Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
The insane society of science
By Matt Woods :: 19/08/2011
24 Comments (»Last)
This is a piece I have spent a long time thinking about. Events recently have strengthened my belief, that I should just throw it out there. So, here we go...
I contest that there is not a lot wrong with Everton. Everton is an unbelievable group of fanatical people who have a strength of spirit that is undiminished under extreme circumstances. The situation, which is out of Everton's control, the people's control, is the state of society. Please, hear me out.
I believe Everton is a symptom of how fucked the world is becoming, or has become. Everton is a ridiculously huge football institution, that has been huge from the start of the football evolution. Today, in complete dire straights, we are still mixing it at the better end of the Premier League. Everton Football Club is anywhere from £35M to £80M in debt. This is quite simply insane.
Everton is, and has been for years, living beyond their means. The thing that I believe separates Everton from some of the other top clubs is that we have not gathered wannabe hangers-on. We are not fashionable, we are simply an old-fashioned boys club. What Everton has, is everything that makes an absolutely magnificent football club.
Basically, undiluted legend, tradition, tales that are re-told in corners of small boozers. These tales are sucked up by little blue sponges, and imprinted as DNA. This is Everton; always has been, always will be. We pass the story orally, as an African village would pass tradition to its fast approaching young adults.
There is nothing wrong with Everton. The problem, is the insanity of the modern world. Please listen to these simple questions.
? Footballer earns £200k a week, sane on insane?
? Man Utd, biggest club in world, reputedly close to a billion in debt. Sane or Insane?
? Fifa, footy organisation in control of the destiny of billions of dollars, corrupt at the top, slippery execs, dodgy as fuck. Is this Sane?
? Lovers of football shafted by all these pricks week-in, week-out. Sane?
There is a wonderful book written by Erich Fromm, called The Sane Society. Written in the 50s, he diagnosed, that due to the economic model of the time, it was not natural to live sanely under the conditions that placed pure profit over the human needs of the people. Today, those conditions remain, but have grown to grotesque proportions.
Another book, written about the 50s, is the excellent 'My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes' by Graham Imlach. In it, he beautifully recreates the era in which is father, Stuart, wins the FA Cup while in the summer goes back to work as a joiner to supplement his summer wage. Those older Blues will know that Stuart Imlach was Everton's first team coach in the Championship winning year of 69-70. He won the cup with Forest in 57. To read this book is a pure joy. It's sentimental, but just so real and touching. If you are of a certain age, you believe that it's your old man in there reading the pages to you. It's familiar... but now so distant.
There is nothing wrong with Everton. Clubs have ups and downs and in-betweens. What remains is the quality and passion of the people who follow them. We have been there from the start, and we are still as partizan as ever.
On this website the level of feeling often boils over because the desperation to sucede. This is a great thing. We are all winners, Everton are winners, we have a long and proven track record, and we will be winners again.
On the eve of our first home game, I wish all those lucky enough to be at Goodison Park have a fanstastic day. It's not Everton's fault that we live in an insane world, in fact, because of it, it makes us more distinct. Forget all the negativity, go the game tomorrow: be proud, believe... it's 11 against 11, it's a game of FOOTY!!!
Reader Comments (24)
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Gavin Ramejkis
2 Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:33:58
2 Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:33:58
Unfortunately the world has evolved be it good or bad from your own perspective and view on morality, by not agreeing and refusing or being unable to evolve with it you face the inevitability of extinction.
Michael Kelly
3 Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:50:19
3 Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:50:19
It must be good to be where you're at, I just wish I could look at it like that. COYB.
Tommy Coleman
4 Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:52:12
4 Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:52:12
Yes Matt I agree about the insanity, it's called Corporatism, where greed reigns supreme.
The reason the general populace accept it is because we all think we can get in there amonst the pot at the end of the rainbow.
Unfortunetly it has infected football and it will never be the same again.
The reason the general populace accept it is because we all think we can get in there amonst the pot at the end of the rainbow.
Unfortunetly it has infected football and it will never be the same again.
Mark Tanton
5 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:05:19
5 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:05:19
Yes football is crazy, and it defies the logic of capitalism. No business which runs with %95 of turnover going on wages would survive.
Unfortunately that's the game we're in, and we're not competing.
I think house prices are stupidly high, but I don't want to live under a bridge either.
Unfortunately that's the game we're in, and we're not competing.
I think house prices are stupidly high, but I don't want to live under a bridge either.
