Martinez not interested in the blame game

, 6 December, 53comments  |  Jump to most recent

Roberto Martinez says that he sees nothing to gain from venting and criticising his players following a poor result, insisting instead that, for him, managing based on "aspiration" rather than condemnation yields better results.

There have been indications that supporters are growing weary of his relentless positivity, particularly in the face of disappointing games against Tottenham and Hull in recent days, hoping to see some public acknowledgement that his team has been performing below expectations.

A number of commenters in social media and online after Wednesday's 1-1 draw expressed their frustration at Martinez's sunny outlook on what was an unsatisfactory display and while the Catalan clarified his views a little — he believes his Blues did enough to win the game on the balance of a good 25-minute spell in the latter part of the first half — he prefers to look at the bigger picture.

Playing so many games maybe cost us once the game went into no-man's land, with a lot of stop-starting," he explains in an interview with Greg O'Keeffe in the Liverpool Echo. "It was difficult for us to find the energy to get back into winning mode.

But if I look at the efforts of the players — one defeat in 10, with the amount of travelling we've done — shows our potential."

While he says that he would never shirk from criticising a player he felt wasn't giving 100%, he is adamant that his team is giving their all during a difficult part of the season.

Sometimes you can come out and criticise people to just get rid of your frustration, to vent your feelings after a bad result."

I will always criticise anyone I feel doesn't give 100% for our football club. But the reality is that I feel our players are as honest as you'll find in the game. They are true ambassadors of our club.

We will get adversity during a season and it's my responsibility to make sure I take the lead in facing that adversity and keeping us developing and learning from that. I'd never try and blame anyone apart from myself. That's clear.

When asked if he could ever see himself as the tea cup-throwing type, Martinez is unequivocal in his response.

I don't manage in that way, he continues. I don't like to see a team that operates under fear or being worried about being punished. I manage a team based on aspiration; on wanting to achieve and wanting to win.

I want them to strive to make our fans and everyone connected with the club proud and our players have done that.

 

Reader Comments (53)

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Denis Richardson
1 Posted 06/12/2014 at 01:17:54
Players not giving 100% is not the problem. Starting games with the wrong set of players is.

Either the wrong questions are being asked of the manager or he is good at dodging them.

Christopher Wallace
2 Posted 06/12/2014 at 01:46:17
That's BS Dennis.

The team that started against a rubbish Spurs team was a strong one, Spurs were poor, and we lost. Ditto Hull game.

Roberto may be doing some things wrong but the collective team deserve all the blame. They have been lack-lustre to say the least... I doubt that was part of their pre-game instructions.

Harold Matthews
3 Posted 06/12/2014 at 01:49:52
Arsenal's dynamic all action hot-shot Alexis Sanchez has played more football this season than any other player in the Premier League. 1771 minutes. This followed a long World Cup run with Chile and many miles of travel.

Just a thought.

Phil Davies
4 Posted 06/12/2014 at 01:57:32
It's all well and good having a strong starting line-up but having nothing on the bench to drastically change a game has let us down against both Spurs and Hull; Barkley would have been better suited starting from the bench in both games.

The players don't deserve the criticism, the manager and coaching staff do for the style of play. We don't have the players that can play short passes out of defence and they're easily caught out under pressure, but we do have fast forwards who can run with the ball at their feet and are good scorers, suggesting a counter attacking style would suit us much better; the way in which we played against Wolfsburg clearly showed that.

James Flynn
6 Posted 06/12/2014 at 02:35:27
"I don't like to see a team that operates under fear or being worried about being punished."

Not good, that. Most worrying thing I've read from him.

Michael Penley
7 Posted 06/12/2014 at 02:46:14
We knew that outlook from him already. I think it's misguided. No one likes it but unfortunately a touch of fear is what gets best performances. Sport is like war, if you're scared you'll fight for your life. Aspiring and "be arrogant" signs may be useful to a point but don't get you half as far. The very fact that Ossie can play badly and know he'll be on the teamsheet next week doesn't necessarily mean he will underperform, but it's not conducive to producing brilliance.

