Everton Irish and Opposition Irish

[tricky_colour]

I wonder if Roy Keane is the offensive coach at Villa?

[Charlie Darwin]

Martinez would be well suited in NFL where he could be the offensive coach....
Bit unfair I think. Everton play attacking football but they've shown themselves well capable of defending in the past. I just think he had one defender in Distin who shouldn't have played because he wasn't fit, and another in Stones who was playing in the wrong position. Had Coleman been fit, I think they'd have had players in their right positions and they'd have been more solid.

[Predator]

I'm not so sure about that Charlie. In six competitive games this season, they've kept one clean sheet: away to West Brom. If my calculations are correct, in those six games their scoring record is: Goals scored: 15, Goals against: 14 (+1). It is something which was plainly evident in pre-season and has continued into their season proper. A dangerous oversight, perhaps, on Martinez's part for not identifying the problem. It's no good spending truck loads on a player like Lukaku if you are thin at the back.

A look at their defenders tells its own story. Distin (36), despite his best efforts, is past it, Alcaraz (32) isn't good enough for a team with European pretensions, Jagielka's (32) powers are on the wane and Stones (20) is incredibly overrated. It's obvious, too, that the strengths of Coleman and Baines lie primarily in their attacking prowess.

They have looked badly organised and don't seem to have a leader at the back. Shane Duffy is exactly the type of defender they could use at the minute. A no-nonsense stopper who takes charge of the back line, who makes blocks, wins his headers and tackles. He might be slightly limited when it comes to distribution in comparison to the others, but he's no slouch either. I would say that it's no coincidence Blackburn picked up their first clean sheet of the season against Fulham with Duffy making his first start (check his rating here (http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/829984/Live/England-Championship-2014-2015-Fulham-Blackburn)*). I think Martinez missed an opportunity, but only time will tell.

* The stats make for interesting reading. He was noted for his effective blocks and clearances while with Yeovil last season, but in the game against Fulham, his passing was relatively good too.

[Charlie Darwin]

Good points all, Predator. I think keeping Alcaraz and getting rid of Duffy was a mistake, especially given the age profile of the squad. Ideally, I think Martinez would have Baines-Jagielka-Stones-Coleman and that is their most solid quartet, but as I alluded to earlier, I don't think Stones is as good as he's been made out to be. Distin is a super player at full tilt but this was his first game back. To be honest, while Duffy's passing isn't his strength, it's not Jagielka's either. Alcaraz and Distin are better passers.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/james-mccarthy-seamus-coleman-everton-liverpool-1689679-Sep2014/

Why McCarthy and Coleman are so important to Everton.

[paul_oshea]

I think martinez requires two very solid and fast cbs to cover. I don't think any of his teams ever had that though.

[Charlie Darwin]

Distin and Jagielka were last season. Stones will probably be better this season, but they should still have held on to Duffy as Alcaraz is murder.

Coleman out of the derby so Hibbert starts for the first time in almost two years. McGeady and Gibson on the bench as Martinez goes with more defensive players in midfield.

[Charlie Darwin]

McGeady on now for Mirallas, who has done his hamstring for the second time in a few months.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Melancholic voice aside, the guy on NBC (Jim Beglin?) is a good commentator.

Gibson "fully-fit" now and can't get in ahead of Besic, despite having the edge on experience for games like these.

Might be more mobile but Liverpool still giving them a bit of a runaround at times and the Everton defence are leaving oceans of space at times. Think Liverpool will score a (couple?) eventually but Everton do look decent on the counter too.

Naismith a tidy player again and even with Mirallas gone off and McGeady making a good first impression, they still have (Atsu?) to call upon.

*Just looked it up and Atsu isn't even on the bench*

Such an array of attacking options they have! And a rickety defence.

[Charlie Darwin]

Besic has been fully fit all year and Martinez is going more defensive to stem the flow of goals against, so Besic makes a bit of sense. He's probably better suited to rotate with McCarthy for the advanced position. He's looked like the weak link so far.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Shades of Wolfsburg as McCarthy makes an excellent recovering tackle against Lazar Markovic.

