Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
Everton to parade new Trophy at St George's Hall
By Ged Simpson :: 07/12/2011
22 Comments (»Last)
I imagine many who read this will respond by saying I have just stated the bleedin? obvious. But I wonder sometimes are we missing the obvious. Are we just like a load of King Canutes?I think 16 clubs out of 20 in the Premier League begin each season embarking on a campaign to avoid relegation. And we are certainly one of them.
All of them, apart from Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea, are unable to really compete in the Premier League with any sense of real optimism. They compete to stay up or maybe to win a domestic cup once every 20 years.
From time to time, a club gets a 4th spot (Tottenham may do that this time; we did once) but that is just a blip. The grim reality is 4th to the likes of us is like winning the World Cup. These clubs may get through a round or two and pay some debt as a result but in the end the others will come back because they have the money to pay what is demanded by the best players, managers, coaches, dieticians, PR men etc.
So what will change?
Absolutely bugger all unless the rules governing the game change globally. We can march around demanding we are sold, we can dream when we hear about a TaTa Chemicals takeover (TaTa ? so so funny that one), but in the end nothing will change. We may just replace one of the other 4 for a short spell.
(And then we join a league of 4 for a couple of years ? oh what a great spectacle that is.)
There are all sorts of possible changes that could be made ? fare share of income and the prize is the cup, not the money ? the American Football model. But why would anyone at the top change anything? They never will because the fans are complicit in this situation.
I think we have a generation of fans now, right across the globe (and in Liverpool too) who want footballers to be rich, glitzy, in the tabloids, shagging and cheating on pop-star wives and competing with some semi-literate knobhead on the X-Factor for advertising revenue. I think the poorer people are, the more they want that shite. So the shirts and the stories from Man Utd, Man City, Real Madrid, Barcelona etc will sell ? not just in the poor areas of England but will also sell even more in the poor areas of Africa, South America and the like...
So don?t expect any change soon. We will be fighting against relegation year after year ? along with 80% of football clubs in the world. We can finish 7th ? but really we have been fighting relegation. We will stupidly get excited with something like the Europa Cup when we fluke a top 7 place and accept the equivalent of a tenner for the honour as our players are either spotted and bought or crippled and knackered by the fixture list.
So... we can criticise Kenwright and Moyes but in the end it just seems to me they are not spending their dole cheque wisely.
And the only funny thing? I don?t blame the players, the managers, or the agents. Who would miss that opportunity? They can all be rubbish but who keeps paying them?
The blame lies with us all. We seem unable to get together as the fans of 80% of the clubs in the world and say enough is enough. And no-one in the game above the simple level of a fan will ask for change either. That would be like a turkey voting for Xmas
So my conclusion ? we have a skint club playing in a league of 16 where avoiding relegation is the prize... and we are about to get our dole cut further to help out football?s bankers. I think they should create a ?Team that Stayed Up Best? trophy!
The answer? Christ knows... I have no idea. Not a clue.
But I did enjoy a watching 15 mins of Sunday League game the other day a lot more.
Any suggestions from you wise folk ?
ps: There was one other funny thing ? the Red Shite are in the same league of 16.
Reader Comments (22)
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David S Shaw
2 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:05:57
2 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:05:57
Well if the Champions League gets 4 places so should the Europa League. 2 Cup places plus 2 league places.
Its as though the rest of the league are fighting for scraps of one Europa League hoping that a top 4 team with the Cup.
Most important of all though is to distribute a far greater share of the money in the Champions League to clubs in the Europa League.
Until that happens clubs will have to rely on billionaire owners to bridge the gap between the domestic and the CL rather than bridging it through building a good side.
Its as though the rest of the league are fighting for scraps of one Europa League hoping that a top 4 team with the Cup.
Most important of all though is to distribute a far greater share of the money in the Champions League to clubs in the Europa League.
Until that happens clubs will have to rely on billionaire owners to bridge the gap between the domestic and the CL rather than bridging it through building a good side.
Chris Butler
3 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:49:10
3 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:49:10
Very true. I'm sick of being just another part of Liverpool's or United's season review. This year's derby just shows the blatant corruption that exists at the top. The problem is we would need up to spend around £200 million to compete for the league. I think the league has become boring... with the exception of United and City, most teams are shit.
