The Mail Bag

Do Everton Fans do mechandising?

My wife and I were in Liverpool for the weekend last weekend. We were at our hotel by 11am Friday Morning and only got the bus for the airport at 1pm from Lime Street on Sunday.

During this time, I only saw people wearing Everton mechandise on two occasions. One was in a pub while we were watching the game. There were three people sitting behind me wearing Everton tops. The other time was on the Sunday when I saw a bloke on his own come out of a shop wearing a home jersey. There were any amount of people wearing Liverpool stuff, walking around all weekend.

We were staying in a hotel on Hanover Street, just up from the Liverpool One shopping precinct, and we generally stayed around the Albert Dock, Duke Street, Briscoe Street areas with our sight-seeing. Maybe it was just the part of the city we were in but even on the Saturday, between it being game day and a day to come into town shopping, I would have thought I would have seen a lot more people wearing Everton merchandise.

For me, though, I must say that one of the highlights of the weekend was getting in to the Everton 2 store. I was literally like a child in a sweet shop on Christmas or his birthday. In terms of merchandise, we get next to nothing over here, so to actually have that much choice was just amazing. My son, who was half-reared an Arsenal fan by his uncles and granddad before I came on the scene, even got some stuff brought home.

I didn't manage to get out to Goodison Park though. Considering we don't get away that often as a couple, our son is special needs, I wasn't going to push my luck as I got to the store and also got to watch the game in the pub. But anyway, that's a different post altogether.

Anyway, back to my original point. Can people explain why I didn't see more mechandise being worn? Was it just where we were staying, was it just that we don't do it as a set of fans, or is it just the apathy around the club at present?

Kieran Fitzgerald     Posted 30/09/2011 at 17:14:52   Comments (16)

EFC Marketing... Men of Action?

Having spent many years in retail, one of the real frustrations I have with Everton has been the apparent ineptness of our sales & marketing department. Whilst attending a trade fair last weekend, I solved a little mystery & found yet another potential example of this ineptitude that I thought I'd share with you.

It all started last Xmas when I was looking for a present for a mate of mine, who just happens to be an Arsenal fan. I came across a replica of a 1960s/70s Action Man (GI Joe) action figure football kit, with great artwork that would display well. That was him sorted but remembering from childhood that they used to do an Everton set, I wanted one to display in my office.

I found out that a guy had bought the 'rights' to all the old sets, and was producing them under licence in China. As retro/nostalgia was 'in vogue', he was making a fortune. I looked at what was available... Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle, Celtic, even bloody West Ham ? BUT no Everton!

This put me into 'Bitter Blue' mode. Aggrieved that that my club was the original set that wasn't worthy of a re-issue, I resolved that ,if I ever met the guy, he'd be getting the 'Big club' rant no mistake.

Anyways, last Sunday, there he was, so it was time to find out why there was no Everton set. This is the response I got...

They had to licence the rights to the figures/dolls from Hasbro but for the named football teams also needed permission from the clubs. They wrote to all the clubs, who had sets made of them in the 60s/70s & it cost up to £100,000 per club to obtain these rights.

So why no Everton set? Apparently to the question "Do you want up to £100,000 for effectively nothing? ... Yep you've guessed it ? we said NO!

Marc Williams     Posted 30/09/2011 at 10:41:23   Comments (7)

Ordering from EFC online store

Has anyone else experienced difficulty in ordering on line direct from the official website?

I've been trying for over a week to order two shirts for my 6-year-old. Each time the order goes through, an e.mail bounces back a few hours later to say there has been a problem with my credit card... and the same with my wife. There's no problem as we order online from eBay, Amazon etc etc on a regular basis.

When I ask about what's gone wrong, the automated reply says "Call our support store" ... which will prove expensive from New Zealand!

Any suggestions... no wonder our club is in dire financial strife when they keep refusing £100 orders!

Any good Thai knock-off sites? Just wondering ... but my boy (whose middle name is 'Everton' ) will be distraught if he doesn't receive the shirts we promised!
Spragg Johnson     Posted 29/09/2011 at 21:04:06   Comments (12)

Size matters

I am usually what many of you may know as a ?lurker?. I spend a lot of time looking over websites like this but never actually contribute myself ? until now. I have finally been compelled to put pen to paper ? or rather finger to keyboard ? after seeing a number of discussions on these pages in relation to the supposed ?size? of our club.

There is a very vocal element of our support who like to point out to others that ?we are Everton?, and allude to our famous motto whenever there is any hint of a fellow fan suggesting that they are not completely apoplectic at the very thought of Everton not being top of the league and tearing the opposition to pieces with casual disdain in each game.

In contrast, there are others who appear prepared to resign themselves to defeat before a ball has been kicked and bemoan that our lack of financial clout means that we should count ourselves lucky merely to be allowed to grace the same pitch as some of our more illustrious rivals.

So... are we a ?big? club who should not accept anything other than being top dogs? Or are we a ?small? club who cannot ever hope to achieve anything?

The main argument for the former tends to be our undoubtedly distinguished history. We have, after all, collected an impressive 9 league titles, no less than 5 FA Cups, and a European Cup Winners Cup. The fourth most successful club in England, don?t you know? Certainly not a record to be sniffed at. Add to this the fact that some of the biggest names in British football have pulled on the Royal Blue jersey, and our remarkable longevity in the top flight, and you can certainly make a strong argument for us being one of the big boys.

What prompted me to write this article, however, was a statement made by a supporter of this theory. "We ARE a big club," he proclaimed; "I?ve seen us win titles." This, for me, highlights an important issue. Many fans are of the belief that we are deserving of a place at the top table because they?ve seen us there, they went to Wembley as often as they had a bath, they saw us put United, Liverpool, Arsenal et al to the sword, and they thought Chelsea was a type of bun.

Others, however, haven?t. An ever increasing number of Blues have never seen these days, and they can?t relate to them at all. I, much as I would like to deny it, am fast approaching 30 years of age. I grew up hearing tales from my dad and his match-going mates about Sheedy?s left peg, Andy Gray?s diving headers, the Holy Trinity, and the Golden Vision. My dad saw Championship winning sides in ?63, ?70, ?85 & ?87 and boy did he like talking about them.

I was born in 1982, meaning that I was too young for the glory years of the 80s. After being allowed to tag along to a few games here and there, I finally became a regular in 1992. Since then, we?ve won one solitary trophy. That?s it, one FA Cup. If we don?t win anything this year, that trophy will be our only silverware in 25 years.

And it?s not just a lack of silverware; in the time that I?ve been going, we?ve had two final-day escapes from relegation, lost to the likes of Shrewsbury, York and Tranmere, and won just once at Old Trafford.

It?s fine for some of you older fans to say that we have too many unambitious, defeatist supporters but you have to realise that our perceptions are totally different. Many of you will see a fixture against, say, Blackburn and say we should be beating ?clubs like that?, but we have an entire generation of fans who can remember Blackburn winning the Premier League title, but not us.

The point of this rambling is that I am fed up of people telling me I shouldn?t accept mediocrity. For me, I have to accept mediocrity, it?s all I?ve ever known. I have no right to claim that Everton are a bigger club than the majority because in my life they haven?t been. In my opinion it?s the other way round, people who claim that we shouldn?t be accepting mediocrity are deluded, unable to see that times have changed and we can?t compete anymore.

There is an important distinction between accepting mediocrity and being happy to accept it. I yearn for Everton to conquer all before them, and to do so in a style that has the football world purring, but I am realistic enough to know that it ain?t happening anytime soon and that the reasons for that go far beyond Bill Kenwright?s perceived shortfalls and David Moyes?s supposed negativity.

Jimmy Kelly     Posted 28/09/2011 at 23:47:27   Comments (34)

Fellaini decision must be made

The transfer window has now passed and we are approaching October and still there is no new contract signed with Fellaini.

We all know what happened last time this club let contract talks go on like this with Steven Pienaar. He had to be sold because we could get nothing in the end.

I am fearful of this happening all over again and I do not think Kenwright has thought about how important it is to take a stand here on this case before it is too late.

David Moyes has suggested that he has to set a final deadline in the summer for how long the contract talks can drag out.

I disagree, I think this should be resolved during the January window because we cannot afford to let his price value fall any more. We at least have to get back the £15 million we paid for him, if not £20 million to have something left after the sale to buy a replacement.

January is a month where prices are pushed up because no-one want`s to sell in the middle of the season. So I think that, if we are to get the most out of him, we have to do it in january.

The sad thing is, here we go again. We are slowly losing key players at a rate we just cannot afford or even keep up with. It is costing us in a huge way. Where will we finish in the table? Barkley is also being linked away and that is on top of the Fellaini situation.

It just does not feel good being an Evertonian this season; our success hangs in the balance. I believe we could afford to lose Arteta, but now we just do not have anyone else we can sell without killing this club totally.

We need a new striker right now, that much is evident, Cahill has not scored since December and he normally does not play as a striker. Never has. That sort of tells you what kind of team we have left after selling Beckford and Yakubu, both for much less than they are worth.

Let us hope and pray Fellaini signs the new contract before january.

Jimmy Sorheim     Posted 28/09/2011 at 11:48:41   Comments (39)

How To Move The Club Forward

We have spent a lot of time recently talking about the financial straight jacket we are in. We have had protest marches which themselves create negativity around the club, even if you agree with their ideals.

Maybe it is now the time to look how we as fans can come up with ideas that may benefit the club financially. I did hear a proposal a while back from a fan who suggested, seeing as banks are paying very little interest on people's savings, why not open an account for the fans to help? This would be set up so fans could transfer to an Everton saving account were the club could borrow many against the funds in the account.

There would have to be strict rules on how any money raised could be spent. Maybe we could ask Terry Leahy to run the fund independent of anyone connected with the club. This wouldn't cost the fans any money but would let the club borrow against the fund. Also maybe we could suggest that all employees of Everton have their salaries paid into this account.

We could also have a 3/5 year season ticket price, which again would give the club extra funds. I know some clubs have used a bond scheme which may also be considered.

I am sure many people a lot smarter than me will come on and point out the pitfalls of such schemes, but I think it is time for the fans to do something rather than waiting for our sugar daddy to turn up.

Brian Harrison     Posted 28/09/2011 at 10:06:42   Comments (27)

Team vs Liverpool

Thought I might get first shot at picking our team for Saturday, so here goes.

GK ? Howard; not bad lately, has to command his box more with Carroll on the prowl.

LB ? Baines; our best player over the past few seasons for me. Our free kick specialist, and he is as good as any winger.

CB ? Jagielka; has to stop the constant hoofing, it's getting embarrassing now. He will need to be on his toes if they play Bellamy & Suarez, two very quick players.

CB ? Distin; still extremely quick. Been a solid start for him. Dependable.

RB ? Hibbert; good at jockeying forwards. Suarez will want to draw fouls, or penalties. I noticed Spurs' back line stood off him instead of marking tightly... seemed to work on the day.

LM ? Drenthe; just to get some much needed energy in to our midfield. We can't afford "zombie football" on Saturday. Unpredictable, but full of beans. I worry if the occasion may make him do somethig rash to Gerrard!!

CM ? Osman; knows what derbies are all about, can see a pass out of midfield.

CM ? Fellaini; some steel to combat Gerrard and Lucas. Covers a lot of ground and good for set-pieces.

RM ? Coleman; gives us some pace down the right. Did you know he was our fastest player against City? As fast as Silva ? I was shocked!

AM ? Timmy; needs a goal badly - but would you write him off against the bastards? Loves to score in a Derby, they will be watching him very closely indeed.

CF ? Saha; I hope Moyes has forgiven him. We have no other forward who will penetrate and keep the ball as well as King Louis. He likes the big games and has a point to prove.

Subs:?

Mucha ? hope not to see him.
Heitinga ? cover for injuries - unlucky not to start at CB
Rodwell ? he's been quiet, but improving.
Vellios ? good prospect;
Baxter ? great prospect, would trust him for last 20 to hold ball;
Bilyaletdinov ? sighhhh;
Stracqualursi ? looks unfit, an option I suppose...

Whatever happens, let's give it to those lucky cheating horrible shower. £100M my arse!!

Kevin Tully     Posted 27/09/2011 at 13:27:36   Comments (77)

Moyes and Strikers

I wonder what others think of the strikers Moyes has bought to the club in his almost 10 years?

