Poor half by Blues sees Kane win it
A game that fizzled out with Everton being denied that top-halfnish, Crystal Palace edging them out; a dismal end to a very disappointing season.

Sylvain Distin was given his chance to bid farewell to Goodison after all.
At stake in this final game was confirmation of a top-half finish for Everton, after a disappointing season that failed to carry forward the tremendous impetus set by Roberto Martinez in his record-breaking first season. One person who clearly won't be playing for Everton next season is Luke Garbutt, who played no part today, effectively confirming that he will leave the club after not accepting a new contract.
For Spurs, it was a question of playing for 5th, where Everton finished last season, with Eric Dier getting a rare start against the club where he was loan a few seasons ago.
It was fairly open stuff from the kick-off Spurs running at Everton, who tried to work the ball forward with pace to Mirallas down the right, but the game settled into a midfield tussle. Lamela was the first to have anything like a strike on goal.
Osman did give Mirallas a nice ball to run onto down the left but his cross was poor, straight to Lloris, with Lukaku lurking. Mason skipped through the middle of the Everton defence, and ran into Jagielka, as Spurs were playing the more adventurous football. Spurs started to edge things more noticeably Kane winning their first corner.
Barkley tried to pick out Lukaku with an ambitious crossfield pass but it was overhit and Spurs were running at Everton again. Barkley again tries to play the ball forward but it was ccut out too easily. Galloway's cross was also overhit as the Blues were not really clicking, as Galloway made a horrible mistake and Lamela came so close to scoring, Howard parrying the shot and scrambling back to stop the ball creeping inside the post.
Barkley played in an excellent ball for Mirallas to run onto with only Lloris to beat but his shot was weak and easily saved. Dier played in an inviting ball for Kane but the final touch was beyond him. At the other end Mirallas came so close to a brilliant goal, juggling a ball before firing a crisp half-volley
But Spurs had been threatening with every attack and Dier was given plenty of space on the right for a pinpoint cross that Kane scored from with consummate ease.
The crowd expected Everton to respond, but hesitancy by McCarthy was not what they wanted to see as the groans rang out and Spurs surged at the Blues again. Some rare Blues possession predictably went nowhere, ending with an overhit cross, and more poor play from McCarthy. Everton were simply not at the races.
The shocking game Everton were playing was summarized by a dreadful and completely unnecessary backpass by Barkley straight to Harry Kane. Luckily, he failed to profit. But whenever Everton had the ball, it seemed Spurs had 15 players on the field, such was their effectiveness in closing down space, and intercepting Everton passes. Mirallas got the ball out right but his early shot was very poor.
It seemed an age before Lukaku got his first touch but the big man lacked any confidence that he could beat Vertongen, and Spurs were back on the ball and threatening. Galloway was involved a lot but having something of a nightmare. Too many moments in the game summed up Everton's lack of commitment, Lukaku choosing to watch a ball forward from Howard without making any effort to attack the bouncing ball.
Galloway did better to play in Mirallas who drew Lloris out of his goal but then chose to play a difficult chip onto the roof of the net rather than pick out Lukaku. Stones was the only Everton player earning his crust with some imperious defensive play to keep the score down as the opponents seemed to run at will toward the Everton goal.
A better play, right on half-time saw Barlkely and Osman combine superbly to play in Coleman whose narrow angle shot was parried away by Lloris. It was not enough to stiffle a chorus of well-deserved boos for a largely inept half from Everton — not quite as bad as Liverpool, who were 5-0 down at Stoke!
Martinez reacted to the poor display by hauling off Barkley at the break, and putting Mohamed Besic on in his place. Besic was quick to fire in a potshot that curled away from Lloris and the Spurs goal. But Everton were doing better, Mirallas firing wide before Galloway tried to force his way through on Lloris.
Everton were putting in a lot more effort and now taking the game far more effectively to Spurs, forcing Pochettino to make an early change in Stambouli replacing Dembele.Stones was doing well, bringing the ball out of defence impressively. But a good move ended when Besic badly overhit his cross after some more accurate passing.
After a good 15 minutes from Everton, Spurs then put pressure back on the Blues defence, winning a corner that Fazio headed wide.
Everton won their first corner that was delivered in well but Lloris picked it out, as the pace of the game slackened in the warm sunshine, and the Blues mistakes crept back in. Galloway set Mirallas free and his mazy run ended in what looked like a foul just inside the Spurs area but Moss said No.
Lukaku did well to get to the byeline but then wasted his shot in Mirallas style, firing over Lloris the gaol, and all the other players. It was Mirallas who then made way for Steven Naismith. Jagielka was booked for a slightly late sliding tackle.
Sylvain Distin was given a tremendous cheer by the Goodison faithful when he came on for his final Everton appearance, replacing Galloway who had played very well despite making a couple of mistakes.
The game fizzled out with Everton being denied that top-half finish, Crystal Palace edging them out, a disappointing end to a very disappointing season.
Scorer: Kane (23')
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka [Y:81'], Galloway (84' Distin); McCarthy, Barry; Mirallas (73' Naismith), Barkley (46' Besic), Osman; Lukaku.
Subs not: Robles, Atsu, McGeady, Kone.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Dier, Vertonghen, Fazio, Mason [Y:83'], Benteleb, Dembele (53' Stambouli [Y:80']), Chadli (93' Soldado). Eriksen, Lamela, Kane (85' Townsend).
Used
Subs not Used: Vorm, Yedlin, Winks, Onomah.
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 39,365
Reader Comments (144)
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2 Posted 24/05/2015 at 14:32:54
3 Posted 24/05/2015 at 14:31:51
4 Posted 24/05/2015 at 14:40:39
5 Posted 24/05/2015 at 15:59:09
6 Posted 24/05/2015 at 16:58:53
7 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:02:24
And we didnÂt even get 10th either. We finished below Palace. Martinez said a few weeks ago that 10th would be a good achievement. He still found a way to mess that up.
8 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:04:26
9 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:03:02
10 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:10:18
12 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:01:27
I donÂt know which is worse – those players having the nerve to expect an ovation after that performance and after that season, or the manager kowtowing to a portion of the fanbase by allowing Distin onto the pitch, taking off the best player in the process just so a bog average centre-half can have a wave and a run about.
I despair at this embarrassing club...
13 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:14:11
Horrible season with very few positives to take from it.
14 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:13:37
Shameful by all of the players......
