Times: Everton withdraw compensation offer in Silva dispute

Talk about acting like a jilted spouse — this was 6 months ago and they are still crying about it... but, considering Watford are still whinging about Andy Gray 34 years later, it is no surprise.

Once he'd left he was entitled to sue Watford for wrongful dismissal (in breach of contract as he has a fixed term contract without a break clause). This I believe is subject to court action. He is now free to join Everton. However, it may be that Watford are arguing that the tort of 'interfering with the performance of a contract' has been committed by Everton's behaviour - ie that he couldn't do his job effectively since December that is tantamount to a violation of his contractual terms. However, that is a really wild accusation that I don't think has legs on a number of grounds.

It's not as though it's not the bloody norm. What they'll be particularly pissed off about is that:

1) We offered 㾸M compensation which they missed out on by refusing to let him go.

2) They sacked him and will have to pay up his contract.

3) We can now get him for nowt as he's unemployed.

They're kicking up fuck just to try'n to bring in some cash. If I were Moshiri, I'd tell 'em to go fuck themselves.

The timing was very coincidental with Allardyce getting the boot and the media putting Silva as favourite to succeed him.

Fuck 'em, I say.

But maybe this could be either Everton want to announce Silva as the manager very shortly, and don't want to wait till they reach a settlement with Watford that could take several weeks. Or maybe they hare now looking at someone else and feel as though they don't need to placate Watford with an offer of compensation. Very very interesting, I guess either way we will know very quickly as I get the feeling an announcement on our new manager is imminent.

If this dispute is central to any decision whether or not to employ him then plainly he is not the right man. We do not want another compromise choice like the despicable loathsome arrogant dishonest recent incumbent whose name can not be repeated within 100 characters of any sentence containing the words Everton and respect.

And if I remember it right, the approaches were directly to the owners, and Everton were not the party to leak to the press...

On the other hand, if Brands and Denise are truly in charge of hiring the next Everton manager, perhaps this dispute with Watford is a perfect way of not hiring Silva and for the pair to look at other potential coaches.

It might be a few weeks before the club name the next person to take up the Goodison hot-seat.

I can only think that Watford fans are not all like this muppet Anthony Evans, surely the majority realise that this is just how football works. Agents are always speaking to other players and owners on behalf of clubs - that doesn't mean the club has done anything wrong. It just means that agents (i.e. a middle man) are putting the feelers out to see if a deal is possible. I can only assume Anthony Evans is young and naive.

Considering some of the high profile tapping up that's gone on in the Premiere League over the last few years it's laughable to think that they will be concerned about this stooshie in a tea cup.

Way to go Everton! Keep shooting ourselves in the fucking foot! But this time, over what?

I am going with Simon Jordan's comments regarding Silva. They make a lot of sense with regards to loyalty and rewarding failure.

Happy days all around surely?

I doubt very much that Moshiri is going to wait til the end of a long drawn out legal battle in which the summer will be wasted and we could end up losing point's and more money in compensation to get an unproven manager.

This situation could be a blessing in disguise and could force us to go for my preferred option the proven top class manager ex red spit on the floor Rafa Benitez.

Forget the fact he won trophies for them and had a dig at us when he was their gaffer the fact is he is a proven winner who has won league titles and european cup's with different team's across europe he is a professional at what he does and I have no doubt that he would jump at the chance to manage us with a decent transfer kitty.

Also as much some of us will do not the thought due to the red connection they will be absolutely sick at the thought of him wearing blue and being in charge of us, some kopite friend's of mine have already confirmed that.

It's a no brainer West Ham fan's were begging their board to sign him what kind of ambition are we showing going for the ex Hull and Watford manager ffs!

I'm not sure where else he can go that's high-profile as there are no big vacancies.

Their season then goes pear shaped and end up sacking Silva. Certainly no fault of EFC that. The fault lies fairly and squarely with Watford for their season going to pot.

Are they now wanting to claim compensation because Silva is now back on our radar? Well tough shit, is what I'd say to their board. The man is a free agent, and this time we are breaking no rules.

