Season › 2022-23 › Opinion › Talking Points Too Close for Comfort? by Trevor Powell | 28/03/2023 66 Comments [Jump to last] I have just seen this new article on the BBC Football Webpage, "Malaga: From Champions League to inescapable nightmare in 10 years". There seems to be something eerily similar to the reign of Bullshit Bill Kenwright! Didn't we get a dud Spanish striker from Malaga? I'm having real trouble remembering his name! Just Googled to remind me of a player with fewer goals than Brett Angel or Bernie Wright… The dispensible Sandro Ramírez! Article continues below video content Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments » Reader Comments (66) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Jerome Shields 1 Posted 29/03/2023 at 07:13:09 Everton's demise began the day Kenwright was appointed a Director of the Club. Moshiri just prolonged the agony. Actually there is a high element of Kenwright actually sabotaging many of Moshiri's plans. Why he let him is the real jigsaw piece that is missing. Danny O’Neill 2 Posted 29/03/2023 at 07:35:13 Since we last won the league, Jerome… but yet it has definitely gathered momentum after 1989 and as we went into the '90s. A brief glimmer when Moyes stabilised up but then the realisation we were scraping by, It dawned that we were in the land of mediocrity, knowing we were not breaking the so-called glass ceiling as the double act beat the expectation out of us. Different generations will have different views on the Moyes years. I know mine and have voiced them many times.Aside from Howard Kendall working his magic briefly (and let's not forget that dark winter of 1983), some would argue it started after the 1969-70 title-winning side was allowed to break up. If you look at some of the league finishes in the '70s, it doesn't make pleasant reading. Even the few 3rd and 4th placings we achieved; you have to remember, this was a time when only the Champions qualified for Europe's top competition.Yet, many supporters do look back fondly. Andy King's derby winner. Bob Latchford's 30 goals in a season.Aside from those 3 seasons in the mid-80s, a near miss in 2009 and a few European nights that the supporters enjoyed no end, we've largely been feeding off the scraps thrown from the Main Stand ever since 1970. Jerome Shields 3 Posted 29/03/2023 at 11:04:32 Danny, I am talking about financial instability. Really it began with Johnson, Kenwright being a sidekick. Johnson bought the Club for ٦M and sold it for 㿆M. Kenwright ultimately financed his share of the purchase using the assets of the Club. He worked everyone else out.This was his sole ambition and he has continued with this self-serving attitude right till this day. Even the sale to Moshiri was an investment in the existing Kenwright & Co regime, with Moshiri's sole influence being his hand on the money tap.It is a different scenario than Malaga, since the Stadium is being funded, and there is no restriction on funds being used. Though they may be provided out of Moshiri's own funds which he appears to have.The Stadium Development Company is separate from the Club company, as is the Goodison Development Company.Don't ask me to explain the crossover in the accounts, according to Paul the Esk. We will see in the final Accounts on the 31 March. Jerome Shields 4 Posted 29/03/2023 at 11:49:37 Actually I only remember the good times.The 1970 League Triumph,that I regret I did not celebrate more, and being at Spurs in the away terrace with by future wife pinned against the barrier as Everton attacked the goal in front of me on their way to League triumph in the 80s.I did really Celebrate that.It was better than being at Live Aid to right of the centre speakers.Danny, Should read 'Don't ask me to explain.' In the previous post. Joe McMahon 5 Posted 29/03/2023 at 12:09:27 Jerome, therein lies the problem, I'm 53 and that particular good time I would have been 1. Just nowhere near enough and certainly no dynasties unfortunately. Jerome Shields 6 Posted 29/03/2023 at 12:39:51 Yes Joe I know. But the present situation is over 30 years in the making. Even after the FA Cup win in the 1990s, Joe Royle found himself having to deal with a player contract mess, meaning he couldn't build that Summer, eventually leaving the Club.I remember period between 70s and 80s as being challenging, but Everton where still been run and were a big Club and the Finances were in order.Yes, younger fans deserve alot better.But frankly none of the Fans have been a priority with this Club, since way back. Ian Horan 7 Posted 29/03/2023 at 13:10:54 On the sale of Everton to BPB from Johnson. Johnson took a load of grief as he was unapologetic about supporting the RS growning up!!! But let's be clear on the facts. Johnson built the new park end stand. Had plans in place to develop