The management and playing staff of the club should be hanging their heads in shame at what is a culmination of years of arrogance, short cuts, lack of ambition and poor fiscal management. The result is seen on the pitch, the aging team, bereft of class, a lack of quality in depth, leadership and at best a limited manager who has reached the pinnacle of his ability and has nowhere left to go with the club.
And that’s a shame... but an inevitable conclusion to 11 years in charge of a club that has failed to deliver in any aspect of performance other than keeping the team in the Premier League. Some may argue that that in itself is a measure of success; however, when you set it alongside the cost of doing so, the debt, the sale of assets and the lack of inward investment, lack of commercial success and most importantly, a lack of any strategic plan to go forward, the club is bankrupt of future finance options, ideas and skilled personnel.
It’s time for Change... but where do we start?
Let’s review what we have, performance to date and what is required to go forward at each and every level of performance on and off the field.
The Board of Directors
Without doubt, the major condemnation by fans is focused on the Board of Directors and their apparent lack of ability to either personally assist the club financially or, more critically, the ability to ensure the financial viability of the club through either inward investment or its sale to a buyer.
Bill Kenwright’s oft used cliché of “I am looking 24/7” is no longer believable to fans or anyone else. We have for years lived on a credit card philosophy that reached its credit limit 5 years ago. It is to David Moyes’s credit that he alone brought a team together that kept the wolves from the door.
Ownership of this club has to change, irrespective of those who will forever say "Be careful of what you wish for"... but as fans we will have no say in actually who the club is sold too, for how much, or on what terms.
But its clear that no member of this current board or its other shareholders have any intention of offering financial support or anything other than lip service to 24/7. Do they have the best of intentions for the club or for a share on their return? For me, that has always been at issue; they have access to funding, ability to sell and attract others — but no-one is putting their hands up to do so.
It’s no surprise that we NEVER hear any comment from ANY board member. Given the defeat yesterday, the indecision of Moyes, they will surely be concerned about that perceived value of shares. But will they act? If so, to do what? Sack Moyes? It would not surprise me.
Someone somewhere on the board needs to grow a pair and ask the question or put their money in, if they do now then why didn’t they do it before, when it was needed? Any decision they make will be undermined by self-interest. They missed the opportunity to show leadership, not it’s panic stations.
But the club has reached a tipping point in terms of going forward. Changes have to happen, there is no alternative, shares have to be sold and a plan has to be structured and implemented if we are not to fall. It would be good if we as stakeholders could be part of that, for we are surely major players in making it a success.
The Commercial Entity of Everton FC
It follows that the mentality of the Board, the restrictive cost of our debt, and the non-action of the Board have led to a knock-on effect on cash flow and our overall commercial attractiveness and viability. The lack of commercial marketing and negotiating ability has ensured that the club has made a rod for its own back by agreeing to poor returns on kit and merchandise deals. We had painted ourselves into corners and left us accepting terms that on normal days we would probably not even have considered.
This inability to market itself, internationally or generally, leaves fans and the football media in general, viewing the club as a second- or third-tier club, continually punching above its weight, desperate for cash. They are right; we no longer have the financial muscle, the tactical or strategic management to put the club back to where many of us believe it should be.
The reason for this falls back to the lack of overall strategic (board) and operational management of the club. Anyone in business knows that you can live and survive for a period of time until you transition to a new plan or strategy that reaps its rewards. In the absence of an enabling strategy (plan) there is no transition — only decline. That’s where we are. Declining and starting to spiral, directionless, a rudderless ship with a crew who have no idea where they are going. Part of any sale has to be the re-marketing of the club and its now limited attributes.
The Manager
David Moyes deserves our gratitude for what he has done to preserve our standing in the Premier League; he had improved the playing performance of a group of players and fashioned a team of few stars and hard-working individuals. He gave them leadership, direction and motivation. So what happened?
Well, like any team, they have a limited shelf-life and need continual change and improvement. Teams are not static and need replenishing as players move on, get injured... but, as a manager, it’s his job to ensure that playing staff function as a team, are trained, motivated and play to a plan.
He has succeeded in doing this over the past few years and has proved to be a good manager in doing so... but he remains risk averse in the face of opportunity. The nearly man is just that, almost but not quite. To do what he has done has required him to be cautious and pragmatic to the point of negativity; it was what was needed at the time, but not forever.
But he has failed to inspire fans and ruled with a rod of iron; his ability to deal with anything other than "My way or the highway" is renowned. You do not want to get on the wrong side of Moyes if you are a player. Sometimes not a bad trait... but not the best way to make someone flower.
But he is guilty of either not committing his future to the club or stating he will move on. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that this refusal to commit until he is ready has impacted on his own performance and that of his playing staff.
