Martínez confirmed as next Everton manager

Time to be positive and I’m starting to feel excited and looking forward to watching our new manager in action.

Roll on August (ankle permitting) I’ll be having a nice gassy Chang beer with a smile on my face due to a good half-time result.

Good luck Roberto and welcome to Everton.

... now we can start to debate signings like most other summers.

Welcome RM

And as for raiding Wigan for players I fail to see how any member of their relegation side should improve our team

Mr Martinez will be officially unveiled as the Club’s 14th permanent manager at a media conference on Wednesday afternoon".

At least he is a manager with a CV that contains a trophy, and let's not foget how they totally dominated us and City to win said trophy, If we had played like Wigan did with no fear then maybe we would have stuffed the RS at the Semi (Ughh no more on that one).

One good thing in his favour is that he is well used to working with little or no transfer kitty so let's hope Blue Bill digs into his money box and finds some dosh to get McManaman — yet another we let go, he must be a Toffee, surely, like his relative Steve, or is he?

Lets give him a real go and support the Man COYB

I always find it weird when people do that online. (sorry, no offence)

As an aside - until 4pm I refuse to believe it's even Martinez....it could be anyone!

(I know, I know).

Thrilled at this appointment and looking forward to seeing an Everton under Martinez play. Should be easy on the eyes and enjoyable. Looking forward to actually having a go at Mordor.

Welcome Roberto!

Cant wait to see us get new players in now. Would be disappointed to lose Baines but not so bothered about Fellaini. I reckon McCarthy and McManaman would spice up the midfield options and Alcaraz is OK as well if we start by raiding Wigan!

I hope we conclude any transfer business early, (some hope) and he can implement his new formations etc.

A new era for club & it's support. I think Roberto will realise what a great club he is at, when he leads the team out for our first home game.

We will have more support at our pre-season friendlies than Wigan ever had for P.L. games away from home!

Welcome, and never forget - SIN MIEDO!!

Oh well, here's hoping it goes well.

Sigh.

Hugs and kisses.

Phil Sammon

Roberto woah
Roberto woah
He came from Wigan Town
He turned the Red Shite down
Roberto woah
Roberto woah

Show him how friggin' excellent Everton fans are.

Now it's finally happening I'm excited by his attacking philosophy and our good defenders.

Give the man a chance.

Welcome to the Mighty Blues, Roberto.

Just wait until you hear that Goodison roar. One of the greatest sounds on this planet.

That said, the one annoying thing about this is that we heard it first from Dave Whelan - thanks for the anti-climax Grandpa..

Anyway...suerte Roberto.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2191283/Roberto-Martinez-turned-Liverpool-job.html

Having got that off my chest...Welcome Roberto!!

All the frustrations of boring, boring Davy gone! Although we may grumble in future about his defence. Who knows?

In the meantime I welcome 'Berto!! Giving youth a chance, making impact substitutions pre 85 minutes, awarding places on skill & merit as opposed to "time served", playing people IN position, going for a win etc, etc...

I think the pros far outweigh the cons. We could be "sexy"?

It would be a start in improving our league position to lose the fear factor that seen us draw 15 (fifteen) games last season.More than any other team except one.Turn 5 of the 15 into wins and its sorted.

But I am Blue and will support him. welcome to Everton COYBB

Everton have one of the strongest defensive records in the league - if we can keep Baines, we won't have defensive issues like Wigan as their players were shite.

Now if we can get some attacking prowess as well - how we can argue with anything he can bring.

Exactly my sentiments.

When Liverpool signed Rodgers it was a sign of refocused ambition... this shows where it has been all along for Kenwright.

Argh....

And I would add, "And ours lie in your hands..."

I hope that he hits the ground running and starts getting his team around him and also the players in that he thinks will improve the side.

As for my expectations, next season should be one of consolidation on what DM has achieved. No panics when we get a couple of poor results just so long as we see an improvement in our playing style.

Like I say, I don't expect too much next season, but by the end of it we will know one way or the other how things are going to pan out.

Good luck Roberto.

If we continue to be part of that upper 7 who look up the table, when all others are looking over their shoulders, then it will be situation normal and a form of success for Martinez. Less than that and and I don't see why he'd improve in the long run.

But yeah, good luck to him.

I had no skin in the game and had no intention of playing fantasy football around such an important position. I trust he fully recognizes and respects what this post means in English football and to all of us. He has a bright, positive personality and a great presence with the media, which should work well for him... but the real test will be in the results on the field — and that's just as it should be.

I have no idea how he will perform as the new Everton manager... but I think his every move will be closely watched, scrutinized and commented upon. I am just so glad the rampant speculation and absolute nonsense betting bollocks we have had to put up with for the last month is finally over.

Welcome, Roberto!!!

Not sure what you mean? But Liverpool were no longer certs for CL qualification and Rodgers wouldn't demand the backing that top line managers require nor the yanks wish to invest.

Moyes had us punching above our weight for season after season with practically no backing in his last four years and this bloke represents that level when we were hoping for a CL position a year ago.

Personally, I would see top 8 as a par finish with the current squad, anything below that would be classed as a poor first season. We will have to take into consideration any sales, and reinvestment in new players, but we should only see one or two leave.

I expect we will see a couple of Wigan players come this way, and hopefully a goalscorer to assist Jelavic.

I don't think we can go another 11 years without a trophy, that would be 29 in total if that turned out to be the case!!

I would also expect the 'Sky Four' curse to be lifted next season as well, especially away at our lovable neighbours.

It really won't take much to placate our support, we have been surviving on breadcrumbs for a while now.

For crying out loud mate, we haven't even kicked a ball, how can we go back to "the old relegation days" with such a talented squad. Ok, he's not who we all wanted, but it could have been a hell of a lot worse.
Get behind him.

Plus , Thank GOD its was not an internal that got the job.

All in all, I am happy in feeling that he deserves a chance to prove himself.
I give him my full support, welcome to EFC Roberto - now prove you deserve this chance!

Your first press conference is in 40 mins.

Given Moyes gave it 'the people's club' (which instantly got everyone behind him) what would you say to REALLY impress Everton supporters.

I understand where the sceptics are coming from, but I'm glad the majority are throwing their support behind the man, despite their understandable reservations. I just hope Martinez can do a top job and prove them wrong, in the nicest possible way.

@Steve Cotes 891
"This club is a joke! How on earth did he get the job over Pierrer or the German guy. Sick to the stomach over this...."

Pierrer or the German? I'm not sure if the club is the joke mate!

Rob Martinez is a blue is a blue is a blue
Rob Marrinez is a blue he hates kopites!!

Based on the fact that Martinez took Wigan backward in his 4 years in charge - and specialised in getting thrashed by any side with an attacking mentality - I too fear we have failed to capitalise on a chance to kick on. But like everybody else who thinks the appointment is a poor one, I'll be supporting him 100% and am desperate for him to prove me wrong.

Good luck Roberto, bring on the next season.