No effort, could not be bothered!!!!!
A bit like our board really.....
15 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:15:58
I havenÂt seen any quotes from RM yet but I imagine he and the board are probably satisfied with the Âturn around weÂve had since February. Considering where we were, 11th is probably the best they hoped for.
16 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:03:59
You season ticket holders, he will waste your hard earned money. Not renewing will maybe make the directors do the right thing. Today we had three defensive midfielders on, for a home game!
15 defeats tells its own story plus this is our lowest position for 10 long years. If as Martinez says he is not playing Distin for footballing reasons, why is he persevering with Howard? Big changes to be made this close season not least getting rid of that clown Martinez.
The only players worth keeping are Coleman, Stones, Baines & McCarthy. There is no creativity in the side at all as the squad is not at all balanced. Please, Kenwright, do us all a favour: go... and take Martinez with you.
17 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:16:04
(Hopefully weÂre all wrong about Garbutt; it would be a real shame if he goes.)
18 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:27:45
19 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:22:17
20 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:23:43
Disgusting, lacklustre performance that typifies everything about Everton under Martinez. Even slipped into the bottom half, so another ٟ.6M thrown away there.
I stayed to clap a good club servant in Distin. Refused to acknowledge clueless pulling up the rear.
21 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:24:24
22 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:22:44
All season the majority of the first-team have cruised through games like they were pre-season games and thatÂs not good enough for a squad that isnÂt blessed with outstanding individuals, it needs maximum effort by every player on the pitch at all times. The manager to me is not a big enough character to be the main man at Goodison and if we keep him for too long we could pay a very heavy price. IÂm not even thinking of achieving a European berth next season no matter who arrives and who leaves the playing staff in the summer.
Cut your losses Bill and appoint a straight-forward straight talking manager who can get the most out of the current squad and get the crowd behind the team.
23 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:30:57
More of the same next season, mid to bottom, there is simply no excitement at all watching Everton anymore.
A total non entity of a club and basically justice was done by Crystal Palace pipping us for a top half finish.
We havenÂt and wouldnÂt have deserved it.
24 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:31:27
25 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:16:47
Galloway had a good attitude, despite a couple of mistakes, and Stones showed up too. The midfield were AWOL and Mirallas far too greedy. Lukaku was starved of decent service, but when he did get on the ball, his offloads were under-hit or he fell over.
Poor all round really. We are so far off top seven. The set-up was so unbalanced once again, and Coleman is wasted with no one to fill-in on the right. So depressing. I really donÂt think that these people realise just how much they piss us all off. Still, most of them have got a nice holiday to look forward to before a nice clean slate (TIm) to start again next season.
On the Kane goal, I will ask once more, why Howard did not take two steps forward and gather the ball, which was played in at a modest pace, instead of hoping one of his centre-halves would clear it? The diagonal cross into our box has undone us so many times this season.
The game showed how much Lennon has brought to the team, and why didnÂt Martinez start with a right winger to continue along the same lines? We have gone backwards again. He doesnÂt learn, and we are bereft of creativity, intuitive play and our basic skills are letting us down. This will not change, and we will have to endure more of the same for the whole of next season.
Have a nice summer.
26 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:36:05
If you want more half arsed training session "walking statue" football then you stick with Martinez.
I know what IÂd do!!
CanÂt sit through anymore of that next season, good luck to anyone mad enough to plough their hard earned cash into buying or renewing season tickets.
27 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:16:08
He has no track record of ANY success at a league level, just one lucky cup win when Man City and Everton failed to turn up. Last seasonÂs record points haul is continually brought up as some sort of validation of Martinez, raised like a false trophy. LetÂs get it straight, that season saw record low points for the teams in the bottom half of the league, as the league was full of shite teams that year, that were so much worse than the top 6. They were simply fodder to gain points from.
We were awful yet again today, nothing I watch on the pitch or hear off it gives me any hope that this dire team and manager will improve, in fact the total opposite.
Stones will probably leave in the summer, along with Lukaku and obviously Garbutt (well handled, Martinez... not). We will keep the shite bought by Martinez and the Wigan backroom staff. At what point will will the crowd and media latch on to the manager that wears the emperorÂs new clothes? Perhaps when we are in the bottom 6 at Christmas, or maybe wait until we are battling to survive in May 2016?
The debate about Martinez needs to be had, not swept under the carpet with a sigh of acceptance that nothing can change. This match was an exact replica of so many this season, players not comfortable with the setup, style of play and what appears to be random team selection. Can anyone predict what team we will put out?
Barkley has been terrible this season and Martinez must take responsibility for his failure to handle him and oversee him go backwards this season. Coleman not a patch on what we know he can do; Barry is past it – we can all see it... Martinez canÂt. I canÂt be bothered with the rest – itÂs just not good enough for our great club.
28 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:48:22
29 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:41:10
I couldnÂt even enjoy the fact that the RS were getting a hiding due to our inept display... FFS the team have even taken away that enjoyment from me as well as sucking all the life and joy out of actually going to the game. The only positive is that the season has ended and I donÂt have to endure that shite for the next couple of months. However, with that idiot Martinez at the helm, then itÂs only delaying the inevitable misery that will start again come mid August.
I didnÂt stay for the lap of dishonour... a man can only take so much.
God help us for next season... Martinez, do us all a favour and fuck off now – and take Kenwright and his cronies with you.
30 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:49:50
The dross we have had to accept this season and the banal excuses just make me grit my teeth with disdain.
A lot of backroom staff are leaving after this season cause they canÂt stand Martinez... and anyway who stands up to him getÂs the boot. See Distin.
31 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:48:33
Second season hoodoo, my arse, he is just not good enough. Get rid now!
32 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:46:32
As shite as this season has been, I would give it 10 games and analyse the progress. If it is no better then the gun should be loaded.
33 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:54:49
Our board tolerate a crap season with a bottom half finish and 47 points.
Their board fail to renew the contract of a manager who got them a bottom half finish and 47 points.
34 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:55:27
He says weÂll learn next season. Too late, señor. You should have done so months ago, IÂm afraid. Or years ago actually in your case.
35 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:52:31
36 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:55:33
A significant shake-up of the playing staff is our only (slim) hope of it being different next season. Spurs were so much better, it was embarrassing at times.
37 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:02:37
When is the Fair Play Europa League spot decided?
38 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:46:28
Fucking hell, how is next season under this endless comedy act going to be any different?
