A timely and sobering reminder, Paul, that this season's dalliance with the top 6 places is not only a pleasant change but an essential prerequisite to allow us to dare to play with the big boys on something like an even footing.

Progress in Europe would bring welcome one-off cash injections but the recurring financial impact of the new stadium is the real game-changer. We simply can't afford to delay this a day more than necessary. That is, of course, making the assumption we have jobs and a disposable income to spend by then.

Continuing with Brands will hopefully help control costs whilst progressing on the field but the largest single variable on our future is the continuing commitment of Moshiri and whether shelling out £50m a season on a hobby is still as much fun as it first appeared.

Great summary once again – gone are the days of being owned by the local butcher!

Any cash generated by Bramley-Moore Dock will not make us suddenly; rich, self-sufficient, able to compete with the big boys or anything of that nature. It will go to pay stadium debt. A New Stadium just sucks money from transfers... Arsenal are a prime example.

Amongst other reasons, we're building a new ground because we need one and because Moshiri et al, can make money on it... who comprises the 'et al' is for another thread... if you even bother.

Clubs make money by winning, this allows for more marketing, bigger sponsor deals and more Sky TV money.

Gate money is well down the list... Selling £200 of arl tat, per person per visit, or online is the key.

If you were at the last full house at Goodison... say Dunc vs Chelsea... treasure it; if you were at the Rooney Arsenal game, Wimbledon, Bayern, The Latch's 30 goals. If you were there for Young 1-0 vs Spurs or the 60s in general... even before the Taxi. Treasure them all, write it down before you forget.

The post-Covid norm will be a different beast. Full houses at football grounds won't be happening any time soon in this decade... The Government will legislate social distancing measures to 'educate', sorry, 'help' the public to help the vaccine do its work.

The Bramley-Moore Dock stadium will get built... eventually, but it won't make 'our' fortunes... Just like you buying a new house won't help your business make more money.

Only on-field success will do that.

Dereck I agree and fortunately Moshiri has realised on the football side you can't muck about with operations or give money to certain people to muck about with. Brands and his elevation was the start of Moshiris arm length control and Ancelottis appointment filled the other hole in Evertons operations that has existed for over twenty years. If you are a Big Club you need a Big Manager, as Arsenal are finding out.

But I have always thought the major investment for Moshiri was a long term Docklands Development vehicle, with the accompanying international finance manoeuvring. It could be that Moshiri is very much a head of the game, with Goves 'Free Port' muted policy. This is the reason, imo, that certain people are still in situ and Moshiri was prepared the tolerate the Agreements that keep them there, allowing him to get in on the ground floor of such a Docklands investment a reasonable cost. If his priority was a profit generating operation he would, like others, never agreed to such a arrangement.

Paul the Esk is actually giving a fact based analysis of the actual factors that will get Moshiri there and the factors that won't. Moshiri is well aware of the factors that won't, particularly Regulatory scrutiny and its aftermath. That is the reason why Bill's Luvie Persona is useful, though we are all sick to death of it. It will be well worth seeing Margaret Hodge trying to tie Bill down. Ref You Tub for her previous form.

Derek, undoubtedly the new stadium benefits the shareholder more so than accelerating us up the financial performance tables, I get that and have written how even a 40% increase in general admission prices has very little impact on the bottom line. However, even after financing costs, an estimated increase in match day revenues of £25 million a year is not unreasonable, particularly given the possible naming rights partner.
Regarding future transfer activity, unless we become regular CL participants we will remain impacted by previous decisions and our low levels of commercial revenue. I suspect the potential lenders (as well as the regulators) are already shaping our existing transfer strategy as we try to reduce costs whilst improving the overall strength of the squad by having fewer but more effective players. It is difficult to overstate the financial challenges we face.

Don't forget there's a new European Cup competition next season: The UEFA Europa Conference League (abbreviated as UECL)

It's primarily aimed at the smaller countries, though the big 5 leagues may enter one team as well.
If we don't qualify for the two already existing competitions, there's a good chance we'll qualify for this one. It won't be as financially rewarding, but then at least we're back in Europe, and we can boost our coefficient.

Too late Francis.

LFC have put thier name on the one place available

I don't agree with The Esk when he says it's almost inevitable the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium will be called in.

Despite worldwide, hysterical clamour, the government have not called in the Whitehaven coal mine after it was approved by Cumbria County Council.

In the above case, the local authority were strongly in favour of the proposal as it would bring much needed jobs. Perhaps the same can happen in Liverpool.

And also much-needed life, Allen, to the finest waterfront in the country.

Whilst many fans understandably go on about one match after another, and who played where, and how far they each ran and so on, Paul elaborates on the stone cold facts of where we actually are as a club in the wider world (and that's been for all but thirty years by now), and more importantly who has chiefly been responsible for our huge erosion of status whilst sitting in the boardroom supposedly "managing" that precipitous erosion.

Paul and others also rightly allude to the mountain we have to climb to become even plausible in European/World terms, thereby becoming attractive to the media, investors, fans and, oh yes, better players.

Due respect to Burnley but for us now to be rated as they are in Europe is proof of boardroom gross recklessness and/or negligence for decades.

Burnley in history are still associated with their dinosaur chairman Bob Lord but, after 26 years, they got rid of him as the club were headed for oblivion, as we were as a Premier League club pre-Moshiri.

In fairness during Lord's time this "nothing" club won the league, rebuilt their ground, created a state-of-the-art training facility, and produced a series of excellent footballers; Keith Newton, Trevor Steven, Dave Thomas, Martin Dobson and, err, Geoff Nulty serving us well after signing for us from there (and there are many others too).

But they got rid of him anyway.

We've further enhanced the role of chairman for our very own spinosaurus though.

Jeez!

Derek (#2), The Bramley-Moore Dock stadium won't alone solve our immediate financial challenges but longer-term it should provide opportunities to improve our relatively underperforming commercial operations and to attract sponsorship, players and match-going fans.

Goodison cost the club at first, made money for the club over the next say 70 years or so and is now costing the club money once more (albeit mainly opportunity cost). Same model applies for BMD.

Joining the big boys doesn't equal profit in my eyes. It's being in a position to service bigger debt. The size and impact of that debt depends on the performance of each of Paul's 4 factors and what future broadcasting revenue looks like. And these factors will only come good with success on the field.

The risk of 'going for it' is considerable and the balancing act required needs the skills of a fully functioning governing board with strong and resilient leadership. Whether we have that only time will tell.