Everton’s perennial lapses in focus threaten to undermine steady recent progress

We obviously need to climb the table to have any chance of keeping Barkley Lukaku and Stones... fingers crossed. COYB

I'm certain that Roberto has a vision as to how he would like Everton to play. I just not sure it is possible in the real world.

I like the way we're scoring goals, but I HATE the way we're letting them in. I don't know what the answer is. Maybe all we need are two or three key new players. Maybe Martinez can sort it out and get a first class performance out of the squad at both ends pitch, in the same game. It seems to be either a "Katy bar the door" 0-0 draw, or a "guns blazing, we'll score more goals than you" 3-3 draw lately. Maybe we will have to show RM the door, and bring a newer, wiser manager.

I wish I knew what the best path is, but I just don't know. I hope somebody does, because we're too good to be in the lower half of the table.

Pellegrini and Hiddink will pull off YaYa Toure and Matic when this situation arises but Gareth is left to deal with fresh subs like Silva or Oscar. Is it any wonder we concede late on.

We dropped points in all those games you mention simply because opposing managers made tactical changes to which Martinez failed to respond.

There are two things that come to my mind that could be done to help this situation. Firstly, for our manager to realise that defending properly is as much of an art as the offensive moves.

Secondly, toward this end, hire an Italian defensive consultant in an effort to knit the whole thing together and create a team that is perfect to watch in its entirety.

Imagine a team delivering Roberto's flair in attack with a defence as savvy as the days of Berazzi and Maldini.

Who is that shouting 'Dream on'???

I was wrong about Martinez; I didn't think it would ever work and I wanted him gone. He is, in my opinion, being let down by his players and not the other way around. We went down to 10 men when Coleman came off towards the end of the Man City game. They perhaps settled a bit for the score-line; however, we also proved that we can keep hold of the ball and are actually capable of managing the clock. That's if the players don't bottle it. It also doesn't help when in one game Howard has a blinder and the next... just when all seems to be going well... he has one of his moments.

This team has only got to believe in itself, in each other... and play for the full 90 minutes (or 98). I guess my only criticism of our manager is how slow he is to react sometimes in his substitutions. He didn't need to wait for Oviedo to go down injured to realise we were getting hammered down that side. All-in-all, however... I am quite optimistic. COYB

Our back four don't stay linked or even seem to communicate with each other. Stones seemingly is free to do what he wants (but hey, he plays the ball well with his feet) despite the huge gaps it causes in the defense. Barry and now even Besic have to drop in far too often to cover gaps left by our marauding back four. Barcelona (RM's model) defend as both a back line and as a team. This hasn't changed even with Puyol gone and they don't ship goals.

When we do try to defend as a team we don't have an organized set-up. Lukaku is good at defensive headers but seems to not have a specific role when we are packing it in. Other players don't appear to know where to go or what to do, when to follow a player making a run, or when to release them. Mainly, it looks like they get in each other's way. The players still get caught out of position and standing too far from the opposing players and allow too many crosses and shots.

I don't want players having to think about where to be or what to do, or be directed, when defending because it slows the reaction time down and wipes out any shot at anticipating a run or pass. I want the players to already know what they are doing and to react accordingly.

This requires attention to detail on the practice field. Time for a defensive coach.

1. Mix up - it happens sometime and can't do much about it.
2. Deflected shot.
3. Goal in the 8th minute of added time which was clearly offside (although we missed a number of headers and seriously, if you were the keeper, you would be gutted not stopping it despite clever finish by Terry).

I can't be overly critical of the team; I thought we controlled the game. We're so close to being a good team, I'm willing to be more patient although must admit it's wearing thin!

If we take out the offside for the 3rd goal and look instead how the chance arrived, it provides more useful evidence going forward. At the moment when they play the ball into the box, we have three players (Lukaku, Deulofeu and Mirallas) up near the half-way line / centre-circle, offering no defensive assistance. We then have Besic in-between our D and the half-way line in an area that should be occupied by Mirallas (who was playing ACM at this point). This would have allowed Besic to be challenging for his header away from our goal.

Over on the right, we have Stones running back, facing his own goal, presumably from a more advanced position. This is where Deulofeu should have been, allowing Stones to be facing the ball tucked in next to Jagielka. At no point have we seen lamentations on players being well out of position or not following instructions. So presumably RM is happy with these players being so far advanced when there is so little time left that defending is the only order of the day.

Again, going back to Bournemouth, we had three players up by the half-way line and a couple more not near the box when they started their move for the last equaliser. Surely if this was against instructions it would have been hammered home here?

So while we were unlucky with the offside call, if we are repeatedly leaving too many men too far forward or in the wrong positions, we are repeatedly going to be exposed to conceding these types of goals. Similarly, we have a real weakness for collapsing for 10-15 minutes when we've just conceded.

We make no concessions with regards to the opposition's change in momentum and continue to play risky passes into the midfield, sometimes blindly, or between the CBs and the keeper. We invite pressure by doing this and give the impression to the opposition that they are really on top. We have to recognise these periods and react accordingly. If that means playing passes into the corner to turn their team round so be it. But we seem to insist on continuing with our way without actually being good enough to employ this tactic.

