Defensively I'd like to see us being able to hold a line the width of our box with the midfielders filling in the gaps. Even when we're in position our centrebacks get sucked out and leave a huge gap in behind them. It's quite basic. Most teams that come to Goodison are able to hold their shape, so I don't understand why we find it so challenging.
Going forward we tend to pass the ball far too slowly and we have very little movement, so it's easy to defend against. They can even afford to double up on the man on the ball because we're not going to exploit the space that he leaves. We don't tend to make runs. We receive the ball stood still and then decide what to do with it.
Has a lot really changed since Moyes era? We probably commit more men forward and we keep possession rather than putting crosses in. Otherwise probably not a great deal. Lukaku is as starved of service as Saha and Yakubu before him.
Kamikaze defending, midfield is covering defence, defence is rushing to cover midfield. Discipline. We are doing 90% of the oppo's job for them.
That's the managers call. God love him.
Our players (it's no longer a side) are struggling to cope with the system, pass it off and responsibility for the fudge up is gone. The players we have can't do a Barca job. Sorry to the Martinez apologists but thats the fact. The big fact. The only fact. The fact that counts, the fact that matters, the fact that if we dont change will factually have Everton FC relegated. Fact fact diddly fact.
Our forward play is ponderous, its predictable, its pedestrian, and its perillous for our defending. So slow, so lacking in taking a chance and making a run. I'm wondering if Pienaar can't be azzed because in the current regime there is no room for him - why go out and look bad where you have no other option. Experienced pro's.
With possession play breaking down at the back, no one is making runs because the ball aint coming to them anyway, we're static because the side is crapping its pants, or rather the individuals are - the team ethic, the togetherness has been erroded finally. Thanks the system of Roberto - keep goin laaa, we'll be non league if it keeps going.
Moyes was a defensive driller, loved it, it was his oxygen, if you can't go and win it then make sure you spoil it for them. Martinez seems to be win at all costs even if it means getting spanked 4 games in 5. It's nuts. Saha was a more natural link up man for a striker compared to Yak and Lukaku, he worked the flanks and spread the ball to them (flanks) when he was found center. Yak was just a 38 year old powerhouse that loved a tussle and slapping down CB's. Shame we got him so late and his age caught up with him. Yaks work off the ball (pre injury) was miles different to Lukaku. That's why he's here and not on Chelsea's books.
Make us hard to beat, learn to get rid of the ball before we cut our own throat. Pragmatism. Possession is fine, especially when we are leading, but flogging a dead horse aint gonna make it live and breath and kick again. The individuals that used to be a side cant take much more beating day in day out, thats why match days are so bad. Do some learning or pish off and never look back.
(Not a mither at you BillyCopper)
