Martinez disappointed by Swansea approach

Whichever way Swansea played, we threw away 2 points simply because we didnÂ’t put the ball in the net from chances created.

To me, Barkley was pushed out wide when he should be in the middle trying to dictate things. Unfortunately Roberto’s use of our front 4 attackers has not come off so far this season and – whilst Lukaku has been well below par – Roberto has got to take his share of blame for tactics and personnel.

Do you mean when Bony put it into the side netting?

Too many players playing the same position on Saturday upfront, getting in eachother’s way.

Ross had a poor game anyway, and I don’t totally put it down to being positioned 15 yards to the left of normal, but it certainly didn’t help. Ross’s and Baines’s link-up play was non-existent, and Baines was exposed at the back due to Ross never tracking back (another reason he should only ever be played in front of Barry and McCarthy).

Baines’s corners were scandalous, he must have had 8 or 9 attempts and don’t think he beat the first man once, and his lack of understanding with anyone except Steven Pienaar has always been a small gripe I have with him. That said, Pienaar was available and should have played, allowing Ross to play his natural position and have our best partnership on the pitch also.

Naismith is riding the first few weeks of the season now. He has done little of note for weeks.

Martinez can moan all he likes about Swansea not just letting us waltz through them, but what did he really do about it? We could see at half-time that we needed something different, and to be fair to him, he brought on Lukaku and Pienaar with plenty of time to influence the game, but why the insistence on keeping the same formation and shape?

Why won’t he go 2 up top? Why waste Eto’o as a right winger? Why take McGeady off when he was the only one who came close to getting in behind them? It was a case of doing the same things but expecting different results. No Plan B. Swansea’s defence were comfortable all afternoon, and it was Swansea who had the two best chances to actually win the game.

Maybe if we could defend like that when we need to, we would have a lot more points than we do now.

The season may have worked out differently if we could have shut up shop at Leicester and at home to Arsenal.

As good as he was those first 8 games of the season (when we really needed someone), Naismith needs to be the one sacrificed. It’s pointless putting square pegs in round holes to accommodate one player. He seams to have a Jelavic type cult hero status from the crowd all of a sudden, but the bottom line of it is he is not good enough for our first 11.

Part Barkley back behind Rom, and start playing with natural wingers again. Naismith works hard, granted. But Barkley is the better player behind the striker. That’s not SN’s fault, its just unfortunate.

I have also noticed games tend to pass him by the minute we start playing with any pace?

One thing I agree with Roberto on, we moved the ball too slowly at times, especially in the post-red-card period.

But you can’t blame Swansea for their tactics in nullifying our style of play. We adapted our game in the same way in the home win against United last season (playing defensively and hitting them on the break) which worked a treat because they expected us to go all-out in attack.

So to me, its a case of what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.

He got it all wrong with his formation once again, and not for the first time this season. It took me 15 minutes to actually work out where Barkley way playing. And given where he did play, he couldnÂ’t have any influence on the game at all.

As for where EtoÂ’o played, words fail me... Having had a stormer the week before, you wouldnÂ’t have thought it was the same player.

He needs to have a look at himself before he criticises opposition.

Also, a new game coming up soon lads, time to start focusing lo n that.

Dan (#5). Pienaar knows that Baines is the best and most consistent pass-and-move exponent in the Premier League, and this allows him to return the ball without even looking. Unfortunately, Martinez, the rest of the Everton squad, Hodgson and the whole of the England squad, have never twigged on, causing the runs of Baines to be totally ignored. We have discussed this mysterious and frustrating situation many, many times on ToffeeWeb.

Yes, the corners are not just poor. For this level of football they are a total disgrace. So too the free-kicks. Too many cooks around the ball and not enough focus and thought. Watching Baines, Pienaar, Barkley, Lukaku and Eto’o putting forward their reasons for taking the shot is not a pretty sight and the result is usually unsuccessful.

So what happened in the remaining hour if the match?

Not good enough and rotten ’entertainment’ for a sell out crowd from two teams who supposedly play attractive football.

Been a boring season so far, time to up the pace Everton!

It’s much in the same vein as Brenda whinging about Chelsea parking the bus, and it’s one of Wengers favorite topics as well. Can’t blame anyone other than ourselves for not getting 3 points!

Time for him to put his foot down IÂ’m afraid. Certain frontline players are ditching the instructions and attempting to do things their own way.

Reminds me of RodgersÂ’ boo-hooing last season with ChelseaÂ’s set-up not allowing Suarez et al to run rampant.

