FAN ARTICLES
Struggling to compete
By Anthony Millington : 15/07/2008 : 
Comments (52) :
It's looking like being another long frustrating summer in the transfer window at Everton and we've still not signed anyone with the squad gradually looking smaller and smaller. Not only that but half the team are injured and we even had to cancel a friendly against Bury because we didn't have the numbers to play.
Comments (52) : Moyes needs to act quickly to bring in players before it's too late. As it stands teams will walk right through us with the big hole left by Carsley unfilled. Has anyone else become increasingly worried by the fact that we no longer seem to be able to compete with the likes of Man City and Aston Villa due to their wealthy owners, who seem to be willing to splash out around the £20 million mark for their next signing (Jo and Bentley)?
In comparison we are constantly being linked with unfamiliar players on the cheap (Lichsteiner, Riki and Topal, to name a few), when we should be the ones adding high-profiled and top-quality players in to launch a bid to break into the top four.
I honestly believed Everton were slowly but surely moving forward in the right direction with our hard work in the league being rewarded each season by raisng the funds to bringing in a couple of quality players to add to the squad. However, it is very frustrating that teams who haven't come close to doing as well as us have much more money than us and can therefore afford to bring in a number of top class signings and there's nothing we can do to even compete with them.
There is nothing David Moyes can do about it and the only thing Kenwright can do is sell up but I fear that this ever increasing foreign ownership amongst Premier League clubs could soon lead to the destruction of the English game.
Reader Comments
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Anthony:
I think your article will strike a chord in every Evertonians hearts. I have been saying this for months that clubs around us i.e the Villa?s and Wigans etc can go out an buy players. AJ to Wigan to £10 million what the hell is that all about!.
It wasnt that long ago that the papers said that Moyes had £20 to £25 million to spend on new talent , where is the cash, will Moyes sign the contract or will it be the catalyst for him to go due to disagreement (is that what is being lined up)
Kenwright should sell, but the question is will he. What's happenning with Kirkby now? Have the Government approved this project? (I do hope not!)
I fear that August sunshine will become ever cloudy over Fortress Goodison.
I think your article will strike a chord in every Evertonians hearts. I have been saying this for months that clubs around us i.e the Villa?s and Wigans etc can go out an buy players. AJ to Wigan to £10 million what the hell is that all about!.
It wasnt that long ago that the papers said that Moyes had £20 to £25 million to spend on new talent , where is the cash, will Moyes sign the contract or will it be the catalyst for him to go due to disagreement (is that what is being lined up)
Kenwright should sell, but the question is will he. What's happenning with Kirkby now? Have the Government approved this project? (I do hope not!)
I fear that August sunshine will become ever cloudy over Fortress Goodison.
Whilst I am as gutted as the next bloke by the lack of transfer activity, I must disagree with you about the ’calibre / profile / status of players we are being linked with’ sentiment. Has it not yet dawned that this is not the Moyes way? He has proven in the past that he is on the lookout for young, hungry talent instead of the finished article. This makes especial sense if you consider the financial constraints he has been operating under since his tenure began. Cahill, Lescott, Pienaar, Arteta et al weren’t exactly household names when he bought them and I expect more of the same from Moyes shortly once the transfer merry-go-round commences in earnest. So whether its Topal, the swiss bloke or A.N. Other that he’s in for, I say trust the mans judgment and remember our current stars and their erstwhile (comparatively) obscure reputations before bemoaning the need to sign ’star names.’
It would be great to compete with the likes of Man U, Chelsea, Madrid and the like for the top, established talent on occasion but for the most part I think Moyes’ transfer strategy is more suited to both the clubs finances and long-term ambitions.
But then what do I know, I’m only a supporter like you lol :) *BK mode off*
It would be great to compete with the likes of Man U, Chelsea, Madrid and the like for the top, established talent on occasion but for the most part I think Moyes’ transfer strategy is more suited to both the clubs finances and long-term ambitions.
But then what do I know, I’m only a supporter like you lol :) *BK mode off*
Whilst the likes of Aston Villa chase David Bentley we are once again forced due to severe financial restrictions to shop in the bargain basement of European football. No disrepect to Topal for touting himself to Everton, who incidentally cites fellow teamate Tobias (the crab) Linderoth as his mentor, but we should be expecting a more robust approach than the 'beg, borrow and steal' scenario that perenially presents itself during every summer. Should DK get called in then expect bungalow Bill to blame all and sundry for our continuing financial terminal decline, Moyes needs to demand cash now as we all know that he holds the key to forcing Mr Kenwright?s hand.
David
First of all I dont think anybody has criticised Moyes transfers so far. But he has said himself (and I quote what he said after the Chelsea defeat in the League Cup) that he needs a player just above what he has at disposable to be able to break into the top 4.
It's about time that everyone woke up and understand that we need £20 - £25 million on top of squad (without selling anyone) to stay in the 5th / 6th position.
The way things are going we will be mid-table struglling. I honestly think if we don't get investment then DM will be gone... mark my word.
First of all I dont think anybody has criticised Moyes transfers so far. But he has said himself (and I quote what he said after the Chelsea defeat in the League Cup) that he needs a player just above what he has at disposable to be able to break into the top 4.
