Why Roberto Martinez will struggle to keep his Champions League promise

, 11 June, 44comments  |  Jump to most recent
David Anderson sees Everton drifting further down the league rather than Roberto Martinez delivering Champions League football to Goodison Park.

» Read the full article at The Mirror



Reader Comments (44)

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Phil McKeown
1 Posted 11/06/2013 at 15:39:05
Typical Mirror standard anti-Everton drivel.
James Martin
2 Posted 11/06/2013 at 16:10:20
Liverpool have apparently always been improving for the last 20 odd years yet they never take everyone by surprise like the Mirror is so fond of saying. Half the time the media just print what they would like to happen and hope it comes true.

Personally I don't see us finishing any worse than 7th next year as the divide between the top 7 and everyone else was so great this year (unless some freak team like Newcastle come out of the pack like last year). Even with this supposed worse case scenario it could well be enough for European football and with that comes a chance at champions league qualification (albeit a long one relying on winning the Europa).

The papers would have us believe that we're miles away from the top 4 yet we saw last seaosn how close it actually was at times. Half of the mystique surrounding the top 4 is based on perception. Our defense is as good as any of theirs and players like Mirallas/ Pienaar/Baines/ Jagielka/Coleman could play for any of the sides in and aorund us and even above us.

Investment makes everything easier and is the real key behind consistently cracking the top 4. But a bit more depth, luck with injuries and in matches, and a more positive attitude at times and the top 4 is not as far away form us as the darling media would like it to be and do their best to paint it to be. Its also nowhere near as close to Liverpool as they wish it was. As we well know there is a huge difference between challengiung for something and falling short than putting on a late surge and finishing close. We've had top 4 form in the seocnd half of loads of seaosns but it means nothing unless you link it with a first half and is no guarantee that you'll replicate it next year. The Liverpool loving media will have to grow accusotmed to the rollercoaster world of midtable mediocrity.

Patrick Murphy
3 Posted 11/06/2013 at 16:21:58
Jose Mourinho is another who seems to think little of our progress and challenge for next season talking down Chelsea's chances of winning the Pl he says 'It is different now in terms of competitiveness it is harder. He mentions the merits of Arsenal, Man U and Man C and comments how Spurs have come into the picture and the other lot with their manager Brenda will also be challenging for the title.

He asks who's going to be first, who's going to be sixth? So we might as well pack it all in and get rid of our best players and save ourselves the money and grief until the big backer comes along - NOT - I'm sick to death of this attitude by professionals and pundits - every game we play next season I would like the players to play as if their lives depended upon it - and then see where it takes us at the end of the season. Some team sometime has to crack this media led cabal.

Winston Williamson
4 Posted 11/06/2013 at 16:53:58
Patrick, I feel the exact same!
This media lovefest for the Redshite is extraordinary and knows no limits! A 3rd season of finishing in our shadow and EFC making Europe would be demoralising for them! Only sustaining our dominance in the league over an extended period can change public perceptions - although even with an extended period of dominance the media lovefest would continue...most of them are redshite's and know no other way!
Paul Andrews
5 Posted 11/06/2013 at 17:04:54
Errrr.
He didn't say it.Kenwright did.
Colin Glassar
6 Posted 11/06/2013 at 22:39:49
A lot of people who work in the media are self confessed rs fans so the bias they show towards the dark side is understandable. Look how many former rs players are now pundits on the telly. They have a whole fucking PR machine behind them.
Andrew Cutler
7 Posted 12/06/2013 at 01:27:52
It's the same in New Zealand. EVERYBODY is either a Man U or RS supporter. Mention that you support Everton and they look kind of strangely at you. Mind you 99% of those so called supporters have never once been to OT or Anfield. Goodison I've been to many, many times. EFC forever
Jim Harrison
8 Posted 12/06/2013 at 02:53:38
Bias? Not that we are at all? I think being objective its a pretty honest piece. Every team above us is likely to invest this year (If Spurs sell Bale they will be able to completely change their squad, one that finished 9 points above us!!), Liverpool are already investing in a squad that is starting to look decent ( Again, if they sell Sewer rat they will have even more in the already significant transfer pot to spend).

For all the criticism of our last manager, he is pretty much universally admired for his achievements at getting Everton to the level it currently operates at, Martinez will have one hell of a job maintaining that level, let alone advancing. Just because he is more attacking minded, doesnt mean progression is a foregone conclusion. Look at what happened to Liverpool in the early stages of last season, they passed a lot, looked pretty, but relied on a world class player to actually win them games.

