No more feeble battle cries. It is time for war!

The Penalty Box Dancer · January 9, 2017

Everton 3-1 Chelsea

Everton 2-1 Manchester City

Everton 2-0 Chelsea

To name a few over recent years, a game when every player stepped up above the usual standard and delivered a battling performance for 90 minutes. When will Koeman deliver a performance like that?

We have seen many battles over the years when you could not decipher a man of the match as every player put more than their heart on the line but does Koeman have that in him to get that out of these players?

We bowed out of two cup competitions at the early stages this season and both defeats were utterly atrocious and disappointing to watch. In the league this season we saw our players battle out a 1-1 draw at the etihad but that is not entirely exactly what I'm talking about. I am not comparing Martinez to Koeman at all here but looking at how Martinez fired up the team and if Koeman can fire them up as well. Let's not turn this into a Martinez vs Koeman debate. However, I am sure the majority of us want to see an all out war for 3 points and there is no better time for it to come than this Sunday. Playing a Man City side who are on the back of a 5-0 away win against an Everton side that should be offering a hell of a lot more and not just 'second half performances'.

We have missed leadership on the field this season, someone who isn't afraid to grab these players by their necks and tell them what is required. If you look at Everton any time during a break in play there is no communication, lacklustre body language and an attitude that smells worse than the fellas bogs at the back of the gwladys. We, as fans do not know what we are turning up to each week, whether Koeman is going to go for the defensive mindset that saw us get a decent draw last time around or put in a performance that mirrors the one we saw last January in the first leg semi final. You may question are players are getting older, we've had the best out of the older lads blah blah but if one thing is for certain, Ronald has raised their fitness levels so there is no excuse as to why these players cannot go out there and soak that shirt with hard earned sweat.

Last season in the cup Mo Besic stole the show, he won't be playing this time around but there is a new young kid we have just signed and he will be eager to get out there and do something. Especially live on Sky and against elite opposition. Is it taking a risk in putting him in or do we give this lad his moment early on and try to play good football hopefully encouraging some players into life or do we bring him on the last 20 to run at tiring legs whilst raising the atmosphere? I know what I want to see and I don't just want to see individuals playing well either. This is the perfect time for Koeman to turn it around and its time these players made a statement for 90 minutes not just 45. Get your artillery and get out there!

Eggs · January 9, 2017

...another morning after the morning after a defeat thread.

squonk · January 9, 2017

FREEDOM!

The Penalty Box Dancer · January 9, 2017

Eggs said:
...another morning after the morning after a defeat thread.

We need to see a performance that we haven't seen in a long time. One where every player earns his stripes. We haven't seen that big performance yet this season. Now is the time

Ashtonian · January 9, 2017

Got to be honest i was expecting some sort of relationship follow up involving your GF and her ex.

ijjysmith · January 9, 2017

The Penalty Box Dancer said:
We need to see a performance that we haven't seen in a long time. One where every player earns his stripes. We haven't seen that big performance yet this season. Now is the time

Everton 2 Arsenal 1

The Penalty Box Dancer · January 9, 2017

ijjysmith said:
Everton 2 Arsenal 1

It wasn't it. Not for me.

Eggs · January 9, 2017

The Penalty Box Dancer said:
We need to see a performance that we haven't seen in a long time. One where every player earns his stripes. We haven't seen that big performance yet this season. Now is the time

..I'm all for that but the reality is things won't change until the team personnel changes. We tend to have close games, some we will win (like Arsenal), some we will lose (like Leicester in the cup and the Derby) and some we will draw (like Hull away).

Gwladysstreetlad · January 9, 2017

We already have delivered a performance under Koeman to put alongside all the ones you mention above. The 2-1 victory over Arsenal was as good a team performance as I've seen from these players in a very long time. The thing about two of the games you've selected there was that they weren't down team performances. The 3-1 over Chelsea last season was an inspired showing from Naismith which he scored a hat-trick and the FA Cup showing was drifting towards a 0-0 until Lukaku burst into life scored a wonderful solo goal and singlehandedly won us the game 2-0.

ijjysmith · January 9, 2017

Isn't the point more that these players can occasionally put in half decent performance, but they are once in a blue moon so surely that's the issue?

Not who is in charge.

bicycleheader · January 9, 2017

I like feeble battle cries

Alanbileysfeathercut · January 9, 2017

Is that lyrics from 99 red? Balloons

coollino · January 9, 2017

I feel a lot better now

Kiwi · January 9, 2017

The Penalty Box Dancer said:
Everton 3-1 Chelsea

Everton 2-1 Manchester City

Everton 2-0 Chelsea

To name a few over recent years, a game when every player stepped up above the usual standard and delivered a battling performance for 90 minutes. When will Koeman deliver a performance like that?

We have seen many battles over the years when you could not decipher a man of the match as every player put more than their heart on the line but does Koeman have that in him to get that out of these players?

We bowed out of two cup competitions at the early stages this season and both defeats were utterly atrocious and disappointing to watch. In the league this season we saw our players battle out a 1-1 draw at the etihad but that is not entirely exactly what I'm talking about. I am not comparing Martinez to Koeman at all here but looking at how Martinez fired up the team and if Koeman can fire them up as well. Let's not turn this into a Martinez vs Koeman debate. However, I am sure the majority of us want to see an all out war for 3 points and there is no better time for it to come than this Sunday. Playing a Man City side who are on the back of a 5-0 away win against an Everton side that should be offering a hell of a lot more and not just 'second half performances'.

We have missed leadership on the field this season, someone who isn't afraid to grab these players by their necks and tell them what is required. If you look at Everton any time during a break in play there is no communication, lacklustre body language and an attitude that smells worse than the fellas bogs at the back of the gwladys. We, as fans do not know what we are turning up to each week, whether Koeman is going to go for the defensive mindset that saw us get a decent draw last time around or put in a performance that mirrors the one we saw last January in the first leg semi final. You may question are players are getting older, we've had the best out of the older lads blah blah but if one thing is for certain, Ronald has raised their fitness levels so there is no excuse as to why these players cannot go out there and soak that shirt with hard earned sweat.

Last season in the cup Mo Besic stole the show, he won't be playing this time around but there is a new young kid we have just signed and he will be eager to get out there and do something. Especially live on Sky and against elite opposition. Is it taking a risk in putting him in or do we give this lad his moment early on and try to play good football hopefully encouraging some players into life or do we bring him on the last 20 to run at tiring legs whilst raising the atmosphere? I know what I want to see and I don't just want to see individuals playing well either. This is the perfect time for Koeman to turn it around and its time these players made a statement for 90 minutes not just 45. Get your artillery and get out there!