ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

Michael Kenrick

Hehe.... it does illustrate a point, Dan ? that any piece of news about Everton can be coloured and interpreted by ones own perceptions and predispositions. What is Truth?

Paul Ramsey
1 Posted 08/07/2008 at 10:39:54

Sorry for resorting to foul language but what a fuck up!

Can Everton do anything in a correct business manner at all. If there not messing you around with season tickets, or away allocation, DK, lies, deceit, or a poor showing in the transfer market the season we should be capitalising on our 5th place finnish, they prove their inepitude by failing to produce and distribute a replica kit on time.

This would not happen at any other club, correct me if i am wrong? I sure you will have some examples but those examples will only go to show the league of ineptitude Everton FC resides in.....

Please, please, please.... don't make us suffer any more.... I go on holiday on the 24th and should be wearing my Everton kit abroad....but looks like I might not have time to get it on the day I travel!

Disgrace!!!

Graham Duffy
2 Posted 08/07/2008 at 10:58:19

I have just read on the official website that the launch of the new home kit has been delayed. It was meant to be launched on 10 July - the new date is 24 July!!

What a joke! Can things get any worse?

Neil Cruikshank
3 Posted 08/07/2008 at 10:55:08

After reading that the new kit will be delayed due to a problem at the other end, this has pushed me to air my concerns. This just isn't because I want the kit but it is a multitude of things:

JJB
EFC marketing team
EFC mega store
Coment's made by BK

As I see it, and if anybody knows different, JJB have some sort of rights to sell our merchandise; knowing of my experience and of what I have read, they seem to have more of other kits and display them in a better position than our merchandice. To me this is bad marketing by EFC. I don't know much about it but common sense seems to tell you that with bad position and none or too little stock, you're not going to sell very much. So why let JJB sell our stuff if they're not going to do a good job of it.

They seem to have an idea for a new kit every year, that's fine if you can make sure deadlines are made so the product can be sold. Liverpool had their kit out ages ago and it is taking up half a wall. Hate them all you want but they make money, which we seem to need.

This brings me to the megastore... we have one by GP, Liverpool have at least three which of two are in the city center, with one in the new L1. With more people coming into town nowadays it is a lot busier.

I'm not a BK basher but all of above must come down to who is at the top and that is BK. EFC is a buisness and needs to be run like one. Thats my rant over with now, it's the first time II have posted somthing but this just angers me as a blue. Knock me down if you want but this is how I see it.

Alex May
4 Posted 08/07/2008 at 14:25:48

The reason for the delay is quite simple. They want to ensure they have ample stocks for our flagship store in Liverpool One. Ah right, I see.

Ste Johno
5 Posted 08/07/2008 at 14:25:33

Oh dear! Yet another cock up by these clowns running our club ... coming back from Nottm this weekend ... was gonna go Megastore and check out the new kit ... whats the point, there’ll be sod all in stock anyway!

Like the way they say ... "due to circumstances beyond our control etc etc" ... yeah, right ... bloody embarrassing !!!

Barry Scott
6 Posted 08/07/2008 at 14:32:17

Interesting post on the People's Forum suggests that Everton havn?t paid Umbro yet and that?s why the delay is there.

Dan McKie
7 Posted 08/07/2008 at 14:45:50

I kind of expected this when I wrote the post, but the distribution excuse is a plausible one. I used to work for a security company and took many deliverys from China and all over the world and if your so much as a few hours late getting your shipment out of the warehouses or whatever then you do literally ?miss the boat? and its usually days before you can get another slot. This is most likely a cock up at their end! With such tight deadlines, mistakes happen!

Mike Owen
8 Posted 08/07/2008 at 15:23:20

Hang on. It does seem to be an Umbro problem.

Go to Blackburn website, launch of their away kit been delayed, so our first game of season could be skins v vests.

They have a quote from Umbro spokesman apologising. And Blackburn are launching their away kit before home kit!

