Everton focused on outgoings this month

J J Kenny
F Delph
C Tosun
Y Bolasie
M Besic

We would probably take permanent offers on Walcott, Kean and Bernard with question marks over Sigurdsson and Pickford – positions where we could do better.

Paul the Esk perhaps.

With so many close games, so many odd results and inconsistent performances, I feel a player that can add creativity, pace and goals could be the difference between 3 to 6 points and several places come the end of the season.

If we can't finance it, fair enough; if we need to sell first, then sell them for pennies as their contracts are worth millions.

As for the stadium, Covid-19 may slow down but should not stop the granting of planning permission and starting of construction this year.

Still on for a 2025 opening!

I also agree with Don: as someone who has spent most of his employment in the construction industry, I haven't got a Scooby about her incoherent statement – I'm not sure it's been rashly translated from Sanskrit. Some people need to justify their lofty positions by baffling others with bullshit.

Don, the sexist "Little Miss Dynamite" garbage is sorta years out of date, ain't it?

Regarding Don being 'sexist'. Maybe Chief Executive, Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale was just a little too long-winded? A bit like her comment.

One of our centre backs will have to be sold in the summer to accommodate Branthwaite if his loan is a roaring success, as I suspect it will be, though I'd like to see him be loaned to a Premier League team next season.

It would be very good financially for the club if we could get cash (£7M?) for both Bernard and Kenny, if Besic and Bolasie could be let go on frees now, and I think we should test the market to see if there are any nibbles from the MLS for Sigurdsson (come on Beckham!).

The club would sell Cenk Tosun if an offer north of £7M came in for him, in my opinion. We would only accept that if a replacement could be found. Otherwise if Bernard, Kenny, Besic and Bolasie went as predicted, then I think we could cope this season with perhaps just a loan winger (Lemar, anyone?) and keep the powder dry until the summer.

I agree, as others do, with Justin, that a couple of good signings could make all the difference. Unfortunately that's the case for everyone in the top 10.

Summer is a good opportunity to rebuild. Lots of unproductive players off the books. And maybe about a net spend of £60m.

Our transfer business seems to be being played much closer to the chest.

So, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see us make an unannounced signing or signings before the end of the month.

However, they are likely to be very quickly completed (like Ben Godfrey), or ones for the future - like Nkounkou.

As expected, the format of the AGM followed the predicted pattern: 'Little Miss Dynamite' doing her marketing bit, Stadium Stadium Stadium and the annual Brands wheelout.

Sorry I did use the sexist term, which Bill should have never have come out with. Though I do think Everton need a Chief Executive with football experience and I am not being sexist in saying that.

For example, Josh King seems a good option, but Bournemouth would want a fee and is it sensible to be giving a 4-year contract at £80k pw to a 28-year-old, who hasn't been injury-free, and who will only ever be a fringe player? Once the contract is signed, these types of deals can't easily be rectified if they go stale. They can hamper future progress.

In the January window, unless it really is a special opportunity, I would want us to stick to 6-month loan deals, ie, Josh King on a 6-month loan deal is a different proposition altogether.

Examples of special opportunities: Branthwaite last January; Caciedo (signed for Brighton?).

Most other teams in the prem have big squads and have very similar problems in offloading their expensive squad players.

I just hope it's a bit of smoke and mirrors from Brands. I don't expect us to sign Neymar but we need to improve quality.

What is the point of having Lewis Hamilton driving a milk float.

I think between him and Ancelotti they have decided the size of squad they want and last night he said the squad was still too big; problem for both is nobody seems the least bit interested in Bolasie or Besic.

They are rightly moving young players out on loan, so they get playing time at a good level rather than playing against lads their own age, young players will learn a lot playing in the Championship. Chelsea have done this and now our neighbours seem to be adopting this policy.

When you think the money they got for Solankie and Brewster, who hardly had any games in the first team, yet we end up practically giving away players who have had many games in the first team.

Also Ancelotti and Brands have looked at the age of our Under-23s and rightly decided some playing are never going to make it and they are just taking up places that younger players should be getting.

I don't think Ancelotti needs anyone on here to tell him we don't have a lot of options if Calvert-Lewin can't play, but I think he and Brands are looking at the long-term and maybe they think the choices in this window is not what they see for us long-term.

Also, although it looks increasingly likely Kean won't come back, until they speak to him at the end of his loan spell, they will then have a clearer picture. Also, with rumours suggesting Juventus would like to buy him as well as PSG wanting to make his move permanent, his price will increase by the summer.

Paris Saint Germain Top Scorers

Right up there with goals per minutes, but his assists, not so much...

If you saw those stats though compared with Neymar and Mbappe all playing the same quality of opposition, you'd be pretty excited if he were signing for us.

He just really didn't want to be here... :(

If true, that surely signals the end for Kean (and a tidy profit for us).

I think the squad is in a decent place when you consider the flexibility of our players. Selling the following wouldn't hurt us at all:

Bolasie
Delph
Kenny (shame, but he just isn't fancied)
Besic
Tosun

IF this dutch lad comes in, perhaps a loan for Gordon wouldn't be a bad thing?

We are clearly light on quality back-up in the full-back positions and on the wings, but if DCL is out for a prolonged period we could really struggle.

Hopeful of at least a couple of loan deals, just to bolster the squad for the 2nd half of the season... but if there aren't good options then there's no point bringing in players that won't bring new dimensions to the squad.

Or it's just paper talk to keep us amused!

Same as the Tim Cahill tweet of a photo taken back in 2010 with Sami Khedira in the picture, pure coincidence or a clue, who knows.

There has been very little activity so far in this window for most clubs but it usually ends with a flourish although the pandemic may be a hindrance. in some way but I can't see much happening anyway within the Prem.

I know what you mean, but we forget about 'unwanted' players at other clubs simply because we don't cast a critical eye on them. A quick look at our rivals shows the following players in the same position as Bolasie/Besic/etc at Finch Farm:

Arsenal: Sokratis, Ozil, Mustafi, Chambers.

Chelsea: Baba Rahman, Alonso, Drinkwater, Kepa.

Liverpool: Adrian, Shaqiri, Origi.

Leicester: Slimani (just sold), Jakupovic, Amartey.

Man City: Sandler.

Man Utd: Romero, Rojo, Lingard, Jones,

Spurs: Fernandes, Rose.

These other clubs are better at getting unwanted players out on loan though, or cancelling contracts altogether.

Loans for Simms and other youngsters on the fringes, and maybe Gordon (unsure as to whether he'll benefit more from a loan and playing, or training with the first team and the occasional 20-10 minutes off the bench - one for the coaches to decide).

Try to sell Delph, Tosun, Bernard, Kenny and other first teamers who don't offer much.

Use the wages saved for summer investment

Fully understand he’s not good enough for a starting role or regular role but with 9 subs on the bench, he would be more likely than many to come on when losing 1-0, ten minutes to go and do something out of the ordinary!

Agreed Besic, Kenny (sadly) and Delph should be the priorities to move on!

Just because Alardyce bought Tosun in January doesn't mean that brands and Ancelotti will buy mediocrity.

