Should we sell our crown jewels to comply with P&S Rules?

by   |   25/06/2023  70 Comments  [Jump to last]

My son has a paper round that I do for him every Sunday (to give him a rest). I always look through all of the papers to see if there is any Everton news.

Today's headline in The Sun was Everton's Jordan Pickford may be sold cheap to help satisfy the Profitability and Sustainability Rules. As I read a bit more, Doucouré and Onana were mentioned also as potential sales.

My question to you all is this: Should we sell one or all of those mentioned, with the income helping us out with our overspending?

I think we should sell Doucouré and Onana. Who we replace them with is anyone's guess but selling Pickford would be the biggest mistake as he saved us a lot of points last season and I believe he's our most important player.

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Barry Hesketh
1 Posted 25/06/2023 at 15:50:39
It's 'the rock and the hard place' syndrome, Bobby, if we get rid of players who are decent and replace them with cheaper players, we'll likely be reducing the overall strength of the first-team squad and, given our recent travails, that may prove catastrophic. On the other hand, if we fall foul of the financial rules, we risk penalties later down the track, which may include points reductions.

For a club of Everton's size to be in such a situation, caused by the very people who should have been watching over the club is at best annoying, at worst scandalous. Villa, Newcastle, Leicester City et al have been in similar positions and have usually had to spend a season or two in the Championship before being able to rebuild a squad suitable for the rigorous demands of the Premier League.

Whatever happens with sales and purchases of players, the squad can't afford any passengers, and Dyche's team will have to hit the ground running, else the new season could prove to be more difficult than the previous two.

Ralph Basnett
2 Posted 25/06/2023 at 16:14:41
If it doesn't happen before 30 June it makes no difference to P&S!

If you sell your assets after the horse has already bolted you get relegated!

If you don't sell, get points punishment and get relegated they go anyway.

Ride out the storm is what we are doing and what we should do.

If the punishment is too harsh we appeal and it takes longer etc.

Too many ifs and buts until 25 October when we find out our outcome. Until then, we should hope we have a great start to the season, take the 10-point deduction and hope we scrape through again.

Jay Harris
3 Posted 25/06/2023 at 16:46:48
Agree with Ralph, if we hang on to our existing players until after 30 June and give Dyche more time to assess and improve the squad, that's the way to go.

We should only sell those players that are not considered key players, like Keane, Holgate etc and use those funds to get a decent striker.

We should be building a side around the likes of Pickford, Onana and our better players – not looking to sell them.

Michael Kenrick
4 Posted 25/06/2023 at 17:23:55
I would probably want to amend your bold statement a little bit there, Ralph:

If it doesn't happen before 30 June, it makes no difference to P&S for 2022-23! But it will figure into the P&S calculation for 2023-24 and the next 2 years.

Mike Hayes
5 Posted 25/06/2023 at 17:39:22
Reading the shite from that poisonous rag is a no-no for a start.

Let the shit journos write their crap – when it's official from the club then believe it. 🤷

Ralph Basnett
6 Posted 25/06/2023 at 17:42:07
Thank you for pointing that out to me, Michael, was aware of that but, tbh, the issue is the accounts they have now so I didn't want to drill down too much. 😂😂😂😂😂
Gary Brown
7 Posted 25/06/2023 at 17:48:15
Sounds like Big Yerry will be lining up against us first game..
Lyndon Lloyd
8 Posted 25/06/2023 at 17:52:46
Mike (5) is right. The Sun have no insight into what's going on at Everton because no one from the club will deal with them. They are the lowest rung of tabloid transfer crap where we are concerned so pay them no mind.

Regarding P&S, we will be in compliance going forward based on the fact that we have a) sold 𧴸M worth of players since June last year and b) are continuing to pare back the wage bill.

We're probably going to have to sell a big-name “crown jewel” if we're to bring in the number of players we need of the right quality. Whether we should sell the crown jewels in order to make big-money, marquee signings for tens of millions of quid and still remain P&S-compliant is a different question (and an approach we're unlikely to take, IMO).

