VIEW FROM THE BLUE
The march is the message
By Lyndon Lloyd :: 10/08/2011 Seeing as the subject of neutrality came up earlier today, it's probably worth highlighting the fact that two or three very well-written and argued articles have popped up elsewhere ? at Smell the Wintergreen and at Royal Blue Mersey: To protest, or not to protest?, for example ? over the past couple of days, pieces that highlight just how conflicted some are over the whole issue of protesting a situation whose resolution looks so damned difficult and potentially painful.[Not to mention the fact that the idea of protesting at all is curiously anathema to many; I was there on the Goodison pitch in the rain in May 1998 chanting "Johnson Out" as passionately as the next Blue and it wasn't any clearer back then who would replace him than it is now regarding the Kenwright Board.]
For me, though, irrespective of how reticent you are to force a regime change at Everton, tomorrow's march by The Blue Union offers a simple opportunity to demonstrate to the Board that you're unhappy with the status quo, that you're worried sick by the financial situation at the Club, that it's more than just a "small group of fans" who feel this way, and that significant change has to come about, no matter who carries it out.
If the Kenwright meeting demonstrated anything, it's that the Chairman is woefully out of touch with ordinary Evertonians, oblivious (until perhaps the boos that accompanied his face flashing up on the big screen inside the stadium against QPR) that there is a sizable group of fans who strongly disagree with the way the Club is moving under his leadership.
So, go to the rallying point and join the march. If the character of it doesn't feel right or any chants make you uncomfortable, then simply stand aside and let it continue on without you.
But, with so many planned protests having died before birth, the anger fizzling out before it could be channeled into anything meaningful, and all other channels (e.g. AGMs) having been closed, I feel this is a rare opportunity to make our voices heard, peacefully and in large numbers.
After that, you can get inside the ground and become that 12th man to spur on a team that desperately needs all the support it can get.
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I'll be shouting at some dodgy web stream of the match from the US, wish everyone on the march beforehand the best.
Fellow blues, if you are genuinely concerned about how Everton have been run over the last 10 years and are continuing to be run then please don't be put off by scaremongering accusations that the demonstrations will affect the team ? the two are completely separate issues.
If, on the other hand, you are happy with our level of debt, the squad at Moyes's disposal, and the sale of assets, then don't attend the march. As they say in Australia... Easy as.
Professional footballers dont let this get to them....if anything I think it will spur them on. Be sensibly vocal on the march and be positively vocal at the game. Good luck to you all!
COYB!
If Kenwright continues and we continue on the road to ruin, what did you do? Did you try and challenge the current set up? Did you try and have your concerns heard? Did you try and do something to make sure we didn't become the next Sheffield Wednesday? Did you try and help save the club so it's preserved for your kids and future generations?
If all you did was sit on the fence then you can have no complaints when more 1st teamers are sold, when our manager leaves, when all our good youth products are sold and we get completely left behind.
This is an oportunity to do something so what are you going to do about it?
It really is time for a change and let's hope this is the start of it.
Can you not see that all this is harming our club? It's affecting the morale and will of the players. Our financial situation is not good but
No one wants to buy us because there's nothing to buy, just a brand that's seen better days, a shed of a ground and some players.
Everton will cost too much to put right and no one has that kind of cash to spare.
The next Birmingham or West Ham?
Wait a minute though! Surely we should praise the board for being in this very good situation. It's a situation that every club in the league apart fom 5 or 6 would love to be in.
There may be some basis for complaint against the club but pointless in respect of the real issues.
The ground is a key issue ,but real opportunities have been passed on and mistakes made by the current owners. If Kings Dock had been executed we would have a fine modern stadium in the heart of the city. It represents the biggest failure of all and it happened under Kenwright's watch.
Regarding a brand that's seen better days , this is true. However, no effort has been made to resurrect this brand and generate interest in the club at a time of unprecedented interest iin the game. Again failure by current owners.
Quite simply the club is being allowed stagnate and if not for Moyes would be dead on it's knees.
Change is required and the message today is that the status quo is simply not acceptable
This website is toxic and certain individuals may well be able to proudly claim in the coming years that they contributed to the termination of the BK era. What exactly the future will hold, none of us know.