the car park behind the park End and redevelop the stadium in sections similarly to Manures development of Old Trafford. When he sold the club it was operating efficiently and being in the black with no debt!! Since then the club has been asset stripped and reversed mortgaged up to the hilt. Everton as a financially viable operation ceased to be the day BPB became owner!!! Jerome Shields 8 Posted 29/03/2023 at 13:45:44 Thanks Ian, I was unaware that he had built the Park End and his what seems viable Stadium plans Maybe Kenwright even worked him out.I always thought that Kenwright loved the Fan jumping on the boot of Johnson's Merc.I was refering to the reasons he sold. Maybe they were of someone else's making. Barry Hesketh 9 Posted 29/03/2023 at 14:11:29 Perhaps Peter Johnson and our Billy stood side by side in the Boys Pen at the other place? Tony Abrahams 10 Posted 29/03/2023 at 14:26:48 Bill Kenwright must be the only kid to have been passed along the kop, Barry, unless he got his story wrong once again?Peter Johnson was vilified for telling the truth, but Kenwright had thousands eating out of the palm of his hand, because he's definitely one of us🤷â€â™‚ï¸ Brian Harrison 11 Posted 29/03/2023 at 14:40:29 Look Kenwright should have stood down when Moyes left, I hold no affection for him at all, but some coming on here trying to hold Johnson as someone who did a good job. Just as a reminder he sold Ferguson to Newcastle without informing his manager Walter Smith, he fell out with Joe Royle who had just won the FA Cup with a team that just about escaped relegation and fell out with Johnson because he wouldnt let Joe sign Tor Andre Flo. Also as Jerome pointed out Johnson bought this club for £8m and sold it for £26m so an £18m profit not bad for over 30 years ago.Also the number of players who commented that he took them to Park Hampers in Birkenhead while trying to persuade them to join Everton football club.So please castigate Kenwright he deserves it, but please don't ever hold Johnson up other than being an absolute disaster as chairman and another who made a fortune from this club, while running it into the ground. Alan McGuffog 12 Posted 29/03/2023 at 14:46:04 Ian...we won our last trophy with Johnson in the chair. We also had the imagination to set up a relationship with Home Farm in Dublin to try to get the cream of the Irish crop.But he was a kopite. And BK is the world's greatest blue nose Tony Abrahams 13 Posted 29/03/2023 at 15:08:30 I was only saying that he was vilified for telling the truth regarding his allegiance to Liverpool as a boy, Brian, and nothing more mate.He never begged stole and borrowed though, or left Everton in debt, and he also helped us put a trophy in our cabinet.Kenwright should have never been let anywhere near Everton, but this is something we all have our own opinions on.He should have left with Moyes, is a head shaker though, because how any Everton chairman, should have been happy with a manager who never put a trophy on the table in twelve years, definitely tells me everything with regards our inept Chairman, who's actions, or intentions were only about surviving as Everton's owner for as long as he possibly could. Dale Self 14 Posted 29/03/2023 at 15:21:22 These are the good ‘ol days (any Carole King fans still alive?). The fans and Dyche ate leading this club forward and the mext miney man will know how to behave. John Raftery 15 Posted 29/03/2023 at 15:40:42 The Johnson era ended in a complete and utter shambles. The fans hated him and couldn't wait to get rid of him. Eric Myles 16 Posted 29/03/2023 at 15:41:48 Ian #7, you forgot to mention that Johnson also financed it all with his own money, not once, but twice putting £10 million into the Club from his own pocket.How much has Kenwright put in again? Tony Abrahams 17 Posted 29/03/2023 at 16:00:41 I remember it well John. Steve Watson, was our auxiliary centre forward, and Walter Smith always seemed to be disappointed.We signed some good players, but it wasn't sustainable, although at least Peter Johnson had the good grace to move us on.I'm not sure he would have been so quick in trying to sell, if he wasn't being called Agent Johnson, but he definitely stitched us up more than he could have ever thought possible, (if this was even part of his plan) when he sold the club to Agent Kenwright. John Williams 18 Posted 29/03/2023 at 16:05:50 The sad fact about forums is, the vast majority who frequentthem believe they could do better than managers and chairmen.??Look at the facts, the PL has destroyed most of the clubsthat take part, it was set up for the elite clubs and over the last few years, clubs that have been supported from theMiddle East and Asia.Only seven clubs have been champions.Man Utd(13), Man City (6), Chelsea (5), Arsenal (3),Blackburn, Leicester