Tony Everan
9 Posted 25/06/2023 at 17:54:19
You have to start with the concept that every player is sellable at the right price. The underlying principle has to be to make Everton stronger. If anyone is sold, it has to be at a price that benefits Everton, not primarily the player or the buying club.

You could argue that selling Onana at 㿏M is not worth doing, but selling at 㿨M is.

Likewise Pickford, selling at 㿊M isn't worth bothering with; 㿨M, yes. Doucoure is very useful to the team in that advanced midfield position, but if someone offers 㿀M for a 30-year-old with 1 year left on his contract, then yes.

Demarai Gray, 1 year left, if Al Hilal offer 㾸M, yes.

Of course then it's over to Thelwell to spendwell.

Mike Hayes
10 Posted 25/06/2023 at 18:02:20
We don't even know how much we owe or if we owe – nothing from the club and that's down to the fact the two 🤡🤡 couldn't care less about the fans we are insignificant to them.

Change the faces on the board… can you change the attitude? Who says the new members won't be as bad as the last 3 – they will probably be told to toe the line or you'll join the other 3! 🤷

Rory Grant
11 Posted 25/06/2023 at 18:19:14
I don't see any crown jewels in the current team. Not any one of them will keep us up so sell if the price is right.

I am not convinced that there will be any funds available for Dyche, so it will be up to him create something extraordinary to keep us in the Premier League. Disastrous ownership and club management staying put guarantee that he is our only possible saviour.

Last two seasons have shown that we can't survive even a 3-point deduction; more than that means absolute relegation, no way around it. But as we know now, there is nothing else but a relegation scrap on the cards so hopefully that will keep us focused.

Raymond Fox
12 Posted 25/06/2023 at 18:40:10
It depends what happens with Calvert-Lewin's fitness before the season starts. We can't rely on him to be fit long term though, we need another similar type of striker.

If we absolutely have to sell someone, I think Keane or Holgate could be sold… and as a last resort Onana.

I wouldn't sell Pickford, Doucouré or Gray.

Mike Hayes
13 Posted 25/06/2023 at 18:43:49
A few strikers need bringing in or give Simms a chance with backup for Calvert-Lewin? Definitely not Maupay – proven to be useless.

He might be the forward version of Per Krøldrup – where he needed to be taught to head, Maupay needs to be taught to score. 🤷

Kevin Molloy
14 Posted 25/06/2023 at 18:54:31
I'm starting to become suspicious of these Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Who told Everton they have to bring in X amount by a particular date? I've never seen it properly explained.

Nobody was mentioning the need to sell big time before the relegation fight last season, but then suddenly "Oh yeah, we've got to sell Richarlison or we're in trouble" and the next day he was gone.

Then in January. last week of the month and suddenly "Oh yeah, we needed to sell Gordon cos of P&S Rules."

And now, here we go again. I'm starting to wonder whether our idiot owner is just using this as an excuse to get some of his losses back before he sells up.

Barry Rathbone
15 Posted 25/06/2023 at 19:21:06
I think installing Benitez without money was quite literally a red light indicator of survival being the name of the game for Moshiri and Usmanov.

Presumably they viewed the squad as good enough to toddle along in mid-table without further spends under a very experienced manager as a great plan. The possibility of then selling up on favourable terms being a distinct possibility.

As usual, they were grotesquely wrong.

The eye-watering desperation since is perhaps the biggest confirmation (without actually announcing it) that we are financially hamstrung. In which case, we have no other option than to sell whoever we can. We are in fire sale territory.

Grim to see some only just wakening up to the truth of the Moshiri and Usmanov catastrophe. It really is a different scale to anything in the illustrious history of this great institution.

Tony Abrahams
16 Posted 25/06/2023 at 19:40:05
Selling the greatest young talent that Everton have ever produced to help keep Bill Kenwright at the club, slowly watering down our expectations, was the ultimate catastrophe that I've ever witnessed, Barry.

It changed the narrative of our once great institution to one of survival – a long time before Moshiri and Usmanov decided to appoint Benitez for exactly those same reasons that you quote.

Wake me up when it's all over – when I'm wiser and I'm older – I didn't know we were lost.

