Martinez proud of Blues' response against Kyiv

Despite the obligatory, away goal, it was a WIN. If it feels otherwise, just shows that we still have higher expectations.

COYB same again v the Barcodes. Cue home crowd ....

Just hoping we donÂ’t have to get relegated, to win the Premier League on return!! ;-)

As others say it, watching this side is a chore, thank god those at their feet made it clear what is expected.

MotM – the 12th Man. Coyb.

It’s funny, one usually hears boos at halftime or full time, but not really during a passage of play. That’s how frustrating it was. We know what we are seeing and how it will pan out. I swear in the second half Barry changed his mind from being about to make a backwards pass as he knew the crowd would slate him.

Brilliant work by the crowd tonight. Make it a bear pit on Sunday and let’s drag ourselves safe. Then, fire Bullshit Bobby.

"Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again."

Looking forward to the next round when we get there.

McCarthy is an enigma though as he is tenacious enough but lacks creativity. If he could add passing forwards ability to his game he would be a stand out midfielder. For once Lukaku had passes in front of him that he could run on to and he worried the life out of Kiev defenders. Jags had a terrific match and led the team by example.

These two lifted the team and the crowd and made Goodison rock for the first time in ages.

We still badly need a top creative player who can pass accurately as time after time good positions were wasted by poor passing in Kiev’s half. Osman had a decent little cameo when he came on. But poor Barkley is still struggling with confidence and I would love to see him have a top game as it is what the lad needs and so does the whole team.

We still have players who are playing below their best and I do not need to mention names as I am sure they know themselves. I must mention Garbutt though as he reminds me so much of Baines and I reckon he will make a top player in the future. Let us just hope that this game gives the team the kick up the backside it needs to get some points in the Premier League to ensure our safety asap!

Despite him not because of him is the impression I get.

Usually a comeback win would give the manager breathing space and win over a few of the fans, but given the utterances of Baines and the transformation of Lukaku from 㿈m lump to a Belgium Andy Gray raises more questions about the manager than it answers.

Mr Whelan said that Roberto was one of the more honest people he had met in his life, but I canÂ’t remember a manager since Walker who is so overwhelmingly mistrusted by Evertonians and last night the frustrations boiled over. Ultimately it led to a reasonable performance and a victory but the future of Martinez is less assured because of it... As I said, itÂ’s a strange time to be an Evertonian.

If our moaning did contribute to the change of tactics – and thus the win – it flies in the face of all those non-matchgoers who urge us to desist from such behaviour, does it not?

I am a match-goer and I dislike fans getting on players backs for a bad pass or an error of judgement, but last night was by and large vindicated because Everton playing keep-ball without purpose is anathema to Everton and its fans and it shouldnÂ’t be happening, especially as it has proved to be counter-productive on so many occasions.

As for last night’s game, awful first half-hour... then a great display for the next hour. Without wishing to sound like a broken record: start fast on Sunday and take the game to them rather than waiting for the crowd to get restless.

Then again... whether we will remains to be seen. I’m sick of playing well on the Thursday only to see it come crashing down a few days later. A must-win game... [Now where have I heard that before?]

I believe that Lukaku single-handedly turned the crowed and not the other way round. Let’s now hope they take the second-half performance into Sunday’s game.

COYB

Anyway, Barry used all of his experience tonight by being aware of what the crowd wanted, and he constantly tried to play forward after our abysmal start. Surely if a team is going to play sideways as much as Everton, they should have speed and skill on both flanks?

Not us though and in the most disjointed formations, since Kendall Mk 3, our left back is constantly asked to play like a wing back. It leaves us short in attack and easy to hit on the counter, but still we persist. WHY?

That said, the response was indeed good, especially from the people who want it the most. THE FANS!!!

Perfect summary. And once Barry responded to the howls of outrage at the collective failure to dare, most of the team looked liberated by the right to play with tempo and not-giving-a-damn about retaining possession for 5 minutes waiting for an opening that never comes.

A side with McCarthy, Coleman, Garbutt, Jagielka, Naismith, Lukaku, Barkley and Mirallas NEEDS to gamble on chaos and willpower. They all showed last night that with that approach they’ll rattle most cages. Jagielka magnificent, an almost angry performance – boy does RM have a lot to answer for.

It defies logic and belief that Martinez is actually setting them out to play any other way. Especially as after the match he praises the performance and pretty much takes credit for the turn around. HeÂ’s always banging on about tempo, but it took the crowd to get the fast tempo that clearly gets the best out of these players.

The fact that some random ITV presenter was asking these very same questions at half-time shows that the mainstream are finally aware of this current curious and confusing situation.

Towards the end of the season he introduced more and more of these complicated passing paths around the pitch for the team to work with and results suffered because the players havenÂ’t got the ability and confidence to pull it off however we still put in some good performances despite the results. By the start of this season with many players confidence truly shot from the world cup, teams setting up to defend against possesion football and even more intricate passing routines introduced weÂ’ve ended up in a mess in the Premier League.

