Been thinking about our defensive frailties and whilst it's hard to pin point an exact moment it turned into a wet paper bag (althought the cynic in me says the moment Martinez turned up), I have concluded one major difference that may have been brushed under the carpet by the club and Martinez himself.
The departure of Sylvain Distin.
John Stones deputised Jagielka and Distin in the 2013/14 season, and by the midway point of the 2014/15 campaign had found himself in the starting eleven. This was no fluke, he was playing well and his confidence was high. The fans were behind him and their was no reason to drop him. That being said there seemed to be something behind the scenes between Distin and Martinez going on that made the decision to give Distin the flick a bit easier, something that Distin very professionally kept quiet.
In the league, this is our record in the last few seasons:
Moyes
2011/12:
- Scored: 50
- Conceded: 40
2012/13:
- Scored: 55
- Conceded: 40
Martinez
2013/14:
- Scored: 61
- Conceded: 39
2014/15:
- Scored: 48
- Conceded: 50
(Distin plays 13 league games, then released at seasons end)
2015/16 (to date):
- Scored: 53
- Conceded: 48
From this, it can be concluded that since Distin's departure, we have conceded more goals each season, and it shows no signs of improving. The first season under Martinez, Everton only conceded 39 with Distin playing in 33 of those games. This can be explained by Martinez inheriting a particularly good defensive team at the time, with the team only conceding 40 goals in each of the two seasons preceding his arrival. Once his (lack of) tactics were implemented in the 2014/15, the defensive frailties came to the fore, as he insisted on playing Distin less and less, to the point that he was frozen out completely and fell being the mighty Antolin Alcaraz in the pecking order. This was odd, as Distin's ability to sweep up any balls in behind the back with his immense pace for an aging player was second to none, and we had a genuinely feared centre half pairing. The emergence of a young John Stones may have been a factor, but putting blind faith in a 19/20 year old (at the time) centre half is ludicrous.
Now we have an aging Jagielka, a young Stones (a player being taught that Cruyff turns in the box are the norm) and a passionate Argentine with a tendency to hoof the ball and go for a run up field.
I'm not saying that Distin could do that job right now, but it can be hypothesised that his abrupt departure harmed the younger players developments. Could he not have been useful to tutor the next generation?
Currently the defense looks aimless and hopeless, waiting to concede rather that trying to prevent it. Obviously Martinez himself and our complete lack of defensive coaching plays a big part in this, but I don't think he'd have as big of a problem as he does now if he'd held onto 'Buzz' and let him leave Everton on his terms, making a natural transition from seasoned veterens in the starting eleven, to young, level headed and well educated prodigies.
The departure of Sylvain Distin.
John Stones deputised Jagielka and Distin in the 2013/14 season, and by the midway point of the 2014/15 campaign had found himself in the starting eleven. This was no fluke, he was playing well and his confidence was high. The fans were behind him and their was no reason to drop him. That being said there seemed to be something behind the scenes between Distin and Martinez going on that made the decision to give Distin the flick a bit easier, something that Distin very professionally kept quiet.
In the league, this is our record in the last few seasons:
Moyes
2011/12:
- Scored: 50
- Conceded: 40
2012/13:
- Scored: 55
- Conceded: 40
Martinez
2013/14:
- Scored: 61
- Conceded: 39
2014/15:
- Scored: 48
- Conceded: 50
(Distin plays 13 league games, then released at seasons end)
2015/16 (to date):
- Scored: 53
- Conceded: 48
From this, it can be concluded that since Distin's departure, we have conceded more goals each season, and it shows no signs of improving. The first season under Martinez, Everton only conceded 39 with Distin playing in 33 of those games. This can be explained by Martinez inheriting a particularly good defensive team at the time, with the team only conceding 40 goals in each of the two seasons preceding his arrival. Once his (lack of) tactics were implemented in the 2014/15, the defensive frailties came to the fore, as he insisted on playing Distin less and less, to the point that he was frozen out completely and fell being the mighty Antolin Alcaraz in the pecking order. This was odd, as Distin's ability to sweep up any balls in behind the back with his immense pace for an aging player was second to none, and we had a genuinely feared centre half pairing. The emergence of a young John Stones may have been a factor, but putting blind faith in a 19/20 year old (at the time) centre half is ludicrous.
Now we have an aging Jagielka, a young Stones (a player being taught that Cruyff turns in the box are the norm) and a passionate Argentine with a tendency to hoof the ball and go for a run up field.
I'm not saying that Distin could do that job right now, but it can be hypothesised that his abrupt departure harmed the younger players developments. Could he not have been useful to tutor the next generation?
Currently the defense looks aimless and hopeless, waiting to concede rather that trying to prevent it. Obviously Martinez himself and our complete lack of defensive coaching plays a big part in this, but I don't think he'd have as big of a problem as he does now if he'd held onto 'Buzz' and let him leave Everton on his terms, making a natural transition from seasoned veterens in the starting eleven, to young, level headed and well educated prodigies.
