So after last nights appalling result versus West Brom, we find ourselves well and truly in the shit. No two ways about it something catastrophically has gone wrong in the dressing room and I think it is time we got answers or better still got a solution to the problems that have been seen since the start of the season. This was evident non more so than Kevin Mirallas disrespecting the boss and team for his own gains by taking over penalty duties when it is clear everyone on the team knew Baines, who has scored 15/16 penalty's is our spot kick specialist. I do not want to go into it to much but it was wrong and if he done it to put himself in the shop window then he should be aloud to rot in the reserves until he finds a club. But if he stands up like a man and admits he was wrong and wants to do all he can for us then let us move on.
Again, as I have stressed over and over again, we started great and if we got the goals some of our build up play deserved then it could all be very different but unfortunately that is not the case, no thanks to Kevin Mirallas! But I agree with Naisy when he said we should not be relying on penalty's to win games we have the players and ability to do it of our own merit but somethings not quite right.
A Change will do you good
Romelu, I don't know what it is but he just hasn't done it for us this season, has the price tag and the added pressure it brings got to him or is he just frustrated and not being utilized? I feel at times he just gives up too easily and too many times can be caught drifting offside, out on the right or coming deep to get the ball, its ok to do this if you are making penetrating runs or doing something with the ball but most of the time he is wondering offside or loosing the ball when coming deep leaving us nothing at all up top!
Coming deep is his biggest downfall at the minute because he has the touch of an elephant and it is definitely a weakness in his game so for me either Martinez or Big Dunc need to take him to the side and give him a good kick up the hole and get the boy playing to his strengths on the shoulder of defenders bullying them and making good runs and essentially sticking to the opposition box. I would love him to study Ruud Van Nistelrooy tapes ( see video below ) and adapt some of his attributes into his game; this is what our striker should be and could be like. He has similar ability, can score with both feet, good strength and if he just finds that sweet spot he could be as good as if not better in the premier league.
Stand Up and be counted
It would appear Gareth Barry has the loan voodoo where he has played a blinder to get a contract with us, which was fully deserved, but since then he has took the foot of the pedal and became stagnant. His overall play has been well below that which we admired so much last season. One of his main attributes over the years has been his range of passing which has been no where to be seen in most of our games this season. He (and he is not alone, Barkley *cough, cough*) has needlessly give the ball away on numerous occasions putting us under serious pressure. The only thing that can be said is he is missing McCarthy beside him and is not sure how to play with Besic or doesn't know what to expect from him.
But he is a pro and should be able to play his game no matter what and when we have needed his experience on the pitch (evident from last nights penalty farce where no one stood up to Kevins antics) he would be one I thought we could rely on to be more vocal and assert some authority on the team. His partner James McCarthy is exactly what we need for the run in and I think Barry could benefit from a rest so once McCarthy is back I would go with Besic, who has been our best player to date showing glimpses of what he is capable of.
If we are truly in a relegation fight we need players to give it there all players like Baines, Coleman and Jags need to give us what we know they are capable of. Lukaku needs to get the head down and just play his game or Martinez needs to switch it up.
This is one of the main things every fan has a problem with is if we need to switch it up in-play in that we currently have no faith in Martinez to do so. And it would appear the excuses have run dry and we wont accept it anymore. If we need to change during a game I would love to see a diamond top four with Lukaku left (get him more ball time to work on his touch and running with the ball) Naisy right drifting in, Kone up front and Ross behind roaming across field.
McCarthy is exactly what we need for the run in and I think Barry could benefit from a rest so once McCarthy is back I would go with Besic, who has been our best player to date showing glimpses of what he is capable of, and McCarthy as the two holding players. A spine of Stones, McCarthy, Besic, Barkley and Lukaku would surely please most footballing fans.
Second season syndrome
Maybe it will take this season for Martinez vision to be fully implemented, if he is given the time, he is clearly trying to get rid of the older and to our detriment vocal members of the team like Osman, Distin and Hibbert. One thing I would hope is that next season Jagielka is stripped of the captaincy that Martinez stuck with as he has been a poor leader and we need someone who wants to fully embrace the captaincy and take the team by the scruff in these dire times of need.
Ex manager David Moyes said he believed the position would enhance the defender's performances for club and country, and Jagielka admitted that process includes addressing his occasionally "juvenile" input to the squad. This simply didn't happen in fact quite the opposite as he suffered from a poor world cup with England and its transpired onto the Goodison pitch too.
