Everton FC E-mails 185

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We'll Win FA Cup

This is my prediction we will win the one thing left, the FA Cup. COYB. John Lea. (07/01/06)

Donde Esta Da Silva?

Here's a question for those in the know - Why the hell do we have a 22-year old Brazilian Midfielder on loan to Malaga when squad-size and injuries are killing any real chance of strong, consistent form? Am I understanding the deal right? We have taken Da Silva but have him on loan to Malaga to prepare him for the Premiership? Why don't we get him back? Is it a question of work permits or something because I cannot see any other reason he's not joined us yet. If the authorities are not sure of him getting regular games they just need to look at the state of the squad - to quote Moyes "If you look at the bench on Monday we have got Marcus Bent who had a hamstring problem, James McFadden who had the flu, Per Kroldrup who has the flu and Gary Naysmith who hasn't played for months, so it would be very hard for us if we were to lose someone." Toby Hewson. (07/01/06)

Sit In The Stands

I was at the derby and after seeing that shit I couldn't believe Moyes coming out on radio and saying he was pleased with the effort the team had given. My thought is that he should at times sit up in the stands as Sam Allardyce does and see what we see which for most of the season has been crap. Steve. (07/01/06)

Perspective (and redshite)

One of the first things that people seem to lose when faced with any sort of adversity is their sense of perspective. We exaggerate out of all proportion - you know the kind of thing, "It was so cold that me feet were literally frozen". Really? Or what about the old favourite, "There's nothing worse." You buy a game for your kid then find when you get home that there's no batteries with it. And when you tell someone, they say "Nothing worse, is there"? Well yes, actually, there is when you think of all the shit going on in the world. Loss of perspective, you see.

Which brings me to the point. Some of us seem to have lost a sense of perspective when it comes to EFC. Much as it hurts to admit the obvious, we're nothing more than a bag of shite right now, with no apparent light at the end of the tunnel. So the cry goes out to sack Moyes, strangle Kenwright, and burst Wyness. Great. Then what? I'm sure that some of us think that there are managers out there dying to take the Everton job - "one of the biggest jobs in football" - if and when Moyes parts company with the Blues. Well, not really. Why does anybody still believe that the Everton job is one of the biggest in football? For people like myself who've followed the Blues from the early 60's, that's an almost sacrilegious thing to say, because we were football royalty with the proud history to prove it. In those days, which other team could boast of a heritage like ours? The redshite, in Shankley's own words, didn't even have an outside shithouse (until Jimmy Case came along, of course).

In the 70's we dipped, and then the 80's should have been the time that our destiny finally arrived, but other things best not mentioned in polite company got in the way of that. Throughout all of these decades the EFC job was one of the biggest in football, but since then - well, we all know what happened. Rather than competing at the top, avoiding relegation has been our thing for 10 or 12 years now. There are many young fans who've known nothing but relegation battles, who have never known anything like what many of us can remember in the "glory years". How sad is that for those kids? Last year finishing 4th was a great success. Christ, how backward has the game gone when so many clubs write off the prospect of winning the premiership because it's out of their reach? There was a time when Everton finishing 4th was failure, now it's something to go apeshit about. That's what I mean by perspective. We can't compete at the very top and it's something we have to bite the bullet over - after all, we've had loads of practice. The saddest fact of my football life is that the days have gone when I could start a sentence with the phrase, "For a club as big as Everton...". Oh yes, we certainly were: now we're not, at least as far as the rest of the footballing world is concerned.

What about the manager? Like it or not, Moyes is there and Moyes will stay. I've been one of his staunchest fans, but I'd be lying if I said that I still have unconditional faith in him. Sometimes you have to wonder what he's thinking of. That said, I still believe that he's the man for the job. It's easy to shout for him to be sacked, as though a new manager will transform the club overnight. It ain't going to happen like that - if you think it will, then I suggest that you've lost perspective. You've probably been watching "It's A Wonderful Life" over Christmas and thought that it was a reality show.

