Egos and their correlation to our form ?

[sportbillyblue]

I know it's a relatively logical correlation to make, I suppose I'm trying to understand the reasons why it is allowed to happen.

My theory per se is that whenever we as a team get talked up big, certain players too (thnks Anichebe, Osman to an extent) it is often followed by a slump in form / loss of focus and direction / both. IMO Moyes is no different, especially of late.

At the start of the season not many outside of Goodison rated our chances of finishing any higher than 7th. common consensus was that our rivals had improved more than we had. We soon prove those assumptions / predictions wrong, play some lovely football and surprise most. Media et al jumps on the bandwagon and whilst the wheels may not have fallen off, there is at least an alignment issue.

Our top consistent performers such as Baines, Felli, Jags appear to remain largely unaffected and reasonaby consistent, it is the lesser lights that 'struggle'.

Is it egos if not what is it ? whatever it is can it not be foreseen and managed properly cos it happens every ****ing season ?

 

[Steve Wigan]

Its a good point you make...and it doesn't seem to be something that happens at other clubs, particularly the 'top' clubs. There could be various reasons, but my opinion is that in the main, it could be down to Moyes inability to use the squad system and keep players fresh. This is not necessarily his fault, it may be that the lack of squad depth restricts his options in his mind. In the Prem,he ALWAYS plays his best available team, or the team that he considers to be his 'first eleven' At clubs were every week there are top class internationals sitting on the bench, it is easier to rotate.Its only in cup games against lowly opposition that Moyes is brave enough to give fringe players a go. He has a basic 'first eleven' while the top four have a 'first fifteen' or more. It gets back to finance...it always does...we can't afford the likes of Nani, etc to have them sit on the bench for long periods. Its why we need another striker, another midfielder, and possibly another versatile defender, but they need to be players who can either start in the prem, or slot in seamlessly.

 

[davek]

The group cant handle expectation. They fold or dip in form when there's even a possibility of making a big impact. We have no dominant leader on the pitch and the manager strikes me as someone who'd convey pressure onto them rather than inspire them.

 

[Timak]

Are we inconsistent.

We've finished on pretty much the same points and same positions almost every year over a 10 year period.

We've lost 3 of 33 league games and accumulated the third most points of any team in the year 2012 (more than the European Champions).

The reason we can't do more than we are currently doing is if we have injuries we have a large drop off in ability from our replacements. A fit Mirallas offers SO much more than whoever replaces him. Likewise Gibson sitting in midfield transforms our ability to keep the ball.

The frustration is if we did have a budget as big as Aston Villa we could bring in the extra midfielder, winger and striker we need and the we'd be serious challengers.

 

[bluejock]

The group cant handle expectation. They fold or dip in form when there's even a possibility of making a big impact. We have no dominant leader on the pitch and the manager strikes me as someone who'd convey pressure onto them rather than inspire them.

Nailed it here.

 

[sheeds]

I think as usual davek makes some good points , there is a huge difference from ' chasing ' to being the ones expectation is loaded upon and it's a whole different style of management and even character that's needed. How many times do we see clubs chase down a team then once they achieve that they buckle under the pressure of expectations. In my opinion It's one of the factors that'll have an influence of whether 'Big' clubs look to Moyes.

To be honest though I think the inability to freshen the squad , whether in bringing in new signings or bringing them off the bench is probably as if not more important . Look at the boost last year the new boys had , not just in their adding to squad depth but also as any new arrivals change the dynamic in the dressing room. I know it's a cliche but we seem to be looking a 'bit leggy' and a couple of new faces would be just the ticket however I'm not too confident it'll happen.

I do think Mirallas makes a huge difference though as simple as it sounds , I was overseas for the Swansea game but watched them almost double up on pienaar and baines something they simply couldn't have done had Mirallas been on the other flank. I think it's about a number if issues including mentality , attitude and players.

 

[allezlesbleus]

I think as usual davek makes some good points , there is a huge difference from ' chasing ' to being the ones expectation is loaded upon and it's a whole different style of management and even character that's needed. How many times do we see clubs chase down a team then once they achieve that they buckle under the pressure of expectations. In my opinion It's one of the factors that'll have an influence of whether 'Big' clubs look to Moyes.