Gary Brown
17 Posted 25/06/2023 at 19:41:38
Well, we will find out by Friday if we have to sell anyone else, it'll be in this year's books, so has to go through fast and before then. Make it past this date and we appear to have wriggle room options at least.

Personally, I think Gordon and Kean being banked this year should keep the monopoly protecting cancer that is P&S from the door again for now. But I don't believe we can spend at all (this summer, not just this week) unless we can sell first.

I'm also hopeful that Tyrer, Branthwaite, Warrington and Cannon can step up and at least plug the gaps of Coadys, Davies, Begovic, etc. Bench players for bench players perhaps, but there's hope there of a diamond or two.

Whilst fully expecting to see Gomes and Dele Alli sent out on highly subsidised loans, I'm also wondering if Dyche may surprise us and try to take one or both under his wings a little for depth too. Maybe there's a negotiation with Levi that'd see us pay the 㾶M and an agreement with Dele to reduce the wage in return for 2-3 years instead of 1.

Bit “risky” I guess, but maybe no more risky than throwing 㿀M at a Harrison or Gnoto perhaps. Maybe a bit of love and stability is what he needs after seeing Turkey fail. I suspect that'll depend on how he comes back to pre-season though.

If we're really lucky, we may generate some cash from Keane, Holgate, Gray or Iwobi and that generates enough for a Harrison or Gnoto risk. Can't see us getting big money for either Pickford or Onana this summer, tbh. Expect both to stay for now and be next year's sacrifice instead.

Stability will be the aim from here. 1 or 2 out, and maybe 3 or 4 in. 2 on loan, one for peanuts and one “signature” signing for 㿊-40M on the never-never over the next 7 years. I'd settle for that right now if that 㿊-40M is a striker who replaces Calvert-Lewin, not covers for him.

Kevin Naylor
18 Posted 25/06/2023 at 19:50:10
Currently we are haemorrhaging players and no sign of any new blood coming in.

We won't have to worry about an end-of-season escape as we'll be down by Christmas if the situation doesn't change soon.

Barry Rathbone
19 Posted 25/06/2023 at 20:19:24
Tony @16

For the life of me, I can't remember his name but the guy who brought Rooney to the club (Ray ???) lived next door to my nephew and told him ages before Rooney wanted out. He simply couldn't stand Moyes so, come what may, Rooney was leaving.

I don't dispute it suited the club financially; the same guy said the banks were getting real arsey so Man Utd had us over a barrel. But that was the state for all beyond the old Sky 4. (Not quite right: Liverpool effectively went bust because they kept spending beyond their means.)

It could be argued that being the only club outside of that group not to get relegated as a result of the trade is deserving of some kind of credit but I can't see that as a possibility in chez Abrahams.

Tony Abrahams
20 Posted 25/06/2023 at 20:44:24
The man who took Wayne Rooney to Everton was a lovely genuine and great Evertonian called Bob Pendleton, Barry.

Rooney told us himself not so long ago how he was stitched up, just like Franny Jeffers, and very recently Anthony Gordon.

They all left so it's very easy to give them stick, but the common denominator is what you said before, Barry. With the club being in survival mode, then those young scouse kids were made into the sacrificial lambs, and I honestly believe relegation is coming if things don't change quickly within the club.

It's why I'm like a dog with a bone, Barry, because if there is one thing I think I understand, then it's football, and right now it's obvious that Everton need to change both the toxicity levels and also bring in some new players. Otherwise, I'm absolutely certain we will not escape for a third time.

Barry Rathbone
21 Posted 25/06/2023 at 21:02:05
Tony 20

I bow to your superior knowledge re Bob Pendleton but his name doesn't ring a bell like it should, I don't think he's the neighbour.

In my minds eye, the guy I'm wittering about became head of recruitment or something not that it matters. If the tale is true, "sacrificial lamb" seems a stretch to me.

Tony Abrahams
22 Posted 25/06/2023 at 21:06:50
Bob wouldn't have been his neighbour Barry, because he lived in the old railway house behind the shankley playing fields, on the opposite side to Bellefield, and his was the only house on that side of the road. I think!

