Martinez pleased with Blues' character

Little bit of the old "sin miedo" returning...

We could do with going to West Ham Tuesday and winning and then that would rejuvenate confidence amongst the lads and hopefully we can kick start our season from there and make something of it.

Now would be a great time recapture our confidence & form and climb the table and have a good run in the cups were still in. Something good could still come out of this season but I feel we need a win quick to go with our new found effort & commitment and then we could turn a corner properly.

Off topic, I was watching to see if there was some sort of an apology/statement from QPR, to their away support, a group confronted some players going off the pitch yesterday, Professional players do forget especially in the Premier League, they are answerable to the supporters week-in & week-out. I do think over Christmas some of the Staff at EFC also forgot about the supporters; let's hope they as a group want to pay us back after yesterday's battling performance.

The sad or joyful fact, depending on what your personal opinion is of Martinez, is that quite simply, Everton FC and Roberto Martinez do not fit together. Given his brand of football that he wants to play, I would say that Roberto Martinez and the English Premier League don’t fit and his style would be more suited to another league on the continent like Spain or maybe Italy. Probably not Italy actually as the are very defensively tactically astute

Should always look forward but I can't help thinking about the last month. We didn't play at our best yesterday but, had we played like that over Xmas, we would easily have beaten the likes of Hull, Stoke and Southampton.

Play like that next weekend and we should beat West Brom. However, that obviously leaves a very big question about Roberto. By changing (or being forced to change) the style he's basically admitted that his preferred tippy tappy doesn't work (at least not with the players we have). So where does that leave him after saying he wouldn't change his style?

We've reached the corner but I wouldn't say we've turned it just yet given we're only 3 points above the drop zone. A win against West Brom won't even move us up the table. Only really aim in the league now is to get to safety as fast as possible whilst focusing on the EL and the FA Cup.

I think 37 or even 36 points will be enough to stay up, so need another 15 points asap – 3 against West Brom are absolutely crucial.

We are currently learning how to adapt and its naive to think the players and manger don't realise this and debate it frequently. The great thing about yesterdays game was that we mixed it up a bit more - some long balls,some patient build up or tippy tappy for those who prefer this derogatory term.

Anyone who is quick to criticise this evolutionary period has obviously forgotten that adapting to situations is part of any job and that we are NOT Wigan!

Yes we need a more solid back line and a couple of players are coming to the end of their carreers. I also think Stones as captain is a great shout for next seaon.

I'm going Tuesday and I can't wait!

Quote :'There is no way that we are going to get sucked into the relegation fight' – well, have you looked at the league table this morning? Only THREE points off second bottom. Lose to the Baggies and we are right in the doo-doo and no mistake !

Even the 'Freshfield Fantasist' in his heyday kept some touch on reality. You are giving positivity a bad name. It must be that the Roberto Syndrome has rubbed off on you!

The result did little or nothing to remove the threat of relegation, however.

No doubt Martinez must now feel in familiar territory. Didn't take long, did it ?

Big tests ahead in the next two league games against sides with new managers that will deny us space. We won't know about corners being turned till after these games.

Yesterday was better, more improvement needed.

We are still in a bad place but hopefully, as long as the half wit does not return to type, we will start getting a few points on the board and away from the mire.

Had he not been so obstinate, set in his ways, and blasé about pre-season we could have been well up among the runners in a very open season for top four.

Where you complaining last season? Nope!

We have been a bit more direct recently which has helped but the sad fact for me has been something that isn't down to the manager...effort. That comes from the player himself just simply putting in a shift and that has what's been lacking most.

He managed us to record points last season so I'm sure he knows a little bit about football.

I'm afraid 2 home draws after coming from behind isn't enough to suggest we have turned a corner for me, albeit one being against city.

Martinez has not lived up to even the most minimum of expectations this season so far and I honestly think he should have gone after the Hull defeat.

I still think this is achievable, and if we do I will be happy. I'm sure some of you lot will still want Martinez sacked if we win a trophy.

The negativity from some on here is just astounding

Barkley must be played behind Lakaku but he has to put his foot in and sprint back when he loses the ball wherever it is on the pitch. If you look back at all his performances, including when he was being lauded as the next great thing, he seldom tackled anyone, he trotted back when the ball was lost in attacking positions, he never positioned himself to intercept a pass. He needs to take a leaf out of Naismith's and Baines's books for effort, quick pressing and desire to win the ball back when it is lost.

