The Lack of Passion

Andy Bacon 18/04/2016 29comments  |  Jump to last

I have been an Evertonian since before I can remember. Even though we lived in Derbyshire at the time, my Dad would drive us to Goodison whenever he could. We would go to home matches in the early 90s, which weren't the best times for our great club. Now that I live in Ireland I have little opportunity to go and watch them. The first match I remember was at Goodison Park against Liverpool in 1993. We won 2-0 with goals from Mitch Ward and Tony Cottee, but the end of that season would see us just escape the jaws of relegation. A season later, and we had won the FA Cup. However, the league form still wasn't great.

My Dad would take me to a few more matches in the 1994-95 season and we went to every FA Cup game that was at Goodison, including a 5-0 demolition of Norwich City. That was when I was old enough to understand the passion and commitment that those 11 men on the pitch showed, and that's when I really started to fall in love with the club. We've been on many a stadium tour, and been greeted and shown around by the legend who was Dave Hickson. I still vividly remember him talking so passionately about this fantastic club, referring to Everton as magic. And what a true gentleman he was.

The booming first bars of the famous Z-Cars would send shivers down my spine back then and even does so to this day. We would usually sit in the Top Balcony so we always had a great view, and an image that sticks in my mind is of Dave Watson leading the team out of the tunnel, sprinting as he kicked the ball up in the air towards the goal followed by his enthusiastic team mates. The noise was deafening around the stadium, blue and white ticker-tape might be carried by the wind up into the sky as well as a few blue and white balloons. The chants would start then, "Everton, Everton, Everton"; and then the announcer would name the team, every players name met with a huge roar.

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I am 30 years old now and that's such a powerful image in my mind. Everyone around the stadium sung their hearts out and the players on the pitch responded. The likes of John Ebbrell, Barry Horne and Joe Parkinson may not have been the most skilful midfielders in the world but they would put in crunching tackles against the hard men of the Premier League. They weren't scared to put their foot in against the likes of Vinnie Jones, Dennis Wise and Roy Keane.

Then there was Big Dunc, my hero. And the reason he was my hero was because he left everything out on the pitch, week-in & week-out, whether he was 100% fit or not, the passion shone through. You could see that passion in him and those all in blue around him. Every one of those players from that 94-95 squad played for each other. The quality may not have been as good at the time but I believe that team spirit won us the FA Cup and to see Dave Watson lift that trophy at Wembley was an amazing sight.

The quality we have in our squad this season is right up there. The likes of Rom, Ross, Geri and Stones all have great talent and potential, but I can't say I've seen much passion or team spirit from them this season. Every time Rom loses the ball he makes no effort to get it back, just throws his arms in the air and lets someone else deal with it. Big Dunc, Ebbrell, Horne and Parkinson would all hassle for the ball, push the opposition back and force mistakes to put them on the back foot and try their best to get it back when they lose the ball. The same for the likes of Stuart, Rideout, Jackson, Rhino and Hinchcliffe.

Roberto Martinez's first season in charge saw Barry and McCarthy doing an incredible job in the middle of the park. McCarthy would always hassle opponents, Coleman and Baines would be bombing forward to support the front men and McCarthy and Barry would be covering when they do. That doesn't seem to happen any more which means Rom is isolated up front. Apart from the odd cross from Geri, and a few through balls from Ross, he's been feeding off scraps all season.

Don't get me wrong, he's done fantastic with the goals with what little support he's had this season, but I can't help but think if we were more ruthless from the front, if we charged down opponents instead of sitting back and letting them carve us open, we would have been able to create more chances and therefore be so much higher in the table. At the moment this season is just petering out in the league with a team of individuals, and Baines was right – there is a lack of chemistry there, every Evertonian can see that. Imagine what a player Rom would be with the passion and desire of Big Dunc.

We haven't seemed to get out of second gear in many matches this season. All too happy to pass the ball sideways, then back, then sideways again, until we make a mistake and give a goal away, or our full backs would get into good positions, but then somehow the ball ends up back to the goalkeeper from a potential attack. There's no urgency in anything we do anymore. We just don't take the game to teams from the start. And this is how we play for the total 90 minutes, with no Plan B when we go a goal down, then a defensive midfielder might come on for the last 10 minutes, or a mediocre striker who will have no impact will replace someone who actually is a threat. So it's no wonder the crowd get disgruntled. From kick-off that stadium is full every week, the fans deserve something to get excited about.

