Difficult Times But Keep The Faith

The week I welcome guest poster Mark Pendleton to the blog. He has very kindly penned an article airing his views on our financial situation and our hopes for the future.

Have we actually got it right?

Now, before I start, let me state that I too am frustrated with the lack of progress in terms of new playing staff and, in particular, a new stadium. Perhaps more concerning are the stories of more deep-rooted financial issues, issues that have put paid to past stadium schemes and even the recent Park End development.

I would also like to state that I am in full support of the manager and I believe we have a great core group of players. I also believe that we have a good man in charge of the club (few rational minds could dispute this, if they take a considered view it's only his commercial acumen they could seriously call into question).

So, why then are we being eclipsed in terms of spending by clubs widely perceived to be smaller than our own - both top-flight newcomers and more recently established Premier League clubs such as Sunderland and Stoke City?

We have an average attendance to rival many clubs in the upper echelons of the league, a bigger "brand name" than many others and a playing squad that, although thin, contains many big-name players.

So how do these other clubs, who all seem to have (or have plans for) a new stadium and who are able to invest in multi-million pound signings year on year, retain the ability to keep on spending?

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Robert Elstone commented that 9% of our corporate facilities remain unsold. Why then do we cite more corporate facilities as a need for a new stadium?

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If we look a bit closer, I think that, despite the frustration that seems to have grown via osmosis in fan groups we have many of the pieces in place (more of that in a sec). The club's debt is something I cannot disagree with in terms of the scale. It is a millstone that we must live with and we need to generate more income to reduce it if we are to live within our means and compete in the long run - rather than adding to it and being pressured into selling the family silver.

I was especially concerned recently with Robert Elstone's comments that 9% of our corporate facilities remain unsold - why then do we cite more corporate facilities as a major reason as to why we need a new stadium?

Ah yes, the pieces we have in place...

We have consistently finished highly in the league over the last few years and any player sales have not been forced on the manager. We have also managed to keep hold of a number of key players by offering them higher salaries.

The clubs we are using as benchmarks in terms of player spend have seen players come and go more readily in my opinion. They do not seem to be able to keep their best players and develop the stable playing squad with the collective attitude that has seen our team achieve a level greater than the sum of its parts.

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Our playing squad has a collective attitude that has seen the team achieve a level greater than the sum of its parts.

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This, I believe, is partly due to their club statures and partly due to the fact that they only invest sporadically in transfer fees whilst we attempt to pay better salaries. In addition, youth development is more of a priority at Everton.

We have a state of the art training ground (whether we "own" it or not) and it attracts and produces some of the country's finest young talent - as does the fact that we are a club renowned for giving young players a chance.

I am far more proud to see the Rodwells, Barkleys and Colemans at our great club than I am some foreign journeyman who we laud the signing of even though we've never heard of him, who's far past his best and who's name we can pronounce.

The players we have largely want to stay and in most cases the reason is not money. The likes of Cahill, Baines, Arteta and Jagielka wouldn't be on long-term deals at the club if it was not a great place to play football - arguably any of the afore-mentioned players could attract a higher salary elsewhere.

Yes, these are difficult times and yes, we need investment. But it's not all bad and there are many clubs with more money than us that, try as they might, simply cannot buy what we have. Keep the faith, we are born not manufactured. COYB.

In memory of my late Grandfather, John Pendleton, a lifelong Evertonian who sadly passed away on 14th August at the age of 89. He grew up watching Dixie Dean and saw the establishment of the school of science. A fantastic footballer in his day and a great man until his end. Sadly missed.

Mark Pendleton