Roberto Martinez discussion

jazzy · December 27, 2014

mawders said:
There is a lot of knee jerking going on here. I think this slump might actually be good in the long run as It's exposed the weakness of a lot of players.

Given RM's prediliction for picking his favourites regardless of form that is the most bizarre post I've seen for a long time.

Boss_Blue · December 27, 2014

Khalekan said:
If we are in around the bottom three with nine or ten games to go the Europa League would be the least of my worries.

I honestly believe that there is no chance of this.

Khalekan · December 27, 2014

Boss_Blue said:
I honestly believe that there is no chance of this.

I hope you are right.

And I wish I shared your confidence, BB

davek · December 27, 2014

As said by other posters on here, if Martinez used the rest of the season to by-pass selection of players like Distin and Jagielka, tried other players in new positions (like the long touted Baines to CM move, or tried Besic at CB) and shuffled forward the first team development of youngsters like Garbutt (who looks ready, tbf) and Ledson/Browning (who need game time), it'd be worth doing that than getting stressed out as an organisation failing to retain a top 6 slot. I doubt we'd slip further down the table we are now and would probably turn it around. The new tv deal means the manager wont be as desperate;y concerned about the fall in losses due to league placing as much as in the past. If the difference between finishing 10th and 6th was something like £4.6M that'd be worth it to bring through a couple of new faces and re-establish the best position of current first teamers.

We need a step change and a bold strategy for next season.

As a club we're too fixated on this worthless title of 'best of the rest'. It really isn't anything to become hidebound over.

roydo · December 27, 2014

Boss_Blue said:
I honestly believe that there is no chance of this.

Yep. Not a chance imo. The squad of players we have would avoid relegation with no manager at all I would guess.

Boss_Blue · December 27, 2014

Khalekan said:
I hope you are right.

And I wish I shared your confidence, BB

Believe and it will be so...

jaycee · December 27, 2014

neil999 · December 27, 2014

davek said:
As said by other posters on here, if Martinez used the rest of the season to by-pass selection of players like Distin and Jagielka, tried other players in new positions (like the long touted Baines to CM move, or tried Besic at CB) and shuffled forward the first team development of youngsters like Garbutt (who looks ready, tbf) and Ledson/Browning (who need game time), it'd be worth doing that than getting stressed out as an organisation failing to retain a top 6 slot. I doubt we'd slip further down the table we are now and would probably turn it around. The new tv deal means the manager wont be as desperate;y concerned about the fall in losses due to league placing as much as in the past. If the difference between finishing 10th and 6th was something like £4.6M that'd be worth it to bring through a couple of new faces and re-establish the best position of current first teamers.

We need a step change and a bold strategy for next season.

As a club we're too fixated on this worthless title of 'best of the rest'. It really isn't anything to become hidebound over.

I think this is more of a transition season than people ever thought it would be, our back 3 of distin,jagielka and howard are all finished, what other team would get through that?(im not saying their aren't other isses and rtinez needs to adapt...but still applys)

ijjysmith · December 27, 2014

Boss_Blue said:
Believe and it will be so...

HAHAHAHA. That's ace.

The Esk · December 27, 2014

davek said:
As said by other posters on here, if Martinez used the rest of the season to by-pass selection of players like Distin and Jagielka, tried other players in new positions (like the long touted Baines to CM move, or tried Besic at CB) and shuffled forward the first team development of youngsters like Garbutt (who looks ready, tbf) and Ledson/Browning (who need game time), it'd be worth doing that than getting stressed out as an organisation failing to retain a top 6 slot. I doubt we'd slip further down the table we are now and would probably turn it around. The new tv deal means the manager wont be as desperate;y concerned about the fall in losses due to league placing as much as in the past. If the difference between finishing 10th and 6th was something like £4.6M that'd be worth it to bring through a couple of new faces and re-establish the best position of current first teamers.

We need a step change and a bold strategy for next season.

As a club we're too fixated on this worthless title of 'best of the rest'. It really isn't anything to become hidebound over.

New year resolution, I must not agree with you too often but I agree with the above.

I'd add an all out assault on the Europa League to the above. Given it is knockout now we may as well go for it.

davek · December 27, 2014

neil999 said:
I think this is more of a transition season than people ever thought it would be, our back 3 of distin,jagielka and howard are all finished, what other team would get through that?(im not saying their aren't other isses and rtinez needs to adapt...but still applys)

TBF, I think the vast majority anticipated we we'd be way short at the back in CD even before the season began. It was incredible Martinez couldn't see this hoving into view also. It' one of the sticks he can legitimately be beaten with.

Too much respect given to players who were barely capable of doing a consistently top class job in the PL. Compounding all that with new deals for Hibbert and Osman has given this Martinez squad a moribund look to it...and the average age of some of the teams he's put out recently underline it.

davek · December 27, 2014

the esk said:
New year resolution, I must not agree with you too often but I agree with the above.

I'd add an all out assault on the Europa League to the above. Given it is knockout now we may as well go for it.

I could easily live with a strategy of experimentation in the PL and best foot forward in the cups.

Way too many are in thrall to the high top half PL position of this club. Yes, it's important financially (or traditionally has been so), but it has the capacity to stall the development of young talent coming through. I'd like to see an end to the fixation. That's not making a virtue out of a necessity, btw, I'd like us to push up the table. But I'm defo not as stressed about league position as others.

ianefc · December 27, 2014

davek said:
As said by other posters on here, if Martinez used the rest of the season to by-pass selection of players like Distin and Jagielka, tried other players in new positions (like the long touted Baines to CM move, or tried Besic at CB) and shuffled forward the first team development of youngsters like Garbutt (who looks ready, tbf) and Ledson/Browning (who need game time), it'd be worth doing that than getting stressed out as an organisation failing to retain a top 6 slot. I doubt we'd slip further down the table we are now and would probably turn it around. The new tv deal means the manager wont be as desperate;y concerned about the fall in losses due to league placing as much as in the past. If the difference between finishing 10th and 6th was something like £4.6M that'd be worth it to bring through a couple of new faces and re-establish the best position of current first teamers.

We need a step change and a bold strategy for next season.

As a club we're too fixated on this worthless title of 'best of the rest'. It really isn't anything to become hidebound over.

All of what you said is fair, but the only problem I have with that is that would be a lot of weekends between now and May that are to be written off. we should, with this squad, be winning 60% of our games IMHO

deipnosophist · December 27, 2014

neil999 said:
I think this is more of a transition season than people ever thought it would be, our back 3 of distin,jagielka and howard are all finished, what other team would get through that?(im not saying their aren't other isses and rtinez needs to adapt...but still applys)

dead right mate. The rapid deterioration in certain players has taken us all by surprise. I also agree with @davek. For EFC to get any silver lining out of the current grey clouds over Goodison, we need to prune heavily the dead wood and introduce green shoots of youth and ambition...and club pride and passion.

Khalekan · December 27, 2014

davek said:
I could easily live with a strategy of experimentation in the PL and best foot forward in the cups.

Way too many are in thrall to the high top half PL position of this club. Yes, it's important financially (or traditionally has been so), but it has the capacity to stall the development of young talent coming through. I'd like to see an end to the fixation. That's not making a virtue out of a necessity, btw, I'd like us to push up the table. But I'm defo not as stressed about league position as others.

I hope you are still as stress free this time two weeks but there is a fairly good chance our league position is going to start looking pretty grim after Citeh leave Goodison, Dave....

Baggies at home on a Monday night in January is in real danger of becoming a six pointer.