How do we improve?

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GrandOldTeam

GrandOldTeam

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Well?...

Personally;
  • Balance. Or lack of in the final 1/3. Too many players given creative license. Round Pegs, Square Holes. Barkley, or Naismith. Not both. It seems we're trying to play three number tens. Example vs West Brom, Mirallas, Barkley and Naismith - interchanging every other minute, with Mirallas and Naismith constantly drifting central, causing;
  • No Width. Naismith operated out wide and was a 'boo-boy' under Moyes. Martinez moved him central last season and he was a revelation. He's poor out wide... and that lack of width is isolating our full backs, time and time again Coleman/Baines would pickup possession and have no easy go to ball. It's not a coincidence that both our full backs have gone to the dogs this season.
  • Flexibility. We're just too predictable. I admire Martinez' philosophy of mastering your own style and you'll win more than you lose but occasionally, you need to adapt. It's part of the game, adjusting to outwit your opponent. Example. Two defensive, holding midfielders at home vs 10 men behind the ball. Not for me.
  • Lukaku. Any striker in world football would struggle in our side. We just don't play to his strengths/look to find him anywhere as early as we should. Andy Gray called it. Add to having a poacher in Naismith, a 'ball greed' (What?) in Mirallas and a confidence shot Barkley in support (Who had a 95% pass rate vs West Brom, but 78/82 passes all 'safe'...
  • Rebuild. Martinez will have learnt more about his players this season than last. Remove the deadwood and damaging characters.
Getting off the fence for a moment, I think any talk of removing Martinez is irrelevant. We're Everton and with Kenwright, it's never going to happen - certainly not after signing a five year deal in June. Only relegation would see him outcast, so ride it out, rebuild over the summer. Evaluate after the first 10 PL games.
 

We don't, we do the exact same and wait for the opponents to change to a system that lets us win.

It's the philosophy, the system, the way forward. Like King Cnut who sat on a throne by the waves and commanded the tide turn, only our king really means it and is making us all wait with him for it to happen.

We are too easy to play against and are making some very below average sides look very very good when they turn up to grind us down for a point. Last night was so so close to the Stoke game, we have turned 4 consecutive left corners and are stuck in the same position and direction as we were then. The job is too big, and his stubbornness is dragging this fiasco out longer than it should have been allowed.

Tired tired tired!
 
All of the above for me mate.

The 'No Width' one stands out though.

People bang on about 'Oh no Barkley on the wing again' when they see the starting line up. But he never is. He's never in a wingers position. And same with the one on the other side, although a lot less if it's Mirallas. What makes it worse is that the other options are McGeady or Atsu. They would play on the wing, but aren't very good at football sadly.

I can see the reason behind it. Barkley plays left mid or right mid, which should allow Coleman or Baines to use that wing. Well that isn't happening as much, probably because teams are well aware of this as a main threat of ours.

The fact he won't change this is a real worry. Teams are very wise to how to play against us, and to not change it is borderline insanity.
 
Too many egos in the squad in the moment pulling in too many directions.

There needs to be a refocussing in Qatar. A bit of time and perspective to get everything out in the open then rebuild the teams psyche and confidence. Anyone not onboard can go, all for on and one for all.
 

GrandOldTeam said:
Well?...

Personally;
  • Balance. Or lack of in the final 1/3. Too many players given creative license. Round Pegs, Square Holes. Barkley, or Naismith. Not both. It seems we're trying to play three number tens. Example vs West Brom, Mirallas, Barkley and Naismith - interchanging every other minute, with Mirallas and Naismith constantly drifting central, causing;
  • No Width. Naismith operated out wide and was a 'boo-boy' under Moyes. Martinez moved him central last season and he was a revelation. He's poor out wide... and that lack of width is isolating our full backs, time and time again Coleman/Baines would pickup possession and have no easy go to ball. It's not a coincidence that both our full backs have gone to the dogs this season.
  • Flexibility. We're just too predictable. I admire Martinez' philosophy of mastering your own style and you'll win more than you lose but occasionally, you need to adapt. It's part of the game, adjusting to outwit your opponent. Example. Two defensive, holding midfielders at home vs 10 men behind the ball. Not for me.
  • Lukaku. Any striker in world football would struggle in our side. We just don't play to his strengths/look to find him anywhere as early as we should. Andy Gray called it. Add to having a poacher in Naismith, a 'ball greed' (What?) in Mirallas and a confidence shot Barkley in support (Who had a 95% pass rate vs West Brom, but 78/82 passes all 'safe'...
  • Rebuild. Martinez will have learnt more about his players this season than last. Remove the deadwood and damaging characters.
Getting off the fence for a moment, I think any talk of removing Martinez is irrelevant. We're Everton and with Kenwright, it's never going to happen - certainly not after signing a five year deal in June. Only relegation would see him outcast, so ride it out, rebuild over the summer. Evaluate after the first 10 PL games.
Click to expand...

