Echo denies poor Everton coverage

This particularly cracked me up:

'The Echo checks facts before it publishes its own stories, as all good, responsible journalists should do.'

'Ask Everton's board if they think the Echo is a sycophantic, timid pushover. I suspect with very good reason that you'll get a different answer. Very different.'

What a ridiculous thing to ask, what are they going to say, anything other than what they want to hear? Idiots.

I wish the 'The Echo owe us a favour' emailgate leak would surface to completely put that to bed. Yes Echo, I think you are timid pushovers and you absolutely avoid confronting the real issues at hand. Where is the coverage on Everton's finances and the black hole of 'other operating costs' that plunge us further and further into debt year on year? You had fun picking holes in Hicks & Gillets refinancing of the club and interest payments they saddled the club with, think of 'other operating costs' as a financial noose around Everton's neck that is strangling its livelihood. You ran double page and even at times the first few front pages devoted to all things Liverpool at one point. The Blue Union tried to raise Evertonians' knowledge to the issues we have and I see that got about 1/100th of the coverage the Sisters of Shankly received.

What about the coverage into why the Middle East emerges just in time for season ticket renewals? How no board member has invested into Everton, period? Who actually controls Everton? — Instead of being content with printing Kenwright's: "He owns no shares in this football club. Nil. He is my friend and consequently your friend.... [Loud laughter from audience] I don't know why you think that's funny but he's a great friend to this football club. I promise you." response (in reference to Philip Green).

This man is without doubt the Elephant in the room when it comes to Everton having any chance of being taken over or attracting that splendid 'investment' yet he is continually overlooked from journalists at the Echo because Kenwright's lauding of this 'greatest businessman.'

I could go on but reading through the article just infuriates me.

The unsigned response in todays Echo just sums up all that is pathetic about the rag. Who wrote the piece and why didn't he have the balls to put his name to it???

Over the years, the paper has reported on SOME issues regarding the Club. One thing that the sycophants who pose as journalists have never done is actually got up and asked directly the questions their readers want asking.

During the DK debacle, yes, they reported more or less daily on the proceedings but when the major issues came to light they were more or less glossed over so as not to further embarrass the Club and their stooges.

To my knowledge, Prentice and O'Keeffe have never questioned Bill directly on issues or queries that have been in the supporters' domain and which have been ignored by the Management.

Whoever wrote that piece of shit of a reply needs to wise up. The Echo is supposed to reflect the people of Liverpool as a whole not just a few people at Goodison who control the freebies Prentice and O'Keefe get every other week.

Journalists??? — Don't make me laugh !

Blame the club, the sports editor and chief sycophant David ("I was wondering if Bill is the greatest living Evertonian") Prentice.

If Gregg or any other journalist given the job of match reporting, and day to day happenings at Finch Farm, print any criticism they are immediately banned from Goodison and Finch Farm. Therefore putting their jobs at risk... what good is a reporter to the Echo if they can't visit the training complex, or indeed the match?

It's a pity we can't see that original thread on here any more; Lyndon was shocked and dismayed that it was published at all, and he was probably right from the strictly legal issue (cf WikiLeaks). But over a year has now passed and "Ethan Dyer" was never publicly identified, nevermind charged with any offense, and the content of those emails, which many doubted at that time, have surely proven to be genuine, with the subsequent dismissal of Ian Ross. But there was only minimal reporting of that cataclysmic episode, as I recall.

And the coverage of the real issues raised by BU has always been one-sided rather than neutral... although that position has been brought into stark relief through the astounding totalitarian stance take by Elstone over Dave Kelly's participation in the Shareholders Association meeting last night.

The Echo were like flies around shit over Hicks and Gillette but when it comes to Everton they are cowards.

I would like to hear Collymore's response to basically being called a liar too.

Complete amateurs at that red rag, no wonder such papers are on the bones of their arse.

What truths are the local media and the Club hiding from us? There must be something given Elstone's petulant behaviour towards the shareholders and the local press's reluctance to ask pertinent questions.

When you consider the hatchet job this organ of the press carried out on Gillette and Hicks, albeit correctly, and its propensity to aid and abet Liverpool Football Club in every way possible, something that has been going on for decades. Also, compare the treatment that Peter Johnson got while at Everton FC even though he wasn't around that long – certainly nothing like 13 years you have to ask if the local press are only really interested in one club and really couldn't care less what happens to Everton FC.

Nonsense.

Take that to it's conclusion.

