Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
Coming to the end
By Daniel Hutchinson :: 05/11/2011
24 Comments (»Last)
I woke this morning with a sense of optimism. Newcastle have had a very good start to the season; however, unlike us, they have yet to play the Sky ?six? (Six? ? hmmmm). I genuinely believed this morning that there was no reason why we couldn't be the team to end their run and kick-start our season; I was sorely mistaken.
The team sheet was out and in the most part I was happy. Neville in midfield was my only query but seeing Royston start put a smile on my face. A smile which was to deplete almost as soon as kick-off took place.
Shattered... Worn... Tattered... The first ten minutes were horrible. I sincerely believe there is not a single player in our side that can play a decent attacking ball. The players we relied on last season have reached their inevitable demise.
I do not care what anybody says and I know I will get many people launching to his defence, but Leighton Baines has been terrible this season. Where is his attacking intent? Where is his crossing ability gone? Where is his surge into the opposition?s half?
Every time he tried to pass the ball forward, it ended up hitting the opposition and sparking a Newcastle attack. My feelings for Baines were summarised in the free kick we got 12 minutes before full time. His Arteta-esque delivery hit the first man and a part of me died inside. Is it a rule for Everton set pieces to rarely beat the first man? Is it a Moyes tactic?
The two goals came. The first? Howard seems to have lost his voice and Heitinga has just confirmed what every Everton fan felt, you are Yobo mark two! Error after error. The second? Is it possibly another Moyes tactic for our defensive headers to always be flopped to the opposition. Again it happened, Rodwell knocked the ball nicely to Taylor and the defence just backed offand let him let rip. Disgraceful.
You are not getting away from my abuse either, David Moyes. We are 2-0 down, Neville goes down injured... and we bring on a defender? 2-0 DOWN! I can?t even begin to explain my utter repulsion for that decision. It meant bringing the calamitous Heitinga into midfield. Great?
Jagielka. There is a thing called a short pass! Every time he plays a bloody long ball, I can?t help but shudder with anger.
Coleman. He had a shocker. Much like Baines, he has lost all of what was good about him this season.
We scored? big woo. Did we deserve it? No. Did we get a point? No. What will Moyes think? ?We did well to only concede two and the boys did well to bring one back?.
Today I lost hope.
Take a look at the team.
Write them down and look at their names. Are we better than the likes of Blackburn? Wigan?? Swansea??? Fulham???? Debatable. This team is not good enough. They can?t pass. They can?t score. We are throwing away everything that was good about our club.
Where is the passion? The effort? The work rate?
We have become a laughing stock and it is embarrassing.
The players are rubbish. The manager is rubbish. The assistant manager is rubbish. The board are rubbish.
The club is rubbish.
We are coming to the end.
Reader Comments (24)
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Jim Lloyd
2 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:28:28
2 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:28:28
Well, I think that the article reflects what a lot of evertonians are thinking and I'm not so sure that very poor is that much different from rubbish. Perhaps we weren't that much poorer than Newcastle on the day but the continual poor tactics (well, I think they're poor) the silly mistakes and the general air of what seems to be hoplessness running through the team is very worrying.
David Flanagan
3 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:35:39
3 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:35:39
Newcastle were shocking but, like the Mancs last week, they sat back and challenged us to break them down. True to form, we had very little idea which soon became none.
We should have had a penalty but didn't... outside of a Cahill shot, we offered nothing. The manager's tactics are mundane, boring and predictable but selling off all the better players has had some bearing on this.
The whole club is shot from top to bottom with little chance of improvement in the short term. Sacking Moyes is an option but, unless we get players in, it's going to be a very similar problem.
We should have had a penalty but didn't... outside of a Cahill shot, we offered nothing. The manager's tactics are mundane, boring and predictable but selling off all the better players has had some bearing on this.
The whole club is shot from top to bottom with little chance of improvement in the short term. Sacking Moyes is an option but, unless we get players in, it's going to be a very similar problem.
Colin Taylor
4 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:45:02
4 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:45:02
I totally agree with every thing said. Moyes will say we were unlucky and come out with the usual shite.
This season is a write-off already ? either do something positive with your team selections and tactics, Moyes, or resign!!! I can't take much more...
Another weekend ruined... thanks, Moyes. I would not mind if we had a go but we are so predictable. Does anyone still think Moyes is the right man? And will you still think he is after the next home game???
This season is a write-off already ? either do something positive with your team selections and tactics, Moyes, or resign!!! I can't take much more...