and Liverpool 1 each.22/23 season will be either Arsenal or Man City.Yes you can look at Leicester, if they can do it, why not Everton ?They pumped big money into the club and in some way got lucky, because the big 4 clubs did not that season.It was a one off and yes they won the Cup, but they are now struggling like Everton at the foot of the table.Leicester have turned into a selling club to stay afloat.I started watching the Blues in the days of Peter Farrell andTommy Eglington and we always had more downs than ups,just like hundreds of other clubs in the leagues.Some of you should take a look at teams now playing outsidethe divisions, non league, some wellknown names down there. Ian Horan 19 Posted 29/03/2023 at 16:53:09 All I think Johnson can only be vilified for being a red!!! I did about forget him putting 2 lots of 㾶 million of his own money in. So given the 㿆 mill I would say he broke even. His drivers for selling was influenced by his relationship with TRFC Lorraine Rodger's was his partner and he transfer Rovers over to her as the premier league believed it was a conflict of interests. He put both clubs up for sale when the premier were still not satisfied with Rodger's owning Rover's and Him Everton. Everton sold first to our beloved carpet bagger!!! On Ferguson I love Duncan but be honest to get ٥mill for him was good business 1 goal every 4 games Duncan could and should of made more of his career. Fergusson was a throwback to a bygone era as football moved on. It's power pace and technique !! No tubthumpping thuggery Joe McMahon 20 Posted 29/03/2023 at 16:59:09 I'm slightly with Ian, I didn't want Duncan back. The one I wanted at that time was Dion Dublin, and it may have been Johnson (I can't remember), but funds weren't allowed. Can't remember if it was Royle or Kendall MKIII that wanted him.It's a long time ago though now chaps. Tony Abrahams 21 Posted 29/03/2023 at 17:06:58 When the premier league was set up, I thought Everton were one of those elite clubs, John?Do better than the chairman or manager? Since we last won a trophy we have had eleven managers, plus three ex players who have been our caretaker manager. Seven of those managers have won trophies elsewhere, one being Howard Kendall, who is our most successful ever manager.During this time we have had 3 Chairmen. Johnson won us the cup, we won nothing under Carter, although I'm sure he was our most successful chairman with regards the club, winning silverware, and for the last 19 years, we have William Kenwright, the man who gave us some good times. So under our current chairman, we have had ten full time managers, who have helped to deliver us the square root of absolutely nothing. Be careful what we wish for, and just remember it could have been a lot worse. Or forget our illustrious past and just be thankful that Kenwright, always had our best interests at heart? Phil (Kelsall) Roberts 22 Posted 29/03/2023 at 17:32:34 Joe - it was Kendall Mk2 who wanted Dion. In fact Duncan was not even a thought at that time and HK walked leaving us with Jimmy the Gab as manager where we went 6 games "without troubling the scorer" until scoring 2 at Chelsea. Sadly they scored 4. P7 D1 L6.Ah yes, interviews at Park Hampers. Hello, I am Mr Finch. You are Mr Martin I understand. Here to be interviewed by Mr Johnson I understand. He will be a few hours yet. Sorry about the wait. That's OK. By the way I need to get to Leeds tonight - can you tell me the best way?Certainly back onto the M53, then the M62 and you can be there in a couple of hours.Thanks. Martin Mason 23 Posted 29/03/2023 at 17:38:43 Danny@2 I believe you have it absolutely right in that the downward spiral for the club started the season after they won the league in 1970 in such amazing fashion. Kendall 1 was just an act of God, a blip on the way down. Kenwright? well please yourself what you believe but he didn't start it, he just jumped on the wagon when it went past. He knew that it was going downhill but he saw that it would make him rich. I've often thought, while suffering this race to the bottom from day one that not only relegation but financial obliteration was not just possible but inevitable. I think that we may be seeing it now. Tony Abrahams 24 Posted 29/03/2023 at 17:44:43 He knew it was going downhill Martin, must be the most sensible thing you have written on these pages mate. How could he think any differently? The man was absolutely skint. Robert Tressell 25 Posted 29/03/2023 at 17:47:33 John # 18, you're right of course but that's sort of the point of the forum (and pub banter etc etc). More seriously, I'm under no illusion that I could actually coach a professional football team. But I do think we all witness certain managers making fairly elementary mistakes at times. Like last season Lampard leaving it