The players donÂ’t want to pass sideways but theyÂ’re told to not lose the ball at any cost until the space appears to start a passing routine that theyÂ’ve worked on. You must have all heard Robbie talk about there being a reason behind every pass? Problem is that in the PL these spaces rarely open up and Jags, Stones and Barry pass the ball sideways forever. In Europe the pace of the game is different and there is more opportunities for intricate passing routines.

As has been said over and over he needs to be flexible and get the team to revert to a different style to mix things up, then when the space opens up theyÂ’ve naturally fall into their passing game anyway and break teams down like we did last season. Results breed confidence and MartinezÂ’s style of play is a waste of time when confidence is low. Personally IÂ’m still backing the man as I have from the start and I hope he can turn it around.

PS. No need for Â’sexual healingÂ’, either !

Anyone watching him and his reactions could see he was quite happy with the pointless nowhere football of the first 30 minÂ’s. Just watch how bemused he looks when the crowd force the players to do what everyone bar him knew what needed doing. FFS..... Just imagine what a manager with more flexible footballing principles could achieve with this squad.

I also think the comments from Baines, coming on top of GarbuttÂ’s weeks ago regarding game plans are a shocking indictment of this manager & his coaching staff.

I am enjoying the distraction of actually seeing us play well in Europe as the Premier League form is driving me insane.

YouÂ’re wrong on a number of points. I was in my usual seat in the Paddock last night - there were no boos at all, certainly not from the start. Loads of positive vocal support from the off. As the boring crap play went on some started to vocally grumble, including me. Barry was right in from of me/us in I think the incident people refer to.

As soon as he started to shape to go backwards for the ultra safe ball when there were other forward options on , it seemed like all of us started screaming at him not to do so. It did seem to work. Gwladys Street did something similar second half and also made their opinions known in response to Jimmy MacÂ’s "calm down" gesture just before the very poor Kiev goal. It definitely seemed to galvanise him as I thought he was excellent for the remainder of the game.

If Mr Crowd hadnÂ’t got involved last night and left it to Mr Clown, we wouldnÂ’t have won last night. [My opinion, of course.]

And if Mr Clown starts off on Sunday like last night, I sincerely hope Mr Crowd gets involved again!

Back in the game after leveling it up and in control. He makes two attacking substitutions and we win the game. Arguably shouldÂ’ve won by more. Fair dues.

Anyway, can we all stop calling for MartinezÂ’s head please? IÂ’ve been saying it for weeks, there is no one we could appoint that would be an improvement. We would just cause a downward spiral that would be very difficult to break out of.

Get behind the team. Safety shouldnÂ’t be a problem and we have a very real chance in the Europa League, especially after last night.

I am completely convinced that Martinez can do a Moyes next season and go from relegation candidates to a top 4 challenge. We easily have a good enough squad for that.

The last thing I want is our fanbase to end up the same as the team weÂ’re playing on Sunday...

As regards to a "downward spiral" have you looked at our results, league position and present form? Truly could anyone really be any worse than the present incumbent?

IÂ’m afraid there is nothing to suggest that Martinez is anything other than extraneous to requirements here. IÂ’m all in favour of a passing game - but his execution of the philosophy didnÂ’t work at Wigan and it hasnÂ’t worked here. His worst crime is lack of coherence. How decisions simply donÂ’t make sense to anyone any more. He simply must go as soon as we are safe.

I wish Kenwright were up to making tough decisions instead of wallowing in sentimental, kitschy sound-bites - and lying about wanting to sell the club.

Everton needs substance!

ps: Rom was superb last night, unstoppable. Put in a real shift, too.

14:47

I don't think even the Great Illusionist himself would claim to be that, When his time comes - and for most of us that was last Christmas - there will be plenty who aspire to the job - and one of them will be right for it. Let's just hope BK does his homework this time.

So we may have a talented team but the manager very rarely gets them playing properly. ThatÂ’s a bit like saying I know the winner but I am not going to back it. There are better managers out there and we are still a big club who are in the PL (just).

Whilst on the subject of change, could we see If Daniel Levy would like to run our club, or someone similar? Maybe then we would rejoin the top table

I can now just ignore the league table, the shite system, repeated mistakes, annoying soundbites, and many many other negatives that have been highlighted over and over again...all because you asked so nicely.

There was certainly intensity in the second half as our players did their utmost to keep the ball away from the hopeless Howard.

Perhaps we can see Lukaku in his new role as Godzilla of Goodison, and! maybe, Osman can come on at some stage to help change the game as he did when his 'never say die' attitude won us the penalty.

I am still no fan of Marinez, and think he should go, but we can build on the last 45 minutes, and get back to winning ways. Of course, this might be more achievable if we don't gift the opposition the usual first goal.

Screw the sideways and backward passing, let's unleash our new 'Dogs Of War' on the magpies.

On the contrary, I suspect the very welcome return of Stones against Newcastle will see the return of tica-taka in that he is the only central defender we have who is competent 'to play it out of defence.'

That is no implied criticism of the youngster, only a comment on his ability to play the game the 'Roberto Way'. As Baines has told us, the manager likes to stick to his plan but I think he was coerced into a more direct style last night by the obvious discomfort of his players in Stones's absence.

Sunday could be another story.