More reports claim Board meeting to mull Martinez's future

No other top club in England (if we still believe we are), would put up with the last 2 years.

This well worded slice from "The Daily Telegraph". I bloody well hope that Matt Law (the correspondent) is correct about Farhad Moshiri's view, by heaven, us supporters really need a clear eyed view in place of gushing Billy Boy's luvvydom.

Waiting until the close season would simply be fudging the issue and, frankly, cruel to Roberto, the players, but most importantly the fans. Be kind, give him plenty of time to plan his extended summer holidays.

Then get De Boer, Bergkamp and Stam. Surely Farhad must have some connection via Dennis?

Investopedia definition:

'A majority shareholder is a person or entity that owns more than 50% of a company's outstanding shares. The majority shareholder is often the founder of the company, or in the case of long-established businesses, the founder's descendants.'

So it's a polite thank you and adios amigo.

Firstly what news to wake up to.

Barkley and Stones were at the Man City game with Kenwright. I think don't hold me to this, that Kenwright would put these two youngsters before Bobby.

John Woods walked out of the derby on 60 Minutes, The Russian dude was left shell shocked.

Moshiri is a accountant by trade (I work in Marketing For a few large Accountancy firms) He will be looking at the states and Money first and foremost and even somebody like me that can't even spell let alone add up it does not made good reading. So god knows what Moshiri is thinking.

Here's hoping Unsworth is in charge for the game tomorrow.

These reports have made me very happy this morning.

Well regardless of how garbage we know Martinez is, we haven't seen an ounce of effort from players like Barkley for six months and quite a few others.

I'm questioning whether or not I really want players at my club like this, players who if they don't like the manager simply down tools.

They are being paid to bust a gut playing in a blue shirt but sadly I rarely ever see it and hey, sack Martinez yes but what if these Charlie Big Time players find they don't like the new manager either!?

Martinez has been atrocious this season no denying that and he has no long term future but these players are paid a king's ransom and they are stropping and picking and choosing when they play and who they play for.

Really???

So much for picking the right character to play for Everton.

If, let's say, a big name manager comes in, and brings some big name players with him, these lads might think giving us another season to see how things pan is worth it.

It's obvious now that Roberto has lost the trust of our young stars and if he stays, they will be gone. Big decision, Moshiri.

Stones is replaceable and if someone pays £30 million for a defender with mistakes in him on a frequent basis, good luck to them.

Barkley hasn't progressed like we expected, some down to Martinez some down to Barkley, let's be honest, if you are that good you don't need managing, look at Wayne Rooney at 16 and 17 years old, the lad went on the pitch and tore it up with a manager in Moyes everyone claimed to be ultra defence minded.

Lukaku blew his big moment on the limelight on Saturday and got an attack of the Brett Angells. A player who believes he ought to be playing for Bayern Munich.

Sod Martinez off, but I would have a close look at the bunch who consistently fail, even the ones who were here under Moyes.

This is why we need many players too this summer.

Better to get rid now, Unsworth can play some of his younger talent for the remaining games.

A decent manager would get a lot more out of them though.

Martinez has said judge me on 3 seasons not 3 months, well the evidence is there for all to see. The longer he has been here the worse we have got, and last seasons he could say the Europa League was a factor, although it doesn't seem to have affected Spurs this season.

We have had no major long-term injuries to key players, and no big turnover of players.

I have to say I didn't want him in the first place, and friends said after his first season that I was wrong and he was the guy to take us forward. None of them are saying that now, and it gives me no pleasure in being right. I would rather he had made us what many believed we would be after his first season.

To keep the decision a secret until the summer would be very damaging, season ticket sales would slump, player unrest would continue.

Only Kenwright would keep the whole matter a secret, how he loves the intrigue, it's sickening.

The manager is solely to blame for the way these players have been playing. Or do we think it's plain bad luck every player is playing badly all at the same time? If you have a bad manager, you will perform badly – it's as simple as that. People may not like it but that's human nature and how things work.

Can you blame Ross stalling on a contract? Would you sign on for four more years of RM if you were him? He can see how being managed by this tool is damaging his game and realizes if RM doesn't go, he has to for his own good.

A manager that has no idea how to cope with the situation is even more dangerous. Martinez has to go to save Everton.

If you were going to sack him, surely after the Liverpool game would have been the perfect time?

I'm praying that I'm wrong but I can see a vote of confidence coming today and we will be stuck until around November when we will be doing out best Wigan impression.

I agree with Jim (#16): I am not too convinced that I want any player at the club who decides whether to sign a new contract or not based on who is on charge. Whilst I also agree that employees often leave managers not companies, the vast majority of them will not be earning a minimum of £50k per week and be idolised by their customers/fans. I guess we just have to accept the realities of the behaviour/s of a fair percentage of modern day footballers.

I do hope Leicester win the league this weekend though and show the rest of the Premier League what is achievable when individual players put their own needs and selfishness aside and play as a team for the fans and the manager.

Regardless of what the players think of Martinez, the fans have been magnificent this season, particularly away and they should be wanting to play for them in every game; an ingredient that has been sadly lacking in my opinion throughout this season.

If any player wants to leave, let them but make sure that the money is right in order to give our new manager the best possible start when replacing them. We have been at the top of our sport for 138 years and have overcome some real issues and hardships during that time, but we are still here and players wanting to leave will just be another hurdle we will have to get over.

I honestly don't know how I am going to blag the steward tomorrow when I attempt to get my tennis racket into the top balcony. COYB!!