39 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:12:21
Really, has it changed? Saved me 㿞.
40 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:01:56
Some players just were not consistent enough except for one or two games at a time. Nessie had a spell where he looked lively then dropped off and so to did the likes of Barkley, Osman and Mirallas but generally all four of these players were big disappointments for most of the games which really contributed to the offensive side of EvertonÂs games.
With these players underachieving, I ask Martinez why was Atsu not getting more time? Surely he wasnÂt that bad! Lennon added some spark and McGeady could have too except for injury.
One big key was the inability of Coleman and Baines to get forward like last season but maybe that was RMÂs tactics or the opposition had plans to thwart that threat this season. Whilst we all had our excuses to offer I think some people eventually lambasting Howard was off the mark. Sure he is now past his best but still one of the better Prem.keepers.
All-in-all, an awful season and I sure hope BK has formulated a blueprint for a big improvement next season.
41 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:10:49
Rodgers goes and Martinez stays? Please donÂt tell me this can happen.
42 Posted 24/05/2015 at 17:57:38
The boss needs to make funds available to RM & we need to get a bigger squad with young talent, start competing with each other for places and get the best out of everyone!
I personally feel that we should try bring in a couple of players on frees – Andre Ayew for example (not so sure about Cleverly).
Other than that, IÂd love to see Deulofeu back in blue! As well as Januzaj/Redmond, Sergi Roberto, Caulker/Evans & Austin/Martial to back up Big Rom. IÂd love Begovic in goals (unlikely)...
IÂd shift Baines into a CDM role just in front of the back four (Garbutt at LB).
IÂd keep Pienaar, Barry, etc to help the youngster and play their part when needed.
ItÂs time Everton invest in young quality! Yes it might be a lot for EFCÂs standards, but we will have another poor season next year without investment.
We are in desperate need of quality in all positions!
My dream starting team for 2015-16:
Begovic
Coleman Stones Jagielka(c) Garbutt
Baines
Deulofeu McCarthy Mirallas
Barkley
Lukaku
Howard, Caulker, Oviedo, Besic, Sergi Roberto, Januzaj, Naismith, Martial.
43 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:17:36
44 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:19:31
45 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:18:04
The team is crying out for either a new manager (preferably) or at least four truly outstanding world class playerÂs who can completely change the dynamic of how we play.
We are very unlikely to see "four outstanding world class playerÂs" joining us so that leaves only option one... A new manager who can install some fucking passion in these players, a bit of pride in the blue shirt again and even more vitally important, rid us of this mind-numbing slow statuesque, pedestrian football.
46 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:22:24
I watched this idiot of a manager throughout and he sent "signals" in a fucking scientist couldnÂt have deciphered.
We were beaten by a better team today and we now have to go through the Martinez babies excuses of how we can improve.
Colin, IÂm all ears.
47 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:31:10
I have to pull you up with your "Everyone from the manager down to the ball boys have been pathetic" as anyone who sits near the Paddock halfway line can tell you.
The ballboy there has more fight in him than the whole team combined and also provides more entertainment.
A proper Evertonian.
48 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:31:35
49 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:39:08
50 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:31:31
I understand Mirallas being selfish if surrounded by shite, give Baines a pair of bollocks, provide Barry with a zimma frame, and buy a pint for Naismith
51 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:18:42
"A lot of backroom staff are leaving after this season cause they canÂt stand Martinez..."
After the season weÂve all had and a ball breaking day to boot either supply us all with the source of this statement or just keep quiet.
52 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:24:33
But for all the gnashing of teeth itÂs pretty certain Roberto will be in charge come August. Quality additions are key and based on this season I would be tempted to sell Barkley, rarely have I seen a player have so many bad games in one season. People talk about favourites but how he has maintained his place this season defies belief. His confidence is shot and he is constantly outplayed by the opposition. Every now and again he will produce a fleeting glimpse of quality but that doesnÂt cut it at this level.
Also itÂs time to say goodbye to Mirallas; again, the guy has some quality but I question his attitude and appetite for the fight. We desperately need another striker and an attacking midfield player along with defensive cover at centre half and right back.
The problem is Roberto has not shown any real ability in the transfer market being able to spot players who can fit into a system. Other than McCarthy and Lukaku who he spent over 㿔m on, every other player he has brought to the club has not been good enough.
As I said, at least itÂs three months off.
53 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:45:30
Sadly the torture will be lifted temporarily for the next two months and full service will resume in August under this clown. I do not see or expect results to change next season.
54 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:45:55
We know the real reason we are unable to compete. ItÂs been on these boards numerous times. I do however expect better than this. Much better.
55 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:43:57
56 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:50:59
This season, the new players donÂt seem to have gelled with the older ones and that doesnÂt bode well, in fact we donÂt look like a team at all, just a bunch of odds and sods who once out on the pitch donÂt seem to care about the Âteam ethic and nobody out there who can lift them when things arenÂt going well or even when they are.
One common denominator is the manager and heÂs not good enough; he talks a good game, heÂs full of good intentions but he canÂt get the players at his disposal to run through brick walls for him. In fact, they donÂt look as though they could be arsed to walk through open doors for him.
57 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:52:18
With no Europa League and hopefully a few good signings, we will get back to winning ways. If not, he can fuck off, thatÂs for sure.
58 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:52:31
Ball boy is class, only bit of entertainment we have seen today. Shows more passion & spirit than any player on the pitch all season! Sign him up!
59 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:56:53
Idiotic subs and tactics if you can even call them that from a dead man walking. The slow death of Martinez is well and truly underway.
The atmosphere was like a morgue until Distin came on. Half the team couldnÂt be bothered to even close down Spurs who won at walking pace. Embarrassing.
60 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:49:04
I wouldnÂt give RM another go, although I fear with the whole club being as it is, itÂs more than a change of manager we need.
As an Evertonian, I live with the slim hope of success and the ever present expectation of mediocrity or worse.
61 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:52:55
IÂve made a promise to myself. If Gareth Barry is in the starting 11 at the kick off of next season, I wonÂt be watching Everton till RM is gone. I hope everyone has a stress free summer and recovers from this disaster of a season.
Two big thank youÂs before I switch off till August:
1) Every single supporter home and (especially) away who had to endure this crap for 9 months. I hope that next season brings us a better product on the pitch. (Not holding my breath...)
