If he did something of extra merit that would point to an ability to progress Everton, it would have been to finish mid-table just the once.

He's made Wigan more vulnerable season on season and looks like they'll be down.

Saying that, if he comes, good for him and I'd be right behind him. But there's something that tells me that a Gus Hiddinck would do better.

Defending is part of football just as much as attacking. The best managers have a balance. For a team that supposedly plays really good football Wigan don't score that many goals. if a team is getting tonked 9-0 it doesn't matter what football they're playing its obviously not 'good football'. Passing the ball around for the sake of it is not good football, its not good to watch if it doesn't go anywhere, in fact it can be mind numbing. Martinez has hsownt hat he can motivate a side or big games but cannot do it for a whole season. We may get that elusive win at Anfield but he's not going to deliver European qualification, ultimately that is what will move us forward.

If we beat West Ham, we'll have only lost once at home this season to a Chelsea side that were lucky to come away with anything against us and should have been out of sight in the ifrst half. Could you ever see Martinez having this type of record?

I would guess Martinez, if in charge for Everton, would make us a better attacking side, we would score more goals and be more exciting to watch. Might get the best out of Jelavic as well.

I agree with you to an extent about the defending, but Wigan are a smaller club than us, with much worse defenders. You would think if he came, and with the back four we have, and players like Tony Hibbert as back up, we would be good enough defensively, or certainly better than Wigan are.

He;s done a great job with keeping Wigan up as long as he has, and to be honest, I want to see us batter teams for a change. It would be good to see him in charge for us I think.

The quality of individual is arguable but should still be able to know their arse from their elbow. And that arse is Martinez...

But with Steve Round and Stubbs, Weir and the rest of them, maybe Martinez can just concentrate on the whole forward facing stuff.

People need to take a closer look at the facts.

Martinez:
Premier League wins 38
Losses 70

Goals scored 163
Goals Conceded 269

Add to that an impending relegation and Is that really a guy you want in charge of Everton?

One of the worst candidates out there for me.

If Martinez has bad defenders then that's his own fault. He's had enough time to get players in - you can't say well Everton have better defenders so the problems won't be there anymore if Martinez comes. At some point he owuld have to buy new ones for Everton and he can't just go and keep buying back Paul Scharner and Gary Caldwell. His teams just simply cannot defend.

Is winning not enough for some? You know that its a tough crowd when people are fed up with one or two goal wins. That's what consistent seasons are based upon - Man U have just won a title doing that. Arsenal are scraping into fourth on the back of lots of 1-0 wins. I don't want to win 4-0 one week if we're getting beaten 9-0 at home the next. I don't care about the opposition, it does not bother me if we were winning at Man U or if it was Hull. 3 point is 3 points and the accumulation of points towards getting into the top 4 is the most important thing for the long term success of Everton. Do I think Martinez will get more points next season than Moyes got this one? No - after that I couldn't give one about entertainment or how good his passing looks as apart from a few good nights out and a bit of fawning in the media it does nothing to serve the well being of this club in the long term. If a manager can combine greater ocnsistency than Moyes with good football then I am in fvaour but I don't think that is Martinez and I would not support getting him in for that once every 3 months big away win he might get.

The facts are there for all to see his record is appalling that's why their always in the bottom 3. You also say if Moyes had his squad he wouldnt fayre any better, but Moyes would have bought better as he has with us and the one thing you can guarantee under Moyes they would learn how to defend. You mention his ability to speak Spanish well with if that is a criteria then we shopuld definitely get Laudrup who can speak 3 languages.

All you have to do is have one half decent season and everyone seems to think you are the second coming. Short sighted.

We need new ideas and a british manager is highly unlikely to bring that

Choice is not great; BK doesn't seem to have a clue but, maybe with saying he will take his time choosing, he's waiting for season's end and when Wigan's fate is decided.

