Martinez needs time

Zatara · March 21, 2015

A number of us were saying at the beginning of the season that this was a 'transitional' year and we'd expect a mid-table finish. The reason being that a lot of the players were a year older and potentially the younger players may have 'second season syndrome'. Also that Martinez would continue to mould the squad into his 'vision'.

It's interesting to look at the timeframe now with Martinez almost having had 2 seasons in charge. If we fast forward 2-3 seasons, which players could potentially be in the 1st team squad (I've highlighted the ones I believe may be there).

GK - Howard / Robles / Griffiths / Stanek
RB - Coleman / Hibbert / Jones / Pennington / Kenny
LB - Baines / Oviedo / Garbutt
CB - Jagielka / Distin / Alcaraz / Stones / Browning / Galloway
CM - McCarthy / Gibson / Besic / Barry / Ledson / Lundstram
AM - Barkley / Junior / Naismith / Osman
WM - McGeady / Mirallas / Atsu / Lennon / Pienaar / Dowell /Grant
ST - Lukaku / Kone / Long / Byrne / McAleny

At this moment in time we can possibly put these players into these 2 brackets of who we would expect to be a starter and those who we reserve judgement on (using Martinez current formation);

GK - ?
RB - Coleman
LB - Garbutt
CB - Stones
CB - ?
CM - McCarthy
CM - Besic
AM - Barkley
WM - ?
WM - ?
ST - Lukaku

Griffiths / Jones / Pennington / Kenny / Oviedo /Browning / Galloway / Ledson / Dowell / Grant / Long

Successful sides need continuity, in the 'potential' side, 3/7 players were bought by Martinez, so it appears he is addressing this issue whilst also bringing in 'stopgaps' who have clearly not worked out.

Over the next 2-3 years we need to either fill the 4 open positions with new-signings or youth. In addition we need to have a squad.

It's clear that if Howard, Distin, Barry and Mirallas had performed this season to the standards of last season we would be in a different position. It seems he was hoping that Distin and Barry performing would enable Galloway and Ledson some time to come through.

I think he should have the summer to get rid of a lot of players and bring in some quality additions to compliment the 7 above. I think after the summer we will see him stick to his principles and vision of the football style but will have gone out and brought in players who compliment this rather than those who were more suited to Moyes style.

Lets judge him when he has his own side, not Moyes side with stopgaps and 3 'real' signings of his own.

sageyefc · March 21, 2015

Ive always looked at it as a bigger picture a few years down the line.

Obviously if we're still struggling a few months into next year then its probably time to part ways but i think he should at least be given the opportunity

Woolly Blue · March 21, 2015

Lots of Martinez threads already mate
Might be better in https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/martinez-sentiment-poll-in-or-out.74367/ ?
:locked:

I'll copy your post over

Zatara said:
A number of us were saying at the beginning of the season that this was a 'transitional' year and we'd expect a mid-table finish. The reason being that a lot of the players were a year older and potentially the younger players may have 'second season syndrome'. Also that Martinez would continue to mould the squad into his 'vision'.

It's interesting to look at the timeframe now with Martinez almost having had 2 seasons in charge. If we fast forward 2-3 seasons, which players could potentially be in the 1st team squad (I've highlighted the ones I believe may be there).

GK - Howard / Robles / Griffiths / Stanek
RB - Coleman / Hibbert / Jones / Pennington / Kenny
LB - Baines / Oviedo / Garbutt
CB - Jagielka / Distin / Alcaraz / Stones / Browning / Galloway
CM - McCarthy / Gibson / Besic / Barry / Ledson / Lundstram
AM - Barkley / Junior / Naismith / Osman
WM - McGeady / Mirallas / Atsu / Lennon / Pienaar / Dowell /Grant
ST - Lukaku / Kone / Long / Byrne / McAleny

At this moment in time we can possibly put these players into these 2 brackets of who we would expect to be a starter and those who we reserve judgement on (using Martinez current formation);

GK - ?
RB - Coleman
LB - Garbutt
CB - Stones
CB - ?
CM - McCarthy
CM - Besic
AM - Barkley
WM - ?
WM - ?
ST - Lukaku

Griffiths / Jones / Pennington / Kenny / Oviedo /Browning / Galloway / Ledson / Dowell / Grant / Long

Successful sides need continuity, in the 'potential' side, 3/7 players were bought by Martinez, so it appears he is addressing this issue whilst also bringing in 'stopgaps' who have clearly not worked out.

Over the next 2-3 years we need to either fill the 4 open positions with new-signings or youth. In addition we need to have a squad.

It's clear that if Howard, Distin, Barry and Mirallas had performed this season to the standards of last season we would be in a different position. It seems he was hoping that Distin and Barry performing would enable Galloway and Ledson some time to come through.

I think he should have the summer to get rid of a lot of players and bring in some quality additions to compliment the 7 above. I think after the summer we will see him stick to his principles and vision of the football style but will have gone out and brought in players who compliment this rather than those who were more suited to Moyes style.

Lets judge him when he has his own side, not Moyes side with stopgaps and 3 'real' signings of his own.