We lack width and balance because we don't have any decent wingers, Its that simple, McGeady is an awful footballer, Atsu is worse than McGeady if that's possible and Oviedo is a LB, I can't remember him ever playing well on the wing

I honestly think we have looked more flexible in the three games prior to last night, Lukaku has been used a lot better and we had been moving the ball forward at pace, We looked like the Everton of last season in spells

That was impossible to do last night when you have a wall of 10 players on the edge of there own box refusing to come out and play football, You are forced to be patient and probe, Trouble is we do not have players anywhere good enough to split defences open or play neat one/two's in and around the box, Chelsea had the same problem when they played Sunderland the other month, Stoke beat City away from home with the same tactic, Its horrible to play against and Everton have struggled to break teams down at Goodison for years
 
You've summed it up as I see it there. I'd also add - Team Spirit - this seems to be dissolving by the week, I'm deeply concerned that the issues you've raised will only be addressed by a change of leadership both on and off the pitch. But as you've noted, Kenwright is unlikely to follow this course. Therefore plenty of nails will be bitten before the season ends.
 
I look at how Spurs have improved with the introductions of their youngsters-
Kane, Bentaleb, Mason.
3 players I considered as being acts of desperation by Sherwood/Pochetino- really not good enough
But all of them have really improved Spurs by solving specific issues and addressing specific roles. None of them are played in several positions. They have a direct function and in doing them they are aiding the team and improving as players.
Even Wenger's use of Coquelin to address a particular functional problem is something Roberto doesnt seem to want to do.

Roberto uses the same players all the time, in all situations. Barkley/Mirallas/Naismith/Lukaku/Eto'o all take turns doing all the advanced roles at any time in any game. Barry is CDM, CB, LB, CM. Barkley has had a shift further back also. Baines has been in central midfield.
Roberto (who i still support fully- i feel any talk of him facing the axe is silly. give him to the end of the season) has his system. he has his footballing principles- a way the game must be played. So he can actually picture the system at work regardless of personnel i imagine? To me it just seems rather at odds with what he's doing of rotating players into every position as if EFC are some kind of olden day total football Ajax team.
If Naismith is the best option to fulfil a WINGER'S function at the club at the moment- GET A WINGER, or change the system.

I know this is why I'm so frustrated. It's easy to play as Barcelona when you're Barcelona. When your placing our current Everton shaped players into Barcelona shaped holes, it leaves a lot to be desired.
So if Roberto is not willing to buy players who will address the needs of the system- then change the system until such a point where our personnel can play the system.
 

We all have our views but looking at the thread opener, highlighting, balance, width, flexibility and the use of players, the common theme in all this is the managerial style, back to the manger again. This is where the problem resides.
 
Agree with everything you've listed. I'd also include pace/speed of thought. Our build up play is ponderous beyond belief. The first time passing of last year has gone, there seems minimal movement and possession is now an aim in itself.
 
The width thing is key, most noticeably down the right where Coleman is a shadow of his former self from the last 2 seasons. Last year he was bombing on with aplomb and causing havoc. Now he looks unsure and even when he does get forward he is also taking one touch too many as is in fitting with the rest of the side.

Funnily enough we actually missed McGeady last night and he probably would have made a difference in my opinion.

So last night we were missing McGeady, McCarthy, Osman and Peinaar. McCarthy is an obvious starter, but you could actually make a case for all 4 of those starting if fully fit, if only to bring balance and a little calmness and the ability in opening up a defence.

Confidence is a massive thing in football and Coleman and Barkley look completely devoid of it. The only players who look like taking the fight on last night for me were Besic and Barry.

Naismith was awful and I agree it's him or Barkley for that role.

I think we will be too good to go down, but only because the sides below us like Villa and QPR are probably worst.
 

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