Another weekend ruined... thanks, Moyes. I would not mind if we had a go but we are so predictable. Does anyone still think Moyes is the right man? And will you still think he is after the next home game???
Chris Perry
5 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:44:39
5 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:44:39
I find it really sad both watching Everton and reading Todffee Web. I am insome ways lucky and in otherways not lucky!
I am 43 years old and was lucky enough to see Everton in the 80's, wow, yes kenwright fucking wow, The unlucky part is I am 43 and i dont think that even if i live to 100 will never see Everton play like they did under Kendal in his first spell.
What is sda with Toffee Web, is its appears full of people in their 20's and 30's who accept the shite that Everton serve up week in week out, not only do they accept it, but they defend the regime.
Today on the match day forum, i posted a comment saying that i dont believe there are 3 worse teams than us, and i stand by the comment, i simply dont.
A person then posted what i can only assuem was a light hearte thread saying we are better than Newcastle! I am sorry but how can we be better than a tean that at that point in time lay 4th, 15 points ahead of us and 2 - 1 up!
This season, with or without Moyes i believe we we will be relegated. Sad, but true and based on todays performance i bet the rest of the Premier Leauge is quaking.
Monday is the real day i dread as yet again i will go into work to face the knob bhead redshite supporters, who will yet again take the piss and why shouldnt they?
I am 43 years old and was lucky enough to see Everton in the 80's, wow, yes kenwright fucking wow, The unlucky part is I am 43 and i dont think that even if i live to 100 will never see Everton play like they did under Kendal in his first spell.
What is sda with Toffee Web, is its appears full of people in their 20's and 30's who accept the shite that Everton serve up week in week out, not only do they accept it, but they defend the regime.
Today on the match day forum, i posted a comment saying that i dont believe there are 3 worse teams than us, and i stand by the comment, i simply dont.
A person then posted what i can only assuem was a light hearte thread saying we are better than Newcastle! I am sorry but how can we be better than a tean that at that point in time lay 4th, 15 points ahead of us and 2 - 1 up!
This season, with or without Moyes i believe we we will be relegated. Sad, but true and based on todays performance i bet the rest of the Premier Leauge is quaking.
Monday is the real day i dread as yet again i will go into work to face the knob bhead redshite supporters, who will yet again take the piss and why shouldnt they?
Chris Butler
6 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:54:03
6 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:54:03
The truth is we deserve to go down. When we have a manager who doesn't have any ambition and an owner with no ambition, it's no surprise we play poorly.
Moyes plays away games nowadays looking for a draw. He will destroy our club and we'll get relegated ? if not this season next season. I predicted this long before anyone else did in the summer of 2010 and loads of people on here derided me. Nowadays, I just look at my mates and say, "I told you so".
Moyes's defeatist attitude has gone too far. Look at his performance against United Reserves in the FA Cup semi-final and he basically handed the trophy to Chelsea in 2009.
Moyes is Everton FC's Antichrist.
Moyes plays away games nowadays looking for a draw. He will destroy our club and we'll get relegated ? if not this season next season. I predicted this long before anyone else did in the summer of 2010 and loads of people on here derided me. Nowadays, I just look at my mates and say, "I told you so".
Moyes's defeatist attitude has gone too far. Look at his performance against United Reserves in the FA Cup semi-final and he basically handed the trophy to Chelsea in 2009.
Moyes is Everton FC's Antichrist.
Richard Farrington
7 Posted 05/11/2011 at 16:45:31
7 Posted 05/11/2011 at 16:45:31
Hi Dan, good article and I find it hard to dispute anything in it.
Just a little gutted that this is the first season I decided to get a season ticket.
Some pretty grim journeys back to Essex and more to come me thinks.
The club is in meltdown and the board basically don't seem to give a fuck.
Just a little gutted that this is the first season I decided to get a season ticket.
Some pretty grim journeys back to Essex and more to come me thinks.
The club is in meltdown and the board basically don't seem to give a fuck.
Ciaran O'Brien
8 Posted 05/11/2011 at 17:04:54
8 Posted 05/11/2011 at 17:04:54
I thought we were absolutely shit. None of our players could pass the ball today. Saha was our only good performer today but he needs to be in a two-man forward line or even a three.
Why does Jags constantly punt the ball long when we have no fuckin height?!? Our tempo was too slow also, when we have genuine pace in Drenthe and Coleman, who was not at the races today.
Why does Moyes not play Stracqualursi? He wont score if he isn't playing. I still think Moyes is the right manager but I don't think Round is good enough with his earpiece.