There have been some great buys in the January window. Teams near the bottom panic buy, there is no reason why we can't add quality if it's there.

Also, January buys customarily need time to bed in. We also have no idea if the season will continue due to the ongoing crisis. So it would be madness to sign in January, IMO. A couple of loans, maybe with options to buy would be ideal.

Our financial situation is precarious, so we need to be smart in the window.

Moshiri and the money behind him have a long-term plan - you don't spend the cash he has or break ground on a new stadium if you don't, so I don't think short-term returns are important in the way they had to be to BK. Selling DCL would be like folding on the river against a small raise when you have a half-decent hand and have bet hard all the way through.
DCL, Richarlison, Digne, Godfrey, Holgate, Keane, James Rodriguez, Allan, Doucoure and I'd even argue Pickford are going nowhere. Heck, even Iwobi is looking like a key player these days (with utility in different roles), which isn't something I ever expected to write.

In terms of realistic outs. Moise Kean will go 100% if there's a proper offer behind the gossip (that was a smart punt that didn't work out), JJK likely will also move, plus one or more of Delph, Besic, Bolasie, Tosun or Walcott IF actual offers come in toward the end of the window.

I think Gomes, Davies and Gordon could be available also if anyone came calling with reasonable offers. Bernard likewise, he's a fringe player who is great to watch at times but hasn't made the impact we'd have liked, I'm really not sure about Siggy as Ancelotti seems to rate him and want him around - it'd have to be a decent offer, which I don't think we'll get.

In terms of 'ins' it is really hard to see who's realistically available in the position we need. A striker is key but that goes for many teams and names like King and Origi are squad support that won't really improve us. If 3 or 4 go out then I think we could get 1 in, but I won't be surprised if we don't.

Like most above who have mentioned our link again with Zirkzee, I would hope there is some mileage in that, as DCL can't keep going on his own up front, especially if Tosun, who seems to have several interested, does eventually move on. I remember being excited when we were linked with him some time ago when Koeman was wrecking our Club, but he chose Bayern instead.

We are all sick to death of mediocrity. If we continue with this cycle of selling our best player to then buy potential we are never going to progress.

The 2 players you mention in Aaron's and Buendia are not going to elevate us to the next level.

If Moshiri is serious about turning us into challengers then we need to start breaking our transfer record. As I said above, what is the point of having a top manager with average players.

If Bernard does in fact move then I think it’s imperative that we bring in some creativity. Even if it is just on a loan deal.

Felipe Anderson has been mentioned. I actually think he’s a very talented player and someone Carlo could get performing.

Thinking beyond this Buendia of Norwich impressed me last season and is having a good year in the championship. Very creative player, good age and someone I think will score more goals and create more chances in a premier league side not batting relegation.

Likewise if Tosun was to be moved on I would like us to bring a player in on loan.

Hello Mike,

"Don, the sexist "Little Miss Dynamite" garbage is sorta years out of date, ain't it? "

This is the resume(CV) of Denise Baxendale-Barret summed up in one sentence before joining EFC:

"Before venturing into the third sector and world of sport, Denise spent 16 years working in education and fulfilled a variety of academic and leadership roles within Higher Education."

This is the resume(CV) of Alexander (Sasha) Ryazantsev before joining EFC, summed up in more than one sentence:

"Sasha graduated from the Russian Plekhanov University of Economics in 1995 with a BSc in Economics and Commercial Management, later working as an investment analyst at Global Natural Energy PLC, where Everton major shareholder Farhad Moshiri was CEO.

After completing his Masters in Finance from the London Business School in 2002, Sasha joined ABN AMRO Bank, where he led a team advising European consumer brands on their capital structures and corporate financing. Sasha was then invited to join the corporate financing and risk solutions team at RBS in 2007, where he was responsible for bond issues and mergers and acquisitions across Europe, Middle East and Africa. In 2016, Sasha advised Mr Moshiri on the acquisition of a significant stake in Everton and the strategy of the football club going forward."

The source for both was the EFC website.

I don't know for certain what's going on behind the scenes at EFC and there's a chance you're probably in the same postition as myself. One state of being I would be reasonably sure exists, would be that Ryazantsev makes all important decisions, he's the man who's making the new stadium happen for Moshiri and other imortant projects.

If you owned a multi Billion Dollar enterprise, of the two, who would place at the helm? I know who I would have steering the ship.

Baxendale-Barret represents BK and is there to reasure you and me that EFC is a familiy club, "The Peoples Club!". It reasures BK he hasn't lost all power and us the blue diaspora we haven't been completely sold out to a money grabbing foreign concern, just like everything else in this country.

At best, Baxendale-Barret is a PR exercise.

Mike, in this case I don't think any sarcastic overtones directed towards her are entirely out of place.

Benhrahma cost West Ham about 40. Brewster cost Sheff Utd 23.

So thinks 50 million would get the PL.top.scorer and England international. no chance.

DCL would cost 100+. And we should, if any club does come in for him, demand such. Sancho is at Dortmund as they didn't budge from the 120 price tag.

With regards Buendia, Arsenal enquired and got told £40m. Its a bit steep, overpriced, but if we could do a player swap with Norwich or part fund it with some sales it would be a great signing for us. His mate Ben Godfrey is here too so that could be a lure. Promotion is worth 100m to them so I don't think they will be entertaining it.

January windows seem total pointless. Most moves happen in the last week and it probably gets to a point where most managers think it's hardly worth it.

I would certainly say an absolute minimum £80 Million, not just because he is our player, but because of the way he has come on over the last season or so, hold up play has improved, his heading ability, his shots on goal, everything has come on leaps and bounds, for both club and Country, not many better strikers out there at the moment.

With proper service and support, I cannot think of a player we could bring in for £50 Million, who would be better than Calvert-Lewin.

I was one of the doubters a few seasons ago, but he has come on leaps and bounds, and one player we need to keep hold off.

I agree, he is worth more to us. We don't have the best track record when it comes to getting value for our players. I was definitely one who thought he was not going to be a prolific goalscorer. I thought he has always shown promise. He needs to keep developing his all-round game. Ancelotti seems to be getting the best out of him.

We need to kick on this season. Get back into the Europa League at least. Champions League qualification would be fantastic. That way, it wouldn't be hard to keep all the young, bright players we have at the club. Fighting to keep their place. I hope the days of selling young players or them seeing us as a stepping stone in their careers are over.

It's a shame Moise Kean didn't want to stay. As Ancelotti says, if he wants to go, we have to do what's best for the club and the player.

When we've had a player we didn't want to lose, we've often struggled to keep them, but generally good value has been made.

Lukaku, Stones, Fellaini, Lescott were all sold for premium fees. Only Barkley were we stitched up on, but that was due to having ran down his contract and spending half the season injured.

Where we struggle is selling our fringe players. While Man Utd and Liverpool get big fees just for them having been with them, we struggle to get more than buttons for any youngsters or reserves.

£40m in today’s money I think is something worth pursuing. Comparing it to what we spent on Cenk and Walcott etc I think it’s a gamble but a safer one. I also rate Cantwell but I’m not sure we’d need him as I don’t think he’d improve out first XI. I think Buendia definitely would.

