Lee Carsley: Everton need a change in substance not style

[cadex]

Haven't always been a big fan but we could of done with Ossie and Hibbo right about now. Carsley is right - we need to get back to basics (ie. playing for the shirt).

 

[mkrudden]

He's trash and should have been binned in the summer just gone.

Stones plus another couple of new CBs are the way forward now. If there's one player who gets on my nerves more than Jagielka I dont know who it is. He's a liability as a defender and about the last person you'd pick to be a captain. He cant even motivate himself never mind his team mates.

I am 100% with you on Martinez. He has shown in his first season what we can do when he has everyone at his disposal.

Im not having that about Jagielka though. He's playing poorly, but its got nothing to do with talent (liability as a defender?!). He is suffering a dip in confidence. Simply that for me.

Last season he was brilliant until he suffered the injury he was rushed back from for the away derby. Why is that overlooked yet you quite rightly defend Martinez based on last seasons performance?

I dont understand why people think that footballers should just play well all of the time. There are two players in world football who dont seem to have had dips and they play for Spains top 2 clubs.

Its the same with Barry. Age wasnt an issue last year. This year everyone is saying his legs have gone rather than comprehending that he is just in poor form along with alot of the team.

 

[davek]

I am 100% with you on Martinez. He has shown in his first season what we can do when he has everyone at his disposal.

Im not having that about Jagielka though. He's playing poorly, but its got nothing to do with talent (liability as a defender?!). He is suffering a dip in confidence. Simply that for me.

Last season he was brilliant until he suffered the injury he was rushed back from for the away derby. Why is that overlooked yet you quite rightly defend Martinez based on last seasons performance?

I dont understand why people think that footballers should just play well all of the time. There are two players in world football who dont seem to have had dips and they play for Spains top 2 clubs.

Its the same with Barry. Age wasnt an issue last year. This year everyone is saying his legs have gone rather than comprehending that he is just in poor form along with alot of the team.

He's been unreliable for ages though. I cant recall a spell of games since before the end of last season where you think "yeah, he's been in great form". He's been average to poor for a long time. I dont know whether the stick he got with England has affected him in the summer, but even when he's been on the pitch you'd hardly notice. I accept he's guilty by association with a clearly past it Distin, but you could forgive that if he was one of those captains who really provides organisation and a boot up the arse to those around him. He doesn't though. We've needed a man of character on the pitch this past two months and he's proven beyond question he's not up to it. He rolls from one bad result to another with a calmness that freaks me out.

The feller has no redeeming features for me. He's a washout and we need to punt him and his partner in crime as soon as possible.

 

[catcherintherye]

He's been unreliable for ages though. I cant recall a spell of games since before the end of last season where you think "yeah, he's been in great form". He's been average to poor for a long time. I dont know whether the stick he got with England has affected him in the summer, but even when he's been on the pitch you'd hardly notice. I accept he's guilty by association with a clearly past it Distin, but you could forgive that if he was one of those captains who really provides organisation and a boot up the arse to those around him. He doesn't though. We've needed a man of character on the pitch this past two months and he's proven beyond question he's not up to it. He rolls from one bad result to another with a calmness that freaks me out.

The feller has no redeeming features for me. He's a washout and we need to punt him and his partner in crime as soon as possible.

I don't think he's ever quite been right after his knee injury. I also think he is not a particularly good thinking defender. His positioning is quite often a bit array and he doesn't communicate enough. Stones is now our bets centre half. I know he makes mistakes, but he is a real leader. I agree with you, we need to look to get a partner for him.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

The stick Jags is getting is nauseating, he's been trying to do the work of 2 men all season, as for the most part he's either been playing alongside Distin who's a busted flush or Alcaraz, who's as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

 

[mkrudden]

He's been unreliable for ages though. I cant recall a spell of games since before the end of last season where you think "yeah, he's been in great form". He's been average to poor for a long time. I dont know whether the stick he got with England has affected him in the summer, but even when he's been on the pitch you'd hardly notice. I accept he's guilty by association with a clearly past it Distin, but you could forgive that if he was one of those captains who really provides organisation and a boot up the arse to those around him. He doesn't though. We've needed a man of character on the pitch this past two months and he's proven beyond question he's not up to it. He rolls from one bad result to another with a calmness that freaks me out.

