To Go or Not To Go... ?

Any other more active measures that folk believe should be implemented, won't achieve anything more than my simple yet probably futile gesture, but those measures may do far greater harm to the reputation of the club and the team's chances of success - we are already up against it, why would actively demonstrating our dislike of the new boss, help us to improve the situation? Would it really change the mind of the owner? If the new boss doesn't improve on this years performances, he'll likely be gone wihin a year anyway.

I do think appointing Benitez is a bad move, but only because I don't think he's up to the task, and possibly like Ancelotti, he sees the opportunity to feather his family's nest, without too much risk to his own reputation. Everton FC the club where self-inflicted damage is a constant.

Tactically he is too similar to Carlo and just don't see it working. You never know l guess.

Has anyone seen the start Norwich has? Brutal.

He may prove me wrong but I think he will fail and waltz off with a large wedge. If he succeeds I will doff my chapeau to him.

I don't go to many away games now, but always watch them live on TV. However, I've decided that if an away match clashes with a Marine fixture I shall be watching the Mariners, I have found their level of football to be very entertaining.

Good luck on your travels, you deserve far better fare than has been served up to you over too many seasons.

If Benitez wins things, then I have no problems. My issue with Benitez being hired is that he is a busted flush of a manager. His Liverpool history is not the main reason I don't want him, I don't want him because the evidence suggests he's a has-been, he hasn't done anything of note in over a decade and only wants the job cause it's convenient.

We will not be qualifying for Europe or winning trophies. We'll be finishing 13th-9th and going out the cups in the 5th round.

More of the same, essentially.

He's an appointment of stagnated mediocrity.

Not a season ticket holder. But someone who might occasionally go the game if I have the spare cash and a free weekend. But spend the best part of £80-100 for a day out of arrogant mediocrity. Not a chance.

I personally think the small club jibe was aimed at Evertonians, rather than at Everton FC, and as much as this is an unbelievably divisive appointment, I just hope that Usmanov, has done proper due-diligence this time, and his truly convinced that the once horrible, fat little Spaniard, can do a good job, turn us around, and end up with the Liverpudlians hating him, even more than thousands of Evertonians, currently do.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions and actions, it just seems a bit of an empty threat really, to give up a season ticket and it does nothing. Writing to the club for what that itself is worth, would be better. Now, if half the crowd regularly stayed away over an issue... but that won't happen.

I guess every year, a small number are forced to give up their ticket and a few choose to, but that's different. As I've said before, I think a lot more threaten it than would actually do it... that's frustration for you!

Maybe the bigger picture is the problem - the type of manager and the ambition it shows, or doesn't.

Not sure about Rafa, I'm not bothered by his small club remarks, to me that is just banter, but hope he still has “it”. He certainly seems fired up judging by the comments in the press. If he brings a higher level of discipline, fitness and stability it will be worth it. As I have stated in various posts in the past, I am very much an optimist so it may all be just bollocks!

When a season ticket is purchased the feeling of obligation to attend or stand accused of wasting money must be quite strong. Interestingly attendances at "pay at the gate" cup games are markedly lower so I don't think supporting your team is the driving factor it was. Consequently the ire of yesteryear with cushions flying and fans voting with their feet have gone.

Let's be honest the most important thing about watching professional footy these days is the distraction provided by a smart phone

I recall a phrase once used to Charlie Chaplin, when a friend told him: "You were received at the White House, but not embraced."

We don't get to make the appointment decision, but because we are Everton fans, we will support the club. We'll still be here when he has long gone.

If it is Rafa, he will have to be received, but like Allardyce, he will never be embraced.

As to those who put out the recent banner, they need to give their heads a shake.

This sentence from your article answers the question in a nutshell:

"Whenever I'm away on holiday and people ask me who I support, they don't ask "Which manager do you follow" or "Which player do you follow", the question is always "Which team do you follow?"

Well done and I also agree with every post which distances their support from those mindless idiots who think putting up a banner outside of his house has any place in a decent society.