It’s disgraceful that he refuses to see it thus. It’s also disgraceful that Bill Kenwright has allowed it to happen. If this season has come off the rails then it’s because the board lacked the commitment to back Moyes and Moyes lacked the commitment to back the club. They deserve each other.
The players
The next 12 months will see the transfer and retirement, I believe, of at least six or seven players, irrespective of who is managing. Obviously, Hibbert, Osman, Fellaini & Neville will move or retire whilst others: Howard, Coleman & Distin have question marks against.
In short, the team that has needed rebuilding for the past two years is past its sell-by date and rebuilding has not happened to the level needed. Moyes knows this and I am sure this is a major stumbling block in his decision to commit to the club.
This lack of ability to fund replacement means Moyes cannot improve what he has and will struggle to get more out of what he has. But sadly it is Moyes’s own lack of faith in our youth policy that has meant the youth we do have will never get the chance under him. Something has to give and it’s a fine line he has walked with playing staff; if he is still there next season, he may have no choice but to use them.
The lack of leadership on the field is glaring: Neville has no credibility given his performances and no-one is stepping up. We need a midfield general who will drive and motivate by his own performance and personal influence. Urgently.
The future
We are hurtling towards the Tipping Point — action and changes need to happen at all levels of the club. If not we will spiral and it will be painful. The worth of the club took a hammering yesterday, domestically, internationally and from a prospective buyer’s perspective. If the board truly have the interests of the club at heart, they need to find a buyer with a plan and finances to change as a priority. Can we believe they will do this? All we can do is hope.
Moyes should go. Not because of a single performance yesterday or a combination of a lack of leadership on and off the field, but because he failed to commit his future to the club or not. Such indecision is poor management and arrogance. No one is bigger than the club.
The debate as to who will come in will depend on what he is given to sort the playing needs out. It will also depend on the ability of the board to finance him.
The club is ripe for a buyout from inside or from a third party; it can be fixed, it can be remedied if we have a plan, a direction and leadership of a board who must act.
There is no future but decline if it doesn’t happen, and quickly.
Reader Comments (57)
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2 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:30:39
How can a manager be given 11 years with nothing (really) to show for it. Laudrup earns less than half what Moyes is on.
3 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:44:36
4 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:30:59
It's time for the Blue Union to rise again and pile the pressure on the board. We need to drag Kenwright's name through the mud in public, not with false claims or below the belt tirades, but by telling the truth about his asset stripping, failure to invest and blatant lies.
It's also time for Moyes to go, we have become stale and predictable and need a shot in the arm on the pitch. Persisting with players like Phil Neville, who couldn't pass a milk float in a Bugatti Veyron, when there are bright and hungry youngsters dying to get playing time, á la Ross Barkley, gives weight to the "overpaid PE teacher" shouts.
5 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:48:25
I've been a Blue since 1977, so please leave the digs in the Freshy!
6 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:50:21
7 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:50:25
8 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:50:52
How dare you make fun of a fellow Evertonian who is unable to attend games due to his financial status. Anyone who gets 'off' on being better than everyone else is a very small minded person.
9 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:57:40
10 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:21:55
To start with the Wigan game did not lay bare for all to see anything. Not to the neutral without an understanding of the club. It may have represented the problems at the club to the fan, yet every game since the new year has done this.
The management and playing staff should hang their heads in shame, but for years of arrogance? Really? Short cuts? How? Lack of ambition? When?
The poor fiscal management? This is down to the board, not Moyes and the players - and I really don't think fiscal is the word you're looking for.
Aging team bereft of class? No.
Leaving aside your empty rhetoric on all that has happened in his 11 years in charge is to have kept the club in the league, you then list all the problems that have hit the club in terms of finance. Do you want to acknowledge Moyes's record in spite of this? Thought not.
Its time for a change? If Moyes' desire has gone, and after flogging a dead horse for so long it may have. But with all those financial problems that hit the playing squad with the strength in depth, the quality, the short cuts you talk of - you want to do away with a manager who can have us challenge for Europe each season despite of these only to replace him for someone who fingers crossed can win us an invincible treble??
So many posts since the match have shown opinion morph into 'facts' made malleable to emotion. It doesn't leave room 24 hrs later for anything but good old fashioned mob justice, but then reaction is only a response without thought. And there isn't much thinking going on.
Reading your thoughts on the manager you call him the nearly man. Nearly what? Champions League? Again, financial constraints you make much of play very little in you notion of what Moyes does as manager. What is supposed to be achieved that is nearly happening under Moyes that the financial restraints shouldn't hinder? Usually when this is asked people retreat into style of play arguments rather than the specific accomplishments desired to which they were saying Moyes was falling short of. An improvement on 6th and 7th positions, the guaranteed cup wins...
