Season › 2024-25 › News Angus Kinnear talks recruitment structure ahead of ‘unprecedented summer’ for Everton Anjishnu Roy 14/05/2025 132comments | Jump to last Angus Kinnear is expected to have a busy summer after taking over as the chief executive officer at Everton this week. Kinnear believes that the Blues will also face an ‘unprecedented’ restructuring ahead of next season. The 47-year-old arrived early from Leeds United after the Yorkshire-based club confirmed their promotion to the Premier League. Kinnear will oversee a major squad overhaul as Everton could lose up to 15 first-team players either due to the expiry of contracts or the conclusion of loan spells. The Blues will also move to a new 52,888-seater state-of-the-art stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season and the new chief executive is clear that football will continue to be the “priority” for Everton. "The first priority is always going to be football," he told Everton TV. "We will always be football first. "Ultimately, my job and the job of everyone at Everton is to make Evertonians proud. I know they're proud to belong to the club and I want to find reasons to make them proud. That starts with what we do on the pitch, so football will always be the number one priority and I think David has done a wonderful job since he came in, stabilising things and moving the team on. "There's a huge restructure to be done in terms of the squad. I think it's pretty unprecedented at Premier League level. But David and I see that as an opportunity to take the team on to the next level and fundamentally have a team that is moving up the table.” A new recruitment structure will also be implemented at the club going forward. Kevin Thelwell, who had served as the Director of Football for the last 3 years, has joined Rangers in Scotland while head of recruitment Dan Purdy is also leaving the club. Head coach David Moyes is also expected to play a key role in the Toffees’ transfer activities. "I think there's been a move in recent years to a single Director of Football model and that can be challenging," he said on the changes to the recruitment model. "We're going to move to a broader, flatter structure, where we have experts in data and analytics, in football operations, in recruitment and talent ID, and then in player trading. Some of those people have already come on board, and there are going to be some more announcements over the next couple of weeks. I've been delighted by the quality of individuals that we've been able to attract. "I think when Everton fans see it, they're going to be really reassured that we've got, I think, a world-class football operations team in place who'll be there to support David, who we think is a world-class manager." Kinnear was also quick to identify the “potential” at Everton and explained his ambitions for the club. “I see the potential in everything that Everton is and everything that it can be. I want to be aggressive in our ambitions. I think there’s lots of case studies that we’ve seen recently of teams that I would see as smaller than Everton,” he continued. “Perhaps Nottingham Forest making a run in Europe, Crystal Palace getting to an FA Cup Final. They’re all things that should be in our ambitions for the medium term. “Longer term, I think we can look beyond that. I think there’s no reason why Everton can’t challenge it at the top table of European football. We have to be pragmatic. We have to be balanced. We have to be sensible in our decisions. “We have to work in a structure where we’re not worried about relegation, where we’re not concerned by regulatory issues, which have pinned the club back. We need to create a firm foundation that we can build on.” Reader Comments (132) 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 () Jay Harris 1 Posted 14/05/2025 at 17:33:09 Very impressive interview; and if he walks as well as he talks, we are on a sound footing.Interesting that he said DoF is not a role for the modern game, instead espousing his desires for experts in all fields of football, ie, analytics expert, recruitment expert, scouting expert, and contract negotiation expert as part of a committee headed by the CEO and the manager. Ian Bennett 2 Posted 14/05/2025 at 17:45:26 Any update on Nicky Hammond? Ted Roberts 3 Posted 14/05/2025 at 17:52:02 He's saying all the right motivational things, so, cometh the hour, cometh the man!If he can direct the club to achieve an upward trajectory, then it all sounds like good news.It's nothing short of what we have cried out for for long enough: vision, direction, foundation… I'm liking it so far. John Pickles 4 Posted 14/05/2025 at 18:27:09 I hope the 'data and analytics' find us a striker that can get us a 'Lukaku' amount of goals a season, either 'out the box' or a 'Moise Kean'* type prospect who will manage it in the next 2 to 3 years.*Moise Kean, right idea, wrong player. Andy Peers 5 Posted 14/05/2025 at 18:32:28 This sounds like a very strategic plan. Shake the Kenwright curse, hopefully. Tony Abrahams 6 Posted 14/05/2025 at 18:49:16 Welcome to Everton, Angus. I am very heartened to see he has used the word “aggressive” when describing our ambitions, and used other clubs as examples to explain what should be our ambitions in the medium term – although I would have preferred him to use “in the immediate term!”I've been attending Goodison for 50 years now and can probably count the number of genuine world class players playing in a blue shirt on one hand. And I've seen enough of David Moyes to know he is definitely not a world class manager. This isn't me being negative; it's just me saying, "Cut the hyperbole, Angus, because a lot of Evertonians are not stupid people when it comes to understanding football."I obviously hope we do get a great recruitment team and I definitely hope that David Moyes continues to improve us, but at least he was being realistic and talking a lot more sense when telling us we need to create a firm foundation that we can build on.Do us a favour, Angus, just help bring in some players that help us win a trophy! Derek Knox 7 Posted 14/05/2025 at 19:00:09 He has come on since his days as a cloakroom attendant - Angus McCoatup ! Sorry, I'll get mine then soon. :-)As Tony A said, I picked up on David Moyes "being a World Class Manager" too, and hope that this may be the end of his hyperbolae. Testicular Accentuation = Talking Bollocks (?) Looking forward too, to him putting his promises into fruition. Craig Scott 8 Posted 14/05/2025 at 19:00:25 Recruitment and development are the key things. Get the best talent spotters, recruit the talent early and have the processes in place to develop them into top players. Not every young signing will be a gem, but