I not heard of a coherent PLan A alternative to BK. Dangerous people who think they are more intelligent than they are and the stupid morons who willingly accept every poisonous word posted on TW do not have a viabl;e alternative. So why are you marching like leemings??
EFC needs SUPPORT more than ever so if you are a true believer then show it.
It's a joke that you dismiss the arguments against Kenwright by saying there's no alternative. There are alternatives, you've just been sucked in by everything Kenwright says.
Just remember there are millionaires sat on our board in Earl and Grantchester. There's also the involvement of Philip Green, a billionnaire. They are all willing to sit there and watch the club being strangled to death. If they're not on that board to help things move forward then why are they there at all?
I sincerely hope David, the clueless fans like you are now in the minority.
I wish I was there today to back the cause and more importantly the team. Unfortunately I'll have to watch on the net at work. I don't think the protest will affect the players, they are professionals.
Karl #9 No team plays well under pressure? What about the way Barcelona played United off the park in the CL final? They would have been under tremendous pressure to win that game, as well as other countless teams in big games.
This "debate" as you call it, has been going on for many moons and I have contributed and I don't need to be told not to come on TW like some outsider.
I do believe that I am indeed a "clueless fan" clearly in the minority -- at least as far as Toffeeweb regulars are concerned. This site does seem to attract the militant tendency (remember what they did to our City?). However, if I can see no constructive purpose for taking such action then I for one will not join with the mob.
Also, take a look around you at other websites/media. I think you will find that actually, I am the MAJORITY.
Majority or not, your position is still despicable. You admit there's big problems, yet your only solution is to be vocal about protest. Apathy is one thing, but actively opposing protest is disgraceful.
You appear to be unable to distinguish between the club and the cretins who currently run it.
"despicable" "disgraceful"
As I said previously, this action will cause a division to the fanbase.
I hold a different view to the militant tendency and expect to be vilified for expressing opposition. That does not make me any the less passionate Evertonian and I maintain that the actions of the self-appointed Blue Union have no realistic hope of changing things for the better.
The world and his wife know that EFC is for sale and I do believe BK would be delighted to walk away from all this animosity and hatred. This march will not make anything positive happen.
Just one thing. Grantchester is NOT on the board of directors.
Let's just hope the protest achieves its' objective.
Fans who believe the purchase of a ticket to see games gives them the right -and the qualifications-to run their club are sadly deluded, for even those with business experience know next to nothing of a Premier club`s workings.Far better to channel all this energy into vocal support for the TEAM and leave all the politicing to those who have paid good money for the dubious priviledge of ordering its business affairs.
So let`s hear it now:-
COME ON YOU BLUES!
The only reason you are delaying your arrival at Goodison is because your real name is Bill Kenwright
Everyone, including BK knows his limitations but it seems to me, you are biting the hand that feeds you. So whilst it may not be the best hand, it's the only hand we've got and I, at least. am glad we have someone whose heart is on the club, rather than a financially driven uninterested conglomerate. Do I wish we had more money? - of couse, am I happy with the situation? - of course not. i also appreciate BK has made mistakes but be careful what you wish for - it could be a lot worse if the Blue Union gets their way. I know I will be slated as being naive or worse but just maybe, just maybe, what the club are saying is true and people behind the scenes are slogging their guts out to make things work against an alomst impossible background of the financial quagmire, that is football today, then maybe support and backing is what Everton need! If BK or DM walked away in despair, we'll really know what's hit us.
A Saturday game, against Villa, attendance 32.736........?
Who knows?
Give it up now. You're beginning to look stupid!
I hear 200 from the BK apologists and over 1000 from BU. As far as those who booed BK for the QPR game and then applauded him today.....are you really that fickle and taken by the predictable PR that's come out of the club over the past week?? If were 2-0 down today, would there still be applause?? We're all behind the team for the 90 mins but have a responsibility to protest the interest of the club when it comes to how it's administered.
There are differing opinions, yes, but for those who support the current board it's bang out of line to suggest taking a stand against them will affect on field performance. And this whole 'kopite' call is childish at best and irresponsible at worst....give it a rest.
You say he's "out of touch with the fans". Well today's events would suggest he's definitely "in touch" and would suggest it is you who is out of touch I'm afraid. The reception he got suggested it - I say it. YOU are out of touch. Too many doom and gloom internet forums for you sir.
