Roberto Martinez discussion

[Dexter]

Teams have worked out how to get at is by pressing high and at Barry and McCathy and hitting the space left by the fullbacks. We're very open when we loose the ball.

I think EPL managers have figured us out too

 

[Dithering Dougie]

See martinez is not a top manager, and will never be one.

What he does better than most is implement a self sufficient youth system which allows players who are good enough to make the step up. Plus he has a good business sense to sign players who are value for money (luakaku aside) so he isnt spending lots of money on players who flop.

Now i fully back martinez, even when we falter like sunday for example. Not because i think the sun shines out his arse but i want this 5 year plan to take effect. It as only been 18 months and already we have besic, garbutt, browning, stones, barkley all around or in the first team. Would moyes have had that? not a chance. If we go down with him or break the ceiling, or neither, i m on for the ride.

And if anyone can win us a trophy then roberto can.

Erm just how many of these youth players did he bring through for Swansea or Wigan?

 

[LinekersLegs]

I would also like to see a solid plan B. There, out on a limb but so what.

Isn't that what we did against Wolsburg just a few days previously - allow them possesion and then break quickly on the counter?

 

[L4Everton]

Isn't that what we did against Wolsburg just a few days previously - allow them possesion and then break quickly on the counter?

Maybe I'm being unfair, I felt a lot of the change in that fixture was down to having to use the squad so extensively.

Is it fair to suggest that our first choice eleven are sent out to go toe-to-toe against sides?

 

[LinekersLegs]

Maybe I'm being unfair, I felt a lot of the change in that fixture was down to having to use the squad so extensively.

Is it fair to suggest that our first choice eleven are sent out to go toe-to-toe against sides?

Usually but not always. There were a few games last year we seemed to deliberately allow the other side possession, Arsenal and United both at home come to mind.

Agree we need to mix it up occasionally, especially mid game if it isn't working, but don't think there is anything inherently bad in having a dominant style of play. We just need to make sure to cut out making stupid individual mistakes whichever style we use

 

[HuddersfieldToffee]

Usually but not always. There were a few games last year we seemed to deliberately allow the other side possession, Arsenal and United both at home come to mind.

Agree we need to mix it up occasionally, especially mid game if it isn't working, but don't think there is anything inherently bad in having a dominant style of play. We just need to make sure to cut out making stupid individual mistakes whichever style we use

Martinez has shown that ability throughout his time, maybe he just feels that our possession game is more superior this season. I agree we need to use our fast counter-attacking promise, like in the Europa League this year.

 

[marty mcfly]

Martinez definitely sometimes plays on the counter but he does have the desire to dominate games. I always get the feelin that he only plays that way when he really must, against Liverpool this season after the walloping or Wolfsburg this season.

It's in a way noble and it does show great confidence in the players but I just think there are times when even though we might win that way we would be more advised to not like against Spurs.

Especially with Lukaku, Barkley and Mirallas who are all perfect for counter attacking.

 

[Neiler]

Teams have worked out just one part of how we play. Don't you think if teams press us high what does that do to them? It leaves them vulnerable to a counter. It's why when teams try and press the likes of Barca or Bayern they get absolutely hammered. We are nowhere near that level but that is the formula he is trying to work on such as

Team press us high we will manoeuvre quicker to counter

Teams sit back we will pass and pass until creating an opportunity by drawing them out or forcing a mistake.

It's isn't all about people have found us out so now we are crap otherwise we would lose every game. We are a top team, teams show us massive respect when they play us. There's many peaks and troughs to get to where we are going to, but going there we are.

I didn't say teams have worked us out I said they have worked out a way to get at us, football isn't one dimensional in term of just one way of playing but it is a method teams have used this season to expose a vulnerability.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Martinez definitely sometimes plays on the counter but he does have the desire to dominate games. I always get the feelin that he only plays that way when he really must, against Liverpool this season after the walloping or Wolfsburg this season.

It's in a way noble and it does show great confidence in the players but I just think there are times when even though we might win that way we would be more advised to not like against Spurs.

Especially with Lukak, Barkley and Mirallas who are all perfect for counter attacking.

I agree that we'd probably be better being a bit more pragmatic in some games but it is hard to get the balance right, especially without the advantage of hindsight! If I had to guess the strategy on Spurs it would have been to get an early lead and hope their crowd got on their back enough to make it hard for them to recover. Their quick equaliser put paid to that though if it was the plan.

Most managers err on one side or the other, having had many years of Moyes's cautious approach I am finding the Martinez style refreshing tbh.

 

[maccavennie]

Spurs pressed us high and relentlessly after the first goal, we barely looked able to pressure them at all until near the end when they backed off.

I never said we were the finished article though did I. I was stating that only because one team finds one way of stopping you, that doesn't mean there's not another way how you can counter that. Hence Barca and Bayern do it and which is why Martinez is a fan of that style.

 

[maccavennie]

I didn't say teams have worked us out I said they have worked out a way to get at us, football isn't one dimensional in term of just one way of playing but it is a method teams have used this season to expose a vulnerability.

It is definitely an area that needs working on mate, I definitely wouldn't disagree with that as we have looked vulnerable. It's just a case of its Martinez ' s style and how he wants to move forward. I thought there was loads of times last season we had vulnerable periods in games but we weren't making as many mistakes as we've already made this season.

 

[McBain]

Are we hating on Martinez now?

Is this VAULT CENTRAL?

 

[neil999]

lets see what he's learnt tomorrro evening shall we?

 

[Furey1878]

Pick the best team, not the best players. You know it makes sense, Bobby.

 

[Dymak]

Slow, boring, dangerous football that will achieve nothing more than a mid-table finish.