The ‘Dutch way’ put on hold for a match

There is a saying that there is ‘more than one way to skin a cat’ which is a rather gruesome idiom to suggest that there is more than one way of doing things. A big part of Roberto Martinez’ problem at Everton is that he was stuck in his own style of playing, and wouldn’t change it regardless of the match situation or opposition. Ronald Koeman, like Martinez, is a manager who likes to play nice attractive football. Koeman knows however that sometimes you have to play a different way in order to get a result.

Pep Guardiola knows that too, and on Saturday we saw the two tactical masters cancel each other out in a 1-1 draw. It remains to be seen whether Guardiola would play a defensive hand quite like Koeman did, as the Spaniard has never had a team that was so outmatched by the opposition. There are two ways to change things on a football pitch however. Firstly, you can change the formation which is the fairly obvious one, and it’s what Guardiola did vs Everton. Secondly, you can change your playing style, which it what Koeman seemingly is prepared to do in order to get a result.

Koeman knew he was playing the weaker hand. Bryan Oviedo is having to play for the injured Baines and sticks out like a sore thumb at the moment. Jagielka had one of his worst games for Everton in a long time. Ross Barkley had to be dropped due to his poor from, and was replaced with Tom Cleverley. The first eleven that Koeman has when everyone is fit and on form is a great one, beyond that and the talent starts to fall off dramatically. If Everton went to the Etihad all guns blazing, we would have lost, we didn’t and managed to get the draw.

Whilst it could be said that Everton were lucky not to lose given that Manchester City had two penalties, that’s not Koeman’s system or tactics being let down, rather two awful challenges from Jagielka. Everyone at the club has to be under the spotlight at the moment. There is more money to be spent than ever and no-one’s place is guaranteed if they are not playing well. If 34 years old Jagielka has more games like that, then I have no doubts that soon a 25 year old Argentinian international in Funes Mori will be taking his place.

A lot was made before the match about the friendship between Guardiola and Koeman, and how the Dutchman helped teach Barcelona the ‘Dutch way’ of playing football. It’s clear that they are two managers who care deeply about tactics and playing in a certain way. On reflection they both cancelled each other out as Guardiola tried to find a way for his players to get around Everton’s stubborn defending. It was a stressful game to watch in many respects as it’s rare these days to see an Everton team under pressure for 90 minutes. Manchester City away represents our hardest game of the season however, and coming away with a point is a good return.

The next match to come is against Burnley, where the tables will most likely be turned, with Everton being the dominant team. It’s good to have a manager who is willing to play to the game situation and the opposition, and one who appreciates that sometimes you have to ditch the Dutch way, and sometimes play the Tony Pulis way.