ToffeeWeb - Season 2006-07

The Mail Bag

Tony Marsh column

I really can't believe you've given this fellow a column on your website! Oh, hang on, I think I can, for two reasons.

(1) Am I the only one who thinks this is the most pessimistic Everton fan site on the net? I agree that the Official Site and Daily Post/Echo site are overly optimistic, but this site certainly redresses the balance - and then some! Tony Marsh obviously fits right in at TW.

(2) Controversy pays! Having such ridiculously outspoken views attracts internet traffic to the site, if only to have a laugh at them, or to post a witty riposte. And increased footfall means more people clicking on your adverts (which I'm guessing, somewhat cynically, means more revenue?!?)

If you insist on allowing Tony Marsh headlining status on your otherwise excellent site, can you do the same for Richard Dodd??Then the realistic optimists amongst us can find the middle ground between the two.
Bob Turner, Runcorn Posted 11/06/2007 at 09:27:56

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Lyndon

Bob, you'll notice that three other columnists have been added to our lineup as well with the aim of having writers from across the opinion spectrum. Michael was keen to give Tony a place to vent his spleen and that's up to him and we'll see how it goes. In the likes of Rob Fox we have enough of a counter-balance to Tony's extremism to debase myth of "most pessimistic Everton fan site on the net". Plus, the new Comments facility allows the "community" to address Tony's views directly.

And no, it's not an exercise in driving revenue — for us to get any money from those ads, you have to buy something so the little we do make covers the costs of bringing you this website day after day with constant updates and improvements.

Diversity Training
1 Posted 11/06/2007 at 15:44:13

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To me, Tony Marsh is like the personal trainer who screams and shouts at you in the gym, "come on you lazy bastard only 10 more to go" or "come on chubby arse you wanna be able to get the girls don?t you!?". Rising and meeting the expectations set out by the likes of Tony Marsh would be clear signs of progress. The likes of Richard Dodd on the other hand could be compared to the pussy trainer who says things like "oh don?t worry babe, just do what you can. It doesn?t matter if you?ve got five bellies - I can see the beauty in you."

I know which type of commentary I prefer!

David Collins
2 Posted 11/06/2007 at 20:30:22

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I think he makes some relevant points, so sue me.

Marcus Dawson
3 Posted 12/06/2007 at 13:15:30

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Beat me to it with his comments about Tony Marsh, I can't understand why his views should be given the 'stamp of approval' by TW. The reason I'm writing though is in response to Lyndon's retort. If TW really thinks it is providing balance then so be it, I think it smacks more of trying to provoke people, which is a tactic employed by the media more and more these days.

Tony Marsh doesn't provide balance, his barely coherent rants are unbelievably simplistic in their construction and provide no platform for a reasoned debate or response. They are designed to antagonise and your sponsorship demeans this site and insults your readers by attempting to goad us.

Michael
4 Posted 12/06/2007 at 15:13:18

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I’m sorry but you are way off-base, Marcus. First off, we don’t give anything a ’stamp of approval’. Read our disclaimers. What we do is something you don’t do, and that is respect people’s right to have differeing opinions on things. Why is that so hard a concept for so many Evertonians?

Tony Marsh is merely expressing his feelings and opinions about Everton ? if you don’t happen to agree with them, so be it. But to claim there is some design to antagonise and insult our readers... well that is totally patheic. I know it’s your opinion... but I also know it is plain wrong.

This website is supposed to be about Everton, not Tony Marsh. For god’s sake, just accept that what he writes is what he feels ? is it really that hard?