Never seen anything like it. Evertonians seem to be changing. Years ago when the likes of Alex Young and Duncan McKenzie - artists rather than artisans - were drummed out of a team by a manager, the fans took the side of the players in question because they embodied the artistry the club were known to cherish. Now many/most fans seem to be four-square behind a manager doing the drumming out.
Tactical systems should be built to incorporate these artists in the team. So what if he doesn't track back or press, Idrissa Gueye can't put a ball on a plate for Rom 2 to 3 times s match but doesn't get slated for it. Sadly nearly every manager now consigns flair players to the wing where their defensive frailties do the least damage but they still end up annoying them so they move back to these defensive mid heavy formations.
Want to blame anyone? Blame the likes of Klopp Pochettino Simeone etc. who have basically perfected anti football. It used to be that you'd get cultural clashes, a free flowing Arsenal v long ball Stoke etc. Both styles could co exist and whichever side executed it better would win the day. What the three above preach is the destruction of the other teams football, run like dogs and get in their faces so quickly that any passing football is pretty much impossible. Even probably the greatest free flowing possession midfield of all time in Xavi Iniesta Busquets have been neutered by this. What it does is forces the other team to get to that level, to clear any ball upfield quickly and run after that even harder. Any team that dares not conform gets absolutely destroyed like Arsenal Spurs and us all have done trying to play possession football at Anfield.
The bottom sides have learnt how to counter it. Sit deep and let them have the ball, don't build any attack of your own, just turn them round with the long ball continuously until they make a mistake.
The first half of the Derby at Goodison saw us match up to Liverpool in this respect, McCarthy and Gueye tearing after Can and Henderson in a battle of yarddogs. As soon as we reduced the intensity with Barry coming on we were so worried about getting caught on the ball we just sat off.
Sadly in all these different scenarios a player like Deulofeu doesn't fit. If even the greatest are now being stifled by the yarddogs of the football circuit, whatjope for a player as streaky as Deulofeu? I thought Guardiola's Barca would bring around the rebirth of the attacking football we all love to watch and what this club is based on. Sadly it just spawned a complete overreaction to it from managers now considered geniuses for nothing better than implementing a hard running game but with class players. In my eyes the likes of Klopp Pochettino Simeone regardless of the trophies they win are actually worse exponents of percentage football than any of the old dinosaurs like Pulis Bruce or Allardyce. At least the old school actually back their style no matter how ugly it is to watch and involves a little bit of trying to create something yourself. Drilling 10 outfield players just to do nothing but harangue the opposition for 90 minutes is cowardly and anti football. When poor teams give Liverpool the ball they struggle to create anything attacking wise for themselves.
If Liverpool played Atletico in Europe I wouldn't be surprised if both sides left the ball in the centre circle waiting for the other team to take possession. That sadly is the direction they have now taken the game. Unless you're armed with Messi Iniesta and Xavi you can't play football against it, even with these you might still get done. What hope does a talent like Deulofeu have in this environment?