A lot of points that this choice (if it's taken) raises, and not just the ability of the manager to get us towards Europe. Or to stop the rot that may well come about after Ancellotti departed so suddenly, with only a few weeks for the players to prepare for the coming season.

The choice of manager. Interesting, as there's a number of Premiership clubs, including one of the Slimy Six, who are still looking for a manager, presumably from the same or similar list that the club's been working from.

Who chooses the manager? Well we don't know, or I certainly don't.
I hope, though, that Brands, who Moshiri has hired to oversee all things football, has a major part to play in the process of choosing from the list; and also the major role in buying players.

If that list, that has been shown on Toffee Web, is of all the available /desirable managers. A thorough process has been undertaken to decide who is most desirable from those. A short list is chosen and the manager who is cionsidered the best available is chosen. Then it seems to me, that Moshiri (and Usmanov, if that's the case) are very much aware of how massively important the next two or three seasons are going to be.

After the last manager left so suddenly, all the players who he and Brands had lined up to try for, has gone out the window now, because I think Ancellotti being manager would have a big bearing on any player's decision to come to Goodison.

For whatever reason, Nuno appears to be off the radar; and who is the best candidate who knows the Premier League, who has got his teams into Europe regularly, won trophies and got a team promoted to the Premiership. It seems to me that there is not many to choose from.

They've chosen one who to them, offer us the best chance of steering the club out of trouble. I don't think they are as stupid as some supporters seem to think they are. They have a lot more riding on the next 2/3 seasons than most clubs in the Premiership. They will not be wanting to change managers again, as rapidly as in the last 5 seasons, so they'll be going for stability first then the challenge for Europe.

The alternative to Moshiri, well is there one, well there's Kenwright I suppose.

As for those who have intimidated a potential manager's family, not on really, is it.

I don't want him because I think he peaked a long time ago and I don't see anything to suggest he has evolved as a manager. I think he is stuck in 10 years ago and will be easily found out, as Carlo was.

I also think we'll forever be in Liverpool's shadow with this appointment. Unless he wins the league or champions league, he will always have done better over there and we will forever have just appointed one of their cast offs. No longer good enough for the mighty Liverpool, but good enough for plucky little Everton.

I will not stop following Everton, I will not support Benetiz unless he does something really special.

"Whenever I'm away on holiday and people ask me who I support, they don't ask "Which manager do you follow" or "Which player do you follow", the question is always "Which team do you follow?" “

Says it all. We can sing the praises of any manager doing well for us but that's only because we're actually singing the praises of the team we love.

The vile threat made to Rafa and his family doesn't represent the vast majority of Evertonians, not even most of the nutters on the live forum.

I didn't want Sam and I don't want Benitez but that doesn't change my support for the club. I respect those who won't go to the games as it's a valid, if doomed, option.

If Osama bin Laden was ever given the gig we would still have had 5-6 thousand fans chasing 2.8 thousand tickets for Tuesday night away games on the south coast. Some people simply have to go the match. You're one of them. It`s what you/they do.

My away days become fewer and further between as I get older. I have begun to fall down the pecking order when it comes to being "in" if I want a couple of tickets for an away game. I will always go to the home games, no matter who is in charge. The fact that I can walk to Goodison Park in 10 minutes has a big bearing on that but I understand others who feel differently. You don't have to go to the game to be a rabid blue these days... Even if you live in the City. Lockdown has proved that.

All I know is that those who don't go out of principle will swiftly realise that there will be plenty who will take their place.

We're all passionate Evertonians on this site (you woudn't be arsed coming on if you wasn't). The manager is merely somebody we fight about in-between games. Those who choose not to go the match out of principle will still be glued to their laptops, telly, phones for every game.

I don't see any exiled or new overseas blues taking action against Rafa's appointment, no matter how much they are against it.

You pays your money (or not, as the case may be) and you takes your choice

I never knew why I supported and support Everton. I just did and do. My Dad said so. So I did and I do.