Needless to say we ought never to believe what comes out of the mouth of shite, but they say that he was never offered the job. RM has never said that he was ever offered the job. And I've looked here and elsewhere for the telling nugget of evidence and have never come across it.

Hmmmmm?????

Wishful thinking?

Moyes had to leave, and good luck to him but this? Massively underwhelmed by a massively overrated manager.

No fear? Sorry, I have lots of it.

After all the great work Moyes and all the boys did over the last 11 years, making Everton a top six side, let’s hope that this is not a big step backwards!

I think big Nev was right — complete lack of ambition!!!

I also want him to say that there are two clubs on Merseyside, Everton and Everton Reserves.

His record over a full season is what counts, not 5 games against lower league teams or one-off games against Premier League sides.

Not the right way to look at a persons record, in my opinion.

The Spaniard, who turned down the Aston Villa job last summer, revealed that his reasons for remaining at the DW Stadium centred around a chat with chairman Dave Whelan.

'We must educate people,' Martinez told the Daily Mirror. 'In five or six years, we [Wigan] reap the benefits. Maybe I won’t be there then.

'But this is not why I stayed, when Liverpool made me an offer.'
He added: 'I stayed because my chairman is unique.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2191283/Roberto-Martinez-turned-Liverpool-job.html#ixzz2VLuE6DVO
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"Given Moyes gave it 'the people's club' (which instantly got everyone behind him) what would you say to REALLY impress Everton supporters."

Simples....

"Right, my first job is the get shut of this new badge and get back the one the represents the history of this great club" said Robby.

22000 fans happy.

There was a short period when I thought the badge issue might be a put up job just for the purposes of giving the new manager his 'Peoples Club' moment. I'm just a cynic like that though!.

At the very least he won't have a first touch goal poacher like Jelavic playing a lone striker role, running up and down the wing putting in crosses to no-one in particular.

Best of luck to him however. Welcome Roberto!

It will be nice to see Jela in the box and chances been created for him as oppose to standing on the wing and holding the ball up. We played 3-5-2 in a game this season and it worked ok. So hoping his attacking input will allow us to push on!

As it happens, I think Moyes was too negative. I think he underestimated the quality of his players. I think he damaged the confidence of strikers by demanding too much of them outside the box. I think he failed to bring in backroom staff who were capable of providing an alternative perspective. I have no desire to apologise for anything he did. In fact I couldn't care less because he has gone.

We're talking about Roberto Martinez. And it's perfectly logical and reasonable for me, and others, to observe that he has an utterly woeful record in the Premier League. He had 4 years to improve a side and he instead took them backward. He relegated a mid-table team that had finished 10th shortly before his arrival. Surely these are concerns that Evertonians should rightly raise?!

So again, please refrain from the disrespectful use of terms like "apologist" when your fellow fans are simply expressing an opinion that differs from yours. It's childish and exposes only your own preoccupation with Moyes.

And why?

Anyway, Talksport are leading their website with Redknapp thinking Bale will stay at Spurs. Martinez is further down the page.

Welcome, Sr Martinez, to the world's greatest football club.

Lets get behind him for our new era.

COYB.

The Gwladys St. will write it's own, original, unique Martinez song if he's any good.

Joe Royle was relegated with Oldham in 93/94, and only just escaped the season before, and we appointed him in November and he won us the FA Cup.

You could say that it isn't Pereira or Rangnick, but who was the only REALISTIC candidate for the post?

http://cricfree.tv/sky-sports-news-live-stream.php

Take a look at the transfer fees since 2003: http://transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-2003-to-date.html

We're behind Norwich, Fulham, West Brom, West Ham, Stoke, QPR, Sunderland, Newcastle and Villa (among others). And on a season by season basis, only a few hundred grand above Wigan. Yep, we pay higher wages but it's difficult to say we're underachievers when you look at the figures.

Agree but I wouldn't mind hearing a real statement of intent.

And I would be encouraged immensely to hear something along the lines "Buenos diaz...I am not here to..how you say.. tread water, I am here to compete and to win trophies. I want to be in charge of a team with genuine belief in themselves and a genuine belief that they can beat anyone anywhere. We will fear no team. And win lose or draw, I want our supporters to watch a brand of football that will leave their hands red raw through clapping after every game".

Type..stuff.

Your link for the press conference at 16:00 takes you briefly to an admin page.... then back to the home page.

"Viva Roberto" - go get 'em Bobby.

The problem with Bill and the board is that they don't forward plan. Henc we lent up in this situation.

On balance, it's probably the wisest appointment. He has experience of the PL, young and therefore probably more open to coaching changes, proficient with technology, upright, well connected, liked by the media and has seen the value of a good scouting network.

I'm a bit underwhelmed by the appointment probably because I'm so familiar with him and this has been a bit drawn out but I wish him well.

IMWT (are we still using this?!)

As a card carrying member of your gentleman's club "Martinez for Everton" I share your shout:

Viva Roberto!

IMWT

Seems like a really decent bloke and I'm sure it'll be a positive move for all involved!*

* I did however think Bakayoko was going to be amazing too :)

(translation: Liverpool were gobshites)

Don't hold your breath.

Call the police...

Whittering on about himself and David Moyes.

Good God he makes me cringe.

Anyway, time to be positive re: The Mighty Blues and get behind RM.

I take it you don't think it's a factor that our spending puts us around the relegation places every year for the last 10? No?

As for "occasionally" finishing 17th, you should be a politician with language like that!

Fucking hell, Kenwright is laying it in a bit thick here.

Martinez does look genuinely excited though.

Apart from soft lad talking bollocks, I thought Roberto spoke well and the press conference went ok

Go and play with your train set my son...!

He has become a parody of himself. He just doesn't know when to stop talking gibberish - how many times have we heard this same old shite?

His meeting with Moyes has become his very own 'broken leg in a Cup Final' story. Love it.

Kenwright seemed obsessed with what's-his-name there. I wonder how many times in the next few months he says 'well, David never did it that way.'

We need a new chairman, Kenwright is too much of a Moyes man.

Now just two-and-a-half months reading TW threads on completely invented transfer stories and then it all starts again, this thing of ours.

In Martinez we trust..ish.

In Bill we wince.

Up the Toffees!

I think even Roberto was embaressed by Kenwright at times there. Bill at his cringeworthy worst.

No need for BK to open his big mouth and pile on extra pressure. The size of the task was emphasised by the moving strip at the bottom of the screen declaring the £34mill. City signing of Fernandinho.

I genuinely think this will be a good appointment and welcome a change from the dour football we've witnessed under Moyes and Smith.

Didn't rubbish Wigan and even acknowledged the work of our previous manager.

Simply can't wait for next season.

Bill does make you cringe and I do find it hard to believe he's a scouser sometimes.

BTW, just heard that Wagamama's from Celtic his house hunting in Aigburth.

Could we have our first debate since RoMa joined us? i.e. was that glass half full or half empty?

