Martinez focused on the long term

I don’t what the hell he’s seen that we haven’t to have come up with that, and said that we’ve tried to be ’dynamic and flexible tactically’. A description that is totally opposite to the dross and shocking and predictable decision making we’ve been subject to this season.

Adios, Roberto.

Beggars belief.

Why would Mourinho at all of the clubs he has managed be so reliant on having a solid defence first and foremost, did Manchester City win their two titles by the efforts of their attacking players alone?

Arsenal have tried to play Â’perfectÂ’ football for the majority of the last decade but have only added a single FA Cup to their trophy cabinet, despite being pleasing on the eye to the neutral for most of that period.

Putting principles in place and being unafraid of possession is fine when you have the players available who are capable of doing so, but Roberto could be at Goodison for ten years and unfortunately never have enough of those quality players within his squad, so whatever system is employed it has to accommodate those who are limited in ability.

Fans pay to watch the current team perform in the next game at hand and if they can see an improvement in most aspects of the performance will by and large support whatever the manager deems to be the correct way of playing, but if they see a team who fail to compete or are clueless in the final third, their patience will wear very thin very quickly and will let the manager know about it.

That is the point that many Evertonians are at now, of course if Everton were to suddenly click into gear and reproduce the performances and results of last season they may feel there is hope in what the current manager is trying to do, but if the final six home games produce the same tepid performances as have been witnessed in most of the PL home games so far they will continue to feel aggrieved and may well vote with their feet - which would be a great shame as loyalty to Everton FC is one of the core strengths of the club and shouldnÂ’t be taken for granted.

"But after LiverpoolÂ’s worst start to a season for half-a-century he changed his formation. The results speak for themselves. But Blues fans hoping for a Damascene conversion are likely to be left disappointed.

An old internet posting resurfaced this week. It was first published four years and five months ago by a disaffected Wigan fan after seeing his side beaten by Manchester City. He or she pleaded: "We pass the ball to death and donÂ’t go anywhere. Dave Whelan said Martinez must have a plan B this season. Why did we persist with pass, pass, pass on a dodgy surface?

"Why do we never take a long free-kick? When we get a free-kick in the opposition half, get it in the box, for GodÂ’s sake! IÂ’m not saying we should revert to Stoke and Blackburn tactics but you never know, itÂ’s got to be better than passing it 10 times and losing it again.

"Finally this style of football is BORING! I canÂ’t remember my backside leaving my seat today. IÂ’ve seen one goal in four games, but hey, IÂ’ve witnessed a million completed passes."

Many Everton fans could empathise this week.

Something has to change..."

Jeezus!!!

What world does he live in where Barry, to McCarthy, back to Jagielka, over to Baines, back to Jagielka, over to Stones, over the Coleman, to Barry, back to Jagielka, back to Howard IS CREATIVE????!!! The guy must go, heÂ’s a failure and clueless. Barkley is lost, Coleman and Baines are now toothless, Mirallas is now out of the starting eleven, Lukaku struggles. No wide player, just a team full of defensive midfielders and central attacking midfielders.

But he continues to be allowed to spout off while representing Everton. Even negative Moyes only persisted with two defensive midfielders. This clown now has us playing with three and he still has the balls to say heÂ’s sticking to his principles of "creative" football.

Winning with good football - fine. But he says himself here thatÂ’s itÂ’s different when you have the best payers. HeÂ’s giving us neither winning nor good football.

I think weÂ’ve got to a position where weÂ’re playing possession football not as a philosophy (the beautiful game etc) but because the guys donÂ’t know what to do with the ball now.

We resemble the shambles we were under Walker. By common consensus someone who shouldnÂ’t have been let near the place.

We are so dis-organised and weak. We score no goals. We have no threat. We are a feeble side and are in my eyes genuine relegation material.

This interview has nothing to do with our current situation. Everything he says and does, makes me think he is living in a separate bubble.

Meanwhile, back on earth, IÂ’ve been fearing relegation since Xmas.

Kenwright thinks heÂ’s a visionary !

You may be right, Colin, and the next two games will decide his fate. Hopefully more emphasis on the Newcastle game than Dynamo, but I have a horrible feeling he will get to the end of the season minimum.

Arsenal are very inflexible and only have one way of playing but at least Wenger packs his midfield and attack with creative players, always has done.

The best teams though, are the oneÂ’s which can adapt and take a different aproach depending on the opposition they are up against. I remember last season when Mourinho had his players well drilled when they went to Anfield. You could tell theyÂ’d spent hours on the training field coming up with a game plan to frustrate RS by sitting deep and hitting them on the break.

Martinez, sadly, is just a one trick pony who canÂ’t even buy/loan the correct players to play the philosophy he keeps preaching. Martinez out!

You'd think we were mixing it for a Champions League place and in the Eropa League semi-finals.

I just don't think we can win matches. We're getting worse. Any side coming to Goodison must fancy it and the away form is abysmal. QPR away should be fun...

It was pretty costly to Wigan winning the cup under him! Blinkered ramblings of The Confidence Trickster.

Martinez out!

Thanks Roberto.

I used to email Moyes a few times and told him what I thought. Now I donÂ’t mean to sound like a prick but pointing out the obvious.....like Arteta playing wide left.....was something I think he actually responded to but this fella. Nothing. Its like pissing in the fucking wind.

firstname.lastname@Evertonfc.com

Send him an email. Let your frustrations be known. See how far you get.

This guyÂ’s got it the wrong way around the results come first the skill comes second. WeÂ’re not talking about a piece of art or a musical, itÂ’s not a movie itÂ’s a competition, a sport, a business! The most important thing is the result DICKHEAD!

Get him out and get a serious manager in who the players respect and fear and are afraid to lose under!

I fancy Neil Lennon heÂ’s a steely winner whoÂ’s played in the prem won trophies with Celtic plus pulled off unexpected results in the champions league plus is doing a very good job with Bolton.

IÂ’m finally at the point where I read this and just think that heÂ’s a conman.

WeÂ’re in a relegation Â’battleÂ’, his Everton career is pretty much beyond repair, and heÂ’s telling us how the game should work. Like some father of football passing on his wisdom. The problem with that is that heÂ’s 41 and had achieved fuck all.

This is just designed for his reputation. And what I want is for him to be thinking about us, because weÂ’re bigger than him and in far graver trouble than he is.

