Everton Banter Archive January 21 2015

21 Jan 2015 21:28:11
Just like I got the feeling that Ferguson took some self-satisfied, if irrational. pleasure (Schadenfreude) in the failure of his successor Moyes at ManUtd, does anyone think that Moyes has a similar feeling about Martinez this season at Everton?

22 Jan 2015 01:11:38
Yes, I'm sure he does especially after the grief we gave him last year - which he deserved. I doubt he'd want to see us go down though which is a thought that's keeping me up at night.

21 Jan 2015 20:32:06
I've just seen this on another website:
Sampdoria insist Samuel Eto'o wants to join them, but "nobody can figure out who is in charge at Everton."
The transfer saga is dragging on, as Samp announced via several interviews over the last few days that Eto'o had agreed terms for a transfer.
They were waiting for him to extricate himself from the Everton contract, but that is taking far longer than expected.
"I haven't been working in football for long and can say this is a weird working environment, " said Sampdoria President - and movie producer - Massimo Ferrero on Sky Sport Italia.
"People say one thing and then do another. Nobody can figure out who is in charge at Everton, but we are getting to a breakthrough.

So, if anyone can work out who's in charge at Everton, please send your answers on a postcard to Bill Kenwright - at least then our Chairman will have a clue!
:-(

{Ed025's Note - love it sid..

Is this just me being a cynical old git, or does this smell of a CEO and or Chairman doing a deal without the managers say so?

{Ed025's Note - or the manager getting them to do his dirty work for him?..

Well he was on the verge of signing, but Mirallas took the pen off him.

We are Everton
#Wedontwinanything
That's what we do
Martinez Out

Am I being naive in believing that a manager/coach has to pick a formation and tactics that suit the players he has available? Square pegs in round holes just doesn't work as a strategy. By all means put players in different positions in exceptional circumstances during a particular game in order to try and get a result late on, but not as the core approach.
Adapting gradually to a different style as and when the squad of players can be changed would also make sense.
But the idea that players should be forced to play in a way that they're uncomfortanble with is surely a recipe for loss of morale (bad enough) and loss of matches/points (even worse).
And that's all down to the manager - end of!
:-(

True enough Ed, could be that as well, good thinking.

Mind you it must be difficult getting a call through to cloud cuckoo land at the best of times to confer with el Bob!

Exactly right Cowpat. You wouldn't use a spanner as a screwdriver would you? Well, you might, but I think there would be a screw loose somewhere!

21 Jan 2015 19:52:57
Townsend is good.Game changer and Flair player. And Younger.

{Ed025's Note - he has struggled to get in their side though QB, not for me mate..

Better than Lennon though.

{Ed025's Note - deffo degsy..

And McCartney Ed.

21 Jan 2015 16:53:45
Just read on a well known and well respected national news site, that some avid rs fan from no other place than Norway has given his daughter the middle name ynwa!
What a complete beaut! How's the poor thing going to explain that one when she gets older?
More to the point, how do you pronounce it?

You pronounce it "unlucky"

22 Jan 2015 01:08:15
Could be worse - I wonder how many I us would have named our kids Bobby last year?

21 Jan 2015 15:43:27
Etoo is leaving apparently.but won't go until a suitable replacement is found!

A suitable replacement?
I dread to think who's available and at what cost!
Besides, it'll surely take a lot more than just swapping in/out one player to revitalise our squad, our performances, and our results.
If RM does get time to turn things around (which appears likely given BK's loyalty) then that'd be great - and I'll be eating mega humble pie given my recent about-face from RM-fan to RM-critic - but how many other Evertonians are now having to let their heads at last rule their hearts. Is there anyone out there who is totally confident - that means no doubts whatsoever (especially given the possible injuries to our better players and lack of squad quality/strength in depth and our share of poor refereeing decisions that could all be devastating) - that RM can get the players to get us safe?
Forget the perfect goal, forget the possession/passing tactics that don't penetrate, forget the "let young players make mistakes" when it costs us results, forget the not working on set pieces (offensive and defensive): just concentrate on getting organised and getting results. Then we can start trying to play the beautiful game - which would mean, anyway, having the players capable of doing that imho.
:-(

Just to clarify: what would be great is our fortunes being turned around - not RM being kept by BK, even if it's RM that turns things around.

