Randy Lerner

[dave.woodhall]

Everton have been strange throughout his time - permanently pleading poverty yet always able to afford top-line players. 

[gpbarr]

His tenure and outcome here mirrors his tenure and outcome with the Browns (who were a shambles too). He eventually sold them - let's hope he tires and realizes the longer he holds out, the poorer the return on his investment

[Ad@m]

Everton have been strange throughout his time - permanently pleading poverty yet always able to afford top-line players. 

It's not a great negotiation strategy to brag about how much money you've got!

In fairness to Randy, our transfer dealings have been better than most during his tenure.  Yes we've had some duds (NZog, Ireland, Beye, etc) but then every club does.  We've had lots of below par players but that's because we've spent below par money - you get what you pay for on average.  What we have seen during Randy's time is that where decent money has been paid (Bent, Benteke, Young) we've got a good return for our money - whether that's Bent keeping us up or the other two (plus Milner, Downing, etc) producing healthy profits on sale.

[Chris Harte]

...whether that's Bent keeping us up or the other two (plus Milner, Downing, etc) producing healthy profits on sale.

I'd have said Milner staying would have been worth more to us than any transfer fee. Especially when you consider that fee included Stephen fucking Ireland. We rolled over on that occasion, in stark contrast to when we dug our heals in over Barry and told Liverpool to fuck off.

[Ad@m]

...whether that's Bent keeping us up or the other two (plus Milner, Downing, etc) producing healthy profits on sale.

I'd have said Milner staying would have been worth more to us than any transfer fee. Especially when you consider that fee included Stephen fucking Ireland. We rolled over on that occasion, in stark contrast to when we dug our heals in over Barry and told Liverpool to fuck off.

Milner didn't want to stay though so we ran the risk of holding on to him and losing him at the end of his contract for nothing.  A reported fee of £28m (acknowledging the point that Ireland ended up being nigh on useless) was bloody good value for us, especially as we didn't get relegated as a result of selling him and wouldn't have increased our revenue had we kept him.

If you're going to argue the point about players being worth more had we dug our heels in, the only one to argue is Benteke.  He might just have kept us up this year.  If he had, the financial benefit would have dwarfed the transfer fee we got for him.

[Chris Harte]

If you're going to argue the point about players being worth more had we dug our heels in, the only one to argue is Benteke.  He might just have kept us up this year.  If he had, the financial benefit would have dwarfed the transfer fee we got for him.

My point wasn't so much about players being worth more, but rather that holding on to a player shows that we have the intent to build something. When we told Liverpool where to go regarding Gareth Barry it felt great, and it gave hope that we could improve. Remember that Barry definitely wanted to go at the time (remember his "It's been decided that I'm staying quote" when it was clear he'd be staying for a season?) whereas, and I could be wrong, with Milner I don't remember his wishes being so cut-and-dried.

[dave.woodhall]

The big difference between Barry and Milner was the buying club. Liverpool weren't much better than us at the time and didn't have the money for Barry. Manchester City were money no object; the sort of fees they were paying were as much about making a statement as getting the players they wanted. 

[mr underhill]

even more so now - look at that young guy from Fulham they bought at the same time as Mr Serpent. Can't think of his name but I think they paid £12m for him

[themossman]

Everton have been strange throughout his time - permanently pleading poverty yet always able to afford top-line players. 

Moyes must have some credit for that, despite the naysayers. Can't be a coincidence that a club with similar resource levels but the comparative stability of having had a good manage in charge for many years is now light years ahead of us.

[Pat McMahon]

...whether that's Bent keeping us up or the other two (plus Milner, Downing, etc) producing healthy profits on sale.

I'd have said Milner staying would have been worth more to us than any transfer fee. Especially when you consider that fee included Stephen fucking Ireland. We rolled over on that occasion, in stark contrast to when we dug our heals in over Barry and told Liverpool to fuck off.

Milner didn't want to stay though so we ran the risk of holding on to him and losing him at the end of his contract for nothing.  A reported fee of £28m (acknowledging the point that Ireland ended up being nigh on useless) was bloody good value for us, especially as we didn't get relegated as a result of selling him and wouldn't have increased our revenue had we kept him.

If you're going to argue the point about players being worth more had we dug our heels in, the only one to argue is Benteke.  He might just have kept us up this year.  If he had, the financial benefit would have dwarfed the transfer fee we got for him.

Nobody, but nobody, should have sanctioned that transfer involving Steven Ireland when we didn't have a manager. One of the most ludicrous transfers in recent years. If Milner were to be sold they should simply have insisted on cash. Eejits.

[dave.woodhall]

Everton have been strange throughout his time - permanently pleading poverty yet always able to afford top-line players. 

Moyes must have some credit for that, despite the naysayers. Can't be a coincidence that a club with similar resource levels but the comparative stability of having had a good manage in charge for many years is now light years ahead of us.

Yet they wanted him out on a regular basis.

Going back to Manchester City, I was told the other day that when they were buying Lescott, Gary Cooke reckoned"He was never worth the money, but once the manager wanted him the owners had to pay whatever the cost would be, so as not to lose face." That's what the rest of us are up against now.

[Chris Harte]

Nobody, but nobody, should have sanctioned that transfer involving Steven Ireland when we didn't have a manager. One of the most ludicrous transfers in recent years. If Milner were to be sold they should simply have insisted on cash. Eejits.

I'm a bit unclear on the timeline, but didn't Ireland arrive the day after O'Neill had flounced out? Presumably with the deal having been worked out already.

I do agree though regarding Ireland. It wasn't a transfer to inspire confidence and his performances underlined that. The whole deal was like part-exing the engine of a Rolls-Royce with that of a 1.1 Ford Fiesta and some magic beans.

[PeterWithesShin]

And yet at the time a lot on here were delighted with the transfer, saying we'd done one of the greatest deals of all time and absolutely mugged City, and Ireland was going to be a brilliant signing. Hardly anyone was saying it was crazy to complete the deal with no manager.

His welcome thread http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=39825.0

[chrisw1]

And yet at the time a lot on here were delighted with the transfer, saying we'd done one of the greatest deals of all time and absolutely mugged City, and Ireland was going to be a brilliant signing. Hardly anyone was saying it was crazy to complete the deal with no manager.

Yes that's pretty much how I remember it, maybe not quite so much enthusiasm but certainly a general feeling we'd done alright.  If we hadn't signed Ireland as we had no manager I'm sure a lot of people would have seen it as a wasted opportunity and and excuse.

[Ad@m]

And yet at the time a lot on here were delighted with the transfer, saying we'd done one of the greatest deals of all time and absolutely mugged City, and Ireland was going to be a brilliant signing. Hardly anyone was saying it was crazy to complete the deal with no manager.

Yes that's pretty much how I remember it, maybe not quite so much enthusiasm but certainly a general feeling we'd done alright.  If we hadn't signed Ireland as we had no manager I'm sure a lot of people would have seen it as a wasted opportunity and and excuse.

Exactly.  And as Chris has alluded to, for all we know MON may have done all the legwork and the Board simply followed through with the deal on the basis MON had been trusted with every other signing for the past four years.