Everton Irish and Opposition Irish

[KK77]

Not such a great manager after all. I read a quote from a Wigan fan.the cup is long forgotten all that's remembered is the bitter taste of relegation.

I can't understand him saying specifically in the media that he couldn't change his formation or style to play more defensive. They had taken a lead to bring away from home you should most definitely.

well at least James will be well rested for the Poland game and no excuses......oh wait.

I think Martinez is the ideal international manager.

All his teams leak goals like no tomorrow and it eventually caught up with Wigan.

[DeLorean]

Eventually is right. An achievement to keep them there that long and absolute fantasy stuff to win an FA Cup.

Everton fans need to relax a bit I think. It was very much 'one season good, one season bad' under Moyes for a while too. Martinez's debut season shouldn't be forgotten that quickly and there have been some positive signs lately, even if last night was a shambles.

[geysir]

Moyes never made it this far in the EL. Once I think he got as far as the last 32 and got hammered in Portugal. Even in a poor season, a dodgy Martinez is still outperforming Moyes at his best.

[KK77]

Moyes never made it this far in the EL. Once I think he got as far as the last 32 and got hammered in Portugal. Even in a poor season, a dodgy Martinez is still outperforming Moyes at his best.

Regardless Roberto needs to do something and quick about the defending. It's basic stuff really basic but his teams have always been poor defensively so not likely it's going to change. I think Coleman has had his poorest season so far. McCarthy got his first goal this season the other week so hopefully he can add more now.

[Charlie Darwin]

Eventually is right.
They were a relegation waiting to happen, as Posh would put it.

[tetsujin1979]

They were a relegation waiting to happen, as Posh would put it.
technically, every club is a relegation waiting to happen.

[Charlie Darwin]

technically, every club is a relegation waiting to happen.
Except for Everton, funnily enough.

[DeLorean]

Everton had the third best defensive record in the league last season (only behind Chelsea and Man City). Of course, he was lucky enough to have his two best defenders ever present, more or less, but Everton also played with an intensity that made it uncomfortable for the opposition. For whatever reason, that hasn't happened this season. I think a lack of confidence following some throw away points early on, followed by a string of injuries (to defenders especially) and obviously Europa League football have all played a part.

Of course Wigan were going to leak goals... they are a tiny club who tried to out-football even the best of sides. It stands to reason they wouldn't keep as many clean sheets as, say, Sunderland, but I know who I'd have preferred to have had a season ticket for.

Luckily for Martinez, I think he's got a chairman who understands that there are ups and downs in football.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

the same Bundesliga clubs that wanted to sign David Forde.

Wasn't Bayern Munich who wanted Forde, Bucko! But it wasn't a second tier team ran like a third tier team either!

Enjoy League One next season, David.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

There probably aren't many teams with the money to buy him, but there are plenty of clubs in Europe from England and abroad who would be very much improved by him. He could easily stay at Everton too.

There is also a perception that for players from The British Isles, moving to continental teams isn't an option and they can't (aren't willing?) to adapt. Bayern have already had problems with Dale Jennings after he signed for them. They had problems trying to sign Leighton Baines because he was unwilling to relocate to a foreign country. It's an even bigger problem with Irish players; ironically enough, seeing as how the country has been decimated by young people relocating to every corner of the planet.

At the end of the day, Bayern will probably move on to other targets like Man Utd are see Nathaniel Clyne.

Must be a bit frustrating seeing Champions League dreams go up in smoke against Crystal Palace, sign a new contract and then the team fails to make any kind of progress domestically.

I can't help but think his market value has probably dropped a little now.

27 early next season. Getting to that stage where it's now or never if he is going to make the step up to a big team.

[DeLorean]

I think Roy Keane mentioned in his book that Leighton Baines almost signed for him at Sunderland (from Wigan) but made it clear that if Everton came in for him, that he'd prefer to sign for them, as he's from Liverpool and always supported them. He didn't throw his toys out of the pram when United came knocking either, the PL champions at the time and only an hour up the road. Bayern never seemed like a runner. Does this mean he's lacking ambition or just loyal?

[TrapAPony]

Coleman, Gibson & McCarthy start v QPR. McGeady not on the bench.

[tricky_colour]

coleman just scored just inside the box off the far post

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

https://vine.co/v/OYI9HrMhZ3p/embed

[tricky_colour]

https://vine.co/v/OYI9HrMhZ3p

[tricky_colour]

how do you make it play here?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

IDK. It's doing my nut in.

[tricky_colour]

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos_h264high/A51133C5831191463138940317696_SW_WEBM_142704115794 61103c9560c.mp4 (https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos_h264high/A51133C5831191463138940317696_SW_WEBM_142704115794 61103c9560c.mp4?versionId=6rBdi7mxiKKBE9BU4WuB4UQh 8CyNaNbl)


https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos_h264high/A51133C5831191463138940317696_SW_WEBM_142704115794 61103c9560c.mp4

cant get it to work

https://vine.co/v/OYI9HrMhZ3p

OYI9HrMhZ3p

[nigel-harps1954]

Just put the address of the vine inside tags. Only just the code at the end of the URL, i.e OYI9HrMhZ3p from that vine.