The owner doesnÂ’t seem to mind either as he is nowhere to be seen and in our darkest hour has only brought in Lennon on loan instead of making a statement and buying a player that can really help us long term. When asked IÂ’m sure Roberto is one of those guys who says "I donÂ’t read the papers or care what other people think...." I fucking hate that. It drives me insane. How did he unravel over 100+ years of glory in one season?

Then they go to school and convert their schoolmates. Mates who are thinking of supporting Chelsea, City, Liverpool etc. They actually convert these kids because they speak with passion about the club, current players, history... The other kids canÂ’t do that. The PL is huge in school and these three Evertonians are the most knowledgeable and credible.

ThatÂ’s something IÂ’m obviously immensely, immeasurably proud of. (My wife calls it brainwashing which is a bit harsh).

So when Roberto starts talking about understanding the club and itÂ’s history I call bullshit. HeÂ’s gambling our status for some fucking ego trip heÂ’s on. HowÂ’s that understanding our club? How do my kids feature in this if he takes us down? This bloke is messing with my family history here.

The saddest thing is, this was all so unavoidable if only the lazy, greedy fucking board actually did something/anything resembling a job.

Everton Football ClubÂ’s board has to be the biggest disgrace in football, and according to me arl fella, back when I started going in the early 80Â’s has always been. I remember he always used to have a look around and then say theyÂ’ve fiddled the gates. I never really got it. 24/7 and his cronies have just carried it forward. Maybe we should get relegated and sort the shite out. Sad fucking days

ItÂ’s a world were results come second to the style of play and the dream of seeing a brilliant piece of individual skill matters more than the end result.

A nightmare world were we now find ourselves itÂ’s called the RELEGATION ZONE.

I donÂ’t know what heÂ’s smoking but I wish I could get some of it. He appears to have withdrawn in to a world of his own. Get rid as soon as!!

Asked if his team were guilty of over-passing, he said: "Never. I donÂ’t think you can. You can never over-pass. Passing for the sake of it is not going to take you anywhere. ThereÂ’s a reason behind every pass."

Is it only me that thinks he just contradicted himself in consecutive sentences there?

Another thing that surprises me with our team apart from being overloaded with holding midfielderÂ’s is that Martinez seems to have a love for British footballers. Now, thereÂ’s nothing wrong with that, but I would have thought players from the Latin leagues would be a bit more technically gifted to realise his vision. I donÂ’t want to make sweeping generalisations here, but people have been arguing for years that UK youth coaches concentrate on strength and physicality over technique - a balance that needs readdressing IMO. So while I donÂ’t want to labour this point I find it interesting that Martinez seems to like British players so much, having already stated his like for Scottish players mentality after his time playing at Motherwell.

That said, football is a funny old game and we could still salvage something from this season in the Europa League. Only in this competition have we shown what we are capable of. I would love for us to somehow come out of this awful season with a trophy and a Champions League spot, but not if it comes at the same price as WiganÂ’s FA Cup. Concentrate on grinding out results at home and save the fancy football for Europe Roberto. You might just save your Everton career!

Regardless of any of the tactical tripe he came out with, which is such obvious bullshit, regarding this insipid, uninspiring, gutless, turgid, slow-motion travesty of a season, I would like to know one thing: Exactly how has "IÂ’ve made more individual mistakes leading directly to goals as well as being bottom of the shots to goals conceded stats" Tim Â’TeflonÂ’ Howard had a "strong season"!?

The shit-coloured shoed fella is only shy of referring to himself in the third person for the megalomania to be complete, he is a positive Moyes yet is somehow even more depressingly banal.

I think we are more likely to be relegated than stay up after reading this latest load of rubbish. The mind set of the players is one of defeat, you all know this but like me you hope the next game will see the players take responsibility and play for the shirt, the fans and the history of the club I find it quite ironic that as fans the heart beat of any club, that there is nothing we can do to remove this manager.

Now we know what it was like for those poor souls left on the Titanic, you know itÂ’s going down, youÂ’re praying for a miracle that someone comes and rescues you.... then you feel the cold and you sink into oblivion.

And on the subject of Howard. I know itÂ’s not his fault he keeps getting picked but the guy just bugs the hell out of me now. "If heÂ’s not trying to be a playboy" I canÂ’t remember who posted that earlier in the season, but it made me laugh and the idea that HowardÂ’s mind is elsewhere has stuck with me. I saw a segment on Channel 4 news on Friday where they were reporting on hipsters with beards. Of course HowardÂ’s grinning mug was amongst the models. This guy has to go in the summer! I believe that our problems have been attributed, in part, to big heads in the dressing room, like Howard, EtoÂ’o and Distin, all of whom are opinionated and the most likely to have been a divisive influence.

Now if heÂ’d only get lost weÂ’d be happy.

Get a grip on reality, Robbie. Points on the board then pretty possession and passing.

I know we have been woeful in the league and many of you are comparing us to shite but I think we have to also look at Europa and how well we have done compared to how terrible they were. I know some Spurs fans who always complain about how Europa has affected them in previous seasons and letÂ’s face it they have had good strong squads in the past compared to ours this season.

Please letÂ’s just survive this season and hope Martinez can prove that last season wasnÂ’t just a once off.

I canÂ’t believe that since Howard has resumed back in goal we have gone backwards. Not a single clean sheet even against a team from Switzerland? Listening to Neville Southall, he said that he had to manage the players in front of him to make his job easier and each player was different in the way he would manage him.

We had turned the corner: RoblesÂ’s confidence was growing on the back of three clean sheets, he had made some terrific stops but what impressed me was his domination of his area and collecting those high balls into the box. I was warming to this keeper every game he was proving he is capable.

The keeper organises his defence, getting players back to mark each post should one slip through. Bringing everyone back to man up. We lost Stubbs and Weir, our defensive specialists and our midfield man was Alan Irvine. All MoyesÂ’s yes-men but no longer at the club.

What role does Duncan Ferguson play? What sort of wedge would he be getting? Sometime you have to be brutal and let people go who are not performing or not up to the job. I think 28 points from 28 games says that something is wrong, two wins in 14 league games, 3 home wins this season should be 10 as a minimum.

I doubt another manager would play the likes of Naismith, Barry and Howard on current form. Back to the drawing board, back to basics, back to winning games. With 30 points to play for, I would settle for 15. Five wins is a big ask on current form. At what point does Kenwright press the panic button and get someone else in?