However the Watford-dudes are still hurting from that they had the possibililty to get at least £12m and blew it, and want a very large figure to lament their hurt, but Moshiri says "No chance" and therefore now withdraws his offer and gets ready for the fight instead.

If Mosh'll win that fight should depend on if we approached the leading men of Watford to ask permission to take their manager, and never approached the manager himself at all. I hope we did it that way, cause if we did we should have nothing to worry about.

On another note, I think Silva would be immense for us. He'll make all our players pick up a notch, and the youth a lot of notches. He seems to be a manager that gets the best out of his players... I dithered between him and Fonseca, but now that Fonseca signed a new deal at Shakhtar, I think Silva's the best option.

Since winning the League in 1970, Everton had undergone a period of steep decline. At the end of the 1972/1973 campaign, Harry Catterick was relieved of his managerial position after Everton finished in 17th place in the table, lost at home in the F.A. Cup to Third Division Millwall and attendances had slumped to as low as 21,806 for the visit of Norwich in April. Drastic action was needed and John Moores, the Everton Chairman, was ready to make a sensational high-profile appointment to restore Everton's fortunes.

Moores had decided to make Don Revie the next Everton manager and the rumours started to surface of his impending appointment. Revie was allegedly seen near Liverpool asking a passer- by for directions to Freshfield where Moores resided. Revie, not untypically, held out for more money to the extent that Everton were prepared to offer an eight-year contract with the added bonus of a £50,000 signing on fee. Once again Everton became the victims of circumstances beyond their control as they were caught out by the Heath Government's Pay and Prices board which clearly stated that “recruits to existing jobs should not be paid more than the people they replaced”. The deal collapsed, Revie stayed at Leeds and won the League the following season.

As a side note, many middle-class Everton fans had developed the habit of giving their homes names to indicate their rise in social status. A popular choice at the time was “ Notreve”, sure you can work that out. Many of their Red supporting neighbours delighted in changing that overnight to “Notrevie.”

Binghams Robots

Daniel @48, SPOT ON!

FFS people get a grip over this fella! He ain't the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!

"Don Revie was the most despised manager in English football and would never have been considered."

Sorry Ian, but your recall is wrong. Scroll down to the 2nd photo on this link (photo of Revie decked out in a Leeds kit) and read from "Everton's 1970 championship-winning side had disintegrated rapidly with Alan Ball sold to Arsenal."

Revie met with John Moores after Leeds lost the FA Cup to Sunderland and seriously considered a move to us.

Link

Ron argued that we should be looking at the same caliber of manager that Arsenal is. Well, they appear to be on the brink of hiring someone who literally has ZERO managerial experience at any level. Now Arteta might very well turn out to be awesome, but to act like he's a more enticing candidate than Silva because he spent the past year setting out the cones for Pep is a stretch, to say the least.

"Problem, hay, boys?'

As others have said, they really seem to be after money for nowt.. so fuck em.

On another related note, re Bill (#63), making the point [to Tom #59] that '.. to act like he's [Arteta's] a more enticing candidate than Silva because he spent the past year setting out the cones for Pep is a stretch, to say the least. ' Spot and on and brilliant, Bill! Now THATs being realistic.. Love it!!!

Then, of course, when the player stated he wanted to go or he wouldn't play for Southampton, they of course accepted the 㿷 million for the Dutch idiot to dump us out of the FA Cup.... (that's another story).

Nothing said about illegal approaches from them, is there?

I get sick and tired of Everton always being the Club that for some reason always set a record or first for something pathetic like this.

Man City regularly and still breaching Financial Fair Play rules regarding transfers?

Let's get this straight: Watford are a joke and to pursue this the way they are, in my opinion, is just theft... They are trying to stiff our club because they know we have a shitload of money now. Give them absolutely fuck all and end this pursuit of Marco Silva. Simple.

I also think, @46, if your best idea for a manager is a man that can't communicate with his staff, your idea may be flawed?

The ability to speak to his players is quite high on my list of priorities for the next EFC manager. Call me forward-thinking if ya like...

We are left managerless and looking amateurish once again but now I know why we have a DOF, purely as back against trigger-happy Moshiri. At least he got one in before firing two out.

