Calvert-Lewin: Signing for Everton was a 'no-brainer'

Anyone any idea what the kid is like?

Then you can say what you want to your agent, father, Juventus and Chelsea IN PRIVATE!

Maybe it's people like stones getting their break with us and turning around and having no interest in playing for us. Maybe it's the ridiculous nature of the market. Maybe it's the fact that we're fighting against Stoke, West Brom and Crystal Palace for players...

Maybe it's Rom using every international break to say that he wants to leave. In fact, with Rom as our most exciting & expensive player in decades, maybe he is to blame. If he's the best thing we have and he constantly uses the international break to undermine our club, then maybe that's it.

Whatever it is, I just feel like I don't give a shit. Sorry.

I have been where you're at a few times over the last 20 years or so, BUT, I am more positive than I have been about this current Everton than I have been in years. I really like Koeman and I hope and believe we are about to turn the corner.

However, this summer that changed for the first time in 25 years... at least it appeared to. I've hadn't been more optimistic since the beginning of Howard Kendall Mk II in 1990-01 when I naively thought normal service would be resumed (how wrong I was).

l am now hoping not to be disappointed again – but there are some really good signs coming out of the club... but that Moshiri tweet to Sky has got me really concerned. Anyway, it is a lot better than last year and there are some macro forces that make the feats of Ipswich and Nottingham Forest and Leicester possible again as

(a) the TV money has levelled the playing field, and
(b) the fact that there is now a top 6 not a top 4 means that no-one can guarantee Champions League income every year.

We can't get the very best players but like Leicester we can put together a team that is "good enough" for a bit of luck and a good manager to get us into the frame.

It's the hope that kills you!!

Have a bit of faith because it looks like the 1st team in good hands under Koeman and Unsworth seems to have a good eye on the Under-23s. He is also a massive Blue so can instil passion into those like Calvert-Lewin who haven't come through the academy and aren't born Blue.

But, trying to be optimistic: if Marcus Rashford can set the world alight at his tender age, then maybe DCL can as well, and then if Rom still wants to go, we can sell him for silly money.

And once we qualify for the CL, we certainly won't be fighting against Stoke etc for players...

Chin up!

Teddy, of course it gets hard to follow the Blues but I honestly think there are real signs that the good days are returning and players with the attitude of Dominic make it a bit easier.

As Colin said the other day, he still loves football but hates a lot of footballers, and it is their consuming love of money, not football that makes a lot of fans turn against them. Teddy, things will get better.

Everton made a bid that satisfied Sheffield Utd and they accepted. Nothing to do with a lack of loyalty.

I assume your comment is a dig at those who have been slating Rom? I don't expect loyalty from Rom. I expect him to show the club some respect and display a little diplomacy.

Says he's not physically imposing, not particularly quick or skillful. Tall but not known for being great in the air. He also said he hopes he's wrong and wishes the lad luck. We shall see...

November 9 1920. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury

It is stated the Everton Football Club paid ١,750 for the Transfer of Sam Fazackerlay, the Sheffield United centre-forward. This is a record fee, the previous of Lane of Blackpool, Everton also paid large fees for Brewster, Downs, and Crossley, Fazackerley has a great opportunity of delighting the followers of the team. There can be no question as to his skill, and with the height of 5ft 10 and half ins. He ought to able to make something of the centres from Harrison and Chedgzoy.

Fazackerley's Price.

There has been a great deal of speculation going on as to the price Everton paid for Fazackerley and it will set a good deal of argument at rest if I state that I learn from a friend “in the know” at Sheffield that the sum was ٢,000. Everton all, but lost their man because of his insistence on living in Preston. Up to now it has been an invariable rule with the Everton board that their players should live in Liverpool.

It is open secret that Downs wanted to reside in Sheffield and that Jones, the outside-right, wished to remain at home in Wrexham. The club, however, insisted on their rule being observed in these cases. But Fazackerley was adamant if Everton would not let him live at Preston, he would sign for Bolton, who were not so particular, and rather than lose their man, the Everton officials relaxed their rule.

WHERE WILL IT END?

November 10, 1920. The Evening Express.

By CRI

Touching on the transfer question and the rising “fees” J.C, in the Sporting Chronics” says:- “

“Where are clubs drifting to? The question seems pertinent when it is recalled that on January 1, 1908, the Football Association imposed a limitation on transfer fees. The highest sum which was legal was 𧸖, but the rule, constantly broken and avoided, was rescinded the following May and June.

Not so many years ago the sporting world stood aghast when ٟ,000 was paid for Alfred Common. It will be remembered that Common originally left Sunderland for Sheffield United at a fee fixed at 𧷽. In a manner which Sheffield United did not relish at the time. Common was eventually re-transferred to the Wearsiders for 𧻀. Shortly after Sunderland disposed of Common for ٟ,000 to Middlesbrough, and this gained 𧿝 net out of the three deals.

“What an outcry there was about that ٟ,000. Sheffield United in their official programme said: No club in the past has paid such a hugh sum for any player, nor in our opinion is any player worth such a sum, what over his abilities may be. That induces a smile especially when we recall that Sheffield United themselves paid Barnsley ٠,000 for George Utley on November 17, 1913. On May 12, 1914, Manchester City sent Derby County a cheque for ٠,500 for Horace Barnes – the highest sum up to that date. But after an all night argument in Edinburgh the Blackburn Rovers gave the Hearts of Midlothian ٠,600 for Percy Dawson. During the war it was said that the days of such high transfer fees had come to the end. Never more would such investments be made in a player.

The war over what do we find? Chelsea give ٠,500 for John Cock and Aston Villa ٠,700 for Barson. Barnsley cannot be left out of this story – especially if all the four figures fees were tabulated. Clearly the ١,000 would soon be reached. And it is said that Birmingham not only gave ١,600 for Lane, but ١,500 for Crosbie. Now there is no doubt that Everton have established a record for information from a club which did not sign Fazacerley, is to the effect that they were prepared to pay ١,700 (as stated exclusively in the “Express yesterday), the sum paid for Fazackerley was ٢,000.

Not so long ago the President of the League declared that he had hoped that these huge transfer fees would never return. But they have, and anyone may be permitted to wonder where this competition for men will end. In spite of modern gates such sums seems preposterous.

Sam managed 8 goals in his 20 league appearances in his first season and scored a total of 21 goals in some 50 appearances for Everton FC, he played his final match for the Blues in October 1922 scoring in the 4-2 victory against Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park.