I don’t know the Umbro production schedule but I wonder if the likes of us and Blackburn are down the pecking order in terms of delivery... or if some of their workers have walked out demanding another 2p a week.

Kevin Jones
9 Posted 08/07/2008 at 15:19:07

Correct me if I’m wrong but hasn’t all this happened before. I also deal, in a small way, with some cargo from abroad and, as Dan has explained if you miss the boat it normally knocks things back 2 weeks. On the JJB thing if you sell 500 RS shirts a week and 50 EFC shirts a week what are you going to put in the front of your shop. Whether JJB have a contract with Everton or not they are not obliged to give us any preferential floor space over other products. JJB are a Sportswear giant and will not overstock there shelves with goods they can’t sell. Love the conspiracy bit about players leaving though, never thought of that one

Douglas Herde
10 Posted 08/07/2008 at 15:54:06

I have it on good authority that they’ve discovered that the first 15,000 shirts produced have all had the club badge sown on the inside of the shirt.

Apparently Chinese doctors have said they have seen some of the worst cases of joggers nipple ever seen following tests of the new EFC shirt.

david rodaway
11 Posted 08/07/2008 at 15:56:30

Lets be honest, how many kits will we actually sell? Do you think Umbro give a flying fuck about us or Blackburn.

If they supplied kits for the Redshite, Mancs or Chelski they would quickly find a solution.

Supply and Demand

Paul OHanlon
12 Posted 08/07/2008 at 16:08:51

Whether the current issue is out of our hands or not, the kit should’ve been out long before now. Piss poor

Carl Rutherford
13 Posted 08/07/2008 at 16:05:42

Its not quite related but why do the club change both kits each year? There is clearly a problem with numbers of shirts sold and the revenue the club generates from it. So surely just flooding the market with new kits is not the answer. I think a better solution would be to change the kit less often so fans feel kits will last and have time to get used to them. This might convince more fans to invest in them.

It’s like saying a child who doesn’t like sprouts should be fed them constantly hoping one day he would grow to like them.

Does anyone actually buy home and away kits each year?

Steven Astley
14 Posted 08/07/2008 at 16:29:49

To Paul Ramsey... can’t you just wear your current Everton kit on holiday you puff??

Dan Henshaw
15 Posted 08/07/2008 at 16:05:01

On the subject of JJB, I'd just like to say that I've found the whole "deal" a farce! I am a lifelong blue residing in Swindon (for my sins). For many a pre-season I would pop down to a small independent shop in town owned and staffed by Don Rogers (1969 League Cup Final, 2 goals at Wembley) to pick up my new shirt. that was until Don informed me that he is no longer able to buy in efc shirts and that I'd have to go to JJB. Not a problem ? there are two massive JJBs... I'll have no probs. WRONG!

JJB Swindon never have EFC shirts and have no intention of selling them. My point is this "deal" prevents me from easily obtaining a new EFC shirt (except via internet with massive P&P costs). Man Utd or Chelsea would never sign a deal giving away sole supplier rights. Why..... because its ludicrous!! That's my rant over with.

James Braid
16 Posted 08/07/2008 at 16:47:09

Ste Johno and others,

The problem is at Umbro’s end, so how does that constitute a "cock up by the clowns running our club" ?

Seems to me like the clowns running the club are eclipsed only by some of the clowns who ’support’ it.

Stop finding fault where there is none to be found.

Richard Harris
17 Posted 08/07/2008 at 17:04:48

Surely it’s all part of the Kirkby conspiracy so that they can change the club crest and we can be sponsored by Tesco and have a blue and white striped kit !! I expect it’s more of our usual haggling over a deal, to stage payments, or to save a few pounds that has held up the shipment. When did the club last plan something well in advance without a hitch ??

Tony Gee
18 Posted 08/07/2008 at 17:03:21

James Braid....
You obviously know very little about business, so let me enlighten you...

