Where Do We Go From Here?
One good season. One bad season. And one week to go until the third. But which direction are we going in?
The optimistic amongst us – and I firmly count myself as one of them – would love to believe that last season was just a blip. That the whole team had an off day (that lasted for 38 games), and we will surely play to our true potential this time around?
Or have we been found out? Was Roberto just the happy beneficiary of the legacy left by David Moyes, enhanced by some good loans/signings (McCarthy, Lukaku and Deulofeu) and a sprinkling of good fortune?
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After another aimless, lacklustre performance against Villareal by what looks like our injury-dictated first eleven against Watford, the signs are not good. I was at the Leeds game yesterday and notwithstanding the fact we had a back four of youngsters, complemented by reserves and Barkley/McCarthy, we were equally dire and uninspired.
From what I have seen of our other pre-season games, there haven't been any signs of much-needed improvement or inspiration. Browning and to a lesser extent, McAleny, excepted. This, at a time when arguably we have a team with the greatest potential since we dominated English football in the mid-eighties.
We have a back four that, on paper, ought to be nigh on impregnable. Stones and Coleman are apparently coveted to the tune of a combined £45/50m. Baines could have added another £25m to that last year and Jagielka is acknowledged as one of the finest footballing centre halves there is today and an England regular.
In midfield we have another tipped by the media to go to a so-called 'bigger' club in McCarthy and everyone's bright hope for the future (even if hanging by a thread), Ross Barkley. Last year it would have taken £50m to prize him away we are told.
And up front we have what I consider to be a truly great trio of compatible talents, all blessed with pace and en eye for goal: Mirallas, Lukaku and Deulofeu.
A decent replacement for Howard and Cleveley stepping up to the plate would give us a pretty damn good first team. And plenty of strength in depth too, behind them.
But as I count down the days to the opening fixture, I am filled more with the dread of predictable anti-climax, than I am of a new beginning and a return to winning ways.
Last year the whole team suffered a collective lapse. Various people single out various individuals as having had a poor season, but in reality, not a single player distinguished himself. And I have absolutely no patience with the idea that playing In Europe destroyed our season. Quite the reverse in fact.
Our mini-European adventure was pure adrenalin on and off the field and surely will have boosted the players, not bedraggled them. We took on some very good teams and destroyed them in their own backyard.
The confidence that came from that must surely have been inspirational. The performance in Lille on our 'debut' and then the assured demolition of Wolfsburg and Young Boys, was fantastic and must have measurably lifted the players
This ridiculous theory that it makes players tired is just what we know it all to be: a feeble excuse.
Is staying in nice hotels and travelling back first class on a plane so debilitating? Especially when they still have three or four days to recover before the arduous task of playing football again. Poor dears.
So let's confine that theory to trash can. That wasn't the reason we failed last year.
But I'm damned if I know why we did!
So what do we do to redress the situation this time and not be overtaken by the likes of Swansea, Stoke, Crystal Palace and Southampton again? Never mind those loadsamoney gobsh*tes at Tottenham and, of course, the Gobsh*tes themselves.
Again, I'm short on answers, apart from one, simple suggestion: And that is, now that we have proved we can pass the ball almost incessantly between our back four and defensive midfield, let's find a way to include our front players in the master plan.
Give Barkley the opportunity to push on at pace with the ball.
Give Lukaku the service he craves by supplying him with passes to run on to.
Feed Deulofeu on the wing and encourage him to go for goal.
And whatever we do, for Christ's sake keep Mirallas. He is our one, true, matchwinner. If we sell him and end up Lennon, then we will have been well and truly mugged by Daniel Levy and have another journeyman on the payroll.
When we get the ball forward quickly, with RB, RL, GD and KM all in pursuit, we have the capacity to trouble any defence. It works when we try it. So if you're listening Roberto, why don't you try it more often?
This pass, pass, pass (repeat 37 times) across the field 10 yards away from the opposition area is NOT working. We can all see that. Why can't you?
Aside from that, three other fundamental things occur to me:
Osman should only be used as a substitute to change the game in the second half if we have a stalemate.
Naismith should only be used as a striker, and even then, only from the subs' bench. Great to see him 'making an effort', but we do not need him filling-in behind the full backs, or digging the ball out in front of the back four.
And last but not least - and I don't think I am alone on this one - stop this blind faith/come-what-may fixation with the Barry/McCarthy axis in front of the back four. It doesn't work. If it did, we'd be rock solid at the back as they would be doing a proven job.