Unfortunately, unlike a business with the majority of employees getting on with their day jobs, if managers come and go, footballers don't.

Can we not get Team Silva in place (I'm sure he'll be using the same group of coaches as is often the case) to start preparation – or do we think the legal dispute goes for the whole coaching staff?

And after all this, I'll give him 2 years before Moshiri's fingers get twitchy.

Emery is a free agent and, in my eyes, the best remaining candidate. Let's aim for Gold! NSNO

I don't know your profession, but if I had a spare 㾶m to gamble with, and your previous was flawless, I still wouldn't trust you to manage a team that you couldn't speak to.

Everton have been linked with Long John Silva and Zorro, with Moyes and MON in the background

I always thought when voting at a general election it would be interesting if the vote was for your least preferred candidate - that way the government would be chosen as being the least unpopular choice. Based on that premise my vote would have been for Van Gaal (Wenger is simply meaningless - he wont go back into management). As it was my vote went to Eddie Howe.

I cannot present structured argument as to why from a footballing perspective but his achievements at Bournemouth - a club I quite like I think because of Howe - speak for themselves. Surely any weaknesses (eg defensive frailties) can be worked on by his team at Everton. Why, for example could say Howe and Unsworth not work together as a part of a cohesive team, or would there be too much conflict between them? I think Rhino would make a great assistant manager to someone like Howe.

All the bruhaha around Silva looks like turning into its own version of the Gylfi saga and we should look beyond him and move on. I mean, its not like he would be very high up the top 10 of an unlimited choice and as someone points out - I do not see Arsenal courting him among their favourites to replace Wenger.

We are better than that - don't get drawn into a wrangle with the Watford mafia who seem rather more adept in legal conflict than footballing matters. Onward and upward Blues - just get on and get our man and lets get behind him whoever it is.

Overall, Emery is the the best candidate - 3 Europa League cups, French league title and experience of the Champions League. And available now.

Defensive solidity has not been one of strengths even with Dinosaur in charge. We conceded more than two of the relegated teams and only four clubs conceded more than us, Including B'mouth. So I would argue that we are hardly the place to teach him. Especially if you play Williams and Keane at CB.

But I do agree we give Silva a miss.

If it was a choice between Silva and Allardyce, he would win hands down, but obviously that is simplifying things too much.

It looks like West Ham are going to get Pellegrini, a Manager who has proved his pedigree, and we persist in going after a Manager who has potential, but a chequered past on loyalty and results, it beggars belief in many ways.

I am hoping that the delay in appointing Silva, (which is looking increasingly likely to be the case) is to assess the possibility of other candidates.

I must admit I would be happier if we were after Unai Emery, or a similar proven Manager, but should it be Silva, I will back him, but with reservation.

We talk about proven winners, Silva is a proven winner. He's won 3 titles in 6 seasons. But sure, just dismiss them because they weren't on this shore.

There's many more questions over Howe:
- can he do anything away from Bournemouth?
- can he defend?
- can he manage egos?
- can he build a team quickly?
- can he cope with pressure and expectation?
- can he be pragmatic and vary his game plan to suit opposition?
- can his family settle up north?
- can he close out games?

Howe is a much bigger gamble for me and doesn't have half the reputation that Silva has on the training pitch.

Time to move on I truly believe. By

Us approaching him didn't effect their expected finishing position either.

They were expected to finish 14th and they did.

Very club has dips in form throughout a season, Watford had a dip and sacked him .

They are being unfair, unreasonable and greedy . Tell them to go away or we will sue for defaming our great club.

In addition , as much as I admire Howe I think Silva could attract a better class of player.

He would have a head start over Howe when wanting to recruit quality players from Portugal, Spain or Latin America. One find or shrewd recruitment could pay his wages in one go.

I'm not saying it is certain, but he will have a head start . The initiation, communication and settling in for such players will be much smoother. He would get more out of them.

It wouldn't surprise me too much if he turned Sandro's fortunes around. He is a player who will improve with maturity I am in no doubt of it.

Imagine Sandro scoring 15-20 under Silva , I would be ecstatic for them both.