the potential to at least get our money back will be there. Recruitment's been one of our main problems over recent years. How much money are we going to recoup from the players out of contract at the end of this season? Easier said than done of course. But that should be our strategic focus. Danny O'Neill 9 Posted 14/05/2025 at 19:05:54 Aggression and ambition. Add that to expectation. No-one has ever taken that away from me or many like-minded Evertonians.Changes are being implemented. Get used to it because this club is coming back and I can't wait for the journey.As I've said to friends, it's not for me, it's for those young supporters I watch, week-in & week-out.Spirit. Forever. Brian Harrison 10 Posted 14/05/2025 at 19:21:39 I think after decades and decades of hearing different people hired by this club telling me how wonderful things are going to be, only for it to fall flat, I will judge Mr Kinnear on what he actually achieves rather than what he hopes he will achieve. I wish him the best of luck but we need results, not promises — we have had promises for the last 30 years and none have come to fruition. Joe McMahon 11 Posted 14/05/2025 at 20:24:01 Exactly, Brian.As the saying goes: "Actions speak louder than words". Mike Gaynes 12 Posted 14/05/2025 at 20:25:57 Ian #2, no, no further word, and I would not expect Kinnear to say anything about Hammond's reported-but-unconfirmed recruitment until it is finalized. Likewise the executive searches for a Director of Football Operations and a Director of Player Identification, to fill the holes left by Thelwell and Purdy. Friedkin likes to keep things very close to the vest and Kinnear will certainly follow that guidance. Brendan McLaughlin 13 Posted 14/05/2025 at 20:31:08 "I think David has done a wonderful job since he came in...""But David and I see that as an opportunity to... have a team that is moving up the table.""David, who we think is a world-class manager."“Perhaps Nottingham Forest making a run in Europe, Crystal Palace getting to an FA Cup Final. Theyre all things that should be in our ambitions for the medium term."“We have to be pragmatic. We have to be balanced. We have to be sensible in our decisions."“We have to work in a structure where were not worried about relegation... We need to create a firm foundation that we can build on.”Hardly Henry V before the Battle of Agincourt is it? Colin Glassar 14 Posted 14/05/2025 at 20:32:56 What's not to like? At last we have people in charge who sound like they know what they're doing.As for the transfer window, I'm quietly confident we'll be pleased once it's over. Brendan McLaughlin 15 Posted 14/05/2025 at 20:42:40 Sorry #13“Perhaps Nottingham Forest making a run in Europe, Crystal Palace getting to an FA Cup Final. Theyre all things that should be in our ambitions for the medium term." Ryan Holroyd 16 Posted 14/05/2025 at 20:59:26 Brendan,Why did you leave out the bit where he also said there's no reason why Everton can't challenge the top teams in Europe? Brendan McLaughlin 17 Posted 14/05/2025 at 21:09:01 Ryan #16,Because I was highlighting Everton's ambitions in the short to medium term.Of course we can challenge the top teams in Europe but I think even Angus qualified that as a "longer term" goal. Tony Abrahams 18 Posted 14/05/2025 at 21:11:19 Around this very time (9 pm), 40 years ago today, I remember getting on a coach on City Road, with my dad and a few of my mates and their fathers, to go and see our great team of the '80s, have way too much aggression, class, composure, guile and quality for Rapid Vienna, the very next evening.Just 18 months earlier, we had started George Orwell's 1984 nearly as bad, as the basket case of a football club we have become over these last few years.From a basket case of a football club to being voted World Team of the Year inside 18 months — and we were denied bigger and better things because of events that happened elsewhere and had absolutely nothing to do with us.Football is different now, I know, but it wasn't that long ago that a 5000/1 shot won the Premier League, which means that anything is possible if you get the right players, playing the right system, because this will always get the crowd behind you.Anything is possible — especially if it's already been done before! Jerome Shields 19 Posted 14/05/2025 at 21:38:31 Basically means no little empires and performance measurement and accountability. Jeff Armstrong 20 Posted 14/05/2025 at 21:50:04 So true, Tony @18, Look at Forest last season to this! Okay, they're struggling to keep it going, but Europe and an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley/IIt doesn't take much for fortunes to turn around in football, you just need the stars to align, a bit of luck, and a few decent signings. Brendan McLaughlin 21 Posted 14/05/2025 at 21:53:58 Jerome @19,Performance measurement."I think David has done a wonderful job since he came in..."Sounds like Davey is earning an A+ from Angus for his first 4 months? David Currie 22 Posted 14/05/2025 at 21:57:54 Season 1: Get European FootballSeason 2: Get European Football and win a Cup.Season 3: Get into the Top 4 and win a Cup.Season 4: Win the Premier League.This is what the new owners goal should be!! Ambition and Aggression!! Brendan McLaughlin 23 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:04:35 David #22,Do you think that's what Angus is saying? Danny O'Neill 24 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:05:30 Tony,40 years ago, I was living my Everton dream every week. We were almost invincible.I watched us parade two league titles around Goodison. Saw Ratcliffe lift the FA Cup for the first time in my life. Saw us win a European trophy. Narrowly miss out on another league title and two FA Cups.Denied the chance to win the European Cup for a crime we didn't commit. And we would have won that competition. We were that good.When people think I'm a dreamer or deluded, I won't accept it. We can and will be winners again. No one is taking my expectations away from my or our Everton. The Blue Boys are on the rise and we shall not be moved. Not by anyone. Brendan McLaughlin 25 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:08:31 Danny #24,What's your take on what Angus said? Rob Halligan 26 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:09:25 Going on what Tony says, @18… around the same time, me and a few mates were boarding a coach at Maggie May's pub in Bootle. We arrived in Rotterdam around 8 or 9 am the following morning. Had a great day mixing with Rapid Vienna fans, and talking about another European adventure in the following season's European Cup! As we all know, that was cruelly snatched away from us by events just 2 weeks later. That team of the '80s would, I'm pretty certain, have won the European Cup the following year, and maybe even another one or two. We wouldn't have sold some of that squad, only added to it, and Howard Kendall I'm sure wouldn't have gone to Spain. That squad, management and our potential dominance of English and maybe European football was totally extinguished in around 2 hours of mayhem in Brussels. Bitter… you'd better fucking believe it! Danny O'Neill 27 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:22:45 Brendan, I think I said it @9. 