And why do you think Moyes hasn't signed a contract. He's either after backing from the board - which wasn't forth coming in January. A real smack to the teeth surely. And if 4th isn't achieved he'll look at his options. That's all it comes down to. Not backing the club? He's done nothing but for 11 years - and criticised by many for doing so.
The last thing we want is a manager who looses motivation to sign a new contract - so why would he? And if the backing of CL isn;t there at the end of the season he will probably walk.
Anyone who says he's holding the board to ransom, bigger than the club and the rest of it are creating their own narrative to suit their emotion and does the real criticisms of manager and club a disservice.
And look at the league table... I've done this before but I'll do it again...
1, Money
2, Shit loads of money
3, Money
4, Shit loads of money
5, Money
6, NOT A POT TO PISS IN
7, Loose change
8, Money
9, Loose change
10, Loose change
Form isn't just a curse on Everton it happens to most teams but everyone has entered a state of rank hullabaloo.
Two points off Arsenal, 5th place and Europe. Shame on the nearly man who only has real monied-up teams ahead of him.
But as we know its a mystical force that has us in 6th, nothing to do with a fucking deplorable arrogant shit house tactically inept dour highly paid relegation dodging manager.
11 Posted 10/03/2013 at 16:07:28
However, as much as I tried to surrender to the void, there was no getting away from it; we totally blew it against a team fighting relegation. So where do Everton go from here? After all there is still more than a quarter of the season left.
If now was this time last year, we would have absolutely no problem of getting into Europe! Yet the reality is yesterday we were totally outclassed by Martinez's tactics and most of our players' unwillingness to fight back, whilst Moyes was like a shrinking violet, doing his best to look like one of the Simpsons characters – which in all honesty links to Marouane Fellaini who excelled in his role of Sideshow Bob.
Moyes's position is not very tenable now (not Terry Venable) and therefore should just jog-on and take his negative tactics with him! To his credit, though, over the years he has put a good side together, especially with all that money he never got! Thanks to good old Bill and the BORED-room... Imagine what Catterick or Kendall could have done with this first 11?
It's sad to think that Moyes will be remembered by the majority of Evertonians as being a good manager but who bottled the big games and was never able to become an Everton great. One thing is for sure though: we are still capable of playing some great football and although there is a string of big games to come – we have got to get out there and prove that Everton Football Club ARE capable of playing great football!!!
12 Posted 10/03/2013 at 16:04:59
13 Posted 10/03/2013 at 16:14:14
Frankly it's always been and always will be what happens on the pitch Moyes will have his "usual" season of 7th ish and turfed out the cups disgracefully the only difference this time is he's lost the fans over his contract idiocy - as I've said umpteen times he is as dull as dishwater I wouldn't have him stacking shelves.
Anyhow once the Moyes shield has gone the board might get exposed - of course we might get a Laudrup and win something!
Either way it's a win win in my book.
14 Posted 10/03/2013 at 16:04:32
I believe Moyes is totally frustrated and burnt out.
He has successfully kept the club in the premiership and I honestly believe that this board wants nothing more.
It wants to remain in the premiership as cheaply as possible, meanwhile selling whatever players seem wanted by the rich clubs and giving the manager a 'portion' of the sale to bring in a replacement hopefully to continue competing.
The fans have ambition but they are incidental.
Moyes thought he had a good team this season which just needed a bit of activity during the January transfer window to fulfill his own ambitions and please the fans.
The board delayed until too late and now we are left with the certainty of survival but ambitions are now pipe dreams.
I really think he will walk as he has taken us as far as he can.
He will be followed by the better players who also harbour ambition.
15 Posted 10/03/2013 at 17:16:05
We are all bitterly disappointed, surprised and stunned by yesterday's defeat - and the backlash on here is as expected as the result was unexpected.
But to use it as another stick to beat Moyes with is grossly unfair.
Get some perspective fellow Evertonians.
Yes, changes need to be made for us to push on. Off the field, we simply need more money to compete more than we do already. That's the rule of the jungle right now.
On the field, the likes of Mucha, Neville, Distin and please god, Osman, need to be shipped out and some young blood brought in.
16 Posted 10/03/2013 at 17:19:34
There is not a single syllable in your longish thread that is in any way new. Same old record. Caged Parrot, rote and the like, Absolutely nothing new. Read mine on the Blame the Fans thread: it predicts exactly what you say, what you always say. 'Gottle of geer, gottle of geer', you on Luvvy Dahling's knee NE?
A tiny deluded minority view. A wart on the skin. A fly to be swatted.
