Everton Banter Archive December 11 2014

11 Dec 2014 22:47:20
The injury to Atsu looked like a hamstring. What is it about our players and these hamstring injuries? Every time one of them tries a hard sprint, he seems to injure his hamstring. Is it as simple as players simply over-stretching in match situations or are we just not preparing, training, or warming-up properly?

{Ed025's Note - maybe thats why none of them have sprinted much over the past few weeks sid.. :)

Agreed Cowpat. I pointed this out about 3 hamstrings ago and most people disagreed.Ed included. It really is a disproportionate amount of hamstring injuries we suffer. Perhaps we are pushing the stretching too much. Look at Chelsea. 1 hamstring ie Costa who plays through it with little training and monitoring. We have Atsu for 3 months and he pulls up.

{Ed025's Note - our trainers are professionals degsy, not some fly by night hot dog sellers mate, im sure they know better than us fella..

I understand that Ed025. But we cannot argue against the reality of what has happened. I believe Coleman, Jags, Baines, Distin, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, McGeady, Atsu have now all suffered hamstrings this season. That is crazy and it is too much to say coincidence. I do realise we have coaches working to the limits on fitness and perhaps that is where the problem lies? Perhaps we are so close to limits that we sometimes over step the mark? One thing is for sure, and that is without these hamstring injuries, we would have more points than we have now.

12 Dec 2014 18:55:07
I fully agree with Cowpat & Degsy, there is a problem with both the training regime and warm up program resulting in far too many hamstring injuries.
Muscles and tendons should be conditioned in training to the extent that when they are put under pressure in games they are over not extended.
Why doesn't RM seek advice from a top rated athletic sprint trainer to see how sprinters are trained and conditioned to continually perform.

{Ed025's Note - or he could just ask the magi?...cowpat, degsy and fancy.. :)

Fancy Smith: I was thinking the same thing about how athletes (the 100m sprinters) prepare themselves. Of course, footballers train for a different overall type of physical demand on their bodies, but there must be some aspects of how athletes condition themselves for such explosive bursts of speed that might be useful for footballers to consider. However, I'm also sure that our fitness staff are honestly trying their best and investigating various ideas. Although we seem to be affected more than most, there are plenty of other players at other clubs who also suffer from hamstring injuries these days. I guess it's an inevitable result of how modern football places such intense physical demands on the players' bodies. The other worry is that once a player has his first hamstring injury, then he's prone to it recurring - because his body has proved vulnerable and/or because the original injury never really fully heals.
:-(

11 Dec 2014 22:15:35
Not going to do ratings as they are kids, joel was just, jesus, I hate howard but after seeing that, can we just scrap it and play jags in goal?. Browning is a centre half playing right back and looked it, still did well. Alcaraz was boss as was barry, look so much better with a ball playing centre half in the team, going past 2 players then playing it across the pitch was nice to see with stones out. Garbutt is unbelievable, I don't care what we have to do, give him a new contract and make him our first choice left back, his pace and crosses are brilliant, what a talent. Pienaar really annoyed me, bullied all game and kept doing useless flicks, shame atsu went off, was his chance to impress tonight. Mcaleny, people on twitter saying he is beyond awful, why, because he was trying to impress? He did the exact same as what barkley does (runs then doesn't release it) except barkley gets praised as some ancient god who has been woke up. He was trying, he's had an injury and knew it was a chance, calm down. Kone looked boss, considering he hasn't played a proper game in 14 months, his hold up play, pace, strength and movement was top notch, think he wanted to get the youngsters involved. If he continues like that then the goals will come. Have to say, one of the major downfallas for me was ledson, he looked better second half but he gave away about 5 fouls, tripped, pulled and grabbed everyone, he also looked really nervy, but i'd put it down to trying to impress, again, he's 17 so i'm not judging him, did look more calm second half. All in all a decent show by the lads, didn't attend but thought I heard boos at half time and full time, if so, can I just say, that is embarrasing, if not, apologies. Looking forward to the draw on monday, hoping for celtic or villareal personally. Well done today lads, onto monday.

{Ed025's Note - good post that swan..

Having omitted almost all of the usual first choices (those that played against ManCity) for the Krasnodar match, I expect them (and hopefully some others returning from injury) to return rested, refreshed and raring to go against QPR. If they don't give an energetic and winning performance, then we can't blame tiredness or travel or anything else - it'll just show that we're just not good enough!

{Ed025's Note - fair assumption that sid..

Good summary Swan, but I would add that Oviedo also looked good. I would say the pick of the bunch were Barry, Oviedo and Garbutt.

{Ed025's Note - kone for me degsy..

12 Dec 2014 10:53:33
I think he looked sharp, he just doesn't suit the right wing or the number 10 position, both of which he appeared on. Good to have him back though and his tweet after the game was brilliant, loves us he does.

