Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Martinez defends his position on Howard

Coleman doubtful for Sunderland clash

Seamus Coleman is a big doubt for the Sunderland game after coming down with a stomach virus this week
The Catalan fielded more questions about the form of Tim Howard at his pre-match press conference this morning, evidence of the pressure that has been building from media scrutiny and supporters alike on the manager to give Joel Robles an extended run in the team.
Howard's latest dip in form has created an opportunity for his Spanish understudy to impress, one he took with both hands on Tuesday against Norwich in the Capital One Cup but for now Martinez remains unmoved over who is first-choice 'keeper is.
Football is about competition for places, thats why its great to see someone like Joel enjoying his football and performing how he did, having an incredible influence, the Catalan explained.
Thats what you want all over the park. Goalkeeper is no different, we want that competition, that stimulation for players, and thats very important. Its the only way you can be consistently good.
Im delighted with the form of Joel, and delighted to have the experience of Tim Howard when most needed, especially when you have the young players or inexperienced players of the goalkeeper and back four.
Sometimes you can be too young, and you need that little bit of know-how and direction.
Thats why Tim Howard has always been so important, through good moments of form and bad moments of form, but his role on the pitch is more important than individual performance.
He expounded on his views of the situation further in the Liverpool Echo, insisting that he would not allow a "blame culture" to grow at the club.
"There is no guarantee that any player will start and have the position for the whole season, Martinez continued. But in the same manner as a goalkeeper, you cannot be with a sense that Ive made a mistake, I am going to lose my position We dont manage the squad in that manner.
Of course, we want competition for places and everyone gets judged on their levels but I will never allow the dressing room to be managed in a blame culture, where we try to highlight an error or blame someone for a result.
Meanwhile, Everton could again be without fullback Seamus Coleman this weekend with Roberto Martinez revealing the Irishman has been struck down with a stomach bug this week.
Coleman has only recently come back from a month-long absence due to a hamstring injury and the Blues look likely to be denied his services when Sunderland come to town on Sunday.
"[Seamus] couldn't be involved on Tuesday and he's a huge question mark for the weekend at the moment," Martinez told the media. "He's had a stomach bug, nothing serious but he's lost a lot of weight and he's going to take a bit of time. We'll keep an eye on him but the weekend might just come too soon."
There was good news about the prospect of Leighton Baines and Muhamed Besic returning to the side after their own injuries, however. The manager confirmed that both players return to training today.
"Maybe it's just a little too early for them to be in a position to be selected for the weekend," Martinez said in reference to the pair who have recovered from ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.
Reader Comments (76)
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2 Posted 30/10/2015 at 14:27:45
Sorry, please explain that to me.
3 Posted 30/10/2015 at 14:30:17
4 Posted 30/10/2015 at 14:43:18
5 Posted 30/10/2015 at 14:46:22
6 Posted 30/10/2015 at 15:04:50
7 Posted 30/10/2015 at 15:21:39
I would love to know what you enjoy about the manager? I'm just naturally nosy.
As for trying to understand what he says about the team, players, and football in general, don't even try, you'll go crackers if you listen to him for too long.
8 Posted 30/10/2015 at 15:29:22
9 Posted 30/10/2015 at 15:34:24
Looking at his 'answer' does beg the further question, did Roberto Martinez invent the waffle machine?
And Joel had an 'incredible' influence.
(But he has to be phenomenal to get in ahead of Tim).
By the way, what is the point in citing Tim's experience when he has made some basic errors recently? Surely a spell on the bench is needed to recharge his batteries / focus? Where is the competition for places when the error-prone incumbent retains his place?
Apologies for what some may interpret as negative. But it is becoming unbearable to listen to / read (at least for me). Maybe I'm alone in just not getting it.
10 Posted 30/10/2015 at 15:59:50
Or is it just a BS excuse for not making the tough call that would get media attention and potentially ruin Howard for good at Everton?
12 Posted 30/10/2015 at 16:27:34
13 Posted 30/10/2015 at 16:29:16
It's a laudable position notion but it doesn't square with January/February this year when Howard was out for 6 weeks and he could have rewarded Robles for his form without looking like he was assigning any blame.
He's made another rod for his own back here and put Howard in an uncomfortable position which they can only get out of by the latter regularly finding some top-class performances or, at least, eliminating the errors from his game.
