Why Roberto Martinez's Style of Play Will Make Everton an EPL Threat

[johnnydawg68]

People are talking about a change in styles, but honestly I don't see it.

I think we're playing pretty much like we did last year, only like you say we're more patient and less likely to panic and hit the early ball. Which is what we needed to play last year, when we were always better at the pass and move stuff than the long ball anyway.

People talk about how we've had more posession but that's not actually true (the three games we played both years, chelsea at home, west brom at home and norwich away, we've actually had less possession this season than we did last year in every one of them) just as an average it's higher because cardiff are there and Man U, Arsenal, Spurs etc aren't.

It's very much not the Kevin Keegan style 4-4 stuff people were expecting. Which is fine, we needed evoloution not revolution, and that's what we've got.

That's the biggest change I see, is not playing the long ball early. Also I think it creates a mindset of being comfortable on the ball which is much bigger than simply possession stats.

 

[Allezfan]

That's the biggest change I see, is not playing the long ball early. Also I think it creates a mindset of being comfortable on the ball which is much bigger than simply possession stats.

Maybe. It is noticable how much less we play the long ball, which is great.

Still we were always pretty good on the ball, when we tried. I dislike the rodgers style revisionist history that makes it seem like Martinez has taken over stoke.

If anything I suspect what bobby is really working on is quick counter attacks, something we've never been that good at and we saw a hint of vs norwich.

 

[Username]

If anything I suspect what bobby is really working on is quick counter attacks, something we've never been that good at and we saw a hint of vs norwich.

I'd love us to do more counter attacks to be honest, considering the squad we have now there's a fair bit of pace flying about and i doubt many defenses would enjoy trying to recover the ball from the likes of Mirallas, Gerry D or Lukaku as they bomb it towards goal.

 

[Steve0]

That explains our woeful defensive record under Moyes whilst Wigan were pumping out clean sheet after clean sheet with their possession style.

Look at Wigan now, ok they've lost a few players but they aren't even top half in the Championship. Maybe they were over performing last year?