Derby Desire Shows We’re Back
For many years Everton have been used to losing derbies, going in as the underdogs and content with getting out of the match with a draw. Under Moyes it always seemed to be the same in the big matches: We were more scared about losing than having a desire to win the match. It was a way of football that worked for many years and had considerable success in terms of getting us away from relegation and into Europe. However our level of player ability reached a point where the fans we’re wanting more.
Martinez has brought a different mentality to the football club, one where we go into every match trying to win the game, regardless of the opposition. Not necessarily with different tactics or formations but it’s a change in attitude that has been evident since Martinez took over the club. The fact that they players were going for the win at the end of the match vs Liverpool and the fans were frustrated with a draw shows that both have bought into the Spaniards attitude. We may not have won the match but the victories in big games since he started at the club has shown that success can be achieved. Our next two games vs Man Utd, and especially Arsenal away, will be further tests to that.
All this change in attitude is all well and good, however, when the going gets tough it all seems to fall away. With it the comments and reaction coming out of the club stops being so positive. Whatever the reasons for our terrible spell last season, the fans and, seemingly the players, found it hard to buy into what the manager wants. Especially when the manager himself is focusing on keeping his own job, and was possibly only a few games from losing it.
When the atmosphere around the club improves like it has now, you see the players coming out with bold comments and being bullish about our chances. Our play improves and so does the performances like a snowball effect which grows momentum. It makes a huge difference when you go into a match expecting to win, rather than one where you’re expecting to lose. I’m not sure a comeback vs West Brom would have happened last season.
Our fans and our older players have been scarred by the derby in recent years. Poor performance and poor results meant a huge amount of negativity before the game had even begun. That seems to be ebbing away now. Liverpool being happy with a derby draw shows that this fixture is no longer the one way street it used to be and we can have hope that regular victories will be soon to follow.
Our change in attitude is perhaps in some part to the arrogance of youth. It’s an arrogance that Martinez has referenced in the past and a word he sees as a positive and an attribute to be admired. Seven of our eleven starters were 24 or under and it’s a youthful exuberance that Martinez can impart on his own philosophy and a set of players that have come into a dressing room full of talent, and a club far removed from avoiding relegation being it’s primary goal.
A promising start to the season means the club is buying into Martinez again. In his first season we fell in love with a fresh approach and the football it brought to Goodison Park. First and foremost it’s the results that matter, Martinez’ magic touch is coming back and the results are coming with it. We may have not won the derby, but it wasn’t due to the wrong attitude. It’s an attitude at gives hope for a lot more wins in the future.