Martinez cites lack of energy for disappointing draw

Some of your Â’untouchablesÂ’ are not functioning as expected so quietly drop them (not all at once mind). Howard, Coleman, Baines, Barry etc... They need to feel that they are not automatic choices, that their presence in the team depends on performances and not reputations.

Use the Â’tirednessÂ’ factor as an excuse if you want to but too many players looked uninterested last night.

Goodison is like a bear pit on night games usually. The lack of tempo turned it into a library last night.

ItÂ’s now December and IÂ’ve yet to see us play a 90-minute game this season, except maybe the Chelsea home game early in the season. A game which was simple really because we was two goals down after five minutes and therefore had to go for goals ourselves!

I think you did a great job last season, Boss, and you have even started to bring bigger crowds back to Goodison... BUT, IÂ’ve never heard our ground so quiet for 90 minutes and I hope you sort it out quickly before you drive those same people away again.

As fans we all saw that during the summer in friendlies the team looked lame but as they were meaningless we overlooked the paucity of both result and performance levels.

Going back to last season Everton have won just THREE from the last TEN home matches and lost FOUR. Our home record was always our saving grace because seldom have we been a great away side in terms of winning that many.

Our next away games are City, Southampton and Newcastle. The way we are playing at present then we will do well to get one solitary point from them. The next home game is against a side thatÂ’s lost all of its away games... donÂ’t we just know where they will end that awful sequence, eh?

The lack of urgency not just last night but all season has been alarming for me. ItÂ’s almost as though the whole club has never recovered from blowing those games in April when the Champions League was in touching distance, even though we blew it through total self destruction.

ItÂ’s going to be a long arduous winter and frankly if we donÂ’t sort ourselves out soon your looking at a relegation battle.

ItÂ’s all well and good talking the players up but Newcastle went down in 2009 with players like Mark Viduka, Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Nicky Butt, Damien Duff, Michael Owen.

You always get one surprise and looking at us... an ageing team with too many crocked players and too many players not in top form.

IÂ’m dreading Saturday, with the way we lose the ball on the edge of our own box, the likes of Aguero, Silva, Toure are not going to pass up chances to burn us.

Roberto has seemingly mixed it up in the European games where our form has been good but reverted to the same nucleus of players for the Premier league games with less than impressive performances and generally poor results.

Roberto brought it on himself really. Against Spurs, I said he should have stuck with Hibbert and Garbutt as they were both good and very accomplished but he bowed to big names even though Baines and Coleman have been well below par.

You can’t say it’s tiredness, what about teams in the Championship? Has anyone seen the amount of games they play? It doesn’t stop someone winning promotion does it? No, it’s not tiredness – more a lack of quality and a rigid stubborness to not bother trying an alternative way of playing now that virtually every Premier League team has sussed out how to stop the slow passing game.

We donÂ’t mix it up, we donÂ’t work on our corners, we donÂ’t throw enough men forward and we play with too many of the same kind of players.

I said before that Spurs game that dropping Hibbert and Garbutt after such an accomplished display at the home of one of GermanyÂ’s leading clubs would send out the wrong message.
Its not as though Baines or Coleman have played well lately.

Neither Hibbert or Garbutt have played too many games so certainly tiredness could not be used, if anything after the clean sheet and win in Wolfsburg I bet my bottom dollar both would have been itching to play at White Hart Lane.

More points thrown away from winning position. You have to feel that we are heading very much for mid table on current form and thatÂ’s not really good enough. A good cup run or win might hide the problem but if we exit the Europa or the FA Cup before March, along with this stuttering league form, then questions will be asked.

Off to the Saints game on the 20th, where the current elongated debacle started at the end of last season; hoping for much better. COYB.

If players are tired but then why big up the likes of Browning, Chris Long, Garbutt, if you’re not willing to keep faith in them.

Then there is David Henen.
Conor McAleny, whatÂ’s happening with him? HeÂ’s 22 now; if heÂ’s not good enough, find someone to take him.

