Season › 2014-15 › News
Martinez rejects accusations that Everton have gone 'soft'

He also dismisses the notion that his players should get more aggressive with match officials in order to get favourable decisions.
The Blues have now lost three successive games for the first time under Martinez's leadership and been the victim of controversial officiating in recent weeks.
Ex-Everton striker, Andy Gray, suggested after the 3-2 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday that the Toffees had gone "soft", which the manager rejects.
“We're not," he says. "Arsenal get accused of this as well just because we are teams that want to be on the ball, want to control the game and want to have a technical approach in our performance. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't be able to defend. Of course you should be able to defend.
"In the modern game you need to defend with 11 players. That's just an easy way out of trying to explain why we are conceding too many goals. We're not too soft.”
He also disagrees with the assertion that his team's reluctance to get into the face of referees after Magpies striker, Papiss Cisse, got away with a blatant elbow to the side of Seamus Coleman's face.
“Do you need that to get that elbow spotted? You get to a point where you expect the referee to do his job in those situations,” Martànez continues. “We've got the same collective and same aggressive outlook that we had last season. The nature of the team has not changed at all. If we had lost certain players who give you that you could say that but we have exactly the same players.
“We have important players in the dressing room like Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert and they are big leaders. But if we don't have them that should not be the reason for losing a match.”
Martinez takes the Blues to the KC Stadium today hoping to start the New Year off with three much-needed points. He insists that his team is not out of the running for the top four despite a return of just four points from the last 21 available since Everton secured their place in the Europa League on 22nd November.
“I think our target in the league is always the same,” he says in The Mirror. “You are accumulating the points that you have until the final third of the season, then you need to push for your aim.
“We have an overall aim, which is trying to get into the top four and that is not going to change.
“Can we achieve it this season? Once we get into the next international break, there will be eight games left and then we see exactly where we are."
Quotes sourced from The Guardian
Reader Comments (58)
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4 Posted 01/01/2015 at 02:10:43
5 Posted 01/01/2015 at 02:36:57
I also think hooliganism is reemerging as a force of vitriolic hatred directed against coaches. Irvine, Taylor, Pardew etc have been put through hell. I hope we donÂt treat Martinez the same way. Criticize him? Yes. Boo when appropriate? Yes. But avoid the hateful abuse.
6 Posted 01/01/2015 at 03:19:00
If you know yer history.... !
7 Posted 01/01/2015 at 04:11:48
When Guardiola took over Barca it was the first thing he sorted out.
8 Posted 01/01/2015 at 05:22:31
9 Posted 01/01/2015 at 05:30:45
1. Martinez must have rocks in his head to say we played fantastic in a lot of games lately
2. Please drop Barry he is a liability, Besic is miles better
3. We are soft, full stop
4. Robles is useless, everytime he plays we lose, heÂs a jinx
5. I hope we get Gerry back and sign Chantome and Ruddy
6. I wish Martinez would say it as it is, it makes him look a knob otherwise. At least Moyes did!
12 Posted 01/01/2015 at 06:28:56
13 Posted 01/01/2015 at 07:57:16
So, Bobby what ARE the reasons for our crap performances?
14 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:31:31
15 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:38:06
16 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:43:48
17 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:45:04
18 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:46:50
.....and well said Kieran Kinsella #5
Let’s get a win at Hull today (three defeats will have pissed everyone off and that will drive them!!!) - and get 2015 off to a bright start......
COYB.
19 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:42:32
The difference between us and Arsenal is that they have far better players than us, at least going forward, hence why they always finish above us and are regulars in the Champions League.
They have the pace and intricacy, technically gifted players that sadlywe are lacking.
Secondly we don’t defend well as a team, defending as a team means high pressing up the pitch that begins with the forward/s.
Guardiola made Barcelona the envy of Europe not just through the wonderful talents his team showed with the ball but the rabid hunger and workrate to win back possession when they lost it.
Finally I agree that I don’t want to see Martinez sacked or leave, at least not get, I don’t feel it’s the answer one bit.
He needs at least another good transfer window and at least the end of this season, and see how it goes half way through next term.
What he does need to do though is realise that he needs to have more than one way of playing.
I admire his principles but when it’s not working sometimes you need to ask yourself why?
We need to play productive football that gets back to winning matches.
At the minute we are good at the back and we are not really good in attack either.
