A Change in “Philosophy”

Paul Traill 13/08/2015 29comments  |  Jump to last
I don't know about you but I'll be shocked if Everton arrive at St. Mary's on Saturday with any other system than our current, laboured, midfield and possession tactics. Wouldn't it be awesome if we had a go at teams for a change? I, for one, long for an "all or nothing" approach. You could perhaps argue this philosophy has worked wonders for this weekend's opponents. It's certainly worked wonders elsewhere...

In 2008 I took something of a career break and spent six months or so in New Zealand. Shorty after arriving, England toured New Zealand in a cricket test series. We sat on the grassy hill in Hamilton and took in quite a performance by New Zealand – or the Black Caps as they prefer to be called – as they defeated England. The Black Caps lost the series though kept with them a little piece of my heart.

Ever the penchant for the underdog (it comes with the territory for us, doesn't it?), I continued to follow the Black Caps' progress as they remained at the tail-end of the ICC rankings and became whipping boys amongst the better teams. Come December 2012 they made a bold change, replacing the much-loved Ross Taylor as captain with big-hitting batsman Brendon McCullum.

In January 2013 New Zealand were skittled for 45 in South Africa, instigating a change in philosophy in New Zealand cricket. Rather than continue playing with no soul, they changed style to play with a smile and go all out to try and win games. A go-for-a-win-or-die-trying approach. The results have been impressive enough. They've risen as high as third in the ICC test rankings and reached the ODI World Cup final earlier this year...winning global plaudits in doing so. Doesn't that show you (and this from a country with a population of only 4 million) what a difference a change in philosophy can make?

The introduction of Arouna Kone on Saturday was met with boos from the crowd but it at least resulted in us playing with two strikers on the pitch. Can we not begin games like this every time? I'm confident that a team playing with freedom and confidence with two strikers can do enough damage in attack, whilst our defence and whoever holds in midfield should be experienced enough or streetwise enough to defend.

With the attacking options we have (when everyone is fit at least) throughout the squad I see no reason why we can't get at teams from the jugular. Maybe begin games in this fashion and perhaps try and strangle games later on when our opponents are perhaps chasing the game.

I want to enjoy games again. I can't imagine any neutrals enjoy watching Everton anymore and it certainly wasn't always this way.

Just go for it, Everton. Make it fun again.

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Mat Thompson
1 Posted 13/08/2015 at 23:41:28
As a Kiwi and an Evertonian it’s a weak analogy, Ross Taylor being just as much a ’big hitter’ as Brendan
Paul Jeronovich
2 Posted 13/08/2015 at 23:55:30
This is the point Paul, we have got quick players and if we pass the ball faster to the forward players with runners bombing on we would create more problems for the opposition. Sideways possession football does nothing and bores us all rigid.

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

Frank Wade
3 Posted 13/08/2015 at 23:59:38
Bad news for you Paul and the rest of us. From what I could decipher from his interaction with Carragher on Sky last Monday, our manager stated that he would never change his 'philosophy' unless they change the rules of football. I didn't understand much else from the exchange, but it seemed to me there was only one talking sense. Once a Blue eh ?

Don't expect anything to change anytime soon.

Steve Hogan
4 Posted 14/08/2015 at 00:19:08
I sense a change in your thinking on Martinez and his game plan Paul?

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.

Jim Jennings
5 Posted 14/08/2015 at 00:35:15
Strange analogy. You can "have a go" in cricket against the top teams, lose a wicket or two then consolidate. You do that against the rich clubs in the PL, go a goal behind on the break and you're in big trouble. Plus Arouna Kone is no Kane Williamson, that's for sure.
Craig Fletcher
6 Posted 14/08/2015 at 01:16:36
From a New Zealander and a Kiwi cricket fan that was an interesting analogy, Paul.

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".

Peter Z Jones
7 Posted 14/08/2015 at 03:22:29
If there is a time to drop Barkley deep and put Barry on the bench, it's against a team missing 75% of their defense and their best holding midfielder from last season.
Andy Peers
8 Posted 14/08/2015 at 04:53:00
Frank Wade (#3), exactly what I think. Martinez basically said he knows and nobody can question his knowledge. I presume we will lose against Southampton and will start with Barry (Neville) again.

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."

Derek Thomas
9 Posted 14/08/2015 at 06:34:01
Spot on Paul. I missed that one with Carragher, is that 4 or 5 times he's said 'No Change'? When will everybody get the message...unless you actually think it will work.

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

Paul Traill
10 Posted 14/08/2015 at 07:29:06
Mat #1 and Craig #6 -- by no means a perfect analogy I agree, but what has been achieved by New Zealand cricket was not foreseen by anyone and has proved very successful. I can’t understand why with the attacking players we have, they are not utilised. Incredible actually. We need to adapt this positive approach.

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.

Mike Allison
11 Posted 14/08/2015 at 09:42:11
This season is supposed to be the ’make or break’, ’has-he-learned’ season. I’m generally quite patient and optimistic when it comes to Everton, and a fierce critic of the ’go on every thread to insult Martinez no matter what it’s about’ approach to ToffeeWeb that some favour; however, there is clear early evidence this season that he absolutely has not learned a thing, and I find myself turning to the dark side of wanting us to change manager.

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.

