Season › 2014-15 › News
Not good enough, says Roberto
The Blues boss was scathing of his players' performances in the opening 45 minutes today, which saw them go into the break trailing 1-0 thanks to Harry Kane's 24th minute header.
But Martinez took some solace from the Toffees second half response and the attitude of teenage left-back Brendan Galloway, who rose above the mediocre level of his team-mates.
He said: "We were looking forward to trying to finish on a high in front of our fans at Goodison but it wasn't to be. In the first half we weren't good enough.
"We lost the game in that opening 45 minutes. Our quality on the ball was very poor. We were caught in two minds too often and allowed Spurs too much possession.
"The goal came from a cross and a free header in the box so it was very disappointing even though we created the best chance in that one versus one between Kevin Mirallas and Hugo Lloris and it could have been a different outcome.
"I was pleased with how we adjusted at half time. The intensity was better and you could feel we were more in the game even if we didn't create any clear cut opportunities.
"We pushed with everything we could and we even kept going to the last minute of extra time."
"It was a tactical change," he said of the decision to substitute Besic for Barkley for the second half. "The way we wanted to play was to find Ross and Leon Osman in between the lines and get them the ball, but as a team we weren't good enough at doing that. It was nothing to do with Ross and it could have been either of the number 10s.
"In the second half we were better with Mo Besic giving us a better defensive structure allowing us to press and stop Spurs have so much possession.
"I felt we could have had a good opportunity to win the game with the clean sheet we kept in the second half. Overall, I'll keep the reaction and the tactical flexibility we showed in how different the game was. But really disappointed with the first half."
Martinez was at least delighted with how Brendan Galloway acquitted himself on his home debut, after he substituted the youngster late in the second half in order to give Sylvain Distin a chance for one final appearance before leaving after six seasons at the club.
On Galloway he said: "As a young man you usually perform at the level of the team but he was above that level and it speaks volumes.
"It was significant also that there was a change of the generations when he came off to allow Sylvain Distin to say his farewell to Goodision.
Obviously it's been a season which hasn't worked out for him but I'm quite clear looking at his overall contribution it was a class way as a club to send a solid performer for over six years on his way. It was a nice footballing moment."
The result combined with Crystal Palace's win over Swansea meant Everton missed out on a top 10 finish and the Catalan said he was disappointed.
He said: "It's been a very difficult season. We're not hiding from that. We had the hangover from the World Cup in the first half of the campaign and I had to give younger players a bigger role a bit earlier than planned.
"We couldn't enjoy any momentum in the first half of the season. Europe got in the way and that's not an excuse it's a reason.
"We want to be in Europe and be able to fulfil our level in the domestic competitions too. With the last 30 points we showed character, fight and spirit in adversity when we had to win . That's what we'll build on for next season.
"There are many aspects we can control going into next season, and we'll learn from those lessons. "If you see the support we had at the end of the game the fans were magnificent and gave everyone a desire to become a winning team and give them what they deserve."
On Luke Garbutt's omission from the squad, with doubts remaining over the England u-21 defender's future, Martinez added that it was simply to allow him to include Distin on the bench.
"I was pleased with the manner in which we adjusted at half-time. I thought the intensity changed; tactically we changed and stopped Spurs from having any sort of control in the game. I don't think we created any clear-cut chances but you could feel that we were in the game and we could have created something from nothing.
"So I felt we were very good with our reaction in the second half but very poor in our first-half display.
"Looking back, had we finished 10th we would have been disappointed — we want to be higher. We found ourselves in a difficult season — we aren't hiding from that — but there are many aspects we can control going into next season.
"We are going to use those lessons to make us better. You see the support that we had at the end - after a tough season, the fans are magnificent.
"It has given everyone a true desire to become a winning team and to give our supporters what they deserve."
Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo
Reader Comments (55)
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2 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:41:40
3 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:33:34
"We pushed with everything we could and we even kept going to the last minute of extra time."
