? The agent of Mcfadden has only stated the he wished to extend his contract and the ball is in Everton's court. So, what's with all the 'McFadden to leave...' or 'McFadden wants higher wages..'. Nobody has said all these things, it's purely made up by the press. and it's dissapointing that ToffeeWeb turns it on Moyes and that he can't handle flair over some baseless quoteless rumours about VdM. The player wants to stay and the agent has confirmed the the club wants him to stay. Lesson to ToffeeWeb: There's a lot of journalsit crap out there.
Don't be part of it!! McFadden again bla, bla.....and fucking bla. Re: Clear Out "Davies — does nothing, sell for Ł2M.... Wright — crap: sell for Ł1M; Naysmith: Ł1M" They're so bad that we don't want them, but what manager worth their salt would pay Ł1M for crap? What manager has that total lack of understanding of the transfer market and complete ineptitude in evaluating players? What manager out there displays an amateurish ignorance that borders on complete idiocy? Yup, expect them all to stay and be given four-year contracts. Petty Speculation Van der Meyde was out with injury, he played well when in the eleven and fit; is the injury Moyes's inability to deal with flair? Laughable. Fickle bunch you are. Nonsensical! Re: Puttin the boot in On Sunday, Arteta played a ball through but as McFadden changed his
run he gave up and blasted Arteta when he could have easily got to the
ball! Do us a favour Moyes and let him go! Putting the boot in Getting a Brazillian? We could do with a "creative" midfielder....or two. Pointing the bone Spinal Tap This scenario gives David Moyes the perfect mandate to rebuild the spine of the side which has thankfully started with the albeit loan of Tim Howard (I would have preferred WBA Polish keeper). Let's hope that Yobo is persuaded to sign a contract extension and we are able to recruit a suitable partner, with Stubbs as cover and David Weir at best used in a crisis. The suggestion that AvdM is being touted to leave is no suprise; he has continued his form of injury, lack of fitness and being clearly well overweight. The performance of both Zoltan Gera and Greening for WBA showed that, although they may be no world beaters, they have the fitness to play in the premiership. James Beattie has probably done enough to be picked again next season but must be paired in a twin strikeforce with Anichebe and Vaughan as developmental prospects. McFadden — for his sheer inability to make the easy choice, which is either shoot when it is on or pass when it should be released — needs to be shown the door. The news that Andy Johnson is once again being linked with Everton is positive. Ok, he can't be considered a world beater but he has Premiership experience. Yet all the Championship Manager permutations mean absolutely nothing if David Moyes isnt provided with the funds to operate in the transfer market, which brings me onto this: Do you trust him.........? One thing for sure is that, if we are to improve next season, the
spine of the side needs strenthening; the defence needs to be more solid
with a set-up that can get to know eachother's game; midfield needs to
be more creative; and the forward line needs to improve radically on the
goal return and home form that can draw inspiration from fortress (not
Sports Fund) Goodison. Pong Hole? I don't often play the role of Championship Manager in here, but I'm
getting desperate amid rumours of all our talented players heading off
into the sunset. Clear out
Tom Sullivan, Liverpool (11/5/06) Step away from that Football Manager game, Tom! Right now. And don a tin hat awaiting incoming flak, Sir! :-) — Colm Moyes allergic to flair? Incidentally, I know nothing of Nugent's style of play but, given
that Moyes comes out in hives every time he sees someone creative on the
ball, I can only imagine he makes Big Dunc look like Ferenc Puskás. Van der Meyde Just one last thing; why does Dutch feel he has to write in everytime
Moyes makes a decision concerning the club? We all know the arse-licker
is going to come out with some shite in defence of Moyes. Moyes and Everton Falling Apart Still, have you noticed that Everton are pushing so hard for the season ticket sales this summer while Moyes upsets the fans almost every day? Oh to be a fly on the wall of the Everton Marketing Department and
Sales meetings this morning... Its whoopie cushion time!! Everytime McFadden fucks up a run or Beattie fucks up generally, we can all whoopie cushion together. Whoopie Cushions — the future!! Van the wrong man As for McFadden, he should only be offered Ł20k a year — not a week.
Cheeky bastard! Here we go again...... No more dead-weight players. I guess Moyes wasn't satisfied with finishing 11th either because he seems hell-bent on getting rid of the deadwood. This is a clear message to all the other players: if you dont pull your weight, there's the door. I'm loving this new passionate pro-active Moyes. Meltdown Andy Van Der Meyde! Van der Meyde struggles with injuries (and has a drinking problem, allegedly) and he did himselves no favours this season.What was his contribution? A handful of cameo appearances, getting sent off in record time during the derby. He never showed us anything to suggest Everton will miss him. Andy van der Meyde isn't the only injury-prone player to find himself
booted out. Sick-bay regulars Duncan Ferguson, Li Tie and Matteo Ferrari
have all been shown the door. I guess Moyes has had enough with players
who dont pull their weight. Best of luck to Tie I recall a player who ran for 90 minutes, when certain other team mates had long since stopped; a player who wasn't the most gifted but gave it 100% and rarely gave the ball away sloppily. Tie and Gravesen in the middle saw us reach the dizzy heights of 7th, I hope Li has similar success with the blades next season. ps: I quite like Neil Warnock, he is a straight talker, passionate
about his football and has a bit of a temper. Are Unsie and Oster still
at Sheffield United? Roll on next season... It's not as bad as it looks... As for centre-back... I haven't got a clue who will partner who next season. Anyway we have lots of left-backs so... why bother... these people will be deployed as centre-halves if needed. Isn't Moyes a genius!!! Yeah... right... I have gut feeling we will doing fine next season but considering we only talk about Everton.. I would not holding my breath. By the way, since Moyes took over, our performances resemble the glucose level in a diabetic patient.. up and down in a blink of an eye... As a diabetic myself... I think I know what EFC is going through... Just watch what you munch today Mr Bully Wyness... it might just kill
you one day. Yes, I Know... Don't Count Ya Chickens.. but..
Nugent is a done deal. EXPECT NUGGET IN A BLUE TOP IN THE SUMMER.
Hopefully this is the end for McFadden! I don't know if Nugent is good
enough for us and the Prem, but he is a proper blue. I played in a few
of the same teams with him when we were kids and he is as big an
Evertonian as I am. He was on Everton's books back then but was let go
because of his asthma... looks like that decision has cost a few million
then!!! Scott whatshisname Also, I saw a bloke who looked a lot like Andy van der Meyde at a
Richard Ashcroft gig in Blackpool last night. Mind you, the guy I saw
seemed relatively sober so I could have been mistaken... Commercial Acumen Shit, we have got rid of dear Li Tie so there goes another grand
plan. Better quickly sign an Irish player or two to convince those chaps
in Dublin we are at the forefront of commercial know-how. Nugent sounds
Irish... off we go!! Nisi satis, what? Awful McFadden Knowing Moyes and his love for all things Jock, he will cave in and give the twat what he wants. We have got more jocks in our squad than than any other premier league club. Why, when the Jocks are the football equivalent of the Saudi Arabian ice skating team? Please get rid of them all and get some scousers in for a change, Davey. Anyway there is always this summer's transfer frenzy to cheer us up.
With all those new signings coming in, who knows what we could
achieve... Get a grip, Moyes, you twat! Is he? Nugent to sign Mind you, I'll believe it when I see it. Knowing how good Moyes is in
the transfer market, I wouldn't be surprised if he signed Ted Nugent
instead. Maybe it's my computer... Season ticket holders: Do you plan to renew by May 7? Ruddy - 11% Turner - 63% Wright - 26% (2,599 votes) Wow, so I thought our performance was a disappointment. So that's a vote for Davies, Weir, Moyes, Kenright, Wyness, the Toffee Lady, or Walter Smith? (PS - if it is my occasionally fucked up computer, please ignore!) Da Silva In reply to Micheal Get Rid of Chicken McFadden! Coffee Smelling Moyes played hardball right back and released them but was (I suppose still is) bleeding useless at attracting anything half-decent (player-wise) and went back to Pistone and Naysmith with begging bowl in hand. Having watched the end of the that season's games with Steve Watson playing his socks off at left-back outperforming them both, it was astonishing that he was not retained as a squad player for that role with a first team replacement brought in. Instead Moyes re-signed two inferior players that should have left and a first team replacement admittedly only after Pistone's injury, the maths and logic just don't add up. I do agree with you over the "reputed" Ł20k a week as it sits nicely
with the Ł50k a week reported to be on offer to another former player,
which was utter shite too. Mr Moyes So expect another sucessful season next season. Wake up and smell the coffee One contributor cites the situation of the club being held to ransom
by Pistone and Naysmith last year. I think that the contributor
responsible must have a bit of a memory problem. These players, as as
was the case of several, were re-signed for a number of reasons. The
main one being the manager's inability to attract his primary targets to
the club. (Pistone was actually released and then re-signed to bolster
the squad!). Fact of the matter is that, when he had the money last
year, Moyes was unable to improve his squad. What chance this year ? You don't need to be a genius! On to another point, there is no pleasing some Evertonians. If Moyes had signed Ferrari permanently, you lot would have been moaning the boy has hardly played and is injury-prone, which would not make much sense as half of his signings are injury-prone and another one would just take the piss. David Weir is 36 now and plays more games than our younger supposed fitter players eg, Yobo, Ferrari, Davies, Beattie, Naysmith, Pistone, Valente, Van der Meyde... the list goes on. At least Moyes knows Weir will actually be avilable most Saturday afternoons. Overall I would actually say Moyes may have made the right decision
in the transfer market. McFadden I would like to say that we ought to sell him, because I don't think he shows any pride when he pulls on that blue shirt and I don't think he is worth more money. The only problem is that if we did sell him, we know the club would find it difficult to replace him, what with Moyes's dithering approach in the transfer market and the board's lack of enthusiasm to make funds available. The squad would reduce further, when we ought to be building it. One thought I have had is that McFadden's stalling on the contract front may be an attempt to hold the club to ransom, because his agent knows that we probably wouldn't replace him. We have the World Cup around the corner, and there is always a post
tournament 'supermarket sweep'. I really wonder whether Cahill, Arteta,
Van der Meyde or Yobo will play for us again, even if they don't appear
or perform well in the competition. It looks like the only way we will
get our 'revolution' is if next season falls to pieces and we end up
being relegated. I think that's a distinct possibility but, as long as
James McFadden gets his mil a year, that's ok, isn't it? Some terms we don’t want to hear around
Goodison High Goal Efficiency Optimal Penetration Through Attacking rating (also known as OPTA
rating). Crowd Support Efficiency Optimistic Rating McFadden For much of his Everton time up until this season, he had been played out of position (left midfield) and only this season, when given the chance, has he delivered of sorts. I just feel that he has begun a decent partnership with Beattie. I'd rather we played him, as he has a decent flash of genius in him every now and then and can score goals, than sign someone who may take another two seasons to get bedded in and may not settle in next to the big burger muncher. It's almost as if no-one is good enough for Everton fans anymore. The service they are receiving, or not receiving as the case may be, is as much to blame as the strikers. *Championship Manager Alert* Optimistic? But on a brighter note it's unlikely that Howard would agree to swap the Old Trafford bench for the Godison bench, so expect to see Howard as the first choice 'keeper. So McFadden is holding out for one million quid a year according to the reports? Last time I looked, Ł20k a week for 52 weeks is more than a million!?! ps: Ask Dave Southers if there's an Anderson Silva
Da Franca in the team sheets for Malaga 'cos I read that that's his full
name. Where IS Anderson De Silva ? If he cannot get in that side, what chance of him making it in the Premiership? There is a guy called just SALVA playing for Malaga, but this name is on match reports from several websites so they cant all be making the same typo (can they?). I can only guess he's been sent packing back to South America, can
someone prove me wrong... PLEASE !!! Jeepers Keepers! James McOverrated and his team mates They know the club will be desperate for them to stay if they are any good or shite and that a potential replacement will be non-existent or they know full well the club hasn't got a pot to piss in to buy a replacement. I'm now expecting this to become a two-edged sword; the players will grab everything they can be, they shite or not then Kenwrong and Fat Boy Wyness will spin the sale of players as essential after contract negotiations have broken down over pay. A lose-lose situation for the supporters again... God, this club
makes me sick, but part of this problem is the state of Sky's brand of
money-grabbing sports people. After Dunc left, I can't honestly see
Everton signing anyone that could earn that sort of adulation from the
supporters and fans because we are as poor as a church mouse and simply
no longer attractive enough — be it for the management or the dour crap
way we now play the game. James McFadden's Contract Talks He scored just 7 goals all season in 29 appearances — he's selfish on the ball, lightweight and always but always, goes for the 'spectacular' when all that's required is a simple tap in! It must tell you something that a) there is no terrace chant or song in his name and b) at best he gets applauded when the team is announced before the game. Despite a paper-thin squad, we should sell him now to anyone stupid enough to pay his wages — he won't even be missed. When he can consistently demonstrate the same attitude and commitment of Osman, Cahill, Arteta, Hibbert, Neville, Kilbane, Stubbs, Weir, Martyn, Yobo, Carsley etc, then he might have a case. Yours in complete and utter disbelief, James McFadden To be honest I'm disappointed, if not surprised, that Moyes has offered him a new contract at all. It's pissed me off this one, it really has. McFadden isn't a terrible player, he is just so ordinary. He is frustrating to watch and he is just so normal in terms of ability and goals record. In a way, that's more depressing than if he was a Barlow or an Angell — at least they had novelty value! He is depressingly ordinary. The worst thing about this is of course that being in the "young"
category, he is the symbol of the "young, hungry and dynamic" squad
Moyes promised us. Go away, McFadden; you're just annoying. EFC don't
need you. Tourette's not the way to do it! Sorry, not wishing to poke fun but can Moyes actually sign any players without injuries or afflictions? However, I am sure Tim will do much better than Wright — at least it seems the penny has finally dropped with Moyes and he has recognised the need to replace this clown. Make sure you read the signs on the sun-tan lotion when you go on holiday, Dickie, in case you end up with another injury. My nephew, who sadly supports Liverpool even felt sorry for us after that incident at Chelsea in the goalmouth. Anyway, regarding the selection of Theo Bloodclot for the England squad — good luck to him but I am deeply saddened by the fact the Everton's forward (soon to be No 9) could not even make the standbys — a decision which was, sadly, correct — in my opinion: Beatie is not an international player. OK he had a good spell but his love of burgers and night clubs will never help him become a Legend at our great club. I think it has been proven that his price tag was too high and that Moyes's judgement in terms of what he perceives as 'top class' is flawed. I have now accepted that we are skint, Bill and Davie will stay and
we are likely in for similar seasons to this one just gone for several
years to come. So, what the fuck... here's looking forward to the World
Cup! A Thoughtful Invitation I replied to the e.mail. I said I would consider the invitation as it
would be nice to watch some classy football at Goodison once more before
I depart this mortal realm. By the way... I renewed my season ticket...
hopeful and loyal to the end! Gripe at Moyes Even though Simon Davies has been shite all season, I thought he looked his best when he had a few darting runs down the wing. I ain't no tactician, but I think this may have something to do with the fact that he is a winger, not a fucking holding midfielder! It's as good as moaning at Beattie for not being a good left back! I just don't understand what is going through Moyes's head when he makes these decisions. I'm sorry, but answers of "he's the coach, so knows more than you" just do not fly. The simple fact is this: if decisions such as this one, along with playing Weir and Stubbs, not buying a striker, not playing Ferrari and playing Route One football were good decisions, then we wouldn't be all moaning on this website. Clearly something is not right. Can Moyes not see this? I can from my partially restricted view in the top balcony! Moan over... I hope your reading this Bill Kenwr..eerm I mean Dutch. I wonder... Go on then - High Goal-Efficiency Football
On a similarly upbeat note, Tim Howard could prove to be a wise deal, it certainly shows Moyes realised the problem with the keeper situation and has acted very very quickly. A certain amount of credit is due I feel as it will mean Howard has time to settle and get to know his new team mates. Now for a bit of a downer: I suspect Yobo is off, he isn't likely to sign and we can't allow a player of his value to walk — let's hope Newcastle are still interested. Maybe if we play 5-4-1 we can invent yet another type of football... High Clean Sheet-Efficiency Football!!! 38 nil-nil draws, Should be enough to avoid relegation. Frustrated: Is it just me or are we going
nowhere? Stubbs, Wier, Kilbane, Davies (please get rid of Davies) Pistone, Wright, Naysmith... they all have to go. They are nowhere near good enough. I doubt if they are good enough for the Championship! If they are the backbone next year, then I really think we will struggle to stay up! McFadden and Beattie appear to be a bit of a luxury, but could do a
job, maybe! The last season has only just finished and I am already
depressed over next year! It appears that we have been kidded again. I
wonder if this news would have been releaased if season ticket holders,
like myself had already not renewed thier tickets! Bye bye, Dunc In recent times nothing has got my spirits up more than Dunc putting
one in the back of the net. But in terms of team tactics I believe it is
a blessing, no more will we throw him on in the last 10 minutes and
resort to the long punt. Now we may endorse a Plan B that, when the
chips are down can involve one of our young up-and-coming players, who
hopefully has even 50% of the passion that Dunc displayed. Imagine my surprise...