21 Jan 2015 12:08:36
It seems - judging by posters on this site - and from the reaction at matches that RM has lost the majority of the crowd. He has also - rumours say - lost some of the players.
Aside from those fans that are still supporting him - be that through loyalty or wishful thinking - the rest of us (including me, who was very supportive at the start and thought he was a great appointment) are now firmly of a mind that BK must stop the rot and remove RM so that we don't suffer the disaster of relegation.
My comments are no different than many other posters, so apologies for the repetition, Also, I readily admit that I don't have the experience, knowledge, or skill to run a Premier League club - but, as a fan of many many years, even I can see when an experiment just isn't working.
Such a shame - if RM had taken us into the Champions League or lifted some silverware, he'd be a hero and we'd all be rejoicing. But he didn't, so he isn't, and we aren't!
BK - please act now!

To be honest Sid I agree with you, however, I don't see it happening though, I think misplaced loyalty will be the order of the day.

Although if BK is thinking along the same lines then I suspect a defeat at Palace or a draw and a ritual hiding from the RS could see him pull the trigger. If for no other reason than a replacement is only going to be a stop gap and I would suspect he will want the window closed before he made an appointment.

I know this will not be popular with most posters. DM's second season was a shocker gave most of us a near heart attack and we just scraped by. I think Bill will stick with RM not out of blind loyalty but I think he really thought RM was the right man for the job. I know things are not looking great at the moment but I do believe we will not get relegated and next year we will be stronger for it. IMO DM really brought the club on and developed the team as far as he probably could. We do not and as far as I have known never been able to buy our way into the top 4 but there are at least 6 teams spending well above what we able to spend and still they are not guarenteed a top 4 spot. We have been punching above our weight for a number of seasons now and I just think there was bound to be a dodgy season sooner or later. I also think that long term RM may be the right man for the job if he can get us through the current season especially with the current form. If he can keep us above 15th then I would give him at least till next Deceber to really make an impression if he can't then he should go. However, if we don't start getting results soon then he may well be shown the door as I don't think BK would let us get relegated and admit he made a mistake giving RM the job.

Great post sa90! You almost had me believing it for a moment. I just hope you are right.

21 Jan 2015 09:49:31
Yeah we all know Barkley has lost his confidence but when he played with Besic v QPR he played well. Hasn't played in that position since? As for Mirrallas we need to keep him as he is a class player on his day. Not many wingers available better than him at the moment. If we sell him now are we going to have enough time to get someone else in? Cannot understand why we don't get players in now instead of waiting until the last day of the transfer window.If results don't go our way in next couple of months Bobby will have to go. Who do we get in?, that could be the next problem. Hopefully Bobby will change his tactics and have several plans for future matches?? I'm doing my best to be positive, COYB

{Ed025's Note - to be fair lemur, i would have looked good against that QPR midfield mate, and dont bank on bobby changing anything..

Quick one on Barkley if he carries on getting booed the boo boys will eventually drive him out of Goodison, his confidence is shot at the min and only temporary (i hope). Easy to do I know but I blame poor management on all poor performances from the players i.e playing out of position just to name one. let's just see how they are after their jolly to Qatar. Don't get me wrong I still want Martinez sacked as all this is his doing, just don't want to get relegated.

{Ed025's Note - ross looks scared to me lancer, scared to make runs, scared to lose the ball, and scared to shoot, that for me is a symptom of the martinez affect, dont lose the ball, it does,nt matter if you dont do nothing with it...just dont lose it!..not my bag at all mate..

21 Jan 2015 11:45:56
I admire your optimism Lemur but we haven't really got a couple of months to sit about doing nothing. Picture it, we get to the end of March and are still in with a chance of being relegated so we sack RM. Doesn't leave much time for the new man to pick up the shattered confidence. In an ideal world, if the board choose to dispose of him, we would bring somebody in before the end of this month. That way the new man would have a bit of cash to spend to strengthen weaknesses he identifies. We would still be in the europa so possibly a better calibre of manager would be interested, after all he would have just enough time to secure our top flight status. I think this is less of a risk than burying our heads and hoping all will come good

{Ed025's Note - but can you see that happening spud?..the silence from the club is deafening mate..