The feller has no redeeming features for me. He's a washout and we need to punt him and his partner in crime as soon as possible.

But i repeat mate, there hasnt been a point since the end of last season where we've thought "Everton are playing well". But yet you defend Martinez - again - rightly.

Every player in our side has been average to poor all season, perhaps with the exception of McCarthy and Stones.

He absolutely is suffering alongside Distin. For so long they could rely on each other to be positionally spot on. Everytime I have watched Distin this year he looks literally lost. I dont think Distin is finished, but I think he is making too many individual errors and additionally Stones is too good for him not to be displaced.

I dont buy into this "he's not a man of character" rubbish. He isnt the most vocal but he, when on form, leads by example.

I think with Stones next to him for a run of games things will improve. Its not going to happen overnight though. This squad's confidence is shot to pieces.

 

[cadex]

The stick Jags is getting is nauseating, he's been trying to do the work of 2 men all season, as for the most part he's either been playing alongside Distin who's a busted flush or Alcaraz, who's as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Jagz is like a Jag in need of a tyre change...burns a lot of rubber with his 35.99 km/hr sprints. Just sayin'.

 

[MACCA75]

The stick Jags is getting is nauseating, he's been trying to do the work of 2 men all season, as for the most part he's either been playing alongside Distin who's a busted flush or Alcaraz, who's as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Agreed. He's not been at his best since the World Cup but he is still a good defender. He's been our best defender since Dave Watson tbh.

 

[davek]

But i repeat mate, there hasnt been a point since the end of last season where we've thought "Everton are playing well". But yet you defend Martinez - again - rightly.

Every player in our side has been average to poor all season, perhaps with the exception of McCarthy and Stones.

He absolutely is suffering alongside Distin. For so long they could rely on each other to be positionally spot on. Everytime I have watched Distin this year he looks literally lost. I dont think Distin is finished, but I think he is making too many individual errors and additionally Stones is too good for him not to be displaced.

I dont buy into this "he's not a man of character" rubbish. He isnt the most vocal but he, when on form, leads by example.

I think with Stones next to him for a run of games things will improve. Its not going to happen overnight though. This squad's confidence is shot to pieces.

I accept your point about no one else having played well either. That's true. Maybe I just expect more from a captain, and I think that's right too. It's one thing being out of form yourself, but another thing being able to lead a team in the absence of that. If he cant do anything other than lead by example when he's playing well the that's not much cop for a skipper. It's when a team is playing badly that, regardless of personal form, they have to show themselves.

TBH, I felt embarrassed of late seeing someone at the club for 5 minutes like Eto'o going around getting stuck into officials when Jagielka is standing around with his hands on his hips observing some of these outrageous decisions we've been getting and saying nothing. He really is incapable of being a captain.

I dont know, maybe the task is too much for him and he'd play better if he was stripped of the captaincy.

 

[davek]

The stick Jags is getting is nauseating, he's been trying to do the work of 2 men all season, as for the most part he's either been playing alongside Distin who's a busted flush or Alcaraz, who's as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Yeah ok. What I find nauseating is you making light of so called Everton fans racially abusing someone on another thread.

 

[L4Everton]

Yeah ok. What I find nauseating is you making light of so called Everton fans racially abusing someone on another thread.

Can you point that stuff out to me mate, I'll happily report it. ASAP like.

 

[mkrudden]

I accept your point about no one else having played well either. That's true. Maybe I just expect more from a captain, and I think that's right too. It's one thing being out of form yourself, but another thing being able to lead a team in the absence of that. If he cant do anything other than lead by example when he's playing well the that's not much cop for a skipper. It's when a team is playing badly that, regardless of personal form, they have to show themselves.

TBH, I felt embarrassed of late seeing someone at the club for 5 minutes like Eto'o going around getting stuck into officials when Jagielka is standing around with his hands on his hips observing some of these outrageous decisions we've been getting and saying nothing. He really is incapable of being a captain.

I dont know, maybe the task is too much for him and he'd play better if he was stripped of the captaincy.

Honestly, I do agree with you - he should be playing better and you should expect a lot of the captain of our beloved club.

He is a bloody good player and I'm certain he will show it with Stones alongside him.

Let's reconvene in a few months mate