very late to tighten up away and stop fiddling with formations. I think most supporters were struggling with that and results improved when Lampard belatedly did what looked obvious to a lot of fans. With the club management, there are kids doing GCSE economics (or just those with a few brain cells) that could have improved upon the utter shambles of recent years and the inevitable consequences we are now seeing. It's happened to quite a few clubs, true - but to hit the financial abyss as a result of getting a major cash injection and as an established top 10 Premier League club is quite a breathtaking example of incompetence. John Williams 26 Posted 29/03/2023 at 18:12:37 This debate could go on for sometime,regarding Everton andother PL clubs.Here are some statistics of other clubs and the number of managers they have had since 1992.Newcastle 22.Spurs. 24.Brighton 27.Fulham 24.Aston Villa 26.Leicester 31.Brentford 22.Crystal Palace 38.Wolves. 22.Leeds 25.Notts For. 36.West Ham 18.Bournemouth 16.Southampton 32.So you can see,a massive turnover of managers, with onlyLeicester having won the PL. Mike Gaynes 27 Posted 29/03/2023 at 18:13:33 John #18, it wasn't big spending that carried Leicester to that title. Remember they started the season at 5000–1 after the summer window. It was just a magical confluence of the right manager at the right time, combined with good players becoming superstars (Vardy, Kante, Mahrez) and very average players having the season of their lives (Fuchs, Simpson, Drinkwater). None of them were big-bucks signings. Martin Mason 28 Posted 29/03/2023 at 18:14:24 Tony@24 I know that I don't always make myself clear but when I said that Kenwright kept Everton alive by possibly illegal means I once saw that as positive. I see now that he was really only doing it to eventually bleed the club dry to his own benefit. How he handled the "Investment" was superb waiting for the perfect fool to come along. Kenwright is a smart but scheming cookie. He didn't cause the decline of Everton but he is the worst thing that happened to the club once it started to decline. He is the classic asset stripper and he will walk away as a multi millionaire and blame the fans for forcing him out.Note this is my opinion of what has happened, it could be total myth. Tony Abrahams 29 Posted 29/03/2023 at 18:41:09 I always value your off the wall opinion Martin, and I'm glad you can now see that the only player, that has been better than Bill Kenwright, during his very long, mind numbing and divisive tenure, was the kid who he told us he wouldn't sell for £50 million. (Fact!!!) He's definitely a classic asset stripper, but his latest lie, was a major slip-up, and although he will walk away having made millions, I think he's destroyed a legacy, which has had Evertonians arguing for way to long already.Give me a well run Everton, where the fans unite behind the team, and our club will always win silverware imo, no matter whatever anyone else also does, during that same era? Christine Foster 30 Posted 29/03/2023 at 19:33:17 Martin 28# possibly one of the best posts you have ever submitted on this site. I am, sadly, too bloody tired to keep banging the drum against a man who has lied and deceived so many for so long. One has to ask why Everton never stayed in the elite circle, why we fell so far. One can see that, like Kenwright, Moshiri wants to make a killing. But despite the money, his big mistake was allowing Kenwright to continue to run the club. One of the clearest messages that was drummed into me when working with and for wealthy individuals, was the understanding of their end game. What do they want, why are they doing it, what is the entrepreneurs idea of risk... I learnt to read the signs, read the messages they sent, the words they used.To me Kenwright always rang alarm bells, his associates belied the man. People who all just lie on the cusk of respectability but only just on the right side of law. They know how to lie, smile as the knife goes in, but never use their own money and never get their hands dirty, but always, always, end up losing the one thing they can't and never could buy, respect.I might just stand you a round at the BMD for that last post Martin... Pete Neilson 31 Posted 29/03/2023 at 19:45:36 Mike (27),I agree with your point about the players and the exceptional season but there was plenty of skullduggery and excessive, beyond FFP limits, spending involved in getting Leicester into the Premier League the year before their title. They finally coughed up a few million in a fine for financial doping. Different scale to that alleged at Man City but same principle and just as, comparatively, unfair against their peers at the time in the Championship. It's a murky old world. Having said that, I hope Moshiri has their lawyer's number. Anthony