Everton Banter Archive January 14 2015

14 Jan 2015 21:02:21
I have been watching Ross since he was 16, like a lot of supporters, when he was with the 1st team in USA pre season 3/4 years ago he looked a brilliant prospect with a great future, I was upset the way DM treated him, but in hindsight maybe he was right the way he was bringing him through slowly with a more mature attitude. RM just gives him a freedom to play as he likes, he's said he isn't worried if he loses the ball as long as he keeps trying, well I feel Ross is at a point where he needs a Bollocking, he's become lazy, Tackling, heading, chasing players down, goes in circles, needs to know what's on around him, too slow to react to other players, I love the lad but if he is to improve he needs another Manager, I don't think RM is making him a better player or is going to, Either we get a new Manager or we sell him, If we sell him EFC will benefit with the money, and Ross will benefit with someone who will teach all the right things to make him the player he should be.

{Ed025's Note - good post that kirbo, and i agree with most of it mate..

In short Roberto is to nice. You have to have control over your personality. Many years ago I went out for a pint with my younger brother, I caught him looking at me and said what's up! He said, bruv I love you but you are a bloody nutcase how come you can manage as many people as you do. Those of you that know the answer also know the problem with Roberto.

Just aquick thought a lot of posters think RM is to nice. How do you know? Most of us only see his public persona in interviews. Does anyone know what he is like in the training paddock? If so could you let us know? Oh and can anyone actually confirm if we do or do not practice set piece plays?

14 Jan 2015 19:33:58
I completely agree about the Robles point. I myself play football and playing your first few games for a club when you are young is really hard and you feel under a lot of pressure which causes many mistakes. With people slating everything you do, you can lose a lot of confidence and therefore perform badly, even if you do have ability. It may just take a while for him to show his true ability and all those who ripped him apart early on should be ashamed, especially since 24 is very young for a keeper he still has a lot of potential, not sure if he should be 1st team for Everton yet but could easily be first team in the next few seasons.

Spot on tmh de gea went threw it at man u and look at him now

14 Jan 2015 17:16:56
After watching last nights game, I'm going to eat a bit of humble pie. Joel was outstanding and looks to have gone from a 2nd choice keeper with no confidence to 1st choice keeper making many great saves! Got to say that I never seen this coming but let's hope he can kick on from here. To be fair to him, he had a good game against City too so fingers crossed he can keep this form going, and improve upon it.
A word on Ross. The lad needs to be rested, take him out of the firing line for a few games. His confidence looks shot, in a similar way to Lukaku before he was benched and look how that has turned out now he has returned to the starting 11. He is getting back to the Rom we know from last year so his enforced absence may have helped. Do the same with RB please Bobby.
A battling performance by the boys last night, not something we have seen too much of since the season started. AM wasn't playing too bad before his stupid tackle earned his 2nd yellow but at least being down to ten men brought out the fighting spirit in the rest of them. Again, that is something we have missed so far.
The jury is still out for me though for the following reason. Last night was pretty much a winner takes all game, both teams, in order to progress, needed to attack from the off which resulted in a pretty decent cup tie (despite the loss). In the league, however, would we have been more cagey especially since we are so close to the drop zone? What I'm getting at is this, would a point at the hammers have sufficed, given the improvement in that team and their current league position compared to that of ours? And I don't mean between us fans, I mean with RM himself? It is entirely plausible to me, with reference to other games this year, that we go a goal up and then sit back and let panic set in. I hope the manager builds on such a gutsy performance and gets them attacking West Brom from the off, we need to get back to how we played and approached games last season. From now until May we should treat every game as if it is a one off cup game. If we do then Bobby will save his own neck and we will finish in the top half of the table. It's a roller-coaster ride being a blue! COYB

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

14 Jan 2015 11:29:55
I know Joel had a good game overall - apart from the dodgy goal where he was badly positioned - but he needs practice with (saving) penalties - he moved early on every one of them - making it easy for their shooters

if he'd stood on his line and just moved (or not) once he'd seen the direction, he'd have probably saved about 3 or 4 of them

also - how come we are so crap at defending corners - and how come we never score from a corner?

We're obviously not practicing either - it's embarrassing

14 Jan 2015 13:56:23
tbh honest - baines deliveries at corners are abysmal,

{Ed025's Note - i have to agree dazza, but apparently we dont practice dead ball situations..well done bobby.. :(

Ed025 Is that genuine we don't practice dead ball drills?

If so we need to get rid of el Bob asap.

{Ed025's Note - that comment has been attributed to him on many occasions wedge..

If that's true?? We must be the only club that doesn't practise freekicks and corners. How daft is that when you consider that we have some tall players in the team.As for corners, if you can't get it past the 1st defender? you shouldn't take them. I hope Bobby reads these posts.