As for Felipe Anderson. I think he would improve our first XI. He’s so much more physical than Bernard that I think this makes him the better of the two. I don’t deny that Bernard tried his best and is very gifted, but his complete lack of physical presence really undermines all his qualities in this league. Bernard is also on astronomical wages. Therefore I think it very much makes sense to let him go. And no doubt with his great attitude, he’d rather be playing games

Any players you’d like us to bring in Tone?

What we need to do now is to get those players out of the door and off the wage bill who are coming towards the end of their contracts.

If we get a decent offer for Moise Kean and Bernard, then move those two on as well, I would certainly not be happy, if we give Siggerson another contract, unless his wages were more than halved, even then I would have doubts.

The signings Carlo has brought in have had a huge impact in our team, we need Carlo to continue bringing players in.

The likes of Digne, Richarlison, Allan, Daucoure and Calvert Lewin need to be kept at all costs, some others are starting to make an impact like Kean and Godfrey.

All in all we are in a much better place and on the up.

For now though we need to get some of the hangers on, out of the door, bring in a couple of loans, then commence phase two, in the summer.

His size and lack of physical presence has been a problem for him and he needs the opposition to be sluggish or tired to be effective.

Its been a bit like Leon Osman's defects although Osman was definately stronger.

Andre Gomes at the moment is seeing the benefits of running at tired legs and I am hoping he gets near his peak fitness before 90 minutes becomes too much for him.

Age is on his side so he could get stronger and I would keep him around the team because he can have an impact if he is managed right and his confidence comes back.

If we sign a midfielder what kind do you think we need?
More attacking? Pure Defensive? All round box to box?

We certainly need something that compliments the system and the players around him.

The more the side get to grow together, the quicker and easier the football will become and a bit more quality on the ball could add small positive percentages to the players we already have.

Someone who demands the ball, looks to force players to move with passing and has the ability to get better.

We are still suffering from the long contracts our dead wood have been bleeding. Besic Sandro Tosun not even out of contract this summer.

I’d use the Moise Kean money to get someone in with searing pace and goal threat to compliment we already have. Ismaila Sarr we may be able to get for approximately the Kean money 30-40m. Sam Hoare mentions Diatta, a young Mane like forward with pace and goals could be just as good or better.

Milik can be booked in on a free now if Carlo wanted him as cover or shared role with DCL. That’s worth considering, if we can keep his wages to a reasonable level it’s good business.

I think we are in a great position now to target a couple of excellent young players who are really going to boost the first team. We may be looking at 40m for each but some money can be recouped from Moise Kean and other outgoings . I think we have been tremendous defensively so it’s these players who are going to give us a goals boost where we need to spend as big as necessary. If “special opportunities “ as Mr B calls them arise.

All 3 are out of contract in 166 days time. One is out on loan, the other two are sitting at home. The only benefit the club would get is a free transfer and wages saved. They have zero chance of taking a place from a youngster or getting on the field. We just need a bit of patience. Our benefit will be less column inches on ToffeeWeb replies from people naming a list of players they want out of the club.

Just put yourself in the position of someone like Marcel Brands. We have this player who has 24 weeks left on his contract and you can have him for free in the summer. He is not good enough to play for us but we would like you to pay money for him now.

And you have to offer him a contract on the same wage as his current contract because he won't take a salary cut for the next 24 weeks. Marcel's response? Take a running jump? Guess what people say to him when he says "The guys on ToffeeWeb want me to get rid of Besic and Bolasie now. Would you make me a counter offer?"

A lot of reports saying he is an excellent midfielder at 19 years of age.

Definitely think we could have missed out here at that price.

Agreed and well clarified.

Delph is injured, as always, Tosun has 10 goals in three years and a hefty contract, even Lõssl is on £50k a week. So unless some insane billionaire Everton fan buys these jokers for another club, then I think we are stuck with them.

Soren and Richard, agreed, I was very disappointed we didn't go in for Caicedo at that price. On the other hand, Brighton hasn't officially closed the deal yet. Maybe...

Stephen #46, I could see that too, especially in place of a 2nd keeper on the bench!

Dave #22, actually Kenwright called her by that nickname at least as far back as 2014. And Brian #35, yes, I am old enough to remember Brenda Lee too!

Tom #59, the sarcastic overtones, whether merited or not, don't need to be gender-based or endlessly repeated for years. Just my perspective.

Phil #76, amen.

I try not to be a big European club groupie but, if you are at Bayern, it is for a reason, so it spikes my interest.

Do you even think about the arguments you write before you post them?

What links those three as candidates?

The link? If I was to have a guess (and it is a guess), I think I do see them all as leaders in different ways, with Gomes being the least obvious one of the 3. Coleman clearly is a standout and many of us saw him emerging as Captain long before he was given the armband. Sigurdsson must do something behind the scenes as he is a default fall back to pull on the armband; that says something about his standing amongst the dressing room, and in fairness, you do see him get quite vocal on the pitch. With Gomes, I can only assume (and it is an assumption), Carlo sees more of the continental coach type manager in him rather than a British style one.

I can see that only Seamus would be the one seriously considering. I don't think the other 2 have the mentality or the desire to take on that level of responsibility.

Wild arse speculation, but that's my take.

It shows he does not rate Ellis Simms, but still sends Moise Kean out on loan. He also does not rate Jonjoe Kenny but still sends out Branthwaite on loan, who is the best 3rd centre back in my opinion in front of Godfrey and Holgate, who are better playing in full-back roles and could even play in midfield roles as both players are very good technically.

I guess the difference is that Norwich seems to be a one-off whereas Southampton seem to have made it their business model. Build promising team with talented individuals. Sell on (remember when Liverpool seemingly bought Southampton?), find more promising players with potential, repeat cycle.

In what way is she ‘not remotely qualified’?

‘Burning your bra next’, helpful to give me a clue of what generation of female emancipation experts you come from.

Still didn’t answer the question. On what basis do you claim ‘she is not remotely qualified’?

At this you point to some actual qualifications you would like her to have.

I'm not discussing her performance, I'm questioning the lazy stereotype that, because she is a woman, she was not qualified to be appointed.

Brian,

She has been at the club 10 years when she has been not only CEO of EitC, but Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO. Seems a pretty good CV to me.

An appointment with a hint of nepotism maybe, but ambitious people are also great at using people themselves. So let's see what the future holds, as the wind of change slowly (very slowly) takes place at Everton.

She's then held two senior roles in the management of the club before getting the job. To say she is unqualified is demonstrable guff.

Their version of Bobby Brown Shoes?

Given they have Ruddy and Dowell and previously Naismith, does he sign his own players or have a DoF as it could be considered, jokingly, that there is some sort of association.

It's a nice little club and I just hope they roll over and get their tummy tickled regarding us and Buendia. It's a dream signing for me.

If it ever happened, he had better live up to the hype; otherwise, myself and Tony Everan will be having our own Steve Ferns 'pro Marco Silva' moment! :)

If it is as a hard-hitting business person who will deliver a return on his investment, then, on the surface, it appears to me that Mrs Denise Barrett-Baxendale is most definitely not qualified for the job. Sasha Ryazantsev is there to do that.

