It's Not the System that Counts

World class players that Real Madrid and Barcelona have can play pass the ball all day long and rarely lose it but we don't have a 500 million plus squad and the Premiership is too fast and high pressure to mess around with possession in your own half.

I am not suggesting hoofball or percentage football but simply moving the ball forward quicker and basing our style of play on players strengths rather than their weaknesses.

Jags and Gibbo's long range passing is pretty good and spreads the play but neither are suited to sitting on the ball waiting for other players to show for short passes which also invites more pressure on the ball from the opposition.

While I think Roberto can speak positively his system of playing may well undo the players confidence rather than improve it.

I'm also concerned with Martinez's ability to buy well. Of the 4 new signings, Kone has looked decidedly ordinary, Delofoeu's inexperience was exposed against Valencia's seasoned defenders, Alcaraz is a sick note, and only Robles has shown some promise. 1 good signing out of 4 is indeed troubling.

Maybe after Moyes gets sacked from Utd, we should re-employ him as Everton's chief scout.I think Martinez will need someone who has an eye for talent.

On the contrary I think its quite encouraging that despite some bad performances by key midfield players/ bad refereeing/ and pre-season rustiness we didn't concede that many goals. It will take time for the defenders to adapt but they're nto suddenly going to forget how to defend in formation just because they're asked to pass it around a bit. Contrary to what some of the revisionists think they did this for large chunks of last season.

Under Moyes Howard would often have nothing to do but pick the ball out of the net after the one chance the opposition created went in. Howard is now being worked but then again that is the keepers role and if the team is playing better and the ball is still only ending up in the net once a game then is this a bad thing?

As ever the proof will come in the results of the premier league games.

He was basically saying we are still 20 years behind the way kids in Europe are now taught the game. It was all about passing through 'the thirds' on the pitch, and being comfortable on the ball. He said the Italian national teams at all age levels, are teaching the goalies never to kick the ball out, and give away possession.

A real bugbear the last season or two for me was the amount of hoofing we resorted to at times. We really did out-hoof lower League teams in the Cups, and just gave away possession to Premier League sides, over and over and over.

Some may say OFM's teams played decent enough football, I thought it was mostly industrial, down the channels, unimaginative, percentage 1980's rubbish - but it got results, no argument from me on that point.

As long as our players are comfortable with the ball at their feet, we will be fine under any system we play. I think Jagielka may struggle the most to be honest.

Another comment is with all the knowledge the new manager was suppossed to have on other European leagues we sign players from a relagated club and still have made no move for a quality midfielder to open up opposition defences for our foreward players.

'Of the 4 new signings, Kone has looked decidedly ordinary, Delofoeu's inexperience was exposed against Valencia's seasoned defenders, Alcaraz is a sick note, and only Robles has shown some promise. 1 good signing out of 4 is indeed troubling.'

Bloody hell, you miserable sod!

Kone and Deulofeu have hardly had a sniff. The latter is the the most promising youth prospect to come out of Barca in years. Can we give the lad a chance? Kone has been average. He's played knack all football and joined up with the squad late. He's also been fasting during daylight hours which can't have helped his game.

Alcaraz actually looked alright when he played. A free transfer, let's hope he gets fit.

It's really not that bad is it?

We need a root and branch analysis of coaching standards in the UK and do what has been done in other sports such as Rugby and Athletics and make the decision that if the likes of Brooking aren't up to the job then bring the expertise in from overseas.

I don't understand industrial or down the channels either. to me that would suggest a long ball hoofed into the corner of the pitch that a big striker would run onto and then try and build from there. On the contrary we used to try and build from our left back and then bring the other midfielders into play. Sometimes we would go long to Fellaini's chest for variety and then play from there. The continuous hoof and chase to a big man up front that you and some others like to imagine was the modus operandi for all 11 years was just not the case last season.

After 11 years, and missing about 5 of those games at home, I didn't witness the football you did - sorry. We can have different views on what constitutes good football, but he always got results when it mattered.

I cant agree with you about Jags and his distribution, its poor he does blast the odd crossfield pass a la Stubbs and just like Stubbs they mostly go flying out of play or are hit so hard and fast they take the midfielders head off.