I have made a list: He has signed 3 strikers on loan (McBride 2003, Jeffers 2003, and Jo 2009). The others are McFadden 2003, Bent 2004, Beattie 2005, Johnson 2006, Yakubu 2007, Saha 2008, Beckford 2010, Vellios and Stracqualursi 2011.

These are strikers who have all played for the first team and signed by David Moyes.

I have not included Vaughan, Anichebe abd Rooney as they all came through the academy.

The numbers are low when you consider Moyes only likes to play one upfront and the only 20-plus goalscorer was the Yak.

Goals win games and ? just stating the obvious ? unless we change the formation/tactics we shall continue to struggle upfront.
Mark McDonald     Posted 26/09/2011 at 22:08:51   Comments (21)

Twittering...

So Twitter is a social networking site & everyone is entitled to use it just as this.... BUT...

I've seen some shameless abuse by our our own & other Premier League players of this network for nothing more than advertising & the lining of their own pockets. FIFA 2012 (Actually I want a kick back for this mention) talk is virtually pillaging Twitter right now!

So players think they have "X" amount of followers because they look cool or have an astute & intelligent outlook on life.... Errr. No it's because fans that pay their wages are interested in their feelings on the latest game or genuine comments on real life. Not something that gives them more £s for image rights & probably performances that surpass their own "real" ones.

Instead of stuff that reads like "Nice pic on the FIFA cover, can't put the game down, everyone should buy it now" ... I would expect something like "Rubbish day at work, feel a bit demoralised... Onwards & upwards"... No sorry that's me! Maybe... "Room for improvement, let's see what we can do to make up for it next week. COYB"

IMO #LOL @prem_players

Wayne McNee     Posted 26/09/2011 at 18:52:27   Comments (5)

Is he really that good?

The person in question is Phil Jagielka. Pre-injury, I?d grown to like him as a player; he gave some top-notch performances after a nervy start, made the position his own, and did look like a future Everton captain.

On his return last season, he looked to be getting back to his best and I thought with a good pre-season under his belt we?d see him back to his best.

I read in the paper last week all the summer speculation unsettled him. I agree, it must be unsettling... but let's be honest ? nothing is plain sailing at the Old Lady.

But, for me, that?s just an excuse. This season, he has been nothing short of woeful. In the QPR game, he was at fault (correct me if I am wrong but I think it was him) and Osman who got done for Di Santo against Wigan last week. Although Drenthe gave the ball away in a horrible manner last week, he hesitated when quite clearly he could've got to the ball once it had broken loose.

Distin is by far the best centre half at the club: quick, strong, good on the ball and just oozes class. Heitinga ? well he was given a chance last year and didn?t exactly take it but, on current form, in Jagielka?s case, he now deserves another crack alongside Distin.

There was once incident on Saturday (at City) where he just wellied it as hard and as high as he could; with no one up-front, the ball just comes straight back... not exactly what you want when you're parking the bus at City ? a certain David Unsworth used to get slaughtered for it.

Anyway, David Moyes obviously sees him as our ?current? captain with Neville resigned to the bench in recent weeks... but, for me, he should be sat on the bench and, come January, if Arsenal still fancy him, would you really be arsed if he went?

Brian  Holmes     Posted 26/09/2011 at 12:42:22   Comments (34)

When Saturday Comes...

I see David Moyes is defending his despicable and ruinous behind-the-ball-for-90-minutes tactics against Manchester City on the grounds that we almost didn't get beat. It seems evident to me — and it must be everyone except Moyes — that if we play similar tactics and the same starting line-up next Saturday against pacy and opportunistic forwards, we will be inevitably thrashed.

It is absolutely imperative to carry the game to the opposition in the derby game. I would start Drenthe and Stracqualursi and Saha. They are all exciting players who have something to prove and deserve more than a few minutes per game to prove it. Stracqualursi looks like he is becoming this year's Magaye Gueye — all dressed up and nowhere to go every Saturday.

Moyes said he "didn't come to Man City for their enjoyment" and so should not be expected to play positive football. What about our enjoyment? I want to see attacking football. Doesn't every Evertonian? If we are going to lose anyway, lose shooting at the opposition goal.
Peter Fearon     Posted 25/09/2011 at 19:27:42   Comments (36)

The Stoke example

I know watching MotD doesn't give a sense of what a match is really like, but I watched last night and was struck by two games — ours at City, and Stoke at home to Man Utd.

Stoke aren't a team filled with quality, but they have a positive attitude drummed into them by the highly underrated Tony Pulis. They had a go at United, they tried to attack them — and guess what, they thoroughly deserved a point, could have won it and had every fan in the ground roaring their appreciation.

We're a team filled with more quality (I think) but compare the attitude we showed against City. Desperate not to get beat, not really showing any intent to try and win. Guess what, we lost, deserved to lose and have plenty of disgruntled fans.

This isn't about going gung-ho as some people commenting on yesterday's game seem to think being positive means. It's simply about going out believing in yourselves, having a manager who believes in you, having fans who believe in you and just trying to win. Isn't that what it's all about?

I don't compare us to Stoke, but you know what... I really bloody admire them at the moment.

Christopher Brown     Posted 25/09/2011 at 14:14:29   Comments (36)

Get real

"We have some talented players that Moyes will not play".

Who?

I have watched every game this season and I am totally lost as to which player or players everyone is talking about.

Vellios? Give me a break. One goal against the mighty Wigan (fuck all else the rest of that game). Nothing else since. Barkley? He played well against an absolute shite QPR team who basically gave away the midfield area to defend deep after they scored. The next game against Blackburn brought him back down to earth. Drenthe? Yep ? noticed his sublime passing yesterday.

Hey, I cannot take much more of the shit turfed up at GP or at away games myself, but, what else can Moyes do?

If you have been watching for the past 5 years you will know that Moyes can put out a team that will win games: ? Pienaar, Arteta & Baines feeding the Yak or a fit Saha were more than a match for most. But hey, all bar Baines have long gone and as for Saha, he couldn't give a toss anymore.

I think most people need to get real because this is how it is and for the record, BK has got to be proud. But to keep yapping on about Moyes going to City with a £50k greek kid and the much sought after Drenthe, then playing for a win. Yeah, the mighty Spurs tried that one and got well turfed over.

It's going to be 4-6-0 all the way, keep EFC in the EPL and take it from there. The board knows there will be losses (the gates at GP are definately getting lower) but survival in the EPL is Moyes's number one aim. Hey, my guess is that Moyes will probably pick up a nice bonus for doing it.

Mike Gwyer     Posted 25/09/2011 at 10:01:51   Comments (27)

Have teams found Howard's weakness?

Being a goalkeeper myself, I can't help but notice that all the goals that have gone past Tim Howard have been on his left hand side? Have other teams realised this weakness? Or is it the fact he hangs his towel that side & like the legend Neville Southall said, if you put something in the back of the net, strikers will use it as a target?

Either way Chris Woods needs to sort this out with Howard. I don't think having Hahnemann at the club helps either...

Peter Keating     Posted 24/09/2011 at 22:41:31   Comments (16)

Let's go back to three subs

Getting away from the negative approach to the Man City game for a minute, and focussing on the financial inequality in the Premier League.... Clearly this is something the authorities care not a jot about. There is a very simple solution after all: revert back to only being allowed to name 3 substitutes. If this rule was brought back in, it'd bring a lot more competition back. Clubs like United, Chelsea, City, Tottenham would be unable to keep a squad of 25 top class players happy; Squad sizes would be reduced and there would be more focus on bringing youth players through as clearly they wouldn't be throwing a strop when not selected.

It would also actually bring the tactical ability of the managers into play a lot more; making sure they name the 3 substitutes who they feel before the match are most suited for the game. As opposed to seeing how a game is panning out as they do at the moment, and then selecting a substitute from 7 options.

What is the reason teams need to name 7 substitutes anyway? Is this something the elite voted for to maintain their grip on the status quo, allowing them to select 1 from 7 of their megastar substitutes as opposed to having to actually think tactically and pick 1 from 3?

Reducing the number of substitutes a team can nominate would make things more exciting for the fans and level the playing field for those clubs, like Everton, who only have small squads.

Just a thought.

Robbie Riddal     Posted 24/09/2011 at    Comments (23)

The end of the Moyes - Kenwright project

We had a go at trying for the Champions League. It didn't work out... and today signalled that the plan is over. We are about survival.

I fear that today Moyes sees this as a good result. Negative, defeatist and utterly embarrassing. We didn't get thumped, fucking brilliant!!!

Today signalled that we are spent as a competitive side. Keep us in the Premier League is the plan. Nothing more.

Does David Moyes believe that the squad he has assembled are a pile of shite? Certainly he doesn't have much confidence in them...

Shameful, cowardly, capitulation. Let's give him an extended contract.

Andy Crooks     Posted 24/09/2011 at 18:12:03   Comments (92)

Gary Ablett

I'd urge everyone to go to Everton TV and watch the interview with Gary Ablett. Powerful and moving interview.

Ryan Holroyd     Posted 23/09/2011 at 20:22:58   Comments (5)

Evertonians: A dying breed

When I was growing up in the 70s and we were doing nothing at all in the league, there was a marked difference to the number of red mates to the number of blue ones, probably 2 red for every blue.

Move on 35 years and the percentage of reds seems to have grown exponentially, to probably ten reds to every blue.

Because I don?t go to the games anymore I watch in the pub (when it's on which is quite rare) and the number of Blues actually there watching is getting smaller by the week. When we played Villa and the RS played Stoke, all 6 bars in Crosby were packed with reds, only one bar with 2 screens put the Blues on in a tiny corner and about 20 blues watched compared to about 120 reds.

Perhaps it is time to accept we are just another Tranmere in our city, perhaps while we are never bringing in exciting new players the kids will never be swayed over to the Blue side. Perhaps this is the start of the end...
Steve Cotton     Posted 23/09/2011 at 17:12:14   Comments (38)

The Smoking Gun?

This document I received, shows that Kenwright has had offers from Man City's owners as well as Mittal and other billionaires.

I'm quite sure, if the document is real, it will signal the end of this board. This is or could be the smoking gun.

I do think that when the truth outs, there will be a new era, owner and manager. If more people understand what has gone on at Goodison Park under Kenwright, there has to be a groundswell against him.


Robert Daniels     Posted 23/09/2011 at    Comments (76)

The New Barry Horne?

He bothers the net about once a season, and when he does it's always from an improbably long way out.

Phil Neville: the new Barry Horne?

Richard Pike     Posted 23/09/2011 at 13:25:24   Comments (16)

We started it!

I am reading an interesting article in Sport Magazine which charts the start of the Premier League.

I hadn't realised / more likely forgotten that the breakaway from the Football League was led by Sir Philip Carter, Everton Chairman and Football League President. He complained about the big teams having to subsidise the lower leagues.

How ironic then, at a time when in many ways we seem to be the paupers of the Top Table, that it was us wot started it!

Jonathan Tasker     Posted 23/09/2011 at 08:30:14   Comments (9)

The line-up against City

I always like to tell David Moyes what to do. Most times he ignores my advice and fucks up. You know what, though; he can pick the team this weekend by himself.

What does he do? Bring Heitinga or Neville into midfield? Start Drenthe? Play Cahill as a striker? Start Osman? (Well, that didn't need asking...)

Honestly, what should he do? Go for it... or settle for a point? At least we have options. Go without fear. We are as good as them.

Andy Crooks     Posted 22/09/2011 at 22:22:41   Comments (72)

Stay away Fans: Protest or Skint?

I don't know the answer to this. I feel it will be a mixture of the two, but I am wondering what the majority is, and how big a majority that might be.

I feel the club have done a good job with the season tickets, in terms of the price freeze and the various ways you could pay. Not many people have a lump sum of £400 to £550 sitting in their accounts waiting for the renewal forms to come through their door. So the 'pay monthly' scheme and the Everton MasterCard, which is interest-free for 9 months, are good ways of renewing your Season Ticket without rooting around for that big lump sum.