Chris Winslet, UK (9/5/06) A plea to the real Everton fans Dutch Schaeffer Dull, dull, dull. Go and invade another site, you tiresome pest. Pass the Dutchy But now to the main item on the agenda : What seat/cloud/row/stand
does the Schaeffer reside? Maybe ToffeeWeb can arrange a meeting at a
neutral venue so that he can be interrogated on all things EFC and once
it has been established that he is one of our own then his wind-ups can
be taken a bit more seriously. At the moment I have to say I think he is
a bit of a wrong un'. So do the majority of contributors et al by the
sounds of it — oops! David Weir and the Captainship If Weir had gone, Stubbs and Yobo would be the partnership next season and whomever Moyes will buy, and that's a big IF, will be cover. Especially if it's a young defender. Now, the problem is: Will Weir and Stubbs be the focal point of defence? Or will it be Yobo and either of these two? Yobo must be asking will he now be first choice or will he play second fiddle to these two old codgers? This will definitely affect his contract signing unless Moyes has reassured him otherwise. I guess we will know as soon as Moyes decides the captaincy. IF it is
Weir, then we can expect Weir to partner Stubbs. I hope it's not any of
these one-year contract players but rather someone younger who has the
fire to want to succeed and can lift up his mates when required. We are
lacking a leader on the field and the last good captain we had was Dave
Watson. The likes of Campbell, Weir, Stubbs, Ferguson are just not
inspiring or cool-headed enough to lead the team. Idiot They are luxury players, you blind tosser, Now do us all a favour and
stop using this website for your inane drivel and go and find some mates
to listen to your garbage. Next Season We now have five keepers. Hopefully Wright will be sold off for much needed funds and Nige to stay to guide Turner and Ruddy. Basically, Howard will be cover as Man Utd will not sell him. We have three centre backs, three left backs and one right back. hopefully Pistone can be reverted to centre back as he's much better there than on the left (to me, that is). Midfield is one department where we are blessed with numbers if not quality. With Da Silva supposedly coming (as reported before the start of last season), we will have another central midfielder. Hopefully if he does come, he will be a creative force in the centre; if not Osman or Cahill can fill that slot. Arteta on the right and that leaves the left. Andy van der Meyde can be our answer IF he stays fit, IF he stays injury free, IF he sheds some kilos and IF he rediscover his form that made him a hot prospect. Lastly the "enforcer" role will be between Carsley, Neville or Davies. Up-front we will have four strikers: Beattie, McFadden, Vaughan and Anichebe, even though 2 of them are youngsters. We need defenders more than we need a striker. Now I know alot of people won't agree but we can't expect Neville to be cover for all four defensive position. The midfield needs to be mobile if not really creative with three of them being able to interchange positions and another anchoring the centre. the three could be AvdM, Arteta and Cahill/Osman who could feed a mobile and pacy striker such as Vaughan or Anichebe with Beattie feeding off them or as target man to lay on for his partner. This is a worst-case scenario with no one else coming in (not even Da Silva). This is what I would do but Moyes will definitely have his own ideas.
Tears and Big Dunc Having read comments on here, it's interesting to look at www.soccerbase.com. They've updated the Everton squad, except for adding Tim Howard; if they did we'd have 26 players... of which 5 are goalkeepers!!! I have tried to be optimistic this season and have spoken up for David Moyes, but that is ridiculous! We have 21 out-field players including players like 18-year-old Bjarni Vidarsson and 19-year-old Patrick Boyle who are unlikely to get on to the pitch next season with Moyes's youth policy; whilst Vaughan (should he recover) and Anichebe having scored will be unlikely to be brought on because of their age — I mean we wouldn't want them to suffer later on by not resting them enough whilst they reamin at the club! Why have we released Sean Wright, Stephen Wynne, Laurence Wilson, Jay Harris, Christian Seargeant and Paul Hopkins? Couldn't we have got anything for them given are always 'limited resources'?!! I am annoyed about Ferrari (who was most definately not a 'luxury player' - none are), but I'm furious that we aren't trying to develop these players. Although ecstatic about reaching the Champions League last season, I was concerned it would have a negative effect given our tiny squad. This coming season, we won't have Europe but we have a smaller squad and I just don't see many players scrambling to come and play for us either. I just hope England do well in the World Cup, because I don't think it's going to be fun once attentions are turned back to club. OK, I'll turn Radiohead off now. Sleepwalking I don't know if this is a symptom of the information age, the era of all-seated stadia, or something being added to the water supply but its incredible how serene the atmosphere at Goodison has been while the club is putrefying before our eyes. There is not a single thing to look forward to next year. Players who should have been put down years ago are unbelievably getting extensions. Good young players wouldn't touch us with a bargepole. The football stinks, the ground's falling to pieces, the lack of leadership, charisma, forward planning, decent standards or even anyone who seems to give a damn at the club is frightening. Anyone who says or thinks otherwise is part of the problem and should
be given electric shock treatment to wake them from the stupor. Luq Yus! Yes that does sound familar, isn't that exactly what Moyes did with
Joey Yobo and Mikey Arteta? No wait — it's the exact opposite!!! Conspiracy Theory No 2 I've got another interesting theory: Did Everton stay in a Marriot hotel at some time around the Anfield derby? If so, can we sue any Liverpool-supporting chefs capable of making dodgy carbonarra? Or furthermore maybe we can replay all the games since then? Then again, I suppose it could just be down to us having only one
player of genuine class (and he was injured for a few games) and a
manager who accepts mid-table mediocrity as progress. The Moyes Debate However, I have resolved not to make full judgement until I have viewed the transfer dealings of Dithering Dave this summer. His actions in the transfer market will make or break his Everton career. Not only does this mean the players coming in but also which players head through the exit door. And I am far from impressed with his early decisions. Ferguson and Li Tie I agree with as their contributions to Everton are neglible. However, what I fail to understand is why we have offered both Stubbs and Weir new contracts. Weir is over the hill; a great servant in the past but simply not up to the job. The same could be argued of Stubbs although I believe he is probably at the same stage Weir was at the start of last season. Very good managers such as Ferguson and Wenger have known when it is time to get rid of good servants, eg, Ince, Hughes, Viera and Petit. The only reason I can see why Moyes has done this is because a certain Joey Yobo is on his way and Moyes wouldn't be able to find sufficient cover. I still can't believe we couldn't have found two better left backs than Pistone and Naysmith last season! The addition of Tim Howard is promising. At least it suggests that Wright is on his way, which can only be a blessing!! My only grumble with Howard is that it's a loan deal and I would have preferred a permanent young new keeper. If Moyes is truly to build a consistent top-six team then it must revolve around the axis of two central defenders and a good goalkeeper. These players have to form a long-term working relationship and if they could play for five years together I think the team would have solid roots to spring from. How many candidates have we got for those positions? One and that's Yobo who's probably leaving. Let's just hope the strong rumours linking Lescott from Wolves come true. Elsewhere, I think the midfield is alright although I would like to see Kilbane sold off. A solid pro but not good enough. Up front, I would like us to buy young and players with lots of pace. As most experts say, the one thing defenders do not like is pace... so they must bloody love our strikeforce!! I haven't even touched upon the nightmare scenarios involving Arteta abd Cahill leaving — let's just leave that thought for a moment and pray it doesn't come true! Moyes has to be more positive and if necessary gamble in the market — if not, you will see this Evertonian firmly in the Moyes Out camp. The early signs are not good!! Robert Pullan, Manchester (9/5/06) Vision There was a contribution previously on the progress that Bolton have made in recent years; considering their football pedigree, should we accept our current plight and see the likes of Bolton and Middlesborough prosper? At Everton, the fans know their history and mediocrity certainly has
no place in it. Action is needed and needed now, Kenwright and his
mouthpiece-elect, Wyness, need to begin to turn empty soundbite rhetoric
into action. We are told a decision on the ground issue will be
delivered later this year, let's hold them to account and end this PR
bullshit Big Dunc Feeder club If there was then we didn't hear it. And anyone who supports the management whole-heartedly should see a shrink or just have sense beaten into them. So please Mikey I'm upset as it is! Anyway, have this supposedly great club turned into a feeder club for the US of A giants Manchester United? Ok, I am being tongue in cheek but Howard today, Neville last year...
is it me or have Everton perhaps not received payments for a former
blue? Or are we just really good friends with them? In any case, we will
again lose out as, if Howard is an success then Moyes will talk him up,
then decide to send him back rather than take up a full-time transfer.
Sounds familar? Good start, all downhill from here!! Tim Howard is a player I rate and I am delighted to see he's coming to Goodison for the next year. So I'll give David Moyes some credit where it's due for making a positive early move in the transfer market. No dithering in sight!! But I don't intend to get carried away Championship Manaager-style and start dreaming of a summer of wonderful signings. Hopefully Dickie can follow Dunc and Li Tie out the door, but the influx will doubtless be small and late in the day!! Not signing Ferrari is all the evidence we fans should need to tell us that money is scarce. We can only hope that Moyes can pick another Cahill-esque bargain up and play the loan market sensibly. Doubtless David Nugent is still in DM's thoughts but that elusive striker really must be a priority now. Every Prem manager's first target for a new season is 40 points, but
how about we make a concerted effort to get 40 goals too!! Made for each other The charisma that Moyes oozed was lapped up following the dour platitudes that had been constantly trotted out by Walter Smith and I personally could see a lot of similarities in the psychology employed by Moyes as that so deftly employed by Bill Shankly over at the darkside during the 1960s. Fast forward 4 years and how things have changed: it's as though that original script was penned by Kenwright and Moyes, as a now dutiful employee, seems to have been a pawn in his continued effort to maintain power at all costs. The sour relationship between Kenwright and Gregg is damning enough evidence to call for an enquiry into Kenwright's agenda; the man's vanity concerning Everton Football Club is frightening, as is the Fortress Sports Fund scenario. When was the last time that we heard anything about Sir Terry Leahy's involvement in the Club? - And susbsequent AGM's have proven to be phony exercises in continuing this web of spin, high gloss and PR exercises. Inward investment is continually being sought — or so we are told by Keith Wyness... not even a sniff coming last year following our fourth place finish. My view is that Everton are seen by outsiders as a provincial club trapped in a time warp, headed up by a maverick luvvy and firmly cast in the shade by our closest neighbours. I agree with the comments that there isn't exactly a queue of investors winding its way down Goodison Road waiting to pump some much-needed prime revenue into the corridors of power; however, the list of billionnaires and comments presented By Jospeh Steven was stupid and ignorant in its suggestion. I am not anti-Moyes, -Kenwright or -Wyness but I believe that it is
disgraceful that a Club of the stature of Everton with a potential
fan-base of 40-50,000 is both lacking vision and ambition and constantly
out-competed by the likes of Middlesbrough, et al. It is a fact that
there are wealthy Evertonians out there... would they be willing to
invest in Everton? The continuing posionous relationship that currently
exists between Messrs Kenwright and Gregg will certainly not promote our
cause. Sod Mars bars Anyways, I'm glad the season is over. The Moyesie Boys have produced some utter crap this season and I can't wait for the next season to start as it's gonna be more interesting seeing how long the fans will put up with the same drivel before losing patience. Its 'shit or bust' time for Davie, methinks. For the club's sake, let's hope he has one of his better seasons. On a final note, I'd like to wish Big Dunc all the best. Yes, he was paid a lot to be injured all the time but he didn't write the contracts, did he? He and Rooney have been the only two players I have been proud to have seen in the past few years. He never fulfilled his potential due to playing in poor teams and injuries but when he was fired up he played like a centre-forward should and scared the crap out of the opposition. I admired the stance he took with the SFA when they let him goto prison for something countless other players do every other week (that's not condoning it btw). Enjoy the transfer gossip over the summer and try not to be too
dissapointed... :o) Simple Choice! A. Make Ferrari a permenent transfer even though the player only made 6 Premiership starts last season and failed to fit into the squad? B. Send Ferrari home and attempt to source another defender, possibly British-based, like Lescott or Upson? Simple choice, A or B? Personally I think Moyes has made the right
choice. Limited Resources! The really funny thing is that certain idiots think Moyes should have released Weir/Stubbs and paid a couple of million for Ferrari. Sounds like a great idea but what happens if Ferrari is only able to play a handful of games again next season? Fact is Ferrari was too unreliable, a luxury player, Everton have a small squad and need players who can make themselves available every single week. By sending Ferrari home Moyes is not saying he wont bring in a
defender. I suspect he will bring in a British based defender (Lescott
maybe?) and get far better value for Everton's precious money. End of an Era I'm not giving my ticket up in anger, there was no ripping my season ticket up whilst ranting against the manager, the players or the board. There is more an air of resignation. Reasons for giving up? Probably quite a few - in no particular order- On-pitch entertainment (or lack therof) - we have been rubbish for a good part of my 20 years. Between the squad that we have and Moyes' inate caution I can't see that changing soon. Having made the final decision prior to the Birmingham game I seem to have watched the Birmingham and West Brom games with a slightly different eye - perhaps looking for reasons to change my mind. I didn't find anything to convince me to change my decision throughout those 180 minutes of football. The Premiership and Sky - the continual messing around with kick-off times really irritates. 12:45 or 5:15 are crap times to attend a football game. I've never been comfortable with the whole Premiership and Sky calling the shots thing. The future worries the hell out of me- yesterday we had a centre back pairing of Weir and Stubbs. With the possibility of Ferrari and Yobo leaving this summer, and no youngsters on the brink, where does that leave us? Unfortunately, similar dilema's exist elsewhere in the squad, There is so much to do with this squad. I look at the squad and the seeming lack of young players coming through and I feel my hope and optimism just drain away. We've undoubtedly been worse in the past but back then I always had some optimism for the future, I don't have that anymore. Cost, whatever way you look at it Ł480 is a lot of money. Time - I have four young kids who do a lot of activities over the weekend, never mind a house and a garden that always need work doing on them. I've fallen out of love with Football - back to the Premiership and Sky thing again. Add to that agents, the mentality of the modern footballer it leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. The whole Wayne Rooney thing was a huge wake up call for me personally. The Everton hierarchy - I'm not into personal vendetta's and I'm very uncomfortable with the whole Billy-Liar thing. But somewhere along the way the "Everton hierarchy" have got things very badly wrong over a sustained period of time. When I got my first season ticket in 1986/87 there was no disputing our place as one of the Big Clubs. How we have allowed ourselves to slip from that perch is very disheartening. The rest of football has moved on massively from that time - Everton have stood still. I can't see that changing any time soon. Obviously we need massive investment, but even in the abscence of that I don't feel that we're even close to maximising what we have. Anyone of the above reasons have been pertinent for many of the past 15 seasons. None in their own right are reason enough to stop going. Ultimately, though, I just don't want to go every other week. Sat at home before the Birmingham game I just didn't want to go. What's the point of paying near Ł500 for that? Thanks for listening- had to share it with someone who might
understand!!! Let's move on Let's be positive and hope the results on the weekend in regards to
Preston and Crystal Palace will bring us a wanted striker in the
transfer market. Let's be positive and optimistic on these results. Duncan had / has something... One thing for sure is modern football, with its namby pamby effeminate technically perfect players and managers, products of the same boring production line, will not see the likes of Duncan ever again. Those who say 'thank god for that' should get into the kitchen, wash the dishes or bake a cake, things you are probably best at. As for me I am sad to see the moving on of a bloke who gave and took the hard knocks without ever resorting to pretence or career-ending dirty stuff (a smack in the gob is not career ending). To the big man I say thanks for the memories, enjoy your retirement.