He's partly right that creativity can come from players being relaxed and comfortable, but I think there must be a balance. Last season was a combination of letting players of their leash, and Moyes' technical discipline which had been instilled in the team. Now that one half has worn off we're seeing the least creative football in years and you need to ask why.

Will Firstbrook
8 Posted 06/12/2014 at 04:16:34
Someone needs a cattle prod for Christmas...
Darryl Ritchie
9 Posted 06/12/2014 at 05:54:05
I’ve no problem with way RM manages. A public rant at one of our players will solve nothing. It will only succeed in building resentment in the player towards both manager and club. A coach must point out mistakes, and attempt to correct them, but do it in constructive way.

The players are under enough pressure. The last thing they need is fear. Fear + pressure = panic!

No, the way RM teaches is fine, it’s WHAT he teaches I’m starting to question a bit.

Paul Andrews
10 Posted 06/12/2014 at 06:43:08
James Flynn,

Don’t know what you do for a job, mate. Would you respond better to being encouraged by your boss or by being frightened to try anything.

Rick Tarleton
11 Posted 06/12/2014 at 07:37:25
Martinez has a plan and a style, the problems are twofold: one is are the players capable of making his passing style work, so that it's incisive rather than just possession for possession's sake. Secondly when after fifty odd minutes and it isn't working has he a plan B or players who can inject pace and purpose into plan A? I fear that his style may work if you have Barcelona's class of players, it half works for Arsenal, it isn't working at Goodison,the Hull and Swansea games showed that despite being in one sense all over the opposition, we ended up with a point not three points. Against Spurs we needed to hustle and harry them much more than we did. Spurs are fragile and they don't like to be rushed, Everton failed to pressure them.
Mike Allison
12 Posted 06/12/2014 at 07:31:26
Yeah I've got to side with Martinez against you there James. Fear decreases your ability to make rational decisions. I'm no neuroscientist but it's something about the adrenalin reducing blood flow to the outer brain so that your... amygdala(?) the primitive part begins to make your decisions. Hopefully someone else can explain this better than me.

I have to mention (again) substitutions. Something that seemed like a clear strength of Martinez last season has become a definite weakness. I'm convinced we are the only team that doesn't make three substitutions in every game (I haven't checked the stats on this but I know we often only make two, and they are often later than our opponents make them). This is in a season when we finally DO have people on the bench who can come on and affect the game.

Bringing someone on with ten minutes to go and expecting them to change the game, as he did with McGeady on Wednesday, is not a plan, it's a desperate roll of the dice. If you want players to have a serious chance of affecting the outcome, they need at least twenty minutes, preferably more. Also, we're at home, only drawing a game we expect to win, and Samuel Eto'o is sitting on our bench. Martinez must be the only person in the world who wouldn't have found a way of bringing him on.

If he's not going to come on in that situation, then there is absolutely no point having him on the bench. It would be more use to select McAleny or Chris Long just for the experience of sitting on the first team bench than to kit Eto'o up and just leave him there.

I would start ranting about corners and set pieces now, but I think we all feel the same about those anyway.

Phil Walling
13 Posted 06/12/2014 at 07:43:13
I bet there are a few players at Chelsea who fear Jose's wrath and they ain't doing too bad. And only Bally dared take the occasional liberty with The Cat !
Mick Quirke
15 Posted 06/12/2014 at 08:39:09
Fear does not work, does not motivate. Far better to build on strengths, positive mindset. I'm sure within the dressing room Roberto makes it clear when something needs improving.

Barkley under Moyes compared with Barkley under Martinez is a clear demonstration of a Growth Mindset, not a fixed one, which is what most of our posters seem to have.

Phil Walling
16 Posted 06/12/2014 at 08:40:22
TalkSport currently conducting a debate on the merits of Roberto Martinez. First witness for the defence thereof is none other than ....Joe Royle.
Love the bloke but as a club employee he's hardly likely to be unbiased, is he ?
Phil Rodgers
17 Posted 06/12/2014 at 08:41:05
What he says to the media and what he’s like in the dressing room may be two very different things. Probably not alike, but you never know.
Charles Cook
18 Posted 06/12/2014 at 09:04:19
But Phil he is well placed to give insight, and furthermore, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have someone who cares commenting.

