" Robertos change of tactic"

[Dithering Dougie]

Simply put he couldn't change it any sooner because of our awful injury crisis we've suffered all year, the defence and midfield have suffered from their strongest and most competitive players struggling with niggling injuries all season. Now hopefully we're over that he can pick his strongest line up and make us either tough to beat or dynamic and expansive depending on our opponents strengths and weakness.

Its just a matter of having more options.

 

[deipnosophist]

I think we are playing more exciting football again and whilst I like our 'easy on the eye' style, I would prefer we maintain a more defensive posture until we get to 40 points.

 

[marty mcfly]

The big thing that has changed from last year is that the players aren't quite as good. Barry is slower resulting in us dropping deeper and Naismith and McGeady aren't as careful with the ball as Pienaar and Osman meaning we turn over possession cheaply resulting in more counter attacks against us that again also means Barry needs to stay back when we attack otherwise his pace will be exploited.

At least Roberto has recognized that and has changed us to be dare I say it more Moyes and not as vulnerable to the counter. Now all he needs to do is recognize some of his favourites aren't quite good enough to play the way he wants.

 

[Khalekan]

Rubbish, we have our players back now and our performances have improved no end.
there are at least 5-6 teams below us that are struggling, we are now miles ahead of them in terms of performances, quality, ability to score and ability to keep a clean sheet

You lost me at rubbish.

Try and be a bit less confrontational and downright rude if you wish to converse with me.

Thank you.

 

[SpurtingLesbian]

You lost me at rubbish.

Try and be a bit less confrontational and downright rude if you wish to converse with me.

Thank you.

I apologise for deigning to disagree with your almighty footballing wisdom.

You are correct as always, we are Doomed. YAY!

 

[mikel_88]

Dont think we had a good pre season not enough games after the wc, it will be a big summer with several players who could leave, as people have said we need new players at cb,wingers and playmaker (hopefully not cleverley). I also hope we can use the loan market which was great the first season,

 

[Jacob]

Rubbish, we have our players back now and our performances have improved no end.
there are at least 5-6 teams below us that are struggling, we are now miles ahead of them in terms of performances, quality, ability to score and ability to keep a clean sheet

Positivity is usually a plus and I do think we have improved - especially in defence. However, it takes no more than a little run of wins or a little run of defeats for a team to move about the table like a ping pong ball in a bingo machine. We are hovering at the moment and we need wins to get away from the relegation candidates. Id only rubbish mention of the R word when we have the luxury of the points in the bag...and at present we haven't. The reality is that we are only a win and two draws - points wise - above the bottom four...not my kind of cushion.

 

[Seanjd]

Becoming defensively sound isn't a "change if tactic". We were airtight at the back for much of last season.

What's happened is that defenders have started defending again.

You said Pulis should be banned from football for employing very similar tactics at Goodison. We turned up hopeful of a draw, potentially nicking a win. As did West Brom against us.

 

[MartSlinger]

You said Pulis should be banned from football for employing very similar tactics at Goodison. We turned up hopeful of a draw, potentially nicking a win. As did West Brom against us.

Its different when its against the League leaders and eventual Champions and against the Leagues most in form team in Liverpool. The way we were playing West Brom didnt really need to play the way they did against us.

 

[matty1878]

You said Pulis should be banned from football for employing very similar tactics at Goodison. We turned up hopeful of a draw, potentially nicking a win. As did West Brom against us.

Yearh exactly this good post

 

[The Mighty Quint]

We are once again solid and very hard to break down, I would not swop Besic and McCarthy for any DM's in the league, and I am starting to feel the same about Jags and Stones, who look brilliant together, they are really creating a good partnership.

Martinez biggest problem now is to get the offense sorted, and it is very easy, but he will not drop his fav's in Barry and Naismith and if he does not realise this we will still struggle to create and score.

This is what he should play now.

McCarthy Besic​

Lennon Ross/Kone Mirallas​

Lukaku​

That is an absolutely storming formation full of balance, there is no place for Naismith anymore, he's just not good enough in the final third to keep attacks going, impact sub he is, not a starter.

 

[ah11984]

I think we are playing more exciting football again and whilst I like our 'easy on the eye' style, I would prefer we maintain a more defensive posture until we get to 40 points.

 

[deipnosophist]

The creative heart of our team (Naismith) gets shifted about too much imo. His best position is behind the striker where he can play Lukaku in. Lately though, his normally assured passing has gone a bit down the dunny due to his frequent positional shifts. Put him in his best position, and keep him there. The other tweak I would like to see is Barry being rested more often. I believe he still has a lot to offer but at his age, lacks the stamina for 1 game a week (or more)

 

[zandvoort blue]

The creative heart of our team (Naismith) gets shifted about too much imo. His best position is behind the striker where he can play Lukaku in. Lately though, his normally assured passing has gone a bit down the dunny due to his frequent positional shifts. Put him in his best position, and keep him there. The other tweak I would like to see is Barry being rested more often. I believe he still has a lot to offer but at his age, lacks the stamina for 1 game a week (or more)

give it a rest now, Deipno lad, eh?
my fear is that Martinez actually reads this and thinks 'hey, the fans think I'm right!'

 

[Thuck ma Baws]

Although he's changed it now with 14 games left you have to ask why didn't he sooner? Yes he's realized we're not Wigan and had to shore us up (Moyes esque dare I say)but were also not winning games neither and his past how many games prove that.So we stay up (we hope) then what weres the middle ground? We get messi to teach lukaku? We ask Chelsea/city how they always win games often?

Obviously ( we don't) but I'm stating here that
Only Roberto knows what's changed from last season to this and it must be addressed for the future.

Since this change to a more defensive way of playing we've got 4 points from 3 games, the only loss coming to the best team in the league away in the last minute to a deflected 20 yard shot. We're in bad form, we're playing our way out of it. Don't get this at all.