It's all just a little bit of history repeating
We spent this season screaming out for a centre-forward; for next, will we have to point out the obvious and let Moyes know we need a centre-half. Going out on a limb, shall we expect for Cahill and Arteta to be sold next summer and we will go the 2007-08 season without a central midfield. Enough is enough now, it's time for a change from top to bottom at the club, Kenwright Out, Moyes Out, Wyness Out. We can't even run a fucking megastore, it's getting to a point where it's not even funny anymore. Oh, and if Dunc wants to wait around till August, I am sure we will offer him another year, after all we've fuck all money to spend and it's not as if we have European Football to offer. I really worry about us for next season, Reading have money to spend, Wigan even have a few bob. It's between us, Fulham and Pompey both of whom have chairman with money to spend to join Sheff Utd and Leeds/Watford to go down. On a happier point, Sven picked an England Squad we can all have a
fucking good laugh at. Good posting Big Duncan A Seriosuly Disgruntled Blue (Aged 37˝) As far as I am concerned, the club is run by a gang of amateur Muppets who have compounded our fall from grace over the past 20 years through a series of barefaced lies, missed opportunities, Alistair Campbell-esque Spin Doctoring and various acts of gross incompetence. So why do the majority of our fans put up with it? Because it’s all they’ve ever known perhaps? I had the fortune of seeing the side of the mid-eighties that could so easily have gone on to dominate European football. Having seen that and compared it to the shite currently being served up, means that I have a benchmark. Anyone born after say 1983 won’t have anything to measure the current situation against, because in general terms they’ve only ever witnessed dross. It would be interesting to see the age of the various contributors to this board – are all of those with blue tinted glasses (Dodd & Schaeffer et al) mere pups who have never witnessed anything other than shite? And is our mate Mr Marsh 97? Does he remember Dixie’s 60-goal season and the Championship win of 1915? Or are those of us that do not accept the current situation just a crowd of miserable ‘old’ bastards??? Perhaps one of our friends in the blue specs could tell us why they think that competing with Fulham, Wigan, and Charlton is acceptable? Over to you, Dutch/Richard… Upset And the few fans who back this shite should be chased out of
Goodison! This is unacceptable that Weir got a contract and Ferrari
never. Moyes, you are a fucking wanker! You have the tactical
intelligence of a ding-bat! Fuck this club I will never spend a penny
here again until the mutant cancer in Moyes and Kenshite are gone.
Because of you two I will be very depressed this summer. Thanks! If you lose, you win; if you win, you lose...
Look at the record. Walter Smith turned his nose up to the Intertoto as a distraction. And back then it was comparitively difficult to secure a Uefa Cup place from it. But in February 2002, apparently at the prodding of Bill Kenwright, Everton applied. We went into an immediate slide — no wins in seven league games, culminating in the dismissal of the unlamented Smith. Cut to the following season: with Everton on the fringes of a Uefa Cup qualification, the question of the Intertoto came up again. This time David Moyes — faced with a potential mutiny among the players — decided it was just not worth while. This is from the Daily Post from February 2003: ”The Everton manager is not prepared to allow his players to be involved in games so soon after their return from a summer break. Everton's chief executive Michael Dunford said: ‘The manager simply feels that the timing and structure of the tournament does not suit his plans for our pre-season preparations. The opening round of next season's Intertoto Cup is early July — we feel that is too early to be involved in what would be meaningful, senior fixtures.’Now cut to this season. Following the disaster at Anfield, we recovered to beat Sunderland, Charlton, Portsmouth, Arsenal, Manchester City and Blackburn, drawing with Wigan. Then, in February, Everton announced their application to enter the Intertoto. And look what happened: almost as soon as we announced entry into the Intertoto, things started to go awry, with two wins out of the subsequent 10 matches. Coincidence? Consciously or subconsciously, I think the players just
didn’t want to get back into the fray before August and so the potential
Intertoto place became a disincentive. Moyes At The Crossroads Really, the writing was on the wall well over 12 months ago, despite the Champions League qualification. A friend of mine from London was alongside me watching Everton at Goodison grind out another 1-0 win, he turned round to me and said 'this side will struggle to score goals, there simply arn't enough natural goalscorer's in the team.' How prophetic that turned out to be, if more proof was needed it was in the dire pre-season results culminating in the 5-0 thrashing in Turkey. Then there was still time to sign a forward with pace, well any forward with pace would have done. But no: 'We have scoured Europe' said the manager, really? Despite an honest but fruitless performance against Villarreal, a lack of cutting edge cost us dear again. I believed we had seen the last of the 5-goal hammerings pre-season, but no, our Romanian adventure helped us develop an appetite for them in fact. The rest of the season was simply a nightmare as all the chickens seemed to come home to roost at once; if it wasn't for the period after Christmas, I really believe we would have stood a good chance of being relegated. So why the dramatic reverse in results and performances? It simply has to be down to the manager first and foremost; his recent purchases — apart from Arteta and Cahill — have been woeful (Beattie I believe could come good with the right support) and his chronic failure to recognise the shortcomings of a team now carrying the mantle of 'lowest ever Everton team for goals scored' is nothing short of criminal. Even the Echo published tonight, who normally give Moyes an easy time of it in general, criticised him 'for spending Ł18M in the close season for little or no return'. Can he turn it round in the summer? History suggests not; he simply has blown a great opportunity to take the club to the next level — not only that, he has given the 'lesser' clubs like Wigan, West Ham etc a helping hand by reducing our spending power and increasing theirs! Unless he proves me and many others wrong, I simply cannot see him sticking around to the end of his contract. Over to you, Davey. Duped again The first signs came today with the incomprehensible news that Geri-twins have been given a new contract, but someone who will unfortunately command a fee has been shown the door. It is an absolute disgrace. Nothing else. Building for the future, eh, Davey, you useless pile of shit. I have just witnessed one of the most boring season ever, with probably some of our worst ever players getting a game (Kilbane). No youth progression (he was scared of bringing on young Vic). It's got to the stage where I turn the boring bastard off when he's doing his TV presenting job. When was the last time Billy Liar said anything to us? Did he ever try to appease us over the January transfer debacle ? Thank god I don't have to sit through another 90 minutes of that
shite for a couple of months. Please change something... Message for Arteta, Cahill and Yobo Go and play for a club with a future because Everton Football Club is
finished in its current state. To all those people who defend the people
that run this Club, I pity you as you are fucking delusional. Moyes, Kenwright, In the name of God.........!
I've had enough of this bollocks, and the absolute garbage we're supposed to watch. I'm sick of being told Phil Neville should be going to Germany. One thing is putting up with second best, but we're not even getting that anymore, we're not even 10th best! We've played the three relegated teams in the run-in, all at home, and not beaten one of them! We've got a 2-6 aggregate score against the second worst team in the Division, and people on here are gonna tell me there are positive signs, just a couple of signings etc... Moyes now has the distinction of managing the team to the lowest points and goals totals in our history. We can't score goals, but because of his obstinacy we failed to sign a forward in the whole of last summer, and the whole of the January window. We've got no pace anywhere in the side; we're going nowhere. Put no more faith in a manager who squanders over Ł10 million on James Beattie, Phil Neville and Simon Davies, plus another Ł3M on an international ball-playing centre-half and then doesn't give him a game. Phil Neville is the playing equivalent of Moyes the coach. Gives you everything, shouts a lot, points a lot, clenches his fists a lot, but thinks he can overcome his limitations by running harder, being stubborn and kicking out when he gets frustrated. We Evertonians over 30 were brought up on something better. This man has made average players into an effective unit over short periods, until their basic lack of class is found out. Then there's nowhere to go, no imagination, no Plan B. This is a man, who either through envy or small-mindedness, is unable
to deal with players of real talent. Moyes and Kenwright for me will
always be remembered as the men who sold potentially our greatest ever
player to stop us going bankrupt, and then squandered the excess on pure
mediocrity. They both have to go, and it's time for Blues to start
making their feelings known. Nobody expects to compete with the top
three overnight, but we can't even compete with the likes of Blackburn
and Wigan! A disgrace to the legacy of Dean, Moores and Labone. Time to
get these people out before they destroy OUR Club. Ins and Outs We can't afford to not sign up Nige for another year, although hopefully he won't be the automatic first choice — Robert Green anyone? Also, Stubbs's form warranted another year. Again, I must say, hopefully as defensive cover, not strict first choice. Ferguson has given a lot to the job, and also taken some. I'm sure no-one will begrudge him his time yesterday, but that is that. And Li Tie has been injured for too long. Which leads us to the two mistakes. Weir is slow and old, and symbolizes our reluctance as a club to take a gamble on younger players. Are we seriously to believe that Curtis Davies, Darren Bent, Ashton etc. wouldn't have picked us had we bid for them at Ł3M rather than their current inflated prices? West Ham, a smaller club than us, took a gamble on Etherington, Zamora, Konchesky, all bought from other Premiership clubs, and two of whom are at least England B standard. We have been left standing. Rumours lead us to believe we missed out on Aaron Lennon and Michael Carrick too. It saddens me that with only a little mopre impetus in the transfer market, we could be in a very different place squadwise. Which takes us to Ferrari. Something has clearly gone on behind the scenes because I cannot see a reason why we would not take up an option on him. Either that or we have someone else lined up. So, in net terms we are losing a striker, a defender and a midfielder from this season's squad. Expect to see no less coming in. I can't see Moyes being stupid enough to see we have to cover these holes. Expect to see foreign loanees. I wish we'd take more of a punt on Championship players (Green, Sidwell, Nugent, Kisnorbo, Lescott etc. etc.). 3 million each anyone? Fingers crossed for Andy Johnson. Nolan is a pipe dream. But don't forget, Vaughan will hopefully come through next season. Speaking of young players though, Moyes has rather let us down in
terms of blooding them. Chadwick, Hibbert, Osman, Vaughan and Anichebe
have all been introduced at rather meaningless points in the last few
seasons, and his caution with Rooney was tangible. We have yet to see
him take a risk. He's slowly becoming the Eriksson of Everton. Although
with Walcott and Lennon in the England squad, who knows what the future
may hold? No show ToffeeWeb Inspiration? Perhaps they could use their crystal balls to tell me whether it`s
worth re-newing for next season! Absolutely Correct! Duncan Ferguson David Weir/Alan Stubbs Nigel Martyn Li Tie Matteo Ferrari Fuck off Moyes Moyes you are well and truly incompetent! You are a fucking fool! HOW
IN GODS NAME CAN YOU WASTE MONEY ON WEIR'S CONTRACT AND RELEASE
FERRARI??? Is Weir your boyfriend? Has Weir got something 40,000 fans
have never seen? Either way you are a fucking loser and you really have
fucked off my summer. Thank God for the World Cup, otherwise I would
have went to Liverpool to slap Moyes with a wet fish! Scottish waster!
And ANYBODY coming with Weir signing a good thing will have to answer to
me! Knuckle-dragging Manc Feet on the ground But we pulled out of the slump and were never in any danger of relegation as the season entered into the business end. Despite Bruce siging Sutton, Pennant, Forsell, Dunn, Izzet etc (all previous Everton 'targets' who Moyes was to various extents criticized for not signing), it was them that went down and not us. We're a bigger club then Birmingham but they're richer. Moyes has had to operate within financial constraints. That's the truth. There's no point saying Nil satis nisi optimun. That's a motto not an explanation. If there's little money then the best can't be bought. That's why he has to gamble á la Krřldrup & Davies. Maybe he didn't research them enough but that's that. And if we need more money, then prices will have to go up and more merchandise will have to go on the shelves. It doesn't make sense criticising Everton's ownership for not being polished businessmen and in the same breath have a go at the club for screwing its loyal fanbase out of their hard-earned income. Who else is supposed to buy the gear? And I know that Kenwright comes across like a buffoon but in my opinion, it is sheer ignorance to state Kenwright out without having any idea of who would replace him. He appointed Moyes and he appointed Wyness. That's ok. Phil Burkess, you say that "It is disgusting how BK can simply sit back and allow this rot to unfold in front of his own eyes", but what exactly would you like him to do about it? Discover a gold mine beneath Goodison perhaps? If our neighbours, who are light years ahead of us off the pitch (if not on it as last year showed), can't attract big money, what chance have Everton? Hopefully we are slowly heading the right way. Dutch, although sometimes coming across like he's trying to wind up some of the more excitable lads on the forum, hits the nail on the head when he states that it's absurd to expect us to build on our 4th place finish and challenge the top three — yet this appears to be what some people expect. Fingers crossed, we'll continue to improve with Moyes. Similarly those who say that Big Dunc was a leach who wasted his potential kind of miss the point. Everton while Dunc was around were in the main a bit of a shambles. He would have had to have been as good as Maradonna to drag us to win anything more than the FA Cup way back, and if he was we would have sold him. But Dunc gave us a lot, he was our dead cool anti-hero who loads of us idolised. A tatooed, reticent gladiator, menacing and capable of great inspiration. He took to us and we took to him. Would you rather have had a blithering charisma-free zone like Owen, openly ambiguous about his motivation for the club, or an animal like Duncan? Big Dunc... gone but never to be forgotten! I'm not having a laugh, I'm having a cry!!
