Familiarity Breeding Discontent at Goodison

Watford's midfield moved the ball quickly, they found space and always had someone in a position to receive the ball from the player with the ball. They went from the edge of their box to the edge of ours in few passes, and quickly.

We, on the other hand, were pedestrian and one paced. We need more strength, guile, and mobility in midfield.

If we continue to play one up front with the addition of only one midfielder/playmaker, before September 1st, we're basically doomed.

Every time I come on here I try to learn something new or see a different view of all things Everton and you never let me down. Thanks

One thing that sticks out and has for 3 seasons now is we are to nice we just don't have a hard man. Everything is so pretty and soft. Mike Jones was allowing Berhami and Capuoe to Kick us off the park, Berhami should have been off, The Tackle on Mirallis in second half was a straight RED my Stream in English (which a pay loads for) went down so I had to watch in Spanish and even the wonderful eccentric Spanish commentators both made noises like they were watching slasher movie. the replays show it could have broke his ankle. But not even a card from Mike Jones if that had been any other team in Prem there would been 10 players in the REFs face demanding a red but not Pretty Everton! Also Deeny should have gone for the tackle on Galloway clear 2 feet studs up tackle were the hell is our captain? he should be demanding a reaction from the ref!

The Second Half we played with pace and at times so really good stuff and Watford could not cope hence that when the kicking starts.

Barkley for me was top.

Martinez does make some strange decisions Galloway was doing well McCarhty was having a shocker yet it was Galloway that made way.
We also have Osman and McAleny on the bench but he brings on Ovedio who is as much a left winger as I am. Surely either one of the 2 would have brought more Spark.

If we are going to Bring 3 players in then 1 of them has to be a Dirty No Nonsense Hardman.

But I really don't trust Martinez and I fear we will bottom of the league by 1st November stuck on 1 point.

There is a saying, that those who learn the quickest, get on the most. Can somebody please tell this to the manager

That said, a 'no-nonsense' player that put the boot into our own players' rear-ends from time to time wouldn't go amiss.

The DNA I see now is that of Martinez not Everton. I know the Lawyer that did Jelavic's deal to Hull and by all accounts Bobby is a true Gentlemen, That's all well and good in Life it really is, But in the Premier League you need to be a cunt -- look at Van Gael and Mourinho, probably decent guys away from Football absolute; twats when it comes to there Team.

The players should Scared and respectful of there manger, they just don't though.

It's only the first game of the season and Everton are traditionally woefully slow starters - only 6 opening day victories in 27 seasons now - there are still 3 more weeks to bring in new recruits, so optimism remains with this Blue.

The squad has talent. It should not be drifting aimlessly in mid-table, or struggling amonst the bottom feeders.

However, as Lyndon and others point out, yesterday and pre-season has not revealed any fundamental changes to how the team is set up and instructed to play.

I was happy with the resiliance of the team, twice coming back from behind, but ... even allowing for the mantra there are no easy games in the PL, we should be putting sides like Watford to the sword.

We played with the usual Barry-McCarthy axis which served us so well in Roberto's 1st season, but - as with last season - yesterday they offered no protection to our defence.

My concern is teams don't have to work hard to score against Everton. There were countless times Watford had a free run at our retreating back four with no pressure from midfield. We were easily bullied or pushed off the ball all over the park.

If neither Barry nor McCarthy are effectively doing their core jobs, then isn't there some redundancy in continuing to set the side up to accomodate them?

Like all our squad, I like both players individually. Barry was one of our better performers yesterday, McCarthy had a mare. The back end of last season he was showing a bit more dynamism, getting forward more. Yesterday, he was back to 'safety first' mode, pattying short passes backwards and sideways, spurning opportunies to drop his shoulder, turn and go forward with the ball.

As for the rest, Galloway again performed well. Cleverly again looked tidy. A pity Baines got injured because in pre-season he and Cleverly were showing glimpes of replicating the Baines-Pienar combo of yesteryear.

Even with some stray passes, Ross had a good game, getting off some good shots. Mirallas had his moments. Kone did well. I feel for Lukaku. The heat map and touches map shown on the BBC yesterday revealed he was feeding off crumbs as Everton had no width and few telling crosses for him to challenge for in the box.

This was best summed up in what is becoming a defining posture of Colemman's with the ball at his feet... a forlorn spreading of the hands, palms up, enquiring "Anybody? Anybody offering or wanting the ball...?"

Yes, lots to address, but still time to have a good season.

The big problem for me is that I think he'll do the same next Saturday.

I agree with Chris; he needs to change striker or system up front.

This absolute obsession with six defenders must stop. We do NOT need Barry AND McCarthy. And on yesterday's performance, I'd drop McCarthy first. Barry had a genuinely good game while McCarthy huffed, puffed and got annoyed at his lack of effectiveness all afternoon.

There's talk of Shaqiri coming, but who would we drop for him? Right now it would have to be Barkley or Cleverley? One thing's for certain, it would not be either of Roberto's two must-play favourites.

The same applies to Deulofeu? Who makes way for him when he's fit.

Even Kone/two up front must now be entering the manager's thoughts after he helped us grab a barely-deserved point against Watford.

Seven (Barkley, Cleverley, Deulofeu, Kone, Lukaku, Mirallas and possibly Shaqiri/a much-vaunted new 'number 10') into four does not go.

