Season 2011-12
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Off the hook again

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They've done it again. The double act are safe and it will be a brave man who complains now. The Blue Union seem (though I hope I am wrong) silenced. To criticise David Moyes now would appear to be churlish. Our hopes, as in the past, have been raised for next season.

What has changed, though? We have a class striker at last and, to be fair to David Moyes, he appears to be a masterly signing. Gibson, too, looks good. You know what, I expect there might be talk soon of Champions League next year...

Do we have a new attacking David Moyes? Do we have a coach who will finally make demands of his chairman? Are we on the verge of a new dawn? Is there a buyer round the corner? And has our good and usual end of season made us more attractive to buyers?

It has often been a criticism of Moyes's critics that they disappear when things go well. Things are going well now so I think it is a fair time to be honest. Kenwright has been saved again and he just doesn't deserve it. Moyes has made many of us forget just how culpable he is for the utter dirge that was inflicted on us before Christmas. The fundamental flaws that appear at the start of every season have not been addressed because Moyes appears to be clueless about why they occur.

The double act are back in favour; here we go again.

Andy Crooks, Belfast     Posted 30/04/2012 at 18:58:25

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Terry Downes
740   Posted 30/04/2012 at 21:05:18

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Not for long... a quiet summer and a poor start to the season as usual and all will be normal again.
Phil McKeown
750   Posted 30/04/2012 at 21:32:42

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I'm from Northern Ireland and moved to Liverpool 8 years ago to watch my beloved blues; I'm still here.

Naturally I speak to a lot of Irish-based blues and unfortunately a lot are media led due to not getting to as many games and to the volume of verbal blow jobs for Moyes and Kenwright being handed out by the brand of "safe" journalism from all aspects from pundits to writers.

I find your outlook reassuring and refreshing and have enjoyed reading your posts. I really hope Moyes has finally woken up that we can be a decent attacking outfit as evidenced in recent weeks and what we have been crying out for on here for so long.
Peter Laing
754   Posted 30/04/2012 at 22:03:11

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Andy, Kenwright may as you say be off the hook, however there may be storm clouds brewing as the vultures will undoubtedly be circling around the likes of Fellaini and Baines as he is unwilling / unable to secure the Club's financial position to allow Everton to build.
Dave Charles
756   Posted 30/04/2012 at 22:03:04

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These fundamental flaws were in evidence well after Christmas and against one team. Not just any team, but a team were you would hope a bit thought would have gone into beating them.

A draw at United and win against a poor Fulham side won't erase the shithouse way we lost out to one team TWICE.
Richard Dodd
758   Posted 30/04/2012 at 22:07:33

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I`m extremely confident there will be NO meaningful sales this summer.Yes,Moysey may let one or two fringe players move on but nobody of substance.
Added to which BK will find the money to make Pienaar a permanent Evertonian.
Happy days are here again!
Dean Adams
759   Posted 30/04/2012 at 22:13:50

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Richard Dodd

You seem to have re-found your optimism these last few days!!
Drew O'Neall
764   Posted 30/04/2012 at 22:20:38

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Do we have a new attacking David Moyes?

We've scored 12 goals in the last three league games.

Do we have a coach who will finally make demands of his chairman?

What good will making demands of the chairman do? He's potless.

Etc etc

What's the point of moaning about things you can't change? Enjoy the upturn in results for the ray of sunshine it is in a gloomy world and hope for the best, otherwise save up your pennies and buy the club.
Mark Riding
765   Posted 30/04/2012 at 22:19:56

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Will SAF get grief for picking 'his favourites' tonight in a massive game like Moyes does..
Utd picked Giggs, Scholes, Park. and they hardly had a shot..
Shit.. we knocked 4 past them the other day.. at Old Trafford.. So our team isnt that bad.
Its the tactics / try and pinch one attitude that have let us down this season, and I hope Moyes ( If he stays ) thinks 'fuck it, lets have a go this year and see what happens.. as their are enough bum sides in the league, we wont go down.