Bill Simpson
4 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:26:26
4 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:26:26
Sadly Ged is absolutely right and it's even reflected in the sports pages of the national press where, to take today's Times as an example, five of the ten pages of football coverage are devoted to Chelsea, one each to United, City and Arsenal, and one to Sunderland (but only because Martin O'Neill has just taken over there). Half of the remaining page is about Suarez and the remainder contains a short report of Barnsley v. Palace last night and a few snippets. At the weekend, clubs such as Everton, which are historically huge, only get a decent length of report if we're playing one of the "big" 4 or 5 and then, on the rare occasions that we win the report dwells on the shortcomings of the big boys and if we lose it goes into raptures about them, so we barely get a mention.
The reality is that football is a reflection of the celebrity culture in which we live and, unless a team and its players are constantly in the limelight by winning things and appearing on the big stage of the Champions League, they are largely overlooked. It's classic Catch-22 stuff in that, unless you're incredibly lucky like Chelsea and City in acquiring a billionaire sugar daddy or were in the right place to succeed when the PL came into being like Utd and Arsenal, you can't be successful without wealth but can't become wealthy without success.
The only ways in which I can see English football becoming competitive again are if the whole financial model proves unsustainable, which seems fairly likely, or if the top 4 go off to join a wholly separate European Super-League and leave the rest of us with a real chance of actually winning something meaningful. In some ways I'd hate the latter to happen because it would be goodbye to our ambitions of ever being a truly top club again, but it's probably preferable to being a permanent also ran and just cannon-fodder for the aspirations of others.
The reality is that football is a reflection of the celebrity culture in which we live and, unless a team and its players are constantly in the limelight by winning things and appearing on the big stage of the Champions League, they are largely overlooked. It's classic Catch-22 stuff in that, unless you're incredibly lucky like Chelsea and City in acquiring a billionaire sugar daddy or were in the right place to succeed when the PL came into being like Utd and Arsenal, you can't be successful without wealth but can't become wealthy without success.
The only ways in which I can see English football becoming competitive again are if the whole financial model proves unsustainable, which seems fairly likely, or if the top 4 go off to join a wholly separate European Super-League and leave the rest of us with a real chance of actually winning something meaningful. In some ways I'd hate the latter to happen because it would be goodbye to our ambitions of ever being a truly top club again, but it's probably preferable to being a permanent also ran and just cannon-fodder for the aspirations of others.
Jeremy Benson
5 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:56:08
5 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:56:08
Ged, I agree wholeheartedly.
At the start of the season, I started to watch my local team, Cricklade Town FC, play. They are in Hellenic league division 1 west. This is tier 6 (whatever that means...). The players aren't paid, there are no floodlights, they don't stay down for 3 minutes rolling around. Just honest, good football, which the spectators can get involved in as so close to the action.
It's £2 to watch, which includes a programme. It's real football, and I've started enjoying it. Am getting sick of the premier league - especially with city coming in and buying it.
The games are sometimes on a saturday at 3pm, and you know what? I've stopped spending the majority of that time checking for everton txt updates.
It's even possible to chat and have banter with the players, not like these over-paid prima donnas. Last week, one of the players was injured and flown out by air ambulance. I was worried about it, but the lad was fine. I wouldn't care as much for a premiership footballer.
Football has lost itself in the higher levels. Its the lower leagues where its at.
At the start of the season, I started to watch my local team, Cricklade Town FC, play. They are in Hellenic league division 1 west. This is tier 6 (whatever that means...). The players aren't paid, there are no floodlights, they don't stay down for 3 minutes rolling around. Just honest, good football, which the spectators can get involved in as so close to the action.
It's £2 to watch, which includes a programme. It's real football, and I've started enjoying it. Am getting sick of the premier league - especially with city coming in and buying it.
The games are sometimes on a saturday at 3pm, and you know what? I've stopped spending the majority of that time checking for everton txt updates.
It's even possible to chat and have banter with the players, not like these over-paid prima donnas. Last week, one of the players was injured and flown out by air ambulance. I was worried about it, but the lad was fine. I wouldn't care as much for a premiership footballer.
Football has lost itself in the higher levels. Its the lower leagues where its at.
