Eto'o Turns On the Style In Important Blues Win

A victory under-pinned by solid defensive work and secured by superior quality in the final third.

Lyndon Lloyd 26/10/2014 51comments  |  Jump to last

Burnley 1 - 3 Everton

Samuel Eto'o scored nine times for Chelsea last season but not one of those goals came away from home. Today, he came within an inch of scoring a hat-trick on the road in only his fifth start for Everton as Roberto Martinez's side shrugged off any notions of another European hangover with a hard-fought and well-deserved win over Burnley.

If the 33 year-old looked a little ordinary in a cagey performance overall from the Blues in Lille, he rose above the fray at Turf Moor to stamp his class on proceedings with some fine footwork and terrific goals at either end of the game. Romelu Lukaku, his younger protege, also made amends for a dreadful mistake that gifted the Clarets a 20th-minute equaliser by scoring his fourth of the season to restore the lead nine minutes later.

It was an advantage they refused to surrender this time, signalling perhaps a more determined and miserly attitude than the start of the season when points were dropped by late lapses. Indeed, the Toffees had established a sure grip on the contest going into the last quarter of an hour and looked on course for victory even before Eto'o made sure with lovely curling striker four minutes from the end.

That was thanks to another relentless performance in central midfield from James McCarthy and Gareth Barry and, later, to a greater attacking impetus from Everton once Steven Pienaar had replaced Leon Osman and Leighton Baines began to bomb forward with more abandon.

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Burnley were seeking their first victory since their return to the top flight but they'd barely had time to settle before Eto'o put the visitors into the lead. His powerful header in off the underside of the bar capped a wonderful, crisp passing move, the like and adventure of which was entirely absent from their display in Lille on Thursday.

Eto'o started it in his own half with a pass to Steven Naismith, was on hand in the middle of it to collect Lukaku's lay-off and hand the ball off to Barry and, by the time Osman had joined the sequence wide the left, Baines had made a trademark run on the overlap from where his crossed was met beautifully on the run by the former Cameroon captain. It was Everton at their free-flowing best and it got them off to the perfect start.

Sean Dyche's side have struggled for goals this season – indeed, before today, Naismith had scored as many on his own as their entire team – and it showed in the early going as they failed to translate their energy all over the pitch into clear-cut chances. Ex-Blue Lucas Jutkiewicz hooked a poor shot wide, McCarthy and Naismith put themselves in the way to charge down shots from distance, and Eto'o headed a corner awkwardly over his own bar as the home side tried to respond.

They were handed an equaliser on a plate by Lukaku, though, with 19 minutes on the clock. The Belgian somehow knocked a back-pass presumably intended for Phil Jagielka straight to Jutkiewicz who spotted the defence-splitting run of Danny Ings to play his strike partner in against Tim Howard. He easily side-stepped the American and slotted into the empty goal. Everton's Law – a striker enduring a goal drought will inevitably score against us – continues to hold true.

Lukaku responded the only way he could, really – by wiping out Ings' goal with one of his own at the other end. Again, he was a vital part of the build-up, chesting down Naismith's flick-on, laying the ball off to Eto'o and then collecting a second pass by the Scot before rolling his marker and shooting right-footed. His first effort was blocked by Steven Ward but he had the presence of mind to dig out a second shot from the rebound that lifted the ball over the defender near the line and goalkeeper Tom Heaton to find the far corner. His passionate reaction was laden with a sense of redemption.

Everton were back in the driving seat but, with Burnley diligently pressing and harrying, they weren't ever really allowed to dictate the game they wanted to. Antolin Alcaraz, restored to the starting XI after sitting out the Europa League game in France, looked a little less assured than he did on home turf last weekend against Aston Villa and allowed himself to be muscled off the ball by Jutkiewicz but, thankfully, the striker blazed wide. And an uncharacteristic mix-up between Jagielka and Barry almost let Ings in but Alcaraz snuffed out the danger.

At the other end, meanwhile, Naismith looped a header from Osman's cross onto the crossbar with Seamus Coleman perhaps better placed behind him as the Toffees threatened to extend their lead before half time.

