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Show Us Yer Tatts

If possible could you ask Joe Murray to look at Tatts1 on your website, he posted his tattoo on the 04/01/08 and incorrectly stated that his was the only one. Mine was in Tatts 1. My lawyers are watching tell him !! Cheers mate. Darren. (30/01/08)

What A Clown

I am surprised that more of us do not get behind our neighbours across the park and support Rafa. I am amazed that more of us do not realise what a clown he is and if they get rid of him and replace him with someone who knows what they are doing, such as Mourhinio, then we will be in for lot of trouble. I recently took my son back to his digs at Liverpool Uni and some had put a sign up saying "Believe in Rafa". They seemed confused when when two obvious Evertonians were shouting out supporting there campaign. We should rally the troops and help our neighbours out. COYB. Dave Rogers. (30/01/08)

The Red, Red Echo

Many Evertonians, rightly in my view, feel that the Red Echo is well biased towards the redshite, and one of the most obvious ways that they demonstrate this is by constant references to David Moyes as “Moyes” and the fat Spanish waiter as “Rafa”. I’ve written about this on the site previously as it’s really pissed me off big time, so I decided to email the Echo - alleged voice of the city – to ask them why they do it; unsurprisingly, answer came there none. So my next ploy was to email Dave Prentice directly to get his take on the situation given the fact that he’s a fellow Blue. (You may well think that I’m a man with too much time on my hands but be honest, doesn’t this Moyes/Rafa shite piss you off too?) Anyway, if I’m honest I half expected an official Echo non-answer from Dave Prentice, however fair play to the lad I got a reply straight from the heart. I asked him if it was OK to post his reply on the site to show that at least somebody on the Echo sports team is a Blue fighting our corner and he was up for it. So you can see my original email to him below, but more importantly, his reply.

Dear Dave

This email isn't aimed at you personally, however I've emailed the Echo on previous occasions and received no reply. Since you seem a reasonable enough lad who talks and writes sense then could you throw some light on the following, please.

I know it may sound a trivial point but why is it that the Echo pages inevitably refer to the LFC manager as "Rafa" and our boy as "Moyes"? I can't remember a time when DM was ever called "Dave" or "Davie". It can't be to save space or ink, surely, as "Davie" has as many letters in as does "Moyes"; and yet our man never gets the courtesy of his first name.

Does the Echo have a specific policy about how it refers to local managers? In years gone by it was always "Kenny" and "Kendall", "Kenny" and "Harvey", and I'm old enough to remember the days of "Shanks and Catterick". A kind of pattern emerges.....

So is there any chance that you could use your influence at the Echo to put a word in for Davie ("Daffa? Well, maybe not) Moyes so that we could see our gaffer's first name in the banner headline as a matter of course, please? If you won't listen to me please do it for the wife, as she's sick of me bouncing in with the Echo each night screaming "Look! They've done it again! Why is it always ****ing Rafa and Moyes! Can't our local paper show our manager the same respect as ****ing Benitez gets!"

There we are then Dave, I rest my case, trivial though it may be. Having said that, it's amazing how trivial matters can bother footie fans, For example, the trivial matter of the Blue Boys spending more seasons in top flight football than anybody else - had Man U or Liverpool done it the fans would have lobbied Parliament to declare a bank holiday. Similarly, had either of them had a player who scored 60 league goals in a season and 37 career hat tricks then they would have insisted that he was the Second Coming - but where would you ever find such a player, it's just not possible.......

Anyway please, let's get the Echo to start using the "D" word. How hard can it be?

Best regards,

Kevin Latham

PS - my late uncle absolutely adored Dixie, so much so he always carried his picture in his top pocket (well my auntie never scored 60 in a season). One rainy night when he came out of the pub he took the picture out to show his equally drunken mate. "See this fella here, he could jump so high he could head a ball that an eagle couldn't reach", he said - at which point Dixie's photo fell out of his hand into the soaked gutter. So my uncle, devastated, lay down next to it - "If it's good enough for you Dixie, it's good enough for me!" he said to his baffled pal.


daveprentice@liverpoolecho.co.uk wrote:

Dear Kevin,

Many thanks for your mail. I'm very, very disappointed that nobody has replied to your previous mails. If you let me know which names you've mailed to I'll give them a kick up the backside.