If your suppliers are shite and they let you down, then that is your fault for dealing with them in the first place...

Umbro are bobbins and only cheapskate clubs deal with them these days...

Everton couldn’t organise a prayer in a fuckin Mosque.

Alan Codd
19 Posted 08/07/2008 at 17:19:32

Time to get shut of Umbro me thinks and sign with someone like Nike or Adidas. How the fuck can it be delayed considering its fucking July? Agree with Tony Gee. Another example of incompetence by the clowns that run this fucking amazing establishment.

Pete Sully
20 Posted 08/07/2008 at 17:27:22

Tony Gee/Alan Codd...for Umbro read Nike..they bought them lock stock and two smokins in March for £285M..bobbins...?? don’t think so..

Ian Doyle
21 Posted 08/07/2008 at 17:31:07

How can there be a delay when the kit usually comes out May last game? We are now into July... havent they had a whole year to sort this? Sure they have delayed for the departure of Johnson and Srteta so no-one get's names on shirts???

Paul Ramsey
22 Posted 08/07/2008 at 17:34:48

Steven Astley - seems you don?t get the point...Everton are missing a massive sales opportunity here by not having the replica kits ready with plenty of time in liu before the schools break up for summer holidays, families go away, abroad, or in the UK, and a new Everton replica kit is an essential part of their wears!

Now I am a bit older but ever since a kid I have purchased, or a least tried to (Everton have released kits shockingly late in the summer in the past) my new top before I go away for the coming season, it is a habit that has stuck and continues among many kids and families who support all clubs!

Shame Everton don't capitalise on this!
I quite fancy the pink shirt mind!

Gavin Ramejkis
23 Posted 08/07/2008 at 17:48:04

Pete Sully - Nike bought the Umbro brand and left it badged as Umbro to retain the cheaper end of the market as many companies do when they buy other brands out. Royal Bank of Scotland own Natwest, Coutts, Isle of Man bank, Direct Line and Churchill to name just a few but all still trade under their original name. So Umbro cheaper end and Nike higher end, owned by the same company but ran to different ends of the market with all that entails, chances are retaining the majority of the staff in the process.

Tony Marsh
24 Posted 08/07/2008 at 18:07:03

No Kits, No new players, No news about a ground move and No plan B. No contract for Moyes and No answers from the chairman about anything of importance. No clues either from the CEO. There's nothing to report about anything really. Welcome to Everton world the biggest laughing stock on the planet.

Oh sorry short arse went go-carting last week... FFS whats that all about????

Dave Wilson
25 Posted 08/07/2008 at 18:35:18

Maybe they?re waiting for the "verdict"

If DK gets the go ahead, Rupert's tower will be replaced by Kirkby Town Hall as the club badge.

Colin Oakes
26 Posted 08/07/2008 at 18:46:21

EFC must have known about this delay weeks ago but kept taking orders in case they lost out on revenue. Hopefully people will remember this next year and will not pre-order kits and pay for them months in advance only to be let down. My six year old is distraught over this and he won’t be alone tonight.

Rob Foy
27 Posted 08/07/2008 at 19:02:37

I have it on good authority that the release of the new kit, just like Moyesey's transfer kitty, is actually dependent on the Kirkby move....

Like someone has said, Everton must have known about the shirt problem weeks ago, yet still took orders it makes you feel a bit sick to the stomach. Words fail ya sometimes!

James Braid
28 Posted 08/07/2008 at 20:10:14

Tony Gee,

Thanks for enlightening me. I don’t know how I’d have managed without a smart-arse like you patronising me.

Umbro supply numerous Premiership clubs kits - Blackburn, Sunderland, Wigan, West Ham - and have supplied Englands kit for donkeys years.

They are a big company owned by Nike (an enormous worldwide brand) and we have not, to my knowledge, had any such problems previously.

So if you don’t mind, I’ll enlighten you this time - You’re talking utter shite.