The feeling that Everton could again be the architects of their own downfall at any moment carried over into the second half, with Alcaraz badly mis-judging an aerial ball in front of his own goal and Ings unable to capitalise as it bounced off the Paraguayan's knee.

At the same time, though, the longer the match went on, the greater control Martinez's men appeared to exert and a great run by Coleman set McCarthy up for a rare shot on goal but his effort hit a defender and as cleared. Two more patient passing moves yielded low shots on target from Eto'o that didn't unduly concern Heaton before Lukaku was withdrawn after 63 minutes in favour of Ross Barkley.

Both substitutes, Barkley and Pienaar, would be involved in the quick exhange of passes that would lead to Everton's third goal. The former gathered a Baines throw-in from the left, picked up a return pass from Barry, flicked it on to Pienaar and when he, in turn, fed Eto'o 25 yards from goal, the striker took one touch, looked up and then bent an unstoppable shot around the 'keeper. A wonderful strike from a player who looks like he is ready to play a more substantial role in the Blues' season now that he has bedded in and built up his match sharpness.

The hat-trick he almost claimed in stoppage time after Ings had wasted a gilt-edged chance to put Burnley back into the contest, would not have flattered him. Alive to an underhit back-pass, he nipped in to intercept it, rounded Heaton but his shot rolled agonisingly off the base of the post from a tight angle and across the goal line before the grateful 'keeper gathered it.

There have been some post-game mutterings that this wasn't an inspired display by Everton but Burnley made life very difficult for them for much of the game and, ultimately, this was a victory under-pinned by solid defensive work and secured by superior quality in the final third.

It bodes well that a potential pitfall on a ground where the club hadn't tasted victory since the 1970s was avoided and three vital points were claimed away from home. They lift the Blues back into the top half of the table for the first time since the opening day and mean they remain four points off the top four with all of the other teams that finished in the top seven last season continuing to drop points.

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Reader Comments (51)

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Paul Roberts
1 Posted 26/10/2014 at 23:38:46
The "post game mutterings " you mention are entirely unjustified. This was a thorough, professional performance under a lot a pressure, in difficult, windy conditions. We are 4 points off 4th place, doing well in the Europa league and playing well.

I'm not delusional. We could and should have made a better start. However, the World Cup, multiple injuries and a tough opening fixture list made that good start very difficult. We are still undoubtedly one of the leading contenders for CL. Be happy and look forward to a better few months ahead. COYB.

Tony Doran
2 Posted 26/10/2014 at 23:38:35
IÂ’d give EtoÂ’o and Naismith a go. Two clever players who would link up well. LukakuÂ’s goal saves him from another inept display. Barkley stunk but I think he struggled coming on from the bench. McCarthey back to his best but IÂ’d like a real classy no nonsense CH whoÂ’s quick, whatÂ’s Ratcliffe doing.

Without Mirallas we lack any pace up front so need to keep the passing game short and quick like for our second goal. ThatÂ’s my reasoning for EtoÂ’o and Naismith. I felt we are starting to think we win games on style and forgetting itÂ’s all about scoring, to much arsing about at times like when it cost us for their goal. Baines was outstanding, what an intelligent player he is. He would suit Brazil more than England.

Patrick Murphy
3 Posted 26/10/2014 at 23:49:24
Paul - True it might be slightly picky to bemoan the performance of the team when they have won at a difficult venue but letÂ’s be honest if the team are to go on to bigger and better things they will have to perform a lot better in the months ahead.

Lille and today could have turned out very differently and then the site would have gone ballistic but gently pointing out some of the areas of concern are justified and merited. IÂ’ll take the points from any game in any manner but would hope to see good results that match good performances on a regular basis.

Andy Crooks
4 Posted 27/10/2014 at 00:35:58
I thought it was good to hear Lukaku on MOTD talk about learning from a great player. Samuel – sorry, writing on a Kindle which changes his surname – was an inspired signing.

One of the best strikers of the last decade is at our club and influencing young players. And, he still looks like a class player.