Woah! where did THAT thought come from!

I don't really know what else to say, other than Martinez looked almost as embarrassed as I felt sitting here watching that pile of tripe.

Somebody really should have a word with Billy about his waffling.

Champions League? You're avin a laugh.....

Welcome Robbie!!

What does that even mean??

Bill needs to show Martinez the trophies and the history to make sure he knows that this is Everton not Wigan and Europe is the goal. Unfortunately I don't think Bill even knows Everton's history.

Good luck, Roberto.

You might be in for a bit of shock next season, James, cos Wigan are playing in Europe and Everton are not.

No offence, like.

Or should I say, no defence.....like.

Absolutely mortified. And he just said he had a phenomenal time at Wigan !!!! Incredible

Hysteria, desperation and self-delusion know no rationalization. People want to feel better and will do almost anything to achieve that goal.

I just hope he doesn't take us down. I hope he does well for us.

Still, he's promised Bill CL football ... [tears appear effortlessly] ... and that's the main thing. ;-)

Give him chance to put his feet under the table first eh?

Can't you just shut up with all this EMOTIONAL HYPERBOLE?

Job1: ensure Baines doesn't leave; job 2: find a 20 goal a season striker. Other than that the job will be a doddle!

Welcome Roberto! Oh I almost forgot and sorry to be cruel - sell Naismith!

"Massively underwhelmed by a massively overrated manager."

You sound like a Man Utd supporter.............

My guess - all being rushed to hozzy with extreme curling of the toes after BK's carry-on.

• He plays attacking football, that's what everyone wanted... we can defend already. I think his style of football is what we should be looking forward to.
• He can attract better players than he could at Wigan and he goes for technical players, so no more Phil Neville's etc.
• He won't take forever to bring a youngster through like Moyes did.
• He has enthusiasm, which Moyes lacked towards the end.
• It's better then having an internal appointment.
• He has turned down LFC in the past.
• Finally, he mashed us up at home and won a cup... Moyes failed in every meaningful game we ever played.

How many reasons do we need to look forward to his reign? Time to get behind him!!! COYB

He also has joined at a time when Liverpool are not the all crushing machine that Moyes thought they were when he took over. Martinez hopefully will have no reason to have any inferiority complex concerning them whatsoever.

We have really good players here, anyone thinking we'll go down with players like Jagielka, Mirallas, Pienaar, Gibson, Jelavic and Baines in the team seriously needs to look at some of the teams in the bottom half of the league they're atrocious.

As so many people have been crying out over the last few years – at least it won't be boring. Although a few good tonkings at home might test the strength of that mantra along with others like "It doesn't matter what the result is as long as the football is good" and "I'd rather lose and be entertained than KITAP1 and win".

Anyway, lets get behind Roberto, I think he will do well with us and could be the ideal manager to build on the platform Moyes has given us.

Any way we can get rid of July - haven't been so excited for a new season since 2006!

I bet Bill tells a few 'hilarious' anecdotes and does a Brucie-style soft-shoe shuffle every time the fridge light comes on.

I've said it before; he's surely got to be a wiser and less naive ((in a defensive sense) manager than he was before. I'm sure he will be!

If he's not we're all in deep shit!

I've completely ignored the Martinez Swansea revolution producing some of the finest live football I've ever witnessed - all created on 50 quid and 2 buckets of coal.

I've ignored those foundations carrying Swansea into the riches of the Prem and winning the league cup.

I've ignored his appointment at Wigan coinciding with Whelan saying "Jewell and Bruce have spent the dough so you're going to have to sell your best... and btw we're slashing the wages as well ..... by over 20%"

"oh and there's zip for incoming transfers - would you like a biscuit?"

I've ignored that every year he successfully fought these odds without resorting to the Birmingham, Coventry, Wolves, Sunderland, Hull, Bradford etc etc models of shutting up shop hoofing it in blind hope with complete deadwood condemning the club when the inevitable relegation does happen.

I've ignored that while defying these odds year on year when amidst the relegation death throes he destroyed us at Goodison didn't bottle it in the semis and well ...... I can't remember what happened in the final ..... (probably lost - it was against the richest club on the planet - that's how it works doesn't it?)

No .... it's his suit.

Such as: Who will be the Number Two, or at the very least, who are the candidates.

How he thinks he can cope with higher expectations.

Where does he see the club in four-years time, and what is the scope of his ambition for us.

Does he have (even un-named) specific targets in mind. What areas does he think we need strengthening in.

I like the guy and I'm happy to have him, but I thought he dodged a number of questions, by deliberately waxing-lyrical instead.

In the end what'shisname would only give a steely glare, and a nae!

Eugene - I find the very phrase "toe-curling" makes my toes curl. This is due in no small part to a visit I had some years ago to what I am going to call a 'special' clinic. The healthcare professional said: Right, I'm just going to blah blah blah - which is going to make your toes curl a bit". It did, too. It bloody did.

But I digress... Hurrah for Martinez! Hurrah!

Besides Bill covered all that saying "it's CL lads!" - what a corker that was - think he'd stick to the script wouldn't ya?

What were people expecting? He's in show business. He always misses the opportunity to say nothing. He can't walk past an open microphone. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, surely?

Anyway - we can talk about this till we're *ahem* blue in the face, but I'll still back the man, even if I don't feel he's the right man for the job - I hope he (and you) prove me wrong obviously.

He's going to need money, and whether we like it or not, that WILL be one of the key deciding factors as to whether he does well for us. I don't care who you are, you can't keep doing what DM & the players did forever. We need cash, simple as that. You could put Alex Ferguson & Brian Clough in charge these days, and without the required finances you ain't winning a damn thing.

We all know from past experience that the better Everton do the more he emerges from his lair beneath the opera house!

When things aren't going well you wouldn't know he existed - such are the lack is appearances!

'Let's get the 40 points on the board, then see where we go from there.'

Well....I suppose he could have been naked.

Seriously, I genuinely wince each time he opens his grid.

His level of cringe-worthy insincerity I have only seen matched by Hughie Green.

I know a feller in London who has many similarities with BK, he's known as 'Hello he lied'.

We need Martinez to do better than Moyes. I was expecting a statement of intent from him, rather than Old Misty-Eyes..(who admittedly, spoke well today).

Still...

You make me laugh you know Nick, you were always having a dig at lads who were negative when Moyes was in charge, now you come out with this crap and a few more negative comments to boot.

Do I know anything about the likes of Pulis, Lennon, Mackay, Freedman, McClaren, O'Neill etc. Enough. Thanks but no thanks. I would've died if Pulis had been appointed.

I'm not jumping for joy but am quietly confident we'll be OK.

I'm also well up for it after listening to Talksport and Micky Quinn playing the "Laughing Policeman" at 5pm behind the re-run of press conference. Absolutely outrageous.

I'm chuffed to bits we've gone for a young, intelligent, hard working manager highly regarded for his philosophy and also appears to be a good man, which for me is important.