Nightmare scenario for me would be Hughes or Moyes, dream scenario for me would be De-Boer or Cocu.

The meeting's in London – where else? Talk of a player like Barkley not signing a contract will sharpen the minds of Moshiri and his team.

Encouraging also that Moshiri reportedly concerned about the fans views. That in itself is a first and demonstrates that when someone is not running the club as a personal hobby we're likely to get more business-like decisions which acknowledge the need to keep the fans on board.

The latter being something Kenwright pretends to care about but it's never something that will be allowed to come between him and his incestuous and unprofessional relationship with his best friends: our managers (past and present)!

I reckon these current rumours have substance. Thanks Lyndon for a dose of renewed hope.

If there is a flaw in your logic, however, I suspect that it's not just our own current crop of players who have this mindset – did not those at Chelsea exhibit similar traits to help (the Eva Carneiro thing didn't help him either) get shut of Mourinho?

Even his pet, Bally, didn't always see eye to eye with him but I don't ever recall him switching off in protest. And the same was true of many others of that era, many of whom are revered as legends of our club.

That said, life is full of very nice people but you can't pay them a kings ransom if they are not doing their job very well.

The players have been appalling this season with their attitude – Jim Bennings and others are absolutely right – Ross for example was a disgrace in the first half on Saturday just strolling around not doing any work (and I am a big fan of his) but ultimately it is the manager who buys them, trains them, picks them and motivates them and, for whatever reason, many of them seem to have downed tools.

As a result it is easier and cheaper to change the manager and I can't believe that Moshiri is attending just to discuss the pre season tour! Most likely it took a few days to arrange a meeting which all of the main people could attend but if Roberto is to go then I think he should be allowed to go now rather than face the hostility which is likely tomorrow especially if the game goes against us.

New manager – not Hughes or Moyes – we need someone with authority who can sort out the egos and get them properly fit but then exert discipline, apply a proper structure to the team and who will attract high calibre reinforcements whilst giving Dowell, Walsh, Ledson etc an active role in the first team squad. There is a lot of dead wood to clear out – McGeady, Hibbert, Osman, Pienaar at the very least so we don't want a sentimentalist doling out one more year here and there.

Simeone would be great – I wouldn't dare to cross him!! – but we need someone on the up or who is already there, not a Moyes or Hughes who have been decent for some of their career but never amongst the greats.

I love Moyes for his hard work and integrity but I don't want him back. We need to move forward into the elite. Our aim should be to win the league and win all our domestic cups! Why not?

Pellegrini, Frank de Boer... anyone with top class pedigree!!

I'm not saying your wrong to feel sorry for him but it's fans (like me and you), families, old and young who have trudged away from games – some with long journeys ahead of them – wondering what the fuck they've just seen.

They are the real victims here and they've done this for two seasons more often than not.

Save more sympathy for them and pray they may soon get redemption!

Then he was a bastard!

Performances? Results? However you measure it, he has failed spectacularly.

Martinez himself said last week was defining. It went horrifically. Unsurprisingly, he now wishes to be judged on other periods of time, amount of money spent and squad quality. Forever shifting the goalposts... and forever failing on all counts.

Then we really will be in trouble!

This is why the board has to put their personal feelings re Roberto to one side. Little kids go home in tears after a defeat, families spend a lot of money on football and deserve to see players try their best. Just 4 home wins in a season is not going to encourage new fans and will lead to an erosion of the fanbase.

Secondly, you say you want Martinez out, yet if the players had been playing out of their skins and producing great results, we wouldn't be having this debate because everyone would be saying how great Martinez was. So it's kind of a double-edged sword.

It is a fact of life in football that it happens sometimes that a manager 'loses the dressing room'; when that occurs, it usually follows that the team concerned tends to stop performing to the best of their ability. Chelsea was this season's perfect example and perhaps also the lot across the park to a lesser extent. Look how Klopp has got the same group of players Brenda had now playing out of their skins for him.

I'm pretty sure our players would respond in similar fashion under a new manager, but we can't have it both ways.

Great performances all season = Martinez stays.
Utter garbage as we've seen all year = Martinez goes (I hope).

Barkley has been beyond dreadful, not bothered if him and Stones (poor defender) leave, and if CL Rom wants to go, he can do one.

People who keep mentioning Simeone, are you absolutely mad?? Maybe Messi, Suarez and co are on their way too boys!!! Ridiculous.

Ross had been in no doubt told to sit deeper, when he should be around that No 10 spot. Stones told to fanny about with the ball at the back when it just needs to be belted into the stands or up the field. I think we'll see completely different players with a new manager coming in.

The whole team looks so lost at present, confidence at rock bottom under RM. This team full of confidence, under clear instructions and better tactics will be a completely different animal in sure.

Meeting, announcement he's been sacked, Joe Royle will see out rest of season, new manager to be appointed in due course.

Simple.

(Chances of that happening – zilch.)

I've put this on another couple of threads, but de Boer, Bergkamp and Stam has to be the best option for us. Covers all the bases. Moshiri should be flying them out to Monaco and selling Everton to them. £100m invested, £50m from TV, £60m from Lukaku. "Come on boys, show us what you can do".

If they succeed and move to Barca in 5 years, they'd go with my blessing. It would put us back on the map, and make us attractive to future managers and players. We need to think and act big. Moyes, Hughes, Howe shows no ambition.

Bottom line is he's lost the dressing room, 95 per cent of the fans, and hopefully the board (or the ones that matter).

What time is this meeting, by the way?