It is not a virtue to keep playing the passing game from the centre halves when confidence is completely shot. What is evident is that no-one shows for a pass in midfield; they no longer want the ball. Rodgers decided to adapt his formation and tactics when they hit a trough and they have come back strong.It is not a betrayal of principles, it is good management and if RM does not respond now he will be sacked.We can still play a passing game, but in the opposition half rather than in front of our defence.

Also, there has to be a consequence to playing badly or making repeated errors - I agree completely with Anto @69 that RM discredits himself when he drops Robles as the man in form and picks Howard. How can anyone respect those types of judgement?

Where I disagree is on Naismith - works his arse off, gets in the face of opposition and gets in the refsÂ’ ear. That attitude is what will get us out of this mess, individual leadership on the pitch whrn it is most needed. If we get out of this season in the PL, we need to sign one or two tough characters to put some backbone in this nicey-nicey squad, starting with taking the captaincy off Jagielka.

Know which option my money is on.

IÂ’d take 3 points on the board crazy gang type football at the moment. Anything to stay up and regroup in the summer. Preferably under a manager who still lives on this planet.

Vamos camino del desastre!

The breakdown van arrives in a muddy field and when asked why?
RM says "I have a vision my target I will not deviate from my vision"

So if this is true then very afraid Everton will be the car that breaks down and stops, then towed off to the championship never to be seen again.

Deluded

Ask any Manu regular and they will tell you that Young Tom is the king of the sideways passers and that a frequent headline was Â’United going nowhere with ClevÂ’.

Should be a dream signing, then, for Our Man as BK gives him another chance to get us relegated !

If he could point to an ongoing success from his methods he would be convincing. But he canÂ’t and therefore looks crazier than ever. The most frightening thing, of course, is that he has form in this position.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31784935

Many feel that last season proves that Â’he is a good managerÂ’ and that he was a good appointment. And like BK, they donÂ’t want to be proved wrong!

All the rantings in this interview are regurgitations of the views he expressed whilst with his former club and which were the foundation of my oft expressed dread of what was in store for us IN THE LONG TERM.

He has not disappointed me!

I canÂ’t help but be reminded of a crazed sea captain steering his ship towards the rocks. The nervous sailors eyeing the second mate to see if heÂ’ll cosh him and take over the wheel in time. Eugene was calling for us to support him for the last few weeks of the season. ThatÂ’s fair enough and I think itÂ’s indisputable that the team needs support, but thereÂ’s also the question of how far we let this slide before itÂ’s gone too far to do anything about.

ThereÂ’s not a great deal of substance in this article, and what you can glean from it is worrying. I really donÂ’t think it would hurt him to say weÂ’ll do anything we can to win every game between now and the end of the season. He doesnÂ’t have to promise to boot the ball up the field at every opportunity, just try to assuage the nerves of some, quite rightly, very nervy fans. He should be a calming influence now, and I just donÂ’t feel he is. I know he is under an incredible amount of pressure at the minute, but itÂ’s his job to deal with that.

Â’Martinez is a very good manager.Â’

He got very good marks for inviting HK to Finch Farm to Â’talk to the ladsÂ’. Gawd help us!

Patrick Barclay spoke highly of Martinez and his openness and willingness to listen and talk to people – he cited Kendall, Ferguson (Duncan, that is) – he also mentioned that Martinez believed in the history of Everton and, unlike some managers who "tore down" the old memories, Martinez was based in Everton tradition. Worth watching if you haven’t seen it – On Demand/Catch Up.

I wonder what the reaction would have been for Kendall around the end of 83 beginning of 84 if TW would have been around then? Mmmm....

I knew Howard then and it was a tough time for him and his family but I remember him talking about sticking to his philosophy and principles.

None of this makes the current situation right or better but maybe none of us on here really know what the single reason for this seasons debacle is.

Sometimes we need quick actions sometimes we need to stick together to get through the tough times.

The Newcastle game is sticking out bright and large on my antenna and I believe that we the fans can help the situation that day with loud and great support for the team/club.

LetÂ’s get posso.

Up The Blues.

Bill wonÂ’t pay 㿀M pay off unless itÂ’s to try and safeguard his 𧴜M per year

The most worrying thing for me is his stubbornness and not being flexible. We have been found out yet he still does nothing to try and throw the opposition a dummy. Every other manager knows our system and pace of play and its so easy to defend against. IÂ’m afraid its time for him to go and get someone in with a bit of passion who can instill that into the team and a bit of tempo.

It would be a lot cheaper to pay him off than endure relegation. Would we ever get back?

Not with him!

However he has the playing staff to produce some very good football but has no ideas how to use them.

Somewhere in there lies the problem and the solution.

Not exactly, IÂ’m not for a moment calling for supporters who hate his guts, think heÂ’s shite and want him out, to pretend to be in love with him or post Â’Roberto, what a great managerÂ’

My point was that we have reached a fucking scary stage, where an already underperforming team are entering a phase theyÂ’re unfamiliar with and a stage where Â’successÂ’ (staying up) or not could depend on nerve/s.

My contention is that itÂ’s possible (only possible, not definite) that dropping the bile for a couple of weeks (specially as itÂ’s all been said over and fucking over) might relax a few and might take a tiny bit of pressure off (and definitely wouldnÂ’t be in any way counter-productive).

The difference between staying up and going down could be very fine and given weÂ’re all supporters, I suggest if ever there was a time to do something to Â’supportÂ’ itÂ’s right now.

You add Gavin – "That’s fair enough and I think it’s indisputable that the team needs support, but there’s also the question of how far we let this slide before it’s gone too far to do anything about"

We?

Sorry but if we (collectively) had a say in anything, heÂ’d probably be gone.

But we donÂ’t, so we need to play with the hand weÂ’ve been dealt and if that hand is shite, we need to bluff like fuck.

Currently it seems to me weÂ’re screaming "IÂ’ve got fuck all!"

Just over the last few days he has talked about how the Europa League games may have had an effect, and used it as an excuse to the results in the past 2 games. I would suggest he takes a look at Mourinho: they have progressed in the Champions League, they have won the Carling Cup, and they are odds on to win the Premier League. All done without too many changes to his side, I never hear him talk about tiredness.