17 Posted 10/03/2013 at 17:36:26
19 Posted 10/03/2013 at 17:32:23
Gentlemen, the 'It's just one game' excuse is wearing very thin and there seems to still be a state of denial in the minds of some.
We didn't 'just' lose yesterday, we were played off the park, at Goodison Park, a capitulation in every sense of the word.
Sadly the Board have no intention of going anywhere, they are content to sip their fine wines and consume the alacarte menu whilst patting themselves on the back, secure in the knowledge that they are virtually untouchable.
Shame on each and every one of them.
21 Posted 10/03/2013 at 18:01:05
This board will not finance them !
They want a manager who can keep them up as a priority... anything more is a bonus.
22 Posted 10/03/2013 at 16:13:57
I think you make a lot of good points regarding the constraints within which any manager of our club has to work. Also a lot of respect for continuing to support David Moyes in the face of what is quite frankly unjustifiable personal abuse for a decent man who has been good for our club.
Putting that all aside, however, do you still think he is the right man for the job? Has he reached the limits of where he can take us? Whilst I appreciate the risk of a management change is a top 8 finish really the height of our aspirations?
Every now and again there are defining moments and the 4 minutes between 1:15pm and 1:19pm where the death knell for David Moyes.
23 Posted 10/03/2013 at 17:50:25
There is a danger that the season will descend into fractious chaos as we slide down to eighth or ninth in the league, players become more agitated, crowd starts to make it harder, etc The only way to avoid this is to lay foundations for next year or to use the remaining games as chance to say goodbye.
It is equally clear that the squad needs some work. Some players are out of form and others are nearing the end of their careers. Others are not good enough and the squad lacks depth. There must be a reason why youngsters are kept of the books but never appear and a cynic would see them as padding in a threadbare squad.
I don't see why Osman should be anything other than proud of his contribution this season. He does look jaded now and certainly took a booking for the team yesterday. Hibbert must have question mark over his fitness and Neville has been a great servant but has to take a big decision. In general there are too few players in the 25-30 age bracket in the team and one of key ones is not scoring. Having said that, Jelavic does work hard and had the only serious attempt at goal I can recall yesterday. Barkley missed the target before anyone points to his shot at the end.
24 Posted 10/03/2013 at 18:10:06
I think what was significant yesterday was a large section of the support came to the conclusion we will never win anything with Moyes. We get to a final (after squeaking the semi on pens) and get walked over, we NEVER win on the big boys turf, Liverpool have a field day with us at least twice a year and when we get gifted a very winnable important fixture we humiliate ourselves an to add insult to injury the majority of the football dished up by Moyes has been gash.
The difference between yesterday and last years semi was if last years semi didn't teach us a lesson, nothing would. It clearly hasn't and I think that's why a large swathe of Evertonians have thrown the towel in now.
The Beginning of the End.
25 Posted 10/03/2013 at 18:46:05
Aaaarrrrggghhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
26 Posted 10/03/2013 at 19:32:34
So for now, we're stuck with the ex-Corrie buffoon running things. In the short term, I just want to see a change in manager. At least lets see some attacking football and a will to win rather than draw.
27 Posted 10/03/2013 at 19:48:16
Your posts infer that he is the best man for the job. I have been a season ticket holder for the best part of 40 years and his football philosophy (if you can call it that) home or away is get in front and then defend, I am sorry that degree of negativity is not good enough for Everton Football Club. You keep quoting the fact that we scrape to the top of the ‘best of the rest’ league we should all be having a party and be grateful.
Let’s remind ourselves of a few facts
• No wins at the Shite, Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea (Bar a win on pens in the cup)
• Embarrassing capitulations in semis against Liverpool and Chelsea (LC)
• A gutless performance in the 2009 final
• A variety of exits against lower league opposition in cup competitions
• For the vast majority of seasons – dire football
• He is on £3M a year the 12th best manager in the world
So I think when he goes at the end of the season as he surely has to, we won’t have a problem attracting a manager. Let’s make sure we offer them £3M a season and remind themselves they are going to manage a club that is the 4th most successful in England, has a proud history of 135 years, and a loyal (too patient) following.
One fucking requirement
They ensure that Everton Football Club play attacking; enterprising football that aligns with our true traditions and not the dour, sterile shite Moyes has kidded us all is necessary to survive.
28 Posted 10/03/2013 at 19:59:32
29 Posted 10/03/2013 at 20:24:20
30 Posted 10/03/2013 at 20:46:13
It's no longer good enough to be the plucky underdogs "battling above our station". Every other club has passed us by regarding finances and stadiums. I want Moyes gone badly at this stage but I will regcognise the good work he has done in the past. But he has taking us as far as he can. The media have made him and Bill 24/7 out to be saviours and miracle men; saviours of what exactl? They have made the Johnson era look good.
