FanchesterCity

Aren't those the traits of mid-table teams though? They show some great promise, then put in a lousy performance the week after. Inconsistency probably sums it up best. Surely, it's the loss of quality players that is taking its toll. This is my theory about Everton fans... they see the great performances and think that's the 'Everton default' (which in the past would be true). That's because you have a top team mentality. Sadly, it seems like you're a mid-table quality team at the moment, and that's the part that's hard for Everton fans to accept (not all, but many). Those great performances aren't the norm any more, they are the exception. You're not a bad team, and you're not a top team.... which pretty much spells it out. I know that sounds patronising... but how DO you say "you look very mid table to me' when you're talking about Everton. It will ALWAYS sound patronising. I just think it's true too :-( I only say this cos I've watched REAL crap for years!... you're far from that, but that top 6 quality you've traditionally had simply isn't there. There's no magic rabbit to pull out of the hat for Mr Moyes this time.

At what point IS it Moyes fault? Fans can't heap the praise on him for the good and exempt him from blame when it's bad. He's the man at the top when all is said and done. I do have a lot of sympathy when players aren't putting in a shift, and it clearly happens now and then, but eventually, all things fall at Moyes' door. For me, I think Everton fans (understandably) are still on 'top 6-8' mode, when the reality is putting them in a mid table 'win some, lose some' season. The truth is (in my opinion) Everton simply can't keep letting quality players go and expecting to bring in cheap replacements season after season with it eventually catching up on you. It's catching up on you. You've scrimped and saved for years, which in part, is admirable (though why a big club like Everton should have to is the subject of other threads). but it can't go on. Everton are 2-3 quality players away from being a fine team, BUT, that can be said for many other teams too. Everton are not a traditional mid-table team, and that's why most of the fans are poor at judging the state of play when faced with the prospect. If you're prepared to accept that fate - it's not too bad. But if you want Everton back where they should be, you're in for upset (until Moyes is given some money).

Football is all about ups and downs... it's a City 'up' at the moment, it will pass in time. It's not like it happens too often, so we're just enjoying the ride. Regarding the younger element of fans... well, yes, they are young, and their team is winning. This is what happens with young kids. Be it Liverpool, United, Everton, City... you're a fool if you think one set of fans will behave differently than the next. The down side of City winning anything will be the inevitable smugness that United have had for years, and to a lesser extent (in recent years) Liverpool. We've won nowt yet (other than a cup) but for us, it's progress after watching crap for donkeys years. As for 'small club'? Do a BIT of research at least. City's gates across our entire history are neck and neck with Everton.... but that's not really the point. Does it matter who is 'big' and who is 'small'? Nottingham Forest were never the size of City or Everton, but they providing some amazing football in their day. A little respect for fellow fans would make the football world a lot better than 'our fans are special, other fans are morons'. As for the money? Yep, having money doesn't guarantee a thing, but it HELPS significantly. Once upon a time, Everton were the moneybags. Admittedly it's a long time ago, but money's always been a significant factor in a club's success. I don't like it. I don't agree with it, but it's how it is, always has been, and always will be. City were a proud club with proud fans run by morons who made a total shambles of our finances over the years. Some of those morons were serious fans of the club, but they still made a mess of it. We got LUCKY with a rich sugar daddy. Everton are going down the same path - making a bit of a mess of the finances (for many reasons). No fault of the fans, and doesn't make Everton a bad club. Just badly run (arguably). Now you're seeking investment too. It's still a sugar daddy even if they don't have quite as much sugar. The whole game is a mess, and decent fans at United, City, Everton and more are seeing 'the game' being taken over by 'investors', and TV Money. Right now, it's suiting City and hurting Everton... in the long run it will hurt all clubs. City just happen to (currently) have first class tickets on the Titanic. It's not going to matter in the long run. And, finally Everton were one of the teams that wanted to keep the TV money for themselves and set up a breakaway league (prior to the Prem), so let's not point fingers about the countless cockups ALL clubs have made and shafted the fans in the process. Everton are a fantastic club with a proud history. So are Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Accrington Stanley.

This season's Prem is throwing up strange results galore - Everton aren't exempt. I know a few aren't happy with general performances and so this result just adds to the growing list of 'examples', but surely you just have to accept it's a strange one, and an example of sod's law... play well against some decent teams then slip up against the lesser ones. Welcome to the club of 'didn't see that coming' results. Everton are a far better team than Bolton. Just one of those nights. Tomorrow's another day, and let's hope you can turn Spurs over. Unlikely on paper, but you're capable of doing it!! Come on Everton!

Constipated? I don't bite. Stop trying.

Distin by a county mile.

Credit has to go to Moyes for making the necessary changes. Although I'd not say it the work of a genius, more the fact he had the balls to go for it. For me, that made the difference. West Brom failed to do the same.

Don't be daft! not many could see that coming. And a defensive mistake lead to the goal. It had 0-0 all over it. But a win is a win.

A fortunate result, but as the saying goes... you win some, you lose some. Well done Everton!

Well well Get in!

Very hard to tell when you're defending! Looks like it might be 451 !! (or at least 44 1 1)

Well done Moyes.... at least looking to change things a bit

Distin's having a cracking game. Ideally, a defender should never HAVE to have a cracking game though!

It's as if you've been defensively minded for so long, you've forgotten what it's like to be creative. Wouldn't mind, but Everton have played much better than this recently. They just don't look up for it.

ha!... THE City ;-) You're a bogey team! and always seem to play well against us. I fancy you'll beat us at Goodison soon.