But looking at our attendances this season, it is obvious that a lot of fans have stopped coming. 32,700 against Aston Villa, a decent side where our games are always a good watch, at 3pm on a Saturday, was poor. 31,500 the following week against Wigan must be our lowest for a 3pm Saturday game for quite a while. 17,000 there last night, and I know it was ?only? the Carling Cup, but I would have thought we could of at least hit the 25,000 mark.

I have been receiving text messages from the club advertising match tickets, even though I have a season ticket and therefore already have a ticket for the match! Also, I have noticed that the tickets for the derby are being advertised a lot, and I cannot remember that happening before.

As I say, I don?t know the answer. A lot of people are loosing their jobs, or have the threat of a job loss hanging over them, which would have hit attendances, and people are feeling the pinch at the moment. (It would be interesting to see if other clubs are suffering a drop in this regard). However, I also get the feeling that a lot fans are staying away because they have hit their limit with what?s going on at the club, and a ?stay away? protest will be noticed more by the board, as opposed to marches, as it hits them in the pocket.

What does everyone feel is the majority reason for the drop in attendances?

Adam Bennett     Posted 22/09/2011 at 13:26:10   Comments (54)

Fellaini & the best Everton have played

Three years ago, our transfer record was broken when we signed Fellaini. I was pretty surprised when I logged on to a hotel computer the morning after the summer transfer deadline had closed and discovered we'd signed a big Belgium guy. I'd never heard of him but liked what I read and was excited about how he would improve our team and season. He settled quickly and looked comfortable with the pace of the PL; getting plenty of goals, plaudits and, of course, bookings.

However, Fellaini still polarises opinion among us fans, at least on this website. Some view him as an expensive liability, totally overrated, while others idolise him. I think he's a great talent and believe he will go on to be one of the best midfielders in Europe. More often than not, he is at the heart of everything good we do. We would have been knocked out the cup last night but for his well taken equaliser.

Fellaini was untouchable when a highly motivated Everton team beat Man City at Goodison Park a couple of seasons ago. I think we won 2-0. Remember his pirouette? This was as good as I'd ever seen Everton play. I must declare at this point that I don't really remember the mid-80s and certainly nothing before. Prior to streaming games online every week about 4 years ago, I probably only ever watched full games on TV as well as maybe two live games a season. This is probably the case for a lot of us not living anywhere near Liverpool.

With a visit to Manchester City this weekend, I'm hoping for a similar performance. Can we continue to take 6 points from a flying City team this season?

Have you seen a better performance from Everton in the league in the last 20 years? Were we even that good that Wednesday night back in early 2010 or am I way off the mark?

Tom Winek     Posted 22/09/2011 at 12:00:41   Comments (57)

Does 'life' mean 14 years?

So rumour has it that Davey Moyes is to be offered a new contract in the New Year. Not surprising when you look back to all those "job's for life" utterances of Chairman Bill... but new contract always seem to be on the table when change of ownership talk is rife! So, if an offer is made and the manager puts pen to paper, it is likely to take him past the 14 years handed out as a life sentence!

But is 14 years too long as manager of one football club? Fans of Manchester United will certainly say "No way" ? but at a club with so few resources as Everton is it likely that the train will hit the buffers long before his time is served?

Don`t get me wrong: I believe that Moyes has done ?and is doing ? a splendid job... but can one man continue to weave silk purses from sows' ears indefinitely? I somehow think not.

Much as I support Bill Kenwright as Chairman, I do suspect that he would be lost without Moyes and would wish to put a ball and chain on him as soon as possible. Probably only the banks are preventing a multi-million pound deal being done right now but, with so much uncertainty around, is the manager's security of the highest importance?

Not really.

Richard Dodd     Posted 21/09/2011 at 15:36:04   Comments (77)

Selling the family silver

Just read on Eurosport that Chelsea are now lining up a £20m bid for Ross Barkley. It may well be the usual paper crap but there is no smoke without fire; however, if we are forced to sell yet another young talent before we even get the benefit of him playing for us, I for one, will disown the club I have supported since 1960.

Selling off Arteta and all the others this year would pale into insignificance if this does happen and the only good I can see is that it would force the current pathetic owners to do one.

Russ Quinlan     Posted 20/09/2011 at 14:27:26   Comments (62)

Something is very wrong

So according to this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/sep/19/everton-broadcast-income-mortgage we have basically securitized the TV income for season 2012-2013, only the interest rate per year will be 0.8-1m per year ?!

Considering that Everton just sold players for 14m that only suggests that the situation is really dire money wise. I fear Kenwright is gambling on Moyes ability to produce results year in year out and that gamble can lead into administration

Something is very wrong at Goodison...
Stefan Tosev     Posted 20/09/2011 at 12:46:32   Comments (33)

What team vs West Brom

Blood the youth or stick to the winning team against Wigan? The Carling Cup as ever represents probably our best chance of grabbing some elusive silverware and a home tie to West Brom, depsite them beating us twice last year, is a very winnable fixture.

So do we throw in the newbies and a smattering of young potential or do we play our strongest team (whatever that might be?!!).

I would say a bit of both. Here's my team.

Howard

Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines

Gueye Rodwell Fellaini Drenthe

Barkley

Vellios

Bench: Heitinga Neville Straqualursi Mucha Osman Baxter Mcaleny

A familiar back 4 but giving Coleman a chance to play RB and hopefully make our right side as balanced as our left.

A youthful midfield with pace and energy. Gueye and Drenthe have the chance to bomb forward and Barkley drop back to turn into 4-3-3 if needed.

The talented Barkley given a chance to roam behind matchwinner Vellios.

Given that West Brom may well field a reserve team given their poor start to the Premiership i would hope that this team would have enough to roll them over whilst handing 3 of our most exciting youth prospects (Barkley, Vellios and Gueye) a start.
Sam Hoare     Posted 20/09/2011 at 09:56:48   Comments (33)

Where have my mates gone?

I missed the Villa game as I was away on a family holiday; however, I got a text from my mate saying he felt a bit sorry for Billy after reading the Daily Mail spin. I responded with a few replies, as like most of my mates he gathers his Everton news and info off Bluekipper and the National and local press, so unlike people on this site and a few others he does not delve deeply into the club affairs, so he won't understand shit like how Bill tells the AGMs the truth, when he infact banned them a few years back etc.

He was once a great match-going blue who has stopped going now and the reasons are certainly not financial.

On Saturday, I saw another mate of mine who also spouted anger at the Blue Union, because his brother struggled to get down Goodison Road against Villa because of the protest march; he said its not what Everton do (What do Everton do?) He never went the game and seldom does now.

I am saying all this as, not too long ago, me and my mates used to average around 12 to 14 in number and around 10 of those were season ticket holders. On Saturday, there were four of us; against Sheff Utd, I was sitting on my own... and this coming Wednesday we are looking at two of us.

My reason for this letter is that the drop in our gates is nothing short of drastic and still the local press has said jack shit about this. It's all well and good my mates and others defending Bill and slagging the protestors off whilst they waltz around Asda or sit in the pub sipping beer when we are playing at home, but the proof is in the pudding. Work it out for yourselves how much we are losing every home game compared to last season.

I have to say, many people cannot afford to go these days, but there are also thousands who can afford it but just don't want to because of the state of the way we are running the club and the boring football on offer, they prefer to sit in the pub and watch us on the box home or away.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you want to air your view then take a look at these missing thousands and ask yourself what is the blame for this? And certainly don't dismiss the protesters, when we have lost more home support this season than we have in decades, if not our history.

Paul Gladwell     Posted 20/09/2011 at 08:09:54   Comments (31)

Results

I've criticized David Moyes just like most others on this site. Why does Bilyaletdinov start? Lost at least 10 million waiting to sell Pienaar. Osman on the right? 4-5-1? But lately, I've come to see things a little differently; managers are judged by results and nothing else.

If a manager gets positive results, formations mean nothing, substitutions mean nothing, which players play means nothing. Tactics are simply means to a positive result so why do we judge our manager based on the tactics he employs.

We spend approximately nothing yet we finish in the top half of the table on a regular basis. I'm not content to just finish in the top half but given the financial circumstances, anything other than relegation is a good result. How many other teams have run into a situation like ours and have not been able to stay afloat? West Ham, Leeds, Southampton, etc. Moyes has kept us in the Premier League. Maybe he has done so in spite of rather than because of his tactics but there is no other manager in the league who keeps his team operating on such a short budget.

In terms of results, Moyes is a great manager. We can argue about whether or not he can do a better job but for anyone to insinuate the we need a change in management is, in my opinion, absolute lunacy.
Pat Finegan     Posted 19/09/2011 at 21:42:35   Comments (47)

Quiz question on our scorers

Does anyone know the last time we had two goalscorers score their first goals for us in the same match?
Jonathan Tasker     Posted 19/09/2011 at 13:46:26   Comments (23)

Play fair, Echo

Looking through the Echo's Everton match report online last night and was disappointed to see the negative comments left by the reds in the comments section, this though i thought is probably par for the course... bit 'o banter, etc .

How wrong I was. Looked through the Liverpool match report to find all the Evertonian comments blocked by the moderator in excess of 20 comments! Surely all of these weren't inappropriate? You've had my last 50p Manchest... er sorry Liverpool Echo.
Phil Gregory     Posted 19/09/2011 at 12:18:20   Comments (11)

Peter Reid, about time you came home

Anyone else think that Peter Reid has had some shocking jobs but has plodded on manfully because of his love for football? If Blue Bill has a heart he should offer this man a backroom job as this top bloke deserves better than the unenviable tasks of managing teams in administration all the time.

Bring him home Bill and lets see if he can do a job somewhere whether it be in a youth capacity or reserves. The man had a heart of a lion and a winning mentality and I'm sure he can fetch some of the young guns through, and if they turn out as outstanding as him I'm for it!
Antony Matthews     Posted 18/09/2011 at 17:46:23   Comments (54)

Why no Barkley?

After a couple of man of the match performances, why is Barkley on the bench? If ever a game [Wigan] was shouting out for a player like Barkley, this game was it.

So can anyone tell me why?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but has Wayne Rooney missed a game since he scored that cracker against Arsenal, either for Everton or the Mancs? If you're good enough, you're old enough.
Colin Malone     Posted 18/09/2011 at 15:25:09   Comments (42)

Played Well - Big Mistake!

This is what David Moyes said after the match as quoted by 'Sporting Life': "If we are expecting a 19-year-old boy from Greece and a couple of free transfers to come on and make a difference then people have to change their expectations."

I don't quite understand that. Isn't that precisely what happened? Didn't Vellios, Drenthe and Stracqualursi come on and pull three points out of a game that was staggering towards a draw? Or was I watching a different match?

Shouldn't that impressive, though brief display at least put them in contention for a starting place? Or are they like Ross Barkley, going to be benched as a reward for playing well? I just don't get it. Someone explain it to me. And incidentally, I thought they were both season loans, not free transfers.
Peter Fearon     Posted 17/09/2011 at 21:21:08   Comments (86)

Does the Europa matter anymore?

Popping into the Freshy for a homeward pint tonight, I was confronted by the `other lot`with taunts that `a couple more wins will see you challenging for a Thursday night slot!`Now given that KK`s return has apparently guaranteed his team's return to the top four (you have to laugh, don't you?),are we going to get terribly excited merely about the possibility of a place in the Europa League?

Now don't get me wrong. I want us to be in contention for a top six spot all through the season.The finishing place money alone makes that a no brainer but is the 'also rans' competition of any significance in itself? Only this week we have seen all but Stoke City treating the Europa with disdain.

Even Birmingham City fielded a reserve team whist `Arry was warning Spurs fans that he intended to do the same in Salonika.I also remember the complaints from our own followers when David Moyes risked only our youth team in some far flung outpost of the competition!

They all say there`s no money in it,so is it possible to decline the invitation to take part so that 'overworked' players can avoid all risk of injury in striving to qualify for the bloody thing all over again in the next season?

Perhaps I'm counting our chickens but do Evertonians think, as I do, that the whole set up is becoming faintly ridiculous?
Richard Dodd     Posted 17/09/2011 at 19:36:02   Comments (32)

Beer goggles......

......admittedly it's a bit early to be drinking on a Saturday for me but, amid all the gloom, here's an optimistic post.

We didn't play so well today but, could this be our 2004-5 season all over again with a CL place at the end of it?

