The Martinez Conundrum

Going off the topic but things seem to have gone very quiet again regarding the takeover?

Wiser words never spoken....

I have been banging on that we need a defensive coach, like Wenger has Bould. If Martinez could only see that, I honestly believe we are not too far away. But unfortunately, this article suggests that Martinez just will not see the light. In which case, he is on borrowed time...

But most of our better results – by which I mean, wins at home, draws and wins away – have come with less, not more possession often as not.

More Vintage TW!!!

The fence sitters must all be still in bed this morning...

That's the problem. With better players at his disposal, he's getting worse results, which is a fucking massive conundrum I suppose.

Maybe he's more than halfway there, but can he give us something that Evertonians usually take for granted? Pragmatism is such a vital ingredient to have, and it always speaks more than words. I'm not sure he can.

Martinez just isn't a great coach, he only seems to be able to coach one side of the game and that's a major failing. Meanwhile he seeks to justify it by banging on about dominating games. It simply won't wash.

Judging by the direction of his jumpy hawk-like facial expressions and various hand gestures, he is concerned only with the attacking side of things and always expects to score more than we concede. Chances are certainly being created but we need to be more urgent and clinical in the box.

Anybody who watches regularly, especially at the ground, knows that our two full backs are more part of the attack than the defence, especially since we dominate possession in most games.

For me, the Martinez philosophy with defending falls down with seemingly absenting the front four from their defensive duties.

Lennon is the exception, who seems to take it on himself to help out defensively, but Lukaku, Barkley, Mirallas, Kone and Deulofeu barely go through the motions once we've lost the ball.

This is the one big bug bear to me with Martinez. Just look at how Vardy harasses defenders, and chases lost causes. There was none better than Ian Rush at being the first line of defence. This is the kind of desire I'd like Roberto to instil in our attacking fancy dans, who seem to think that defending is beneath them. Hopefully, the acquisition of Niasse is another step in the right direction on this point.

If it didn't matter, your real class players could play on for donkey's years... but they don't, do they? No. Why? coz you need the legs to be able to cash the cheques your brain is writing.

I'm not at all sure that our whole fitness regime doesn't need a total re-think.

Martinez has some good ideas, but he is so stubborn and allows the basics to escape his attention.

Corners – we don't score enough of them and cannot defend them.

Free kicks – same as above.

Clean sheets – we don't work hard enough to keep them, despite the fact Martinez never picks a side without TWO holding midfielders.

Positive attacking changes – these are not made often enough when behind and supposedly chasing a game.

To many draws – simply down to his safety first policy.

Often too slow on the counter attack – despite the fact we look unbelievable on it at times.

The reluctance to play two wingers or two strikers – even at home vs weaker sides.

Simply put, Martinez's negatives completely outweigh his positives by a country mile, proven by our poor league finish last season and current position this season.

Lastly, someone has said above that Martinez will leave a better squad than he was given, and whilst I will admit that it is true, look at them facts.

Barkley and Stones were inherited, not unearthed.

Rom cost more than double any player the previous manager bought.

Robles and Besic have barely been used.

McCarthy and Barry were direct replacements for Fellaini who we got 㿇m for and Neville who played for us for a fair few seasons and done a decent job despite his limitations.

Basically, Roberto has left a better squad because he has had much more to spend in the transfer market, and inherited a good squad which was a proven top 6-7 side.

One should not supersede the other to such an extent that it is a detriment to what you are trying to achieve and perhaps the mix just isn't quite right. What do I know, though – I was just a Sunday League hoofball centre-half!

Robles has conceded 1 goal in the last 4 games. At last RM seems to have seen the light, but could not resist praising Howard.

The squad is rich in talent and that seems to be the problem. Who are the best starting 11 if all are fit?

Robles, Coleman, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Oviedo, Besic, Baines, McCarthy, Lukaku, Barkley, Lennon?

Which leaves Deulofeu, Mirallas, Cleverley, Barry, Stones, Niasse, Osman and a host of fringe/squad players on the bench.

Will Garbutt return? Will Galloway, Browning, Henen, Rodriguez be content with a bit part here and there.

If Harry Redknapp was 15-20 years younger, he would fall over himself to get his hands on that squad!

"They play such good football that you'd think someone would let them win one every now and then."