But more importantly, it stifles our team's creativity, at a time when we desperately need a huge injection of more of it.
McCarthy has sufficient pace, awareness and vigour to do a Carsley, so let's have Barkley and Cleverley as the other two midfield players and be brave.
Again, we can all see it is not working, so why persist with it. Try a change Roberto and drop your favourite. Your future may depend on it...
Then the buck comes round to the players. It's up to them when that whistle blows on Saturday, so show some collective nous you lot and state your intentions from the kick-off.
We've been given a home game against one of the promoted sides. Make good use of it.
Then let's take the game to the Mancs, Chelsea and Arsenal again on their own turf. We went back into 'we are not worthy' mode last year. It was retrograde, embarrassing and defeatist.
And there lies the key. If we think defeat, we'll usually end up with it. So let's start making teams worry about us again and how they're going to cope with the likes of Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Stones, McCarthy, Barkley, Cleverley, Deulofeu, Lukaku and Mirallas.
If we end up being more concerned about the likes of Jedinak, Adam, Wanyama, Mason and heaven forbid, Henderson, we'll get what we deserve.
We are EVERTON FC. Start playing like it and show that last season was the exception, not the new rule.
Reader Comments (38)
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2 Posted 03/08/2015 at 07:44:32
3 Posted 03/08/2015 at 08:02:38
Roberto has another chance to prove he's the right man for the job. If he fails, the board must act swiftly to ensure our EPL status. Is finishing 12th to 16th acceptable?
4 Posted 03/08/2015 at 08:51:35
Two defensive midfielders has not made us harder to score against or created midfield dominance. We did seem to click in the first season, but last season we were thoroughly found wanting by all comers.
Our most dangerous approach is clearly to play with two actual wingers (Mirallas and Deulofeu) supported by overlapping full-backs and with either two forwards or a No 10 behind Lukaku and to play much faster, counter-attacking football:
Howard
Coleman - Jagielka - Stones - Baines
Mirallas - McCarthy - Cleverley - Deulofeu
Barkley
Lukaku
Subs: Robles, Browning, Barry, Oviedo, Osman, Naismith, McAleny
With Deulofeu out of Week 1, then I'd say start with Oviedo or Osman on the left and bring another onto the bench (maybe Galloway).
When Pienaar, Gibson and Besic come back into the picture they can be brought into bench picture as well.
Based on the last few months (end of season and pre-season), I honestly see zero point in having Kone involved in the first team at all; he's bringing nothing to the squad and I'd rather see McAleny given experience to learn than waste more time with Arouna. Fair enough he was given a chance after injury, but he's had plenty of chances now and he's not taken any of them.
Ultimately I agree with everyone (including Martinez) that we also need a new centre-back (cover for Stones/Jags), a decent Number 10 who makes the right choices (to replace Barkley) and a new striker so Lukaku has some real competition and Kone can just be put out to pasture.
Quite why two out of these three haven't been sorted by now is somewhat of a mystery.
5 Posted 03/08/2015 at 10:48:57
6 Posted 03/08/2015 at 11:23:55
Other teams weren't scared of us and we allowed them to come on to us and never supported our own attacks with pace and numbers. That extra defensive midfielder clearly didn't work but was kept throughout the season and if we persist with it the same will happen again.
We need another striker above all else and we need to be able to play two up top when the situation calls for it. For my money, I'd go for Austin; he's no world beater but he can score a goal for us even when we're under the cosh, and he'd allow us the ability to change a game.
Nice article, David.
7 Posted 03/08/2015 at 11:37:26
8 Posted 03/08/2015 at 11:49:18
If you're not happy with what you saw last season and pre-season, unlucky, as that is going to be the way we play this season too.
The first season was Martinez slowly introducing his methodology. It was a residue of Moyes's more attacking methods (used more in his last 2 seasons with marauding full-backs) and Martinez's possession-based approach.
The real Martinez tactics were seen last season and this pre-season. This is how he wants us to play. I know this by looking at his style during his previous tenures at previous clubs. They all played the same way.
Until he's sacked -- which will happen -- this is the brand of football we can expect.... regardless of personnel
9 Posted 03/08/2015 at 11:53:19
10 Posted 03/08/2015 at 11:55:28
Barkley is being ruined by not being played in central midfield and the team has no drive from the back. It's clear to everyone! This back 4 plus 1 should allow for only one DFM and one box-to-box player.