'Ambition' is probably the key word he mentions. Also, the focus on recruitment. I like his words, but as always, actions speak louder. But he is taking the right language for me.Rob, I will never forgive them. I don't have it in my usually diplomatic self. We would have won that European Cup but now get mocked with that disgraceful mocking Steaua Bucharest banner on the the piss-riden Kop.Yes I'm bitter. With reason. Every single one of them. Robert Tressell 28 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:29:43 I'm reading this as suggesting we will buy more in reasonably high volume this summer but primarily from low-cost markets. It looks like there is ambition there — but over a realistic time horizon Boring… but we won't be complaining in 3 years if the squad is high quality and we're genuinely competing for silverware and Champions League qualification! Brendan McLaughlin 29 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:29:59 Okay, Danny #27,I should have been more exact.In relation to the quotes I put up @13 (& @15) and in terms of the "reigning in expectations" criticism of previous Everton regimes... how would you respond to each of those?Take your time... Mike Gaynes 30 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:30:24 David #22, since Dan Friedkin bought Roma, they have finished 7th, 6th, 6th, 6th and 6th. They have never challenged for domestic silverware but have been to the Europa League semi-finals three times and the final once. David Currie 31 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:32:06 I was in Rotterdam that night and Rob is spot on. We would have had Sharp, Lineker, Heath and Gray would not have been sold. 4 top strikers going for The European Cup. When I watched the Final back again on video days later, Brian Clough did the co-commentary with Brian Moore. Clough said "Everton will be a force in Europe for many years"!! Us fans, the manager and coaching staff were robbed!!!But the biggest upset is for those players who were denied so many games playing in Europe's top competition!! I as an Everton fan never got over it but imagine being one of those players that played in the Bayern Munich games and the Rapid Vienna game. Then, "Sorry, lads, but that is it for you lot for 5 years!!" Brendan McLaughlin 32 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:35:43 Mike #30"7th, 6th, 6th, 6th and 6th."Angus Kinnear's short/medium term ambitions for Everton by numbers. David Currie 33 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:48:39 Mike 30,Yes, I know what Roma have achieved and the Freidkins probably want the same for us.7th, 6th, 5th, 5th add a Cup Final. That would certainly be more success than our last 4 years have been. Brendan McLaughlin 34 Posted 14/05/2025 at 22:53:29 But David #33David #22... suggests he wouldn't be happy with that?Which is it mate? Phil Roberts 35 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:01:05 Could you imagine if he had said… "A world-class football operations team in place who'll be there to support David, who we think is a reasonably good manager."Nothing like a bit of boosting your staff's confidence — and the alternative is nothing like a bit of boosting your staff's confidence. David Currie 36 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:08:30 Brendan @34, No, I want the owner to go all in on my first post but think the Freidkins would see success if they can match Roma's.My 4 seasons would be what I would like the owners to try and achieve! Brendan McLaughlin 37 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:12:48 35 comments on this thread and I'm almost into double figures myself.Tumbleweed pretty much sweeping across ToffeeWeb in the aftermath of Kinnear's vision for the immediate future of Everton.We've been afflicted with incompetent CEOs but apparently this guy's lack of ambition isn't an issue.Plus ça change… David Currie 38 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:20:14 Brendan,I will try and send my 4 season targets to Angus and see if I get a response?I think he would say I'm not realistic and too aggressive! Brendan McLaughlin 39 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:21:10 David #36We all want your first post.But if TFG want the Roma progress… and achieve it... it's a massive improvement but not good enough for everyone. Mike Gaynes 40 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:23:35 Brendan, I don't see lack of ambition in his words:I think there's no reason why Everton can't challenge it at the top table of European football. Brendan McLaughlin 41 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:25:37 Phil #35,If he had said "a world-class football operations team in place who'll be there to support David" and left it at that... would we be even discussing it now? David Currie 42 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:27:52 Brendan @39,It would be great if we had owners who wanted to make Everton the best in England and one of the best in Europe. Steve Shave 44 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:29:42 I'm not sure what the negativity is all about. Aside from the Moyes comment (which I'm putting down to him getting a bit carried away), I thought it was a good first interview. Robert, I read the same thing between the lines; I can see unspectacular recruitment but pragmatic — and hopefully a lot more money is available than we had previously predicted. Moyes alluded to it too. Brendan McLaughlin 45 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:31:20 David, mate #42I'm optimistic but it will take time. Kevin Molloy 46 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:34:50 Have to say I don't like the way this guy expresses himself. There's something non-committal there… can't quite make it out. He says he wants to make Evertonians proud, and to put the football first, and my inner voice is saying 'Bullshit'. My gut tells me that the list of priorities he's listed there are very different from the list of priorities he's been discussing with his new bosses. I don't think Davey is going to find him very supprtive, this guy will turn on a sixpence. Brendan McLaughlin 47 