Everton Banter Archive January 04 2014

04 Jan 2014 22:49:16
As usual our thrashing of a team goes totally unmentioned on TV (not even sure if we are included in ITVs cr*p version of MOTD) but no problem, we just stuffed a top Championship team! Remember the last ten years playing the likes of Oldham, stumbling and bumbling along with replays to stagger to a 6th round place and then get dumped out.
Full marks RM I thought we would be in deep poo when you took over but it is clear that you and the backroom staff you brought in are a class above the guys who signed up with Moyes.
Each player appears to know how they fit into the jigsaw puzzle so can slot in, when and where required.
Jelly? If RM knows a better CF that we can afford then sell but would prefer to keep him rather than go for some lad who has never experienced the Prem in the hope that he clicks.

Cant believe we wernt even on forign chanels and rochdale leeds werw

While I'm very appreciative of what DM did for our club, it's been a shot in the arm to have RM build upon what he inherited. It's great to see our players showing such attacking confidence - but it's clearly within a team formation that's actually very disciplined and every player knows what his job is and is playing with such belief. OK, it's only halfway through his first season and RM has yet to work through the challenges to come - such as replacing our over-30 players during the next few years - but is there anyone who, at this moment in time, still wants anyone else in charge?

{Ed025's Note - certainly not me kev..

04 Jan 2014 22:04:40
Did anyone else notice Tyias Browning on the pitch before the game today? I hope Martinez has told him to tag along to a first team game to get the feel for it, because I can tell you with absolute certainty, we will see him a lot more of him in the coming years. I can't actually remember a time when Everton have had so many promising youngsters in their ranks; Barkley, Stones, McCarthy, Browning, Green, Long, Ledson, Lundstrum, all look fantastic prospects.

Do you foresee Browning playing at centre back (alongside Stones) or in a midfield role? I understand he's done both in our U21 and U18 sides.

{Ed025's Note - i see him as a defender baron, he is skillful enough to play in midfield, but i think his future lies as a pall playing centre back mate..

Ed025: unlike journos, you never speak a load of "palls" ;-)

I thought right back was seen as his long term position

{Ed025's Note - it is at the moment quinny, but a few people at the club see him as a future centre back mate..

Continuing the "pall" motif, it seems to me that there's more of the "pallbearer" than the "bearer" of good tidings about most journos & pundits and their non-stories about players leaving Everton because we couldn't afford to reject bids and the players have to further their careers elsewhere. Do none if these jokers listen to what RM says?

{Ed025's Note - obviously not kev, they love to portray us as the poor relations mate..

04 Jan 2014 21:15:23
So no Baines on the bench today, could be nothing could also mean he's off as he didn't want to be cup tied. I posted last year that a club in our current financial situation had to be wary of Baines letting his contract run down, as we shouldn't let that happen and was shot down. I was just wondering if people's opinions had changed now we had seen a bit more of Oviedo? Personally I think if the offer is right and he wants to go then let him, don't try and hold out until the end of the window and end up having no time to get anyone else in!

{Ed025's Note - i think your right stu, i dont want anyone wearing the shirt if they are not 100% committed to the cause, but that is something that cannot ever be said about baines..

Hasn't RM "100% guaranteed" that Baines (and, for that matter, Barkley) won't leave during the January transfer window. RM doesn't strike me as the sort of individual who'd make those claims without being absolutely sure of himself.

Theres nothing on the official site to say he's injured. Has he done the same thing as Arteta and signed off with a goal?

Don't think there's anything behind him being left out although I feel Oviedo has been better than baines this season and we'd survive without him

It's interesting you say that Ed. When you look at how well Coleman has been playing in the new system, do you not think Baines (before he got injured) whilst still solid and committed was playing as if he had his thoughts elsewhere?

{Ed025's Note - not really stu, he has set his standards that high, that even a small dip in form will be exaggerated mate..