2) To the editors, contributors and posters on TW. This site is the only thing maintaining my sanity when it comes to Everton and your effort/entertainment is much appreciated.
Have a phenomenal summer! (Sorry, I had to do it!)
62 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:06:08
63 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:06:13
64 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:00:46
I fuckin give up.
65 Posted 24/05/2015 at 18:48:02
ElstoneÂs announcement did it for me on Friday. We will never be able to compete until this board are ousted!! ItÂs purgatory following this club.
On the topic of moving grounds – I remember having a rant to a fellow Evertonian at a student house party about Peter Johnson and the Kings Dock move and that was in 1997. I wouldnÂt have believed it if someone would have told me weÂd still be at Goodison 18 years later in the state of limbo we find ourselves in.
The debate rumbles on whether Martinez should stay or go and is well worn ground now. But the real enemy of this club is at boardroom level, and we will endure mediocrity whoeverÂs the manager until theyÂre gone.
Names like Klopp wouldnÂt get us to where we were last season. People will hark back to 2004 but the league is a different animal now. We missed the golden ticket last season and, until we get rid of BK and Co, I donÂt see us being higher than 7th... and thatÂs under any manager.
66 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:00:16
We have won just 7 from 19 matches at Goodison this season, in what has been a poor quality league overall, thatÂs a real embarrassment.
Martinez will never learn, heÂs too engrossed in this style of play and whoever he signs will purely fall victim to this mundane way.
He has spent too long hyping up the likes of Barkley, Lukaku etc. Barkley is what used to be known in years gone by as a "fanny merchant" – doesnÂt possess the hunger or fire in his belly to be a truly fantastic player. For Lukaku just read the above on Barkley.
Our goal return and creativity from midfield this season has been abysmal.
Barkley, Barry, Besic, McCarthy between them mustered just four goals and I have no idea how many assists, single figures surely?!
Ohhhh... by the way, did Christian Atsu ever catch fire?? Just asking like.
67 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:11:32
68 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:18:49
69 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:16:19
IÂm a passionate Blue – through thin and thin – but this club really does test you. Twenty trophyless years. And not much prospect of anything soon (including excitement) with the crap served up recently.
Oh well, happy holidays to all fellow sufferers.
70 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:24:21
The players walk around the pitch at the end must surely say everything – I have never seen so few stay on and then more left as they passed by their part of the ground.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum has seemed very hollow!
71 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:21:11
If I oversaw a poor performance consistently over a year like we have seen and then said "ItÂs my philosophy and IÂm sticking to it", IÂd get a P45 inserted up my bottom and kicked out on the street! But we are Everton – a nice club, with a nice manager, and a nice chairman, and we do things right (ie, we are happy to fail as long as we are nice to the world whilst we do it!).
Mark Hughes is the kind of player/manager that can be a complete tosspot but I donÂt care he would be our tosspot and get the team playing with no prisoners asked! I mean when was the last time we could beat the Reds 6-1 for PeteÂs sake!
So gutted that all the foreseen problems with RM have come true this year. It is so clear to me now that we succeeded in the first year because the players had been so well drilled by Moyes about defending the positions, as a team, set-pieces, physically robust and so fit etc. Yes it was dull and pragmatic at times but the evidence of the well defined defensive coaching is now so obvious now itÂs gone. This is all backed up by the players pronouncements this year, we have heard:
They donÂt practise corners;
They donÂt practise defending
Training is all ball-related and not fitness
RMÂs toughest training session was easier than any Moyes sessions....
And so on.
IÂm prepared to be shouted down if anyone else has any alternative answers but I honestly believe IÂm right and that is why we will NEVER be a better team again under RM and will be reduced to fighting (perhaps thatÂs too aggressive) limp-wristing our way to survival at best with the odd cup run.
Get Mark Hughes NOW!
72 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:23:08
And thatÂs in a league where none of its teams even troubled anyone of real class in Europe. Inflated wages paid for average players. The real shame is that none of them would even warm the bench at Stamford Bridge.
LetÂs face it, weÂve got a crap manager whose assembled a bunch of no hopers who would struggle to get a game in the Championship. Look at our Player of the Season if you donÂt believe me.
73 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:32:29
74 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:33:01
Thank God for the summer, and a break from this horror show.
I hope everyone has a good summer because God knows what next season will bring. IÂm dreading it already. Martinez is a liability to our precious club. We donÂt need major surgery... We need a miracle!!!
75 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:32:48
His teams have no system, no passion, and he has no idea what he is doing. I hear some say give him 10 games... well, please tell me what you think he will do differently?
I donÂt know about Fortress Goodison... this season has more resembled going into a morgue than a football stadium. He has ripped out all our pride and passion, with this dire brand of football.
Under his stewardship, Barkley has deteriorated alarmingly, looking more like a Championship player than a candidate to start for England. Lukaku has become more immobile as the weeks have gone by, I would hate to play in midfield behind him he gives you no options with his static performances. He doesnt win his fair share in headed duels and is very easily knocked off the ball, I thought we sold Anichebe because he was very much like Lukaku.
I hear that BK is not a well man so maybe it maybe time for the other board members to step forward and act on his behalf and sack the charlatan before it is too late.
76 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:25:41
An onside Distin, fit Oviedo, fit McGeady, fit Gibson, fit Hibbert and a fit Kone would have provided good cover and competition for the first eleven. None of them have been available! I personally donÂt believe that Gibson, Hibbert, Kone or Pienaar will ever be fit for than a couple of weeks. Got to move them on. Add to that Atsu has been shite. ThatÂs the reason for RMÂs square pegs problems!
77 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:39:24
Pop onto the Stay or Go thread, Dave, I think youÂll find a string of Âhalf-decent reasons and some better than that.
78 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:32:32
That to me is the most worrying thing of this manÂs management. The players, despite all the brave talk, are accepting defeat far too easily. I havent seen that since the Walter Smith days and I fear for us next season with Martinez.
.
79 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:40:04
Why would he come to Everton? Well, it is close to his North Wales home... as is Stoke. You would have to convince him that Everton are a bigger team than Stoke with a bigger and better future. Can we do that?
80 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:51:49
MartinezÂs excuse makers... where are ya?
82 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:23:56
Sadly the disire must be questioned this season. I believe we should be in the top eight with the quality we have. The pace and reaction to losing has been my biggest concern this season. This can not be blamed on the chairman but the manager.
Staying in the league may become our aim in years to come. The club must find a way to move the club forward or fans will become bored and tired of spending thousands of pounds every year with no hope!