El Messiahs after match words.... so... after half time it was much better even if we didnÂt create any chances... oh and we even kept going to the end... erm shouldnÂt playing to the final whistle to try and rescue at least a point be a given?? Apparently not.. Apparently we should give the players a pat on the back for playing to the final whistle...(albeit in a pointless fashion. I guess el Bob must have missed Spurs taking the piss in the 2nd half by keeping the ball from us.)
Looking back on the season "It's been a very difficult season. We're not hiding from that. We had the hangover from the World Cup in the first half of the campaign and I had to give younger players a bigger role a bit earlier than planned.
"We couldn't enjoy any momentum in the first half of the season. Europe got in the way and that's not an excuse it's a reason."
Ha ha – youÂve got to love that one "Europe got in the way"!!! Sounds like a fucking excuse to me, you idiot.. So I guess we were the only team who had players in the World Cup and also the only team playing in Europe? Oh, hang on a minute, no we werenÂt, how on earth did other clubs cope!! We have had a season of piss poor football, piss poor excuses, piss poor preparations and a manager who treats us as stupid morons if he expects any of us to swallow the pile of shite that comes out everytime he opens his mouth.
I despair for us at the thought of him having another 10 days in the job let alone 10 games as some have suggested.....if we give him another 10 games then I fear next season will be wasted also. He is so far out of his depth it's untrue and if we tolerate him any longer then we will be heading for disaster. It won't matter which players we bring in if this clown is still manager, he will manage to drag everyone down to his level just as he has done with the current players.
He has killed this club this season, made the word "excitement" seem like an outdated concept and if it wasnÂt for the away fans then GP would be like a morgue its so quiet. I am actually amazed that there were people who stayed for the lap of dishonour... fair play to you all.
5 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:54:05
6 Posted 24/05/2015 at 21:56:25
7 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:08:20
8 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:11:32
I count nearly every week.
It just never seems to get any better, never see any pace or passion to the performance.
Every game has been like a pre-season training session, training session football and the entire atmosphere around Goodison has been dark and depressing.
I personally think we are taking a massive risk keeping Martinez at this club for another season.
I stand by what I said weeks ago, IÂd be surprised if Martinez sees out the calender year of 2015..
9 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:35:03
10 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:36:46
Just off topic, a few interesting tweets from School of Science:
https://twitter.com/SOS1878/status/602583679546843137
https://twitter.com/SOS1878/status/602584421879947267
Make of them what you will, (if the link works!) but either it means we have to sell to buy or weÂre skint and relying on loans.
11 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:24:57
12 Posted 24/05/2015 at 22:43:20
It all started during the summer with that horrendous pre-season, and complete lack of preparation from the management.
Also farting around for too long last summer debating whether to give Gareth Barry the deal he wanted or not, then giving him a three year contract...only to bring in Besic a player who plays in BarryÂs role.
Then there was the Lukaku job of getting totally fleeced rather than offering Chelsea a 15 million take it or leave it.
We got too much wrong last summer and Martinez got complacent, he simply didnÂt compensate that opposition managerÂs would quickly devise a plan to first stop, then beat Everton so easily.
Martinez has failed dismally to come up with a plan B..
But then he hasnÂt even had a plan A really this season.
13 Posted 24/05/2015 at 23:36:21
Nil satis nisi optimum. If you want to play for or coach Everton football club in the 2015/16 season look up what that means early this summer and start demonstrating it or leave now.
15 Posted 24/05/2015 at 23:51:16
16 Posted 25/05/2015 at 00:01:28
I realise there is a disparity in the amount of money that the other lot have invested but an honest appraisal of our season regardless of how much we have invested would be that it has been woeful and deserves a much more in-depth analysis from the local hacks than a Âcould do better type of coverage.
17 Posted 25/05/2015 at 00:08:27
IÂm still trying to work out why Besic has been left out for so long. At least he had some fire in his belly when he came on today. That was the only crumb of positivity to take from that game.
So, under Martinez another nice little record disappears. Spurs first win at GP in seven years. WeÂve become a soft touch for out of form strikers and teams looking to end bad runs against us.