You're not alone in bemoaning the over familiarity with Liverpool star's names in the paper, Rafa, Carra, Stevie, Momo etc. Our racing editor, Mike Torpey, is forever shouting and complaining about it. The excuse from the headline writers is that the name Rafa is unique and easily identifiable (as well as short) whereas Dave or Davey could refer to a number of people, which is why they use Moyes. It doesn't really explain the Kendall-Kenny or Shanks-Catterick abbreviations, though!

Thinking back I can't bring to mind too many Everton players or managers we've used nicknames for. Big Dunc maybe, or Jags for Jagielka.

Anyway, your mail and my rant at the individuals concerned has heightened awareness. Whether it makes any lasting difference I don't know, but I've forwarded your mail on to the Sports Editor just to keep the pot boiling. Thanks for the Dixie anecdote!

regards Dave


Good on yer Dave. And what a piss poor answer he got from the Echo sports desk, they wonder why we say they’re biased! Trivial matter? Maybe, but to me it’s about respect not only for David Moyes, but for us fans and the club. We take enough shite from the national papers and twats like Alan Green who seem to take it out on us for being in the same city as the redshite (and being here first, they always forget), so why should we take it from “our” local one, the one with the title heading in red? After all, this is the paper that put a big picture of Gerrard laaaa in fancy dress in a wheelchair on the front page. Big fucking news or what? How those people flooded out in Huyton with their furniture on the wet streets would have laughed at that wheeze! “Stevie G? Ha ha, he’s a case, isn’t he, spending thousands on that outfit while our couch is sailing down Liverpool Road. The Echo have really taken us out of ourselves with that picture! God bless them!”

If the Queen or the Pope were to be assassinated next week the Echo would probably lead with something like “Rafa buys new shoes” and the back page would be “Moyes is not Rafa, roars Kenny as Carra and Stevie G take Clattenburg out for meal”.

Maybe I am paranoid, but I’m just sick of the lack of respect for our club. We deserve better. Kevin Latham. (30/01/08)

Win A Car

Sausage! I'm getting very worried about you after that "win a car" link for the city game. And the grief you've caused me now.The misses got the credit card out straight away. C.O.y.B. Grizzler. (16/01/08)

Moyes & Newcastle

Had to write in about something that has been disturbing me, why oh why do the skunks think they are a bigger team (or for that matter a big team - just because of their fan base?) than Everton and why does the media pipe up about David Moyes being on their target list. Everton are in a better position in the league, have an honours list they will not match in 100 years (even with their Billionaire owner) and have more depth and quality to their squad - something Moyes has been influential in constructing. Moyes would (I hope) not even contemplate it. Anyway great site, keeps me entertained all week, almost as much as the RS losing! Mark Davies. (16/01/08)

Chelsea

Me and my dad went to Chelsea on a six hour coach trip there six hours back. 71 years old and still shouting from the rooftops. True blue legend. Come on the blues a week on Wednesday. Lets have a piss up at Wembley. Danny Carolan. (16/01/08)

Everton Mullets

I just wanted to say what a great site you are running. I avidly read your match reviews whether I've seen the match or not. Some of the puns are awful (the 7-1 win) but some have a great turn of phrase like when we lost to the Gunners in the Carling Cup last season with that rant about Poll. I love the little comic asides about transfer rumours and general news (the one about Lucho in the summer made me laugh out loud as did the recent one about the kid from Plymouth). I also think the tributes page is a warm touch and gives the right impression of the People's Club's best Unofficial Website.

I recently have been reading the Toffee Web site a little. Although it's very slick, it does get away from the feeling of being a proper fan who wants to celebrate good footie, the ecstasy at five o'clock on a Saturday when we win and the banter. I would never want to criticise other Toffees but they don't half whinge and debate about nothing very much on that site!!! But the real reason why I tell all my mates about Bluekipper is the mullets section which is genius. But please take Moyesy off now. He's a legend and we don't want him tarnished with the same brush as some of the others on there. Keep it up!

I had a really weird dream earlier this season that we nailed Liverpool at Wembley. It wasn't crucifixion or anything but we beat them 4-1. It happened the day before we played Wigan. I wouldn't get excited but I had a similar experience with a dream in the summer of 1994 that we beat Manure. Southern Everton Fan and keeper of the faith down 'ere! (11/01/08)

Buy Viduka

I think Everton should buy Viduka to take cover for the Yak and he would be a great replacement being of the same physique strong and bulky and quick with an eye for goal he hasn't been playing much and he should be around £5 million for us to take away this will be a bargain and buying him for that amount would be ripping Newcastle's hand off. Giordan Castellon. (11/01/08)

The Everton Collection

I think it's brilliant that the David France collection is now the possession of Evertonians everywhere. I would like to thank the Everton Collection Charitable Trust for their work in obtaining the Collection, and also David France for amassing the articles for all fans in the future.