However, its not the football that kills you but the hope it will get better! Happy holidays to all!
83 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:57:50
What sums up the unprofessional nature of this current set up is seeing Robles every half-time playing keepy ups and taking pot shots into the goal. Great preparation if he needs to come on. I donÂt really blame the players, the buck stops with the clueless manager.
84 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:44:26
However, one of these close friends has just rung me to say that if we only take into account the 11 matches played since the Europa exit, Martinez has garnered 19 points from 11 games - a record if extrapolated over the whole season would have seen us repeating last timeÂs 5th finish and back in that competition he blames for all our woes!
Without checking his maths, I could only say Âstats can be used to prove anythingÂ, but that is probably the spin the Catalan will be putting on what has been a pretty crap nine months!
85 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:39:33
Chasing a point or even three, and his third sub (after hooking our most creative forward to put on a third defensive midfielder) was – a third CB! Who cares if it was Distin; he may have been "a good servant"; equally you could say we paid him millions and he spat his dummy out in a spat with the new boss.
Bloody footballers. IÂm watching rugby league this summer. At least you get 80 minutes of non-stop action. And the players are trying, unlike these clowns dreaming of their summer holidays. (At the match this week play stopped because one of the players heads had come off or something and one fan shouted "Get on with it, this is boring – like watching football.")
Unfortunately I have to come back next season as in a weak moment I renewed my season card. To a new manager? We can but dream. WeÂll still be in the same clapped-out stadium, however.
Have a good summer, ToffeeWebbers. Up the Castleford Tigers!
86 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:01:05
Heard heÂs in talks with RS.
87 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:54:13
So, in the remaining 35 games, he couldnÂt change what had happened in the first 3 games that set the tone for the season. I know all managers look for excuses as to why things have gone badly but to blame the results of the first 3 games is ludicrous.
The great thing about the summer break is I wonÂt have to listen to this crackpotÂs inane ramblings.
88 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:57:06
Instead of going over ground thatÂs been gone over to the point of tedium, why donÂt we all start a campaign to get rid of this board? Because we wonÂt do better than 6th or 7th with Mark Hughes or any other manager until BK is gone.
89 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:58:23
If we are really so skint IÂd settle for the same squad with a new coach. Martinez has got just what it takes to relegate us and skulk off elsewhere.
90 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:49:13
Apologies to Mike Walker, we have much worse in charge now.
91 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:52:34
And, to top it all, the babbling idiot comes on TV and says "We were Incredible in the face of adversity" this season.
The team selection, preparation and motivation is Championship standard and, if we keep this clown, that is where we will end up.
In less than a year, he has turned what was a top 4 defense into a shambles of a unit and turned a creative midfield into a negative backward-passing operation.
92 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:05:32
93 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:59:32
He tends to watch the ball and looses the man. He did the same in the World Cup (especially the Uruguay game). This needs fixing by someone. Also, Howard needs to dominate the box more.
94 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:13:05
95 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:21:09
ItÂs up to the manager to point that out and eradicate it but he doesnÂt believe in defending crosses "cos they arenÂt proper goals".
Agree with you re Howard though. He had long enough to see that cross and handle it.
96 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:32:59
97 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:18:45
I will always support Everton, but as long as we have a board that is clearly bleeding the club dry, nothing will change. The manager the chairman has brought in needs replacing now. It will not happen because it will cost too much in compensation.
Kenwright, Elstone, Woods, and Earl, all disgust me with their attitudes. We will remain at an ageing Goodison Park with an average squad and an off-the-field merchandising and marketing strategy a child could improve on.
I see a future where Everton will become similar to Sheffield Wednesday & Fulham. 20 years of hurt will soon be 25 unless the club immediately recruits an international quality manager and Kenwright and his leaches sell up.
98 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:40:05
99 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:39:25
Roberto will be on a very short leash next season. HeÂd better be prepared.
100 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:45:20
101 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:43:59
There are ways to play and ways to lose, the fans can accept not having a great team and you can accept the odd defeat providing you see the players showing fight and hunger and a hatred of losing.
Under Martinez itÂs like as though "Oh well, we lost... but didnÂt we play some pretty passes in defence?"
Do Everton ever look like being hard to beat under Martinez?
Do we ever resemble a good fluent attacking team that looks capable of outscoring teams?
Do we have any characters in the team that can make a difference?
Where is the enthusiasm that we always got from a Tim Cahill or the niggly annoying moaning gnat factor the likes of Arteta or Fellaini had?
We just look a very plain, very boring bunch that accepts mediocrity all too easily.
102 Posted 24/05/2015 at 20:57:30
CanÂt agree, even mediocrity is out of reach for this passionless rabble of chancers.
103 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:01:58
104 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:01:13
It doesnÂt make sense to me when everybody says what a good club we are – and in many ways we are different to the corporate clubs – but the players canÂt seem to translate that feelgood factor onto the pitch, which is where it really counts.
106 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:41:04
107 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:05:19
108 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:11:57
109 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:06:24
1. BarkleyÂs total failure to kick on from his impressive form last season, this time out he has been a liability in every game IÂve seen – losing possession, ill-judged decision-making & general lack of idea of what it takes to be a top Premier League midfielder.
2. RMÂs disregard for the defensive side of the game. Goodison went from being a place where teams would be delighted coming away with a draw to becoming a soft touch for a bunch mediocre teams. Martinez seems to be auditioning for the Barcelona job, mistakenly believing that pass, pass, pass & going nowhere will enhance his CV.
35 years supporting this great club & this has probably been the most frustrating campaign ever – glad itÂs over.
110 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:22:32
111 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:28:20
112 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:29:12
We all think he will be here next season but that should not and would not if we had a chairman who ran the club properly and he is the reason we will remain lumbered with this poor excuse of a manager.
113 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:30:52
How can he be allowed to get away with what heÂs doing to our great club, and whereÂs the chairman! WhereÂs the fucking leadership.
I wonÂt be renewing my three season tickets for the first time in almost a decade – IÂve got better things to do than watch that crap.
114 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:35:39
Today totally summed us up completely and still some of you will come on here defending him! I couldnÂt even be assed to stay and shout abuse on the Âlap of appreciationÂ, IÂm just sick and tired of watching the same old shite week after week.
116 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:48:34
That makes me a small minded miserable git.
117 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:55:03
Take note Mr Martinez....
