But they hardly amount to a smoking gun and dont contradict the point I'm making now.
All of that was based on Everton actually being in some form of negotiations with Watford, which is what we were all led to believe by those "trusted" journalists like Joyce and O'Keeffe and King etc at the time - which turns out to have been untrue, as there was no such dialogue ongoing. So for Moshiri to spend so much time posturing and hoping Silva would walk / putting pressure on him to walk would walk was unacceptable - unacceptable for us at the time and certainly unacceptable for Watford.
Moshiri was not bargaining in good faith, he was offering nothing to Watford. That changes every single thing about this case. It was not a tapping up so much as an attempted mugging.
Evertonians have almost been encouraged over the years to become self-deprecating.
If something has gone wrong, usually, we'll point the finger with confidence at Everton's board.
The thing is though, this is Watford. They're an absolute circus.
Moshiri got his man, eventually.
Watford got burned in the process.
See Everton, Moyes, Man Utd. See Watford, Silva, Hull.
The games the game.
If Everton receive any worthwhile punishment, then it would be incredibly naive from the club and they deserve everything they get for lacking nous. Either that or it'll be a bit Niasse/dive punishment and "Everton that"
Everton's board don't deserve blame for getting their man though - it was refreshingly determined from the club. Something fans, including you, called for.
Watford didnt accept £10m-£12m compo out of principle, and chose to in effect sabotage their own season. When your manager wants off, you send them packing.
Koeman's position become untenable (behind the scenes at least), Unsworth couldn't hold the forte, Everton knew Silva could walk at the end of the season (Watford's break clause). Watford wouldnt accept the very decent compo offer, Allardyce brought in as a patsy until Silva become available.
Not convinced this is one to pin on Blue Heaven Holdings Limited, but that doesn't really matter. You just conjure up an argument against the consensus. If you was American you'd switch between republican and democrat depending on who was in power...