The team needs a backbone to start winning matches and get back to the basics that Everton are, or atleast were once good at.
20 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:29:27
As for Bobby - if we had played anywhere near our capabilities in the first eight games or even our previous eight games then those final eight games of the season may have provided an interesting and possibly enjoyable end to the last third of the season. It is the here and now that counts for most supporters and if there is no sign of improvement today or in the next few weeks we won’t be looking forward to any of the games in the last third of the season.
Happy New Year to everyone let’s hope 2015 proves to be a little kinder to Everton FC than last year was.
21 Posted 01/01/2015 at 09:53:08
We are not soft
We like to control games
We are still a chance for top four
He really said all those things didn’t he?
I’d suggest he watches the games a bit more attentively but that appears to be what he does for 90 minutes. He’s sure as shit not pondering tactical or player changes.
Sorry but the bloke’s goose is cooked. It would take an incredible turnaround for him to build trust and faith again.
22 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:00:16
I agree with most of what you say, to be honest I’m down about Everton this season it’s the most frustrating season I have seen from an Everton side for year’s and the football has been mind numbing at times but I just feel to sack Martinez right now would not help matters.
Martinez has frustrated mr this season with his stubbornness and reluctance to have a variety of ways to play and I do feel he’s gone down Moyes road of playing square pegs in round holes, examples like Eto’o and Barkley out wide.
I think he shouldn’t be given a little more time, I understand and would be in total agreement that if our form has worsened or stayed the same in another two months then maybe action needs taking.
Lets not forget the players also need to start standing up and I suppose it comes back to this mental toughness, and a lack of strong characters in the dressing room debate again doesn’t it?
Where are the self motivator’s?
The men to gee up the lads and give a fucking good war cry?
I think everyone from Martinez, to his coaching staff right through to the players all need to share the blame for this season.
23 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:16:50
24 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:16:54
25 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:14:32
RM talks about enjoyment – but its easy when weÂre winning,and everyone wants the ball then. When the chips are down, THATÂS when you need bottle to effect the game and bust a gut to get on the ball... too many hide and wait for someone else to do the right thing.
Huge game today – hope Kevin Brock is playing!
COYB
26 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:32:06
Thing about Roberto isn’t just the words, it’s the ideology that frustrates. He has a ready-made (i.e. pre-fabricated) answer for real questions - which I personally think is dangerous. It makes him like a politician. Scary ... .
On a specific note: Howard, Jags, Hibbo and Ossie are not leaders. Absurd as it sounds, Besic would be our best captain at the moment, in my view. At very least, his place would be guaranteed.
I predict 1-1 today - but hope we can win somehow.
Happy New Year!
COYB!
27 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:37:03
I really approve of the passing game - and of all other clubs in England, I admire Arsenal most. I just worry that Roberto is giving the technical game a bad name at GP - which is a real shame. I would never want to go back to Moyes, and Pulis must never be considered. If you consider him, then you really don’t know your history.
Still, long-term he could yet build a great dynasty, but going down is an unacceptable price for it. I think the media attacks are good; they will create some togetherness and a slight siege mentality which will help RM’s (less-than-outstanding) man-management skills.
28 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:46:00
Please Mr Martinez - top 4? Please take your delusional b/s elsewhere - I for one can’t stand any more of your myopic utterances.
29 Posted 01/01/2015 at 11:00:10
30 Posted 01/01/2015 at 10:49:28
He is like Wenger in a way. He wants to play beautiful football but he wants other teams to allow us to express ourselves. Unfortunately, in the real world this doesn’t happen but I don’t pay much attention to what he says as he really doesn’t say anything of substance.
He’s a stubborn bugger who will never admit, publicly, to any failings or shortcomings but I bet he will be working behind the scenes to sort this out.
31 Posted 01/01/2015 at 11:04:40
33 Posted 01/01/2015 at 11:15:31
34 Posted 01/01/2015 at 11:20:18
It’s a matter of being un-adaptable and consistently predictable. There is plenty of room for Martinez general philosophy, however it just has to be rotated and tailored to particular positions.
His lack of general lack of concerned for the importance of defending is however shocking.
Thing like being two galas up and to keep pressing rather than consolidating is truly daft - even a Sunday league manager would accommodate that switch.
35 Posted 01/01/2015 at 11:41:21
36 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:08:11
Fact is we’ve been shit since April and something is obviously wrong. We can’t just keep doing the same and hoping it will suddenly change.