I'm anxious of the unknown. It might end in tears but I'd rather take a risk with Martinez than "play safe" with some of the names above.

The biggest challenge Roberto has though is dealing with the complete fuckwit we have as a Chairman. A complete embarassment.

He's Everton manager and for the reasons above he gets my total support. If we all really get behind him, including the players and board I think he could really take us somewhere special.

Over to you Roberto - let the dice roll!

COYB. IMWT.

“Well I’m here to present our new Shite Manager. After a long search and interviews with the worst group of no-hopers who ever sat the wrong way on a toilet, I bring you, the Thin Spanish Waiter (pound for pound greater value than that other clown).”

“We only got him because he had no pedigree after his previous team went down. He has promised me the Vauxhall Conference .. but he won’t say when. I don’t want to put any pressure on him.”

“Sorry for being naked. I had to sell my last suit to pay Whelan. Otherwise we wouldn’t have got him.”

Lets see some good business done in the transfer window (including holding on to Baines) and - I am be wrong - but I'm looking forward to next season. nothing is guaranteed, but lets give this guy a fair chance.

to have a man who "has something to prove" at the helm should hopefully drive us forward.

To any who feel down about Roberto, Let me say 4 words
Wier, Stubbs, Neville & Pullis.

Buena suerte Roberto, pero no creo que "vamos los azules" ni "adelante azules" suenan muy bien!!

The TW world has tilted on its axis, I thought I was an optimistic glass half full sort,turns out I 've turned into a curmudgeonly miserable get.
This role reversal is going to take a lot of us some time to adjust to.

What's your thoughts on RM, Tony? Happy?

"It would be a big mistake to look at the manager's previous team.

"We have to look at the whole range, world football is a big market."

Hasn't it just! :)

Kone will be 30 years old next season, think we need someone younger and more prolific. McCarthy and McManaman might be worth a good shout if the price is right

RM has told BK he will get us in to the Champions League in the future; now, no matter if he does or does not, he is saying stuff we all want to hear. Not the other crap about survival and being in shadows etc.

I am really looking forward to next season now as I could not've stomached any more of Moyes and Round bottling big games and playing shite football 90% of the time. On we go; Moyes is history and who gives a fuck? We got nowt for him, we have stolen RM for buttons off Wigan. At long long last we are about to see proper footy return to Goodison Park after an absence of 25 years. That in itself should be enough to start off with.

I reckon all these fans who know no better and still mourn Dire Dave will be eating large dollops of Humble Pie in the coming years..Thank God for once Weepy Bill got something right.

I read that Rangnick had his team in the semis of the CL, and Pereira was twice Portuguese champion. In that light, I guess Martinez can be just as good a choice as any of them.

He did win the FA Cup.... but my main concern was that he is leaving – not a sinking – but a sunken ship... Although I understand the opinions that he might have done much better with a better club, better players etc.

So, let´s all give him the benefit of the doubt and the time needed to make his mark. Everton is the greatest club. Martinez will grow with the task and the potential he now has at his disposal.

Looking forward to next season!

I'm not sure if the Champions League comment was wise or not. On the one hand it is good to show ambition, and that really should be our goal. On the other hand SSN keep repeating "Martinez promises Champions League football" over and over. which does sound a little deluded when taken out of context. We made it once under Moyes, and we had an opportunity to push for it again this season, so it is not impossible. I guess if you don't have targets its hard to be successful.

The right man has been appointed at this time and one way or another the club will progress in the 4 year term of Mr Martinez. And beyond I would like to think.

They have a responsibility to though. RM is the manager and DM is no more. Support him and the club

Martinez and BK certainly said all the right things like: The fans are the most important aspect of our club, we want to progress the club, we'l give Roberto a few quid to spend, blah,blah,blah,etc.... Talk is very cheap though, none of us will know how good Martinez will be until maybe half way through the season. None of us will know what funds have been made available to Martinez until September 1st.

I will be judging both BK and Martinez's statements, when they've both put their words into actions

I can't remember the last time we really pulled one out of the bag, a real big name as a signal of intent to the rest of the League we are back as a serious club. No more 'plucky little Everton' - fucking hated that moniker.

He won the FA cup and deserved to. I could go in BK's office and say hello I'm going to get you in the CL — that doesn't make me a good manager it makes me optimistic.

Talk is cheap, if you take his record as a whole i'ts grim, with 2 high points. I don't know if that many blues will be happy with an entertaining side that concedes goals by the shed-load. I'm not happy with that and all those people who are currently in love with the smiley Spanish man ... god I hope your right. But I suspect we will end up signing ex-Wigan players for more than anyone else will pay... followed by a nosedive down the League.

I am also concerned that the current EFC staff will be shown the door to be replaced by the current Wigan staff.

In short, I think this is a disaster.... I will support the club as usual and the manager but I have a very bad feeling about this.

sending a nice message to Wigan that he may be interested to take a player or two, but that the market is global (translation: Whelan, we will pay, but we wont over pay)

I don't think he could have handled that press conference any better than he did.

Perhaps there were failings on Mr Martinez's part, I am not in any position to comment authoritatively on that, but the reasons why teams "fail" or "succeed" are many and varied and often depend on particular circumstances coming together at inopportune times and are beyond the wit of even the greatest genius to cope with. For example, I believe that at key stages of the season Wigan had a dreadful run of injuries depriving them of key players in key positions over significant periods of time which in a very limited squad can cause havoc.

We have endless comments regarding Wigan's defensive weaknesses and thus comments such as "Martinez's teams cannot defend" - so suddenly Everton's current back four and defensive mid-fielders would suddenly be transformed by their new manager into defensive half-wits would they?

I would guess that few people actually have any idea of all the circumstances relating to, and contributing to, Wigan's demise this last season but to write off the manager - with insensitive comments such as "loser" - is unworthy. What we do know from what we have seen of him personally, is that he is a personable, engaging, thoughtful man who seems to want to play the game as well as he possibly can within the limits of the conditions with which he has to cope; he has been engaged in the wider community of Wigan in a dedicated and open manner and as such would seem to be someone who can be responsive to the particular culture of Everton and the yearnings from the fan base to build on the successes of Mr Moyes and to develop areas of the team that are in need of change. But to do it he has to be part of a much more professional level of performance at every level of this underdeveloped club.

We should all welcome him, give him our support, offer constructive criticism when we feel obliged to do so but to do it all with a measure of dignity, courtesy and respect - until he loses twice in a season to Liverpool and then the gloves are off! I welcome him, and wish him every success, both personal and professional.
`

Welcome to Everton, Roberto, and good luck managing our famous club.

Up the Toffees!

Can he marry the promise of free flowing attacking football with an established solid defense to the satisfaction of a big club's expectation. And just as important can he wheel and deal and improve a top 6 squad as well as Moyes did. I sincerely hope so.

Good luck Roberto - deliver your promise of Champions League football and make us proud.

Just given it some thought (5 secs) and came up with John Collins, major fucking disappointment he turned out to be.