The passion and support from the Everton fans is second to none, but the players just don't respond to it. Martinez should at least change the formation, or do something different. I don't see how we haven't deployed a 4-4-2 or at least try to change it up when things aren't working. I'd have more respect for our manager if he took a chance here or there. I don't see what's wrong with playing two strikers and two natural wingers. We need to get back the fire in the belly which seems to have disappeared this season. The lack of passion is there for all to see. And we desperately need that going into a derby and then an FA Cup Semi-Final.

I would like to see some of the togetherness shown by the 94-95 squad, or the 2004 team that got us into 4th place, Tim Cahill being one of my heroes from that time, another passionate Evertonian. I'd have him back straight away. I can't remember an Everton team that lacked passion as much as this group we have now, and I blame Martinez for that.

With Moyes, the team spirit was there from the start, not that I'd have him back; however, during Martinez's time here, we are going further and further backwards. If he carries on with these same tactics, I'm afraid that togetherness and passion will be lacking for a long time. I compare Martinez to Mike Bassett – there's no Plan B and no ideas. Although sometimes I'd prefer Mike Bassett to Martinez, at least Mike Bassett isn't afraid of the 4-4-2!

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Reader Comments (29)

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Dan Davies
1 Posted 18/04/2016 at 19:22:12
Big Dunc is a hero of mine too. Thing is he's on the staff so he's with our boys most of the time. My point being if Duncan can't get these players up for games nobody can.

Duncan should be ripping into these players for lack of effort/spirit but does he? Makes me wonder exactly what goes on behind closed doors at Finch Farm.

Don Alexander
2 Posted 18/04/2016 at 19:32:16
Precisely what Martinez wants to go on behind closed doors at Finch Farm Dan, and nowt else.
Martin Mason
3 Posted 18/04/2016 at 19:44:34
After one of the Sky games on TV, Jamie Carragher said that Everton lacked intensity, another word for passion. For me, it immediately clicked and I see it in almost all aspects of their play.

Leicester play with intensity, Liverpool are now and Man City did against Chelsea. Southampton played with intensity against us pressing us very high up the field and we returned none of it.

I think it comes when you are one as a team and play hard for each other.

Ged Simpson
4 Posted 18/04/2016 at 19:49:32
Fear, Martin. Not of fans but in how to work together. Sad and down to the manager.
Ray Robinson
5 Posted 18/04/2016 at 20:01:21
I can't help feeling that you're viewing Big Dunc through rose (blue) tinted spectacles. There was many a match (not the big ones admittedly) when Big Dunc didn't seem arsed to me. Funny how we view players differently!
Alan Bodell
6 Posted 18/04/2016 at 20:11:55
Andy, your passion shines through here and once a Blue we are till the casket but Dan D #1 beat me to it regarding Duncan, he has the ability to ramp up the attacking ability in our squad or at least leap out of his sheltered seat at every game and he just sits impassive.

I do not see any aggression or desire in the big man today.
Declan Brown
7 Posted 18/04/2016 at 20:37:13
Loved that Andy, being a fellow blue from Belfast who remembers the Royle era very fondly.

Some Joe Royle Derby related quotes to add to that, "a crisp packet was being blown across the pitch by the wind and 2 of my players tackled it", after his first match at Anfield as manager, a 0-0 draw with Southall making one save all game, Roy Evans complained about Everton's battling performance and tactics which Royle responded to Evans with "the toys were thrown from the pram last night" and my all time favourite after another robust Everton performance in the Derby "i thought it was a typical derby game, people running around and kicking each other, then after 20 minutes the referee threw the ball onto the pitch". He understood what it meant to be a blue and his players knew it too. I bet Parkinson, Horne and Ebbrell would have given Gerrard a few good kickings in the Derby's, we roll over for them too often and too easy and it's incredibly frustrating to watch nowadays.

Loved Big Joe for his feats with Everton (the Kanchelskis double at the Kop End was on my birthday). Loads of heart, effort and players who would bleed for the cause. A team of men with character and the FA Cup win was so sweet that season. He came into a team that won 1 out of 14 games and took us on a magical journey to safety and the FA Cup, then 6th the following season before him and Johnson lost the plot that fateful Thursday afternoon over 2 transfers (Tore Andre-Flo being one).

If this current Everton team had the heart, desire, will to win, passion, we wouldn't fear Wednesday night and Saturday evening. How times change. How we could do with a Joe Royle type of manager right now, a manager who was a blue, knows what it means and has great man management skills to get his teams ready for Derby's and big games.