Roger for me it has to be someone who isn't operating in the English leagues at the moment. Our manager has just gone to Man U - that tells you all you need to know - there isn't a hatful of managers better than him that are available. I think we're a big enough name to attract a coach from abroad who has a track record and may even have won something. Would we take a coach from a team about to be relegated from the Italian or German leagues? No we owuld question why they would be good enough for Everton so why would we ocnsider a coach about to get relegated from the premier league?

Overrated. Not the man man to take us forward.

The defending from his sides is always abysmal.

I think you're mistaken to suggest that there are no more cheap spanish players, or more accurately cheap players in the spanish league. The premier league will be more awash with cash than ever this season. Some spanish clubs are not even able to pay their players. I think there are plenty of bargains to be had. Lets not forget portugal, italy, greece too where I think players will be able to be bought for a fraction of the price in the english leagues.

I also find the idea that European qualification will move the team to the next level, laughable. Champions league football would, because of the money involved. Europa league football is a nice change for us fans, but isn't going to make the club much money or advance us in any meaningful way.

To my mind, to move everton on, initially we need to sort the finances out to increase the amount of money we can spend on the playing staff, rather than on interest payments. A lack of debt may also make us more attractive to a buyer.

BK isn't going to generate us more money. We're not going to qualify for the champions league. We're left up with the manager getting more out of what resources we have. A manager who is able to develop and use our academy players while keeping us competitive(mid-table) in the league is key, in my opinion.

I'd like to see us take gambles on young players in the sub £5M bracket to supplement our academy graduates. No more fellaini's for £15M and massive wages, or shite players who can't even get in the first team on £65k / week, thank you.

One of Moyes plus points was his team being difficult to beat, and this has meant we've generally been best of the rest. I'm not fussed if we drop a few places in the league to focus on moving the club to a sustainable long-term footing.

Regarding Martinez, don't forget he won a championship with swansea in the lower leagues before he joined wigan. You don't win championships if you're a shit manager and can't motivate your team for a season.

A joy to watch. I am not taking anything away from Moyes against Chelsea, but that is how you do it

Its not like they were playing 10 behind the ball and hanging on against City. They were the better team for virtually the entire game, playing really good passing football.

McManaman was released by Moyes a few years ago by the way, but I'm not going to say anymore than that, given that Moyes has thankfully decided he'd rather manage elsewhere.

They do have a couple of players who look very good individuals, though. As well as McManaman I like the look of McCarthy, seems to be an improvement on Osman.

Would rather someone else but u just know that Bill Kenwright is watching this cup final and 'loving the drama, the story and the magic' and will be straight on the phone on Monday.

Martinez it is - u heard it hear first!

Based on finances, you'd probably expect Wigan to be around the relegation places and be playing shit percentage football.

You wouldn't expect them to consistently play with style beating much richer teams on the way to winning the FA cup and qualifying for europe.

The fact that Martinez has kept wigan in the premier league for the last 3 seasons is an achievement.

Not sure whether that makes it more or less likely that Martinez comes to us. May depend on whether they get relegated or not.

Also whose decision was it to release calum mcnamenen? It was probably Moyes as we know from the past few days everyone thinks he gives youth a chance. My arse, not if your not wayne rooney. Absolutely class today, tormented clichy.

Sure his team plays good footy but they have for years, the philosophy was set in motion by a certain Martinez!

And as for Martinez, he's just won the FA Cup, a competition are old manager, who lets be right about it, is a very good manager, couldn't win!

And not only that, in this years FA Cup, Martinez started out not playing his first team players but ended up having to do just that cos of injuries and as still won it, and deserved it as well.

So I get to my point, what's the difference between Martinez & Laudrup? Wow, Martinez's Wigan are deep in a relegation battle and haven't had the riches like Swansea yet there only in mid table! Yet both managers have won a cup?!

That was the fans points about wanting Laudrup, cos he'd won a cup and got Swansea playing well but all he's done on the playing front is take up the reigns left by Rodgers!