Mark Griffiths
29 Posted 08/07/2008 at 21:28:15

All quite at EFC.......... calm before the storm!

Paul Gladwell
30 Posted 08/07/2008 at 21:29:20

You can try and defend the club all you like but this type of cock up happens year in year out, they are clueless in selling the club and making money, Also does anyone have any idea how many season tickets we have sold so far? this is another reason why some signings a bit earlier than the day before the first game can help in generating more season tickets.

Karl Masters
31 Posted 08/07/2008 at 21:28:28

This has been quite an amusing read considering it?s actually a very serious subject!

It would seem that our outsourcing CEO has left this operation in the hands of JJB who told us they?d have EFC merchandise nationwide, but clearly do not and Umbro who are so greedy they insist we change our kit every season. Sadly, their greed has led to an inabilityto keep up with production and they have let us all down.

That?s what you get when you outsource.... no guarantees bar the one off sum they pay the club each season. Actually, some people have always said that outsourcing is ?backhanders? heaven?, but that couldn?t possibly happen at Everton could it?

Finally, even if a shop in central Liverpool only made ?a few hundred pounds a year? surely the exposure, especially in 2008 of all years would have made it a worthwhile exercise.

Alex Baker
32 Posted 08/07/2008 at 22:04:24

Mr Marsh, I thought that you did not want Moyes as manager of EFC, because you find his tactics terrible and his signings useless?

Tony Gee
33 Posted 08/07/2008 at 22:47:43

James Braid...

I bet you still own an Umbro shell suit..

Them clubs you named are utter shite... no decent team wears Umbro... yes they did in the past, but I wore fuckin flares in the 70s...!!

You honestly think Nike have anything to do with the tinpot operation that is the Umbro operation? No they just leave them to manufacture shite gear for pikeys and meffs.... just ask my mates who all worked in the Deeside factory of Umbro, who said the place was a shambles.

I know more about Umbro than you sunshine, so just be enlightened and deal with it...

Marc Williams
34 Posted 09/07/2008 at 00:10:09

FUCKING SHAMBOLIC !

Jason Lam
35 Posted 09/07/2008 at 02:25:45

Don’t see Umbro delaying the England kit launch (I may be wrong). We’re in the fucking UEFA Cup and should attract at least a half-dodgy deal from Nike. We should go Le Coq Sportive and retro 80s kits if you ask me.

Eric Myles
36 Posted 09/07/2008 at 02:43:43

I wonder if the players will get their new kits in time for the start of the season???

Dave Wilson
37 Posted 09/07/2008 at 06:40:23

Guys, it's not all bad.

Think of all those kids who would have scraped their 40 quids together to buy a shirt with AJ?s name on the back...

Michael Brien
38 Posted 09/07/2008 at 07:22:48

Tony Gee - taking our history into account I would hope that Everton wouldn?t be looking to organise a prayer in a mosque !!!!!
Didn?t we start life back in 1878 as a "church" team ?

Michael Brien
39 Posted 09/07/2008 at 07:47:03

1978 World Cup - the most important football competition in the world . France v Hungary I think it was, the French team played in a kit borrowed from a local Argentinan League team !! I think it was due to the black and white TV which was the norm in large parts of South America at that time - there was a clash of kits - and the French had not packed their change strip of white shirts!!!

If there is a delay by Umbro then for goodness sake some of you - put things into perspective. You can always wear last season?s shirt on holiday. There are worse things that can happen. There are people in Zimbabwe who are suffering real hardships who moan less than some of you lot!!!!!

Scott Milne
40 Posted 09/07/2008 at 07:26:24

We’re 5 weeks out from the start of the new season and it’s not as if there’s any major difference from last years kit for those wanting to wander around foreign countries on holiday where they won’t know/care if you’re an EFC fan or just want everyone to know you really like Thai beer...