He is also someone whose view I’d be particularly interested in, given the differences in style between his sides and Roberto’s.

Aidy Dews
19 Posted 06/12/2014 at 08:28:18
Rick Talerton #1, you have some good points there. A few of our less technically gifted players are still struggling to come to grips with how Martinez wants us to play, and for me it's the senior players like Jags, Distin and Ossie.

Yes, Ossie has got good technical ability but I still feel he struggles to come to terms with the concept of Martinez's passing and moving style of play. If you notice, it's those three, more so than any of the others, that make the most mistakes when in possession?!

But let's not kid ourselves: it's not going to take a season and a bit to transform the way some of these players play. Yes, we did brilliantly last season and played some good stuff, but we're still a work in progress and we're having a bad time of it performance-wise. I still don't think we've recovered from the Arsenal set back and Chelsea thrashing. In both them games we played some of the best football of our season so far at times and since then we've not hit those heights imo.

And I agree also that he doesn't have a Plan B or C. He has one plan and that is to dominate the ball and keep playing no matter what throughout the 90.

But I also agree with Martinez that it's not a good thing to come out and single out players for poor performances; for me, it wouldn't hurt just to say we didn't play well, we didn't perform to expectations and that isn't good enough for Everton FC. Sometimes imo you've got to let the players know they've not played well and dropped standards, and in the dressing room, I'm sure he does tell them individually or as an whole in his own way.

At least Martinez is true to his word, that if he thinks someone or some players aren't pulling there weight in games then he will say so and do something about it, just look at Distin after his performance at Swansea in the League Cup, he didn't name names but he said after that certain individuals had let the team down and not performed to the standards he and the club sets and Distin was dropped!

For me, Martinez is still the right man for us and we are a work in progress with him and it'll probably still be a couple of years before we start playing the way he wants in a more comfortable manner. He will be given the time to gradually bring in his types of player to suit his systems and the style of play he's trying to implicate at the club and we have to be patient with that, cos as we all know, with our finances it's not gonna drastically change over night.

Andy Meighan
20 Posted 06/12/2014 at 08:35:12
Nothing to do with criticising players, the problem is our style of play has been found out. Teams like Hull the other night are quite happy to let us have the ball for long periods in our half without hurting them, ditto the Swansea game. Let’s be fair here, if hull had anything about them, they would have gone for the win, but were quite happy to settle for a point.

Also Martinez, like Moyes before him, is too loyal to players who are under-performing. There’s not a prayer Baines should have walked back in the side against Spurs, he’s been awful all season, his defending has been poor and his dead balls... well, let’s not go there.

Barry and Howard also – the way he was beaten for Aluko’s goal was laughable. Osman was stinking the yard out the other night so he leaves him on and brings Mirallas off.

Also, this bigging up of players is quite tedious. Let’s take McGeady – he doesn’t do anything wrong but doesn’t contribute anything either, yet Martinez sees this dynamic winger who ghosts past players with ease and sets all sorts of chances up... Obviously not the truth but he sees things most fans don’t or thinks he does.

We know what’ll happen today; Man City will be quite happy to let us have the ball and then pick us off quite easily.

Christopher Wallace
21 Posted 06/12/2014 at 09:04:45
Phil Davies

When you're on the ball, look for a man in space to pass it to. When you're not on the ball, look for the space and angle to receive the ball. It's the absolute basics of football.

We generally retain the ball well. It's up to boys like Barkley, Pienaar, McCarthy, Osman, etc to be more incisive. The only players in our team who are doing it well in advanced areas are Eto'o, Baines and Naismith. It's not always obvious as as they are often let down by team mates.

Roberto sends them out to keep the ball, keep a clean sheet, create chances, convert a couple.