It's about time that everyone woke up and understand that we need £20 - £25 million on top of squad (without selling anyone) to stay in the 5th / 6th position.
The way things are going we will be mid-table struglling. I honestly think if we don't get investment then DM will be gone... mark my word.
Peter, spot on ? it's either Moyes or Kenwright I?m afraid.
Moyes will win
Remember Walter Smith v Peter Johnson?
Moyes will win
Remember Walter Smith v Peter Johnson?
Keep your high profile players... and no not worried yet, this is the usual pre-season tease and we’ll start the season with 3 or 4 additions.
We say this every year but nevertheless we seem to be getting better and better. Moyes must be doing something right. We have no idea who he wants to buy - has anybody heard DM or BK come out and say ’we’ve bid for’ or ’we’re looking at’. NO!
All the names that have been flying around have either been fabricated by the press or are fan fanatasies. We have no idea who Moyes wants to buy, or may be close to signing for that matter.
All the names that have been flying around have either been fabricated by the press or are fan fanatasies. We have no idea who Moyes wants to buy, or may be close to signing for that matter.
Mark is correct, despite the speculation, I dont think anyone has any idea who Moyes wants to sign. Furthermore, I dont believe that anyone outside of a select few have any real idea of how much we have to spend.
Anything leaked to the media is as likely to be clever propaganda than truth. At least when we go enquiring about players, the value wont shoot up 5m as it would for the sky4, or man city.
Bentley while possessing undoubted talent alledgedly comes with a ego to match, and the one overriding attribute of this squad that dragged us from 17th to 4th/5th place is the team spirit, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Moyes was actually not in the least bit interested in signing him.
We’ve had fans bemoaning that we couldn’t afford sidwell also, yet a few weeks earlier the club bid 5m for Aaron Ramsey.....
My personal opinion is that Manny will probably make a reappearance either on loan or via a permenant deal, Lichtensteiner who we’ve been linked with will probably be signed for <1m as he seems to tick all the typical Moyes boxes, and we will probably pick up a more established creative midfielder and striker within the next 3 or 4 weeks....I hope!
Anything leaked to the media is as likely to be clever propaganda than truth. At least when we go enquiring about players, the value wont shoot up 5m as it would for the sky4, or man city.
Bentley while possessing undoubted talent alledgedly comes with a ego to match, and the one overriding attribute of this squad that dragged us from 17th to 4th/5th place is the team spirit, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Moyes was actually not in the least bit interested in signing him.
We’ve had fans bemoaning that we couldn’t afford sidwell also, yet a few weeks earlier the club bid 5m for Aaron Ramsey.....
My personal opinion is that Manny will probably make a reappearance either on loan or via a permenant deal, Lichtensteiner who we’ve been linked with will probably be signed for <1m as he seems to tick all the typical Moyes boxes, and we will probably pick up a more established creative midfielder and striker within the next 3 or 4 weeks....I hope!
Wayne - dream on!
"Kenwright must sell"
Good shout - who to?
Good shout - who to?
I’d like to second David Gallant’s stance. This seems to be the Moyes way. Personally, II like that we are not in the Ronaldino race. I don’t care about not being linked with the "best"/most expensive/proven players every off season. I’d actually rather find players who are still hungry and trying to prove their worth (Cahill, Pienear, Lescott, Howard, etc).
Money will ALWAYS be an issue for our club, so I would much rather us be buying up hungry and unproven players vs the expensive superstars. Better value for the money, and it fits with our "blue collar" attitude.
Money will ALWAYS be an issue for our club, so I would much rather us be buying up hungry and unproven players vs the expensive superstars. Better value for the money, and it fits with our "blue collar" attitude.
5m plus for McFadden, 1.5m for Rooney’s double. 10-11 m for AJ. Perhaps we could buy a new outfit for the Toffe Lady? or would even that be too expensive? Where does the money go?
Robert
Good shout, where does the money go?
Does anyone actually know, has it all gone on Kirkby?
Good shout, where does the money go?
Does anyone actually know, has it all gone on Kirkby?
Wayne the bid for Aaron was pukka but on the never never, only Man U and Arsenal offered real pictures of the queen.
Sorry Martin.
I was merely attempting to save you from the outrage of those, who see any mention of Kir.....um....?the K word? in posts, on non...K-word issues.
(shakes head - I don?t know why I bothered, next time I?ll just let you get trampled)
I was merely attempting to save you from the outrage of those, who see any mention of Kir.....um....?the K word? in posts, on non...K-word issues.
(shakes head - I don?t know why I bothered, next time I?ll just let you get trampled)
The glass is half empty:? we?re gonna miss out on all the available quality players we need to push on, to the likes of Villa, City, Spurs or even Portsmouth and Wigan! Just buy a few no marks on the cheap from around Europe, and Neville will have to play in midfield...
The glass is half full:?As soon as Davey signs he can seriously start getting all the great players he?s been eyeing up all summer....
But I?m An evertonian so the glass has probably got a crack and I?ll cut my lip.
The glass is half full:?As soon as Davey signs he can seriously start getting all the great players he?s been eyeing up all summer....