To me, dropping a defence, or the two full backs at least after winning in Wolfsburg with a clean sheet, is part of Martinez’s problem – he changes winning teams, that’s costly.

Baines, Coleman, Barry and Mirallas are not 100% match fit. We should not have started all 4 against spurs and we should not have started all 4 (again!) against Hull just 3 days later. Really really poor use of the squad from the manager. Baines and Barry should have had a rest yesterday with City up at the weekend. Hull only came to GP for a point.

I don’t understand why the likes of Hibbert, Browning, Garbutt and Atsu are not being used AT ALL. Hibbert and Garbutt showed against Wolfsburg that they would at least give you a solid defensive performance at this level. Garbutt certainly would have been able to play against a Hull side who came to GP just to avoid getting beat, well rested from Thursday. Baines should have been rested for the city game – now what? I don’t fancy throwing Garbutt into the deep end at the Etihad and Baines will now be knackered, having to play 3 games in 6 days having just come back from injury! What happened to easing the injured players back slowly?

You cannot start a league match with almost half of the outfield players not 100% match fit. You can get away with one or two, subbing them after an hour or so, but not four. That was plain to see against Spurs and we make the exact same mistake again against Hull and then are told the players were Â’tiredÂ’! WTF?

These same 4 players will now be a little match sharper BUT wonÂ’t have the energy levels to compete 100% with Man City on the weekend, having just played on Sunday and Wednesday. City no doubt with rotate a couple of players against us, as you should.

If the team is tired now then we may as well pack it in for the season given weÂ’ve got another 6 games in the next 28 days!

Very very poor from Martinez – best squad in years but we still stick to the same faces in the first XI, regardless of form or fitness.

I agree with virtually everything you said there except the best squad in years.

IÂ’m afraid IÂ’m no longer convinced we are anything but a ageing squad with players who are too slow, too one dimensional and no variety.
We have no pace and no creative midfielder (please people donÂ’t say Barkley, he is NOT creative)

Best squad for me was 2007-08

Lescott
Jagielka
Yobo
Baines
Valente
Hibbert
Carsley
Gravesen (on loan)
Fernandez (on loan)
Cahill
Pienaar
Arteta
Osman
Yakubu
Johnson
Vaughan
McFadden

That to me was a better squad with more variety in it, the fact we reached the League Cup semi finals despite being in Europe (last 16 defeat to Fiorentina) our league results were very good and you genuinely believed that was a group capable of achieving more.

This squad, well yes we have some fine players, Coleman is a fine player, out of form but I donÂ’t forget his talent, McCarthy is fantastic, Lukaku-Yakubu hard to split, both biggest strengths scoring goals.

Baines and Osman are both older now.
Howard older and even more shitter.
Jags older, slower.
Distin old and not what Lescott was during that year.

We donÂ’t have a Arteta or to a lesser extent even a Manuel Fernandez on loan.

Naismith similar but not quite Cahill. ItÂ’s hard to split but for me at present itÂ’s lacking something this current crop, possibly, definitely not helped by this playing style.

But I donÂ’t want him back.

I think....

They were not over worked in the close season. They have had the shit rotated out of them, so it isnÂ’t burn out.

Poor form maybe, it is said though that form is temporary, class is permanent... show a bit of class then, get the basics right, go back to first principles.

Passing it back and sideways may be technically possession, but in real terms itÂ’s just fannying about, stats related to the last third of the pitch is where the real action is.

Age may be a factor, sometimes the legs canÂ’t cash the cheques the brain writes.

Are they not playing the way they are told to, are they being told the wrong way to play?.

Sin Miedo?... more like Sin a fuckin clue at the moment!

Get it sorted, Roberto, the quicker the better. Your half-term report (18 months into my self-imposed 3 years grace period) is not looking too hot!

What bothers me is that we are not a bad team, we have great players more than capable of winning these matches. If we are disappointed in the result and disappointed with BobbyÂ’s comments then it is because we know they can do better and our ambitions are higher than a one-one at home to Hull.