Martinez as just won the FA Cup with unfancied Wigan and just achieved the same feet so far as Laudrup yet I bet there's still Evertonians against wanting Martinez!

I was hoping Wigan wouldn't get relegated, but I think they probably will, and I think that if they do stay up, Martinez wouldn't come to us.

It could be very exciting to give him a go. Riskier than some of the names I had in mind, but I don't actually want a late 50's manager coming for 2 to 3 years... I would prefer a manager who could be with us for 10. I think we are that type of club.

I believe Rodwell was given some first team time on the pitch to develop and eventually was sold for a large fee. Moyes did well in getting some good cash for an injury prone player who wasn't key to the squad.

Its something I've been wishing Moyes would've done more generally, because we probably have quite a few McManamans at the club who are going to bugger off for nowt because they've not been given a chance.

Some might be good enough, some might not, but giving them some first team time at least increases the chance some team with more money than sense will make a silly bid(e.g. Jeffers).

Ask me if I'd take 10th and a cup, I'd say yes in a heartbeat.

Fair play to Moyes, he has an amazing chance to prove if he is truly is a top manager. What today proves though (and others have in recent years) is in a one off game the opportunities are there if played in the right way.

We've had plenty of opportunities and failed to take them.

I believe that Martinez has strengthened his credentials and given a positive statement of intent as a manager - he wants his players to attack and give the other team a headache and boy did it work today.

Congratulations Wigan and Roberto Martinez. I have no fear that we would be turned into relegation fodder if he took charge. He believes the best form of defence is attack, and with players who have the quality of ours he could help us take that next step and convert our ability into success.

IMIT (In Martinez I Trust)

1) His relationship with Whelan which appears very strong.

2) His wish to manage in european competition.

3) The fact that he's not out of contract.

4) The fact that Moyes is probably going to have a big say in his replacement and Martinez is not a dour, defensive or scottish.

We are a bigger club than wigan with more cash and better players; BK would also offer stability. However Martinez appears very much attached to Wigan and I can't see him wanting to leave, unless a really rich club came calling.

Oh dear lord, please tell me that's a joke.

Regardless , he is still not my choice.

I am going to put £10 on a Malky and Dunc 'dream team.' That way Bill can wank himself off telling everyone how he listened to the fans. That certainly wouldn't be my choice either !!

He is young (38) which means plenty of time to develop and improve even further.

He is already settled in the area. No upheaval in his personal life, no adapting to a new city and everything else that goes with it, he won't even need a new house unless he wants one. (But I'm sure he doesn't and all his neighbours love him.)

Has demonstrated the key sign of a manager... getting the most out of a squad of players. This is proven beyond doubt with winning the FA Cup but battling relegation in the league, why? Let me explain. Leagues and Cups are different, everybody knows that. The league never lies, so they say, so when you find yourself in a relegation scrap it is because you are one of the weaker sides in the league. Wigan are a small club, Blackpool in size, it's incredible that they are even in the Premier League still after all these years. They are scrapping down the bottom because they don't have the resources of other clubs and over the course of a season it shows. Now, the fact they have just gone and won the FA Cup proves that this manager can motivate his teams enough on the day to play beyond their potential, over the course of 5 or 6 games he got the performances out of his players ad their efforts and bravery were rewarded with silverware. Martinez is a top manager, and if they avoid relegation it will blow out the water any of David Moyes's achievements at Everton.

He has years experience working for a daft old chairman. This man was loyal to Dave Whelan, so working with Bill Kenwright won't be too bad for him.

Martinez is a big opportunity for us, is it wrong to feel hopeful as an Evertonian?

Oh and well done to Wigan. As for the crowing of the TW editors about resources and their winning the Cup. Will that be retracted if Wigan take the FA Cup to Derby and Barnsley next year?

