Harsh?

[Neiler]

EVERTON do not have a chance of breaking the domination of the Premier League’s big four without significant investment, according to former striker Paul Rideout.

For a number of years the Blues have been the next best team after the group of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Rideout said the club’s lack of financial muscle would always hold them back and new money – and a new ground – was needed to change the established order.

“I don’t think Everton can break into the top four right now,” the ex-Evertonian, who scored the club’s FA Cup final winner against United in 1995, said.

“They can’t maintain the situation they have got. They are treading water right now unless they get someone in who is willing to get five or six top players.

“And they have got to be able to get more fans in. If Everton don’t get the investment they definitely won’t get into the top four.”

Despite their lack of resources he is disappointed the club have not won a major trophy since his header was enough to beat United 14 years ago.


“It does surprise me the FA Cup was the last thing Everton won considering the squad they have had over the last five or six years and how well they have done in the league,” he said.


“You expect them to maybe win one of the cups and I thought they would have won something by now.”


Shooting form the hip is Paul there! Harsh anyone?

​

 

[ToxtethBlue]

He's being realistic really, we do need investment and it would be very tough to break into the "top four" and stay there. David Moyes himself says it every season.

It's been done in the past though, hopefully we'll do it again.

 

[davek]

Fair comment isn't it? He can probably see from a distance how we are not that far off being a great club again. It's frustration at hitting the glass ceiling protectng those top four places rather than moaning I'd say.

 

[Nebbiolo]

The thing is, even if we get investement, that's not a golden ticket to the CL. Villa and Spurs have had a decent wedge thrown at them, but I don't see either of them breaking the Sky stranglehold.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

The thing is, even if we get investement, that's not a golden ticket to the CL. Villa and Spurs have had a decent wedge thrown at them, but I don't see either of them breaking the Sky stranglehold.

We have stability, good players and a manager who is very useful in the transfer market though, Moyes certainly wouldn't buy players like Sidwell, Heskey and Shorey if he was given money. He'd buy genuine quality.

To be honest with Redknapp at Spurs I think they'll end up getting it right over there, I'm not a fan of the man but he's a good manager who understands the League and has a good eye for a player.

 

[Nebbiolo]

We have stability, good players and a manager who is very useful in the transfer market though, Moyes certainly wouldn't buy players like Sidwell, Heskey and Shorey if he was given money. He'd buy genuine quality.

To be honest with Redknapp at Spurs I think they'll end up getting it right over there, I'm not a fan of the man but he's a good manager who understands the League and has a good eye for a player.

But would Moyes get it right, mate? Up until now, he's been excellent at bringing in faces for limited means and nurturing them to their full potential. Moyes has so far bought two expensive players. The first was Yak, and any idiot knew Yak was already class. The other is Fellaini, and the jury is still out on him.

 

[Whitebootman]

We seem to have reached a stable top 6 position, and we've not won any trophies recently although we have got a semi final comming up. We've qualified CL recently and I expect that if we had got a better start this season we would be seriously pushing the sky four again.

It comes down to money, the players we now need cost more than we can afford. Those of the quality that we can afford are also have ambition and will be looking for instant CL football as a first choice rather than join a team scrapping to break into that group.

We have a great team with a great manager, but we need investment to move on to the next level. Paul Rideout was not being too harsh, he's only saying what a lot of people on here have been saying for a long time.

 

[Neiler]

Key Pharses:

"“They can’t maintain the situation they have got".

“And they have got to be able to get more fans in."

“It does surprise me the FA Cup was the last thing Everton won considering the squad they have"

 

[ToxtethBlue]

But would Moyes get it right, mate? Up until now, he's been excellent at bringing in faces for limited means and nurturing them to their full potential. Moyes has so far bought two expensive players. The first was Yak, and any idiot knew Yak was already class. The other is Fellaini, and the jury is still out on him.

I honestly don’t think Fellaini was a first choice target to be honest, Moyes said that himself on Everton TV. He was on his list but he was looking at other players like Mbia and Moutinho. He couldn’t sign them so he moved to Fellaini, it was a last minute deal.