But I?m An evertonian so the glass has probably got a crack and I?ll cut my lip.
Juventus have apparently rebuked Liverpool on signing Alonso which makes the Barry deal untenable at the moment. Alonso would be a great addition and would team up well with Arteta, and audacious bid maybe?
"In comparison we are constantly being linked with unfamiliar players on the cheap (Lichsteiner, Riki and Topal, to name a few), when we should be the ones adding high-profiled and top-quality players in to launch a bid to break into the top four."
There’s an old joke about two newly enriched Russians shopping in Helsinki: "How much did you pay for that fur?" "20,000 ?" "Bloody hell, in the store behind the corner you would have got that for 40,000 ?!"
What does it matter if the players Moyes buys are unfamiliar to you, Anthony, if they can deliver the goods? I’d rather have another lower division Cahill/Lescott instead of "proven international" Van Der Meyde.
Peter Laing: "An audacious bid maybe" for Alonso? And what would you pay with - Panini stickers or blue-tack? :D
Everton are skint. Be happy if Moyes can bring in two or three decent players of whom he turns one or two into very good players - for less than he gets for the players he has to sell.
Jay Harris: How right you are about the commercial inabilities of the current regime. Just think if we had those £37m extra that you point out to when comparing with Spurs.
There’s an old joke about two newly enriched Russians shopping in Helsinki: "How much did you pay for that fur?" "20,000 ?" "Bloody hell, in the store behind the corner you would have got that for 40,000 ?!"
What does it matter if the players Moyes buys are unfamiliar to you, Anthony, if they can deliver the goods? I’d rather have another lower division Cahill/Lescott instead of "proven international" Van Der Meyde.
Peter Laing: "An audacious bid maybe" for Alonso? And what would you pay with - Panini stickers or blue-tack? :D
Everton are skint. Be happy if Moyes can bring in two or three decent players of whom he turns one or two into very good players - for less than he gets for the players he has to sell.
Jay Harris: How right you are about the commercial inabilities of the current regime. Just think if we had those £37m extra that you point out to when comparing with Spurs.
When Peter Johnson arrived in the ninetiesto revive our club, he spouted out how much money was going to be available to spend. What happened then was every player we went for cost £5m more than he was really worth. Villa and City are having it now. We for once are saying nothing just like last pre-season and since Moyes took over but we always bought and we will again. But when we do they will fit right in or Moyes would not sign a new contract. and he will sign because he has started something here and being a very shrewd proud Scotsman he will want to finish it.
I?ve said this a hundred times on here and elsewhere, our club dont make a bean. So if we spend £20 million every summer we add £20 million to our existing debt. Why would anybody want to buy a club that will lose them money? We need to become self-sufficient before we ever see a takeover attempt. Sadly with the clowns in charge of the club now this will never happen. A club in debt that cannot support itself, a divided fanbase, a stadium which is past its best by date and all marketing and catering outsourced so even if we eant to try a different revenue scheme we can't because it?s not under our control anymore. The next few years are going to be critical in the future of EFC...
It’s fortunate for us that Davey is an expert at finding unproven talent and developing it - probably only second to Wenger on that one.
However, even he must be wondering if he’ll ever get the chance to splurge some big cash. He’s done it a few times in the past - Beattie and a rush of players in the Summer 2005 window and they all proved to be mistakes apart Nuno Valente who only cost just over a million.
I think he’s better when he has to manage his budget carefully. Just think, last August he nearly blew £23m on Yakubu and Fernandes. Yak did come and was worth the £11m, but thank God Manny had his change of heart. He saved us from ourselves. £12m????? You could have bought Lescott, Cahill, Arteta, Howard & Pienaar for that. Just think about that!
However, even he must be wondering if he’ll ever get the chance to splurge some big cash. He’s done it a few times in the past - Beattie and a rush of players in the Summer 2005 window and they all proved to be mistakes apart Nuno Valente who only cost just over a million.
I think he’s better when he has to manage his budget carefully. Just think, last August he nearly blew £23m on Yakubu and Fernandes. Yak did come and was worth the £11m, but thank God Manny had his change of heart. He saved us from ourselves. £12m????? You could have bought Lescott, Cahill, Arteta, Howard & Pienaar for that. Just think about that!
Well lets hope that the ex-Thai Prime Minister gets found guilty and all the other foreign owners get credit crunched. Plus if Blatter gets his way transfer fees will dissapear. If Platini gets his way Academy players will need to be local. All is not lost.
Jim,
All is lost my friend
Alonso for Everton? Good shout... what, Pennant on the wing?
All is lost my friend
Alonso for Everton? Good shout... what, Pennant on the wing?
Under David Moyes we have seen an enormous improvement in our playing resources. This is the result of long term strategic planning with the aim of improving the squad every year. We have gone from signing ageing has beens to building a team of young hungry talented players. Not only that but David Moyes has by comparison to almost every other team in the league done this on a shoe string.
What we haven’t seen and unfortunately will never see whilst Mr Kenwright stays in charge is a similar improvement on the non playing side. In the direct opposite of David Moyes we have seen an approach that is unprofessional, lacking in any cohesion and totally devoid of long term planning. Instead we have seen an approach that almost without exception has been short term, lacking in strategy and an unwillingness to actually tackle deep rooted problems. If this had been done then who knows how much more money could have been generated through the commercial and marketing arms of the club. This failure will not be remedied until we have a complete change of ownership.