I do wonder if Barry has some sort of minimum games clause in his contract otherwise there is no excuse!
11 Posted 03/08/2015 at 12:03:01
Roberto Martinez:
Games 228
Won 71
Drawn 63
Lost 94
Premier League win % 31.1%
This is by the way the worst record of all current premier league managers. Therefore I believe it's obvious where we are heading.
Martinez needs to go for any kind of long term success.
12 Posted 03/08/2015 at 13:22:32
13 Posted 03/08/2015 at 13:22:39
The only thing I could add to this is to be more physical and aggressive as we are too soft, whilst also not pressing opponents.
14 Posted 03/08/2015 at 13:50:56
There appeared to be some sort of rebellion from players half way through the season last year and we did improve but I hope Martinez has learned from this. Pre- season signs and little money spent cause me to have some fear for the year ahead but time will tell.
Our first team should perform well if released to play with some passion and flair and it may even wake a Goodison crowd that has become strangely quiet over the past 12 months. COYB
15 Posted 03/08/2015 at 13:56:50
The only Premier League stats for Martinez that count for me are the ones he achieved with EFC:
P 76
W 33 43%
D 20 26%
L 23 30%
Moyes in the two seasons prior:
P 76
W 31 41%
D 26 34%
L 19 25%
Not great but in line... more or less.
16 Posted 03/08/2015 at 14:00:16
17 Posted 03/08/2015 at 14:17:51
Lennon is a journeyman? Having only ever played for Leeds Utd and then Tottenham?
Jagielka is acknowledged as one of the finest footballing centre halves there is today -- by whom?
As Paul in #1 says, Martinez brought in the players we needed in his first season. I'd go a bit further and say that in the 2nd season, we converted 2 of the loans to permanent transfers, which really meant we were treading water.
This close season we've converted another one of those loans to permanent (a good signing, but our only cash signing so far).
I'm not defending Martinez -- far from it. I stopped listening to the inane shite he talks in his "good" season - he's made some awful mistakes, both in transfers, team selection and tactics.
But we're still not going to compete whilst we're on a low net spend. Yeah, we spent a shit load last summer, sort of. But the summer before was a net negative spend, and I guess the only reason this close season is net positive is we haven't sold anyone -- YET.
Martinez should be doing better. He worked under a tighter budget at Wigan, so treading water should be natural to him. Our aim should be to not let other teams overtake us (like Stoke, Palace, Swansea, Soton etc.) It's not as easy as some fans think. If the board can't be arsed to try to make it a success, don't expect the players to.
18 Posted 03/08/2015 at 14:48:12
Maybe if we sign the right players, a playmaker (aka No 10 these days) and a big, strong centre-half with a nasty streak, then things will improve.
19 Posted 03/08/2015 at 15:03:58
It will be the same old failed tactics and formation/team selection, week-in & week-out.
20 Posted 03/08/2015 at 15:08:04
We seem to lose the ball totally when crosses come in. Howard doesn't come for it and the opposition get to almost every ball.
On the attacking front, when do we ever feel confident about scoring from a corner? It was only when big Dunc came on yesterday that we unsettled their defence.
No matter what the stats say, I see it with my own eyes: this man is useless.
21 Posted 03/08/2015 at 15:45:30
It doesn't matter what players are out on the pitch, the shit sideways football Martinez has introduced permeates throughout the Club. All age groups are playing this style of football. Nothing in preseason indicates that there has been any sort of tactical change.
We were well found out last season and I am afraid this season will fare no better -- I hope to be proved wrong.
We have been asked not to be so negative, especially against the Manager; however, while we continue to be fed this style of football, how can we not be so?
I expected that our football, at least in the last three games (Villarreal and the two Scottish games) would have been high tempo and pressing all over the pitch. When in possession, we should be initially be looking for the forward ball. Nothing could have been further than that.
I would suggest that in those last three games we probably have had less than a dozen shots on target in total. Pathetic to say the least. If we want a change of style and tactics, we will have to change the management. After the first 10 games, I think we will have no option.
22 Posted 03/08/2015 at 15:55:33
23 Posted 03/08/2015 at 16:03:48
If Lukaku is out, and he probably will be, then who is going to score the goals?
24 Posted 03/08/2015 at 16:22:08
Again, I would have cashed in on one of our DFMs to help get the best No 10 we could. But, saying that, if we need one thing for the season coming to be successful it's the manager to change!