I have a feeling he would get it right, he said himself that he was only looking for higher quality of player in the summer and in a way it worked against him. Obviously It’s just a guess but I do think he’d get it right. For me personally he’s made massive strides this year, even more so than last season and you know I’ve criticised him in the past.

 

[Goat]

I agree with toccy. I think this season Moyes has taken things to another level, he has had to adapt to difficult situations and him and the players have sailed thru them. I also think a lot of credit should be given to Steve Round. He got a lot of flak at the start of the season and was blamed for our poor form, so surely he should be praised for our excellent form.

Clearly a lot of the players have also taken the up the challenges Moyes has put infront of them. Players like Neville, Hibbert are no longer fans whipping boys and both have looked different players this season. Its been lovely to see.

Im always proud to be a blue, I was proud last season when we got to the Semi of 1 cup and this season we have made the Semi of another. We have become a regular top 6 club and nobody outside the club is surprised anymore.

Long may it continue.

 

[davek]

Key Pharses:

"“They can’t maintain the situation they have got".

“And they have got to be able to get more fans in."

“It does surprise me the FA Cup was the last thing Everton won considering the squad they have"

He also says this in comparison with 95:

“I think they have a far stronger squad; they have much more pace and strength over the entire field"

I dont know about the 6 additions he thinks we need, but if we could get real quality down the flanks and a ball-winning, passing midfielder we'd be in business.

I think once the cup is out the way the club need to get down to sorting out finances and getting it to Moyes sooner rather than later as per last summer. Personally, I'd bite the bullet and boost whatever transfer warchest is available with the sale of Yobo.

 

[Goat]

He also says this in comparison with 95:

“I think they have a far stronger squad; they have much more pace and strength over the entire field"

I dont know about the 6 additions he thinks we need, but if we could get real quality down the flanks and a ball-winning, passing midfielder we'd be in business.

I think once the cup is out the way the club need to get down to sorting out finances and getting it to Moyes sooner rather than later as per last summer. Personally, I'd bite the bullet and boost whatever transfer warchest is available with the sale of Yobo.

I agree with what your saying daveyboy. But I just dont think we can afford to let Yobo go. Hes a great backup player and I think hes proven over the years his value to the team.

I admit him and Vic are the only players I wish to see leave this summer. When I say wish, I mean if we HAVE to sell to make up funds, they would be the players I would part with. Possibly Ossie as well, but only if we could replace them all with much better players.

We really cant afford to let anybody go. We are already going to lose a number of players due to contracts ending and loans.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I honestly don’t think Fellaini was a first choice target to be honest, Moyes said that himself on Everton TV. He was on his list but he was looking at other players like Mbia and Moutinho. He couldn’t sign them so he moved to Fellaini, it was a last minute deal.

Completely wrong.

Standard Liege announced in March and April that they rejected bids from Everton for Fellaini.

I agree with Rideout though.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

He mentions 6 or 7 players, are they first teamers or squad players? Here's the current squad with reserves:

Howard | Nash
Hibbert | Jacobsen
Jagielka | Yobo
Lescott |
Baines | Valente
Neville | Rodwell
Cahill | Fellaini
Arteta | Osman
Pienaar | Gosling
Yakubu | Vaughan
Saha | Anichebe

plus the likes of Jo, Castillo, VDM et al. If we're talking 6 or 7 players, who would be for the chop?

 

[davek]

I agree with what your saying daveyboy. But I just dont think we can afford to let Yobo go. Hes a great backup player and I think hes proven over the years his value to the team.

I admit him and Vic are the only players I wish to see leave this summer. When I say wish, I mean if we HAVE to sell to make up funds, they would be the players I would part with. Possibly Ossie as well, but only if we could replace them all with much better players.

We really cant afford to let anybody go. We are already going to lose a number of players due to contracts ending and loans.

I hate to sound anti-Nigerian but I'd let Victor and Yobo go. They just cant cut it in a football playing side. Vic is just one of those big lads who makes a nuisance of himself. He cant anticipate or make decisive runs. Not good enough. Yobo's name on the teamsheet is the death of football in a royal blue shirt. You can never coach the hoof out of him. It's in his DNA. Get shut of the pair of them. Moyes could reach into the Championship and pluck a couple out of there that'll more than replace them.

Harsh, but we're not running a charity and every penny counts.