Brands, who has a proven track record as a Director of Football, is there to drive the recruitment and development of players.

Last but by no means least, Carlo Ancelloti is there to ensure, stability and success on the pitch, and get us into Europe.

My guess is Mr Moshiri has a different expectation. I think he wants someone whose profile and personal characteristics project how he wants his football club to be perceived by the footballing world and the public in general. If so, then Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale MBE DL, EdD, MBA, BA (Hons), FRSA is a very good fit: The Merseyside Lieutenancy

Given her achievements, she appears to me to have made a difference to a lot of the little people. I hope I am right.

On what basis do you consider she is not a ‘hard-hitting business person'?

What qualifications for the job do you think she doesn't have?

Do you understand the difference between what a Chief Executive and a Chief Financial Officer do and who reports to whom in the management structure?

Do women in positions of power make you ever so slightly uncomfortable? 😉

It's shameful now, a bully would have given up after a few years but not here.

How sad is that? How does it make the club look with ridiculous rumours and cheap talk about the club's female Cheif Executive?

Shameful stuff, I thought we were football fans but there seems to be more interest in gossip and ironic dinosaur jibes.

With regards Buendia, there's a few of us on here who would be delighted to see him signed. He is the missing link of this Everton team – a tenacious young player who can bring energy, goals and assists from midfield. We need more goals from midfield to get to top four standard..

There's no danger of embarrassment; I think the fans would love his attitude and influence. At 24 years of age, a fee is sometimes not money lost, it is an investment. Liverpool were rumoured to be interested last year, probably looking for a bargain. Arsenal now interested but seemingly deterred at £40M.

If we don't get him, Mr Brands will be looking at alternatives, a young midfielder who can give us some of that. Who knows? Brands may have one of his rough diamonds lined up. The lad Caicedo sounds like he could be a real talent, but maybe they want someone little bit more advanced in experience.

He's definitely worth a look if Swansea miss out on promotion.

I wouldn't worry too much about Bill. He has recently had the comfort of tens of millions of pounds deposited into his account. That should sooth his troubled brow.

I don't worry about him, don't worry there. None of those people enter my head unless we are buying a player. None of those people mean more to me than the team.

I worry more about how small-minded our fanbase can be, obsessing with relationships off the pitch and questioning a female's credentials for what reason?

Bingo talk.

I think he annoys some people with his oleaginous manner. If you have ever met him his insincerity is blatantly obvious.

Rephrase: Don't worry about people who do when it comes to the custodians of our club.

Each to their own and all that...

I grew up always listening to reds obsessing and it was great seeing how cringey they were. The fans I was brought up by would never waste 10 minutes of their lives typing about board members and idol gossip of how they get their roles. It comes across very disturbing now and principles are starting to stink.

None of these board members matter and Moshiri runs the club his way, whether we like it or not.

Tony (102) answered that question about the job being questioned if a man was in that position; your reply to that (104) was “I'm not discussing her performance, I'm questioning the lazy stereotype that because she was a woman she wasn't qualified for the position.”

Well, she has loads of letters after her name, which impresses plenty of people. I think her best qualification is the people she knows... that works everywhere else, including top jobs in government; doesn't mean they are qualified for the job. Mister Gayling is a wonderful example.

I'm not saying Denise is anything like him. I certainly hope not, but I think she is connected to the right person which got her the job, if she gets success for Everton Football Club on the field, I will join in the applause for her.

I haven't mentioned Denise, I don't know anything about her that would make me dislike her.

Had a quick glance through the thread. Dont think anyone mentioned Kenwright until you did.

I completely agree, pal, he has everything we need to knit us together as a more formidable team. He works had up and down the pitch, can play anywhere in the 3 behind Calvert-Lewin, and can pick a pass.

One criticism levelled at him in the past is that he doesn't score enough, he's now adding goals and more assists to his game. In the first half of the Premier League last season, he had played the most passes leading to chances and the most retrieved balls, both statistics at the time where streets ahead of anyone else's, and the big boys took note. He went off the boil (together with the whole team) in the second half of the season.

He would be some player with better players around him, I'm convinced. Only other criticism is he has a temper; 'passionate play' has seen him sent off a few times. I would lick my lips at the prospect of what Carlo could make of him.

I like the look of Diatta as well, he is unlikely to track back like Buendia would.

You actually looked through the thread and only found Kenwright mentioned by me, who posted near the end?

Read the thread again – he must be spoken about 10 times before I mentioned the silly obsession.

Your obsession just made you think it was normal by refusing to acknowledge my concerns, which are clear in the above posts.

No idea where you are going there.

I actually had a quick look through the thread this morning to catch up on it.

As i said, a quick look.

You have your opinion on Kenwright, I have mine.

What role do you consider Mr Kenwright has at our club since he slotted his milliions?

Always thought Eddie Murphy was shite, but I always liked the concept of the film “Trading Places” because I believe if you give a person a chance, they might just prove everyone wrong. So without knowing the inner workings of Everton, I'd find it impossible to slag something I know very little about.

I have met the lunatic, like you asked above, and I couldn't care about him or his personality either way.

I'd rather give all my thoughts and energy to the team that matters.

Genuinely out of interest, who was she connected to that got her the job?

Because the way I understand it, she was recruited as CEO of EITC in 2010 where, correct me if I'm wrong, she did a universally acclaimed job of making that organisation a par exemplar for all sporting clubs forging relations and making a real difference in their communities.

She was then promoted into the main organisation, firstly as Chief Operating Officer and then as Deputy Chief Executive. I can only assume she did a good job in both these roles as she was then made CEO when Elstone left. This under the auspices of Moshiri who undoubtedly would have had a say in the appointment.

Doesn't sound like anything other than career progression to me. Again I'm still struggling for anyone to actually be able to point out why she is not qualified for the job or, for that matter, anything that she has done in the 18 months of her performance that might indicate that either.

No you didn't. I was referring to previous comments made in the thread, which are in fact demonstrable guff.

Like Trading Places though!

I like Holgate and Coleman still has something to offer but, with Godfrey on the right and Doucoure at right-midfield, we would have plenty of energy and athleticism to cover James.

I'm only messing, Graham!

It doesn't make me dislike the poster, just the post. Let's do what the institute was known for and sound like winners. 👍

When she got the positions at Everton Football Club, she was connected to Kenwright. Well, I don't know what she has done in the last 18 months as CEO, nor do I know how well she did in her two other positions at the club. Perhaps you could tell me how she has performed in those three jobs?

And I mean "tell me" – assuming isn't the same.

If we were to compare the know-how Liverpool can draw on, with what Denise will have learnt in the public sector and charity work, I think we can be confident as to which club will be strengthening their commercial foothold, and which will be just going through the motions...

But then, we aren't following Liverpool's model. We don't' seem to need to pay our way, we can draw upon very supportive sponsors, such as Mr Usmanov, who don't seem to care if they get value for money.

If you were wanting a figurehead that would give off a virtuous persona (helpful if you were wanting to nip criticism in the bud) and keep the fans on side, then Denise – through her excellent previous charity work with the EitC – may be exactly what you want.

Rumours?