Sometimes there are pivotal moments - Big Dunc's derby header and Neville's tackle on Ronaldo - that seem to transform us. Could those substitutions today indicate a similar situation?

The top 3 places are the two Manc clubs and Chelsea but 4th is up for grabs.

OK it's early days and dire times but we now sit on the same number of points as the red filth having spent £100 million or so less. (And 3 of their points were off Ale-House Arsenal). We've reduced the debt by selling at the right time with a couple of astute deals in Drenthe and Straqualasi and some good youth / fringe players coming through.

We've got Citeh next week so a guaranteed 3 points as usual (Cahill to score) before we humiliate and destroy the red filth at Glorious Goodison Park (Hibbert 30 yard wonder strike).

(King Kenny resigns due to stress with john barnes taking over in a lon-term deal).

The momentum then takes us into our "killer month" of October but I seem to recall we came out of our last season's "killer month" pretty well destroying everyone and everything in our path.

Is it so far-fetched given the missed opportunity of last season that we could sneak in at 4th place?

Or is just the beer? :) P.S. Amazing what an effect a final 9 minutes like that can do even though we almost blew it after the Vellios goal!!!
Mike Hughes     Posted 17/09/2011 at 17:07:51   Comments (19)

Yakubu

In todays match between Blackburn and Arsenal our old mate Yakubu had a starring role, scoring 2 and strongly involved in Blackburn's other 2 goals.

Is this just the normal way, with Yakubu giving a good first impression for then spending too much time at Burger King, or did we do a bad deal when we sold him?

I think it's just a blaff, and soon he'll be on the meat wagon again, giving less and less on the field. but then I could be wrong and we've let go a true top striker for pocket change.
Gaute Lie     Posted 17/09/2011 at 14:31:45   Comments (37)

Borderline insanity

Just woke up here in the land of morning sunshine and gave the BBC sport page a quick glance. I had a milli second's worth of excitement and my heart almost skipped a beat when i saw in the corner of my eye the words "Kenwright and Everton" in the title of a news article.

Desperately hoping that something had arisen regarding the sale of the club, I looked closer and read on further. Alas my dreams and hopes of an article about the sale of the club were not so much dashed as thrown to the gutter and kicked to a bloody pulp as I continued to read...

Our luvvy duvvy wonderfully thoughtful chairman has decided to refund in full all those who bought Mikel Arteta or Jermaine Beckford shirts for this season. Has he lost his mind completely all together? Is this really a genuine attempt to cool the fire that is burning beneath him right now?

This is the apology?? How about an open and frank statement to the fans as to why those players were sold so hastily on the last day of the transfer window, with no time or intention to spend the funds on rebuilding the squad? No. No chance. No chance of that at all.....

The original article can be found on the BBC, where it is worth noting that they mention the "small section of fans that have become disgruntled with the way the club is being run". Are the sports journalists their totally and utterly blind and ignorant to the problems that have destroyed Everton slowly and consistently for the last 10 years? I personally would like a ballot carried out before / during today's game.

A simple tick box for Yes or No on every match ticket to ascertain whether the fans would like to see a new owner installed , would I'm sure make a mockery of the assumption that a "small section of fans" are unhappy. If the BBC, by its nature must report facts and facts only, at least get them right.
Peter Laverty     Posted 17/09/2011 at 02:30:07   Comments (41)

The Fan's Forum

Apparently, courtesy of Bluekipper...

"Everton hosted the latest of their monthly Fans' Forums on Thursday evening.

A small group of fans attended September's meeting, which was held in the Brian Labone suite at Goodison Park.

The Forum is designed specifically to allow fans an opportunity to engage with the Club directly to provide feedback and ask questions on a variety of topics.

Chairman was friend of Blue Kipper, Head of Media and Communications Mark Rowan. Also attending were Chief Executive Bobby Elstone, Commercial Director Dave Biggar, Marketing Services Manager Hollie Costigan and Stadium Safety Officer Ray Foy.

Topics discussed during the meeting included away match travel, ticketing, Club communication, Everton in the Community and enhancing the Everton experience.

Fans' Forums are held once a month and are attended by fans representing different areas of the Club's fanbase."

While no doubt the topics mentioned are in some way relevant, I'm not personally sure they would be top of my agenda for discussion with Mr Elstone (or "Bobby" to his BlueKipper mates).

I'm not sure what I despaired of more; the fan's forum itself or the responses to the above the "report" got generally got on the Blue Kipper site.
Steve Guy     Posted 16/09/2011 at 17:24:48   Comments (15)

Forgive and forget?

Now that Mr. Clattenburg has been away from his admirers at Goodison for a number of years. Plus, he has now upset our friends from across the Park. Is it time we forgave and forgot and welcomed back Mark with open arms to the hallowed turf. Or, would we still like to lynch the Bastard!?
John Keating     Posted 16/09/2011 at 15:37:32   Comments (28)

We need more songs

Just sitting at work listening to all the Mancs and the Kopites go on about the songs their players have and it just makes me a little bit depressed at the fact we dont exactly have a bit of variety.

I was thinking we could use ToffeeWeb (and a local pub) to get some more songs going about our players. The Stracqualursi thread shows how few we had.

How about anyone who knows any songs put them on this thread and we try and get a few people willing to give them a go and see if they come off. I like the Fellaini one,

Fellaini, you are the love of my life
Fellaini, I'd let you shag my wife
Fellaini, I want curly hair toooooo

But we need better songs for the likes of Baines, who is now our best player, and some other members of the team.

Anyway that's just me; no doubt everyone will have the idea and call me all the things under the sun for even suggesting it.
Michael Ward     Posted 16/09/2011 at 12:53:51   Comments (39)

Love or money?

The most important man at the club is David Moyes. That's the view of Bill Kenwright.

Also, the superb Swiss Ramble blog defines Kenwright's strategy as... well, expecting Moyes to work wonders on a shoestring. So, while I have many reservations about Moyes, he is undoubtedly respected and admired by his chairman, his peers, the media, the players and many, many Evertonians.

So what is he doing here?

I would genuinely love to believe that he has the club at heart, that he has a bond with the supporters, that he has started a job that he must finish, that he realises that he has peaked and that managing Everton is as good as it will ever be.

On the positive side: he has a loyal chairman, a mostly loyal fan base, he is under no pressure to win a trophy, he is loved by the media and he is touted as a manager with a big job around the corner. Finally, he is paid a huge salary.

On the negative side: he is manager of a skint, selling club with no long-term strategy. His best players may be sold from under him, he has no money to spend and it is unlikely that he can win a trophy here.

Why is he here? Love or money?

Andy Crooks     Posted 15/09/2011 at 22:08:22   Comments (40)

Going forward

What will happen looking on to the next games? Will Moyes start using Vellios more than 5 minutes, or will he go for the so-called safe approach?

I believe we have to start using what we have got, and at the moment we only have Vellios who clearly looks hungry for goals ? as we are. Cahill is not a striker and the sooner Moyes realises that the better.

Moyes said that he is afraid to use Vellios and other youngsters, but he is starting to see what has to be done; you have to use what you have and what we have in Vellios is a new Duncan Ferguson, only he shows that he can be a better finisher than Duncan was.

I understand I am being overly positive but I belive that he has shown enough for him to start the next game against Wigan. After all, we don't have anyone else at the moment. Hallam Hope is not considered yet, and Denis Stracqualursi clearly has a long, long way to go before being match fit, as shown when he was at Leicester.

They saw that he was not even close to being match fit and didn't have the time to give him that; that is why they bought Beckford who, after all, had proven that he can perform at the highest level.

Now we only have Saha as a clear striker favourite but, as always, he is not fit enough, and that will only continue, believe me. So Moyes has to start thinking forward to a day without Saha, because that day has already arrived.

Whether he likes it or not, this club has to move on and the only way forward is by using our youngsters who are not too far away from what we have in Saha.

I am only talking about Midfield and Forward positions because that is where we have the young talents. Barkley and Vellios will have to be used more and more this season if we are to plug the holes left by Arteta and Beckford.

Now I am not saying Barkley will replace Arteta through and through but, if we are ever to go forward, then we at least have to start with Barkley and Vellios. Gueye can be the next one in, but I have to take issue with Moyes and his reason for not using Vellios more than he has this season.

Barkley I agree needs time after his injury but Vellios showed Moyes against Villa that he is making a big mistake for not using HIM!

Jimmy Sorheim     Posted 14/09/2011 at 07:47:48   Comments (72)

New Strac Song

I went to the match last week against Villa and the atmosphere in the Gwladys St was the best for a long time so I thought I'd do my best to see if we can build on this.

I started simply with the chorus which would be a good chant for Denis when he starts banging them in... It ended up a bit more than that.

As we don't have many songs, this is one to break up the tedium of "Everton, Everton, Everton" and "Kopites are Gobshites." I know there's others but we do need more variety.

There was a small group of people trying the Fellaini one which I'd like to see more people get behind too. Marouane should have his own song in my opinion anyway.

We used to sing songs with lots of our players' names in to celebrate them. Why not do it again with this team? They deserve it.

I'll probably get laughed out of town by some of the cynics on here but I don't care if I'm honest. I'm just trying to give us a song that's ours. (Hopefully no-one else uses this one anyway.) I feel this is one that will be great to sing in a crowd and go mad too. Could be a possible anthem if everyone was to try it a few times and pass it on.....

In the words of Kevin Keegan, I'd love it, Love it if someone started singing this on Saturday! Even in all likelihood that it will only be the chorus if and when he scores!

To the tune of I predict a Riot....

We love Jack, Barkley, Fellaini, Gueye, Coleman and Bainsey, They are our future I tell thee. So please don't go leave us like Rooney,

Howard, Jags, Drenthe and Ossie, Distin, Nev, Louis and Timmy, Kopites are gobshites I tell thee and we love Stracqualursi

Lar-lah-ah, lala la la la la la la Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la la la

Denis Stracqualursi, Denis Stracqualursi Denis Stracqualursi, Denis Stracqualursi

Bet you can't get the chorus out of your head! I can't stop humming it! Denis Stracqualursi, Denis Stracqualursi. Let's hope he's as good as his YouTube videos look and we're singing this song home and away when he scores!

Nick  Edwards     Posted 13/09/2011 at 00:09:58   Comments (108)

If you love this club.....

I watched hundreds of fellow Evertonians protesting on Saturday with mixed feelings. Naturally, they have every right to vent their feelings and point the finger at whoever they feel is to blame for Everton?s frustrating inertia.

Blame Bill Kenwright for the lack of investment or a failure to sell to one of the many convenient Russian oligarchs or Middle Eastern tyrants lining up on Goodison Road. Fine.

Blame David Moyes for failing to buy a half-decent striker despite having spent tens of millions of pounds over a long period on semi-talented disappointments like Yakubu and so many others - or for his dull tactics and frustrating insistence on making players who should be on the field watch from the sidelines until they?re begging to play. Fine.

I choose the latter but I respect the former view. But there is a saying: when you point one finger, three fingers point back at you. How many Evertonians out there with strongly held, sincere opinions about our financial situation don?t actually go to games every week, don?t buy stuff from the club store, don?t contribute at all to a club whose direst need is, after all, funds?

Every matchday you find the same question on the ToffeeWeb Live Forum thread and many other threads ? ?Er... any links lads?? There are always half a dozen answers as Everton fans who decry Everton?s lack of finances with one breath, look for ways to watch the match for free with another.

I?m not blameless. I?ve done it. I?ve watched matches in Arabic on wherearemyseventytwovirgins.com and so on. But it?s hypocrisy to wonder where the money is when you?re (metaphorically) shoplifting from the store.

And yes, it?s a drop in the bucket, for sure. But fans need to contribute our money. Buy stuff; go to every home game ? including League Cup games ? that?s support.

The fact is that one of the reasons Everton is not an attractive proposition to an investor is that the city?s population will decline 2% over the next several years while the rest of the country?s population will increase 11%.

Our elderly population is increasing even as our youthful population is decreasing. We have failed to create a global brand. Potential buyers look at Everton and see a club whose revenue stream is likely to decline, is loaded with debt, whose fans are loyal but vociferously critical and activist ? and we think we own the club.