Will the Charitable Trust now continue their good work and obtain that rich gem of our history known as Goodison Park, and save the Grand Old Lady for the fans of the future? Effjayd. (11/01/08)

Bergen On Derby Day

Just to get all the compliments out of the way nice and early I love reading the stuff you and the others put up on the site, it helps keeps me close being stuck down here as a postie in Brighton. Anyway...

During perhaps the highlight of my recent Everton life, last seasons 3-0 derby win, I happened to find myself in the beautiful but Lego land looking city of Bergen. After arriving in Norway only an hour before kick off, my rush was on to find an alehouse to sit and swear at some no doubt dodgy local coverage of the game.

However a some what stupid, as was soon proved, panic set in upon arriving in the City. The sort I only normally feel when trying to remember were the tickets are when I’m half way up the M6 on a pilgrimage. Would any of the stereotypically looking Vikings know about the game? never mind would they know where I can view it? However the sea of pink shirts that were on view the closer you reached the centre quickly reminded me that the Moyesiah's famous 'Peoples club' comment had more than one meaning.

The amount of them out there really is staggering. And they were all wearing that seasons shirt, with one early thirties fella sitting in a full kit. Which really, really sickened me. He looked more of a tit then you could imagine. However my laughter at kopites was soon replaced with the feeling of fuck this.

Looking in bar upon bar and seeing such a swarm really started to get me down as thoughts of disaster derbys accompanied with the idea of watching us against them lot with this lot for company not giving me any sense of hope. In the end I pulled myself together and settled down in some shity yank style 'sports' bar that was full of signed photos of Molby. One of which saw him in a 'snug' fitting candy era shirt that seemed ridiculously appropriate.

Anyway the game played itself out in glorious fashion and with every passing minute my love for the City grew and grew. Although to my shock, the joy of seeing so many despondent pinkies sat around me was surpassed when I stepped out from McAlehouse to see that there was a few Viking blues in Bergen too. And they really did know how to enjoy the result and devastated look upon their red shite countrymen.

So with such fantastic personal Everton memories of Bergen its going to kill me no doubt not being able to get a ticket. But if I can find the money I’ll be trying my best to get out there to enjoy its wooden villaged charms on this amazing european tour of ours. And to all fellow blues out their two pieces of advice. One it is fucking freezing. And two your pennies don't stretch well over there, they like to price their ale high to try and discourage excessive drinking, which some how I doubt will work come February 13th. All the best, and nil satis nisi optimum, jon. (11/01/08)

Praise Moyes

Being an Everton fan is like being on a roller coaster. I am old enough to remember being there when we had 13000 fans Against Coventry and the cushions being thrown onto the pitch. And also the good times winning the league against QPR and I remember going to carrow road in 87 to see us win the league. David Moyes has got us playing the best football we have played for years and putting us back were we belong. Martin. (11/01/08)

Arteta For England

England are a bit wanting at the moment doesn't Mikel Arteta qualify for the England team now he's played two years in the premiership, and not played for any other national side?? Andy Nicholson. (11/01/08)

10 Ways to improve football

1. Make the players address the referee as "Sir" like in rugby.
(I'd like to see them say "Sir" followed by.."Your a W**ker!")

2. Introduce microphones for all officials, like rugby again, so that all viewing public can hear why each decision has been given, on SkySports/Setanta/MOTD coverage.

3. Introduce a wage cap based on age, value, international caps etc.
(No player should be paid over £50,000 a year never mind a week. The money saved could go towards lowering the costs of ticket prices for the fans)

4. FA should cap ticket prices based on how the team has performed the season before, european status and stadium quality etc.
(No ticket for ANY league game should be over £25)

5. Make a law that British, not necessarily English, players should account for at least 40% of games played.

6. More BBC coverage of football, no subscriptions, contracts or adverts.

7. Give priority tickets to fans living at most 10miles from the ground so that local fans can go the match.

8. Directors salaries should be based on a percentage of what revenue they actually bring to the club each year.

9. Agents fees should be paid by the player at player discretion.
(How much corruptness and money wasting would that reduce!)