Kings Dock
Stadium in Kirkby attached to Tesco supermarket
Bellefield
Samuelson
Etc etc

Not rumours.
All fact, and many, many more.

Team is the main thing though. I agree on that.

We all know of the mistakes and misfortunes of the past but we are supposed to be moving on to better things with the man she now works for essentially.

"Thomas, you keep missing the point. Where is the proof about Denise Barrett-Baxendale? Whether she's qualified, blah blah?"

You didn't make that point to me, Paul. We have discussed Bill Kenwright. Not Denise Barrett-Baxendale.

I'm no Paul the Esk on finances by the way, so I caveat that by it coming from someone who has a look what goes into the bank every month and leaves the rest to the wife!!

The title of this thread suggests we will be looking to offload rather than add, but then someone, somewhere has to be willing to buy.

I also remember similar messaging and sentiment in the summer but then we went and rebuilt the midfield and snuck young Godfrey in under the radar.

I watch with interest. As Kevin hints at, our owner and his mate / sponsor don't really seem to care much or scrutinise spending, they take the advice of those empowered to identify players and pick the team. Hopefully now they are being given more qualified and better thought through asks rather than the scatter gun wild spending spree we went on under Koeman and Silva. The last transfer window suggests that so long may that trend continue.

I honestly think Kenwright has jinxed us with regards to winning. His phone calls to the new arrivals is fine, it shows a good side to Everton Football Club, but I'd sooner hear it from the players themselves, rather than from the man whose romantic notion of Everton is a bit nauseating, if I'm being honest, even for a dinosaur like me.

I can only assume, given that neither of us is privy to the inner workings of the boardroom.

However, my assumption is based on the fact she's been promoted three times. You normally have to perform well in business for that to happen so I don't think it's a particularly wild leap. Of course, you could assume she's been promoted because of her supposed association with Bill Kenwright.

But again, my point was always that some posters saying she was unqualified for the role is not supported by the facts and I'm still waiting for anyone to tell me what qualifications she doesn't have. Other than for some, it would seem, a cock and balls.

The cheating is horrible in football, really horrible, but it goes both ways I’m sure, because according to Clattenberg, it seems it’s not just the players that cheat, and that’s why referees should definitely be made to tell us how they came to make certain decisions one week, but not the next?

Only two things matter. Is she good at her job? Is she the best CEO our money could buy? I don't know.

I have worked in more than one organisation where totally incompetent people have been promoted to top jobs through nepotism.

I can't personally say whether she deserves the job or not; guess we'll have to wait and see.

True, very true.
Look no further than how the Eton Bullingdon Boys club have filled the front benches for a good example of your point.
None of them have a clue

Even commentators: one week, great how the ref played on; next week, obviously a foul? You have all seen it, we all are so used to it now, it goes by without a murmur.

Everton are very near bottom when it comes to any 50/50s, how on earth has Clattenburg got away with admitting that refs are swayed by who the manager is? Discrimination, stamp it out now!

Apologies for rant or crying, just really twist my guts that this goes on still, when in general the world is very much trying to become equality for all.

Hurry up, Everton, win something soon... I am dying here. My life has become so inane that I'm bothered about which millionaire gets treated fair!

I don't know either. I know next to nothing about her or her CV.

What I do know is that she has not been responsible for allowing a football ground, deemed second only to Wembley in 1966, to become the target of sneering by other clubs fans.

Nor was she responsible for allowing two of the greatest Everton sides (1971 and 1985-87) degenerating into also-rans.

She cannot be held accountable for the building of that monstrosity of a Main Stand or the failure to ring-fence £30 million in order to build the Kings Dock.

Did she allow Alan Ball and Gary Lineker to leave for a bag of beans?

In my humble opinion, we have been a shambles from the boardroom down for 50 years.

Denise Barrett-Baxendale attracts criticism in spite. Again, I have to wonder why?

I said 'normally'. There is a saying that people get promoted until they reach the level of their incompetence.

You see what the subtext here is. How could a woman possibly become. CEO of a football team without some favours and not through her own abilities.

It's well known that there is a public school old boys network controlling football.

I never suggested a link between The Bullingdon Club and any Everton employee. I merely suggested the old boys club network has seen some front benchers in the Tory party gaining employment through who they know, not what they know.

“I tell you what” he says, “I'm going for that!”

What would your reaction be? “Yeah, why not, who's to say you can't do it?” or “Haha, you don't know the first thing about professional footy, sports or business. What contacts have you got? How many agents do you know? Don't waste your time.”

But in our case, the public sector charity worker gets the top job. And it is a top job. Imagine how many very competent commercially savvy operators would covet the role of CEO at a Premier League club? I think people are entitled to query that without blanket accusations of sexism being bandied around.

I'm still waiting

Do you not think that her zero experience of business and sports would raise a few flags before she even got to interview? Surely under normal circumstances, you would expect the person wanting to run your company to have extensive knowledge of that sector or an equivalent similar sector?

The chat between Bill and I started on the subject of jobs being awarded through nepotism. The example I followed up with was legitimate.

The above started as a result of a post suggesting our CEO got the job through "connections". I have no idea if that is accurate, I would hope not. I am a big believer in meritocracy.

She was recruited to run EitC which I've not heard anyone claim she didn't do a fantastic job.

She was then promoted to COO followed by Deputy CEO.

So, if working at the football club for 8 years, doing two senior management roles, including being the Deputy to Elstone, doesn't count as relevant experience of the sector, I can't help you.

Donald Trump gave jobs to is daughter and son in law despite them being completely unqualified. Does that further this particular debate?

‘I was just saying' seems a debating style of yours. Do you have an actual opinion on the suitability of our CEO? As they say, have one or get off the pot.

Yes, it isn't quite as black and white as I painted it. It's odd though. Within months of the EitC job, she's is COO of the club itself. How? Why? But then yes, now she's got her foot in the door, and can build up the CV. So that, when the big one comes along, she can say, “I've been working under Bob for the last 3 years” etc.

I've seen this sort of model many times in the public sector, where people are manouevred into position when their face fits but they haven't got the experience. It's the first appointment that is the key one.

How does she get to be Bob's No 2 from effectively nowhere? And this reminds me of that. You've asked for proof; I haven't got any (and if I had proof, she wouldn't be in the job). But there's something that doesn't feel right about it.

Politicians / business persons give jobs to people they know and trust (for whatever reason) shocker.

People generally surround themselves with likeminded people or people they think will buy in or execute their intent.

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with any of this debate, just surprised that people are surprised if someone has been appointed because of networking links.

And one political party is any different from any other? I doubt it very much. They all surround themselves with their allies and cronies regardless of education or background.

She worked for us for 8 years before she was appointed CEO.

"It doesn't feel quite right" is up there with "Joe Biden couldn't have won the election". Zero evidence, plenty of evidence to the contrary... but ‘feels'. That's convinced me.

And again, CEO is the pinnacle of someone's career, you'd expect a lifetime of dedication to get you there, not a curious appointment in 2010 followed by a couple of years bag-carrying for Robert Elstone.

So I think, yes, her credentials for running a top Premier League club are dubious. You can see that by comparing her with the other CEOs: see how many other public sector charity workers are running Premier League clubs? None.

