Season › 2014-15 › News Jones: Mersey derby is the biggest game of all Lyndon Lloyd , 6 February, 14comments | Jump to most recent Everton Assistant Manager Graeme Jones says that not even the FA Cup Final can compare to the emotional intensity of the Merseyside derby. Roberto Martinez's № 2 is preparing for his fourth all-Mersey clash when Blue meets red tomorrow afternoon and he says that nothing could prepare him for his first derby 18 months ago. “I certainly feel a better assistant manager sitting here going into my fourth derby game than I did as a naïve assistant manager going into the first," he says, "because I don't think anyone can ever give you any indication or any guidelines of what a Merseyside derby is until you have experienced it. “It's like no other football match I have been involved in and we have done FA Cup finals, Survival Sundays and big, big matches — but the Merseyside derby is bigger than them all.” Jones is all too aware of how easily the occasion can get to the players and he says that the management are going to do their best to keep Everton focused and disciplined as they seek a first win over Liverpool since 2010. “We know how much it means to the fans and in many ways we have to stay away from that emotion,” he continues. “We need to be calculated and we need to be professional. “We need to remember at key moments not to get involved in the hysteria and the rivalry. We need to do our jobs and the basics well. On top of the natural ability the players have, we want to put them in a position mentally for them to perform. That's how sensitive it is." Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo Reader Comments (14) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Colin Glassar 1 Posted 06/02/2015 at 19:14:10 Keep it tight at the back for an hour and then have a go at them. Their defence is still crap and they will have some tired legs after Wednesday. Patience and discipline will be the key. Kevin Tully 2 Posted 06/02/2015 at 19:39:23 Interesting prediction for final League placings ; Link Denis Richardson 3 Posted 06/02/2015 at 20:14:21 Wow, he speaks. I think this is the first time I've ever heard anything from our assistant manager.Make a change from Round and his clipboard anyway – speaking of which, what did happen to Round? Mike Barrett 4 Posted 06/02/2015 at 20:48:11 Round's on the coaching staff at Derby, Denis. Cindy Cole 7 Posted 07/02/2015 at 01:45:35 Round's gone full circle. Gary Poole 8 Posted 07/02/2015 at 02:04:17 Nice one Cindy!! Ryan Rosenberg 9 Posted 07/02/2015 at 05:26:59 On Steve Round's wikipedia:"On 4 July 2008, Round became the new assistant manager to David Moyes at Everton to implement the hoof ball tactic" - brilliant. Minik Hansen 10 Posted 07/02/2015 at 05:46:09 Lots of emotions to deal with, I hope the players can cope it. Since it will be emotional aspects, the behavioural results of the game will show what's going in the dressing room. Shipping out Eto'o and bringing in a fresh, fast and PL/EL experienced player in Lennon might have done wonders. COYB. Dick Fearon 11 Posted 07/02/2015 at 06:49:41 Phew! thank goodness our team will turn up for the game.After scanning the media I got the impression that Gerrard was would be leading a Red triumphal parade around Goodison after first of all walking over Everton players prostrate bodies. Colin Glassar 12 Posted 07/02/2015 at 08:55:37 Round is working as a DJ in Benidorm. His clipboard left him for another man. Tony Abrahams 13 Posted 07/02/2015 at 14:43:26 Got a text off my mate this morning, never bit. Put my bet on. These are the same false fuckers who go on about it being our cup final? Get wise to it Graeme Jones. ItÂ’s just another game mate, and itÂ’s about time we beat these red nosed delusional bastards! Paul Dark 14 Posted 07/02/2015 at 14:55:38 He's always sounded very strange, this man. There is an ideological, robotic aspect to him – bit like Roberto without the smooth charm. I actually find him a bit scary. David Greenwood 15 Posted 07/02/2015 at 15:10:36 Re Sky TV and all the other media outlets who have forgotten that Liverpool have opponents today, I don't remember Sky doing anything such as lets look back at his greatest Old Trafford, Bolton, Stamford Bridge, Emirates, Villa Park etc etc goals and memories. Why start that sort of nonsense now? I know it's his last opportunity to referee a Merseyside Derby, but could the real referee please stand up and be counted. Apply the laws of the game fairly and consistently to both sides, you don't owe them and him anything. The most helpfully refereed team in England over the last 40 years don't need any more help today thank you. I want to be celebrating tonight, I want my fellow blues to be celebrating. Make us proud boys. Minik Hansen 16 Posted 07/02/2015 at 15:45:29 We all wish to and let's celebrate! :) David, if our captain Jags or any other of our players was gonna deal with the last merseyside derby, would there be focus on it in the media? I hope we've progressed well at that time, nevermind as long as we know it's one of our owns last game. Speaking of it, it's Distins last game, so if he gets to play, hopefully he will well motivated! Most of our players are probably motivated to give Gerrard a proper game, ourselves as well, let's get behind them, COYB. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads © ToffeeWeb