The Watford fan perspective. Charming. Sounds about right as to what could happen with this.

Point I was just making is that NO manager from the very top table will come to us (yet).

Some time in the next few years? I certainly hope so.

I think the end result will be that Silva becomes our manager next week with us covering his claim against Watford with some sort of signing on fee. We will probably end up agreeing some sort of pay off with Watford just to make them go away. Unpalletable as this is, it seems like the only real solution to me other than walking away completely which I cannot see happening because too much effort has been put in to throw it all away.

I'm not advocating it, but you only have to look on the pitch at Everton and Chelsea, to realise that football is full of cheats, and Everton football club, have just got rid of one of the biggest.

Maybe Silva, is another one, but the rule of football, is to look after number one, especially now there is so much money in the game.

Hmm, this is 'commercial law' - and 'equal entities.'

So, do the same rules apply for multi-million pound football clubs that applies in the general area of tort.

It is speculative to suggest that Watford's form suffered owing to approaches made from EFC. Tort works on foreseeability; on duty; breach; causation; on link between Watford FC alleged damages (compensation) and on EFC alleged tortfeasor liability. I don't know the Premier League rules on approaching other PL clubs. I do know that Everton will not have been the only one notwithstanding WFC having approached Hull FC, as the article suggests.

TBH I would consider Brendan Rodgers (look at his record) or if entertaining football is what we are truly after Fulham boss Slavish Jokanovic but I am convinced Brands has come with a list of who he wants to work with maybe Cocu.

Truth about Tapping up 2005

Stupid rule

There are probably a million other stories about players and managers being tapped up by clubs, the Silva affair is just another to add to the pile, whether Everton behaved properly or not we don't really know, but as long as the governing bodies don't address it, it will continue to happen.

How do the various rule makers gather enough evidence to prove beyond any doubt that somebody was tapped up? never mind dock points from a 'guilty' party, it will and always has been a nest of vipers and it's just another - albeit unpleasant - part of the world of sport.

What I don't understand is why Everton's lawyers (of course I can only go on what I observe) are seemingly roll over. The burden of proof is in the person who makes the claim. So, why would Everton just offer compensation?

It sounds to me that it is cheaper for Everton to pay off Watford than to engage in a long drawn-out fight which delays Silva coming to Everton.

Given the pain in the arse Watford are being (and have been) about all this, makes me think we should give it the swerve; the protracted deal to get Sigurdsson – and even Allardyce, who rinsed us for far more than had we done the deal earlier – is the sort of messy business we should now be looking to avoid.

The changes in the club in recent days gives me hope and reason to believe we can now do swift, effective business, so binning this Silva caper would now be in keeping with this new and positive outlook.

Access it from there.

None of the comments I read, had any references to Silva in a positive vein whatsoever. You would think that despite all that has happened, there would be the odd post stating that they had lost a good Coach/Manager, but no, nearly all were glad to be rid.

Which I find rather worrying to be honest, I seriously hope that Moshiri has got all his facts together before proceeding with this.

The raw hatred is to be expected though — how would we feel if he went to Man Utd in November because we were 3rd in the table and just beaten them 3-0?

I wouldn't be writing him any references.

Which would raise serious questions about his loyalty. :-)

On a different note we beat Watford 2-0, 34 years ago today in what was regarded as a friendly Cup Final. Now they hate us – or rather their keyboard warriors do.

This can't be the only case of "tapping up", brought officially or otherwise, but what penalties have been incurred? I can only think of sides being suspended from taking part in the transfer market for a given period albeit I think that has been for approaching players rather than managers.

Interview questions should be “what have you won?” 2 should be “how do we beat top 6 sides regularly” 3 “how do we do better away from home?”

I don't see Silva hacking it when the Goodison faithful turn on him. A better manager wouldn't have seen his team struggle because of interest from us. What happens if he starts well and gets linked with a top European side?

The worst side Pep ever managed was Barcelona B team. Would he be wanted him straight from that side?