It's really not rocket science. I would have thought a charities background is a pretty good fit to the EITC role. They are both involved in community engagement, using funds to make a positive difference, building a brand.

A COO role is different, it's an operational role involved with the day to day running of the club. Maybe Elstone saw something in her that convinced him she might have the abilities to fulfil the role. I've known many CEOs in fact I've been one and I can tell you you don't appoint people you don't think can do the job because guess what if they fail it reflects on you. But no she not only did the role but got promoted.

Again we can go down the conspiracy route but honestly, would we be having this conversation if it was a man? I don't remember too many discussions on the qualifications of Wyness or Elstone.

We absolutely would. You are the only one on this thread talking about sexism. Are you suggesting that Professor Barrett- Baxendale is beyond criticism because she is a woman? Now that would be sexist.

Our CEOs have been roundly criticized over the years; looks like we'd better leave this one alone.

You said she didn’t have relevant sector experience for a CEO role. I pointed to 8 years of such experience.

You said you didn’t understand how she got the EITC role. I pointed out her background was a really good fit.

You said it doesn’t feel right. I can’t help you there

Any CEO is justifiably subject to criticism.

But that’s not what this discussion is about. It’s about a variety of posters claiming she doesn’t have the relevant qualifications for the role. I’m still waiting for someone to point that out to me.

You may be right, there may be no sexism at all. But again I don’t remember any similar discussions on our previous CEOs.

I’m just wondering why

I'm staying on the pot.

Its a coping mechanism against your lack of intelligence.

Over to you on that one, Carlo (and Uncle Alisher). No pressure.

The last resort is always the ad hominem

So 7 years in the sector is not enough, but you need a whole career of experience.

You know that’s a ridiculous position right?

Evening.

That’s the best retort I’ve had. At least it made me laugh

My apologies the last resort is quoting a member of the British aristocracy and reversing through the hedge like Homer Simpson.

If you say so. For the record I was first appointed as a CEO at 38. As for that fucking Mark Zuckerberg, a proper flash in the pan

I thought you’d said evening. How to respond to that erudite barb. I’d try but it makes no fucking sense

Pah.

I had my first CEO appointment at 25

But tbf I’m telling the truth and your making it up. Keep digging mate

I was CEO of a hot dog company.
Three employees.
You?

Disappointed with Solskjaer.
Far too conservative in his approach to a game that, if he won it, would have seen them go 6 points clear of Liverpool

Me? I was a CEO three times. A convenience chain, 120 stores. Another convenience chain 64 stores and a petrol forecourt business 350 sites.

But you can quote Edward St Aubyn so there always that.

You seem to be someone who likes the final word even after you’ve said Evening.

So Evening

You got blew out at least twice then.

Tbf Graham.

You initiated the toing and froing between us back at post 154 with a frivolous offering.

Have to expect a few jolly retorts if you do that.

No worries at all, its all good fun,no offence intended.

Good evening.

Is it really a fact though. Or are you just getting your information through the MSM?

Do your own research mate, I just checked YouTube and United won 2-0 😉

It was 4 employees. I had to sack one for pissing in the onions.

Graham (199), You mean maybe they won 2-0!!

I assumed they did.

Some good posts, Graham. Your exchanges with Thomas made me laugh.

Would enjoy that mate. Thanks

Easter opening for pubs though? Hopefully they are back open.
Where do the lads and lasses meet?

He got a mention in Babs send off last week

Well I ‘feel’ they probably did. That’s good enough right?

I would guess that she would be bloody good at addressing an audience comprised of what Eugene described his mates as bitter resentful old men.

Thanks for the invitation.

Would be great to meet some of you in person.

I have run a successful business, one that was bought for AUD 6 million and sold 10 years later for AUD 135 million The original owners appointed two General Managers from within the company – I was one of them. Each of us had different skill sets but we complemented each other perfectly and we got on well.

I had four direct reports in my management team, one of them was a women and one of my first moves was to make sure she got paid the same salary as the men. She was a terrific operator.

One year after the business was sold to a multi-national company, her and I were the only people left from the original hierarchy.

If you think I was discrediting Denise Barrett-Baxendale, then you have got me completely wrong – far from it. Maybe have another look at my post.

From what I have read, she didn't have any previous experience running a commercial operation prior to her present appointment.

However, I think perhaps Farhad Moshiri has seen something different in her, which she, with her credentials, can bring to the business. If that is the case given his success in business, I am not going to question her position. Regardless of the relationship with Bill Kenwright, I certainly don't think she would have the job if he didn't think she was up to it.

What I have learned from this exchange is that I am going to stop using emojis. I don't think I am very good at it.

His answer was that the club should be sold to somebody who knew what he was doing. Bill obviously thought he'd got the answer the wrong way around and that was the end of his six-week tenure.

And where is he now, eh? Running the Football League.

Lightening and all that,eh.

Imagine the ToffeeWeb do at the Excelsior is fancy dress.

Suggestions please for what felow ToffeeWebbers should dress up as.

Good shout though.

Keep the defensive discipline up because it's effective, it's working, and it's something that suits us at the minute, but bring in a bit more pace and flair, and let's start getting right under people's skin.

Eugene Ruane as Davey Moyes... I'd pay good money to see that!

Wimpys jibbed it when I came on the scene.

Jury still out as to whether he is big fish in small pond in that he stands out at Palace but was a fish out of water at United and rather quickly went back to his comfort zone.

Not too dissimilar to Sigurdsson you could argue. Although very different players, he never quite hit it off at Tottenham, starred for Swansea, has been average for Everton in the main.

But Zaha is now older and more experienced. And he would inject a lot more pace and attacking intent.

We obviously need to build depth in the squad, but I see a very good 4-2-3-1 first 11 being moulded. A solid defensive foundation protected by Allan and Doucoure with Richarlison, James (10) and improved Iwobi supporting Calvert-Lewin. That improvement on Iwobi could be Zaha and I'd be made up if we made that move.

Thomas @232, what does 'jibbed' mean other than discarded?

I keep doing it with Marcel Sabitzer at RB Leipzig. Called it a year ago, but that one is unrealistic given he has Champion's League football already and, if he moves, I suspect it will be to someone who guarantees that immediately. I revisited when there were recent rumours of a Tottenham link.

What kind of money do you think we would have to shell out to bring Zaha in? I am liking what Iwobi is doing at the moment and the fact that (fingers crossed) he is on an upward curve and seemingly showing a little bit more consistency too (along with quite a few others).

Zaha's age is a concern for me as he could well be one serious injury away from a significant decline. From my perspective, players in their late twenties just don't recover from injuries as well as those in their early twenties, so I feel this has to be factored into the Zaha price.

I like the fact that we have brought in young players such as Mina, Holgate (retained), Keane, Iwobi, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin and that they have all improved and probably increased in value too, surely a transfer lesson to be belatedly learned in there.

I agree to a degree, Graham. It would be a lot of money to spend on a player who is effectively in his peak and I agree, Iwobi has looked really improved of late.