Who is the man to take the captaincy? I don't know maybe James McCarthy but he is still quite young but he always seems very vocal on the pitch. Who do you think should be captain? Take the poll below, that will do me for now but you can discuss this and much more on Everton by following me on twitter @1N3_LOV3 AND using the #OTOL.
Again, as I have stressed over and over again, we started great and if we got the goals some of our build up play deserved then it could all be very different but unfortunately that is not the case, no thanks to Kevin Mirallas! But I agree with Naisy when he said we should not be relying on penalty's to win games we have the players and ability to do it of our own merit but somethings not quite right.
A Change will do you good
Romelu, I don't know what it is but he just hasn't done it for us this season, has the price tag and the added pressure it brings got to him or is he just frustrated and not being utilized? I feel at times he just gives up too easily and too many times can be caught drifting offside, out on the right or coming deep to get the ball, its ok to do this if you are making penetrating runs or doing something with the ball but most of the time he is wondering offside or loosing the ball when coming deep leaving us nothing at all up top!
Coming deep is his biggest downfall at the minute because he has the touch of an elephant and it is definitely a weakness in his game so for me either Martinez or Big Dunc need to take him to the side and give him a good kick up the hole and get the boy playing to his strengths on the shoulder of defenders bullying them and making good runs and essentially sticking to the opposition box. I would love him to study Ruud Van Nistelrooy tapes ( see video below ) and adapt some of his attributes into his game; this is what our striker should be and could be like. He has similar ability, can score with both feet, good strength and if he just finds that sweet spot he could be as good as if not better in the premier league.
Stand Up and be counted
It would appear Gareth Barry has the loan voodoo where he has played a blinder to get a contract with us, which was fully deserved, but since then he has took the foot of the pedal and became stagnant. His overall play has been well below that which we admired so much last season. One of his main attributes over the years has been his range of passing which has been no where to be seen in most of our games this season. He (and he is not alone, Barkley *cough, cough*) has needlessly give the ball away on numerous occasions putting us under serious pressure. The only thing that can be said is he is missing McCarthy beside him and is not sure how to play with Besic or doesn't know what to expect from him.
But he is a pro and should be able to play his game no matter what and when we have needed his experience on the pitch (evident from last nights penalty farce where no one stood up to Kevins antics) he would be one I thought we could rely on to be more vocal and assert some authority on the team. His partner James McCarthy is exactly what we need for the run in and I think Barry could benefit from a rest so once McCarthy is back I would go with Besic, who has been our best player to date showing glimpses of what he is capable of.
If we are truly in a relegation fight we need players to give it there all players like Baines, Coleman and Jags need to give us what we know they are capable of. Lukaku needs to get the head down and just play his game or Martinez needs to switch it up.
This is one of the main things every fan has a problem with is if we need to switch it up in-play in that we currently have no faith in Martinez to do so. And it would appear the excuses have run dry and we wont accept it anymore. If we need to change during a game I would love to see a diamond top four with Lukaku left (get him more ball time to work on his touch and running with the ball) Naisy right drifting in, Kone up front and Ross behind roaming across field.
McCarthy is exactly what we need for the run in and I think Barry could benefit from a rest so once McCarthy is back I would go with Besic, who has been our best player to date showing glimpses of what he is capable of, and McCarthy as the two holding players. A spine of Stones, McCarthy, Besic, Barkley and Lukaku would surely please most footballing fans.
Second season syndrome
Maybe it will take this season for Martinez vision to be fully implemented, if he is given the time, he is clearly trying to get rid of the older and to our detriment vocal members of the team like Osman, Distin and Hibbert. One thing I would hope is that next season Jagielka is stripped of the captaincy that Martinez stuck with as he has been a poor leader and we need someone who wants to fully embrace the captaincy and take the team by the scruff in these dire times of need.
Ex manager David Moyes said he believed the position would enhance the defender's performances for club and country, and Jagielka admitted that process includes addressing his occasionally "juvenile" input to the squad. This simply didn't happen in fact quite the opposite as he suffered from a poor world cup with England and its transpired onto the Goodison pitch too.
Who is the man to take the captaincy? I don't know maybe James McCarthy but he is still quite young but he always seems very vocal on the pitch. Who do you think should be captain? Take the poll below, that will do me for now but you can discuss this and much more on Everton by following me on twitter @1N3_LOV3 AND using the #OTOL.