To be honest though I think the inability to freshen the squad , whether in bringing in new signings or bringing them off the bench is probably as if not more important . Look at the boost last year the new boys had , not just in their adding to squad depth but also as any new arrivals change the dynamic in the dressing room. I know it's a cliche but we seem to be looking a 'bit leggy' and a couple of new faces would be just the ticket however I'm not too confident it'll happen.

I do think Mirrallas makes a huge difference though as simple as it sounds , I was overseas for the Swansea game but watch them almost double up on pienaar and baines something they simply couldn't have done had Mirrallas been on the other flank. I think it's about a number if issues including mentality , attitude and players.

I agree with a lot of that. Osman is an example of a guy who has played very well this season but he can't be at top form all games all season. A bit of sluggishness across the midfield has us defending too deep, standing off teams a little and reducing our good possession. think we are beginning to see that atm. however gibbo, seamus and kev all back for 12-15 games would certainly help........yep wishful thinking I guess.

 

[sportbillyblue]

Then it's not so much a problem with egos more one of limited ambition, lack of belief and confidence to push onto that higher level .. and this is a reflection of the manager ?

 

[evilwebby]

Yes, agree totally with the OP.
As soon as our players get within touching distance of those higher places they start to believe their own press and forget how they played in order to get there. Result: disjointed and bottled performances that result in dropped points. As soon as the ego takes over thanks to the league position, they believe they have a right to win against the smaller teams, they don't fight as hard, and so the performance suffers.

It's a glass ceiling, but it's a mental one as much as anything else.

 

[tim cahill]

Think the problem lies in the lack of depth in our squad. We've struggled whenever Gibson is out, we aren't as creative without Mirallas and Jelavic has been crap for 3 months but we've had no one to replace him with.

 

[sportbillyblue]

my initial thoughts were based on my own experience to an extent especially in sports cos when I was about to push onto another level, nice write-ups in the paper etc. invariably it would go to my head and I'd either get above myself and **** up or simply rest on my laurels.

I was once benched for a final after single-handed getting the team there. i was seething but with hindsight know that the manager made the right decision. Therefore based on my experience the solution was squad rotation and good management.

I think the same happens in the workplace too.

That this happens so much at Everton and seemingly with the same players it has to down to poor management. I think Moyes is a good manager just at times it all gets abpve him and he loses the plot.

 

[Timak]

Then it's not so much a problem with egos more one of limited ambition, lack of belief and confidence to push onto that higher level .. and this is a reflection of the manager ?

No.

It is a reflection of other teams having budgets 3x as large as us and better players.

No amount of belief from our manager would see us finish above teams with lots of much better players in their squads over a 38 game season.

We are massively overachieving for our resources as will become crystal clear when Moyes does move on.

 

[Jags..class]

No.

It is a reflection of other teams having budgets 3x as large as us and better players.

No amount of belief from our manager would see us finish above teams with lots of much better players in their squads over a 38 game season.

We are massively overachieving for our resources as will become crystal clear when Moyes does move on.

This
Brendon has now spend 20 million this transfer and is still after Ince where Moyes got to look in the second hand shops for bargains.

 

[samcdavies94]

I think some of the players don't perform as well, when under pressure. As soon as the media picks up on our potential league position, we don't perform as well as before.

As far as Osman is concerned, I think it's just inconsitency. A lot of players who have similar attributes to Osman are'nt consitent. Players like David Silva (I know he's miles better than Osman) have games where they don't get involved much. But they are still useful to have. It's just that ty[pe of player isn't really consistent in my opinion

 

[sportbillyblue]

No.

It is a reflection of other teams having budgets 3x as large as us and better players.

No amount of belief from our manager would see us finish above teams with lots of much better players in their squads over a 38 game season.

We are massively overachieving for our resources as will become crystal clear when Moyes does move on.

I've not dismissed a cause being lack of funds but that's far too obvious. We were far superior in the first quarter of the season than lately, same players, same everything, we look like we're about to make that next big step, everyone's bigging us up as a team and then several players suffer a serious drop in form, Moyes seems bereft of the right ideas and tactics and this has been the case for at least the past month if not longer.

Yes we need to freshen up the squad but have severely limited funds but is it not in a man's nature that if his job / ststus is threatened because of the possibility of a new arrival, he gets his arse into gear and makes himself indispensable to his employers / fans ?

I think Davek and Sheeds nailed it and IMO the manager should start doing the job he's paid for and sort it out.