Moyes is just not good enough tactics-wise; he did nothing to stop Wigan — I repeat, Wigan — from dominating from the start yesterday.
How arrogant has he become to make us wait until the summer? In anybody's language, 11 years without a trophy is long enough. His record against the leading teams is there for all to see. To hear other fans say "Be careful what you wish for," I simply ask: Is this current regime what YOU wish for?
Kenwright Out
Moyes Out
31 Posted 10/03/2013 at 20:22:11
When I read that pundits are saying he should leave Everton for a better club it makes me laugh. I don't think he would last more than 6 months at any of the monied clubs.
32 Posted 10/03/2013 at 20:07:21
Excellent article!
"In the absence of an enabling strategy (plan) there is no transition — only decline."
That is a very prescient statement and also elegantly penned!
That statement applies not just to those who seem to have let go of the strategic and financial rudder of the good ship EFC, but also what's happened to the playing staff. As you have rightly highlighted (and I've been saying it to anyone who'll listen "where's our youth gone?".
I personally perceive (I would say you do too?) that DM has been allowed to run amuck with the clubs policies concerning player recruitment and progression, bringing about the position we find ourselves in. We don't have enough saleable players and an ageing team. I can only conclude on the pitch the "enabling strategy (plan)" has been abandoned or subverted to suit the personal ends of our manager with the approval of those above.
"Grow a pair", my father used to have a saying: "Birds of a feather fly together". Doves fly with doves and vultures fly with vultures. I doubt any of that closely knit band will grow a pair any time soon.
I agree with the article in its entirety and one of the better ones I've seen on here, well done!
33 Posted 10/03/2013 at 22:02:12
34 Posted 10/03/2013 at 22:23:05
I don’t claim them to be fact nor do I apologise for my style which you may interpret as doing so. In your sarcastic review of “my empty rhetoric” you appear to have missed interpreted my points to take issue with the thrust of the article that change is needed.
You once had the temerity to call me a buffoon on these pages, may I take a moment or two to return the compliment.
To begin with, my views were not just borne out of frustration with the loss to Wigan, my frustrations with the club, its management and board have been well documented for years, so hardly a knee jerk reaction as you have indicated.
Yesterday's game did not lay anything bare? As I said in my piece,
1. Where was the leadership on and off the field?
2. Where was the quality of play even from our best?
3. Class and quality in depth needs to be shown on a consistent basis, apart from Baines who else has this season, we only have two players other teams would fight for to buy, Baines and Fellaini, the rest?
4. Not an ageing team? So we could and should play the same squad for a few more seasons to come?
5. The fact that we did not strengthen our squad even when money WAS available in January?
6. The fact that once again we fell at the hurdle of opportunity, a big game and we bottled it to be precise.
Moving on to Moyes, you infer that I have not praised Moyes for his work, my comments in the article were;
“David Moyes deserves our gratitude for what he has done to preserve our standing in the Premier League; he had improved the playing performance of a group of players and fashioned a team of few stars and hard-working individuals. He gave them leadership, direction and motivation.”
“ it's his job to ensure that playing staff function as a team, are trained, motivated and play to a plan. He has succeeded in doing this over the past few years and has proved to be a good manager in doing so... but he remains risk averse in the face of opportunity.”
All that in the face of the financial constraints, hardly the condemnation you portray of the man is it? I would love to give him the credit for winning anything, but he hasn’t. He has had the chance too, twice we have been to Wembley but on both occasions was found wanting. His biggest achievement was qualification for the Champions League but we failed to push on and fell without making an impact.
His success has been to fashion a team that has consistently performed to a upper table level from relegation and preserve our standing in the league. I stand by that comment and congratulate him for it, it was and is in the face of poor financial status, an achievement to be proud of.
Your comments regarding him “not backing the club” are just that, he has backed the chairman on many occasions, in public, throughout his tenure but if you cast your mind back to his last contract review, that was not the case, his sullen attitude and obvious annoyance was clear for all to see. He was NOT a happy man and I could appreciate his concerns at the time. He looked like someone to whom a promise had been broken and he would not let that happen again.
But here we are again, in a situation where the most important team player, the manager, is happy to let his contract run down without commitment one way or another. The probability is that Kenwright has sought confirmation from Moyes (I hope so, he bloody should have) and has been indicated to that he will stay depending on the terms of the contract or go and he is just giving BK time to find a replacement.
Either way it DOES affect the team, the fans and the unsettling impact is like ripples in a pond throughout the club.
Nick, You may not like the way I view things, nor the way I present them, it is opinion drawn from what we see and what we know and what we can infer from that. Its not accurate, its not all fact, I don’t and never have said so. I think if we had all the facts it would be even scarier. You have your views, I have mine, they are actually not a million miles apart, but the beauty of such a forum is that it makes you appreciate others perspective. I can see yours, shame you can’t see mine.