Fair point Ed. Interesting few weeks coming up I reckon. Hopefully a few exciting arrivals and a some of the deadwood jettisoned. Certainly is an exciting time to be a blue!

{Ed025's Note - to be fair stu, we dont have a lot of dead wood in the squad mate, even some of our lesser lights perform when needed mate..

I'd sell him now whilst his stock remains relatively high as he's not going to get any better and he's not been performing to his best for a year or so. I thought RM was out of order to bring him straight back when Oviedo hadn't put a foot wrong. Sends out the wrong message, IMHO.

Sell him for whatever we can get £12-15m and recruit a young ball playing CB. Our back 5 will be sorted for the foreseeable with Robles, Coleman, Stones, Oviedo and AN Other. We have the 3 best full backs in the league and I feel we can afford to lose him based on footballing decisions.

Bring in someone like Martins Indi or Matip and put a bid in for Bertrand as cover for Bryan. Easier said than done and I love Baines but if we get a good offer I'd deal. Aside from his outrageous free kicks he's been average. Maybe he knew Moyes was going all along?
(Tin hat donned)

I disagree DB we need to keep Leighton and Oviedo for the long term. OK so maybe Moyes will come in for him, 10m followed by 12m and possibly up to 13/14m but what would Bertram cost as a replacement and would there be any guarantee of whether he's good enough?
With the injuries starting to take their toll, I believe we can accommodate both Baines at LB with Oviedo in front of him in midfield. He has already scored a few from there and I would like to see the two of them develop a partnership down the left hand side.

04 Jan 2014 21:05:54
A lot of people seem to think jelavics performances today was to put himself in the shop window for others clubs to come and get him. Have you not thought that he wanted to prove he can still do it at us? because whoever he joins will be a step down from us if not two! Personally I would like to see him given a few more starts before the end of the window to see if he carrys on his form, if not we can move him on at the back end of the window. Thoughts?

{Ed025's Note - he has had a hell of a lot of chances to prove himself neil, i have no doubt that he has the ability, but does he have the heart?..we can ill afford passengers, but i have faith that bobby will make the right call on whether he keeps him or not mate..

Like Ed025, I'll trust RM to make the right decision for the good of the club. What I especially like about RM is that he praises Jelavic for his hard work - in training and when selected - and also speaks about the good runs he made in the area that weren't always matched by others making telling final passes to him. Even behind closed doors - such as on the training ground - I imagine RM and his staff always encouraging the players and accentuating the positive. I can't imagine any tea cups flying around or hair dryer treatment, even if the players needed to be geed-up at half-time in some matches. In my humble opinion, players don't need to be frightened of their manager - they should respect him, feel they're being treated as adults, and know that they're part of a squad of players who will be given a fair chance to perform to the best of their ability. Simples.

{Ed025's Note - sounds about right to me baron..

From today i'd say he has the heart ed worked his balls off up there, i'd like to see him get a go up top in the league after today

{Ed025's Note - no one would be happier than me if he proved me wrong neil, but doing well against a mediocre championship side, and doing it week in week out in the prem, are poles apart mate, but as long as he is at our club and wearing the hallowed shirt, i will back him 100%..

Fair point, that's why I said we could always move him on later in the window if he can't reproduce in the league, cheers ed

04 Jan 2014 20:33:39
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04 Jan 2014 19:14:22
ed, could you put up a voting poll on this please;

which would you rather for competition for lukaku

-keep jelavic
-sell jelavic and take a risk with another forward
-try jela and lukaku together

few of us in the pub having a real heated debate about this after the game today!