Everton has complex business problems which cannot be sorted out with slogans like ?Let Go, If You Love this Club.?
Peter Fearon     Posted 12/09/2011 at 22:21:41   Comments (51)

Barkley and the poaching of young players

I feel angry that Alec Ferguson is trying to poach young players from teams that are struggling financially. How can these teams possibly grow when the only chance is to develop youth players into teams?

If Moyes and Kenwright sell Ross Barkley then I fear that any possibility of growth we have is finished. We may as well pack it in now. These top clubs are wrecking any faint hope of developing our youth talent both making them sit on the bench for 2 -3 years. This is pure greed and the FA should put a stop to this immediately.

The idea that Ferguson, if this is true, wants to swap Darren Gibson, who has had a serious injury and isnt much good anyhow, for our best talent plus £10 million that will be swallowed up by the bank anyway, makes me feel very angry.

Just 2 minutes into thinking you have a probable fantastic up-and-coming midfielder they close in like hawks to snatch them away. If this continues the gulf between top 4 and the rest will grow exponentially beyond repair.

Clive Lewis     Posted 12/09/2011 at 19:00:51   Comments (36)

Top ten is more than mediocrity

I was chatting to my old man about this situation earlier. Kenwright, the spilt amongst the fans etc. He has been supporting the club a lot longer than I have.

Although I was alive when we won our last two league titles, I was far too young to remember. He is more fortunate as he has seen us win the title twice before then, so four in total. The only real memory I have of us winning a trophy was 1995, of course we have had a few cup runs both in Europe and domestically with Moyes, but sadly we haven?t been able to replicate any of that success of late.

In my old mans life time, four League titles, 3 FA Cups and a European trophy? most of the fans of the 92 clubs in the Football League would envy the fact that most of us have seen their side win major trophies.

But then I look at the likes of Notts Forest, Derby County and Leeds United. All clubs who boast proud periods of success, similar to that of Everton. It is remarkable to think that clubs like that don?t even play in the same league as us.

Most pundits have us down to finish in the 7-8, which is pretty respectable considering the lack of money we have. We are very fortunate to have one of the best managers in the game at the moment.

Although we boast a proud list of trophies, we are at the end of the day, just another club. We have had periods of struggling and real mediocrity. We live in the shadow of our neighbours, it's sad but it's true.

We have no real right to challenge the likes of our illustrious neighbours, of course things could have been different had Heysel not happened, but it did.

We have had our fair share of decisions or unfortunate events. We get on with it. Shit happens.

When we started last season and went on that god awful run, I thought to myself, could it get any worse? I thought back to Walter Smith's last game in charge, we lost 3-0 to Boro away in the cup. I thought to myself, that was possibly one of the lowest times to be an Evertonian. I questioned whether Kenwright was too nice a guy to make the big decision and get rid of Smith, thankfully he did.

Comparing the squads we had from then and now, and we are light years ahead of how we were there. Most of that is down to David Moyes and what he has done for the club, but you would be foolish to think that Kenwright doesn?t deserve some credit, getting rid of Smith, astutely appointing Moyes as his replacement.

Our transfer policy of selling to buy, granted is not the best situation to be in. But we are still ticking by, adding season after season of top flight football, which we all want to see. We are just another club though, we have no right to success anymore than the likes of Leeds, Derby, Forest or Newcastle for that matter. We had long periods of average-ness long before probably the most successful period during the 80s.

Maybe if we had a new stadium, we may have looked far more of a prospect to buy. Had the controversial Kirkby stadium gone through, we may have had a new buyer, maybe not. Having more corporate boxes and better stadium facilities would appeal to an investor. Then again I'm happy we stayed at Goodison, as are many of the fans, therefore attracting an investor gets a little more difficult.

We can't have it all. Yes, I have questioned some of the other decisions BK has made over his tenure... Kings Dock, Fortress Sports Fund, etc. He would probably say that he could have done things a lot better than he has. But for me we have gone through almost a whole decade of stability, something we lacked so much for much of the 90s.

We are a top-half side; given the way football has changed since the Premier League has come about, that?s a decent effort. You can call me a ?knobhead? for accepting mediocrity. But there are at least 86 teams in the Football League who would love to be in the position we are.

Liam Appleby     Posted 12/09/2011 at 13:15:32   Comments (38)

Is Everton stagnating?

I was watching Gillette Soccer Saturday and saw Phil Thomson commenting on the team and the squad right before the Villa game. He thinks our team is stagnating. I don't think he's the worst pundit in the world, but as he was an ex Liverpool player (and normally he's biased as hell too), but he is wrong here.

With the financial aspect, of course I agree with him. We have been making record transfer deals earlier on, and now we havent spent anything in 2 seasons, and have seen players such as Arteta leave. Teams like Stoke and Wolves have spent a lot more than us, and are looking to break the top 10 barrier. Everton are a bigger club than them, and it is dissappointing to see teams like them appearing ahead of us in the transfer market. I think the Blue Union are doing a terrific job in their aims, and they are getting unjustified negative press.

But in terms of our squad, I disagree completely. The only issue is size and perhaps filling in a couple of problem positions. But if you analyse the squad, it does look very strong. We have established internationals like Heitinga, Baines, Cahill and Jagielka, established Premier league performers like Osman and Hibbert. Yes, Hibbert is not the best player in the world, but a lot of Premier League clubs would take him because he's solid and has plenty of experience.

The amount of youngsters though is very strong. I would consider these players to have a lot of potential: Coleman, Barkley, Rodwell, Fellaini, Gueye... Possible players include Vellios, Anichebe, Duffy, Baxter, Silva etc. How many clubs can honestly say we have this many good youngsters? The top 4, yes of course. Liverpool yes. Spurs maybe. But outside that, I can't think of many.

The new signings look quite good also. With Coleman and Drenthe on the wings, we look we have genuine width now, and The Strac is obviously a gamble, but could prove a revelation.

The squad gives us a sense of optimism, and Moyes has done well to get some good youngsters in. It does bode well for the future. Yes, the financial side is worrying, but it is about time there is some perspective on the squad. Yes, there are problem areas, yes there are some underperforming players, but the amount of youngsters gives us hope for the future.

I have tried to provide a sense of optimism which is realistic. So yes, our finances are stagnating, but our squad definitely is not.

Ben Jones     Posted 12/09/2011 at 12:53:49   Comments (38)

Support for Kenwright

A significant minority joined the march on Saturday and, whilst I respect their views, I think their voice was drowned out when Kenwright appeared on the screen. Not the most scientific survey, but I think you?ll agree there are far more fans in support of Blue Bill than against him.

Excluding the top 4, would we swap our position with any other club in the country? I for one wouldn?t.

Villa ? had a buyout from a rich foreigner, splashed a bit of cash at first and then reverted to selling more than they buy to make a profit for said foreigner. Looked very average on Saturday and not going to do anything this season.

Newcastle ? had a buyout from a rich English man, completely inept at running a football club. They sell far more than they buy, star players out with token average players in.

Sunderland ? rich backers, but they still sell star players to fund the purchase of average players.

Liverpool ? had a second buyout from rich foreigners ? going very much down the line of Villa. Splashed the cash at first, now selling away in the background. Net spend stands at around £35 million (or Carroll). Stadium plans have gone from world class arena in Stanley Park, to redevelop Anfield... to let?s see what happens. They don?t have the money and will in my opinion regret this takeover as much as the last.

Spurs ? backed by rich investors, and do buy quality players year-in, year out, but even that slowed this year when, despite big sales on transfer deadline, there wasn?t enough money for Cahill. They can?t afford a new stadium and are fighting to get the Olympic stadium as a solution.

A couple of buyouts have obviously been different: City SECOND time around, Chelsea etc but the vast majority haven?t improved the situation.

We currently roughly turn over what we spend, give or take a couple of million, and until turnover increases or wages decrease, we can?t justify a new owner saddling us with fresh debt to fund new players. Even if a new owner paid off all our current debt, that would only free up about £4 - 5million a year ? wages for one top signing, obviously excluding a transfer fee.

The way I see it, a new owner would have to pay £100 million for the club, plus debts of about £30million at the moment. Let?s say another £100 million to refurb half of the ground, or £200 million for a new stadium. Then let?s says 5 new signings who could make a difference for the club. Let?s say an average fee of £15million, plus average of £60k per week wages. That?s a total outlay of £150million ? fees plus wages over 5 years (don?t forget our current turnover can?t afford these new wages).

Not including current players who now want a wage increase to match the new signings. And we only get 5 new players ? in reality, we?d need a couple of players each year thereafter. That?s a total outlay of something like £350 - £500million and an investor is going to want an annual return of something like 7% on any investment ? at least £25million a year.

In effect, we?d then have to qualify for the CL every year, with 6 or 7 other teams in the same boat. This is why we don?t have investors fighting to take over. City fell lucky ? probably because they didn?t have the stadium issue. But with the UEFA rules changing, I can?t see another deal like theirs being done for a while.

Be thankful for what we have, instead of hoping to get out of this frying pan into a fire.

Neil Mulhearn     Posted 12/09/2011 at 11:03:37   Comments (29)

Another Update Please Bill

Dear Bill,

Thanks for letting us know that you are in discussions with three buyers for the Club. Presumably you took time off from negotiations to attend the game yesterday?

Did you bring any or all of the prospective buyers along to sample the atmosphere and see the culmination of your 11 years as Chairman both off and on the pitch? Were they excited by the prospect of taking the baton from yourself?

How are negotiations progressing? Has one of the potential buyers already pulled out, as reported in the Mail?

Given the new openness in which you are now keeping supporters up to date with these events, could you perhaps give us another update soon?

I'm holding my breath in anticipation,

Yours

A fellow Blue

Steve Guy     Posted 11/09/2011 at 23:16:49   Comments (15)

No change ? even away from Goodison

Spotted on the BBC text commentary:

Yesterday - 1505: Mikel Arteta is standing over a free-kick at the Emirates... a chance of a debut goal for Arsenal? Yes... and no. He fires straight into the wall.

Today - 1718: Norwich boss Paul Lambert has revealed striker James Vaughan has been taken to hospital with a serious facial injury. Vaughan caught an elbow from West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas near the end of the Baggies' 1-0 win. Lambert said: "James has gone to see the plastic surgeon at the minute, and it is a bad one."

Things don't change just because they have left Everton ? just sorry for JV, as always

Phil Roberts     Posted 11/09/2011 at 17:28:33   Comments (16)

Just imagine... serious question

Addressing the central issue of whether Kenwright has either the capability, or the inclination, to find a serious buyer or investor in this great club of ours, I would like to pose a hypothetical question........ if you were lucky (or hard working) enough to have amassed a couple of billion quid, what would you want to hear from Kenwright to convince you Everton FC were worth investing in or buying?

Or, to put it another way, what would you look to realistically achieve from that investment of your hard earned, in the current economic and football climate?

I ask this as a question, irrespective of which side of the 'Kenwright' fence you are ? or, if like me ? you are still sat on it... and in the hope it may prompt some serious response and further debate.

I've supported this love of mine since 1966 and, although we have had considerably more depressing phases in our history, I doubt we have had any more interesting, or more challenging. There are so many external factors now affecting our position as a club ? mainly of an economical and commercial nature, and not necessarily within our control.

Right on cue ? watching the early stages of the Fulham v Blackburn match on Sky ? and comment has just been made regarding the Blackburn manager's meeting yesterday with the owners of the club. nothing special about that except he had to fly to India for the meeting and then fly straight back ready for this Sunday televised game.

Anyway, I thought the question interesting enough to ask. I await the variety of responses that will hopefully follow.

Jim Burns     Posted 11/09/2011 at 16:04:56   Comments (6)

Cheering for Kenwright

As an Evertonian for the majority of my 49 years on this earth, I have never felt compelled to share my thoughts via a website until today.

Everton FC has always been and will always be my passion. I am currently a season ticket holder who travels home and away watching Everton. Although not a Merseysider by birth, the vast majority of my friends I have met through following Everton all over the world.

Within the group of us who meet for a few pints before games, opinions are always divided, but I would normally take the middle ground and would just continue with my support for Everton.

I have never booed Everton in all my time of watching but wouldn't condone others that do, as ? if they have paid good money to watch ? it is their right to air their views. Like every other group of Evertonians, currently our group are divided between some who blame Mr Kenwright for everything bad that has happened in the world, to those who trot out the standard line of "He's a Blue and who could do any better?"