Mike Corcoran
5 Posted 27/10/2014 at 01:09:11
Patrick, matches turn out differently all the time. Leicester, Arsenal for example. The site goes ballistic win, lose or draw! That was a good, pro job today. Just thank you donÂ’t follow the reds cos despite their riches they are in deep scheisse.
David Ellis
6 Posted 27/10/2014 at 04:23:57
I think as the game wore on that Burnley ran out of steam having spent an hour chasing shadows with our tikka tacca passing. Certainly we suddenly started to look a lot more comfortable and find more space after the hour mark and thats when we killed the game off.

Eto'o looked a much better player than Lukaku yesterday. And having seen Lukaku live for the first time at the Villa game last week I can understand the criticism he gets on this site. He really does not do enough off the ball, and too many moves break down when he receives the ball. Eto'o on the other hand has fantastic feet. I can see a few games on the bench for young Rom.

Mark Palmer
7 Posted 27/10/2014 at 07:41:55
I'm pleased Lukaku is learning from Samuel Eto'o but could he learn a bit quicker? Cos he doesn't seem to be responding to hours of coaching and match time. He's not doing it for me - although perhaps I noted a slight improvement, maybe. Yes, he's young and as he's a blue I'll cheer him to the rafters but when someone next to me joked that Rom could be the next Emile Heskey I laughed it off - nervously! Gulp.
Rick Tarleton
8 Posted 27/10/2014 at 08:10:27
Three things make a great footballer. His basic talent, good feet if you like. His desire to perform and to work and his footballing intelligence. Eto'o has all three, if he can give Barkley some hints on footballing intelligence and Lukaku some of the desire, he'll have been worth whatever we are paying him. I watched Everton and then the Chelsea game. Drogba's work rate at 36 makes Lukaku look like a non-trier. He defends, marshals and commits every minute. I can see why Mourinho couldn't see Lukaku as Drogba's successor. Yet Lukaku has all the attributes and if he learns from Eto'o he can become a great player.
Bob Parrington
9 Posted 27/10/2014 at 08:29:35
Love the guy's attitude! :) :) :) :)
Alan Brown
10 Posted 27/10/2014 at 12:41:24
IÂ’m not sure that 4 goals in 9 matches for Lukaku constitutes a goal drought. Combined with EtoÂ’o and Naismith hopefully we now have 3 strikers who will hit double figures this season.
Jim Harrison
11 Posted 27/10/2014 at 12:34:23
I love Patrick's thought pattern.......if things went differently (as of course they could have), the result and resulting consequences would be different...

But 'if' is the most pointless word in sport. What matters is what did happen. Both results were good.

An away draw maintaining top spot in the group with two upcoming home matches, an away win at a struggling side desperate for points. Burnley could afford to play aggressively, they have nothing to lose especially after going behind so early in the game.

I thought the performance was average, but mainly due to Burnley's high energy pressing. They picked up a lot of loose balls in midfield, but generally didn't look threatening in the final 3rd. Rom and Sam did the business when required and we are back on our way up the table.

Mike Childs
12 Posted 27/10/2014 at 12:31:57
As always Lyndon a great report. Their pressing tactics were very good in the first half. Hopefully an up to speed Barkley will help us deal with it because you've got to figure other teams will use the same tactic.
Mike Allison
13 Posted 27/10/2014 at 12:54:48
Lukaku did some good work off the ball, in build up play and even with his back to goal yesterday. He knows he made a massive error for Burnley's goal, but he still looks to come and receive the ball in areas where he didn't used to. I wish people would lay off him.
Phil Walling
14 Posted 27/10/2014 at 13:10:21
Even in his advancing years, Eto'o will destroy crap teams like Burnley. We are fortunate to have him because it was too often the crap teams who held us back last season.

I guess that in the more challenging fixtures, Samuel will feature as no more than a late replacement for our record signing. If only that signing had half the older guy's talent we might get in with a shout.

Eric Hardman
15 Posted 27/10/2014 at 13:07:29
Three welcome points but surely three that every other contender will get. I was relieved that Burnley were unable to take advantage of our almost total lack of ambition in the second half?

We had already demonstrated that we could be clinical, to quote Sean Dyche, so why did we waste so much possession going sideways and backwards? A two- or three-goal lead was there for the taking. Instead it was nailbitingly frustrating.