Under Martinez he seems to be told to jog around and do something when the ball is played to him. Different coaches will have different ideas on where to play players and formations. Martinez seems to have one, otherwise we would have seen different tactics dependant on the opposition.

Tactical genius he is not, even though he managed to win the FA Cup with Wigan. That was more to do with having your name on the cup than tactics. He is a stubborn stubborn fool whose downfall is down to his reluctance to listen to players and his insistence on his philosophy.

Put him on gardening leave till the end of the season and see if the performances improve in the last 4 games. If they do then the reason is Martinez. If they don't then certain players will be under more scrutiny.

Let's hope this chapter in our history closes soon and we can get back to doing what we do best and that is supporting OUR club.

A team of of people will never love each other or even get on. But they respect each other, work hard for each other, it's a team game. Without those ingredients the team falls apart. A manager builds and bonds a team into a unit that will work as one to the very end.

Roberto has unfortunately failed. Once you lose the respect of your workers, it's lost for ever. And it's time to go, I'm afraid.

Whether that's the fault of the manager or player is up for debate. Personally I can handle people losing form, having a bad game etc, but a lack of basic fitness is unforgivable.

It means that it won't take much for him, with someone else in his camp (eg Woods) to have the majority vote between them. However, anyone or group with 25% or more do have the power of veto.

Majority shareholder is a shareholder who owns and controls most of a corporation's stock. Only those persons who own more that 50 percent of a company's shares can be a majority shareholder. Generally, a majority shareholder has more power than all of the other shareholders combined.

I don't think he'll be too sentimental when it comes to Martinez.

Theory is one thing practice is another.

If our board do meet today, it will obviously be to decide on when to call time on RM's tenureship and whether that will be today, Monday next or at the end of the season.

Yes, it's interesting to hear about young Barkley and his situation. I do feel for the young man. He has talent but this manager in no way has allowed the young fella to develop his natural game. Ross Barkley's game is all about running at the opposition, attack. Pretty much the same as Steven Gerrard did for Liverpool.

In the second half at Wembley the crowd coerced our Everton side into a positive response.I believe that their second half performance had nothing at all to do with Martinez and everything to do with the Evertonian support. This was evidenced by Baines when he went to take a corner he clapped the crowd and asked for more. He obviously could sense the crowds determination to see something better.

To everyone who was at that game it would have been obvious to one and all that Lukaku's touch was way off and that it was going to be one of those days for him. I spoke to all around me at half-time and said that I hope we get a penalty and that Baines takes it and that way we might get back into this game, I believed that we would need 'a break'.

Martinez should have seen that in Lukaku as as well and made it plain at half-time that any penalty awarded that it would be Baines to take it. When I saw that it was Lukaku to take the kick I sat down while all around me the fans stood and as of this moment in time I have not seen De Gea's save. To try and side foot past De Gea is a nonsense.

I always believed that one of the main reason's that saw Jose loose faith in Lukaku was Romelu's failure from the penalty spot in the Monaco shoot out in the Euro super cup. It cost Chelsea the trophy.

When Barkley won the penalty, you could see the delight in his eyes. He is one of us. Get off his back. We can not afford to let him go. We need a coach/manager at the club who recognises his talent and caters for it.

One can dream, and if I were in charge, I couldn't be any worse than RM), so here's a A few of my ideas /suggestions, perhaps we could buy Gudfilson from Swansea and even that young man Ayew from the villa (i believe he is worth a try) and along with Cleverley that is the beginning of a midfield that will look forward first as opposed to looking sideways and playing backwards.

Also Mr Rodwell was never a midfield player in my eyes and I have always believed that he would make an excellent centre half/back four player. I would bring him back to play there and we will need cover soon enough for our defense. All these players could be got.

Just a few ideas. And of course we do have some more than useful young defensive full backs and midfield talent already at the club. Aye things can still be good provided we get someone in who knows what he is doing and who can bring the best from Barkley, Stones et al. Yes, I hope for better days ahead, and hopefully sooner rather than later. Cheers.

Firstly ,I hope there IS a meeting and that they come to the correct decision and fire Martinez. If that does indeed happen, then I think the crowd should stay on their feet clapping for the first few minutes of the game on Saturday to show our support for the decision. We should then get behind the team like never before to let the team know how we feel. Lots of noise and chanting to create a great atmosphere. It'll make a BIG difference.

I see no need to draft Joe Royle in as we have the perfect stand-in, for the few remaining games, in David Unsworth. Who better to know which of the youngsters could step in and experience first team football in what SHOULD be a few dead rubbers?

If the board meet and make no decision or announcement, then I think an unmissable protest should be made to show our absolute disgust at the present situation.

Fuck all this "We're above that, we don't want to be like the RS, makes us look bad, it's embarrassing."

Our club's going downhill fast and I for one don't want to regret doing nothing and seeing us go downhill further next season if Martinez is still the manager.

I know tennis balls thrown onto the pitch isn't a "sensible" thing to do but then neither is paying out what for some would amount to many hundreds, even into the thousands of pounds to have weekend after weekend ruined, and to watch something you love being slowly destroyed.

Sometimes dire situations call for action. Action that can be seen and WILL cause embarrassment if that's what it takes. Do nothing, and suffer the consequences!

When (I think it will definitely happen) he becomes the majority shareholder this will be a highly significant step. So I think it's really important we appreciate the difference so that when/if the legal status changes we don't loose the significance of the change.

Our season is over, these are effectively a more competitive version of pre-season matches. Promote Unsi to give him exposure to the first team environment and hope that it helps him with the Under-21s.

