Everton v Liverpool. 7th Feb at 17.30.

[kithnou]

I'm surprised after the last month and a half that we've endured that people are slating Martinez to try and take it back to basics and get the defensive side of things sorted out before we become more expansive. Don't think we were good by any stretch of the imagination but we need to get a solid defensive base back before we can focus on becoming the free flowing attacking team that we saw last season, Martinez has realised that following the start to our season we need to go back to go forwards and if that means grinding out boring 0-0's against the team that were joint top of the European form table going into this game to gradually get back to how we were then im perfectly happy with that.

Yes. Been saying it all season. Need to start at the back. Solid defences win titles/things in general. Fix that first with the right personnel and system and the rest will come.
Stones has made a big difference...as has, dare I say it, Robles

 

[Zatara]

Passing to opposition or passing backwards, do a 'stuart barlow' for most of the game. He was like another player for them to break our attacks down.

worst player on the pitch ? staggering

 

[pablo aimar]

I actually think this type of game puts Barkley at his strengths. A little less focus on defending and more emphasis on the counter. Barkley has more trouble when the box is packed and he cant run by people.

Yeah i understand what your saying but a stray pass in the wrong aera , or getting nipped would be sucidide in this game, Naismith plays his limitations and the per centages better , if Barkley done a silly mistake early it really would have killed us. But your right he does suit the counter attacking free moving game better

 

[ThebanksoftheBramleyMoore]

I actually think this type of game puts Barkley at his strengths. A little less focus on defending and more emphasis on the counter. Barkley has more trouble when the box is packed and he cant run by people.

I think the decision was correct to start Naismith however Barkley should have replaced Naismith a lot earlier in my opinion. Barkley does appear to play best on the break but his inability to break down opposition team isn't helped by how thin we have been playing a lot this season which allows teams to compress and contain relatively easily.

 

[Huyton Layne]

Spot on regarding the ref. Shockingly he actually had a decent game and I can't stand the tit. That's 4 wins and 3 draws so maybe he's a closet blue after all!

The terrible call I remember , which is a good thing I guess, was an advantage played when the ball end up about 40 yds toward our goal and would have given a decent position for a set piece. But yeah could have been much much worse

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

 

[Fuleco]

That's a great [Poor language removed] point.

 

[ExpatinBangkok]

Bangkok, based evertonian here.

First time I have been annoyed with martinez- subs our most in form player (besic) and only brings barkley on with 3 minutes to go. Naismith doesn't add much (he is always the first player to be sold with Kone FIFA 15

 

[Huyton Layne]

Stole from Twitter, unsure if true also but I'm taking it as gospel

Jags and John Stones have now played the full 90 minutes together 11 times this season. and we haven't lost any of them.

 

[kithnou]

Stole from Twitter, unsure if true also but I'm taking it as gospel

Jags and John Stones have now played the full 90 minutes together 11 times this season. and we haven't lost any of them.

How dare you post that without a relevant pie chart supporting your argument? Get on it...

 

[The Dunc]

After a shocking start this tray, nothing has worked. I believe Martinez is right to get solid defence first, then start again when confidence is up.
We're getting there, and lukaku will come good when service to him gets better. This will be just in time for Europa league. Forget the rs for this year, they've taken nothing from us.

 

[royvernon39]

RM decided to park the bus. OK. A page out of DM's tactics. But DM played like that in great part because he usually had technically limited players. We have Barkley for God's sake.

But with three defensive midfielders he selected Naismith who played as another midfielder. Lukaku had no support and no one to link with.

I know Naismith has lots of qualities but he is not an attacking threat. He has to be kicked out on Quality Control Concerns.

Looking back I think LFC were there for the taking.

On a separte point, losing StevieG is going to be a major blow for them. Even yesterday when it was clear that he is long past his best I expected him to lash one in.

 

[Igrok]

So, is it our plan B or just desperation? 3rd clean sheet i! a row though...

 

[royalbalou]

Stole from Twitter, unsure if true also but I'm taking it as gospel

Jags and John Stones have now played the full 90 minutes together 11 times this season. and we haven't lost any of them.

is wrong I'm afraid. Lost against ManU, Stoke and penos v Hammers

 

[hktoffee]

Two issues. If Garbutt has any future under Martinez, he would have started yesterday. And I hope Martinez will not stupid enough to give Alcaraz a new contract because he is not good and injured all the time.