I didn't go on the march but have every admiration for those that did, as I know they are trying desperately to get changes and improvements made. The Blue Union seems to get a lot of criticism but at least they are trying to press for change.

My concerns before yesterday's game were that, if the team put in another Blackburn-esque performance, Mr Kenwright was in danger of being publicly lynched!! I couldn't have been wider of the mark. When the image of Mr Kenwright appeared on the screen and people began cheering, I've got to say I was shocked to the core.

I was hoping that he wouldn't get slaughtered as this could have had a negative effect on the team. To get cheered as if he is some kind of hero leaves me bewildered to put it mildly!!!

Mr Kenwright and the current board are responsible for bringing this wonderful football club to its knees financially and they get roundly cheered! If our current board were salaried and ran any type of business which were accountable to shareholders, they would have been dismissed years ago.\

I beg my fellow supporters to not let the love that we all have for our club and the support for Everton lead to confusion and hence support for the current regime. My love and support for Everton will always be unconditional but Mr Kenwright and his fellow board members need to go. They are completely inept and not good enough to be Custodians of Everton FC.

David Cartwright     Posted 11/09/2011 at 12:20:48   Comments (61)

Moyes's Weaknesses on Display

If you wanted to put all of Moyes weaknesses on display at the Walker Art Gallery - and you would need an overflow tent - you could just put the Villa game on a continuous video loop.

Dithering, weak, risk-avoidance and moral cowardice and lack of character masquerading as conservative care and common sense. Sign two exciting forwards ten days ago? Put them both on the bench! Short of attacking potency? Lone striker not working for you? Try no striker!

After making a breakthrough in the first 20 minutes do you press home the advantage or drop back to defend the lead? Take a wild guess!

Drenthe and Stracqualursi need to partner up. Let them start that partnership! Even if there's an excuse for not starting them, let Drenthe and Stracqua play for the last half hour! No - Drenthe for 20 minutes and Vellios for only ten. And yet they had no impact! Strange!

I have never seen a manager make so many substitutions over a season that had either no impact or had a negative impact on a game. Moyes does it over and over and over. I cannot figure out why so many Evertonians are focused on Bill Kenwright when the real problems are on the field. Bill Kenwright didn't drop two points with poor managerial decisions. David Moyes did.
Peter Fearon     Posted 10/09/2011 at 17:35:34   Comments (98)

Normal Service Resumes

You can be on top in a game as much as you like yet without the steel to see out the game, to see the opposition off, the superior score line will not translate itself to the pitch and you'll be as vulnerable to conceding a goal than if you were 5-0 down.

Five points needlessly dropped at home now and I start to think of all those seasons where we were nine or ten points from qualifying for the Champions League. Its not so much what Moyes has done that gets to people, its falling short of what he is/ should be capable and today's story had its all to familiar ending.

Shoddy defending for both Villa goals and its not difficult to see what was wrong. You never give up, you never relax, you never take a breather in the Premiership. At least that's the difference between the best teams and the rest. And I am not happy at being the rest.

In the lead, all square or behind, its all the same. I don't know what the answer is, but someone needs to step up, not just be a leader, but show what it means to win. I only hope Moyes isn't giving it the 'well done' treatment in the dressing room because these dropped points will probably hurt us at the crunch.

Nick Entwistle     Posted 10/09/2011 at 16:57:13   Comments (14)

Protest helping our team?

As I read Moyes pre-match comments on Sky Sports I started thinking, can this protest help the players in any way, or form?

Yes, it will be good for the fans to get it off their chest before the match. Also it could boost the vocal chords of the fans so that they will be all warm and fussy when the game starts. If there is to become something negative it will be because of players doing badly and the fans reacting more negative than usual to it.

Moyes himself said this to Sky sports:about the protest: "It is not for a lack of trying. Maybe tomorrow, strangely enough, it might make the supporters more vocal to help us"

Now I feel the need to adress the fans that claim it will destroy the players confidence if the protest goes as planned.

Why would you think that a protest march would affect the players performance? The only way the players could be influenced are if the fans or Blue Union start protesting INSIDE Goodison. I dont think that will happen merely because there is a different mindset taking over when a game starts, one of positve and hopeful expectations.

My point here with this post is to try and get all Everton supporters on the same page so that when the game starts against Aston Villa the only focus will be about cheering the team along and to get us the 3 points we so clearly need right now.

Now, if we can stand together during games the protest group efforts will not be a problem for the team during games.

I am not for protesting regularly and I firmly belive that if it does continue beyond christmas the team and the players will be affected by it. So my message to Blue Union is this: Get your points across and when you are done, give it up for a while if nothing happens then you can resume it. But I feel that Bill Kenwright has started to take the point.

I am not against anyone here, I am only for the team and the players so if you all can agree to do things civil and then give it a rest then I think Everton Football club will benefit from this.

So let us all agree and stand together, and not call each other bad names like "kopite" and argue with other Evertonians.

I hope we win against Villa and with every fan behind the team then we have a good chance. Maybe this can spur us on a bit as it did when Rooney was sold... Here's hoping.
Jimmy Sorheim     Posted 09/09/2011 at 20:26:42   Comments (27)

Man Up

I found it sad if not unsurprising today to find Jagielka calling for the supporters to get behind them tomorrow. I imagine this is more of the same propaganda line that has seen such luminaries as Andy Gray spouting forth on the OS recently.

However, I couldn't believe the sentiments Jags espoused. Low on confidence...especially in the first 20 minutes of a game.....don't usually have a good start to the season......injuries....... Villa a good side....their fans are noisy........so we need our supporters behind us.

Flaming Hell ! Why don't you just hoist the white flag, hand Villa 3 points and we can all go the pub early.

Assuming we're allowed in after the protest, we'll be shouting you on as always. However, can I suggest, Jags, that you and the other players concentrate on your raising your games (you especially at the moment) and stop crying before the milk's even spilt.
Steve Guy     Posted 09/09/2011 at 16:08:38   Comments (8)

Protest March

Whilst, like all Blues, I am concerned at the perilous state of our club finances, I read some of these blogs and ask myself Are these protesters also the ones who were refusing to move grounds and take us into the real world of modern day Premiership Football?

The facts are that we have costs of £85mil and income of £80mil, if not a football club we would be out of business!!!

Whilst no one could argue that we need new investment, we will only get that if we are prepared to move forward into the real world and not hang on to history in a Dickensian stadium that has no place in the Premier League! Perhaps if we had all got behind the forward looking stadium plans previously we would have had the much needed investment some time ago!!

I truly hope that Saturdays protest does not spill over into a negative atmosphere that the players will suffer with and that the boo boys manage to keep their mouths tightly shut.
Geoff  Smith     Posted 09/09/2011 at 10:52:01   Comments (35)

Timed to perfection

"Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has had three meetings this week with potential buyers for the club, ESPNsoccernet can reveal.

Bearing in mind the current unrest, and planned protest for Saturday, is this story giving off the distinct whiff of bullshit to anyone else?
John Daley     Posted 08/09/2011 at 18:26:15   Comments (91)

The Yobo Fiasco

I'm very surprised/shocked that none of my fellow ToffeeWeb posters have not even made a peep regarding the Yobo cock-up.

I have been waiting for some well written post explaining the intricacies of the foul-up... Instead, I'll give you a short, below-average written piece to stoke some conversation amongst our bewildered and embarrassed Blues...

Once again, we have been made to look the absolute FOOLS in the open market. Fenerfuckers agreed to buy Yobo for £6M, then negotiated down to £2M or what have you...

Then we get the old mule back only for them to take him on loan again for another season??? Could we be any more daft?? Could we???

Are we the biggest bag of nutbags the Prem has ever seen?? Sure it's nice to get his wages off the books but Fenercheaters have completely run circles around us with this one... And the whole league is having a laugh, trust me.

We couldn't get 1m for him??? He's the f-ing captain of Nigeria???

Looking into my crystal ball, I will almost bet my house that we will be stuck with Yobo again next year as Fenertwats will not want to buy a 30+ defender who is past his best and deadweight.

No money in to give to the bank or reinvest. Just shows you how little leverage we have in ANY deal going forward under this wayward stewardship.

Business is ultra competitive with money so tight at the moment. Football is just as, if not more than other businesses... Fuck my life.

Christopher Kelly     Posted 08/09/2011 at 15:27:09   Comments (32)

11th time lucky

Thank god the Premier League will soon be back up and running ? I can't get passionate about Ashley Cole and Young falling over and moaning constantly, then checking on our players and hoping for no injuries/niggles ? of which we have had 3.

Anyway, Saturday is a massive game: we need to get a win for the players to believe that they are better without Arteta. When Rooney, left we went on a winning streak and that bred confidence for the rest of the season; let's hope that's repeated.

Going into the Villa game though, we need to get over our bogey team; we haven't beaten them in our last 10 games!! In the last few seasons, I have been at the game where Lescott scored late on only for Young to win it even later. And last season, when Villa were awful and there for the taking, we scraped a draw through a Baines penalty. Why? they are Villa and a poor team, I just can't understand this run against them.

I believe that if we win, the confidence will be very high and this squad and young midfield can go forwards and push on for the rest of the season; if we have a defeat, we may be in for a tough September-October with City and Liverpool to play...

Andrew Fair     Posted 07/09/2011 at 10:09:55   Comments (28)

Prince Rupert's Spin

Just read this on the Echo website,

"IN Saturday?s Echo we stated that Everton FC?s financial plight made the sale of Mikel Arteta necessary.

We understand from Everton this is not the case and Arteta was reluctantly allowed to leave because he expressly stated a desire to do so ? not because of any financial pressure upon the club, which would have been happy and able to keep him.

We apologise for giving the wrong impression on the matter." In this interview on YouTube: -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSiplB0QL9o

Arteta states he knew a few days before of Arsenal's interest.

Given that Prince Rupert has made the Echo apologise, can we take that as meaning most of us have got the wrong end of the stick and that Moyes will have all of that to spend come January?

I am not holding my breath.

Dave Randles     Posted 06/09/2011 at 12:22:31   Comments (39)

Can Rodwell play right back

When Jack Rodwell first came on the scene, he was a young centre-back helping us out in our time of need. He's since played wide on the right, wide on the left, and centre midfield, and not really shown outstanding form.

With the young lad Smalling of Man Utd (who also is a centre-back) performing so well at right back, is it possible our boy could do as good a job in that position for us? Some extra height in the back four would certainly be welcomed and, if Baines is not available for Saturday, maybe a back four of Rodwell Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin could do the job.

Or am I talking crap?
Brian Swift     Posted 06/09/2011 at 20:45:46   Comments (30)

Who's Gonna Start?

I have just found out that Baines picked up an injury on England duty and has returned to Everton. I think it was a hamstring injury.

Also, I have just discovered that "Big" Vic picked up an injury playing for Nigeria and is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks.

So...........who's gonna start on Saturday if these two are out?

I know a lot of you don't think Moyes has the "balls" to throw in Stracqualursi straight away and many of you have constantly bemoaned our lack of cover at left back.

My own opinion is that Moyes will play Saha from the start (if he is actually fit?) and at left back..............i am not sure.

Who would you play??

I would LIKE to see Denis and Drenthe start the game myself. I would even consider putting Neville at left back and Hibbert at RB. Distin is an option too, with Heitinga partnering Jagielka at centre half.

I feel that if we put the new lads in from the start it might help get the crowd a bit more 'up for it'. I accept that they may be complete shite but there is only one way to find out I suppose.

Lee Courtliff     Posted 05/09/2011 at 16:21:25   Comments (76)

Effete Evertonians...

I can't believe some still defend Kenwright, if he'd spoken to supporters at the start and said:

"Look lads, I've got just enough to buy the shares and my Spurs mates who are minted say they'll help me through choppy business waters... whaddya say?"

How much are they putting in, Bill ? and what's in it for them?

"Nothing...... they're financial geniuses...... they reckon I can just keep remortgaging against the assets and flog players, it won't cost me a bean beyond the shares.....clever eh?......and get this.....they reckon we can move to a shopping arcade in Kirkby with new chippies an' everything!"

Err..... a new production is it Bill? A shakespearian spoof...."The Taming of the Blue"?

It's nonsense and we're reaping the rewards of sowing this crap, chase him and his cohorts out and someone will come.