Promote Galloway, Connolly, Davies, Pennington, Dowell... Even bring back Ledson from loan. Get at least two of them 60 mins a match under their belts.

Skip Gibson, Osman, Pienaar, Hibbert and Kone. Hopefully they are not a major part of next season's plans and they'd gain nothing from these last few games.

We need to gain something from these last few dead rubbers and the only positive I can see is getting the kids exposure – much like it helped Galloway last season.

The season is over. If the imposter stays and plays the those he has picked week after week with abject failure, then the last games will not only be even more embarrassing but the supporters will become even more disenfranchised.

If however the kids play, although the results will probably be the same and our goal difference will take a bigger hit, at least the supporters will understand and more than likely accept results if it give our future a start off.

Everton doesn't have a majority shareholder at present.

I don't thing there is a need to protest as it appears only a matter of time before the manager is relieved of his duties.

That video doing the rounds of outside Wembley and BK saying to fans Martinez "is one the nicest men you'll ever meet" just about sums up how pathetic he is. Nice man or not, he doesn't get results, that's what counts, not how nice is supposed to be.

The sooner Kenwright's influence ends, the sooner we can try to be a top club again. He continues to be a massive problem at our club.

And what's the point of putting Simone's name forward for the job? What planet are these people living on to think he'd come here? Established CL clubs would be in for him if he came available.

I say this because it will be so much easier for them to call it a day at 6pm tomorrow if we have not won the game. As much as we are all waiting for the white smoke – I think we have at least 24+ hours to endure.

We have an assistant manager who has credentials of a semi pro coach. A manager who wants to play 5-a-side tactics.

What coach would allow a player to walk from an offside position when we are attacking, time and time again? No discipline and no passion. Martin [Mr Passion] O'Neill is way ahead of Mark Hughes and David Moyes.

The sooner the better really. I would sack Jones too and put Ferguson in charge until the end of the season. Then the board should approach Mourinho to see if he is interested. I know a lot of Evertonians are not keen on him, but it would great for the club's profile and could persuade the big names to stay.

We have absolutely nothing of substance to confirm this meeting is even taking place.

Also as the comment above states, if we win tomorrow then what, sack him anyway?

Get it done and move on, dragging this out beyond belief is damaging the club in all sorts of ways!

Priorities gentleman.

Call Alan Sugar he'd get it done for a fee.

So I suggest they will wait until after the game tomorrow. If we win, he will see out the season. If do not win, then 6pm he will be gone.

It is only my opinion.

You can tell a man by his close friends, so they say.

Then I think back to the times he has almost given me a coronary with his bizarre tactics and fuckwittish substitutions.

Then I realise that he gets paid more in a week that I get paid in a year so fuck him, he can't handle it and has made us an unfit and passionless laughing stock.

Get him out!

ps who really gives a flying fuck about this majority shareholder pedantic shite?

If he ain't happy I reckon he's the one who's going to be asking questions, and expecting answers, don't we think.

When Dave Sexton was dismissed by Man Utd, his team had just won six matches on the run, if my fading memory is correct, so to be honest, if your time is up, it's time to go.

Roberto has had his day and will never have to work again, but he will and will earn more than many of us have seen in our lifetime.

It's hard being a football manager, – wish I had the chance.

But the money will make it worth the flack even if the real scorn should be aimed at the Board !

If the board do or do not meet today, if the board are or are not considering the manager's position, nobody truly knows.

I believe they most certainly should meet and consider whether to dispense with Roberto or not.

It is my opinion, regardless of whether he is "one of the nicest people you could meet" that RM's position at Everton has become untenable.

To continue with him at the helm into next season is too high risk. With Moshri's promised investment, added to the bumper new TV deal, this summer and next season is a pivotal – possibly even a defining one – in determining just what kind of club Everton will be in the next 5-10 years.

To entrust this summer's transfer funds to Roberto, to risk losing our most talented and promising players, disillusioned with the manager, to further antagonize the faithful who now overwhelmingly want the man gone... for the board to retain his services is to risk having an even more toxic Goodison Park next season and an increasingly fractured squad of players.

For the board to take any other decision than to dismiss Martinez before the summer – the when and the how is hardly of consequence – would tell us everything we need to know about Mr Moshiri and his ambitions.

If Martinez is retained, Mr Moshiri will effectively inform the faithful his ambitions for the club do not match ours.

I fervently hope Mr Moshiri is the real deal and will make the very best decision for Everton: dismiss Roberto and get a real marquee manager in who will make the fans, the players, the media and the public at large sit up and take notice.

One thing which I don't get and see it all the time is people saying that Martinez is a likable individual. Ask Distin if Martinez is likable. I think he tries to come across as the guy everyone loves but I can imagine he has a nasty underbelly away from the camera. By the looks of it, if someone hasn't bought into his philosophy, or gets on his bad side, its pretty much an end of their Everton career. I wouldn't be surprised if Mirallas's red card madness the other month was a dig at Martinez, just to piss him off because he was refusing to play him.

As Dave points out in #107 - Sexton had actually won the preceding 7 (not 6) games before he was sacked. The supporters thought the football to be turgid...

We also sacked Mike Walker in the aftermath of his first win of the season, against West Ham.

And this season, Rodgers was told his fate before the Goodison derby - okay it was a draw, but even if they'd hammered us he was gone that night. (Hence why he wore a black tie rather than red during the game).

I can believe that they've become so adept at penny pinching it is because of this June 1 contract date bollocks, to save a couple of million. In which case, just put him on gardening leave as I fear the atmosphere will be toxic - and no amount of fuckery with TV microphones will disguise that.