[Charlie Darwin]

McCarthy has been really impressive all game. In the space of 30 seconds, he played a wonderful volleyed pass to McGeady from which Everton won a corner, and then did brilliantly to dispossess Markovic when he was through on goal from the counter.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Everton behind to Liverpool.

Delaney & O'Shea, two 33 year old centre backs, the only Irish starters in the six 3:00 kick offs.

Depressing...

[paul_oshea]

Liverpool well on top. Everton leaving an awful lot of space down mcgeadys side too. Both sides in fairness. Martinez can't get the balance right between attack and defence against decent to top opposition.

[Charlie Darwin]

Wow, what a strike!

[Predator]

Everton behind to Liverpool.

Delaney & O'Shea, two 33 year old centre backs, the only Irish starters in the six 3:00 kick offs.

Depressing...McNair started for Man United.

[paul_oshea]

Northern iron

[tricky_colour]

Northern iron


Is he eligible for the Republic? He is only 19.

I had a look on google and I couldn't find anything other than others asking the
same question so it looks very remote.

[Charlie Darwin]

He's born on the island of Ireland so he's eligible for the Republic of Ireland.

[tricky_colour]

He's born on the island of Ireland so he's eligible for the Republic of Ireland.

Granted, but there is no indication he wants to.

[The Fly]

His surname's McNair and he's from Ballyclare. I'd say it's safe assume he doesn't want to.

[Crosby87]

Well Chaps I am live here at Met Life In East Rutherford,NJ. And Syracuse is holding their own....BUT i belive the fighting Irish will blow out the Cuse......

[tricky_colour]

Well Chaps I am live here at Met Life In East Rutherford,NJ. And Syracuse is holding their own....BUT i belive the fighting Irish will blow out the Cuse......

Where about are you? I found it on a stream and am watching!

Don't forget to wave is the camera is on you!

The picture is pretty good but I don't really have time to watch plus I do not know much about the game.

In the UK we would not say losing 21-3 is " holding their own", that is more in the realms of "getting thrashed".

[paul_oshea]

His surname's McNair and he's from Ballyclare. I'd say it's safe assume he doesn't want to.

Patrick James aka PJ there has to be a chance.....

Patrick James coleman.

[DannyInvincible]

He's born on the island of Ireland so he's eligible for the Republic of Ireland.

Before you have to suffer the ignominy of some GR pedantry, in order to be eligible to play for us by virtue of any held Irish nationality, McNair, of course, first must have been born to a parent entitled to Irish nationality. He'd also have to effect his birthright to Irish nationality by performing an act that only an Irish national is entitled to perform, such as applying for an Irish passport, before being formally recognised as an Irish citizen from birth. :p


Patrick James aka PJ there has to be a chance.....

Patrick James coleman.

McNair is a surname of Scots Gaelic origin that made its way to Ulster during the Protestant plantation of the province, whilst unionists celebrate the saintly patronage of Patrick too, although James (as opposed to Billy) is indeed culturally ambiguous. Perhaps he's of mixed heritage and Coleman (assuming it's the variant of native Irish origin) is his mother's maiden or family name? Either way, trying to deduce any possible political/national identity or persuasion from his name is fairly pointless and trivial speculation; he's never uttered or signaled any intention whatsoever to switch.

[Stuttgart88]

No, but foot.ie loves a bit of pointless speculation.

[Charlie Darwin]

Before you have to suffer the ignominy of some GR pedantry, in order to be eligible to play for us by virtue of any held Irish nationality, McNair, of course, first must have been born to a parent entitled to Irish nationality. He'd also have to effect his birthright to Irish nationality by performing an act that only an Irish national is entitled to perform, such as applying for an Irish passport, before being formally recognised as an Irish citizen from birth. :p
I naively assumed that even somebody of GR's pedantry level would realise McNair was born before that constitutional amendment was made :p

On his name being Scots Gaelic... so is McGregor, and I believe somebody of that name was draped in a tricolour in Las Vegas last night. Alan Kernaghan, he of Gaelic Irish nomenclature, was from a northern Protestant background. McNair's name is clearly of Gaelic Irish lineage. You can't really read anything into names in Northern Ireland, beyond beyond people who deliberately choose Irish language names or name their kids "Carson" or "King Billy" or whatever.