Yes Barry, those sacrificial lambs will have all made millions out of leaving Everton, but you can't deny that they were all hung out to dry.

Maybe the man's name was Ray Hall, although there was also another man called Ray Minsuall, who held a prominent role with the younger players, all those years ago.

Barry Rathbone
23 Posted 25/06/2023 at 21:19:46
Tony 22

Bingo - Ray Hall.

But at the risk of boring people again I have to repeat "it's all about perspective".

How many other clubs fend off perceived bigger clubs after their better players?

Southampton had that fantastic period of churning out top players but sold them all eventually getting relegated and virtually bankrupt. PSG are struggling to defy Real Madrid's approach for Mbappe it's just the way the game works.

Kevin Naylor
24 Posted 25/06/2023 at 21:28:24
Elton John currently singing 'I guess thats why they call it the blues'at Glastonbury, great memories of 1984.
Michael Kenrick
25 Posted 25/06/2023 at 21:30:09
Kevin @14,

I'm not sure I believe anyone from outside is actually telling Everton to sell players. The way it should work (but this might be extending some seriously unearned credit to our possibly incompetent financial team) is that the accountants and money managers inside Everton should (hopefully!) have a handle on the balance of the accounts as year-end approaches, and they should have a decent estimate of the profit (if only!) or loss the club is expected to make at the end of the financial year at the end of June.

Then they have to run the 3-year rolling Profitability and Sustainability calculation as stipulated by the Premier League for all clubs, to see what Everton's accumulated 3-year loss is. If they expect that figure to be above the prescribed limit, and there is still time to get a big sale set up before the end of June, then they may decide to try and make it happen.

That sounds straight-forward but I think the claimed P&S breach makes that calculation much more uncertain, because a chunk of the 2021-22 costs or losses may get disallowed or recategorized by the independent commission, likely increasing our losses and having a knock-on effect for the current year just ending (2022-23) and for the next Financial Year (2023-24).

John McFarlane Snr
26 Posted 25/06/2023 at 21:37:03
Hi Tony [22] Ray Minshull was an ex Liverpool goalkeeper, I knew he was employed by Everton but didn't know in what capacity.
Alan McGuffog
27 Posted 25/06/2023 at 21:55:43
Kevin...1984 Wembley. Reg Dwight being serenaded by the Ev as he walked around the pitch. We'd all be banned for life for singing those lyrics now.
Dale Self
28 Posted 25/06/2023 at 22:40:02
Isn't anyone going to compliment Bobby for taking the Sunday shift? Right on Pops.

Thanks for the good informative discussion, I was just working through the Onana dilemma. I think Barry's comment on Southampton gives us a view to our problem. Robert has often pointed out the mismatch of our player assets and exit terms are killing us.

We may be looking at a Dyche rebuild with some view to future windows. This will limit our chances for a player that will raise the whole team like a James or Lukaku. Okay, bummer but this is likely a trick of lower-level difficulty for Dyche.

In which case I would go No - do not sell the crown jewels. We may have to talk about Onana but we should resist for the player trajectory and reputational reasons. We could worsen our problem if we can't avoid injuries and we are back in the market. Play it tight and see if Thelwell can supply Dyche to reup the 4-5-1 and 3-5-2 that worked at minimal cost and hope for some early results.

Laurie Hartley
29 Posted 25/06/2023 at 23:08:46
We are in a very tricky situation at the moment.

We can't sell any full-backs, Coleman, Mykolenko, and Patterson. We can't sell any centre-backs. We need to bring Branthwaite back.

Midfielders - Gueye, Garner, Doucouré, Iwobi, and Onana. I don't think we can sell unless we can get top odds for Onana and replace him with a player capable of stepping straight into the team for a decent profit.

I have expressed a concern about Onana being a show pony but the pass he laid on for McNeil's second goal against Brighton was pure class and has me having second thoughts.

It's in the forward line we need to do the business. If anyone will take them Maupay and Simms. In my opinion, we must retain Gray.

We all know the area we have to strengthen – centre-forward. So any money we have to spend has to go on that position.