Editorial Team
35 Posted 10/03/2013 at 22:25:57
Hit that [Enter] key a second time just for me...
It breaks up your paragraphs, you see?
36 Posted 10/03/2013 at 22:32:38
37 Posted 10/03/2013 at 22:45:49
Editorial Team
38 Posted 10/03/2013 at 22:51:34
{Lyndon has the text input set up to convert two consecutive Return./ Enter / LineFeed characters into one paragraph marker in HTML code}
39 Posted 10/03/2013 at 23:02:56
I have been to Goodison more times than I can remember, I have been home and away for years. I had a season ticket for 10 years. This is the fewest games in a season I have been to for over 20 years.
I don't care what you think you blind clueless keyboard monkey. I ain't going to Goodison anymore because fans like you sit in the ground and blindly accept this spirit crushing dross.
Well enjoy it. Fans like you get what you deserve.
40 Posted 10/03/2013 at 23:28:16
Well, let me turn this apparent lack of money on its head. Moyes gets paid an utterly astonishing £4M a year. At no other club in world football does a manager get paid so much for delivering so little. Fact. Eleven years at a massive club and he has not delivered a team that is likely to win any silverware whatsoever, and I include Mickey Mouse cups like the League Cup and UEFA Cup.
A £4M a year football manager should be able to school his team in how to keep possession from their throw ins. A £4M a year football manager should be able to have a Plan B when defending corners instead of simply packing the box. A £4M a year football manager should not allow his waste of space captain to pass across his defence three times in one half.
I don't care how much he has to spend, his fundamental philosophy is one of a PE Teacher. Run faster, run harder may work for six months but it doesn’t work against managers who plan. Look at his record against Benitez. He has not won away against the ‘Big 4’ in 44 attempts – not once. That stat speaks volumes of his lack of nous and ability.
Moyes was found out five years ago. Nothing has changed since he hit his own glass ceiling. Money doesn’t change anything.
41 Posted 11/03/2013 at 00:43:55
I'm more than open to criticisms of David Moyes but since yesterday there's been a plethora of articles and mail bag posts where yes, opinion molded by frustration has been put forth as reason to dismiss the guy out of his position.
I disagree with much on the basis I could make anything up and because it fits the emotions of the ground swell of anti-Moyes sentiment can be taken as one big fact that the many nod in unison too.
David Moyes didn't mastermind the first half of the season form because the players available forced his hand to change to a 4231 which he had no tactical knowledge of. Unburdened from his PE teacher restrictions the flair players had free-reign before Moyes was able understand this formation well enough to instill his dour defensive approach and we now find ourselves on the receiving end because everyone has sussed us out.
Feel free to use that. Its not difficult. I reckon I could send that in under a pseudonym and have everyone agreeing with me. There's more to that than a lot of theories vomited up on these pages.
That's where I come from with opinion masquerading as fact.
If people are calling for his head, I want some opinion, not raved rantings dressed up as something considered. That's why I come here. I think my only crime has been to offer something different when most other pro-Moyes have kept their head down. For this I'm called everything under the sun and the target of some bizarre hate campaign by Paul Ferry.
To answer your points directly...
1. Where was the leadership on and off the field? Nowhere, shocking.
2. Where was the quality of play even from our best? Nowhere, shocking.
3. Class and quality in depth needs to be shown on a consistent basis, apart from Baines who else has this season, we only have two players other teams would fight for to buy, Baines and Fellaini, the rest?
Sure, agree. Yet we're still chasing Europe. How does that add up?
4. Not an ageing team? So we could and should play the same squad for a few more seasons to come?
No, why would we? Squads, even ours evolve. Helps when the board can give something to Moyes as January last shows what can happen when they do. They don't have the cash though.
5. The fact that we did not strengthen our squad even when money WAS available in January?
I'm not a supporter of the board and think it couldpossibly have been a phantom bid. Its happened before. Did Moyes himself cancel the transfer? Don't know.
6. The fact that once again we fell at the hurdle of opportunity, a big game and we bottled it to be precise.
Yeah, again. You think I'm unaware to this?
Nick Armitage - I don't think Moyes achieves his potential, as I've said to Barry Rathbone, I think, that 90% of Moyes is better than 100% of someone else.
And one thing I've posted before is this... that taking away the two seasons where we finished 11th and 17th a Moyes Everton have only finished behind the teams directly above us now. And one more and only once, Villa - when Randy Learner was spending big. What do all those teams have in common? Big money. So in 9 seasons out of 11, those are the only teams to beat us.