We became a respected club under Moyes, consistently around 6th in the Prem, punching way above our weight year on year. Don't give me all that about our past. Greece was a great civilisation once. So what?

The one-off nature of Cups didn't go our way - and yes, we bottled it last year against the Shite. And for all the talk of dour Davey, we have played some great studff this season. But we have been yet again handicapped by a lack of strikers - my one gripe about Moyes was he could not find cheap strikers, although I guess they are harder to find than a Jagielka. Relying on Jelavic to score our goals this season has proven fatal to all our early season aspirations. Had we got Negredo, we'd be going to Stamford Bridge still dreaming of bringing in a CL coach for next year. Martinez is probably as good as we can get, but his defences leave me cold.

Cup football is a one-off day and sometimes your name is on the cup: see Wimbledon, Coventry and now Wigan. But over the whole season it is not enough and there is a reason why McLeish and Martinez both went down, they are not good enough, for a comparison see Allardyce at Bolton. Yes, I know people will moan at playing style but he had Bolton 6th-8th most seasons on zero budget... Why couldn't Martinez do that even once?

Let's not forget the season under Moyes when we finished 17th, and take a long hard look at that squad, and then realize Wigan have no resources.

Look at the teams that have been relegated since Martinez has been at the helm of a very poor club (financially), teams who have far more in the bank than Martinez could ever wish for.

Credit where credit is due. Wigan are an insignificant little club with no resources at all, quite how he mananged to build a team in the first place amazes me, and even more to the point, it can take 4 or 5 years to get a working plan into fruition especially on their resouces.

I might be wrong, but I do not see them going down without a massive fight. Today they out played the former league champions on the world's stage and for me did it in style. Martinez / wigan have actually won something, when in reality they shouldn't even be in the premier league.

Where was Moyes before he came to Everton and where as he gone? Martinez has never been given a chance, when with a bit more money he could probably do a far better job than Moyes, which isn't saying much since he already has.

Whats the difference finishing 6th with no european football? and finishing 17th if they pull it off, with a trip to europe and some silverware to boot!

6th with nothing or 17th with an fa cup win and europe next year?...

The reason that Birmingham and Wigan (probably) suffered relegation from the Premier League is because their history suggests they have little or no right to be there for any extended period, not because their managers are no good. If your argument held water then those two clubs would have to have been top flight regulars let down by the 2 M's. instead they (have) kept them in the top division for a reasonable time AND won a trophy.

Incidentally Wigan have won the FA Cup this year despite not playing once at the DW in any round.

Understand where you're coming from, but in this day and age of multi-million annual wages for players and managers alike, the financial sustainability of clubs, or otherwise, is important. For fans who are only interested in 11 v 11 on the pitch, that's all well and good, but then there's some on here asking why don't we go for Rooney, or Mourihno as manager, and wonder why others wonder what planet they are on?

Winning knockout cups is essentially lucky. Had we beaten Wigan in March instead of City, we'd be 6th AND just played the Cup Final.

In ten years before Moyes, we were most of the time a joke, and I for one hated it. We finished top half ONCE. In 11 seasons under Moyes, we 've had 7th three times, 6th twice (probably), 5th twice, and 4th once. We were relegation threatened once, not including the two months in which he rescued us from that fate. We were someone again, and we were able to dream - frustratingly as it happened, but we could. And look at our squad today compared with then. And almost all thru wheeler dealing.

Your defence of Moyes is admirable but there is a reason we are the fourth most successful club in this country and its not finishing sixth. It doesn't matter to me who is in charge but when we next win something it will mean more than getting knocked out in a CL qualifier.

Winning cups shapes the clubs history. It may also attract better players. It may not be important to you, but it is to many.

If you want to support money get a season ticket for the HSBC.

People want respect for Moyes yet treat the club's history and tradition with a total lack of respect.

The biggest laugh is talk of living in the past, when a fair portion of posters live off one abortive attempt at the Champions League qualifiers. Even with investment there is no guarantee that we would break the top four anyway.