I posted elsewhere that I feared it might take a bad start to next season to convince Bill to get rid of him.

By that stage he'll probably have spent a fortune in the summer, as he knows he needs to make progress, and he may have caused more damage to the current squad.

I have to believe that Moshiri sees that and it's curtains before the end of May.

I'm expecting to hear absolutely nothing by 6pm.

Whatever has happened with previous managers or other clubs, I don't believe it's acceptable to throw Martinez to lions tomorrow, then sack him. If it doesn't happen today it's going to be at the end of the season (if at all). I expect the latter.

Incidentally, has anybody had a look at the Under-21s on YouTube showing Dowell's hat-trick? Worth a look, and Unsworth comes across as being more than half decent if a caretaker manager was required....

Neville Southall on why Everton weren't ambitious enough

As for saying he should not be subject to a public humiliation. Well you should have been stood in the Anfield Road end with me last Wednesday.

He didn't mind subjecting the fans to the biggest public humiliation I have ever witnessed in all my years as an Everton fan. And all in front of the fucking country on TV.

So we have about two-and-a-half hours left before the end of the business week for an announcement. If that announcement doesn't come then Roberto will be on the touchline tomorrow.

And I will honestly feel sorry for the man in that particular moment.

The fans want him gone. The atmosphere will be so toxic.

Say what you want but I believe Roberto did have the good of the club at the core of all his decisions. Clearly, things have not gone well.

We're a classy Club. The classy thing to do would be not to subject this man to the thrashing he's going to receive tomorrow.

It'll be ugly. The ugliness is justified. The fans deserve more and it's been a horrific season. It's time to move on. Why this hasn't been done yet is not only a mystery, but we're about to crucify a coach and it could have been avoided by making the right and bold decision to remove this man and let him leave with some small amount of dignity.

Two-and-a half-hours to make the correct decision for all involved. Otherwise there will be one piece of wood vertical affixed to one piece of wood horizontal, and 5 nails at the ready.

And were I there I'd proudly drive one of those nails home and blame no one for doing the same.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7xoO2nefeJs

Kristian, completely agree, all this 'he's a nice guy', he's a 'twat'. The way he treated Distin was a disgrace. And what has Mirallas done? Clearly doesn't like him. I find it weird Martinez plays no left sided player. I watch games with Baines surging forward and loads of space on the left wing -:with no Everton player there to pass to, bizarre. He'll play a right winger, but no left. Anyone enlighten me on this magic style of play?

I'm expecting no news, a loss, and the highlight of my weekend which includes a four hour drive across the state of Florida and back for a kid's soccer weekend, to culminate in despair; the only positive being Game of Thrones, episode 2 at 9 pm EST where I'll be disappointed yet again as Jon Snow will still be dead.

Happy days! ;0)

Just listening to Nev as I speak (and thanks Kevin Tully for the link), and he's 100% right on the issue of fitness in comparison to Leicester and Spurs. Our unfitness is 100% down to Martinez's inaction, which has never changed, and that's why he's earned the sack.

Nev also thinks the board is and has been a disgrace for 20 years.

Are you listening Mr Moshiri?

How many late goals (stroke of half time/full time) have we conceded?

It is a topic that has been done to death and I simply cannot remember a more unfit Everton side...and I have watched the washed up Gascoigne and Ginola!!!

" Anyone enlighten me on this magic style of play?"

It's from the "Dickhead's Manual On How To Cock Up A Decent Side", by R. Martinez, a training manual for the terminally incompetent.

And just now "By the end of today everything will be classified."

And with that a thought crossed my mind...

How shitty is it to sack a guy minutes before 5 pm on a Friday?!

Hope it happens. ;0)

Give me Friday night Kick Off ahead of all that Sky Sports love in rubbish any day.

Totally agree with poor fitness. It annoys me watching teams waltz round Goodison Park with time to do what they want. I want a team that battles and harries for every ball on our turf. Fitness is one of many flaws. It'll not change under this regime. Get them fit for a start. Surely that should be the basics at this level. The finesse etc is what you buy but the fitness is something a coach and his team instill through training correctly.

Gerrard??? Just ridiculous he even gets odds. What next, odds for King Kenny?!

We shall see.

Most of us believe Martinez is incapable of turning his mind to managing the club to play the way that so many successful teams are playing: - a fast tempo pressing game with fitness levels that enable us to get forward and back with speed for 90 minutes.

In fact this is the way most successful teams in the UK have always played - it's nothing new. It's Martinez' approach - his core unyielding beliefs - which have alienated so many fans. They simple do not work and the more he plays them the easier it becomes for teams to play agains them So to talk as if Martinez is given a clearer brief he would somehow lead us to success is to fundamentally misunderstand the beast.

So while Nev made some really sound points particularly about lack of direction from the board; the fans have seen (and heard) enough. He's had his chance, he's had some dosh and he's has good enough players to have made a difference - but he hasn't!

Ask not for whom the Bell tolls Roberto - it tolls for thee!

it is time for someone new now, I would take Rafa or Pelligrini. If the board are talking to Martinez tonight they may be telling him goodbye and maybe giving him the option of seeing out the rest of the season, but also ensuring all the players know there will be a new man at the helm come August.

The new man is a business man, he sees the potential an will make sure he gets his financial rewards for his investment

When someone of his standing speaks out - an indisputable True Blue Legend - you have to listen. He has always been forthright in his views, kow-towing to no-one and never toeing the party line, even in his playing days!