Denis Richardson
6 Posted 07/12/2011 at 18:05:26
6 Posted 07/12/2011 at 18:05:26
The current model is not sustainable and the banks are starting to finally twig. What really needs to happen is for Sky to reduce the amount of prize money that is doled out to the clubs as this simply ends up in the players and agents pockets. (Very few clubs actually make a profit, they just get further into debt as they borrow against future Sky money to buy and pay players ? Everton are not the only ones.)
Less prize money would bring some sort of reality to the ridiculous wages that are being paid to players ? which is where most of the money disappears to. I can (just about) understand a Messi or a Ronaldo earning £200k a week but when you get average (and I mean average) players in the Premier League walking away with £30-40k a week, you know things have gone too far. I can still remember in the '90s when £20k a week was considered a shed load of cash for a players wages!
If it is to be believed McFadden is on £12k a week. This is tiny in PL terms but that's still around £600k a year for doing fk all. To put it into perspective that's about the same salary as the CEO of a Tesco's or Sainsbury's! Add to that Anichebe is supposed to be on £25-30k a week ? over £1M year for what exactly? 7 goals in 90 odd games with some rolling on the grass?
The giant hoover that is Sky sucks up cash from the average guy and poors it into the Premier League, which then transfers it to the players. Transfer fees just go around clubs, it's mainly the players' wages that suck cash out of the game.
As said above, no-one involved in the chain above the average guy has any interest or incentive to buck the system. Unfortunately, you can't really blame the players, if the clubs are foolish enough to offer them that much, you can't expect them to turn it down. So the house of cards just keeps growing.
Personally, I hope the advent of online streaming will somehow allow thousands of people to tear up their Sky contracts, both in the UK and abroad, and so drive down Sky's prices and revenues. This may take a while or even never happen, will see.
Otherwise, it will take a big club to go to the wall for anyone to take notice. Then again after Leeds, Portsmouth and others, this seems to be falling on deaf ears.
Less prize money would bring some sort of reality to the ridiculous wages that are being paid to players ? which is where most of the money disappears to. I can (just about) understand a Messi or a Ronaldo earning £200k a week but when you get average (and I mean average) players in the Premier League walking away with £30-40k a week, you know things have gone too far. I can still remember in the '90s when £20k a week was considered a shed load of cash for a players wages!
If it is to be believed McFadden is on £12k a week. This is tiny in PL terms but that's still around £600k a year for doing fk all. To put it into perspective that's about the same salary as the CEO of a Tesco's or Sainsbury's! Add to that Anichebe is supposed to be on £25-30k a week ? over £1M year for what exactly? 7 goals in 90 odd games with some rolling on the grass?
The giant hoover that is Sky sucks up cash from the average guy and poors it into the Premier League, which then transfers it to the players. Transfer fees just go around clubs, it's mainly the players' wages that suck cash out of the game.
As said above, no-one involved in the chain above the average guy has any interest or incentive to buck the system. Unfortunately, you can't really blame the players, if the clubs are foolish enough to offer them that much, you can't expect them to turn it down. So the house of cards just keeps growing.
Personally, I hope the advent of online streaming will somehow allow thousands of people to tear up their Sky contracts, both in the UK and abroad, and so drive down Sky's prices and revenues. This may take a while or even never happen, will see.
Otherwise, it will take a big club to go to the wall for anyone to take notice. Then again after Leeds, Portsmouth and others, this seems to be falling on deaf ears.
Eugene Ruane
7 Posted 07/12/2011 at 22:58:29
7 Posted 07/12/2011 at 22:58:29
Ged - absofuckinglutely spot on.
Imo, you describe 'the game' exactly as it is.
Suggestions?
Not really, but as the whole thing is run by greedy, near-sighted fuck-wits, I have to believe that at some stage, the whole over-rated house of cards will come tumbling down.
I pray it does.
Imo, you describe 'the game' exactly as it is.
Suggestions?
Not really, but as the whole thing is run by greedy, near-sighted fuck-wits, I have to believe that at some stage, the whole over-rated house of cards will come tumbling down.
I pray it does.