These are only short term sacrifices to style in a match; a matter of minutes. Surely there has to be this flexibility in approach.

The weakness down the middle is due to Howard, Barry's lack of pace and McCarthy who is nowhere near as good as I first thought and is in fact a weakness that we can solve by dropping him.

The other key thing is that Stones is committing himself too much and getting caught forward, he should either play as a defensive mid or stay back as a sweeper picking up these long counter-attack balls and he has the speed and skill to do it.

We are almost a great side but we will never become one with RM at the helm, he is brilliant at half the required game. Our league position given the squad we have is an indictment on RM and he needs to react.

Martinez did nothing to alter the situation when the exposed and outnumbered Oviedo was injured. Stones fared no better till Chelsea changed tactics and Fabregas went for long balls over the top.

Barry staying in the centre of the pitch with only one midfield partner, has left us empty on one side or the other for the last 18 months. McCarthy on the right and Besic on the left would give us a perfect balance with cover for both fullbacks but, with both Barkley and Barry in the line-up, we could only manage it with a 12 man team.

My worry is, if we fail to win a Cup this season and languish in the bottom half of the table we will lose our key talented players, and it's back to square one again.

Come on, Everton, let's get some balls and finish the season on a high note.

McCarthy is slower than I thought at first too and less able to do things with the ball such as threading through balls to the forwards and I have noticed him out of position on many occasions... Barry has slow legs... amazing season for his age but still a weakness for several goals. This pedestrian CM is helped by Besic and as you say if we had a new GK, we would be much more solid through the centre.

Although we do look as though we are maturing and battling through... let's hope the trend of improvements takes us to an unbelievable second half and what people remember as a breakthrough season like in 1984!

COYB's !!!

Martin, when you talk football you are always worth listening to. Have you been to Goodison this season? I know you live a good distance away and find it hard to get decent tickets.

I think McCarthy is defensively superb, at his best, but I prefer Besic at the moment. The problem with playing them both is that you effectively have to leave Barkley as a number 10 and you still have the two defensive midfielder set up. I think Barkley is less effective at 10 than coming from deep.

As I've suggested before, I would try 4-1-3-2 (the England 1966 formation), with Barkley as the flexible centre of the 3 and Besic behind him. I would have Mirallas behind Lukaku for the moment.

The formation demands hard work from the defensive midfielder and from the attacking 5 tracking back which, I accept, is a big ask for us, but I think it might balance us out. In any event the formation is easily convertible into a more defensive shape and is probably much the same as Leicester's 4-4-2 in truth.

If Barkley doesn't come up to scratch then move Besic forward and bring in McCarthy as the defensive mid. The other man to make way in all this is Barry who, though really good this season, is a brake on our play as Steven (14) says. We have to shake things up. By the way, I would play Cleverly on the left or move Baines ahead of Galloway.

The back four picks itself.

I'd have McCarthy and Besic as the two holding mids. Harold is spot on (again) - Barry late in games is fading. I'd use him, fresh, off the bench when a change is needed with either of Besic or McCarthy.

The front four of Barkley flanked by Mirallas and Delo, with Lukaku up top would literally frighten the shit out of any opposition. Lennon and Kone would be capable subs (yes, even Kone...).

Cleverley could substitute on either wing or in one of the two holding positions, such is his versatility and talent.

Two young aggressive defensive mids with batteries that simply don't quit would help us lock down the defensive side of the equation. All the while with Mirallas, Delo, Barkley, and Lukaku running at the opposing defense scaring the life out of them.

I think if Roberto does this we'll be gold. He just hasn't gotten the mix right yet. Part of me thinks he's still putting out Kone to link with Lukaku (they did that well early in the season for a few games) and Lennon out there for defensive cover. It's got to change. Injuries have played a part in all of this as well.

Barry's been awesome this season, but unfortunately he's got to find a sub's role to see us push on to the next level.

And... Robles please.

How much have we missed James McCarthy? A hell of a lot. And Besic was also hurt for a long run - those two may be the missing piece to our defensive woes.

Long post with apologies...

Of course, this will be down to The Incredible One, but definitely a more skilful player than McCarthy.

I think you will see a lot more of Cleverley in the wide left position when he is fit again, he brought a bit of balance to the team in the games against Spurs and Man City, a good player who improves Everton when he plays wide, he also keeps the shape of the team.

Robles
Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines
McCarthy, Barry, Besic
Barkley, Mirallas
Lukaku

If we are going to step up a level unfortunately Barry (who I think has been great for Everton and a model professional) will have to make way for Besic with Cleverley coming into the side in front to Baines.

Similarly if we are to keep Stones, Phil Jagielka is going to have make way for Funes Mori – the best header of a ball we have in defense.

It's a bit of a shame really but, as the Cat once said, "that's football".

Robles;
Stones, Jagielka, Funes Mori;
Coleman, Barry, Barkley, Besic, Baines;
Mirallas, Lukaku.

If Barry fades, depending on how the game is going, and injuries, I would even consider pushing Stones further forward into his position and going to a standard back 4. Deulofeu could come on for Mirallas if required.

On any day, we can beat any side in the league and should be miles in front of Leicester, yet we are languishing mid table. So frustrating being an Evertonian. Mind you, after 55 years, I don't think I'll change.