Bottom line remains the same as it has always been, to progress in the EPL you need to invest substantial sums of money wisely. While I expect the new boss to fulfil the wise criteria, I cant see where the substantial sums will come from

Brian Cleveland
9 Posted 12/06/2013 at 04:13:00
What a big fat liar! It wasn't RM who said that at the press conference it was BK. How to twist things so you can write what you want.... I stop reading after that.
Derek Thomas
10 Posted 12/06/2013 at 08:20:42
English newspapers = tomorrows fish and chip wrapping, don't worry be happy
Anthony Lewis
11 Posted 12/06/2013 at 13:13:20
It was complete bias from another RS journo. Before going anywhere with his argument he talks about the RS and then seems to hasten to mention the rest of the top clubs.

Let them talk it up.

We don't care what the EedShite say. What the fuck do we care?

Here's hoping RM proves everyone, including me, wrong and goes on to make us more awesome than we already are.

Eugene Ruane
12 Posted 12/06/2013 at 13:37:13
Unless you've had your brain sucked out of your ears in some really odd industrial accident, you will be aware of the fact that British tabloids are horribly lazy.

The idea of 'journalism' for most of them is simply a none-starter.

Their stock in trade is filling space and anything will do including complete invention.

And re football, at this time of the year (with the season finished) they are at their laziest and most desperate.

Ultimately I suppose, we (the public not TWebbers) are to blame.

We have let them get away with it for years and now it is the norm.

When we see "TEVEZ IN LINE FOR..." or "RONALDO CLOSE TO MOVE TO..." or "CHELSEA TO BID FOR...", we don't go charging down to their offices or sending emails saying "fucking prove it!".

We just tut and shake our heads.

These rags are FILLED with invention and guesswork and it seems the writers/papers are NEVER pulled up.

Nobody ever says "You said Ronaldo was going to Doncaster and it never happened, you must feel like a right fucking nob-head".

And if that never happens, of COURSE they're going to fill their rags full of shite.

Why wouldn't you, easiest money in the world - come in to the office, have a coffee, invent a bit of bollocks that you'll never be questioned on, then off for a long lunch followed by a skinful at Ye Olde Brown Envelope.

Personally I would love to see some sort of accountability.

Something that might put a bit of pressure on.

A league table maybe, with points for story accuracy (or points deducted for LACK of accuracy).

Something WE could point to and say to the Mirror/Mail/Sun etc - "See you finished last again, with 2114 stories/predictions/exclusives that never happened at all"

(possibly adding - "Isn't it time you upped your game and tried journalism instead of 'opinion', guesswork and pure fucking invention"?)

Plus, if any 'honesty/truth league table' included a Journalist's league, that might REALLY put the pressure on.

Imagine Dave Anderson giving us his genius thoughts on Everton and 22,500 of us (just to pick a random number) being able to contact him saying "See you finished 74th in the tabloid truth and honesty league - NOB-HEAD!"

Just a thought (well it's summer and there's not much to.....OOPS!)

Matt Traynor
13 Posted 12/06/2013 at 14:30:15
A few years ago I was working in Asia. A complete load of shite appeared in a newspaper written by their "Business Editor" which could've had an impact on our share price, save for the fact that nobody ever read that particular paper (it died a few months later).

A couple of years on and I'm at a party held at a bar. Full of journalists. I meet the guy who wrote it and asked him what the fuck he thought he'd been up to? (That particular financial strategy of the company was under my purview!) He basically said he'd made it up, told me not to take it personally, and offered to get me a drink.

Quick chat and realised he was one of those journos who just ambled through life, waiting for retirement. He'd been promoted to head of Business at a broadsheet under the same publisher and really didn't want it.

As I left later that evening, when the barmaid presented me with a bill for the drink he'd "bought" me, I realised I'd have been disappointed if he hadn't stiffed me.

Steven Telford
14 Posted 12/06/2013 at 14:49:49
BK was such a shit to say that CL thing and Martinez press conference.
VERY unfair to Martinez.
Eugene Ruane
15 Posted 12/06/2013 at 14:53:25
Matt (218) - Brilliant.

Obviously the feller didn't give two shites but personally, I don't really blame him.