What we haven’t seen and unfortunately will never see whilst Mr Kenwright stays in charge is a similar improvement on the non playing side. In the direct opposite of David Moyes we have seen an approach that is unprofessional, lacking in any cohesion and totally devoid of long term planning. Instead we have seen an approach that almost without exception has been short term, lacking in strategy and an unwillingness to actually tackle deep rooted problems. If this had been done then who knows how much more money could have been generated through the commercial and marketing arms of the club. This failure will not be remedied until we have a complete change of ownership.
I can?t believe that people are still coming on hear saying It?ll all be alright, we?ll still have BIG the signings, this is the way Moyes does things, We always imprrove & will be pushing for 4th etc etc
Take a long soul searching look in the mirror then ask yourself this question & answer me another HONESTLY
1/ Do you really think that Moyes wouldn?t buy: Jo, Arshavin, Bently etc etc if he had the money?
Please consider his ?Harrods or Bargain basement? comments before you answer.
2/ If all this non-transfer activity is such a cunning (cards close to the chest) ploy as opposed to NO money, WHY is AJ telling fans (on the Swiss trip) he?s being forced out to fund other transfers?
Incidentally, is it you fellas who are the last in the country to believe there were WMDs in Iraq or is it just in relation to EFC that you are open to suggestion?
Perhaps ?Blue Bills? got hypnotic powers :
Look into my eyes not around my eyes ?The new stadium will be free , there is money for transfers, David Moyes is well happy & we are marketed superbly? and back in the room.
Take a long soul searching look in the mirror then ask yourself this question & answer me another HONESTLY
1/ Do you really think that Moyes wouldn?t buy: Jo, Arshavin, Bently etc etc if he had the money?
Please consider his ?Harrods or Bargain basement? comments before you answer.
2/ If all this non-transfer activity is such a cunning (cards close to the chest) ploy as opposed to NO money, WHY is AJ telling fans (on the Swiss trip) he?s being forced out to fund other transfers?
Incidentally, is it you fellas who are the last in the country to believe there were WMDs in Iraq or is it just in relation to EFC that you are open to suggestion?
Perhaps ?Blue Bills? got hypnotic powers :
Look into my eyes not around my eyes ?The new stadium will be free , there is money for transfers, David Moyes is well happy & we are marketed superbly? and back in the room.
Gavin Ramejkis - our bid for Ramsey was accepted & Moyes came back off his holidays to speak to the lad, who was apparently favouring joining us before he then met Wenger - so to mention that our bid was on the "never, never" is completely irrelevant. Most transfers are paid over the course of the players contract these days, very rarely is the entire fee paid up front.
The turnover of our business is small when compared to most off our peers - the BK haters will immediately put the entire blame for this at his door - however, our marketing operation has been shite for decades & in recent years we’ve been playing catch up. The fact that JJB don’t sell 10.000’s of Everton shirts & thus they don’t take up as much of their floorspace as we may want them to - is down to supply & demand - same reason our City centre shop was closed. If their not selling them they aint going to fill their shop with huge racks of them.
People moan about the lack of investment & then on the next breath the size of our borrowing. How do you think owners of other clubs fund spending that exceeds the size of the business? They borrow the money & lump the debt onto the club, whilst guaranteeing the loan.
Abramovich has loaned Chelsea £578M (albeit in his case his own dosh & interest free) but none the less a loan all the same - which he can recall at anytime leaving the club with 18 months to repay.
Other owners are doing exactly the same thing - look across the park - the Yanks only put £7M a piece of their own money in when they bought the RS & their debt now stands at over £400M & rising. A new "investor" would do exactly the same at EFC - increase the debt burden & yet BK & Wyness are being stoned to death for doing exactly the same thing. An owner with deeper pockets wouldn’t change a thing.
The turnover of our business is small when compared to most off our peers - the BK haters will immediately put the entire blame for this at his door - however, our marketing operation has been shite for decades & in recent years we’ve been playing catch up. The fact that JJB don’t sell 10.000’s of Everton shirts & thus they don’t take up as much of their floorspace as we may want them to - is down to supply & demand - same reason our City centre shop was closed. If their not selling them they aint going to fill their shop with huge racks of them.
People moan about the lack of investment & then on the next breath the size of our borrowing. How do you think owners of other clubs fund spending that exceeds the size of the business? They borrow the money & lump the debt onto the club, whilst guaranteeing the loan.
Abramovich has loaned Chelsea £578M (albeit in his case his own dosh & interest free) but none the less a loan all the same - which he can recall at anytime leaving the club with 18 months to repay.
Other owners are doing exactly the same thing - look across the park - the Yanks only put £7M a piece of their own money in when they bought the RS & their debt now stands at over £400M & rising. A new "investor" would do exactly the same at EFC - increase the debt burden & yet BK & Wyness are being stoned to death for doing exactly the same thing. An owner with deeper pockets wouldn’t change a thing.