That doesn't seem likely but it would obviously be to the team's benefit if it happens so fingers crossed because we can't afford a repeat of last season.
14 Posted 30/10/2015 at 16:38:15
The biggest Gobshite I ever heard in football was Graham Taylor but now Roberto Martinez has that dubious honour. Each week that passes becomes harder to bare with Bobby Torro-Shit in charge.
Kenwright makes out he is one of us yet he kept Moyes 8 years too long and now he is allowing this Muppet Martinez carry on with the nonsense. The inmates are definitely running the asylum at Everton..
16 Posted 30/10/2015 at 16:39:47
It is OK to go out and give goals away and make mistakes because there wont' be any consequences.
My God, how much are these guys paid and now they know they can go out and consistently play shit and not get dropped.
Explains a lot about our consistency and lacklustre application.
17 Posted 30/10/2015 at 16:53:17
We as fans are not saying one mistake and you should be dropped, but if you constantly make mistakes maybe for your own good you should be taken out of the firing line. I am not totally convinced about Robles but RM brought him to the club, yet barring injury or the Carling Cup, RM seems reluctant to give him a start.
As I have said before certain players are undroppable under RM, and his stance on Howard confirms it for me. So how long must a player be out of form before RM considers leaving them out of the side?
He talks about competition but it only seems to apply for certain positions, he quite often will change wide players, but very rarely changes Lukaku or Barry and McCarthy.
18 Posted 30/10/2015 at 16:54:51
He may be right and Roberto certainly has a lot more information regarding Robles in training than we do, only seeing him once every month or two.
19 Posted 30/10/2015 at 16:59:08
He might let in goals because his flu-weakened muscles are too slow to react to being beaten in defence, but we can't have him being blamed for that - we don't want a 'blame culture' here at Everton.
20 Posted 30/10/2015 at 17:11:07
21 Posted 30/10/2015 at 17:12:39
Well that seems to contradict what your saying which is basically you won't drop Howard irrelevant of the mistakes he makes because that would be construed as blame... strange.
22 Posted 30/10/2015 at 17:17:48
How does he not get called out by the press for the utter nonsense he spouts?
23 Posted 30/10/2015 at 17:21:20
Or maybe I'm deluded and trying to find some grain of optimism in the bucket of nonsense he regularly comes out with.
Fact is we have no competition for places apart from the wide AM positions. Every other place is nailed on if the senior pro whose place it is, is fit enough to play. Sunderland and going to load our box with crosses, it's going to be interesting to see what happens.
24 Posted 30/10/2015 at 17:25:04
I've no idea why Howard stays in the team. Some on here have heavily criticised Osman in the past, Barry now, but the Howard thing is fundamentally different.
Howard is not competent at this level. We can all see it. It's like the absence of the emperor's clothes. So, whatever the reason Howard stays in the team, it's unforgivable, and it'll end in tears.
God knows what the dressing room must be like with him stealing a place in the starting eleven.
25 Posted 30/10/2015 at 17:54:38
26 Posted 30/10/2015 at 17:56:47
The likes of Mirallas, Barkley, Stones, Lukaku, McCarthy and soon, Galloway etc... have all signed up to long-term contracts because they believe in their manager and teammates and the direction they feel the club is heading in.
It's a known fact that the veterans, eg, Howard, Barry, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka etc, have been hugely influential with the younger players and, since the departure of Eto'o and his mate, the atmosphere at the club has improved ten-fold. This doesn't mean Tim isn't still a shit goalie (he is) but he's a huge, and respected, character around the club.
27 Posted 30/10/2015 at 18:17:39
So basically, 'I stick to my favourites no matter how badly they play' is what I gather from that. His role Roberto, is to keep the ball out of the net and command his area.
He has been dreadful at both over the last year. Players should only get picked based on form, no matter how influential he is. If he's a liability he should be dropped. Simple as.
But instead Howard maintains his place and will probably be handed the captaincy on Sunday. An absolute joke.
28 Posted 30/10/2015 at 18:20:48
Has Tim Howard taken his eye off the ball?! Well, we know he has in the literal sense... usually when there's any kind of set piece! Yes, the deficiencies were always there, but they were not so glaringly apparent. I'm having a panic attack every time there's a corner now.
Maybe age is catching up with him and the reflexes are a little bit slower. Or the slide in form, which coincided with him being lauded nationally for his World Cup heroics is a sign of complacency and Tim's started to believe his own hype?!
