Distin absent from training.

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davek said:
I like the idea of using a fallow season to blood players on the periphery. We wont be getting a CL place and I see no benefit in using up a lot of energy from established players already stretched by 4 competitions to secure a high-ish top half position.

It would take a manager with real courage to now turn to his squad and decide that everyone in it would get extensive time in the first team and make good use of the rest of the season in that way. But it could save the club a fortune in transfer fees next summer if one or two from the likes of Galloway, Browning, Garbutt, McAleny, Long, Grant etc proved themselves as first teamers.

I'd love to see that bravery, buy sadly supporters wouldn't wear it by and large. Why, I dont know. There's no distinction in finishing top half of the table. None whatsoever.
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Perhaps Joe Royle can lend a few wise words to Berto.

Most of us will recall the atrocious start to the 1994/95 season, when we won on the 13th attempt that year. A draw at Norwich gave us a paltry 8 points with a third of the season gone and Walker's borrowed time came to an end.

When Joe replaced Mike Walker, there was a daunting list of fixtures that seemed impossible given that we'd lost to Palace, drawn with Leicester (familiar?), and also lost badly against dross like Coventry, Southampton and Man City. He took a hard look delved into the reserves for a group of players - Horne, Ebbrell and Parkinson - the players that would become the "Dogs of War".

It was a brave move, but we all know what happened next:

Liverpool (H) 2-0
Chelsea (A) 1-0
Leeds (H) 3-0

Three clean sheets in a row, six unanswered goals. More points from three games than the first fourteen!

I have every confidence that big Joe still has that ability. Can he do it again, albeit via Roberto, 20 years on?

Come on Berto. Rome is burning, do something - or was "Sin Miedo" just a marketing ploy?
 
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davek said:
I've been surprised at Martinez's reluctance to just put a far superior Browning in ahead of Hibbert. So I wont hold my breath at dramatic change. I'd really hate to think we employed a manager with fresh ideas and an open mind on team selection only to see him turn into a cautious 'let's get to 40 points' dullard by season two.
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Ummm.... what? He trusts the guy enough to make an impact in two important games--tough games away at Anfield and Old Trafford? Who ever (outside of Moyes) brought on a RB as a sub*? If you'll allow me to mix metaphors, teaching someone to swim with the sharks is quite different from throwing to the sharks. Browning is young, the staff think highly of him, and Martinez trusts him. Give Browning time, and settle down enough to give Martinez time to give Browning time. I hope Martinez makes good decisions without bending to criticism from the fans.

*Granted, the squad is thin in important areas, but whither Atsu?
 

mkrudden said:
What i love about you Dave, no sarcasm, is that you can write the most ridiculous posts on here and because you throw in decent language and have a bit of style to the way you present your opinions people actually start to agree with you. You are compelling and I think its a talent, definitely.

The proposition though of throwing the league 7 games in because we haven't hit the heights that we all hoped in simply proposterous.

Strangely, you say that its a poor league yet give us no hope of achieving anything this season when it comes to the league. Its that not contradictory?

And what of the 16 players you talk of, that do not need to prove anything? Do you honestly believe - strong manager/chairman regardless - that they would continue to be our players if we throw the league this season? What message is that to the likes of Coleman, Baines, Barkley? "Listen lads, the first 7 games havent gone well, yeah I know we've had injuries to our best players but from now on we are going to play the kids in the hope that one or two of them save us a few quid next summer."

So what happens next season Dave, if we have a poor start? Chuck it in again?

Spurs, Liverpool, and to a lesser extent Arsenal are all struggling to find their groove this season, and make no mistake our form is worrying, but asking anyone involved in the club to consider the proposition of, i repeat, throwing the league after 7 games is the most ridiculous idea i have ever heard in my life.

Not that you care, but I have lost all trust that you actually are anything more than a serial pop-corner.
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I'm not trying to popcorn anyone, I'm passing on my view, FWIW. And I doubt what I say can persuade anyone against their own viewpoint...more likely it just crystallises their own thoughts on the matter.

I'm not even remotely suggesting either that the season be 'thrown'. Far from it. I think we can seize it and do something constructive with it. 'Throwing the season' as far as I'm concerned would be chasing down a top half finish after a disastrous start and using a core of players who we all know can do that (finish top half) on autopilot. That's a very conservative response.

Using this season to see what we have amongst the squad and developing that talent to go with the core we have already and those we must buy in: that sounds like a great base to work on for next season. And we' still have the cups as an interest. It's what a man with a plan would do. I think Roberto would countenance that if he were manager elsewhere, but I do believe he'll know that at a club like Everton it's a route, if it went wrong, that could see question marks over his future, so I dont believe he'll go that way unfortunately.
 
davek said:
Absolutely spot on. It'd take a brave manager backed by a chairman giving the assurance they wont bend to criticism from fans.

TBH though, I look at the strength of this league and think that if we put in three or four new faces surrounded by our experienced and talented PL players the project wouldn't be a disaster. Has Browning or Stones given the impression they cant handle it? I dont think so. Grant was ok on the summer tour last year and he looks like he can push on with a chance. Galloway has playing experience, it'd be less of a culture shock for him than many think. I'd also like to see more of Long. Has he got the movement required to go with a finish?

I dont know about you, but I'd applaud any decision to give up the chance to retain the 7th place trophy in order to take a long look at what we have below say 16 first teamers we know all about.
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We would need to get to safety first however if that happened and top 4 was a long way off then it would make a lot of sense while prioritizing the cups.

But I agree a lot of our younger players are now 18-20. That's the age they really should get and need first team experience plus a lot of them have been highly rated at youth level. We have Long, Grant, Green, Henen, Ledson, Garbutt, Browning and Galloway who still look like the have a chance of making it.

There's nothing like senior experience.
 
SerenityNigh said:
Ummm.... what? He trusts the guy enough to make an impact in two important games--tough games away at Anfield and Old Trafford? Who ever (outside of Moyes) brought on a RB as a sub*? If you'll allow me to mix metaphors, teaching someone to swim with the sharks is quite different from throwing to the sharks. Browning is young, the staff think highly of him, and Martinez trusts him. Give Browning time, and settle down enough to give Martinez time to give Browning time. I hope Martinez makes good decisions without bending to criticism from the fans.

*Granted, the squad is thin in important areas, but whither Atsu?
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Ok, fair enough. But he's proven he can keep his balance now, so it's time to take the stabilisers off.

I really dont think we should be starting again with Hibbert when this lad Browning is there to turn to.
 

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