But even in purely practical terms, how much would it cost to sack Moyes and who would come? Some fans seem intent on giving him the bullet yet they're divided on who should replace him - we've heard Bobby Robson, Steve Coppell (forgotten Man City have we?), Peter Reid, and Mike Newell amongst those mentioned. OK, let's take Newell. A good young manager from the lower divisions who's doing well with an average side and looks to have something about him - I think we've all been there before and how long would it be before they'd be shouting for his head. Unless we can be sure that any new guy would get us up that table and then build from there, then we'd be no better off. If you know someone who fits that bill rather than just spouting names as alternatives to Moyes, then maybe YOU should be running the club. Can we put the Moyes out business to bed now. He's there, he's going nowhere, he's managing our club so let's get behind him.

And as for the way the club is run by the way, has it ever been any different? This is the same club who denied the immortal Dixie his 400th game for Everton; who gave him nothing by way of commemoration for those historic 60 goals; who treated Tommy Lawton like a piece of shit before they sold him; who sold Bobby Collins, the great Alan Ball, and Lineker well before their sell by dates; who treated their own supporters with contempt over the years with their half arsed ticket arrangements and fucking them off for 'corporate hospitality'. So why fuck Kenwright off even though much of the rot set in before his watch? Will some billionaire Evertonian we've never heard of will step out of the shadows and make us great again. I'm by no means an apologist for Kenwright, far from it. He's come out with far too much bullshit in the past as well as treating the club like his own personal Christmas present, but let's face it the club is no better run now than it was all those years ago. We'll never know the truth behind why Rooney went but like I say, he wasn't the first star we've cashed in on in our history. We just like to believe that it was better before because again, we've lost our perspective. Wyness? Well, I'm not convinced by him yet either, despite the magic figures he comes up with to show us how great our finances are. Then we find out that we're in the loan game again this transfer window cos we're skint again. He seems to eat well, though.

So that's the cack side. But on the other side of the perspective coin, though, there is the fact that this game goes in cycles. Where were Chelsea five seasons ago? (And where will they be if Abramovich fucks off?) Arsenal, who went through the league season undefeated (and that side were probably the best English club side I've seen), have gone west right now, who'd have thought it. And until Sky TV invented togger in the 90's, Man U were also rans. We will come good again, and the EFC manager's job will be one of the great jobs again, that's what a sense of perspective tells us. We're not a big club right now, let's face it, but make no fucking mistake lads, our day will come again. It's not all about 'right now'.

Keep it all in perspective, because people who don't tend to be, well, dickheads really. For example, (you could probably see this one coming) the redshite have gone on for weeks about how many clean sheets they've kept and how they'd have set a club record if they'd beaten Bolton - and this was all over the papers too, who can't do enough for the twats. Well, fuck me, the papers kept it quiet that we played our 4,000th top flight game a few wee ks ago. That's a record, and one to be proud of, but apparently it's more impressive to keep so many clean sheets. What's going on when a record like ours - and we're the first club to do it too, you won't be surprised to know - plays down the list to not conceding a goal. Isn't the game about scoring the fucking things? Redshite equals dickheads equals no perspective. But maybe I shouldn't be too harsh on them - how could retard Norwegians understand a word like perspective?

If you've lost faith and can't be arsed going to Goodison, or are so pissed off that you can't see any light at the end of this bastard of a tunnel, then that's your privilege and it's not for anybody else to call you for it. For those of us who haven't, experience of being Evertonians tells us that we'll always go through some tremendous highs and lows because that's what football is about. We Evertonians, by and large, have a great sense of perspective because we've accepted our kickings over the years and we understand the nature of the game. We're not like Man U 'fans' who don't have the balls to follow their local (ie southern based) team but get on the glory trail; we're not like Chelsea 'fans' who probably followed Man U or Spurs a couple of years ago; we're not like the skunks 'fans' who think their club is a giant despite the fact that that they've won fuck all for the last 400 years (and who used to get gates of about 10,000 in the old second division a few seasons ago). And, saving the worst till last, we're certainly not like the shite crew who are the most hypocritical and self delusional in the game - just ask Juve fans after last season's crocodile tears. And remember also how they wanted to sack Benitez after the Burnley game last season, now he's a hero, although we all know he's really a twat who eats his own shite, probably. (Put that in a fucking Carlsberg advert).