{Ed007's Note - That's it up mate:

www.evertonrumours.co.uk/poll18.html

04 Jan 2014 19:11:55
confident performane today, reall impressed by stones and alcarez! jela was active and always in or around the box, good strike for the first goal, and good reading of the play for the second, but for people saying they would now keep him because he has scored 2, that was his first goal for nearly a year! and let's be honest that performance was only to make other clubs take notice of him, if we signed players based on one game performances we would have players like shelvey, bendtner and sidwell

I disagree with the OP about Jelavic only performing today in order to attract the interest of other clubs. In my opinion: (1) Jelavic may have lost his goalscoring touch (until today!), but he's worked hard when he's played; and (2) If we shouldn't be swayed by today's goalscoring, then why would other clubs? Surely any interest in Jelavic is based on more than just one match against QPR who were poor today?

04 Jan 2014 17:36:41
I'd give jelavic another game, he hasn't got the goal tally that we all hoped for but after today's performance he played like he did two years ago. And I'd hate him to leave and find his feet again

{Ed025's Note - one swallow does not a summer make ben..

04 Jan 2014 17:55:23
He was playing for a move mate, nice signing on fee is due so he gave himself a little nudge, pretty sure he done the same just before he came here too, good thing is he may have just made us a few extra quid with his transfer fee

Sooner he goes the better so we can get someone in

04 Jan 2014 17:59:59
I'm with ed 18 months of crap from him and we want him gone but after one game we should keep him? He was facing a championship team, granted, a very good championship team but he was up against clint hill for crying out loud, 5m for him will be very good

Mike-Ox Long

Whatever happens to Jelavic, the much bigger question is surely how we replace Lukaku for next season.

04 Jan 2014 17:07:07
great win today and it could easily have been 6 or 7, jelavic looked a lot better than last season, made up he had the 90 mins and was unfortunate not to get a hat trick with his penalty and other chances (one off the line) what does everybody think about letting him go? do we keep him or look for someone new?

I would keep him, as short of other options. Think he could still come good under RM.

I think it's more a case of if he really wants to leave, as it's quite clear from RM's statements that we would let him move on (in order to improve the player's World Cup selection chances) if we could replace him in our squad. I imagine that if he got regular playing time in our first team - by being rotated with Lukaku and regaining his goalscoring consistency - then he'd happily stay. At least if he now moved to QPR, as has been mooted, he wouldn't be worried by being cup-tied now they're out!

04 Jan 2014 15:57:55
No Baines today anyone know why.

Rested probably

For the same reason there is no Pienaar, Lukaku, Howard or Mirallas; he is giving him a break and giving another player a chance in the cup.

Rested mate.

AB, not quite the same reason as all the players you mentioned were on the subs bench. But hey what do I know.

He's just back from injury, so resting him seems sensible. Besides, it's good that other players got some game time today.

04 Jan 2014 15:20:53
Any streams?

{Ed002's Note - As you get older it will begin to happen more often.}

04 Jan 2014 07:43:33
ed what are the chances of getting a Winnie Parks rumour on this site?

04 Jan 2014 07:33:51
I think we looked a bit tired in the last couple of games - especially in the Southampton game - even though we somehow won it.

Southampton were first to and/won almost every 50:50 ball - and nearly every single throw in too, theirs and ours.

Martinez will have to look at the work rate and commitment level in tackles and closing down if we are going to stay near the top.
I honestly think 8th now looks realistic based upon the last three games though I'd be v disappointed with that. Hopefully Martinez has spotted the drop off in effort as well.

Maybe this is where the smaller squad starts to show - we really could have done with deulefeo flying at this point, just as some of the others are starting to flag a bit
(I know Ossie got us the pen but his legs look almost gone to me)

Ossie looked the best player when he came on. He created a few chances even though he was not on for long. His running with the ball and dribbling looked spot on to me. I think people are writing him off too soon. He had a few bad games earlier in the season and everyone wrote him off. I believe he will still be a valuable member of our squad for this and maybe next season too.

04 Jan 2014 10:38:08
The rest of our team played that bad that our best player was a 32 year old only on for a brief cameo? Jesus maybe we are at relegation level at best

Mike-Ox Long

No Mike, he played very well and deserves being supported rather thank ridiculed every time he plays. Just for you, I have looked up the definition of "supporter" :
"A person who approves of and encourages a public figure, political party, policy, etc."