Dave Abrahams
30 Posted 25/06/2023 at 23:28:22
Tony (22),

You should remember Ray Minshull, he was Everton's Youth development officer. He had a photo of himself in his office, as part of the Liverpool team that won the league just after the war.

We were in his office together offering you the chance to sign schoolboy terms with the club. I said I was more interested in you finishing your education at school before signing for Everton or any club.

Which was a load of bollocks because I knew other clubs were interested, including Liverpool, but hanging on got you a few weeks holidays training with Man Utd and Nottm Forest including a nice week in Italy with Forest before you got an apprenticeship with Forest.

What an agent I was for you getting you those little perks but not a bleedin' carrot for myself, although I got rid of you for a few weeks for a couple of years in the summer and Christmas so there were some benefits!

Don Alexander
31 Posted 26/06/2023 at 00:27:17
The word "should" in the title of this piece is problematic to me. "Should" implies the club has a choice.

Given the endless and continuing gross negligence and recklessness of Moshiri and his self-serving acolytes, some now gone, but still chiefly there in Kenwright – the main culprit by far – it's crystal clear to me that our club is devoid of choice regarding expenditure for next season's new signings.

Moshiri has lost a fortune in investing in Kenwright and the stadium, to the cost of us fans, never mind himself. And now he allegedly implores him to stay on!

What sort of a pillock is Moshiri?

Laurie Hartley
32 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:01:42
Dave # 30 - as my lovely mam (God rest her soul) used to say - "far sharper than a serpents tooth it is to have a thankless child".
Brian Denton
33 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:06:51
Laurie (32) your mam was Shakespeare...?
Danny O’Neill
34 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:27:29
Tony, you've just made me think of the lyrics to the Green Day song "wake me up when September comes". But we've got pre-season first!

Ray Hall was a gentleman. As I've said before, he was very complimentary and, alongside Terry Darracott, reassured me and made a very nervous teenager very welcome at Bellefield.

With regards to the players mentioned, ideally I wouldn't like to lose any of them.

Pickford has his errors, which goalkeeper of players doesn't? But he has saved us. Unless we can pull a Nigel Martyn out of the bag, we'll struggle to replace him. Suggestions welcome.

Onana is raw and young, but is going to be a good player.

I definitely wouldn't sell Doucoure and Dyche pushing him forward on the counter is possibly one of the reasons we stayed up.

It seems, according to the rumours, we could get anywhere between 㾸 - 㾽M for Gray.

Again, not a player I would ideally like to lose, but for a ٟ.7M outlay, that is not a bad return.

Don't read The Sun.

Ray Roche
35 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:41:38
Kevin @24,

Elton John's latest single (remember those?) was called ‘Sad Songs', quite apt nowadays.

Alan@27,

Correct Alan, quite mischievous…….🤦🏼‍♂️

Terry Downes
36 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:47:28
Danny,

If we sell Pickford then to me our first choice should be to try and get Henderson from Man Utd? Doesn't seem wanted there and far too good for Forest.

Danny O’Neill
37 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:48:52
Or was it Ray Minshull Dave Abrahams? I can't remember. Just Terry with his comb over.

Watched Elton last night.

I guess that's why they call it the blues always gets me.

A good rendition, but not as good as the last one I heard in the Winslow last time out.

Laurie Hartley
38 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:55:26
Brian # 33 - good come back! She had quite a repertoire of sayings for reprimanding us:-

If we were doing something mischievous or wrong and hurt ourselves in the process, she would say - “He'll slap it into you”. 😂 I think that came from her upbringing in Glasgow. Still makes me chuckle thinking about it.

Or - if she suspected us of having been up to no good (she could read us like a book) - “Be sure your sins will find you out”. (How right she was!)

Dave Abrahams
39 Posted 26/06/2023 at 08:56:57
Danny (37),

Ray Minshull was the Youth Development Officer when Tony went to Bellefield. It was in 1984 when Everton won the cup and Tony, along with a load of other young players, was invited to that cup final and they all went down on a coach together. Meanwhile, I had the job of jibbing in his cousin to watch the game!