[geysir]

I suppose there are subtle masonic like ways to tell differences in ethnicity without having to ask outright and these barely perceptible nuances give glaringly obvious answers to a nordie. But nordies look and sound all the same to me (and me being a southern nordie).

[Stuttgart88]

I thought you were a northern Southie?

[Charlie Darwin]

I thought you were a northern Southie?
He's from Dundalk. We have to indulge them sometimes are pretend they're part of the Republic.

[geysir]

just because I grew up supporting Dundalk doesn't mean I grew up in that sh*thole.
just as, you supporting SR doesn't actually mean you grew up in Milltown.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well at least you agree it's a ****hole :)

[Stuttgart88]

No, but at least he supports a team from his own county :)

Your fellow Mon folk probably thought you were the 1970s equivalent of a barstooler, ignoring your local team in favour of a glamorous team doing well in Europe.

[Charlie Darwin]

He's from Monaghan? Good god, no wonder we only learned of his Lilywhite sympathies in the past year or so.

[Predator]

It was clear early on that geysir was a loyal son of Ulster.

[DannyInvincible]

I naively assumed that even somebody of GR's pedantry level would realise McNair was born before that constitutional amendment was made :p

On his name being Scots Gaelic... so is McGregor, and I believe somebody of that name was draped in a tricolour in Las Vegas last night. Alan Kernaghan, he of Gaelic Irish nomenclature, was from a northern Protestant background. McNair's name is clearly of Gaelic Irish lineage. You can't really read anything into names in Northern Ireland, beyond beyond people who deliberately choose Irish language names or name their kids "Carson" or "King Billy" or whatever.

I've replied in the eligibility thread (http://foot.ie/threads/147164-Eligibility-Rules-Okay?p=1781000&viewfull=1#post1781000). I don't want to risk Tets' wrath again! ;)

[ArdeeBhoy]

He's from Dundalk. We have to indulge them sometimes are pretend they're part of the Republic.

Where else would they be from? And most An Lu folk are OK, the Mons are a whole other equation...

[Charlie Darwin]

Colers and Jamers left out of the squad to travel to Russia. Could be a loss for Everton I fancy.

[Gather round]

Where else would they be from? And most An Lu folk are OK

At least one of them's from Worcester :victory:

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

WTF? He was rated as a minor doubt for the first league game after the Wolfsburg match and two weeks later he is still out.

[Stuttgart88]

He got a knock to his head during Wolfsburg but subsequently he has a minor hamstring according to O'Neill at last week's squad announcement.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes, Everton confirmed it's the hamstring injury that's been keeping him out. McCarthy has a slightly tight quad so he's being rested too. They reckon both will be back for Manchester United.

[jbyrne]

Yes, Everton confirmed it's the hamstring injury that's been keeping him out. McCarthy has a slightly tight quad so he's being rested too. They reckon both will be back for Manchester United.

maybe not...
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/martinez-casts-doubt-over-fitness-of-coleman-and-mccarthy-1.1948195

[Charlie Darwin]

Gibson and McGeady named as starters in Krasnodar.

[Fixer82]

How did Gibbers and Maccers do?

[liamoo11]

gibson played well passed it lovely barry was poor beside him. mcgeady was good first half faded a bit

[ArdeeBhoy]

At least one of them's from Worcester

Huh?
:confused:

[paul_oshea]

It doesn't matter ab.

[ArdeeBhoy]

You're right, but then why post nonsensical drivel...
:rolleyes:

[paul_oshea]

Lads I feel like ive been in the Twilight zone or something.....

Have McCarthy and Coleman definitely been ruled out of the Germany game?