I know it can be frustrating but is it any worse than when the ball broke to Hibbert, Neville, Jagielka back in the day and the crowd were groaning in anticipation of the inevitable hoof?

Football can be played so many different ways, and I'm not shitting on anyone's opinion – I just favour a good passing game. The manager and players both need to adapt better in games though.

I'm still confident we will come good, though it may be another few weeks/months (this season becoming a write-off in the league).

I'll settle for Europa League!

Derek Knox
22 Posted 06/12/2014 at 09:05:57
Don't know about the 'Blame Game' but personally feel our recent performances, have, in my case anyway, initiaited the 'Crying Game'.

For whatever reason, we have been, well just short of being 'total shite' altogether. Like I mentioned some games ago on one of Lyndon's match reports, we totally seem to lack that 'killer instinct' and while it is unforgiveable, could be tolerated (just) if it was a one-off.

Trouble is, it seems to becoming a pattern recently, we start out of the blocks with some good interplay, get a goal, then sit back, with seemingly the job done attitude, then get hit by the opposition, who are allowed too much possession and space. I hope today sees a different approach against Man City, otherwise we will be humiliated again on TV.

COYB

Len Hawkins
24 Posted 06/12/2014 at 09:34:25
There are Everton Supporters who have seen the heights of the Catterick team, the lows of Lee, and the heights of Kendall, back to the lows of Smith and OFM’s "What are we going to get today?" style. You know exactly what you are getting with Martinez: some sublime moments countered by the getting 10 yards from your own area and watching the uncomfortable defenders playing keepball.

Last season, Coleman and Baines were breaking into the box on a regular basis, causing panic in the defenders and creating and scoring goals. This season, they are forever turning near their opponent’s area and passing back which is criminal. I don’t know anyone who wants to watch Jagielka and Distin playing along the back in a way you know they are either going to slip up and lose the ball or more likely give it away.

Peter Murray
25 Posted 06/12/2014 at 09:47:00
Well said, Roberto. Blame is easy and it’s a cheap shot for any manager to criticise publicly any individual player. It deflects from the manager’s own responsibility and lowers team morale.

Roberto takes the more difficult but more professional approach – publicly remaining positive – but I am sure behind the scenes there is always a thorough, constructive analysis of any shortcomings.

We will surprise many "experts" tomorrow. 3 points is not out of the question.

Denis Richardson
26 Posted 06/12/2014 at 09:45:40
Chris 2. We'll have to agree to disagree.

On paper, the team against Spurs was good enough to win. Look a little closer and you see four outfield players not 100% match fit (five if you include McCarthy) and two players in Eto'o and Barkley playing, neither of whom is effective out wide, getting in each other's way and not giving the full-back any cover.

Fast forward three days to Hull and we play almost the same team, including many unfit players, and – surprise, surprise – we put in another shit performance and don't win and the manager is going on about tired players.

We have other players who are not coming back from injury and are fit and they are being overlooked for players just coming back from injury. The last 70 minutes against Spurs was a shocking performance and yet we play almost the same side 3 days later... what's that about? Either too many players who are not match fit and starting or they are fit but out of form BUT STILL STARTING. Sorry but the last two shit performances are purely down to the manager and his team selection and tactics.

I still think he's a good manager but he needs to start learning from his mistakes fast. This afternoon is going to be interesting.

Dick Fearon
27 Posted 06/12/2014 at 10:16:20
Roberto could enlighten us with the reason why his centre backs and keeper play keep ball in the dying minutes of a 1-1 game at home against a bottom three team.
Christopher Wallace
28 Posted 06/12/2014 at 10:20:27
Fair enough, Dennis. I can't argue because I can't be sure of the match fitness of the players you refer to (nor can you for that matter).

To be honest, all our opinions are good ones and BS at the same time. We, like Roberto, are vindicated in our preferences one week and wide of the mark the next.

It's actually baffling – we start off the season looking like we could score 4 or 5 every game and leaking silly goals. Then the defence tightens up and we look clueless going forward. Then we start leaking the silly goals again and still look clueless.

