Transfer deadline day
First they came for the music and I said nothing. Just started streaming for free.
Then they came for the telly and I said nothing. But carried on flicking.
Now, they’re coming for the football and… I’m furious.
Trad football clubs and fans are endangered species. The clubs are the content creators and we just scroll and shout on repeat. Shake it up, baby. Winning? That’s not the goal… nor are goals. Using and maximising every asset we’ve built off the pitch is the point for American owners in 2026.
Transfer deadline day was a bad day for Everton Football Club. Only time will tell if it was the catalyst for a disaster, but right now it was bad. And yet… the fact remains that this summer’s business wasn’t all bad. Honest! Stop scrolling and start thinking for a sec’…
Hackney is better than Tim. Nørgaard is better than another-year-older Gana Gueye. Johnson is better than McNeil. Maitland-Niles is a better than Patterson. And George and Grealish replace our maverick Skilliman. Fair dos, the jury’s out on the last one… but Ndiaye wanted to leave so what you gonna’ do?
The online reaction suggests we’re going to do it all: organise protests, snub buying minty merch from the club shop (this we can get on board with!), boycott ale and food, shout to the top. Sound. But don’t turn on those players. They’re going to need us… all of us, that is, so can we swerve the getting off on 35 and 75 minutes regardless of the score please?
We were told we had to move to contend. We moved… but we’re not contending. And with one forward and two recognised full backs at the club after the summer, the appetite to contend isn’t tangible. That’s undeniable. So, let’s ask the right questions that the board and owners can’t deny. It’s important we get the shape and tone of those questions right. Otherwise we’re just throwing the blues out with the bathwater.
And I’m sick of swimming in the stream.
We’ll be Everton Forever, remember. See you Sunday.
Words: Alan O’ Hare