I mean yes it's sad that he didn't have that Pulitzer prize-winner mentality, but most people, given the chance to 'do their thing' without being accountable, would do.

And that's exactly why it would be good to have some sort of system in place.

I mean many people (I'd include myself) need to be accountable - there needs to be some sort of system in place, almost to protect you from yourself..erm..sort of thing.

From your own sloth and/or potential shiftiness.

It's like if you worked in a jewelers and nobody ever searched you, you'd be far more likely to stick the occasional koh-i-nor into your bills than if there was a big feller on the door who searched all staff every night.

Loved that he stiffed you for 'his' round.

He probably WANTED to pay, but just didn't want to give journalists a good name.

Eugene Ruane
16 Posted 12/06/2013 at 16:37:05
Talking of the press and how they can distort the truth..

Sfx door closing.

DM: "Morag, I'm hame darlin, hooz aboot a nice cuppa tea?"

A cup smashes on the wall just above his head.

DM: 'JINGS! Whit on earth was THAT fer?"

Morag: "Don't you 'darlin' me, you should be ashamed o' yersel!"

DM: "Wha..Whit hav a done the noo?"

Morag: "Whit have ah DONE?' he asks!? My God have ye nae shame whitsoever? Tae think the kids and the neighbours will have seen it. Ah won't know wheer tae put ma face so ah'll no"

DM: "Woman wud ye just tell me WHIT ahm supposed tae ha done!"

Morag slings him an open copy of the Mail.

Morag: "Theer ye go, enjoy it yer big Casanova!"

Moyes looks..

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/31/article-0-1903DAA5000005DC-929_634x475.jpg

DM: (going beetroot) "Ach it was just wan o' they promotion things, there wuz nuthin tae it"

Morag: "Nuthin' tae it? Aye well there'll be nuthin tae it fer you the night!"

She slings a load of blankets on the sofa

Morag: "Ahm disgusted with ye, and if this is hoo it's gonnae be in future, 'Mr Man United Bertie Big Potatoes', then ye can find yersel another hotel, or even better, move in wi' yon scrubbers"

She slams the door and heads to bed leaving Davey alone.

He picks up the paper and sees himself smiling back at himself.

The voice in the back of his head that has started to nag at him, starts again..

"You're going to fuck it up....You're going to fuck it up....You're going to fuck it up"

James Morgan
17 Posted 12/06/2013 at 17:29:19
Ha ha classic, Eugene.

Regards to this Martinez champions league story, if only that twat BK had just said "Europe" then it would save all this bollocks.

Paul Mackie
18 Posted 12/06/2013 at 17:59:33
I thnk BK was right to spout all the champions league bollocks. What's he supposed to say "I'd quite like the new manager to do only as well as the old manager"?
Ged Simpson
19 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:06:11
The piece is a view that we will struggle. Big deal. We may. Who knows. A Mirror journo's view - who the fuck cares ?
Kris Boner
20 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:19:38
Nice to know I'm less than 12 months away from having a degree in such a reviled subject as journalism. Hope I can be the blue beacon of light at the end of an endless redshite tunnel.
Eugene Ruane
21 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:07:07
Paul (243) - "I thnk BK was right to spout all the champions league bollocks. What's he supposed to say "I'd quite like the new manager to do only as well as the old manager"?"

Paul I for one am delighted Martinez told BK he'd get us into the CL.

Whether he does or not, it shows belief and ambition.

However, for BK to announce is was fucking ABSOLUTELY insane.

Talk about making a rod for your back (or rather someone else's back).

Does he (or you for that matter) have no idea how the press works in this country?

The only chance Martinez has of avoiding having this comment constantly thrown at him by piss-taking journalists/kopites (and anyone else who fancies a dig at us), is to get into the CL.

You asked "What was he supposed to say?"

BK could have said "This man has SO much ambition that I had no doubt in making my decision. He believes 100% that he can do well here and push us towards European places ..." etc blah.

He could have said ALL the right things - 'great, wonderful, moving forward, confident, new era' - all he had to do was avoid saying anything...specific.

But no, he couldn't - instead Mr fucking showbiz gives it the big'un and now Martinez has to deliver or be haunted by the claim.

And I guarantee, if he doesn't or can't deliver, you will not hear the end of 'CL, you're havin' a laugh'.