How about we change the name the "People's Club" to the 'Geriatrics'
Club"? Sorry, but between them, Kenwright and Moyes are going to make us
laughing stocks. Ferrari Shrewd Tactics My only worry is that, if all the managers follow his example next
season, 34 goals will become a total to strive for rather than a bloody
disgrace. But I guess that`s the price we have to pay for hiring `the
brightest young manager in the game.` Bleak? Take a look at This!!! Don't get me wrong: those three have served us well, but to let
Ferrari go who may have been a force with Yobo or with Valente &
Hibbert... I can't see Yobo staying,nor can I see any decent players
knocking on Moyes's door for a contract. Hope Big Dunc gets a
testimonial;criminal if they don't honour him. Don't moan — accept or act! My first port of call is often the ToffeeWeb Mailbag — (I must admit that when I’m really bored I occasionally click onto the BBC 606 forum where some of the saddest individuals on god's green can be found, naming imaginary teams, and speculating over Ł20M signings, anybody feeling depressed or suicidal should have a wander over, they’ll find a breed of human that will allow you to raise a wry smile in the knowledge that your own life isn’t so bad after all. (Any contributors to this forum, I don’t apologise and pity you whole heartedly, get off your arse you lazy shite and take up gardening or bog snorkeling, you’ll be infinitely happier.) - and considering all contributors to ToffeeWeb are Everton fans and therefore far more intelligent than the average human being or knuckle dragging Manc, I can’t believe the utter crap I read in a large portion of the mail. A list of which can be summarized thus: How can we as Evertonians accept the current situation that exists at Goodison Park? Average team, average manager, crap facilities, continually empty coffers, poor youth system and a chairman whilst being as blue as any fan, is as poor as a church mouse when it comes to funding a Premiership football club? I have to admit right here and now all the above doesn’t actually bother me that much. Don’t get me wrong, I’m 30 years old, I have seen Everton win trophies, league titles and even a European honour. I’ve also witnessed some of the most diabolical crap to have ever worn an Everton shirt. The reason none of it bothers me that much is that I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of changing any of it, I’m not a professional footballer or manager and I’m not wealthy enough to buy the club. This is why I must take this opportunity to applaud Mr Ken Buckley for the following statement: ‘but will I renew the season ticket? You bet I will’ and the next, ‘I throw a sizeable wedge at a product, not knowing what I will get and, when I get it, I will not know if I will like it or not. And then, whichever way it goes, I will do it all again the next year!!!’ and finally, ‘What I have paid for, I have no control over but have to rely on my representatives at Board level and Management’ There you have it; Mr Buckley, I thank you; we have no fucking control at all. We are Blues; we must accept our fate unless we are willing to do something about it. As previously stated, I have no intention of doing a thing. I will continue to be happy giving my full support to Everton and everybody who works and plays for the club in the full knowledge that all the moaning and whinging in the world cannot change the facts of who and where we are and that we’ll probably remain ‘somewhere’ in the Premiership for another trophy-less year next season. This letter is therefore a plea to Evertonians writing to the Mailbag daily with the same complaints to stop. My last point is for those who find my viewpoint rather apathetic and difficult to rationalize. For those who can feel the fire burn in their bellies and have the desire, drive and determination to bring about change for the better. Don’t write a big long fucking moan and whinge into ToffeeWeb; there are 793 known billionaires in the world and Everton needs only one of them. You’ll find a list of them here. I wish you the greatest of luck and fortune in your endeavors, and if I win euro millions one day and you read about it in the paper I give permission for the site editor to pass on to you my e-mail address. With the warmest regards to all my fellow Bluenoses. Big Dunc Cheers Dunc and all the best. Some fantastic memories and a True
Blue. Bleak I fear for Everton next season. There is little or no money available and the older players who will get extensions will be another year older, another yard slower? It is disgusting how Bill Kenwright can simply sit back and allow this rot to unfold in front of his own eyes. His tenacity is not commendable — it's horrifying! 34 goals in a league season is unacceptable. If we were playing half-decent football and winning games by a single goal with a water-tight defence then maybe its acceptable. The thing is, we don't have a water tight defence; we don't have a creative midfield (barrring two players perhaps), and we have no 20-goal-a-season striker. With little money to spend, and a manager who invariably gets it woefully wrong in the market anyway, prospects do not look good. Moyes has a complete disregard for youth and it is now starting to annoy me. I do want him out — I've said that since early in the season. He's too negative, he's tactically raw and his style of football is nauseating. I'm afraid that, with him managing and Bill holding the reigns, we will go nowhere. The staff will not change while Bill's around, that's for sure, so a further season of utter shite is on the cards once again. The only conceivable chance we have in the future is the introduction of a transfer cap and a salary cap. If FIFA need any convincing that footballers are monstrously overpaid then they can sit in seats 86 and 87 of row B in the Gladwys Street stand anytime next season and witness what I do. Seriously, there is more passion and more talent on show behind the
Dockers club every Sunday. I'm sorry but the future's bleak; the
future's Bill. Thank you, David How the lads have shaped in the second half of the season illustrates
the fact that Ł5 million or so spent by the Moyestro in the close season
will see us once again battling for a European place. Thank you, David,
for proving the knockers so wrong once again. BBC Bias Compare to the furore surrounding George Best etc. Last game of the
season or not, anybody who knows anything about football, ie is older
than 15 and managed to live before the Premiership gave us what we have
today, deserved to know that his type of football spirit still lives on
in some parts of the country. Big Dunc The best thing that can be said about Dunc is he never gave less than 110% — you always knew he was trying and at the West Brom game on Sunday he still showed some nice touches which would put our so called stars to shame. I really hope they can find Dunc a job on the staff somewhere if he'll take it. Personally, I would love to see him around Goodison on matchdays. Finally, may I suggest to these people who slag him off the next time
they're cheering the team on, have a good look round and see if those
players playing are giving the same 110% as Dunc would [I think not
somehow]. Duncan is our hero...... I will never forget you, Duncan, out-jumping David James at the Street End for your first goal, whipping your top off after scoring against the Mancs, absolutely terrifying the Newcastle defence in the FA Cup Quarter Final in ’95, walking around Wembley wearing a blue nose while carrying the FA Cup, scoring a beauty at Wimbledon soon after coming out of jail, thrashing a half volley into the Kop End net, being on fire at Old Trafford and scoring twice (one of which was a beauty), last season showing up Rio Ferdinand for the crap defender that he is, scoring in the last minute yesterday and bringing a tear to my eye during your farewell walk around the pitch afterwards. I know you’ve had your moments (Scharner and Freund must be made up to see you go!), but you have gave me so many magic moments. Most of all though I will never forget when you went to Newcastle and looked absolutely gutted at the press conference and showing so much respect for the club by telling of your affection for Everton and especially the supporters, which carried on during your time up there — something which Rooney could do with learning from. So long, Big Man; thanks for the memories. Have a happy retirement and no doubt we’ll see you again some time soon sitting in the stands cheering on the blue boys. Note to the Everton Board — any chance on giving him a testimonial?
He has been here for the allotted time. Progress? The side he put out against West Brom after four years in charge averaged exactly 28 years, and this included an 18 year old. It is not impossible either, that new contracts will be handed to
three players, each well over 34 years old. Funny that, isn’t it? Goals I look at Boro with the excellent financial support Steve Gibson he has given to the club. Then I look at Billy and Davey and think "For Christ's sake, what have we got here?" Mind you, when Moyes has money, look at what he buys — Davies, Kilbane etc — I could go on. Will we ever see a Everton striker score 20 goals in a season again? I believe Tony Cottee was the last to do this. Nevermind, we can all be happy knowing Liverpool will win the FA Cup
— no doubt on penalties. Simon Davies As far as I can see, he has had a poor season but he has not been
terrible. On Sunday, he showed glimpses of what he can and should be
doing. But he seems to lack confidence and I do not understand why Moyes
thinks he is a holding midfielder. Let us hope he gets settled next
season and starts putting in performances he is capable of. Kevin Nolan visits Bellefield? Ferguson I am an Evertonian. I am crap at playing. Do I deserve a game? No, do I bollox! What has Ferguson done for this club? Scored a couple of Derby goals? Acted and played like a thug? Duncan Ferguson, for me, will be remembered as the player who bled
this club dry with little or no return. Goodbye, good riddance and I
wonder who next will have a treatment table named after him? Goodbye, Dunc! Davies was usless, as was Andy van der Meyde. Weir was so unsure it was unture. His reward? A new contract! I often looked to the bench and Ferrari looked like he was saying goodbye also as he never once looked like coming on. I honestly hate Moyes for that, and hate is a strong word! I really hope our dip-shite manager will recognise the talent of Gera and Curtis Davies and swoop down in the summer, along with AJ. But will he? Will he bollocks!!! Everton are so dependant on Arteta we may as well make him manager. Anyway, with another season of woe over, I would personally like to thank big Dunc for loving the club and giving his all for us the fans. That's why you are a legend! You even accepted being sold to Newcastle to help the club finances. Have a happy retirement! I really wish those dickhead directors (bar a few) would show the same level of love back to us: that's why we don't love them, more hate! And I never once heard today Moyes's name being sung so what are you talking about, Danny Broderick??? A shite season over, Moyes needs a good summer in the transfer market
to save his job! Chicken McFadden Fuck off, McFadden, you are shit! In my eyes he is symbolic of the mediocrity some Evertonians have come to accept. One question to a fellow blue I always ask is how they rate McFadden; their response goes a long way in my eyes. Two changes which would instantly boost the squad next year would be replacing McFadden and Kilbane with a better calibre of player. It should be an easy task, but I forgot it's up to Dithering Davey... Speaking of Dithering Dave, I heard a rumour that he has called a meeting with all the players tomorrow at Bellefield. Could be innocent enough but some of the lads are saying it's to inform them of his departure. Don't know about that... but what I do know is that, whatever you think of Duncan, sometime in the future when I've got kids I'll be telling them about the Scottish bluenose with an Everton tattoo who used to love Everton and beat the shit out of burgalars! There will be no mention of McFadden, Kilbane, Davies or anyone like
that. For this I am sad to see Ferguson play his last game for Everton
and I am glad he managed to get a goal today. That being said, it is
defiantly time for the Big Fella to call it a day. Deja Vu The manager to me seemed most animated in his deliberations with his Number Two and after what seemed an eternity gambled upon youth by introducing Anichebe along with Van der Meyde. Anichebe, without looking a Rooney or Vaughan, did what strikers are supposed to do and SCORED A GOAL!!! VdM did nothing. This scenario makes me think that our present manager is more interested in playing what he considers senior players rather than realising that he may just have players who are not of the required standard and by having to play the untried might somehow diminish his standing. From today's starting line-up I thought only three players worthy of mention: Valenete I thought the class act; Osman the only player with drive and purpose; and Arteta with obvious class but often flatters to decieve. This criticsm may be borne out of the fact that, in the years Moyes has been with us, I have yet to observe a pattern of play that defines both the Moyes Way and indeed the Everton Way — which may get some of the players we critisise off the hook because, if they don't know or understand what the manager wants, then... hell — we have no chance! Overall, I am glad to see the back of this season as it has been nothing short of a big disappointment, which I believe started with the words of Moyes when he said 'We go with what we have got', No building toward the Champions League and, by definition, none toward building on a fourth-place finish, resulting in what we have witnessed up until today. Going with what we have got is fine if the manager is confident of improvement but when (as this season proves) he is nowhere near it — and in fact gone backwards — what should our Chairman do? You will will see from the tone of my post I am not too chuffed with our season... but will I renew the season ticket? You bet I will — and I have already done so. Every year, I am most prudent with my money matters — at least for 364 days of the year — but, on the 365th, I throw a sizeable wedge at a product, not knowing what I will get and, when I get it, I will not know if I will like it or not. And then, whichever way it goes, I will do it all again the next year!!! What I have paid for, I have no control over but have to rely on my representitives at Board level and Management level to deliver that which they promise. I have no recourse except through a website such as this to comment upon how my investment is going — and long may you continue to give us all that platform. The window cometh and I will believe nothing until I see them wave the shirt for the back page of both the Daily Post and Liverpool Echo for the incomings; and any significant outgoings will again question ambition. All standard fare for the dedicated Blue. In conclusion, I did a straw poll in our ale house: 99.9% have already renewed or will renew for next season and the same proportion believe that only an injection of money will alter anything significantly. The rest will be merely cosmetic, which leaves me thinking that the Dodds, Marshes and fictitous Dutch's should perhaps reconsider their stances. Have a great Summer! See you next season --- UP THE BLUES I hope Duncan has left! Papering over the cracks Still, today yet again reinforced what's been clear enough to me for too long: the team consists of too many journeymen who will only go downhill. We lack a leader on the pitch who's able to grab hold of matches; the players are abysmal when it comes to supporting each other in any meaningful, attacking way; there is no way on earth that we'll be able to keep Arteta beyond next season; and that Moyes is tactically inept. In short, we are crap, and only the truly deluded could draw anything positive from the season. Although he wasn't really at fault for either goal, my gut feeling tells me that Turner is not the answer. Anichebe looks promising, and took his goal well, but how many times have we said that about young Everton strikers? I'm just thanking the football gods that the Big Yin's Saturdays will be probably be spent knee-deep in pigeon shit and burglar's blood next season. But, then again, nothing would surprise me with Everton. Still, considering how things were at the start of the season, I'll
settle for how things eventually turned out. Next season? I'll reserve
judgment, but at the moment I'm far from optimistic, no matter how much
Richard and Dutch try to convince us all that consecutive top eleven
finishes equals progress. Starting XI? Huh? Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Carsley, Kilbane, Neville, Davies, Ferguson, Beattie. Didn't you 'cleverly' miss out several of our most gifted players, including Yobo, Valente, Cahill, VdM, Jimmy Mac, Osman, oh, and Arteta? I mention this only because Moyes's critics need to realise they can't have it both ways. Moyes's supporters are constantly told that finishing 4th last season means nothing and they should stop using it as an example of his genius. I couldn't agree more — Moyes needs to show us he can take this club forward and not stagnate in the middle of the table. But for those who have decided that they will criticise DM for whatever he does or says, you can't have it both ways either. Supporters of Moyes can't keep talking about last season, but critics
should not ignore facts (or make them up) merely to strengthen an
otherwise inadequate argument. Season Review So, how to view 05-06? Fucking shite, if you'll pardon my French. Other contributors have coined far better superlatives, but for me the writing was on the wall in Bangkok. Ill-advised or not, that tournament was our last pre-season friendly before the big kick off against Villareal. I can accept that the better team won that tie over both legs (Collina aside). What I can't accept is the excuse touted by the Dour One that that fucked our season. Bollocks! Players get over bad / freakish results. Particularly when they have little or no affinity to their paymasters. The complete capitulation for 2-3 months subsequently (and then another bad run towards the end of the campaign) is, in my humble opinion, not acceptable. The fact that we also play a style of 'football' that is akin to that played by the current German national side (who will no doubt get to at least the semis next month) is immaterial. Christ, for the first time in my life I actually avoided watching us play on the box! Anyway, some positives to end on. This mailbag has been a Godsend. I find I laugh out loud in work (much to my colleagues' annoyance) at the various missives from people like Dutch, Doddy and Tony Marsh. (Actually, Tony amuses me — the Brazilian comment being the best — the other two, it's more of a sympathy laugh). Colm, Michael and others who make this site work — salutes and a virtual pint to you. One of the few things I miss about living in the UK is the craic from the games, particularly the away games. The actual match often used to interrupt a great day out with some great people... I imagine that would be more so now!! Damn, was trying to remain positive. So, roll on next season, and the emotional rollercoaster that is the bitch that is EFC. No matter how badly she treats us, we keep going back for more... Anyway, in an effort to see some quality footy, I'm off to the World Cup for an entire month. Damn, negative again... ps: Dutchy and Doddy — so back-to-back top 10 finishes? What
happened??? Finishing 4th Do you really expect Everton to finish in the Top 3? Finishing 4th in some ways was a bad thing because it set the bar to impossible standards to repeat. If we accept that we over-achieved last season then this season can
be considered as a consolidation. We are now an official mid-table side
which is amazing progress after so many years fighting relegation. Everton 2 - 2 West Brom A debut goal from teenager Victor Anichebe (who says Moyes doesn't give chances to youngsters?) was very pleasing but I was so happy that Big Dunc scored. The late 90s were a very dark period in Everton's history and for years Big Dunc was a shining light. A player who was good enough and passionate enough to inspire a crowd and single-handedly destroy opposing defences. Sure, you could argue that Big Dunc never fulfilled his potential, there were some hard times for the player but when he had a day, he really had a day!!! He always seemed to save his goals for the big games against Liverpool and Man Utd. If today's game was to be his last in an Everton shirt, I think it was fitting that he scored. Big Dunc is in my opinion an Everton legend and I hope he stays on in some role next season. How about player-coach?? Good news as well: Spurs weren't good enough to repeat our amazing
feat of finishing 4th!!! Kick out Kenwright??!! Sure, there isn't much money about and he has handled some things
disastrously, but who is going to come in with a pot of cash and buy him
out? I don't see a long line of investors wanting to invest in the club
or buy him out!! Caution can cost! Guaranteed, he'll now cost Ł4-5m if we were lucky enough to buy him.
Why, oh, why did we not shell out the extra million for him, instead of
the whole Krřldrup fiasco! Whilst we maybe erred on the side of caution,
he is a young, pacy, talented British defender. I think even at Ł3m it
would have been worth the gamble. These are the risks Kendall used to
take, which got us the league in the eighties. Response to Peter Fearon's comment You have enlightened me. I've just realised this, that Moyes does keep saying that he doesn't have much money to spend at every transfer window, including LAST SUMMER, when he spent up to 20 million!!! You've given me hope that will buy some serious quailty this summer. I hope it's around Ł15 million... Ł3M for Ferrari, Ł3M for Lescott/Cutis Davies, Ł5M for Johnson, and
Ł4M for Yaya Toure. Add those four, we'll be competing for that a top 5
spot, mark my words. August 2006 Starting XI Renew?????? MY ARSE! "We're Shite and we know we are, we're Shite and we know we are...
altogether now..." Observation Apart from one or two (they need no mention) one thing is clear: BILL
KENWRIGHT NEEDS TO GIVE UP HIS OWNERSHIP, or else Everton will fall even
further down the ladder. It does make you think — How bad would it have
to get before BLUE BILL really found it vital to find a new owner?
Perhap's our wait is coming to an end, either way, this season? Positive Because thats what we will end up with. So I say don't keep changing
the manager, get behind him and hopefully everyone's loyalty will in
time pay off. Memories "The management is aware that the Evertonian knows appreciates and very rightly demands football of the highest class." The Manager, Harry Catterick, wrote "Everton must have a nucleus of 15 or 16 players who can be labelled first teamers. We only want players who will bring glory to Everton" How I wish those were the sentiments of the present Chairman and Manager. I know times have changed and we no longer have a benefactor like John Moores but our aspirations as Evertonians have not dimmed but sadly as the years go bye the prospect of ever having a glory day again grows less and less. It would appear that 10th in the league is the summit of our ambition from the Chairman down. In the 65 years I have watched the Blues, there have been highs and
lows but we now seem to accept that we are an also-ran and the club is
happy with it. Sadly, mugs like me will still pay our money and
Kenwright, Wyness and Moyes will cheerfully carry on as usual. Transfer Money... just Moyes being clever?
