Everton v Stoke City. 28th Dec at 1500.

[Fansince1988]

Heard a lot of stuff on here about our defensive problems but not much about how they can be fixed. With the exception of Jags coming back from injury (hardly the managers fault) but I still cant get over being 3-2 up at home with 20 mins left and losing the game. I wouldn't care if he took Rom and Gerri off and brought on Gibbo and Besic - played Gibbo as a fifth defender and Besic at CDW. As long as we held that lead. That is an alehouse level error by the manager.

I think Jags could be the key, not the strongest of leaders but he does organise things quite well.

 

[daz4matty]

I think Jags could be the key, not the strongest of leaders but he does organise things quite well.

It will take a lot more than that mate.

 

[Stan Lee Park]

The problem is we are very nearly there we are in fact very good and the players must know it, but there's definitely a real problem with organising the defensive side of things, it was much the same last season players are partly to blame and we are short of a defensive leader, I didn't think we would miss jags so much had stones been injured instead, I'm sure we would have done much better. When's is he back?.

I'd certainly agree with you that Jagielka has been a bigger miss than even I thought - and I'm a huge fan of his. However, the manager must take responsibility for not managing this situation better than has done.

 

[sansebastion]

I think it's definitely a tactical issue. We are not lacking quality defenders but they don't look like they've had clear instructions about who is taking which role and marking who. Easily remedied if Martinez chooses to do it. Howard certainly doesn't help. He looks way too casual and doesn't marshal his defence at all.

Heard a lot of stuff on here about our defensive problems but not much about how they can be fixed. With the exception of Jags coming back from injury (hardly the managers fault) but I still cant get over being 3-2 up at home with 20 mins left and losing the game. I wouldn't care if he took Rom and Gerri off and brought on Gibbo and Besic - played Gibbo as a fifth defender and Besic at CDM. As long as we held that lead. That is an alehouse level error by the manager.

 

[Fansince1988]

It will take a lot more than that mate.

You never know, but with Besic and Gibson why aren't they starting Barry

I'd certainly agree with you that Jagielka has been a bigger miss than even I thought - and I'm a huge fan of his. However, the manager must take responsibility for not managing this situation better than has done.

ive just got the feeling Martinez is lost at what to do, there must be something in the contracts of some of the players, as Howard,Barry start every game no matter what, I even think when Jags is back it wouldn't be a bad idea giving stones a rest as he's no better than Mori at the moment.

 

[Stutheblue]

STUBBS

Hmmm. Not sure he's ready yet. Massive step up from Hibs. Could help on defensive side cos it couldn't be much worse at the moment.

 

[Stutheblue]

I think Jags could be the key, not the strongest of leaders but he does organise things quite well.

Think he'd help on the defensive organisation which is a start. But never seen him as strong on defending crosses and this is needed given our lack of a dominant keeper. We've conceded 19 at home in 10 games!

 

[Fansince1988]

Think he'd help on the defensive organisation which is a start. But never seen him as strong on defending crosses and this is needed given our lack of a dominant keeper. We've conceded 19 at home in 10 games!

I think we miss Distans aerial power, we haven't really replaced that. I'd would have liked us to have got Vlaar after he left villa (I think he may have been injured though) be he looked good in a poor villa team and he looked a leader. Over the years when we weren't that good we had Dave Watson and then David Weir who were very good at doing a simple but efficient job and were good leaders, we miss that these days.

 

[streeky]

There is more to defending than just your back Four. We need a complete change in how we go about playing the game. Attacking with 7/8 players in the opposition half at this level is suicidal. If your playing with Gerry in your side you don't need coleman bombing on. if ross is bossing possession you don't need you holding midfield player on the oppositions 18 yd line. But the most important thing is you can't sit off and give good sides time and space on the ball. Our lack of pressure on the football when the oppo have it is again suicidal at this level.

 

[Fansince1988]

There is more to defending than just your back Four. We need a complete change in how we go about playing the game. Attacking with 7/8 players in the opposition half at this level is suicidal. If your playing with Gerry in your side you don't need coleman bombing on. if ross is bossing possession you don't need you holding midfield player on the oppositions 18 yd line. But the most important thing is you can't sit off and give good sides time and space on the ball. Our lack of pressure on the football when the oppo have it is again suicidal at this level.

Very good point, I didn't see the game today but Stones does some very needless runs forward and often loses the ball, I remember Rio Ferdinand doing similar in his early days at West Ham and much as I like to see it, it puts the team at risk every time. Rio cut it out and became a world class solid defender just doing his CB job.

 

[Minimeister]

Can't believe at 3-2 Geri's taken a knock and still hobbling back to the centre circle. FFS go down, get the trainer on and kill a couple of minutes time. We never do it. Every other team in the league does it.

 

[streeky]

Can't believe at 3-2 Geri's taken a knock and still hobbling back to the centre circle. FFS go down, get the trainer on and kill a couple of minutes time. We never do it. Every other team in the league does it.

That's because we have no leader on the pitch, someone who has been there done it with a gob as big as the channel tunnel and is a complete snide. (in other words a winner).

 

[ijjysmith]

True words up there.

We are the nicest team in the league. By absolute miles. Does my head in.

 

[Minimeister]

That's because we have no leader on the pitch, someone who has been there done it with a gob as big as the channel tunnel and is a complete snide. (in other words a winner).

Absolutely true that mate. The only people in the refs ear are the likes of Cleverley and Gibson.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

You really, really shouldn't be drawing let alone losing games when you've scored 3 in a match. As decent as Stoke are, no excuse for conceding 4 at home to them.