Im no great fan of Moyes, Im still trying to get my head round the second half at Wembley if Im honest.. and for the Fulham / Sunderland games this season, their has been a Bolton at home performance.. but the other options for a manager change are not that good either.
BB has been shown for what he is... and his days are surely numbered.
Richard Dodd
767   Posted 30/04/2012 at 22:25:52

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Being fortunate enough to be an Evertonian is ALWAYS a positive experience which lights up my life. Just occasionally, worrying about the future of this great club and those who control its fortunes financially, takes precedence over the sheer joy of watching our lads do well. But only occasionally.
Paul Jamieson
776   Posted 30/04/2012 at 23:11:02

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#758 Richard Dodd you have clearly shown again your ineptitude in understanding the crippling nature of our financial predicament. Even Robert Elstone understands this as he stated to Supporters Clubs only last week. In this statement Mr Elstone CLEARLY stated that there is NO money for transfers unless we undertake 'Player Trading' which he continued to add we have done successfully in the past.

He is right, they have successfully let more players go than they have brought in, he is also right that they have successfully trimmed the numbers of the smallest squad in the Premier League. He is also right that we have sold vastly more than we have bought - although strangely enough none of this got a mention!!

As for Moyes and Kenwright, to say I'm disappointed in Moyes is a massive understatement. I was always a staunch Pro-Moyes fan but recently I've come to realise something: Either 1) he has no ambition and should accept he will win nothing under the current regime; or 2) he needs to speak out against the Board and demand to be adequately financed year-in & year-out.

Moyes cannot have it both ways, he cannot back the Board and then come out with the 'Knife to a Gunfight' type comments.

Before you think I have turned into a Moyes hater ? I haven't and I'd love to see him flourish under a Board who truly back him and who don't twist his arm to make him sell players.

But for now, for me personally I would say to him: "Show your ambition, Moyes or shut the fuck up bemoaning your lack of transfer funds. You CANNOT have it both ways!!"
Dick Fearon
777   Posted 30/04/2012 at 23:01:01

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Praise Moyes for his astute signings and ability to improve them yet after ten years he has not produced a single player from our youth set up who is capable of holding down a regular first team spot.
I do not count Anichebe, Rodwell and Barkley as being anywhere near the finished article. For them to live up to their hype, they need to do a hell of a lot more in order to convince me.
Mick MacManus
778   Posted 30/04/2012 at 23:23:42

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Can't fault the style of football played in 2012, which, overall, has been of a high quality. Crab football remains a distant memory... for now!
Ryan Holroyd
779   Posted 30/04/2012 at 23:27:12

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I think Dick it's the responsibility of the academy to produce a player for the first team. I would have thought that would be fairly obvious.
Jamie Barlow
781   Posted 30/04/2012 at 23:27:24

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Paul, I don't think he's backing the board by not asking to be adequately financed year in year out.

What would be the point? We haven't got a pot to piss in.
Paul Jamieson
783   Posted 30/04/2012 at 23:50:40

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Jamie #781 That's my point, the Moyes/Kenwright partnership for me is a huge part of the problem. Intriniscally Moyes is a driven man who wants to win but equally as he is a loyal person, he won't speak out against the Board and more importantly his friend and Chairman.

For me, Moyes can't have it both ways. If he wants to win something he needs to speak out but if he is prepared to be a mid-table manager with a semi-exciting cup run on occasion then so be it - but don't moan that we're skint!!

There is no way on God's earth that the Board would dare sack him but by him speaking out, the pressure would be massively intensified on the Board to actually do something rather than living by their policy of Sell To Survive.
Michael Kenrick
792   Posted 01/05/2012 at 06:08:17

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"City needed the victory while Sir Alex Ferguson knew a draw would suit his purposes more than opposite number Roberto Mancini ? and this was reflected in his team selection that saw Wayne Rooney desperately isolated as a lone striker."