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:34:58 Mike #40,Red card... see my post #17. Paul Kossoff 48 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:43:56 Oh well, look who it is, if it isn't old sly arse. Dear Mr Richard Masters, could you look into possibly investigating Everton Football Club for possible breaches of Financial Fair Play. I and the Burnley owner think we were relegated because of Everton over-spending, we advice you to punish them fully. Thank you Mr Masters, all the best in your investigation.Angus, Kinnear.In case you have not been listening: The major role Angus Kinnear played in getting Everton their FFP points deductionTop job at the club he helped in nearly relegating us, unbelievable! Who the fuck gave him this job? The more things change etc. Brendan McLaughlin 49 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:47:41 Steve #44,If you are referring to my posts... I'm just repeating what Angus has said with admittedly sometimes my added emphasis in bold. I don't disagree with him... although two positives. Paul Kossoff 50 Posted 14/05/2025 at 23:54:04 And to anyone who criticises me for not welcoming this back-stabbing bastard, fire away. 😀 Kevin Molloy 51 Posted 15/05/2025 at 00:05:34 He's a company man to his fingertips. "We think he's a world class manager… We're gonna have a world class football operations team." Are we? What does that even mean? He's full of warm words, or piss and wind as they used to say. It would have been infinitely better if he'd done a Friedkin and just kept his mouth shut. I'm starting to have a bad feeling about this new regime. This is a key appointment, and this guy sounds like the Chief Exec of a local council. Brendan McLaughlin 52 Posted 15/05/2025 at 00:07:01 Paul #50,Don't think you can be a back-stabbing bastard if you haven't had a connection or relationship in the first place.It's a bit like blasting a girl for her previous boyfriends? Brendan McLaughlin 53 Posted 15/05/2025 at 00:16:02 Kevin mate #51Actually no. Angus is quite measured in his ambitions.Read my post #13... if he was any more grounded he'd need watering. Dale Self 54 Posted 15/05/2025 at 00:40:17 Paul, Bang! Not bang on, just bang. Ernie Baywood 55 Posted 15/05/2025 at 04:20:30 Words. Really not worth criticising or celebrating. We've had people say the right and wrong things – didn't matter. Welcome to the club. Good luck. You'll be judged on your actions and the improvement of the club. Alan J Thompson 56 Posted 15/05/2025 at 04:49:32 "A world class football operations team experts in football analytics and data."As soon as we find somewhere to put the new computer, somebody to plug it in, and one to turn it o,n we'll give the manager a list of players to pick from and then see if it matches the transfer budget before passing it to the other bloke from Leeds who will negotiate the fee and wages — no more one-man DoF. Yes, CEO. Eric Myles 57 Posted 15/05/2025 at 04:49:36 Kevin #51, there's been a lot of comments complaining about TFG's lack of communication since the takeover, so if Angus had 'just kept his mouth shut', there would have been more fuel to the fire.But this being ToffeeWeb, of course there's going to be lots of complaints when we do get communication. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. Jerome Shields 58 Posted 15/05/2025 at 06:15:35 Brendan @21,I basically ignored those comments as hyperbole, though Moyes has done better than expected. I concentrated on the 'flat structure' comment. Terry Farrell 59 Posted 15/05/2025 at 06:20:30 Reasonable interview. A world class manager would not buy Soucek or Coufal, Let's see if Angus shuts those ideas down immediately, sends Harrison back, and lays down a positive marker for younger players with pace and drive by signing. Oh, and buying Alcaraz. Terry Farrell 60 Posted 15/05/2025 at 06:23:57 Danny don't get me started on Heysel, I will be writing book loads! I'm still bitter about WW1 and WW2 which robbed us of titles. 🤣🤣 Danny O'Neill 61 Posted 15/05/2025 at 06:25:15 Apologies, Brendan. I wasn't taking my time. I had family around. More to follow coming down from Liverpool this afternoon.Okay, in response to what you specifically asked:"I think David has done a wonderful job since he came in..." "But David and I see that as an opportunity to... have a team that is moving up the table."There is no denying he has done the job he came into do, and he's done it well. Even original pessimists like me acknowledge that. Now he will be given the opportunity to progress. This is what he's saying?"David, who we think is a world-class manager."Well, that's a bit of a stretch. He's a proven Premier League Manager with his limitations, especially when it comes to dining at the top table.“Perhaps Nottingham Forest making a run in Europe, Crystal Palace getting to an FA Cup Final. They're all things that should be in our ambitions for the medium term."They should. It can be done. Nottingham Forest survived by the skin of their teeth and were odds-on favourites to be relegated this season. Anything is possible in football.“We have to be pragmatic. We have to be balanced. We have to be sensible in our decisions."“We have to work in a structure where we're not worried about relegation... We need to create a firm foundation that we can build on.”I understand we need to build, but we can move quicker than some predict. He's probably looking at the reality, but I suspect underneath the umbrella, he won't be patient.Hardly Henry V before the Battle of Agincourt is it?Not really. Nor is it Churchillian. But the guy has been in the job for 2 days. He will assess and then start to drive the ship. It's a bit like when the owners took over. After a month, which included the Christmas period, people were questioning what have they done for us? Reminded me of that scene from the life of Brian. "What have the Romans ever done for us"? When I've been in jobs, I've always been asked what my 30-60-90 day plan is. 30 days is assessment. 60 days formulating and converting thoughts and opinions. 