Best headline ever :"Echo banned from Goodison."

Would never ever happen

Seeing Elstone's approach toward Dave Kelly last night, surprised but did not shock, Everton are going to the nth degree following the statements made by Elstone. The People's Club? Laughable.. At one stage I thought he was going to re-brand the club 'The Democratic Peoples Club of Everton' before threatening our shareholders with sanctions if they failed to comply with his requests.

Decent place that North Korea..

B) Ged - it just doesn't work like that. Journalism depends on a network of contacts. Being banned by EFC would not, repeat not, be a great headline for the Echo. That doesn't mean they have to be in the club's pocket, they need to strike the right balance between being independent and having all the right connections. OK, maybe they're not doing that. I don't know, I don't live in Liverpool any more so I don't read it.

It bugs me how ignorant people are of how journalism and the media works. Wakey, wakey - we live in an infortainment age! Why? Because so many people love that shit! They lap it up. If the people of Liverpool wanted to read a lot of serious investigative journalism then the Echo would reflect that. It doesn't, so they don't. There is no conspiracy.

There were people walking out at halftime on Saturday, screaming for Moyes and Kenwright Out — and alls we got was the usual false rallying cries that don't wash anymore.

I also clearly said, they may or may not have got the balance right, as a non-reader (unless I'm back in Liverpool to see my folks), I wouldn't know. But I do know that they were not obliged to cover the Talksport transmission because it was not a story. Of course, it probably didn't help that the Echo is owned by Trinity Mirror and Talksport by Sky, so they are in direct competition. That's still not a conspiracy, though, it's just business.

For all I know, the Echo may be rubbish in all sorts of ways, but in this instance they were probably right not to publish an article commenting on the Talksport transmission, that's what I'm saying.

if you don't live in Liverpool and don't read the Echo what the fuck are you talking about! Is this a wind up?? What network of contacts??

Prentice and O'Keeffe only cover Everton, for fucks sake. If they don't know what's going on nobody doe! They don't need a "network" — they go to Finch Farm every day!!

They may act stupid but they are not. They know exactly what's going on at the Club. They know exactly what the supporters want to know, and, believe me, they know exactly what web sites such as ToffeeWeb are talking about.

As mentioned they do absolutely nothing other than report the usual shite: "Neville says we must bounce back quickly"... "Distin says the players are hurting." — Fuck me, I could write that shite!

They never ask anything that could be construed as controversial — never. Look at the free ride the Echo gave the board after the debacle that was DK.

You said that they have to strike the right balance. Well, let me tell you, it's not that "maybe they're not doing that" — it is that they are definitely NOT doing that. Maybe you "don't know" but I certainly do!

The Echo does do a lot of investigative journalism when it wants to... but, when it comes to our intrepid Everton correspondents, the triple G&Ts take precedence.

They are a disgrace to journalism.

It was not the TalkSport transmission people wanted broadcasting — they just want The Echo to say what the fans are feeling.

Instead, every week off Prentice and O'Keefe it's all that "Be careful what you wish for" bollocks. They are not talking like the Evertonian on the street is; they are living in a Doddy bubble.

It has already happened. On more than one occasion, and with more than one journalist.

Always best to know the facts before coming out with nonsense.

John - I'm making a broader point than you, about how newspapers (and magazines and TV) operate. You may well be right that the Echo doesn't strike the right balance, but otherwise you are blissfully clueless about how journalism works, what it entrails, what the skills are, what the pressures are - the whole caboodle basically. Just a little thought to leave you with: all printed media is at the mercy of its advertisers - and the Echo is no exception.

Collymore should bring this up with the club and the Echo. I never thought we would have Collymore championing our cause but he has nothing to lose unlike the idiots Snodin and Horne.

He pussyfoots around him. That's about the biggest searching question regarding Bill Kenwright you'll ever get out of Mr Prentice.

Collymore's comments are the first from any media source to question what is going on, why? The Echo should be at the forefront of this debate, not cowering in the corner. We've been asking these questions seriously for five years now.

The Clubs lack of transparency is suspicious. None of them believe we have have a right to question them on any topic from finances to tactics to player performance, including the manager. The Echo made Hicks and Gillette's position untenable, they clearly see the Everton model as the way all clubs should be run.

"outraged at everything, ashamed of nothing".

He pussyfoots around him. That's about the biggest searching question regarding Bill Kenwright you'll ever get out of Mr Prentice.

