Arsenal vs Everton: Tactical Analysis

, 2 March, 9comments | Jump to most recent

A neutral's perspective on the Blues' 2-0 defeat at the Emirates which, sadly, encapsulates the team's pedestrian approach to games these days:

"It was a notably conservative approach by Everton manager Roberto Martinez... Despite racing out of the blocks and starting on the front foot, for the most part of the game Everton were quite frankly boring to watch."

» Read the full article at Outside90

Reader Comments (9)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Craig Mills
1 Posted 02/03/2015 at 20:55:46

Boring, pedestrian and conservative........a familiar story

Tim Michael
2 Posted 03/03/2015 at 17:01:50

A quote from the article "Arsenal were not that good but Everton were poor" Says it all really. It was also heavily critical of Jags and Stones. I didn't think that they did that bad but on reflection it does become clear that when Arsenal stepped up the pace they were both being pulled around a bit. Hence Jags ending right in front of Howard for the second goal.

Talking about Howard I notice that he was being quoted yesterday about the confidence of the players rising and that goals conceded latterly were an improvement on the first part of the season. From a keeper who hasn't kept a clean sheet since his return, I think he would be well advised to keep his opinion to himself. A clean sheet at Stoke would be a start............................but even that doesn't necessarily get us a win these days!

Steve Woods
3 Posted 03/03/2015 at 17:19:57

Tim @ 2, I agree with your comments, Howard (with his record this season) shut be keeping it shut. As you say its time for a clean sheet from Howard and while he's at it what about a clean shave too.

James Stewart
4 Posted 03/03/2015 at 17:43:17

Martinez makes Moyes look positively gung-ho. At least Moyes had a system. Martinez’s singular obsession of starving the opposition of any ball is just cowardice. It is also counter productive as we rarely have a chance of a decent counter attack.

Tim Michael
5 Posted 03/03/2015 at 17:43:14

Good one Steve #3. Yeah get rid of that stupid beard. It's getting just as irritating as Petr Cech's skull cap!!

Patrick Murphy
6 Posted 03/03/2015 at 17:59:47

Howard has kept three clean sheets in the Premier League this season, fourteen last season and ten during DM's final season.

Tim Michael
7 Posted 03/03/2015 at 18:37:49

Patrick # 6. Your figures speak volumes

Harold Matthews
8 Posted 04/03/2015 at 11:53:14

Spot on James. We are one of the most negative outfits I've ever come across. Players always making the safest pass. Midfielders terrified of getting forward in case they have to suddenly chase back.

I've also heard that we are the worst in the League when it comes to getting tight and closing down crosses and shots. We're a bunch of fainthearted cowards when trying to score from free-kicks and corners.

Baines is starting to stop and turn back. Coleman refuses to cross till he's had a go at dribbling everyone in sight. The whole thing is a shambles. From Stones and Barry right up to Barkley, Mirallas and Lukaku, there is a complete lack of urgency. Naismith apart, no-one runs around screaming for the ball and breaking sweat.

I'm certainly not a big Tim Sherwood fan but it was interesting to hear him say that he urges his players to try to pass forward. It was also noted that the Villa winning penalty came via a move which started with a cracking 25-yard shot from a midfielder which the keeper failed to hold, followed by a cross by the RB and a run from the LB inside the box. "My God," I thought, "we used to play like that!"

Mike Childs
9 Posted 04/03/2015 at 17:10:26

Why should laughing boy shut his mouth, Tim M? After all, he isn't Luke Garbutt, who only got playing time after injuries for shooting off his mouth. Lukaku said a lot of the same stuff back in December, like Luke, and didn't get benched.

It sucked the first I saw that quote from the article as they say the truth hurts. Good points you have written, Tim.

A manager isn't supposed to have favorites when it comes to what's best for the club.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.

About these ads