Brian Denton
40 Posted 26/06/2023 at 09:09:18
Laurie, I'm glad you took my comment in the spirit it was intended! My mum was full of odd expressions, many of which she got from her mum, and which I never heard from anyone else.

If I'd been naughty, she would threaten me with "You'll be put in a home with your ears pinned back"; or tell me "You're not going out looking like the Wreck of the Hesperus". And many more.

She's been dead 30 years now, but the sayings still go round my head!

Danny O’Neill
41 Posted 26/06/2023 at 09:18:45
It will be Ray Minishull then, Dave, as I went along in March 1984.

Maybe I even played alongside Tony, although I obviously didn't get as far as him.

No shame though. Only a very minute percentage make it.

I enjoyed the experience and can say I was recognised to have trials with Everton, which makes me proud.

My playing career was disrupted by my Army one, but playing Army standard is a very high level. Surrounded by players who had been on Newcastle's books, played for Norwich, others who had played for Newport (in the Football League), Bristol Rovers, Wigan and Lincoln City amongst others.

It's just about enjoying the game. I was decent, just not quite good enough. And there is also the element of getting the break.

Brian Harrison
42 Posted 26/06/2023 at 09:37:49
Danny @37,

Like you, I watched Elton last night – what a tremendous show.

I remember the 1984 Cup Final where Carter and Elton went round Wembley together. Then, when they got near the Everton Fans, Elton started walking towards them clapping, at first our fans were booing but undeterred he kept walking towards us and the boing turned to applause.

Also, Elton was in tears when they played Abide With Me. I can't think of a Chairman of another club who was as well-liked as Elton.

Mal van Schaick
43 Posted 26/06/2023 at 09:57:38
Crown Jewels such as Holgate? Yes sell him.
Alex Gray
44 Posted 26/06/2023 at 09:58:18
Apparently we're actually not in the worst play with P&S Rules at the minute. It's the 𧸖M needed for the stadium that's crippling us.

We made 𧴺M off the sales of Richarlison, Gordon and Kean alone last year with nowhere near that amount spent and the year before I believe we didn't spend much more than we brought in player-wise.

We've lost a good chunk of the wage bill last few years with James, Richarlison, Mina, Davies, Digne all going.

In theory, if it wasn't for the new stadium, we'd be close to the reset where we could have a bigger spending window. However, a certain Oligarch who was pumping a lot of money into said stadium leaving changed everything for us.

The 𧴺M investment is going straight to the stadium and it looks like, in terms of buying players, we need to sell in order to actually be able to buy.

That being said, that's only what I've heard and reality is we won't know because the club certainly like to keep us in the dark.

Gerry Quinn
45 Posted 26/06/2023 at 10:31:57
Disgusting rags like that "news?"paper will print any old crap - have no idea why anybody would buy it!
Oliver Molloy
46 Posted 26/06/2023 at 11:17:14
@ 36
"far too good for Forest" - are you suggesting we are a more attractive proposition?

Tony Abrahams
47 Posted 26/06/2023 at 11:37:27
I think I was a little bit older than you, Danny, but agree that football is a tough sport, whatever level you end up playing at. I always thought the game was a lot easier when I was really fit though, so hopefully Dyche can get Everton as fit as possible over the next 6 weeks.

I think the perfect example of how much real application and genuine fitness can help a player is when I look at our first team coach. Steve Stone, good player, absolutely brilliant work rate, and a player who never went missing on his teammates, and what a fine career he had because he possessed attributes that can be really underestimated unless you're lucky enough to play alongside such players.

Rule number one is get as fit as humanly possible. I wish my agent would have told me this!

Terry Downes
48 Posted 26/06/2023 at 12:40:14
Oliver,

My next statement would have and could be too good for us as well but had to rush off so left it at that lol
Anthony Hawkins
49 Posted 26/06/2023 at 12:43:04
FFP or P&S etc. Regardless of the rules, with the amount of exiting players we won't have a squad to successfully compete unless some reasonable quality comes in through the revolving door. We'll have a reasonable view of the seasons outcome before the start of the season. No or poor quality signings and we're down. No if's or buts.
Oliver Molloy
50 Posted 26/06/2023 at 12:48:35
Terry,

I find it amusing with us even being linked or associated with any decent players!