Kev (885) - "It bugs me how ignorant people are of how journalism and the media works. Wakey, wakey - we live in an infortainment age! Why? Because so many people love that shit! They lap it up"

I agree (more or less) completely, people love shite, consequently the Echo (and loads of other papers) supply it.

I also agree when you say - 'If the people of Liverpool wanted to read serious investigative journalism, the Echo would refelect that"

The reason I say 'more or less' though is that I think these 'rules' apply more to the general content of the paper (any paper) and that there's a big difference (certainly in a city like Liverpool), when it comes to your team/football.

Football supporters generally don't give a shite if a paper is full of nonsense about Lady Slag-Ga or 'RiRi' or..whatever the fuck sells papers.

Not saying they BELIEVE what's printed, but (apparently) they don't give much of a fuck either, which IS why (as you suggest) we have the press we do

If nothing else, I suppose all the rubbish stimulates conversation in the alehouse - "See Jordan just got married again? Must be like a fuckin' burst sofa!" - discuss.

Local sports reporting however (I believe) WILL be seen differently.

It WILL be seen as important and WILL be scrutinized MUCH closer and people (ie: supporters) WILL give a fuck.

For a local paper to not cater for local supporters and to be seen as party to hiding the 'truth' (whatever that might be) I would suggest is not good business in the long term.

Imagine if supporters could buy the Echo and be 99% sure that what was being reported was fact instead of some fluffy spin?

Wouldn't they sell more?

The argument against always goes 'Yes but Everton would ban them" etc.

So what - in any organization there are people who aren't happy, who feel undervalued, shat on or whatever who WOULD get the news out.

A ban wouldn't mean no news, just no spin.

I have been buying Private Eye magazine since about 1978/78 and the entire magazine only exists because there are people (in government, opposition, business etc) who feel that (for whatever reason) the truth must out (nb: the ONLY place to find out how Britain's papers work is in Private Eye's regular 'Street Of Shame' column - imo)

Everton banning the Echo would be great - we might actually (finally) find out what IS going on

Right now, I don't expect the Echo to listen to what Everton supporters are happy or not happy with because they ARE (undoubtedly) hand-in-glove with with fat-head and his slippery mob (and wouldn't dare bite that hand).

Do they deny this?

Of COURSE - what other option do they have?

They're hardly likely to say.. "Yes we're a shower of piss-weak, lily-livered shit-houses, who would sell our souls for continued access to Bill's free sausage rolls, vol-au-vents and bevvy"

Personally, I could think of no better news than hearing it was 'on the bones' and was going to fold.

"GETYOURFINALISSUESOUVENIRECHO!!!"

I'd buy THAT one.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2011/09/15/david-prentice-visits-the-dixie-dean-suite-at-everton-s-goodison-park-and-enjoys-some-fine-dining-100252-29423895/

http://www.ibtimes.com/sportsnet/how-do-you-solve-problem-everton-1124629

Mark Godfrey for sure will be banned from Finch Farm and Goodison should he ever attempt to darken their doors! This man can have no shame.

Thank God we have real journalists like Dumb and Dumber who will at least give us the truth about the team we love.

How dare he cast aspersions on our leaders. Treble gins all round! !!

Tranmere Rovers have a manager that has the guts to say what the fans think and act on it.

From where I'm slumped there is no conspiracy. The money isn't being syphoned off into a Cayman Island slush fund, it goes on the wages of Fellas who turn their back on the ball when it suits them and on running a club that operates, like most of us, on the edges of its overdraft.

So maybe they should be hounding Kenwright like they hounded the cowboys at Anfield. I can see the headline now, 'Cough up or get out Bill'. Except that'd be like chasing a wino down Hardman Street in the middle of the night for his last can of Special Brew.

So maybe the big expose is 'Dozens of Billionaires Put off By Blues Pricetag'. Cos they're all out there you know, the Sheiks and the Oligarchs, knocking on the door at Goodison trying to stuff their cash through the letterbox as Philip Green puts on a bird's voice and shouts 'get lost, he's not in...'

Or most frightening of all – what if the news is that no-one worthwhile is interested in a club with a land-locked ground worth about thirty bob, still £45M in debt despite the repeated selling of its prize assets, with a crowd who will struggle to stomach any hike in ticket prices and a broadcaster who'd rather show a Man Utd under-9's game than our first team.

I'm no apologist for the Echo, by the way, I buy it solely because the national press do a good job of ignoring Everton completely so it's all I've got, but I think this is a classic case of a blind man looking for a polar bear in a blizzard. You can ask all the questions you like but what if there is no story worth printing? What if we're just stuck?

