Spurs match: betting update, training ground punch-up, and Victor [on Liverpool] tomorrow.

Betting.

The previously published betting available on P2P betting exchange, Betfair, is updated as shown below:

Match betting.
Everton to win: Back at 2.5, Lay at 2.52
Spurs to win: Back at 3.3, Lay at 3.35
The draw: Back at 3.3, Lay at 3.35

Over/Under 2.5 Goals.
Under 2.5 Goals: Back at 1.76, Lay at 1.77
Over 2.5 Goals: Back at 2.28, Lay at 2.32

To win the League.
Everton: Back at 500, Lay at 700
Spurs: Back at 240, Lay at 420

To be relegated.
Everton: Back at 22, Lay at 26
Spurs: Back at 38, Lay at 55

To win the League [incl. Handicap].
Everton [+46.5 pts.]: Back at 3.9, Lay at 4
Spurs [+40.5 pts.]: Back at 6.2, Lay at 6.4

To win the Carling Cup.
Everton: Back at 21, Lay at 26
Spurs: Back at 14, Lay at 15.5

Why is it always Liverpool? I don't believe it!

Victor's back in town for the triple header of the Bluecoat's English Bone China Fair, the cardigan sale at BHS and for the Spurs match. Tomorrow, the absolutey livid Mr Meldrew will, in an article entitled, 'Liverpool, the Capital of Blame Culture' issue his latest 'Sunday Roasting.' This week, he will concentrate on the bumbling behemoths, the dithering, parochial blunderers that are the movers and shakers of Liverpool. According to Victor, they appear hell-bent on letting project after project slip and slide into oblivion. Recently, we have seen the shameful demise of the 'King's Dock,' then the '4th [Dis]Grace.' Next, the replacement 'King's Dock,' the 'MerseyTram' and the 'Paradise St.' projects are thought to be turning into fiascos.

Now, now boys.

Bent and Grav. are supposed to have had a scrap and [on the same page] we're also being linked by the Beeb to Scott Parker.

Share matter a little clearer, Spurs without Kanoute, which striker[s] would you like to see in January?

When Saturday comes.

Another poll has just been uploaded entitled [for any film buffs out there], 'Post Wayne, The Shootist?' This one concerns strikers that may be available come January. Please select the one that you'd most like to see, or e-mail with any alternative suggestion[s].

Some Spurs fans have obviously took some time-out from calling the radio 'phone-ins, to partake in the match Prediction Poll as the Spurs selection has taken a hammering!

The likely Manager of the Month will tonight be contemplating the fact that we could go into 2nd place if we beat Spurs tomorrow. The in-form Osman's return shall be a tangible boost.

More EFC v Spurs [who are seriously lacking in international class] previews here, here, here [not sure about the term 'red hot' though] and here.

Spotted on Bluekipper.

Anybody who travels to Goodison by car leaving from London and wants someone to share the travel costs . I'm your man ! Michael MCGUIRK. (02/10/04) [michael@mcguirk65.fsnet.co.uk]

Apparently, Michael's favourite films are Duel and The Hitcher Only joking Michael, I hope you get a result!

Colin Wilkes' 'Shares' article.

Further to publication of Colin Wilkes' e-mail about FSF and shares, a couple of responses have been forthcoming, they make things clearer and may be viewed here and [an edited version of] another response is included below [Colin let me have a copy of this very helpful e-mail reply that he received, the author's name has been respectfully omitted in order to protect his privacy, but you can be assured that it wasn't Bill Kenwright nor Paul Gregg]:

"... From what I have understood, the intention is that new shares will be created, and these are what FSF will buy, rather than them buying half of the existing. These new shares will be created over 2 separate issues.
I think it goes a bit like this:
- There are, say, 35,000 Everton shares now.
- TBH's approx 25,000 shares will be divided up to TBH's shareholders
in proportion to how much of TBH they each own.
- TBH is then dissolved.
- Over the 2 separate new share issues, approximately 35,000 new
Everton shares will be created.
- At the end of the 2 issues, there will then be a total of 70,000
Everton shares (35,000 existing + 35,000 new).
- FSF will invest say £30m (over the 2 issues) to buy these new shares
and take ownership of about 50% of Everton
- This values Everton as it currently stands with 35,000 shares at
£30m, or about £857 per share
- After FSF has bought 35,000 shares, Everton will be worth approx
£60m in total (£30m existing and £30m new investment)
- With Everton being worth £60m and being made up from 70,000 shares,
the shares are valued about £857 per share.
Now the interesting bit... take a look at this article.
If you look at the year 2000, you will see that True Blue paid £857 per share to buy them from Johnson, which is basically exactly the same price as new shares are being issues to FSF (see above)...
So, they paid £857 per share to buy from Johnson, and at the end of the new £30m investment, the shares will still be worth £857 per share. True Blue will not have made a loss on their investment..."

Finally, if any of you night owls fancy a smirk, I received these from the BBC's Newsnight.

New Dictionary definitions of the some commonly-used words.

Divorce : Future tense of marriage.

Compromise : The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.

Office : A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

Etc. : A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.

Committee : Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

Experience : The name men give to their mistakes.

Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead.

Father : A banker provided by nature.

Criminal : A guy no different from the rest....except that he got caught.

Boss : Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

Politician : One who shakes your hand before elections and your confidence after.

Shares what Shares

'Shares, what Shares?'

By regular viewer and contributer, Colin Wilkes

Along with the select few from Toffeeweb/blog, Bluekipper, SFTH [also on ITV Teletext, p508], WSAG and NSNO, Colin's articles just have to be read. This one in partcular looks invaluable, it clearly sets out his calculations and assessment with regards to what may well prove to be the latest, in a series of tricks, involving smoke and mirrors...

----------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 29-09-04

Oh how my head hurts. Do you ever get a real bad headache when there's something just not quite right in what you are being told and what you read? And you just can't put your finger on exactly what it is that's so problematic. Well for me these are becoming ever more frequent. There is a direct correlation with the bungling, embarrassment and sh/te I read from Kenwright and the intensity of my headaches. This latest bout not only has my head aching but its also spinning and swirling around like it would after 8 pints of Stella and 2 hours on the Waltzer at Blackpool. Yes I am also throwing up. So what is it, tell us now, don't hold us in suspense etc is what I can hear you all saying.

Well ok its not the fact that the rest of the world has caught on to what we already were aware of "only £30 million " todays Daily Mirror "He's an absolute bargain" that Scots fella what's 'is name? Neither is it the fact that Kenwright somehow managed to confuse the media with his impression that the war chest is £30 million.

The source of this present bad head is trying to work out how the influx of funds from Fortress Sports (FSF) is to be paid for. In shares obviously but from where are these shares coming. Is there to be a rights issue or will they be shares from the defunct True Blue Holdings (TBH). There has been nothing said regarding this whatsoever.

The financial input from FSF, Kenwright informs us will be in two trenches (tranches). The first for circa £12 million and the second will take the total up to £28 to £29 million. We are here and now looking for near as damn it £30 million in shares. If there is to be no new rights issue then the one and only place these shares can come from is TBH.

To progress and for clarity we need here I think to look at the share holding in EFC

In total there are 35,000 shares in EFC True Blue hold almost 25,000

Shares in EFC
Sir Philip Carter 721 Shares
Bill Kenwright 556 Shares
Keith Tamlin 119 Shares
Arthur Abercromby 105 Shares
John Woods 216 Shares
Lord Grantchester 2773 shares (7.9%)
Others 5,500 roughly
TBH 25,000

True Blue holdings

Name quantity % value
Kenwright 7,228,359 32.8% £7,025,482
Abercromby 1,613,978 7.3% £1,568,679
Woods, J 5,648,922 25.6% £5,490,375
Gregg, P 3,331,891 15.1% £3,238,376
Gregg, A 3,592,716 16.3% £3,491,880
Gregg, D 257,331 1.2% £250,109
Russell Willy 255,824 1.2% £250,000
Mulville Jimmy 102,330 0.7% £100,000

Totals 22031351 100.3% £21,414,901

This is roughly what true blue is (figures rounded up have created the odd .3%)

FSF are to get 50% of 35000 shares for £30million 50%= 17500 but the only realistic place these shares can come from without a new issue is TBH
TBH hold 25000
so less 17500 to FSF
= 7500 balance for TBH
so TBH will be selling 17500 shares for £30 million appx
so £30,000,000 divide by 17500=£1715appx per share
£1715 X 35,000 shares values EFC @ £60,000,000
TBH figures now look like this
7500 shares @ £1715 = £12,862,500 plus £30,000,000 = £42,862,500
this gives TBH a £20,000,000 profit

Yes TBH won't exist I use it here as a collective tool for the ex members of TBH

So as I say this is the way of the world unless there's a new rights issue.

Hang on I think we have been here before about four years ago as I recall.

Do I need to go any further?

Oh yes forgot supporters shareholding. Shares what Shares.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Regular viewer and contributer, Colin Wilkes

Rooney - the 'Who's foolin' who?' poll result, Spurs betting and other odds and sods [including Liverpool's main 'Culture' project's 'progress'].

'Who's foolin who?' [now closed].

Now that he has well and truly popped his cherry and his first Manc. ear-ring is surely imminent, it is time to draw yet another line under proceedings by closing the 'Who's foolin' who?' poll. You may recall that the question related to what you, the viewers, considered the main reason behind Rooney's departure to be. The most surprising result for me, was the very high score for the Heysel effect [the 3rd most common factor cited by the 257 respondents], most famously described by then Daily Express' Martin Samuel [taken here from the ESCLA [Everton Supporters Club London Area] site and as featured in the Toffeeweb archives also].

Anyway, here are the results in full:

"Who's foolin' who? What made Wayne Rooney leave?"

1] He wanted to go, to better himself, nobody forced him. He feels that he's outgrown Everton already. 30% 78

2] The [skint and desperate] board lied and cleverly created the situation, forcing his hand. 9% 24

3] The board sold him against their own will and Rooney's admissions at today's press conference were lies, to protect the club. 2% 6

4] Proactive/ Formation [the agent] were the main protagonist. 22% 57

5] The media [red tops etc] used their power and influence to convince everybody that the move just had to occur. 2% 4

6] He was tapped-up by players whilst on international duty. 9% 22

7] His Ma and Da told him what to do; after all he's only a kid. 1% 3

8] Girl power: Colleen told him to leave his old haunts/ways or she'd be leaving him. 4% 10

9] Sh/t happens - to my mind, no single reason stands out as the primary one. 9% 23

10] UEFA - the club was castrated by the 'Heysel ban' and are doomed to dwell in the shallows, having missed our once-in-a-lifetime big chance. 12% 30

[257 votes total]

Norf Laaaaaaahndaan's also-rans.

The latest relevant betting markets available on P2P betting exchange, Betfair are pitched as follows.

Match betting.
Everton to win: Back at 2.48, Lay at 2.58
Spurs to win: Back at 3.05, Lay at 3.25
The draw: Back at 3.3, Lay at 3.4

To win the League.
Everton: Back at 510, Lay at 740
Spurs: Back at 320, Lay at 360[!]

To be relegated.
Everton: Back at 23, Lay at 30
Spurs: Back at 40, Lay at 160

To win the League [incl. Handicap].
Everton [+46.5 pts.]: Back at 4, Lay at 4.2
Spurs [+40.5 pts.]: Back at 6, Lay at 6.2

To win the Carling Cup.
Everton: Back at 22, Lay at 26
Spurs: Back at 14.5, Lay at 15.5

Odds and sods.

Customer Service.
How about this for customer service from NT[hel]L?

Blame Culture 2008.
OK so we all know that the 4th Grace site may be set to be a car park throughout 2008, but did you know that the skittles are still wobbling? See here how the Culture of Capitalism's winner's chalice seems to contain a brew too potent for the city's movers and shakers to imbibe, whilst being able to continue to function properly. If the Paradise St. project falls apart, heads will surely have to roll and pronto, in order to prevent us becoming a pan-European laughing-stock.

Band of brothers: Manchester United, pull the other one.

Oh, Brother where art thou?

By the way, did you all enjoy the 'Geordies in Armani' [copyright WSAG] chanting "Are you watching Merseyside?" at the Cockney Reds' Trafford theatre last night? I bet Wayne absolutely loved it. For sure, most of us wouldn't have been there, as 'one of them,' in return for a very large clock.

As a direct result of the sale of Wayne, Everton have literally just lost 'the next Rooney.' This news is likely to make you want to punch the nearest door, at the sheer crassness and ugliness of it all.

As first suggested on this site, [see the 4th paragraph from the bottom of this post from 2nd September] Rooney's parents have indeed decided to pull their youngest lad, John, out of the Everton set-up and into that of Man U.

John has been reported in many hard copy sources, as being at least the equal of Wayne!

So, besides giving Wayne away for a song, including an interest-free benefit to the obviously on-the-bones-of-their-@rse Man U, everybody's favourite Evertonian also contemporaneously concluded a deal involving a 'buy one, get one free' element. Perhaps we are to be sponsored by 'Home and Bargain' in 05/06.

The good, the bad and the ugly.

A picture of yours truly, photographed whilst being carried semi-conscious out of the pub, after watching Rooney's performance tonight.

The good

The break is over and this week sees us in 3rd, after the 1:0 win at Portsmaaarf.

I'm looking at the League table about 5 times a day at the moment.

The bad [aka "Nevermind the b0ll0cks...here comes the bullsh/t [featuring more spin than a Labour Conference]"]
Not content with selling Rooney to one of the world's richest clubs, on a generous [<50%] deposit, plus a long-term interest-free-plus-ifs-and-buts deal, we have the added delight of learning that our hopes of a £30m war chest are mere pipe dreams. For '£30m,' read £10m!!! The 'Rooney money' therefore looks to have all gone, already. As for the Alan Smith and/or the Benedict (Benni) McCarthy dosh, as the weeks pass, it's looking more and more like smoke and mirrors were the only things at work at those times in the transfer window. It would be absolutely atrocious if c.£10m is all we see made available.

You may have noticed that Rooney scored a hat-trick in a devastating 'CL' performance tonight. It was, at times, hard to watch, but his football was, as ever, breathtaking and almost horrific in the execution. My mixed feelings can best be summed up in a tale from my late-teen years. A girlfriend, whom I had grown very close to, simply stopped calling. Shortly afterwards, I learned that she had started seeing a much older lad. He was one of those horrible, smarmy 'Jock' types, complete with a ridiculous level of arrogance and a silly amount of money. For a while, I lived in a form of denial about the matter, perhaps hoping that the talk somehow wasn't true and that there must be some misunderstanding and that she was maybe listening too much to her mates. I believed that the girl and I, were only one chance meeting away from going back to how it was. However, the invevitable happened, I bumped into the pair of them out in a pub one night. She made a bee-line for me, and I had to suffer a short 'friendly conversation' with her. I didn't really listen to her explanation and the goodbye that she 'felt that she owed me.' My most profound feeling was that of being able to tell, by the look in her eyes, that her feelings had quite simply changed and that she had really gone. Needless to say, mid-sentence I put down my pint and walked home early and alone. There is much commonality amongst all of the affairs of the heart.

The ugly
Weir's statements.

Finally ...

Remember that the 'Spurs poll' is on the right had side of this site. Oddly, Spurs have stormed into an early lead.

This ToffeeBlog article goes way above and beyond what most Evertonians [or investigative journalists for that matter] are capable of discovering and presenting. It should be very carefully read and digested.