Anthony Lamb
8 Posted 07/12/2011 at 22:36:50
8 Posted 07/12/2011 at 22:36:50
I have to agree with the general thrust of Ged's article and sadly I have no immediate "all encompassing" answer to the situation either! However, he hits on some important elements of the current malaise in football generally and at Everton in particular.
It is certainly true that money corrupts and too much money corrupts almost absolutely. Who in their right minds can justify the examples pointed out by Denis and others and well known to us all? In the present circumstances we have to accept that Everton are no longer a "big club" ? and much of the present management of the club at all levels and not simply on the pitch would verify that.
The lack of standards at the club is appalling. However, the corruption that is endemic in the game from Fifa, through national FAs to our Premier League, is threatening to ensure that football truly becomes the modern day "opium of the masses" and it is high time that the "masses" said 'enough is enough' and not be baying to embed itself even further into this financial farce that professional football has become.
Has anybody LOOKED at the DEBTS these clubs are accruing? Have we not noticed this current CRISIS of capitalism? The whole shoddy spectacle of professional sport needs to be brought to its knees ? even the government of the day is ploughing MORE money into a "show" to launch the ludicrously overblown Olympics. Even the great Socrates (Brazilian footballer not the philosopher!) in his political activity was opposed to the Brazilian government financially supporting the World Cup there, as it would be investing in a "private enterprise"!
After over 55 years supporting Everton, I grieve that I cannot with integrity encourage my infant grandson to "follow the tradition" when he is old enough ? what example would he follow? Not just in soccer ? where are the shining examples in cricket, rugby, athletics etc? Could he seriously understand or be taught to accept how a man can be paid millions of pounds for sitting on a bench week after week or for not being able to pass a football with any accuracy after YEARS of full-time training?
Sadly, I think the only answer in the short term lies with the "masses" ? who finally "get a life more rewarding elsewhere" and say "thanks, but no thanks". Then perhaps, PERHAPS, the reforms of relevant authorities and organisations would ensue as they experience the "fan base" that they so often abuse, turning against their "abuser". Then, in the much longer term, some degree of sanity and integrity may once again be embraced by the term "professional sport" and Everton Football Club could perhaps once again be "true to itself".
Sadly, like Ged, I am not sure how such transformations may come about, but I am certain that something HAS to challenge and change the mindset of all involved, including fans, who themselves must come to the realisation that in fact they are THE most powerful part of the equation!
These pages are often rife with bemoaning of the current regime/lack of action etc and what has happened? Nothing. I may be wrong but I have a feeling that if EFC management was faced with a 30,000 "absence" then SOME concerted action/response/change would very soon follow!
It is certainly true that money corrupts and too much money corrupts almost absolutely. Who in their right minds can justify the examples pointed out by Denis and others and well known to us all? In the present circumstances we have to accept that Everton are no longer a "big club" ? and much of the present management of the club at all levels and not simply on the pitch would verify that.
The lack of standards at the club is appalling. However, the corruption that is endemic in the game from Fifa, through national FAs to our Premier League, is threatening to ensure that football truly becomes the modern day "opium of the masses" and it is high time that the "masses" said 'enough is enough' and not be baying to embed itself even further into this financial farce that professional football has become.
Has anybody LOOKED at the DEBTS these clubs are accruing? Have we not noticed this current CRISIS of capitalism? The whole shoddy spectacle of professional sport needs to be brought to its knees ? even the government of the day is ploughing MORE money into a "show" to launch the ludicrously overblown Olympics. Even the great Socrates (Brazilian footballer not the philosopher!) in his political activity was opposed to the Brazilian government financially supporting the World Cup there, as it would be investing in a "private enterprise"!
After over 55 years supporting Everton, I grieve that I cannot with integrity encourage my infant grandson to "follow the tradition" when he is old enough ? what example would he follow? Not just in soccer ? where are the shining examples in cricket, rugby, athletics etc? Could he seriously understand or be taught to accept how a man can be paid millions of pounds for sitting on a bench week after week or for not being able to pass a football with any accuracy after YEARS of full-time training?
Sadly, I think the only answer in the short term lies with the "masses" ? who finally "get a life more rewarding elsewhere" and say "thanks, but no thanks". Then perhaps, PERHAPS, the reforms of relevant authorities and organisations would ensue as they experience the "fan base" that they so often abuse, turning against their "abuser". Then, in the much longer term, some degree of sanity and integrity may once again be embraced by the term "professional sport" and Everton Football Club could perhaps once again be "true to itself".
