What is our biggest problem?

[ClausThomsen]

If Doucoure and Rico had their finishing boots on in a couple of recent matches we'd be six points to the good and things would look a lot rosier.

Quality of depth remains the biggest issue but being on the wrong side of slim margins in a few games has exacerbated a form problem into a relegation crisis among the bedwetting community.

 

[Kaiser Soysauce]

We don't react well to a bit of adversity, whether it's through missing a player or going a goal down.

Still question marks over whether we have a coherent system that we're trying to implement or not - with a fully fit team at the start of the season we most certainly looked like it but the system is changed as soon as we have a player or two missing, we should have enough quality in depth to not need to switch up our entire way of playing every other game.

Also think a midfielder that sits in front of our centre backs, can read the game and keeps the ship steady would have been ideal, both Allan and Doucoure prefer to play higher up the pitch and press and harry opponents which I appreciate but it leaves holes that makes us too easy to penetrate.

 

[gianthogweed]

Everyone of those except Tony hibbert as crap as he was at least he tried

 

[Kaiser Soysauce]

The weight of our history turns our players into jelly.

Our recent history is nothing to write home about.

We are just simply crap. Crap players, crap manager, crap fans, crap grass on the pitch, crap pies, crap white paint used to mark the pitch, crap tannoy system, crap 10W led floodlights, crap toilet seats, crap nets on the goals, crap lack of Tim Cahill, crap away game bus, crap crap crap.

Rant over. Honestly, I don't think we're THAT crap, but feel the burden of mediocrity settling on my shoulders for yet another season. Doesn't help living with RS.

 

[Mitch Ward's Minder]

We don't react well to a bit of adversity, whether it's through missing a player or going a goal down.

Still question marks over whether we have a coherent system that we're trying to implement or not - with a fully fit team at the start of the season we most certainly looked like it but the system is changed as soon as we have a player or two missing, we should have enough quality in depth to not need to switch up our entire way of playing every other game.

Also think a midfielder that sits in front of our centre backs, can read the game and keeps the ship steady would have been ideal, both Allan and Doucoure prefer to play higher up the pitch and press and harry opponents which I appreciate but it leaves holes that makes us too easy to penetrate.

The problem with squad depth and comparing it to the "Sky Big 6" is that no one with any quality is going to want to come to us to sit on the bench most weeks waiting for a chance. Like Mahrez and Shaqiri are happy to be bit part players, but we would have to make do with youths and mid-table off casts until we can successfully compete in Europe every year to attract those type of players that could give us the depth. It's very much a catch 22 at the minute, we need quality squad depth to get into Europe, but we also need Europe to attract the quality of squad depth. We essentially need another 2004-05 season

 

[TheVelourFog]

100% its trying to play out from the back, and its been that way for the last 4 seasons at least

 

[banno]

I see our problem as being useless without the ball. Too much space afforded to opposition between the lines. Our lines are broken and too far from each other. Next is our CBs especially not putting enough pressure on attacking player receiving the ball with back to goal. The attacker is allowed to receive and in many cases allowed to turn. Our CBs rarely intercept and let the attacker receive. We are garbage without the ball and if we continue to lump up to DCL and bypass the midfield then we will continue to be without the ball for longer periods.

 

[Tin-Tin]

Lack or motivation for certain games?

Thinking we can walk these types of games by just showing up?

New manager but same crap, we have just switched the home/away for around

 

[kiss the crest]

All of the above

 

[GoodisonRoadSupperBarWool]

Goodison was bulit on an old Indian burial ground.

 

[bluelegend]

Strength in depth and a lack of leadership

 

[ToffeeTim]

Legs

 

[Bullens Rd]

SLOW

AND

PREDICTABLE

 

[zukai12_]

No consistent goal threat without DCL

Holgate and Coleman are poor at RB

Constant lineup tinkering

Richy fallen off a cliff

Midfielders are inconsistent (at best)

 

[Drico]

Mentality.

The problem is that this is not something that's easy to fix. Generally, the best players are also the ones with the best mentalities. That's actually the differentiator that takes them to the very top. Most of the players in the top flight can play football exceptionally well. It's the same in any top sport, from tennis to golf to snooker. The guys with the best upstairs attributes are the winners, because the bigger the stakes the better they tend to perform. They can rise to the occasion. Plenty, in any sport, are capable of a great day, but only the best do it time and time again. Our lads are capable of the odd big win. But don't ask them to follow it up and confidently expect them to succeed. They're not able for it.

In the end, this is why Ancelotti will need new, better players.