Michael Lynch
6 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:03:42
6 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:03:42
You're right, Matt, it is completely insane. Where will it all end up? I can't see these escalating transfer fees and wages carrying on for much longer. Sooner or later, we are going to start losing major clubs to financial ruin. Let's just hope we are not one of them.
Michael Hegarty
7 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:19:06
7 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:19:06
Great article Matt, it's nice to see a bit of positivity on here today.
Mark @ 5. Yeah but have you bought a more expensive house that you can't afford just cos your neighbours have?
Mark @ 5. Yeah but have you bought a more expensive house that you can't afford just cos your neighbours have?
Mark Tanton
8 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:31:45
8 Posted 19/08/2011 at 15:31:45
I'd like to reply to that post Michael but my laptop is being reposessed.
Seriously though, we're screwed either way: we try and live with the big boys and fail, or we get left behind and are relegated eventually.
Seriously though, we're screwed either way: we try and live with the big boys and fail, or we get left behind and are relegated eventually.
Denis Richardson
9 Posted 19/08/2011 at 17:23:14
9 Posted 19/08/2011 at 17:23:14
Agree with you Matt on the wider problems and the riduculous sums of money paid to some players. Classic example being Citeh with multiple players earning 50k-100k a week, and not even being in the 1st team squad!
The world in general suffers from an ever increasing amount of money being concentrated into ever decreasing pairs of hands. See the rise in the number of global billionaires, think there are now something like 1,200 worldwide. To that you can add the exorbitant salaries being paid to premiership footballers.
The average man in the street is slowly getting left behind - the riots in London and others that have happened recently do not surprise me one bit. I can only see this getting worse.
However, gettting back to Everton. We can at least be in a much better relative position thanwe currently are. Hopefully 3 points tomorrow will be a small step into getting this great club back to where it belongs.
(It hugely unfotunate that FIFA technically answers to no one so can pretty much do what they like.)
The world in general suffers from an ever increasing amount of money being concentrated into ever decreasing pairs of hands. See the rise in the number of global billionaires, think there are now something like 1,200 worldwide. To that you can add the exorbitant salaries being paid to premiership footballers.
The average man in the street is slowly getting left behind - the riots in London and others that have happened recently do not surprise me one bit. I can only see this getting worse.
However, gettting back to Everton. We can at least be in a much better relative position thanwe currently are. Hopefully 3 points tomorrow will be a small step into getting this great club back to where it belongs.
(It hugely unfotunate that FIFA technically answers to no one so can pretty much do what they like.)
Andy Crooks
10 Posted 19/08/2011 at 17:43:34
10 Posted 19/08/2011 at 17:43:34
When Brian Clough paid £1million for Trevor Francis, I thought the game had gone mad. There's a way to go yet.
Trevor Mackie
11 Posted 19/08/2011 at 17:56:37
11 Posted 19/08/2011 at 17:56:37
Thing is I watched a good prog. on SKY showing how the big 5 effectively created this monster.
Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Everton - the then big 5.
We've no-one to blame but ourselves.
Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Everton - the then big 5.
We've no-one to blame but ourselves.
Ray Robinson
13 Posted 19/08/2011 at 18:55:08
13 Posted 19/08/2011 at 18:55:08
Great piece Matt - so many good points. I am as disillusioned as most with the current state of the game and, if it wasn't for the Blue DNA, wouldn't bother with the sport.
To dispel the disillusionment and cope with the lack of prospects for the club, I feel that some of us Blues are almost developing an FC United or AFC Wimbledon mentality in that we know we're the impoverished underdogs but we're going to try and shaft as many of the big boys as possible. I love the chant at Man City when we beat the billionnaires on their own patch, "1-0 and we've spent f*ck all".
As you say, we're not encumbered with hangers-on, there's passion in every Blues supporter. We are a model, albeit anachronistic, football club.
Unfortunately the modus operandus has changed in modern football. Unless we evolve, we're destined to go the way of the corner shop, the vinyl record, the VHS tape ..... into oblivion.
To dispel the disillusionment and cope with the lack of prospects for the club, I feel that some of us Blues are almost developing an FC United or AFC Wimbledon mentality in that we know we're the impoverished underdogs but we're going to try and shaft as many of the big boys as possible. I love the chant at Man City when we beat the billionnaires on their own patch, "1-0 and we've spent f*ck all".
As you say, we're not encumbered with hangers-on, there's passion in every Blues supporter. We are a model, albeit anachronistic, football club.
Unfortunately the modus operandus has changed in modern football. Unless we evolve, we're destined to go the way of the corner shop, the vinyl record, the VHS tape ..... into oblivion.
