Loads of Everton fans on social media have been discussing the results of Farhad Moshiri’s four years as an owner of the club.
The Iranian billionaire bought an initial 49.9% share in the Toffees on February 27, 2016 for £87.5million, having sold his stake in Arsenal for around £200m to Alisher Usmanov.
Moshiri later became the club’s majority owner in September 2018 when he increased his stake in the Blues to 66.2% and later took on a further 11% of shares in June 2019 to hold a total 77.2% stake.
Over the past four years Moshiri has financed signings worth in the region of £500m, having personally injected £350m into the club through loans that have been treated as equity, in order to help fund singings, our proposed new stadium and to tackle the debt accumulated prior to his arrival.
That almost half of a billion pounds worth of signings has included smashing our transfer record spend on two players in Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison, having spent £45m on the Iceland international and a potential £50m on the Brazilian – eclipsing the £28m spent on Romelu Lukaku in 2014.
Has Moshiri's ownership been hit or miss (so far)?
Hit
Miss
But not all of our signings during Moshiri’s ownership have fared as well as Richarlison – who has scored 26 goals in 68 games – having also signed Yannick Bolasie for £25m, Davy Klaassen for £23.6m and Cenk Tosun for £27m.
Here are some of the messages shared, as fans celebrated the anniversary of Moshiri’s initial investment by discussing the successes and failures of his four years at Goodison Park…
It’s 4 years to the day Moshiri acquired his initial 49.9% stake in Everton.
4 years on I would have thought we’d have made more progress on & off the pitch.
No one can doubt his financial commitment but so much of that has been wasted.
More thoughts later today— the esk (@theesk) February 27, 2020
Bad decisions to start show he had little involvement at Arsenal for me, Walsh was a dud and Brands needs another window.
— John Tully NSNO (@JohnTul49872059) February 27, 2020
We have had a few learning curves but on the right path now. Citys original takeover wasnt an imminent success…
— Michael (@sekimsports) February 27, 2020
Ronald Koeman for me. Absolute disaster. Allardyce urgh.
He’s got the right ones now in Don Carlo and Marcel Brands
— MDamon_toffee (+) (@Everton_Damon) February 27, 2020
The Walsh appointment was a massive downturn in our fortune. However we’ve weathered the storm and got our men in Ancelotti and Brands once they became available. I would almost reset the clock to our hiring of marcel.
— Cat of the Canals (@otrochris) February 27, 2020
successful organisations are run by strong boards with the right mix of skills and experience , changes to ensure this were not made soon enough at board level and imo have still not been made.
— Cathy mcniffe (@CMcniffe) February 27, 2020
Taking advice off the wrong people perhaps 👀 pic.twitter.com/ExhfSDdkj7
— robert tuohy (@robbie2e) February 27, 2020
4 years on the timeline is a jot. We made monumental errors, but we learned from them.
Carlo Ancelotti is our manager. He’s one of the greatest managers of all time.
I’d call that a quick success. 4 years in and we can attract elite management without any trophies, fantastic.
— 🎧 (@whocares_mate) February 27, 2020
Mate, moshiri came on board and initially relied on the incompetent board to get things moving. Bad mistake that you or i, or any fan with common sense could have eradicated. Very sad.
— alan baillie (@kenshite_out) February 27, 2020
One of the biggest mistakes has been allowing the “old guard” influence still do this day.
The day he brokered the deal, it should have been mandatory 100% right away and not staged arrangements
— L4Auzzuri (@L4Auzzuri) February 27, 2020
4 years of Moshiri
New Stadium designed and financed
Ancelotti appointed manager
Club re structured from top to bottom with Brands leading the way
Record investment USM etc received albeit the vast majority has been poorly re distributed
Lessons learned, Success to follow 👌— Danny Tsang Mullally (@DanielMullally1) February 27, 2020
In other Everton news, the club have reportedly been offered a 49-cap international who’s been involved in a goal every 113.2 league minutes this term.