Kieran Fitzgerald
16 Posted 27/10/2014 at 13:23:01
Lukaku's first touch is dreadful and that is what is making him appear to be such a poor player at present. It looks like he's trying to do a 'give and go' all the time when he ends up doing nothing with the ball. For now, Martinez should just tell him to trap the ball and then either wait a second or two before trying to pass or else just try and roll his marker.

In terms of Eto'o's performance yesterday, you would have him starting every game. A work colleague told me yesterday that Eto'o is well known for having a huge ego. If that's they case then feed into it while he's playing well.

We had three recognised strikers on the pitch yesterday from the start, Lukaku, Eto'o and Naismith. When was the last time that happened? Eto'o and Naismith were great. Get Lukaku to play it simple for now and who knows, it could be the start of us banging in the goals.

Colin Glassar
17 Posted 27/10/2014 at 13:29:43
Kieran, if we all know he has a poor first touch then why do we keep on passing the ball behind him? He constantly has to turn around to receive the ball when it's obvious that his greatest strength is running onto a ball placed just in front of him. Play to his strengths, not his weaknesses.
Bill Gall
18 Posted 27/10/2014 at 13:13:53
I think a lot of the the supporters that are being critical of some aspects of Lukaku's play are forgetting he is only 21 years old and still learning in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. It is unfair to use the criticism based on his transfer fee as this was determined by other people, not him, and I believe that the fee was based more on his potential than his goals he had scored at the time.

Yes, he made a bad play on Sunday and everyone started to highlite it, but how many top experienced players still make the odd mistake? He scored and his reaction showed how disappointed he was in making the mistake and the relief he had in putting the team back in front.

Kieran Fitzgerald
19 Posted 27/10/2014 at 14:26:10
Colin, not every ball is played inaccurately to him. Many passes made to Lukaku don't travel at 200mph and are twenty yards away from him. Far too often, the ball is played directly to him as a reasonable pace and it bounces off his feet. If you read my opening sentence you will see that Lukaku's first touch makes him appear like a poor player. Not being able to control the ball will unfortunately take away from anything else he does well. It is a basic skill you will only ever notice when a player doesn't exhibit it.

Bill, surely being able to control a simple pass is a basic skill you should have mastered by the age of 12, let along at 21. Lukaku will have come through an academy system somewhere. Surely he has had the coaching as a youngster to learn the basics. It is nothing about your transfer fee. As a professional footballer, Lukaku should have this skill in place at this stage.

Trevor Lynes
20 Posted 27/10/2014 at 15:04:05
Etoo was great but no one else up front could match him and that includes Naismith who is no longer the boo boysÂ’ target.

Jagielka and Baines were our best in defence and barry was better than McCarthy.

Barkley started off very poorly and Baines looked much better attack wise after Pienaar came on. I certainly did not think that Barkley played better than Lukaku and both players need to learn how to take up good positions, hold the ball and pass crisply.

Both of these youngsters have immense potential but are slowly progressing and are still not the finished products. LetÂ’s hope that Lukaku regains his confidence and starts to run at opponents because he has the strength to make a big impact.

Jack Cross
21 Posted 27/10/2014 at 15:22:29
Kieran Fitzgerald. Do you think Lukaku, could have had the touch but as just simply lost it? Some player's go backwards in certain area's of their game.

What about his build, could that have anything to do with his touch of the ball? You know sort of muscle bound, mobility wise? Like some people are heavy-handed and think their gently patting you on the back, but to the person it's heavy-handed.

I had a mate (Ted) who was quite a good footballer. Great header of the ball, great shot, but he was heavy-footed when it came to touch control. He used to say it was down to his build. But I never really knew what he meant to be truthful.

I've never heard of Lukaku mentioning he as a problem with his touch, has anyone else?

Jay Harris
22 Posted 27/10/2014 at 15:46:19
I hate to keep banging this drum but I feel our problems are in the way the side is set up. I do not believe we can have Eto'o, Lukaku and Naismith in the same team. It weakens our midfield and does not give defenders someone to pass to except to hoof it up the pitch or try and thread long balls through.

I also think Lukaku is trying too hard now as his confidence took a hit at the World Cup. He needs to relax more and improve his running off the ball and general ball control. I do though remain concerned about his lack of heading ability for such a big lad.

