02 Aug 2016 07:17:16
It feels like there's a massive divide forming on this site. On one side there's all the positive Blues who choose to have a little faith in our new management. Examples include me, BlueJohnUns and NBTB. On the other side there's the likes DegsyPulford and Oxford Toffee, scaremongering and talking of relegation and a lack of quality in the squad. Most of the other Blues are floating somewhere in the middle, concerned by the lack of transfer activity but hopeful that our new management team will sort everything out.
I enjoy the banter as much as anyone but we need to be careful that it doesn't get too heated. We are all passionate but we are not Kopites. We should not turn on each other like they so often do because at the end of the day we all love Everton, no matter how annoying other Blues can be (I'm looking at you Degsy lol)
02 Aug 2016 08:26:51
There just needs to be a bit of perspective Tommy. People these days expect, and demand, instant gratification with everything. Koeman has a big job on his hands make no mistake! That needs to start by getting the teams to play a certain way and eradicate the mistakes and poor play that have blighted us for three years. This isn't going to happen overnight and people need to remember that instead of bleating about how we haven't signed messi!
02 Aug 2016 08:49:18
I agree about the divide Blue Tommy and it does worry me too. But I have to say there are 2 sides to every arguement. You use the word scaremongering. I would use the words "real fears for my beloved club". These are my genuine fears and I would be a bad supporter if I did not voice my opinions. You then say you are looking at me regarding turning on each other. last night I say a post specifically referring to me in the "gbar" weraing a fruity tee-shirt. I have never been abusive or personal against anyone mate, but I did find that quite a personal remark and absolutely nothing to do with Everton banter. I don't even remember who put it on and viewed it with the contempt it deserved. As an Evertonian of some 48 years. one who now lives in Cornwall. yet has travelled abroad and home and away games throughout those years. I do feel I should be allowed to voice my opinions. I have never once been abusive. only voiced my real fears. yet I get accused of negativity and the likes. and then a ridiculous post about visiting "gbars". I would suggest those who criticise me should look at themselves before "casting the first stone". Chin up mate.
{Ed001's Note - hmmm yet you say you can take a joke? Seems like a joke is fine so long as you are not on the end of it.}
02 Aug 2016 09:08:12
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, Born not Manufactured. Evertonians should have OPINIONS, because we are passionate about our Club, like families we squable but at the end of the day its because we want the best for our Team . that's all it is, we all end up having a pint together regardless of our views. Respect views other than your own because somewhere there is common ground, and that is Goodison Park where we will cheer on our club, but its the right of all to seek better or ambition for the Club.
02 Aug 2016 09:31:39
I think you misunderstand my post Degsy, I was having a laugh saying that you are annoying not that the divide is your fault.
However you must accept that you (and others including myself probably) have contributed to this based on the reasons I have previously outlined to you on several occasions.
As regards the Gbar joke that someone else made. I'm not sure you realise why it was said. Apparently we are supposed to have agreed a lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with the online gambling site 'Fruity King', so we may end up with that on our shirt. So the poster made a joke ribbing you and Murf (probably as you are both regular posters) . Murf took the joke well. You did not.
I don't mean to be offensive here but I feel that I need to be a bit blunt. I understand you feel that everyone is having a go at you, but I feel that you bring it on yourself. Everybody on here appreciates that you have an opinion, but everyone has explained what you do on here that annoys them. I myself have done so. Yet you still persist. Read back on all the replies to your posts. If you can't handle the fact that the majority of people disagree with you and you can't handle the banter then maybe this site is not for you.
02 Aug 2016 09:36:19
Great post Pedro. A bit of perspective and patience is exactly what we all need. However, the new management (from the boardroom to the coaching staff) have so far given me every reason to trust them.
So despite the obvious problems with our playing squad and the hangover from the disastrous previous regime, this is the first time in my lifetime that I genuinely don't fear relegation.
02 Aug 2016 09:50:31
Well said HB, what we could do with is a shed load of positive posts to bring that feel good feeling back. I understand where Degsy and OT are coming from and to be fair all they are doing are voicing their concerns. The only thing I would say is that continuously posting negative posts will bring a negative feel to the forum, likewise continuous positive posts will lift spirits and bring that feel good factor out. You also have to remember you will read posts with an opposing view to your's with some negativity. Contrary to both Degsy and TO I believe that we will be fine. I think the new management still need time to asses certain areas of the squad and I think they will strengthen where they think they need to and we won't have a Scooby who the targets are, have been or will be. There is positive talk from the club that we will strengthen the squad. Similarly to last season both Lukaku and Stones had been sold by the media and panic ensued. The club has been progressing in a positive manor off the pitch we have new owners with a bit of cash that look to be taking the club forward out of the stagnation of the last three seasons.
02 Aug 2016 09:54:47
My god Degsy. You want to go the pub before a match and dealing with the ripping you do to each other there!
I get what you're saying though. Banter comes in all forms but if you're not comfortable with it just say so and I would expect the person would simply say sorry. I wouldn't hold a grudge mate it really isn't personal i'm sure.
I love this site because of the difference of point of view. there have been plenty of times probably a couple of times a week that I've seen a post and thought to myself "I never looked at it that way".
Personally I'm positive now because I've seen the worst. In the 90's we had a team that was so poor we really did deserve to be in the Championship. And Degsy that really was an old squad that had no goal scorers in Midfield or up front.
In Martinez I was terrified. The reason was because he wouldn't admit to his failings. Defensive mistakes were abundant in his first season don't be fooled into thinking we still had the Moyes steel. In the second and third season that continued but the confidence and belief in the manager went and that was a dangerous combination.
With Koeman he has already shown that he can adapt his team to whatever challenges there are. After successive seasons in losing his best players he adapted the team to be more successful that the previous season. That is some going. Martinez done completely the opposite.