IMO, it's probably a mixture of both. I had felt more assured in the first few games. He'd shaved the beard off, which had become a sideshow in itself – Howard was quickly becoming some kind of role model for aspiring facial hair growers, and there was also the work for PETA, while admirable, this could be another factor that might be confusing Howard what his role is and what should be his first priority? Keeping a high standard of goalkeeping for EFC who pay him an obscene amount to do so.
The money and contract probably play a part too along with Martinez saying he's No 1 come what may. I'm not a fan of players flashing their wealth. The recent Instagram pic of Howard showing off his leg room on a transatlantic flight while purposely displaying his diamond encrusted Rolex is an example of everything that's wrong with the modern professional IMO.
I count myself as a Martinez supporter and I think there's been some improvement this season. But I cannot support him on his decision to stick with Tim Howard in goal.
29 Posted 30/10/2015 at 18:39:16
I agree, Howard's dip in form after the World Cup could be due to his huge burst of fame and not feeling like he needs to focus or work as hard. Hopefully he's over that now and is working hard again but it's difficult for us to know if that's the reason.
Those not in America may not know that Howard has become a semi-regular color commentator for American broadcasts of the Premier League on NBC. He was on the commentary team for the Manchester Derby one day after Everton's loss to Arsenal. He usually only does Liverpool, Manchester United or Manchester City matches on days where Everton does not play. Still, I have to wonder if it's taking focus away from his main job.
While I can see where Howard's experience and better communication could be good for the young back-4 against Sunderland, there's a limit to that benefit. I'll be watching him closing on the weekend to see how he's performing. I don't think Roberto can put this off too much longer if things stay the way they are.
30 Posted 30/10/2015 at 18:55:39
I was at the game the other night and could not believe how bad we were. Team selection, tactics (or lack of), negative body language from players, it was one of the worst in a long while but somehow we fluked it through.
That game reaffirmed to me that he needs to go. This decision over Howard will just alienate him further from fans like me and may sway others who've been more supportive of him to think again.
32 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:03:53
As for your comment that Howard is a better communicator, I think you're mistaken; from what I've seen sitting behind the goal, Joel talks more and isn't afraid to have a go at the back four.
34 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:15:36
He's always been shite at crosses, always. That's why SAF bounced him out of the door. A top-class goalkeeper needs to have a degree of bravery; Tim Howard doesn't have it and Fergie knew it.
This notion that Howard had a fantastic World Cup (the last one) is fanciful too. Yes, he impressed the fuck out of a nation who are still learning the game... but, from what I saw, he seemed to be making an awful lot of routine saves... the sort you would expect any professional keeper to make.
Martinez has had a shocker here.
35 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:18:45
1. Wider commercial interests linked in to marketing in the US
2. Stubbornness by the Manager
3. Crass stupidity by the Manager
4. Dressing room morale
5. Dubious contract agreement
6. Blackmail victim
7. Long-term training plan for Robles to see first hand how not to perform
8. Reverse marketing strategy
9. Roberto sees something that none of us do
Too much of a struggle to think of any rational, straightforward, logical reason; just the way Roberto sees it, I guess. Hard to imagine then, with a knowledgeable and patient fan base, he must be out of step with nearly all if not everyone. Why?
36 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:20:21
I haven't really seen where Robles is particularly decisive or better at coming off his line. On the first cross against Norwich, he was way off, fell down, and left his goal wide open. Stones had to head away the ball on the goal line.
As for his communication, Robles does seem to be getting better but I don't think he's as good as Howard in that regard yet. We also don't really know if he's communicating the "right" things. Martinez sees him every day at practice and obviously has concerns or else Robles would have taken the top spot by now.
I'm willing to give Roberto a little leeway on this since he has more information than I do. I just hope he's capable of making a switch if Howard can't improve his form.
37 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:21:35
If you concede goals from crosses and corners, which Tim Howard is doing regularly, his individual performance is 'shite', and his back four must be terrified, and can't figure out what is his fucking role.
38 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:40:00
I can't see any changes in Howard since he turned 30 or since the World Cup. For me, he has always been a brilliant shot-stopper who flaps and makes poor decisions when he has time to think.
There is very little competition for places. We have the permanent starters who come straight back in after suspension or injury. We have the not-so-permanent subs who sometimes start, ie, Osman, Gibson, McGeady, Naismith, Oviedo, Robles, Besic, Kone, Browning and Lennon.