I don't get to home games as much as I'd like, but when I do, I spend a lot of money when you weigh up to round trip from London (ticket, travel, food and yes, too many bevies). I go to as many of the south east away fixtures as I can, but often in the home end as it's nigh on impossible getting Everton away tickets due to our incredible travelling support. Fulham is always a good day out and they have a neutral end, so always easy to get in there.

Now that my life is more stable in civilian streams, I've put myself down on the season ticket waiting list. Something I haven't been able to do since the early 90s. And I will gladly snap one up as soon as they offer me the opportunity. My son had one during his Uni days at John Moores during the Martinez years but we gave it up when he left.

Until then, I'll continue to exchange views (and blows) with equally minded passionate blues on sites like this.

As you say, we support Everton. Managers, players? They come and go.

We're in this for life. By birthright.

Personally, I am not prepared to do that and cannot believe that the club has put us in this position. I have a round trip of 400 miles to get to the game and it is just too much to ask to see his fat face in the dugout.

I have written to the club and as yet have not had a response even though one was promised so at 9 o'clock my 2 season tickets will be going back. It seems the only way I can register my protest.

Of course I still wish for the best for the club but the whole sorry situation saddens me. NSNO it is not.

Joking aside, let the dust settle. It hasn't happened yet!!

I appreciate what you say. 400 plus round trips to watch Everton and the cost outside of the match day ticket / season ticket are understated by those who express views to those who don't live in the city. When I had a season ticket, I did live in the city. But I've spent many years travelling at much more expense to watch and follow Everton from afar. Having been on both sides of the fence, arguably the latter takes a lot more dedication. It was easy when I lived in Liverpool.

It's not about the money. It's not about the manager. It's about Everton. Always has been. Always will be.

Good luck to you and enjoy!

I totally understand your disgust at the appointment of Benitez and I would never condemn any loyal Evertonian from walking away. Like you, I contacted the club expressing my concerns and have just received a generic response this morning. I would implore you to keep your season ticket as we don't know how long Benitez will last and surely you wouldn't want to miss out on a post-Beintez era?

Many of us just moved away from the area for love or jobs. In my case, both.

You can take the man out of Everton... UTFT

My son's first school was in Liverpool but he's lived in Italy, Northern Ireland and London since the age of 6. He says he (or his family) are from Liverpool. He's a mad Evertonian. I think he purposely chose John Moores for his Uni years to "go home" and it got him a season ticket on my cheque!!

We have to realize that Morshiri is the owner of the club and he could end the 'project' of trying to put Everton back amongst the leaders in the Premier League.

He could walk away just like Ancelotti did. Another attempt at building a new stadium would be gone also.

Everyone has their own values and must make their own judgments. But I'm beginning to wonder for some Blues if there's any set of circumstances that would see them withdraw or moderate their support? If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything as they say.

I wish all the Blues prepared to watch Benitez, and give him a chance, the very best. But I rather suspect I've saved myself a lot of time, money, and wasted energy.

I've thought long and hard about replying to your pathetic post. I don't consider myself to be a hero at all. I know plenty of people who attend all games, home and away, one or two who post on here included, does that make them heroes as well?

I could have been abusive in my reply but then I thought it's not worth getting banned or suspended from the site just because of someone like you. As I said, your post @ 31 is just pathetic!

Now that my life is more stable and predictable, I'm on the waiting list. It will be expensive; not just the ticket but everything else that goes with the round trip from London. I'm pretty sure my wife doesn't read ToffeeWeb so I'm good for now.

I'm tier one whatever that means in terms of waiting time. Anyone have an idea?

I can't go to every game due to distance so I hope there is a facility for someone to use tickets if I renew. I have used StubHub before and only ever charge what I have paid.

Hope you get to go on 14th!

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Good on you Lynne. I was just about to say don't do it and be sure you're at Goodison next season. I couldn't have taken your ticket!