10. Players wages(information) should be made available to the public to see how much they are earning compared to how much they actually deserve.

James Melia. (11/01/08)

Blue Liver Bird

Why doesn’t Everton FC reclaim the Liver bird as part of its logo? It was part of the original EFC badge and I feel it should be reinstated. Any mileage in a campaign?? Best Wishes. Colin Kirby. (11/01/08)

Pinky & Perky were at Wembley in 1984

To hear an hilarious gaff by some i.t. department follow this link http://www.evertonfc.com/mobile/ringtones.html , select classic clips, then listen to the preview clip of the 1984 FA Cup Final. Sounds as though Pinky and Perky were not only the commentators for that day but they also made up the blue half of the crowd. Gwladys. (11/01/08)

Assistant Manager

Now that Alan Irvine has gone to a "better life" with PNE ??? ,yes i know we got Davy from them. Who do we want to replace him? Brian Kidd has been muted." why" ? Just a couple of names to throw into the pot. Could we not bring Big Duncan back into the footballing fold, before you think it I know he would not make an assistant but his experience and knowledge would be an asset to the youngsters coming through (even if its not what to do ), Gary Speed is another, he has his coaching badges at notlob, he's nearly young and must have picked something up working under Big Sam before he started fighting with Little Sammy plus he was a Blue. Last but not least Little Sammy himself, obviously he's not gonna make a manager while he has a hole in his arse, but as an assistant and training ground general he was excellent that's why England used him, Plus the added Bonus It would piss the SHITE fans right off. Keith, a Blue for 50yrs. (11/01/08)

Mark Morrey

G'day lads, greetings from down under. To get straight to the point I'm looking to get in touch with Mark Morrey, (aged about 42 or 43 ).
The name should ring a bell, his sister gave birth to a few good footballers come boxers. We worked together years ago as electricians for British Rail. (Worked???) Can you help? PS thanks for another nights great reading, has to be one of the best sites going. Thanks and best regards. Colin Thornton. NZ. (11/01/08)

Discovery

Just discovered the website. It's great & good to hear and see what's happening around the club. John Pierce. (11/01/08)

The FA

My reply from FA. A bit late but just got my email up and crawling

Dear Mr Barlow

I write in reference to your e-mail concerning the Everton vs Liverpool fixture on Saturday 20 October 2007. The Football Association receives frequent correspondence on individual refereeing decisions across all levels of football as well as on the performance of referees in general. Every supporter will have an opinion on the game’s major talking points and we’re always interested to hear them.

Tony Hibbert’s red card

Some supporters have suggested that Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard influenced the decision to send Everton’s Tony Hibbert from the field of play. All decisions on the field of play are made by the referee and regardless of the context it is not for players to influence or advise the referee on a decision. Select Group referees’ performances are assessed by the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) and appointments made accordingly (see below).

Dirk Kuyt’s challenge on Phil Neville

As supporters will be aware Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt was booked for the challenge in question. FIFA guidelines aimed at avoiding the “re-refereeing” of matches generally prevent The FA from taking disciplinary action on incidents which are seen and dealt with at the time by the match officials (this includes taking no action). As a general rule, if the match officials see an incident and have jurisdiction to take action, The FA cannot act retrospectively. These guidelines prevent The FA from upgrading/downgrading yellow and red cards based on retrospective advice provided by the match referee.

Everton FC penalty appeals

Whether a penalty is awarded or not is a decision of the referee guided by assistance from the assistant referee. They are required to make a split second decisions based on what they see. This is subsequently analysed repeatedly by slow motion cameras and panels of football experts. Ultimately, football is a tremendously popular and successful game played worldwide under the fundamental principle that ‘the referee’s decision is final’.

Refereeing has been restructured with the aim of continued improvement of the overall standard of refereeing in the professional game. This sees match officials categorised into two groups with the Select Group officiating in the Premier League.

The Select Group is the responsibility of Keith Hackett, General Manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). Premier League refereeing enquiries should be addressed to Keith Hackett, The Premier League, 30 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8PL or via info@premierleague.com.

There is a system in place for monitoring the performance of referees and referee's assistants. This involves referees assessors and reports from club managers. All assessors come from a footballing background and the majority are fully qualified referees themselves. The performances of referees over a season are then taken into consideration when the leagues appoint their referees for the following season.

Whilst we can understand the frustration that comes with decisions going against your team The FA are confident that the disciplinary procedures off the pitch as well as the referees on the pitch uphold the Laws of the Game without bias to player or club.

