As an Everton fan, you have to get used to disappointment.
Season after season of last minute goals conceded. Producing meagre performances at home against clubs we really should be beating. Missing out on transfer targets and seeing them light up the Premier League elsewhere. Gently meandering to another 13th-place finish and watching teams that weren’t long ago in the Championship reach Europe.
But rarely has a piece of Everton news felt like a punch to the stomach. The idea of selling Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest for £40 million feels just like that – if not worse. It is an act of self sabotage.
Okay, some of those last minute goals felt pretty horrendous at the time, but you could argue that they were relatively out of our control. A tired defence. A better opposition. Poor tactics on the day.
In Harrison Armstrong, we have probably the best player to come out of our academy since Wayne Rooney, so for the idea of him being sold to even be entertained by the club is beyond baffling, especially to a club like Nottingham Forest. How has this come about, and who is responsible?
Is the club not telling us something regarding Everton’s finances? Even so, a fee of £40 million is surely not high enough to make any difference in that regard. And there are plenty of players who you’d look to be selling before Harrison Armstrong’s name even entered the conversation.
Yes, Everton have had plenty of great players leave the club over the years. The aforementioned Wayne Rooney was sold to Manchester United in 2004 at the age of 18 after lighting up the European Championship that summer. Bill Kenwright stressed that that move was beyond the club’s control and completely necessary in order to keep the lights on at Goodison Park.
In 2022, Richarlison made the move 200 miles south to Tottenham Hotspur after putting his body on the line to help Everton stay in the Premier League. He’d given four years to the club and had ambitions to play in the Champions League, so he left with everyone’s best wishes.
The same situation probably currently applies to Iliman Ndiaye. While he’s only been at the club for two years, he’s made it clear that he would like to play in Europe and, in all likelihood, if Manchester City were to stump up the kind of offer that was too good to refuse, he would be on his way. Yes, it would hurt, but that’s football.
However, the Harrison Armstrong offer is a completely different situation entirely. The 19-year-old has started both of Everton’s games this season, impressing on each occasion. He has the tools in his game to go all the way to the top and no one could argue that he is future Everton and England captain material. Injuries to Christian Norgaard and Hayden Hackney mean a place in the side is more or less guaranteed, so if Armstrong himself isn’t asking to leave, then who is?
If it’s David Moyes, then this will be more ammunition for dissenting fans to use against the Scot. Armstrong is more than the future of our club; he is a vital member of the team here and now. Although, judging by Moyes’ demeanour in recent press conferences, and by connecting the dots, even he isn’t happy about this move happening.
So, if not Armstrong or Moyes, then the blame can surely only be placed on the board and owners. Is this another one of those situations – regularly seen at clubs like Chelsea – where the idea of ‘pure profit’ trumps logical thinking? The Friedkin Group (TFG) have been accused of being distant and out of touch with fan sentiment since acquiring the club. If the sale of Harrison Armstrong goes ahead, this will undoubtedly trigger an overwhelming amount of despondency amongst a fan base already on edge due to a lack of ambition in the transfer market and on the pitch.
Angus Kinnear broke his silence over a week ago and assured the fans that a right back would be signed. We are mere days from the transfer window closing and not only has that not materialised, but it seems further from happening than ever. Throw in a defender (Jake O’Brien) seemingly at odds with the manager, potentially losing our brightest attacking talent (Ndiaye) and our best academy player for over 20 years, and it’s easy to see why a dark cloud is forming over Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Why can’t we enjoy things anymore? The win against Crystal Palace and impressive display away to Preston North End should mean we are heading down to Bournemouth with renewed vigour and excitement at what the season will bring. The potential departure of Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest, I fear, will break this club beyond repair. To say I’m absolutely gutted about this is an understatement and I hope that Everton are aware of fan sentiment before sanctioning this move.
It is also now time for the silence from TFG to stop. They must understand that owning this club is more than a business opportunity – it is a privilege. Some players are more than saleable assets, and in the case of Harrison Armstrong, he is a local lad who could embody the heart and soul of this great club and someone to build a successful team around. Don’t make the same mistake that Newcastle United made with Elliot Anderson. Armstrong will go on to become twice the player that Anderson is.