I’d like to think my record speaks for itself. Most of the articles I’ve had published on Toffeeweb have been positive, feel good pieces. And I’ve written them from the heart.
For once though, the air of positivity has faded away and the mindless optimism has been beaten to a pulp by the big stick of reality.
There is no leadership at the club. No accountability. I remember feeling this depressed during the summer in which we sold Rooney (but we went on to have our greatest season in years). I also felt like this the day Duncan Ferguson was sold. It’s a horrible, gut wrenching feeling, that the club you love, and would do anything for, is being run by morons.
What the hell is going on at Goodison? Once again, a season of fantastic achievements is followed by a summer of complete ineptitude. We all expected (nay, demanded) that following our 5th place finish, which was astonishing, that the club would keep the momentum going. We hoped for one or two signings before the European Championship, and then a few more at the end. So that by the time pre-season rolled around, we’d have a large, unified squad to kick on for the new season.
But no, no, no, no, no. The squad shrinks and we lose our most influential midfielder, Lee Carsley. Fair enough, Wessels, Gravesen, and (much as it hurts me to say) Manny Fernandes, all looked out of place last year, and neither seemed good enough to stay on. And maybe injuries to Cahill and Vaughan could be papered over. But after losing McFadden and then Andy Johnson, our squad looks pathetic.
I mean, compared to any other top Premiership team we look like a bunch of amateurs. But when Spurs, Aston Villa and even bloody Fulham make significant improvements to their squads it just adds to our woes. We are so far behind every other club and there is no excuse for it. None whatsoever. So who is to blame?
Lets look at the evidence....
David Moyes has hardly said a word all summer. He makes sound bites about expecting goals from Arteta, but that’s it. No confirmation that the contract is signed, no photo’s of him next to the latest new signing, holding the Everton scarf aloft. His silence speaks volumes and it has spread fear throughout the whole fan base. Fair enough, we come to expect silence from the boardroom when things aren’t going well, but Moyes never ducks a punch. He is honest and straightforward, but this summer he’s been in hiding.
Bill Kenwright. Ah, poor pauper Bill. He was honest enough to admit that he needs to find a Billionaire Evertonian to keep the club going, but even I have lost patience with him. I’m not expecting him to pull £50m out of his wallet, but I do expect the money from Sky, the money for our 5th place Premiership finish, and the money from the sale of Johnson to be made available. What the hell is the money, Bill???
Keith Wyness. I will never need to sing “who ate all the pies” ever again. It was bloody Keith Wyness, that’s who. A supposedly astute businessman, who put all his eggs in the Destination Kirkby basket, then sodded off at the first sign of a problem. His absence will not be mourned.
Robert Earl & Phillip Green. Both of whom seem to be advising Kenwright without providing any financial clout. This situation has probably done more than anything else to cause the confusion around the club. Who does David Moyes turn to when he needs money to sign someone?? God only knows.
It’s been a complete shambles, and the club has become an embarrassment, when we were just on the verge of greatness. Last season was amazing – a Semi final, a long and entertaining run in Europe, and confirmation of our place as the “best of the rest” in the Premiership. Now we go into the opening game of the season with 10 (TEN) available senior players.
But we’ll all be there on Saturday, because that’s what we do. And the club know that. In fact, they’re counting on it. Shame on all of us.