Eugene Ruane
14 Posted 19/08/2011 at 20:05:55
14 Posted 19/08/2011 at 20:05:55
Ray Robinson (12), you say..
"We are a model, albeit anachronistic, football club. Unfortunately the modus operandus has changed in modern football. Unless we evolve, we're destined to go the way of the corner shop, the vinyl record, the VHS tape ..... into oblivion."
Unfortunately, absolutely spot on.
"We are a model, albeit anachronistic, football club. Unfortunately the modus operandus has changed in modern football. Unless we evolve, we're destined to go the way of the corner shop, the vinyl record, the VHS tape ..... into oblivion."
Unfortunately, absolutely spot on.
Andrew Mackenzie
15 Posted 19/08/2011 at 20:41:40
15 Posted 19/08/2011 at 20:41:40
Not an unreasonable approach Matt, but if it was almost an idealistic idea in the 1950s... surely the horse has well and truely bolted! I agree that the template is fine, and that bar the debt it is a sensible business model, the reality is Kenwright has all but admitted he would borrow if the bank was willing which horrifies me, thank god for the bank I say! I am not sure that many Evertonians actually have an issue with that, I think the main crux is we could be doing so much better under better stewardship.
In some sick way I actually hope the situation gets worse, the bank pulls the rug on kenwright, his backers get jittery and walk away rather than make the situation worse. someone comes in, pays of debt, Bill leaves with tail between legs (and I hnestly dont wish that on him) and we start again, with a good framework and deliverable plans. If that happened you can bet your life the investment fund that owns the shower across the park will be in touch like a shot to half their construction costs, and the cycle would begin again!
the fact that are backs are against the wall, banks wont lend (thank god), the chair and exec bully the local press and are threatening to sue fans groups sums it up. Rights issue, I bloody wish, but thats a little too idealistic!
In some sick way I actually hope the situation gets worse, the bank pulls the rug on kenwright, his backers get jittery and walk away rather than make the situation worse. someone comes in, pays of debt, Bill leaves with tail between legs (and I hnestly dont wish that on him) and we start again, with a good framework and deliverable plans. If that happened you can bet your life the investment fund that owns the shower across the park will be in touch like a shot to half their construction costs, and the cycle would begin again!
the fact that are backs are against the wall, banks wont lend (thank god), the chair and exec bully the local press and are threatening to sue fans groups sums it up. Rights issue, I bloody wish, but thats a little too idealistic!
Tim O'Connell
16 Posted 19/08/2011 at 21:31:46
16 Posted 19/08/2011 at 21:31:46
Good post and explains where we are but unfortunately like some of the other posts I think the insanity described means that year on year it is increasingly difficult/impossible to compete despite the special quality of DM and the team spirit. The financial model in the premier league is undoubtedly floored and the mega rich will soon learn this and stop investing, and so where the prem goes from there is anyones guess but is not sustainable on the current model. We must hope that we can stay in there so when the inevitable blow up happens we can come out the other end and still be in it.I don't have an answer but I still dream and have faith in something special EFC!
Ed Fitzgerald
17 Posted 19/08/2011 at 21:08:19
17 Posted 19/08/2011 at 21:08:19
Matt
I agree with much of what you have written football certainly is insane these days. Whilst we stick out like a sore thumb compared to some of the other so called big clubs as a result of a lack of investment we still some how have remained viable and competitive to a large degree.
Of course the environment of football may yet change dramatically and the arse may fall out of it. Some of the nouveau riche clubs such as City, QPR and Chelsea and clubs like Man U and Liverpool?s (with their precarious ownership and financial structures) may find they catch a big cold if some reason the broadcasters such as Sky need to recalculate the worth of football to their overall business or choose to break different bits of the business into smaller units. It seems unlikely that this will happen but in the casino of capitalism anything can and does happen like the US having its credit rating downgraded and banks like Lehman?s going bust.
People think that the current situation will last forever and but football and business empires come and go, and always will do. Whether Everton will be well adapted to survive and prosper in any new environment time will tell.
Like you I do admire much about our club (although not Bill Kenwright) I don?t think it is a weakness to have some principles that go beyond having a narrow minded mantra of its just about profit and how many trophies you win by throwing money at it. I am actually not envious of any other club (well maybe Barcelona) and love supporting this grand old team that is steeped in history that in my opinion no club can match.
I agree with much of what you have written football certainly is insane these days. Whilst we stick out like a sore thumb compared to some of the other so called big clubs as a result of a lack of investment we still some how have remained viable and competitive to a large degree.