James for around a third of last season what you say is true and I was happy to give credit for it, however and it is a big however we still displayed far too much caution in many matches and lost points as a result- the reason has to be the manager. If you think we have tried to play attractive football for even 50% of the Ginger ones tenure, you have not been watching the matches I have been.

I want to see how a passing style with retained possession works with our best 11 against teams that don't pass it about and retain possession well(i.e. most of our league competition), before making judgements.

Not too long to find out...

I understand that he's trying to see what players are capable of, but I thought he might have tried to find a settled side over the course of the friendlies.

I'm interested to see how Martinez manages the change, and would certainly give the bloke two seasons, irrespective of results (unless relegation was a threat). Moyes spent wisely, if infuriatingly hesitant at times but he knew the value of a sound defence and we always had at least one top centre half. I hope we don't go to a back three, we have a decent attacking threat from both sides, with aggressive full back play and good link ups to wide players, so why change it?

I expect Sunday against Betis will be what he sees as his strongest side, so can't wait to get to that.

This is why I am so excited to see Martinez at Everton to be honest, it's the only way to partly bridge the growing gap between us, and the moneyed elite.

Moyes more defensive style of play took us as high as we could go, the only chance we have to gain some honours as a money poor club, relative to the rich perennial top 5 or 6 clubs is to try a different system and also develop our youth system more and attempt to be the best club in that regard.
Whether it will work we will have to wait and see
Unfortunately the Prem. seems to be as always, who has the most money eg Man City from also rans to champs!
As to the buys Martinez has made, last year Kone scored 11 times in the league and 2 in the cup, hes only played 48 mins I think, hit the bar, so give the guy a chance.
Alcaraz looked very decent in the game he played, Robles also looks a bargain to me, while Delofoeu will improve as he settles in, total cost a princely £7m .
A number of our regular first team players are getting towards the end of their careers,
and will need replacing soon,
lets hope we can find suitable players to fill the gaps.

We've seen a handful of pre-seaosn games under Martinez. In all honesty they could have been under Moyes because not that much was notably different at times. I'm sure over the course of the season we will see a changing style but you can only say its for the better if it is reflected in the league table - which I hope it is. There's been plenty of hoofs in this preseason much as people might like to pretend there has'nt been and there was plenty of good football under Moyes (much as people like to pretend there wasn't).

Its probably the time to take more risks, for a greater reward!

I've seen nothing to be pessimistic about - but lots to feel cautiously optimistic about.

Bobby has tried to give everyone (who's fit) a game and has tried different styles to see how the players handle them and adapt.

The signings have to be judged at least over one season if not longer - not on the odd couple of minutes of a pre season game.

He has purchased players he knows and trusts.

He looks truly enthused to be at our helm and seems a man full of honesty, integrity and a smile.

He has taken the time to study our history and to know what our fans want to see - and how passionate and special we are.

Part of that iniqueness as Everton fans should be that we give such a man our full backing and a fair chance.

I liked and admired Moyes. He's gone. He's nothing to me now apart from a potential preditor with a big cheque book.

Bobby is now our manager - and I'll back him till he isn't.

If we lose 0-6 to Betis (internally I'll be terrified) but ultimately it won't mean anything.

Norwich - that means something.

COY(Bobby) Blues.

Bielsa's system was a bit like what I remember being the best bits of Everton in their 80's hay day, getting the ball forward fast and long with wingers and powerful centre forward play.

Bielsa's formation would be something like this:

GK

Jags Gibson (quarterback) Distin

Coleman Fellaini Baines

Osman

Mirallas Jelavic Pienaar

GK

Coleman Jags Distin Baines
Gibson

Osman Pienaar
Fellaini
Kone Mirallas

Having Fellaini and Gibson front and back gives a lot of phase 2 room for Pienaar and Osman to create.

Accurate long balls from Gibson would be smashed up to speed merchants out wide opening it up for Fellaini to arrive in the box for crosses with Osman and Pienaar following in.

Get out balls from the defenders would be brought down by Fellaini allowing Pienaar and Osman to create and full backs to join in.

Having two wide forwards and the fullbacks in traditional 'back' positions allows them lots of space to run in to and attack, rather than being nullified by receiving the ball too far up the pitch as they do in the wingbacks system.

I expect the Betis game to show how he wants us to play - and then we can pick over the bones! It really should be the team he wants to play at Norwich.