90 days, you start implementing the vision and strategy.Eric, I agree. He's communicated, as you would expect, but can't win. I don't think we will hear too much from The Friedkin Group. That's why they put their own people in place to run their many businesses. But, and without the benefit of a crystal ball, I don't think these guys will hang around if their expectations are not met.As I keep pointing out, their investment in Roma has seen 5 managers in 5 years. Hardly a case for stability. But they have won a European trophy, been in finals and semi-finals, and are in with a shout for Champions League qualification this month.Back to Brendan's questions, he might be managing immediate expectation but, unlike the previous regime, who systematically beat it down over decades, I don't think this lot will hang around if things aren't happening. Colin Glassar 62 Posted 15/05/2025 at 06:34:27 “World class manager”? Echoes of, “What a manager!” Robert Tressell 63 Posted 15/05/2025 at 07:29:47 Danny # 61, Roma are in pretty much exactly the same place they have been in before TFG bought them – possibly a touch lower in fact. The 6th place finishes at Roma don't represent improvement. The difference under TFG is that they are achieving this on a much lower budget. Kunal Desai 64 Posted 15/05/2025 at 07:47:01 Sounds a promising first interview.As the saying goes, proof will be in the pudding. Danny O'Neill 65 Posted 15/05/2025 at 07:47:19 Still in with a shout of 4th, though, Robert, with two games to go.I've got a soft spot for Roma. When I lived there around 2000-02, I used to go to the Studio Olympico and watch them. Lazio too, but their supporters were horrible. I can't think of another phrase other than Mussolini-supporting fascists.Both teams won the Serie A during that period. I watched Francesco Totti live. Great player who only had eyes for Roma, despite overtures from Real Madrid. Born and bred in the city. There is a great documentary out there with his story. It's in Italian but with subtitles.I know and understand your views on expenditure. I don't think any of us dispute that. The successful teams generally spend the most.But I will maintain my view. How you spend can be equally as effective, especially for a club where we are now. Steve Shave 66 Posted 15/05/2025 at 07:54:15 Good, balanced post, Danny @61. As you say, the guy has been in post 2 days, it's no time at all to get to grips with the club or the task at hand, therefore I am forgiving of any mildly misplaced words or phrases. Jeez, we are a tough lot sometimes; let the man do his job and we'll judge him on that over time. David Bromwell 67 Posted 15/05/2025 at 08:00:34 For most of my time supporting our club (I am 81), the club (not the team) have not been managed effectively, and clearly that is one of the main reasons why we were never able to build on the successes on the pitch. Our new owners seem intent to put that right, and for once we will have experienced people running the club. So this represents a whole new beginning, which is great; what we don't need is the added bullshit stuff like 'worl-class manager', that's unnecessary and, many would argue, untrue.I imagine Mr Kinnear's in-tray must be full to overflowing and he and the new management team will be judged on what they do. In just a few weeks, our hastily assembled new team will be off on a pre-season tour to America… not sure whose great idea that was? And importantly 50,000 plus supporters will have to be transferred safely to and from our shinny new stadium. Surely that's enough to be getting on with for anybody? Good luck, Mr Kinnear, if you didn't know before, this is a big job you have taken on. Tony Abrahams 68 Posted 15/05/2025 at 08:11:59 I keep hearing that TFG have steadied the ship and done a very good job at Roma, so thanks for that information, Robert.We used to be a tough crowd until a lot of people got kidded by the most divisive person ever connected to Everton, when you consider how both KEIOC and The Blue Union were treated by parts of the Everton crowd.We used to be a tough crowd until a lot of people started telling us to be careful what we wished for and started celebrating coming Best of the Rest.Actions have always spoken a lot louder than words, so I'm intrigued to see if Dan Friedkin actually attends what is an absolutely enormous occasion in the history of the club he has just purchased, on Sunday.My view of world class is Messi, Cruyff, Iniesta, Zidane, Maradona and our own Neville Southall.Another person's view of world class might be to remember how David Moyes kept Everton around 7th in the Premier League for so long, when he never had the biggest budget.My thoughts for quite a while now have been that this summer is going to tell us a lot about our new owners. The situation the Friedkin's have bought into with regards the amount of players whose contracts are ending definitely requires a lot of action. Danny O'Neill 69 Posted 15/05/2025 at 08:37:27 Tony, Neville was the best in Europe, probably the world at his peak. But you forgot Sheedy… Tongue-in-cheek — you know he's my Everton Pope.We are a tough audience and rightly so. We've earned that over the generations and know our shit, so to speak.I have no apologies for repeating, but the quote from the late Sir John Moores is what we should measure our expectations on:“Everton expects success. We've a very good crowd and our crowd are very loyal. But, of course, they pay money and they expect to see us do well. If we don't do well, then something should be done about it, and something will be done about it,”Notwithstanding our motto, I hope the owners and their management team have this on the walls of their offices. Robert Tressell 70 Posted 15/05/2025 at 08:46:57 Danny # 65, But Roma have been regulars in the Champions League for years. It's probably only the Milan clubs and Juve who qualify more regularly from Serie A. As I say, this does not represent improvement. TFG are going about this the right way definitely – but it doesn't follow that our league placing etc will catch up with Roma just because we've got the same owners.In the Premier League, there are 8 very rich clubs with a big head start on us. There are then quite a few other clubs that are well run and prepared or able to spend money. That is very, very unlike the dynamics of Serie A.Given the state of our squad come June, it's going to take some time before our squad quality merits the sort of league places Roma are getting. But Forest have done it? Not yet they haven't. And they have risen up the table (like Bournemouth) off the back of very heavy year-on-year spending. We have some catching up to do… Danny O'Neill 71 Posted 15/05/2025 at 09:20:40 I thought Forest guaranteed European football with the point against Leicester, Robert.In fact they have. They are guaranteed 7th. No one is breathing down their necks.I think the owners have ambitions for Everton. Not to long ago, Manchester City, Leeds and Nottingham Forest were in the 3rd tier of English football. Newcastle and Aston Villa were relegated. We've somehow never been subject to that in our lifetime.If we invest and spend wisely, anything is achievable. Robert Tressell 72 Posted 15/05/2025 at 09:45:26 Danny, yes, I truly believe Champions League runs like Villa had this season are very much doable in a 3- to 5-year time horizon. In fact, we should be