31 May 2014 18:02:18
Been thinking about our defence, ain't I considerate?, took a little gander over at the Manchester United banter a couple of weeks ago which stated ferdinand and terry were better than jags and cahill, I couldn't disagree more (when I said our defence I meant everton, i'm just having a dig at the plastics, can't help it), ferdinand has always been trash and terry was good but always overrated, now that I've got englands equivalent of sylvester stallones jaw problem and big jt out the way, let's focus on the mighty blues (everton), let's see, jags, check, distin, check, stones, check, alcaraz, check, browning, check, duffy, check, those six, i'd say, are our first team cebtre backs for next season, but what will happen with each and what do they bring and should they play?, jags, you all know the drill, world class defender, poor footballer, he offers fantastic tackling and doesn't get fooled easily, captain, definitely a starter (what fool said we should sell him again?), distin, again, i'd say world class defender, has improved as a footballer under roberto which is a shock as he's 36, he's still, somehow, the fastest centre back in the prem and doesn't seem to be slowing down, thing with distin is, he doesn't do much tackling, he just marks strikers out the game and doesn't let them have the ball and when they do have it he is quick to put them on their arse, definitely a starter, stones, will become a world class defender and is already an excellent footballer, he's only going to get better aswell, which is very scary, definitely a player who will start many games next season and hopefully, but unlikely, stays at everton for a long time, alcaraz, ah poor alcaraz, 3 bad games, which admittedly is poor considering he played about 8 alltogether, despite this, let's face it, one of the games he wasnt fit, another, the whole team was poor and another was when he played 3 at the back for the first time at everton, he is a solid defender and a very talented footballer, yes he lacks pace but he's strong, good in the air and reads the game very well, I think there are 3 possibilites, 1. He does okay at best and gets released, 2. He wins over the fans and earns a nee contract, or 3. He spends all season injured again, thus, being released, when he's in the team, i'm not worried, I really like him and for free you can't complain, after all, he's on what 25k a week? Kolo toure is on 90k a week and had a 2m signing on fee, I know who was better last season, and who I would rather have, I just hope fans support him, its embarrassing when the announcer goes 'number 20 ross barkley' and the crowd goes 'wheeey', 'number 23 seamus coleman' and the crowd goes 'wheeey', 'and number 32 antolin alcaraz' and then there is an awkward silence, he must think 'how am I going to win this miserable lot over', I really hope next season he does very well, unfortunately, I think injuries will ruin him again, now, browning, martinez has stated he is ready for the first team, he had a poor spell at wigan so maybe martinez will loan him out again, then bring him into the team, or maybe he thinks he's ready like now, he will be given a go in pre season, comfortable on the ball, solid, strong and fast, he also of course gives us cover at right back, good future ahead for him, now big shane, he pissed me off in an interview were he said he thinks martinez will leave soon for bigger things but hopes he stays, i'm not getting into another everton stature debate, its boring, duffy is big, strong and good in the air, unfortunately, he's slow, can't play and his composure is very poor, if martinez is serious about him getting a go in pre season then shane must buck up his ideas and work very hard, maybe martinez wants him to learn how to play out from the back but in the end I think duffy will leave for leicester or burnley on a permenant deal, he just isn't right for everton imo, overall we have very good centre backs, but 3 of them are getting on and next season could be the end of 2 of the oldies, but just for next season, I think we can manage with what we have got
Bloody hell Swan mate. That was a hard read.
I agree that Jags and Cahill are better than Ferdinand and Terry.
I don't think that Distin is world class (he is a good player though). Stones has the potential to be.
Alcaraz is just really crap and should not be here next season.
Had to stop for a toilet break halfway through that.
We have strength and mobility with our first choice centre backs.
We have possibly the best full backs in the league who weigh in with goals too.
We don't have enough ball players which makes me very nervous when we try to play out from the back.
I would like us to sign Caulker and play him alongside Stones in the Europa to see if this could be the future pairing in the league in years to come.
01 Jun 2014 14:23:04
Where do I start Swan?
I should have stopped reading when you stated Ferdinand has always been trash. Maybe this is because you are too young to remember him at West Ham, Leeds and the early part of his utd career? He certainly wasn't trash, but time has now caught up with him. JT is/was a class defender, only over rated in your head. How can you slate these two defenders and then further down tell us that Alcaraz is a quality player? Duffy never let himself or us down in the few games DM afforded him, he got MoM a couple of games if I remember right. Oh and he's had a good season for Yoevil, getting vital experience of first team football along the way. Do our eyes a favour next time and scale down the posts, that was a chore reading that
Sounds like you are making excuses for previous posts to me Swan. When I said Alcaraz was crap (when we first signed him) you were at pains to tell me how good he was. Now you are saying injuries will probably ruin his next season with us before he has even kicked a ball? This after injuries, tactics and other players were to blame for him being crap this season in 3 of his 8 games. Yes he was a free and is on 25k a week. Tell you what, I will sign for free and play 8 games for 10k a week. And I will be crap too! Would you be happy with that? No way! I am not having a dig, just pointing out that I still think he is not up to our standard.