Against southampton he didn't play well at all I think your thinking stoke degsy were he had couple of good touches against a tired side

Degsy you keep harping on about ossie, he started against the saints done nothin then wins a pen against a tired stoke team and you mention it, he's awful even his touch was bad against southampton (not to mention his stupidity against sunderland) yet your quick to praise him at any opportunity, 1hes no game changer never had a stand out season and when there's pressure on him the guy can't cope, if are current squad was fully fit he would playing the last 5 10 mins maybe of most matches at best.

I actually can't believe what I'm reading! People are entitled to their opinions but the amount of abuse Ossie is getting is absolutely disgusting and unnecassary. He's been a terrific servant to our club, he's a massive personality in the dressing room, and not to mention he's been a great player for us. Strange that the most loyal players at our club, i.e. Ossie, Hibbo, Distin, get the the most abuse when they're not playing well or make a mistake, when in fact, they deserve the most credit. Not once have they come out in the press and stated that they wanted to leave or disrespected the club. Also to the above poster, to say Ossie doesn't affect a game, look at the the Villa and Stoke game, he got us 4 points out of those games.

Ossies a decent player don't think he's up to starting to many games but usually makes an impact when he comes on and bitter blue when was the last time distin got abuse?

I am with you BitterBlue. I also cannot believe the way Mike and some others abuse him. That is why I put up the definition of a supporter. I like to think we have a decent set of fair minded supporters who get behind the team no matter what. Not like the prawn sandwich brigade at certain clubs. I do understand moaning at players for lack of effort. However, Hibbert, Ossie and Distin are some of the players who give nothing less than 100% every game. And I only "harp on" about Ossie (as per the accusation above) because of the moaning about Ossie. He has been a true professional throughout his career. He has recovered from some serious injuries. He is a role model for kids (unlike some professionals these days) and he is an EVERTONIAN. He has never asked to leave us. etc. I say get behind him instead of barracking him. And I also agree that he certainly helped get those 4 points from the Villa and Stoke games.
Degsypulford

I totally agree with Degsy & Bitter and think Mike Ox Longs comments are ridiculous. What is the problem with Osman? I simply do not get it. I will be the first to admit that my heart sinks a bit when I see his name on the team sheet playing as a defensive midfielder. Because he is not a defensive midfielder! Do you see David Silva occupying the position in front of City's back four? Played in his rightful position further forward he is an excellent player. He has great feet, can pick a pass and bag a goal. At this moment in time he is a brilliant player to have in the squad. Not just because of what he has done in the past but because he can influence games, just like he did on the weekend. He has played a major part in us achieving points this season and his attitude is a glowing example for any footballer.

Lets start barracking any1 who makes a mistake then, instead of targeting ossie. Barkley loses the ball. give him hell from the stands. Seriously I thought being a supporter was just that. SUPPORTING THE TEAM. Fair enough if ossie has been bad from day one but he hasn't so get off his back. If martinez thinks he is good enough, then i'm behind him 100%

Oli Jennings has hit the nail on the head. Ossie is probably suffering a bit from Barkley's inclusion in the team. ie Barkley has to play and in the number 10 position. This means Ossie has to play a bit deeper and I think this is where he gets caught out. Perhaps the time is very near where he will only be used as sub or to give Barkley a rest? Either way, he has been a loyal and honest Evertonian and I will support him.
Degsypulford

04 Jan 2014 17:38:03
Jeez guys calm down I was being sarcastic and was not 'abusing' him whatsoever, it was a joke as you all know I do not rate him, supporters cannot have a bit of a joke? Jeez no point in living if we all have to be as stiff as frankenstein, it was a joke, calm down

Mike-Ox Long

No one said you can't have a joke Mike. It's just that I thought jokes were meant to be even slightly funny.

03 Jan 2014 23:29:13
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