Just when I thought things couldnÂ’t get any worse, the papers this morning are suggesting that in the summer if he is still here the charlatan wants to sign Tom Cleverly. When you look at his buys and loans it just sends me into despair. Apart from McCarthy and I still think he has to do a lot more, the rest of his buys are best labelled as ordinary. He said after the ACON tournament that Atsu would play more then he goes and gets Lennon on loan to play in the same position.

IÂ’m all for positivity over negativity but everything has to be grounded in reality. I go to the match in positive mood but often walk away negative due to the reality of what IÂ’ve just witnessed.

This bloke seems to be in cloud cuckoo land.
His visions might well be hallucinations in some spaced-out alternative dimension where goals donÂ’t exist, sideways passing is as essential as breathing and media briefings are the equivalent of going to the toilet.

Clutching at more and more straws as the weeks go by, the latest being the forlorn hope that Villa could be deducted points for that pitch invasion.

IÂ’d still get rid now and certainly donÂ’t want him at EFC next season whatever the outcome of this.

Is it ficklessness? Is it negative?
Well, I care about EFC staying in the top flight as an absolute minimum for our club.
So, for me, itÂ’s neither of those.

I donÂ’t want to cover old ground but RM should be long gone largely because weÂ’ve all got our fingers crossed for teams that should be rivals (the top six) over teams that sadly are rivals (the bottom six).

ThatÂ’s the reality.

I canÂ’t begin to tell you all how depressed I am with this idiot. No, thatÂ’s not right because he is not a idiot. (Idiot = A person of Profound mental retardation having a mental age of below three.)

If I went through all the issues that are wrong with my beloved club, we would be here all day but letÂ’s try:

1) Passion = Nil (Starts at the top)
2) Fight = Nil (Starts at the top)
3) Aggression = Nil (Starts at the top)
4) Pace = Nil
5) Goals = Not Many
6) Team Selection = Questionable (Howard, Barry, Lukaku etc)
7) No Leaders (on or off the pitch)
8) Round holes, square pegs!
9) Buys = McGeady, Alacraz, Barry, Kone (although he looks okay when played)
10) And finally his after-match interviews = Please Please Please stop talking in riddles and tell it as it is!

I feel like a mushroom: "Kept in the dark & fed on shite."

IÂ’m going back to bed!

COYB

IÂ’ll follow the money and say that the run in will have to yield less than half-a- dozen points to see us go down although I shall certainly be encouraging the lads to ease any nagging fears by beating the Barcodes for a start.

The Martinez issue can wait until later.

Yet, because we appear to lack the boardroom structure of an enterprise the size and complexity needed to run a major football club and are run by proxy by an absentee landlord, there is no one to do the right thing and we are floundering without any leadership of even the basics of a plan.

ItÂ’s frightening how this has been allowed to go on for so long and, to the average fan, there donÂ’t seem to be any answers to the problems. The present depressing situation has been building for decades.

Two wins and four draws should see us safe on 38 points, pathetic I know, but that looks like how it will pan out this season.

BKÂ’s got a massive decision to make in the summer. LetÂ’s just hope he makes the right one.

I hope all match going fans go in with this mindset and try to make the old lady an uncomfortable place for the visitors not our team - we need to more than ever!

I don’t see this lot suddenly relaxing into great football if the crowd stop sighing. In fact, I don’t want them relaxed – I want them fighting like wounded animals.

I think back to the Wimbledon game. That was amazing – Goodison can be so intimidating at times. Can you imagine it getting like that on the last day this season? I don’t see this team fighting like that team did...

With luck, Bill Fawlty will hoof Manuel up his hoop and out of the door at the seasonÂ’s end and we can move on with a manager who knows what heÂ’s doing.

But if I think thereÂ’s the remotest possibility, that not shouting the reality for a couple of weeks, might have even the tiniest, tiniest positive effect (yes I know itÂ’s not going to guarantee 10 wins) then that is something IÂ’m prepared to do.

Is skipping ultimately pointless, incredibly repetitive, angry, possibly counter-productive venting for a couple of weeks asking too much?

ThatÂ’s for each individual to decide but IÂ’m prepared to give it (anything!) a go right now.

And the one thing I know for sure is that it definitely canÂ’t hurt.

Is that not over-passing? And is that comment not just complete garbage?

It grieves me to say it but I think that enough is enough and we need to look elsewhere for a new leader – preferably somewhere in the real world.

I echo ErnieÂ’s (103) concerns over the support should survival go right down to the last game. The frenzied atmospheres at both the Wimbledon and Coventry do-or-die games went a long way towards securing our PL status. Would it be reproduced under the stupefying boredom of a Martinez game plan? No way. Irrespective of the critical nature of the game, that important edge to the support would be sapped out of the crowd, with disastrous consequences.

Can someone please print out the league table and send it to RM. Accompanied by a couple of footnotes; 5 clean sheets out of 28 games and no goals in 5 of the 9 league games in 2015.

Think weÂ’d just like a couple of really really boring 1.0 wins right now.

"Never. I donÂ’t think you can. You can never over-pass. Passing for the sake of it is not going to take you anywhere. ThereÂ’s a reason behind every pass." (30 words)

Roberto mate, that is self contradicting bullshit!

Had you said:
" You can. Passing for the sake of it is not going to take you anywhere. There always has to be a reason behind every pass."
(25 words)

Then youÂ’d have made a valid coherent point. But you didnÂ’t, and whatÂ’s more it took you five more words to do it...........see what I did there ?

May I also add that every time a team scores that they automatically lose possession?
Hope that helps.

Eugene is right. ItÂ’s time to break out the songs and give encouragement to the players. Adopt the Wimbledon game spirit and get all Churchillian "never have so many contributed so much to so few who are being asked to contribute so much more than their previous contribution to so many" or something or other.

Personally I never boo and never will but sometimes the grounds anxiety is overwhelming even if itÂ’s simply through silent dread.

But IÂ’m going to follow this mantra during the game quite simply because itÂ’s sensible! Not for the benefit of Martinez but for the club and for us. IÂ’m going to ooze massive positive vibes until weÂ’re safe and will try to encourage all those around me in Lower Bullens to do the same.

What happens when weÂ’re safe will need further thought but thanks for another day!

He should be lighting a fire under Martinez and his charges arses. Coming out and acknowledging results are poor, and continued failure will not be tolerated would go a long way in my book.