How am I going to get BK's performance out of my head tonight?

On the other hand, BK was VERY far off his game. He radiated scepticism in his own appointment and a yearning for a soon to be visible naked emperor did nothing but undermine the new manager. His wittering and negative body language spoiled a moment that was of great interest to all Evertonians and while I don't really doubt his fan credentials (that much), the man was a distraction.

Kenwright hasn't moved on judging by that performance and I wonder how much support Martinez will get. Kenwright MUST go, there are far worst chairmen in football but we deserve much better. We need to move on from the past 11 years and Kenwright has shown that he's not looking forward enough.

We all need to get behind our new manager. The average stats in the Prem bely a different story. When you are Wigan manager you find a few good players and you will lose them in 12-24 months. That means you need to build a new team each season. No wonder Wigan only get themselves together towards the final third of the season when he can unify the team.

At Everton, you get 3 years to keep that player and the team is more of a collective as a result. This is just a hypothesis but I think he is going to be good. The guy is positive with the media, likes good football, and well whatever you think he is our new leader. Let's get behind him, let's be positive, if his recruitment wasn't what you wanted, well, to be honest, your opinion now means nothing but your support means everything.

I love this club and I love the majority of our fans. Let's stick together. NSNO

Come to think of it, what's he really done at Everton???

"A disgraceful non-entity" takes one to know one?

Go into your kitchen, take out a glass and fill it up half way with water / beer. What do you see?

He came from wigan town he turned the redshite down robertooo ooohhh oh

There will be change, how much and of what sort, is neither positive OR negative, it's just change.

No one can say how Martinez will do and if we end up in the bottom 3 by the end of October, well it's no more than Moyes achieved on many an occasion.

We should do what Pauxatawnie Phil does only change summer for winter, we should hibernate or go on holiday or do what ever it is you do in the summer with no football, then pop our heads out in mid August and see what it looks like then... and again at the end of October.

That what I am going to TRY to do. I'm going to put full bottle of single malt toffeeWeb on the sideboard and just try and leave it there un opened.

Let him get on with it.

I really think we could have done better than this and I am concerned, like many here about his abilities to set up his side to defend properly. Still nothing to do now but to get behind him and hope that he proves myself and other doubters wrong. Welcome to the blues and good luck Roberto.

I cringed listening to our beloved chairman this evening. However, lets get behind our new manager and create some positivity.

The hardest part of football is sticking the ball in the back of the net, it's not defending (which is why strikers cost the most money).
For all the doom merchants out there, Wigan scored only 8 goals fewer than us last season. Therein lies our problem — goal scoring.

Defensively Wigan were a lot worse, but we have good defenders, it's our strength. Do you honestly think Martinez is going to destroy that? Surely he is going to maintain our core strength (reliant on players staying), but hopefully improve our chronic lack of goals which is the real issue.

Give the man a chance. Anyway my missus is happy......

Its good.

I will admit before his appointment today he was not my preferred choice, but today, in his press conference,0 I saw something different about him: his demeanour, he seemed to have steel in his eyes. I've never seen that in him before, and that made me want to listen to his every word, and that came through the TV in my living room.

I think (and hope) he will get his team set up to win, not just tactically, but mentally, and that's the difference between Martinez and Moyes. So come on guys, get behind our new manager.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/everton-transfers-antolin-alcaraz-set-1931905

"Wigan needed victory to maintain any realistic chance of survival and continued to attack after the break - however without the injured Maynor Figueroa their awful defending cost them dear.
On 63 minutes Antolin Alcaraz failed to cut out a Santi Cazorla cross and Walcott stole in to finish from close range."

One note of caution though to those saying 'well we have a good defence and they wont forget how to play overnight' in response to the defensive criticisms levelled at the bloke. Martinez likes 3-5-2...anyone care to try and fit our 4-4-1-1 shaped squad into a back three with wingbacks?. 3-4-3 maybe if we can find another centreback, keep Baines and put Pienaar and Mirallas either side of a main striker in the front 3. Not easy though. Martinez very definitely can undo us at the back by changing the formation and unsettling everyone. If the squad takes to it fine, of course, but we were no great shakes with all four back there last season lets face it!.

Worryingly I've now seen a few Swansea fans pipe up with comments to the effect of 'enjoy the footy...but don't expect many clean sheets'!.

Going to be very interesting to see how much of his tactical outlook he's been able to stamp onto the team by the Vienna friendly. If the squad don't take to the shift pretty quick we may have to be prepared to be quite patient with our new favourite little Spaniard.

What's "hit the ground running"? Champions league qualification first season and a cup?

No mate, I'm glad BK looks like he'll give him time to settle in.

We don't have 250 million to give him like Siteh did with Mancini.

I think patience is generally something we blues are good at and he deserves it, because he shouldn't be under pressure to perform any miracles in his first season. He should and will I think be given the chance to gradually change our way of play over his first 2-3 season (as Moyes was given the chance).

It's simply unfair to expect anything from him straight away.

You are not fooling anyone.

By the way, I don't know why everyone is banking on Distin still being a rock in defense next season. They guy will be 36 in December. I know he's ultra-fit, but I can't see him being more than a bit-part player for us in future. So either Heitinga steps in or, if he's off to Turkey, we need to spend the money on someone else. Of course, there is the Duffy option, but I think RM likes to play out from the back and that's not really Duffy's strength.

Clive, read through our match reports and you'll find plenty of similar descriptions of our boys failing to cut out balls and other errors.

You're just looking at one incident in isolation and implying "Are we buying this", look at all his match reports for the season and I'm sure you'll find some praise for him.

Let's try to remain objective, eh?

Kenwright took time to appoint a manager, he carefully chose, and now we have our new manager ready to begin a normal but fresh pre-season.

The more I think about it, maybe we needed a fresh start, we appreciate the job Moyes did, but Martinez must build on this foundation and strengthen our club into remaining where we are, with the view to pushing for those illustrious champions league places.

Good Look Roberto, and welcome to the School of Science!!!

Ross Barkley and Shane Duffy to shine in 2013/14.

Er, Clive - what makes you think social workers correct people's bad spelling?

I wanted RM from the start and I'm happy that we got him, but to be honest I have few small doubts about the way he plays out also and I think there's many of his supporters who do also (if they're truthful).

We have a good defense and I read him as the kind of person who's smart enough to see it and use. I just can't see him replacing our 4 at the back with 3 inferior players, he'll probably over the coming seasons adapt our defense slowly when he finds some quality to replace the likes of Distin with.

At wigan if he'd have tried to defend they'd have probably suffered just as many defeats, so he said "fuck it the quality I can afford just isn't good enough so I'll attack rather than defend and hope to catch a few by surprise".

With us it's a different story.

It is good.

So let's get behind him, this is refreshing. I think our players will be excited.
COYB.

Wigan had a ridiculous number of injuries to defenders last season, that's the story anyway. Not sure I'm totally convinced by that, but that's the story.