Problem’s definately on the Umbro side, with ourselves, Blackburn, Rangers and Lyon (as well as Wrexham and a couple of others facing delays.

This could be down to shake-ups at Umbro since the Nike take-over, cock-ups at their plants, problems with the shipping on the way to Europe or anything.

As for the point about Umbro only sponsoring shite clubs by Tony Gee and a few others, I looked into it and found the following are all wearing Umbro:

Everton, Rangers, Lyon, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Independiente, Santos, England, Sweden as well as the Brazilian and French beach soccer teams and the current European Futsal Champs ’Playa de Castellon’...

If anything - Umbro’s more forward thinking than it’s competitors...

The kit’s will be here well before the 16th of August and really, that’s all that matters isn’t it?...

Lori Fekete
41 Posted 09/07/2008 at 08:49:28

I can see a new reality show, along the lines of ?Ramsey?s Kitchen Nightmares?, when a company is being run into the ground by a bunch of clueless dickfucks.

Paul Kenyon or Harvey Goldsmith will come in, shout a bit and tell everyone to pull their head out of their arse. By the end of the show we?ll have a proper marketing strategy, a plan for a stadium that doesn?t make their customers sick and a queue of top quality players lining up to join.

Sorry i?m bored waiting for the footy to start.

I?ve got some PSV mates coming over from our Dutch office for the friendly, I?ve been telling them for years how great we are but when they get to the city and find no sign of EFC anywhere it?ll confirm that I?m full of shit.

Richard Harris
42 Posted 09/07/2008 at 10:08:24

Tony Gee wrote " James Braid... I bet you still own an Umbro shell suit.."

What?s wrong with an Umbro shell suit? That says ?babe magnet? to me!! And it hasn?t failed me yet......

EJ Ruane
43 Posted 09/07/2008 at 11:49:22

When the sun rises in the morning, I?m not in the least surprised as I know that?s what the sun does.

I?m also not shocked when bees fly towards flowers coz that?s what they do

My reaction to Everton fucking up the shirts is exactly the same.

Brendan Connor
44 Posted 09/07/2008 at 12:31:03

Tony Gee, you really are a fool with your comments about Umbro. I?m sure your mates at Deeside are well versed in the dealings of a major brand like Umbro!!! I think Scott Milne covers the mickey mouse clubs that Umbro continue to supply first class product to.

As for the "suppliers are shite" tirade I think you will find ALL major kit suppliers have experienced delays over the years for one reason or another but this doesn?t make them bad suppliers!!! So before you sprout shite in future I would maybe get my facts right!!!

Alan Willo
45 Posted 09/07/2008 at 13:18:53

Some funny posts I must say but all the others as usual just use it to attack the club itself. When you are all so negative about everything that goes on at EFC, may I ask why you support Everton? It seems the institution can never please you or give you the satisfaction you so much desire. It really makes me laugh how a short delay causes so much anger. I just phoned up the customer service number and arranged for my sons kits to be delivered once we return form holiday, maybe some of you Adults will go on holiday without a kit, trust me you will look a lot better. Thankfully for me I wouldn?t be seen in any footy strip but each to their own I suppose.

EJ Ruane
46 Posted 09/07/2008 at 13:47:24

Alan - What is it with this constant ’why can’t you be positive’ bollocks?

I can just picture you warbling "You gotta accentuate the positive, eee-liminate the negative.." as a steam roller rolls over your foot

Fact; The kit situation is just one of a few, current Everton-related, negative-as-fuck situations.

I hate to come across all ’vally girl’ but here’s a ’reality check’.

It’s human nature to look at negative situations negatively.

Why?

It just is

It’s why people cry at funerals.

It’s the reason people don’t laugh and punch the air when they find their house has been burgled.

You might be an exception to this ("Uncle Dave’s dead? Great, we’ll be able to rent his room!") but that makes YOU odd not me.