Of course the environment of football may yet change dramatically and the arse may fall out of it. Some of the nouveau riche clubs such as City, QPR and Chelsea and clubs like Man U and Liverpool?s (with their precarious ownership and financial structures) may find they catch a big cold if some reason the broadcasters such as Sky need to recalculate the worth of football to their overall business or choose to break different bits of the business into smaller units. It seems unlikely that this will happen but in the casino of capitalism anything can and does happen like the US having its credit rating downgraded and banks like Lehman?s going bust.
People think that the current situation will last forever and but football and business empires come and go, and always will do. Whether Everton will be well adapted to survive and prosper in any new environment time will tell.
Like you I do admire much about our club (although not Bill Kenwright) I don?t think it is a weakness to have some principles that go beyond having a narrow minded mantra of its just about profit and how many trophies you win by throwing money at it. I am actually not envious of any other club (well maybe Barcelona) and love supporting this grand old team that is steeped in history that in my opinion no club can match.
Karl Masters
18 Posted 19/08/2011 at 22:42:44
18 Posted 19/08/2011 at 22:42:44
So true. Great article.
The reason for all this is staring us all in the face. By Bill's own admission -
£53m on players wages.
Just think about that for a minute. This a squad that has not actually won anything. Hard working and talented undeniably, but not the cream.
With a squad of 21 senior pros that averages out at £2.5m a year each. Or put another way, the average weekly wage of an Everton player is just short of £50k.
That really is the root of the problem. Our income is £81m, which puts us in the top 25 in the WORLD!
IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS EVERTON'S INCOME IS LIKELY TO BE AROUND £1 BILLION!
Yet, we cannot afford to build a new stand or even a box in the car park. You should be able to raise £200m to build a new stadium out of that in just 10 years, but it's all going to players.
You are right - it's bloody insane!
ps Gary Imlach, not Graham. He does the Cycling on ITV4 as well by the way.
The reason for all this is staring us all in the face. By Bill's own admission -
£53m on players wages.
Just think about that for a minute. This a squad that has not actually won anything. Hard working and talented undeniably, but not the cream.
With a squad of 21 senior pros that averages out at £2.5m a year each. Or put another way, the average weekly wage of an Everton player is just short of £50k.
That really is the root of the problem. Our income is £81m, which puts us in the top 25 in the WORLD!
IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS EVERTON'S INCOME IS LIKELY TO BE AROUND £1 BILLION!
Yet, we cannot afford to build a new stand or even a box in the car park. You should be able to raise £200m to build a new stadium out of that in just 10 years, but it's all going to players.
You are right - it's bloody insane!
ps Gary Imlach, not Graham. He does the Cycling on ITV4 as well by the way.
Christine Foster
19 Posted 20/08/2011 at 00:27:18
19 Posted 20/08/2011 at 00:27:18
Excellent article Matt, it really does highlight the idiocy and unsustainability of the Sky model to at least every club other than Man U, the only true global brand in the EPL.
Of key interest is that it is unsustainable, the wheels are coming of the trolley because the global economy is in recession and in the real world people are suffering so what right does football have to be immune? You could cut the wages by 50%, lose some of the high ticket players and STILL be a great league.
Salary capping or squad salary capping is the start, performance pay is critical, play to win, hits you in the pocket when you lose. If the club does well you get a chare of the profit.. every other company has to do it so should football.
Of key interest is that it is unsustainable, the wheels are coming of the trolley because the global economy is in recession and in the real world people are suffering so what right does football have to be immune? You could cut the wages by 50%, lose some of the high ticket players and STILL be a great league.
Salary capping or squad salary capping is the start, performance pay is critical, play to win, hits you in the pocket when you lose. If the club does well you get a chare of the profit.. every other company has to do it so should football.
Chad Schofield
20 Posted 20/08/2011 at 03:21:15
20 Posted 20/08/2011 at 03:21:15
Certainly something has to be done otherwise there'll be a lot of clubs bust. There is still room if you look at the American sports models... but then again it's something ridiculous that end up in financial ruin - "By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce.", Then again they are salary capped in the NFL - or at least they were when this explanation was written: http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/question644.htm
It is obscene. This is their basic wage before the performance related incentives or their sponsorship deals get added on. It becomes blasse to say so and so earn x-thousand (what's Adebayor reportedly on £175,000) PER WEEK... the average UK salary is £25,900 per year - for those lucky enough to be in employment.