there now except Moshiri pulled the plug 4 years ago (after 4 prior years of incompetence). As for Forest, are we seeing the Santos glass ceiling, a lack of ambition etc – or does that only apply to Everton? After all, making the Champions League has never been easier than this season given 5 places available and Spurs and Man Utd will surely never be this bad again. Danny O'Neill 73 Posted 15/05/2025 at 10:04:16 Possibl,y Robert. That owner's reaction at the end was out of order considering what they've achieved this season.You can't compare Forest to Everton. Different gravy.I have a soft spot for Villa due to my wife. They've been more through the mill than we have with at least two relegations in my experience since the 80s.I don't think Forest will maintain it, but never take away the joy of watching your team succeed. Leicester may have been relegated again, but there is no doubt their supporters will ever forget lifting the Premier League trophy. Sam Hoare 74 Posted 15/05/2025 at 10:34:17 Decent interview… but words are easy. I'm a little nervous about this summer. He's right that it is fairly unprecedented for an established Premier Leaue club to need this big a restructure. Palace did quite a big one in 2021-22 when they spent £80M on Guehi, Anderson, Mateta, Edouard, Olise and Will Hughes amongst others. Thelwell and Purdy are big holes to fill and we don't have a lot of time. I hope that those roles are not filled by people who have worked alongside Moyes before but by experienced, reasonable people who can provide balance to what sounds like a committee-led transfer process. Someone who could point out, for example, that spending £16M on Soucek might not be the best allocation of resources for mid- to long-term plans. Not that I don't trust Moyes but most managers will lean recruitment processes towards short-term aims and this is exactly where we have run into problems previously. Kevin Molloy 75 Posted 15/05/2025 at 11:12:35 I understand people wanting to welcome him, on his first day etc. And first impressions can always be misleading, fair enough. But going on just first impressions, which can be wrong, this is not a good start. We've been in the weeds now for nearly a decade, and we know bullshit and flannel when we hear it, and these opening statements by him are full of it. they don't mean anything, or if they do mean stuff, none of it is particularly exciting. He's cautious as fuck, and he's telling us we've got a world class manager? well, we'll be the judge of that thanks mate, you just concentrate on running the club efficiently. I actually didn't have a problem with the Friedkins not gassing on every five minutes, and when they've released statements they've been cut to the bone and mean something. I like that. This guy, if I had to compare him to anyone it would be Moshiri. But at least Moshiri may have talked a disastrous game, but he did shell out. this fellow seems like someone the Glazers would appoint, someone who says he wants one thing but then does another, and also acts as a hard faced fireguard for criticism of the regime. I suspect his real expertise is maximisation of match day revenue, he was there at Arsenal when they made the switch. When he got interviewed, I reckon this is where he won it. 'So how will you treble our match day revenue in the next three years'. 'Well, that's what we did at Arsenal, it was like this...'. Dennis Stevens 76 Posted 15/05/2025 at 11:45:35 Don't worry, Kevin, if the new CEO doesn't perform TFG will replace him. Kevin Molloy 77 Posted 15/05/2025 at 11:53:06 Dennis, yes agreed. The interesting aspect will be though, how is performance judged? the Chief Exec of United may have delighted the Glazers these last few years, without necessarily being flavour of the month with the fans. Mal van Schaick 78 Posted 15/05/2025 at 11:54:04 I hope that Kinnear and Moyes get the recruitment right, but I am little surprised that Kinnear refers to recruiting players on the basis of data?Whats wrong with sending scouts out, watching a potential signing and reporting back to make a decision on signing?At this rate we will recruit using bank transfers instead of using player transfers. Martin Mason 79 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:19:16 Mal, I'm sure stats will be used in conjunction with seeing the players and to support conclusions rather than make them.Kevin, can you not just give the guy a chance and see how he goes? Ryan Holroyd 80 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:21:02 I find it interesting that Leeds have a bigger commercial revenue than Everton! Kevin Molloy 81 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:21:39 Martin, no he's had long enough at this point I just want him out. Ryan Holroyd 82 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:22:09 Every football club in the world uses data Nick Page 83 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:27:06 Not that interesting, Ryan when you consider defrauder in chief, and major opportunist Kenwright exploited the club for his own indulgence over the past 25 years. Martin Mason 84 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:37:04 Kevin, you want the new CEO out? Kevin Molloy 85 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:47:04 sorry Martin that was an attempt at humour, even I'm not that nuts. I did try and say that I was just going on first impressions which may be wrong. But part of what we do is infer from the info available to us, we try and fill in the blanks, even at this early stage. Danny O'Neill 86 Posted 15/05/2025 at 12:47:38 Where did you get that from Ryan?I see Everton as 27th in Deloitte's list of football clubs in terms of revenue. Leeds aren't there to be seen. Maybe you read it somewhere else.You're an intelligent lad with interesting views that are welcome. Maybe just hold back off on the one liners with no back up.I would welcome your discussion in a pub on Country Road, where we could discuss properly. Martin Mason 87 Posted 15/05/2025 at 13:01:30 Kevin, sorry. I must be losing my SOH radar. Colin Crooks 88 Posted 15/05/2025 at 13:10:34 What a piece that is about Colin Harvey. I must admit, it had gone under my radar. What a player. What a coach. What a servantThere have been some truly great Evertonians... Colin has to be the greatest Danny O'Neill 89 Posted 15/05/2025 at 13:25:55 Totally Colin.The boy from Fazakerley who lived every we wished for."If things had not been happening on a Saturday, on the Monday (Howard, Alan and me) developed a few moves between us doing training ground practice and in five-a-sides. We were on the same footballing wavelength. Then Wilf Dixon [the trainer] would try to put us through drills and wed say, ‘Wilf, we invented this – this is what we do!"Colin Harvey in his own words. Steve Brown 90 Posted 15/05/2025 at 13:34:27 Such a humble man as well.