£300 or 400 mill to people who want real high profile that only a handful of clubs ? AND THIS IS ONE ? can provide is piss all to them... BUT THEY WON'T DEAL WITH FOOLS!!! Stop making excuses for him, anyone with eyes in their head can see he's the obstacle ? he has to go.
Trevor Mackie     Posted 04/09/2011 at 20:57:44   Comments (60)

An interesting question...

... was posed in today's Sunday Times by Rod Liddle. Rod himself is a bit like Marmite, you either love him or hate him. Personally I don't always agree with his views on football and politics, but in his article today he reviews the transfer window across both Championship and EPL.

His view is that both us and Spurs were the biggest losers this window. His question is "Do Everton have anybody left you would pay to watch?"

Tricky one? I'm hoping it's Mr Barkley.

Steve Guy     Posted 04/09/2011 at 13:44:40   Comments (38)

Youth is the future

In this climate of having to keep the banks satisfied every season, then surely a club like Everton will only be able to really challenge by unearthing a couple of young gems every season.

If we are not able to bring them into the game at youth level then we may be screwed long term. We got down to 3 full time scouts a few years back and I have heard that Arsenal had over 20....

Rooney, Rodwell, Barkley to name but 3 surely have to be the long-term way out of this financial mess, that or get a billionaire in... and Billy Liar is in charge of that, so I am not holding my breath.

Steve Cotton     Posted 04/09/2011 at 10:23:55   Comments (10)

Trust Everton? vs TrustEverton!

Where are we with this, how is it coming along?

To my mind, the Board have yet to admit that there is even a problem, nevermind a plan to fix it... Crisis? What crisis? They just come out and state: "These are the circumstances we find ourselves in today..." and add, with an unspoken shrug, "Well, what can ya do about things?"

I don't think there is one magic bullet, one plan to rule them all type of thing. What we require is any number of plans... short-term plans, mid-term plans and long-term plans.

For all we know, the Board's plan might now consist of selling off 'x' millions of talent for the next 4 or 5 seasons and that's the debt sorted.

I get the feeling that, behind the scenes, there is a lot of financial bobbing and weaving going on as the incumbents and/or usual suspects (take your pick) look to sort out some sort of endgame... exit strategy.

By it's very nature, the TrustEverton is at best a mid-term solution (5+ years) but every week counts in the old compound interest game.

How long before 'we' ? the prospective contributors ? get to start on our own mid- to long-term plan?

And when we get to the 5+ years down the track, how can we best wield our compound interest stick?

Hopefully not, that the only thing we can do with said stick is to put it in the ground as a marker: RIP EFC... gone but not forgotten.

On the football front, the two new loan signings and Arteta out may "force Moyes's hand" re his stodgy and turgid version of 4-5-1... or will it be Big Vic and 10 or 20 mins from the bench for the new guys???

Next weekend's team sheet will go a huge way in defining how our on-field season shapes up.

Derek Thomas     Posted 04/09/2011 at 01:42:55   Comments (7)

Everton unleashed

With Arteta, Yakubu & Beckford gone, Drenthe & Denis in, it got me wondering, what's left?

Some, or even most, think we will revert to unimaginative hoofball with zero creativity, and they may be right. Amongst my own thoughts of that very scenario though, came a thought of a new, exciting, young Everton playing in front of our experienced players.

I'm talking the same back 5 in Howard, Neville, Jags, Distin & Baines, with cover from the likes of Hibbo, Johnny, and perhaps even Yobo. After that though comes a midfield consisting of (right to left) Coleman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Barkley & Drenthe to really go at teams. The potential there is awesome and those players would have help from the older heads in Osman, Cahill with Bilyaletdinov thrown in too.

Upfront, the preference would be a fully fit, in-form Saha, but here we also have youth in Vellios, Denis & even Big Vic if he can finally turn his physical raw power into some consistancy and ability on the field. Those lads are all around the same age and could build a team spirit and togetherness like the Man U team of the nineties if they are allowed to express and enjoy themselves on the field.

This is what I would love to see this season, and I'm sure I wouldn't be alone. I get the feeling though that the main thing stopping this kind of thing at Everton is David Moyes!

Dan McKie     Posted 03/09/2011 at 20:16:28   Comments (14)

Hoofball

With Denis in the front, Tim and Felli in the middle, Vellios on the bench, Mikki gone and no replacement, it seems we are going back to the Big Dunc era in the coming seasons. I bet the ball play in the air is far more than in the ground in our attack this season!!!

Royston and Bainsy on the left, Seamus on the right, and the like of Barkley, Bily, Jack, Ossie and Gueye in midfield, we can't say we don't have a strong and supportive midfield; the creativity is the doubt though, but the support to the front should not have any problems like in the past.

Let's give out the best of our aerial threats like the height of Denis and Felli and the ability of Tim.

Leung Chi Ho     Posted 03/09/2011 at 17:30:59   Comments (18)

The Buck stops at the top

There has been a lot of chat about Mikel leaving, selling Beckford, Dave?s ambitions etc etc. We could and probably will go on and on about what if this and what if that. This signing, that signing. The ramifications of what is going on, is that Everton FC are in a mess. Don?t mince any words, we are knackered. If we avoid relegation this season it?ll be a great result.

Where did it all go wrong? Well, the buck stops at the top. Should we blame the Toffee Lady? The Kitman? The Groundsman? The Supporters? No ? we blame the Chairman and the Board of Directors. After all, they are the ones who make the decisions about the day-to-day running of the club, where the money goes (where is that £24 million by the way?), what we spend our money on, who gets paid what. Have they done a good job? Simple answer NO. If the average person is incompetent in their job, they lose it.

Won't our Chairman and Directors resign and get someone who is competent to run a football club in to do a job for us? Or must we continue to put up with what we have got?
Des Kenny     Posted 03/09/2011 at 14:57:34   Comments (23)

What does Moyes think?

So, the window closes and our squad is changed. Our fastest striker, and that isn't saying much, and our most creative player have gone. Is this part of the coach's plan? What does he know about the two new lads? Has he watched them and thought, "Yeah, they are exactly what I need to take us forward"?

It seems to me that Moyes is irrelevant as far as any future planning goes. He has been hung out to dry once more and if he wasn't over-paid and over-rated I'd feel sorry for him.

I look forward to seeing the new players, I hope they are inspired signings, I find it hard to believe that Moyes played any part in our transfer dealings. What I find harder to believe is his acceptance of his treatment. Sorry, I forgot about his salary.

Andy Crooks     Posted 02/09/2011 at 23:47:35   Comments (18)

Selling Beckford?

Just a quick question, after everything that went on at Everton on Deadline Day, am I the only person who finds selling Beckford the strangest deal of them all??

A) Why have we sold one of our very few goalscorers, who must surely have been ahead of Anichebe, Velios and the ever-injured Saha in the pecking order?

and B) Why did he want to leave a Premier League club to drop back down a division?

With an unknown loan signing to replace him, I'm baffled by this one.....

Michael Grundy     Posted 02/09/2011 at 19:01:05   Comments (92)

Dining at the heartbreak hotel

I, like so many other Evertonians, awoke to news that would shock us. One of our own, our beloved son Mikel Arteta had sought pastures new.

Personally, I remember his debut. I had seen him before he graced our colours, playing for Rangers (and indeed had signed him on Football Manager!) and was excited about the prospect. What I didn't know and couldn't predict that he would play his way into our hearts, and us, it seemed, were taken to his.

In brief, we loved him. We supported him throughout any time he struggled ? I recall us singing his song when he first mustered the strength to sit in the stands at Goodison after what could have been a career threatening injury ? and always wanted the best for him. To my mind, even when he struggled, there were few outcries against him.

He was good to us, too. There are plenty of memories ? too many to list here and I'm sure you all have your own personal favourites -? associated with the Best Little Spaniard We Know.

But now, as he leaves, I cannot help but feel like a jilted lover. I understand the footballer is a fickle creature, and I understand he's grasping an opportunity which we simply cannot offer him ? I don't begrudge him that. But he was one of Us and we thought he felt the same.

I see a lot of people on messageboards wishing him the best and I wonder how much of that is through gritted teeth. I wonder if I'm alone when pictures of him incite similar wrenching feelings to an ex-girlfriend enjoying herself in a new life without you. No doubt he will get an excellent reception when he plays against us, but I for one will not be applauding with my heart in it.

He leaves as a star of a struggling club, a stagnating club, which fought tooth and nail for his services. He must have realised that he was our only true creative attacking outlet, and the manner of leaving ? demanding a transfer at what was it, 10pm on deadline day? ? has left us with a void that we simply cannot fill. It feels to me that the manner of his leaving is ? bizarre as it is to say this about a professional footballer ? selfish, especially considering all the club, the fans and his friends at the team have done for him.

To me, then, Arteta's hero status has greatly diminished. Arsenal would have still had their £10m, their Champions League football and their Fabregas shaped hole in January. Idealistic as it sounds, but the deal could have deen done, say, today, with a mindset of him leaving in the next window officially, and although that will have undoubtedly left us with a player with his mind elsewhere, it would have allowed us to (banks notwithstanding) draft in a replacement to fill the creative void he's leaving.

In other words, Arsenal get their man, Arteta gets his ambitions fulfiled and Everton ? at the very least ? keep the bank at bay, but have an opportunity to replace him. All parties pleased... and because the deal was hammered through almost as the door was slamming shut, I fully expect the Arsenal camp was preparing for life without getting their man and the fact they did so at the eleventh hour will seem much more of a coup.

There will, of course, be anti-Kenwright conspiracists saying that Arteta played the martyr so we could raise a quoted £10m conveniently, but one thing is for certain; it will feel lonely in the centre of the park without the Best Little Spaniard We Know.
Mike Dillon     Posted 02/09/2011 at 14:48:14   Comments (34)

Push the button?

Firstly, I love Everton but last night I got that feeling I have felt before a few times but probably more strongly that ever. Generally when the pain is just so unbearable and I am angrier than a vengeful God. If there was a button to switch Everton off, would you push it?

Some examples for me are:

? Losing to Portsmouth at home three-nil after a similar summer to the one we have just had.
? Hull away a couple of years ago.
? 4-0 away at Arsenal in 98.

I just think life is full of problems and quite frankly supporting Everton at the moment is like being a heroin addict but without the highs. I?m 28 and I cannot remember a time when I felt so little optimism for the future. We have had worse teams, sure... but I can?t remember a time when we have had so little prospects.

Anyway can anyone think of any examples when they have felt this way?

Philip Rodgers     Posted 02/09/2011 at 13:52:10   Comments (45)

Let's all have a Sing-Song!

Inspired by Ben Howards efforts in "Everton to Finish 4th Shock", I've followed his lead with something to welcome our new arrivals from the terraces.

Here's my effort for Denis ? sung along to the tune of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana"...

"His name was Denis - Den Stracqualursi
He was signed by Davey Moyes, to play with the Everton boys
And when he finished, he never missed it
Cus Denis was a star, never hit above the bar
And when the punches flew. The Reds were smashed in two
There was just a single goal?
But just who? scored? it?

It was Denis (DEN!), Den Stracqualursi (STRACQUALURSI!)
The hottest shot north of the Mersey (here!)
And it?s Denis (DEN!), Den Stracqualursi
Footie and passion were always the fashion
At Goodison....they fell in love?.."

Ahem...

Mike Green     Posted 02/09/2011 at 11:18:28   Comments (32)

Everton to finish 4th shock!

After the fun and frolics of Transfer Deadline Day (TDD), I went to bed with a sense of confusion, bewilderment and, yes, foreboding. However, I woke up this morning with an unrealistic and unexpected feeling of excitement (and no, I?m not talking "morning glory" here).

Now I can?t remember getting knocked on me noggin in the middle of the night. I can?t discount it though because it is the only plausible explanation of what I thought on awaking (and still currently believe). Yes, you heard it hear first? Everton WILL finish 4th and march gloriously into the Champions League in 2012 (drawing Villarreal in the preliminary round notwithstanding!).

Actually there is a scintilla of logic in this apparently bonkers assertion. Let me present the thrust of my discourse:?

Top 3 (in no particular order): Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City. I think we can all agree on that. So the rest of the Premier League are playing for 4th place (the best of the rest). So why us?