So yes, let's keep it real, keep it in perspective. While we're pissing about in a trough now and have been for a time, in the great scheme of things we're still a great club with great support and tradition. Our day will come again, of that I'm sure. But in the meantime, like most of us I'll accept the fact that there are no magic cures for what's wrong, it's going to be a long haul - again. The bottom line is that it's Everton Football Club that's in our hearts, not the people who run it, or some of the players who show a great capacity to embarrass us at times. Everton. The club. Don't you just feel proud when you see the crest? Can't you feel your heart beat faster when you get to the ground? What about when you hear Z Cars, the most emotional music in sport?

And the time will come when we can say again, "For a club as big as Everton...."

A Happy New Year to all Evertonians wherever you are, keep that Blue Flame burning. Kevin Latham. (07/01/06)

Keep The Faith

What a start to the new year, Thank you. My faith was wearing thin, now we have points on board the pressure has gone. Who wants the manager to do one? Moyes is the best thing since the last coming of Christ. Told all you none believers. Happy new year all blues. John Lea. (04/01/06)

Cahill's reaction at end of Sunderland game

Lad was in tears, and showed what it meant to him and for the team. Thanks Tim, a bit more of that from your team mates wouldn't go amiss. Happy new year lads, thanks again for all your work and efforts. Rich. Welsh Blues. (04/01/06)

Old Mother Riley

Hi, As a matter of interest, how many games have Everton won when old mother Riley has been in charge? You run a brilliant site, Bob Williams. (04/01/06)

Everton Academy

I was interested to hear Steven Gerrard’s comments about the Everton Academy on Sky TV before the derby. Apparently Gerrard was invited to attend this establishment before he signed for Liverpool, and played a practice match only to be substituted at half-time - never to return again. I fear that the Everton Academy is simply yet another example of how badly run our great old club is today.

About eighteen months ago, my son (now aged 8) was scouted by representatives from Blackburn and Everton. Subsequently he attended a Blackburn satellite school weekly, occasionally the main academy in Blackburn and also the Everton Academy at Netherton.

At Blackburn my son received quality tuition from talented guys who built up a great rapport with the kids, taking the trouble to get to know them
personally and making each session interesting and, above all, fun. When he was eventually released, my son cried, but there was no cause for bitterness. One of the coaches let him down very gently, and encouraged him to keep working on his game. I simply shook hands with all the trainers and thanked them for their work with my lad over the last year.

Contrast this with Everton…

When the scout from Everton asked me to bring my lad to Netherton I was thrilled - if only to have a look at the set-up of my beloved Blues. I was warned by several dads from local teams that the Everton Academy had a very poor reputation. Nevertheless, I drove the 20+ miles to the training ground one Friday night as arranged only to find it all locked up. I rang the scout to query it and he explained that the session had been cancelled. By way of apology he promised to would send me some match tickets or other goodies for my son. Despite visiting the academy a further six times over the next few months, I never saw or heard from this gentleman again.

The training at Netherton was less than impressive. Every week my son was greeted by the same question - “have you been before ?” How could they know, because it seemed to be a different bloke doing the training every week ? I’ve no idea how they hoped to assess the kids and gauge progress without a degree of continuity. Most of the time it seemed to be disinterested young lads doing the coaching who seemed more suited to serving in McDonalds. If not them, it was grumpy old men who seemed to think that coaching involved shouting at the kids as loud as you could. One time there I got talking to a nice bloke who had come from North Wales to bring his son. I told him about experiencing other club’s youth training schemes and he asked me if they were as chaotic and disorganised as Everton’s was.

After a few weeks, my lad started to moan that he was finding it very boring, and asked me if he could stay at home next week. As I begrudged the 50 mile round trip for what he was gaining from it, I had to agree. We simply didn’t go again - although I am not sure the Academy will have
noticed yet.