Murphy 32 Posted 29/03/2023 at 19:51:18 I remember sitting in the Park End the day we introduced a bastardised version of Bad Moon Rising as our new ‘anthem'. I can't remember the game at all – just the mood at the time during the Johnson era – one of ‘this can't get any worse can it?' Little did we bleedin' know! Barry Hesketh 33 Posted 29/03/2023 at 19:58:27 There was undoubtedly a decline in the 1970s, however, Howard Kendall managed to oversee a renaissance in the mid-1980s, a period which if it wasn't for events outside of Everton's control, they could have built upon in much the same way as Manchester United did only a few years later. The death of Sir John Moores began the true decline of Everton Football Club and the various owners and directors since that point have somehow managed to exacerbate that decline, as nobody involved has had the vision to see the club regain its former glories because they were happy to take the Sky money and jog along with the other also-rans. It's come to the point today where being a member of the top division is important financially, but does it really matter which division we're in, if we don't have any ambitions much higher than mere existence? Jay Evans 35 Posted 29/03/2023 at 20:14:35 Has anyone heard that we've been bought or sold? By that 777 company? Scouring the news sites now for confirmation. Tony Abrahams 36 Posted 29/03/2023 at 20:18:26 This is now developing into a good thread, with plenty of things to discuss and learn.I think Leicester might be the only team to win a trophy on that list since 1992, John, (maybe Spurs?) which probably shows that loads of people could be football managers, mate!Other than after the war, Everton won at least one major trophy during every decade of their long and illustrious history. Then along came an actor who completely changed the narrative and has even left a few proud Evertonians that I speak to actually feeling that they would sooner see Everton competing in the Championship, rather than continuing to struggle in the Premier League.Most people will probably find this incredible to believe but this is what the boring Kenwright years have yielded. Everton, a team that always tried to compete to win, have played in only one cup final since 1995 (nearly 29 seasons) and still that bastard remains. Dave Abrahams 37 Posted 29/03/2023 at 20:44:02 I think Ian Horan's memory of Peter Johnson era of being Everton's owner (@7 and 19) is more accurate than some on here. He certainly didn't make a massive profit on selling the club and he definitely left the club in a far better state than it was when Kenwright sold the club to Moshiri and Kenwright absolutely made a huge profit when selling the club.Peter Johnson walked around the Lower Bullens Road stand before the game asking fans how they felt about the club, I spoke to him on three occasions and he not only spoke to the fans, he listened to them as well. One time, I told him I couldn't a ticket for the derby game coming up in a couple of weeks time at Anfield. He told me to write to him with my details and a cheque with the right amount and he would send me a ticket, which I did and I got the ticket. Seemed alright to me.He never told me any fanciful tales about the Boys Pen or Dave Hickson or how much he loved the club, he was just himself. Alan McGuffog 38 Posted 29/03/2023 at 20:54:53 Anthony, the nadir for me was walking up City Road when Walter Smith, I think, began his tenure... and there was a bleedin bagpiper at it. Kieran Kinsella 39 Posted 29/03/2023 at 21:21:59 Dave @37,I've tired of the same people on here bashing Johnson who for years defended Kenwright until all of about a month ago. Obviously Johnson wasn't perfect but in his short spell we won the FA Cup. In my mind, he's easily the best owner we've had since John Moores died. Tony Abrahams 40 Posted 29/03/2023 at 21:34:07 Was the bagpiper that long ago, Alan? I thought it was something that Bill Kenwright introduced around the time that Duncan Ferguson came back to Everton, although it might have been when Smith signed John Collins?We are getting old anyway, and when I was speaking to my son and his mates after the Brentford game, these younger Evertonians who have followed the team everywhere, whilst seeing us win nothing, said I was just being selfish if I wasn't that bothered if Everton got relegated.I told them we all love the Blues as much as each other, but the Everton I know and love were never meant to just make the numbers up. I can't wait for the day they can finally feel the joy that comes with Everton winning a trophy. A trophy these young supporters deserve more than anyone. Martin Mason 41 Posted 29/03/2023 at 21:38:47 Jay@35 Boeing?? John Keating 42 Posted 29/03/2023 at 21:44:46 We still seem obsessed by managers, chairman and players