These brilliant Scottish managers are all the same!!!
Norman Merrill
798   Posted 01/05/2012 at 07:25:33

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I hope I'm wrong, but I feel next season will be another false dawn, unless major changes, at board level?
Richard Dodd
808   Posted 01/05/2012 at 09:01:36

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Under the current Board we can expect next season to be similar to this one.
The budget will be based on a top ten finish with hopes of getting higher.
Davey will play down anything more and,justifiably, cite lack of funds.
Hopefully,we shall not have to wait until New Year to get the season underway although if the squad has only half a season in it,I`d rather it be the second half!
Let`s face it,managing aspitations is what being an Evertonian is all about!
Jimmy Sørheim
810   Posted 01/05/2012 at 09:07:38

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There is no way Kenwright will give in to Moyes if he were to demand money for transfers.
Moyes would simply be given a warning of some sort and either Moyes would leave,get fired, or stay on doing what he has always done.

This combination of Kenwright and Moyes is poison.
We will stay in debt and have no transfer money, because Kenwright will never get the price the board wants for this club.

If Moyes were to leave I think the situation would change, and the pressure would overwhelm Kenwright as the balance of power would be restored.

We need a more agressive manager if we are to go forward, I can not see Moyes change as he has already had 10 years to do that.

If anybody thinks Moyes and Kenwright is good for this club then they are dreaming.
It could be worse then it is so I guess we are all stuck in dreamland hoping for better times again.
Chris Leyland
811   Posted 01/05/2012 at 09:30:50

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Michael K - the difference is that Moyes plays that way even when we need to win too and not just draw!
Brian Waring
813   Posted 01/05/2012 at 09:24:17

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You're right Andy. It will be Deja Vu all over again. There will soon be talk of a top four finish next season, some will throw in us having a chance of winning the league!

We'll be told that we have one of the best squads in the league, only to be told (if it goes tits up) that the reason for it going tits up, is we haven't got a good enough squad!
Phil Bellis
817   Posted 01/05/2012 at 09:42:05

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Richard
"managing aspirations is what being an Evertonian is all about" - Speak for yourself and the Sky generation
"the budget will be based on a top ten finish with hopes of getting higher" - 4th from bottom, 3rd round of the FA Cup
We will continue to pick up enough points under Moysey to keep us in the Prem while being bored to tears, in the main, with the occasional "up and at `em" performance to soothe the masses
I am "extremely confident" we can't do this forever and our luck will turn for the worse
Jelavic has given us hope (the bastard!) but we need to give him some help in return, even if it's just Pienaar
Chris Matheson
819   Posted 01/05/2012 at 09:29:02

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Drew at 764: "
What's the point of moaning about things you can't change? "



Jamie at 781: "What would be the point? We haven't got a pot to piss in. "

My feeling is that your two comments still represent the feelings of the majority of Evertonians: we are penniless and there is nothing to be done about it.

Somebody has to show some ambition. Somebody has to stand up to Kenwright and say, you have no ambition, you have strategy for raising finane and your 'search' for a buyer has failed.

I would like it to be Moyes but as others have said here, he is too loyal, and that's why it has to be down to the the supporters to do it. I will continue to support efforts to achieve that aim but right now I don't think that will be enough.

And just one final point: If I knew that we could play decent football and score four goals every match, and did not have to sell at least one of our top players every year to survive, then I wouldn't care who the Chairman was.
Dennis Stevens
820   Posted 01/05/2012 at 10:03:54

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If RS are parading 2 cups this summer, I doubt many will feel Moyes is off the hook for the failure at Wembley.