Patrick Murphy
23 Posted 27/10/2014 at 15:51:04
For what it's worth I think Romelu may be suffering from over-thinking and not doing what comes natural to him. I would like to see him play with the same freedom that Eto'o displays; of course, it is easier said than done, but a smiling and relaxed Lukaku would I'm sure bring more to the team than a frustrated and under-confident player.
Colin Glassar
24 Posted 27/10/2014 at 16:44:41
Lukaku scored loads of goals at WBA from wingers whipping in crosses. Only Bainsey seems to that as Mirallas and Pienaar like to cut inside as does Seamus. Maybe more in swingers from the flanks would help him score more.
Steve Guy
25 Posted 27/10/2014 at 17:00:59
For a bit of context, Rom could be doing better but he ain't doin bad either.....BBC stats....goals scored this season on the left.

1 Sergio Agüero 9
1 Diego Costa 9
3 Saido Berahino 7
4 Diafra Sakho 6
4 Graziano Pellè. 6
6 Leonardo Ulloa 5
6 Alexis Sánchez 5
8 Papiss Cissé 4
8 Mohamed Diamé 4
8 Romelu Lukaku 4
8 Steven Naismith 4
8 Nikica Jelavic 4
8 Wilfried Bony 4

Paul Andrews
26 Posted 27/10/2014 at 17:10:50
Steve Guy,

Context indeed.
Romelu was a one in two striker the season before last.
Romelu was a one in two striker last season

Romelu is a one in two striker this season.

Kevin Tully
27 Posted 27/10/2014 at 17:06:02
Regarding Lukaku, his first touch, work rate etc...I really couldn't give a crap if he stands leaning on the post for 89 minutes of every game If he scores 18-20 goals this season. (which I think he will)

I have had my fill of watching Everton strikers work hard, running the channels, and generally being too tired to score when they eventually do get a chance.

I wish they all had an awful first touch, but guaranteed 15 League goals a season!

Max Wilson
28 Posted 27/10/2014 at 16:57:58
Another good report from our Lyndon. I asked for and got the Eto,o and Luke combination for this game,and every other from now on! Its a no brainer. They are our attacking talent We attacked with more speed and passed it better this time. However we cant get carried away by this result because the opposition was poor and will probably go down.Burnley are nieve to think they can compete in this league with their present players. Man of the match for me was once again McCarthy, he played a blinder, closely followed by Bainsey.
Eto,o is class, we should expect what he brings. He showed us this the first time her arrived on the park- a headed goal. Now we are looking like a dangerous team to play lets see what we do against better opposition. Villa and Burnley were'nt much cop really, come on, lets be honest.
Declan Martin
29 Posted 27/10/2014 at 17:12:31
Eto’o made all the difference. Otherwise, it had shades of the 2-2 draw with Leicester looming – ahead twice, but in danger of conceding a silly late equaliser (which looked realistic on a couple of occasions.

Barkley looked off the pace a bit, as did both Osman and Naismith – neither of whom started in Lille during the week. No excuses.

Could Eto’o be our season’s saviour?

Denis Richardson
30 Posted 27/10/2014 at 17:14:24
Good report Lyndon. Good win and whilst a few tweaks are needed here and there, we're heading in the right direction.

Swansea won't be a walk over but I fancy our chances at home to get 3 points, which should see us jump up to 7th in the table after 10 games and just a couple of points off CL, with Sunderland away next up.

Trying not to start day dreaming but we could win the next 3 games giving us a run of 5 straight wins, we'd probably be in the CL places before the spurs game if we managed that - and Mirallas should be back in time for spurs!

One game at a time......hope Lukaku's toe finally gets better at some point!

Jackie Barry
31 Posted 27/10/2014 at 17:20:41
Lukaku's goal scoring record speaks for itself, I'd rather have his first touch and his goal scoring rate/ability than a great first touch. He is a striker after all. I have no problem with him as long as he keeps scoring.
Mark Taylor
32 Posted 27/10/2014 at 17:25:57
I had some doubts about Eto'o when we signed him- all about his commitment and perhaps his age, not his talent, which is obviously immense. It is heartening that he seems to be really enjoying his football and a pleasant surprise to discover he has by no means lost all his pace.