What Martinez produced at Wigan has been nothing short of a miracle hence why so many clubs have been interested in his services. The question I would like to ask most Evertonians is do you think DM could have achieved what RM has at Wigan from the age of 35?

For me I'm glad DM has left. He was a chocker when it came to the big games and he always played down our chances of achieving anything by making excuses. Martinez is a lot more of a forward thinking manager and, yes, this has cost him results over the years but let's remember the guy is 39 and has still is still in his infancy as a coach!

For me they're both good managers but only time will tell if either of them can become great managers?

I'll get me coat...

Kev, if you look over the long term of his stay at Wigan, you'll see Whelan forced him to sell off his best players and didn't financially back him like he did Jewel. He had a choice I can play like Stoke and try to bulldozer my way into the prem, but now with Stokes budget or hence the "fuck it" he did what came natural and had ago (and to be fair he only failed by a few points, he wasn't QPR).

I like that Joe, very catchy!

But if he plays JH or Distan in a 3 man defense, I will get my coat!

Buena suerte Roberto, pero no creo que "vamos los azules" ni "adelante azules" suenan muy bien!!

I did say over the whole of time at Wigan, 5.3m is probably by today's standards on the small side for quality, that 5.3m looks like nothing when you compare it to his total spend and what went out.

His constant reference to Moyes and the other wonderful candidates only served to undermine his appointment of Martinez, although admittedly he did finish off every Moyes eulogy with praise for Martinez.

Just get the feeling that he's not 100% sold on this appointment.

Moyes was magical Bill, but it's time to move on and back the new man...

Martinez offers another way.

His record of turning a bankrupt club (swansea) into champions and winning a trophy with a club (wigan) who annually sell their best players while slashing the wages by a qtr needs to be grasped. Focusing on relegation and defensive mishap is willful avoidance of the potential.

Adventure has risk but pro rata his achievement to the great Goodison stage and we're in for what we've been praying for - genuine success, entertainment seat of your pants excitement.

His work is unequaled in the modern english game no-one has come remotely close, he has arrived as an isolated visionary a maverick to challenge the poisonous wisdom that money dictates every thing in football.

If the senior club from the most independent minded peoples in England can't wholeheartedly support such endeavour we truly have lost the spirit of Labone, Dean and Ball.

But not for one moment do I believe that of Evertonians - forget the past get behind him let Goodison roar again.

"Moyes’s decision to play a 3 man defense
Very few teams in the Premier League go with a 3 man defense from the onset of the game; Wigan is the only team that comes to my mind to do so consistently. But David Moyes’s call to field a back line of Heitinga, Distin and Jagielka last weekend made sense only because the opponents were Stoke.
The main characteristic that lay out was that the height advantage that the 3 men provided against Stoke’s traditional onslaught of long throw ins. Everton were also finding an extra man in defense while Stoke attacked with Peter Crouch’s ever-present flick-on’s to the wingers.
Apart from countering the towering Stoke players, Everton’s 3-5-2 was productive mainly due to Stoke’s lack of wing play. Tony Pulis’s men do not believe in the traditional overlapping fullback and cut-in wingers. Hence Baines and Coleman as Everton’s wingbacks were not going to face an overload on their wings.

Post-match comments by pundits raved about this approach by Moyes to be a one-off thing and no one could contemplate the sight of the Blues playing a similar game against a team with strong wingers. In other words when a team like Spurs is the opposition, the likes of Bale and Lennon coupled with Walker and Assou-Ekkotu can run riot against exposed wing backs. But unluckily for Spurs they currently do not boast any of those players in their ranks.
With Sigurdsson and Holtby likely to replace the injured Bale and Lennon on the wings, Baines and Coleman can be given the freedom to attack again. With Adebayor upfront against a 3 man defense, Dempsey and Dembele will have to support the Togolese striker mightily. For this support exactly Moyes has the pair of Osman and Gibson playing in a much deeper role. Gibson, who is used to much more advanced roles, had a good game against Stoke and had the highest passing stats in midfield."

Well said, Barry. There was a bit too much egg in the pudding, but well said nonetheless.

I listened to the press conference on the radio, have just had chance to watch the whole thing through plus interviews on the OS.

It's easy to say the right things but I really thought he meant them today. I think he a) genuinely means business and b) already has a connection and 'gets' us. That'll do for me in is first day at the office.

He also seems to have a genuine vision of where he wants to take us as a club and I reckon he's going to try bloody hard to do it too, which is all you can ask to be honest.

He didn't put a foot wrong today, so well done and welcome, Roberto. I think you're both probably right.

It is good.

I just feel sorry for Martinez, as we all want him to succeed and he needs the FULL support (as relative as that is) of the board.

So Bill needs to let to go, mend his broken heart and learn to love another man. I'm sure he will...

I feel the need for a bit of Fernando by ABBA

So he won the FA cup this year. How did he do that ?, by beating an Everton side in the last eight that couldn't give a fuck and embarrassed themselves (not for the first time in cup competition) and then overcoming an average - at best - championship side in the semi-finals and finally getting a shock win over Manchester City who never showed up or maybe decided before time, all they had to do was turn up on the day and take the trophy home ? And what about the league itself ? Wigan Athletic have just been relegated for fucks sake, along with other yearly struggles under Martinez and Kenwright decides this is the name to take over ? Just couldn't quite comprehend todays announcement.

And suppose if Wigan Athletic had never won the FA cup. Would he still have been made manager today ? Probably not. I think a certain amount of supporters just look to the FA cup success and are under the impression that Martinez could well be the end all and be all in bringing success back to Goodison Park, and can't quite buy into that thinking. He's just been brought over from a side he couldn't keep from a relegation !

I don't want to appear hostile towards the man, as before, there's no real ill-feeling towards him, but just couldn't help but be disappointed by todays news. Just felt there were other names that would of been a better appointment. Maybe some, under ten years of David Moyes (often) stale and tentative approaches and mindset, anything would of been an improvement.

Only want to see the club do well, and just skeptical about todays appointment and news. Of course we'll give him a chance, and see what next season brings, and if the team can produce or even finally end a (then) 19 year wait for a trophy under Martinez, more power to the man.

Guess I'm not entirely happy about it but can only sleep on it and take it from here. Todays news was not for everyone. Seems only a minority who are against the Martinez appointment and it's all about opinions, but as before, there's nothing to be done now except wish the Spaniard well in his endeavors and see where it takes us.

Roberto Martinez is a more conservative choice in that respect, but it is certain that we will get something very different from him than we got from Davey Moyes, and at least he must be completely aware of the situation he is getting himself into in terms of limited resources.

Whether it will be a change for the better or not, only time will tell and he shouldn't be prejudged. In a few months time we will have a better idea of whether Moyes was a miracle worker, and whether Martinez was hamstrung by the the quality of the players he could afford at Wigan.

I have high hopes for our new manager but my expectations will ultimately be determined by whatever activity transpires during the transfer window and how the players respond to his ideas in the pre-season fixtures.