Ultimately, Moyes is of secondary concern ? the big problem we have is the deadwood in the Boardroom.
Phil Walling
828   Posted 01/05/2012 at 10:18:27

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Doddy now seeks to see Kenwright and Moyes in different lights.BK all bad,DM all good.
This is utter nonsense,they are joined at the hip and it is the two of them who `manage our aspirations.`
Whilst he has their joint agenda about right,(tenth is a fucking miracle!)Richard refuses to see that the paradox is that the better the team does,the higher the price Kenwright will demand. But the better the team does,the more he can bask in Moyes` reflected glory and his desire to` let go` fades.
What a fucking mess!
Barry Rathbone
831   Posted 01/05/2012 at 09:55:48

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Andy, it's a good timely piece but we put up with anything as long as we're in the Prem.

The Moyes derby antics cast a long shadow and while I've never joined the "Moyesiah" bollocks I can honestly say I didn't dislike him on a personal basis.

I can't see his face now without feeling contempt.

As for Kenwright he's a bloody nuisance but he doesn't pick the team nor dictate tactics. One thing Gibson, Jelavic and Drenthe showed is there are players with ability out there and they needn't cost fortunes.
James Martin
832   Posted 01/05/2012 at 10:48:57

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Barry you've had a go at Moyes for picking bad teams and wrong tactics and then hailed Jelavic Gibson and Drenthe as though they aren't Moyes's signings.
Tommy Coleman
840   Posted 01/05/2012 at 11:24:11

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Same old story. We play well when it doesn't matter, play crap when it does. Next season will be no different to this one and the year before and the year before etc.

My worry is how our impending bad start to the season will affect Jelly. He will be isolated as we struggle as Moyes opts for more and more defensive tactics. Jelly's ability will be questioned despite his obvious lack of service.

I think next year will be Moyes' last, I can't see him renewing his contract. I just hope he throws caution to the wind to see us break our annual habbit by starting well and winning a trophy.
Barry Rathbone
842   Posted 01/05/2012 at 11:28:15

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James

I give Moyes his due on certain things picking a type of player is one.

Of the 3 mentioned, Jelavic is a real gem, no doubt, Gibson is classic Moyes decent pedigree from Utd and more defensive than creative.

Drenthe is the flip side of Moyes - this lad is creative and dynamic - everything we've been missing.
But Moyes can't handle him, there may be good reason but no-one knows.
As soon as Drenthe was getting subbed, not starting then pointedly ran past Moyes after scoring a cracker we all knew were this was going.
That's what kills Moyes he's one dimensional in all things and I think it costs us.
Chris Matheson
844   Posted 01/05/2012 at 11:58:06

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Bary at 831 : As for Kenwright he's a bloody nuisance but he doesn't pick the team nor dictate tactics. "

Yes he does, in a way. It was down to Kenwright that we sold Pienaar in the first place, because we needed the money to pay off the latest debt. It will be Kenwright who sells Maestro Fellaini or whoever goes this summer. It will be Kenwrigth, who because he is incapable of funding development on the pitch, limits the players that we can have and so dictates the available tactics.

Everything stops at his door. He is the root of all our problems.
Anto Byrne
848   Posted 01/05/2012 at 11:49:54

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Does anyone think that Dalglish will be at Anfield next season? I ask this because the team he has is shit, and their board want a lot more than a couple of domestic cups.

Our board are happy to keep DM as he ensures Premier League status. We do as Evertonians want success and that means top 4 and the Champions League. So what dicates Moyes tactics? ? the sole requirement not to get relegated and get to 40 points.
Daniel A Johnson
850   Posted 01/05/2012 at 12:20:30

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I love the optimisim about signing Pienaar,

The player we let go because he wanted 5k a week more who will now cost us £5M to buy back.

Celebrate the shoddy management practice if you want I aint. Pienaar should never have left and the money should be being used to buy someone to add to the squad which should have included Pienaar anyway.
Andy Meighan
854   Posted 01/05/2012 at 12:24:30

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I wouldn't say Moyes is exempt from criticism ? far from it.

Yes, the performances of late have been fantastic and some of the football has been as good as it's been for a long time... but I think 13 March and the Wembley performances are still fresh in the mind of most Evertonians. I can never truly forgive him for them.