“When I look back I did my very best at everything I did,” he insists. “I wasnt very good at managing but I did my best and achieved some wonderful memories.”Colin Harvey had the hardest challenge in the world to follow Howard Kendall in 1987, but he had a win ratio of 42.61% and took us to an FA Cup Final.To my mind, he did a good job as manager. Colin Glassar 91 Posted 15/05/2025 at 17:23:57 Colin Harvey, The White Pele. Christy Ring 92 Posted 15/05/2025 at 17:49:22 Colin Harvey class act, as Steve said, but not only did Howard leave, but some of our top players, who because of the ban thanks to the worst fans in the world, wanted to play in Europe also, so it was always going to be a struggle for Colin.I don't see a problem with what Kinnear said, what's wrong with being positive after being stuck in relegation battles for the last few years. John Graham 93 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:01:00 At this moment there are 19 other teams in the Premier League. At least 6 of these (Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd) are better funded than us. Most of the teams above us have better squads than us. Also many, if not most have a better transfer structure than us.This isn't a simple fix and we can't throw money at it as we have tried before. Get ready for the long hard slog. Slowly, slowly, catch the monkey. Mike Hayes 94 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:03:56 Anyone else heard Virginia is off in the summer? Hes one of a few Id keep 🤷 Danny O'Neill 95 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:09:59 Christy, I agree. I'm taking the positives. Change is coming and we've wanted it for years. It's starting to happen.I need to get this weekend out of the way. I'm staying away from my home city on the 26th. I couldn't stomach it. I still have flash backs to that embarrassment when someone agreed we would follow behind them in 1986 on their victory parade. God knows who agreed to that, but they should have politely declined. Our players and supporters didn't want to be there.Then we can respectfully remember the 39, as they probably won't pay it much attention. Bitter? Yes. They shamed English football and we all payed for it. Neil Copeland 96 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:12:59 Colin 95, or should it be; Pele, the black Colin Harvey? Danny O'Neill 97 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:14:24 A great twist on the phrase Neil. I like that. Colin Glassar 98 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:17:39 Good shout, Neil. What a player he was. Christy Ring 99 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:26:01 Danny #98, We all respectfully remember the 39, but the most shocking fact is that horrible bitter club and hooligans have erased it from their history, it never happened. John Chambers 100 Posted 15/05/2025 at 18:31:02 John #96, I agree it is not going to be a simple fix but I think even your view was a bit optimistic! According to Capology 9 clubs have a larger wage bill than us and Palace are basically the same and Fulham only slightly behind. In terms of transfer windows we are probably bottom of the table if you look over the last 3 or 4 years ! Paul Ferry 101 Posted 15/05/2025 at 19:59:54 Sam (76): 'Palace did quite a big one in 21/22 when they spent £80m on Guehi, Anderson, Mateta, Edouard, Olise and Will Hughes amongst others'.Jesus, Sam, that was some window for that lot. £80m! Olise went to Munich for a little north of £50m. Anderson cost Fulham £30m. That's the £80m covered, and then we have Guehi ...Freedman was a proper DOF. We have never had one anywhere near the quality of his wheeling and dealing.If we can pull off a 2025 version of Palace in 2021/2022, we'll be smiling on August 16. Robert Tressell 102 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:04:13 John you are right, there are basically a few wage tiers in the Premier League. You can get a sense of which clubs are overperforming and underperforming from this (and spending levels too).Tier 1: Over £200m paCityTier 2: £170m to £185m paMan UtdChelsea ArsenalTier 3: £128m paLiverpoolTier 4: £80m to £105m paVillaSpursNewcastle West HamTier 5: £50m to £70mUsPalaceForestLeicesterBrightonWolvesSaintsTier 6: £35m to £50m paBournemouthBrentfordIpswich Robert Tressell 103 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:09:00 Paul @ 104, we have also never spent as much as Palsce did that summer. Wed have Kudus and Gibbs White if we could have matched Palaces spending in recent years Paul Ferry 104 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:19:07 That's partly my point Robert; an outcome of terrible management and wheeling and dealing. Ryan Holroyd 105 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:21:49 The bobble saying Young set be to offered a new contract. Begovic and Virginia not offered a new contract ***awaits the fume*** Kevin Molloy 106 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:24:31 If Ashley Young is offered a new contract that would be by god remarkable. He is literally forty in a couple of weeks. and this is in the one position more than any other where speed and energy are needed. What an outstanding professional he has been. Kunal Desai 107 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:27:55 Young will be a good squad filler. He's versatile, can be deployed at full back and right midfield. Sensible decision to retain him. We'll need experience going through a transitional year. Andy Crooks 108 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:40:06 Kevin, I reckon that if Ashley Young is offered a new contract it would suggest that he is a very special professional footballer. Mike Hayes 109 Posted 15/05/2025 at 20:52:34 Is Kenshite back from the dead to deal with the expiring contracts FFS look for younger/hungry to prove themselves players - Jesus H Christ on a bike 🤷😡 Paul Ferry 110 Posted 15/05/2025 at 21:05:59 I've seen nothing in the last few months to suggest that Young at 40 could not still be a useful member of our squad. We will, in all likelihood, have to retain two or three of the end of contract/loan players who are quite often bashed on here. This is simply down to the number of folks at the end of their contracts/loans and what I imagine will be our financial commitment to incoming that will not fund the required overhaul.Young is someone in these circumstances who will most likely get one more year. Danny O'Neill 111 Posted 15/05/2025 at 22:37:50 The Bobble is normally on the money, or close to it. That may mean we