The Mail Bag
In Spite of or Because of...?
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It looks very much as though Everton will finish the season just one place behind what Sky termed, this morning, as their "Super Six". Given that most of their focus ? and that of the journos who appear on their Sunday Supplement ? is on Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Spurs and Liverpool, I suppose to them it's an appropriate description... so it would be too much to hope that we could be included in a Magnificent Seven!
Be that as it may, I do think that David Moyes has done a magnificent job to ensure that we've seen off those other pretenders to the elite, Aston Villa, to proclaim Everton as "the best of the rest". Because of this, discussion amongst Goodison regulars in the Freshie has focussed this week on whether our manager's excellent record is BECAUSE of the backing he receives from Chairman Bill Kenwright or IN SPITE of it!
Personally, I believe that Bill Kenwright's 'non-interventionist' policy and his decision to lock in his manager with a most generous long-term contract is the factor that has seen our club more than hold its own over the last nine seasons. However, the contrary view is that the constraints endemic in 'local boy' ownership have required Moyes to be a genius to keep us in contention.
I have to admit that my view is in the minority as so many Evertonians would readily swop Kenwright for Ghadaffi given the chance but you can't conclude much from a poll of six... so how do ToffeeWebbers vote on this issue?
Richard Dodd, Posted 10/05/2011 at 20:11:47
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Regardless of our financial predicament no Evertonian should ever be accepting of seventh.
In Moyes's first five years he was given limited funds, from the club's coffer's to build a squad. He built, for the money an excellent squad and has been largely responsible for everything good that has happened since IMO. He should also take a portion of blame for the slow decline we are seeing, although that has been hastened by the lack of money available to him for replacements.
I don't believe a club of our size, stature within the game, history of great players and innovator's in the game should consider not winning a trophy in almost a decade "holding your own".
The real debate here is do we genuinely no longer hold the credentials to be classed as a big club in modern times ? or do the media just not want us to be part of their love in without the all important thing ? money?
It's as if they wait to see where we end up and label everyone above us "the big x" ? if we'd come 16th this season it would've been "The Fab 15".
I was listening to Radio 5 Live last night and they were debating the shake up of the top 6 places amongst the "Super 6" like it's a closed shop and fair play to Graham Taylor for saying ? "Don't forget Everton, they're always in and around it".
Thank you Graham.
I am more interested in watching Everton and hoping that next season we can stay relatively injury-free and retain our better players..... of course it would be nice if we could start a season well.
Unfortunately though the Kings Dock, the "Fortress Sports Fund" ruse, his "Goodison is falling down" 'claim', and the new commercial building failure (if new rumours are true) worry me that ? although he has the heart ? he may not have the business acumen.
What will it be then eh Richard... Everton are again the best of the rest, starting next season just outside Sky's 'Terrific Twenty'!
I've voted... You & BK are the weakest links... Goodbye.
Has Moyes done well in his tenure battling with lack of funds and still managing to build a decent squad?Yeah sure, and that is definitely in spite of BK and his board. But Moyes has a shed load of failings too.
In the fantasy land event that we suddenly become super rich in the next week or two, I am one of those who would give Moyes a season or two chance to see if he actually does have the goods to deliver silverware. I would hazard a guess that he doesn't really, too many strange tactical decisions and not enough of an attacking spirit in my opinion, but I would give the fella a shot at the big time, I would be very pleased for him to prove me wrong.
Whilst we are penniless though, yeah he's probably worth keeping. He seems to be able to keep us fairly comfortable from the drop and in these so called 'best of the rest' positions. Not real happy with the crappy starts and the lack of even a dopey Carling cup to our name though.
You are the type of pro-Billy Bullshitter that has finally made me wake up and see that all my protestations are a complete waste of time money and effort. The fact that we could only manage 7th is a fucking joke this season.
The RS were in the bottom 3 in December and, if they had put Dogface in charge earlier, may well have qualified for the CL again.
As fans we will get what we deserve and as most are Billy Supporters like you; enjoy your top 8 finishes. I am finished with Everton so long as that Bullshitter remains. Reading these posts, you won't be alone.
Too many slip-ups at home against WBA, Newcastle, Birmingham, Wolves, Wigan etc.
In return, a job for life, a huge salary, and universal admiration. A truly self-serving indestructible double act.
1)Where are Everton Football Club actually going?
2) What have Everton Football Club achieved since Bill Kenwright became chairman?
3) What plans do have Everton Football Club have for a new stadium?
Regarding your point, the only way EFC (or any club) gets into the media discussion routinely is to challenge for the top. Same as all professional sport.
To me, Kenwright etal have done well enough in their time. Clearly, EFC needs the bucks to make the last jump up (finishers!) and the money's not there presently. Either they get the backing or sell out.
They're accumulating debt (not us, them from their pocketbooks) year after year now and, God bless em for saving the Club 10 years ago, their time is done.
Ghaddafi is too good a comparison with Kenwright.
Try Hitler he was a self deluded dictator and tortured millions while running an institution into oblivion.
It's all very well being satisfied at finishing seventh and "best of the rest", but how long can even this modest position continue to be achieved under the current ownership?
Kenwright will have to sell up eventually, but if he doesn't go very soon the decline of our great club will become irreversible.
Could you explain in what way Kenwright "saved the club"?
From what?
He inherited a 5 million overdraft and a net asset position which he has turned into a net liability of around £80 million despite selling Rooney for 30 pieces of silver.
KENWRIGHT - OUT
GHADAFFI - IN
He bought the club and transferred the debt, he failed with the NTL deal but had already securitised that £30m debt which will cost at least £70m over it's lifetime; he signed a player on a contract longer than his work permit (Alex Nyarko); he infamously lied through his teeth to maintain control of the club and lost the KD; he wasted millions on DK, a project which could never have succeeded; he failed to tie another player to a contract, losing the club a transfer fee (Dan Gosling).
His litany of failures is shameful ? not by the grace of whoever your may call your God or luck or fortune ? just a simple lack of common sense and vision; a small time player out of his depth.
Accoriding to many at the club the place is falling apart, so again no justification for a huge hike in costs.
One small thing he can do is find a way to stop adults purchasing kids season tickets. The application photo on the season ticket might be a start.
Is there anyone at the club with any idea of innovation tied to making a profit? FFS you could run an open competition for ideas with a prize of a matchday experience meeting the players and a slap up meal or a few grand or a family holiday for ideas that could turn into a profitable line. I'll bet money this website contributors alone could generate more ideas than the club has in a decade.
At the time of the hiring, who knew how good Moyes would turn out? No one. Kenright has to get the credit for that.
Now, these years later, "Punching above your weight" won't get it done since so much foreign money has poured into the league. You need to have, at least, more money than currently available.
I believe, and have said here, that the merchandising angle (a routine given here in American professional sport) has been woefully neglected and Kenright has to take the blame directly.
I've mentioned the Landon loan as a perfect example of this. So what if LD would be with the Club for a few months. There was money to be made while he was at EFC. And nothing was done to generate some bucks? From an American sports fan's point of view? Embarassingly incompetent business.
You throw some numbers at me? What do they mean in denying the simple fact EFC was relegation fodder until Moyes was hired.
BK has to get credit for that then as he, rightly, gets credit now for fumbling the opportunity at a new stadium and proving a team can punch above its weight and win.
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1 Posted 11/05/2011 at 07:33:25
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