A Change in “Philosophy”

Delboy in the number 10 role with Ross moving in to Barry's role long term would give us more through the middle.

Don't expect anything to change anytime soon.

We all shared his positive outlook at the start of his reign at Goodison, now I view him as the mad professor who is convinced his way, 'is the only way'.

I predict a long hard season, as relations between players and supporters become more and more fractious, as Martinez insists on the mind numbing 'possession dogma' football which we are currently witnessing.

By the way, I hope I'm hopelessly wrong and we in turn play bright attacking football, similar to 'plucky Swansea' at Chelsea last week.

Fingers crossed.

However in cricket, tactics are dictated more on-field by the captain, when the game is in progress the coach has limited or nil input. In football, the manager (coach) has a huge amount of input into the in-game tactics, what with substitutions etc.

Also whereas Brendon McCullum is a leader who can inspire, motivate, and lead by example, I don't quite see Jagielka in the same light as a motivational leader. I've no doubt he has the respect of his team, but I'm not so sure he can inspire the lads to the "next level".

In sport, sometimes it's all about belief. As McCullum said in some of the rather nauseating TV ad's in New Zealand during the cricket world cup, we need to "Dream Big".

I predict a statement from Roberto at the end of this season that would say, "With all the young talent we have picked up during the two transfer windows last season we should be in a fantastic position to get right back into the Premier League in 2016-17."

Back in the day OFM and others remarked that we had 'the best for 20 odd yrs' then we would get another knife to a gun fight performance.

I / We(?) didn't need telling this most could see how we'd moved on from his early years.

I'd moan... If we have a good squad just let them play, let them off the leash ffs.

Yes it's about the ball, holding on to the ball, after all the opposition can't play without it blah blah.

But you have to do something with it not just you to me, me to you.

Moyes couldn't change, Martinez WON'T change. We've just swapped one inflexible bastard for another.

I'm sensing rumbles of the...if it keep on like this we could do worse than get Moyes back.

No, No, 1000 times no. We know what the question is you stated it up top. But the answer IS NOT MOYES.

If only for the reason that we'd never know until after He'd signed his 5yr mega deal, that he had actually learned anything new.

IMO, we need what I call, 'The Goldilocks Option'. Not too much Moyes, not too much Martinez.

We've seen were not going to KITAP1 into the top 4 ( before anyone mentions 04-05, fluke, one off )

We won't philosophically pass our way there.

So why not just have a go at them.

*stands on top balcony shouting, Goldilocks, Goldilocks where for fukin art thou Goldilocks

Steve #4 -- yes, like many at Goodison, I'm getting to the end of my tether. I like Roberto, a really good fella, but we can't go on like this. I'd be delighted to eat my hat mind.

Derek #9 -- that Goldilocks stuff cracked me up.

I haven't seen the Carragher exchange, but it is clear from watching Everton, and it is a statistical fact, that having more possession in a Premier League match does not equate to winning the game.

I feel a fuller, longer article coming on, so I'll stop here, but Martinez needs to change, and seems adamant that he doesn't. This seems unlikely to end well.

He doesn't seem to close down the man even when it seems the most natural thing to do.

Maybe that's why RM is reluctant to drop him back there, along with never wanting to leave out McCarthy and Barry.

Thought it was a very accurate description of the way we play and why it doesn't work.

One of our biggest strengths is a passionate home crowd, and the pass-to-death style negates and frustrates that.

If that's the case, then there clearly are signs of a change in philosophy, although whether this is with the blessing of Martinez or not is unclear.

Maybe it has been down to the players taking the initiative, but more direct football relies heavily on your centre forward winning aerial challenges, and unfortunately our incumbent has the presence of an Osman rather than a Big Dunc. Lukaku seems reluctant, to say the least, to "put himself about", despite having the physique for it, and as we can all see, his first touch with a sharp pass into his feet is poor.

Yes, playing two upfront certainly would help with the success of this long ball approach, but other clubs have just one centre forward, who make the life of opposition centre backs a nightmare. Unfortunately, we don't, and until Lukaku sulks off to a Champions League club, a huge proportion of our eggs are in his basket !

I'm just praying that City buy Kevin de Bruyne from Wolfsburg, and then they in turn pay anything like £30 million for Lukaku, as for some crazy reason, they've courted him in the past, apparently. This would enable us to buy a proper Everton number nine, who will play his heart out, show anticipation, bring team-mates into the game, and score his fair share of the chances we create.

Obviously the emphasis is on defence even for home teams and any player on the field who cannot defend becomes a liability.

Everton have a few of those players.

Nothing suggests things will change soon and certainly not in time for another fruitless visit to St.Mary's.

With regard to the OP, I see where you're coming from but I don't think such a drastic change is needed. We just need to inject a bit more urgency into our play, and we desperately need a creative midfielder to unlock teams who get men behind the ball.

Who, apart from Lukaku and Mirallas (when he plays) can score goals.

Why do our defenders go weak at the knees when a cross comes in.

Why is our GK so inconsistent.

These all need addressing IMO.

If we have to go into the season with 2 recognised centre halves and 1 proper striker then 11th in the league will be a distant memory.

Oh yes and who is negotiating if Bill is as ill as they say?

Peter #7, yes, I agree, starting with Ross playing from deep would be a start, and there would always be the option of Cleverly dropping deep if RB surges forward, this is an opportunity to be bold. It's not that playing cautiously as we have done the last two season has done any good is it? Ah, well, we live in hope.

Looks like they heard you. Great forward attacking play. Let's hope the change in philosophy continues, and the fun!