Agree with your post Steve. The economic clock does not keep consistent time, but it ticks over nonetheless. We are in a much better shape than most to withstand the inevitable. When (not ’if’) it strikes midnight, the likes of Chelsea and the Shite are, to use a technical term, fucked.
If team spirit counts for so much then we needn’t worry about Man City and Aston Villa. Ronaldinho and Bentley will fuck them up. Oh come on. The last time I checked we were consistently Best Of The Rest and trying to break into the Top4, as stated countlessly by our blokes on the official site. We need quality players to take us to the ’next level’ and if Moyes doesn’t have the man-management skills to actually manage today’s quality players who ALL OF THEM come with baggage then don’t bother bidding for them. It’s not a fucking tea party in the dressing room, it’s blokes that need to get on with their jobs and a manager to give them the odd hairdrying if they don’t.
I’m in the Everton are fucking skint camp though.
I’m in the Everton are fucking skint camp though.
What with our ’Toffee Tel ’ Tesco Deal of the century about to be decided on I thought I’d add a retail theme to our summer shopping / stuggling to compete posts.
After being priced out of shopping for the ’Harrods’ buys that Moyes supposedly had an eye on : Jo, Arshavin, Bentley etc
I see today that the mid range Tesco/ Sainsbury type players : Engelaar, Aimar & De jong are signing for Schalke & the Barcodes respectively.
Looks like Steve Round joined swapped to the wrong checkout at the last minuite & is now stuck behind the old ma paying with pennies
Thats 3 more potentials off the shopping list then ?
As my eldest daugher & her cruel friends sing when they spot some poor unfortunate carrying one of their bags : WHEN YOU’VE GOT NO MONEY & LIFE AIN’T FUNNY GO NETTO, GO NETTO !
After being priced out of shopping for the ’Harrods’ buys that Moyes supposedly had an eye on : Jo, Arshavin, Bentley etc
I see today that the mid range Tesco/ Sainsbury type players : Engelaar, Aimar & De jong are signing for Schalke & the Barcodes respectively.
Looks like Steve Round joined swapped to the wrong checkout at the last minuite & is now stuck behind the old ma paying with pennies
Thats 3 more potentials off the shopping list then ?
As my eldest daugher & her cruel friends sing when they spot some poor unfortunate carrying one of their bags : WHEN YOU’VE GOT NO MONEY & LIFE AIN’T FUNNY GO NETTO, GO NETTO !
I for one, am not too bothered about the quality of players we are linked with, because Moyes always seems to get the best out of most of the players he buys.
But the Topal’s, Lichstiner’s we have been linked with, I’m quite happy, because if Topal is capable of filling the void of Lee Carsley, and Lichstiner can provide competition to our right backs, then what is the problem?
We were probably thinking the same when Moyes bought Cahill and Lescott, with the "Who the hell is he?" kind of thought, and now look at them!! I have every confidence Moyes can do the same again this summer.
And because Moyes can find bargains really well in the transfer market, perhaps second to Mark Hughes in the Premiership at it, we will have more money for the "special" player we have always wanted!!
All we can do is be patient, because no matter how much moaning we do, it is not going to change anything.
But the Topal’s, Lichstiner’s we have been linked with, I’m quite happy, because if Topal is capable of filling the void of Lee Carsley, and Lichstiner can provide competition to our right backs, then what is the problem?
We were probably thinking the same when Moyes bought Cahill and Lescott, with the "Who the hell is he?" kind of thought, and now look at them!! I have every confidence Moyes can do the same again this summer.
And because Moyes can find bargains really well in the transfer market, perhaps second to Mark Hughes in the Premiership at it, we will have more money for the "special" player we have always wanted!!
All we can do is be patient, because no matter how much moaning we do, it is not going to change anything.
Ben Jones post shows the dangers I warned of earlier in this thread of looking into Kenrights eyes. I’ve seen this before Ben but I’m guessing : You heard him mutter something about you’re under, then time seemed to stand still, you felt slightly dizzy & beleived all you had to be was patient to get that special player you always wanted.
.
.
A few years ago I played against Wigan while with Southport and no way could I ever dream of a situation where they are better off financially than we are. Its shameful and de-grading for a top club as EFC have always been, that are are now reduced to dithering and penny pinching. DM has proved to be a top motivator in putting out teams of very average ability who continue to compete with the best and play above themselves. I really wish the man could buy the players he really covets instead of being given the pittance to attempt to make silk purses out of sows ears.How could BK make a stupid statement like no one will buy EFC because of us having a two club city...what about Manchester ??? What about London who have many more than two.Surely some of his comments insult everyones intelligence.I do not care about the Kirkby move...no good moving without a top team playing good football.
Most posts seem to be saying we are going to rely on Moyes to work his magic again on bargain basement players while the board sit on their arses and mismanage every aspect of EFC.
THe squad last season might have made 4th if we had replaced McFadden in January with a top quality MF to revitalise the team however we crawled over the line with one of the smallest squads in the prem a great achievement but one that was earned in the first half of the season.
Since then we have lost Carsley,Fernandes,Graveson,Wessels,Gardner (Stubbs),
We currently have Arteta,Osman,Cahill (Injured?)as the sum total of our MF cover(I’m not even considering VDM or Neville for obvious reasons).