Sadly, like Ged, I am not sure how such transformations may come about, but I am certain that something HAS to challenge and change the mindset of all involved, including fans, who themselves must come to the realisation that in fact they are THE most powerful part of the equation!
These pages are often rife with bemoaning of the current regime/lack of action etc and what has happened? Nothing. I may be wrong but I have a feeling that if EFC management was faced with a 30,000 "absence" then SOME concerted action/response/change would very soon follow!
Nick Armitage
9 Posted 07/12/2011 at 23:34:03
9 Posted 07/12/2011 at 23:34:03
Been saying it for years, but I was called a dour miserable negative bastard for stating the bleeding obvious.
Things are only gonna get worse, too much power in the hands of too few.
And it ain't just football. This overly commercialized charade is just another another example of an institution falling to bits in this decline of western civilization.
We are all fucked.
Things are only gonna get worse, too much power in the hands of too few.
And it ain't just football. This overly commercialized charade is just another another example of an institution falling to bits in this decline of western civilization.
We are all fucked.
John Ford
10 Posted 07/12/2011 at 23:40:10
10 Posted 07/12/2011 at 23:40:10
Amen to the whole article.
Football desperately needs a level playing field.
Football desperately needs a level playing field.
Fran Mitchell
11 Posted 07/12/2011 at 23:47:57
11 Posted 07/12/2011 at 23:47:57
Very True.
Do as Jeremy Benson say's.
I have done this with music, I have decided to follow local acts. They write new music, they care, you buy the CD for £4 directly from them and the music is very good and enjoyable, despite the fact the musicians work 40h jobs somewhere else and don't win any Brit awards or have any article praising them in the national press. Pop music is crap nowadays, but good music does exist.
I am on the brink of doing the same with football, because lets be honest...it is rather boring ain't it.
Do as Jeremy Benson say's.
I have done this with music, I have decided to follow local acts. They write new music, they care, you buy the CD for £4 directly from them and the music is very good and enjoyable, despite the fact the musicians work 40h jobs somewhere else and don't win any Brit awards or have any article praising them in the national press. Pop music is crap nowadays, but good music does exist.
I am on the brink of doing the same with football, because lets be honest...it is rather boring ain't it.
Ciaran O'Brien
12 Posted 08/12/2011 at 01:43:06
12 Posted 08/12/2011 at 01:43:06
This article is one of the best I have read in a long time. The current setup is an absolute joke in the Premier League and the World. Barca and Real Madrid get huge loads of TV money from Sky, for playing every goddamn weekend on it.
The players nowadays are earning far too much by any standards and the fact that Anichebe is on £25k is a joke. There are so many people unemployed and on the dole, or are single parents who get persecuted in the cuts made by governments, so why don't the governments target professional sportspeople who are earning these ridiculous wages by making them pay 70% in tax.
Now, it isn't the players fault if they get paid that much. It is the clubs' and the agents' who, by the way, are leeches sucking everything good out of football. Clubs are being controlled by the agents, not in a literal manner but they way the Tevez, Mascherano, Manuel Fernandes and Rooney cases were dealt with.
Kia Joorabchian, Tevez's agent, demanded a team to pay £20-40million to pay for his client. He would have got 10% of that fee, adding that on with his other clients' transfer dealings, they make a bloody fortune. Changes have to be made in the game I love and it has to start from the top.
Fifa and Uefa should be changed or scrapped altogether because these corporations are so corrupt that anyone could get away with anything. Look at the way my beloved country, Ireland, were treated two years ago after the infamous Henry Handball... and the way Qatar got the fucking World Cup in 2022.
Clubs like Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC MIlan will be able to spend huge while getting into more and more debt, therefore the ticket prices will remain high and increase indefinitely.
Big clubs like Everton, Spurs, Villa, Celtic and Ajax will never be able to compete against the richest clubs because they can't. They need an Arab or Russian multi-billionaire in order to compete but this will just make matters worse as the clubs will be bought through borrowed money... or manager after manager will be sacked after spending huge.