At the moment my glass is definitely half full, and I am shaking off the listlessness that I felt during the final month of last season (when it was finally a certainty that the only thing we were playing for was finishing above the RS).

Come on you Blues! NSNO.

To all those doom-mongers who strangely predict relegation battles under Martinez based on Wigans fate (a logic as flawed as assuming Man Utd will struggle to qualify for Europe and be trophy-less for the next 11 years under Moyes):

Have a read of what Barry has written there.

Take it on board.

Take your head out of your arse.

Get behind our new manager and the team.

The big stumbling block is Kenwright. Reading him is impossible. He certainly didn't look or act happy at the presentation and much of the stuff he spouted was very damaging. Maybe he doesn't like the fact that Martinez has Business qualifications. Whatever the case, this slippery individual unnerves me.

Would you say the same if the table were turned?

How'd Everton win the FA Cup? The beat a relegation team in the final eight. Then went on to beat a Championship side is the semis. Top it all off by beating a Man City team that didnt show up in the final....

I doubt you'd be singing the same tune.

Martinez won the Cup with a team, as has been pointed out before, with a team that cost less than Felliani.

That's a major accomplishment.

I agree with you it's only one piece of a very large puzzle. But there's quite a few positive pieces in that puzzle...

Get behind him. I think we are in for one hell of a fun ride.

The Barry Rathbone post is a classic. It should be printed, framed and hung above the bed of every True Blue.

That post will wipe from my memory forever the Anichebee in midfield shout.

:0)

Well said! Excellent.

You sense that Everton FC is heading in a new direction. Time will tell if we smash upwards through that glass ceiling or plummet downwards to where our financial status would indicate we should be.

Either way, there is a significant new element in the Everton equation now. It's certainly going to be interesting.

Fixtures are out on June 19. Can you not wait fot the Manure fixtures to see what happens?????

Thanks for your perceptive post.... you've got me excited and optimistic about the future

1. Bill Kenwright was not as big a gobshite at the PC as some on here think;

2. RM was decent and dignified;

3. If we can sell Fellaini for £25M or so, keep some of that – £15M would be nice; RM has to be on some promises – telly sponds, so, in Teary Billy's words, keep all but let's say Fellaini and RM buys three... It could just be exciting!

Let's hope he lives up to to his CL shout and becomes an Everton legend (as a manager). IMWT.

How many gallons did you sip?

No, the conference was about our manager Roberto Martinez, not my first choice I hasten to add but nevertheless from what I saw there, an excellent choice. Good one Bill,.

Martinez won me over. He was sincere, humble, proud articulate, witty and certainly not in awe of the job ahead.

I cannot wait to see what develops over the summer and next season can start tomorrow as far as I am concerned.

I now believe that Everton has a manager to be proud of -the Moyes era is over and I am positive that Roberto will not be long before he wins ALL the fans over and that dissenting fans will start to feel differently about the chairman - Bill Kenwright.

Viva Everton.

"His work is unequaled in the modern english game no-one has come remotely close, he has arrived as an isolated visionary a maverick to challenge the poisonous wisdom that money dictates every thing in football."

I can't but admire your positive attitude but it did put me a little in mind of one of my favourite films.

Brian: I am NOT the Messiah!
Arthur: I say you are Lord, and I should know. I've followed a few.

Anyone who thinks we have heard the last about Moyes on here, well we haven't, these lads will remind us everytime Martinez makes a mistake, it will be, 'Moyes, wouldn't have done that/this' blah, blah, blah!

Also, I wonder if the no 'money' excuse can still be used now Moyes has fucked - off?

I have followed Martinez career since his time at Swansea (I live in Cardiff so the Jacks are a regular topic of conversation, not always pleasant!) and I think what he has done at Wigan amounts to more than just a cup win and a relegation. For Wigan this relegation was long overdue, especially considering the severe financial constraints placed upon their manager since the JJB collapse. Unlike many teams that go down and disappear without a trace, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Wigan back in the PL the season after next with a new manager playing football the right way, just as the successors at Swansea have done. It is this kind of vision that I want our club to embrace.

(God, I sound really preachy! Sorry about that, I'm just enthused at the moment!)

I thought RM came across VERY badly in the press conference: full of foam; no specifics, no vision at all; he avoided all the important questions (as ever) and he gave no sense whatsoever of a coherent strategy etc (because he doesn't have one).

I'm sad that s many of you think he'll be good BECAUSE he's our manager now. That's desperation and self-delusion, not hope.

I hope he does well, but he seems to have his excuses ready already. He's a wordsmith - and not in the tradition of Catterick or Sir Howard at all. I think there'll be some exciting nights under him - and Bill will shed tears and consider each tear shed good bang for his buck (not the shreholders' buck, mind).

He smiles a lot ... which many of you seem to like - but then he smiled when Wigan went down. Not my kind of manager.

I think you may be right when you say 'some' but there are not just two diametrically opposed viewpoints here.
I, who could have been described as pro Moyes, felt he had taken the team as far as he could and if we were genuine about a breakthrough into the Top 4 a new approach was required.
Roberto will give us a new approach undoubtedly but I also have reservations given his poor PL record. I have said before I hope those reservations are ill founded.
The lack of resources in comparison to the 5 teams who finished above us will continue to be an issue.
Any improvement on 6th would be a massive achievement. Changing a team's playing style is a difficult thing to do and we may see some deterioration in results next season. I would accept that if I could see signs of potential.

We could be Portsmouth or Blackburn. Thank god he didn't sell to the likes of the Venkys or Ferdinand at QPR.

Thanks Bill; don't change – keep Everton alive for us.

My own view on the press conference when watching a recording last night was that it was a total shambles with Kenwright setting totally the wrong tone and Martinez looking and sounding embarrassed.

He probably went home and asked his missus `What have I got into>`

I'd like to see AVB, Mourinho etc do with out money. Give Martinez Mancini squad and he would win everything, Moyes will be the proof.

I'm hoping Moyes will show up all those over paid and over rated foreign managers and Martinez will be right up his arse.

COME ON, ROBBIE!

Everton know all too well that it takes years to build a decent Premier League team and that's only if you give it time to grow! Whelan wanted the fast return of profits off the sales of players he knew he could never replace in time! Even now he's practically jumping on Everton and whoever else to get their chequebooks out!

All too easy to blame the front man! All I can say to every Evertonian out there who needs a plastic surgeon to pry open their bum cheeks from bunching up this season: 5th spot at the very least!

All this from the papers saying that he will go back for former Wigan Players IMO is complete bullshite.

I the first time in has management Career he is at a club that can sign top players (Before People jump on me Mirallis turned down Le Arse to sign for EFC) So as he said "there is a world wide Transfer Market" He must feel like a kid in a sweet shop.

Also just from tib bits in the press from the players in the run up to the announcement Gibbo , Jags , Baines gave the Impression that shackles were off and youth and the full squad might be used for the First time in 11 years.