I also heard yesterday that our Captain is not happy with what's on the table for another year!

We are in a serious mess.

Terry Downes
51 Posted 26/06/2023 at 13:14:31
Oliver,

Very true and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel yet? Very worrying times for us!
John McFarlane Snr
52 Posted 26/06/2023 at 13:36:04
Hi all,

I'm undecided whether or not, to submit an article. If I do, it will be from a 1906 original publication, "Association Football and The Men Who Made It". There were four volumes, but unfortunately my Uncle Tommy may have loaned Volume 1 to a friend and it was never returned, the remaining 3 were passed on to me on the death of my Uncle Tommy in 1986.

Here is a poem from volume 3.

There was a chap who couldn't run
Whose playing days were long since done,
And consequently he was free,
To rule the game as referee.

His vision, it must be confessed
Was scarcely of the very best,
But yet he generally could see
Enough to take his weekly fee.

Sometimes the ball was near him, then
He got mixed up amongst the men,
But always he preferred to stay
Where he was furthest from the play.

'Twas FA cup ties and the "Lines"
On which he had his chief designs,
Such matches are a pleasant task,
They always pay you what you ask.

A referee can't be too old
While he has strength to take the gold,
Perhaps he cannot run or see
But all the same he'll referee.

Some things never change.

Dale Self
53 Posted 26/06/2023 at 14:08:41
Do it John Sr. !
Tony McNulty
54 Posted 26/06/2023 at 14:30:55
Two points about our Chairman:

1) He came to a meeting of supporters in London years ago, and when asked how much money was available for transfers said, "I'm not telling you lot."

2) When interviewed by Sue Lawley on Desert Island Disks (again, years ago), he was asked about finances. He used the expression, "box and cox."

Putting these two items together:

1) He is sufficiently experienced as a negotiator not to reveal his hand in terms of what is going to be the sum of money available for transfers.

2) He most likely won't know what is going to be possible at this point, because player sales are uncertain.

3) There will probably be some form of financial engineering going on (the boxing and the coxing, I guess), that will in the end enable us to do some decent deals.

Kim Vivian
55 Posted 26/06/2023 at 14:39:10
I thought 'box and cox' meant like the notion of two people sharing something - or something like that. So the relevance of that answer to Sue Lawley is going over my head I'm afraid.

I wish something would happen - anything - on the player front so we can get an inkling of what's in the wind...

...or not!

Barry Hesketh
56 Posted 26/06/2023 at 14:43:56
Paul the Esk and Roger Armstrong discuss the finer details of last weeks event - I'm just listening to it, so I haven't got any comments to make as yet.

Results Business podcast, Episode 3

Tony McNulty
57 Posted 26/06/2023 at 14:44:14
Kim,

I was never really sure about what he meant, and had to look it up.

In the end, I interpreted it as selling the same service two times over to two people who were ignorant of the existence of one another.

I've often wondered whether the phase might have been more revealing than its speaker had intended.

Kim Vivian
58 Posted 26/06/2023 at 14:53:22
Tony - Haha - I just looked it up and Wiki describes Box and Cox as a one act farce. Well he got that right anyway...!

Although a few more than just one farce I'd say.

John McFarlane Snr
59 Posted 26/06/2023 at 15:42:03
Hi Dale [53],

Despite the fact that my threat of posting the contents of a book published 117 years ago hasn't gone down too well, I'm going to take a chance and submit the article as fast as a one-finger typist can manage.

Bill Gall
60 Posted 26/06/2023 at 16:08:18
On a lighter note, Calvert-Lewin is starting to look good in the training videos in Germany.

Hoping, if he takes a summer break, he doesn't injure himself playing volleyball on the beach, showing off the latest beach wear that an average person would not be seen dead in.
Dale Self
61 Posted 26/06/2023 at 16:13:10
Well John Sr. I keep hearing ‘if you know your history' so it sounds like another good chance to do just that. Keep it going!
Danny O’Neill
62 Posted 26/06/2023 at 16:40:00
Brian, I was behind the goal at that 1984 Cup Final. I don't remember Elton coming over.

