Roberto Martinez discussion

[deipnosophist]

Both Everton and Liverpool can't defend, now.

The derby's going to finish like 13-12. With Liverpool getting their 13th in the last minute from a dodgy penalty decision, of course.

Our trip to Old Trafford the week after also promises a goal fest . What has happened to defence this season. In the so-called CL challenging group of 7, 5 teams leak goals like a sieve

 

[toffeejack]

because he never managed them in the toughest leauge in the world. The only other team he did where crap defensively.

and wigan were anything special? they were always a team out of their depth.

people always use this "he couldn't organize a defence at wigan" to beat him with, but don't pull up swansea's defensive record because it was good. now they're passing off last season's good defensive record because it was "moyes' defence" but a few months later it's now his defence???

i'm all for pulling up his negative points because our defensive record so far is utterly shambolic and even though i know it'll get better - it seems with people's thinking of above there's not really two sides to the argument, there's one side having a moan and the other side using excuses to support the moaning.

 

[deipnosophist]

...and Jags is a TERRIBLE captain. He has no presence or authority

 

[deipnosophist]

...and we're conceding an average 3.66 goals / home match this season. Shocking

 

[Khalekan]

Don't you think there's a duty of team mates to let someone know? Don't players shout the famous "man on" shout anymore?
.

I think it is a common trend throughout football these days.

The players have become insular and don't seem to want to take responsibility for their teammates.

They are all focused on making sure their own "stats" are all right for when the coaches sit them down and analyse their individual performance on Monday morning.

 

[Khalekan]

...and we're conceding an average 3.66 goals / home match this season. Shocking

The other shocking thing is we have scored seven goals in three home games and haven't won one of them.

 

[Khalekan]

...and Jags is a TERRIBLE captain. He has no presence or authority

We haven't a player in the squad who is captain material.

 

[Goat]

Not sure what he was playing at today, that line up had me scratching my head and then taking Stones off and sticking McCarthy at RB? Dafuk.

At least hes willing to try things, suppose that could be said.

To be fair its mostly the players who are letting us down, simple mistakes and a lack of concentration, its a bit worrying.

We have a squad rammed full of talented players and a Manager that mostly gets it right, im not overly concerned yet, ask me again this time next week, 2 wins this next week and everything will be rosy again, anything less than that and its not DOOM and GLOOM, but its gonna jolly well peeve me off.

 

[sd_1992]

did massively balls up pre-season like.

Also probably should've brought in a younger, better left sided defender to partner stones.

Deffo needed a back up right back too.

Seems he doesn't have any defensive coaches at the club at all.

Also needs to stop playing Jags and distin together, and also osman completely.

That relies on us actually playing Stones at CB (which when we have done this season we have won both times). I think the stones/jags partnership is pretty good so I don't think a new CB is a priority for January.

Agree that a backup RB is a must, especially if browning can't make the step up.

 

[sd_1992]

We haven't a player in the squad who is captain material.

Mirallas is about the only person who I think is

 

[FTY]

We haven't a player in the squad who is captain material.

Naismith.

 

[deipnosophist]

Wins at Anfield and OT and our season is back on track (big asks!)

 

[deipnosophist]

We haven't a player in the squad who is captain material.

I thought that Howard might be - but after today....

 

[efcfanwirral]

...and Jags is a TERRIBLE captain. He has no presence or authority

His programme notes today were along the lines of 'I bet wolfsburg couldn't believe they'd been beaten 4-1'. Praise for the team followed but still. It's like lukaku saying last year hed said to jags the squad could do something special and jags laughed at him. Says it all really

 

[Stonesy]

Not sure what he was playing at today, that line up had me scratching my head and then taking Stones off and sticking McCarthy at RB? Dafuk.

At least hes willing to try things, suppose that could be said.

To be fair its mostly the players who are letting us down, simple mistakes and a lack of concentration, its a bit worrying.

We have a squad rammed full of talented players and a Manager that mostly gets it right, im not overly concerned yet, ask me again this time next week, 2 wins this next week and everything will be rosy again, anything less than that and its not DOOM and GLOOM, but its gonna jolly well peeve me off.

Bad decisions are creeping in, but from what little evidience we have, he does learn from his mistakes. He put Naismith on the wing for a short while during that period when he was earning plaudits as 'makeshift' striker. It was a woeful cameo and poor Naismith was hauled off minutes later. He has played only centrally ever since.

He broke up the Barry/McCarthy partnership for Palace at home and it was painful. Brought Macca on at HT and they have started every game together since.