Martinez: Kyiv win can provide a turning point

We will fly up the league if you would just stop the crappie slow, slow pass-back stuff, play to Lukaku's strengths because he is unplayable if you do. I won't hold my breath, though. COYB.

It's no good playing two defensive mid fielders who can't get the ball up the pitch quick enough and no good playing with no width if we're to dominate possession, the centre of the pitch gets clogged up by Barkley, Naismith, Mirallas and Lukaku, and the full backs can't link up with a winger and end up going backwards or they have to try and do it on there own.

But I hope this might be his 'Damascus Moment.' I don't care about his fate, but if a change of tactics benefits our club, then that is okay with me.

Let us hope he is ready to ditch his sterile tactic of possession at all costs. This team need to attack, and defend with the same intensity!

At the end of the conference he was asked about what was up with Baines; he walked away still answering. For a man very comfortable with the media (although he normally talks shite) it seemed a strange thing to do. It made me wonder as well if there has been some discussion over Baines's comments on ITV?

Not normally a conspiracy theorist, but in an interview where he spoke a lot of sense for the first time in ages, and seemed in a very good mood; something seemed to cross his face at the question.

Any one else see this? For the record as well, I hope that he is able to sort it out so do not wish him gone unless we really have no other option. So, I am not trying to sow discord!

I don't believe that he turned things round last night, but I want to believe that the penny's dropped. I like Phil's, 'The season starts NOW,' mantra.

I'm going to try and forget that he's been utterly useless for the past 12 months and see if he can win me over during these last 10 games. He did it once, maybe he can do it again.

Start the game on Sunday in same manner and Goodison will be behind the team! Not only that, we will also win the game! High tempo, high tempo, high tempo!

Someone said on the live forum that Peter Reid could motivate the players. I'm biased because he was a childhood hero but I'd love to see him given a chance to prove his worth. Evertonian, Everton achiever, Everton legend.

He returned to management with Sunderland in 1995. He won promotion to the Premier League with the club on two occasions and achieved two seventh-place finishes in the top division. He combined his role at the Stadium of Light with the job as manager of the England U21 for a brief spell in 1999. His seven-year association with Sunderland ended in 2002

Bit harsh on Reid that.

Absurdly harsh sacking by Man City after doing a good job. Did great for Sunderland but a bad phase in the transfer market led to problems. Ended badly no doubt.

Latter part of his managerial career seemed to consist of taking jobs he should have steered well clear of (Leeds, Coventry, Plymouth) as the clubs were disaster areas at the time.

But he couldn't stay away, as he just loves footy. I KNEW he was going to be sacked by Coventry, the club was unmanageable.

Why he left a great job back in the Prem as Pulis assistant to join whoever as manager I don't know. He should have stuck with that.

Still think he would make a cracking first team coach for someone.

One word -Desperation!

His statement of it's (not necessarily anything ) technical or tactically its more of having the right mental approach. I m o he is just stating that his tactics are right but the players are not doing it correctly.

Mr Martinez 's is suddenly realizing after the crowd and the players suddenly realized that something had to be done, as the season was going down the tubes, that his tactics were wrong from the start and is now jumping on the bandwagon with a statement , that this positive result could have big implications for the rest of the season.

The only way that this result could have positive results for the rest of the season is if you stop being so stubborn in your tactics, and negative team selections and take note of the difference, when the ball is moved forward quickly , have people in the box that are not frightened to shoot at the goal and, start providing defensive cover at free kicks and corners.

I hope that Everton noticed the positive effect that came with the introduction of Osman,and make a real effort in the close season to get in a quality midfielder, who is not passed his prime.

We seem to have lots of ex-players involved in the coaching these days. Perhaps this is partly because Roberto wants to align himself with the clubs history and traditions. I'm not sure about all of them but I would love Reidy to be sitting on the bench next to Dunc. One thing you can guarantee with him is motivation, enthusiasm and someone who voices his opinion, which might not be the type of ex-player, Roberto wants coaching the team.

The goalkeeper, the two defensive mids, the one winger...he won't change any of it. He's had so many chances now and he will not budge.

25 minutes into that game I said 'I don't care if we come back and win this 5-1, the man has to go.' Im sticking with it. Get him out of the club now.

From his comments I think he wants us to play with more spirit but doesn't have a clue how to make it happen.

Play quickly, encourage players to keep it in their half, the noise will come from the stands Roberto.

My motto in life is "choose your heroes", I got this motto around the time the sun was calling Gary glitter a national treasure.

Peter Reid is Everton through and through. We've given chances to unproved managers and promising managers. Why not give him a go? He gets us and is there a single fan who doesn't love him?

Their games would almost always follow a similar pattern. They’d start off looking to keep the ball in their own half, playing quite defensively and sitting back. Then they’d go a goal behind, usually through a defensive error or a set-piece, and only then would they come out and start attacking.