Martinez will be gone in the summer, but for this week it's get fully behind the manager, the team and then pray we can get 2 good results, otherwise the atmosphere at Goodison for the Bournemouth will be absolutely toxic, rightly so in my eyes.

Koeman for me in the summer, but until then, it's a big week for all of us. Liverpool and Man Utd. Couldn't pick two worse teams to lose to in quick succession. As a blue you know that only too well. Win at all costs in both. Simple as that.

Ian Riley
8 Posted 18/04/2016 at 22:03:09
Sadly Big Dunc is part of the first team coaching staff. New manager, new staff, bye Dunc. He may regret leaving the Under-21s too early. Sadly we have shown none of the passion Duncan showed as a player.
Dan Davies
9 Posted 18/04/2016 at 23:50:11
Everyone remembers Duncan whipping his shirt around his head, flexing the muscles and Goodison lapping it up. I just wonder where has that passion gone? I'd love to see Big Bad Duncan Ferguson on the sideline screaming at the current players.

I don't understand. Unless Martinez is that much of a dictator he has told Duncan not to, wouldn't surprise me at all TBH.

Charlie Lloyd
10 Posted 18/04/2016 at 23:58:30
Declan, great memorable quotes from Joe Royle who had that character to instill a fighting attitude into the players.

We need this over the next two games which, I'm afraid, we will not see. More likely to see disorganisation, unfit players, players out of position and bizarre subs.

Wish I could go to sleep now and wake up 7pm Saturday and a miracle occurred. We win both games.

Tough 5 days ahead to be a blue.

Ciaran Duff
11 Posted 19/04/2016 at 00:51:03
While I don't agree with your tactical suggestion (not a big fan of 4-4-2), I 100% agree about passion. Even as a TV viewer, it is fairly obvious that this is missing. People often associate passion only with "blood and guts" players but I believe that even very good teams with very good players can and do have it. The best example to me were Man Utd under Fergie. They had quality players who also had passion and a massive will to win, a quality needed by all great teams.

So, where does passion and will to win come from? To me it has to come from the club, fans and mainly the manager. If the players believe in the manager – his philosophy, his vision and his tactics – then the passion and will to win will be there. It is pretty obvious that, for whatever reason, that has been lost and we need a change of manager.

Peter Larkin
12 Posted 19/04/2016 at 01:05:16
I think the team is lost, people say the slow passing game does not work in the Premier League. However I believe it does!

The big problem is we don't have the technical players to play this way. If I look at the best technical teams around europe I always see a player with vision, do we have one? No. I then see players who can control a ball instantly or on a half turn, do we have one? No. Then I look at the front 3, all pacy all unselfish and full of movement, do we have any of that? No.

My point is, this team should be built like Leicester, not because they are top of the league, its because we have counter attacking players, its that simple. We have all pace no brains a lot like Leicester, forget the passing, sit back let them have it, then boom counter, our away record proves my point.

Brian Porter
13 Posted 19/04/2016 at 06:27:53
Sadly, I believe Big Dunc has zero influence on team performance because he simply isn't allowed to – much like Martinez's entire staff with the possible exception of Graeme Jones, his personal 'puppet master' who quietly pulls the strings on Roberto's behalf.

Duncan is no more than a figurehead appointment, a sop to the fans who Martinez thought would help keep us off his back. After all, if Big Dunc is there, things must be hunky dory eh?

I don't think our little dictator ever had a single thought about allowing Ferguson or anyone else interfere with his one-man, one-way system of management. Jones reminds me of Count Dracula's faithful acolyte Renfield in the film comedy, Dracula, Dead and Loving it, following RM around, wringing his hands and repeating "Yes master" over and over again.

In fact, Martinez is pretty much our very own Dracula, ducking the lifeblood out of our club a bit more each week. Nothing will change as long as this bloodsucker is in charge.

MARTINEZ OUT.

Andy Meighan
14 Posted 19/04/2016 at 06:49:00
I never understood the adulation for Ferguson. He played when he felt like and couldn't seem to get up for the so-called smaller games. If he was as big an Evertonian as everyone makes out, why as part of the coaching staff doesn't he have a strong word with Martinez and let him know how we feel?

I'll tell you why: it's because it's a job and nothing else. The only ones who really care about the club are us.

And Andy, re the derby you mentioned, it was Mark Ward (not Mitch Ward) who scored.

Jim Bennings
15 Posted 19/04/2016 at 08:09:36
Agree with the serious lack of passion and intensity although I might be one of the few who actually doesn't subscribe to the players being as good as they are touted. Maybe a lot is down to the manager but let's not forget Wayne Rooney shone brilliantly in a very poor Everton team.

