Everton Banter Archive December 27 2013

27 Dec 2013 18:58:29
Hope I don't get slated for saying this, but I would just like to point out that the dark side had quite a few games like ours on Saturday last season when they would totally dominate possession, miss a load of chances in front of goal & lose the game just like we did against Sunderland, it's called still adapting to a new style of play & transition. To all the doom & gloomers who think our season is finished after Saturday, wake up, it's still early days for the Martinez era & games like this will come along from time to time. I believe It won't therefore be until this time next season that we really start to see the fruits of martinezs management skills & ability, especially as by then he will of been able to of bought a few more quality squad additions & bed the whole team unit together even more effectively. However, the signs are very positive, we have a great new manager, great new style of play & the future looks very bright indeed (especially with a certain mr Barkley involved), so let's give the blues all a big roar of encouragement for Saturdays game & hope the 'saints go marching' back home with glum faces! :-)

27 Dec 2013 15:53:25
Predictions for New Year:
Mirrallas will rediscover his form and start banging in goals.
Lukaku will come good again and score some very important goals.
Unfortunately Baines will go to the stinking Reds.
But Oviedo will shine.
DelBoy will return and play a BIG part towards the end of the season.
We will get to the FA Cup final and Ossie will come on as sub and score the winner.
Our defense will be tighter than fishes b*m hole.
RM will win manager of the year.
Blues will be happy everywhere.
Degsypulford

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Dont worry Ed. I will sign in from now on.
Degsypulford

Osman should not be anywhere near the first team.not because of his and howards mix up. when he plays the tempo we play at slows down.because his legs have gone he goes sideways and backwards. as for leaving barkley out for osman is totally wrong.osman would not have got into sunderlands midfield never mind ours. as for the fa cup final seen enough of osman against chelsea 2009.were into 2014 ossys had his time. now let's move forward not backwards.

You had better have a word with RM my anonymous friend. He is the one who picks Ossie. I happen to agree that Ossie is now showing signs of age, but read my post above again. He still has a role to play. He links defence to attack very well at times. He came on a couple of weeks ago, set one up and scored the other. In my humble opinion, his age is creeping up on him, but his skill etc is never in doubt. But like I said, RM is the one who picks him.

27 Dec 2013 15:35:38
Playing from the back, is, good football, easy on the eye, and when done correctly, very effective. However yesterdays mistake has been on the way all season. Passing out to the last man, when marked, only needs one bad touch to give away a goal, and other teams have not been slow to push up on our defenders. By all means let's continue to play from the back, when a defender is free from a marker, but, let's also, mix it up, the present preocupation with always playing it from the back, makes us very predictable, and opens the door to incidents like yesterday

I disagree mate. It is only wrong when done badly. ie Tim should not have chosen the pass to Ossie. Ossie had a player on his back and was on the edge of his own area and was facing his own goal. A poor decision. Even then Ossie should have been able to give it back to Tim or look for his fullback. Only if he had no other option should he welly it out.
Arsenal have stuck by playing football from the back for the last 10 years and are by far the best team to watch. Have been for those 10 years. If we want to watch good football too we have to continue. The hoof the ball out way is the past. That is why England have suffered. Kids taught to hoof the ball out when they are 6 or 7 years old. It is too late for them to change when they get to academy level. Watch all the South American teams and Spain and France and they all have defenders who are comfortable on the ball. I have coached kids football from 6 to 16 years olds and the desire to win (from parents and coaches) over rides the desire to improve skills and learn how to pass and control. Fortunately some managers/coaches now see the problem in English football (Martinez is one) and are slowly making changes. I hope to see our center backs one day take on forwards on the edge of our box playing little one twos and looking totally comfortable on the ball. If we do not try it now, we never will. Yes we have been punished in one game. Look how many games we have done well in because of it and I think you will see that this is the way to go. West Ham, Stoke, Cardiff and a few others can continue with the hoof it way. I want flowing football.
Degsypulford

Listen that was our 1st mistake that's lead directly to a goal this season, and we're still adapting to Roberto's methods. if you ask me that's bloody good going, so why the questioning all of a sudden. I have seen than transition of play between Howard and whoever( normally Barry) a million times this season it was just one of those things, so no need to go back to hoofball or even mixing it up as we're brilliant as it is already.