If the gaffer can afford the time to talk shite like in this Telegraph article, Bullshit Billy can too.

Also, given that this is a website / bulletin board for Evertonians to express their opinion (rather than the OS or some other public forum) I assumed it was blindingly obvious that it has bugger all impact on the club, manager, players etc.

I doubt very much that they read this stuff otherwise Ossie would have (unfairly) been in some recovery clinic years ago with Hibbo (unfairly) whimpering in the next padded cell.

The same goes for rallying calls of support on here. They are just as nonsense. Personally, I donÂ’t know any Blues who go to slag the players / manager off. They go to support the team.

And before anyone says what about the atmosphere at GP? Well, thereÂ’s cause and effect in play there. And thatÂ’s down to our visionary manager as well. HeÂ’s turned 3pm on a Saturday into the graveyard shift.

IÂ’m not saying the atmosphere canÂ’t be improved, like, but the team has to play its part in that as well - hopefully starting against Newcastle.

We look pretty much guaranteed to concede at least one goal a game, and have too few shots to score two. That is a very dangerous equation.

I agree with the calls for positivity amongst all of us, but it would sure as hell be helped by some fight on the pitch.

Just for the record IÂ’ve only slagged-off two EFC players during a match in my life.

The first was Glen Keeley (I was in the Gwladys St End that night and had a good view).

The second was James Beattie (the Chelsea headbutt) which was right beneath my seat in the TB.

(Sorry to bring these memories back).

I said before the Arsenal game we wonÂ’t score another away goal for the rest of the season. Two games down the line and IÂ’ve seen nothing to make me change that view. Unless we get a penalty, we certainly wonÂ’t score from open play.

We’ve actually got quite a favourable run in on paper but the way we are set up you wouldn’t back us to beat anyone. Forget the away games, we’ll be lucky to get a couple of goalless draws. Forget Spurs and Man Utd at home – they’ll beat us, that leaves us with Newcastle Utd, Burnley and Sunderland to beat and as we’ve only shockingly won 3 home games all season, it doesn’t exactly inspire optimism.

As for the Spaniard’s comments about Howard, I honestly think he’s having a go at us there... Basically, reading between the lines, he’s saying "Look, I know he’s fucked up a few times but I’m the manager – don’t tell me who and who not to pick." I don’t how many times I’ve heard since Howard got back in we’ve been shite but nearly every blue I speak to says it.

The Spaniard insults my intelligence with his inane and bizarre comments and IÂ’m fucking sick of him. If we do go down, him and his bunch of shit players wonÂ’t hang round... whereas weÂ’ll still be Evertonians.

Get behind the players, turn Goodison into a bear pit for the last 6 home games (hard I know, considering how dull and insipid the football is, but weÂ’re in big trouble now and itÂ’s needs must), if we could scrape enough points in the first 4 of those games and then let Kenwright know at the last 2 games that we want Martinez out in the summer. I donÂ’t hate the guy I just think heÂ’s out of his depth, has lost the plot as well as the players and the fans!

I genuinely think the pressure has got to him and heÂ’s rudderless, heÂ’s talking like managers at the end of the line do, sounding desperate and detached, that canÂ’t see whatÂ’s in front of them and making strange decisions, his words in the last 2 months have been enough for the men in white coats to come calling for him.

I donÂ’t fancy having to beat Spurs on the last day to have a hope of staying up. Although IÂ’d love to have Pochettino as our manager but heÂ’s out of our league.

We need to find the next Joe Royle (for motivating the team, organising it, getting them fit, combative,competitive and who the players are willing to play for). IÂ’ve suggested Mark Hughes but weÂ’ll leave that one, nobody but me wants him!

Someone with the good stuff of Moyes but without the fear, who doesnÂ’t bottle the big games and has more attacking flair. Seems to be so impossible for us!

ItÂ’s a sorry mess, like WalterÂ’s last days.

Steve, our away support is the envy of the League. And IÂ’m sure you are aware that weÂ’ve won as many times away as we have at home, but I think youÂ’re argument sort of falls apart when you admit that the support at the Wimbledon and Coventry games helped us over the line.

Regardless of whether Roberto is in charge or not, and I imagine that he will be, should it go to the wire we will need to give the same incredible support we had versus Wimbledon. (I think that day was second only to the Bayern game for atmosphere and certainly more emotional.) But wouldnÂ’t it be better if we helped the team, starting with the Newcastle game?

I agree with Martinez on his philosophy, style and future plans for our club to be able to compete in the future. He has a model for our football where we will produce players to play in a possession based style.

I love all of that, I agree our youth are gaining massive experience and as long as we donÂ’t get relegated we should see progression next season with results and performances.

However, the is one major stumbling block along this road, teams know how to play us and we donÂ’t have the savvy to counter it. I would love us to beat Newcastle but if they play like everyone else who rocks up to Goodison we know itÂ’s unlikely.

We have the best squad weÂ’ve had in years, I do believe the players want the system/style to succeed (as we all do) but the proof lies in the results, it doesnÂ’t work in the Premier League.

ItÂ’s all very well saying next season or the season after weÂ’ll be in a much stronger position but the league is ruthless. ItÂ’s a difficult one, hope we survive until the players master the system or get rid and hope the next manager implements a style that suits our players.

IÂ’d sack him if we donÂ’t beat Newcastle.

Stop talking about the past and the future... deal with the present.

If you take out nearest and dearest across Stanley park, just before Christmas the cockney Norwegians were calling for BrendaÂ’s head cos they were playing as shite as we were.

Yes he changed the system but more importantly they started to win and confidence started to flow through the side. Players like Henderson who most of my RS mates hate with a passion has started to look like world beaters.

ItÂ’s this lack of analysis of the situation that worries me about RM. Yes I believe in the passing game, and I donÂ’t buy into the theory that weÂ’ve been sussed out. But the passing game only works with confidence is high and the ballÂ’s being zipped around and everyoneÂ’s wants it.

WhatÂ’s happening at present is that, yes itÂ’s a passing game, a 3-yard "donÂ’t give it to me FFS" ball that nobody wants to receive and wants to get shut ASAP. Now RM must see this and change accordingly otherwise weÂ’re in danger of going down. We wouldnÂ’t be the first Â’too good to go downÂ’ and we wouldnÂ’t be the last.