Everton FC est.1878 not 2002.

Everything on the line, all the odds against and they destroyed the wealthiest club in the EPL.

As though to rub salt in via the boots of an evertonian booted out by our dullard ex manager..... 11 YEARS!!!! what a scandal.

Depressed now we've got no chance of getting Martinez after today.

I doubt the beauts championing the cause of Roberto Martinez will be saying the same when he takes the pie-eating wools down next week.

Ultimately I agree with you it was a great display of attacking football. But Martinez isn't suddenly Guardiola incarnate just because someone scored from a corner.

15 million quid Martinez team cost and on the biggest stage whipped the ex champs - not penalties or KITAP1 - you have no idea.

However, I received an interesting text from my best mate earlier. He's a scouser who lives in London and whose wife works for the FA (in a not insignificant role) Whilst in obligatory attendance at Wembley this afternoon, she was told, in direct conversation with Martinez's wife Beth, that he is our new manager, regardless of whether Wigan stay up or not.

I should add that both my life-long friend and his missus are reds but used the word 'gutted' in reaction to what they had heard!

Anyhow, make of this what you will, IMHO he is a vast improvement on the likes of Lennon, Makay & Hughes but I would've still preferred someone like Perreira or Klopp.

Can anyone who bets regularly please tell me where to find the best odds on Roberto? I don't normally gamble but for me this time is a sure thing....

COYB

Pep inherited Messi and Barca - the jury is more out on him than Martinez.

And yes Wigan did destroy City - if you can't see it no wonder you believe the Moyes myth.

With or without Martnez there are very many posters on this site who believe that once DM has left we will be struggling at the wrong end of the table so perhaps in that respect Roberto might be the right man for the job.

Whoever we choose is a gamble but we're going to have to choose somebody and there aren't that many who excite us all.

Martinez might want to take a chance on us and he is used to overseeing everything at his club, he will be afforded the same role at Goodison and there are fewer top-flight clubs offering that.

The 2 favourites remain Martinez at 7-4 and Lennon at 2-1

PLEASE LET IT BE SO!

http://www.skybet.com/football/manager-specials/event

Roberto Martinez 7/4
Neil Lennon 2/1
Malky Mackay 8/1
Vitor Pereira 10/1
Alan Stubbs 10/1
Phil Neville 14/1
Michael Laudrup 22/1
Harry Redknapp 25/1
Martin O'Neill 33/1
Mark Hughes 33/1
Gus Poyet 33/1
Rafael Benitez 40/1
Roberto Di Matteo 40/1
Duncan Ferguson 40/1
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 40/1
Slaven Bilic 40/1

AND

David Weir 80/1
Ally McCoist 100/1
Steve Round 100/1
Darren Ferguson 100/1
Steve McClaren 100/1
Sam Allardyce 100/1
Peter Reid 100/1
Roy Keane 150/1
Brendan Rodgers 200/1
Alan Shearer 200/1
Andy Gray 250/1

Met up with six blues last night in an Irish boozer. All pleased to see the back of Moyes; all wanting either Martinez and Laudrup; and all nervy but excited about the future.

Cheers Mate, hope you're well

Glad we've left that chestnut behind

Does Bungling Barry want us to head in the same direction?

We know we have a reasonable defense, so maybe Martinez won't concede to many and we might actually score.

I don't think Martinez would keep us as stable as Moyes but I think he might just get us into top 4, or we might be 10th. I just think it would be fun, something we've been missing for so long now.

Remember when football was fun?

Be careful with this Martinez crap as daft BK has said he will follow what the fans say, so he might actually be reading these posts! You do not appoint a manager who has got his team relegated as Everton manager. Full stop.

People writing shite that he "destroyed" man city yesterday, I don't know passes for "destroyed" in some people eyes.

Wigan's overdue demise ignores all the constraints at that club - £15 million quid that team cost!!