"The thing is I don't believe we have limited resources. I think we will go all out this summer and the talk of low funds is just so we don't get over-priced. This could be a big summer in the future of Everton and I reckon we have more than were letting on." Maybe he is exaggerating a bit but he has a valid point. Moyes has been trying to hide how much money we have to spend since he has been here. Its his "tactic" as you woould say. Think about it: Last season, Moyes was bleating on about how we didn't have that much money but he couldn't cover it up with everyone knowing the windfall you get from the Rooney money and finishing fourth in the Premiership. So he goes and spends Ł20 million. Not a lot eh Moyes? He is trying to keep the prices down IMO by saying how little money we have. This season, it could be working. The Press think as we aren't in Europe we won't have any money but, if Wyness keeps bangin on about how well we are doing financially, there must be some pot of gold hiding somwhere. I'm not saying we have Ł20 million to spend again but saying we have about Ł7 million just doesn't stick IMO. We usually get linked to players left right and centre but I haven't seen Moyes before suss out the players he wants before the transfer windows open. Just a hunch but I remember Yobo and Arteta both saying at different points that they want us to buy good players during the window. Wouldn't we have heard Yobo voicing his concerns more around now if he thought we had no money to spend in the summer? Something might have been said to him by Moyes telling him he has more money to spend than the Press thinks or that he has decent targets lined up. I don't see Yobo as the kind of person who would button his lip if he sees something he doesn't like. So, in my opinion, Moyes has more money to spend but he's keeping his
cards close to his chest. Any truth? Thanks, lads No question about it, the current crop of Evertonians still represent
the funniest, most erudite and well-informed collection of football
supporters anywhere in the world. A title we'll never lose. Keep up the
good work lads! Moyes and Kenwright out! If you have a small squad then wouldn't you want to keep all the players at your disposal? So why let Li Tie and Ferrari go while keeping the degrading rest? Moyes and Kenwright Out! Simon Davies has had some stick off me this season as he has been
very poor by has good standards. But in his last two games he has been
Man of the Match and, by his own admission, wants to give the club more
next year. I give credit where credit is due and I hope Davies will
shine tomorrow and all of next season. Amazing his improvement when
Moyes plays him as a attacking midfielder, not a holding one. What kind
of negative manager plays flair players in holding positions? Moyes,
Kenwright, Weir and Ferguson (who still is a legend but, dude, you gotta
go!) OUT! New kit With it being 70s retro, I say sod a new contract for Big Dunc: bring
back the 'Latch'! Idea for a humerous protest song: Protest Please, please at least throw your season ticket on the pitch at the
beginning or the end, whether you're renewing or not. Let's make them
sit up, let's just give them a sign — otherwise nothing will change...
and even if it doesn't, we can at least make them feel uncomfortable.
Full support "Why then does Davey continually offer undying gratitude to this same Board for the fullest of support? End of term report: Mr Moyes, D — 4/10: Must do better. — Colm" And what would your employer do if you told them the company
employees suck and the board is crap? Give you a pay rise or say 'Don't
Come Monday'? Moyes's probably grateful that tosser Kenwright hasn't
used him as a scapegoat and sacked him when his head has been called for
in the past. Make-or-break year, someone said in a previous message?
Well, I don't see that. Even if we make a CL placing or win a cup — or
even the title — I don't see things improving with Kenwright still
there. Ferguson renewal For some reason, I'm feeling the same about it all when I hear rumours about Duncan Ferguson getting an extension. I mean, really, what is the point of supporting the club when the manager may renew a contract of a player who has the longest goal drought of a striker in the league in which he plays? Does that not suggest he's a little bit crap or out of place? When Jon Stead (playing for the team with the lowest-ever Prem points total) scores before him, you've got to wonder ... errr why is this guy being offered more money per year than a ward full of nurses just to huff and puff for 20 minutes? Weir, ok, maybe, as backup, but please... when you've got a lack of pace upfront, take a risk on youth rather than a violent lumbering representation of everything that Everton does wrong. And if he's being offered a new contract due to the smallness of the
squad — then whose fault is that? A little knowledge #2 It's remarkable to see a letter where the foreign words are key to
its point, yet so hopelessly misspelt! The attempts made are not even
close. Compare This is the most depressing build-up to the final game that I can
remember. Davey, you have a lot to answer for. The football being played
is crap. During the close season can you get the players to practise
passing and... ah what the fuck! I am so pissed off with the way the
club is being directed.... KENWRIGHT ET AL — FUCK OFF! Sack Moyes? Let's look at the reality here: Moyes saved us from being relegated, got us to 3 top-ten finishes in four seasons. All this on limited money. I'm not saying Moyes is perfect or anything — he has made many mistakes — but at Ł4.5 million net outlay per year, he has done considerably well. If you're fustrated that we are not progessing fast enough, then it's the Board's fault for not giving enough money to Moyes. FACT: No other Manager can better Moyes's record of these
aachievements on inheriting a crap, old squad. Etymology A quick translation would be:- your mates fail; enemies fail; you do OK — as long as the former two keep on failing, all is well and you smile. Very efficient, these Germans. "Weltenshaung". It means 'world view' at a base level translation but, in German, a lot more. It's almost your whole personality in one word. One word on paper; that's who you are. Two good Germanic words and I've needed more than two paragraphs to describe them. Combine then, and order these as you will:- Rooney, Weltenshaung, Schaudenfraude. That would be two or, maybe three words, with a bit of punctuation and verbage and the whole saga is sorted. Who is laughing? The English or the Germans? — Me, I just love going the game with my friends... Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. Useless, Clueless, Wyness The man, Wyness that is, is a fraud. In his interview with the Irish Examiner the part I loved was this bit "It’s official: Everton are top of the league. No, your brains haven’t just turned to toffee. It’s not often they get the chance to lord it over Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and, especially, their dearly beloved neighbours Liverpool, so you can forgive Keith Wyness the wide smile with which he delivers the news Everton, having registered a profit of just over Ł23 million last season, according them the status of most profitable club in the Premiership. He goes on to say that most of it was down to the sale of Wayne Rooney (you don't say!) but then he has the cheek to say that we were still profitable — that will be the whole Ł100k profit, will it? There won't be one Everton fan in the world who will be proud of our Ł23M profit as I'm sure we'd all have prefered to have kept Rooney — and why is Wyness taking the credit anyway? — he didn't arrive until after Rooney was sold!!! Wyness is a desperate man living off the credit of the turnover increasing to Ł60M — even though you must remember though that he wasn't even here for half of the financial year either! The hundreds of empty seats in the corporate areas all season are testiment to his lack of understanding of the fanbase and there is only one reason why the "price freeze" has taken place and that is Buster wants to get as much money in before 31 May in order increase this financial year's turnover. If it was purely as a reward for our loyalty, then why couldn't he have frozen the prices until mid-June? And again, if it is for our loyalty, then why could I buy a cut-price season ticket for a friend who has shown no loyalty at all? The treatment of those younger fans who two seasons ago could buy their ticket for Ł99 is nothing short of disgraceful. The constant reminders and extended opening hours are proof enough that he is a desperate man. I think an uptake of 10,000 tickets out of 26,000 season ticket holders should be warning enough that fans don't want to be taken for a ride. Finally with regards to the new annual kit, I have two young sons and
although I will have to buy a new kit, I will only be buying the home
shirt. If they lasted more than a year then I would probably buy all 3
shirts over the course of the 2 seasons — obviously Wyness knows best -
what was it... a Ł750,000 loss on retail last season! ROLLER COASTER Blues Setting Records Actually, as mentioned in other posts today, this headline refers to the 'unprecidented response' to the club's offer of a price freeze on season tickets with '10,000' sold aready. Well, with only two more full days to the end of the price freeze, this to me is not very 'impressive' as the spin tries to make out. It is actually quite shite considering there were over 20,000 season ticket holders last term as surely no-one intending to renew would wait until after the price freeze to do so to pay the increased tarriff? No, to me this represents a poor take-up so far on the club's offer and a worrying sign that perhaps the club's coffers may not meet Keith's Lard's target due to the lethargy on take-up. Only time will tell if I am wrong but if the blues do set new records as the spin puts it then I will be astonished and astounded and clearly in the minority in terms of my dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. More likely, the outcome will be a significant decline in numbers of
season ticket holders but surprisingly there will not be a massive
downturn in attendances as there will be many, like me, not renewing but
still going to most of the games by purchasing match tickets as and
when... Anyway, I look forward to the final tally with interest. ...WTF? a) stop overspending (when we actually have a decent budget) on shite (Davies - appalling; Beattie - talented but overpriced; etc) b) use scouts to find youngsters from the Championship / League One who want to better themselves and are hungry to have a crack at the big stage; and c) give the kids a chance! (more than five minutes at the end of a match). Sorry if I'm treading over old ground, but I needed to write that
down! Weir Moyes seems to have something against exciting young players. I'm
scared he's gonna rip off his mask one day and we'll find he's actually
Wally Smith in disguise. Then again, I doubt even Smith would choose a
ginger disguise! Why do they even bring a new top out every year? They just appear to remove the collar, then put it back on the year after. Think I might refuse to buy it... unless they sign a Brazilian — 'wax
as lyrical' was funny by the way. I like it. Screwing the Cash Cow ‘Professional Sport — A Still Undervalued Business Project’ — Keith Wyness. Big Keith appears to imply that sports fans are not paying enough for the dubious honour of consuming the ‘product’. Sorry, Keith: if that statement isn’t shit then it’s an insult. Tell you what, less of the pseudy business bollocks and translate that to what you really mean. Evertonians are not paying the maximum you can squeeze out of them and you will keep pushing and pushing until the majority of fans wake up and realise they are getting nothing in return. So, until then, Keith will continue ratcheting up prices across the board, fucking the supporters around to maximise returns whilst slowly attaining the point of being on the brink of throwing the baby out with the bath water; I bet season ticket sales for next season will be substantially down on 2005-06. This fellow is so up his corny jargoned arse. He’s chiselling here and there and the ‘customer base’ — sorry, FANS — are paying more and being inconvenienced without him giving a shit — cos overall he reckons he still has (and will continue to have until more start recognising this) room to screw. By the way, that’s par for course in marketing, a practice not a profession which comes into its own in terms of exploitation when applied to football whose practitioners comprise snake-oil salesmen, con-men, chancers and barefaced liars. Soft arse seems to think more dearly of the mystical and counterfeit
possibilities of an untapped Chinese fan-base than looking after the
true supporters — otherwise known as the Cash Cow. Season Tickets Arteta staying — it's official? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I may not agree with all you say, or even anything for that matter, but if you keep on posting crackers like that, I'll happily read them all day. COME ON YOU BLUE-NOSED BASTARDS. And now things become clearer..... ‘However, he doesn’t accept the Premiership is riddled with corruption, and predicts Everton — and all the other clubs — will “comfortably pass muster” when Lord Stevens’ inquiry delivers its verdict. “I’ve never seen even a hint of corrupt practices,” he told his RDS audience.’ Yup, no flies on Everton. You’d have to have transfer dealings to attract Lord Stevens’ attention, and as we know Davey has shrewdly avoided the transfer market. By the way, I’ve been racking my brains to see why Davey is offering new contracts to Weir and Stubbs. I decided to plunge into my Conan Doyle collection and the great man Sherlock Holmes said ‘It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.’ Anyway, I have come up with the only possible answer, Weir and Stubbs have photos of their manager fellating a goat. Expect them to remain at the club for some time yet…… Pies II Now, if only we could make Dutch see some sense too. When will they ever learn.... One final point. If Everton cannot afford two or three new signings
each season, how do we afford to replace, all at the same time, all of
our "senior" players when it is more than apparent they cannot possibly
continue at the highest level? Heaven forbid that it should happen at
the same time as injuries curtail some careers, when another of the
Academy's crops totally fails, or the next installment of the last ill
considered transfers is due... What are the chances...??? "I hate to talk about football clubs as brands but if we were to look at it from that point of view, 'The People's Club' is more an issue of positioning for Everton." I like this positioning. It's open-ended (in other words if we become even shitter we don't look silly — imagine a team playing in the 'Theatre of Dreams' struggling to finish in the top half?), its unique and, most importantly, it touches the people who matter — the fans. Therefore what are the chances that:
I would hate to get caught in a trap of being stuck in; 'The Murphy's Stadium' or, perhaps more aptly, 'The Bitter Stadium' á la Arsenal and Sunderland. Keith, you have something to work with, a potential goldmine if you will. Imagine: the people, watching 'The People's Club' operate their business and play their football in The People's Stadium. Very hypothetical I know but What are the chances? ps: Knowing our PR history, a somewhat average Sunday tabloid will
get some money from somewhere and present Keith an offer he can't
refuse. The catch — our new stadium gets branded in their corporate
colours!!!!! Pies As for Santiago Trotter asking about Da Silva, the only Brazilian you will see around Goodison next season mate will be if some bird slips over on a sauce sachet in a short skirt. Do you really think a young talented footballer with a bright future would come and join Moysie's Dad's Army? Would you??? We are definetly going to get worse next season without a shadow of a doubt. How is it possible to get any better if we stick to the same routine with the same old players? But who cares as long as the pies are hot and delicious. And by the look of James Beatie, he has been enjoying the odd pie dinner as a pre-match meal... fuck the pasta. How quickly things change. Only a year ago we were crying tears of joy in to our champagne glasses. Now we are crying tears of pain in to our onion gravy. Where did it all go wrong? I still can't figure it out. I wake up some mornings thinking it's all been a dream. But it hasn't; it's been a Nightmare on Gwladys Street — and Davey Krugger has got more horrors in store for us — just you wait and see. We are now that shit that I cant even be bothered getting annoyed any
more — what's the point? Da Silva Scots and Brazilians Honestly can't beleive Weir is being given a new contract; that's ridiculous as well. I was reading about Scotland's 'young' squad for the summer tour to Japan recently... honestly can't beleive he still gets picked to play International football! He's a proper liability. There is no way he should have been even playing for Everton this season. Congratulations to McFadden on Young Player of the Year too, I still feel he gets far too much stick from some fans, he's a good player and a lot better than the 'Championship' player some say he is. And thanks for unmasking me by the way! (I always wanted to be a
Santiago) Just to say I was at Brian's service earlier. I wasn't sure whether or not to go but just felt I wanted to attend; more truthfully, strangely felt I needed to attend. I was particularly filled with memories of the "big one" in `66', just 17 and hardly ever kissed. People who doubt or query that we are a special football club would have seen evidence to the contrary today. The feeling for Brian and the empathy among supporters of all ages was plain to see. Despite how we may feel about the way the club is currently run and the anger about how we have been allowed to lose our heritage and our way, the feeling of belonging to this special club is, at times, overwhelming, tangible and undeniable. I was moved to hear and see how Brian was esteemed in the football world. Sir Tom Finney attended and there was a particularly moving reading from Ian Callaghan and message from Sepp Blatter. So, Colm and colleagues, next time some young wise-arse responds
"keep the faith in what, exactly?", I'll shake my head, remember how I
felt today, and smile. Football Is A Business... But in amongst all the bad feeling and general shite that flies around about Rooney, I`d like to think that one day he`d play for Everton again. Albeit 30 or so and past his best, but still a great player to have in your team. This is based on no fact whatsoever. Just in the hope that; "Once a