118 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:47:49
1. He believes he can get us in the top 4 under severe budgetary constraints
2. He wants to play attractive football
3. He wants to build a club from top to bottom
4. He doesnÂt fuckabout with the "knives to gunfights" bullshit - heÂs no regard for where poor little Everton should be in the grand scheme - and thatÂs challenging at the top
Now all of that may seem pretty crap at the moment after one of the most turgid performances of the year, but it was a meaningless game and these are highly paid professionals who realize that. Kinda tough to motivate under the circumstances.
And yes, he does himself no favors with his "itÂs all rainbows and unicorns" press conferences.
But IÂm willing to give the man till my American Thanksgiving to implement his vision.
Why?
Because for the first time in a long time, we have a manager who has a fucking vision that isnÂt "punching above our weight".
Despite this seasonÂs horrible finish and our inability to get out of the gates...
And yes you can say, "but Jamie, he DIDNÂT get us to those lofty heights and HEÂS part of the problem!"
Maybe...
But IÂm willing to see out this rough ride to discover if thereÂs a pot of gold on the other side of the rainbow.
If he gets what he wants and what he envisions, weÂll see pretty football like last year and maybe shatter that proverbial glass ceiling.
If heÂs a charlatan, then by all means chuck his ass out by late Fall.
IÂm willing to let him have a fresh start. IÂll defend him, despite the evidence of this year, because if this guy gets it right the way he wants to do it?... ItÂll be fucking beautiful.
See you in August. HereÂs to a record points total - again - next year. Under the same man who brought us our record points total last year. That guy - without Europe and a summer to bed in his ideals and implement his style of play having put his "sophomore slump" behind him.
119 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:03:27
120 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:02:43
One year! With a host of reasons to explain why - and no itÂs not because Roberto is shite!
Do you really want to be a Club without consistency, changing managers every time thereÂs a hiccup, even if itÂs a season-long one?
Everton have been as conservative and non-knee-jerk reactionary of a club as the Premier League has ever seen.
I think thatÂs a good thing. And yes, it may mean suffering through crap like this. But do you really believe Roberto forgot how to manage? The same man who worked absolute wonders last year while playing some of the most beautiful footy seen since the School of Science?
FFS, I agree thereÂs a limit to patience. But does no one not think this man deserves the right to take the Club forward and a chance to return to the form we saw last season?
Let the man have his chance next year. Again, if heÂs shitting the bed professional football is a cruel world that demands results so oust him. But give the guy a chance to turn it around after a shit year. What the fuck are we? One of those reactionary Clubs that changes managers like underwear?
Maybe we are and this silly American just needs to be enlightened? No. WeÂre Everton, weÂre loyal, this guy deserves another chance.
He rode in on an ass and most of you laid palms at his feet. Now youÂre the first ones to drive the nails in his hands and feet.
121 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:48:54
Did they watch an entirely different 38 league games or go to each match hoping the next would be better? Do they now think that the next season will produce better performances under the same manager, same players with minimal losses and fewer additions and hope that the World Cup was the root cause of the managerÂs distraction and lack of pre-season games and training?
The only thing that will make the board do anything like sack the manager is if the attendances start falling and revenue stops coming in from fans like myself (I buy 3 tickets) who can only get to certain games. I do not think Kenwright has the bottle to sack the manager, even if the club slides down to the Championship, as long as the fans turn up.
Correct me if IÂm wrong but I donÂt recall the home gate falling below 38,000. That tells me that, no matter what shite goes on on the pitch, the fans will still turn up. I fully understand the urge and passion to go and watch your beloved team play week-in &week-out – I get that when IÂm unable to attend and have to listen on radio or watch a bad link.
To sum up – only the written anger on these pages give air to the multitude of grievances we have with the club from top to bottom but actions speak louder than words and thereÂs plenty of words!
122 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:12:42
Vent your frustration at our spineless useless chairman and the prick we have as CEO and a manager totally out of his depth
123 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:03:56
If Martinez gets his way, we actually will get relegated with his sloppy pointless possession-based so-called football. He has managed to turn decent footballers into players with little or no belief and constantly plays players out of position and players who are badly out of form.
Today typified his style of play... no intensity, no end product and an average team taking the piss out of us.....again!! Sorry mate absolutely no positives for me on this side of the Atlantic.....he needs to go as soon as because given time, his football has been anything but beautiful and its getting worse as time goes by.
There is no sign of anything better coming.... the warning signs were there for all to see last season but we chose to ignore them. In all my time if going to the game (40 years) I have never been so bored at games with such a talented squad. By next "fall" it will be too late to rescue another dead season.
124 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:29:09
Did you actually witness the beauty of last yearÂs football? The no-holes-barred attacking intent with fantastic possession we saw take us to lofty heights?
No, couldnÂt be? YouÂve not been a fan for only one season have you?
I like the optimism on this side of the pond.
125 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:26:29
On no account practice set pieces or work on defensive organisation, physical fitness and strength.
We have at least another season of this.
126 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:36:51
Which we really didnÂt do after the Holidays...
Ugh.
127 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:42:53
IÂll be gutted if he goes there, IÂd have him here in a heartbeat to rid us of The Spoofer.
128 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:25:51
ItÂs very easy to be forgiving from the other side of an NBCSN stream, but IÂm offended by a manager who can come out waving and smiling like a carefree fool 5 minutes after the final whistle when heÂs just overseen that tripe.
The man is out of his depth and he makes no attempt to even acknowledge or rectify the problems heÂs created. HeÂs a smiling fool, and quite frankly he shouldnÂt even be trusted to operate a turnstile.
HeÂs a disgrace and doesnÂt merit anybodyÂs faith or support. Just like Kenwright, he knows that he will never get a bigger or better gig and is quite happy to kill all of our dreams so that he can live his own. HeÂs a cancer in our club and should be removed before he causes any terminal damage.
129 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:35:06
Roberts, your words today are an utter disgrace given your comments on "a footballing decision" last week. Your words are cheap and worthless, I am sure a few players thought the same...
Integrity is something people earn by their words and actions, sadly you have failed on both counts. Perhaps when you came to this club and met the board you felt you were in good company, people who think like yourself. But we are Everton. We are born, managers come and go.