coming from the dark side.We seem not to mention bad things about Peter Reid.The dark side seem to have little problem with Carragher, Fowler, Owen and a lesser extent McManamanInitially, like every other manager we've had since Carey, I've accepted them. When it starts to go pear-shaped, then my feelings changed. In a way, I would have loved Benitez to have done really well with us, just to rub it in to the RS!Johnson did well for us. Our nightmare began when the lying asset stripper got his claws in. The way he bought the Club, the lies and deceit to feather his own nest… sickening.The only good thing that will come out of this nightmare is that those who thought he really was a blue and doing his best for us now realise what a scumbag he is and is quite rightly vilified. Jerome Shields 43 Posted 29/03/2023 at 21:53:54 Ian#18I do remember Johnson having a interest in Transmere at that time, which did cause a issue.I wasn't as up on what was going on. Dependent on Media, Radio Merseyside and The Evertonian.What you say adds up. Tony Abrahams 44 Posted 29/03/2023 at 22:11:46 I might get a lot of stick for saying this John, but we have done okay out of Liverpool, in the past, mate.Sheedy and Harper, neither could get through at Liverpool, but both excelled at Everton, in different ways, and then we had Gary Ablett, who played the last time we won a cup.Whatever we say about Liverpool, they have always been ultra professional, and even through their bad times, have usually still found a way to go and win a cup. Even if it usually takes penalties, for the bastards to win.I often wonder how long Liverpudlians would have taken Bill Kenwright's bullshit, and think he was a very cunning man picking us gullible Evertonians. Anthony Murphy 45 Posted 29/03/2023 at 22:22:28 We had bagpipes at Goodison when big Dunc got released from nick - what's worse it was a bloody friendly!Only Dixie the mascot has brought more shame to this club Barry Hesketh 46 Posted 29/03/2023 at 22:46:35 Jay @35The only thing I've read about that '777' thing is on Grand Old Team from one poster who says he has a mate who is in the know so to speak, he claims As stated I am reliably informed the deal is done.. Can't see there being any truth in it, most on GOT are pretty skeptical about it too. Paul Kossoff 47 Posted 29/03/2023 at 23:46:05 Everton takeover: 777 Partners consider move for Blues.Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners are “considering a move for Everton†as they aim to add to their multi-club profile, according to The Athletic.The news outlet reported on Sunday (19 March) that 777 Partners already have stakes at Standard Liege, Red Star Paris, Genoa, Sevilla, Vasco da Gama, Melbourne Victory and Hertha BerlinThey're basedr in Florida in the USA.I wonder if Moshiri does eventually sell,will he have ownership of BMD and not the new owners? Laurie Hartley 48 Posted 30/03/2023 at 04:44:45 Tony # 40 - as an old codger who still raves on about the great Everton teams of the 60's I have to say that the young blues of today, who travel far and wide to watch our not so great current team, make me proud to be an Evertonian. When we were nearly dead in the early 80's my understanding is we went from crowds of 50 to 60 thousand for a home game down to 15 thousand. Yet here we are - 37000 will turn up for our game against Spurs next Monday night despite the fact that we haven't looked like winning anything for over twenty years and our current flirtation with relegation.Then those youngsters will be out in force at Old Trafford the following Saturday. And there's me saying I think our goose is cooked a few weeks ago. Their day will come because their is something about Everton "the club" that cannot be killed and they are a big part of it. Tell your son what my dad (God rest his soul) told me before he passed away from this life - "We will be great again". (In the best stadium in England) Jerome Shields 49 Posted 30/03/2023 at 05:35:30 I beginning to yearn for a Johnson return and I am glad in my ignorance that I inspired Ian in particular to set the record straight and encourage others to post in support.It is now official that Johnson has been redeemed by Evertonians.But Kenwright did manage to get a foot hold which has been disastrous for the Club, using his inside position to get control and then procede to basically asset strip the Club.I would not be surprised if Kenwright is now trying to get a angle in the middle of Moshiri's woes.The interest of Multi Club investors still provides the opportunity for Kenwright to stay on.Though given that MPS Directors where in free attendance at the Southampton game and later given a tour of the facilities of the Club, whilst the Board did not turn up at Goodison,on what proved to be unfounded reason,he may see such interest