17 Apr 2022 06:33:09
Most clubs have had periods of problems/ underperforming. Utd have been in turmoil on and off since Ferguson retired, Arsenal since Wenger went, Spurs have had their patches, Liverpool during the Hodgson days, etc. However, they all continued performing near the top half of the league. Why do our troubles end up with us in relegation battles?

Since the 80s, what has gone wrong for us? It’s a big question, but how come everyone else seems to have better bad times? We were a damn good club with a top team 30-40 years ago. How have we slipped so much? Even during our last good patch (Mouse’s era) we were considered to be punching well above our weight.

1.) 17 Apr 2022
17 Apr 2022 09:30:46
I could give my opinion on the root cause but don't wish to open that can. Irrespective of survival or not this Season, I reckon not long now before major change at board level.

{Ed025's Note - let’s hope so mate..

2.) 17 Apr 2022
17 Apr 2022 11:14:03
OK, some mitigating factors before I stick the boot in and then I want to give a warning.

Firstly, some perspective, it could have been worse -Leeds, Blackburn, Forest, Villa etc. There's a bias in comparing ourselves with only the most successsful clubs which loses perspective. I can remember us being compared unfavourably to no end of teams - Sunderland, Bolton, Stoke, Wigan, Middlesborough, Sheffield United. Swansea etc. because they seemed to be going places with young managers with new ideas, new stadia etc. They all enjoyed their place in the sun for a bit only to drop down while we've held on and that is an achevement in itself.

Secondly because of the ban on English clubs in Europe when we were at our peak we were'nt able to hold onto Kendall or take advantage of our position to establish ourselvse as a European force. Bad timing in other words.

Thirdly there were 2 forces in English football that dominated everything for years - Ferguson and Wenger which corresponded to the new era of the Prem. Everyone else struggled to keep up with them.

Fourthly - the new money that came into Everton has corresponded with the introduction of Financial Fair Play rules which have effectively pulled up the darwbridge so the likes of Chelsea and City have befitted from new money in a way that is harder for others.

Saying all that, we have spent very badly and made some really bad decisions with respect to managers and players. (Although I would argue that getting Ancelotti was a real coup, it didn't work out in the end but I can't criticise getting him) . But Benitez? I still can't quite believe we appointed him. Why wren't we persung Ten Haag for example after Ancelotti?

A big problem was how we misused Brands. There's people on here that blame him for our poor signings but his have actually been pretty good (eg Grey was nailed on before Benitez came) and he did well moving on some of the more costly ones made before he came like Walcott. He wasn't listened to when it came to appointing managers - it's clear he didn't want agent Rafa and there have been poor signings that he had nothing to do with.

Then there was the era of 3 number 10s!

Then there's the fact that we've fallen fol of FFP. Whatever you think oof FFP, it's there so you have to take it into account and it seems we kind of didn't.

OK, so here's the warning.

Be careful with what you wish for with respect to a new owner if the rumours about Moshiri wanting to sell are true.

Look at Burnley and Man Utd where the new owners have bought the club with its own money, loading them down with debt. Instead of passionate owners like Leicester City you have investors looking for a financial return and that is hard baked into the ownership model. Man Utd fans are still protesting about it at games and blame it for their lack of direction since Ferguson left.

3.) 17 Apr 2022
17 Apr 2022 11:36:26
I put it down to arrogance.
We were the Mersey Millionaires until the Moores dynasty moved to Anfield.
We did not recognise the dangers from this or other competition generally.
Commercially we have proved continually inept and have not seen the opportunities that our rivals have.
Scouting wise we missed a generation of Everton supporting talented youngsters because Liverpool had a better network.
From an insider I hear that promotions within departments are not, or have not been, based on professional ability but on how long you have been there.
Our CEO may be brilliant at working within the community but does not have a football or even commercial background. A successful football club can support community projects indefinitely but it does not work the other way around.
We build a club shop that you can only access on the ground floor.
Until recently, if you wanted your name on your shirt you had to queue for the “chip shop van” in all weathers outside.
Can you imagine the big clubs (which we used to be! )
Allowing that to happen?
Until we drop this “we are Everton” attitude with no commercial justification we will go nowhere.

4.) 17 Apr 2022
17 Apr 2022 11:39:58
Its all down to Ken&Co all idiots, ? No idea how to run a club.

5.) 17 Apr 2022
17 Apr 2022 14:47:39
Bunnyman I agree with all you say but why have Liverpool managed to come out of the European ban and the Wenger and Ferguson years unscathed and now look in a better position
As a club we have been miss managed for years considering the position we was in when we last won the league.

6.) 19 Apr 2022
19 Apr 2022 17:02:42
I can answer that for you skylark, they are in a better position because they had plenty of money to buy the best and had no ffp to block them, f you look at the time the Premier league started, a couple of seasons later, our club changed hands to two different owners, neither with a huge wealth, for over 20 years we have been on a sell to buy basis, sell a star player, bring in a few elsewhere, repeat process.

When we finally found a wealthy owner, the others had already built big squads, guaranteed more revenue with Champions league sponsorship, tv and regular prize money for qualification, the draw bridge was raised and any team out of the elite had ffp to contend with with ties the also rans hands, they cannot go out and spend like the elite, the elite have more money to spend due to success in the Champs league.

The new rules they are bringing out in regards to revenue spending etc, will be the nail in the coffin, for clubs outside the top 6.

The extra huge revenue these top clubs get guarenteed, will allow them to spend more money than the also rans, football on a level footing as we know it is dead, we could have been in that elite, had bill not took over 20 years to find a wealthy investor, we missed the boat big time, and now the drawbridge has been pulled up, with Everton on the outside with no hope in hell of getting in.