I am Feeling Very Positive Today.

The fact that Wigan were relegated is obviously not a plus on his CV - but at the end of the day that was with an injury hit (especially in defence) Wigan team that had a small squad and a low wage bill.

I am not worried by it one iota (and yes, I know this will be quoted back to me by some).

I am excited by his arrival - about the possibility of seeing attacking football played on the deck - about hearing Goodison roar again as we all lift out of our seats as yet another attack is launched. (Again I am waiting for the "...groan again as yet another goal is conceded" jibe.

I am tired on turning up to see a game and hope to see the odd goal or a couple of good passing movements. I'm tired of a souless atmosphere and gloomy faces.

I liked and respected Moyes (because I remember, like many of you, what preceeded him) - but rarely did his sides play in a fashion that got me excited. I think Roberto's will - and excitement is one of the major reasons we all like football isn't it?

And all the doom merchants who think international defenders will suddenly have an overnight metamorphosis into a Coco the Clown impersonator - get a grip.

It's a new dawn - feel the buzz you miserable sods - and get behind a young, promising manager who visually personified a guy who looked thrilled to be at Goodison. Other 'names' would have given it the big "I am" look and made out we were lucky to have them. RM knew he was priviliged to be our manager.

I welcome him and wish him all the luck in the footballing world.

Those of you who've never made mistakes - carrying on casting your stones. Time will tell if he's learnt from them. Give him that time and get behind him.

COY(RM)B.

http://www.eplindex.com/32099/what-would-aroberto-martinez-everton-look-like.html

It's a high energy system, and he had some decent players at Wigan but couldn't make it work practically. Let us see what he does with us.

i'm surprised he wants to bring his relegation staff with him; an 'Everton' No. 2 would've been a smart move.

I really hope he does well; I just doubt whether he will.

I don't like the fact that Kenwright is determined to make our great club into a soap opera.

Personally, this is a high-risk signing, and I would find it good if our fans could see that. 4 years is too long a contract for him. Rewarding failure (relegation) with words like 'awe' about him is unacceptable.

If Kenwright wants to weep sentimentally into his popcorn, I wouldn't want to stop him - but he shouldn't be wasting our club's resources while fulfilling his sentimental and lachrymose/-al needs. Funny how he talked of an 'industrial' appointment, then he puts in one of the most creamy, frothy, substance-less men in British football management. For all RM's and BK's self-regarding sentimentality, I felt the press conference was cold. They both seem cold men.

Having said all that: let's hope for some good signings and let's hope RM brings out the best in our current squad. I'll be among the first cheering and clapping, if so.

Great read thanks for posting. Not sure about the asymmetry concept but should be interesting to watch!.

I will comment on Martinez shortly, but want first to set the context by referring to last season. I am not an Evertonian who tends to openly criticise the manager, despite not always agreeing with them over the years. I was feeling positive about David Moyes until last season. I just felt, as the season progressed, that he was becoming stale and would probably move on at the end of the season. I remember Peter Reid leaving Sunderland after 7 fairly successful years, saying that he could no longer continue to motivate the same set of players.

I felt, as many of us did, that Everton played some of their best football since the 80's during the first half of last season. We dominated many teams but, unfortunately, suffered too many draws. I particularly remember the away game against Fulham. I was watching it via the Internet when my wife walked past. I actually said “we are winning 2-1 - it should be 58-1”. OK, a slight exaggeration, but we all know what happened next. Even Martin Jol could not believe that his team had ended up with a point.

There are other examples of games within those 15 draws that we should have won – over and above Newcastle (h) and Wigan (a) in which we were cheated by officials (NB. The “luck” did not balance itself out over the season). There were a few in which a draw was the fair result and maybe a couple in which we could have lost.

Then we moved on to the second half of the season, when generally performances dipped. I believe that David Moyes was largely culpable. He complained about the size of his squad, but continued to play, when fit, his favourite 11. His substitutes were almost always chosen from 3 players who were badly out of form for most of the season – Heitinga, Jelavic and Naismith.

Despite his reputation for bringing on young players, Duffy and Vellios played less than in the previous season. Barkley was scarcely used and Oviedo only played short cameos. So the playing squad was effectively reduced to 14 players. I am sure that there were other young players who could have been involved, if the success of the Under 21 team is anything to go by.

Moving on to Roberto Martinez. He arrives at Goodison without a favourite 11 – or 14. He will know something about most of the players, but I believe that he will look at all players with the potential to play in the first 11. This is the reason why I feel that his appointment will be a breath of fresh air. There should be more competition for places than there was last season. The fans will enjoy seeing some new faces - in addition to any incoming transfers - along with those who have earned their place in the new Everton. Hopefully he will also see the benefit of having a fast outlet at opposition corners (eg. Mirallas and his goal against Stoke).

I would like to finish by stating my disappointment that any Evertonians should feel the need to criticise Martinez before a ball has been kicked by his Everton team. I would feel the same with respect to any new manager.

And I can guarantee that at the first home game of the season the whole of Goodison will applaud him in! You won't see a single supporter with his hand stuck firmly in his pockets - not even the most anti - Martinez people we are hearing from on this site!

Sin miedo!

'Martinez had to work on a miniscule budget at Wigan, regularly coping with selling one top player every season, but managed to make a £20m profit in four years while also reducing the club's wage bill by a quarter.'

Completely Agree.

Only one thing for it hark back to the press conference, which is now pretty much in the past ,and say something about about Kenwright that has absolutely no basis in fact but should get these naive fools back on track! You can only hope!

We'll find out soon enough whether he is up to the job and for our sakes lets hope he is.

Jack.

I just feel he may be the person to take us to the next level and provide the ingredient that a number of supporters felt was missing from the Moyes era.

He's with us, he's an incredibly hard worker, he's progressive and wants to play attacking football. He's also, in the short time he's had, saying the right things with a dose of reality. Why should we not look forward to next season?

As my psychiatrist said just before I shot him - "you have nothing to fear but fear itself"!

Roberto comes over as `a nice chap` but I have a sneaking suspicion he`s far from a puppet on a string!

Right, back to reality: you cannot judge Martinez on Wigan going down, he's at a different club with far better players and has already mentioned the academy and young players Everton have. That's a step in the right direction and with a little luck the youngsters will finally get a chance in the first team at some point.

I've seen the after videos of the appointment and I agree with someone else who posted on here, that Bill does not exactly seem confident of the appointment himself??? I'm still very very worried and I'm just waiting for the comments "We should be patient, Moyes came 17th in his second year in charge," etc.

The only difference is, we are in a much different position from when Moyes was appointed. We should all be happy at the appointment and excited, yet it appears that at least half of us are gutted!!! I wonder why???

Don't you love the fact your new manager has said he wants CL footy? Moyes would say "I want 40 pts." Just let go and give Marti a chance FFS. Embrace change and watch some attacking football from a manager with a winning mentality!