The likes of Deulofeu and Barkley looked really sluggish and frankly overweight on Saturday and the problems with both players is end product. Think back to Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo – at the age of 19 they all had better end product and made better decisions than Deulofeu (who too often is all step-overs with nothing at the end), and Barkley who just shuffles left to right like a line-dancer.

The one thing I am critical of the manager of is the lack of passion and inability to motivate the team either at the start of half time.

Joe Royle had motivation in abundance and it rubbed off on his players, even though we were in the bottom five going into the Cup Final in 1995 you knew we would beat Man Utd, you had that faith in Royle to motivate them beyond imagination.

I have no faith in this manager and set of players..

I also see no self motivator amongst the playing staff either not all just down to the manager. The likes of Parkinson, Horne, Ebbrell, Watson and Southall – would they have really needed a manager to motivate them anyway?

As much as I loathe to admit it even Gerrard across the park, he was the manager on the pitch from the age of 20.

I look at our bunch and I don't see any leadership or self motivators. For this reason, I see no hope for the remainder of the season.

Dennis Stevens
16 Posted 19/04/2016 at 08:41:50
"A season later, and we had won the FA Cup. However, the league form still wasn't great."

A bit harsh on Joe Royle there. Although under walker we had only taken 8 points from the first 14 matches, under Joe we took 42 from the remaining 28 matches. At that rate, it would equate to 63 from 42 over a whole season, enough that season to get into 7th place. Not bad considering the squad Royle inherited & how they'd been performing for the previous few months since Kendall's departure.

Noleen Daya
17 Posted 19/04/2016 at 09:08:26
The lack of passion and intensity is all down to the manager as far as I'm concerned. Sure, players can be lazy, but the right manager will address this effectively.

Let's not underestimate the influence of a manager's personality on a team. I don't care WHAT anyone says about Moyes, but who of us can honestly say that steely glare wouldn't come in handy now? At lease with him we could be sure of a top 10 spot, and more importantly, remaining there.

Martinez is weak, too nice and just not strong enough. That's of course besides the fact that he's just utterly NOT fit to be the manager of our beloved club.

Andy Meighan
18 Posted 19/04/2016 at 09:10:19
Brilliantly put, Jim 15. What a shabby outfit we are at the minute. I could weep, mate, I really could.
Ian Jones
19 Posted 19/04/2016 at 09:25:31
I think passion can also come from confidence. There's very little evidence of confidence anywhere at the club.

Out of interest. Is Joe Royle ever seen at Goodison on match days? I assume he still has this role with the younger players.

Damian Wilde
20 Posted 19/04/2016 at 10:56:19
Great post, Andy, shame the manager and players don't have as much passion as you! They did 'care' in those days, which can be seen via performance.

Martin, I think passion and intensity are linked, but not the same thing. Intensity is more tactical (and our tactics are woeful), sort of 'pressing higher up the pitch' (Biesla's type of way of playing apparently). Whether playing an intense or patient way, passion/effort should be there, but we lack that too as Martinez has sucked the life out of everyone.

Mike Price
21 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:18:49
We have a team full of 'going through the motions' players. I've never seen such a bunch of quiet, nice boys in one team and there doesn't seem to be an ounce of aggression anywhere.

They are a team in the image of the manager. He doesn't identify with the type of character we need in a player and it's been obvious for years. We need a Cahill, Reid, Gray and Ratcliffe, nasty, hard, winners.

There is no intensity whatsoever, the overweight players is a theme and an utter disgrace, and there is absolutely no desperation to win.

Bob Cumiskey
22 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:55:16
Andy (14) – spot on in relation to Ferguson. I never really understood the adulation for him either to be fair. He did score some important goals in the 'big' games but would often go missing in what would be considered a lesser game.

I always remember him elbowing Paulo Wanchope in the throat early on against Derby and getting sent off. It was back to the wall stuff then as we were fighting relegation and we got beat 3-1.

Once the axe falls on Roberto he needs to be moved on too as do all the other 1st team coaching staff. He was never in the same class as Latchford, sharp or Gray in my opinion.

Gerard Carey
23 Posted 19/04/2016 at 22:58:55
So the question is can our lazy uninterested players raise their effort for the next two games. If they can't do it for a derby and Cup semi-final, it will be the final nail in RM's coffin. Here's hoping for some fireworks on Wednesday, a win there would give us confidence for the Cup. Here's hoping!!.
Rob Dolby
24 Posted 20/04/2016 at 12:03:26
This should be a week in which we are all buzzing with excitement. The prospect of beating the RS and a cup semi to win. We are playing teams who are 5th and 8th, both winnable games. Trouble is we don't have any positive momentum.