have a keeper lined up.Ashley Young has been an example to young players and alongside Tarkowski gives us much needed leadership on the pitch.When he has featured, he has been important to us this season. Ryan Holroyd 112 Posted 15/05/2025 at 22:56:40 I wonder if Coleman will retire. Would we offer contracts to two of Coleman and young? Dennis Stevens 113 Posted 15/05/2025 at 23:12:32 To be fair, Ryan, there are only two of Coleman and Young Danny O'Neill 114 Posted 16/05/2025 at 06:45:22 If we are considering that, and only the management and recruitment team can make that decision, then I would keep Young for another season.Coleman (bless him) looked as shaky on his legs as I do these days when he came on Saturday.I've criticised jobs for the boys in the past and I don't think this new regime will have any room for sentiment, but I'd like to see him have a role at the club.I just don't know what that would be. I've not heard or seen anything about his coaching credentials.Let's hope we keep him in some way. Robert Tressell 115 Posted 16/05/2025 at 08:44:45 Young is one of the very few players who has the balls to challenge referees etc. drives me mad over the years how accepting we are. Hope he stays in player coach capacity and shows the youngsters how to argue. Despite the grief he has been given hes been a good signing. Need to keep rummaging in the Championship for players like this. Colin Glassar 116 Posted 16/05/2025 at 08:57:19 Spot on, Robert. The rs players have this down to a tee. They argue with the officials over every single incident which goes against them. Even their Ball boys are argumentative little shits.This is planned and practiced. Its not spontaneous. It also helps to whip up the crowd and energise the atmosphere in Mordor.You have to give it to them. They use every trick in the book to earn an advantage. We are so lacking in so many areas. Sam Hoare 117 Posted 16/05/2025 at 09:06:24 Spotrac has Young on £40k p/w which is pretty low for an established PL club these day. He's a consumate professional who no doubt sets high standards in training and is able to fill in a number of positions at a pinch. I'm happy enough to see him stay another year though hope he would make far less than the 18 starts he's had this season. Robert Tressell 118 Posted 16/05/2025 at 09:06:45 Marginal gains Colin - add up all the fouls, red cards, penalties etc etc I reckon arguments must contribute an extra 10 points a season if you get it to a fine art. Well continue to be too nice under Moyes but hopefully he can sign some total arseholes to move the club culture on Colin Glassar 119 Posted 16/05/2025 at 09:38:38 Jags banter and smiles, with our opponents, in the tunnel epitomised our nice guy approach to games. We need a mean streak attitude. Let other teams fear us for once. Kevin Molloy 120 Posted 16/05/2025 at 09:46:48 Sharpy was a past master at this. He moaned through every single game. That is definitely something Beto can add to his game. Danny O'Neill 121 Posted 16/05/2025 at 10:19:29 Jagielka was a decent centre-back, just as Tarkowski is. The difference is leadership. Jagielka may have worn the armband, but he wasn't captain material.I like how Tarkowski laughs at opponents and is always over to the Ref. Young too, although slightly different. He is a proper nark, who would wind up the best of them. Robert Tressell 122 Posted 16/05/2025 at 10:32:09 I think Jagielka was a much better all round player than Tarkowski but a big softy. A combination of the two would be a hell of a player. Colin Glassar 123 Posted 16/05/2025 at 10:40:27 But who scored the best worldy against the rs? Jags or Tarks? That is the question. Ian Jones 124 Posted 16/05/2025 at 10:48:09 Colin, both equally great for me and...but if I had to choose, Jags... David Bromwell 125 Posted 16/05/2025 at 10:48:59 Interesting comments re Young, whilst I can appreciate he has been a useful player for us surely we should be aspiring to something more than a 40-year-old utility player? On the limited occasions I have seen him I think there is a player in the making in young Dixon. He is brave and has loads of pace, but seems to lack concentration. I hope we don't give up on him and he becomes another Antonee Robinson. Danny O'Neill 126 Posted 16/05/2025 at 11:38:18 Jagielka had better recovery powers than Tarkowski, Robert. The latter relies on closing down, blocking earlym and putting in a formidable tackle on Mac Alister. Sorry, I had to get that one in.Not much between them as players other than my point about leadership and style.Colin. Tough call. The screamer at Goodison from Tarkowski or the one from Jagielka in front of the Kop? Both spectacular first time Exocet missiles hit first time and in the dying throes of games we were about to lose against them.50-50 call. Colin Glassar 127 Posted 16/05/2025 at 12:10:23 Both high pressure goals, Danny. Both perfectly executed but I lean towards Tarkowski as it saved us from losing the last derby at Goodison.The Jags goal brings back fond memories as the scream I let out almost gave the mother-in-law (who was visiting and wouldn't stop nattering) a heart attack. Joe McMahon 128 Posted 16/05/2025 at 13:40:43 It's looking like the huge restructure involves Ashley Young being offered another year (according to Bobble). Jimmy Hogan 129 Posted 16/05/2025 at 17:59:58 I don't know if anyone else has said this, but I think Moyes put his foot down about a Director of Football. He is known to dislike that structure. It sounds like he's calling the shots about incoming players. I have no problem with that. His recruitment was second to none first time round. Mike Gaynes 130 Posted 16/05/2025 at 18:08:37 Jimmy, nobody "puts his foot down" with an owner worth $8 billion who can sack him with a snap of his fingers. And the club has said that a team of people under the new CEO will call the shots on player recruitment. Danny O'Neill 131 Posted 16/05/2025 at 18:11:27 He won't like the DoF model Jimmy. He likes control.The supreme leader model lives in the past in my opinion.Moyes should be involved, but not have overall say and control, as he is unlikely to be here in 18 months or two years from now.He made some very good and astute signings first time around. But he made some questionable ones. Name me a manager of any football club that hasn't done both?Anyway, this weekend is about Goodison, the team and most importantly, the supporters. Brendan McLaughlin 132 Posted 16/05/2025 at 21:57:04 Danny #131,Apparently it's not a DOF. It's a different approach.Is that TFG led, or Moyes… or perhaps the new CEO? Jimmy Carr 133 Posted 20/05/2025 at 09:27:05 Dennis (113) that gave me a chuckle! 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