Lori Fekete
47 Posted 09/07/2008 at 14:31:25

You?re right. Alan Willo,

-we?re going to buy Arsharvin
-we?re going to have a stadium that will be the envy of the world
-the rest of July will be 30 degrees
-petrol prices will fall to be in line with America

-my beer belly will change to a six pack if i do my usual 10 sit-ups a month

-Sienna Miller wants my face as her bicycle seat

Vegetable rights and peace!

Richard Harris
48 Posted 09/07/2008 at 15:34:11

EJ Ruane wrote "Uncle Dave?s dead? Great, we?ll be able to rent his room!".

Sorry to hear about your Uncle Dave. So how much rent are you charging for his room ?

EJ Ruane
49 Posted 09/07/2008 at 15:39:14

Richard, as you ask, initially it’ll be £400 pcm.

However once we’ve removed the smell of dead uncle Dave’s corpse, it’ll go up to £500 pcm.

(I’m guessing a bit too rich for you?)

Peter Howard
50 Posted 09/07/2008 at 16:19:39

Adults who wear replica shirts are probably the ones who drink cider with ice. For Umbro, read Nike ; for Magner?s read Bulmer?s. Oh the joys of marketing!

Tony Gee
51 Posted 09/07/2008 at 16:24:37

Brendan Connor..

Have you got shares in Umbro..?

Unless I live on Pluto, the teams Scott Milne listed as "greats" are in fact run of the mill non achievers...!!

Big clubs to me are the likes of Man U, Barca, Inter, AC Real Madrid, Aresnal, Juve etc etc... all of which have dumped Umbro like a carrier bag of Pikey shit once other brands entered the market many years ago ...

I mean FFS to mention Rangers and Sweden as big football teams defies logic and belief..

My facts are correct.. the deeside branch was run like Billy Smarts Circus, so why should any other site within their operation be different.. ?

Finally, its not my fault you were christened Brendan.. get over it...

Paul Gladwell
52 Posted 09/07/2008 at 20:15:04

Alan, it is all well and good coming on here and calling people for getting down about the club but you cannot have a bad word to say and yet year-in, year-out, everything they do (from kits, transfers, ticketing, ground moves... I could go on forever) is done like an amateur company.

Just once, could we not do something correct? Because I would love to come on here and say, "Well Played Everton!" and (apart from the reaction to Benitez's post derby comments) I can hardly recall a time when I said those words.

Bilbo Baggins
53 Posted 09/07/2008 at 22:08:26

Here we go here we go here we go, Everton is the best we all know !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To add insult to injury the new kit, if and when it arrives will cost an adult a whopping £49:99. Apparently all the kits are waiting in the JJB warehouse because the mini-kits have all been printed with the Chang logo on them.
Wait for it, the away kit won't be out until the 18th August after the season starts.
Simply the Best........................

Joe Ludden
54 Posted 10/07/2008 at 08:26:01

What a total joke. Black Bill admits there is a profit to be made in having our own stores (no matter how small) which would also have the huge impact of us actually having a presence in the city, and the fans able to get their hands on our own merchandise. And BK says?? - its not worth it. BK should fuck off to the skunks if he loves their support so much. I spend £1000?s a year on Everton - though not last year cus you couldn?t get your hands on anything. I don?t think this is the worst this club has ever been run.

Joe Ludden
55 Posted 10/07/2008 at 08:33:02

So mad typed the last line wrong - I don?t think this club has ever been run worse than it is now.

Alan Rolfe
56 Posted 10/07/2008 at 11:01:44

Why is anyone surprised that the new kit is going to arrive late when it took 6 months to get 1000 pink shirts !!!

Fans blame the Megastore/EFC/JJB/manufacturers but at the end of the day no one says "It’s was my fault" and no one says "Sorry for the delay" (no matter how many delays).

What are Fans Liason Officer Sharpe and Communications Director Ross (if they are the correct titles) doing to sort this out and tell the truth to the fans????