"ANYTHING BUT FAIR!" Andy Gray SLAMS PSR Rules after The Friedkin Group put Everton up for Sale!

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Andy Gray slams the Friedkin Group and PSR after Everton are put up for sale

The show discusses the Friedkin Group putting Everton up for sale less than two years after taking over. The guests question whether new owners can really transform Everton, with Andy Gray criticising the Friedkin Group for lacking long-term commitment and arguing that PSR/FFP stops ambitious clubs from competing. The conclusion is that Everton need both genuinely committed owners and fairer spending rules to move forward.

Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent are joined by Andy Gray to react to The Friedkin Group listing Everton up for sale! Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT premierleague everton

Transcript

Going to start with Everton, their owners. Get this, they're selling up after just 2 years. So, whoever buys them, are they getting a sleeping giant? >> Good low ball into the near post, and Barry is there, stealing a march on his central defender to poke home. Antolin Barry, who's found form in recent weeks, comes to Everton's rescue again. >> I'm disgusted at these owners. They're asset strippers. That's all they're doing. Steven Moyes has been thrown under the bus. What we're left with one recognized left back, one recognized right back, and one recognized striker. I think with, you know, an injury or two away from a crisis, really. >> They want new ownership and new direction. It suggests that their their ownership model is not working. >> Disappointed we didn't do more business. Disappointed things didn't go our way in the [music] end. >> Yes, the Everton owners are exploring selling the club after less than 2 years in charge. The American group completed takeover of the club in 2024. A deal believed to be worth over 400 million pounds. They said that after prioritizing their new Everton's new stadium last year, the time is right to consider the next chapter. Their boss, this is very interesting, by the way. David Moyes spoke to the media earlier. >> Yeah, I was surprised because they, you know, they'd only come in a year and a half ago, and so, you know, I don't I think most owners come in a lot longer than that. I think we all were expecting them to be here for the next 20, 30 years, however long it may be. Uh yeah, so so, pretty surprised, but maybe after the way we things sort of worked out uh over the transfer window, I probably seen through it a little bit a bit before that, so and I think it's probably there for all Evertonians to Evertonians to see now. >> I mean, that explains it all right. There was there was a lot of talk in the summer from Everton fans about the lack of investment, a lack of a striker, obviously, and a right back. I suppose they'll be pretty pleased about today's news. Now, it's like, wait, when you know the news now, looking back, it's like, okay, that's why they didn't spend. >> Yeah, it is, but again, will it be a a Newcastle um situation all over again? Where Newcastle got taken over, we all got excited to get Okay, here we go. Newcastle fans are probably thinking we can get to the next level with Newcastle fans weren't silly. They knew Mbappé and Neymar weren't coming through the doors, but they thought okay, we'll get some good players in, kind of solidify ourselves around the Champions League spots and then go again. And yes, they've managed to flirt with it, but it hasn't happened and and I can see the same happening with Everton because Everton will be in the same situation where if an owner comes in with a lot of money, they can't do anything with it because of the PSR. It's sort of irrelevant, I mean Everton over the last few years, I mean their highest finish in the last 10 years was seventh back in 2016-17 under Ronald Koeman. So, it's it's been a while since they've been I don't want to say I don't want to say relevant cuz that's not fair, but certainly there was a period where Everton were the first Moyes era and even before that when they won the FA Cup in '95 when they beat you all up. >> Mhm. >> There was a time where Everton, home and away, were such a good side. >> was cut '95 was coming off the back of the '80s where they won the league. >> Right. >> They won in Europe. >> But even if you fast forward to David Moyes's first stint at Everton where they had the likes of Baines, Jagielka, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar, Lukaku was there for a bit, Tim Cahill, Arteta. That's that team there was so hard to play against. Goodison Park, all well organized, well drilled, and they were always There was never ever a conversation about Everton going down. Never. It was always like, can they get in Europe? Can they get in I think he he almost got them to the Champions League one year. They've been so far away from that for such a long time that it probably is a breath of fresh air for the the fan base to kind of think all right, new owners, new start. But again, for me it's what good can it do? If you If I even if I went in there with 50 billion, I can't spend it. >> No. It's very bizarre, isn't >> Yeah. I mean, I know it feels like the start of a new kind of revolution with the new stadium. Although I love playing at Goodison Park, it was amazing. >> Yeah. >> Um but it's almost like okay, how do they make that step forward? How do they make that big leap? Doesn't really matter. >> Do you think Everton fans will be happy about this news? >> Um >> The club, the supporters. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, of course. It's a good new start, big money. I I think so. But, it's just how do they get to that next level? >> It is bizarre that they won't spend money if they're selling cuz it you I understand it, but it's effectively like well, it's it's not really theirs, it's Everton's. Yeah. But, it is theirs cuz they own the club, so they can take out what they want. >> Exactly. >> All right, maybe that explains a few things for Everton fans. I know Tony Bellew probably want to have his say. And we're always here for Tony Bellew. Although, he probably thinks we're not, but we are, Tony. Let's get more on this now as we are joined by club legend and talkSPORT commentator, the wonderful Andy Gray joins us live on Drive. Andy, good afternoon to you, my friend. >> Good afternoon, chaps. How are you boys? >> We are very well. How are you? You all right? You good? >> Uh I'm I'm good, Andy, but a little disappointed at the news this morning that what's about to happen to my old club again. >> Why are you disappointed? >> Because after the Moshiris and with the Americans taking over, I think everyone connected with Goodison and and Everton felt that this group might just might be in for the long run. But, here we go, what, 20 months later after failing to secure minimal investment, they've decided that it's got to go. >> And it's difficult for clubs like Everton because you look at the situation at Newcastle. They obviously got more owners that have got more money than anyone, can't spend it. The same thing you imagine is going to happen to Everton. So, how do Everton take that next step? >> Well, you we have to find owners that are in that are committed to the club. I mean, I thought with the with the Friedkin Group, the TFG, I always felt and I think a lot of Evertonians that what they've they've they've got Roma, they've got Cannes in France, they're about to spend 3.5 billion on an NHL franchise in America. I mean, that's an awful lot of outlay and you would think that they felt that oh, something's got to go, something's got to give and sadly it's been Everton. But, what we need to find I mean, let's just say I hate to quote them along across the road from us across Stanley Park. Well, it's not Stanley Park anymore. It's It's a little bit further apart than it used to be. But, the Americans that had taken took over at Liverpool showed commitment, showed desire to take the club forward, to invest in it, and do it the right way. And I think that's what Ever Tony thought would happen with this group of Americans, but it just hasn't. >> Andy, let me ask you. When I was a kid growing up, Everton obviously massive in the '90s, won the league in the '90s, won the FA Cup '95, etc. Really, really big club. And then since then they've Well, we've questioned whether or not they're a sleeping giant. Do you think it's virtually impossible for a club like Everton to mix it with the big boys now with the restraints on how you can or how much money clubs can spend? >> Andy, I think you're right. I think it's difficult. You only have to look at another of my old Villa, who desperately want to join the big boys and have been doing a great job of it in the last few years, but I think they sell six of their European winning side from the from the summer to make ends meet at at at Aston Villa. So, the problem is the ones that had have even more, the ones that are desperate to have like Newcastle, like Everton, like you know, Aston Villa, they're finding it really, really difficult to be allowed to invest the types of money they need to be able to compete with the boys that who who are already there. >> We've always said Andy that the rules need to change. Um, that there needs to be a way of of of kind of bridging that gap cuz as you just said there, the big boys can continue doing what they're doing. And clubs like Everton, Aston Villa that are on the Well, Ever maybe not so much now, but we're on the cusp Aston Villa can't quite make it up. So, I think it's time that they do start looking at the rules. >> Yeah, I I would agree, but what that is done is difficult. I mean, I've had this argument with Keysy about what you know, this financial fair play. The word fair has been anything but fair. It really has cuz the the teams that are chasing it are finding it really, really difficult. And particularly when you look at Newcastle, when you look at Everton, who have not Everton, when you look at Villa in particular, right now, who have owners with very, very deep pockets. But the amount of money the amount of that they're allowed to dip into those pockets is restricted. So, how far can you go? I mean, Newcastle have had to sell some of their best players this summer as well. This is this not how it should be. You shouldn't have to sell your best players till you can buy more players to make yourself better.