As I've said a few times, aside from the jubilation of having witnessed Everton witness the first trophy in my life after the disappointment of the League Cup, I was more concerned about getting home. There I was, a few weeks out of plaster after a broken leg and my dad trying to climb over the fence to invade the pitch.

Besides, as a teenager, there were many others in front of me trying the same, so I couldn't really see a lot at the end, but I enjoyed it and got home.

Tony, it was an experience. I was relatively small at 13 years old, so it was tough for me. I didn't really do my growing until I was about 17 or 18. A late developer. It is a tough sport and fitness is a massive part of it. Ability is one aspect. Ability, fitness, attitude, desire and commitment.

Brian Harrison
63 Posted 26/06/2023 at 16:54:17
Danny 62,

Now I know my memory sometimes plays tricks on me but I think Carter and Elton were in the back of a limo going round the ground, and Elton definitely came over to the Everton fans behind the goal.

I was lucky enough with a friend to get tickets for the Players Banquet that was in the Royal Lancaster. It was a great night! John Bailey was still wearing the hat he ran round Wembley with after the win.

I was lucky enough to sit on Peter Reid's table with his parents and brothers, Reidy let me hold his winner's medal.

Kevin Molloy
64 Posted 26/06/2023 at 17:18:48
Michael,

Thanks, yes, that does clear things up a lot. I am still left with the concern though that we are not being levelled with (if another sale goes through this week).

I just don't see how we can sell 𧴰M worth of players in 12 months, and for us to still have to find another 㿞M now. I know we've brought some players in, but we've banked nearly 㿲M in the last 6 months. I just can't comprehend how we could still need to add another 㿞-㿨M to that in so short a timeframe.

Bobby Mallon
65 Posted 26/06/2023 at 17:37:58
Gerry Quinn 45,

Because not everyone is from Liverpool.

John McFarlane Snr
66 Posted 26/06/2023 at 20:44:55
Hi Dale [61] I have submitted my article and if it's accepted and you are still prepared to read it, I'm guaranteed at least one fan. We can discuss 'Royalties' at a later date.
Dale Self
67 Posted 28/06/2023 at 13:12:38
John Sr., with all due respect I've yet to receive anything. Tell you what, next time I'm in Liverpool you can buy the first round. Keep it going John Sr.!
Greg Nelli
68 Posted 03/07/2023 at 02:27:17
Just two questions regarding the P & S rules.

Is there scope for add-backs at all? Obviously there was a Covid adjustment but what about issues like having a manager leave and paying out agreements, the Gylfi thing?

In terms of player purchases and sales, it appears they are considered revenue items (included in the Profit & Loss Statement, not the balance sheet) wouldn't a direct cost method adjust the profit or loss, for example?

The traditional direct costs, cost of goods sold is:

Opening Stock
Plus Purchases
Less Closing Stock

So (just using random easy numbers), say we sell players for 㿊M, started the financial period with players valued at 㿞M (do we value at cost or the market or replacement value?), purchased players for 㿀M, and we end the financial period with players valued at 㿔M. Then the calculation would be:

Sales: 㿊M

Less Diret Costs (Cost of Goods Sold)

Opening Stock: 㿞M
Add Purchases: 㿀M
Less: Closing Stock: 㿔M
Total cost of Goods Sold: 㿊M

Sales less Costs of Goods Sold (Gross profit): Nil

I also read that they amortise the contract too – isn't that double-dipping as you are presumably counting the wages paid throughout the year?

Of course I could be missing if there is a specific model used in the industry but some thoughts nonetheless.

Eric Myles
69 Posted 03/07/2023 at 14:59:47
I've actually seen a performance of Box and Cox (Gilbert and Sullivan) at The Empire.

To me it signifies the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

Paul Kossoff
70 Posted 04/07/2023 at 23:35:03
Gary 17, use another word instead of describing idiots at this club with that horrible disease, please.

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