Maybe it's a confidence thing. There wasn't a single game last season where I didn't think we could get a win... Now I worry about home games against WHU, Villa and Hull!

How much have we missed Naismith last few games?! I wouldn't want to heap too much pressure on Barkley but his ability needs to start shining through (and it will).

I'd like to see Pienaar tried centrally against Krasnodar if fit. I know he's got great understanding with Bainesy but he doesn't have the legs for the wide role, but he can still turn a man, link up and pick a killer pass.

Mick Quirke
29 Posted 06/12/2014 at 10:35:03
Our playing style and Roberto's positive approach took us to our record Prem points total last season. We're looking like a quality side in Europe, we never did under Moyes.

Fans have to be patient, we'll have a good 2nd half of season. IMWT

James Martin
30 Posted 06/12/2014 at 10:45:12
Mick, can I point out that Moyes led us twice through the group stages of the Uefa Cup? In 07-08 we beat the eventual winners, broke Alkmaar's home record with our B team, played Larissa and SK Brann off the park, as well as a brilliant performance against Fiorentina at home. We only had one bad game but, as seemed to be the case under Moyes, it came at the crucial time.

The performances against Lille and Krasnodar away were awful and we were lucky they were such poor sides. Wolfsburg away could have been any score, but credit where credit is due for the home wins.

My point is that, based on the evidence of this season, do I think if we came up against a side in the knockouts who were of the quality of some of Moyes's famous losses – Benfica, Villarreal, Sporting Lisbon, Fiorentina – do I think we would win? No. Because when the crunch comes this group of players choke as we saw last season.

It's all well and good beating the dross or bullying Arsenal at home but, once again, there was failure in the League Cup, lack of belief in an FA Cup tie we could have won, no derby victory despite one being on a plate, and no away win at a top 6 side. This was all masked over by nicking a win at the candy shop that was Old Trafford under Moyes.

Martinez has the same problem Moyes did. A group of players who don't take responsibility for their own results and aren't natural winners. They cling to the manager during times of failure then let him down when they have to perform for success. Weak-willed, weak-minded and second-rate attitudes.

Mick, I would put my money on us going out of the Europa League against the first 'big' team we play, regardless of how good they are.

Christopher Wallace
31 Posted 06/12/2014 at 10:59:53
Thanks Mick, that's what I should've posted instead of rambling on! Good man.
Steve Pugh
32 Posted 06/12/2014 at 10:46:44
Sorry Mick, 2-0 win against Fiorentina we were awesome. Best night in Europe since the '80s.
Stephen Brown
33 Posted 06/12/2014 at 11:16:06
I fully agree with the posters who state that a manager shouldn’t rule through fear but I do believe the players should be fearful of being dropped. There are a few who are not in that position – Howard, Jagielka, Barry, Lukaku etc. This is a problem.
Brian Denton
34 Posted 06/12/2014 at 11:46:51
James Martin, I have to respect a lot of what you’ve said there.
Mick Quirke
35 Posted 06/12/2014 at 11:46:46
Wolfsburg are second only to Bayern Munich in Bundesliga and we beat 'em 6-1 on aggregate.

I was at Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, Benfica were awesome and we had half a team out, but Sporting away was an embarrassment, they just passed the ball around us because Moyes had no idea how to develop passing or harrying skills in his players. Would never have happened under Martinez.

Anyway, time will tell... Roberto and the players are massively up for the Europa League. Imagine we won that and stopped the RS or Man Utd in 4th qualifying for the Champions League.

And on form with everyone fit, they aren't 4 better teams than us in the Prem.

Carl Sanderson
36 Posted 06/12/2014 at 11:55:34
James 30:

Quality post; hats off. Perhaps the Club as a whole has a losing mentality, a lack of belief that causes them to choke at the critical moment. It's as if they can't quite believe that they deserve to win a trophy, game, whatever.

Everton's trophy-winning sides always contained players who just didn't give a toss who the opposition were – Ferguson, Gray, Reid, Ball, Gabriel, Vernon et al. That's who we need right now: players who just think, "Fuck you, I play for Everton".