And we have a board that do not support the team in anyway, and you call it Moyes' glass ceiling.
In the last 7 windows Moyes has been afforded a zero net spend twice. The other 5 he has not bought in one single first team purchase.
How come no other team were able to finish above us in those 9 seasons? Was Moyes in charge just coincidental?
Why have Spurs and City been able to come from nowhere to hit those CL positions? Nothing to do with massive investment right?
Not won away at the big 4 in 44 attempts? Sack him now.
42 Posted 11/03/2013 at 00:48:19
As I see it, January changed everything. I don't believe money was available and I think Moyes saw it as a sign that he could go no further. He should have gone then and said why.
The viewpoint you take means you will get stick. I, and others got it years ago when the MOB was a small minority. Paul Ferry made some passionate heat of the moment comments but he has been tongue in cheek most of the time and ,frankly, he represents the anger and frustration of many Evertonians.
43 Posted 11/03/2013 at 00:49:20
44 Posted 11/03/2013 at 01:05:43
So many times have we seen on here the fall back position of prove it, or even worse, you come up with a solution. I have tried on several occasions over the past few years to set out a strategy, a means of working with the board or a method of involving the fan base to unify this club once more.
Loaded debates where fans go after each other because of interpretation of few facts are exactly what this board would want, they have no intention of working with supporters and before anyone mentions BU and alleged taping of conversations (always denied by BU) draw your mind back to shareholders debates at AGMs, or the enquiry into DK. Laid bare for all to see was the misrepresentation of finances and the disclosures of interest.
Soi believe the fans have every right to be skeptical of the board and it's intentions. Sadly all the good they may have done over the years is tainted by DK and our financial position. It was on their watch, no one else to blame.
So fans views are ignored, opinions are formed accordingly. Cause and effect.
The anger and frustration felt is because we did start so well this season, but two major factors have dis railed the campaign, the failure to support Moyes in jan when we had money available and Moyes deciding to delay a discussion on his contract until after the season.
In hindsight too, comments from Felliani who wants CL or a move didn't help, he may have thought it but should not have said it. It all rolls up into a season of discontent for all concerned.
45 Posted 11/03/2013 at 01:27:57
Look through the transfer pages and you'll see that not one penny of the Arteta money was invested back into the squad. In fact £17m was raised in transfers that year and not one penny reinvested.
If Fellaini was sold in January, you can't tell me how much Moyes would get to spend... if any.
And, how much of the new Sky deal do the banks have? Would anyone care to take a guess given BK's financial acumen?
46 Posted 11/03/2013 at 01:36:22
One thing I don't agree with actually. I think Moyes has finished with contract talks. He doesn't want another season of 7th or 8th like the rest of us and without the backing that comes from either the board or CL football he will leave.
How can anyone disagree with that?
48 Posted 11/03/2013 at 04:31:53
49 Posted 11/03/2013 at 04:47:10
My own, very personal take on this situation is that, regardless of DM's capability as a manager, it's gone too far for him to be expected to recover. Clearly, the board has failed everybody. OMG, I would like to see their strategy plan, if they actually have one.
Time for a new manager. Yes! Who? Question mark! Frankly, there are few good managers out there. Problem is, these days you have to have gone through the "how to" school, which means you can become qualified as a coach/manager and not have a fuckin' clue how to manage/coach a team of players. Most manager/coaches have zero clue how to blend a "star" with a "work horse" and FCS both are needed.
Who to select? Here is the difficult one but I would favour we go for a person who has fantastic people skills. That person will pick good background coaching etc staff. This might mean NOT picking the obvious few re"runs". The right person will gladly accept a deal based on a sound salary and "performance" bonuses.
Basis: "You never get asked to manage/coach a team unless the former coach has failed to perform or tells the board to piss off and get out of "my" space".
Now 60 years an Evertonian and still proud of it but frustrated as hell!
51 Posted 11/03/2013 at 05:41:44
So our value is not going to fall, it will increase as the amounts owed increase.
52 Posted 11/03/2013 at 05:45:37
There seems to be some kind of mythical team or group of teams who play good open attacking football and entertain week on week. I don't see it, except of course where they have skip loads of cash. Swansea are perhaps the closest to it, but they have played consistent and complete shit against us, have flattered on occasion elsewhere but are doomed like the rest of the non money teams to large swathes of mediocrity. Likewise I can't recall any team in the past ten years to have played an attacking style with any amount of success. No one plays an open style in the premier league without the very top players at their disposal. Blackpool tried, Sunderland a few years ago, West Ham at different times. They all failed.
