Roberto Martinez discussion

[ianefc]

And kind of understand both points.

That's right fence. I'm sitting.

Surprise surprise

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Although it is the a very similar squad they haven't had the same availability, both Jags and Baines have missed large chunks of this season and McCarthy/Coleman have also missed several.

Sound, then if he needs an excuse rather than just say we've not been good enough, cite injuries. I'd have accepted that more than experience.

 

[kithnou]

I kinda agree with D tho, the reason we are 11th is not due to the age of the players, its down to part bad coaching, part lack of concentration.

I'll be an annoyance and say mine again. The keeper, love him or hate him, has cost us anywhere between 6-10 points this season alone in my opinion.
We are sitting around 4-6th right there alone. Hence the frustration most of us are dealing with here.
If that falls under the bad management in not dropping him then noted.
Experience etc all good and well. But we are not far off. Nothing like last season's dross.

 

[ijjysmith]

Suprise surprise
View attachment 16777

In honour of our new signing.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

We haven't got a captain as far as I'm concerned. We have someone who wears an armband who keeps his trap shut.

Harsh.

Though he once sat next to me in work while waiting to do a personal appearence and after 5 minutes I had to get away from him because he was a bad, gormless tool.

 

[micknick]

Sound, then if he needs an excuse rather than just say we've not been good enough, cite injuries. I'd have accepted that more than experience.

Sides a bit young though isnt it.

 

[Goat]

I'll be an annoyance and say mine again. The keeper, love him or hate him, has cost us anywhere between 6-10 points this season alone in my opinion.
We are sitting around 4-6th right there alone. Hence the frustration most of us are dealing with here.
If that falls under the bad management in not dropping him then noted.
Experience etc all good and well. But we are not far off. Nothing like last season's dross.

We defended so much better yesterday.

Howard is really bad.

 

[ianefc]

There's no contradiction there. The place we have now: I'm not saying is bad. You assume I'm making that point but I'm not. I know how much others fret over the regaining of the 7th place trophy so it's just to pacify them and their mediocre standards.

I don't think their is a single poster on this entire forum that thinks you have said and/or think our current league position is bad. You've made that quite clear how satisfied you are.

 

[paulbefc]

Barkley and Lukaku were automatic starters then, just like now.

Stones spent half of that season as a sub and came in for an injured Distin. He's now first choice. Distin has been replaced with a 24 year old from a foreign league. Deulofeu was used largely as a sub two years ago and didn't even make the pitch some of the time. He's now our first choice winger at 21. Galloway has played loads of games this year, even Browning has started games.

We had a back 4 of ages 27, 21, 24 and 19 out for Stoke. Our front four for that game had three players in their early 20s.

A lot of our problems this year have been caused by the injuries to experienced defenders, imo. Inexperience is much less of a problem up top, which is why we get away with having a young front 3/4.

 

[kithnou]

We defended so much better yesterday.

Howard is really bad.

Howard has been a great servant and I would never be critical of the man. He is trying his heart out and giving it all. My gripe is that it appears that he may be the only player in the squad who has no accountability for his performances under this Manager.

 

[ianefc]

In honour of our new signing.

Still teeing them up for you.

 

[davek]

Harsh.

Though he once sat next to me in work while waiting to do a personal appearence and after 5 minutes I had to get away from him because he was a bad, gormless tool.

Attackers have no difficulty getting away from the gormless tool in the 18 yard box too.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Sound, then if he needs an excuse rather than just say we've not been good enough, cite injuries. I'd have accepted that more than experience.

Fair enough but in a way they are linked as the injuries have meant that, at least in defence, we have had much more inexperienced players and in that area one mistake due to lack of nous means we are particularly vlunerable to conceding a goal.

Howard doesn't fit into the excuse though!

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Stones spent half of that season as a sub and came in for an injured Distin. He's now first choice. Distin has been replaced with a 24 year old from a foreign league. Deulofeu was used largely as a sub two years ago and didn't even make the pitch some of the time. He's now our first choice winger at 21. Galloway has played loads of games this year, even Browning has started games.

We had a back 4 of ages 27, 21, 24 and 19 out for Stoke. Our front four for that game had three players in their early 20s.

A lot of our problems this year have been caused by the injuries to experienced defenders, imo. Inexperience is much less of a problem up top, which is why we get away with having a young front 3/4.

That's all well and good Paul, but the average starting age this season is older than the season we finished 5th. I think I might have said that now about 20 times.

There's tons of experience in the squad. Our average age is comparative to the rest of the league, the same as West Ham for instance.

It's just a crap excuse as far as I'm concerned. The stats back that up.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Fair enough but in a way they are linked as the injuries have meant that, at least in defence, we have had much more inexperienced players and in that area one mistake is particularly vlunerable to conceeding.

Howard doesn't fit into the excuse though!

It was his choice to let Distin and Alcaraz go, and spend a record fee on Mori and bring no other defender in with experience.

injuries are part of the game, we've been no less fortunate than most. Look at Arsenal's injuries this season, and Liverpool...