Not a 3rd choice CB or a 2nd choice striker in case of injuries etc... we need a fundamental shift in approach blending the best of Moyes and the best of Martinez.
I have not changed my thinking since my article: don't dilute the funds we have; sell one DFM and buy our magic Number 10. That's it.
My days aren't filled wondering who our new signings might be and whether they will make us successful. (Of course I note every rumour like everyone else.) They're filled with wondering if Barkley will come good; whether we will have effectively 6 defenders again; whether Besic will get a run, and how he intends you use Cleverley etc. Over to you RM.
25 Posted 03/08/2015 at 17:25:24
As far as Jagielka is concerned, I am sure I could find endless quotes to support my opinion on his reputation. I am somewhat surprised that an Evertonian should dispute it...
26 Posted 03/08/2015 at 17:34:57
I'm not sure it's formation, per se as the modern game demands that this changes dynamically, but you do need players that are intelligent enough and aware enough to manage this. Having Barry and McCarthy playing as the deep-lying mids slows down our transitions from defence. On top of this, there is too often a lack of movement ahead of the ball. Movement nowadays needs to be more than one player showing for the ball. Two or three players need to make a variety of runs ahead of the ball to unbalance an organized defence.
Lastly, all transitions need to happen at pace. The whole team needs to immediately pivot from offence to defence and back in a moment. It's not that our young players lack pace, but they simply don't make decisions quickly enough. Passing lanes are snuffed out, a run is shuffles to a stop before the ball is played. It looks like either a lack of confidence or coaching that dictates retention of the football above all else. The ability to change tempo is critical to the modern game. The ability to create penetration with pace and take away space from the opposition in a second are exciting to watch. We have the players, the manager needs to show that he has the confidence to let these youngsters grow and develop, rather than prowling the touchline like a distrustful, sports dad who is going to yank the young star from the field as soon as he displeases.
We know the players can do it. We'd all like to watch it... so what stops it happening?
27 Posted 03/08/2015 at 18:43:35
Last season, in my opinion, really showed Martinez's true colours. Unfit players, lack of any cohesion in the defence and the ultimate sin, playing 2 DM all season when everybody could see it was just hindering rather than helping us. The fact that Martinez's coaches didn't have the players fit enough made sure that we couldn't play a fast paced game and the result was a slow paced borefest all season. This preseason sends out all the same signals that we are going to struggle again. Martinez, as has been alluded to, hasn't learnt.
This season was the first time I have thought long and hard about renewing my season ticket. The fact that I have is more down to blind loyalty than anything else. Last season all the joy and excitement was sucked out of me and I couldn't even say that even when we were battling relegation. I really hope i'm wrong but I can't see anything other than a long hard slog for the fans and another under achievement season from, what I believe to be a talented bunch of players. Worrying times.
28 Posted 03/08/2015 at 18:50:01
We will bring in 2-3 new players and I think the quality and impact of those players will have a big effect on whether we finish nearer 5th or 15th as the squad at the moment does not have the right balance.
30 Posted 03/08/2015 at 19:19:51
We have to remind ourselves how well we did the first season. There is a negative reason for our sudden decline, does this decline not indicate that over time the players are gradually losing confidence and direction?
The question is what direction we are taking next? Sorry for being sceptical but I have to follow the direction of the stats with previous teams. In this I read a downward projection.
31 Posted 03/08/2015 at 19:32:52
Whilst it would have been exciting to have had a bag full of new signings, that was never going to happen and the focus will be on how many of our 'tried and trusted' are fit for action.
But is that a good reason for writing us off so early? True, the pre-season friendlies have been less than inspiring but, seriously, when did they count for anything?
By Saturday evening, they will be totally forgotten as we all pour over Everton's display against the Premier League newcomers. Then, and only then, will we in any position to begin the judgemental process of our team and their manager.
Until then, let's try to savour the excitement of another new season. For some of us there won't be many more of them. We can't afford to just write them off!
32 Posted 03/08/2015 at 20:06:52
For me, its not the fact that we have so few new players, its more the fact that Martinez continues to play terrible slow dull to boring football. I agree that we shouldn't read too much into results of pre season, however, there should be some indication of player combinations and above the playing style we are looking to use. Currently it appears that we are going to employ the same old same old from last season which had everybody dreading going to Goodison and was instrumental in having one of the worst atmospheres at the grand old lady for many a year.
