Martinez IN

[Groucho]

Two CBs, a playmaker and a winger....but the CBs are critical. Jagielka and Distin have flushed this season down the toilet.

Yes, we need a partner for Stones plus a back up, and I would say a winger each side, then in summer a new GK and extra striker.

Moyes would be a massive step backwards

We do need better technical players for how the manager wants to play but I think the question should be would you trust Martinez to bring in better players than what we have,I'm not so sure

I doubt he'd intentionally bring in crap - I know his Wigan chums aren't the best but I understand why he brought them, they've worked with him and McCarthy is great, Kone untested.

We have the same scouts as when Moyes was here, surely?

 

[paulbefc]

I've no idea what you were watching if you couldn't see a deliberate and considerable shift in tactics in the last 3 games mate. The shift in tactics resulted in us playing well

What changes though mate? Bar the West Ham game where we used the long ball a bit more. We have played the same formation and largely the same players. The team playing together as more of a cohesive unit with more of the players, such as Rom pulling their weight and showing the fight that wasn't there previous to the West Ham game is what's turned things round for me. The confidence gained from the late goal in the first game brought us out of our shells in the next two. "Getting the ball up quicker" wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference while Rom wasn't being more pro-active in his approach.

 

[davek]

Massive difference, the ball was kept when required but no over played like we've been seeing most of the season, the ball was played from back to front a lot quicker and with more purpose

I think you're just trying to claim a turn where none was made. This manager isn't arsed about being 'pragmatic'. He really is a purist where his faith in possession football is concerned. Everything I read from him about football screams out that he'd rather just be relieved of his position than bend to the prevailing winds of opinion.

Foolhardy? Maybe. But I think many will admire it. He's determined to drag Everton kicking and screaming back to its traditions of playing football by playing through teams. He's been basically saying of late: "If you dont like what we're trying to achieve and want to go back to a way of moving the ball around that hardly involves the deck, then you go against your own DNA". And he's got his detractors skewered with that line.

 

[Shagster]

What changes though mate? Bar the West Ham game where we used the long ball a bit more. We have played the same formation and largely the same players. The team playing together as more of a cohesive unit with more of the players, such as Rom pulling their weight and showing the fight that wasn't there previous to the West Ham game is what's turned things round for me. The confidence gained from the late goal in the first game brought us out of our shells in the next two. "Getting the ball up quicker" wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference while Rom wasn't being more pro-active in his approach.

Yep - I just fear for us if Rom gets injured but it also illustrates the importance of positive momentum

 

[Deggo]

Yes, we need a partner for Stones plus a back up, and I would say a winger each side, then in summer a new GK and extra striker.


I doubt he'd intentionally bring in crap - I know his Wigan chums aren't the best but I understand why he brought them, they've worked with him and McCarthy is great, Kone untested.

We have the same scouts as when Moyes was here, surely?

Apparently rates Tom Cleverley,this is disconcerting

 

[paulbefc]

Massive difference, the ball was kept when required but no over played like we've been seeing most of the season, the ball was played from back to front a lot quicker and with more purpose

Confidence issues imo. Since that late equaliser we have looked much better as we came out of our shells, so to speak. One thing we can be sure of here is that we're not going to make big changes to tactics bar the odd game when it's necessary.

 

[Shagster]

I think you're just trying to claim a turn where none was made. This manager isn't arsed about being 'pragmatic'. He really is a purist where his faith in possession football is concerned. Everything I read from him about football screams out that he'd rather just be relieved of his position than bend to the prevailing winds of opinion.

Foolhardy? Maybe. But I think many will admire it. He's determined to drag Everton kicking and screaming back to its traditions of playing football by playing through teams. He's been basically saying of late: "If you dont like what we're trying to achieve and want to go back to a way of moving the ball around that hardly involves the deck, then you go against your own DNA". And he's got his detractors skewered with that line.

This view of Everton's approach to playing football is all well and good, however it disregards the fact that football evolves regardless. Bayern Munich play direct when it suits them and they can sure as hell keep the ball better than we can.

 

[Carlito]

I think they've benefited from playing against teams that have shown them no respect in recent weeks. The last three games have been open enough for Lukaku to bundle through defences and be an all around handful on the counter-attack.

I'm worried that tomorrow will be a return to Everton slowly prodding and probing, despite the team being bereft of genuine craft or creativity. It's like watching Tony Mowbray's West Brom.

 

[nsno-chris]

Confidence issues imo. Since that late equaliser we have looked much better as we came out of our shells, so to speak. One thing we can be sure of here is that we're not going to make big changes to tactics bar the odd game when it's necessary.

Lukaku spent more time facing the oppositions goal than ours, in the last couple of games it was as clear as day. Balls were played into the channels and it was moved forward a lot quicker.

The over paying of the ball was not evident, there was a purpose and intent to the play. Now considering we came into the season on the success of last I can't see how confidence affected us.

The season started with more intention on possession, but we were being caught out with overplaying at times. No coincidence that since lukaku has come out and said what he did, the majority can see a more direct approach

 

[TommyDavo]

I think they've benefited from playing against teams that have shown them no respect in recent weeks. The last three games have been open enough for Lukaku to bundle through defences and be an all around handful on the counter-attack.

I'm worried that tomorrow will be a return to Everton slowly prodding and probing, despite the team being bereft of genuine craft or creativity. It's like watching Tony Mowbray's West Brom.

An early goal required tomorrow or I fear you'll be spot on

 

[Groucho]

Apparently rates Tom Cleverley,this is disconcerting

I give you that but some folk say he's not too shabby. My fence is quite comfy on this one. Also he has worked with him and he was decent at Wigan I'm led to believe.

 

[Deggo]

I give you that but some folk say he's not too shabby. My fence is quite comfy on this one. Also he has worked with him and he was decent at Wigan I'm led to believe.

don't get me wrong groucho I'm in the undecided camp with regard to Roberto but I guess my own confidence in him is a bit low at the moment

 

[The Equaliser]

This view of Everton's approach to playing football is all well and good, however it disregards the fact that football evolves regardless. Bayern Munich play direct when it suits them and they can sure as hell keep the ball better than we can.

As do Chelsea, spot on. They add a directness when needed and at other times play a sublime passing game as they did yesterday. The difference being that their passing yesterday was quick and incisive, not slow and methodical like ours has been this season.

This is being seen by some as a stark contrast between 2 styles, tiki-taka v hoofball, and it's nothing of the sort. We all prefer to see a possession-based style but that doesn't mean doing stupid things like trying to play tippy-tappy out from your own penalty area when under pressure from the opposition. The best teams like Bayern Munich and Chelsea aren't regimented with one plan and adapt to the situation.

 

[kithnou]

Moyes would be a massive step backwards

We do need better technical players for how the manager wants to play but I think the question should be would you trust Martinez to bring in better players than what we have,I'm not so sure

Which then leads to the next question...do we have any recruiters on staff at the Everton Football Club?
Not one to believe everything I read on here regarding transfer speculation, but some of the names getting mentioned are quite disturbing really.

 

[kithnou]

Yes, we need a partner for Stones plus a back up, and I would say a winger each side, then in summer a new GK and extra striker.


I doubt he'd intentionally bring in crap - I know his Wigan chums aren't the best but I understand why he brought them, they've worked with him and McCarthy is great, Kone untested.

We have the same scouts as when Moyes was here, surely?

Oh we do? How would you feel then if he/we go back to Wigan once again?
I think maybe it is time we spend some money of better scouts maybe.