He makes some valid points about the goals and ambitions the board should be setting at the club. Namely, not merely making up the numbers, hoping to fluke a cup win or achieving European qualification via a high placed finish in the league. Rather, they should be telling the manager and players alike: win the league.

This season and Leicester have shown it is not a fanciful belief. The playing field, with the bumper TV deal effect, is possibly more even than it has ever been in the 'Sky era.'

Where I part from some of Nev's comments in the interview is when he states Roberto has not been 'supported' by the board.

Now that can be interpreted in various ways, but consider the following:

* under RM's watch, the board has provided him with the monies to purchase 4 of our top 5 buys EVER! Lukaku, McCarthy, Niasse and Funes Mori.

* even before he arrived, the board established Finch Farm as one of the best training facilities in the land. Just recently, plans were revealed to improve the facility further.

* 'the Everton Way' and a well-respected academy (to which RM has added to and from which he wishes to draw on in the future) was funded and supported by the board.

* on announcing RM's appointment, BK declared the manager had told him he would take Everton into the CL. No lack of ambition from either the manager or the club there.

* after one season, BK supported and endorsed RM even further by extending and improving his contract. (Best not mention the ill-conceived Martinez mural on the main stand at the start of his 2nd season, eh..?).

* As recently as our LAST WIN (the quarter final win over Chelski, a 'mere' 7 games ago...) BK came out in very public support for RM with his ill-judged "What a manager!" statement.

The above examples undermines to a degree some of the claims Big Nev made that the board 'hasn't supported Roberto.'

To close, I endorse the underlying message Nev made: think big, act big, state clear goals of what you expect the manager and players to achieve.

Hopefully, before much longer, the new main player at the club will be implementing such an ambitious philosophy, which - make no mistake - requires a ruthlessness and professionalism too long absent at the club.

I don't see anything wrong with firing him now, having a caretaker until the end of the season, and undertaking an in-depth search for a new manager that a) doesn't rush into a decision (especially it should ignore any caretaker who wins a few of those final games), b) chooses a manager based on a clear strategy for success, and c) gives the new manager enough time during the close season to target desired players and squad changes.

I still haven't forgiven Nev for his antics in the Leeds game when he stayed on the pitch at half time sitting by his goalposts. He may have not been pleased with what was happening on the pitch but you cant have players behaving that way.

As for Martinez not being supported by the board, that is absolute rubbish. The fact that they allowed him to spend £13.5 million on Niasse yet refuses to start him, and quite openly says he won't be fit to start next year should be a sacking offence on its own.

I agree, if it's Moyes then Kenwright is still calling the shots which would surprise me too. The thing that wouldn't surprise me is if Martinez keeps his job to the end of the season but there seems to be a lot of rumours pointing to some sort of an announcement so who knows.

This is almost as exciting as watching them play.

I can't see Moshiri sitting back and allowing Moyes who is deemed to have failed at Man Utd (despite some fans revising their views – easy to do when he's no longer there) and likewise at Real Sociedad.

The fact that there's a board meeting at all indicates Moshiri is having his say. My guess if Martinez goes we will get a manager worthy of the club – not Moyes and not Hughes.

I would not be surprised if when Martinez goes, BK steps down and the story is spun as Moshiri's choice. Script being written as we speak...

I actually think that he needed the break from us in 2013... even I felt he'd done all he could without any investment. I'd actually go as far as saying that we were a model club then, cultivating young talent (and sadly selling them on) a great work ethic throughout the side and you know what, at least every game we knew the players were 100% committed and there was a logic and pragmatism to the team. And I actually think we are now the total opposite of that.

I hope Moyes comes back and is given the funds to rebuild.

In his matches we go 1 up, never would be try to go for the 2nd, hold onto our 1 goal lead. Again very negative... I could go on all day...

I think it would actually frighten the life out of him to actually try and win the league. For those reasons we should never appoint him again.

We complain about this board's lack of ambition and there are those who's ambitions peak at reinstating David Moyes.... Unbelievable!

As I say, realistically, we are not a fashionable club to the sky lot to the media... I look through all the papers through the week are there is barely any coverage of us... why is that? We just don't have the profile and sadly, any credability that had been built up during Moyes tenure has ebbed away.

Brian - can you tell me a realistic managerial target you think we could get?

Everton FC - Jay-walking to disaster !

Accepting our "place" as you seem only too prepared to do is not in my dna....and to me is a symptom of how far we've fallen.

If you, and others, are prepared to accept "our place" you deserve no better. I wonder if Leicester City knew or accepted "their place" at the start of this season.

This is all Man City's fault!

I don't entirely buy the "not another young, promising manager" argument, though.

Mauricio Pochettino had done pretty much fuck all other than show promise before Spurs hired him; leaving Espanyol bottom of the league in Spain and then getting Southampton into 8th in his one season. He's basically Eddie Howe with a foreign name.

So, while Eddie Howe wouldn't be my choice, I wouldn't hate it - assuming it was done based on a broader perspective than "he had a decent season with Bournemouth"; i.e. intense interviews, assessment, discussion of a long term strategy. Promising young managers are ultimately where great managers come from.

The irony is that if our Board had turned to Ranieri last summer, they would have got dog's abuse!

GERMANY manager Joachim Löw is the new favourite to replace Roberto Martinez as Everton manager.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/665766/Next-Everton-Manager-Odds-Joachim-Low-Roberto-Martinez-news-gossip

Now, if he brings Neuer, Hummels, Goetze and Muller with him I'd be chuffed to bits.