In January, we should get whatever we can for Bily, sell Mucha and Heitinga. We should bring Donovan back on loan and also bring a decent backup to Baines, another creative midfielder like Kranjcar if we can afford him and also a pacy reliable striker.
Why does Jags constantly punt the ball long when we have no fuckin height?!? Our tempo was too slow also, when we have genuine pace in Drenthe and Coleman, who was not at the races today.
Why does Moyes not play Stracqualursi? He wont score if he isn't playing. I still think Moyes is the right manager but I don't think Round is good enough with his earpiece.
In January, we should get whatever we can for Bily, sell Mucha and Heitinga. We should bring Donovan back on loan and also bring a decent backup to Baines, another creative midfielder like Kranjcar if we can afford him and also a pacy reliable striker.
Tony Marsh
9 Posted 05/11/2011 at 17:11:11
9 Posted 05/11/2011 at 17:11:11
Chris @ 5 ? I don't think you were saying it before me mate. 2005 was when I gave up on Moyes ? even back then, with a bit of money to spend, we were still a negative alehouse team playing long balls to a lone striker...
It's all coming back to haunt us now. A slow painfull death.
It's all coming back to haunt us now. A slow painfull death.
Trevor Mackie
10 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:14:34
10 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:14:34
Agree with the OP entirely, don't know how many times I've seen this, a team and manager slowly strangled by fear, players appearing tired and going through the motions as lady luck puts 2 fingers up.
All the hallmarks of too big to go down bollocks.
All the hallmarks of too big to go down bollocks.
Kunal Desai
11 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:20:58
11 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:20:58
You see Baines isn't rubbish, guaranteed if he moved right this now to a 'top six' club he'd be back to his usual self, hitting the back of the net with the free kicks, making those surging runs and playing like he was last season.
He's probably sick to the back teeth like us fans with the current state of the club. Let's not forget it was both he and Beckford that contributed to a fair number of points we collected last season. Beckford contributed to around 10-12 points and Baines's assist and goals must have been worth atleast around 20 points. One has now gone and the other isn't performing. That's a recipe for disaster in itself!
He's probably sick to the back teeth like us fans with the current state of the club. Let's not forget it was both he and Beckford that contributed to a fair number of points we collected last season. Beckford contributed to around 10-12 points and Baines's assist and goals must have been worth atleast around 20 points. One has now gone and the other isn't performing. That's a recipe for disaster in itself!
Ryan Holroyd
12 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:40:00
12 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:40:00
The selling of arteta will come back to bite us in the arse. I don't believe for one second Arteta decided at 730 on the last day of the transfer window he wanted to leave. That was done for the bank. Now we have noone who can dictate the play, who can hold the ball n look for a pass.
Ken Farrington
13 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:55:36
13 Posted 05/11/2011 at 18:55:36
Difficult to disagree with your article Dan and even more difficult to find any positives from to-day's performance and the current situation. We are going to be in a relegation dogfight, not just this season but future seasons if we stay up. Cannot the board give us something to latch on to? Everton fans deserve better, especially those travelling over a 400 mile round trip for every home game. I went to the merseyside derby and the Carling Cup match against Chelsea and I detected an air of despondency about the place which hasn't been there since the Mike Walker & Walter Smith eras. The whole club needs a lift and it has to come from the top. Starting now!
Kevin Tully
14 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:13:56
14 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:13:56
I really can't see myself forking out to watch this next season.
As with most Evertonians, there has always been a flicker of hope we will come good, or at least play some nice football.
As it stands, I feel as if the whole club has given up the ghost.
We all realise there will be no marquee signings, but if all we can rely on when things are tough is McFadden, then fuck it - you have lost my money next season.
As with most Evertonians, there has always been a flicker of hope we will come good, or at least play some nice football.
As it stands, I feel as if the whole club has given up the ghost.
We all realise there will be no marquee signings, but if all we can rely on when things are tough is McFadden, then fuck it - you have lost my money next season.
David Hallwood
15 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:17:28
15 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:17:28
Blimey, I must've been watching a different game! As Daniel says the 1st 15 mins we were poor, then we came into it, and 2nd half it was all us, despite not creating too many chances.
But don't forget we were playing a team that hasn't been beaten all season and at St James' Park. Even allowing for the old cliche that you make your own luck, we didn't get the rub of the green; hitting the post and a stonewall penalty not given, and some wayward finishing by Saha, for the second week running.
I know TW is populated by manic depessives, but FFS give credit where it's due.
But don't forget we were playing a team that hasn't been beaten all season and at St James' Park. Even allowing for the old cliche that you make your own luck, we didn't get the rub of the green; hitting the post and a stonewall penalty not given, and some wayward finishing by Saha, for the second week running.