130 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:40:56
ItÂs not as if we try and play like Arsenal and press the opponents into making mistakes which I could accept. The PL has changed mostly because of the money and its going to get harder in the next few years and if we canÂt battle like Chelsea or play like Arsenal we are going to struggle to get into the top-half and if in the process we gain a reputation for being an easy touch we will find ourselves in much deeper trouble.
I want Everton to play wonderful expansive football and pass the ball to death but it has to have a purpose, it has to result in an end product and mostly this season it hasnÂt.
If for example Lukaku had missed a bagful of chances in the six-yard box, I could accept that as eventually those chances would lead to goals, but that isnÂt happening and it is because we are playing a hybrid style which is neither one thing nor the other and the players donÂt know how to play the system and or what to do with the ball and that leads to silly errors which we invariably get punished for.
131 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:46:30
Look at the RS at Stoke of all places. If they canÂt do it for Gerrard, then you have to ask yourself what is going on. These players are human too.
Sure, its not good enough, everything said on this forum over the season is accurate, but letÂs wait to see in the first ten games of the season before passing judgment. For me, it was pleasing to see Martinez express some rage for once over the player performance, refreshing!
132 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:45:12
I hope so.
133 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:51:32
Now the reality must be dawning, heÂs backed the wrong man. When Roberto won the cup it was akin to winning the lotto. A never to be repeated feat. Many times this season the worst scenario has taken place, PANIC has set in, the worst of all options in football.
When nobody knows the plan, least of all the manager, your in big trouble, and thatÂs exactly where we find ourselves now and next season.
134 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:38:01
I live and breathe Everton and maybe we are constantly unable win anything is down to the attitude that you and most probably the board, amongst others is that oh next season will be better. Hoping as opposed to doing anything about it. We are do far removed from a winning mentality as a club as its possible to be.
The RS have finished 6th and already the fall out has started....we finish bottom half for the first time in a decade and we get next season will be better.....backed up by hope rather than any realistic expectation. So whilst I accept your heart is in the right place regarding Everton.....last season was not all the thrills and spills you allude to.....and contrary to MartinezÂs propaganda....we actually didnÂt do that well against the top 4.
It appears that MoyesÂs organisation and defensive drills were more responsible for clean sheets last season than anything Martinez has put in place and that has been borne out this season. Defensively we are a shambles and offensively no better either. We shall have to agree to disagree on Martinez
135 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:49:46
Not like itÂll happen but imagine if next season we did even worse, would we still be saying Âremember the football we played when we finished 5th over and over in a defence of him?
136 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:48:57
137 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:32:35
By your own admission you are a relative newcomer to our game. Let me try and give you the benefit of some of my own observations based on seeing quite a lot of football over several decades:
1. Our team plays the game too slowly under Martinez. An average Spurs side illustrated today how to play at tempo and as soon as we regained possession we tried to slow the game down. Straight away we were caught in possession again. This has happened all season and is part of Sr MartinezÂs vision apparently;
2. All season, the left back has been horribly exposed by the lack of a left sided midfielder disciplined enough to attack and defend. Many many times diagonal crosses have come in from this area which you compatriot (who I think has become possibly the poorest keeper of any top flight team) has watched, rooted to his line, while the ball is attacked. It happened again today;
3. Because the play is too slow for this division, we do not attack quickly enough, play backpass after backpass, allow the opposition to achieve their defensive shape, and consequently, for countless times this season and again today, we failed to test their goalkeeper AT ALL today.
This started last season not this one, and none of these most glaring of errors seem to have been addressed by your man. On the few occasions whether tempo has been upped, for whatever reason, the team has done well.
Martinez does not have a vision, he has dreams, which is a very different thing. He is a fantasist and a dreamer with no clue whatsoever how to realise his dreams. Worse, he is absolutely clueless in his ability to pick talent, starting with his backroom staff who are as clueless as him, and the appalling waste of money on players who would struggle to hold down a place in Championship or League 1 sides (I am talking about you Antolin Alcaraz).
As I have posted many times here, I donÂt want positivity, or at least I donÂt want that as the first attribute; I want discipline, hard work,application, fitness, managerial competence etc etc etc which then gives us grounds for optimism and positivity because on their own those things are completely unfounded and worthless.
140 Posted 24/05/2015 at 23:09:59
I agree with Joe (137) but what has gone wrong this season can be put down to The Arsenal game we won last season, Europa league ideology, a worried manager who has lost confidence in himself and his own tactics and most importantly a manager who has forgotten that his first allegiance is to his club and fans and not to all the millionaire footballers who play for him.
Okay, why the Arsenal game? Because, up to that game, Martinez stayed true to his proposed tactics: "Let us play our style and let the rest worry about us". In that game he changed his own tactics and moved people out of position namely Lukaku and we won. All the MotD people and Press said it was brilliant tactics and from that point he has changed people and formations in almost every single game. Remember putting Alcaraz in against Southampton?? He has continued the same thing throughout this season with the same results spread as the last five game of last season remember we beat Man Utd then he changes the winning team why? He then lost all the team spirit and confidence that he had just built up.
Europe. For some reasons some managers believe you should change the teams radically for European games do you remember Rafa did it to LFC. Win or lose in Europe or the Premier League he changed the team to keep the players fresh all it did was to reduce the confidence and flow of the LFC team and that is what has happened to us this season. Rafa got sacked the following season. At the end of this season Arsenal kept the same team and formation and won 5 out of seven games and the changes prior to the last 7 games were enforced on him due to injuries not to keep the players fresh.
If you change the team selection and formation every week and also play players out of their usual position you are going to get unpredictable results. You are quickly going to doubt yourself and your tactics and that change suggest to the team that you are simply tactically clueless. Couple those actions with telling them to keep possession as opposed to pass for quick flowing football that gave us 5 poison last season and you may have some of the footballers having a quite chat with the manager. Look at Southampton and Stoke this season fast quick passing contrast that with LFC today 58% for Liverpool (look at the statshttp://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-6-liverpool-1-stats-9320931 ).
Finally build the confidence of the players but donÂt just play them because they have not had a a game for sometime play them because they are playing really well in the reserves and are raring to go. The players get paid even if they are not playing in the first team they are on long contracts if they cannot be bothered to get in and do more training in accuracy and fitness then that is up to them. However the fans who play good money are NOT millionaires and rightly expect to see good play and all out effort from every player and the manager. Todays lack of a goal combined with the team change after the Man Utd game has cost us ٠.4M and will cost us at least ٣M in TV money next year (http://www.totalsportek.com/football/premier-league-prize-money-table-2015/ look at the TV money earned by us and stoke compared with this seasons finish positions).