That to me, despite Moyes magic, is a recipe for disaster.
Put that with DK,"Bankrupt Bill" and I’m fast becoming "Glass totally empty" with a huge crack in it.
THe squad last season might have made 4th if we had replaced McFadden in January with a top quality MF to revitalise the team however we crawled over the line with one of the smallest squads in the prem a great achievement but one that was earned in the first half of the season.
Since then we have lost Carsley,Fernandes,Graveson,Wessels,Gardner (Stubbs),
We currently have Arteta,Osman,Cahill (Injured?)as the sum total of our MF cover(I’m not even considering VDM or Neville for obvious reasons).
That to me, despite Moyes magic, is a recipe for disaster.
Put that with DK,"Bankrupt Bill" and I’m fast becoming "Glass totally empty" with a huge crack in it.
Sorry Missed Peanuts out of MF.
Jay
A massive crack
DK decision on Monday!
A massive crack
DK decision on Monday!
I dream like the next blue that Ill wake up in mid-August and find Blackburn facing an Everton team including Ronaldinho, Eto?o et al but the sad fact is that Bill Kenwright is not a billionaire. He is, I believe, a dedicated Evertonian trying to do his best for the club and is being pilloried by a percentage of Everton fans for only having 9 figures on his bank statement and not 10.
Let's face it, he doesnt have £20-25 million to pump into the club each off season and there isnt a long list of suitors queuing round the Gwladys End ready to throw billions at him. Not one realistic takeover bid since his arrival despite the most sustained level of success at the club in the last 20 years.
We may be going to finish 10th this year as we are overtaken by Villa, Man City and Pompey but football is now pure commerce and without a Russian or Yankee sugar daddy no sweat from Kenwright, Wyness or Moyes is going to change the immediate landscape for Evertonians. Sad? Its heartbreaking... especially since we have one of the better young managers seen in football this decade. But Joseph has no wads of cash in the pockets of his Technicolour Dreamcoat and there is a great chance we will be Les Miserables in June 2009.
I don't think this will be Bill's fault... nor David's... nor Keith's. It's the sad reality in a league where obscene money is spent on average footballers; and where players are willing to sit on the bench, filling their boots not with gametime but with unearned riches. Blame them for choosing that life rather than working for a great club with a great manager. Blame Roman Abramovich and his Chelsea reserve side worth millions more than Everton could ever dream of having available against Blackburn come August.
Scott
Sorry to burst your bubble but not only has Bill not put any of his own money into the club, he has totally abdicated his responsibilities resulting in £10 million a year operating losses and an increase in debts to £60 million since he took over.
In his position as chairman he has no right to say he "doesn't know what?s going on" in a club where we are getting record income from Sky etc and allowing Wyness to blow it out the other end.
If it wasn't for Moyes, The Rooney money and the old pals act, Everton would be bankrupt under "The Illusionist".
"Not one realistic takeover bid" since his arrival.
Just listen to yourself and ask why every other top Premier League club has had takeover bids. So because Bill told you he?s working 24/7 and he?s had no "proper" approach from investors, you believe him???
It was even admitted recently that they regularly get phone calls from potential investors who are then put off by the fact we are in the same city as Liverpool.
Wyness stated 3 months ago that DM and BK had been talking regularly for months over Moyes's contract. Moyes stated on Monday that it was the first time he had discussed the contract with Bill. Why wasn't Wyness corrected by BK months ago.
The stench of Bullshit emanating out of EFC is beyond belief and you?ve obviously swallowed quite a bit of it.
Sorry to burst your bubble but not only has Bill not put any of his own money into the club, he has totally abdicated his responsibilities resulting in £10 million a year operating losses and an increase in debts to £60 million since he took over.
In his position as chairman he has no right to say he "doesn't know what?s going on" in a club where we are getting record income from Sky etc and allowing Wyness to blow it out the other end.
If it wasn't for Moyes, The Rooney money and the old pals act, Everton would be bankrupt under "The Illusionist".
"Not one realistic takeover bid" since his arrival.
Just listen to yourself and ask why every other top Premier League club has had takeover bids. So because Bill told you he?s working 24/7 and he?s had no "proper" approach from investors, you believe him???
It was even admitted recently that they regularly get phone calls from potential investors who are then put off by the fact we are in the same city as Liverpool.
Wyness stated 3 months ago that DM and BK had been talking regularly for months over Moyes's contract. Moyes stated on Monday that it was the first time he had discussed the contract with Bill. Why wasn't Wyness corrected by BK months ago.
The stench of Bullshit emanating out of EFC is beyond belief and you?ve obviously swallowed quite a bit of it.
Brilliant Jay. Obviously a wise sage with insider knowledge into what's happening at EFC to be so dismissive of someone's point of view.
Please elaborate on the details of the takeovers so us uninformed and obviously naive and impressionable simpletons can be freed of the yoke of ignorance...
Please elaborate on the details of the takeovers so us uninformed and obviously naive and impressionable simpletons can be freed of the yoke of ignorance...
Unfortunately, I'm a realist, and the situation is that we cannot compete with other teams who have far greater bankroll or greater income streams in the current climate.