I know TW is populated by manic depessives, but FFS give credit where it's due.
Daniel Hutchinson
16 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:29:24
16 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:29:24
David... how can you accept that as a peformance?!
Moyes seems to have done exactly what he wants to you. Nick a goal and hold on for a narrow loss to look like we have done well and saved grace.
Don't be sucked in to his dismal Everton. This is no longer the people's club. This is a sad Scottish man and his defensive partner in crime's sorry excuse of an Everton.
Moyes seems to have done exactly what he wants to you. Nick a goal and hold on for a narrow loss to look like we have done well and saved grace.
Don't be sucked in to his dismal Everton. This is no longer the people's club. This is a sad Scottish man and his defensive partner in crime's sorry excuse of an Everton.
Christopher Kelly
17 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:26:28
17 Posted 05/11/2011 at 19:26:28
Agreed on all accounts. The style is unwatchable...
However, here is the problem, the REAL problem: What assets do we have to sell anymore to attract a buyer?? Sure we have TV money and league money which is on the decline but attendance is waning and all our good players are gone... Kenwright has always been asking for a lot of money (presumably) to cash out - there is a dirty reason the price has not been announced - but now w/ how badly we are playing, and our league position, and the fact that we don't have any good players left, not only does a buyer need to pump money into a new stadium but also a fucking new team!!! We have next to zero leverage in any negotiations yet Kenwright seemingly won't lower the asking price...If/when he does, then we'll be sold... The secrecy of the club is shady and I would bet my house that there is a bunch of naughty things going on behind the closed doors there. Sorry for the rant but the whole thing smells fishy and it is such a shame that this glorious club is run by a bunch of frauds...
The ironic thing is the more we lose, the more likely we'll be sold (again, if Kenwright finally lowers his asking price... which will only inevitably happen if we keep losing)... Crazy game this!!!!!
However, here is the problem, the REAL problem: What assets do we have to sell anymore to attract a buyer?? Sure we have TV money and league money which is on the decline but attendance is waning and all our good players are gone... Kenwright has always been asking for a lot of money (presumably) to cash out - there is a dirty reason the price has not been announced - but now w/ how badly we are playing, and our league position, and the fact that we don't have any good players left, not only does a buyer need to pump money into a new stadium but also a fucking new team!!! We have next to zero leverage in any negotiations yet Kenwright seemingly won't lower the asking price...If/when he does, then we'll be sold... The secrecy of the club is shady and I would bet my house that there is a bunch of naughty things going on behind the closed doors there. Sorry for the rant but the whole thing smells fishy and it is such a shame that this glorious club is run by a bunch of frauds...
The ironic thing is the more we lose, the more likely we'll be sold (again, if Kenwright finally lowers his asking price... which will only inevitably happen if we keep losing)... Crazy game this!!!!!
Derek Thomas
18 Posted 05/11/2011 at 21:23:06
18 Posted 05/11/2011 at 21:23:06
I have some sympathy with Dave Hallwoods view. That is much like how I saw it.
But we have to look at the 'before' and 'after'. What I mean by that is, if this performance was taken on it's own you would say well, it was a bad day at the office and move on.
Marshy says it's been coming from 2005, do you mean 2004-05 or 2005-06? This may or may not be so. For me it was the season we finished 11th and the striking example was the Spurs game, with all the stupid subs, Feb I think it was.
I don't know how long I/we can stand it but then again we don't have a choice..born not manufactured...
But Moyes does have a choice, surely he can see he is flogging a dead horse here. I have quit 2 jobs because I just couldn't stand it any more and spent 6mths of boredom trying to get another job from a 3rd. That was without the benefit of 65K per week lining the bank account between me and the rent man or who ever.
A) Loyalty only goes so far Davy, you've done your share.
B) Too stubborn to know when to stop...not much we can do about that, nor will we, we seem to be too nice.
But we have to look at the 'before' and 'after'. What I mean by that is, if this performance was taken on it's own you would say well, it was a bad day at the office and move on.
Marshy says it's been coming from 2005, do you mean 2004-05 or 2005-06? This may or may not be so. For me it was the season we finished 11th and the striking example was the Spurs game, with all the stupid subs, Feb I think it was.
I don't know how long I/we can stand it but then again we don't have a choice..born not manufactured...
But Moyes does have a choice, surely he can see he is flogging a dead horse here. I have quit 2 jobs because I just couldn't stand it any more and spent 6mths of boredom trying to get another job from a 3rd. That was without the benefit of 65K per week lining the bank account between me and the rent man or who ever.