Form has little to do with selection; it should do but it doesn't.
I can't say I'm happy with Martinez but I'd feel better if he talked straight and truthful like Koeman, Bilic or Monk. All this verbal ring-around-the-roses claptrap is quite insulting and continually leaves us in the dark.
He is the manager and I accept that he is trying to do it his way. I am a fan and if I need to protest I will do it my way. Cheers.
40 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:48:43
Why doesn't Roberto just say "Tim Howard stood by me and my methods when they were exposed to be sub standard so I will do the same for him, indefinitely."
41 Posted 30/10/2015 at 19:50:58
He's not perfect by any means but the question is whether he is better than Howard. Right now I'd say it's not even close!
I also don't buy the argument that, because he sees him in training, he knows better than the fans. Supporters often throw this up but football is a game of opinions. I remember years ago people arguing that Hinchcliffe should be in the team when Walker was the manager. He clearly didn't like what he saw in training. Joe Royle came in and put him in the team straightaway.
42 Posted 30/10/2015 at 20:00:50
There again, I could be grasping at straws!!
43 Posted 30/10/2015 at 20:01:14
Big Sam has his defence sorted out, and scoring won't be easy. A clean sheet is definitely required. So no goals conceded from crosses into the 6-yard box has to be a priority. Let's see how it goes.
44 Posted 30/10/2015 at 20:03:10
45 Posted 30/10/2015 at 20:05:43
Dealing with the senior professionals is another matter; he seems to be far too easy-going with them, and it shows on the pitch with so many indifferent performances from that group.
The reason being, some senior players know they will be selected, no matter what their form is, and that leads to complacency.
46 Posted 30/10/2015 at 20:12:57
47 Posted 30/10/2015 at 20:42:25
Describing a Premier League goalkeeper as a good shot-stopper is just ludicrous. Imagine the opposite. Err... he's okay but not so good at shot-stopping. He is very poor and the coach's sad support of him demonstrates once more what an utterly shit coach we have.
48 Posted 30/10/2015 at 21:21:44
We will end up somewhere between 9 and 13 when the season ends and that is going backwards big time from Moyes's time. I really do miss Moyes if the alternative is the current "boss". He was truly dire at times but there were seldom two bad games because old Davey must have told them in a certain way.
49 Posted 30/10/2015 at 21:22:07
What is important? That all, and absolutely all other opposing teams know that, when Howard receives a pass, his skills are so bad so that about the only thing he can do is to kick the ball as far away as he can?
Howard is actually a problem when coming to having ball possession. If the opposing team can press Everton high enough to pass the ball back to Howard, they lose ball possession.
Is there anyone that has not seen that? We have a goalie who cannot pass the ball.
50 Posted 30/10/2015 at 21:30:53
Yet Martinez refuses to drop calamity Howard and only the final whistle against a Sunderland team who thoroughly deserve to be bottom of the league will tell.
51 Posted 30/10/2015 at 22:02:39
I just do not understand the drivel he comes out with sometimes. Howard is done and dusted (of course he will produce saves but he will cost us more points – watch and see) and Martinez needs to stop the pretending and get his finger out and sign a keeper if he doesn't rate Robles.
If the League Cup is a competition Martinez wants to win, why is he playing Robles in front of Howard? Will he drop Robles for the next match against Middlesbrough or what? The man is a hypocrite with some of the stuff he comes out with.
52 Posted 30/10/2015 at 22:40:59
The Sunderland game is going to be interesting... but when is BK likely to act... if at all? When if ever will we get new owners? Kenwright has no intention of selling and the club will continue to stagnate while much smaller clubs have new owners, new grounds, grandstands etc. I would be happy to have a new manager right now.
53 Posted 30/10/2015 at 23:01:02
Eventually, by the end of this season, Howard will be totally smooth from top to tail,and still he will fail to gather high crosses, or dive at the feet of marauding forwards.
Then Roberto will have to admit that the hirsute Robles deserves his chance.
54 Posted 30/10/2015 at 23:07:35
No player has a right to have his name on the teamsheet, no matter how badly he plays. I am sure Osman, Hibbert would wonder why the same argument is not made by the manager for their inclusion.
To me he does not trust Robles to play on a consistent basis, which means he knows something we don't. This is surely Howard's last season but between the lines it doesn't look like Robles will ever be the Number One.
