Thank you, Walter

So - Walter Smith has retired.
Rangers fans will rightly laud him as a manager who has brought many trophies [17?] to their Club over the years. Indeed, there are many who feel that Walter's achievements over the last three years have saved the Club from financial extinction.

We Evertonians also have much to thank this remarkable man for.

When he was Everton Manager, he was able to bring in many players on big fees and good wages, thanks to the largesse of then chairman and owner Peter Johnson. Johnson, according to local legend, borrowed 20 million pounds for squad development with a bank loan secured against shares in his company which provided hampers at Christmas, and Smith brought in players such as Marco Materazzi, Olivier D'Acourt, John Collins in an attempt to elevate the Club's position. Alas, things went badly tits up for Mr Johnson - he took his eyes off the Company Ball back in Hamper-land, the shares crashed and the bank explained to him that he did not have enough collateral in his shareholdings to cover the loan. Something had to be done, and fast.
So, without the knowledge of the manager - Walter Smith - Johnson negotiated the sale of Goodison icon Duncan Ferguson to Newcastle United, to claw back some of the debt. Eventually, Collins, D'Acourt and Materazzi went too.
The Club was in financial turmoil.
The fans wanted Bill Kenwright to take over, but Johnson was holding out for big money - initially over 70 million. Kenwright did not have anything like that sort of cash. Everton was in limbo.
Shorn of many players, without any finance to develop the squad, Walter kept on going and somehow managed to keep the Club in the top flight.
Eventually, Bill Kenwright took over the Club, but with just enough to buy Johnson's shares he didn't have the wherewithall to bring in massive signings. Walter carried on manfully with little resource available to him, but eventually he lost his job.
Bill Kenwright said at the time that this was the most difficult decision he had ever had to make, and rightly praised Walter for his role in saving Everton.

So - thank you, Walter Smith. You won no trophies as Everton manager, but you kept our great old Club where it belongs - in the top flight of English football.

Enjoy your retirement - and come down and see us some time.

Flo-rida

Having been here in Florida for several days, I have to say that [despite my initial misgivings] I kinda like the place. The service in bars and restaurants has the same cloying "have a nice day" shite that you expect in the USA, but in most cases they REALLY MEAN IT.
They are just nice people. Mostly from central America or Cuba, the staff in the restaurants and bars are intelligent, multi-lingual folk who like what they do.
Compare that to the average barmaid in Liverpool, whose first greeting might be, "What do you want?"
We have attended the wedding of two pals [which is why we're here] and just hung out with friends so far, but tomorrow we are off to Universal Studios - might be a knackering experience.......

Arsene - You've totally lost the plot

Now, much as it grieves me that Liverpool managed a late penalty equaliser in the 75th minute of added time at the weekend, I had to grimace at the childish, petulant response of Arsene Wenger at the end of the game. When Dalglish moved towards Wenger [presumably to offer a handshake etc] he was greeted by a shower of invective [I read that in the Times once].
Dalglish, correctly, changed his manner and told the mad Frog to eff off.

When someone earning potloads of money, and expected to set the correct example to his players as well, behaves in such an uncivilised manner, then there is only one response.

Oy!
Arsene!
We saved your Country, freed you from the Hun, and gave you De Gaulle!
[Well, two out of three ain't bad...]
Show some respect to the intinerant Jock!

Wise words indeed..from http://thelawwestofealingbroadway.blogspot.com/

The High Court has ruled about the so-called 'kettling' of demonstrators. There will be an appeal, we hear, but let's get back to first principles:-

I have no problem with the police restraining parts of crowds to protect officers, civilians, and property.
Any interference with the public's freedom needs to be necessary and proportionate.
It also needs to be imposed for the shortest possible time.
What appears to have outraged many people was the prolonged containment of so many, including well behaved bystanders, for hours, while refusing appeals from the unwell, the elderly, and even those desperate to use a lavatory.
The appeal will proceed. If the judgment is upheld, the civil claims will pour in to the Met.
Common sense is more British, and is also a lot cheaper than bungled confrontation

Angry boy is now nice boy

Ah............Wayne Rooney scored a fine goal for Manchester
United against Chelsea last night, and was all smiles afterwards - no swearing into the lens this time!
Jolly good show, old bean.

And his 2 match ban has been confirmed by the Premier League. After which, Rooney has now told the press that he is being victimised - lots of players swear during the game, so why me?

Listen, son.

A bit of agricultural language happens during the cut and thrust of the match. However, after scoring, if you dash towards a TV camera lens and give it loads right in front of the watching nation, then that's a bit different.

You are a successful millionaire with a beautiful wife and fantastic life.

So all this anger doesn't wash with us ordinary folk who have to work hard for a living with much less reward than you.

Don't you understand that we are not stupid?

Get a grip, count your blessings and chill.

Plonker.

Shooting yerself in the [left] foot?

Emailed this morning from Everton FC on their mailing list, and the headline was - find out who wants to bid for Leighton Baines. The link is into the Daily Mail piece alleging that Arsene Wenger is preparing a ten million pound bid for Baines this summer, as his current left back won't sign a new deal......

Now, the Daily Mail can speculate about this stuff as much as they like [they often get it totally wrong, but that's by the bye] but why on Earth does Everton FC want to add publicity for this highly speculative bit of nonsense - on match day as well?

The half wit who made this decision must be blessed with the judgement of retarded fruit fly.

Apropos of today's game, there is a bit of breeze but it is sunny and bright here on Merseyside. Villa won't be after parking the bus across their penalty box, so I expect a few goals - at both ends. Hoping for a win for the Blues, but most importantly that the luncheon is satisfactory in the hospitality area.

Champagne at 12.15 - hurrah!

Stat of the week

Everton have not beaten Aston Villa for nine matches, apparently.
Bets for tomorrow?

Everton to win, Tony Hibbert to score.

Collect you winnings Monday morning. Thousands of pounds.