27 Dec 2013 14:57:20
Allowing for injuries and suspensions, which makes some of these players currently unavailable, what changes would you make to this as a starting lineup for later in the season when all of the players are available?
Howard
Coleman-Jagielka-Distin-Baines
McCarthy-Barry
Deulofeu-Barkley-Oviedo
Lukaku
Not sure about who'd be on the bench, but it should be quite strong - especially if we have a good January transfer window.
Westy

Not sure about later in the season I'd like to see.
Joel
Coleman Jags Distin Baines; (if fit)
McCarthy Heitinga;
Oviedo Barkley Pienaar;
Jelavic
Think the 2 Belgians are coasting and there seems to be something amiss between them. Lukaku lately has looked nothing more than a rich man's Anichebe and Mirallas has been woeful all season. Maybe a rest will do them some good and give them time to reflect on their dismal displays of late.
Tio Junior

27 Dec 2013 14:31:53
According to the Everton club website, Shane Duffy will stay on loan at Yeovil Town for the rest of the season and will be allowed to play for them in the FA Cup.
Clearly nothing's decided yet, but does anyone now think that he has much of a chance of ever becoming an Everton first teamer?
If Heitinga leaves during the transfer window, we do have Stones and Alcaraz as first team cover for Jagielka and Distin, but is everyone happy with that?
Beyond these two, we have youngsters who surely aren't ready yet or we have players (Hibbert and Barry) who might do a job at centre back, but that would be a risk.
So, it looks like the rumours about us taking a promising young centre back - from abroad or the domestic lower leagues - might come true in January. Any gossip?
Westy

I was chatting to a friend of Shane Duffy's a few weeks ago and according to him Martinez doesn't rate Duffy at all. So I wouldn't be surprised if Duffy is allowed to leave at the end of the season.

That's not true joe

27 Dec 2013 14:13:18
With Barry suspended against Southampton, you'd expect Osman to play alongside McCarthy, which would mean Barkley playing the number 10 role with the rest of the starting eleven being unchanged unless there are other injuries or illness.
On the other hand, does anyone foresee RM trying something more radical in terms of player selection and team formation? Perhaps, though unlikely, 4-4-2 or 3-4-3 rather than our usual 4-2-3-1. For me, the only question is whether or not Baines is involved. I certainly don't think that Oviedo should be left out after his very good recent performances.
Anyway, we don't have the strength and quality in depth in our squad to make too many changes - especially against a Southampton side that will surely fancy their chances against us and will be looking to get the Goodison crowd to vent its frustration if misplaced passes, loss of possession, defensive risks, missed scoring chances, etc., start to build up.
This match is not only a test of the players, but also a test of the home supporters.
Westy

27 Dec 2013 15:27:28
would love to see this next game:
Joel
coleman jags distan baines
mccarthy pienaar
mirallas barkley oviedo
lukaku

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27 Dec 2013 13:53:31
Not 100% sure, but it looks like our substitute goalkeeper against Southampton (when Robles replaces the suspended Howard as starter) will be Taudul and not Springthorpe. Have any of you seen enough of these two young goalkeepers to give a considered opinion of their respective qualities?
Westy

27 Dec 2013 11:49:46
Dunno bwt anyone else but i'm still buzzing off this season. Been the best season so far in my 15 years as an Evertonian. Bring on Soton and bring on the challenge for that champs league spot. i'm proud that it took that score line and circumstance to beat us.

27 Dec 2013 11:03:09
come on boys cheer up, we would have all taken this position if offered at the start of the season, we were due a mistake with all the passing at the back, we were superb in the second half and should have won, we looked more threatening with jelavic and lukaku up top together, 1 error doesn't make a bad season, onwards and upwards with 2 wins in the next 2 games, coyb!

Good post that mate its a shame the doom merchants are so quick to moan this is the best team we have had in years, c'mon you blues 3 points on Sunday GuernseyBlue

Thank god some proper supporters have come on and posted, I came on here yesterday and was pretty embarrassed by the negative brigade and their usual bile. The same 2 or 3 names always pop up when things don't go our way.
ToffeeNose

I don't get the negative stuff either. The ground was still relatively full at the end and gave the team a standing ovation! Reckon that says it all!