Martinez should be given one more season remember Moyes played zonal marking and we payed badly for that. Next season sell or release Kone, Alcaraz, McGeady and possibly Gibson but keep Garbutt and buy two fast strikers, finally stop changing the starting eleven every week unless someone has played badly or are injured. The best teams get rid of the badly performing players or the ones who are not trying. Finally remember it is the fans who pay you NOT the badly performing players and remember everyone who has screwed up at Everton have disappeared off the scene because if you cannot consistently get into the top 7 with the resources, money and time given by the EFC board then you are not going to get that much time or money anywhere else.
142 Posted 24/05/2015 at 23:12:34
144 Posted 24/05/2015 at 23:34:23
However, on this occasion I have to side with the "get rid of him now" lobby for all of the very valid reasons that the posters have laid out. I believe that Martinez has got it wrong. I donÂt believe that he knows how to make it right. I also believe that in no time he will lose the confidence of the dressing room. I also question his honesty.
It is very dangerous to give someone a chance when they donÂt have the necessary capabilities to use that chance and do something positive and constructive with it. I donÂt believe that he has the tools. He has to go.....and soon.
147 Posted 24/05/2015 at 23:57:41
148 Posted 24/05/2015 at 23:54:33
I was dead against him being appointed in the first instance, and I still donÂt like the guy (he actually gives me the creeps) as a man or as a manager. HeÂs tactically inept, arrogant in both team selection and tactics, his teams lack any shape (what shape do we even play these days!?), defensively our midfield players lack the discipline to defend (IÂm looking at the massively overrated Ross Barkley here in particular) properly, heÂs failed to sort out any cover for the isolated Lukaku, and weÂre relying on the Âever such a nice bloke but massively limited Steven Naismith which to me says it all about Everton.
Triers, but lacking the class to do anything of note.
We need more pace in the side, we need players who win the ball back when we lose it, not just James McCarthy on his own and we need some ball players who can pass the bloody ball forwards.
Forget the manager leaving any time soon, it simply isnÂt going to happen. Forget the new stadium, it isnÂt going to happen. Forget the rich investor, it isnÂt going to happen.
All we can hope is that Everton keep ticking over in the top division, and thatÂs just about the sad reality of supporting a mediocre club these days. ThatÂs what Everton has become, and only just.
149 Posted 25/05/2015 at 00:24:01
If Bill was sick this shouldÂve caused a relapse.
If Bill IS in charge - are you fuckin blind or what.
If somebody else is - are you even blinder or are the returns from the BVIÂs loans enough to keep you happy until 2027 or whenever.
Fuck Off the lot of you.
150 Posted 25/05/2015 at 00:19:56
Jamie - Try being one of the thousands that turn up week in week out, rain or shine, to be served up the same lethargic and error strewn rubbish under the impotent stewardship of Señor Martinez before you condescendingly preach about the School of Science.
IÂm scared to death of airplanes...
I love, absolutely love, the True Blue trump card of "try showing up every weekend".
I canÂt. So you know, the minute you say that, youÂve got me by the short hairs. But itÂs crap.
Let me be clear - just because I watch the game on "telly" here in the good Ol USA on NBCSN does not invalidate my opinion that Roberto should be given more time.
Joe C - you offer some very wise and salient points as you always do. I rarely agree with you, but recognize youÂve got some very valid and true points. The one thing IÂll say is this - IÂm coming up on 9 years of support for our beloved Club. I may say IÂm a relative newcomer - and to the men and women on this site who have followed the Blues for 50+ years I am. But how long does one have to follow Everton to no longer be considered a "newcomer"? IÂm approaching a decade after next season...
I knew full well when I "stood up" for RM that IÂd be taking a red-headed bastardÂs beating.
And I still say the man deserves a chance next season - see all my points above.
Now someone fetch me Harold Matthews! If heÂs abandoned the cause I will too. If the Blue Mage of Merseyside thinks thereÂs no hope with Roberto, I will fall in line with the horde - such is my respect for his posts and viewpoints.
Until then - Viva Roberto - prove em wrong mate! Open, free-flowing winning football is the goal. And at least RobertoÂs gonna die trying!
153 Posted 25/05/2015 at 01:04:39
158 Posted 25/05/2015 at 01:22:13
By your own admission, youÂve been a fan for 9 years. Unfortunately for you, you can only really compare 2 teams - the Moyes one and this Martinez one. IÂm sure you know this already, but the last time we finished in the bottom half was 9 years ago. Hardly inspiring stuff after spunking 㿈million on a lazy lump who canÂt even muster 10 league goals despite apparently being undroppable. Would Moyes have stood for that if heÂd been afforded similar backing?
You gush about the football in MartinezÂs first season. While at times it was entertaining, enjoyable and full of hope, this season has been as gutless, clueless and pointless as anything that Mike Walker or Walter Smith ever served up. Fortunately for you this was before your time.
Essentially, unless you have some insider knowledge about how Martinez intends to learn from his mistakes and right the wrongs of this season, please donÂt spout rhetoric about having blind faith. Neither the board or the manager has earned anyoneÂs faith. The manager is half way into his original 4 year contract that came with a promise of Champions League football. WeÂre so far away from that itÂs ridiculous.
159 Posted 25/05/2015 at 04:47:17
160 Posted 25/05/2015 at 06:35:15
Speaking as one who regularly praised and defended Martinez when he did a good job last season, I remember lots of functional football, punctuated with individual brilliance and the odd excellent team performance. I liked it because we were solid, kept the ball better and just needed better attacking players to kick on. But great football? Not for me.
This season, heÂs ripped last season up. Defensively poor, no shape or balance to the team. Slow passing that leaves us prone to defensive mistakes and renders us toothless up front. Lethargy has spread throughout the team. IÂm sure he wants all of this as little as we do - he keeps delivering it and it isnÂt good enough.
And while IÂm ranting, can we nail this Ânot the right man to take this job forward nonsense? That is a phrase often used in British business circles when you want to leave a job/client/contract. It is not an admission of incompetence. If you think that Martinez believed he was incapable of managing Wigan in that league, IÂd suggest youÂre more deluded than he is. You might want to try replaying his interviews backwards and check for subliminal messages - or just stick to the truth on the pitch, which is damning enough for me.
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1 Posted 24/05/2015 at 14:20:32