- Switches TV news on -

What the FU..

They do continue to report bill Kenwright as the great everton saviour when he and his board have continued to run the business into the ground. Get a piece of paper, put a line down the middle and write his successes on one side, and his failures on the other. Watching dave hickson seems to cover a lot of sins, and the echo lap it up.

Yes, they cover everton well when the rest of the media couldn't give a toss. Does that excuse the above, frankly no it doesn't. Any good journalist worth his salt must be frustrated playing to this tune. Thankfully social media can and does, which is clearly killing off the echo slowly very much like everton..

It's a vicious circle. The £125m quoted is for the shares of 3 directors, and ergo values the club at £180m (a price stated on here by I and others months ago). In his interview with the BU, BK stated that he'd employed (from my memory) Keith Harris (although his company Seymour Pierce seems to be in a spot of bother now); PCP, Leon Angel and a couple of banks, including DB. These people operate on a commission - either front end, from seller, or back end, from buyer. The fact that there's more than 1 of them means there's no exclusivity - hence they are not going to pour resources into selling something that others are also pushing. Given that the business is a "fixer-upper", it's not going to attract a Middle East Sovereign Wealth fund-type as they want the finished product, which they can throw money at the playing side.

Even if that price is an opening gambit, the actual price they're willing to accept is probably too high. It's all well and good BK et al stating they want to avoid attracting carpet baggers (and I would hope they will take the deal that is best for the club, not them), but given they bought at £21m, have invested nothing, enjoy the trappings of being a PL Club Director, and want to sell for multiples of their purchase price is carpet baggery of the first order!

The Echo reported this interest, don't you think it would be prudent journalism to enquire why they didn't want to do business?

At least the Post had an Everton slant but it's buggar-all use since it became a weekly

The Echo'll end up a Christmas Annual

"Skipper Leighton Baines quaffs Champagne after Everton secure the Premier League title" would be a superb sentence.

Indeed it would.

However with the present regime in place, most likely headline featuring the words 'quaffing', 'Everton' and 'Skipper Leighton Baines' is..

"Skipper Leighton Baines quaffs Pomagne after Everton secure Premier League status"

But it's more likely to be something along the lines of:

'Former Everton Skipper Leighton Baines was today pictured quaffing champagne, after forcing through his last minute deadline day dream move to Champions Manchester United.' Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright said "We moved heaven and earth to keep him, because he's one of us, unfortunately Leighton made it clear he wanted to move and we had no option. I was fortunate to see the great Ray Wilson from the Boys Pen, and Leighton was right up there with him as a great, but he wanted to leave and I didn't feel we could stand in the way of what he called his 'dream move'!"

Kev (075) - That would be wonderful but John's version has the awful cold wind of reality about it.

No one wonder he always has that smug grin. They guy clearly needs sectioning.

Need more analysis like this to get through to the masses - I'd say contact the echo but .....

I gave him plenty of information and leads to go on, but he turned up nothing. It seemed that there was a bit of a 'ring of steel' around the whole subject from either people at the club or people who also cover the club and he got very little encouragement to take it further.

You could argue that there is no story here, but you could also argue that too many people who know so something don't want to say anything for fear of endangering their own cozy situation with the Club. To be fair to my friend, he relies, as Kev Johnson alludes to, on a network of contacts and goodwill and nobody wants to rock the boat.

What is needed is somebody with nothing to lose digging here, but is it enough if a hot topic to get a heavyweight journo interested? I firmly believe there is something rotten in the core of our Club, but proving our suspicions is another matter altogether.

Surely a new ground and a load of new players for us should be top of that list.

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/targets/3

(yes I am kidding..ish)

(strange fella)

Imagine my surprise when this dropped in:
Boycott The Red Echo @RedEchoBoycott
Remember this pathetic apology about the Arteta money @LivEchoEFC?#embarrassing #theyoweus pic.twitter.com/Eu7aK9l8ky

Further down was this nugget!
Kenwright OUT @KenwrightOUT
Call yerself an Evertonian, Bill? #KenwrightOUT pic.twitter.com/wsAiuitBNs

Of the two Echo defences, if the Echo cannot get the CEO, major shareholders, owners or chairman to speak on the wider issues facing the club - stadium etc - this is a glaring admission by the paper that it has no clout.

And into that vacuum are people prepared to hound for the truth.

Exit, Echo.