Seven into five meanwhile gives us diversity, despertely-needed creativity, width and a genuine threat up front. Plus a couple of eager alternatives off the bench.

Ineffective favourites do not win matches Mr Martinez. They get managers the sack.

Why are we leaving everything until it is too late in the transfer market when we have been absolutely crying out for a quarterback type midfield general to get the best out of what we have.Every other club in the division cannot be wrong. The transfer window should have been used and the new recruits fully bedded in long before the Watford match. We have a tough opening programme and we are in dire straits IMO.

Don't know if anyone heard Mike Hughes's comment on radio merseyside after the match. He said that he had discussed transfers with Martinez at the end of last season and he had said he would be bringing in 2 early and three would be coming in late on into the window. Given our start that's taking a risk!

That's interesting. What would you say 2 would come in early and 3 late? Because you know that there'll be protracted negotiations over the sale of one of our players, resulting in a late sale,leaving little time to spend the dosh?

Why else? If the he's been told the money's available, and he knows who he wants (and surely by the end of the season he would have done his homework), then you'd think he'd be looking to do the business as soon as he can. I know that being seen rushing to spend money sends a signal to sellers that you're an easy touch. Why does he identify 3 to buy early? why any? why say anything about timing?

I'm curious.

He's working under the same constraints as Moyes and he's aware if it.

We might be playing all the top teams early and our players could do with a lift, but let's wait for the season to get started before we give them the re- inforcements that are needed, fuckn clever that!

The final 1-3 players are who you wait until the end to get to stop a fee inflation and meddling by other clubs. The targets are identified just not disclosed to us. Moyes did much of the same thing.

This is the one area for which I do not think that RM can be faulted, just I question his choice of talent. To be fair, Cleverly has looked to be a good signing. If he could look at the midfield to see the passing lanes for passes to the feet of players instead of looking over it trying to cross the ball 45 yards diagonally every 30 seconds to the far side of the opposition's box, he will be even better.

But if we INSIST on playing two defensive midfielders, Cleverley should be one as at least he can push up the field a bit so it's not 6 true defenders. And if we INSIST on playing the two, our backs need to attack wide and have other players to help them do that.

Brenda across the Park was the bookies favourite to be the first Manager to be sacked this season, if we are bottom after 5 games then surely it will have to be Martinez.

We were playing against a team of strangers. One cobbled together in the hope of competing at this level. They may well do that . . . .but in the first game ?? . .What an absolute gift of a fixture

I know you will counter (if you put this post up in the first place) that this was just an opening game and criticism is premature. I cant have it. The fella has been here two years and we are going backwards at an alarming rate.

Do you really believe that if Martinez gets the players he wants, that things will change ? That we will abandon the safety first approach that prevents us from getting enough players in the box to win games ?

That Martinez will abandon his two insurance policies in front of the back four even when we are at home.

It's not happening mate. Under Martinez, This is as good as it gets

All I know is that its a dangerous strategy and leaves you trying to play catch up if you don't get off to a good start. I would have thought that it makes more sense to invest in players early and get everyone settled into the team. If there is a late bargain to be had in the transfer window then let it be the icing on the cake and not the cake itself!

This is constantly being mis-represented, Darren. It wasn't the negativity per se, it was the tiresomely repetitive pronouncements by the same old people every time we ran a quote from the manager that I had a problem with. Articulate and well-argued opposition to and criticism of Martinez is fine because everyone is allowed their opinion.

Like you, I'm concerned that Martinez isn't learning, isn't seeing what we're all seeing but he is not going to be leaving any time soon so I have no option but to give him that time to see if he can bring in the players we need and whether they can make a difference.

He does not have it in him to change and what he offers is destroying our club. We have no reputation as sacking club and even were he to go we still wouldn't. What will it take for him to be removed? I fear playing anyone now.

I'm concerned with the idea that people can't be negative. I've enjoyed arguing with you and many others and I make the distinction between criticising his performance, tactics, transfer activity and the stream of stuff about us being doomed, going down, denying he did anything well in his first season, etc.

The strengths of this site are the diversity of views and humour. I hope they stay and we all do - regardless of our views of the current manager.

The game now isn't about skills like we saw with Ball, Harvey and Kendal or Georgie Best, they would have to play completely differently today to have any success. Today I saw the complete modern footballer who was the main reason that they beat Arsenal, his name is Reece Oxford, a 16 year old lad who can play central defender or defensive midfield, young but soccer clever and super fit, great attitude. He gave his back 4 complete protection and broke up every constructive move Arsenal made and his successful pass rate once he'd picked the ball up in broken play was 90% plus. If Stone is worth £40 Million he is priceless and yet we possibly have an equivalent in Besic.

Sorry, my conclusion is that we are playing yesterday's game and we need to up our tempo and learn the tactics that are enabling sides, like Watford, who can make us look ordinary with far more humble players. I believe now that we have a great squad which 3 years ago could have been great but the game has changed in that time and we're playing the wrong game.

bad, common, commonplace, customary, familiar, inferior, insignificant, little, normal, ordinary, plain, poor, regular, small, tiny, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual.

All the fans have to do is look up the synonyms of the word 'mediocre'.