In terms of a complete footballer, Lukaku is losing somewhat in the comparison. He doesn't have the footballing brain of Eto'o, nor his silky touch. One would hope Lukaku can learn the former from his strike partner but realistically, if you don't have a good touch at 21, you never will.

I disagree with those posters who seem to think this shortcoming should not be identified or that somehow it can be fixed. I agree with those posters who say we need to play more to his strengths, and that he has indeed got other strengths, not least to hit the back of the net, even with quite scurfy shots.

Incidentally I didn't think Barkley was so bad when he came on, apart from his first 3 touches. In contrast to Luakaku, he is clearly comfortable on the ball and I think he could be an interesting foil to Eto'o.

Phil Walling
33 Posted 27/10/2014 at 18:47:23
Barkley only got about 25 minutes at Burnley and did little of note. He is in the process of just starting his season and should be given the time his team mates have been allowed to get properly match fit. I hope he will get a good run of games so as to develop the consistency he has so far lacked.

Although he is labelled an outstanding prospect by club and country, we must be careful to judge him by the standards of our other central midfielders such as McCarthy and Barry whilst always realising he has but a smidgeon of either's match experience.

Forget all this talk of the New Gazza or Rooney. He is what he is – an exceptionally talented and powerful player whose progress has been stunted by injury. We all wish him well and must grant him our patience.

Colin Glassar
34 Posted 27/10/2014 at 19:21:37
Well put, Phil. Barkley will be given all the time he needs. I would love it if he could spend the rest of the season injury-free.
Linda Morrison
35 Posted 27/10/2014 at 19:24:39
Folks, there was a great interview with Roberto in the Guardian. He said he is looking forward to seeing our young players develop and become the champions he know they can.

He also said the difference between him and the bighead at Chelsea is that he is prepared to spend the time building our team and the Chelsea manager would prefer to buy ready made champions. You don't build a winning team like that, folks!

I think we should play Distin on Saturday he can clear the headers better than Alacarz.

We are doing well and our young players are learninig as they go.

Colin Glassar
36 Posted 27/10/2014 at 19:39:07
Notice how nobody ever mentions BK anymore?
Phil Walling
37 Posted 27/10/2014 at 19:34:42
Agreed, Linda. But the big difference is that Chelsea pay 'The Special One' about three times Bobby's salary to bring them constant success. They also provide him with about ten times the budget.

I've often wondered what the likes of Mourhino would achieve for Everton in a Kenwright economy!

Mike Childs
38 Posted 27/10/2014 at 19:49:21
Phil you know Jose would be successful even with BK and the budget. He would simply go defensive and win a bunch of 1-0 games.
Phil Walling
39 Posted 27/10/2014 at 19:49:35
Colin, now he's backed the manager to the tune of £30M+ and promised a new stadium by 2047, I guess he's off the hook !
Paul Tran
40 Posted 27/10/2014 at 19:46:30
Spot on, Phil. Barkley needs our patience. Too many players' reputations seem to get enhanced on here when they're absent, only to get stick if they're not fantastic the minute they return. Deulofeu is the latest one – my memory is of a talented youngster who was inconsistent.

At the moment, Lukaku looks unfit, Barkley, Oviedo, Coleman and Alcaraz are coming back from injury. Let's remember that before we dish out the stick.

Bill Gall
41 Posted 27/10/2014 at 22:15:04
Kieran (#18), I meant to get back to you before but went out.

Yes, I agree with you: Lukaku must've come through a training academy somewhere and you would think that controlling a pass should be a basic skill at age 12. In my time, I have seen a number of 12-year-olds with sublime skills controlling a pass and glided past opponents but, by the time they are 20, they are back in amateur football having not made the grade.

Watching the Man Utd v Chelsea game on Sunday, I noticed that Drogba on a number of occasions was unable to control the ball passed to him but he did what he was paid to do and that was to score and he was considered one of the top forwards in his prime.

The point I was trying to make about Lukaku was he is still only 21 and learning; like someone else commented, it does not matter if he cannot control a ball from a pass at this time as long as he puts it in the back of the net.