If he goes before the season finishes, I will be disgusted. Simply because I believe we would all be looking forward to an FA Cup Final if they would have sacked him anytime before the Anfield derby.

Let's do this!

Just NOT the OTHER German Klinsman! FFS no, no, no, no.

i.e. Moyes/Hughes are managers who have a long legacy of competence but not excellence. So you hire them if you want competence but not excellence.

That's different from hiring a promising young manager; there they don't have a long legacy. So if you hire them you're betting on long term excellence, but taking a higher risk of them being terrible.

Elton Welsby ‏@WelsbyElton 6 hours ago:
From inside sources... today is the day.

Elton Welsby ‏@WelsbyElton 42 minutes ago:
A decision has been reached... all I've been saying.....

Nothing happening today. It wouldn't make sense unless it was Moyes coming in.

As far as I can see and hear, almost all Evertonians want rid of the man, but unfortunately this is An Everton conundrum we are debating. The reality is that the continual procrastination from the board only heightens the frustration and prolongs what is becoming a complete and utter farcical situation.

In any normal business continual under achievement by the person in charge will always result in only one conclusion – "dismissal"... so why oh why do we find ourselves, once again, in a situation that is completely unacceptable?

The lot from Anfield saw the problem and swiftly acted to correct the situation; good management practice. We – poor little Everton – will wait to see if the problem goes away (head in bucket) or gets worse before we act, second rate again and laughing stock!

Tomorrow promises to be a toxic affair and, to be fair to Martinez, he should have been removed before tomorrow's events rather than leave what after all is a human being, to endure the anger that will be clearly directed his way whilst he stands there on the touchline. I thought we had more class than that.

Done deal.

Moshiri is still getting his feet under the table and I would have thought he will be the decision maker regarding a new manager. If I look at it logically I can't see him making a decision about a new manager until the summer.

He may want to become the majority shareholder before he imposes his will on the rest of the Board.

It is still about making the right decision at the right time. I fear that he believes that he can hang on because we have nearly achieved, ie, two semi-finals! But, for me, nearly is not good enough.

FA Cup: one good performance against Chelsea.

Hardly a record to shout about.

Then again, it may be due to the fact that we're run by a bunch of cowardly arseholes, and by one in particular.

Once Moshiri has this sorted he can take us to the next stage of new manager. In reality delaying the inevitable sacking of RM for a few weeks wont have the same consequences as not getting the club equity structure and ownership sorted.

Patience, albeit very frustrating is the word.

Absolutely, no point in rushing things just because supporters are impatient.

Speaking personally, I'm more than happy to wait another 15 mins.

After that..

Link

Hopefully it will not cone to this and we will get an announcement tonight.

James (226)

"But why would anybody on earth pretend to be Elton Welsby...????"

Very good point!!!

..."thank God my local is a haven of top beer, otherwise I'd just fucking give up."

Some nice pale ales, IPAs and the like?

With everyone in that the board's silence is a disgrace.

With many supporters calling for Martinez be sacked, his future at Goodison park looks bleak to say the least. Everton haven’t had the strongest campaign and have found themselves in the bottom half of the table this season.

Martinez still has three years left on his contract with the Toffees, but has admitted that he has received no assurances from the club that he will still be in charge come next season.
Infact, when questioned on whether he had received any assurances, Martinez stated: “No, no, no. I’ve been given no indication whatsoever. Clearly, that’s not in my hands and that’s not a question I can answer.”
With that being said, the bookies have slashed the odds on Martinez being replaced by Germany coach Joachim Low, in the summer.

Low is now 2/1 to be the next Everton manager – slashed from 20/1 – and a statement from Betfair read: “Soon to be out-of-work Manuel Pellegrini had been the 5/2 favourite to take over at Goodison Park with David Moyes 4/1 second favourite but after an avalanche of bets came in for the Joachim Low, the German manager has been slashed from 33/1 to 2/1 favourite

As his tenure has progressed we rely on Lukaku more and more. Virtually no one else nets. He has also resorted to defending deeper & deeper and playing on the break, vacating the midfield with virtually no pressure on the ball & an isolated Lukaku, in a desperate and failed attempt to somehow shore up the defence as he finds it impossible to balance things and keep the back door shut in his preferred, phantom "winning" style. He's been doing that on and off, increasingly on, since autumn 2014.

He is totally deluded. He & his coaching staff do not get results.

He also said he wouldn't change his style ever, not even game to game. If it's so successful as he claims why did Wigan go down?? Carragher shit out asking questions like this, typical redshite.

RM is getting it tomorrow at the match, I'm all for singing, protesting, etc.

Are we really that unimportant to them that they didn't even feel the need to put a statement out just to even acknowledge a meeting had taken place.

He downplays the importance of actually winning football matches, emphasizes his desire to dominate games by retaining possession of the ball, rejects being over reliant on individual players, and continues to claim the team is better for all the adversity it has endured.

Admirable on one level, but delusional on another.

The question the board should be asking on the back of this interview is:

"Do we really want the club to be RM's guinea pig and testing laboratory and do we believe he can achieve the results he continues to promise?"

I know my answer. What's yours?

Cruyff and Martinez in the same article.

Delusion personified.

Laughing stock.

The 1% drop in Martinez Out votes is due to timing. People coming back from the pub on Friday night, half-tanked and not fully in control - or as RM might put it - "in an incredible moment."

Wonderful silence to me, Bill. Not a hint of support for Roberto from ownership.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez says eight Premier League defeats at Goodison Park this season is "unacceptable". (Daily Mail)

Yes you heard it here first. It's on Saturday's BBC gossip column.

