English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Portuguese
Russian
SpanishEverton supporters are planning to step up their protests against owner Farhad Moshiri’s tenure on Saturday.
The Toffees’ 4-0 humbling against MLS side Minnesota sent a firm reminder that there are still plenty of problems at Goodison Park, manager Frank Lampard delivering a blunt appraisal regarding the shortcomings of the squad after the shock defeat.
Getty
Getty Images – Getty
The protest will take place outside Goodison Park with organisers, the 27 Campaign, disgruntled with the ‘complete mismanagement of footballing operations’ by Moshiri and the rest of the club’s board.
They are also unhappy with the club’s financial performance. Everton sold key forward Richarlison to Tottenham for £60million in June in order to help them comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. There are also concerns over how the club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will be funded.
“Saturday’s protest just became a little bit more important after the manager’s comments post-game,” the 27 Campaign said on social media.
“He is concerned massively. We all should be too. Let’s show them it’s not acceptable once again and get down to Goodison Road.”
Protests against Moshiri at the end of last season were placed on hold as fans rallied behind the team as they avoided relegation on the penultimate match of the season with a win against Crystal Palace.
However, it’s understood disillusionment will also be voiced again when Everton take on Blackpool in a friendly on Sunday.
Getty
“We had an amazing night [against Crystal Palace] and an amazing run but, as soon as that finished, I put it to bed very quickly,” said Lampard.
“So the players have to put it to bed as well, because we were in that fight for a reason. And if we don’t want to be in that situation again, they have to be better and I have to be better.”
Everton have made just one signing this summer which has been former Burnley defender James Tarkowski join on a free transfer.
They’ve been linked with many other players including Morgan Gibbs-White, Armando Broja, Maxwel Cornet and Jesse Lingard but no other additions have been made.
Lampard said after their defeat to Arsenal in Baltimore that a holding midfielder was a priority, while the loss to Minnesota – which saw Dele Alli miss an open goal inside the six yard box – suggested the need for attacking reinforcements after Richarlison’s departure.
Getty
“As a club, it [the Minnesota game] reinforced the situation in terms of what we need to do with the squad, because it has to be stronger than what we saw,” Lampard said.
“When you think of where we were last year, we have lost a big player in Richarlison. We know there is a void in forward areas, we are short in numbers there. Also, through the team, there are things I want to strengthen, and I can be honest about that, because a club like Everton has to have a competitive squad.”
Everton have responded to the need to communicate with fans by becoming the first club in the Premier League to set up a Fan Advisory Board (FAB) with independently elected representatives.
The group was borne out of a process that directly represented more than 20,000 Everton fans. It will have a direct line to senior officials at the club, including CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale, who said that feedback will be taken into account as part of the club’s decision-making.
“The club has already outlined its desire to hear where it can be further challenged; where we as supporters feel improvements can be made,” Jazz Bal, the advisory board’s chair, said.
“While we all appreciate there is a lot of work required, our collective aim as supporters is the same as the club’s — we want the best possible version of Everton — and to ensure the club returns to where it belongs, challenging for honours both domestically and in Europe.”