Yet the same dullard reasoning doesn't apply to Moyes?

The fact Utd, the biggest trophy winning outfit in christendom, have appointed Moyes despite never winning a bean assumes they (SAF) believe there's more to it than his shit trophy record.

Tremendous double standards shown by the Moyes FC boys.

Barry. Actually on net spend we are below Wigan over the last five years. See above.

This is a tricky one. There is no doubt based on yesterday that he has to be a strong candidate, but do we want someone whose teams always seem to be close to relegation. Something is not quite right there. It probably comes down to who ther other candidates are. And would he come here? He may feel that without any cash he will just be in a similar position.

You seriously don’t see a double standard in that?

one more:

You refer to: "Wigan's overdue demise ignores all the constraints"
And errr....... anti Moyes people never been guilty of ignoring the constraints at EFC. Never, you can’t recall a time? Consistently dismissing that EFC under Moyes consistently punched well above weight.

Look, it's nice to have a proper debate and I am not dismissing Martiez as junk, and I do actually value your insights, however if you want to build strength to your arguments, you can do better than having to stoop to drawing spurious correlations between the name "steven" and “brain deadness”. At least I hope you can.

It's not an inspiring choice, but there's potential there and it's where my money would be gambled.

That is interesting.

Steven Telford in 11 years we have never won away once at Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal or Chelsea in the league. We have capitulated in a final and semis bar a narrow penalty win against a second string Man U. I have not mentioned the many embarrassments against lower division sides.

If you all idolise him that much go and watch Man U. I will be watching and supporting Everton the club regardless of who is in charge. Martinez is a better bet than any of Moyes apparent suggestions listed earlier on this thread.

I hope Bill ignores Gollum as he will have picked Mackay and Lennon. Quite frankly I do not want a Moyes Mk2 we have suffered his rubbish enough.

So if forced to choose between them I would say Martinez so he can bring McManaman with him.

£10m a pop.

I'd take Martinez over Lennon or Mackay but I think i'd prefer Pereira to all 3 still. Whoever it is I will give full backing to.

I think even if Wigan went down it would be a good appointment. I think keeping Wigan in the premiership for as long as he has given the resources is a massive acheivement. Oh and he has won the FA Cup as well now. Ernie I am not a Wigan fan so don't have a exact knowledge of their away fixtures against the 'big four' but they have taken some fearful batterings but I know they have won at Anfield and at Arsenal I seem to recall.

He knows the premiership better than Laudrup, Lennon and Mackay

I can just see him in some alehouse giving it loads about "Well the problem is they don't bloody well WANT to work" and "I ad nuthin...not a brass farthin' but I were determined, so ah pulled m'self up by me bootstraps..." blah blah.

A minute's silence for Thatcher?

Hope he breaks his leg again.

http://theexecutionersbong.wordpress.com/

Interesting that this is a team who are on the cusp of being relegated.

Could make one think that they have a manager who repeatedly has not got the best out of them over 38 games.That team has talent enough to stay in the division.

Kind of tells me that, yesterday's heroics aside, it's no thanks Roberto.

The best figures I've seen have shown that there is 750k / premier league place at the moment. Phil Neville probably earns close to £3M per season. Heitinga more. Naismith god knows what, but probably 30k upwards.

Money-wise there is no argument. A couple of players on big money eat up more cash than you gain by having them in the squad and finishing a few places higher....thats assuming you do finish higher with them in the squad, too. Personally I think we'd be better off on points if Duffy had played whenever Heitinga got a game. Same for Hitz/Barkley vs Neville.

So, if you offered me the choice between 6th place, no trophies or europe compared to a manager who focuses on developing cheap players with potential and finishing in 10th, I'll take the latter any day, simply because in the long-term the club is likely to be more successful.

Ernie(056) makes some good points. You also have to factor in that Martinez has been at wigan 3 years vs Moyes 11 and that he's had to offload his best players each season. Valencia, Nzogbia, Cattermole, Rodallega, Moses.