Most of these "elite" managers are good until the transfer money runs out. Then they want another rich club. It would be interesting to see them trying to make something out of unfashionable ordinary run of the mill clubs rather than waltzing into moneybags clubs already full of top notch players. Look at Conte at Chelsea who soon ran out of steam once Pep found his feet and Cities spending kicked in.

Most managers don't get to manage Barca, Real Madrid, or Man City. They have to make do with clubs that don't have the top players or 100s of millions to spend on the squad. Everton are one of those clubs and will get a manager that our real status, and not the elevated one some of our fans imagine we have, allows. Be it Silva or some other guy.

I actually don't think either is right to take us to the next step, but if we are going for a young, emerging manager then Howe is my choice simply because I question Silva's character and loyalty. Trying to bail on your new club after 8 games is not a great testament.

Try just down the road, you did it before, time to take a chance and give the job to a man who would get us playing better and would love the opportunity to manage us and wouldn't be using us as a fucking stepping stone.

I would stake my life on the fact that at the time, the Daily Post, somewhat prematurely carried the banner headline "Good Morning Goodison, Revie's Yours" – we most certainly were after him!

Some years later, we had secured an agreement with Bobby Robson to come here but on this occasion, a premature leak from the Club itself led to Robson withdrawing from the deal, part of which was that he wished to inform the Cobbold family (Ipswich owners) personally that he intended joining us.

Just to add, I don't think any of this excuses the woeful trainwreck of results he achieved at Watford before being launched and, to be honest, if it does, we are surely barking up the wrong tree with this guy.

No Silva for me... I prefer Gold.

Sorry, I will get my coat

Tell me how you win us the league.

Anyone who doesn't think they can, or they only can with a £500m budget should not be considered.

Whilst it is unlikely that we will won the league, the Everton manager should aim to do it every season, none of this 40 point crap.

Any manager lacking that ambition or know how is not good enough. They should all have a plan. The key is the execution of that plan.

If not, should we not be looking elsewhere??

The Niasse dive against all the other dives last season shows how the FA want to use us as an example. Just our luck we start with –9 points.

At the start of every season, I want us to win the lot, why? Delusion – possibly, but more because I am an Evertonian and that is what I expect Everton to be aiming for every season.

If we are not aiming to win everything, then why are we even bothering to compete? That is why Sam had to go and we need a young ambitious, energetic manager or head coach in place. The backing is there, we need to maximise it.

I still think we can aim higher than Silva though. Nevertheless, he'll have my backing should he become our next manager.

A swivel chair and a white fluffy cat on his knee, too, Mr Bond!

As Martin @ 112 recalls, the Revie-to-Everton story was reported in good ole print media and got mentions on radio and TV. I recall many a long debate with other match-going mates on the possibility.

Everton FC can't live in the past any more.

If this thing drags on another week, bin him and offer the gig to someone else.

We simply cannot wait for too long with the transfer window already open because we have a load of wasters to unload to the lower leagues.

The positions of chief executive and director of football have recently changed and there is talk that long-time chairman Bill Kenwright will step down at some stage to be replaced by Alisher Usmanov, who is currently a major shareholder at Arsenal.

I'll believe it when I see it, I'm afraid, we've been led down so man see it, I'm afraid, we've been led down so many garden paths even in the last couple of years that until a manager, player, investor, Stadium, is signed sealed and delivered, I'll treat most things connected to Everton as pure speculation.

But this is Everton, the perennial procrastinators.

Can't we just say "sorry with bells and stars on" and receive the same treatment they received? What am I thinking! Of course we can't.

Remember, Silva planned out of Hull early. Silva planned out of Watford early whilst on a good run as a springboard. He can cut and run.

I'd take Benitez. As galling as it seems, his family are permanently based on Merseyside and he could prepare the incremental steps we need before Bramley-Moore Dock. We cocked up last season making the same mistake Spurs made after they sold Bale. Expectations too high and a scattergun approach in the transfer market.

We reached for the stars whilst that lot over there stayed quiet, motivated and improved, one player at a time. I'm begging the gods of football to give Real one last Hurrah. I don't want that genie out of the bottle. I'm sure the 70s and 80s helped twist me up.

And let's face it, having played the Allardyce card, there's really only Pulis or Moyes left in the panic Joker pack come December — and neither of them are likely to be available.