01 Jun 2014 16:42:41
I don't remember those posts degsy so whatever, I couldn't give a shiny rubbish what happens, i'd rather he did well than didn't so whatever happens I will bow down and worship you for being right, happy?, spud, sappo laa, for the last hmm, 15 years, I've seen ferdinand play a lot, he was a good player, but a defender? No way, always at fault for goals be it him out of position or getting turned inside out on numerous occassions or the simple fact he never seemed to win thr ball when he slid in, terry was a very good defender, world class or ths best in the world? Never, I never slated rhese two and then went on to say alcaraz was better, only in yiur head, what does it matter if duffy did well under moyes? he's slow and can't play it out from the back, he has no future, this bloody posts more trouble than its worth, no one forced you to read it mate, bloody hell, does it matter at the end of the day? Maybe ferdinand was in his prime for the first two years of his career and he regresses every day since, I dunno
{Ed025's Note - to be fair swan, rio has been a great player mate, and so has terry, both for club and country..
01 Jun 2014 16:55:31
Ed I know everyone is entitled to their opinion and all, I know a lot of people liked (worshipped) rio but I just never once watched him and went 'thats why people love him', I've always liked terry (the player, not the person) but rio was always meh for me, and, gerrard, lampard, ferdinand and terry were all failures at international level, the only one who could say he did his best for england was ashley cole, doesn't matter really though does it? Their time has gone and let's just hope jags does his bit at brazil, so i'd just like to say, degsy, spud, let's enjoy enjoy the world cup and look forward to another season with the bright one, have a good day lads
{Ed025's Note - it is all about opinions mate your right..
No probs Swan. except your reply is addressed to me re the comments all the other guys made. My previous posts were just that Alcaraz was crap. No mention of Rio or Terry by me. I think I touched a raw nerve as they say?
01 Jun 2014 17:42:13
I'm sure I've read a post from you that stated your age as 19, Swan. If that's the case then I can't take anything you say seriously. You have been watching Ferdinand for, hmmm, 15 years, since you were 4. I never meant you said Alcaraz was better, just pointing out that you dismiss the other 2 but are happy to wax lyrical about a player who hasn't achieved even half as much in the game. A player who, imo, is not good enough for us. Duffy played well so we know he can hack it, he got much needed game time last year and he has plenty of years a head of him unlike AA. I never said JT is world class, just a class act. Cole was also a failure at international level, unless I missed it then he won nothing did he? You're right, it's about opinions, I just happen to think that yours are a bit biased and near sighted :)
01 Jun 2014 18:28:00
Lads lads leave it now, although I will point a few things out, yes i'm 20 not 19, (so ha!), I've been watching football for as long as I can remember, am I an expert? Hell no (just insurance for me), rio has never impressed me, even when watching earlier matches that have been on tv I've always tought he was overrated, doesn't matter if duffy can hack it or not the point is he isn't good enough for our style, did ferdinand or terry win anything with england? Cole at least gave his all, which the others didnt, how can I be biased? I think alcaraz is a decent squad player to have and I've always liked terry just not ferdinand, degsy I didn't aim that post at anyone, it was genuine, if I had aiamed it I would of dropped a hint in brackets, either way lads I can't be bothered with this bickering or banter, bicker banter shanter i'm off
02 Jun 2014 07:22:24
I, too, have been watching football for as long as I can remember Swan, but to say I could form an opinion of how a certain person played and performed is a bit stupid. Cole will go down as a failure like the rest of the so called golden generation and they all tried to give their best but were just not good enough. We don't know how Duffy will do in the system mate, not until he is given a few games to prove himself. RM seems to think he can so the jury is out on that one. You've got to expect banter on a football banter site!
02 Jun 2014 15:28:42
To clear up last post by me, Swan. I missed out a key part of sentence. *how a certain person played and performed is a bit stupid when I was so young.
That is what I was meant to say, night shifts addle my brain :)
{Ed007's Note - A great figure for the dressing room.... Oo er vicar!!! Wouldn't you say he's a bit on the chubby side? I prefer curvy females but each to their own, Clarkey, it's 2014 after all and who are we to judge?}