You are probably right. However, HK did redeem himself for what, in hindsight, appears to be the wrong decision of a derby match debut (I think GK was on loan as well).

I just didnÂ’t get how a professional footballer did not know the rules of the game (the professional foul rule had just come in) costing us the heaviest humiliation against the rs in my lifetime. I only slagged him off at that point by the way.

In a baying Gwladys Street End, in a derby match with a couple of beers inside me, I just wasnÂ’t thinking that rationally.

Exactly right David.

The problem with our passing game is the amount of touches each player needs before they move the ball on. To be effective it needs to be one or two touches at most. Our lot seem to take one touch to bring it under control, another touch to move forward, another touch while they look up, one last touch after they do that daft (Jagielka patented) little shimmy where they look like theyÂ’re switching from Â’hanging to the leftÂ’ to Â’hanging to the rightÂ’ without using any hands, and then go Â’ah, fuck it, you have it and decide what we do next because iÂ’m goosedÂ’.

Bizarre interview.

IÂ’m sure his tosh is affecting the players. I mean, we all know itÂ’s phoney nonsense, so I guess the lads do to. Be interesting to hear the truth from the players once Martinez gets the bullet...fairly sure Buzz and a few others would love to spill the beans.

Sometimes it angers me when outsiders including journalists, donÂ’t see it with Martinez. I have pals who are not Evertonians who think he is great. I happen to think that big Sam is doing a good job at West Ham but apparently he is detested on their fan sites.

Right now, after a few days to calm down, IÂ’m with Eugene on this. I fear, however, that defeat against Newcastle will have me battering the keys, veins standing out on forehead, physically feeling the blood pressure rise, demanding his head. ItÂ’s madness because heÂ’s going nowhere. If he keeps us safe, Bill will see it as a blip and heÂ’ll still be here next season.

I see the poll has now dropped to 61% wanting him gone. Your influence, Eugene?

IÂ’ve said a few time on TW that last seasonÂ’s team had Moyes drive, discipline, probably training legacy and etc coupled with a touch of sin miedo belief.

What we now have is a team motivated, trained, set up and all the other factors which a manager can affect which 100% belongs to Martinez. The reason Martinez is failing and will continue to do so is because he lacks the one thing which to a greater or lesser extent all the very best Managers have – a ruthless streak. This includes his team selection, his desire to win, his training methods and most importantly his ability to motivate.

As an aside IÂ’m writing this while watching the recorded pre-match discussion prior to the Liverpool v Blackburn game. Listening to how Brenda changed thing around when they were going badly. I wonder what thoughts pass through MartinezÂ’ mind when he hears that sort of comment. Probably nothing!

Martinez doesn’t need to talk about that basest of all emotions – that cheap thrill loved by so many of the mass of supporters – the need to win. He is focused on a higher plane. Possession, passing, passing and passing again.

How can he ever expect supporters to recognise the truth, the beauty of football as it should be played – something that maybe only he he can see. They may, of course never understand and perhaps if they can’t see what he sees it then they really don’t deserve him. Until such time as he is at a club where winning and the need to have shots on goal isn’t so important he will have to remain unappreciated and yes, maybe unloved – but extremely well paid!

How on earth are we supposed to play a passing game if we donÂ’t have anyone to link attack to defence ?

Play it into Lukaku and he will try to control it with his shins.
Give it to Naismith and he will try a trick he isnÂ’t good enough to pull off. Mirallas cares only about Mirallas, Barkley has been ruined by being asked to play here there and everywhere. Kone doesnt get a chance .. .who is/are our link player/s ? who are the more advanced players who can actually make the ball stick . . and if we donÂ’t have any HOW THE FUCK ARE WE A "PASSING TEAM" ? WE ARE FUCK ALL OF THE SORT.

If Martinez really understands what it takes to play football he will boost Barkleys confidence by telling him he will play number ten for every remaining game of the season, he will have Ossie lined up for the last half hour of every game . He will release the shackles on the full backs and he will never start Naismith or Mcgeady again.

He wont do any of that of course. He will persevere with the three tackling machines he has brought in to protect the defence. he will turn a blind eye to the brainless balls they play into a centre forward who hates playing with his back to goal and he will continue to scratch his head as every artless attack breaks down before it becomes worthy of the name.

If Martinez really does know how to make us beautiful, why are we so fucking pug ugly

Just Sayin!

I know we shall hear much about poor service but he must have missed at least a dozen Â’sittersÂ’ which could well have turned the tide in the relevant games.

It all down to the manager The players must hold some responsibility for such a shit season.
( Although we mustnÂ’t upset them by showing any displeasure, poor darlings !)

What do these philistines know anyway?

You might be right.

Because if it was my influence, it would prove something IÂ’ve thought for a long time - that there are many who read posts, dismiss half of it, put some spin on the other half, then react to their own garbled version.

For the record my entire..um..tack has contained two incredibly simple arguments.

1) Once someone has posted Â’Martinez is useless, Martinez should resign, Martinez should be sackedÂ’, repeating this on the hour, every hour, every day is as boring as fuck (by the way, idiot, clown, nob-head, prick, doesnÂ’t constitute a new spin on things).

2) Should the possibility exist that players, from time to time, look at TW, it might be better if, over the next two or three weeks (when nerves will be jangling and we need ALL the help we can get) they see articles about Tony Cottee or the strengths/weaknesses of future opposition or Europa or basically anything that isnÂ’t "GRRRFUCKINGUSELESSGRRRR!!!!"

So anyone who takes from that Â’Vote Roberto!Â’ is, to quote Voltaire, as thick as shite.

Oh dear............

In the meantime, I think IÂ’ll contact Martinez for some Cheltenham tips - he can definitely see things I canÂ’t!

I donÂ’t mind trying to be positive at the game but If you think we should refrain from upsetting any players who may deem to read TW you have IÂ’m afraid got another think coming.

This is our right! The team and the manager put us through this shit and we must surely reserve the right to vent our wrath! Notice no bold type!

Well at least youÂ’re honest - Â’fuck sense, I wanna vent me wrath ladÂ’

Anyway, IÂ’ve said what I felt I needed to, IÂ’ll be posting no more on this, some will get it, some (see above) see nothing as more important than their venting rights.

Up to each individual to do what they think will be most helpful over the next few weeks to create an atmosphere that will help the players deliver their very best.