[vine]OYI9HrMhZ3p

[tetsujin1979]

how do you make it play here?
like this
OYI9HrMhZ3p
Take the link for the vine: https://vine.co/v/OYI9HrMhZ3p
Drop everything before "/v/" leaving OYI9HrMhZ3p
Put this in a vine tag, i.e.
[ vine ]OYI9HrMhZ3p[/ vine ]
(without the spaces around vine) and there you go

[geysir]

Looks like he meant it as well.

[Irwin3]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAu-m1nWsAAsBGU.jpg:large

[DeLorean]

Need McGeady instead of Stones for a full house!

[Irwin3]

Heart in the mouth time when Gibson went down with a knock to the knee late on. He pulled his shirt over his face, McCarthy came up to console him. Talk about déjà vu. Thankfully he made it back on and finished the game, hopefully he'll be ok for this week. Good to see Coleman back on the scoresheet. A real beauty. I had predicted him to score last week as he was due one. Flashes from him at times regaining his top form but hasn't had a consistent run at his best in recent memory. Nice ball in as well which led to Lennon's winner.

[Irwin3]

Need McGeady instead of Stones for a full house!

Lennon too, as an honourary member!

[Irwin3]

Would you believe it. After Lennon's goal. He made the wrong choice.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAu-gi8WAAAOo60.jpg:large

[DannyInvincible]

Heart in the mouth time when Gibson went down with a knock to the knee late on. He pulled his shirt over his face, McCarthy came up to console him. Talk about déjà vu. Thankfully he made it back on and finished the game, hopefully he'll be ok for this week.

Any further update on this or was it just a minor scare?

[Irwin3]

Any further update on this or was it just a minor scare?

I don't think Martinez made any mention of it post-match so it's hopefully nothing. From his initial reaction I definitely thought the ligament had gone again. The physio came on and flexed the knee and basically reassured him. He got up and finished the last 5-10 minutes or so after that with no apparent problem.

[DannyInvincible]

Gibson and McCarthy sat out training today: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2015/0323/689127-oneill-confident-over-irish-injury-doubts/

McCarthy was being rested while Gibson had a minor groin problem, so at least nothing knee-related.


James McCarthy, Darron Gibson and Stephen Ward were among the players to sit out training at Malahide this morning. The complete squad will assemble later today with Robbie Keane due to arrive after a match with LA Galaxy and new call-up Harry Arter and Jonathan Walters also due in.

O’Neill said McCarthy's omission is with respect to the amount of games the Everton contingent has played so far this month.

He said: “It's not surprising with James McCarthy. Everton have played four games in the last 10 or 11 days. Darron Gibson has a bit of a groin problem. He played yesterday for Everton.

...

O’Neill also confirmed that Aiden McGeady is likely to be available after overcoming a knee problem.

[Stuttgart88]

I'd almost prefer if McGeady wasn't fit. He is inconsistent at the best of times, and despite having played well in each game other than Glasgow a non-match fit McGeady could be a passenger.

[DeLorean]

I don't know, he's been pretty important so far and wasn't any worse than the majority in Glasgow. He still came closest to scoring. Plus, Robbie Brady isn't exactly match fit either so between them we have a better chance of getting a decent ninety minutes than if we were relying on only one.

[Fixer82]

Hard to know whether to start McGeady. Don't think O'Neill would take him off at half time but I've seen him in games where the only option is to take him off at half time. He either turns up or he doesn't.
But he'll always lose the ball at some stage. Pilkington (injured i know) and Brady I think are much less likely to lose possession. Of course, they're less likely to do something special too

[Irwin3]

Gibson and McCarthy sat out training today: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2015/0323/689127-oneill-confident-over-irish-injury-doubts/

McCarthy was being rested while Gibson had a minor groin problem, so at least nothing knee-related.

Gibson did have a recurring groin problem that I believe was caused by some kind of bone growth. It kept him out several times for weeks and months at a time over a period of years. I don't believe he had the surgery to repair it. When Gibson did his ACL in October 2013, Martinez made a comment saying that this had been cleared up but having never had surgery I wonder if it's always going to threaten to reappear again. Since joining Everton he was out with knee/thigh/groin injuries for various lengths of time after playing runs of 5, 5, 3, 6, 11, consecutive league games. Since coming back recently Gibson has played in the last 6 league games, the last 3 of which were the full 90. Hopefully this is just a bit of tiredness and he'll be able to train and remain fit.