I fear for our future. I expect Moyes to go in the summer but don't expect any more in the way of success. I want to be excited by what we do,but I don't see where we can turn to for this either. The only teams who excite are those with the strongest squads, the rest flatter from time to time with a default of mediocrity. We've had some good times during his tenure despite being severely anaesthetised recently. We've lifted ourselves above the dross more than most. But you can't hold the club to ransom, and it's starting to show.
There are no miracle managers out there and our expectations will probably remain unrealistically high whoever came in. The real problem remains our board.
53 Posted 11/03/2013 at 06:20:24
Disagree with people all you like but describing people's views as vomit is a little condescending. What makes you think your the fountain of all knowledge with regards to Everton and Moyes?
People see things differently, that's life. A dose of humility wouldn't go a miss.
54 Posted 11/03/2013 at 06:24:14
55 Posted 11/03/2013 at 22:00:04
Well said Sir.
Christine, good for you, I defend the right of all to express their opinion, whether I agree with them or not, don't be dissuaded from expressing your opinions (I'm sure you won't)
I just happen to think your posts summed up my feelings towards recent and past events at EFC.
56 Posted 12/03/2013 at 07:30:58
Thats Everton football club for you, I am not sure if even they know what they are doing or what plan they are working from (if any)
Opinions are made based on limited facts, probabilities based on such facts and comments from other sources albeit media, club or insider. They may not be accurate, nor are they undisputed facts, what they are (certainly from my perspective) are more of a probability assessment or lets face it, a gut feeling one has when one sees where something is heading and thats experience.
Defending the right to express an opinion is paramount, defending its accuracy is pointless, having the ability to reason your opinion helps sometimes but not always!
But consider, if 10,000 people read your views / everyones views, snippets of common sense or actual facts are often revealed, more bits to form a picture, the clearer the picture the more accurate the opinion.
We have a right to know whats going on with our club even if the club does not agree that we do have any rights or consideration
57 Posted 12/03/2013 at 07:56:41
I believe this is the best way forward for the club, no matter who the members of the board may be in the future. A landlord / tenant relationship seems a workable solution to me and Trust Everton are still working to achieving this aim. However, it's a long term plan and all stakeholders will need to share the vision for it to happen.
58 Posted 12/03/2013 at 08:05:58
I have a simple question. Given that last night's TalkSport show revealed what a number of us had been saying - that the valuation on the club was in the region of £180m (the price quoted last night would be for the "True Blue" shareholding - I know it doesn't exist any more, but the three players are still operating as if it does), and given we know that they have not invested anything into the club but overseen a substantial rise in debt, they are clearly looking at a huge profit. In short, they're carpet baggers. With the litany of other screw ups too numerous to mention, but of which you are well versed, my question:
Why would you trust them enough to want to work with them?
59 Posted 12/03/2013 at 08:13:08
There are commercial landlords leasing out commercial property the world over and I'm sure they are not all chums with their tenants, but work together in a professional matter to make sure the matter of trust does not have to come into the business relationship.
60 Posted 12/03/2013 at 08:25:30
The finances of the EPL have spiralled to a point where any major owner would not want to engage with the fanbase on any other level other than as a customer. Look at how all the minority shareholders of our club are tarred with the militant brush?
Like I said your aims are laudable. I said to Mike I didn't think anything to do with Finch Farm or the ground was a way forward. I don't pretend to have any answers, other than if I had substantial sum of money to do business with Everton, I'd start with getting them to license my organisation to take over all commercial rights - as a marketing agency if you like - with a 20% commission on all deals. Within 5 years Everton would be a lot better off revenue-wise, and your stakeholders would have an investment worth multiples!
61 Posted 12/03/2013 at 18:18:25
I suspect that there are several pieces missing from the Everton FC jigsaw picture, a lack of investment is one, a lack of vision being another, the list is almost endless.
It's not all about the loss to Wigan, of course it's not, but I have never suffered the level of ridicule from work colleagues that I have following the game, that in itself is significant, I believe they sensed a turning point.
It is obviouslly an emotive subject, supporting Everton has never been a fairytale, but sometimes the passengers see the rocks before the Captain does and we must reserve the right to shout and scream before disaster strikes.
We don't own the club, in a comercial sense, that I accept, but there have been far too many false dawns and a seemingly neverending series of false promises, all of which tests the faith
Nostalgia is a deceptive partner, but oh how I miss Tim Cahill ........
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1 Posted 10/03/2013 at 15:17:17
These performances have become acceptable during the tenure of Moyes. The redshite would be lobbying Parliament if this shit was served up to them, but we just tacitly accept this. The fans are powerless to change anything so we must vote with our feet. What surprised me yesterday was the apathy in the stands.
Enough is enough.
Yesterday was the third match I have been to this season and they have all been utterly abject. I am not settingf foot in Goodison until Moyes and or Kenwright & Co leave the club. Simple as that.