USABlue
Player Valuation: £70m
I'm still gutted we blew it in martinez's first season, thought it was nailed on after we bummed arsenal. On the bright side that game was when I was sure Rom would sign for us.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
- Status
I thought you were camped out at Fort Davek, not bothered about the league but must win a cup
TheHumbleEgg
Player Valuation: £15m
Man, it's as real as ya wanna make it...
*adjusts shades, clicks fingers, points, exits backwards just like FONZIE.
**then weeps in the hall for humanity and the fact you're SO right.
TheHumbleEgg
Player Valuation: £15m
I've been looking over things for a thing today, primarily in relation to something that was said here and lit a bit of a fire. I genuinely hope BOB adapts the defensive game and I'll give him time on that. But then I read this today, from an archive, which made me wiggle round on the ass a bit. RE him spewing WIGAN after relegation..
“I had a conversation with Dave Whelan and it was clear that with all the games in the Championship and a European campaign that would have meant at least another six games, I would have had to compromise my football style.
“I am not a manager who is ever going to compromise on that.”
I really want to believe that ISN'T the case any more but I'm not sure. I really want to believe he gets now that it has to be a bit of both, a mix of the flair with a pinch of the heavy. But, and quite admirably in an odd & possibly costly way, he seems rather committed to the non-comp eh...
Anyway, given it's such a big week for us I've decided I'm gonna try an' be all super-pozzy about it, which could prove difficult given I'm a bad miserable tit.
Tell you what though...I can't WAIT for me kids to do something wrong tonight so I can call them a pair of ABSOLUTE BALLOON ANIMALS which, frankly, I feel @Carlito should get some sort of rosette for introducing...WELL PLAYED.
“I had a conversation with Dave Whelan and it was clear that with all the games in the Championship and a European campaign that would have meant at least another six games, I would have had to compromise my football style.
“I am not a manager who is ever going to compromise on that.”
I really want to believe that ISN'T the case any more but I'm not sure. I really want to believe he gets now that it has to be a bit of both, a mix of the flair with a pinch of the heavy. But, and quite admirably in an odd & possibly costly way, he seems rather committed to the non-comp eh...
Anyway, given it's such a big week for us I've decided I'm gonna try an' be all super-pozzy about it, which could prove difficult given I'm a bad miserable tit.
Tell you what though...I can't WAIT for me kids to do something wrong tonight so I can call them a pair of ABSOLUTE BALLOON ANIMALS which, frankly, I feel @Carlito should get some sort of rosette for introducing...WELL PLAYED.
His presser was interesting. Nobody sold this window but he didn't say come summer they woudnt be. So I expect someone sold then.
orly
Please check with me for Blammo criteria
Did u watch it mate? Just my guess like lol
orly
Please check with me for Blammo criteria
Someone might be sold in the summer.
Sun might just rise tomorrow morning mate *taps nose*
Lol lol lol true
Matty Matty, i have a feeling you probably thought that no matter what was said today!
There are extremes in both cases. Some people are so supportive of the manager that you get the feeling they are more of a Martinez fan than an Everton fan. No one on here would complain or be bitter if Martinez won us a trophy. But some people will literally find loopholes in anything to try and blame anyone but the manager, when sometimes, he is to blame
Woolly Blue
Player Valuation: £80m
Make or Break for Martinez, by Liam Seaman
Liam Seaman reckons “Right now is a real make-or-break moment in Roberto Martinez’s Everton career.” Would you like to submit an article to GrandOldTeam? Give us a shout here.
Make or Break for Martinez
Yesterday, reports were emanating from California about a giant new planet discovered in our own solar system and of further signs of life on Mars (shout out to Bowie) that sent some news outlets into meltdown. After reading for a while, I began considering the implications that these new discoveries would have upon my already palpable levels of existential anguish, and it was at this point that my thoughts obviously turned back to Everton. Following the blues is a thankless task at times isn’t it? They really do make you wonder whether or not it’s all worth it. Alas, we’ve all caught the bug and we’re stuck with it; so let’s have a chat about the glaringly obvious problems that need addressing before someone (probably me) has an aneurysm in the Lower Gwladys.
As a pre-emptive measure, I must confess that for over a year now, since the defeat at home to Stoke on boxing day 2014 to be exact, I have been firmly rooted in the ‘Martinez out’ camp. So for those of you that won’t hear a word against our esteemed leader, I’d advise that you leave now. My level of distrust towards the manager has grown to such an extent that now not a day goes by when I fail to criticise him in some way when having a chat with a few mates. I’m actually surprised they still want to go for a pint with me before the game. I’ve even refused to sing songs that reference him in any way; a principle that I’ve stuck to (apart from one slip up away at Middlesbrough, but to be fair we drank so much on the way there that I can’t even remember the second half, so that one doesn’t count.)
