Everton Banter Archive March 17 2015

17 Mar 2015 14:28:55
Anyone know why we got the away leg second - when we won our group?

17 Mar 2015 18:04:57
I think we were drew out before Kiev so at home 1st leg. The group winners only got an advantage in the 1st round of the knockout stages.

17 Mar 2015 18:24:25
Because it's only the round-of-32 where that rule applies. We're now in the round-of-16.

17 Mar 2015 20:35:15
Aha - make sense - thanks

17 Mar 2015 13:03:56
Where's Cowpat Sid? He's my favourite poster and he's gone AWOL. Sid, if you're reading, come back. The page needs you!

17 Mar 2015 14:22:08
I've not posted for the past week or two because I've had nothing to add to what other posters have written.
Besides, having been an avid RM "groupie" last season and having morphed into a hardline denigrator of RM this season (because of the poor performances & results AND the exasperating pre-match and post-match comments by RM and the players), I needed to take a step back and let my rationality take precedence over my emotions ;-)
Whatever happens this season - and it's clear that BK won't be removing RM - it's a results business and I'll re-assess my opinion of RM in the cold light of day at the end of the season. I'll willingly eat humble pie if my recent concerns prove unfounded. That's a small price to pay if, in exchange, our team does well during the remainder of this season - and (hopefully!) beyond.
Once a blue, always a blue!

17 Mar 2015 15:03:11
Nail on Head there Cow Pat, it is his pre but normally after match comments that do my head in. The two most exasperating are though, Bill Kenwright's AWOL and Roberto's not only refusal to change tactics or admittance to do so but his utter refusal to believe he may be wrong. I am by all means not certain but did/has he ever accepted responsibility for Wigans relegation.

17 Mar 2015 19:02:27
bloody hell Sid, with a reply like that you should be a politician.

17 Mar 2015 20:36:07
Me? A politician? Heaven forfend! In my younger days, I was very interested in politics - I genuinely thought that we could change the world for the better or at least make a worthwhile difference. I'm now older and wiser - and more cynical and world weary(!) - so I have complete and utter contempt for the self-serving, mealy-mouthed, condescending, fatuous and contemptible "persons" that we have as MPs, etc., these days.
Right - that's enough of politics: back to what's important, which, for me, is family, friends, the state of the world and humankind in general, AND the state of Everton football club.
:-)

18 Mar 2015 10:54:32
as long as you don't begin to sound like Mr.Bean!

16 Mar 2015 22:23:56
I am not pro Martinez. Think he has been lucky lately but am going to give him a tiny bit of credit by default.
The luck and hopefully a turning point came when the crowd turned against the negative slow play last week against Kiev. I was fearing a hiding at one point. Forget he tried to claim credit for the change in tempo. The crowd and then the players turned that game and we even saw Jags looking like a captain.
On to Sunday. We probably couldn't have wished for a kinder fixture. Wanting to save Naismith and Mirralas for Kiev he left them out. Barry is a cert to a be picked for Kiev and was only left out as suspended. Wanting to give Osman and Baines game time ahead of Thursday he played them. The interesting thing about both of them is that they haven't been rushed back and he hasn't rushed Stones back too. Lesson learned.
The bonuses from Sunday: Hopefully a better Howard after a clean sheet, a rejuvenated Baines, who now has competition, a possible turning point for Alcaraz, an Osman and Gibson with more game time and a realisation that at present Barkley's best role is as an impact sub.
My cup is half full again. Amazing how a few days in football can lift your mood. A result on Thursday will give us a great boost for the rest of the season. We should go there with confidence. The danger is Yarmalenko. If we can keep him quiet I think we will nick it. Hope it's not on pens though!

{Ed025's Note - i think we all feel similar tedster...good post mate..

17 Mar 2015 09:33:26
Yes, very good post Tedster

RM just cannot take the lions share of the credit for recent performances,
and you are right Jags has been a proper 'Skipper' lately, I would argue even the catalyst looking like he was calling the shots at times.

17 Mar 2015 10:12:58
Lets face it the growing discontent from fans, the frustration in the players faces and body language, the mounting criticism from pundits and journo's alike has not gone unnoticed by RM or certain players who have been on the defensive when interviewed. So what he should do is be the diplomat he is and admit mistakes were made and that he is learning in the job daily, move on and keep adapting!
We Evertonian's are knowledgeable fans that are used to frustration and cannot be fed utter BS! Please let us move forward and save our season!