Everton Banter Archive November 28 2014

28 Nov 2014 19:18:52
Some good news on the injury front Barry, peinaar, baines all in contention to play on Sunday phew McCarthy will be a big loss though but would like to see Besic in there with Barry also Coleman fully rested aswell it will be a tough game but I think we will nick it Coyb.

If we play with intensity from the start and get their crowd on their players' backs as soon as possible, then we have every chance. However, if we're not 'at it' - or we give the officials a chance to red card one of our players (like Tottenham's last two opponents) - then we're looking at another post-Europe disappointment. I'm convinced that our poor post-Europe performances are only partly due to the physical strain of playing & travelling & disruption of usual rest/recovery routines. I think it's much more a mental attitude and the most successful teams and players have learnt how to cope with the physical & mental pressures of playing so many competitive matches in quick succession - be those matches domestic, Europe, or even international.

28 Nov 2014 11:34:07
Can someone tell me why we loaned atsu?

28 Nov 2014 12:42:44
Because RM sees something in him that might prove useful to our squad. Admittedly, Atsu hasn't impressed in his limited appearances so far, but RM has shown an eye for a player - Barry and McCarthy immediately spring to mind - both of whom have shone for us despite having many fans criticising their signing to begin with.
So, I'm prepared to back RM's judgement and support anyone who plays for Everton - as long as they're trying and have respect for the shirt.
Whether a new player can eventually deliver in the longer term is always a moot point imho. However, it's clear to me that RM and his coaching staff work long and hard with players on the training ground in order to develop them and that takes time - especially with young players and those who need time to learn how to play in the way that RM wants.
Besides, Atsu is only a loanee at present, and I'm thankful that we haven't wasted/lost huge money like so many other clubs (no names, no pack drill!) spending big fees and big wages on a whole host of donkeys, wasters, ne'er-do-wells, has-beens, big-I-ams, cheats, divers, and never-wasers!

28 Nov 2014 10:01:37
great win last night lads, buzzing top of the group what more could we ask for .

just having a think whilst on a coffee break- we have an exciting squad - heres one to pick your brains, let's say next summer osman hibbert distin jags pienaar eto'o barry and alcaraz decide to move on or call it a day because its coming sooner rather than later what would your starting 11 be on the current players we have

howard
coleman stones browning garbutt
mccarthy baines
naismith barkley mirallas
lukaku

and with those 8 over 30's gone who would we want in place

Osman has just signed for another year.
Hibbert will stay if he feels OK and RM still wants him in the squad.
Distin? It's up to him to earn another year.
No way Jagielka will leave until our young centre-backs (Stones, Browning, Galloway, Pennington, etc.) are ALL up to the job.
Pienaar might well be one to move on.
Eto'o will stay another year imho if he's willing and we're in Europe again.
Barry will stay another year while Ledson is brought through.
Alcaraz is the most likely to move on.
But what the heck do I know?

28 Nov 2014 06:37:33
First of all great performance from the boys last night best win of the season so far for me. I have to say I'm starting to get a bit worried that all these injurys we are picking up isn't just bad luck and might have something to do with the training regime. What u reckon eds am I just being paranoid? We never seemed to pick half as many injurys up in years gone by

{Ed025's Note - i think you are being paranoid kingy, most other teams have similar problems mate, the game is so quick now and the level of fitness needed so high, that players are playing on the absolute limit, sometimes it seems as though they are out for weeks with what seems to us very trivial injuries, but im sure the medical people know what they are diong.. or hope so..

Just an observation from me. we do seem to have more than an unfair share of hamstring injuries. I have noticed this for a season or so and whilst there does seem to be an increase in hamstring injuries in the whole of football, we at Everton seem to have lots more than the rest. Perhaps our training regime is to blame?

I agree with Ed0025 that every club has its share of injuries - we're not unusual in that regard. I'm thankful that now we do have good cover in our squad and that we have youngsters coming through that help provide that cover.
What is worrying imho is that once a player has suffered an injury (particularly hamstring, but others as well) then the player is very susceptible to a recurrence because of the physical strain that modern footballers put their bodies under - not only in competitive match situations, but also during training. The days of only needing 14 or 15 players for an entire league season are long gone - as, thankfully, are the days of patching up players (with painkilling injections, etc.) in order that they play and then run the risk of permanent damage that affects them in later life.

28 Nov 2014 02:31:45
There's a post-match interview with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas on the official club website and in my humble opinion I think it really shows the team sprit and the enjoyment that the performance and result at Wolfsburg gave them - and everyone else connected with the club.

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