blue, always a blue" is not bollocks after all. Great interview with Phil Neville He talks of how he is "disgusted with (him)self" at not realsing Brian Labone was not just " a normal worker at Everton"... How "that's the type of club this is: no one stands out from the rest, everyone's equal. That's why it's so special. I thought after Manchester United that football would become a job to me, but it's still my life. That's how happy I am here."... And how he ""feels like an Evertonian now"... The final comment from the reporter is "it sounds as though he has the blue blood of Brian Labone in his veins pumping him on." Great stuff. Quality fella. Skid marks “I hate to talk about football clubs as brands but if we were to look at it from that point of view, ‘The People’s Club’ is more an issue of positioning for Everton. All you’ve got right now is Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool — their positioning is, we’re number one, we’re the best team, we have the highest paid players, we have the biggest chequebooks. That’s okay until you’re number two someday. What’s your ethos then?The biggest load of bollocks i've ever heard in my life! I almost laughed myself off my desk!!! Luq Yus, London (4/5/06) The funny thing here is that, while Mr Wyness was in Dublin spouting such nonsense, Bob Latchford was across town in Dalymount Park recalling his goal haul of 1977-78 and launching his book '30' in aid of the EFPF. Mr Wyness was invited to attend but opted out of embracing fellow members of "The People's Club!" If I was a cynic I'd wager Mr Wyness is using any media outlet possible to tout the Club for sale — as they've little assets left to flog! — Colm Squad Moyes should play the younguns — they can't do any worse. Even if they score once, we will be in the profit margin and they won't cost a packet to play either. Any word on the so-called Brazilian sensation Da Silva? — we are supposed to get him in the close season from Spain... Keep the good work up. Doom and Gloom The difference I see between last season and this season is luck. Last season we had a lot of luck, things went our way, we ground out wins and we finished fourth. This season we've had a lot of injuries, especially to the new players bought in during the summer, so we've essentially had the same team as last season but without the same luck to get the same results. I don't for one minute think that Moyes is happy with the situation as it stands but there's nothing he can do about it; he needs the money to be available to buy better players and that's the job of the board. If they're not able to put in money or find investors to put in money then they should be the first to go. Getting rid of the manager won't bring more investors into the club and it won't make our mediocre players into superstars. I'm afraid that, with the current setup and Kenwright in charge of the train set, things are not going to change in the near future. We'll hopefully have a full compliment of fit players for the start of next season but it'll likely be the same faces as we have now and we'll be reading the same gripes and moans on this website for the next season and end up in the same position at the end of the season. And then what? With our OAPs well past their sell-by date already, we won't be able to still keep Weir, Stubbs, Martyn and Ferguson into the 2007-08 season so we'd better have a hatful of quality youngsters coming through from the reserves... or Kenwright out and a whole load of new money coming into the club. Otherwise I only see Everton on a downward spiral back to the
relegation dogfights or worse. The Mersey Millionaires 'The Board are terrific here, they’re very supportive and everybody looks for people to come into the club and invest some money but as we know at the moment football doesn’t seem to be the best investment for any backers really.'Sorry, Davey; I don't believe you. As a paid employee and minion of the Fat Controller, you trot out the corporate line. You'll be saying that you are managing expectations next! New contracts for old crocks. I'm looking forward to that. You know
what 'they say'? Static objects don't just stand still, they corode! Timing Rooney As for Moyes I would say he has got until December to start improving on the style of play, even if we stay mid-table, because he has improved on the squad and has brought some respectability back, which would be enough for us to get another decent up-and-coming manager. After nearly 5 years, you cannot say that he has not been given a go, and real mangers get things sorted in that length of time. In this era of money, it's not the title, it should be semi-finals in cups; look at Mark Hughes, Jol, Benitez, Coppel, Roeder, McLaren... My problem is that I think he lacks creativity, and lacks balls in
the market. Also, at the end of the day, what did he really do at
Preston?! Into the play-offs (wow! big fucking deal). His time to
improve on what he has and hasn't done is next season; 1-0 nils went out
in the 80's. As a building thing, it's ok for a couple of seasons, but
we have to move on. Holding ground is actually going backwards — any
business or businessman will tell you that!!! The Blue tide Mikey Arteta 100% deserves his awards, but can we really hope our
gaffer stumbles onto a few more quality signings — like he did with
Arteta — this summer? The blue tide is already starting to turn against
Davey. This year is make or break time or judgement season or some other
cliché, either he has to get it right, and now, or... Drawing a line under Rooney After a handful of botched transfers and the inference that we will be offering new contracts to Weir, Stubbs & Martyn, I for one see no reason for optimism for next season. I see us being linked with every Tom, Dick and Harry across Europe only to re-register Alan Irvine as a player and see our transfer budget evaporate in an effort to polish the bank balance. Short of a clearout (and I don't mean the squad), I don't see
anything changing. Kenright and Co have lost the confidence of the fans
and, if they had any respect for the club or the fans, they'd walk. As
for Dutch and his incessant pro-Moyes bullshit, anyone who can take
heart from Weir and Stubbs being offered new contracts is quite clearly
insane and needs sectioning. Don't hold your breath for goals I guess David Moyes will argue that Stubbs and Weir can't and won't go on forever and therefore he has to make plans to replace them first. In my view, DM was a defender and he wouldn't know a good striker if
he tripped over one, so I for one am preparing myself for another goal
drought next season. Everton and Transfers And if you know your history, you'll know that we've always sold our best players to cash in, and usually against their will at that. The immortal Dixie, Tommy Lawton, Bobby Collins, Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, and Gary Lineker to name the obvious ones. In his book, Bally tells how he asked Harry Catterick why he was selling him to Arsenal — 'That's business,son' Catterick told him. Yes, history tells us that that's how Everton do business. Oh, incidentally: Dixie was sold after his 399th Everton appearance so that he wouldn't reach 400 - and the club gave him nothing to commemorate his 60 league goals. Lawton was sold because we wouldn't pay him more money even though most neutral fans thought him the best centre forward they'd ever seen. Bobby Collins later inspired Leeds's promotion to the old First Division as well as captaining them in a Cup Final. Bally went on to captain England despite Everton breaking his heart at 27. Lineker won loads of medals with Barca after his one season and 40 goals in 57 or so games with us. So, over the whole issue of Wayne Rooney, let's just accept that the writing was on the wall after the Euros and as soon as the Everton Board had got what they thought was the 'best deal possible' (ie, less than Chelsea paid for Drogba and Man Utd paid for Veron). Yes, Stretford also stands accused big time but he couldn't have done it without some insider dealing, as the saying goes. Thank Christ the Board can't sell the fans or they'd have us off to Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge quicker than Liverpool can beg Uefa for a place in the Champions League. Everton and transfer business — fucking hell. A touch of common sense Did I feel gutted when he left the club? Too right. Do I blame him? No way! He may not, as Adam Carey pointed out (a little unneccesarily I thought) be Mensa material but he was smart enough to make the decision that was right for Wayne Rooney and family. It's about time Evertonians realised that players play for clubs because it's their job (despite some being lucky enough to play for the club they've always supported) and they're not going to give up the chance of a lifetime to be dragged into mediocrity, and neither should they. Get over Wayne Rooney. If the club was good enough for him he'd still be here. But it's not, much as that hurts to admit. But Wayne Rooney's not the cause of the demise of our club, far from it. A lack of business acumen, an inability to move with the times, financial mismanagement, lack of forward planning and investment... should I continue? I hope Wayne makes a miraculous recovery and goes on to help England
win the World Cup... There! doesn't that unlikely and unrealistic hope
prove I'm an Evertonian? Too Late Surely the time for boycotts and demonstrations of unrest was five years ago when we were enduring the dark days under Walter Smith, a team of old used-up players like Gazza and Ginola who failed to get into the Top 10 even once. Now we have a team of established Internationals (Neville, Davies, Yobo, Valente), exciting young players (Arteta, McFadden, Osman, Hibbert) and we regulary finish in a Top 10 position. Things at Everton have improved over the last four years, even the
most passionate Moyes hater cannot deny things are far better now then
under the Smith era. We should have taken action years ago when Smith
was in charge or even before that Kendall (3) and Mike Walker. The were
very dark days compared to the mediocre season we have just witnessed. Danny Broderick Ok for your reassurance I am a loyal blue nose and my referal as 'they' was those players on the pitch. I always say 'we' if I talk about the whole club in general. And who gives a shite what you can and cannot do on Champ Manager, it is irrelevant and just shows how silly your arguement was. Apart from that I hope you enjoyed the sun (being in london) and will be more thoughtful in future. And as your your comment 'a balanced view' concerning Moyes and Zacceroni; so what if Moyes finished 4th in one season. Norwich and Ipswich finished fourth and went down the season after! That doesn't mean a whole lot when Moyes has sunk Everton to some dire depths in the other three seasons!!! In any case my annoyance is not with you, its with the useless board,
the non-caring chairman, and the Celt bore! Enough said. Our Outstanding Youth Policy World Cup and Dutch And Dutch, please, please, please just go on holiday for a while so
that folk don't have to continually read your slavering pish. Joleon
Lescott?? Behave. Roooney wanted to leave since... Of course it's all the Board's fault he left. Although you say it's
not stated as fact that he was pushed you seem to imply that fatso was
quite innocent. The board, I assume made sure as part of his transfer
that he had to kiss his Man U badge in front of the Park End Also where
do I aim my bile? I would like to aim it in another direction than
fellow Evertonians like you seem to! Luq Yus ... 'Don't get me wrong — I was happy they won — but I had long given up on this season and simply did not care if they won or lost anymore as there is nothing to play for.' No Evertonians I know refer to US as THEY, which you did twice, as well as saying you were not bothered if we won or lost. He then hails Zacceroni for helping Lazio and Udinese to top 6 finishes, and says of Moyes: 'Hailed a messiah for doing sweet FA', and follows it with some of his usual anti-Moyes rant. If you are going to have a point of view, at least have a balanced view of the facts, and acknowledge the job that Moyes did in taking us to 4th, which is surely comparable to taking Udinese to the top 6 in Italy? 'If this was an election he would lose hands down.' Another gem of Luq's, except he wouldn't. Most blues I know are frustrated, but few want the manager out, as you should know by the way the fans sing his name. He says the Board of directors 'care more for their pocket rather than the club' — they may be hopeless but that is just crap. Do you not think Bill Kenwright cares for EFC? Even his biggest critic couldn't say that surely? Last but not least: 'And I wish I was playing Championship Manager as I would have sacked the board along time ago.' Sorry mate, but you can't do that on Champ Manager! Maybe you've just had a bad few days at the office or something Luq
but you compelled me to write in! I just had to get this off my chest! Focus! Like a lot of Blues, I will not be renewing my season ticket for reasons that have been stated on this website by many others and it would just be futile to repeat them. I am personally going to write on the back of my season ticket not renewable, or words to that effect and throw it on the pitch at the end of the WBA game (being careful not to hit anyone as it is still heavy with cup priority vouchers). This may be a childish gesture but, sod it, it will make me feel
better. Blues Fans: All Talk, No Action Communication of the issues is a start but you have to move past
debate into the land of action to make change. Intertoto Blues Fans: Wake Up & Do Something!!! So be proactive and make your response an active one. What are you waiting for — somebody to tell you how to wipe your arse? Go on do something; let Bill Kenwright know how you feel. Speculation over the summer This site will have loads of theories and rumours but Everton will not sign anyone with pace or class. We will sign a reserve-team goalie (Howard) and two geriatrics (Weir & Stubbs) to pass on their valuable experience to our non-existent young talent, and a couple of crocks from Seria A or La Liga who will not cost a fee but will be paid on an if-they-are-selected/play basis. And I am expected to renew my season ticket? As I have said before-
FUCK OFF KENWRIGHT ET AL — YOU HAVE CONNED ME FOR THE LAST TIME! Rooney and Everton Can't we just accept that the deal seems to have suited both parties
and move on? Rooney I am sure Rooney is, and always will be, an Evertonian — whoever he
plays for. Every time Evertonians blame him for leaving the club, that
fuckwit Kenwright must have a little smile. If he had shown any ability
to take that club forward and prosper, I'm certain Wayne wwould have
stayed. Rooney did more for our club in two years than stuffed blazers
like Kenwright and Carter have done in twenty. Joleon Lescott! I would love Lescott at the club but I fear Portsmouth or Reading will outbid Everton. How can Moyes build a decent team with such a small budget? Kenwright needs to sort something out. Then again, maybe Moyes can sort out a deal for Lescott and that's why Ferrari has been shown the door. Moyes I Continue To Trust. Fact The transfer of Rooney on the back of a breathtaking performance at Euro 2004 reminded me of the historic policy employed by Everton of selling their most prized assests. Gary Lineker was the recipient of the golden boot at Mexico 86, scored 30 goals in one season and was promptly shipped out by the Everton administration with the excuse that we had failed to retain the title, a decision that was vindicated apparently by the '87 Championship success. Since Lineker, we have continued to be seen as a selling club — just think about the players that we have lost along the way as each manager has hads to build and rebuild following the sale of our better players. The club has struggled both on the field and off since the mid 80s with only the loyalty of the supporters as a means of both salvation and redemption from a spectacular fall from grace á la Nottm Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and countless others. Throughout our demise, the administration of Everton have traded off our heritage and history whilst the fans of Everton have quite rightly expected much better than this. The sad passing of Brian Labone brings into perspective how much the game has changed; last of the corinthians he was — and in terms of stature, possibly a reflection of Everton FC circa 2006. Evertonians deserve much better in every single facet — be it the
stadium, team, administration, facilities, academy to name but a few. I
will continue to support the Blues as a paying customer through the
turnstiles but is it too hard to envisage a future which could and
should be much better True Blue I’d much rather focus on Sunday and what will be the last game for a player who is, without doubt, an Everton icon. I refer of course to Duncan Fergurson. I am sure there will be those who would dispute this statement, but I genuinely believe that they would be in a minority. We can talk about whether Fergie could have delivered more on the pitch (in terms of goals or remaining injury free) and done it more consistently, but there can be no doubting the man’s passion for the Club and its supporters. Whilst his playing days at Goodison are finishing, I would hope that the Club can find a way of ‘bottling’ that passion by keeping Duncan on the backroom staff, working with the players and making sure they understand (in Duncan’s own inimitable style!) what it means to play for Everton. I have great memories of watching Fergie over the years; whether they
be his goals, his passion, or the fear of God he put into the
opposition. I hope he plays on Sunday and that the crowd remember him as
I do and give him a great send off. Intertoto? Sorry to be grasping at straws in maintaining some sort of interest in the last of our dull season, but I just thought I'd ask as I understood these were the only three English teams to apply. Surely even we can't fail to gain the required 3 points against WBA
to ensure the matter.... Where is the evidence? Young Player of the Year Crap! A little knowledge..... I am happy to advise on Latin expressions, if people must use them. One could almost say it would be a sine qua non of my involvement. But quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Nil desperandum! Rooney Brian Labones name has (rightly) been heralded over the last few weeks. Talk of his sportsmanship and of being a gentleman who is sadly now gone from us... and the same people who wrote the tributes are now revelling in another person's misfortune? Don't get me wrong; I hate the fact that Rooney plays for Man Utd, and that he left before we had a chance to see how great he may have been in the blue shirt, but let's look at this from a sensible perspective. He was 18 at the time, it is obvious that he is not about to join Mensa, and was advised on a route to take that would set him up for life. If any of you had that chance given, you'd take it or you are bloody fools. I also seem to recall a tape recording from a certain club dressing
room and the first thing he asked about was our score! harsh Im being serious when i say that my son is dyslexic and has trouble
using a keyboard so please be aware that some people may be diadvantaged
and don't deserve being vilfied in public. Next...... Its CM season so why not turn the mailbag to that direction and as it should be open discussion ground for differing views on the club and its current and potential future players — for god's sake, Rooney has gone: let's move the mailbag on too. Starters for hopefully a long thread: Possible manager replacements: If Moyes is still the king of negative and we have another shocking start to next season by lets say Christmas? (I agree Kenwright won't bin him over the close-season.) Players in, players out: Now this has to be a juicy one for all the
conspiracy bunch and the optimists alike. (Yobo, Arteta, Cahill going?