Also interesting to see no mention of Distin in the senior players he listed...
37 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:18:30
There are many rumours that Martinez and Distin don’t get on all that well.
Who knows if they are just rumours or not but it’s something that has cropped up many times, usually there’s no smoke without fire.
38 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:20:50
39 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:23:01
If Martinez can make the best use of this transfer window and bring in a good goalie, a pacy right winger who can deliver a final ball and a strong centre half I’d have good reason to think we could turn our season around and finish the season well, only time will tell!
40 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:10:28
We love you Everton FC , we really do, but to those players I say, don’t give us anything less that your total commitment and maximum effort.Our motto ? Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.
41 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:25:51
Start again clean, swallow your pride and change the football, it’s not been working this season. Also with the window open get rid of any ’rotten eggs’ in the camp and bring back some spirit and unity within the side.
42 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:30:26
We no longer have the luxury of studying the aesthetics of the game - we need points. If only we could find a way to win a few, we would look a whole lot tougher !
43 Posted 01/01/2015 at 12:36:13
Interviewer: so Roberto, a 3 nil defeat to palace must have you worrying now
Cretinez: yes, the players responded marvellously and with fantastic technical ability to turn the game around to win 4-3
Interviewer: errrm but Roberto you lost 3-0 at home to palace to leave you in the bottom three
Cretinez: no I think you will find it was a fantastic and outstanding technical performance to leave us with a great chance of getting to the champions league final
44 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:02:16
I’ve heard enough of our our club and players being downplayed under Moyes.
Tough times for us all... let’s see how we come out of it, together.
Best wishes to ALL Blues – Wishing you a Happy Blue Year.
46 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:13:42
49 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:29:13
Gary: loved your pastiche, quite crude but funny in its absurdity. It reminded me of Don Quixote, that great early modern Spanish example of self-delusional ideology.
I just hope we can start climbing the table, anything other than relegation.
51 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:36:11
52 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:37:30
53 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:43:44
54 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:47:07
55 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:51:32
56 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:45:02
Debussy also said that genius would always be seen as a threat by others.
Mmmmmmm.
Nice to widen the debate.
Regarding culture and art and theatre and literature I am a complete elitist. I guess that makes me not very nice. I have a very fervent and deep philosophy about theatre and do not change my thoughts or ideals or indeed answers to suit the people around ( especially the media - - who I have many dealings with) or the audiences and I work with very excluded and isolated young people who think that culture and art is not for them - - but I introduce then to Pradjanov,Klimov, Michel Carne,Odip Madelstam, Massachio, Cimabue.
Rave On.
If they like it or not it makes no difference to my work.
Thank goodness we can all disagree and still support The Blues.
Last week on City Talk I managed to get Tarkovsky into a football chat.
I for one am more than willing to support Everton and Martinez’s concept of that he wants at Everton.
But I completely respect and accept of course everyone else ’s right to disagree with me and think I am talking rubbish.
Arriverderchi Roma as they say in New Brighton.
57 Posted 01/01/2015 at 13:57:22
58 Posted 01/01/2015 at 14:04:38
59 Posted 01/01/2015 at 14:03:41
60 Posted 01/01/2015 at 14:16:22
61 Posted 01/01/2015 at 14:17:41
62 Posted 01/01/2015 at 14:25:02
64 Posted 01/01/2015 at 15:57:00
65 Posted 01/01/2015 at 17:16:24
66 Posted 01/01/2015 at 18:49:12
We are changing our official website address to:
www.soft-as-shite.com
67 Posted 01/01/2015 at 20:12:30
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/11310347/Revealed-The-dirtiest-teams-in-the-Premier-League.html
There is only one thing worse than being considered the dirtiest team in the Premier League…. being considered the most timid. Managers assess their yellow card statistics and crave mid-table disrespectability. Too high and you're undermining your chances of victory through lack of discipline, but too low and you're letting the cynical opponents bully you. Everton, with just 161 fouls conceded this season, have gone from ‘dogs of war' to pacifist kittens according to the figures.
68 Posted 03/01/2015 at 15:41:52
So what IS the reason that we can't defend??
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2 Posted 01/01/2015 at 01:51:33
I donÂt want him to leave/get bulleted, but just shut up for a while. Do your talking on the pitch. That goes for the players too.