To me, Mackay seemed very interested while trying not to say too much. Laudrup didn't seem all that keen.

I hope it's neither of them. It's Martinez for me.

Going off that I'd have said both would be open to an offer. Not sure Laudrup is what we want at Goodison at all though...did not like the stupefied reaction he had to managers being at clubs long term....the idea seemed utterly alien to him.

"Oh yes, I hate Wales, Swansea are crap. Here's my number Bill I'll be at Goodison tomorrow"? He was just being respectful to Swansea City.

Obviously I am talking about Jupp Heynckes from Bayern Munich, yes I know he is 68 but we don't want him to play just to coach. He has said he wont manage again in the German league but has not suggested he is ready to retire. His team have won the German league is in the final of the Champions league as well as the final of the German Cup.

Response: "You don't need money!! Just play positive, attacking football! Play like winners! 4-4-2!"

Statement: "Martinez has just taken Wigan down"

Response "Well, its because he had no money!! Look at how much his squad cost!"

You seriously, seriously could not make this shit up. Surely this has to be a wind up? Judge him on his merits, of course. But making excuses for being the poorest defending team in the league? Their centre half cost more than Jags or Distin!! Fucking hilarious...

The cowardly cautious nature of Moyes is what turned me off him... Rolling over in derby games like a wounded lamb made me sick and it was down to Moyes.

Bigging up opponents and demoralising his own team is what Moyes did best. Wigan are a tiny spec of dust on the football landscape and for Marinez to have kept them in the top flight for so long as well as having to sell his best players as well as winning the Cup blows Moyes away.

By the way, man of the match Saturday a Moyes reject boyhood Evertonian not good enough for us because he has skills and pace. Who needs that when you have Osman playing every second of the season...

Moyes is a joke and will ruin the Mancs. Only fools like us put up with that crap for 11 years – they won't.

Anyway, Laudrup and Martinez are in Europe next season and best of luck to them, if they have any sense, they'll enjoy that and leave us alone. I hope we pluck a good manager from somewhere.

Regards who Kenwright will appoint I have said it will be Robert De Matteo.Simple reasoning for Kenwright being he will cost us nothing and has won the champions league,managed a top side in the Premier league and would have good connections.

My own choice would be the current Cardiff manager.

I can see your logic about Di Matteo and it makes sense (and I wouldn't be too unhappy if he came), but he in my opinion he would be off to a bigger club in milliseconds if he achieved anything with us. I'd be happy with Martinez myself, dispite the relegation, It's a miracle what he's achieved in the league so far (and he's proved (unlike the Moyesiah) he knows where the Jugular is and how to go for it in a cup competition).

In his 4 years there, he's only spent 14m and had his best players taken away from him (we spent 15m on fellani alone!). If he came to us, he inherits a decent defence and he's no mug, he'll realise that and use it. I think there's far too much pessimism in our club about him.

He's been relegated and now he know what it feels like (once bitten, twice shy?) and won't want to experience it again, he'll be a better manager for it, having learnt some lessons.

Also looking at the odds you can get 50/1 on Di Matteo. I think if he was a serious contender they would not be offering odds like that, they'd take some heavy losses if any smart money went on him.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/vitor-pereira-perfect-fit-everton-3817219

Only concern might be a lack of familiarity with the English game. AVB hardly shone at Chelsea and is still in the process of stamping his style onto Spurs....so it may be we'd have to be patient for a couple of seasons with Pereira?.

Myself, as with Poyet, I'd be quietly confident for the future with Vitor in charge. One thing thats for certain is that there are few excuses, with the number of solid management options available, for the Board to rock up with some washed up no-mark like Hughes or O'Neil. Just hope that they are switched on to the fact that they cant afford to wait too long, after the weekend, to get a new man in before the squad starts to get fidgety.