{Ed025's Note - just in case he does....bobby...for christs sake practice corners!, taking and defending....abolish zonal marking..swap that tika taka nonsense for fast free flowing high tempo football, and sell mcgeady....i think that just about covers it lemur..

14 Jan 2015 07:59:05
Starting to really dislike a majority of everton fans on here. Never such a fickle bunch.
Everyone now joining this McCeady is the worst everton player ever bandwagon, you act like 2 year olds so that must be how long you have been watching everton for because believe me there has been worse. He was actually having a good game until the sending off. And it was a stupid 2nd booking but he is only guilty of been over enthusiastic, probably down to you pathetic bunch that slate him no matter what he does. where as Barkley who walks around the pitch so would have no chance of getting sending off can do no wrong in some of your eyes.
Joel was being slated 2 weeks ago as the worst goal keeper ever to play for everton, now after 3 games he is world class, ha now come on. Maybe he was a good goalkeeper before these 3 games and was low on confidence because of the stick he was getting.
I am a proud blue and we really went for it last night with 10 men, yet people are saying we should beat teams like West Ham with 10 men. When did we become so arrogant. Away to a team that is 7th in the premiership and we should beat them with 10 men. Get a grip some of you.

{Ed025's Note - i agree that some (including myself) can be fickle at times HB, but its born out of frustration and willing the club to do well and not out of malice, this is a banter forum where fans can air their views and concerns..what do you want mate? for us all to say the players and manager are playing great, and that all in the garden is rosy?...now that would be acting like a 2 yr old..so maybe its you who should get a grip, supporting the team is a great idea and im all for it, but lets not not bury our heads in the sand and pretend everything is hunky dory...because its not..

I'm not asking for people not to be disappointed ed. I am asking for a bit of perspective. Because we did so well last season we suddenly think we should beating anyone outside of the top 4. I was disappointed as anyone with the way we played over December and started to question Martinez. But over the last 3 games we have showed some fight and started to play more like we were last season yet people were coming on last night and saying they won't watch another everton game while Martinez is manager.
Every fan at some point is guilty of being fickle but I just don't get this player bashing. Naismith had it and nows it mcgeady. We should be bashing the players that stroll around and can't be bothered not the players who are trying and giving 100% but are low on confidence.

{Ed025's Note - perspective is HB...that we are 3 points off the relegation places mate..i agree that saying they wont watch another game is silly, but i have been doing this long enough to know that we always get knee jerk reactions when a team loses, it comes from passion and wanting your side to do well, we have really improved over the last 3 games as you say, we have shown great energy levels and commitment, which begs the question...why have we not been doing it all season!..

Im with you ed025 110% after all its all about opinions and yes some players get stick but let's face some of them deserve it coyb

Ed your spot on and as for everton fans HB, we come in all ages! In my life time (38 years young) I can honestly say from MY opinion he is the worst player I have seen in blue and this could be highlighted by the fact he is a winger and his role is to provide penertration and service to the forwards. I think he fails miserably at that, but I could be wrong.

It is a bad season so far but really am confident it will improve. Just think some fans on here need to really think back to a few years back. We would have held on to a 1-0 defeat there last night and used the excuse that we were down to 10 men.
In the minority but will stick my head on the line that we will finish top 10 this season and have a good Europa cup run. Agree that this isn't good but we can then hopefully build on that. Martinez is still a young manager and will make mistakes but still believe he is a brilliant manager and will get us back to where we were last season.
As for worse player, you can't be wrong as its about opinion. I'm 30 and for me Richard Wright is the worst player I have seen play for everton.

{Ed025's Note - as you say HB its all about opinions mate..

To be fair HB the majority of Everton fans didn't want McGeady at the club from the first rumours of him signing.

Lets face it he has not done much over 18 months to change anyone's mind has he? Everyone is entitled to an opinion on the subject.

Personally I don't rate him as a player and do not consider him good enough for our team. Although I don't consider him the worst player to play for us, but then again that is because I am old enough to remember Mickey Walsh.

Wedgewood that's a fair comment. I must be the only one that sees glimpses and think with confidence he could be an asset.
I am too Young to make a comment on Brett angell but by all accounts many people think he is the worst footballer they have ever seen.
Worst signing for everton in terms of money spent has to be Bilic.

{Ed025's Note - bilic??...are you sure you dont mean bilyaletdinov HB?...slaven bilic was a fine player..

HB, to be honest mate I do see the odd flash of skill out of him. I think that is what makes him so annoying. Although I would agree that perhaps his confidence is shot, maybe it was before he came to us, for me it is his decision making that is the problem.

How many times does he get into space, get the ball and you think "go on son! go past the defender and get the cross in." Instead he runs around with the ball trying to take on everyone, and either gives it away, takes too long before passing forward so we are offside, or passes it short to no effect?

Now how much of that is down to el Bob's insistence we must do 300 passes sideways before we go forward is anyone's guess.