Well, my argument is not "why us?" but "why not them?" So let me go through the "why not thems", the arguments against, one by one:?

The Orc Army opposite (led by Kenny "Sauron" Dalgleish) ? (Probably favourites now for 4th) ? 1) Too many 1st-Teamers to keep satisfied; 2) Craig Bellamy!! 3) Prone to dodgy defending.

Arsenal ? 1) In meltdown; 2) Weaker in midfield, the one area they were strong last year.

Tottenham Hotspur ? 1) Modric (their Lescott); 2) Won?t score enough goals; 3) Bale has been sussed (fact, according my inside source).

Aston Villa ? 1) I?ve never liked them (don?t know why); 2) Defensively dodgy (similar to "prone to dodgy defending" as above).

Sunderland ? 1) Two words ? Nicklas Bendtner.

Newcastle ? 1) Two words ? Mike Ashley (makes Wor Billy look vaguely competent).

Stoke ? 1) Too many new signings to integrate quickly.

I?ll stop there because I?m sure you get the picture. Basically the Premier League is "shoite" and therefore it?s ours for the taking... if...

• Drenthe can be motivated and resurrected in a Pienaar-esque style;
• Big Denis hits the ground running and bangs ?em in from Day 1
• Little Ross Barkley develops
• The Grim Ligament Reaper doesn?t come a-visiting

And that?s all there is to it? 4th place is in the bag. This theory will be validated on the 10th when we wop the Villans (or not, as the case may be).

If, in the meantime, I do discover evidence of a nocturnal nutting and get treated as a result, I?ll let you know and please ignore all of the above.

COYB

Alun Willis     Posted 01/09/2011 at 22:45:23   Comments (40)

Does Moyes have any personal ambition?

I was engaged in conversation with a couple of Liverpudlians last evening during the off/on Arteta saga, when they stated that if Moyes had any personal ambition he would have gone by now given our financial restraints. Much as I would have liked to disagree I couldn't, their opinions seemingly backed up during deadline day discussion on 5Live, when it was stated that, "If Arteta was sold behind his back, then what control did Moyes retain over team affairs?"

The debate continued along the lines that, since Moyes signed his last contract, he had been a lot less vocal about the constraints he's working under. Don't get me wrong here his tatics/substitutions can be extremely baffling but, if he were to resign, he'd be employed elsewhere in the Premier League with more financial clout.

It seems to me that he's accepted that we can't progress without a considerable influx of funds /takeover, which will not happen any time soon whilst Kenwright keeps a tight hold on his train set.

The sale of Arteta sends a clear message to the senior professionals: can anyone now see Fellaini extending his contract or Baines & Jagielka prepared to stay beyond January?

Jim Feeney     Posted 01/09/2011 at 16:15:01   Comments (46)

Friends like these?

The recent fall-out from the Blue Union transcript painted a picture of a man ? Bill Kenwright ? who appears to have more faces than the town hall clock.

A psychiatrist reading the Blue Union transcript would describe Kenwright's behaviour and manner as somebody suffering from dissociative identity disorder, a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities or personalities (known as alter egos or alters), each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment.

Some would say that such characteristics are a prerequisite of a showman and befitting of a man steeped in acting, theatre production and the arts.

It may be such attributes that make Bill Kenwright so endearing to his wealthy friends ? Philip Green, Amanda Staveley and Simon Cowell. By his own admissions, Kenwright financially is not one of them and does not have the wealth or financial clout to support his football team.

The fact that Amanda Staveley is regarded as a friend. given her substantial Arabian connections, why is it that Everton have a track record of missing the financial boat, failed in its 24/7 search for investment, and are embarrisingly being linked with red herrings such as the guy in the Manchester bedsit?

The Blue Union transcript displayed Kenwright in all of his alter egos, one minute forlorn and crestfallen, the next grandiose and self-important. Surely these characteristics must be known to Green, Staveley and Cowell ? factors that would in my opinion dissuade an investor or buyer.

The fact that Kenwright is still using Keith Harris ? described by recently by club stooge Dave Prentice as "a man that will go anywhere that there?s a bit of publicity around. That?s his modus operandi, but his track record in football isn?t anything to write home about.? ? speaks volumes in respect of his judgement.

Which brings me to my final point, Bill Kenwright is the making of the Everton problem. His recent comments would suggest that he views himself as the right man for the job, like the emperor with no clothes... Blue Union are like the boy who dared to suggest otherwise.

If Everton FC is to regain its pride and standing within the game then a solution to the Kenwright problem needs to be sought. The appointment of an interim board may offer salvation, rid Everton of the smoke and mirrors policy that pervades all of its dealings and offer the platform for dialogue, transparency and open communication that have been non-evident during Bill Kenwright's stewardship.
Peter Laing     Posted 01/09/2011 at 11:51:21   Comments (48)

The dust settles

Well that was certainly a more frantic transfer deadline day than I expected and I have to say that I think I am pretty pleased with how it went on the whole.

The main reason is financial concern. I think we all know that while we are being crippled by debt and losses there is no way we were going to push forward.

Arteta was on huge wages (£75k/wk) for our club and I believe Yak was pretty well paid and being a free transfer I imagine Becks was on something decent too. We also pocketed something in the region of £15M for their sales. I will come onto the impact of their loss from the first team. Meanwhile Stracqualursi will be on relatively little from a small Argentinian club and I imagine Real Madrid are subsidising Drenthe as they clearly want rid.

So hopefully we have made a decent profit and also cut a decent chunk off the wage bill. Very good things considering our precarious finances.

As for on the field...

Arteta is a strange one. Over his time at Everton he has undoubtedly been one of the star performers; one of the few players able to unlock a defense and show some real artistry. But i think we will all admit that in the last few years we have seen that side of him less and less. If anything the last two seasons have been a case of sporadic inspiration, mostly dire dead balls, constant niggling injuries and a fair few indifferent Saturdays.

Centre mid is one place we are blesses and with the likes of Fellaini, Rodwell and Barkley i think our future there looks strong. I believe Arteta's best days (for us at least) were behind him. I hope he finds that form again at an Arsenal team which will suit his style of play but i think had he stayed with us, his gradual decline would have continued.

If Mikey was declining then the Yak had plummeted. I held little hope in seeing him burst the net for us again this season and i think getting his wages off the books and a transfer fee in the bank was a mini miracle. I wish him well and he was great player on his day but those days seemed long gone to me and i don't think he ever fully recovered (as very few players do) from his serious injury.

Beckford in a way may prove to be a bigger loss. He was our top scorer last season and undoubtedly our most mobile forward. He definitely offered something but at the same time his technique and touch saw us lose the ball too much and too many moves break down, he did score chances but he missed a fair few too, i would say allround that his game wasn't quite up to it, but maybe he will prove me wrong. I think £4m is great business for someone who may well be best suited to a top Championship or struggling Premiership team (which hopefully we won't be!).

Drenthe. I remember watching this guy a while back at LWB for Holland and thinking he was quality. He has pace, strong attacking instincts, good touch and most importantly something to prove. Heitinga will help him settle in and i think for the first time in a long while we might have a genuine winger on our hands. The only problem is that if he does well, he is on a free transfer next season so will probably move on elsewhere. But I guess thats a nice problem to have.

Stacqualursi is an unknown element but he has scored a lot of goals in a decent Argentinian league for an average team. Think someone at Doncaster being the leading scorer in the Championship. Fingers crossed he beds in quickly because we sure are light in the striking department. One idea I had is trying Bily as a striker? He's decent in the air, has a good touch and his shooting has to be the best at the club... worth a go?

All in all, we've got a smaller wage bill, some money in the bank,some younger players, some pace and width and an unknown prolific striker to be excited about. We've lost a good servant or two, but life carries on with the blue flag flying. Good luck to Mikey, Yak and Becks. And even better luck to Drenthe and Stracqualursi. Show us you deserve to be here.
Sam Hoare     Posted 01/09/2011 at 10:34:38   Comments (50)

The Talented Mr Rossy

This article and its associated reader comments were removed by the ToffeeWeb editorial team at the request of Everton FC's Communications department.

We were under no obligation to do so and did so voluntarily at the earliest opportunity ? the original material on other Everton websites (content that led to more damaging personal abuse of a high-ranking member of the Club's administration elsewhere) that pre-dated this withdrawn article and that was quoted and linked to in the comments thread therein was still available on those other sites and had not been removed at the time of writing.

ToffeeWeb Editorial Team ? 3 September, 2011

Anthony Newell     Posted 01/09/2011 at 09:15:06   Comments (0)

Post-transfer team analysis

With Arteta, Yakubu, Beckford out and Drenthe, Stracqualursi in, our squad is effectively less one forward, less one central playmaker but more one wingback/winger.

Based on these changes, what formation can we expect Moyes to be playing for the rest of the season (or at least until the next transfer window)?

I'd expect the back four to remain unchanged ? Baines at the left with Drenthe or Neville as cover. Rightback comfortably filled from Coleman, Hibbert, or Neville. Centerbacks from Distin, Jagielka, or Heitinga.

At first I thought losing Arteta would severely curtail our assist rates, but looking at the past season, our top two assist-providers were Baines (14) and Osman (7). Arteta was third at (6)... perhaps of some concern, but not devastatingly critical.

I think what we've lost in Arteta is someone who is comfortable holding the ball and dictating play. None of our current squad seem to be on the same level as Arteta. Holding the ball yes ? Fellaini, Rodwell. Creativity, possible ? Osman. But noone who I feel can do both effectively.

In Arteta, I also feel we've lost someone influential on the field, someone whom the rest of the team feel comfortable in getting the ball to quickly. I feel that in the following months, we'll be seeing a return to more direct play instead of the ?keep ball? methods that we've been witnessing recently.

If Moyes does play Drenthe & Stracq regularly immediately, expect to see a more direct approach from the flanks (Drenthe left, Coleman/Barkley right). And probably a central midfield of Fellaini and Neville. Osman and Cahill to make up the support striker role.

I can't say I'm hugely optimistic. But perhaps losing Arteta will force us to be more direct.. which may be good because in the recent campaign, we seem to have been trying to play more attractive possession football, but with little effect. How many times have I read match reports saying Everton played some tidy link-up midfield play but with no cutting edge/ result in the final third.

I'm slightly optimistic that Drenthe offers some hope of a return to when Pienaar-Baines linked up so effectively a couple of seasons back. Time will tell... And perhaps with Barkley getting more regular playing time and when Coleman returns, we could actually see a more effective right-hand side... and perhaps more balance in our play on the wings.

Here's also hoping to no injuries ? well at least no serious long-term ones. I dread to think what would happen if Stracqualursi and Saha both got injured at the same time.
Marcus Choo     Posted 01/09/2011 at 09:43:25   Comments (9)

Wake up to smell Reality

This is no Bill-Bashing article using the sale of Mikel, the Yak and Becks as an excuse to lament the management of the Business of Everton.

But it is an offer to consider the reality of our situation without being deafened by Blue-Union well-motivated noise or the Official club's lamentable attempts to control the way we think.

Clearly, we have spent more than we earned for ten years.

We have been told by our financiers that we must stop.

And we have been told to bring down our debt.

Those points add up to player sales and better control of the wages budget. No surprises there and, to be fair, about time too. No business can survive without being run as a business. BK's ambition to win something, to support the manager - to bring us some glory, if you will - has been a gamble and he has not played a winning hand.

He confused risk and investment with the throw of the dice. Bill is no businessman.

Well, which of us may not have done the same? It must have been a real temptation to go for it with such a good manager and with all that Sky money coming in.

However, it's over. The fat lady down at Barclays has been singing all summer (and at the other finance houses we are embroiled with) so we need to get our business model back in check - that means no more big cheques for signings and no more pay-day cheques we can't afford.

For me, that is the reality any sound football business must live with and it may not be a bad thing. The best football clubs create their own talent, run in the black and manage a business efficiently. That, for me, is as sexy a target (right now) as a European place.

The reality is, spend less, earn more, balance the books (stay in the premiership) and maybe someone might put Bill out of his misery and start us dreaming again of a realistic chance of performing at the top.

And by the way, Goodison needs investment too!
Ged Alexander     Posted 01/09/2011 at 06:41:04   Comments (8)