What a manager!

It was a disgusting read - I don't recommend it unless you're in the market for a new laptop of tablet. Because you might fling yours through the wall.

It's a lot of the same stuff he said in yesterday's press conference, but more polished. Blah blah blah haven't had the money to spend, blah blah blah I share the pain of our fans, blah blah we need to be stronger after this transfer window, blah blah our away form has been outstanding, blah blah, the second half of the FA Cup Semi-Final showed what kind of team we have (mentioned that at least three times). Blah.

There were many annoying things Roberto belched out in his interview (BTW Carragher, nice cream puff questions. I mean, real in-depth investigative reporting there "Pulitzer".) But I did find this insightful. According to Bobby, being sound defensively and hitting on the counter (like say Athletico Madrid and Leicester City) is the easiest way of playing and getting results and thus kind of...cheap. Or possibly parasitic. He declares that playing this style means "you will never over-achieve, you will never win silverware" - again, just like Atletico Madrid and Leicester City. Roberto's style, however will make us dynamic and dominant and not boring at all. And feel free to look at the 38 minutes of the FA Cup Semi-Final second half as proof.

I honestly think that both Martinez and the board, (B.K. especially) have totally misread the magnitude of dissatisfaction among the fanbase. I can only hope the planned protests at today's game are nit watered down just because Howard and a few of the kids have been included, (yet another cynical deflection tactic by Martinez). If we don't make it ABSOLUTELY clear to the board that Martinez,must go it will be a sadly missed opportunity and could end up with Martinez in the driving seat for another year, constantly stuck in reverse gear, heading for the relegation trapdoor. Can BK seriously not see what's happening out there on the pitch any longer? Is he so ill his eyesight is fading? Or, like my mother-in-law, has he suddenly been gripped by premature senility, seeing everything and everyone as 'lovely' and 'nice' and can longer be trusted to make objective decisions. I'm sorry, Bill, I know you're not well, but that makes it all the more imperative for you to bow out gracefully, accept an honorary life presidency and allow a professional to step in to save Everton F.C. before it's too late.
The longer Martinez is left in charge, the more fans,are turning their backs on the club, me included, after 57 years as a supporter. We simply can't take any more if his gut wrenching platitudes, his inept in-game management, unfathomable substitutions and only an idiot or a visitor from Uranus would fail to see that he's quite clearly lost the support of the dressing room.
Ross Barkley is, I suspect, only the tip of the iceberg in his reported refusal to consider a new contract as long as Martinez is manager. I wonder if Ross will now be frozen out as others before him have been, or forced to make an apology for his words, which could be 'misinterpreted'?
If we end up with most of our players in similar states of mind the whole first team squad could implode before our very eyes. Should that occur, there's little doubt that next season would see us in the same position as poor old Villa have been this year. Championship here we come, but it could all be avoided. Why not bring in Pellegrini on a short term one or two year contact and only extend it if he proves to be successful in turning our performances around?
Anything has to be better than the week by week retrograde steps we're taking under Martinez.

As Nev has pointed out, they must know how angry and frustrated the fans are but they, quite deliberately, choose to ignore us. We should all remember that when deciding whether to put any money at all into the club's coffers.

Sad days.

We shall all have to learn to be patient.

New state-of-the-art ground that would suit as a national stadium, top four over God knows how many years, Champions and FA Cup winners in recent times... and yet they're planning protests today because they refuse to accept being what they perceive as also-rans. No small club mentality there for sure.

As I've said to those who have opposed my ideas on protests at today's game, it's your choice, but if you do nothing and Martinez remains in charge for next season, have the decency to stop your moaning on here.

If you care enough... DO SOMETHING!

BK's attitude... he will not sack Martinez. He does not want to be seen in public as if he has made the wrong judgement. It's that simple to him. Hence why I believe the crass 'what a manager' comment - it's my club folks. MINE.

Time to wake up and shake up, fans. If it's not persistent and consistent... they will think they can ride this one out from 'the fans.'

The guy has not managed a football club since 2004 and last managed a club in a top European league in 1990s!

Please let's keep the names this side of silly. (Managing a country is nothing like managing a club side.)

They don't give a shit what we think.

At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if he's still here come August.

2017 ?
2018 ?

And you were referring to Roberto weren't you ?
Because Billy Bullshit will be with us no matter what we do.

He has presided over the longest trophyless period in the history of the club, has sold off most of the club's assets, failed to run the club in a basic business like way while being in cahoots with shady asset strippers like Phillip Green and is a proven liar just over the King's dock stadium fiasco alone.

He lives in dreamworld, rambling on about the past while riding roughshod over shareholders and lifelong supporters and treating us like gullible fools.

The whole club lacks any ambition or direction and all the while Goodison Park rots away and a whole generation of fans see us as a joke and support Liverpool while the luvvy absentee landlord lives in London, 200 miles from the disaster unfolding before us.

The fact that he has fooled even a single Everton fan into believing that our club is in good hands under his bogus tender is unbelievable and heart breaking.

It doesn't matter who the manager is, it doesn't matter "getting behind the team" for the last few games, it doesn't matter what players come and go at the end of the season, until Everton FC has rid itself of the man who is killing the club then we will remain as sinking ship, a directionless joke and a disaster waiting to happen and all the tales of Dixie Dean, not carrying on like kopites and a club that behaves with class, will not prevent the looming catastrophe.

As one ex player turned pundit said, It does not matter how long you have the ball, its what you do when you have got it.