Maybe he can come good, and personally I would be happy to eat my words if he does. But right now in the position we are in this season we can not carry passengers.

{Ed025's Note - i would love to be wrong about him as well wedge, but you know what they say...if it looks like s****..and smells like s****...then it usually is s****

No ed I mean slaven bilic, the guy who cost us 4.5 million, played 28 games in 3 years and then had to pay him 1 million to terminate his contract because of his supposed injury that he couldn't play for us but was always fit for croatia games.

{Ed025's Note - oh right...got to say he would not be in my top 10 of all time everton duffers mate..

14 Jan 2015 08:30:24
I started to read some of the post match reports below and found it very interesting that most of the anger was being directed at Barkley. I thought to myself. hold on a minute. this is a young kid who has shown some promise, but of late has been at best inconsistent. Then I thought about last night's game and the season as it has developed. I remember posting earlier in the season about how ineffective McGeady has been and how much better the team performs with Osman on the right and not McGeady. I won't go on about Osman in this post, but rather the fact that I firmly believe that McGeady is one of causes of our problems. How on earth can RM continue to pick McGeady ahead of Mirallas? McGeady has been with us nearly a season now and his goals total less than 3 and his assists are probably the same. Mirallas has played a handful of games and usually had an impact. although after his hamstring injury has taken a while to recover full fitness. I actually thought McGeady was having his best game for us with his tenacious tackling last night. I also said to my Son that McGeady needs subbing before he does another rash challenge and gets sent off. And that was in the first half!! But back to my point.RM is the manager who brought McGeady in. RM is the manager who continues to pick him. RM is the manager who in doing so has completely p***sed Mirallas and one or two others off. The strong bonded squad we had under Moyes, is now falling apart and being only 3 points above the relegation zone scares the living daylights out of me. Being knocked out of this cup may be a blessing in disguise. It may give us enough injury free players to get to the end of the season and pick up just enough points to stay up. Then we can think about who will be our manager next season. Now the Osman bit. when Osman has played, we have only lost 1 game. When he has not played, we have only won 1 game. And he has been out for the last 12 or so games in which we have won bugger all. I hear the groans from certain quarters, but eventually perhaps you will start to believe the statistic as it gets better (or worse depending on your view point). I make one prediction. when Osman returns, we will win a couple of games. Right now we look ok in some game and not in others.but we don't win!

14 Jan 2015 09:18:09
i certainly don't think osman will save us but he's definitely better than mcgeady and pienaar, i'd prefer mirallas and oviedo (another player who has been missing don't forget) over osman but osman should certainly be ahead of sausage roll mcgeady and pienaar.

{Ed025's Note - hey!...i like sausage rolls.. :)

Poor Ossie is struggling and may need an operation. I hope he does come back as he is a creative player.Mirrallas looked fit when he came on and was outstanding.I just hope that he stays loyal to the blues.As for Mcgeady, he should be ashamed of his actions last night as he was doing ok till then.Why hasn't Barkley played in the same position as he did against QPR?? You do wonder what RM is thinking about sometimes??

I hope Kev is just being looked after and not pushed to soon. I have to agree I also thought Mc Geady was having his best game last night. I was surprised Naisy played on the left but I think it worked better than Ross being there. I also wasn't surprised when Mo was subbed his work rate is excellent and he would have run himself into the ground for the team but we need him fully fit for Monday so can understand why he was subbed. For me although we lost I thought there are more positives than negative to take from last nights match, we are starting to look more like the side we were last season. I still think we need more quality on the flanks all our strength seems to be down the middle of the park which makes us too easy to contain.

{Ed025's Note - fair points there mate..

Answer to Swan. I would go with that too. ie Oviedo and Mirallas. Maybe Ossie on the bench if he ever recovers. But to pick McGeady ahead of any of them, Then play Naismith, Barkley and McGeady in the same team? Then not to practice corners and set pieces (if true) borders on criminal to me. All the top winning teams score from corners regularly and hardly ever concede from them. In fact 2 seasons ago we were renowned for our set pieces and Moyes was criticised for putting so much emphasis on them. I would like a bit more than what we have had this season.

14 Jan 2015 07:32:26
Barkley needs to be benched and watch how you put a full shift in. the bloke thinks he's made it, the least I expect as a fan is effort. Good performance last night from us unlucky in the end.

14 Jan 2015 02:12:21
Distin a wreck

Mcgeady a tosspot

Osman about to retire

Barry a turtle

Eto'o on the verge of a loan

McCarthy Unhappy (apparently)

Coleman looking at UTD

Jags making MORE mistakes

Howard the same as Jags

Mirallas. I love this guy, but I reckon he's gone in the summer. can't blame him tbh.

