Players Van Brent considers defenders: Blackett Blind Carrick Evans Jones McNair Rafael Rojo Shaw Smalling Valencia Young Pick any 5. (He does.)
Most managers have a system they are confident with and which brought them some success. Just like Ferguson with the mancs who was happy with a 4-4-2 which brought him success in the league but couldn't/wouldn't change it for the CL even though his teams were regularly outclassed. Martinez may be the same. he just feels comfortable with his system. If he used another system, will he know how to implement it? and how to address its weaknesses? Same with Rodgers, he had a system with Suarez which brought huge attacking success. But he persisted with the same system for a long time until he was forced to change. Van Gall will persist with his 3-5-2 until he loses/draws match after match and then he might do that. Everton's form this season is bad. Martinez had the first season luck and once the expectations are heightened they fail. Rodgers had the same problems too although he said there was no question of us going for the title this season. I think we did have some expectation to move on after getting a runners up place.