Maybe bringing in someone like Zaha takes the pressure off the likes of Iwobi and allows them to develop. Back to my point about adding depth. We have lots of talented young players. So surround them with more experienced and ready now ones to enable them to develop without the sole expectation on their shoulders.

Like what we done with the central midfield this last summer. All of a sudden, our hopes are not 100% on Tom Davies, but when he does come in, he is looking much improved.

Although I hate to admit it, I do feel that in many ways the game has moved on a bit since Peter Reid's day. I am sure you will agree, the game today is quicker and speed is more of a requirement (nowadays) to reach the very top which obviously is where we all want Everton to go and get back to.

Peter was a terrific player for us, no argument on that one, but I do recall him being injured and coming back into the side and really struggling at one point for at least six games and Howard basically was continuing to pick him on reputation and past performances alone; thankfully, HK gambled successfully and he (Reid) soon returned to form.

I am guessing he was 28 or 29 at the time, which I think underlines my earlier point: the vast majority of players struggle with injuries in their late twenties and struggle to recover as quickly and sometimes never recover previous heights of form.

Without wishing to upset Christy Ring, I do not think Seamus has (broadly) been the same player after his injury; it was the same with Yakubu, same with Baines after his ankle trouble, same with Jagielka in 2009... good, but never quite as good.

As Danny rightly pointed out, Zaha (given the price and age of the player) is quite a risk to take. I think Reidy cost us £60,000 if memory serves; if only Zaha would cost us that amount!

Would fill that left side of MF for us.

After the comments Brands made, I doubt we'll sign anyone and I'm guessing FFP has a part to play in that plus our recent track record in January. However this feels like our opportunity to break into Europe and I believe the other teams will vastly improve as the season goes on and we need reinforcements badly at the minute.

A loan to buy for Zirkee is a risk but one I'd take if the €10M is correct but the lad I'd break the bank for is Leon Bailey. Whilst we're in the mix for Europe, we can attract better quality players. If we miss the boat and end up 8th or 9th, we won't be able to rely on Ancelotti's reputation forever.

Zaha is Premier League proven but I've always been unsure about him. I do get the Sigurdsson vibe with him a bit. Saying that, he adds pace and a goal threat and the one thing we're lacking seriously at the minute is a winger who can run at defenders with pace!

For me dressing up is for children, if I was to take on the role of David Moyes you'd get a LOT more than just a West Ham trackie and a narked expression.

You'd get the man, you'd get...David Moyes!

I've always been a fan of 'the method', specifically Stanislavski’s approach to acting which was to encourage actors to draw from personal experiences and memories in order to garner real emotions, and to connect with the characters.

If I was to take on the role of Moyes it'd take months, I'd need to live an breath the part.

To immerse myself in the ethos of presbyterian minge-baggery and narrow mindedness.

To study 'the guid book' and and practice moderation and abstinence.

I'd have to practice pursing my lips and getting his expressions spot on.

"Never a borrower or a lender be"

"A penny saved is a penny earned!?"

"Many a mickle makes a muckle!"

"You stay awa fae that Zaha boy Lauren!!"

I don't like to blow my own trumpet (not with my back) but I wasn't known as Huyton's Brando for nothing.

"Barman...STELLAAAA!!!!"

Brilliant!

Memory fades but I seem to recall one on Lime Street, near to where Smoky Mo's was?

Deffo one in Williamson Square. Think the dole bought them out.

Any chance I could go as your Steve Round? I can sit there expressionless for hours muttering occasionally into a headset with the best of them.

Pay their wages every month, but don't have them anywhere near the training facilities, training and using all the amenities as though they are still part of the club. They are not, they are bums taking everything they can and giving nothing whatsoever back in return.

Bad publicity for the clubs, some might say. Do they deserve to be treated any better I would ask?

Word is Tommy Steele will play Steve Round (using the de-ageing technique used in 'The Irishman') and Keith Gillespie will play Alan Irvine.

Scorcese will direct

(nb: not Martin Scorcese btw, Smogger Scorcese, a feller who used make hard-core Frankie Vaughn vids with his good lady and then go pub-to-pub flogging them around Netherley).

Final instalment due the day we win the league, he said.

This makes him a very unlikely signing. Especially in January.

There are plenty of alternatives at much better value. Especially in summer.

He grew up in Thornton Heath. He is a Palace boy through & through. Man Utd took a punt and got their fingers burned. £50+M for a slight upgrade on Bernard? No thanks.

Lastest rumour, nudge-nudge, wink-wink, is he a goer? Is that Al Nasr in Dubai want our midget gem. They are preparing a £10M offer. Who makes this shit up? They must be sitting in a bed-sit somewhere with a sellotape repaired laptop and a crack pipe.

Players have contracts, agreed by the club and the player/agent. It's always a risk; the fee, the salary, the length of contract, the featured clauses, the bonuses, the restrictions, any participation in future transfer fees, a buy-out figure. Sometimes players end up being restricted by the terms of a contract, and sometimes a club is held to ransom; it's just the way it goes.

Bolasie and Besic are just two of a number of players who are currently on contracts that are more lucrative than anything they would be offered elsewhere.

Money is an important motivator for footballer – especially towards the end of their careers when their future earning potential is about to plummet significantly – and they are entitled to receive their salary until the end of their contract provided they do not fall foul of the terms within it.

I was talking to a London-based Premier League footballer a while back – who had lost his place in the first team. I asked him if he would be looking to move, and he said that he was on the best contract of his career, was still in his country's national side, and he would rather stay put even though the manager and club were encouraging him to move on elsewhere. His chief loyalty was to his family, not the bottom line of his football club.

Double bubble if they are kopite eskimos!

Bolasie was bitching previously that he was excluded from the Covid security bubble(s) at Finch Farm and could not go there, so they may well in fact be left to their own devices. Seems such an astounding waste of both money and talent but Andrew is on the money with that story. But I guess it all goes back to Bosman.

Next time you see Brian, ask him to tell you the tale of the away trip to Nottingham (think it was County). A night game.

All the lads in the back of a van, stayed on the ale in Nottingham, and the locals took offence to how the lads were holding court. Turned out to be an eventful evening.

Truly funny story mate.

I find it kinda sad.

'Cause the dreams in which you're dying are the best you've ever had?

Seems we are paying these people a very significant wage to literally go off and do their own thing.

I get that they have contracts and that the club played their part in granting those contracts but very frustrating and shows how bad and scattergun our business has been, particularly in the last couple of years.

Only way to get them out is a loan where we end up paying the majority of the weekly wage.

Or sell them and make up the shortfall in wages by giving them a portion of the transfer fee.

I understand transfers ingoing and outgoing can sometimes go horribly wrong, just look at the Arsenal scenario with Mesut Ozil, which only finally looks like being resolved this week.

Of all the clubs looking to avoid this situation, it should have been our own club Everton.

After finally being able to operate without the financial constraints of the last 20 years, we screwed up big time.

I'm sorry but one person has been involved in all the day to day negotiations since he took over the reins of the club, good old Uncle Bill.

12 months into Martinez's contract with us, Bill not only extended it, but improved the terms as well. Can you imagine Daniel Levy at Spurs doing the same? We paid the guy and his staff several million when he left.