Sound familiar? I bet it does to a lot of Evertonians.

Let’s see what unfolds on Sunday...

Barcodes have nothing much to play for and have their top striker out. Time to finally get 3 points.

Anyone else think Robertos beginning to show the strain? He looks a few years older than he did a couple of weeks ago.

Maybe if he just kept his pie hole shut and wait until afer the Newcastle game before he starts spouting off about turning points.

As it is if we just look knackered, play for a point and get beaten again he'll just look like a useless twat once more and the clamour giving him his taxi fare will be ratcheted up another notch.

Tell you what though he's looking rough in the pic at the top. A few sleepless nights on that face. He knows if he fucks this up and gets a second PL club relegated, especially one as long standing as Everton, he won't be managing another PL club for the next 10 years, if at all.

No mention of the crowd. Seems Ken B and everybody else imagined a noise related improvement or maybe it was just a coincidence.

Last night I watched Jags, Lukaku, McCarthy and Gaz Baz impose themselves on the game. Nice to see Leon back. What joy to see Lukaku's found his touch. It's nice to see it, shows what a player we have. I thought Barkley did okay with some sublime passes, he wasn't careless with the ball and didn't lose it much as others. Naismith did his usual, however he should not try to play anyone in, he hasn't got that in his locker, he should pass to someone who can.

Mirallas, Oh Kevin Mirallas. What is your position in our team? You appear everywhere over the front line, often running into the same space as the other attackers, you don't play Coleman in enough, you give the ball away cheaply and if I'm honest you don't look good enough.

Get Robles back in goal. Stones slots straight back in, I imagine Alacarz at the top of his game is some player. I'd play Baines if he's fit. Garbutt improved with the game, he'll learn loads from this and I have to say I love his corners. I'd rest him for the return leg.

If Martinez can survive this then it bodes well for the future. We can play better football and I'm sure we will before the season is out.

Looking forward to getting back home to read everything ToffeeWeb.

The Newcastle game, at home, will give us the answer. If we get a bit of luck and get an early goal, then I hope the players can build on it and with confidence restored, can go on and get us up the league.However, I don't believe that Martinez has understood that the Goodison crowd got the message through to the players, and one or two who were tempted to pass backwards, or sideways, instead thought, "Oh fuck, I'd better buck my ideas up, the crowd aren't happy".

If there is a drop-off in intensity from Thursday night, and if confidence starts to fade, then I fear more of the same. Can this man fire them up, get them pumping before a crisis happens? Time will tell, but I am worried that it will turn put like all the other turning points this season.

Start with Kone and Rom and put Kev on the bench. Get Robles back or we will be chasing the game again.

A Kremlinologist would have had a ball with Leighton's performance – his reply to the how-to-defend-at-corners question had "don't ask me, I'm only an international full-back, talk to the coaching team" written all over it. And when asked about the change of tempo and directness after we went behind his "sometimes you have to change" response was a treat. If Martinez is here for the long term, I can see a dressing room struggle between LB and RM next season, if it's not there already.

There'll be close to a full house tomorrow and I think we'll have to play our part as well... but it's down to the players to give us something to get behind. No 60- or 45-minute performances – it's got to be a 90 minutes at full tilt.

I'm tempted to say our season starts here but I've heard it before, ie, Hull, WBA and Leicester. Draw or lose tomorrow and the crowd will really let him know about it. I'm going to stick my neck out and say we'll win and win comfortably. Oh, yes, I am sober – it's only 9:35 am.

We need to sort the left side out, right now. It's too easy to get at Everton, down this side at the moment, and a simple tweak, to play an outside left, would strengthen us both in attack and defence.

Then we can concentrate on corners. Both for and against, Put a blue shirt at the front post, in front of everyone else. This will help clear any bad corners against us, and also turn our bad corners into decent ones, with a little flick on. Our corners have to be perfect at the minute (which they're not) because the closet Everton player to the ball is round about the penalty spot. Think about the last two goals we have conceded from corners; neither of them were particular good balls into the box?

Anyway, I hope he's right and we can now play like that all the time. It's better to watch, and gets the crowd involved. Too many teams have had it easy at Goodison this season, both on and off the pitch. But if we can play with intensity throughout, then I'm sure the corner can be turned for good.

Baines seemingly bemused about our tactics at corners spoke volumes on Thursday. Organising the defence is the most important job and practising set pieces both attacking and defending. We do none of these things.

I expect another soulless, lacklustre, pedestrian performance tomorrow. I pray that we play with some tempo. We haven't played well in the league at home since Man Utd last Easter.

I am not advocating his return but boring though lots of us found Moyes's brand of football, you have to give him some credit for the continuity and stability he gave to Everton which is now missing – and just look at the position we now find ourselves in.

No acknowledgement whatsoever that the crowd changed the game and the result. Typical arrogance and ignorance.

Lucky bugger — I haven't slept properly SINCE AUGUST!