However, whilst my level of pessimism may seem childish, some players in the Everton camp could do with adopting my stance. Jamie Carragher explained it best in a recent interview when he said, “attackers need to believe they are surrounded by geniuses, for even if a winger hasn’t made a cross all game, you still make the run, because this is the time he’s going to put it perfectly on your head. Defenders, on the other hand, have to assume they are surrounded by idiots, because then you are alert to the danger when that twerp of a full-back misses the tackle. Mourinho thought something similar; defenders had to be pessimists. It was the reason he sold David Luiz. Too optimistic, never thought anything could go wrong”.
That would be John Stones’ bio: ever the optimist. Defending isn’t complicated, it’s about balancing risk and reward; and this is something Stones needs to learn before he can step up into the ‘world class’ bracket of defenders. To the disbelief of some onlookers, I launched into a tirade during the Spurs game when he tried to turn Son inside out. Now, I agree that it’s great to watch him exude such confidence in an Everton shirt, but doing Cruyff turns on the edge of your own six yard box with a man on your back doesn’t make you a great defender, it makes you an idiot. Taking enormous risk for next to no reward is a recipe for disaster. It’s all about understanding the balance.
‘Balance’ is a characteristic that has also blighted Roberto Martinez’s managerial track thus far. Well known for extolling the virtues of expansive attacking play, he has seemed incapable of breeding a culture of defensive grit to back it up. The season his Wigan team was relegated they scored 47 goals, the same as Swansea; Swansea finished 9th in the league that season. Twice under Martinez’s supervision Wigan conceded 73 goals, in 2010 when they were the only team in Premier League history to remain in the division with such a poor defensive record, and three years later in 2013, when they were relegated. His idealism is admirable, as is his unwavering dedication to a philosophy of ‘perfect football’; but he has to start understanding that there is a dirty side to the game, where you sometimes just need to hit row Z. For example, if we were 1-0 up against the [Poor language removed] in the final few minutes of a cup final, I’d expect my manager to be screaming to get the ball into the corner, not doing the opposite. I’m not trying to say that we’re anything like Wigan and at risk of relegation by the way; I’m simply trying to show that the defensive resilience of Martinez’s first season (upon which a lot of Blues hang their hopes that he can turn the current plight around) seems to be more a remnant of the Moyes era, rather than Bobby becoming a defensive strategist. The evidence is close to irrefutable now, given that we look set to pass the 50 goals that we conceded last season. Idealism can only get you so far; sometimes you need a bit of pragmatism to get you over the line.
The topic of game management has been debated recently with Baines and Bobby both seemingly at loggerheads in their views after the Chelsea game. Baines admitted the players need to learn how to control a game better when we take a lead, and Bobby came out saying that the players’ game management shouldn’t be questioned, that instead we should be looking at the referee. In my opinion, officials’ decisions should never be used as an excuse; they’re the last refuge of a desperate man. Mourinho used to do it, even claiming there was a vendetta against his team in order to deflect from below-par performances. We got a lucky break in the City game, and an unlucky one at Chelsea. That happens. We should instead question how we lost a 2-goal lead in the space of 3 minutes, and then how we somehow lost 3 headers on the bounce in our own 18-yard box, leading up to their third goal. If we had defended properly, the linesman wouldn’t have even had a choice to make for the offside call.
Martinez has a lot of support because of the brand of football that he plays, and that is with good reason; Everton are exciting to watch. But he gets an easy ride because of it. People act as if he’s inventing the wheel at Everton; he isn’t, he’s running on a flat. Martin Keown recently gave an interview in which he spoke about Howard Kendall, saying, “Howard’s philosophy was focused on passing. Training was geared to the players having as many touches on the ball as possible”. We’ve had technically-minded coaches before, but Howard Kendall knew the importance of the defensive side of the game to the entire set up. You couldn’t say the same about the current manager whilst keeping a straight face. It’s easy to dismiss defensive frailty as a by-product of an attacking ideology, but that isn’t the case; the best teams, under the right leadership, can do both. We’re massively underperforming with the squad currently at our disposal, and I’ve not seen enough willingness from Roberto Martinez in analysing his own shortcomings, to show blind faith in his ability to continue leading our football club. 22 games in, and we’re yet to beat a team in the top half of the league. I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough, and something has to change.