The Fifa, Uefa and FA Laws have to change in order to make the game a fairer, more economically viable and competable.
The players nowadays are earning far too much by any standards and the fact that Anichebe is on £25k is a joke. There are so many people unemployed and on the dole, or are single parents who get persecuted in the cuts made by governments, so why don't the governments target professional sportspeople who are earning these ridiculous wages by making them pay 70% in tax.
Now, it isn't the players fault if they get paid that much. It is the clubs' and the agents' who, by the way, are leeches sucking everything good out of football. Clubs are being controlled by the agents, not in a literal manner but they way the Tevez, Mascherano, Manuel Fernandes and Rooney cases were dealt with.
Kia Joorabchian, Tevez's agent, demanded a team to pay £20-40million to pay for his client. He would have got 10% of that fee, adding that on with his other clients' transfer dealings, they make a bloody fortune. Changes have to be made in the game I love and it has to start from the top.
Fifa and Uefa should be changed or scrapped altogether because these corporations are so corrupt that anyone could get away with anything. Look at the way my beloved country, Ireland, were treated two years ago after the infamous Henry Handball... and the way Qatar got the fucking World Cup in 2022.
Clubs like Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC MIlan will be able to spend huge while getting into more and more debt, therefore the ticket prices will remain high and increase indefinitely.
Big clubs like Everton, Spurs, Villa, Celtic and Ajax will never be able to compete against the richest clubs because they can't. They need an Arab or Russian multi-billionaire in order to compete but this will just make matters worse as the clubs will be bought through borrowed money... or manager after manager will be sacked after spending huge.
The Fifa, Uefa and FA Laws have to change in order to make the game a fairer, more economically viable and competable.
GJ Butler
13 Posted 08/12/2011 at 08:45:34
13 Posted 08/12/2011 at 08:45:34
Article pretty much sums up how I've been feeling about Everton and football in general for a number of years now.
Rather than be depressed however, I'll try focus on the 'any ideas for change' question:
1. Let the top 4 fuck off with the top four of Spain, Germany and Italy, leaving these four countries with a domestic league of 16 each. Let the champions of each domestic league replace the club that finishes lowest of their countries entrants in the 'super' league.
2. Or, one champions league place only per country. It would have two effects - either clubs would curb spending knowing its harder to reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or they'll increase spending in the hope to reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and end up bust (etiehr suits me).
3. Scrap the shambles that is the Europa league and have one 'European Cup' - 6 teams from each country qualify, a few knock-out/preliminary rounds before the group stage kicks in.
4. Put an explosive in the ball that can blow at any time, including when it's kicked into the crowd. Just for excitement like.
Rather than be depressed however, I'll try focus on the 'any ideas for change' question:
1. Let the top 4 fuck off with the top four of Spain, Germany and Italy, leaving these four countries with a domestic league of 16 each. Let the champions of each domestic league replace the club that finishes lowest of their countries entrants in the 'super' league.
2. Or, one champions league place only per country. It would have two effects - either clubs would curb spending knowing its harder to reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or they'll increase spending in the hope to reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and end up bust (etiehr suits me).
3. Scrap the shambles that is the Europa league and have one 'European Cup' - 6 teams from each country qualify, a few knock-out/preliminary rounds before the group stage kicks in.
4. Put an explosive in the ball that can blow at any time, including when it's kicked into the crowd. Just for excitement like.
Ged Simpson
14 Posted 08/12/2011 at 09:15:01
14 Posted 08/12/2011 at 09:15:01
Thank god it's not just me. And in answer to Paul Knox re a chip on my shoulder. Not quite - it is a sack of spuds in relation to football these days. I wonder is there any kind of fans forum for fans from all sorts of different clubs? Would be interested to hear views from other clubs' fans. Anyone know ?
Eugene Ruane
15 Posted 08/12/2011 at 09:21:07
15 Posted 08/12/2011 at 09:21:07
GJ - I really like your 4th suggestion and think with a bit of modification, many of our present negatives could become positives. I'll explain. How about a SMALL explosive in the ball, just enough to blow the seams apart. And instead of this happening any time, it ONLY happens when the ball goes into the crowd. And each time it does, fifty £50 notes concealed in the ball are blown out. Suddenly going to watch Everton would be an absolute joy. The excitement levels would be amazing. We'd all be screaming for Anichibe to be picked. Neville and Hibbo would be seen as 'crowd pleasers'. The only downside I can see is we'd all be dead jealous of 'them' having Carroll.