He's stated he wants to get his transfer business done early this summer... does anyone think that's going to happen? Unless he sells one or two of his most saleable assets, ie, Fellaini, Heitinga, Baines or Jelavic. And let's face it, we should be building our side round those.

In my view, he could let Cahill, Rodwell, Anichebe, McFadden and a couple of fringe players go... but how much do you think that little lot would fetch? If the Corrie Thespian and the clowns in the boardroom are as loyal as the season ticket paying fans, we could hit the ground running early next sason... but with them I won't hold my breath.
Shaun Sparke
858   Posted 01/05/2012 at 12:41:48

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Daniel, if that was an absolute fact that the only reason Pienaar left was for an extra 5K a week then I would totally agree with your sentiments. However, there is no empirical evidence available whatsoever that this was the case, except for regurgitated rumours in the press and on internet forums that people then take to believe as the absolute truth.

Pienaar had his own reasons for leaving which may have been based on the belief that he was signing for a team who could offer him a greater chance of playing at the very top level i.e. champions league. There is no evidence to prove this point either, only Pienaar and maybe his agent know the truth. So please lets not use this to bash the management. There is enough real evidence out there to demonstrate their incompetence without us having to jump on the bandwagon with half-baked theories.
Colin Potter
888   Posted 01/05/2012 at 14:35:34

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Moyes and Kenwright will never be off the hook as far as I'm concerned after the derby fiascos.
Neal King
891   Posted 01/05/2012 at 14:47:44

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IMO Moyes can fuck off... I won't be fooled by the annual end-of-season push when it doesn't matter.
We're stuck with Kenwright for the forseeable but, after the derby results, especially at Anfield, and the negative dire football I've had to witness, I would like to see us move in a different direction with a young, hungry manager with something to prove....

Until Moyes has gone, I won't be going back to Goodison Park.
Richard Reeves
899   Posted 01/05/2012 at 14:47:08

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We will never win anything with Moyes, he is the nearly man and he knows it. Sitting behind excuse after excuse and being paid a shit load of money in the process. This double act have succeeded in fooling a lot of us and I'm glad to say I'm not one of them.

With Hodgson just officially named England manager, the smallest hope of Moyes leaving has evaporated.
Stephen Kenny
900   Posted 01/05/2012 at 15:01:10

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Misery guts will revert to type this summer as he does every summer.

If we go back a season in time there will be an almost identical thread with identical posts about "I think Moyes has finally woken up to attacking football" or "he needs to speak out" etc.

We've been doing this dance since the season we signed Johnson, Lescott and Howard.

It's not good enough. The football we play now is probably the pinnacle of what this group of players is capable of. Yet people are more than happy to accept dross until Xmas just because he weren't allowed to go and buy new players.

I find the whole thing bizzarre. Personally a few good performances in games that don't matter mean nothing to me.

Moyes is the Frank Bruno of Football.
Barry Rathbone
907   Posted 01/05/2012 at 15:10:43

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Chris @ 844

Accepted, but that's where we are and have been since Moyes turned up it's down to the manager to deal with it.

Looking at how long Moyes kept Bily - what was that all about? - look what we got in exchange.

Moyes is too pedestrian too slow witted, always has been.
Colin George
949   Posted 01/05/2012 at 17:38:21

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Barry, you can only sell a player if someone is willing to pay your asking price.

Moyes may have had Bily up for sale for ages.

Talk about slow-witted.
Jason Lam
056   Posted 02/05/2012 at 04:47:32

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3 losses against the shite, one which was THROWN, another bottled. Can't be forgiven. Moyes out.
Andy Meighan
074   Posted 02/05/2012 at 08:47:19

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Another ordinary side gone over to that piss stained hell hole and got a result.

March 13th is never going to go away Are we the only side in the division not to have got a result there? Sure seems like it...

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