You need a plan, for sure. But theyÂ’re based on circumstances. You donÂ’t shoehorn circumstances into your plan, when the other guy has upset that plan.

RM still has a lot to learn and so far he has had respect from a lot of media and fans alike but doesnÂ’t want to start putting his foot in his mouth.

Although personally I was very happy to see him being far more realistic and accurate in his analysis of the game. This is what I want to hear from the Everton manager.

No ridiculous over-the-top Anglo-Spanish blandishments to put a rosy glow on another frustrating Everton performance this week... I think we may be making some progress here!

You have your core beliefs but need to bend with the wind when they are clearly not working.

Most teams that come to Goodison now will park the bus and itÂ’s up to us to unlock their tight defences.

Fannying about with it 20 yards out isnÂ’t going to cut it anymore.

You could see Barkley trying to get space to have a dig but kept on getting pushed wide, no-one else would take a shot on.

The Mourinho-style attack on parking the bus seems misplaced, too. I think Swansea are perfectly entitled to defend in numbers, especially once down to ten men.

The shortcomings on Saturday were very much ours. RMÂ’s team selections do remain something of a mystery to me, especially taking his avowed aims of possession football and allowing each player to express himself (and therefore in his right position) into account.

The above notwithstanding, IÂ’m happy with RM as our manager, very happy.

Likaku wasnÂ’t dropped, he was rested as his toe injury flared up again.

RM is a top manager, but we missed Mirallas badly and need another attacking mid and a striker asap.

How right they were... although we didnÂ’t lose this one!

Fair play to Swansea. However, I also thought they would play their usual, expansive passing game. It has cost them away from home in the past, but maybe they are catching on.

Phil Walling – you don’t think our manager should give any pre- or post-match analysis, or comment on anything else to do with the team or club? I think most of TW would rather you kept your trap shut and continue to hear what our manager (like him or not) has to say.

Parked the bus? We were hardly cavalry charge ourselves. We didnÂ’t create any chances inside their box because you have to actually get players in there to do that. 70% possession means nothing when most of it is in your own half.

Good job we didnÂ’t recently park the bus in France, or at Anfield... or even at OT (until we went behind). Otherwise people may detect more than a hint of hypocrisy In RobbieÂ’s comments.

Garry Monk says his team were robbed and those who disagree may want to think about making an appointment at Specsavers.

They are beginning to buy into the bollux!

The side lacked balance/pace against a stubborn Swansea. I think we missed the injured Mirallas (Atsu isnÂ’t good enough; I wish we had Deulofeu), and Pienaar starting (need a younger model). We lack creativity outside of Baines currently.

With EtoÂ’o playing instead of Lukaku at the beginning of the match against Swansea, played far too deep, that allowed Swansea defenders to push further up the field, to give Barkley less freedom and space to move in. Result: lack of real goalmouth action and not one worthwhile effort created on goal throughout the whole of the match.

So the moral of the story, never play so deep that forces the opposing defenders to push up and crowd the middle of the park, that gives attacking mid-fielders players less room to move and create space in.

David Moyes – following a goalless draw at Goodison two seasons ago!!

Seems like most managers want to use a squad rotation approach but a marquis player like Lukaku costing 㿈M should not be part of that rotation unless he is playing really bad, which he has not been.As I had said earlier, RM is still learning his trade at the top level and perhaps he will learn from this.

The main problem now is the central defence. We fans had better hope Jags and Distin stay healthy.

IÂ’m still not a 100% convinced by Roberto and his methods but I would like him to be successful and I really donÂ’t see the point of pouring over his every utterance and picking holes in it. I understand what he is trying to do and a look across the park shows that an over-reliance on one person has its pitfalls, whether the Goodison faithful have the patience to see the seeds fully bloom is open to debate.

I would even play Hallam Hope in LukakuÂ’s place, if he is not fit, in the hope he will keep at least two of the opposing defenders further back in their half, to stop them condensing space in the midfield area, because he is strong and fast. And, as long as he stays on the last of the defenders shoulders, he can do a job in the Everton first XI.

If you're going to play two defensive midfielders at home instead of two recognised strikers and defending with eleven back in the box at corners and no outball, maybe you're adding to the problem and not solving it.

After Saturday I know which manager I'd blame for the stalemate. I think that RM's tactics shows at best a lack of confidence in his players and at worse a fear of the opposition.

I was surprised that a good football team chose to play in such a defensive way. I was disappointed that we didn't manage to break them down.

So I guess that I agree with Bobby. I'm also guessing that most of us do.