29 Dec 2016 01:47:38
Whether or not Barkley (or any other player come to that) has talent is not the question - he clearly is a talented footballer. The question is whether or not he can apply his talent to the pattern of play (formation, tactics, etc. ) that the current manger wants to use. One could apply this criterion to many of Everton's current squad.
We fans have our own particular favourites - which imho are often based on wishful thinking (looking through blue-tinted glasses) and enjoying occasional flashes of good play rather than seeing consistently effective and productive performances - and we partisan fans would hate to see our heroes leave our club.
However, we must surely accept that it's for RK make that decision - even if we think it's wrong to release (or retain or sign come to that! ) certain players
If some players don't fit, then they're not at fault or bad players, they just aren't the right player at the right time for the manager's team at that moment in time.
Even if a player does leave and is successful elsewhere, that doesn't mean he'd have been a success here if he'd stayed - be that under the current manager or under any future manager.
I really do think the secret (if there is any secret! ) of football management is about getting the right blend of individuals to become a team; to complement and balance each other's skills within the team-shape; to get them working hard as individuals and as a group; to motivate them so as to give them confidence and self-belief and trust in each other and their common purpose; to build a team-spirit, mental toughness, and winning attitude: and finally to have them enjoying being part of a successful team playing in front of devoted fans.
29 Dec 2016 08:46:53
You do put some cracking posts on here Sid. I agree yet again wholeheartedly with all you say. And if you don't mind, I will remind people of a time when I was still up on the Wirral and watching every home game. We had a young lad called Steve McMahon who had just broken through to the first team. I can't remember if Howard Kendall had taken over, but Steve McMahon was a gritty hard tackling yet somewhat skillfull player. We really needed someone like him at the time.
But EFC in their wisdom decided to sell this promising kid to Aston Villa. I think the majority of fans were gobsmacked and upset. Of course the lad went on to have a wonderful career with our arch rivals. What we didn't know at the time was that fee was used to fund the purchase of one Trevor Steven. This lad went on to win 10 league titles, 8 cup competitions, 4 charity sheilds and if it had not been for the European ban would probably won more Euro cups.
Ok a lot of the titles were with Rangers, but which player can spout those sort of statistics in the modern game? Probably Ronaldo and Messi. So was it correct to sell McMahon? As it happens, McMahon won 3 titles, 2 FA Cups and 4 charity sheilds with you know who! So who can tell what will pan out?
29 Dec 2016 15:29:28
Howard Kendall was manager and Mcmahon wanted to go because he believed that Kendall did not know what he was doing, of course he was wrong as things turned out.
29 Dec 2016 22:41:30
I think you have missed my point Milom. Yes we lost McMahon. but we gained one of the best midfielders our club has ever seen. and Kendall actually stated that he sold McMahon to fund the Steven purchase. The point I was trying to make is that it is a double edged sword. Youcan look at it that we lost a geaat player. or you can look at it that we signed a great player that contributed to our greatest moments in history.
30 Dec 2016 18:07:32
Swapping Barkley for Sissoko would be like swapping a pound for a penny.
I'm all for improving the team and if we are going to get a better player then of course that is my priority. That goes for any player that has ever played or ever will play for Everton as I support the club before the player.