Thats the defining bit for me.
They never have; no matter whether its here, Wigan or Swansea. They simply arent set up to defend and teams need to be able to defend and attack.
I personally thought he would adjust at Everton; a massive opportunity for him and one where hopefully he would grow as a manager and adapt. But I just dont see it and despite all the wonderful football, the attacking intent, we simply need to be able to defend better and I dont think he has it in his locker to sort it.
Yes we are a team/squad which is evolving, but, and this is key to it for me, were still making the same mistakes as two years ago. Our young kids need to play, we all agree on that, but they also need to be tactically naive, disciplined and learn from mistakes.
Spurs kids make mistakes once, they dont do it again. Ours make mistakes five or six times. They carry on doing it.
I dont see it happening. There is no fear factor and they I know for a fact the players operate in a safe environment where mistakes arent frowned upon as much as other teams. Yes it carries its advantages, but five or six times down the line, it becomes habit and routine.
I am also worried about his selection policy; aside from the pathetic treatment of both Howard and Robles, both in the time it took to drop Howard and the failure to give Joel his chance, I dont get how Osman can play in a semi final despite not being deemed good enough to play at all, all season, the lack of Aaron Lennon all season, the Kone stubborness and the total exclusion of Mirallas from first team duties except for 10 mins here and there.
I too question our fitness. If were not going to bother on set pieces, at least compensate for it by being an ultra fit team who hound the other team for 90 minutes. We seemingly do neither.
I get the feeling that should we win something, it will mostly be through good fortune, a one off brilliant performance rather than a concerted evolution of a team made up of experienced pro's and talented kids. We arent evolving , were treading water still, only this time in a slightly more fancy manner.
I really want him to succeed, hes a lovely guy, clearly talented but he has glaring weaknesses which I dont think he is prepared to correct. Players know it, fans know it and the opposition knows it. Hes like Rodgers; limited and not really going anywhere.