It was just one of those days, some goalies get sent off and some don't. Poor understanding between Ossie and Howard. Thought reference was poor, let their goalie take a considerable amount of time taking kicks, which should have been added on at the end. However, still happy with the team, we could have scored 5 in the second half, on another day. Let's get behind them and get back on track on Sunday, alls not lost yet.
Patsyblue

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I would love martinez to explain why he dropped barcley whos in top form lukaku and merilis form as dipped but continue to remain we don't owe lukaku loyalty he's gone the end of the season give velious a go make anyone who wears the shirt earn the right to be in the side

27 Dec 2013 09:21:16
You lot make me laugh. (especially Mike Ox-Long with his black and white views) A few wins and everyone is sooo happy. You all say. We are playing football so much better than when Moyes was manager. Everything is hunky dory. In one game, a player makes a mistake so we are down to 10 men, we then lose at home 1 nil and all of a sudden it is gloom and negativity. We are crap, Ossie should be shot! RM does not know what he is doing. Lukaku and Mirallas are lazy. Pienaar is terrible! The same happened a few weeks ago when we drew nil nil with Spurs and Palace. Get a grip guys. Ossie made a mistake. So did Tim. We then did pretty well. if you don't agree, then bring it up with RM. that was his assessment! Yes we need more players to make the squad stronger. that was also RM's assessment!!
Why did he pick Ossie ahead of Barkley? I suggest 2 answers:
1. Just like all of us, RM sometimes makes mistakes. Maybe in hindsight, Ossie is reaching the end of his premiership career now?
2. When Ross came on, he showed he wants to do too much himself. It is a team game and Ross's youth means he tries to do too much himself sometimes. Until he is a bit wiser, I (and RM) think Ossie still has a part to play. If we had another super dooper midfielder, I think RM might think differently.
My summary is that this is still the same squad that everyone was so happy about a couple of weeks ago after we had beaten Manchester United and played Arsenal off the pitch. Get real. We are not Barcelona yet and we will have poor games and players will make mistakes. If we take say 15 points out of the next 20, you will all be happy bunnies again. I reckon you all change your opinions as quickly as Howard Webb changes his decisions. Even Man City have played poorly and lost 4 league games. and they were assembled from the best and most expensive players in the world. Probably at a cost of 500 million?
Be happy and Merry Christmas to all Blues.
Degsypulford

I agree Degsy but tbf Barkley should of started instead of Osman. And the way the game was going the only way we looked like scoring was if someone scored a wonder goal. Martinez obviously recognised this and gave Barkley orders to go out and win the game, and with the quality he has that very nearly came of with the free kick.

And with regards to Osman I feel he is starting to give the ball away more when under pressure and is a little bit of a weak link so I think he would be more effective from the bench, same could be said for peinarr whenever he receives the ball the play slows down. With the style we play we need quick wingers who can destroy teams on the counter like Delboy. We definitely need to grab a couple of gems in jan and I am certain Roberto will produce, I for one can't wait for the final 3rd of the season.

Hey LewBlue, I agree with most of what you say. But remember RM has a million decisions a day to make. He will get some wrong just like anyone. He has to consider things like fitness, burn out etc. I think Pienaar still has a big role to play, but I think you are right about Ossie, he seems to get caught in possession in the center of the pitch more and more these days. It irks me the slagging he gets off our own fans though. He has done a good job over the years for us. I think it just had to happen against Sunderland though. All of 2013 with no home defeats. Them bottom. Can't score goals. Us with the best defence etc. Just had to happen. That's why bookies exist. Otherwise we would know the table before a ball was kicked!
Degsypulford

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26 Dec 2013 23:55:48
Would anyone sell Baines either in January or next Summer?

He's 29 years old, so this year would probably be get us the most money. We have a ready-made replacement in Oviedo, who has been just as good as Baines imo from what I've seen this year. Oviedo will also get better with more playing time, which would bee prevented if Baines stayed, however Baines has probably reached the peak of his ability, as most players do around his age.

I know Baines has been an amazing player for us over the last 2-3 years, but he's not going to be around forever and we could probably get 10-20 million for him now, which could really benefit the club as a whole. I, personally would nearly let him go and let Oviedo in the team.

Opinions?

Keep both of them. We need a squad that has strength in depth and allows RM to rest and rotate players - especially if we qualify for Europe and have good runs in the domestic cups.

27 Dec 2013 01:38:13
Think it would be good to see both playing at the same time first. Oviedo is just as two footed as barkley, he seems to like cutting inside. So him further forward with baines on the overlap could be really dangerous.
Colin

I've thought the same thing Colin