Roberto Martinez discussion

[Furey1878]

Surely people don't think The whole season should be judged on tonight? I hope I'm right in assuming that. Or after one good result does all that goes before it not count?

Wake up FFS....6 (six) wins in 21 league games isn't good enough, I can't be the only one who thinks that? He has to improve? Surely?

You're not.

But most of us probably won't bring up failure to win after being away to City. Hard earned point with another half of the season still to go, and hopefully a much better return of wins.

 

[TheFIreRises]

Imagine saying three weeks ago that we would walk into the Etihad and keep a clean sheet(with Tim Howard in net, to boot)

He let himself and the team down during our easy Christmas period, but if he's worked out how to set up a team to keep a clean sheet, then there's no limit to what this group of players can accomplish, and I honestly don't think that's hyperbole. And if there's a manager who can keep this squad together over the summer, it's this one.

 

[Tilling]

Using the full squad at a congested point in the season.

I'm glad Roberto has his thinking cap on and he's in charge rather than this forum's self styled Guardiolas.

Though I agree that it is important to fully use the large squad we have, and that I also think Kone is actually not nearly as bad as many make him out to be, then wasn't the situation to bring him on I think. Deulofeu hadn't been superb but at that point in the game we were operating on clearing it to Lukaku in the hope of knocking it down and starting a counter, given that we were effectively under the kosh from an excellent City side. Deulofeu's pace and trickery was much better suited to the situation than a hold up player like Koné, who I hasten to add is in my opinion the worst at tracking back in our regular starting line up. Lennon or Mirallas would have been a much better swap for the situation we were in.

Regardless of this, we have still managed to get away with an excellent point and his substitutions so far this season have more or less been quite successful.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Surely people don't think The whole season should be judged on tonight? I hope I'm right in assuming that. Or after one good result does all that goes before it not count?

Wake up FFS....6 (six) wins in 21 league games isn't good enough, I can't be the only one who thinks that? He has to improve? Surely?

But haven't we - 2 goals conceded in the last 3 non Fa cup matches since the Stoke game? Against teams with fairly good scoring records themselves?

Early days but it does look like we are at least practicing defending corners and more solid defensively.

It might be temporary and there are things to work on, like attacking corners and getting the balance right, but surely if the latter come those are more likely when we get out of this tough and intensive January run? Were you expecting clean sheets whilst we score hat-tricks overnight?

 

[DanEFC92]

Much, much better defensive performance.

 

[VentureBrosEFC]

Sorry mate, what was the obvious again, been replying to a few ppl can't remember your point. Seriously.

Hinted facetiousness aside to completely disregard what was good about the game is simply not true to your purported moderate position. Fair enough if you truly feel we played terribly or Martinez is now not able to get a balance but there's not more to discuss so I bid you adieu mon ami.

 

[ilikecheese]

But haven't we - 2 goals conceeded in 2 matches vs City and 1 vs Spurs since the Stoke game?

Early days but it does look like we are at least practicing defending corners and more solid defensively.

It might be temporary and there are things to work on, like attacking corners and getting the balance right, but surely if the latter come those are more likely when we get out of this tough and intensive January run? Were you expecting clean sheets whilst we score hat-tricks overnight?

He's going to answer you with, 'but aren't you worried that he can't play attacking football while shoring up the D'

 

[maccavennie]

From your POV is their now not a worry that we can't do both in the same game?

Well I guess we will have to see mate long term but if I take the games where I've mentioned the balance is better that would be Spurs, City, Daggers (don't count no offence any Daggers fans reading this ) and City today.

We've let teams have the ball but not chased it and lost shape on the games above and the had large periods where we've turned the screw on the opposition, mixed it up and still not left ourselves as open as normal.

So......If it carries on like it has then yes we will be sound Ian because when you've got the likes of Del, Ross, Rom up top your always going to create something. It's the defence he needed to fix and if he shows signs of sorting it then the rest will take care of itself.

It could all go tits up and he goes more attacking against Chelsea and we get webbed but I tell you something Ian, of we won tonight 1-0 that would have been a pearl of an away performance and I don't think you would be thinking it wasn't good enough.

 

[davek]

Though I agree that it is important to fully use the large squad we have, and that I also think Kone is actually not nearly as bad as many make him out to be, then wasn't the situation to bring him on I think. Deulofeu hadn't been superb but at that point in the game we were operating on clearing it to Lukaku in the hope of knocking it down and starting a counter, given that we were effectively under the kosh from an excellent City side. Deulofeu's pace and trickery was much better suited to the situation than a hold up player like Koné, who I hasten to add is in my opinion the worst at tracking back in our regular starting line up. Lennon or Mirallas would have been a much better swap for the situation we were in.

Regardless of this, we have still managed to get away with an excellent point and his substitutions so far this season have more or less been quite successful.

I agree about Lennon, but I think we'll see him playing against Chelsea. Azpilicueta will need attention as Baines wont shackle him by himself.

I think RM is using scarce resources quite intelligently, tbh.

 

[paulbefc]

He's going to answer you with, 'but aren't you worried that he can't play attacking football while shoring up the D'

Whilst forgetting that we did exactly that against City at home. Great all round performance against the best team in the league at full strength.

 

[ianefc]

You're not.

But most of us probably won't bring up failure to win after being away to City. Hard earned point with another half of the season still to go, and hopefully a much better return of wins.

TBF neither am I...it just so happens I fancy a fume I could of done it last night and the stars wouldn't have been too much different.

 

[Ihaters]

But haven't we - 2 goals conceded in the last 3 non Fa cup matches since the Stoke game? Against teams with fairly good scoring records themselves?

Early days but it does look like we are at least practicing defending corners and more solid defensively.

It might be temporary and there are things to work on, like attacking corners and getting the balance right, but surely if the latter come those are more likely when we get out of this tough and intensive January run? Were you expecting clean sheets whilst we score hat-tricks overnight?

What kind of stat is that?? We have only conceded in 2 out of 3 games is not a great argument for defensive improvement lol
We are getting better at the back though, its costing us a little up front to get there, first time we havn't scored since United drubbed us 3-0 in October.
Nice to know we are capable of a clean sheet though, and if we can do it at City, we can do it anywhere. We won't.. but we could if we wanted to

 

[Tilling]

I agree about Lennon, but I think we'll see him playing against Chelsea. Azpilicueta will need attention as Baines wont shackle him by himself.

I think RM is using scarce resources quite intelligently, tbh.

I'd happily have exchanged 20 minutes of Lennon playing against City for another 20 minutes of Kone playing against Chelsea. It's a fair shout though, beat them lot and the top 4 isn't gone just quite yet.

 

[ianefc]

But haven't we - 2 goals conceded in the last 3 non Fa cup matches since the Stoke game? Against teams with fairly good scoring records themselves?

Early days but it does look like we are at least practicing defending corners and more solid defensively.

It might be temporary and there are things to work on, like attacking corners and getting the balance right, but surely if the latter come those are more likely when we get out of this tough and intensive January run? Were you expecting clean sheets whilst we score hat-tricks overnight?

We went through a 'easy run of games and only managed to beat the League's bottom 3. To me he can't find the balance. Certainly not on the regular, I hope I'm proved wrong but 18 wins in 59 is abysmal, that has been and will continue to be my stance until he improves.

 

[LinekersLegs]

He's going to answer you with, 'but aren't you worried that he can't play attacking football while shoring up the D'

And tbf Martinez might not, it is very difficult to strike right balance even when you spend a fortune as LVG is doing a fantastic job of demonstrating!

But it is a different argument to expecting all issues to be improved on in a crazy run of fixtures when the players barely have anytime to do anything but recover.