Everton fans will forgive most things so long as the players give their all in a win/draw/lose scenario. What was galling last season and it appears that it has been transmitted to the new season if pre season is anything to go by, is that the team will once again play within itself and not do itself any kind of justice at all. Last season is still very fresh in my memory and also the feeling of emptiness as I left the stadium week after week and I actually dread having that feeling again this season.
I admire your optimism Bill and really hope its not misplaced and also hope that I find myself having to eat my words but I have a hollow pit in my stomach that says I'm not wrong.
33 Posted 03/08/2015 at 21:54:05
For me it would be Mirallas. Rather than having him track back so that he can do the 'honest' grunt work of helping defend, have him sit on the half way line playing off of Lukaku. We have enough other fellas who can drop into midfield to defend. Cleverly, Barkely, McCarthy and Besic can all do the other side of the game.
The other option is obviously Deulofeu.
Oh and if Barkley gets the ball from center circle onwards I want him to be encouraged to run as much as possible (whilst coaching him to be able to look up! :-)) A player that runs is still the most disruptive problem to an opposing team and it's what he's good at. That means accepting for the time being he'll make some into a blind alley. In time that'll work itself out, but coaching it out of him or booing him for doing it is the wrong answer. You have to let him and Lukaku have time to grow as players together and stop moving them around.
34 Posted 04/08/2015 at 11:10:35
The one thing I think we lack most of all though is intensity; I think Martinez lacks it and this is rubbing off on the players. No-one seems to care about losing the ball, winning the ball, conceding goals etc...
The fact that it was more exciting to hear his No 2 (Big Dunc) talk last game on the pitch rather than him backs this up to me.
35 Posted 04/08/2015 at 16:11:25
With regards to transfers, for a club like Everton to spend £28M on one player is a colossal mistake, especially when the player was way over-priced. I cannot believe that the board sanctioned it. What were they thinking about? It's just terribly bad business.
Other clubs seem to be able to pull in quality players for reasonable prices. They are still out there. You just have to look a bit harder and further than under your nose. What we needed were several quality players for that total outlay. We need the numbers in the squad, not just one heavy-legged prima donna that we struggle to service.
37 Posted 04/08/2015 at 18:45:30
There's definitely room for positivity with the quality of our best XI, but I think we are all resigned to the fact that this manager does not know how to set out a team to get in to the lead, and defend a lead, especially away from home?
This is why we were chasing so many games last season, most memorably, Hull City away, where we were utterly clueless and dispirited. I never want to witness gutless shite like that again from Everton FC but I suspect I will; definitely under Roberto's stewardship.
Barry #35, I agree with you, those mid-range priced players are out there (Affelay, Cabaye, Ogbonna) and we are not even in contention. We are really missing the Moyes network of talent spotting that brought us the likes of Pienaar, Lescott, Fellaini and Coleman. What's happened to our World and European scouting system?
38 Posted 04/08/2015 at 20:29:49
His tactics & decisions last season were totally flawed, and it deflated both the players & fans. I only hope he has learned from last season, but I fear he hasn't, in which case we will be in trouble. If we start on a string of bad results he needs to go for all our sakes.
Here's hoping for a much better less painful season COYB !!
39 Posted 05/08/2015 at 12:08:38
No manager in the league can improve his team without financial backing and ours is the worst so far this season.We are being out bid by Leicester City never mind the host of other clubs who are improving the strength of their squads week by week.
Put the blame where it lies !
41 Posted 08/08/2015 at 05:13:37
I must say this surprised me no end because I can't recall Mr Moyes ever using any particularly attacking intentions!! Yes, he certainly improved our league standing at the cost of labelling us as the little club that always punches above its weight. I, for one,was glad to see the back of him and his safety first tactics.
Whilst I admit to being concerned about our current manager's ability to move us to the next level, I could in no way see Moyes ever achieving that lofty goal. Many on here see Moyes through rose tinted glasses. I saw him as dour and totally lacking in ambition. Who can ever forget the "knife to a gunfight quote"?
Whilst I remain doubtful as to whether or not Martinez has what it takes to manage our great club.I certainly am not about to join the "Moyes was magic for us" fan club.
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1 Posted 03/08/2015 at 07:35:10
Season 2; simple. The better players weren't bought, poor preparation, poor fitness management, various plan Bs that didn't work, shocking defence, lack of pace, urgency and penetration.
Only Martinez and the players know what's behind the difference.