The same applies to player's contracts. Bill prides himself as being a shrewd negotiator, why then offer Besic a minimum 5-year deal, why would you do that on a largely unknown player.

It's sheer madness.

Paul 'The Esk' today launched an article giving extensive details of the commercial make-up of the recognised top four Premiership clubs.

Bill recently got really prickly when a shareholder had the cheek to question him whether the business background credentials of our CEO was what the club needed to operate in the 21st century.

He said the club was 'revered' in the whole of the clubs in the Premier League, and the CEO was the best in the division, Really? The man is a romantic full of delusion, living in 'Bill' land.

I'm sorry, his recruitment stinks of nepotism and he's scared stiff of upsetting the status quo he surrounds himself with.

Why on earth wouldn't you look on a global basis for the best CEO around, most companies with a turnover of circa £200m would surely.

I urge you, if you get the time to read his article and the make-up of our competitor's board members, and ask yourselves have we got the board we deserve.

The 'famous four' have got it all too cosy I'm afraid and aren't really accountable to nobody but themselves.

Change has to happen at the top.

With all due respect I know they are fully entitled to every penny they get due to the contract they have negotiated, what I was suggesting if they don't move when there is a club who want to give them another contract then say fair enough, you can have your wages just stay away from the club completely and sort there own training out, which will cost them and not Everton.

Let's be honest, Andrew, both Besic and Bolasie could have moved without them losing a penny on the wages they are entitled to from Everton, the new club pays a % and Everton make up the shortfall, they didn't want that, they were prepared to sit here and just collect the money.

Is that not effectively what Arsenal have done with Ozil? Paid his wages out, which had led to him moving to another club and them being rid?

You could argue lose-lose, but like you say it gets them and the stigma around them away from the club.

We don't win as we still pay the contract, but we get rid regardless of them sitting on the nest egg for several months or finally deciding to get their agent's off their arse to find something else for them.

Stick up an article about that night plus your Ballybofey trip. Remove names to protect the innocent and spill the beans.

I guess you were in Belfast during dark days. It is oh so civilized now. Let me know if you, or indeed any ToffeeWebber, are ever coming here.

Only if I am allowed to redact the article. :-)

Tell you the stories over a pint at the Excelsior mate.
They are always better spoken than read.

Think it was 1977 of the top of my head.

Personally, I would love a get together over a drink with so many of the contributors here, imagine Jay W, Eugene, Andy C, Darren, Dave A & Tony A, all getting legless trying to get one over each other, the put-downs and one-liners only matched by good-natured sarcastic barbs.

Of course, you would need Michael and Lyndon on the top of the table as referees and agent provocateurs, throw in Tony Marsh and Doddy at the interval and it would be reminiscent of a Ken Dodd show at the Royal Court! It would never end and the bar owner would just put the keys on the bar and say "Lock up when you're done!"

I wonder if that's what a Blue Heaven is like? Someday, somewhere it's got to happen..

The board set the vision, direction, and employ an operational officer they want, to ensure the day-to-day running of the club. It's the CEO role to enact the wishes of the board and create a management team who will deliver those objectives.

No brainer really, but EFC is not a public company; the board can select who they want, who they know, who they can work with. There is little external shareholder scrutiny or questioning to be done.

Frankly, in a private company, most people not involved with the running of the club – in this case, the supporters – would never know who, how or why any employee was employed, nor the quality of individuals' performance, other than the clubs commercial performance, the profile of the club, it's marketing etc..

Like most things in life, it pays to ask the basis of criticism before questioning the credibility of the incumbent.

He took some stick over it but what foresight he had to go and do it, while no-one at the club had the sense to do it.

More light-hearted and in line with the banter you have enjoyed, I note you give yourself a "mention in dispatches", which can also be referred to as a mention in despatches. A military recognition for gallant or meritorious action in the face of enemy action.

I doth my cap. Respect!!

As you know, a very shrewd man, Brian. Heart of gold to go with that. Doesn't understand the meaning of the word "No".

A fine man and a fine Blue.

Balancing the books will satisfy the shareholders but most fans want to see success or at least a team that can compete most weeks. Everton seem to be getting there with the occasional blip but it may take longer than we would hope for an acceptable finished article. They, understandably need to shed some players who are not rated any longer and that may not happen this month.

The progress on defence has been quite good and the likes of Mina, Holgate, Keane, Digne and Godfrey (not to mention Branthwaite) really sets us up nicely for next season.

Calvert-Lewin has really improved but those around him need to show some more consistency. The midfield is still a conundrum no matter what combination you prefer but that may become clearer if Gbamin gets fully fit.

Whilst it is unlikely they will finish top (given how Man City can play) they could get a top 4 finish if that consistency set's in.

It would be nice to get another class act into midfield by the end of the window but I won't be disappointed if they don't.

But securing a player or manager to a long, lucrative contract is also a good guard against that player or manager being targeted by other clubs. All clubs look to keep their most prized assets under long-term contracts, but as soon as a player suffers a dip in form, or a bad injury, what once seemed like a good bit of business can suddenly feel like several years of throwing money into a pit.

Dave (280),

I was under the impression that Bolasie was keen to work his way back into the first-team picture, and I thought his showings in pre-season suggested that he still has something to offer.

Ultimately those at the top of the club decided that he was surplus to requirements, and the decision not to register Bolasie (or Besic) for this season made his exit seem imminent. I didn't really see it as Bolasie doing much wrong, but I do not know the ins and outs of it – but I doubt it made Bolasie keen to leave on any terms that were less than he would receive by staying put.

I also think that Middlesbrough were keen to take him on, and late pressure was put on Everton and/or Bolasie to take an increased financial hit in order to secure the transfer. In these uncertain times that Covid has provided, it makes it very hard to offload unwanted players on decent terms.

Thank you for the comment, although I note my auto spell check (US) put dispatches instead of despatches... small but erroneous stuff up by me I am afraid! Nothing gallant at this end, although ToffeeWeb can be a series of scuffles, it can be mere bruising to one's inflated ego!

I agree they should have been put on gardening leave and left to their own devices. They obviously don't want to play football and they can't be skint.

Besic, has taken the piss, could and should have been out the door years ago, so you wonder how men like this will react to having “to go and play the game“ for £20 grand a month, when they are probably getting £150 grand a month to do nothing?

Players aren't stupid, the closer it got to the transfer window opening up, the quieter Bolasie has become. He could have maybe lost a little bit of money but put himself in the shop window, or maybe he's gambling on making a bit more money for himself once he becomes a free agent?

Niasse is still looking for a club, and I wonder if it's because he won't get out of bed for £20 grand a month, or he can't get fixed up because of Covid-19?

Interesting point about Besic, why on earth did Kenwright sign off a 5-year deal on a relatively unknown player at that time? Also, I seriously question the mentality of a player who effectively has 'downed tools' until the end of his current contract.

Maybe I'm old school, but what has happened to the hunger and desire he must have shown in his early years? We keep hearing from players that they 'just want to play football'.

Crazy times we live in.

At least if he doesn’t go in January he will in June or July when his contract finishes, he was unlucky with the bad injury he got and that finished his career effectively, certainly with Everton.