as interference in his plan.I think he would prefer more Moshiri woes so that he could get Everton on the cheap.It is beginning to seem that the now desperate search for a new investor is Moshiri's last throw of the dice on the football side.I just hope that the separation of the Club from the Stadium Development and other Merseyside property investments in seperate companies, means that such third party investment has to improve the Football Club, standing alone, to realise a return on their investment.Paul the Esk seems to think this is not the case, but only the release of the final accounts on the 31at March will show the true situation.By the way I expect the loses to be bigger than Paul the Esk predicts.If only the Chairman and Board would resign, as they should do, in such a scenario.Laurie#48I do have faith in your father's prediction.and the young supporters definitely deserve better times. Laurie Hartley 50 Posted 30/03/2023 at 07:42:16 Jerome # 49 - I look at the latest images of the stadium and read reports like this:Linkand I just feel that our owner will finish this stadium by hook or by crook (No pun intended) - with his own money if need be. The article says it will be ready by August 2024 and I believe it will and be worth a packet. I also believe that we will have new full or part owners in the close season and the chances of our current board being around at the beginning of next season are very slim indeed given their abject failure to do their job.The only reason I can think of that they are still around is that our chairman still has some influence in Gloucester Place and at the moment that is of value to our owner. Tony Abrahams 51 Posted 30/03/2023 at 09:08:28 It sent shivers through my body that great nostalgic post Laurie, because it was bang on the money imo, mate.Look at the scenes before, during and after the Crystal Palace game, and make no mistake that Everton, will always be a special club, because of the massive passion that sits deep inside everyone of us. (The blue smoke generated from the blue flares was actually pictured from Wales, on that balmy spring nightðŸ™)We might have been kicked from pillar to post, and from the top of Everton valley, all the way into town, but we are still standing, because we shall not be moved! Danny O’Neill 52 Posted 30/03/2023 at 10:02:35 That's good insight Dave Abrahams. I always felt that Peter Johnson never really endeared himself to Evertonians. Maybe it was his Liverpool FC links in an era where the relationship with the cousins was becoming more toxic due to the obvious resentment of what they had done to English football and which arguably impacted us the most. It still wasn't at the stage of police escorts to Derby's (which I ignore by the way), but the fault lines in the family were definitely being drawn.He sanctioned the signing of some good players. The permanent signing of Duncan Ferguson, Kanchelskis, Nick Barmby probably at the peak of his career.To compliment Anders Limpar, Joe Parkinson and Barry Horne as well as the unpredictable but likeable Amokachi. Either too dumb to realise or just refusal to leave the pitch, but what a decision that turned out to be when the bench were calling him over to be replaced. Sod that, I'm just going to make Elland Road explode!!But then we had what, to me at the time, looked like a dodgy deal to bring Simonsen from Tranmere to Goodison. Someone might be able to explain it, but it felt like some form of money laundering. And that highlights that he had a conflict of interest in my opinion.The alleged Nigel Martyn "hamper-gate" transfer negotiations. The sale of Duncan Ferguson and the, to this day, "did he or didn't he" speculation as to whether Walter Smith knew about it.The Tor Andre Flo refusal that led to Joe Royle walking away.So for me, a mixed bag. He did oversee our last trophy, but by the end, it was getting pretty dire. At least he had the decency to walk away, handing the keys over to the new custodian for brighter times.Oh wait! Dave Abrahams 53 Posted 30/03/2023 at 10:03:27 Tony (44), why would you get stick talking about players we have signed from Liverpool, one of the best signings we ever made from any club,in my opinion, was Johnny Morrissey, in fact we never bought him we stole him and right in front of “ Fish and chips†eyes, or behind his back, it did his head in anyway.Laurie (50) One of my best memories of Evertonians and what Everton means to them was coming away from Burnden Park after we got to the final of the league cup, the street outside was jam packed with Bluenoses singing their heads off and I was shepherding a little old lady, around about seventy years of age, through the crowd, I asked who she was with, she told me she had come on her own, she had to come she said for the sake of her husbands memory, he