55 Posted 30/10/2015 at 23:15:55
What did Bill say as part of his eulogy on Thursday, in memory of HK: something along the lines of ".......the thing is he got it. He understood us..." Well, this bloke doesn't get it at all. Arrogance of the highest order and given that I was heartened to see the fabric of our great club shine through on such a sad occasion on Thursday, it nonetheless puzzles me that this charlatan is somehow conning all concerned at GP, let alone the faithful.
Despite everything, let's hope we get the three points up for grabs on Sunday and apologies for the pun, Tim.
56 Posted 30/10/2015 at 23:37:38
According to Paddy Power we're 1/2 on for a win while a draw is 3/1 and an away win 13/2.
Even more bollocks given our home form and their 'new man' effect (John Barnes excluded).
I obviously hope we win but the smart money says 3/1 draw looks very tempting. Not that I'll be having a football bet.
Second thoughts... 2-1 to us (a Funes Mori header and a Lukaku bicycle kick from 30 yards in off the bar on 90 mins).
57 Posted 30/10/2015 at 23:40:06
58 Posted 30/10/2015 at 23:59:53
Yes, under Moyes we let in goals. And yes, at times, we were stuffed, but mainly in my humble opinion Everton were more defensively aware, and solid; we are no longer solid. Our defenders seem to not know how to head a ball clear. Combine that with TH not coming to punch or catch the ball... well you get the picture.
Not very good, but not all Howard's fault... although he hardly inspires confidence. The buck stops with Martinez for poor defending and for all this nonsense over Tim Howard. It could only happen at Everton.
And sell Coleman. Cash in now while his stock is still high. His mind seems to be elsewhere. I think his better Everton days are behind him, sorry. He has been making just as many mistakes as Howard. And Stones also needs to tighten up... in fact, most of the team needs to smarten up.If a few results go against us tomorrow, we could find ourselves in 14th or 15th place. Even more pressure heaped on to Mr Howard, and our leaky defence. So more pressure then on to our misfiring midfield and our "wingers" (who spend more time at RB) and then pressure on our "hit and miss" £28 million striker.
Still, our manager talks nonsense, and still people think he is the man to take Everton forward. We need to beat Sunderland; I stress again, it is vital that we beat Sunderland, or this is close to being another lost season. Another capitulation.
When Robles was playing in a run of games last season, that run saw Everton play well and we managed to scramble to safety. Just wonder what would have happened with Tim Howard in goal? Would we have kept those few clean sheets? Just a thought. Rant Over.
59 Posted 31/10/2015 at 00:08:33
Bombard the 6-yard box. Allardyce never misses a trick.
61 Posted 31/10/2015 at 00:28:06
62 Posted 31/10/2015 at 03:45:40
63 Posted 31/10/2015 at 04:20:40
"Yes he impressed the fuck out of a nation who are still learning the game..."
What an absolute boatload of shite that is.
First, it wasn't just us that Howard impressed the fuck out of... FIFA unanimously named him MotM, the BBC called him "brilliant", the Mail said he was "deservedly hailed a hero" and Vincent Kompany tweeted: 'Two words: TIM HOWARD. Respect.'
And second, "still learning the game" my ass.... we poor undereducated Yanks finished ahead of your lot in the last two World Cups. We won the group ahead of England in 2010, and of course your boys had already slunk off home (last in their group, I believe?) when Howard put on his show against Belgium.
64 Posted 31/10/2015 at 05:47:41
One of the greatest newspaper headlines ever was inspired by his managerial incompetence: "Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious."
65 Posted 31/10/2015 at 07:06:59
I had not much time for RM as I don't think he should be managing our great club. But now, with that drivel, he proves yet again why he is not fit to run this club
Football is about winning matches. When you are not winning matches and a contributing factor is players' under-par performances, then another player is given a chance. That is the basics applied at any level of football, is it not?
We should be about winning football matches, not who likes who... I despair at this man. Get him out before it is too late.
66 Posted 31/10/2015 at 09:26:59
I do like Howard but he certainly goes through phases like this too regularly; easily beaten when the chips are down. The Rooney goal, a nice finish but for feck's sake, Howard, is that the best you can be?
67 Posted 31/10/2015 at 09:28:11
Here's hoping for that takeover and beginnings of a new dawn for our club.
69 Posted 31/10/2015 at 12:40:20
I agree – to make a mistake and lose your place is nuts.