This leads me on to my final point. Those of us who wish to see the back of Martinez are often (wrongly) criticised for not having any viable alternatives ready to come into the club. I’d like to put that point to rest, to say that there are a number of high-quality managers currently available, (some of whom are even free agents) who do not have ‘relegation with Wigan’ as the final entry on their CV.
- Marcelo Bielsa – Known as ‘El Loco’, or ‘The Madman’, for his no-bullshit approach to management. A maverick that inspired a generation of coaches, who Guardiola called the ‘best manager in the world’. During his time with the Argentina and Chile national teams, and with Athletic Bilbao, he played an attractive high-pressure 3-3-3-1 formation. Short and quick passing, and not allowing the opposition any time on the ball, would work very well in England if you could keep him happy.
- Walter Mazzarri – known for playing a fast-paced, counter-attacking 3-4-3 formation. Built upon a solid defence, he likes to play quick short passes out of the back to the creative midfielders or wingers. Again, would work well in England with the return of a few teams playing 2 up top.
- Jorge Sampaio – Most recently managed the Chilean national side during their impressive showing at the 2014 World Cup. Plays ‘Bielsista’ style football, much like Mauricio Pochettino, having studied under Marcelo Bielsa during his early years. Only a recent free agent, having resigned from Chile in the past couple of days.
- Frank Rijkaard – Possible the best known on this list. Been out of management since leaving Saudi Arabia in 2013. Inspired the turn around of fortunes at Barcelona, who arguably wouldn’t be where they are today without him. A big name who some think we would be unable to attract, but if he’s offered the chance to work with some of the most exceptional young talent in Europe, he could be persuaded.
- Michael Laudrup – Exceptional player. Did well at Swansea before he lost the dressing room amidst talk of a move to Spurs. Plays a nice 4-3-3-possession game.
Right now is a real make-or-break moment in Roberto Martinez’s Everton career. He needs to prove that he can learn from past mistakes, if he is ever going to reclaim the confidence that a lot of fans have lost in him. A win against City would go a small way to proving that last season’s shocking second-leg performance against Kyiv was just a one-off. Fail to win, however, and the reality of our position in the bottom half of the table will really hit home. We need to prove to our talented youngsters that Everton is a place where they can actually achieve their dreams. In the next few weeks, Roberto will have to show that he’s the man to help them do so, before one of the men waiting in the wings steps in and does it in his place.
- Frank De Boer – Only manager on this list that is employed. Currently at Ajax, but has said he would be willing to leave if a move to England opens up. Similar to Laudrup, plays a 4-3-3 system, but focuses on fast counter-attacking rather than possession.
The post Make or Break for Martinez appeared first on GrandOldTeam.
Decent article.
I don't agree with him on the "make or break" bit, and we're not "massively underperforming" but he's pretty much spot on with the attitude towards the thinking on the defensive part of the game.
It's the same old story really, if we can become a solid defensive unit without sacrificing much going forward then we'll have a lot of success. If we can't stay solid consistently then we'll have some success now and again, but will struggle to deliver consistently.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
"Martinez has a lot of support because of the brand of football that he plays, and that is with good reason; Everton are exciting to watch. But he gets an easy ride because of it."Make or Break for Martinez, by Liam Seaman
Liam Seaman reckons “Right now is a real make-or-break moment in Roberto Martinez’s Everton career.” Would you like to submit an article to GrandOldTeam? Give us a shout here.
Make or Break for Martinez
Yesterday, reports were emanating from California about a giant new planet discovered in our own solar system and of further signs of life on Mars (shout out to Bowie) that sent some news outlets into meltdown. After reading for a while, I began considering the implications that these new discoveries would have upon my already palpable levels of existential anguish, and it was at this point that my thoughts obviously turned back to Everton. Following the blues is a thankless task at times isn’t it? They really do make you wonder whether or not it’s all worth it. Alas, we’ve all caught the bug and we’re stuck with it; so let’s have a chat about the glaringly obvious problems that need addressing before someone (probably me) has an aneurysm in the Lower Gwladys.
As a pre-emptive measure, I must confess that for over a year now, since the defeat at home to Stoke on boxing day 2014 to be exact, I have been firmly rooted in the ‘Martinez out’ camp. So for those of you that won’t hear a word against our esteemed leader, I’d advise that you leave now. My level of distrust towards the manager has grown to such an extent that now not a day goes by when I fail to criticise him in some way when having a chat with a few mates. I’m actually surprised they still want to go for a pint with me before the game. I’ve even refused to sing songs that reference him in any way; a principle that I’ve stuck to (apart from one slip up away at Middlesbrough, but to be fair we drank so much on the way there that I can’t even remember the second half, so that one doesn’t count.)