Paul Andrews
37 Posted 06/12/2014 at 12:08:21
Good post Mick.

Wasn’t the Benfica game the one where Moyes gave Coleman his debut, at left back?

Colin Glassar
38 Posted 06/12/2014 at 12:14:09
James, I've been saying this for a while now. Winning mentality!! We don't have it, we haven't had it since the 80's. This is something that's seeped into the clubs/players psyche over the last 20 odd years.
This is why I can understand, to a degree, Roberto bigging up his players. He feels he needs to make them believe they can beat the arsenals, uniteds, rs, chelseas etc... He has had some success against these teams, but his biggest problem is beating the likes of Palace, Leicester, Hull etc...to shoot us into one of those top 4 places.
I imagine this takes time hence my willingness to be patient with him.
James Stewart
39 Posted 06/12/2014 at 12:48:26
Of course he isn’t because this season the blame is firmly placed at his door. Poor tactics, subs, general management.
John Malone
40 Posted 06/12/2014 at 13:00:44
James flynn, I have to agree with you, there has to be a good degree of fear for the manager. Respect and back slapping is not enough to get the best out of people, it creates an ok to fail environment and that's what I can see in our team no fear or dread of falling short!
Colin Glassar
41 Posted 06/12/2014 at 13:32:16
John, if you're referring to chairman Bill let me tell you he does indeed have a ruthless streak.
Years ago, during a rehearsal for Evita one of the stagehands dropped his skinny latte while Julie Covington sang "Don't cry for me Argentina". Bill was furious as the diva missed a note due to the cacophony caused by the falling latte. Bill stood up, red faced, and said to the quivering stagehand, "darling boy, you owe me 50p for that coffee. Now off with you and bring me another one and a choccy eclair. Chop chop". Bill cemented his reputation as a hard nosed bastard on the west end after that.
Sean Kelly
42 Posted 06/12/2014 at 14:28:36
Colin, you and I are on the same page about our mentality. Why do have to be the nicest and friendliest club all the time? I reckon it comes from the luvvy duvvy shite head of a chairman and transmits right down the through the club.

We need hungry nasty bastards in our team. A hungry nasty bastard as a manger but I suppose that's no use if you have a greedy sod at the top.

Colin Glassar
43 Posted 06/12/2014 at 14:40:42
I think Besic can be our hard lad on the pitch Sean but he needs to be a bit cleverer when he does. He should watch Gatuso in his prime as he could play but my god could he scare the life out of opponents as well.

As you say, our luvvy duvvy chairman has created a warm, cuddly, butter won't melt in our mouth mentality at the club. We need to put the fear of god into any bastard who stands on our hallowed pitch, that includes the texting, selfie-taking obsessed crowd. Our attitude has to be "let's fucking batter this shower", not "let's make this an unforgettable experience for our visitors".

Tony Sullivan
44 Posted 06/12/2014 at 14:51:51
I assume RM used the same 'no blame' philosophy last season. We finished with 72 points, our best ever in the PL era, and we played our best football for years.
IMWT.
Paul Andrews
45 Posted 06/12/2014 at 15:23:33
Last season doesn’t count, Tony.

It was Moyes’s team, apparently.

James Flynn
47 Posted 06/12/2014 at 15:07:05
Paul (10), Mike (12) - Sorry gents, there has to be some level of fear of the boss in any field. Some worry over consequences for failing to you your job has to exist. Period. Fergy filled a warehouse with silverware that way. But I doubt he was a prick 24/7.

If Roberto actually manages the way I quoted above, ticka-tocka footy is the least of our problems.

Paul Andrews
48 Posted 06/12/2014 at 15:49:47
Are you scared of your boss James?
Colin Glassar
49 Posted 06/12/2014 at 15:44:54
Roberto's winning record is as follows:

Won Copa del Rey (player) with Real Zaragosa
Won promotion (player) with Wigan
Won promotion (manager) with Swansea.
Won the hearts of Wigan fans by keeping them up for 3 successive seasons despite having to sell his best players.
Won FA (manager) cup with Wigan

So Roberto knows what it takes to win something in football. Not bad for a 41 year old.