So positive am I? Yes but I'm bloody demanding too and I want genuine improvement. As an example, I love Barkley and think he is the one player we can't do without. Before people start pointing this and that out let me finish. He makes the wrong choices sometimes, He doesn't slide tackle, he gives up chasing the ball back when he loses it and he let's things get on top of him and puts too much pressure on himself BUT he scores against anyone regardless of reputation, he gets as many assists as most midfielders of his type, he got more goals and assists that any Everton midfielder has done since 1985 last season and he could have done so much more, when he runs at people from a deeper position there isn't a player like him in the EPL and most in Europe.
Degsy and I look at goals in the team differently. Degsy points out about our lower scoring Midfield. I point out that we have scored roughly the same amount of goals over the past 30 years each year. I blame the defence for conceding goals rather than the midfield not scoring as much.
Maybe if our midfield score more goals, our attack score the same amount but our defence concedes less then we will win the league next year and me and Degsy can tell each other "I told you so".
My point is there is always two sides to every story. It's up to you how you want to see things but don't stop loving that club and don't start looking for things that aren't there. Signings will come along with a new ground and believe it or not we might win a few matches along the way. There's no need for panic, this year we're in much better hands than the last three.
02 Aug 2016 10:29:08
I just don't get the problem with the gbar? Had a few cracking nights in there myself. Banter is banter and some people can give and take and others just take offence which is fine. I have to say I am not a fence sitter I am firmly on the side of having patience whilst we make a transition from what the previous regime did. Mentioning players and managers that have gone and lack of goals etc gets boring Degsy, yes that is your opinion and we get it you don't have to remind us daily! Oxford Toffee is obviously a new poster and again is very repetitive in the criticism of a lack of signings, bearing in mind there is 4 weeks left of the transfer window. We will make signings and we will score goals. And with the youngsters in the squad I would be interested to see the average age of the squad for the coming season. I can just forsee it now we sign Ashley Williams who is 32 and Degsy will post how we have sold John Stones and replaced him with an old defender so the age has gone up again and how Moyes wouldn't have done this. as I said repetitive and predictable. Anyways let's set aside our differences and get our fruity shirts and make up on and head down the gbar for 2 for 1 on cock, sorry meant cocktails 😂.
02 Aug 2016 10:34:50
Degsy I think you totally misread that post. I know who posted it and IMHO he did not mean it at all in the way you took it up. It was just a fly away comment that meant nothing about the jerseys. Nothing to do with you really.
Of course your entitled to give your opinion as much as anyone. I think your reading into the posts too much. Chin up and stick together eh? I think you'll enjoy this season.
While I'm at it Oxford, sorry to hear about your loss. Football is fantastic but there's 2 examples of more serious and important stuff. Degsy don't let it get to you. I honesty don't think anyone was trying to be personal.
02 Aug 2016 11:42:11
Guys, gals and you inbetweeners I honestly believe you are a little harsh on Degsy, the only thing I can see wrong with his posts is that they do sometimes come across as a little condescending. Now regardless of if you agree or disagree with him he does come across with some very valid points, and the very admirable thing is he does not change his opinion.
What seems to happen when he posts is that the points he is trying to get across gets a little lost when he drags up what he has previously said days, weeks, months or years ago but that does not make his points any less valid, it only makes for poor reading.
The best way of debating anything is to have an open mind, and an understanding of what others are saying when not in agreement, unfortunately this appears to be a skill Degsy is lacking at the moment but once again it does not make his point of view less valid than anyone else's. The easiest debates in the world are between parties that agree with each other.
The "Fruity Kings" joke that has somewhat backfired was actually funny and nothing was wrong with it. Nothing was wrong with it if you knew the story behind it with the potentially new sponsors. Now put yourselves in Degsy's position, he comes onto these forums and see's his name associated with gbar and a "fruity kings" shirt he is wearing, knowing nothing regards the sponsors he see this as a personal attack, something I am sure most of us would had it happen to us. We are already dreading the stick we will get wearing "fruity kings" shirts, so we know what the initial feelings Degsy would of experienced, He took it personal, but then if we had no idea of the story behind it, and it happened to any of us then we also would of taken it personally, or at least I am man enough to admit I would of.
If you don't like the way Degsy writes his posts then don't reply to them, Just because we don't agree with how someones writes his point of view it does not give us just cause to attack them over it. If he left these forums as a result I would wager he would be missed.
Thats all I have to say on this apart from the fact, and I do mean fact, I will never wear a fruity kings shirt.
02 Aug 2016 13:09:29
Some good posts here, particularly Grumpy Toffee's made me think. Upon reflection, I can see that what I said in reply to Degsy above could have been taken the wrong way. I don't like anyone being upset.
For my part, I've told Degsy in a reply to his post that I think he offers a good counterpoint and it's good to have a different view on the site. I would be sad to see him go.
However his major problem is that he doesn't listen. The repetitive nature, condescending attitude has been flagged up by multiple users. And then he goes up and reposts something from a year ago. People have gone from debating with him in the spirit of the site (which I like to think I've always tried to do) to pretty much telling him to shut up. I don't want to see that happen to anyone, but Degsy has to take some responsibility for not considering what other people have said to him.
Not one person has said they have a problem with Degsy's actual opinions, as we all have one.
But I hope Degsy has not taken any of this to heart. It's just a banter site after all. When he's feeling better about it I think we can have a laugh about all this. Who knows, maybe 'Fruity King' will become Degsy's new nickname :)
02 Aug 2016 15:24:37
Blue Tommy I think, and I am sure Degsy will see the funny side, that the "fruity King" has now become Degsy's "cross to bear" . Deep down we will all be thinking of Degsy every time we hear "fruity king " and I would bet he will cringe every time he hears it.