Also, I am not impressed with Watford's slump after our approach which cost him his job. Either he was distracted and took his eye off the ball, or he downed tools in anger at being denied a move. Neither are much of a recommendation.

I too would prefer Rafa if he would come. He is a proven Premier League operator, and I don't mind his "small club" jibe, which was only banter, and indeed true, insofar as Liverpool is a bigger club than us.

A road that will lead to nowhere Blues! Try a different road, one with realistic aims and goals that ends in silverware and REAL glory. It starts in mid-September and still ends with us going toe-to-toe with the finest team there is in Europe.

It's no surprise our club never thinks outside the box...'cos we never shoot outside it neither!

No, Liverpool are not a bigger club than us, they are richer, better run, luckier, but a bigger club? I'll never ever say they are!

Why didn't we fight for Pellegrini? Why didn't we fight harder for Fonseca?

Why are we appointing 'care in the community' administrator (ie Everton's Charity entities) to a high position? What does she know about a several hundred million pound football club? She is a professor, that's about it.

Let's hope the rumour that Usmanov is jumping ship and coming to us is true. I'm thinking that Moshiri is another Kenwright but with a bigger wallet. I'm not convinced on Silva, and the thought of giving the FA another stick to beat us with is too much.

Are we out of the mire now Fat Sam is gone, along with the deadwood, or are we treading water?

Pellegrini, Benitez or Dyche... but Silva, I'm not sure.

I'd like to think so, but...

Emery would have been my choice but he doesn't want to come.

Silva worries me but we have to give him a chance. It is a done deal so let's get behind the man before deciding he's no good.

Moshiri clearly has identified Silva as the best man for the job. Having done so, he's now pursuing hiring him; ie, they're doing exactly what a well-run business would do: identify their candidate and work to hire them.

Whether Silva is the answer as manager, none of us know. Any call either was is subjective, however many stats or win percentages or points per game we throw around.

In which case, I'd prefer the owner of the club to have a clear choice of candidate, move to hire that choice of candidate, and back them to do their job. And that seems to be exactly what we're doing.

I hope he proves me wrong all the way.

I wouldn't mind giving Brendan Rodgers a go; he's had plenty of Premier League experience, with no need to mention whom, and he's doing well at Celtic, Champions League experience there too.

But not Howe, Dyche, Wagner or Houghton... thanks but no thanks.

If Allardyce was hated, I'm not seeing a lot of support for Rafa when results aren't going his way.

No more circus please; just get a decent coach and let Brands help organise the squad.

I question whether Benitez is he man he was, particularly without his right hand man, and whether Rogers is capable of building Everton to a level needed to quickly and successfully assault the top 6.

My biggest reservation is what happens when the inevitable downturn in form comes. Will they get less time because of their RS connections? Will the crowd turn quicker? Will the hatred rise quicker? Will it become an untenable position because of this when a manager without their background could have more goodwill and so actually turn it around, despite not actually being as capable.

Let's hope the board and Marcel Brands get this one right.

I agree with you 100% that our next manager should be a hands-on training pitch coach.

What do you think of Zeliko Buvac?

He seems to set up very similar to Martinez and his teams struggle defensively as we saw during the Watford game at Goodison. Why is he even being considered? I don't think he'll even get to 26 matches at Everton.

We seem to have an obsession with buying players from relegated or relegation-haunted teams. That now seems to be the case with the managerial appointments.

One or two want Benitez or Arteta; you can rule both of those out right away with Brands coming. Arteta has already turned Arsenal down due to wanting more say. Benitez wants full control of all transfers so again with Brands here will not get what he wants.

Emery will possibly be going to Arsenal, Fonsesca staying at his present club. Plenty of managers out there, but just my opinion, I think Silva will turn out to be a decent manager and he gets my vote.

Only time will tell if it was the right one, but I have a good feeling about Silva.

So... I want Silva – he's the best, what a man-manager and forward-thinking coach.

Let's see what happens now...

Dodgy for me; speaks to character and I do not like it. Come on, we can't make this mistake, can we?

Link