We do appreciate all of the feedback we receive from supporters. This feedback is collated and used to build a picture of public opinion and is subsequently fed back internally within the organisation. Please rest assured your comments will form part of this feedback process.

Kind regards, Alex Howells | Customer Relations Officer, The Football Association.

Dave Barlow. (11/01/08)

Southport Blues Flag

Can anyone help. Our club flag with 'Southport Blues' on, quite a large one, went missing at the Nuremberg game, We need this back. It's no good to anyone else. John Munro, Co-ordinator, Everton Southport Supporters Association. (11/01/08)

JJB Sports

MY MUM AND DAD WENT INTO THE JJBSPORTS SHOP ST HELENS AND THE MANAGER IS A LIVERPOOL SUPPORTER MY MUM AND DAD ASKED ABOUT ARE YOU GETTING THE NEW EVERTON SWEATSHIRTS IN AND THE ANSWER WAS YOU CAN GET THEM FROM EVERTON OR THE MAIN SHOP JJBSHOP IN LIVERPOOL MY MUM AND DAD THOUGHT IT WAS TERRIBLE JUST BECAUSE HE WAS A LIVERPOOL SUPPORTER HE DIDNT WANT TO KNOW. STEPHEN WATTERSON. TARBOCK. (11/01/08)

Jack Page

Hi – I wonder if you can help me. I believe my Great Grandfather John (Jack) Page played for Everton (very briefly) and I am wondering if anyone have football programmes with him in. To my knowledge he played in November 1913 against Spurs, and was there during 1915. he was also there in 1918-19. his brother Tom also played for Everton briefly. Any further details would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Andrew Mallett. (11/01/08)

London Marathon

Once again I am running the London Marathon to raise funds for the National Blind Children's Society. You were kind enough to publicise my webpage which generated quite a few quid for such a good cause.

I am hoping that you will once again give me some publicity, I feel sure that my fellow Evertonians will once again give generously.

To sponsor me please visit www.justgiving.com/johndowens

Cheers John Owens. (11/01/08)

Oldham Defeat

Their Manager know what he was doing. Ours Didn’t.
They could stick to a plan. We Couldn’t.
They could pass to their players. We Couldn’t.
They could keep the ball on the ground. We Couldn’t.
They could win a header. We Couldn’t.
They won. We Didn’t.
Ray Davis. (07/01/08)

Well Done Moyesy lad!

Its not the players.....Its not the Fans......Yes! its' the Manager! Well for this game! The only person to blame for the Oldham debacle is David Moyes! He should refund the entrance fee for all those loyal blues who attended!

Crap tactics again, relying on desperation in the last ten minutes! When are you getting rid of Hibbert?

Theres' a player Moyes brought from Oldham not too long ago. Scott Spencer. He could have thrown him in the side, at least he would have had the motivation to perform or is he one for the future as well?

We could have had points from the Manure game and the Arse game, that would have put level us with the shiiiiiite in the league.....once again Moyes showed inept tactics. Going Gungho at the Arse, and getting caught on the break.

We have not won anything yet, and the rest are cueing up in the league to takover in the top 6. I hope we stay up there, (especially when I have bluenote on us finishing above the red shiiiite), but Moyes has to learn to play with decent tactics against the so called top 4.

Chelsea Next week Carling cup.......4-2-3-1......Howard, Neville(rb) Lescott, Yobbs, Baines.....just in front of back 4 Carsley and Jags,,,,,Peanuts, Arteta, Cahill,....The Yak!
Tactics being Carsley and Jags stop the Chelsea midfield playing, with Tiny up and down as usual. Hit them on the break or hold out for a draw or a 1-0. Then back to our place with 2 up front! Play Arteta wide, switching wings from time to time. Its not rocket science? Mal(Trueblue) but not holdings! (05/01/08)

Dire FA CUP

Sorry for rant but why is it Everton seem to go asleep a)just before half time(ie Oldham today) or else b)just after the whistle blows for second half (ie Arsenal at Xmas). Also why did Moyes not field the optimum 11 on the field? It was an act of arrogance and we got punished for it. If we get bundled out of Carling or UEFA Cup (God forbid) today will be seen as a total wasted opportunity. I'm not in the sack Moyes brigade, I admire him but sometimes he makes silly, strategic mistakes. regards. Henry. (05/01/08)