You remind me of the conspiracy theorists who think 9/11 was an inside job. The truth has been told and it's plain to see but yet, you're not satisfied. Grow up. Have to say I'm so proud of our supporters today. No RS-esque kerfuffle and indeed, a protest against the protesters. Only Everton. COYB
Can I ask a question David ? If you can't take BU seriously again, then surely after all the bullshit and lies we have had from BK, you can't take anything he says, or does, seriously ?
If you don't agree with protesting, or you think the current board are doing well, then fair enough, that is your opinion. But don't lie, you make yourselves look foolish. I'm sure the camera crews will show the real numbers.
If you don't agree with protesting, or you think the current board are doing well, then fair enough, that is your opinion. But don't lie, you make yourselves look foolish. I'm sure the camera crews will show the real numbers.
The stories from Kenwright are simply unbelievable. The detailed record of the meeting was essential to show that Kenwright is not only a liar (we knew that already) but is arrogant, delusional and incompetent. I think if anything they have missed a beat by stepping back from asking him to step aside, and put someone more capable in his place.
We'll probalby have that tit Prentice telling us that there was only around 100 protesters.
Well over 1,000? Who are you trying to kid? I saw the protest myself and unless you were counting each person 3 times there was never in a million years over 1,000 people there. At a very push there was 500 people.
I could see fine thanks. I couldnt care less if there was 2 people there or 30,000.
What i do mind is someone coming on and telling blatant lies.
I have not got any issue with the BU at all. I respect their opinions and the people involved are all evertonians wanting the best for our club.
But to come on and say there was well over 1,000 is a lie.
Name the lies and how you know 100% that they are lies? How come everyone at the club seems hell bent on backing Kenwright through this? Is he lying to every person at the club? Is every word that comes out of his mouth a lie?
I ask the same of Brian Waring.... or indeed anyone that would like to tell me as I don't know of anything that Bill hs said to the supporters that has been proven a lie.
If I put proven lies up here, would you believe they were lies?
Or would you worm and squirm to find ways of excusing the bullshit this man has spouted to Evertonians over the years ? and continues to spout.
Are you a regular reader?
Have you really never seen posts listing lie after lie after lie?
Even his most ardent supporters aren't daft enough to challenge them. Most people know he's a liar. You only have to read the meeting report published by Blue Union to know the man talks absolute garbage. He loves Everton but he lies persistently.
I feel sorry for him. I don't think he can help himself. But you don't sound so delusional... why would you think he's always telling truth?
I doubt it is because they think he is fantastic. I expect it is because there has been no real potential buyer. Anyone with the cash would go public if the board did not play ball and this has not happened.
I think he tells the truth, Michael, because he's a good man at heart and also loves this club. I believe his problem and the fans' frustration lies not in what he has said being untrue and rather in what he hasn't or hadn't said. The Blue Union leak showed that although we want the truth, some things should not be made public. That leak infuriated me as a fan of this club and showed a couple of these things very clearly, firstly that Bill is prepared to tell the dark truths and secondly that frustrated fans have portayed Bill as something he is not.
I could be wrong here. You could give me examples of times where Bill has said something when the opposite was true and he knew and I'll have to eat my words. I'm not blindly following, I've explained my opinion.
1 in 30 Marched under the BU banner
discuss
Read davids post and you'll see why some still support bk. Apathy, blind faith, local media failing to report the real issues....... means some can't recognise blatant multiple lies and failures and will excuse almost anything because he's a blue. Sometimes we get what we deserve!
This board have delivered nothing....... discuss
Maybe he knew what was coming if we didn't get the move to Kirkby? Possibly. But I doubt he was truly lying as I bet we've spent hell of a lot on GP to keep it up to scratch. If he was doing it for the positive motive of getting votes for a move to Kirkby and securing the future of the club then I'm sorry I can't hate him for that because I love the club too (and I voted 'No' for the record.)
And as for "I could go on and on" please do.
What he did say after he scored the goals for England in Euro 2004 was that Rooney was now a £50M player.
There's a big difference in those 2 statements.
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1 Posted 10/09/2011 at 01:09:05
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