Aint football funny? I must have the same downer on Kone as Swan does on Osman. I am not trying to have a dig or anything here. just making an observation. I watched the game and thought we could have played all night without scoring. And I expect a center forward to be the one that comes closest most. I will bow to you Ed and Swan on this one. Perhaps I have been a bit unfair to Kone.

Kone for me done very well wot he will bring is power and pace glad to c him back his work rate was great through that game can he score the goals or not we will c

11 Dec 2014 22:13:27
if Kone scores, we riot

{Ed025's Note - i thought he looked quite sharp ste..

11 Dec 2014 22:05:26
. well, another defeat but to be expected I guess with such an inexperienced lineup. was well impressed with Garbutt again, in fact on that form I'd be quite happy for him to play instead of Baines on current form & at last someone that can actually whip a good cross into the box consistently well! Kone looks useful if he can stay fit.how bad is Robles? Time to sign up Ruddy I reckon, anyone but Robles he simply ain't good enough. Watching Mccleny reminded me of Baxter/ Jeffers a lot of intent but poor decision making & not enough end product. Piennar looks overpaid, unfit & due-interested - time to ship out I think!?! Browning looks a good prospect as does Ledson who was quietly effective & still learning, think Alcatrash still looks a liability though!

11 Dec 2014 22:18:15
I do have to question a few things there, zacki, first of all, in what way was alcaraz a liability?, second of all, read anything to do with ruddy that norwich fans can comment on, they hate him. Decent championship goalie at best.

. not suggesting Ruddy as a replacement Swanny, was simply making the point that anyone is better than Robles - the guy just looks a liability & was well out of position for the goal conceded. as for Alcatrash, he simply cannot defend consistently enough throughout 90 minutes without looking a liability either through a mis-placed pass or just poor positioning - he is also too slow & far too injury prone for that matter!

11 Dec 2014 23:20:04
Anyone is better than either if our keepers, but we want a good goalie, not someone else who is sh*t but slighty less sh*t than we already have. I really don't remember 'alcatrash' making a mistake, I remember a sliding interceptiom to stop them going one on one, and I remember several tackles on the edge of the area. I remember one mis placed pass, which didn't matter because he won it straight back, him over distin every day of the week. Distin has overrelied on his pace (which he is losing) for years. let's just agree to disagree because I don't want an argument after a good day.

{Ed007's Note - I just want to say, while I'm on here lads, that as a Celtic fan I've got my fingers crossed we get drew together in the EL. I think it would be a couple of cracking games, add in the 'Battle of Britain' moneyspinning tag they use for these games and it could be a nice little earner for both clubs. A bit of extra cash, a bit of extra spotoight on the clubs and you've got a bigger game than a lot of CL group matches.
Obviously it would be your last European game this year, so you might as well make the most of it! :)

11 Dec 2014 22:01:02
Barring browning an garbutt an ledson who I was impressed with I think the rest of the young lads were tryin too hard to impress on there own not distrabuting the ball to the rite pass mcalany ran all game but was far to selfish for me it was clear they were all tryin to make a name for them selfs in jan we need to listen to sevills offer for robbles an get another in to replace him

11 Dec 2014 20:38:09
That goal tells us why Joel will never be our number one, terrible goal keeping. RM needs to look at what is available in the transfer market as soon as possible if we want somebody to push and challenge Howard

{Ed025's Note - i agree spud..

Concentration was down after bleed.Decision is not good for this position exactly.

11 Dec 2014 21:10:16
Its vile, so many good left backs at the club and 2 awful goalkeepers, david marshall in jan please

Alan Macgregor would do for me swan.

{Ed025's Note - ewan mcgregor would be better than joel jimmy..

11 Dec 2014 22:22:14
Also, bobby, do you mind looking at kevin trapp from eintracht frankfurt, and if possible, using your spanish connections, speak to real and barca over loan deals for their sub goalies (a stretch I know) and maybe petr cech (come on santa). I know none will happen, still sending that christmas list to him though!

12 Dec 2014 07:36:05
I think you are a bit harsh on some players Swan! TH isn't exactly trash but I agree he has been inconsistent since RM arrived. I think a good back up to put pressure on him is certainly required. If he doesn't respond to that then it would be time to bench him. He knows that it doesn't matter if he makes mistakes at present as JR isn't good enough to push him or take his place

11 Dec 2014 17:49:31
huytonbluecraig:
In the draw for the round of 32, the twelve group winners and the four third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage with the better group records will be seeded, and the twelve group runners-up and the other four third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage will be unseeded. The seeded teams will be drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg. Teams from the same group or the same association cannot be drawn against each other.
In the draws for the round of 16 onwards, there will be no seedings, and teams from the same group or the same association can be drawn against each other.

{Ed025's Note - thanks for the info sid..

10 Dec 2014 23:16:07
All the best for the young diamonds playing tomorrow. Have a terrific game. Best of all, enjoy what should be the home fans giving you a huge lift. Happy days.