Scott Hamilton
16 Posted 08/12/2011 at 09:42:21
16 Posted 08/12/2011 at 09:42:21
Completely agree with your post Ged.
The plight of Everton, and therefore its fans, serves as a barometer of the world outside football. The "haves" have more than ever and the "have nots" find it difficult to stay within touching distance.
I genuinely love Everton Football Club. It has been a significant part of my life for 40 years and is not something I can ever let go of. This I think is the curse of today's Evertonian. We can (just about) remember the good times and we've had the occasional glimmer of hope during the last 10 years but, when push comes to shove, it's just not enough. In fact it's not even close...
The plight of Everton, and therefore its fans, serves as a barometer of the world outside football. The "haves" have more than ever and the "have nots" find it difficult to stay within touching distance.
I genuinely love Everton Football Club. It has been a significant part of my life for 40 years and is not something I can ever let go of. This I think is the curse of today's Evertonian. We can (just about) remember the good times and we've had the occasional glimmer of hope during the last 10 years but, when push comes to shove, it's just not enough. In fact it's not even close...
Stephen Kenny
17 Posted 08/12/2011 at 11:56:10
17 Posted 08/12/2011 at 11:56:10
Eugene,
I can see Kenwright getting legged down Goodison Rd as everyone realises our ball was full of IOU's.
I think a wage cap and squad size limit would do the game a world of good.
Clubs that have had sucess in the past like Burnley, Preston, Bolton, Blackpool etc. have been killed by the abolition of the maximum wage and their clubs have died a death since. The FA or whoever needs to start making decsions for the good of the game as a whole.
I know loads of pitches that haven't even got proper changies. How can that be right while some gobshites driving round in a chrome Bentley, BTW I don't blame the player for taking what he can get.
I can see Kenwright getting legged down Goodison Rd as everyone realises our ball was full of IOU's.
I think a wage cap and squad size limit would do the game a world of good.
Clubs that have had sucess in the past like Burnley, Preston, Bolton, Blackpool etc. have been killed by the abolition of the maximum wage and their clubs have died a death since. The FA or whoever needs to start making decsions for the good of the game as a whole.
I know loads of pitches that haven't even got proper changies. How can that be right while some gobshites driving round in a chrome Bentley, BTW I don't blame the player for taking what he can get.
Ernie Baywood
18 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:17:37
18 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:17:37
Agree completely with everything stated above. The problem is that it's not us that can create the change to salary capping. We're irrelevant and we have no credibility in this... would we be asking for the same if we were one of the CL regulars?
I'd honestly like to think I would. But I know I'm in a minority and a billion devoted fans in Asia don't seem bored of the game - the clubs they chose keep winning.
Lastly - our club voted for this. The model of increasing the money at the top of the game was what we wanted. So we fucked over the rest of the clubs in the country. Then the CL fucked us straight back.
I'd honestly like to think I would. But I know I'm in a minority and a billion devoted fans in Asia don't seem bored of the game - the clubs they chose keep winning.
Lastly - our club voted for this. The model of increasing the money at the top of the game was what we wanted. So we fucked over the rest of the clubs in the country. Then the CL fucked us straight back.
Matthew Lovekin
19 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:10:43
19 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:10:43
I've mentioned the same things as in this article, a few times on this site.
I remember when football used to be a sport (before the PL). Then football turned into a business, but now it's merely a plaything for the hugely wealthy Arabs, Russians, etc. Clubs like Man City and Chelsea aren't being run as a football club or a business, it's completely pathetic and wouldn't be allowed in any other industry.
The only thing that Everton can do is stand up for what is right. Unfortunately that comes from the chairman and Kenwright has done exactly the opposite so far. The club needs to be run on a financially sound footing, e.g. the total wages budget should not exceed 50% of total income.
Any player that wants to break the bank should be sold. No player should be more important than the club. This will generate a transfer budget every year which should also not be broken, regardless of whatever player is involved.
Emphasis should be placed on the youth academy and young players given a decent chance in the first-team if they are good enough.