A) Loyalty only goes so far Davy, you've done your share.
B) Too stubborn to know when to stop...not much we can do about that, nor will we, we seem to be too nice.
Chris Butler
19 Posted 05/11/2011 at 22:01:21
19 Posted 05/11/2011 at 22:01:21
Tony ? I don't know why you were saying it then, he took us to 6th place in 2007. He then managed to get past the group stage, we had great trips to Nuremburg and Alkmaar in 2007 when we won both games. We finished 5th in 2008. In 2009 we finished 5th and he took us to Wembley. I had 2 great trips to Wembley ? can't really fault him for that.
Tony, all that matters is that it's 2011 and we need to judge him on how good a manager he is in 2011 rather than 2007. In my opinion, in the 2007-08 season and the 2008-09 season, Moyes performed miracles; I can't argue with that. The difference is now he's lost his ambition.
Tony, all that matters is that it's 2011 and we need to judge him on how good a manager he is in 2011 rather than 2007. In my opinion, in the 2007-08 season and the 2008-09 season, Moyes performed miracles; I can't argue with that. The difference is now he's lost his ambition.
Dick Fearon
20 Posted 05/11/2011 at 22:38:46
20 Posted 05/11/2011 at 22:38:46
Last night on TV (Aussie time), I watched four very different football teams. The managers of three of them had been in the job for a combined total of less than 3 years.The fourth team had a manager who was in his tenth year.
The RS and Barcodes displayed a lot of workman like effort and average Premier League quality. Newly promoted Swansea was the third team and they played the kind of exhilarating stuff that Evertonians would drool over for months.
The side with the ten year manager was pathetic. Even those who still think Moyes is great must surely be having more than a few doubts.
The RS and Barcodes displayed a lot of workman like effort and average Premier League quality. Newly promoted Swansea was the third team and they played the kind of exhilarating stuff that Evertonians would drool over for months.
The side with the ten year manager was pathetic. Even those who still think Moyes is great must surely be having more than a few doubts.
David Moorcroft
21 Posted 06/11/2011 at 18:53:01
21 Posted 06/11/2011 at 18:53:01
Moyes made a chilling statement before the season had even started, saying sometimes you have to go down to comeback up stronger. Maybe this is his and Kenwright's big plan. They are strangling our club to death before our very eyes and what beggars belief is that there are Evertonians who still support them.
I am at a loss as why this is; if just one of them can tell us anything that they are doing that warrants the blind faith they have for the both of them, then I will join them.
I am at a loss as why this is; if just one of them can tell us anything that they are doing that warrants the blind faith they have for the both of them, then I will join them.
Tony Twist
22 Posted 06/11/2011 at 21:44:45
22 Posted 06/11/2011 at 21:44:45
Good article Dan. I think there are a fair few people like me contemplating a step back away from the blues as the present situation is just sickening and there's only so much you can take. But of course we never will coz ...with the exception of Rooney....once a blue always a blue. I can't see a positive from the situation, if moyes does go, will they do the sensible thing and bring in a quality replacement? I don't think so, it will be the cheap option, Neville with the experience of Moyes' deputy and his ex deputy helping him. Lets hope I am wrong as I think if the manager goes then the replacement needs to be in before the dust settles or we will be truely lost. Hughes or Bilic or O'neill would be interesting replacements.
Gerard Carroll
24 Posted 07/11/2011 at 21:06:17
24 Posted 07/11/2011 at 21:06:17
Chris @18. So tell us about what he has won in his whole entire footballing life?
Answer: fuck all! Nothing... and getting £65k a week for his failings!
Answer: fuck all! Nothing... and getting £65k a week for his failings!
Roman Sidey
25 Posted 08/11/2011 at 00:41:50
25 Posted 08/11/2011 at 00:41:50
Derek Thomas, I think Tony was probably referring to the 2005-2006 season when he said he figured Moyes out in 2005 - which was when we finished 11th, so you're on the same wavelength. He did waste a lot of money that summer, with only Phil Neville still being at the club out of that crop of transfers.
I think it was late last season that I made a comment that Moyes should have been sacked at the end of that season, and boy, did I get it in the neck for that little sentence.
I think it was late last season that I made a comment that Moyes should have been sacked at the end of that season, and boy, did I get it in the neck for that little sentence.
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1 Posted 05/11/2011 at 15:24:04
Still, to call it all 'rubbish' doesn't sit well. It's poor... very poor. But to rubbish everything seems a bit OTT.