West Brom appear to go forward with a bit more width than Everton. But still, these hopeless balls into the box with 5 Everton lads defending is more in hope than anything! Too many aimless mid-long balls from Everton - almost like they lack patience.

Typical xmas period game.... a bit subdued. I think yesterday's games were a real exception to the rule. Neither team want to lose, and neither confident enough to go all out attack. Both teams are giving the ball away in a Sunday League fashion (bit harsh, but illustrates a point).

It's clear that the panel see Suarez's taunts as a means to wind up Evra. Much like you MIGHT say "I don't touch scouse birds" etc.... when in fact, it's far from the truth, just a taunt. They make it clear that when someone says "I don't talk to blacks" it doesn't necessarily make them a racist. It makes them a foolish man saying something rash in the heat of the moment. In Suarez's case, to provoke. Suarez's whole argument, as I predicted earlier fell down on context. You CAN argue the use the his words as 'acceptable' in some cultures and contexts, but in the midst of an argument, it's very hard to see beyond them being used as a jibe. I think they've reached a fair conclusions and given the right ban. I can't agree with every single finding, but that's to be expected. On balance, a job well done.

Happy new year all! Hope it's a bit better than the last year for you, on and off the pitch. Hopefully, you can start to make that happen today. Fulham 1 : 2 Everton The very best of luck!

In 2012, Everton will beat City

Norwich weren't bad are City Newcastle always bring a lot and quite lively. United has to be discounted (for City) simply because it's a derby so not a normal away presence. Everton usually bring a fair few, but I think the recent mood at Everton has dampened your ardour. Arsenal this year exhibited some nastiness crossing paths with City fans outside the ground - unusual for Arsenal Yep, I'd have to say best away support so far was Norwich (but it was Blackpool last year, and I think it's a new team phenomenon).

There is NOTHING stopping Bill selling his shares. IF there is any reasonable prospect of a buyer, they are obliged to make that known IF there is a 'rumour' about a buyer (even if incorrect) and it results in an atypical change in share price, they are obliged to make the truth known. As I said though, if someone buys Bill's shares, they are buying into an 'unknown'. They need the cooperation of the board to get full access to the state of the business and do due diligence (so called 'friendly' takeover). Otherwise it's hostile and the board don't have to show them anything.... leaving it up to the potential buyer to rely on public information alone. What I suspect is the problem, is that the club is worth less than they've paid for their shares, or not far off, meaning the shareholders will effectively lose money. If it's not that, then it's simply greed. The BEST result for Everton, IF the shareholders want that (above their own benefit) is to sell at the lowest price that covers their costs and thus 'hope' the saving made by the buyer get invested back into the club. IF the shareholders would like to make some money from this too, then there's a reasonable chance that will mean less money available for Everton afterwards. OR the shareholders are hoping they'll make a swift buck, AND whatever the new owners were going to invest in the club afterwards will still be invested (it just cost them more to buy). The latter two options are arguably putting their own needs ahead of Everton. If BK's true to his word and only wants what he put in, and the other shareholders are of a similar mind, then the club is in a real state with no prospect of a buyer, since they are effectively saying "cost price come and buy us" if THAT isn't attractive to a buyer (and there's every chance it isn't) then there's a huge issue somewhere... undisclosed debt? or clauses that affect the future?.... just as an instance.... say Everton owe 50 million, and there are agreements to play that back over 5 years, BUT if they fail to pay it back, then it rises to 60 million (or similar). You'd not see that little 'issue' until you did due diligence and then realise the catch.

If anybody acquires 30% they are obliged to make an offer for them all, that includes two shareholders buying 15% each if they are believed to be acting 'in concert' i.e. together for all intents and purposes. Also, Everton are obliged to disclose to the shareholders any reasonable prospect of an interested party i.e. someone who's interested. This is a tricky area, because of course, you have to be able to discount complete timewasters, BUT, by definition, since Everton (to my limited knowledge) have never announced any such prospect, any 'interest' BK talks about is of a negligible nature.

I believe he can act alone, sort of.... The problem with a hostile takeover, where a buyer accumulates shares 'on the sly' or picking off the shares one by one is that they won't get to see the full picture of the club and carry out due diligence, which would be one hell of a risk with Everton (in fact, it's a risk with any club, to say the least). With a friendly takeover, they'll get to see the real deal about Everton. Sadly, in a typical hostile takeover, the board will say "no, we aren't selling" and therefore the buyer will go directly to each and every shareholder and ask them directly if they'd like to sell (which they are at liberty to do). In the case of Everton, the board ARE the major shareholders, so if the board unanimously says no, there's nowhere left for the buyer to go. However, it only takes one board member (or more technically, major shareholder) to not agree with this, and they can decide to sell their shares to the buyer, and those give the buyer a foothold into the company. If the percentage of shares 'grabbed' is large enough... they can start influencing the boardroom and slowly break it apart (otherwise, they'll be ostracised themselves and unable to influence much at all)

I actually like Liverpool as a club, but at the moment, they are failing to see what others are seeing in Suarez. He's an irritant. If that's part of his game, fine.... Bellamy's one... Cahill is one... nothing wrong with it, but at LEAST acknowledge that's part of their game. The blind 'everybody's out to get him' card is rubbish. Not sure about the supporters, I think you might be slightly biased ;-) you probably have in-built Liverpool fan detection and notice them phoning in more! We all like a good moan, and they've had a lot going on at their place to voice opinion on.