The downside is that we could turn even more into a selling club, but selling players like Rooney and Lescott do generate mroe transfer funds which can be put back into the transfer budget.
A worst case scenario is that we could even get relegated if a current crop of players aren't good enough. However, we would still have our identity as a club and be able to come again as long as we stay financially viable.
Surely most Evertonians would rather have that than being a 'nothing' club stumbling along, going nowhere due to our financial problems?
I remember when football used to be a sport (before the PL). Then football turned into a business, but now it's merely a plaything for the hugely wealthy Arabs, Russians, etc. Clubs like Man City and Chelsea aren't being run as a football club or a business, it's completely pathetic and wouldn't be allowed in any other industry.
The only thing that Everton can do is stand up for what is right. Unfortunately that comes from the chairman and Kenwright has done exactly the opposite so far. The club needs to be run on a financially sound footing, e.g. the total wages budget should not exceed 50% of total income.
Any player that wants to break the bank should be sold. No player should be more important than the club. This will generate a transfer budget every year which should also not be broken, regardless of whatever player is involved.
Emphasis should be placed on the youth academy and young players given a decent chance in the first-team if they are good enough.
The downside is that we could turn even more into a selling club, but selling players like Rooney and Lescott do generate mroe transfer funds which can be put back into the transfer budget.
A worst case scenario is that we could even get relegated if a current crop of players aren't good enough. However, we would still have our identity as a club and be able to come again as long as we stay financially viable.
Surely most Evertonians would rather have that than being a 'nothing' club stumbling along, going nowhere due to our financial problems?
Mike Rourke
20 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:28:27
20 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:28:27
Great article.
Some simple solutions.
Champions League places for winners of:
Premier League
FA Cup
League Cup
Europa League ( even if it's Stoke )
A Budget cap of say £30,000,000
Doesn't stop you from blowing half of that on Tevez's wages, just means you have to surround him with 'less quality' ( or 'shite' to put it another way.). The beauty of that means players make money and owners make money just like the NFL.
...but as you said, turkey's don't tend to vote for Christmas.
So I'll go with GJ's suggestion of letting the rich clubs just piss off to a Euro Superleague. - I'd say about 5 years later, a midst dwindling viewing figures, they'd be begging for readmission!
Some simple solutions.
Champions League places for winners of:
Premier League
FA Cup
League Cup
Europa League ( even if it's Stoke )
A Budget cap of say £30,000,000
Doesn't stop you from blowing half of that on Tevez's wages, just means you have to surround him with 'less quality' ( or 'shite' to put it another way.). The beauty of that means players make money and owners make money just like the NFL.
...but as you said, turkey's don't tend to vote for Christmas.
So I'll go with GJ's suggestion of letting the rich clubs just piss off to a Euro Superleague. - I'd say about 5 years later, a midst dwindling viewing figures, they'd be begging for readmission!
Tom Brown
21 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:57:50
21 Posted 08/12/2011 at 12:57:50
Ged,
I couldn't agree more.
The only reason I don't turn my back on this sorry game is my hope that the new financial fair play rules will make a difference along with limits to squad sizes and other measures. However, in all honesty I can't see it making a difference.
I was over in Japan recently, watching womens World Cup Volleyball (not on purpose, no prior interest or knowledge of the game). It was fantastic. Competetive, all action, exciting. Great attitudes from the players who seemed to be there for the love of it and not for the money (though many of them are pros). Players showing heart and commitment. I wish football could be like that.
I couldn't agree more.
The only reason I don't turn my back on this sorry game is my hope that the new financial fair play rules will make a difference along with limits to squad sizes and other measures. However, in all honesty I can't see it making a difference.
I was over in Japan recently, watching womens World Cup Volleyball (not on purpose, no prior interest or knowledge of the game). It was fantastic. Competetive, all action, exciting. Great attitudes from the players who seemed to be there for the love of it and not for the money (though many of them are pros). Players showing heart and commitment. I wish football could be like that.
Brian Denton
22 Posted 08/12/2011 at 19:42:02
22 Posted 08/12/2011 at 19:42:02
Also, back to 2 substitutes (or even 1).
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1 Posted 07/12/2011 at 17:09:42