[liamoo11]

Gibson did have a recurring groin problem that I believe was caused by some kind of bone growth. It kept him out several times for weeks and months at a time over a period of years. I don't believe he had the surgery to repair it. When Gibson did his ACL in October 2013, Martinez made a comment saying that this had been cleared up but having never had surgery I wonder if it's always going to threaten to reappear again. Since joining Everton he was out with knee/thigh/groin injuries for various lengths of time after playing runs of 5, 5, 3, 6, 11, consecutive league games. Since coming back recently Gibson has played in the last 6 league games, the last 3 of which were the full 90. Hopefully this is just a bit of tiredness and he'll be able to train and remain fit.
If only surgery was that successful

[Irwin3]

If only surgery was that successful

Well Moyes mentioned that surgery might be an option in early 2013 to remove this bone growth in the thigh. Clearly having Gibson breaking down after playing short runs of games was a concern for him. Changing managers that summer and not having the surgery may well have been a missed opportunity if this is indeed the same type of injury. For all I know it is the other leg this time. We'll see going forward.

[tricky_colour]

Jamie Carragher wants James McCarthy at Anfield
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-transfer-gossip-reds-8898886

However Rodgers is the manager and he may think differently, seems his interest is in Yarmolenk.

[Charlie Darwin]

Jamie Carragher wants James McCarthy at Anfield


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-transfer-gossip-reds-8898886

However Rodgers is the manager and he may think differently, seems his interest is in Yarmolenk.
Savage comment below that article. Liverpool could sign Reus but he'd struggle to get a game ahead of Joe Allen. If anything sums up the myopia of the Premier League...

[CraftyToePoke]

Savage comment below that article. Liverpool could sign Reus but he'd struggle to get a game ahead of Joe Allen. If anything sums up the myopia of the Premier League...

Tongue in cheek comment wasn't it, surely CD ?

[Charlie Darwin]

Tongue in cheek comment wasn't it, surely CD ?
Don't ruin my moment.

[DannyInvincible]

Well Moyes mentioned that surgery might be an option in early 2013 to remove this bone growth in the thigh. Clearly having Gibson breaking down after playing short runs of games was a concern for him. Changing managers that summer and not having the surgery may well have been a missed opportunity if this is indeed the same type of injury. For all I know it is the other leg this time. We'll see going forward.

The FAI's tweet announcing his withdrawal from the squad described it as a "persistent groin injury" (https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/580758395868811264). That would suggest it's the groin with which he's had problems before. Frustrating. Assuming it is the same groin, is this something that only surgery can solve in the long run; otherwise, he'll be forever breaking down after runs of five or six games?

[Irwin3]

The FAI's tweet announcing his withdrawal from the squad described it as a "persistent groin injury" (https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/580758395868811264). That would suggest it's the groin with which he's had problems before. Frustrating. Assuming it is the same groin, is this something that only surgery can solve in the long run; otherwise, he'll be forever breaking down after runs of five or six games?

Disclaimer: I'm not a Doctor or any kind of medical practitioner!

Basically as I understand it, these abnormal bone growths are in a place that they shouldn't be, i.e. the muscles. The more mechanical movement you do, the move damage that the bone growth does to the muscle through friction. Once it gets so bad to cause enough pain and discomfort to prevent you from exercising, you have to simply let it heal and the process starts again. Of course, weakening your thigh muscles is not a good thing for the knees generally as well, i.e. ACL injuries.

Take this with a pinch of salt. It is simply my layman's understanding.

I honestly know nothing about footballer's having this kind of surgery. The size of the object to be removed, will it grow back, impact on the surrounding muscles. All I know is that Moyes was talking it up as Gibson kept breaking down and would require recoveries of various lengths of time from 2-12 weeks or so.

Also possibly tangentially related (abnormal growths) is the fact that Gibson was injured against Scotland when a cyst at the back of the knee burst. I believe he then suffered setbacks following this which kept him out for the following 3 months until he returned in February.

[DeLorean]

Nice assist by McCarthy for Lennon to put Everton one up at Swansea. Coleman had a really good shot earlier tipped around the post. Gibson and McGeady not in squad.

[Charlie Darwin]

Gibson's out for the season, McGeady out of favour.

[Irwin3]

McGeady is out with a back injury.

[DeLorean]

Oh right, had it been stated that McGeady is out of favour or do we just know for certain that he's fit?

Edit- only saw Irwin's comment after asking.

[Charlie Darwin]

He's been left out when fit, fair enough if he's injured this time though.

[DeLorean]

So you mean he was fit for the Southampton game last week? Or before international break?

[TrapAPony]

Coleman handballs in the box and Shelvey scores the penalty.

[paul_oshea]

How's MxGeady getting on cd and geysir? how would you sum up his season overall?

didn't I tell ye about Coleman and the penalty ;)

[DeLorean]

Bit of a mad one, Coleman felt he was pushed first before scooping the ball away with his hand. The more I look at it the more I think the ref got it right. Silly by Coleman but we were warned he was always liable to do something like that.