Everton Banter Archive March 16 2015

16 Mar 2015 21:48:35
So who plays Thursday and who plays Sunday and which is the most important game and would two draws satisfy the masses?
Too many questions to be answered at this time of night but would be interested in your thoughts tomorrow!

{Ed025's Note - i would have 2 draws like a shot mushy..

16 Mar 2015 22:30:43
2 draws for me as well. 1 More point to safety and finish the remainder of this season undefeated. Bring it on.

16 Mar 2015 23:01:31
1 draw and 1 win. In that order pls. That'll do me nicely.

16 Mar 2015 23:07:15
I'd take two draws but I don't see it happening to be honest. both games the opposition need to win, so if they open up and go toe to toe with us we can win both. On the other hand of course, well I am not even going to consider the other possibility as I have total faith in Uzbek's calender!

17 Mar 2015 10:13:48
Draw in Kiev but must take advantage of QPR's poor form and our upturn let's not settle for less!

17 Mar 2015 12:07:02
I don't think two draws are good enough to be honest, much rather we won both. Saying that, a draw would be good enough for Thursday night in Kiev but we have to go all out to beat QPR on Sunday. They are struggling at the moment, whereas we are, possibly, on the up turn. 3 points against them would almost condemn them to the championship meaning one relegation spot is almost done and dusted. It's time to show a ruthless streak in the league, we have a good enough squad so let's hope they are managed correctly. Nil satis nisi optimum, our motto should never be forgotten by RM

16 Mar 2015 20:04:55
Just quick note on big rom. I like him sometimes but he is a long, long way off being this world class striker.

When he plays like he has the last two games he's great but too often he has been rubbish and that's being kind.

He has 8 league goals this season nowhere near a 20 goal a season striker which everyone is going on about. A 20 goal a season striker that is worth his salt is one that does it in the league.

Now here is the alarming part of big rom.

He is 7 behind Charlie Austin, 1 ahead of Peter Crouch and jonathan walters, 10 behind Diego Costa, 17th in the league goalscorers this season and

Wait for it.

On the same amount as

Nikica Jelavic.

{Ed025's Note - well when you put it like that john.. :)

16 Mar 2015 20:49:50
Or put another way he has scored 17 goals in all comps this season. A season which has been desperately disappointing and service to him not been the best. So why don't you get behind this young lad ( 21 years of age), you never know he may just get us the goals that secure us a much overdue trophy.

16 Mar 2015 21:25:47
I have been one of his biggest critics but I have to say the last two games he's been a different player. But that also really does my head in because he should be doing it every game! Yes maybe the service hasn't been great but he should be bullying defenders every week not just when he feels like it

16 Mar 2015 21:57:04
With u on this stew not bin great in league but Europa very good it's bin tough for us fans at times but some fan behaviour has bin poor for me don't worry as I (predicted) :) weeks ago Martinez would come good for me to reach final and possibly win would be worth a poor league position biggest problem this season was not bringing in a top winger like to see atsu get a start think he has more to offer few additions in the summer and next season will much better a lot of people give kenwright stick he might not have the cash like others but for me I'm glad we have him and think he has done well not to act on managers position to quickly to many teams change management to often I for one don't want a revolving door at our club Martinez deserves another season and as much as many would like different ye all need to realise he will get it so let's get behind him rather than boo and jeer him at every chance

16 Mar 2015 21:58:51
He's doing it now. Leave the guy alone. When he's been disappointing we've slated him. Now that he's being what we expect we should at least give him his dues. Slate him when he's poor and love him when he's boss. Let's be consistent as its what we expect from him after all

{Ed025's Note - thats a done deal for me ace..

16 Mar 2015 22:02:31
Dont get me wrong stewillow I want him to be world class and you're right we need to back him and support him.

In return instead of bigging himself up let us do it when he performs week in week out.

With Everton he could do great things but 12 months after we spent 28 mil it seems he believes he is better than that and has grander plans.