Barkley inconsistent (Okay he's only young yet and obvs hasn't peaked so is slightly more excusable than others)

Hibbert. well uh, yeah Hibbert

Pienaar, is he alive?

Gibson, Same as Pienaar.

Thats 13 Players that are letting the side down. I know that some of them haven't even featured this season, but its not just a team problem, its a problem within the squad. With most of these players being branded as either "Deadwood" or "On the way out", it does call to question the plan for next season.

Players that have has no effect what so ever, or its hard to tell atm:

Kone - one and a half good games this season, but too early to place him.

Alcaraz- He's just there I suppose, not too bad, but not an outstanding contributer

Joel- Good game today, finding his feet and getting his confidence back it seems. So we shall see.

So that's 3 players that we are yet to see more of. Can you see the link between all three of them? Oh yeah, they're all ex Wigan. Maybe its a coincidence, but bar Joel, as he is a backup GK, the other two should be trying harder, and I know you'll probs say that they have been unlucky with injury, but at the end of the day, Football is a business. Pull your own weight or get out.

Now let's look at the players that are a lot more decent this season:

Besic - Very well done lad, crazy as Gravo IMO

Baines- Probably his worst season, but the guy is always 100% dedicated, its a shame the rest of the team have let him down.

Stones- A diamond.

Garbutt- From what I've seen, very promising, and looks a better talent than Luke Shaw.

Naismith - Make the man Captain

Rom- After Martinez finally changed style, its easy to see the class of this lad.

Oviedo- Maybe i'm Biased. Deal with it!!!


So these are all the decent players we've had this season that I can think of. Remember this is my opinion, so you may see thing differently. Anyways, I don't see any of these leaving at the end of the season thankfully.

Okay. so 7 players make the decent list. JUST 7.
Perhaps we can see the youth, and maybe find some replacements for the "Deadwood" or "Out the Door" people. 1GK, 3 Defenders (I decided to take Jags out, Benefit of the doubt and all), 4 Midfielders (Took Ross out, because same as Jags), 3 Wingers (Noone taken out lol, 2 are torrid and one is too good for us atm), and 1 Striker (thats Eto'o btw)

Of the youth that I know about:

Lundstrum- Havent seen him play, but reckon he will be sold at the end of the season after hearing from here that he's poor

Henen- Heard he's quality, and very technical. Possible replacment for Kev.


McAleny- Should have broken through by now. Reckon this is his last season with us.

Ledson- Too small atm, and 16. needs to grow for a few more years.

Green- Similar to Ledson

Stanek- Heard he's inconsistent. But from Twitter I've seen he's a bit not good. BUT I don't always believe what I read, so we could have a player here.

Browning- Played once or twice. looked okay, but can't make a judgement, as I can't tell if he's an RB or a CB? Possible replacement of Coleman OR Hibbo

Galloway- Needs some 1st team experience as a Defender that is vital. Possible replacement for Jags in 2-3 years time.

Kennedy- Get mixed messages about him. heard he's decent, then hear he's crap.

Long, Duffus and Byrne- all three are young, but will all probably do one and join Bury on the cheap.

So that concludes our inter-Club dealings of players and where the gaps may be by this time next season.

AND AS A CONCLUSION:

We need investment (I know right )

and we need 6 players, one for each area of the field, by this time next year, or we will not be going anywhere.

Cheers for reading. i'm off to bed.

14 Jan 2015 00:11:22
Soft centred Everton blow it again after taking the lead in xtra time but could'nt see it out albeit down to 10 men.
1 victory in last 12
Zero points over Crimbo
Can't keep a clean sheet
Mcgeady suspended for WBA worst player ever to wear the jersey.
Eto is off looks to me like Coleman's head has been turned only matter of time b4 Chelsea or Man U take him & barkley has had plenty of opportunities to shine but flatters to decieve 1 good game every 10 a luxury player cash in now b4 his value goes down.
Not looking forward to the Derby one bit.
If we fail to get 6 pts against WBA & Palace the marmite man has to go.

Soft centered!! the only ones who were tonight were Barkley that ex player from Spartak Moscow the rest played outta their skin including Robles. Not a fan of RM myself but that's what we've got so roll with it! what do you want DM back?? let me guess yes.

14 Jan 2015 00:00:17
So what have we learnt/been reminded of tonight. (1) McGeady is the worst player we have had in living memory, my mrs who hates footie, peered over her magazine this evening and asked why does that bloke dance like Michael flatley then give the ball away. (2) Kevin Mirallas is brilliant (3) Robles is a decent keeper, but shouldn't take penalties (4) Barkley needs to step up, as that was another innocuous performance (5) We have got the fight and passion to salvage some respectability this season (6) Martinez is in love with Barry.

{Ed025's Note - 6 very valid points there ally..

Totally agree.what does besic have to do to not be subbed? Score a hat trick?to me he is our best dm.but the Barry love in continues.