ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Cracks? £19m v £30m

Are the comments from Robert Elstone about spending £30m, and David Moyes's £19m figure, the first signs of cracks appearing in the Goodison dam? Why would DM raise this point after the video blog on the Daily Post's website? Has he just planted a seed on his routemap to Man Utd? I hope not.
Tony I'Anson, Scotland Posted 13/09/2009 at 04:47:50

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Steve Pugh
1 Posted 13/09/2009 at 08:31:06

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First up, Elstone never said £30m, that figure came from a headline writer on the OS. He said that we spent the Lescott money plus £5m in transfers and £3m in increased wages.

I would guess that Elstone's figure, as a financial type, includes signing on fees for all the players signed, not just the transfer fees of the 3, whereas Moyes only looks at the top line numbers.

Richard Dodd
2 Posted 13/09/2009 at 08:32:35

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Simple explanation is that CEO Elstone ’counted everything in’ as any accountant would do whilst Manager Moyes was looking only at the transfer fees of his top three signings. The truth is that Everton took on c£8M of extra playing costs as a result of the manager’s dealings. Official explanation provided to me yesterday.

Mark Stone
3 Posted 13/09/2009 at 08:25:41

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I’d assume it was said in response to a direct question from the press ... rather than as a personal attack at Elstone, as the press would have you believe.

Either way, I think the reality is somewhere down the middle. £19m for the three first teamers, but then additional tribunal fees for Garbutt and Mustafi, small transfer fees for the two American lads (?) and a loan fee for Jo. This maybe doesn’t reach the £27m (+ £3m wages) that Elstone suggested but it’s certainly millions rather than hundreds of thousands.
More importantly, COYB at Fulham today!

Rupert Sullivan
4 Posted 13/09/2009 at 10:08:08

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What interests me on this is that this ’division’ only serves to support whichever viewpoint we each held — to some it means that the CEO is a lying git, and to others it means that the CEO was simply being thorough.

I tend towards the first explanation, but then I do not have a blind faith which allows me to believe without question what the club tells me... maybe I’m just too cynical.

Love the timing though, a ToffeeWeb furore is kicked up about Elstone’s comments and then a day or two later, Moyes makes an innocuous comment which puts a completely different light on things...

Joel Webb
5 Posted 13/09/2009 at 10:12:27

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"Has he just planted a seed on his routemap to Man Utd?"

I think the only crack appearing was swiftly smoked up before this thread was created :d Geeez..!

Really looking forward to seein the boys run out at the Cottage tonight — should be a cracker!

Steven Pendleton
6 Posted 13/09/2009 at 11:46:41

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Maybe just a case of Moyes flexing his muscles. In response to Mr Dodd’s comments, when talking money and transfers I fail to remember the last accountant at another club including wages and extra playing costs.

It’s a PR case gone pear shaped after Moyes’s comments, as it brings to light the bullshit that is spread by the inner sanctum at our club.

Karl Masters
7 Posted 13/09/2009 at 12:48:12

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If you’re good enough, you’re old enough, Mark. That’s always been my opinion.

Other than the obvious Rooney mention, one player that really sticks in my mind for that is Steve McMahon. I remember us playing Ipswich in 1981 at Goodison when they were UEFA Cup holders and as a teenager myself loving it that Mick Lyons, team captain, was tackled by McMahon whilst fannying around at the back unable to decide who to pass to! Stevie Mac just took the ball off him and started the move whilst Lyons stood there open mouthed.

I know McMahon is far from poular at Goodison these days, but what a player and had we had him in the late 80’s rather than an ageing Reidy and a crocked Bracewell we’d have done a whole lot better after Kendall MK1 left.

Rodwell should play until his performances dip and then give him a rest.

James Marshall
8 Posted 13/09/2009 at 13:11:39

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Seriously, who cares how much we spent? What does it actually matter? The only thing that matters is getting 3 points each game, starting with Craven Cottage today - which is where I’m off to now. Hopefully everyone will be enjoying the game and not harping on about money......

COYB

Tony I'Anson
9 Posted 13/09/2009 at 20:47:54

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On http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2009/09/09/business-of-football-live-video-debate-92534-24634028/ (about 14.5mins into the video) Robert said: "We absolutely spent more than the Joleen Lescott money.......and £5m on transfers and we’ve also taken on over £3million more in our budget in our wage bill".

Then on http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2009/09/11/everton-fc-rocked-by-mikel-arteta-injury-setback-92534-24669295/2/ David Moyes said “You can work it out yourself,” said the Goodison manager. “Bilyaletdinov, Heitinga and Distin came to roughly £19m give or take a bit, and money we got back for Lescott after we paid Wolves is about £19m.

“We’ve only spent what we have brought in, we haven’t spent any other cash on top of that. That’s what it looks like to me. Times are hard, so I will work to what I can do.”

THE point of my posting was why would a united "media savvy" Everton ship even hightlight the difference in the numbers at all? That’s all I’m saying. I’m not discussing what the actual numbers of figures were, but just why they were even said in the first place.

Is it like the first hints of a divorce from a couple who have been happy for 7 or so years but can’t find a way ahead together for the next 7 unless they win the flaming Euro Millions???

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