17 Mar 2015 09:40:55
Well said Cobyone! Finally a bit of common sense on here!!

17 Mar 2015 10:14:30
If he got injured you would see how much we miss him!

16 Mar 2015 17:29:05
Two major confidence boosting wins in the space of a week must now give us a platform to try and raise the form of the squad .The positive change in tactics and a freshen up of the first eleven Gibson osman Alcaraz Lennon Kone lifted both players and fans .now is the time we must all pull together and get behind the team if we put two more back to back wins together we could secure are PL status and push further in the EL every team has a run of form over the season this could just be are turn.If RM wants any chance of getting the fans to stay on board he must not let standards slip . For the first time in a while we go in to are next match looking forward to it let's hope this continues.

16 Mar 2015 13:04:15
What a difference a couple of games make.

Bobby sprung a tactical surprise! Lukaku used his strength to hustle and bustle defenders and found his first touch! Barry found that passing the ball quickly and to one of his own players gets the crowd of his back! All is good.

Hmmm. but a few questions.

Why has it took Bob 8 months to change his tactics! 8 months to realise we don't like sideways or reverse passing and want to see pace being used to put pressure on opponents.

Why has it took Lukaku 8 months to use his upper body strength and realise there are other parts of his foot to control the ball instead of just his toe.

Why are we all thinking 1 1/2 games has made the sky all blue again. It took more booing and harassing of the players again on Saturday to kick them into gear. Luckily, they clicked onto it earlier.

Now, I'm not being all pessimistic but I'm not getting carried away either. We all need to keep our feet on the ground and not think all is won. We are still on the edge of relegation and we are JUST about in the EL.

If we get knocked out on Thursday then we just have avoiding relegation and if we get beat by QPR and we are away, then the picture looks even worse.

Anyone suggesting avoiding relegation and winning the EL is a successful season is plain crazy. Anything other than challenging for the top positions in the league is a failure even if we win a cup, especially a plastic one that is the EL.

You won't get anything out of me that will sing any praises for manager or player until we are safe and a genuine turn of events have taken place.

I want more and expect more from my team.

16 Mar 2015 14:10:52
Some great questions there BlueJohn,

and quite a few of us are asking similar ones!

and even though 'looking a gift horse in the mouth' could well be deemed a 'faux pas' etc.


My own pet theory (wishful thinking more like ) is BK has finally flipped and the players got wind of it,

giving them the confidence to step up to the plate and do what we all wanted.

Instead of the previous annoying nonsense we got a RESULT! :)

16 Mar 2015 14:28:02
Exactly what I put in an earlier reply to post. That avoiding relegation is not an achievement.I see this season as a complete failure and expect better next season hopefully with a new man in charge.

16 Mar 2015 14:38:21
At the start of the year a trophy and champions league qualification would have been hailed as an amazing season. If we win the Europa League and qualify to CL that way, then the objective would have been met, however ridiculously frustrating and uninspiring the journey has been.

BTW- I think we are a long way off winning the EL just yet so it's all just theoretical really.

But why is the FA Cup any less of a mickey mouse trophy than the EL? The title contenders don't play their best teams and get knocked out, and if you go all the way you only have to play 2-3 top 10 premier league teams max.

If The league leaders are excited by winning the League Cup then let's not be too picky here.

16 Mar 2015 19:51:46
The EL are teams from around europe who are not even the second best teams in the country. WE were 5th last season.

99% of teams play a weakend team. Fans do not flood to watch the matches. If you ever watch the so called smaller teams in the FA cup they put body and soul in getting a result and sometimes get it.

Any of the bigger teams who are in the EL don't care because they are fighting to be in CL through their LEAGUE position. And I agree let's be a team getting excited by winning a mickey mouse cup but by being towards the top of the league just like Chelsea. Would jose still be there and the fans happy if they were in our position? Answer is no.

Lets be a bigger team and deserve it through our league position.

{Ed025's Note - fair point john..