However, whilst my level of pessimism may seem childish, some players in the Everton camp could do with adopting my stance. Jamie Carragher explained it best in a recent interview when he said, “attackers need to believe they are surrounded by geniuses, for even if a winger hasn’t made a cross all game, you still make the run, because this is the time he’s going to put it perfectly on your head. Defenders, on the other hand, have to assume they are surrounded by idiots, because then you are alert to the danger when that twerp of a full-back misses the tackle. Mourinho thought something similar; defenders had to be pessimists. It was the reason he sold David Luiz. Too optimistic, never thought anything could go wrong”.
That would be John Stones’ bio: ever the optimist. Defending isn’t complicated, it’s about balancing risk and reward; and this is something Stones needs to learn before he can step up into the ‘world class’ bracket of defenders. To the disbelief of some onlookers, I launched into a tirade during the Spurs game when he tried to turn Son inside out. Now, I agree that it’s great to watch him exude such confidence in an Everton shirt, but doing Cruyff turns on the edge of your own six yard box with a man on your back doesn’t make you a great defender, it makes you an idiot. Taking enormous risk for next to no reward is a recipe for disaster. It’s all about understanding the balance.
‘Balance’ is a characteristic that has also blighted Roberto Martinez’s managerial track thus far. Well known for extolling the virtues of expansive attacking play, he has seemed incapable of breeding a culture of defensive grit to back it up. The season his Wigan team was relegated they scored 47 goals, the same as Swansea; Swansea finished 9th in the league that season. Twice under Martinez’s supervision Wigan conceded 73 goals, in 2010 when they were the only team in Premier League history to remain in the division with such a poor defensive record, and three years later in 2013, when they were relegated. His idealism is admirable, as is his unwavering dedication to a philosophy of ‘perfect football’; but he has to start understanding that there is a dirty side to the game, where you sometimes just need to hit row Z. For example, if we were 1-0 up against the [Poor language removed] in the final few minutes of a cup final, I’d expect my manager to be screaming to get the ball into the corner, not doing the opposite. I’m not trying to say that we’re anything like Wigan and at risk of relegation by the way; I’m simply trying to show that the defensive resilience of Martinez’s first season (upon which a lot of Blues hang their hopes that he can turn the current plight around) seems to be more a remnant of the Moyes era, rather than Bobby becoming a defensive strategist. The evidence is close to irrefutable now, given that we look set to pass the 50 goals that we conceded last season. Idealism can only get you so far; sometimes you need a bit of pragmatism to get you over the line.
The topic of game management has been debated recently with Baines and Bobby both seemingly at loggerheads in their views after the Chelsea game. Baines admitted the players need to learn how to control a game better when we take a lead, and Bobby came out saying that the players’ game management shouldn’t be questioned, that instead we should be looking at the referee. In my opinion, officials’ decisions should never be used as an excuse; they’re the last refuge of a desperate man. Mourinho used to do it, even claiming there was a vendetta against his team in order to deflect from below-par performances. We got a lucky break in the City game, and an unlucky one at Chelsea. That happens. We should instead question how we lost a 2-goal lead in the space of 3 minutes, and then how we somehow lost 3 headers on the bounce in our own 18-yard box, leading up to their third goal. If we had defended properly, the linesman wouldn’t have even had a choice to make for the offside call.
Martinez has a lot of support because of the brand of football that he plays, and that is with good reason; Everton are exciting to watch. But he gets an easy ride because of it. People act as if he’s inventing the wheel at Everton; he isn’t, he’s running on a flat. Martin Keown recently gave an interview in which he spoke about Howard Kendall, saying, “Howard’s philosophy was focused on passing. Training was geared to the players having as many touches on the ball as possible”. We’ve had technically-minded coaches before, but Howard Kendall knew the importance of the defensive side of the game to the entire set up. You couldn’t say the same about the current manager whilst keeping a straight face. It’s easy to dismiss defensive frailty as a by-product of an attacking ideology, but that isn’t the case; the best teams, under the right leadership, can do both. We’re massively underperforming with the squad currently at our disposal, and I’ve not seen enough willingness from Roberto Martinez in analysing his own shortcomings, to show blind faith in his ability to continue leading our football club. 22 games in, and we’re yet to beat a team in the top half of the league. I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough, and something has to change.