It is obscene. This is their basic wage before the performance related incentives or their sponsorship deals get added on. It becomes blasse to say so and so earn x-thousand (what's Adebayor reportedly on £175,000) PER WEEK... the average UK salary is £25,900 per year - for those lucky enough to be in employment.
Santosh Benjamin
21 Posted 20/08/2011 at 05:58:16
21 Posted 20/08/2011 at 05:58:16
Nice article,Matt.Very true about the situation in the football world and the world in general too - people are living well beyond their means and its only a matter of time before it catches up with them. I fooled myself into thinking that we were being prudent with our funds in the last few years,not realising that even the few buys that we made were making the bank put the squeeze on us.
I was worried about our lack of funds for summer signings and my fears were justified.On a bright note, we have managed to hold off the advances on Jags and Baines so far but there is still time for temptation before the 31st of August. I hope that we can keep all our players(except Yobo) that we had in pre-season and start the season strongly for once. We need to keep believing in ourselves and try not to be distracted by off the field matters during games. We need strong cup runs - FA and Carling. Barkley,McAleny,Garbutt, Mustafi,Dier,etc need to be given runs in the cup games and possibly roles in the first team squads too. Above all, let us hope that Moyes stays and keeps us focussed on the challenge we face. I know that he has his weaknesses but i do believe that we need him at the helm to progress. Let us continue to hope and pray for investment in the meantime. All you lucky people who get to go to Goodison today, give the lads a real cheer from all the fans who cant make it there...coyb
I was worried about our lack of funds for summer signings and my fears were justified.On a bright note, we have managed to hold off the advances on Jags and Baines so far but there is still time for temptation before the 31st of August. I hope that we can keep all our players(except Yobo) that we had in pre-season and start the season strongly for once. We need to keep believing in ourselves and try not to be distracted by off the field matters during games. We need strong cup runs - FA and Carling. Barkley,McAleny,Garbutt, Mustafi,Dier,etc need to be given runs in the cup games and possibly roles in the first team squads too. Above all, let us hope that Moyes stays and keeps us focussed on the challenge we face. I know that he has his weaknesses but i do believe that we need him at the helm to progress. Let us continue to hope and pray for investment in the meantime. All you lucky people who get to go to Goodison today, give the lads a real cheer from all the fans who cant make it there...coyb
Michael Hegarty
22 Posted 20/08/2011 at 08:02:34
22 Posted 20/08/2011 at 08:02:34
I agree entirely that player wages are the primary reason for the mess of our clubs finances. It's also good news that the banks have said we can't finance new player purchases with anymore loans but slightly scary that it was the bank that had to make that decision.
If we use Bily as an example; he cost around £9mil apparently and will be on around £50k p.w. for a total outlay of around £20mil for the four years he's here; or 10% of the cost of our shiny new £200mil stadium. Is this outlay on one player ever justifiable given our current predicament.
In my opinion this level of investment would be far better directed for the long term i.e. the new stadium/improvements to Goodison and the academy. A change to this approach is the only way I can see us digging ourselves out of this financial hole and competing at the very top again.
I am certain things will change in football finances in the not too distant future and we need to be in a position where we can cope when it does
If we use Bily as an example; he cost around £9mil apparently and will be on around £50k p.w. for a total outlay of around £20mil for the four years he's here; or 10% of the cost of our shiny new £200mil stadium. Is this outlay on one player ever justifiable given our current predicament.
In my opinion this level of investment would be far better directed for the long term i.e. the new stadium/improvements to Goodison and the academy. A change to this approach is the only way I can see us digging ourselves out of this financial hole and competing at the very top again.
I am certain things will change in football finances in the not too distant future and we need to be in a position where we can cope when it does
Martin Mason
23 Posted 20/08/2011 at 10:05:02
23 Posted 20/08/2011 at 10:05:02
Good article Matt and I completely agree. Absolutely insane.
Robbie Shields
24 Posted 21/08/2011 at 06:44:27
24 Posted 21/08/2011 at 06:44:27
Toffeeweb
Great original article Matt, and some fantastic points made in all the contributions so far, the world of football has indeed gone mad, but Leeds supporters would have said that 5 years or so ago. But the biggest problem as I see it is that we additionally have two lunatics in charge of the Asylum, and that makes for the disaster we see happening right now! And it ain't over by a long shot.