Up the Toffees!

IsnÂ’t venting our wrath what we all do on here? Some of it with a degree of common sense and some not.

Let’s hope some – as you obviously do – get it. Those of us of a lower caste can go fuck themselves!

Did Voltaire really say that?

Cripes, heÂ’s not the man I thought he was. Very disappointed in him.

Van Gaal – another advocate of possession at all costs football, I believe they’ve passed back to their goalie more often than any other team, even Everton – said in today’s Observer that the new playmakers aren’t in midfield, they are your central defenders: he’s got Jones, Smalling and Evans, God help him and he can’t see that you have to change the system because the personnel are inadequate for the system.

Continuing his idea, weÂ’ve got, Stones (possibly he could do it), Jagielka and Distin. Martinez, like the hugely esteemed Van Gaal, believes the system is sacrosanct and the players, irrespective of their skills and ability, must play the decreed system. The result is teams that hugely under-perform, especially when compared to the pragmatic approach of Chelsea and the like.

Being a purist is not the way forward for a football manager. The managers like Pulis, Hughes and Allardyce will soon put paid to this fancy-dan approach. A boxer needs a serviceable punch; just skill won’t do it. My uncle, the great Nel Tarleton, had the skill and a modicum of a punch would have made him World Champion, similarly with Howard Winstone and a host of others. Martinez wants us to play a style, he almost doesn’t care if the big hitters and the counter-punchers destroy us. Save us from such idiots or prophets – you choose the word.

Voltaire had a very nasty mouth which he used to try disguise with wit and satire!

Reading his thoughts, I started to think itÂ’s me! How can we boo the players? TheyÂ’re following orders. They must be as frustrated as us!

Only one outcome with him in charge!

What are they made of - China?

ThatÂ’ll be the regular columnists - Michael Kenrick, Lyndon Lloyd and Ken Buckley all walking on egg shells now. Or putting a positive RM polish on the potential turd-fest theyÂ’ve just watched.

Why not simply close all Everton websites down for the rest of the season in case we tread on any delicate egos?

Alternatively, if you don’t like the content, why waste time here? (Players included.) Or buy newspapers as well for that matter – because they can’t be too glowing in their reports on EFC players.

At the match itÂ’s different but the idea of an Â’independent EFC websiteÂ’ is surely to state what you think.

Or are we aiming for Anfield Group Think now?

Complete and utter garbage.

Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.

Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.

Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.

So how did he sell his vision to our gullible chairman in the first place? Quite easily I imagine, I bet Bills eyes were watering with inspiration when Roberto went into his interview/audition for the job. Yukkkkkkk!

Andy, if they did, then between RobertoÂ’s overbearing enthusiasm and the doom and gloom on here I think they would start to suffer from acute schizophrenia. Let the poor buggers enjoy their Play Stations and trips to NandoÂ’s. They donÂ’t give a toss what fans think.

Well okay, he said ’aussi épais que la merde’ – think he was advocating human rights at the time and the Catholics weren’t having it (he lied).

Oh to have such a man around today... although maybe not.

Le TW thread: ’Voltaire, Satirical Polemicist or nob-head?’ – The fucking wigged French twat has lost the fucking plot. He said he’d separate the church from the state yet all the fucking clown has done is..." (Zzzzzz)

I think youÂ’ll find that somebody reads it to them.......

They lied.

Many of us thought that Roberto was going to unleash the inhibitions of this group of players but instead he has managed to make them even less expressive and nervous than many of us expected. Anyway we are where we are and weÂ’ll have to hope that things alter considerably in the next few months and perhaps even years.

Sad to say, IN THE LONG TERM I hadnÂ’t, though !

ToffeeWeb exists both for us to vent our wrath and when things get really bleak to exercise our daftness.

Only in this way can we preserve our sanity.

I applaud wanting to play attacking possession football (if that was what we were getting), but now is the time to win by any means. If we can get a couple of results then go back to trying to pass the ball if thatÂ’s what heÂ’s hell bent on.

I would have sacked him after Hull away but IÂ’d send him on his way today if he happily admits his vision is more important than my club.

No he didnÂ’t. But he should have, makes more sense than some stuff on here.

Subs: Cicero; Rene Descartes; Baruch Spinoza; Saint Bonaventure; Claude Levi-Strauss, John Rawls.

[DonÂ’t anyone say they are!]

World Cup

Martinez could do with ruminating on that, I feel.

We need to get off BobbyÂ’s back and give him at least this and next season to turn things round. For crying out loud, we could end up as Europa League winners with a Champions League birth. So letÂ’s get behind Bobby and the boys and have a little patience.

COYB! IMWT (in Martinez we trust).

"Roberto, your tactics are shite and please sod off."
"Players, you are a bunch of lazy overpaid tosses and please sod off."

IÂ’m not sure when he actually said this but am paraphrasing...

Young Ross is idling Sunday away.

HeÂ’s done a couple of hours Fifa 15, knocked one out now he nervously heads to TW.

"WhatÂ’s dis?" he exclaims after the reading the last 20 posts (or so) "Der all Â’avin a laff anÂ’ stuff, I wuz sure theyÂ’d be goinÂ’ spare and narkily repeatinÂ’ themselves like fuck - specially Farage"

He then thinks Â’Maybe I was beinÂ’ a bit..like..nekkative and that"

After a furher moment he thinks "If they can be all cool and laid back and not panickinÂ’ an stuff, so can I. In fact their positive attichood Â’az rubbed off on me good style - IÂ’m goinÂ’ to go out against Newcastle and score a fuckinÂ’ Â’at-trick lid"

He closes his lap top and smiles a confident steely smile.

(Ruane pulls up his collar, lights a Benson, smirks and heads into the rain - job done).

A teacher in school used to say that to me all the time, and that was in the fifties well before Brian Glover.

IÂ’m happy to end up 15th and in a European final. If we donÂ’t win it, then we can give the Prem a go next season. ItÂ’s all about scouting and no other team can know how weÂ’re going to play if we play different in our league games. I think this will work out OK.

ItÂ’s strange that when polls are being conducted about whether the manager should be sacked there should be so much reference to Voltaire, an anagram of Vote Liar.

Surely any team of philosophers should include the great Socrates?

