04 Jul 2018 09:40:19
I couldn't resist rattling a few cages with another one. Those who might remember I was involved in coaching kids and my passion that John Stones was a breed of new center halves that were learning to play out from the back. Yet many Blues supporters could not see this and were constantly on his back when he made a mistake. I had pointed out that he was still very young and Brazil, Spain, France etc all had center halves/ defenders who were comfortable on the ball. I think Englands progress and the way we retain the ball and play out from the back (including Pickford) is totally different than the "get rid" brigade who want the ball hoofed up into the stands as soon as some pressure is placed on the defender. totally wrong in my view. the old saying that there is a time and place to play football is wrong these days. because the time and place is anywhere on the football field. Man City have shown this too this last season and England are at last developing center halves who are comfortable on the ball.

1.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 10:07:00
1st time I've agreed with you Degsy. Keep up the good form.

2.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 10:45:13
Totally agree with you Degsy. Also a perfect example why Fat Sam had to go.

3.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 11:43:51
Degsyp Evertonions everywhere knew John stones was an exceptional defender and by moving to city with the way they play and by how good they are he had gone onto another level but saying lots of blues fans jumped all over his back when he made a mistake is well a big fat lie every fan can accept him making a mistake it was the fact that he never learned from that mistake and kept making the same one something that with our team we couldn't accommodate just my take on it and I can't remember the last time I replied to one of your posts as you seem to get a lot of agro and again this post is one of those I told you so I know more than you it's pretty sad.

4.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 11:44:04
John stones played less than half PL games last season [18]. The least amount of their recognised centre half’s.

5.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 12:46:09
Some people like a fight.

6.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 12:45:08
BLUEY79 I did get loads of aggro on my defence of Stones at the time. Lots of posters were quite aggressive so yes it is a bit of a told you so point. and yes he did make mistakes Sobsnewcastle and also only featured in 18 games. partly because of mistakes and partly because of injury I suspect. But you cannot argue with my point that he and England played football from Pickford to Kane and "drew" out the Columbians with retention of the ball and I suspect also that Stones had more touches than any other player (not sure on that though) and I can guarantee to all that I was shouted down and ridiculed for suggesting that the future was for ball playing center halves rather than the English tradition of "playing safe" in defence. ie the other team can't score if the ball is in the stands. Man City proved it and England are currently proving it. along with Spain, Brazil, France and many other countries who teach their kids that ball retention is of paramount importance. unlike UK where loads of Dads standing on the sidelines shout things like get rid of the ball or clear it anywhere. The same sort of shouts I constantly hear at Goodison Park when supporters panic when a ball playing center half tries to do the unforgivable thing of playing football.

7.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 12:58:32
agree with bluey79 you will never change degsy grow up.

8.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 13:04:52
To play out from the back requires more than just a ball playing centre half I’m afraid. Without the quality in the team the mistakes are more often and more highlighted. Maybe Stones was a little early for us but Robles, Barry, jmac, jags for example don’t support this who were regulars in team at this time. Pickford has the most successful long passes in this World Cup and 3rd highest keeper to kick long ball. So we clearly are not doing this all the time.
Spain are out an were ineffective playing this way against Russiia. Swansea were relegated playing this way.
What I don’t get is why you take so much glee in your negative posts.
Recent post where you said you wouldn’t post again until 5 games in (which has not materialised) - just sounds like you are praying for Everton to lose all 5 so you have your “I told you so moment”.

9.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 13:06:16
I think the main reason the England back four moved the ball about so much, was because the midfield were incapable of providing them with someone to pass to.

10.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 14:19:21
Business as usual oh Degs.
I'm guilty of down thumbing on name alone but your 1st post made sense.
Seems a few have the same reaction to your name. I don't think many here even bothered to read your post. Anyway I'll leave you to the sharks.

11.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 15:03:28
if he's not getting more than enough gametime by January i'd pay that fifty mill to get him back again personally, weher he'd come back another story.

12.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 15:52:07
Whilst I understand that playing out from the back seems to be the new mould for defenders, I hate it with a passion! I much prefer to see a good old fashioned defender who just clears the danger and stops these ridiculous errors that are so common now, tippy tippy in the area to show opposition attacker up, oops he got the ball and scored. Imo just do whatever it takes to keep the ball out of the net.
Give me a Tony Adams, Steve Bruce, Martin Keown type defender and I feel much more confident that we will keep a clean sheet.

13.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 16:22:28
Defenders of that ilk more or less ensure that the ball comes straight back at you with a consequent increase in pressure and an increase in chances for the opposition.

14.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 17:18:23
Teams like City, juve, Barca, Real, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and most top teams play out from the back yet we still have people wanting a row Z type CB. There's a time and place for everything but not all of the time.

That CB booting the ball up field gives the ball back to the opposition and puts you straight back under pressure.

We're not that type of team yet and do not have that type of player at the back at the club but hopefully we become a bit more cultured and intelligent over the next few seasons that will enable us to develop into a top team.

15.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 19:44:33
Most defenders can boot the ball back up the field and clear danger, not so many can play out from the back well. All the ones who can play out from the back can also clear the ball up field if needed. For that reason alone a ball playing defender is the most logical option. The game is moving on, we need to move with it or get left behind.

16.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 20:37:41
There’s a big difference between a CB hammering the ball aimlessly up the pitch every time they get it and a CB putting it in the stands when’s they're under pressure with no options. Playing out from the back will always give you a platform to attack (providing you have options to pass forward to) but stepovers in your own box are ridiculous.

17.) 05 Jul 2018
05 Jul 2018 08:29:37
I am pleased that at least some of you actually agree with me on this. I really was slated for suggesting Stones was the way forward. I have to say this was not my original idea and I learned it from a West Brom coach of all people. I was sceptical at first and also very traditional with my defender views. But now I am totally subscribed to it and can see that unless our nation of footballers continue to be taught to play across and through our own back lines, we will never advance. Man City do it. So do all the top national teams. Someone pointed out that Spain had been knocked out when I gave them as an example. but hey Spain haved been one of the top national teams for some 10 years now winning just about every game. Watch England next time and see how they are happy for Pickford to hold onto the ball until a forward tries to close him down, then the ball goes to Stones, then Trippier, then Walker. and back across and into midfield etc. In the past it was lumped forwards or down the wing and so easy for the opposition to gain possesion. We may lose because of a mistake. I get that. But unless we try this football we will never advance to the levels of Spain, France, Brazil and many other countries who play like this and coach their players from a very young age that football is to be played all over the pitch and not just up front.

18.) 06 Jul 2018
06 Jul 2018 01:50:43
yeah but degs you are not the only one that's sees these things for some reason you think you have a far greater knowledge of the game than all the rest of us and constantly blab on about this and how you are the only one to pick up on this i really believe you would like everton to fail this season just so you could tell us all so.