had been a passionate Bluenose, followed them everywhere and she came for him, I ushered her until she was safe, she was getting the train home to Liverpool and said she knew by following the crowd she would be okay, love and Everton, Laurie, they go hand in hand don't they? Tony Abrahams 54 Posted 30/03/2023 at 10:15:50 I was listening to a podcast the other day with Billy Kenny, Dave, and although Billy lost his way and can be around the bend, when he spoke about his limited time training with Liverpool, he spoke from the heart, when he asked why can't we just be like them, with regards to getting it right on the football pitch?Hard nosed professionalism I call it, and If Sean Dyche can implement just one thing right across our football club, then above all else, I hope he can implement this🤞 Laurie Hartley 55 Posted 30/03/2023 at 11:24:11 Dave # 53 - “love and Everton†- yes Dave like a horse and carriage. Dave Abrahams 56 Posted 30/03/2023 at 12:27:48 Laurie (55), Yes like the song said “ Love and Marriage go together like a horse and carriage†That was under John Moore's, Laurie, under Kenwright it is with a horse and cart, the man's got no class!! Phillip Warrington 57 Posted 30/03/2023 at 19:24:25 Supporting Everton for 55 years, the biggest mistake modern Everton have made is our recruiting, for a big club and one of the longest-serving clubs in the top tier. We never seem to unearth or buy players when they're young. Lately, we buy players who had their time and command high wages with no possibility to move them on for a profit if they don't work out. Jerome Shields 58 Posted 30/03/2023 at 23:01:44 Laurie#50I do think the Stadium.is sperate and will be completed, even if Moshiri does it himself.Which would not affect Profit and Sustainability rules.I do think there will be a investor. These are both areas which Moshiri has the expertise that made him a billionaire.Investors with Management expertise is what he is seeking.Hopefully this is him finally deciding on change and such investors would not want such Management around them, if they have the required expertise.So I agree with you to this point.I did think that Kenwright maintained his role due to being value dealing with the authorities, and have often posted so.But that has went up in smoke, with the referral to the Commission.I do think that Kenwright thought he was home and dry, with the Premier League using Everton as a dry run for the Government plans of real time reporting, but they proved not sufficiently able able to Manage the situation, even with this information and MSP pulling out.In preparation for the Commission changes at Board Level and Management are imo needed, since the Premier League has no confidence in the Club Management, referring the Club to the Commission. Jerome Shields 59 Posted 30/03/2023 at 23:20:33 Laurie I think now Moshiri is going to be forced to be hands on in preparation for the Commission. Eric Myles 60 Posted 31/03/2023 at 04:29:51 Dave #53, Johnny Morrissey was my favourite player after Bally, and his 3.0L Capri was my favourite car at the time. Dave Williams 61 Posted 31/03/2023 at 08:34:07 For me our decline started when HK left for Bilbao. We had had the best three years in our history then Colin Harvey took over. Great player, great coach but not a great manager. He paid way over the odds for Cottee, Nevin, Beagrie, McDonald, Newell and a good few more and we never recovered financially.Moyes was good and solid but did not have the money to sign that one player who would have got us to the top ie a top class striker. The more recent culprit is whoever sanctioned the dreadful signings for way in excess of players values when there was no resale value and the wages were ridiculous. The wastes of space that were Walsh and Brands and the gdreadful absence of communication with the fans leading to the broken relationship between fans and owner. Step back and look at the history of it and you can see when it began and where it was heading.Tragic! Phil Wood 62 Posted 01/04/2023 at 08:00:06 The problems we have stem from the fact that we haven't had a hard headed businessman at the helm since Sir John Moores lost his marbles.Johnson was someone who saw the opportunity to turn a profit and Bill Kenwright someone who is/was out of his depth but refused to acknowledge as such. Moshiri totally inept. How he made his fortune God knows. Trevor Powell 63 Posted 04/04/2023 at 20:31:52 You read it here, Michael Keane, best finisher in the club! 64 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:02:21 JYupWMLW–Link 65 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:02:21 JYupWMLW–Link 66 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:02:21 JYupWMLW–Link 67 Posted 28/04/2023 at 13:02:21 Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb