“Independent regulation, the genie is out of the bottle and not going back in. The question is not about an independent regulator, it is about what it regulates” – Tracey Crouch, the […]
Reform in football; strategic thinking required
Talking the Blues special, El Partida Carlo, what does that mean for Everton
In very swift time Carlo Magnifico has gone to El Partida Carlo as he swiftly departs for Real Madrid. I get together with Andy Costigan to give our initial reactions to a […]
Talking the Blues podcast, the Champions League final, James Rodriguez, X files
Welcome to the first Talking the Blues of the summer, the close season were literally almost anything could pop up in conversation with George Costigan and his brother Andy This week we […]
Summer spending?
With yet another “big summer” looming for Everton and claims that Moshiri will fund player acquisitions drawn up by Ancelotti and Brands by perhaps as much as £100 million, knowing what our […]
Talking the Blues, Manchester City (a) and end of season report
The final episode of the 2020/21 season gives the Manchester City game the briefest of mentions before Andy, George and myself dissect the season and five and a half years of Farhad […]
Talking the Blues, Wolves (h) the final countdown
Welcome to the post match Talking the Blues with George and Andy Costigan as we look back on our final home game of the season, and a victory which just about keeps […]
Reform in football part III, alternative structures to protect fan interests
In part II of the Reform in football series, I explained a structure that gave fans more meaningful representation and most importantly, power within football clubs, offering a regulated structure with monitored […]
Talking the Blues, Sheffield United (h) Everton suffering from oikophobia
This week’s Talking the Blues podcast with Andy and George Costigan looks back on the Sheffield United game (briefly), discusses Everton’s appalling home record, before examining the claim that Ancelotti is going […]
Everton Business Matters, Series 4 Episode 10, Changes, independent regulation, governance & fan representation
In perhaps the most feisty episode of Everton Business Matters ever recorded, John, Rodger and Paul passionately debate the future of football. Triggered by the Super League revelations, we explore the responses […]
Profit and Sustainability, the rules & Everton’s position
In answering a question regarding summer transfer activity, Carlo Ancelotti spoke at a media briefing on Wednesday 12 May regarding Everton’s finances in the context of the Premier League profitability and sustainability […]
Talking the Blues, West Ham United (a), the summer and what fans need to do to improve the regulation of football
This week’s Talking the Blues podcast with Andy and George Costigan, looks back at a superb defensive display at West Ham resulting in our 11th away win and keeps the prospects of […]
Reform in Football, Part II, Governance
Independent regulation Full engagement, decision-making and degrees of control for fans Football needs reform at every level, from FIFA, UEFA, to the Premier League, The EFL and the Football Association, to individual […]
Reform in football, Part I
The public announcements of the formation of a European Super League, the fact that six of the miscreants were the largest of the English clubs, merrily plotting whilst pretending business as normal […]
Talking the Blues, Aston Villa (h), Carlo, social media absence and the PL’s continued silence
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues podcast with George and Andy Costigan. On another desperately disappointing evening at Goodison Park, we try and make sense of what the problem is. We […]
Doing nothing is not an option, the response to the Super League
Harold Wilson famously said “a week is a long time in politics” whilst Chamberlain said “there is no use looking beyond the next fortnight”. A week ago you could be forgiven for […]
Talking the Blues Podcast, Arsenal (a), that was the week that was, more on the Super League
Welcome to this week’s edition of Talking the Blues with, as ever, George and Andy Costigan. This week we look back on the Arsenal match (briefly) before turning our attention to the […]
Live by the sword, die by the sword but change brings opportunity for a much better future
The collapse of the incredibly ill-conceived Super League will be viewed as a great victory for all stakeholders in football. There will be enormous relief, perhaps jubilation in board rooms, dressing rooms […]
Everton Business Matters, Super League Special
In a special episode of Everton Business Matters, John, Rodger and Paul update on the fast moving situation, consider Everton’s response, the implications for the game, the opportunity for a reset, “the […]