Style of play

[mccole]

Our style isn't the problem, our problem is this season is everyone knows how we are going to play.

Stop the wingbacks = Attacking Threat stopped.

So our wingback push higher and higher which means we can get caught on the counter i.e goals against Palace, Utd, Stoke, Chelsea.

Another problem we have is we lack confidence. We are not taking the same risks as last year which led to 20% of our goals and made us dangerous.

Our Style doesn't need to be addressed we need to find a formation to support and provide enough strength to attack.

We are leaking goals so shore up the back and the play will continue.

XI v Newcastle (5-3-2)

Joel
Coleman
Stones
Alcaraz
Distin
Baines
Barry
McCarthy
Barkley
Miralles
Eto'o

Coleman and Baines each have cover to push deeper plus we have that extra man at the back to give the attacking players the confidence to hit teams with everything.

 

[Khalekan]

Our style isn't the problem, our problem is this season is everyone knows how we are going to play.

Stop the wingbacks = Attacking Threat stopped.

So our wingback push higher and higher which means we can get caught on the counter i.e goals against Palace, Utd, Stoke.

That is an oxymoron.

If everyone knows what to do to counter our style of play then the style of play has indeed become the problem.

We need a new style to confound and smite the buggers again

 

[Fearthainn]

This is what I want to see us doing more of, much more of. We need to be doing more off the ball as well as injecting more pace and urgency when we have it.

Blaming our woes on 'passing football' is ridiculous. We're just bang out of form and need to tweak a few things.

This. We did it first half yesterday, which is why we created a few chances and looked like equalising.

The change in attitude in the second half is frustrating, but a clear example of a lack of self belief throughout the team. It is up to the manager to sort it out, although quite honestly it is disappointing that the most experienced pros cant lead by example, and some of the youngsters arent showing enough hunger, Stones aside.

 

[mccole]

By adding an extra defender means the wingback are let loose and can attack without having to get back so the 5-3-2 turns into a 3-5-2 plus Barry provides the link between defence & midfield

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

That is an oxymoron.

If everyone knows what to do to counter our style of play then the style of play has indeed become the problem.

We need a new style to confound and smite the buggers again

^ this

We need a range of options and we also need to to take account of who we're playing ffs. Martinez seems to have zero planning for the opposition and has them playing the same way irrespective of the attributes of who we're facing. It's simply not good enough.

 

[Caolam]

I difference between good defenders and average defenders, at any level, is their ability to see situations arriving and organise themselves to counter it. If we persist in taking time in setting up attacks then defences have time to organise themselves.
Barcelona take their time in pulling teams apart but they have players who only need the smallest gap in order to punish defences. Both in terms of goal scorers and the players passing to them. We don't have those players.
Other leagues are not played at the speed of the Premier League so pace isn't the same issue.

 

[Zatara]

Press high up the pitch then:

Jagielka / Distin = Cant pass
Alcaraz = Not good enough / injured
Browning = Needs game time
Stones = Top class

So we have one centre back out of 3/4 needed who has the ability on the ball for the system. Add in Howard to the mix whose kicking is atrocious and the system wont work.

Then we have Coleman as our only right back aa Hibbert again doesnt fit the system and Baines whose been off form for ages and should have seen Garbutt get more gametime recently after putting in a good show.

The defence does not have the ability to play the system...

Howard = OUT
Distin/Jags/alcaraz = OUT
Hibbert = OUT
Baines =OUT

Coleman/Stones/Garbutt =IN + New players who fit the system.

 

[strummer]

This might sound very old fashioned but why can't we play with 2 strikers ? At least sometimes

 

[Minimeister]

Doesn't help that last season we had the best attacking fullbacks in the league while this season the pair of them look like they've never seen a football in their life. Get rid of one of the defensive midfielders and put Barkley in their ffs. Two central defensive midfielders at home, Barkley wandering deep and Naismith helping out the midfield leaving Rom with absolutely no support at all means we don't win games against dross at home.

 

[riddick]

^ this

We need a range of options and we also need to to take account of who we're playing ffs. Martinez seems to have zero planning for the opposition and has them playing the same way irrespective of the attributes of who we're facing. It's simply not good enough.

Against stoke, at home, you do NOT need two DM ffs...

 

[Alex Hindmarsh]

I just want to see some pace. Just raw pace, we have the players for it don't we? Lukaku, Ross, Mirallas all have it. Just people to pick the ball up turn, and literally sprint in a straight line to the goal. Deulofeu was a good example of that and although he lost the ball alot at least he had a go. Every player in our team is more concerned about completing little short tippy tappy passes. Teams cant handle pace and thats what the top boys have.

 

[dannyboy]

No more two holding midfielders at home against average teams would be a step in the right direction. It gives us bugger all protection anyway, I've never seen an Everton team so vulnerable to the counter attack as we are.

 

[Joey66]

No more two holding midfielders at home against average teams would be a step in the right direction. It gives us bugger all protection anyway, I've never seen an Everton team so vulnerable to the counter attack as we are.

That is because our fullbacks recently have no winger ahead of them - teams have sussed us out when Coleman and baines go forwards as an attacking option they catch us on the break!

 

[Toffeelover]

That is because our fullbacks recently have no winger ahead of them - teams have sussed us out when Coleman and baines go forwards as an attacking option they catch us on the break!

If that is the case why can't RM see this and change things?

 

[diggerdestroyer]

Like Chelsea.

Oh if only even a remote version would do.Looking at chelsea it's like they are in a different league. They pass with an intensity. We look like snails compared to them. Granted they have better players but look how hard they work to get the ball back compared to our dismal second half effort yesterday. Why the lack of intensity puzzles me