Shane Corcoran
12 Posted 14/08/2015 at 09:46:28
I'd like Barkley to drop to the deeper role except I think his game when Everton don't have the ball is poor.

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.

Rob Dolby
13 Posted 14/08/2015 at 11:45:20
Interesting Analogy and I can see where your coming from with it.
NZ have become one of the most exciting teams to watch and have improved with shows of Heart, Passion, Belief, Drive, Work rate and enthusiasm. The blues have none of the above under the current manager.
Paul Cherrington
14 Posted 14/08/2015 at 11:51:58
Unfortunately for us all, I think it is quite obvious that the manager will never change his ’philosophy’ and the way he sets the team up unless forced too by injuries or the players themselves. It's obvious to everyone that Barry should be nowhere near the team and we don’t need two DMs -- fix that at least and, whether it's one or two up top, we will be miles better.
Erik Dols
15 Posted 14/08/2015 at 12:11:14
I read an interview the other day, can't remember who the interviewee was. Made a very interesting remark. Something like "half of the teams try to play like Barcelona these days, but with lesser players. It doesn't work like that. Barcelona has better players for every position in the squad than almost every team they play. They can make it a battle of quick feet. If you don’t have the best players, you will get nowhere that way."

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

Mike Allison
16 Posted 14/08/2015 at 13:24:11
Agreed Erik. You should play to your own strengths, not someone else's.

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

James Stewart
17 Posted 14/08/2015 at 13:49:51
Great piece Paul and 100% agree. The problem is Martinez wouldn't change if his life depended on it. During the Carragher grilling/analysis he was asked if he was pragmatic and it said categorically no, he believes in the current tactics and that is that. I don't have any problem with a man sticking to his principles but in this case he is wrong and it will get him fired before Christmas.
Peter Askins
18 Posted 14/08/2015 at 13:53:25
Did I dream this, or during the Carragher exchange on Sky's Monday Night Football, did he show stats to Roberto that we were playing much more direct in the Watford game than we ever did last season ?

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.

Paul Cherrington
19 Posted 14/08/2015 at 14:36:25
As above, the manager needs to start dealing in reality (eg, we’re not Barcelona) rather than fantasy (eg, we can play exactly like Barcelona and be successful). He reminds me of someone who has just come straight out of university and read lots of books on how things should pan out in theory and then gets a shock when he gos into real life & starts having to do what actually works.
Tom Bowers
20 Posted 14/08/2015 at 15:12:43
Some systems can be used and be successful only if you have the right players.
Most teams nowadays just copy the likes of Barcelona by trying to keep possession for long periods but most can only do it in their own third of the pitch and then. give it away cheaply when getting over the halfway line just like Everton have been doing.
You need players further up who can control quickly, turn and release. otherwise it becomes boring as in a brick wall against another brick wall.
Sad to say that football has steadily become that way in recent years.

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.

Jimmy Kelly
21 Posted 14/08/2015 at 15:16:52
Peter, i'm not sure if you saw the game, but we were certainly much more direct during the Watford game. The problem is, there was no middle ground at all. Effectively, we lurched from very very slow build up, to just launching balls forward from the back and vice versa. It was awful. The football on show over the past 12 months has been absolutely diabolical.

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.

Jay Harris
22 Posted 14/08/2015 at 15:33:48
Jimmy
I am afraid we need a lot more than a creative mid.

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.

Jimmy Kelly
23 Posted 14/08/2015 at 15:46:20
Jay, I don't disagree.

I've made my feelings on this clear in the past, those things are down to the manager.

When I say I don't think such a drastic change is needed, I mean that we don't suddenly need to go gung ho, we just need to change the ridiculous set up we have at the moment.

If you add a creative number 10 and move Barkley to central midfield I think that would give you 4 players in your 11 capable of getting regular goals. I think that would be pretty standard for most premier league teams.
Steve Cotton
25 Posted 14/08/2015 at 18:55:33
As we are undoubtedly waiting until ten minutes before the window shuts, for a reason I cannot fathom, well what happens if there are no suitable targets available?

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?

Jay Harris
26 Posted 14/08/2015 at 18:57:49
The problem a lot of us have Jimmy is that if we see it why cant the F'n manager see it.
Murdo Laing
27 Posted 14/08/2015 at 19:27:00
Paul, good article.Your concluding couple of lines say it all really? I will be heading up the pub tomorrow more in trepidation than in hope. (Let alone hope as a substitute for expectation!) I was listening to some random customers in the same boozer while the Asia Cup final was on, and they were commenting on Everton’s lack of drive and excitement compared to teams of the recent past, even under RM. I feel we are a long way off having our mojo back, and I fear that some players will just never "get" what Roberto is trying to sell to them with this constant lateral possession game plan?

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.

Jim Burns
28 Posted 15/08/2015 at 16:17:04
Paul - it's Saturday afternoon . Are you shocked?
Michael Polley
29 Posted 15/08/2015 at 20:36:20
Paul,

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

John Keating
30 Posted 15/08/2015 at 21:03:17
Paul
I seem to remember last season some of us begged Martinez to play 2 up front to help Lukaku. Play balls for Lukaku to run on to. Be more direct and move it forward faster. Obviously Martinez, and many on here, were appalled by this old fashioned idea.
We now see 2 up top plus Lukaku getting balls to run on to.
Hopefully this change is applied more often.

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