It is all well and good saying that this is a tight league and a couple of wins will propel us up the table, but we arenÂ’t getting those wins.

Passing too slow and passing too short. Speed it up and as Jim says, shake it up.

My season ticket costs me an arm and a leg, and the dross served up last night is just not acceptable. We have just been crap since April, and Bobby (or should that be Â’BoobyÂ’) has to take responsibility for that. He cannot be praising the fringe players and then not having the faith to play them.

I think Martinez should leave football and go into politics or PR, he is just out of his depth in the Prem. ItÂ’s now the Europa League or nothing, I cannot see us getting 4th or anywhere meaningful in the FA Cup.

As I have said before, itÂ’s time for Kenwright to tell Booby to shape up or ship out, and that tiki taki is a busted flush.

We need a tactical rethink NOW, and please stop making excuses for inept players, like Howard, Distin and Pienaar, you must have sussed out what needs doing, time to man up and do it.

The football we play is boring and predictable, my grandsonÂ’s team could counter the shite passing game we play. Excuses now are not acceptable. The back 4 are from OFM times but in reality, apart from Distin, who would Martinez change?

In midfield Barry, McCarthy and McGeady are his, would he get rid of Mirallas and Barkley? I doubt it.

Up front, EtoÂ’o and Lukaku are his. Some people say heÂ’ll have a clear-out... so who does he get rid of? Sorry, folks, this shite weÂ’ve witnessed from the end of last season to last night lies squarely and singly with Martinez.

There is no Plan B. Every team knows how to nullify us and does it successfully. He fucked Wigan with his "no change at any cost" approach – I just hope he doesn’t do it to us.

A couple of players are too old, over the hill... get rid of them. God help us on Saturday.

Lastly, stop telling Barkley how good he his; tell him to get out and prove it, and work for the team, and pass the ball.

SHOCKING DISPLAY.

I’m sick of all the positive spin he places on abject and tactically inept performances, lame excuses right from the beginning and pre-season.

Poor substitutions last night, terrible tactics with no Plan B, the players look disinterested and nervous, no passion, no pressing or pressure, the Under-21s where the same the other night.

Time to face reality, you and your tactics have been sussed out by every Premier League team; change things now or get out!

I do not want the likes of Browning pushed into the first team as he was unimpressive in the Under-21 game against Sunderland. But surely the likes of Kone and Oviedo should have been considered and at least on the bench. Kone may well have upset the Hull defence in the 2nd half and would have provided more threat than McGeady and Pienaar. Both Kone and Oviedo scored in the Under-21 match and both showed ability.

Unfortunately, I do not see Browning ready for the first team and the only defender that came out of that game with a semblance of credit was Galloway. We seem to have lost the basic art of closing down when we do not have the ball and finding space when we have it.

I am really disappointed in Barkley who posed no threat up front and has not looked like scoring of late.

Now, to be fair to Roberto, he had talked some of our young player who may get a chance but I fear he's talking out of both sides of his smiling gob. Garbutt did nothing wrong on Thursday and yet was dropped for unfit players and Browning in his derby cameo did well but hasn't been seen since. Last night, he took off Besic our only player who showed any hunger.

I fear for the Man City game, especially if Distin is in our defence. That's assuming he recovers from the dizzy spells he's suffering from after being torn several new ones.

I think Roberto needs to get the big boot out and remind these players who they are playing for and that their individual and collective effort is not good enough for this proud club. If Roberto is not willing or able to do it, then the boot should be used on him.

If nothing else it will make you smile.

Martinez is struggling in my view. It's a shame because I think he's a fantastic club man and has many attributes but truth is of course he just gets judged on winning games and frankly we don't do a lot of that and haven't for some time. The Europa League has been fun and we might continue to do well in it but, by then, we will be in shit up to our necks in the Premier League unless we play fit players and our shot-stopping keeper starts stopping shots. Win the next three and we are back on track, but...