This leads me on to my final point. Those of us who wish to see the back of Martinez are often (wrongly) criticised for not having any viable alternatives ready to come into the club. I’d like to put that point to rest, to say that there are a number of high-quality managers currently available, (some of whom are even free agents) who do not have ‘relegation with Wigan’ as the final entry on their CV.
- Marcelo Bielsa – Known as ‘El Loco’, or ‘The Madman’, for his no-bullshit approach to management. A maverick that inspired a generation of coaches, who Guardiola called the ‘best manager in the world’. During his time with the Argentina and Chile national teams, and with Athletic Bilbao, he played an attractive high-pressure 3-3-3-1 formation. Short and quick passing, and not allowing the opposition any time on the ball, would work very well in England if you could keep him happy.
- Walter Mazzarri – known for playing a fast-paced, counter-attacking 3-4-3 formation. Built upon a solid defence, he likes to play quick short passes out of the back to the creative midfielders or wingers. Again, would work well in England with the return of a few teams playing 2 up top.
- Jorge Sampaio – Most recently managed the Chilean national side during their impressive showing at the 2014 World Cup. Plays ‘Bielsista’ style football, much like Mauricio Pochettino, having studied under Marcelo Bielsa during his early years. Only a recent free agent, having resigned from Chile in the past couple of days.
- Frank Rijkaard – Possible the best known on this list. Been out of management since leaving Saudi Arabia in 2013. Inspired the turn around of fortunes at Barcelona, who arguably wouldn’t be where they are today without him. A big name who some think we would be unable to attract, but if he’s offered the chance to work with some of the most exceptional young talent in Europe, he could be persuaded.
- Michael Laudrup – Exceptional player. Did well at Swansea before he lost the dressing room amidst talk of a move to Spurs. Plays a nice 4-3-3-possession game.
Right now is a real make-or-break moment in Roberto Martinez’s Everton career. He needs to prove that he can learn from past mistakes, if he is ever going to reclaim the confidence that a lot of fans have lost in him. A win against City would go a small way to proving that last season’s shocking second-leg performance against Kyiv was just a one-off. Fail to win, however, and the reality of our position in the bottom half of the table will really hit home. We need to prove to our talented youngsters that Everton is a place where they can actually achieve their dreams. In the next few weeks, Roberto will have to show that he’s the man to help them do so, before one of the men waiting in the wings steps in and does it in his place.
- Frank De Boer – Only manager on this list that is employed. Currently at Ajax, but has said he would be willing to leave if a move to England opens up. Similar to Laudrup, plays a 4-3-3 system, but focuses on fast counter-attacking rather than possession.
The post Make or Break for Martinez appeared first on GrandOldTeam.
I hadn't noticed Martinez getting an 'easy ride' from any quarter. Maybe he missed the hooligans daubing their scrawl over Goodison last year, or the constant jibes in the press, or the weekly referendums on his tenure.
He wants 'balance' then fails to offer it in his analysis. Strange.
The list of managers: either flops in the PL already, has beens, or crazily out of reach.
I don't know what gave you that idea.
It certainly wasn't anything I ever posted hereabouts.
No Dave, there is quite a difference.
By definition it means we have won more games and as an Everton win brightens up my life for days afterwards then the more we win the merrier......even if it does mean finishing 6th instead of 11th
Let me put it this way.....we are five games away from winning the F.A. Cup.
Two games away from winning the League Cup.
Would you willingly trade the sacrifice of those twenty one points in order to win both those trophies in the belief that we would pick up the ten or eleven points still needed to stay clear of relegation?
If a genie popped out the bottle right now and offered me that choice I would take it all right
But I would hate to sacrifice all those league wins to wind up falling at the final hurdle
Sod that lying toad of a genie
So I am going to opt for what I opt for every time this particular hypothetical scenario is raised round these parts.
We march toward the sound of the cannon.
EFC aims to finish as high up the table as possible and has a go at winning a Cup....or two.
COYB
#EntertainersFootballClub
EFC aims to finish as high up the table as possible and has a go at winning a Cup....or two.
That sentiment is what the founding fathers of Everton Football Club believed in when they formed the club in The Everton Toffee Shop back in Queen Victoria's heyday.
It still holds good for me
I cannot understand anyone not letting that be their yardstick.
But for the record......I would rather we finished 17th and lifted a Cup than finish 5th and not.
And I am confident that any Evertonian who has had the thrill of seeing Brian Labone, Kevin Ratcliffe and Dave Watson hoist a trophy aloft at Wembley would agree with me
lancs blue
Player Valuation: £35m
A cup at all costs - including relegation. I have an ideal Manager for the job
- Status