Football News: Roberto Martinez, should he have listened to Lukaku?
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I am sure most of you will have heard by now about Everton manager Roberto Martinez being asked by Romelu Lukaku to play more longer balls in matches for him to run onto. I am also sure you have your own opinions about whether Martinez did the right thing by listening to his players and making the change in tactics.
Personally, I am unsure what to think. While it is great to have a boss who listens and actually takes advice to improve matters, it is also a worry that he needed to take advice from a player. Roberto is watching the matches, surely he should be able to see the issues just as clearly as his players? If not better, as he is looking on and should be spotting the opportunities missed while reviewing the matches afterwards.
The more I think about it the more it seems like poor management. Not because of the sign of weakness and possibility of a breakdown in discipline if the players are dictating to the manager, though that could well be an issue. My worry is how on earth did Martinez not spot the obvious? Because it was obvious to all that the constant knocking it back and forward between defenders, especially defenders that aren't really suited to that, was causing problems.
If you are a top class manager, you should be able to see these issues for yourself and instruct the players to make changes, not have the players come to you complaining after a run of defeats. Every match, win, loss or draw, should have led him to review the tactics used and look for areas that could be improved upon. If he is not seeing the obvious, how can he have a future at this level?
Sometimes you have to wonder how someone who is unable to make the tactical changes required at the right time, leading to his previous club going from a safe mid-table spot under Steve Bruce to relegation battlers and eventual relegation under Martinez, is able to get a big job like Everton. Have the media, who adore 'Bobby' because he is such a genuinely nice guy, managed to colour perceptions that much?
Written by Tris Burke
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10 January 2015
Without a doubt, these things should have been picked up on by the manager or one of his staff. In a way, it is good that he is prepared to talk and listen to his players but, on the other hand, it probably shouldn't get to that stage.
My problem with RM is down to his stubborn nature. He could see what all us blues could see game after game. Admitting in an interview that he would not compromise his footballing beliefs is not what a top manager would do. The best managers do not rely on one style, they will mix it up during games depending on how the match is panning out. If you stick to the same style game in game out then other teams will suss you out and negate your threat. Which is exactly what the rest of the league has done this season. Let's hope we have managed to turn the corner, still nowhere near the level we expect but at least we are having a go. COYB