Forgive my ramblings, but the point is that Everton could be missing out on the stars of tomorrow through the half-hearted and amateurish way in which they run the Academy. No wonder Liverpool snap up local junior blues such as Fowler and McManaman from under our noses. Presumably the likes of Red Rooney and James Vaughan have flourished in spite of the system rather than because of it. It is not just about money either. Blackburn‘s Academy is a ‘state of the art‘ complex funded, I guess, by Jack Walker’s millions, whereas Everton’s Academy consists of a few portacabins. That is not important - it is the attitude, professionalism and quality of the individuals involved which is crucial, not the facilities.

Yet again, the conduct of Everton FC screams ‘Nationwide Conference’ rather than ‘Premier League‘. Chronic mis-management seeps from the top to the very bottom, and it the fans who pay the price and feel the pain. Everyone has a sob story about how our club has let them down in one way or another - whether it be ticket arrangements, transfer fiascos, results, performances or whatever. The above is mine, and I'm not alone. I would hazard a guess that more boys of my son's age leave the Academy through loss of interest than are released for not making the grade. Maybe none of these boys will be future superstars - but just one might be, and he's lost to the club forever. Now I’ve got that off my chest I can get back to the relegation battle that lies ahead. Thank you. Culcheth Blue. (04/01/06)

Moyes Will Lead Us To Safety

It is very easy to say we must sack Moyes because results are not going our way. The question is who do we bring in to replace him. There is no one readily available. Managers that are managing will cost a compensation package & by all accounts cash is still tight at goodison.

Lets look at the facts. Last season we were quite lucky on the injury front & therefore we were able to play a settled team in a settled formation. Once we started to win games the confidence grew and when doubters said we would fall away and not finish fourth there was a desire to prove them wrong. This season we have lost key players to long term injury- namely Carsley & Van de Meyde. Once we get our players back we will pick up results a climb away from the table.

Moyes has had a bit of a disaster in the transfer market. Kroldrup has yet to prove himself but he needs time. Beattie was injured for most of last season & needs time to prove his worth. He is also more effective in a 4-4-2 system rather than 4-5-1. Arteta is a good signing but needs to be more consistent in games. Sometimes he disappears. Neville is versatile. Mcfadden & Bent should go as they are not Everton players. Moyes best signings have been Cahill & Martyn. What has happened to Lie Ti?

It's all well and good to say sack Moyes but who do we replace him with? Souness? O'Leary? another manager from the Championship?. Moyes has identified the major problem, we need a goalscorer. Are goals for column has been low since moyes came to the club. The fact that we finished fourth last season has rightly raised expectations at Everton this season but it has not gone according to plan but it's down to Kenwright to back Moyes with more cash & for Moyes to invest more wisely. If we sack Moyes now we are cutting of our nose despite are face & whoever comes in we need time to implement his style on the team.

I think Moyes is the best man for the job. There is no one available who is better so rather than calling for his head lets get behind the team and support them. We have enough quality to stay up. COTB. Chris Perez. (04/01/06)

New Stadium

Why can't we spend some of the millions put away for the new stadium, on decent players, what is the point of a new stadium with no fans to fill it, we cant even fill the one we have now. lets forget about the stadium and get everton football club back up the table with new players. J. McCumskey. (04/01/06)

EFC in general

I have watched EFC since 1954 (yes I'm an old bast**d) and during this time I have been extremely proud to watch some of the greatest footballers the world has ever produced, playing on our hallowed turf, some incidentally actually playing for the Blues, together with some very fine Managers, unfortunately I have also witnessed some absolute dross!!

Depressingly I have to admit that over the last 15 or so years, EFC has become a haven for con artist players and Managers, with a bunch of Directors who would have organised cutlery polishing as the Titanic slipped beneath the waves, the reality of the situation is, that those in charge of EFC at present, have not the slightest clue how to run, organise or indeed Manage a premier league club, simple test of this is, why did the players we allegedly bid for this year (whilst we where in the champions league) all choose clubs who finished lower that us and then re-sign a player we had just got rid of?