Paul Andrews
50 Posted 06/12/2014 at 15:58:02
Errr,ummm,.

Dorsss
Trays
Quatro

What’s basque for 5

Colin Glassar
51 Posted 06/12/2014 at 16:07:17
He isn't basque Paul, he's Catalan. It's like comparing a scouser to a manc I.e. sacrilege.
Sam Morrison
52 Posted 06/12/2014 at 16:07:28
If you rule by fear players get used to that too. Instilling a positive atmosphere means when criticism comes - and I'll bet it does - it actually means more. Martinez isn't a Fergie, never will be, and no point trying to be something he's not. He has his own mindset and because he talks calmly and positively that doesn't mean he feels any less strongly about his methods than Ferguson did.

I'm finding this season frustrating and I anticipate a pasting today from Man City if I'm honest. But I am still behind Martinez overall. I didn't want him to come but he gave me some great memories last season - he is more than capable of doing that again. And as someone else said, if you get frustrated by team-mates passing to each other think back to the days of Neville hoofing it long.

As an aside, there's the inevitable bit of Ossie-bashing above about "knowing he'll be selected next week" no matter how he plays. This is far from accurate - I'm beginning to think Ossie 'starting every game' for Everton should have it's own entry in Snopes.

Jamie Barlow
53 Posted 06/12/2014 at 16:09:49
Surely there has to be some sort of repercussion for not doing your job properly. This Everton side just keeps making individual mistake after mistake and if they are told it's ok to make mistakes, they're not going to give a fuck are they?

I agree with James, there has to be some level of fear of your boss. Whether it's getting a bollocking for not concentrating or getting dropped from the team for not putting enough into the game. All this nicey nicey stuff does my head. We're a soft touch. That's probably why teams or players who are going through a bad run love to play us.

Des Farren
54 Posted 06/12/2014 at 19:52:33
"We're a soft touch".

Yes Jamie, we are indeed. Anyone watching us recently must notice the lack of urgency, conviction, heart and pride in our play.

Also, the general sloppiness in many individual performances. If it is so noticeable to us what must the opposition be thinking? Not interested in blame but surely someone must accept responsibility?

Colin Grierson
55 Posted 06/12/2014 at 21:47:49
RM clearly knows more about out sports psychology than most on here. I may disagree with his selection and tactics at times, which is my prerogative, but he's bang on the money with the way he deals with defeat and poor performances. It's not even debatable.
John Malone
56 Posted 06/12/2014 at 21:57:42
Getting a bit sick of Martinez getting his tactics and team selection's wrong, at the minute it's clear to see RM is not getting the best out of this squad in the league.

Any season ticket holder over the last few years could have told you Coleman is not a winger, the same way Baines isn't. It's obvious Barkley is not as effective in the tight home games were teams park the bus but a lot better away when we play on the counter.

What has happened to our attacking fullbacks???

Christopher Kelly
58 Posted 09/12/2014 at 19:25:38
James Martin, Fantastic post and one I’ve been spouting for years. It starts at top and trickles all the way down to out Captain Jags, or Baines, or Barry or (insert name here). There is no one to fear. I have played sports at a high level and the coach who got the most out of me is the one who would yell, and scream, practically blow the roof off but yet would have a quite, fun moment that we both enjoyed and all was good again... It’s a gray matter, not a black and white. Martinez doesn’t need to bring sliced oranges to every fucking game for our players, not does he have to publicly humiliate them.

There is a middle there and he is nowhere near it. Look at Simeone, you think any of those players wanted to walk into that dressing room after a defeat. The man looks like a character out of a Bandito movie yet he also is good with the press and I’m sure has fun with the players at some points. Guess what? They won the fucking La Liga. We are drifting and the manager defends his broken policy. That’s a problemo anyway you look at it.


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