Talking with the kids on the way to Stoke, and we all agreed that only Chelsea have really battered us this season, and then we see the line up for one of our cup finals. We all know that we are much better than our league position, but the manager has had a shocker. Good players gone bad, is usually through age or confidence, and I believe you have taken the latter away from them.

Pick your best team, and put the best players in there best positions. Tell them to go and play with intensity and to believe in each other, and results will definitely follow. Carry on the way you are, and your long term focus will never get a chance, because you will never get the chance to implement it. I might be wrong but your biggest fault to me, is that whilst you talk a cracker, going to watch Everton has never been so boring. If you had really studied Everton, you would realise that a team could never have had such longevity, without pragmatism. LetÂ’s see some now please!

IÂ’ll pass on a piece of Marcus Aurelius to Martinez: "If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I think the truth, by which no-one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed."

Sounds like our Catalonian philosopher to me.

The bit that capped it off was Â’Howard has had a strong seasonÂ’. ThatÂ’s a slap in the face to any fan with half a brain and seriously calls into question RMÂ’s judgement. IÂ’ve got no problem with his vision, I just think he has absolutely no idea of how to go about achieving it. Only Martinez could rigidly insist upon a Barcelona philosophy but then buy a load of carthorses to try and enact it. The sight of Barry, Mccarthy, Jagielka, Naismith and Lukaku trying to play one touch football is painful to watch.

You know what if Martinez goes out, sticks to his guns, overhauls the squad and gets in the creative players required to make his philosophy work, IÂ’ll say fair enough you messed up this whole season but at least youÂ’ve got an idea what youÂ’re doing. If he persists with Howard and buys another crab like midfielder IÂ’m painting my Martinez out banner ready for pre season.

You need fight, power and aggression as a bare minimum, to survive this league, you also need some nastiness and leaders. We are soft from top to bottom.

If anyone reading this knows Ross tell him he is the best talent since Rooney and will be a great player if he keeps trying to do great stuff.

Dream all you want Mr Martinez but do it somewhere else. We are a disorganised shambles in freefall. Wake up and get real......Better still. Get out....NOW.

"People say the fans have to get behind the team. Hold on, why must they cheer? You make them cheer. TheyÂ’re the only loyal people in the game. Make the difference for them, get them on your side".

*political philosophy joke (yes, they do exist)

DISCOMBOBULATED Pronounced ~ dis-com-bob-u-lated. Means ~ thrown into confusion. As in ~ the lion is discombobulated by the skateboarding wildebeest. And ~ my parents are discombobulated when I suddenly start speaking Swedish.* A bit like ~ befuddled, bamboozled. Don’t confuse with ~ anything. If you like this word, try ~ nincompoop. * This won’t make any sense if you are actually Swedish.

There is also a book entitled Phenomenal Shakespeare written by Bruce R Smith and WhereÂ’s Wally? The Phenomenal Postcard Book By Martin Handford

Harold Matthews @ 231 falls into the second category. Harold posted this before Christmas:

Post 109
http://ToffeeWeb.com/season/14-15/news/28966.html#contribute

I responded in post 119 and then again at 131.

Well Harold your pick to sort things out (Tony Pulis) was appointed by another club (West Brom) and since the beginning of January they have picked up 16 points to our seven - the difference being the 9 points that we are looking for right now.

Harold is there anyone else out there?

Pleased to hear he is now seeking the advice of Howard Kendall who, unlike Big Dunc, Royle, Unsworth and Sheedy, will not be scared to upset him. Whether or not he will listen is anyone's guess.

He has struck a chord with a club and its support that looked to be sleepwalking towards the Championship under his predecessor Paul Lambert, starved of goals and entertainment, the season was almost being played out in monochrome.
Now Sherwood has added colours to the canvas. The relegation fight is still on and Sherwood himself admitted: "If we were to win the FA Cup and get relegated it will be a failure."

Sherwood isn't exactly my dream appointment but someone with a grip on reality would be a start.

What relevance 'yesterday's hero' HK has to the situation, I have no idea. If the manager has to consult a predecessor of a different time, he should not be in the job. Having said that, I hear it was at his chairman's suggestion.

Another guy whose time is past !

Harold - Let's hope he is willing to listen.

Are you old enough to be drinking? Every post is absolute drivel.

He must do it elsewhere, though. He's a relegation-dripping manager, and there is a madness about him.

It's time to get in someone who lives in the real world.

DJ Staunton, you should log into the live forum on matchdays, you'll go down a storm in there.

Some of our players have not performed; Barkley and since his disaterous penalty miss, Mirallas. Yes we are protecting Stones; I have not read one article where Stones has come under the same scrutiny as, for example, Lukaku (15 goals with potential for completing a 20-goal haul); same age just different price tag.

My impression of what is going on here is that club stalwarts and favourites have got away with murder because as loyal Evertonians we are loath to critisize players we consider the life blood of the team but compare Baines to the player of seasons past; piss-poor. Club skipper 'Jags'; average at best, Distin, finished, Coleman; up and down like a Donegal fiddler's elbow.

My point is this: Shit season, yes; but all El Bob's fault? No chance. We have big issues but one close season of competing financially isn't gonna cut it; we will always be vulnerable to loss of form/confidence with what is still a limited squad in terms of talent and depth. Laugh if you want but this season ain't over yet!!!

I'll grant you that some of the players need a good hard kick up the arse, but isn't that his job? Isn't the one that dropped a young goalkeeper who just starting to look the part for an accident waiting to happen? Isn't he the one that advocates passing around our own half just for the sake whilst completely ignoring the requirement for practising set pieces for and against?

The man looks like a rabbit in the headlights everytime I see him and has no idea how to fix what is going on. Every interview he gives scares me just that little bit more, and every team selection the same. He needs to go and go now. Even when (not if) we survive this season, the damage has been done and there will be no clean slate come August if he is still at the helm. And my biggest fear is that if he is still around, some of our brightest young stars won't be.

"Any team that hasn't got 40 points in the final third of the season is in a relegation fight," Martinez told the Sunday Telegraph.

"The big advantage I have is that I've been through that every season.

Fair play to the fella, that is beyond eternal optimism or blind optimism, if he thinks that being in that situation every season is a big advantage!

Quote from the Real Madrid manager, Ancellotti, in today's media reports.

Now where did I see a similar thread...

Roberto, we can't even find a way to win.

And the sentence about Howard's 'very strong season'.....just.......shut up man.