Aiming for the Champions League? Damn Right!

[griffla]

Maybe Heitinga could become a more important part of the team

 

[Brennan]

We're a counter attacking team ? News to me.

I'm fairly sure all of the stats show that we tend to have either a good amount or the most possession and spend a lot of time in the opposition half, our issue is in making use of our time on the ball. We are no way a counter attacking team, we get everybody back for corners and Howard's focus when he gets the ball is always to allow the whole squad to move up the pitch rather than launching it quickly to a player in an advanced position.

 

[Allezfan]

Maybe Heitinga could become a more important part of the team

Maybe, but if so it won't be because of his passing abilities. He hoofs it just as much as the other two and with just as little effect.

 

[davek]

We're a counter attacking team ? News to me.

I'm fairly sure all of the stats show that we tend to have either a good amount or the most possession and spend a lot of time in the opposition half, our issue is in making use of our time on the ball. We are no way a counter attacking team, we get everybody back for corners and Howard's focus when he gets the ball is always to allow the whole squad to move up the pitch rather than launching it quickly to a player in an advanced position.

Shut it you.

 

[Brennan]

Shut it you.

Next you'll be saying Liverpool don't pass it about enough lid.

 

[davek]

Next you'll be saying Liverpool don't pass it about enough lid.

Now THAT's a team that plays possession football.

 

[Bluenose1995]

Aslong as that pretender jelavic isnt at GP next season and we sign a top class forward we may have a chance, he really pissed me off this season loathed him as much as neville

 

[MickM86]

Is it just me who wants the season to hurry up? I can't wait but in hindsight it's perfect for a martinez to prepare now and get everything ready. I don't know much about his back room staff and I'll use the next few weeks to learn. I'm still watching Wigan games to get an idea but its not helping my thoughts so I'm just gonna wait and maybe get to the pre season home game if there's one, anyone know?

I'm anticipating the fixtures and hoping for a boring away as I'm on holiday but if we are home, I'll be booking an early flight to get back. It's exciting and the feeling of anticipation mixes with that and nervousness.

Speaking of anticipation, who will his first signing be? If Leighton Baines pens a new deal, to me that would equate to a new signing for me as he would've had to sit down with him and talk about the imminent future. If Baines does leave, that'll be ammunition for the haters and only add fuel to their small minded way of thinking. To me and others, it'll be disappointment but at non fault of the manager. There is a lot of talk of signing Alacarez, now, I'm not 100% on him and I don't think he has the Everton character. First actual signing won't happen until around July in my opinion.

Targets: Well, if Moyes was still here it would be top 5 and the minimum of last four in the cups. Too much? No, not for Moyes, but for Martinez? Possibly, that is a lot of pressure to be under. How about top 8 and the quarter finals minimum in the cups? I'd say that's fair considering he has inherited a marvellous squad and he's got 2 months to prepare to hit the ground running. These champions league hopes he mentions? I can't see it because The teams around us are strengthening and even the RS are. To break the top four over the next 5 years will be harder than what it was last year. My opinion.

Bill Kenwright has to back him in this current climate and how can he possibly do that and compete? Year after year after year. We are Everton and we can't be a club that has to sell.

I will reserve judgement until Christmas, so should everybody else. I don't want to be on one of those dodgy BBC 3 programmes in years to come like "100 biggest flops in the Premiership" and at number 58 we have Roberto Martinez who took over at Everton, gave an overwhelming speech in his press conference and was sacked on the 22nd December for failing to win his last ten games and abolished all hopes of a European finish. I hope I never have to watch that programme.

That above comment was humour and it should be taken in a light hearted way, I already have feelings for Martinez and his face makes my heart beat. Just don't parade the FA CUP next year singing championis! We aren't Mancs we are Blues. We will teach you the songs over the season. Good luck and love from a very passionate Evertonian who will be behind you at all times! Can you see me? Ay, ay, I'm behind you! Look around, don't look down, I'm standing on your shoulder watching your every move! Rahhahaha

 

[Allezfan]

We're a counter attacking team ? News to me.

I'm fairly sure all of the stats show that we tend to have either a good amount or the most possession and spend a lot of time in the opposition half, our issue is in making use of our time on the ball. We are no way a counter attacking team, we get everybody back for corners and Howard's focus when he gets the ball is always to allow the whole squad to move up the pitch rather than launching it quickly to a player in an advanced position.

Agreed.

Exectutioners Bong's article here is my view on it.

We apparently spend more time in the oppositions final third than any other team in the league but don't capatilise on that with the amount of goals you'd expect, largely because in Eb's eyes we're too slow to get forward, so we allow their defence to sit back and wait for us, the exact oppsotie of how a coutner attackign team works.

From the article - "Everton score more and are better at converting chances when they’ve been territorially dominant – chance conversion is around 95% of that expected. This is compared to around 87% when Everton spend less than a third of their time in the attacking third."

We're a team that do better when we take the initiative, already. That's precisely why I've been calling for moyes to be more proactive.

Martinez doesn't need to change a team that likes to counter attack to one that doesn't, he just to needs to let a team that likes to dominate play do so.

 

[Allezfan]

Now THAT's a team that plays possession football.

We pass it more than them and play less long balls don't we?

Didn't we make gerrard look like an eejit over that.

 

[Brennan]

Agreed.

Exectutioners Bong's article here is my view on it.

We apparently spend more time in the oppositions final third than any other team in the league but don't capatilise on that with the amount of goals you'd expect, largely because in Eb's eyes we're too slow to get forward, so we allow their defence to sit back and wait for us, the exact oppsotie of how a coutner attackign team works.

From the article - "Everton score more and are better at converting chances when they’ve been territorially dominant – chance conversion is around 95% of that expected. This is compared to around 87% when Everton spend less than a third of their time in the attacking third."

We're a team that do better when we take the initiative, already. That's precisely why I've been calling for moyes to be more proactive.

Martinez doesn't need to change a team that likes to counter attack to one that doesn't, he just to needs to let a team that likes to dominate play do so.

So basically, when Pienaar runs to the right we need Mirallas to run to the left and Osman to zig zag up the pitch, then a killer through ball from Baines.

GOL GOL GOOOOOOOOOL JELAVIC GOOOOOOOOOLAZO

 

[Brennan]

We pass it more than them and play less long balls don't we?

Didn't we make gerrard look like an eejit over that.

I think Davek confused the word 'possession' with 's***e' mate.

 

[Allezfan]

So basically, when Pienaar runs to the right we need Mirallas to run to the left and Osman to zig zag up the pitch, then a killer through ball from Baines.

GOL GOL GOOOOOOOOOL JELAVIC GOOOOOOOOOLAZO

Make it more realistic.

Goal from Hibbert.

 

[Brennan]

Make it more realistic.

Goal from Hibbert.

UNBELIEVABLE JEFF !

 

[TheFinnFan]

Tubey, wonderfull stuff. Whats that pokemon!