As to the debate on whether DM should go or stay, I'm in the camp who believe he is not good enough to Manage EFC (mind you I've thought this for the last 3 years), and before someone dives with the old chestnut "he hasn't had much money" he has had as much / more money than quite a lot Managers who are consistently above us in the league, but what DM has done, with the exception of perhaps 2/3 players, is buy players not capable of performing at a reasonable level, as the for tactics / motivation we employ are there any! All this comes from the Managers expertise, so judge for yourself.

Again last season was a perfect example for how to get it wrong, all season we had quotes from EFC about how small our squad was and how we need to build it up, so instead of worrying about CL qualification (which was embarrassing 34 points behind the champs and only 45 goals scored) last January we should have used our position to sign young hungry players who we could have played in the prem ready for this season, instead what did we get!

So where do we go, changing the Manager is only part of the problem, EFC is rotten to the core in terms of leadership and direction, we need a new Board of Directors with business acumen and access to funds, as I said earlier I have watched EFC since 1954 and in that time only us and Arsenal have consistently remained in the top flight, but unless there is a recovery of Lazarus proportions, next season will see us in the championship. Regards. Bill Thomas. (04/01/06)

Look to our history!

Where do I begin? Firstly, I do not blame Bill Kenwright for our current dilemma because more than enough transfer money, backing and freedom to make the team his has been given to Moyes. I'm 34 now and have been watching Everton for 30 years. To me, I expect Everton to play attractive football and with passion, the Everton way. I have not seen this since Joe Royle's team, Kendall's team before that, and as my older family members tell me, Cattericks team before that. Mike Walker, Walter Smith and David Moyes have failed to do things the Everton way, instead preferring do do things their way and rightly so. But that doesn't work at Everton. Catterick, Kendall and Royle did things the Everton way, and they remain to this day our most successful managers. Those three enjoyed success as players and managers at Everton were the other three cannot be called Evertonians. We currently have a chairman who bleeds blue, and I believe this club needs a manager with the same blue blood credentials as Catterick, Kendall and Royle. We need a manager who understands this club, it's footballing values, it's fans (you only understand what it's like to be an Evertonian if you are one!). We embraced Davey Moyes so warmly when he came to this club as if he were an Evertonian who understood how we do things here, but sadly, the man hasn't got this team playing football the way we like it played, and the lack of passion being displayed and the results are scandalous. There are a number of ex-players out there who would fill the managerial staffing positions with ease and competence and this is what I believe is desperately needed, not just in the short term but in the long term as well. Just to emphasize my point, if Everton go down this season, will Davey Moyes be the man to bring us back up? I doubt it!! I rather have a true blue at the helm anytime, come rain or shine. James Connolly. (04/01/06)

Get Behind Them

I'm 14 years of age and have been a season ticket holder since I was 6 with my dad. We sit in the park stand. I think the blues are lacking in confidence we need to get behind the blues more. The atmosphere has gone shit at Goodison. We need to buck are ideas up. Joey Murphy. (02/01/06)

Leave Phil Neville Out

Did anyone else notice the same thing as I did whilst watching the Derby? When Phil Neville was sent to the tunnel, Everton started to play a lot more football. Although he is a good player, I think David moyes needs to try out new tactics and this is certainly worth a try. Tim Cahill seemed to be playing like he was last season and what happens the next game, he scores! I think Tim isn't too happy with Phil for one reason or another - We should try sacrificing Phil Neville and see how Tim gets on. Jon-paul Hoey. (01/01/06)

Suicidal

I can't believe what I'm seeing at Everton lately. No tackling no passing no shooting no running off the ball no marking,all these basic skills are taught when you are at junior level. Giving the ball away in the most dangerous of areas and mostly shying away from the responsibility of wearing the Blue shirt with PRIDE. I sympathise with moyesy about the lack of cash etc but the buys he has made have not exactly set the world on fire. The tactics change every ten minutes on the pitch 442,451 then back to 352.Against the shite we managed to make crouch look good and kewell even better, no other back line has let them look like forwards all season. We are, I'm sorry to say well up the creek without a paddle and I fear shades of Man City, remember down 2 divisions. Moyesy please prove me wrong and pull it round. Wacko. (31/12/05)

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