Roberto Martinez Discussion - Including Live Poll (Poll Reset 1st May)

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Amazing the number of people pissing their pants for proving Davek said certain things. Contrary points of view are allowed I believe.

No views are more contrary than @davek 's , me auld sausage.

They're even contrary to his own.

 

[oldblue]

Really?

If our league position wasn't as poor as it is, I'd laugh.....

But how bad is our league position really though. Looking at the teams behind us all of who we have a game in hand over at least I really can't see us dropping further back. We've a game in hand over everyone except Liverpool ahead of us, win that and we are only one result away from anyone up to 7th. And our goal difference pretty much guarantees we will be ahead of anyone we end up level with. There's three or four games that we all know we should have won. To my mind there was a mixture of reasons. But if any of it is sorted we would be in a promising position with another semi final looming. This is all glass half full stuff but it is a glass half full/half empty situation for me and I can see how people come out on either side. Just don't get the idea there is no argument to be had.

 

[bizzaro]

This is fine.

The issue I have this;

I agree.

Despite what anyone may think Davek is actually quite annoyed by our under performance this year. No right minded blue would be happy with some of our defending that has been shocking at times.

However, there's still some like Dave that want to see what this manager can do about it. As in principle the managers overall idea about playing the game is the right one.

Think that certain players have to go and that the manager needs to ensure defensively we are tighter and work harder off the ball.

If he does that and we continue to attack properly or better than now (more through balls from the centre please!) for pacy forwards to run onto.

Then we will do well.

Its this I think @davek is trying to ensure happens.

With his steadfast defence.

 

[DrEFC]

@davek - March 2015.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

He's going to say we've improved on last season (which we factually have to this point), and ergo we have not 'continued on this form'.

Well, we were 13th after 30 games last season

We're 12th now, after 29 games. Lets see how we get on at Old Trafford, if results go against us, we could drop to 15th...

So our form vs the rest of the league could have went backwards.

Granted, domestically we've improved in the cups. Not hard, we were kicked out at the first time of asking in both cups last year - but when you factor in the Europa League, I wouldn't be surprised if we had a better all round results % last season vs this.

 

[orly]

@davek is like Rasputin.

You literally have no idea.

He's rightly showing loyalty to the manager. Frankly I think he's right.

Damo mate, before people start being labelled as having 'no idea', I've seen your annihilation by @The Esk on several occasions.

Dave's had a rough one, but he'll be back. He's the best.

 

[mutley]

Dave is king of the thread, end of thread

 

[bizzaro]

Damo mate, before people start being labelled as having 'no idea', I've seen your annihilation by @The Esk on several occasions.

Dave's had a rough one, but he'll be back. He's the best.

Er mate I think you have to re read that post mate.

However, I agree Dave is one of the best if not best of us.

I'm convinced that Martinez can sort what has been going on this year. I think that he needs to make some changes.


- Playing John Stones and Mori together. No No No.

- John Stones should not take the mick and play silly beggars right on the edge of the box.

- We need a keeper. A good one.

- We need to work harder off the ball.

- Without Gareth Barry we seem lost (see Arsenal). That needs sorting.

 

[ilikecheese]

Well, we were 13th after 30 games last season

We're 12th now, after 29 games. Lets see how we get on at Old Trafford, if results go against us, we could drop to 15th...

So our form vs the rest of the league could have went backwards.

Granted, domestically we've improved in the cups. Not hard, we were kicked out at the first time of asking in both cups last year - but when you factor in the Europa League, I wouldn't be surprised if we had a better all round results % last season vs this.

Including Cups and Europe last year at this time (through 29 league games) we won 13 drew 13 and lost 16. This season including the Cups we are 18-11-10.

 

[DrEFC]

I agree.

Despite what anyone may think Davek is actually quite annoyed by our under performance this year. No right minded blue would be happy with some of our defending that has been shocking at times.

However, there's still some like Dave that want to see what this manager can do about it. As in principle the managers overall idea about playing the game is the right one.

Think that certain players have to go and that the manager needs to ensure defensively we are tighter and work harder off the ball.

If he does that and we continue to attack properly or better than now (more through balls from the centre please!) for pacy forwards to run onto.

Then we will do well.

Its this I think @davek is trying to ensure happens.

With his steadfast defence.

What, how's Dave going to have even the slightest bit of influence?
Plus the defence was previously very solid. It is also true the workrate off the ball has been poor- but it stems from the managers instructions.
It's nice to play football the 'right' way, but this doesn't equate to a winning way as we are seeing.

 

[orly]

Er mate I think you have to re read that post mate.

However, I agree Dave is one of the best if not best of us.

I'm convinced that Martinez can sort what has been going on this year. I think that he needs to make some changes.


- Playing John Stones and Mori together. No No No.

- John Stones should not take the mick and play silly beggars right on the edge of the box.

- We need a keeper. A good one.

- We need to work harder off the ball.

- Without Gareth Barry we seem lost (see Arsenal). That needs sorting.

All these things could be rectified by a new boss too though - and seeing as the last three have been obvious for 18 months, I'm not sure I have faith in Martinez to suddenly sort it out

 

[bizzaro]

All these things could be rectified by a new boss too though - and seeing as the last three have been obvious for 18 months, I'm not sure I have faith in Martinez to suddenly sort it out

Swapping managers regularly is proven - to ultimately be counter productive.

 

[DrEFC]

Er mate I think you have to re read that post mate.

However, I agree Dave is one of the best if not best of us.

I'm convinced that Martinez can sort what has been going on this year. I think that he needs to make some changes.


- Playing John Stones and Mori together. No No No.

- John Stones should not take the mick and play silly beggars right on the edge of the box.

- We need a keeper. A good one.

- We need to work harder off the ball.

- Without Gareth Barry we seem lost (see Arsenal). That needs sorting.

Can't disagree with the bolded bits, at least.

 

[orly]

Including Cups and Europe last year at this time (through 29 league games) we won 13 drew 13 and lost 16. This season including the Cups we are 18-11-10.

That's scary that.

13-13-16

18-11-10 - a cup record padded out with Carlisle, Boro, Norwich, Dagenham, Barnsley - not what you'd call Wolfsburg away

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Including Cups and Europe last year at this time (through 29 league games) we won 13 drew 13 and lost 16. This season including the Cups we are 18-11-10.

Just checked. I think this season, currently we're W17, D12, L10 (all competitions)

Last season; W18, D15, L18

As Orly just posted though...

a cup record padded out with Carlisle, Boro, Norwich, Dagenham, Barnsley - not what you'd call Wolfsburg away

... But still, you can only beat what is in front of you.

The biggest factor for me is, after the weekend, we're likely to be at the same position or worse in the league as last season. Semi finals count for nothing if you don't win the thing.