What exactly is it you want Jay? Ive no allegiance to Kenwright et al personally and if they left tomorrow there?d be no tears in my eyes. However, in the absence of another party with greater clout he is what we?ve got. Did his predecessor do a better job? Could you?
We?d all like Santa to come along and buy us some new toys, pull a higher capacity, income generating ground out of their arse and sign megadeals for sponsorship but it's not happening is it mate?
Love to see my team at the top of the English game again but it won't happen without a megabucks takeover deal, whatever Bill Kenwright does or doesn't do. And in the current economic climate, that's not going to happen.
Scott, it starts with running the operations at the club properly instead of the mismanaged mess we?ve got now. And that starts with leadership at the top.
People go on about Kirkby being the panacea because it's got 10,000 more seats and more executive boxes but Spurs only have a capacity of 36,000 and they get £40 million from commercial operations as opposed to our £3 miilion.
We could do with getting rid of Ian Ross and get a decent marketing manager to sort out the PR, branding and merchandising that?s still in the 80s and I mean the 1880s.
Then we could ask our CEO not to spend so much time running his own business in EFC paid time and pay more attention to reducing the operating losses of £10 million a year.
If we?d have addressed this when BK started we wouldnt now be £60 million in debt and haemoraging badly.
It?s not all about Santas... it's all about running the club well.
People go on about Kirkby being the panacea because it's got 10,000 more seats and more executive boxes but Spurs only have a capacity of 36,000 and they get £40 million from commercial operations as opposed to our £3 miilion.
We could do with getting rid of Ian Ross and get a decent marketing manager to sort out the PR, branding and merchandising that?s still in the 80s and I mean the 1880s.
Then we could ask our CEO not to spend so much time running his own business in EFC paid time and pay more attention to reducing the operating losses of £10 million a year.
If we?d have addressed this when BK started we wouldnt now be £60 million in debt and haemoraging badly.
It?s not all about Santas... it's all about running the club well.
Jay, Spurs make so much more from their commercial operations because they are a big team in one of the most affluent cities in the world, it’s as simple as that. I agree that there could be an improvement in how Everton is run commercially, but we are unlikely to be in a position where we could command the same kind of turnover as a Chelsea, Arsenal or Spurs.
Sandeep - That is a fair point you make as it is very difficult to find a ’like for like’ comparison in football.
That said however I have in the past had some experience of operating very profitably in economically challenging areas.
You just need to keep to the basic’s of minimising costs & maximising every last drop of revenue.
This requires Leadership, vision & a determined ’ Hands on’ approach that has been sadly lacking under Kenright ownership.
I’ve always felt we could be doing alot better with what we have.
Moyes does it with the playing staff, but our board & their highly paid executives just fail time after time.
Scott surely you must understand Jay’s frustration here as surely Kenrights latest
’ I don’t know I’m only a fan ’ nonsense is a negligent abrogation of his responsibilities, as chairman.
That said however I have in the past had some experience of operating very profitably in economically challenging areas.
You just need to keep to the basic’s of minimising costs & maximising every last drop of revenue.
This requires Leadership, vision & a determined ’ Hands on’ approach that has been sadly lacking under Kenright ownership.
I’ve always felt we could be doing alot better with what we have.
Moyes does it with the playing staff, but our board & their highly paid executives just fail time after time.
Scott surely you must understand Jay’s frustration here as surely Kenrights latest
’ I don’t know I’m only a fan ’ nonsense is a negligent abrogation of his responsibilities, as chairman.
The football transfer market right now is reminicent of the housing market, right before the crash which is kicking in right now.........
Check this article out:
http://www.moneyweek.com/file/50653/the-next-victim-of-the-credit-crunch--football.html
Whatever happens the club must focus on reducing its debt and clearing its liabilities.
I would rather be in the bottom half this season with no new signings than be in the Championship/First/Second in the next two. One word - Leeds!
Check this article out:
http://www.moneyweek.com/file/50653/the-next-victim-of-the-credit-crunch--football.html
Whatever happens the club must focus on reducing its debt and clearing its liabilities.
I would rather be in the bottom half this season with no new signings than be in the Championship/First/Second in the next two. One word - Leeds!
Chris Gough, I am all for the club ’clearing it’s liabilities.’ What happens when the chairman is the biggest of these? Liabilities, that is lol :) Nothing against BK, he has done a tremendous job in appointing and sticking by David Moyes alone. He has many failings but for me the biggest problem with him is that I think he has taken the club as far as he can, sad as that is.
David, unfortunately he took the club as far as he could the day after he appointed Moyes under Walter Smith?s say so.
Since then we?ve had Kings Dock, NTL, Fortress Sports fund, marketing, merchandising and ticketing fiascos... never mind which side of the fence you sit on the Tescodome which has caused a huge divide amongst our fans.
The man is a joke and a liability.
Since then we?ve had Kings Dock, NTL, Fortress Sports fund, marketing, merchandising and ticketing fiascos... never mind which side of the fence you sit on the Tescodome which has caused a huge divide amongst our fans.
The man is a joke and a liability.
Sandeep
I accept your point about London but that does not explain the substantial difference in commercial income where we have one of the poorest performances in the premiership.