Ged Simpson
22 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:26:43
Never mind Kris. Even if you cannot upset the RS bias you will enjoy feeding the insatiable hunger for celebrity gossip, reporting details of the tragedies of others and crawling up the arse of probably local prats who hold municipal positions !

But you may be good and change the world.

Who knows....hope it is the latter

Tony McNulty
23 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:29:01
Eugene,

I am surprised you are bent out of shape on that one. It doesn’t bother me.

I recall it was rival fans who started singing, “CL, you’re having etc.” and when we clinched a place, we were the ones singing, “CL, we’re having a laugh.”

If rival fans are taking the piss out of us then that’s usually because they see us as a threat. In the same way a top player will get booed by the gaping primates supporting the opposition.

It isn’t as if he’s the Chairman of Marine and he said they were going to get the CL.

Unless of course we do end up languishing at the bottom of the table … Not a thought I’ve really been entertaining, admittedly.

Phil Sammon
24 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:21:19
Phil McNulty today tweeted:

@philmcnulty: Hate hearing the use of the phrase "paper talk". So many so-called "paper talk" sports stories turn out to be absolutely spot on.

Needless to say, I nearly fell off my seat. What a horribly arrogant and pig ignorant statement to come out with. I decided to bring this to his attention:

http://www.footballtransferleague.co.uk/newspaper_statistics.aspx

Obviously he didn't reply as it completely savages his argument.

He then went on to bite back at his many critics:

""Lazy journalism" is the laziest phrase out there. Most journalists just ignore it."

Yes Phil, it's us who are lazy. Not your red top mates who swap and change their story from one day to the next.

Terms like, 'sources close to the player' or 'club insider' just show how pathetic these 'journalists' are. I actually hate the term 'lazy journalism' but what else do you call it when a guy can't be bothered putting a bit of pride and effort into his stories and instead favours sitting on his arse linking Player A with Club B?

Eugene mentions that we (the people) do nothing about it...well I'd put it to the newspapers, why doesn't one of them stop printing made-up tales and instead revel in all the bullshit spouted by every other media outlet. I know I'd buy it.

Actually I wouldn't because the first 30 pages would still be shit.

Tom Owen
25 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:55:04
One thing Kenwright and the majority of the British sports press has in common - both liars
Eugene Ruane
26 Posted 12/06/2013 at 18:40:47
Tony (253)- Hardly 'bent out of shape'.

Simply pointing out how near-sighted and stupid a comment it was.

You say - "I recall it was rival fans who started singing, “CL, you’re having etc.” and when we clinched a place, we were the ones singing, “CL, we’re having a laugh.”

True, but the difference is WE hadn't claimed we were going to get CL so there was NO pressure on us.

Now there very definitely IS a pressure on Martinez and it has been needlessly put there by our own blabbermouth idiot Chairman.

Talk about 'loose lips sink ships'.

Christopher Kelly
27 Posted 12/06/2013 at 19:31:53
What a pathetic excuse for an "article."

Short, lazy, devoid of pertinent info and full of contradictions.

And by the way, who even cares about the RS? They've been just an ordinary club and left for dead in the CL race for a couple of years now. At least we're an interesting club to support.

The truth of the matter is we simply don't have the horses to get into the Champions League at the minute. Selling Fellaini and smart buying might be our only choice. Other than exposing the board and forcing an exodus.

Tony McNulty
28 Posted 12/06/2013 at 19:44:51
Eugene,

Well let’s hope that Martinez sees it all as one huge incentive.

The truth is that after all the talk last season we ended up with the same four usual suspects in the CL. Spurs got nowhere in the end, we ran out of steam (and players), the Shite were, well shite.

I think Martinez’s biggest barrier is not Bill’s mouth but the continuing failure to provide a new source of funding … and for how many years this been the case now?

Eugene Ruane
29 Posted 12/06/2013 at 19:56:48
Tony - "I think Martinez’s biggest barrier is not Bill’s mouth but the continuing failure to provide a new source of funding … and for how many years this been the case now?"

Agree 100%.