We are lucky to have a manager who is able to recognize the potential in Lukaku and a number of young players in the club, who will expect mistakes but will not crticsize them, and will give them a chance to prove him wrong; we as supporters should back them 100%.

We have managed to get Blue Bill to provide financial support (he is still crying in his morning tea) and the future looks good. On Sunday we were fortunate to see what a great player from the the past looks like and hopefully what a great player in the future we have in an Everton shirt.

We may in the future be able to buy a complete all round player like a Messi or Renaldo but at the moment we can just dream and get behind the players we have.

Harold Matthews
43 Posted 28/10/2014 at 14:48:34
Yes Linda. Martinez says he is a great admirer of the John Toshack Real Sociedad youth policy. The place where Xavi Alonso came through. Unfortunately, I don't have a clue what it entailed but it's good to know that we have some sort of system in place where Dennis Lawrence liaises with all the different groups and accelerates those who are comfortable with the style of play and show the most promise.
Phil Walling
44 Posted 28/10/2014 at 20:23:26
We're still waiting to see the very first young player 'brought through' under Martinez. And don't give me Barkley, please! BK was bigging the Spaniard up in his early days as someone who, unlike his predecessor, would do just that.

Talk's cheap, it seems.

Kieran Riding
45 Posted 28/10/2014 at 20:33:10
Phil, he's looked after McCarthy very well so far Id suggest ?
Jay Rollinson
46 Posted 28/10/2014 at 20:34:41
If John Stones wasn't 'brought through' as an Everton player by Martinez, then who was he 'brought through' by?

Also got to love the use of "we're still waiting" like Martinez has been here for eons instead of just 18 months. He should have an entire production line of prodigious young talent bearing fruit by now shouldn't he? The shirker.

Do you live your life in dog years or something Phil?

Colin Glassar
47 Posted 28/10/2014 at 20:43:33
Phil, he's worked miracles on young Tony Hibbo. The lad can now do keepy-uppys for more than 3 seconds without falling over.
Phil Walling
48 Posted 28/10/2014 at 20:47:01
Stones was a purchased player as was McCarthy who had made 50 or so appearances for Wigan. I totally overlooked Hibbo who took to the right-back job as though he'd been playing for years!
Kieran Riding
49 Posted 28/10/2014 at 20:52:06
Phil, Roberto tried to sign Stones for Wigan, and was involved in McCarthy's development into a top player when he came to England?
Phil Walling
51 Posted 28/10/2014 at 23:30:46
Kieran, you know I was referring to our own dubious valued academy players not those of other clubs. Didn't we pay something like £13M for McCarthy, anyway?
Patrick Murphy
52 Posted 29/10/2014 at 00:01:08
Short, Medium and Long Term are the stages that Roberto has outlined and a re-education of supporters which to me is the toughest ask especially at Goodison where we have always enjoyed the up-and-at-them mentality which has often surrounded our more skillful players.

In my opinion, Roberto will wait a little longer to bring younger players in than some would like – but he knows that it will be difficult to replace some of the experienced players in the next 6-12 months as that will cost more than a few quid, which means he then will have to rely upon those youngsters to fill in for more experienced players. If RM is here at the start of the 2015-16 season, I expect a fair few 'younger' players to be in the first team pool on a regular basis.

What I have noticed in the past 12-18 months is the quality of some or our goals – not something that we as a club have been renowned for over the years – but, even during the early part of this campaign, we could have our own Goal of the Season competition and would be hard-pressed to pick the winner. Of course that doesn't mean we are on the way to success but it does show that the players are confident in their own ability, even if they don't display it as often as we would like.

Harold Matthews
53 Posted 29/10/2014 at 12:59:44
Top ex-academy lads like Barkley, Sterling, Shaw and Oxlade-Chamberlain are very rare indeed but we have to keep searching. Right now, there is no-one of that quality in the younger ranks but Ledson, Long, Garbutt and Browning are very promising. George Green looked to be a cut above the rest till a severe back injury curtailed his progress.

Of the purchased players, Henen and Galloway have yet to emerge but Stones has been a revelation. Still a kid and a long way from being the finished article, he looks to have a bright future in an Everton shirt.


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