Football now has a global market (not just Liverpool) and the latest kit fiasco is another example of lost opportunities.Instead of getting our new kit out ahead of everybody else we are last again and yet another delay.
With just one marketing/commercial initiative a year we would be improving our income but I suppose that’s too much to ask from an absentee chairman "who doesnt know whats going on at the club" and a Chief exec who is allowed to run his own business in EFC paid time while presiding over the biggest operating losses and debt in the history of the club.
I accept your point about London but that does not explain the substantial difference in commercial income where we have one of the poorest performances in the premiership.
Football now has a global market (not just Liverpool) and the latest kit fiasco is another example of lost opportunities.Instead of getting our new kit out ahead of everybody else we are last again and yet another delay.
With just one marketing/commercial initiative a year we would be improving our income but I suppose that’s too much to ask from an absentee chairman "who doesnt know whats going on at the club" and a Chief exec who is allowed to run his own business in EFC paid time while presiding over the biggest operating losses and debt in the history of the club.
David, I agree with you on the Bill front. I like him, I really do but I can?t help feeling that he?s compromising what opportunity there has been to stay in control and get a good ROI. Anyway, let's keep an eye on the gate receipts over the coming months ? that will be a good indication of whether the Tescodome is fantasyland and whether Goodison will still be our home over the next decade or so. Anyone know how the season ticket sales are going?
ENOUGH! I?m tired of this baloney. "Everton spurned by Gilberto" Puh-lease, do we need a 30-something, dead-ass castoff??? We are fine... Moyes will pull some rabbits out his hat like he always does...Why on Earth would he broadcast who we are going after???
Give the man some time to make due...
... But, if the first game kicks off and we haven?t made any significant progress on paper, than shame on The Board and "Red Bill" (as in the color of his balance sheets) for building on our recent success and let the heads roll.
Give the man some time to make due...
... But, if the first game kicks off and we haven?t made any significant progress on paper, than shame on The Board and "Red Bill" (as in the color of his balance sheets) for building on our recent success and let the heads roll.
Three reasons to be happy
a.) Moyes to unearth another £2 million gem from lesser club.
b.) Gosling to grow into midfield role where he played for the England U?19?s
3.) That team spirit we cherish will actually translate into league points. Maybe only O?Neil has begun to develop something like. Ramos, Hughes, Keegan haven?t got it in thier teams yet ( if ever!)
d.) VDM to give us that extra bit of width and classy delivery to feed the Yak. (i) He?s talking ( coherently) to the press (ii) He managed to play 90 minutes last week... Doesn?t sound like the actions of a pissed up lay-about does it? Come on Andy, show us what you can do!
a.) Moyes to unearth another £2 million gem from lesser club.
b.) Gosling to grow into midfield role where he played for the England U?19?s
3.) That team spirit we cherish will actually translate into league points. Maybe only O?Neil has begun to develop something like. Ramos, Hughes, Keegan haven?t got it in thier teams yet ( if ever!)
d.) VDM to give us that extra bit of width and classy delivery to feed the Yak. (i) He?s talking ( coherently) to the press (ii) He managed to play 90 minutes last week... Doesn?t sound like the actions of a pissed up lay-about does it? Come on Andy, show us what you can do!
All of the signings such as Lescott, Cahill, Jagielka, Arteta were unknown quantities in EPL and look where they are ranked now. Just because someone is not a high profile target it doesn’t make him a dud. Moyes is doing his homework. IMWT!
I’d heard of Lescott, Cahill, Jagielka and Arteta before though and they’d constantly been linked to moves to the prem and we knew what we were buying, maybe a part from Cahill who has exceeded our expectations since he arrived. Moyes is doing his best but I honestly can’t see us breaking into the top four unless we sign a few top class players who are good enough for a top four team and some of the names we’ve been linked with don’t fill me with too much hope. Let’s hope Moyes has a bit of magic up his sleeve and signs the right players, because we can’t afford to have a dithering Dave this transfer window.
I just read (hopefully false) that Sunderland have offered Spurs £23 million for 4 players and been accepted. We are falling behind almost everyone in the transfer stakes....surely finishing in euro spots must be attractive to someone. Our transfers in are really slow, while the likes of Redknapp seems to buy very quickly. Surely the revenue for finishing 5th must give DM some sort of decent budget...if we finish down the league the lack of investment in our clubs future must be the cause. We have a very small squad, half of which are carrying injuries...give DM the bread and fish he needs to sustain progress.
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you make some very good points.
I would just like to expand on 2 of them
1. We will struggle as long as this regime is in charge of financial operations.We are useless at marketing. KW gave our merchandising away to a useless company that doesn't give a shit about EFC.
By comparison Spurs with a capacity of only 36,000 at WHL get £40 million a year from commercial operations we get £3 million.
We have sold off all our assets and now looks like we will have to sell players to fund our mounting debts.
2. I agree totally with your point about where football is going but so are most sports. Money is driving sports away from the public onto worldwide television where only the favoured few will get the exposure and the rich will get richer. It needs a champion like Platini to put a stop to this and bring in some mechanism to manage it otherwise it will spiral out of control.
In the meantime we can only hope the "Black Bill" sells up ASAP.