Everton, the media, and perception

[Pabbers]

Yes but look at the reverse, a team like Liverpool get that stuff without finishing 4th, they've been mediocre for a time now but still get loads of coverage.

That is because they have millions & millions & millions of "fans" all over the UK and the World.

Mention LFC and you will get huge viewing numbers.

It's all about the numbers.

 

[johnnydawg68]

Being a fan in the states you don't get quite the bias. It still exists but it is great to see articles like this


http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=everton&id=1854

Well Luke O'Farrell is a hard core Blue and he is the official Everton ESPN Blogger. His stuff is great, but that wasn't an article, it was his regular blog.

 

[bcblue1878]

To be honest I couldn't care less about the media coverage, BUT it might allow us to sign better players. Perception is huge when it comes to the transfer market. Anyone think Deulofeu would be with us were Moyes still in charge?

Deulofeu definitely would not be here, I suspect neither would Lukaku! Not sure Barkley would be getting anything like the game time he has been, and I reckon Distin would be playing left back!

And like many others on here i couldn't care less about the media and what they think, the longer we stay under their radar the better!

 

[dholliday]

Somehow in the last few years Spurs bave gone from midtable also rans to a "big club" Could tonight's result be the beginning of a similar transition by Everton?

Yes, it could. The Graun features two analysis-articles not on the failures of Arsenal, but on the success of Everton (and Martinez):

Everton's comprehensive 3-0 win over Arsenal showed their power

The Everton manager's switch of the system for Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith reaps rewards


There is obviously some focus on Arsenal too, but plenty of choice cuts about us. The second article is quoted in full:

In truth, Everton schooled Arsenal with a lesson that made Wenger appear the student manager and Martínez the man with a 1,003 games on his club CV.

The move that created the opener was an illustration of many of the telling differences between the philosophies espoused by the Spaniard and Wenger. From a left channel where he wreaked havoc all day, Leighton Baines hit an instant pass behind the visiting defence. Romelu Lukaku's shot at Wojciech Szczesny rebounded to Steven Naismith, and the Scotland forwward rolled the finish home. The pace of this sequence was what killed Arsenal. Martínez may like the slick and pretty stuff but it comes with power and an end-product.

Martínez has all of his players singing the same tune.

This was a confident, and potentially pivotal, Everton victory, which demonstrated Roberto Martínez's strategic brilliance perfectly. The Spanish manager is consistently praised for his overall football philosophy, demanding ball retention and positive attacking play, but he's also a methodical tactician too. He reshaped Everton's formation and caused Arsenal constant problems.

The Everton teamsheet did not suggest a grand tactical surprise but it quickly became apparent that the regular centre-forward, Romelu Lukaku, was playing from the right flank, Kevin Mirallas was switched to the left and the winger Steven Naismith was the closest thing to a centre-forward, a position he had previously only played in an emergency.

The precise approach was more complex: Naismith was playing as a false nine, dropping off into midfield and tempting the Arsenal centre-backs up the pitch. In turn, Mirallas and Lukaku attacked in behind the full-backs. Arsenal were utterly baffled by the system they were playing against in the opening 15 minutes. At one point, Thomas Vermaelen tracked his compatriot Lukaku towards the opposite side of the pitch – a left-sided centre-back being dragged over to the right-back zone by an opposition right-winger. Arsenal could not deal with the movement.

Arsenal's secondary problem was the fluidity between Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and, to a lesser extent, Lukas Podolski. This repeatedly meant their right flank was unguarded, which played perfectly into the hands of Leighton Baines, who attacked constantly from left-back. Bacary Sagna was pulled up the pitch to confront him, Per Mertesacker was then dragged out wide to cope with Mirallas, while Vermaelen was outfoxed by Naismith's clever movement, and Nacho Monreal simply could not cope with Lukaku's power and directness. Too frequently Arsenal were defending three versus three and were exposed readily.

Equally, Everton blunted Arsenal's own possession play. Naismith dropped off alongside early substitute Ross Barkley to pack the centre of the pitch, while Mirallas and Lukaku shuffled back to create a six-man midfield, establishing a solid block Arsenal were unable to play through and unwilling to play directly past. When Arsenal's midfielders received the ball, they encountered a determined Everton capable of physical challenges.

Martínez has acquired a reputation as a fine user of substitutes, with Everton often rallying in the latter stages. But his players demonstrated their authority throughout the first half and completed the scoring after an hour – in terms of both strategy and timing, Everton are capable of winning matches in various ways.

 

[Ihaters]

Media hype is useful for many reasons, we are not seen as a massive club because we havn't won anything in a long time, ergo hard to portray us as winners.
The better we are perceived though, the better our chances at gaining fans, gaining televised games, and gaining better sponsors. We are currently being seen as a club doing well, with a great history and good fanbase, I read and hear this constantly when we are being talked about. We are not seen as challengers to anything, because we simply don't challenge for anything and a lot of fans only want to support winners, sponsors only want to be associated with the best and until we are that, until we win something, or until we are part of the Europes elite competition I don't see how that will change, even with a great style of football.

Would you consider Southampton a massive club at the moment?

 

[mglennon]

The key thing is, ignore the media, ignore that god forsaken club down the road, we are Everton and we are on the rise.