Through the last 10 games Baines has been exemplary in his commitment despite not always playing to his best form, if the other 10 players in each of those games had played with the same intensity we would not be in the difficult place we currently find ourselves.

You know what I'm learnt NOT to be astounded by Adam? People like yourself 'astounded' ... 'shocked' ... 'dismayed' ... 'tired' ... (or any other suitable adjective) by what you describe as the 'negativity' on TW.

Now I've haven't called for Martinez's head, but I have expressed concerns - backed up with solid data and well reasoned opinion - for our performances and current position in the league.

In case you hadn't noticed Adam, we have won just once in 11 games since mid November and currently lie a mere 5 points above bottom placed Leicester, 3 points above the next 2 clubs Hull and QPR, 2 points above Palace and Burnley, 1 point above WBA and Sunderland and level on points with Villa. We are becalmed in 12th place, bottom of the PL form table, 4 points adrift of the club above us Stoke.

What have all these clubs in common? They have all been mentioned as possible relegation candidates. And worse, we have played some of those sides during our bad run when they themselves were on losing streaks ... and we were too easily beaten by some of them.

Now I have been encouraged by our last two matches which were achieved with un-Martinez like tactics. It was good to see the side fight back in both games from one goal deficits.

BUT! Neither game resulted in a victory.

At the start of this bad run, 9 PL games ago, before the defeat at Spurs we were above both Spurs and the 'poo in the league. Spurs are now 6th, 12 points clear of us, and the 'poo are 8th - the position you think is still achieveable - 10 points clear of us.

Now I'm all for showing patience and stoicism at troubling times, but I raise an eyebrow at views such as yours which are more akin to deflection and denial of our true plight.

I also give short shrift to people like yourself taking umbrage at the genuine, legitimate concerns as to the state of affairs at EFC and dismissing out of hand as 'negativity' and who seemingly wish to silence that dialogue.

If fans can't express their concerns in moments such as this, when can they?

I follow and support Everton, not a transient manager or any particular player. Given his and the team's performance this season, I for one am NOT astounded there are many on here who have NOT followed the cult of Martinez, donned their saffron robes, shaved their heads (save for a pigtail thingy...), and circling Goodison Park, clashing their finger cymbals chanting 'Hari Martinez...'

The whole season has been shambolic in my book and, as I had previously mentioned, if not for the last-minute goal in the derby match, we would have nothing to savour from the first half of this campaign.

Yes, they have shown some fight in the last two games (both at home) where they have been very generous to many average sides but once again they have struggled and have had to come from behind

The side has not been a patch on last season and questions have to be asked of certain people, what went wrong?

Defensively they are still unsure and every time the opposition attacks they look dangerous, even woeful Stoke.

Okay, we do have a few with the necessary credentials but they will need discipline and organization of the highest order from whoever is in charge. Personally I don't care who it is so long as we avoid the drop.

There was something wrong with the squad – but the fear of failure seems to have galvinised them again. I for one will not be looking at the results of teams below us. Onwards and upwards.

"I for one will not be looking at the results of teams below us. Onwards and upwards."

So ... you'll be ignoring our next 2 PL games against WBA and CP will you David?

Good luck with that!

It seems to me your mistaking "negativity" for "genuine concern"

From what I have seen the fans on the ToffeeWeb fall into 3 categories:

A) Those who still think all will be well. I hope they are right.
B) Those who think we are done for. I hope they are wrong.
C) Those who sense the danger of relegation based on the facts.

Category C) I would say are genuinely concerned and Jay fall's in to this category. I certainly do.

I have a view that the feelings expressed by categories B) & C) may have had a "positive" impact on the players resulting in much improved performances in the last two games.

One thing for sure, those able to get to the West Brom & Palace games have to get right behind the team as they did against Man City. It makes a difference.

I still think we have to prove we can do it away from home, they were duty bound to have a good go in the home matches even though there was still pressure on them in front of our own fans.

We are in a relegation battle but should be good enough to get out of it, but, as I have just said, it's easy when your sitting down. The players have got to keep standing up to be counted, but forget about relegation, let's go and win a cup!