However, it is totally disingenuous to suggest we are talking about A (ie, one) mistake.
Howard has made the same mistake four or five times in recent games and these mistakes have cost us goals.
More worrying is that he seems to think standing rooted to the fucking goal-line, flapping at a balls being butted at him, as a perfectly fine strategy and one that doesn't need changing.
(I'm presuming this is as I've not heard one sentiment expressed along the lines 'Yeah I know, I've been fucking up good-style, but from now on, any cross anywhere near me and I'm ploughing through all hands to get that fucking ball.')
70 Posted 31/10/2015 at 13:54:34
Er... not strictly true, that is it, Bobby.
Howard, McCarthy, Barry and Lukaku.
There's four who will keep their place regardless of how poor they are playing the man's nonsense is starting to wear a bit thin now.
71 Posted 31/10/2015 at 14:31:20
You cannot have a team that are not picked on merit. If a player is out of form, you drop him. If the player that replaces him does a good job, you play him next week. If you don't then the message it says is that it doesn't really matter how you perform, the manager will continue to pick his favourites like Howard (and Barry last season). You cannot have that in any profession.
Even when Martinez gets it right, he changes the team at the next opportunity. The expression "Do not change a winning team" doesn't apply to this guy.
He is an apology for a manager and, after seeing the untimely death of a great man, player and manager in the same week, I have to say that Martinez as a player and manager is not fit to lace Kendall's boots.
RIP, Mr Kendall, thank you for the good times...
72 Posted 31/10/2015 at 14:33:40
If that happens, Martinez will surely find himself increasingly put on a limb, with the board's support surely not extending much longer to a manager who refuses to face facts and whose team selection is based more on dressing room influence than on-field performance. He is making his own position untenable; if results don't improve drastically, he must be heading to the exit door before long.
73 Posted 31/10/2015 at 15:49:08
The top clubs and managers will make these decisions and won't be worried about upsetting a senior player. If anything, when players are untouchable, it's likely to breed more disharmony in the dressing room.
Of course the fans aren't privy to everything, but judging Joel on how he played on Tuesday and the way he was playing towards the end of his run last season, he should be playing right now. Howard needs a boot up his arse. He's the weak link in the side and opposing mangers don't need to do much homework to see that with our record of conceding from corners and set-pieces.
74 Posted 31/10/2015 at 18:07:16
100% correct. In our recent games, most of the wide free kicks against us have been dropped into the same area. It can't be a coincidence
75 Posted 31/10/2015 at 18:15:37
76 Posted 31/10/2015 at 18:49:24
At the risk of upsetting a lot of people, I have to say I absolutely love Klopp's quote which is something like "Barcelona may be a symphony but I prefer rock 'n' roll football."
Jurgen – so do I... but unfortunately we have to live with a manager who is proving unable to reconcile his Barcelona dream with the realities of the Premier League.
77 Posted 31/10/2015 at 19:00:17
78 Posted 31/10/2015 at 19:10:09
80 Posted 31/10/2015 at 21:27:00
81 Posted 31/10/2015 at 21:52:45
It all looks too comfortable for the players at Everton at the moment. We could all name the starting 11 for the Premier League games bar maybe Kone, Naismith & Lennon in the same places.
I just get the feeling they are doing enough to keep their places but not trying to achieve. Take the other night; they only upped their game after the crowd reacted to Kone being taken off... they battered Norwich for 15 mins, got the goal back, then...
83 Posted 01/11/2015 at 11:49:17
With Browning, Galloway, Funes Mori and Stones in front of Howard, I think he is right to point out that experience in defence is currently an issue. A fact, really.
I just hope this seasons 'keeper issue doesn't turn into last season's central-defender issue and that we look at another 'keeper in January if this continues.
Still, he can't do much until January, and Robles is hardly Buffon is he?
84 Posted 01/11/2015 at 12:09:15
I wonder if the former Barca number 1 is an option in January?
85 Posted 01/11/2015 at 22:07:20
I thought Kone was outstanding today in midfield, but our defence was jittery at times with our international goalkeeper glued to his line for another headed goal against us.
I must say it was a pleasure to see the lads when in attacking mode for all the goals. Well done, Blues
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1 Posted 30/10/2015 at 14:05:08
However, not sticking with Joel is a mistake. Howard does not like to be benched and would be a better keeper if benched not just rotated out for a game.
Play Joel, COYB