More goalkeepers in a la Moyes, true to form as he would be extending
our current dross on even longer contracts...) The Scottish Rooney Thank God we are in such safe and capable hands! ps.Just saving Doddy & Dutch a job. No More Rooney Debate! Moyes made mistakes in the transfer market this summer (Krřldrup) and
paid over the odds for average players (Davies) but the Marcus Bent deal
was genius. Judas Rooney Now this is the first time I have aired my views on that little cunt, but I must say, to see how upset he is now his dodgy foot has flared up again leaves me with a fucking big smile on my face. The man has no soul, no spine & no pride. Only later in life will he realise just how much he is despised. To hear him say that he would like to sit in the Gwladys St, a la
David Unsworth galls me, as Rhino was a true Evertonian. Even though he
possesed none of the skill that gobshite has, he has blue blood running
through his veins, something WAYNE ROONEY has never had. Get over him! What should be discussed is what has happened to the money the club recieved for him. Was any of it used to strengthen the squad or did it all go to pay off debt? I mean it was 25 million pounds. Where did it go? It's twice what the Fortress fiasco was supposed to invest and, to listen to the spin ,that money was going to put us back at the top. So what happened? Why is the club so short of funds for transfers? Top twenty in turnover, most profit last year, more TV appearances than I can ever remember... and what have we got to show? 32 Goals and Stubbs and Weir at the back for another year by the
sound of it. Fuck Rooney, that ship has sailed. This club has enough
problems without reliving a shitstorm that happened two years ago.
What's next — Heysel talk perhaps? Bile and dismay Rooney was an asset, who may have stayed; I would have liked him to have stayed and regret that he has gone. Then there is the money that the sale has brought. Not only did we sell the family silver — did we spend it wisely? I appreciate that as a fan there are questions I would like to know the answers to. Company business is down to the shareholders and Directors. Is EFC becoming more attractive to invest in? It truly amazes me that "our fans" can be so venomous towards a player without knowing the facts behind it. Why should indeed Rooney be more loyal to his fans than say Phil Neville? Indeed, why should contributors to this site use Labones memory to emphasise and chastise our season so far? Brian was worthy of the shirt and beyond, as one of us. It's obvious
some Evertonians don't live up to the standards Brian set in gentlemanly
conduct. I know I am in danger of using his memory to make a point. I
hope you see it as a point well made. Moyesery! For god's sake lets get rid of Moyes and get someone who has learned
his trade and is not an apprentice of Ferguson and Co whom he seems to
admire. It would be nice to have a manager whom others admired like
Harry Catterick, Howard Kendall. Surely Everton deserves someone better
than a young, inexperienced manager who should be loaned to a smaller
club whilst learning his trade just as he seems to do with the younger
players on Everton's books. Walter's Deal BUT what about Walter? Spoken of very highly by the Rooney Family as having a great influence on his developement at EFC. LO and Behold, who is appointed as the Mancs' No 2 for 6 months — 'til the transfer was done, none other than another Scottish cunt who should not have been allowed within 10 miles of Goodison. Enough said, oh and by the way in case you have miised my posts
Kenwright FUCK OFF NOW — YOU AND YOUR MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL GET US
RELEGATED. So why did it all happen? While Bill has the rather unfortunate reputation for bullshit, his love for Rooney was quite evident to anybody and I just don't think he's a savvy enough businessman to cast that passion aside. That, I think most would agree, is what makes him a flawed chairman in so many ways. He loves the club, but there is very little else backing it up. I also don't believe that Moyes would have had any part in seeing Rooney leave the club. Maybe their relationship was strained, but there is no way on earth any manager would go along with some scheme to force out his best player and a player regarded by most as the best in the world at his age. Maybe I am embarrassingly naive in this respect, but wasn't it a simple case of Rooney going on international duty and being advised by senior players that he could replace the Everton teddy bears in his window with a few trophies? He was told over and over again by these players (and Sven, in public) that he was a genius and every newspaper I picked up after that Turkey game said he was born to play on the big stage. With a push from a money-grabbing agent and some kind words from the undoubtedly persuasive Alex Ferguson, I imagine the young and impressionable Rooney was put in a position where he thought that anything other than a move to Old Trafford would make him an under-achiever and something of a LeTissier figure. I accept that I don't have any evidence whatsoever that there wasn't some underhand plot from the Everton hierachy to force him out, but I just don't buy that. I appreciate that rumours began to surface long before he actually moved, but Alex Ferguson has never hidden the fact that he wanted Rooney for years before he got him. It wouldn't surprise me if Rooney's agent received numerous generous offers from Manchester United in the year approaching the transfer and we all know what a despicable toad Stretford is. I don't imagine he had any reservations about wording the proposition to Wayne and his family in a way that left them thinking he wasn't even wanted at Goodison. I remain absolutely gutted he isn't an Everton player, but I wish him
all the best in getting fit to play a part in the World Cup. He's a
footballing genius and whatever your feelings about him now, watching
him humiliate world class defenders (in and England shirt) is still a
joy. Censorship Surely having a pop at Kev for comparing Rooney to the great PELE is not worthy of such drastic cuts. I know Kev is a literal genius but surely he deserves some stick for his latest absurd posting. Rooney lovers — who needs them. Explanation This balantly is mis-managment and it does not take a brain cell to work that out! And I wish I was playing Championship Manager as I would have sacked the board along time ago. And two last points to Colm and Micheal; 1) Do you agree with my
arguement 2) Do you agree that renewing Weir and Ferguson contracts is
totally unacceptable when releasing Ferrari and Yobo is unthinkable, yet
will happen? Poor Little Wayne! Rooney wasn't pushed out of Everton. If he didn't want to go all he had to do was say "I want to stay". Moyes and Kenwright would have been kicked to the street before the Everton fans allowed a reluctant Rooney to depart. Fact is Rooney didn't say he wanted to stay he jumped at the chance to go. As an England fan I'm sad to lose Rooney but as an Everton fan I feel
like running up to him and celebrating with joy just like he did that
day in August. Rubbing Our Bluenoses Into It Rooney and Progress The Rooney debate re: Kevin Sparkes True, our Board stuffed it up but he was not forced out of our club, he chose to go. Rooney now exhibits those talents that we optimised and helped create for a load of gobby Mancs that chant at us every time, which he must hear "in your Liverpool slum" and "you'll never get a job". So excuse me for not wishing Rooney all the best and wishing him the
worst. Kevin Sparke sounds like a Sky Sports fan writing his
self-righteous rubbish about loving football. I love Everton, Everton
and Everton (then the wife). Rooney didn't care about us so I couldn't
give a shit about him Zacceroni and the board of mis-directors!
Let’s look at the two first; Zaccheroni has won the Seria A title once and has taken teams like Lazio and Udinese to top six statuses, which we can agree in Italy, is no mean feat. He is respected and would attract better players to the club. Now lets look at Moyes; Hailed a messiah for doing sweet FA (ironic as that what the actual FA do also), took Everton to Europe and made history by failing to make it to two competitions in the same season, could not handle England’s hottest young star in Rooney, has secured the lowest surviving points total in Premiership history, is about to claim the lowest goalscoring total in Everton’s history, and, which is worst of all, has dumped his policy of blooding the youth— something he promised to employ when he got here! If this was an election he would lose hands down (unless it was in the States). So why should Moyes stay on? Why shouldn't Everton broaden their horizons and try to better themselves? So please some supporters stop being so being so blinkered, there are perfect alternatives out there waiting to be swiped, just the Board are happy with mediocrity and Everton just staying in the top tier, making them revenue, it's their only ambition! Look at Paul Gregg: he wanted to change the rot which had set in the club. Instead of embracing the ideal the other greeddy bastard directors invented a story of investment to pin Gregg down. It is this mis-management that will slowly kill this club - Do we have to go down to realise something has to be done? An another example of mis-management, but at manager level, is the shocking news that Moyes will renew the contracts of Stubbs and Weir due to lack of cash! WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE TOP TWENTY RICHEST CLUB IN THE WORLD SO PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME THIS BOLLOCKS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD YOUNGER PLAYERS THIS SUMMER! It's because of this stupidity why many fans will not renew their season tickets! Overall my article can be summed up in two sentences; Corruption —
yes! The People's Club — not any more! Come out, Gregg, wherever you are! Gregg, it seemed to me, was satisfied with the 'Fortress marriage' and the noises he was making seemed to die down thereafter. So, having never materialized, Gregg surely is not happy with the way the club is being run and would therefore surely now be looking to kick up a fuss once more to get the Chairman to restate his vision for the future and how he is going to grow Mr Gregg's portfolio? If anyone can flush out Kenwright, Gregg can. What about it eh? Let's get Kenwright (the one-time investor) to step aside and let others breathe life into one of the top six best-supported clubs in England. Crying out for a boardroom change, desperate for new investment. Four or five top drawer players would ensure sell-outs, week-in, week-out, and eventually would see a return on a Ł20M investment. It seems to me that the reason we are not progressing is that we have a stubborn old luvvy running the club who does not know when he is beat and will not step aside to let in new blood to breath life back into our once great club. ps. No reply from Wyness yet about my declination to renew ("renewal?
not this time" comment article)- just got a lovely glossy brochure from
the PR dept about Everton's customer charter and that I would get a
reply 'soon' from the relevant dept - wont hold my breath. Love will tear us a part, again ! What's unusual is pretending that you never had any brothers, that you never shouted your love for us from the rooftops, you never led us to believe that you were going to make us proud again. What's even more insulting is the way you never ever mention our house, the street you played in, the city you come from. It's like anything pre-Manchester doesn't exist. It's like the new in-laws don't like where you're from, who you really are. As with all snobbish middle-class families if they don't like it, they ignore it, pretend it didn't happen, it doesn' exist. Is that what you are now, Wayne, a snobbish middle class prick? That's what hurts; that's why many of us find it hard to wish him any luck. On the Bill Kenwright issue, have I missed something? Is there
someone not only willing to buy Kenwright's shares but also put millions
into EFC??? Only when that happens and BK refuses to sell can we start
to call him. Question him hard, always... but — let's remember — he's
definitely done better than the last fella. Onwards, Evertonians! jimmy bullard Now think on Bullard is the kind of player Everton are crying out for and at 2.5 million was in our budget. Where was our bid we again were left in the dark as were other clubs becouse Fulham were no fools compare Fulhams transfer dealings to ours if Everton are after a transfer target first of all it is all over the media papers, tv radio, website. Everton are after player x this alerts other clubs to the possible chance of signing player x and before you. Know it player x is in talks with half adozen clubs and Everton are out bid and cant match the ambition of other clubs or offer European football so to David Moyse this message that is the sequence a transfer should follow now i dont know if David moyes is just not streetwise or its ploy by Everton fc to fool the fans they are going for certain players but secretly hope by alerting other clubs they will be outbid and will then have to re-sign a load of players past their sell buy date (we all know who they are) but it looks like we did try to sign some decent players i hope i am wrong and Everton are just naive if this is the case my
message to moyse get streetwise or missout
Facts are wrong Alex Young was not home-grown by Hearts, initially playing for Newtongate Star — not only that but he played for Hearts for 5 years and was their leading goalscorerduring that time. Trevor Steven also was not home-grown at Burnley and was struggling to get into their side when we signed him. Peter Reid was a gamble when bought by Everton as he had been injured most of the season at Bolton and signed for a knockdown price as Bolton did not then want to keep him. The only one remotely resembling Rooney was Bob Latchford who was home-grown at Birmingham but did stay there for 5 years. Not only that we lost Howard Kendall as part of the transfer deal in a move not liked by Evertonians. These deals bear no resemblance to Rooney who, having been raised and
nurtured by the club, then kicked us all in the teeth by leaving after
one season to satisfy his own greed. Please don't put great players like
Young and Latchford into the same category. They understand 'loyalty' —
Rooney never will. Rooney Some people find a new lover (Mikel, I'm not but for you I'd turn) and get on with their lives while others mope, sulk and dream of past moments — the wonderful days against Arsenal, Leeds to name just two. Remember, time's a great healer! It's just that some people need more than others. Oh and as for being pleased your ex gets badly injured - shame on
you! Even if they are a money grabbing little turncoat! Rooney Debate To me, it wouldn't matter if the club lacked ambition, if I didn't get on with the manager, no matter what my agent advised and it certainly wouldn't have mattered if I could earn more elsewhere. See, I'm an Evertonian, I fucking love the club and nothing is more important then that. Sure the desire to actually win something would have gotten to me in the end but my passion would have kept me at Everton until I was at least 25. Then maybe I would have looked for success elsewhere. I think a high percentage of fans would be the same. I doubt many would have dumped Everton for fat sweaty Man Utd cash after only 2 seasons. If Rooney was a real Evertonian he would have stayed for love of the club no matter what. Moyes, agents, lack of ambition, money, sponsorship deals, a real Evertonian would have put all that aside just to play for the club he loves. Its really as simply as that. In response to Kevin Sparke He could of done a Steve Gerrard and given us at least one more season and left with our blessing. No, he scuttled off out the back door like a shithouse rat and left us in all in bits. And we are still chasing after the payments — it's common knowledge around these parts that we got fucked over on the deal. What do you think the Phil Neville transfer was all about or this so call lone deal for Tim Howard? A player is sold to the richest club in the world on the never-never and you think it's great buisness!!! The Wayne Rooney saga is one of those ugly realities in football and
nothing will ever change that. Kevin Sparke It really is about time some people let the Rooney sale go. We got Ł27M (up to including bonus payments etc etc etc etc) which we badly needed. Kevin Sparke is a little over the top — having pity for people whose views differ to his. The fact is the World Cup will be shit without 'old large pants' and everyone knows it — including our opponents who are already rubbing their leather shorts in anticipation of his replacement. Speaking of which, that filth merchant lard arse Benitez has
immediately piped up to let the FA know Crouch is ready to 'replace'
Rooney. That is an absurd contradiction — no one can replace Rooney
regardless of who he plays for — especially that freak. Forget about Man
Utd and 'our Wayne' and remember England and cheer whoever it is playing
in the England kit (except for Crouch). Is there any point? Why are we all talking about him, and complaining about the club we are all supposed to love, but I couldn't give two shits about Rooney. There are more important issues at hand, let's stop talking about stuff that has already been done and dusted and start worrying about things we may as a whole be able to change. Whether he plays in the World Cup or not he's gone and it's about
time we all got over it! Jammy Liverpool Another cold Summer Is it just me or are we all being fed the same old crap about money available in the summer (apparantly a whopping Ł6-Ł7M)? When is everybody going to realise that we are not a big club anymore and certainly won't be while Mr Kenwright is in charge of the purse strings? I know Kenwright hasn't got the money to spend, so let's get the club sold to someone who will put us back on the map again. This summer's transfer activities will be as frustating as last, with
Everton trying to get players in at half their market value. What sort
of message does this send out to fans and, even worse, potential
transfer targets. We have got a tiny squad with alot of players who
should really be moved on. Mark my words, we could be in trouble if the
club cannot raise its aspirations. Wayne Rooney Kenwright and Co may well have pushed him out of the door but that is still no excuse for his behaviour towards Everton and the supporters since he has left, which I think is absolutely disgusting. That little gobshites attitude towards his ‘fellow’ Evertonians was summed up in December when, after Ryan Giggs had equalised, he felt the need to run over to the Everton fans in the corner of Old Trafford kissing the Manchester United badge and being dragged away by, of all people, Gary Neville – that sight made me sick. He couldn’t give a toss about Evertonains so why should we give one about him? On the other hand though, I was hoping he would have a mind-blowing
time in Germany, watch Real Madrid buy him for Ł60 million, see us get
our 25% and then use that money to remain one of the richest clubs in
the world so that Billy Boy and Keith could give themselves another pat
on the back for tremendous financial figures. Old Guard Prentice had the cheek to say that the club had no need for a price freeze, personally I think that the increase in ticket prices is a joke, especially when the quality is not going to be improved. Moyes said after the sale of Rooney, that we are not a selling club... BULLSHIT! Who's next for departure? Arteta, Cahill, Yobo — the only players likely to attract decent money and be replaced by crap. I know Sunday will be a final time to remember a great Evertonian in
Brian Labone, but what have we left? — a once great club in terminal
decline under the stewardship of Bullshit Bill. New Contracts For Old Feet! Lately the partnership was broken up with Yobo brought back in the side. The Boro win was Everton's first in 6 games. It was also the first time in 6 games that Stubbs and Weir were partnered again at the back. Coincedence? I think not. I dont know why it happens but Everton have a higher win ratio with
Stubbs/Weir at the back. I know they are probably getting a bit old but
they can still compete for at least another season. If Moyes is smart
he'll sign up a young defender who can spend next season learning from
the experience of Stubbs/Weir. What a load of Mealie Mouths Nobody could have been more upset when he departed for Man Utd than I was and, yes, I called him everything under the sun and felt quite vindictive about him for a while, but I got over it as everyone else should have done by now. Fancy gloating over the fact that an extremely talented footballer is
going to miss out on the tournament of his dreams. Surely the wider
picture should be looked at here.... it's England's loss if Rooney is
unable to play not Man Utd's... ENGLAND'S .... surely you want the
National Team to do as well as possible and they won't if Rooney isn't
in the team, that's definite.... so grow up the lot of you. Who cares? — not me Ok, we had a great season without him but we're not so great now, although if we had all players fit and a consistent side we may have fared better, and who knows we COULD have been in Europe again. England will never win the World Cup because they're only proud of holding the money the tournament brings, winning the cup is just a bonus, that'd bring more money. These players know they are going to get picked by name alone (Beckham for one... I hate writing his name — biggest arse going and a pain in the arse wife to boot). Being picked on merit alone won't help. Personally if I never see Rooney, his no morals girlfriend, Beckham
and the thing it hangs around with in the papers again I'll be happy
man. Unfortunately you've got to write about shite sometimes. One More Rooney Comment By the way it, wasn't totally an inept season — the Ladies Team did really well!! Finally, I assume all the comments on loyalty are from people who
have only ever worked for one organisation. Slow Death Like every other Blue, I was beyond gutted when he left. I was pissed off at him for a while, but it quickly dawned on me that to blame a not overly bright 18-year-old for a pre-meditated betrayal was ridiculous. He was clearly manipulated by several parties and I have a much bigger problem with the short-sighted powers that be at Everton who mis-handled a player that could have carried our club into a different league. I've always thought that his departure was the death knell of Everton as a major player in English football. If we can't keep a kid who is as blue as you possibly could be, for longer than we did, then what hope for a player with no love for the club... like Barmby, Gravesen, Yobo, Arteta or Cahill? Not very nice... but true, I'm afraid. I also believe that Moyes didn't help things regarding Rooney; he is clearly a major factor in our club becoming a leper colony to any player with any skill, pace or potential who's actually wanted by just about any other club. Why else do we end up signing injury-prone wasters like AvdM and
Davies, or re-signing rubbish like Naysmith, Pistone and Kilbane?