21 Jan 2015 12:30:04
This is the prob I just cannot see BK sacking him full stop thus keeping us in this deep rut then (relegation) hate that word! If we do go down and lose all the cash that comes with being in the prem league I could never ever see our club being in top flight footie again! that's after the mass player exodus of course.

To be honest Lancer, if the unthinkable (and unmentionable) Happened, I think (providing the club didn't implode financially, ) We would be looking at a fair few seasons in the championship, mostly using the kids, having to sell our best talent to balance the books. Then if we did get back into the Premiership then it would take 3 maybe 4 seasons of hanging on by our finger nails each season in order to progress.

The only positive for the club being that most of us poor sap's who love this club will still be there watching and supporting come what may.

Wedgwood: I also fear for us - not least financially - if we dropped out of the Premier League and lost the television money. Unless we came back while the parachute payments were coming in, then I see us languishing in the lower-tier(s) for a long long time.
:-(

21 Jan 2015 20:25:22
You're right ed, some sort of statement is needed but we won't get that. The fact they have gone away to train suggests he is here for a while. I'm not too happy about them jetting off to Qatar either. The way they have been playing doesn't warrant a nice trip! They have had plenty of time to get his 'philosophy' right in training at FF with no success. For that reason, I'd rather they stayed at home and played behind closed doors friendlies, get the system right in a 90 minute match.

21 Jan 2015 01:12:27
I read something recently that Lukaku was "working with Ferguson"? Must mean Sarah Ferguson, because he never wins a ball in the air, in fact he just jumps aimlessly.not at all like Big Dunc who won everything he challenged for. When is Martinez going to stop bleating about the Star Potential of Ross Barkley, and being patient as he is only 21. Look how much Sterling has progressed since last season. and also Harry Kane at Spurs. Barkley is not strong enough to build a team around and doesn't work hard enough especially when he loses the ball. After Monday nights offering I think it's obvious we actually need about 5 or 6 decent players.a GK, a commanding centre back, a powerful running midfielder, a pacy wideman (as Mirallis wants away) & another decent striker. and we need them now. Europa League starts again shortly and we are there for the taking given our poor form & the reluctance of Martinez to change tactics when required. Come on Blues.wake up!

We need a new winger even if mirallas stays.

If mirrallas when they then I reckon we need at least 2 wingers, were woefully short as it is.

Can you bet on anyone he buys being played in the right position? I wouldn't give him any money to spend.

{Ed025's Note - i would like to see someone come in tedster, just to lift the team..

Golden, The aeial service into Rom is shocking so IMO he shouldn't be blamed for not winning every hearder plus if you think about the way we play nearly ever header is back toward our goal as we don't have anyone running off him, this makes the headers easier to defend. By moving Naismith out to the right we lose the preditory insincts to run past and give a secondary target. I think RM has to realise that Ross is not a 10 but a CM and make the hard choice of playing either Mo Barry Ross or Mcarthy (when he is fit) but not try to fit them all in the team at once. The two best wide players we have are Kev and Bryan they should if fit be starting every match giving Naisy the opportunity to play in his best position at 10.

21 Jan 2015 09:53:57
we can't blame lukaku ,, how many decent crosses get sent into him?. none

we need garbutt in the team he has the sweetest left foot I've seen in a long time his deliveries with big rom on the end . lethal

Reasons for our form: Roberto will not compromise on his style or tactics, in addition he has his favourites and if fit will find a way to slot them into the team even out of their favoured position, our best current player is the first to be substituted hammering his confidence, lack of discipline and man management means the Manager has lost the dressing room. Manager and Chairman with misplaced loyalty that hinders any logical decision making. We have a Chairman scared to come out and explain why he still retains faith in Roberto. I think the way to get through our home games in the future is to make sure my Son drives to the game ensuring I have sufficient alcohol inside me to be comfortably numb

{Ed025's Note - good idea that DM, this team has driven me to drink this year as well mate...and i have never properly thanked them.. :)