Everton Banter Archive January 22 2017

22 Jan 2017 17:30:35
Ed, are we actually in talks with anyone about potential incomings? Lots of rumours but only one iv heard we are actually trying for is ghezzal.

{Ed002's Note - I have said where I know of interest.}

22 Jan 2017 16:57:39
Is anybody else looking at 4,5 and 6th in the league and thinking, yeah we can catch them. All 3 look poor at the back.

22 Jan 2017 17:15:12
I think we've just got to take it game by game Smit. There's no harm in being ambitious but I think it's a huge ask, especially with the quality the teams above us possess. If we keep plucking away, playing our own game and continue this run then who knows where we'll end up. Although as the saying goes we can only look to the next game, which will be a very difficult encounter against Stoke, especially at their place. I'm trying not to get too carried away after a few good results, and I hope the players aren't either because that's when things begin to slip, although I don't think Koeman would allow it.

22 Jan 2017 18:40:35
Agree Bitterblue. One game at a time. Utd are playing good stuff as of late. I don't think we'll over take them. If anything I expect them to go up the table now that Mourinho has found his feet.

6th maybe, 5th with a big stretch. Its do able though. 7th at worst I would expect.

23 Jan 2017 08:16:49
As well as consistency (love em but let's face it) we need the top 6 to falter.

22 Jan 2017 08:48:24
Last two games have been brilliant. Not only have we gotten 6 points, scored 5 goals and let in none, we look very good. Koemans getting his ideas working.

Degsy, a little fact for you. In the last two games how many Koeman signings started? How many Moyes signings started? How many Martinez signings started?

I'll answer for ya. Koeman 1, Moyes 3 and Martinez 5. Leaving aside two players, Barkley and Davies for obvious reasons. Puts things into perspective. All the giving out people do about Martinez signings. Don't hear many pointing out the above fact.

22 Jan 2017 09:37:42
NB to be fair statistics can always be declared to suit. Flipping it around. how many of Nigel Pearson original team were in the Leicester squad that won the league? Regardless of how many signings of Martinez are still in the team. he was a very poor manager. tactically, fitness, game management, positioning. all very very poor

22 Jan 2017 09:54:16
It's never about the players being poor for me but always about how they are managed.

Joe Royle saved us from relegation and lifted the FA cup with someone else's players. Moyes stopped the rot in his first game in charge against Fulham with someone else's players. Indeed look at how we played against Norwich last game of the season under Unsie and Royle with someone else's players.

So many unmentioned examples could endlessly support the fact that, if a team is underperforming its focus on do we have the right manager first, before money is given to upgrade.

Koeman is doing a job with the players he inherited whilst upgrading effectively.

22 Jan 2017 10:06:58
Hi Toffeeace good post have to agree with you mate, it looks like now at last our players are taking on board what R K is asking of them and forgetting the old Martinez way, long may it continue mate we are in good hands now and with a couple more recruits we will be up there with the best of them here's, GuernseyBlue

22 Jan 2017 10:24:13
I never wanted Martinez before, during or after he was here. Even when we finished 5th some Reds were saying to me you have a good manager. My reply was always we'll see next season.

The reason I never liked Martinez was his style, tactics, fitness of players, not practicing dead ball situations etc. I'm NOT standing up for Martinez and certainly not saying he's a good manager. Like I said never wanted him. Didn't like anything he done at the club. Only one positive for me.

He did sign some good players imho. People get carried away IMO when talking about his tenure and tar everything he done as negative. It's a debate I have been having with Degsy. If any of you were reading them you would see what I'm saying is consistent.

For the 100th time I will say again I was a Moyes supporter and thought he was very good.

My main point of all this is Koeman is more the difference and not the players. I wanted Koeman. Even before he came, even at the very beginning when he was denying coming. He was my first choice.

Anyone can check my previous posts if they feel the need to. I knew people would start on about Martinez was bad. People that obviously didn't read my posts before.

I said all along it was Martinez that was the problem not the players. Koeman is the difference. He's top notch. The defense is like it was under Moyes. Not like under the fraud. The fraud was just that but his signings were not as bad as a lot of people make out.

22 Jan 2017 11:01:49
We have a 20 goal a season striker because of Martinez. I'd say he deserves recognition for that.

Like you NBTB I never wanted him, was pleased though with the first season and then overwhelmed with a large dose of "I told you so" for the next two.

He gone now. And as weeks go by so do the nasty habits he introduced thanks to Koeman.

22 Jan 2017 11:03:23
Good post NBTB agree 100 per cent mate, GuernseyBlue

22 Jan 2017 12:26:38
NBTB I bow to your statistic mate and amamazed. It is an emotive subject guys, but me and NBTB respect each others view and I gave him some stats . and he is just responding. so no worries from me there. in fact I think it is fair to say we both respect each others in depth knowledge of all things EFC. But yes Martinez should be respected for Lukaku and some of the things he did. I will accept that.

22 Jan 2017 12:29:41
Cheers GuernseyBlue. Yea I agree Toffee Ace. Koeman is the top class manager we have been crying out for ages. Tells it like it is. By the looks of things he has brought Barkley to a new level.

Future is very bright. We all deserve it seeing that we all stayed loyal to the cause. Good things come to those who wait eh, new stadium. It's all very exciting.

22 Jan 2017 12:48:33
I misunderstood your point NB, i.e that the manager makes all difference. totally agree mate

22 Jan 2017 13:52:51
My view on this has always been identical with NBTB.

it doesn't matter what players you sign though, it all comes down to what you instruct them to do on the pitch.

It is so difficult when you don't have money to buy players who can improve your squad and take you on a level.

Martinez had pretty similar funds to Moyes. In that I mean he had to find bargains or unproven players. Unless you spend £20 or £30 mil you are not going to change the team that much.

To think though that Moyes didn't make any bad signings is foolish. Billy, Kroldrop where two of his big signings that were utter rubbish. You could even add Jelly (half a season doesn't make you a success even though I loved the guy) and Beattie to it as well.

What I would say though is that neither were successful and both failures. I hope Koeman will continue shopping for a higher calibre of player and continue setting these high expectations he has.

22 Jan 2017 17:05:31
Yep BlueJohnUns we seem to have similar views on a lot of things. No problem jcl1878. Very easy to misunderstand some things said on here.

Of course we respect each others views Degsy. We're Blues after all. I think the vast majority of people on here would agree its a good time to be a blue and we are very much heading in the right direction.

The last year has been a dream come true for us blues.

22 Jan 2017 18:13:58
A 5th place finish with their highest point total year one, knock out round of the Euro's year two, and two cup semi-finals year three under Martinez.

That's not bad in my opinion.

If his team could defend set pieces and not give away late goals their position on the table would have been much better. But then again if my Aunt had a @#$% she'd be my Uncle.

22 Jan 2017 07:54:38
16 points from the last 21. Won 5 lost 1 drawn 1 from the last seven. Only. 7 points off European places with 16 games still to play.

Maybe a few signings still to come, but a team capable of beating title contenders even if we don't sign anyone else.

Achieving something in the league is still very mathematically within our reach.

{Ed025's Note - there is a long way to go ace and we are capable of going on a good run so who knows mate..

21 Jan 2017 23:52:09
Again youth was the key. I could be wrong here but every game Holgate has started I don't think we have lost. Davies and Barkley together are amazing. Robles was confident. I would be happy if in this transfer window we get a quality forward.

If we don't get one I won't be too disappointed. Koeman is pruning the Roses at the moment, so in the spring our flowers should start blooming.