The team lacks passion and looks like they have forgotten how to win games. In the past we have always managed to get through bad times by reverting back to hard work and the basics, this manager doesn't believe in either.

I am off to Wembley on Saturday and really cant be arsed with it, I am not bothered about the derby tonight. Is it wrong to be so pessimistic and unenthusiastic about these 2 games?

The manager and the tactics have drained me of any passion I have for the blues. I can only hope he gets the sack and we can start again next season otherwise he will almost certainly get the sack in November when we are in the bottom 3 of the Premier League.

Dave Williams
25 Posted 20/04/2016 at 18:09:09
Ian # 19 I spoke to Joe at the West Ham game and he is as passionate as ever about all aspects of our club- looked really well too!

Agree with a lot of the others about Duncan – great when he wanted to play but if that story about him missing a game and asking on the Monday how we got on at the weekend was true then he is no better than what we have got albeit he'd be a must for the next two games.

As a coach he would be risking his job if he tried to take over from his boss by doing things which RM hadn't requested of him and whether given the job he would be the motivator we are looking for is a question only those who see him at close quarters could answer.

We can only hope that we fight like hell tonight and put up a decent showing regardless of the result – not that a defeat won't bother me cos it will!!

One win in the next two might save Roberto's job. A win and a draw or two wins will almost certainly save it. Two defeats should be curtains for him but I wonder what a heavy defeat or a spineless performance tonight would bring – big Joe in charge for Saturday?

Sod the manager – go flat out for two wins – come on!!!

Rick Tarleton
26 Posted 20/04/2016 at 19:04:17
There's a big difference nowadays. In my day, I first watched Everton in the old second division, and my first derby game was the infamous cup tie in 1955 when we were beaten 4-0 by a second division lot, the derby game was all about our city. The players were either locals or had been there long enough to have absorbed the scouse feeling.The crowd were totally local, I went with my family,90% reds, we stood together on the Paddock at Goodison or Anfield.

Now the players are not scouse, Gerrard and Carragher felt the passion, perhaps Baines and Osman do. The crowd is mainly local, but Liverpool are well supported in Iceland etc. and even Everton have a fair share of non-English fans. To most non-Liverpool based fans, particularly of the reds, The United game matters more, they see United on their TVs at home.

Passion is for those who care, I'm not sure it matters as much as it did. I want to win more tonight than I do at the week-end, but I'm a scouser of the old school.

George Stuart
27 Posted 21/04/2016 at 07:08:56
Two of the best teams I have ever seen, the holy trinity and the 1980s team, also had passion. And spirit and style. Though I was happy to see the plucky 1990s team lift the FA Cup too.

Two players who have the right blend of skill and passion have been Baines and Jags. But mysteriously they seem lost and, if not disinterested, at least ... mystified. I have seen this at amateur level. Good players looking around as if to say "What am I supposed to be doing"?

I think we know why.

Eugene Ruane
28 Posted 21/04/2016 at 08:14:32
Today's modern PL player only has to sign one contract and as long as he's careful and doesn't buy a speedboat every week, he'll never have to work again.

Even on an 'absolutely shite' contract (let's say £15,000 a week, three year deal) you're talking about £2,340,000 (9 years = £7m, or a lottery win if you prefer)

And remember, this is pauper money - the reality is it's likely to be twice/three times that.

Why do I mention it?

Because the idea that modern players, who are completely boxed-off financially (however they play or whether they play) are going to respond to someone in the 'technical area' leaping around and waving their fists is, imo, nonsense.

'Big Dunc' might mean a lot to a lot of Evertonians, but my guess is he means fuck-all to Lukaku.

I'm not suggesting Joe Royle as a solution (although I'd have him in today as caretaker til the end of the season) but right now, we need someone with Joe's intelligence, guile and light touch.

Someone who understands that a big part of getting success is dependent on the mindset of your players.

If that mentally-shot rabble who embarrassed us all last night are to have even the slimmest chance of competing against Utd on Saturday, it needs someone to make a very quick, brave decision.

Sadly, inertia combined with wishful-thinking has become our m.o and consequently, we should probably brace ourselves for more pain and embarrassment.

Up the Toffees!

Dan Davies
29 Posted 21/04/2016 at 20:13:29
In all honesty I'd just like to see something different other than Martinez stood with his arms crossed like a fucking bouncer at a nightclub.

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