Football as a whole needs to get it's shit together, but the governing body won't make the necessary changes until football has it's own 'Piper Alpha' and a huge club doesn't just go into administration, but ceases to exist completely. Until then, clubs will continue to gamble with money they simply don't have, the problem is that the more clubs that gamble the house on winning, then the more likely that someone will loose BIG, with the biggest losers inevitably being those with the shallowest pockets. Those bank rolled by billionaires can keep betting vast sums of money, the house to the likes of us, but to them, spare change...... It ain't fair i tells ya.
I fear our time may be up, the model is simply unsustainable and despite some comments above that we aren't going to go bust anytime soon, I fear that may not be true for the following reasons.
1) The first lunatic has sold off the family silver and has nothing left, the plan B, if you can call it that, was to sell to buy, but even that has now failed, if we now sell the money goes straight to the bank. The board have now lost control over how funds raised through player sales are allocated, they have backed themselves into the proverbial corner.
2) The second lunatic, and the final piece in this tragedy is, I'm sorry to say, Mr Moyes. This particular lunatic may well get us relegated by managing to get less out of a team than it's component parts, making insane team selections, compounded by even worse substitutions, I could go on and on, indeed I have many times on ToffeeWeb about Mr Moyes, so I'll spare you all the latest replay of my personal opinion, which incidentally has not changed following last nights debacle. IF, and i fear it is a real possibility this season, we are relegated, then the financial meltdown will be complete. Players will be traded at rock bottom prices ala Leeds, West Ham etc. and the end of the world will become a reality for us all.
The future of the mighty blues is at stake here, and at the moment it appears to be in Moyes' hands. I'm afraid from the evidence of the last 10 years and with no money to even attempt to change the playing staff, I don't believe we are in good hands.
We need to get the proposed Everton Supporters Trust fund up and running PDQ, Everton might be going on the cheap in 10 months time and I don't want that twat Ken Bates or anyone of his Ilk anywhere near OUR club.
Everton should be owned by all Evertonians, not just one lunatic, but by 40,000 lunatics.
In Evertonians I Trust
Great original article Matt, and some fantastic points made in all the contributions so far, the world of football has indeed gone mad, but Leeds supporters would have said that 5 years or so ago. But the biggest problem as I see it is that we additionally have two lunatics in charge of the Asylum, and that makes for the disaster we see happening right now! And it ain't over by a long shot.
Football as a whole needs to get it's shit together, but the governing body won't make the necessary changes until football has it's own 'Piper Alpha' and a huge club doesn't just go into administration, but ceases to exist completely. Until then, clubs will continue to gamble with money they simply don't have, the problem is that the more clubs that gamble the house on winning, then the more likely that someone will loose BIG, with the biggest losers inevitably being those with the shallowest pockets. Those bank rolled by billionaires can keep betting vast sums of money, the house to the likes of us, but to them, spare change...... It ain't fair i tells ya.
I fear our time may be up, the model is simply unsustainable and despite some comments above that we aren't going to go bust anytime soon, I fear that may not be true for the following reasons.
1) The first lunatic has sold off the family silver and has nothing left, the plan B, if you can call it that, was to sell to buy, but even that has now failed, if we now sell the money goes straight to the bank. The board have now lost control over how funds raised through player sales are allocated, they have backed themselves into the proverbial corner.
2) The second lunatic, and the final piece in this tragedy is, I'm sorry to say, Mr Moyes. This particular lunatic may well get us relegated by managing to get less out of a team than it's component parts, making insane team selections, compounded by even worse substitutions, I could go on and on, indeed I have many times on ToffeeWeb about Mr Moyes, so I'll spare you all the latest replay of my personal opinion, which incidentally has not changed following last nights debacle. IF, and i fear it is a real possibility this season, we are relegated, then the financial meltdown will be complete. Players will be traded at rock bottom prices ala Leeds, West Ham etc. and the end of the world will become a reality for us all.
The future of the mighty blues is at stake here, and at the moment it appears to be in Moyes' hands. I'm afraid from the evidence of the last 10 years and with no money to even attempt to change the playing staff, I don't believe we are in good hands.
We need to get the proposed Everton Supporters Trust fund up and running PDQ, Everton might be going on the cheap in 10 months time and I don't want that twat Ken Bates or anyone of his Ilk anywhere near OUR club.
Everton should be owned by all Evertonians, not just one lunatic, but by 40,000 lunatics.
In Evertonians I Trust
Derek Thomas
25 Posted 21/08/2011 at 12:07:01
25 Posted 21/08/2011 at 12:07:01
Spot on Robbie, but take heart, there are well more than 40,000. maybe 100,000+ world wide.
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1 Posted 19/08/2011 at 14:30:10