Tom Owen
30 Posted 12/06/2013 at 20:00:10
For "new source of funding" please read - it is my train set and I intend to keep it come what may .
If he gets bob2 to put out occasional lies about prospective buyers ( particularly when season ticket renewal is due he believes that will keep the masses away from his door.
kenwright has been giving us line after line year after year.
Our club will never compete properly until ken bob jon and any other hangers on are running things
I hope someone asks some searching questions of his tenure as our chairman at the forthcoming meeting.
Mark Knight
31 Posted 12/06/2013 at 20:15:39
Is the only thing to look forward to the past..T Collier,B Ferris,oh and of course,B Kenwright..
Sean Patton
32 Posted 12/06/2013 at 20:14:17
I remember a few year back when the Mirror had a back page "exclusive" that David Villa was signing for Man United and I kid you not but that very day later in the afternoon David Villa signed for.................................................Barcelona.

Ryan Sloan
33 Posted 12/06/2013 at 20:29:35
It absolutely boils my piss, this garbage the media spout about we never ever get any credit, we made a show of them last season, did they mention the top 7 head to head table? No, how did the kopites fair in that? Yeh they gave a few poor sides a hiding, but over the course of the season we where more consistent. Another paper on my boycott list.
Ross Edwards
34 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:12:02
Can we get one thing straight here: He DIDN'T promise that. Bill Kenwright CLAIMED that he said it to him. He said that it was a DREAM, he didn't PROMISE.

Which is why I fear that he could be judged by what our idiotic chairman said to gain a bit of attention. He is an absolute prat for saying that. He's basically pinned Martinez to the cross already.

Phil Sammon
36 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:21:29
I actually AGREE with ROSS.
Mark Knight
37 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:26:22
OK, LL, MK, Allez Les Blues..
Ross Edwards
38 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:29:37
"Allez Les Blues"

What, are France playing today?

Mark Knight
39 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:31:11
I live in France,Ross..COYB..
Tom Owen
40 Posted 12/06/2013 at 21:49:22
Well said Ross
Tony Twist
41 Posted 12/06/2013 at 22:06:35
Putting pressure on Martinez, that will never do! Martinez I would think didn't come cheap, that's ignoring the compo with wigan, he needs to deliver. His performance at Wigan is not good enough for the blues, he has to raise his game. Moyes got us in the champions league, I expect the same from Martinez.
Ross Edwards
42 Posted 12/06/2013 at 22:14:59
Tony, Moyes capitalised on teams around us having poor seasons, particularly the RS. In that season we only scored 45 goals and finished with a - 1 GD. You have to admit, we fluked it. We scored only 61 points, which in this season, would have only just got us 6th. That was the worst PL season in history.

I agree with you re Martinez, but for Bill to say that at the guy's first Press Conference, when many people were doubting his abilities and credentials was absolute stupidity, he is essentially putting the nail in the coffin and the final judgement on him already if he fails.

The man hasn't even set foot on Finch Farm yet and he has these expectations on him. We are basically skint, BK hasn't got much money, how the hell are we meant to finish above the likes of City, Chelsea and the like unless Bill sticks his hand in his pocket.

Gavin Wadeson
43 Posted 13/06/2013 at 06:54:56
Sorry Ross, but I've got to do disagree with you on this one. I am glad that Kenwright announced that Martinez said he'd get us in the Champions League. In a strange sort of way, I actually think it's took the pressure off Martinez. I'm sick of the media telling us that 6th is the best we can hope for, and telling us that we should be content with winning our mini league and being crowned Best of the Rest. I think a lot of fans are relieved that Martinez doesn't agree with this assessment, and this has took the pressure off him because we now know he's thinking along the same lines as us. It would only count as pressure if the fans/media expected him to finish 4th. We're not going to ask for him to be sacked if he finishes 5th, we just needed to know that he shares our ambition.
Tom Hughes
44 Posted 13/06/2013 at 08:53:19
I wouldn't get over excited by anything in any newspaper to be honest. They're generally lazy and furthermore tend to pander more to their default readership...... seeing as Liverpudlians and Man Utd fans probably outnumber us 10 to 1 then that's the way they'll lean.

I just hope that we haven't missed out on capitalising on Liverpool's mediocrity. I've been waiting all my life to see it and the best we can do is finish a few points ahead. Achievement that that is, it's hardly going to turn the tide. They'll spend big again, we'll probably sell big..... let's hope RM is inspired and something big clicks.

Ben Jones
45 Posted 13/06/2013 at 12:44:56
That article made my blood boil. Horrific bias.

The best we could hope for is 7th? When we have beaten the shite in the past 2 years. We were very close for 4th last season, especially if those late draws turned to wins.

I don't believe people like him get paid to write crap like this.


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