We have got a hell of lot of clearing out to do and rebuilding over the next season or two. None of the above players are impact substitutes from the bench, we have no game changers. If there is no money then get rid of the above players freeing up any funds and start padding out the squad with youth.

My worry with those players mentioned above is that five of the nine are Martinez players... his position may have to come into question if he starts accumulating more dross at the club.

As we can't defend for shit now.

Move on 6 months and clearly all is not well on the pitch. Even in the matches we win, we are far from convincing and the team seem unsure of themselves. I can only put this down to the intensity/work ethic being slowly replaced by a more controlled, possession-based game. I completely understand and advocate our players being coached to look after the ball better; however, not at the expense of us losing that bite/snap that we are used to. Some of our current players will be able to adjust to the new style, but it is painfully obvious which ones can't.

At present, a happy medium needs to be found between these styles and that's why the coaches/manager get the big bucks! Keep the ball, yes, but pass quicker with more urgency and for goodness sake be positive!

This aimless drivel in our own half is the massive problem and the coaches need to get on the training pitch and resolve it. In my eyes it should not take above 3 to 4 passes amongst the defence before the ball is secured and the team (and the ball!) are in the opposition's half and looking to be creative.

I just hope (and pray at times) that in trying to introduce a new style, the players are not confusing ball retention with playing too slowly, because in our league that's just asking for trouble.

Lack of urgency equals poor focus and poor commitment in sportsmen. Take a look at Bayern or Madrid, they keep the ball great but they are progressive with urgency. I do realise they are on a different level but you gotta start somewhere and the rudiments are the same.

As for "being tired", that's bullshit Mr Martinez and a bloody cop-out! Breed urgency in your play and the confidence will follow, along with the right mindset and that feeling of invincibility and vigour. I still think when Stones, Oviedo, Besic, Barkley, McCarthy and Coleman are all fit and regular starters, this team are good for top 4, next season. Although I reckon we need another keeper to liven Howard up!

They end up with a quarterfinal run in Europa and an honest to goodness relegation battle all season long, holding on for 16th place. After that craziness, Pardew starts cleaning house and signs 389 French and Dutch players and now........well who knows what they are.

Obviously Everton are a model of stability compared to Newcastle and I don't think we will come anywhere near the depths of their 2012-13 Europa season, but it has to be said that for clubs without endless resources trying to balance both competitions is difficult.
One way to combat that would be to NOT START almost THE SAME EXACT TEAM THREE DAYS APART AND EXPECT THEM NOT TO BE TIRED. WTF Bobby!!! You trot out the same aholes who completely capitulated to Spurs with only a "fresh" Osman and expect anything from this game!?!

BALDERDASH!

Apathy, at the league at least, is approaching dangerously.

I used to look forward to Martinez's post match interviews because he always seemed to talk sense; now I'm cringing even before he opens his mouth.

One thing I still can't fathom out: with all the pace we have up front, why is it we take so fucking long getting the ball forward?

Distin, Jagielka, Howard, McGeady, Osman, Hibbert, Pienaar, Barkley (who just panics and passes to the opposition), Lukaku, and even Barry, are no good under pressure. I am starting to even miss the Moyes 'Let's not let the bastards break us' attitude. (Although I fully understand his lack of attacking prowess.)

Too many players not performing and all they get is public praise from Bobby. Too many individual mistakes costing games. We supposedly have the best squad for 25 years. If that's the case then drop those not on form, including a woefully poor Barkley and Barry.

Too many muscle injuries, probably from a lack of a real pre-season workout. Another huge mistake was not buying a defender. Alcaraz is shit, Distin is shot and Stones is crocked.

Things need to start improving. 4 wins in 14 home games is just not good enough.

The team that narrowly lost to Fiorentina on pens played more games than these lot....and that was with a 47-year-old up front... they never complained about being tired.

Also that squad was even thinner than this one.