Nothing will change whilst the dour Scot is in charge; he's already
lowering/'managing' expectations, and get ready for more of the same
horrendous football next season. Tactics and systems It occurs to me that the weakness of this `football by numbers` approach is that, if all the coaches apply the same approach they negate each other totally and winning a game then comes down to pure luck! Perhaps this is the reason why so much football in the Premier League
is almost unwatchable and why those teams with foreign coaches who are
not restrained by these metronomic systems seem to win all the honours. Rooney What does annoy me is the length of his stay at Everton. If he had played for Everton for 5 years and then moved on I wouldn't have been so cross. But he pissed off as soon as he could. If he truely loved Everton he would have stayed longer. Now that his World Cup dreams are over, it's hard not to smile. He
may be England's youngest ever goalscorer but he'll probably be 24
before he gets chance at a World Cup. All of his fat sweaty Man Utd
money can't change that. Selfish? I suppose you should consider if you would still have players on a maximum wage and turning up to play at Goodison on a bus to Spellow Lane, not getting paid a full wage through the closed season so having to get a job and being thrown out of the club-house if sustaining a career ending injury? Wayne Rooney was — sorry to say it but it's true — too big for
Everton. The club did well out of the transaction; so did they boy. He's
the best prospect this country has had for a long time so why don't you
just put aside your bitterness and wish him a swift recovery and a
successful career? And you know what, if everyone did that he may
eventually want to come back and play for Everton. I for one would
welcome that. Now I can enjoy the World Cup And since Wayne Rooney left, I've had even less reason to support
England. I bear no ill will against him; I'm not even sure his departure
was entirely his fault. It's just that I can't find it in my heart to
cheer him on and I probably never will. So now he won't be playing, I
can relax and enjoy the England games without the nagging doubts about
whether I should be pleased or not when England score. I know it's a
selfish, but it's certainly not malicious. It's just the way I feel. Rooney Move & ToffeeWeb Views Whilst I do not wish physical harm on any person, and there is no doubt that the World Cup has lost a great talent and potential superstar, I agree with certain sections of this mailbag who cannot forgive Rooney for the move and find it difficult to feel sympathy for him now. Michael's quote: 'The key is that his move was engineered largely from within by people at Everton FC who were complict with his new agent. But that idea raises many conflicts for Evertonians that are hard to rationalise. I can understand why a lot of them just don't want to go there, and would rather take out their bitterness on 'Shrek' himself'suggests he has evidence that Everton engineered his move. It is patronising to assume that we would not be able to understand the fact that there are greedy people throughout the game, including Everton FC, who may not have the best interests of their club at heart. It also comes across as a rather twisted snipe at the club, seeking to find a party to blame somewhere in the whole business. Is it not simply possible that he left us and went to the Mancs of his own accord? Even if he was pushed, his ensuing behaviour towards Evertonians has truly scarred him in our eyes. Whether bitter or not, it is the view that nearly all Evertonians I speak to hold. Whilst giving constructive criticism to contributor's posts and often being a little scathing from time to time, (as well as providing some insightful and humorous responses) it would also do the Editorial Team well to remember that they too can be criticised, and this can lead to an improvement in the site as a whole. As for the national team, we have been force-fed Sky bollocks about
'The Best League in The World' for years now and have come to believe
our own hype. The World Cup will survive and prosper without Rooney, and
thus more than likely without England in the later stages. I look
forward to watching Japan. Australia and the like rather than our lot.
It is time for other 'unknowns' to come to the fore, and for reminding
us just what the tournament is all about. Rooney typifies all that's wrong I am older than some supporters but I was always brought up to look out for others and to help those who helped me. The fact that Rooney looked only to himself is what everyone hates about him especially as he left us when we needed him most. I have found if you help someone you tend to get more back in return. Conversely if you behave badly then bad happens to you also. Just
maybe that is what has happened now. Mr Ramejkis "The tackle was disgraceful and malicious and shows Rooney's true colours as an angry little council estate bastard who will always have a temper on him."Just one question that I and a number of people who contribute to this website are anxious to know: What's wrong with people who are brought up on a council estate? Dare I say it, you sound the angry one. Rooney Furthermore, I have absolutely no interest in Ingurland winning anything. In fact, having spent most of the last 15 years living down south and having to put up with the ridiculous and hypocritical national team supporters that populate the southeast makes me revel in their misfortunes. Any Evertonian who has travelled to away games in London will have encountered these idiots who spend 90 minutes baiting scousers so the irony of them all crying into their replica St Georges flags over a little scally from Croxteth is all too amusing. Also, the ToffeeWeb Editor's stance is a bit sanctimonious. If supporters of other clubs think Evertonians bitter about Rooney's move then that is all well and good because that is how the majority feel. Buying into the media spin that Rooney had to move and all right thinking Evertonians should accept it, wish him well and move on is, quite frankly, bollocks. Finally, let's hope Stevie G suffers a similar fate so I can piss
myself at the sight of a load of scouse hating- southerners kneeling on
their free prayer mats published in The Sun hoping that these two
'robbing scouse bastards' recover in time. Lucky Dave I honestly believe that, had he hit 16 under Walter Smith, our previous dour, clueless and unimaginative Scottish manager (who recommended the current incumbent to Bill Kenwright by the way) might still be in a job (God forbid). For me, the successes that Moyes has had have been all about Rooney — his emergence to begin with and the defiant football when he departed. Without these catalysts, I don't think Moyes would be seen as that much better than Smith. The only shame is that the money raised from Rooney's sale has, in many ways, been wasted by Mr Moyes. I hope I'm wrong and we become a stylish, imaginative outfit next
season under Moyes — and by that I don't mean that I hope Mikel Arteta
stays injury-free all season to carry the creative burden of our
manager's inability in transfer market! The truth will out... Lead by example, Moysey! Counter to Kevin Bennett My point is completely different from Tony Marsh's — I moved on after
Rooney left knowing full well life goes on but some people haven't. I
hate cheats and love to see them fall upon their own sword as the
growing spectre of cheating is ruining football. if you are not able to
see this, maybe the maturity questioning should be reflective? Alan Irvine One final thing to all those who are happy to see Wayne Rooney get
injured — get a life! I know it hurts he left us and Everton will always
come first but I also love to see our great country lift the World Cup
once more and that will only be possible with a fit WR, so get well
soon; England needs you!!! Wayne Routledge Had the usual quick chit chat about how it's going at Pompey and asked him when his loan period expires there would he be willing to move to a club like the Blues.... He simply just laughed his head off.. I said seriously mate im serious, his response was "Sorry, that move wouldn't appeal to me at all!" (I bet if Liverpool came in for him he would jump ship!) Just shows folks... no matter how hard Everton try, they simply
aren't an attractive enough proposition for decent players! Joseph McGivney Howard not the first What is frequently overlooked is that these were emergency strategies
when needing to field understregth teams or facing much superior
opposition. What has happenned in recent years is that coaches such as
Moyes have taken them as a blueprint for all games and have even
recruited players to suit this overly negative style. The FA have much
more than the England managerial cock-up to be ashamed of! It's not fair yeah yeah! The insults expressed here will be a source of derision for any non-Evertonian who chances upon what’s been posted, confirming how bitter and twisted Evertonians are. To those I say "not me, mate" and not the vast majority of normal thinking Evertonians. Rooney owes no loyalty to anyone except himself and his family. He gets paid as any professional for doing a job. If at some time he can improve his return on his effort he will leave his current employer and move on. That is not disloyal and anyone who thinks it is needs to grow up. May I remind you about football if you don’t already get it? As fans, you or I have NO ownership of the club, the stadium, the players or even the Goodison Park cat. The only thing you have is a choice of whether to patronise them with your money, paying to go or buying their merchandise. Buying a ticket allows you to sit in the ground, watch the game and scream and shout till you are blue in the face, oh and claim some childish right if the fancy takes you over being a better Evertonian than someone who doesn’t go any more because they can’t bear the crap on offer. Nothing else. Wishing bad on Wayne Rooney because of some immature feelings of
spurned loyalty is frankly ridiculous. Get a life and grow up. There are
far more important things to worry about. Matteo Matteo, wherefore art thou? Silly Me How crazy of me not to want Mr Ronney and his sleazy agent to pocket even more shitloads of cash from endorsements this summer. SFX World Cup Bonus for one. In fact I was so looking forward to listening to our Wayne's post-match interviews after all the big games... what will I do now? Just think, we will now not be able to watch the fly-on-the-wall World Cup Special, where our Wayne and Colleen show off for the cameras while Lamps, Becks and Rio pull funny faces behind his back. How could I not want to live through all of that? How selfish of me! Wayne Rooney has shown nothing but contempt for our club and its supporters so why should we wish him any success. The sight of him kicking a ball around the streets of Salford with kids in Man Utd tops was bad enough. [What about our kids, Wayne? did you ever think of them just once when you devastated this city with your actions?] Kissing the manc badge telling the media he dreamt of being Man Utd captain as a kid turning his back on his own kind. Yes, what a wonderfull chap. Maybe I have got this kid all wrong Michael and he fully deserves our support. Or maybe he is the face of all that is wrong with today's game and today's footballers. No honesty, no loyalty, and — above all else — no class. Give me one good reason why any Evertonian should want to see WR do well out of our misery. The thing is Michael the Corinthian spirit died last week, mate, when
a true legend of the game passed away. This Rooney character deserves
all the shit he takes because its all self-inflicted. Personally, I
couldn't give a toss if he never kicked a ball again. The day my son's
Everton Kit with Rooney on the back went in the bin so did he. It's
funny isn't it how football brings out the worst of us. Just remind our
Wayne of that if you get the chance. The talent Mr Rooney In fact, if he never played again I would not care! England is not my
concern, Everton are! And before I get slated I am being ironic as
that's what the Mancs say. Also it is not CM to have AT LEAST tried to
sign Jimmy Bullard. At Ł2.5M he would have been a bargin but Moyes and
good decisions just don't go. Stuff Moyes, I want Trappitoni as manager! A class above Apology I was actually referencing Mr. Liddle's words around imagined FA rules designed just for Liverpool FC, which in itself I thought funny enough to be worth passing on. I'll read more carefully in future. Extract from Rod Liddle's Sunday Times article
Last summer, Fifa correctly invoked rule 8a (Eligibility), which states that “Liverpool FC should be admitted to whichever cup competition they wish to be a part of, their ineligibility under normal rules notwithstanding”. So it is not as if the procedure has fallen into abeyance. We were watching closely to see whether that procedure was stuck to in the case of Liverpool’s Luis Garcia, who was sent off in the league match against West Ham. Had Luis played for any other club, he would have immediately forfeited his right to play in the Cup Final. But, as manager Rafa Benitez pointed out, Luis quite fancied having a kick about at the Millennium stadium and would be “unhappy” at having to sit out the game, so would it be okay if the card was rescinded, please? Yes, it would be okay, is the simple answer under Rule 3c (player misdemeanours), which makes it clear that the FA can indeed rescind any official punishment meted out to Liverpool players if it is felt that so-doing will minimise the risk of “. . . the imposition of a minute's silence before the game, widespread adoption of black armbands, the depositing of bouquets or yellow ribbons around the entrances to the ground, or the onset of mournful, mass, communal lowing or keening”. So, come on, Brian Barwick: as a Liverpudlian, you should know this stuff off by heart. (None of the above rules apply to West Ham, of course.) Reply to Ramejkis Young man (you sound young and immature) you should be ashamed of
yourself and you are not fit to call your self an Evertonian. The Gospel according to Saint Howard Wilkinson believed that goalscoring is not as important as everyone imagines; the real art is to make EVERY goal count, ie, earn points or win a cup-tie. Scoring early and shutting up shop or `keeping it tight` and snatching a late winner (as at Boro) enables teams to maximise the talent available and `levels the playing field'. Thus, through hard work and `application to task`, inferior teams can always be in with a shout against the super stars. Now quite what this approach does for the pleasure of the paying public is debateable but as the man said frequently, `Our job is to win matches not entertain.` Wilkinson accepted no dissent from this approach (`unless you`re bloody Real Madrid!`) - I know, I was there and (have still) got the badge! To me, Moyes proved last season that he had developed `Wilkinson`s Theory` almost to perfection and this goes a long way towards explaining why he was never particularly concerned by the failure to boost the strike force. With McFadden showing just how it`s done last Saturday, we may have
another long wait for re-inforcements! Defending Shrek? Very little if anything was made of Rooney's disgraceful tackle on his England colleague John Terry earlier in that same game which left Terry motionless on the pitch and since requiring ten stitches in his shin. The tackle was disgraceful and malicious and shows Rooney's true colours as an angry little council estate bastard who will always have a temper on him. Who is not to say he aggravated his foot during this assault on Terry which was later pushed over the edge by a perfectly reasonable tackle made against him towards the end of the match. Nothing was made out at the worry of Engerland losing one of it's best centre-halves through the boy blunder's attack was it? Yes, I am no fan of Rooney but my joy at his injury is weighted with the fact that he quite rightly deserved it for his dirty antics in the match earlier; I am a firm believer of what goes around comes around. I, like the majority of people I know, have moved on from the gobshite leaving Everton; the matter to hand is simply a dirty footballer getting their just deserts. On a final short paragraph: when you have slated contributors playing
Championship Manager suggesting Routledge and Pennant amongst a few we
should be making early moves on — if Fulham can make a deal before the
season has finished, why the hell can't we????? Sunil Mudgil From the games I saw, yes; we could have been better at times... yes, we need some more quality players — and I do believe that will happen. Ever seen "Kelly's Heroes"? As Oddball would say, "have faith baby,
what's with the negative vibes?" Been there, done it, think I've had enuf of it
Now I sit and watch in total despair as we settle for mid-table survival. I hate the fact that a lot of Evertonians have been "conditioned" to accept the absolute rubbish we are getting fed week-in, week-out. I watched us reach 4th last year and prayed we would at long last show the ambition required to stay amongst the big boys... but NO, we were led by people who just ain't got it to take us to that next level where we really belong. Having watched this season's games, I finally have to admit to myself that, under this regime (Board and Manager), we will never ever be able to compete with the so-called "big boys". By the way: Brian Labone RIP; one of us. MailBag Archives Season 2005-06 Season 2004-05 |
|
ToffeeWeb Letters from
April 2006 |