The only way I can see us going under Martinez if heÂs in charge next season is down, down, down. IÂm sorely tempted to put my collection of Everton shirts up for sale on EBay, but who the hell would want them? A bonfire in the garden seems the best way to get rid. Fed up with friends and neighbours taking the piss when I wear them in public. Thanks, Roberto, you are turning our once great club into a laughing stock.
This man simply does not have the credentials to manage at a club like Everton and should be shown the door before the new season begins to give a new manager time to stamp some genuine authority on the team. Martinez is simply not a leader of men.
In my previous business there were managers who worked for me who appeared to be good at their jobs when things were going well but who suddenly floundered and sank when things were going badly and the pressure was on to turn the business round, just like MartinezÂs performances over two seasons in charge. For the sake of all at the club and every fan of this team of ours, he has to go!
18 Posted 25/05/2015 at 00:18:10
The city is blessed with 2 of the biggest bullshitting frauds in charge of their football teams. And whilst we all love seeing Brenda making a dogs dinner of it across the park, the thought of another season with Martinez and his musings brings we out in a cold sweat!!
19 Posted 25/05/2015 at 01:06:40
1 Chelsea 㾾.75m 㿄.7m 㿠.5m 䀋.95m
2 Manchester City 㾿.5m 㿃.5m 㿠.5m 䀋.5m
3 Arsenal 㾾.75m 㿂.2m 㿠.5m 䀉.45m
4 Manchester United 㿀.25m 㿁m 㿠.5m 䀉.75m
5 Tottenham 㾹.5m 㾿.8m 㿠.5m 䀁.8m
6 Liverpool 㾾.75m 㾾.5m 㿠.5m 䀅.75m
7 Southampton ٧.75m 㾽.3m 㿠.5m 㿻.55m
8 Swansea ٧m 㾼.1m 㿠.5m 㿹.6m
9 Stoke ٥.5m 㾺.8m 㿠.5m 㿶.8m
10 Crystal Palace ٦.25m 㾹.6m 㿠.5m 㿶.35m
11 Everton 㾸.75m 㾸.4m 㿠.5m 㿹.65m
12 West Ham ٧.75m 㾷.1m 㿠.5m 㿵.35m
13 West Brom ٥.5m ٧.9m 㿠.5m 㿱.9m
14 Leicester ٥.5m ٦.7m 㿠.5m 㿰.7m
15 Newcastle 㾻.75m ٥.4m 㿠.5m 㿷.65m
16 Sunderland ٦.25m ٤.2m 㿠.5m 㿮.95m
17 Aston Villa ٦.25m ٢.9m 㿠.5m 㿭.65m
18 Hull ٥.5m ١.7m 㿠.5m 㿫.7m
19 Burnley ٥.5m ٠.5m 㿠.5m 㿪.5m
20 QPR ٦.25m ٟ.2m 㿠.5m 㿩.95m
20 Posted 25/05/2015 at 01:13:14
21 Posted 25/05/2015 at 02:22:59
23 Posted 25/05/2015 at 03:39:00
Here they finished with 41 points. ThereÂs determination. DonÂt know they had, we didnÂt.
24 Posted 25/05/2015 at 04:09:04
25 Posted 25/05/2015 at 07:16:15
26 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:07:31
27 Posted 25/05/2015 at 08:33:58
I would lose any real sleep if we were to sell ANY of these players for the right price to be honest.
None of them have proved they are irreplaceable.
Barkley has been phenomenally poor this season, itÂs a little of both,poor coaching and the lad himself not wanting to put a shift in.
He strikes me Barkley, that heÂs not overly fond of the physical side of the game.
None of these players are irreplaceable.
28 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:13:01
RM and the dubious backroom team should be sacked and give us a manager who can motivate and give true leadership to players. We have the quality already to be top seven if all our big players are fit ,and motivated. Sadly, they are two attributes that have been missing from normally reliable performers like Coleman and Baines in this dog of a season. Good riddance, 2015-16.
To finish on a positive note, itÂs good to see young Galloway come through, and hereÂs hoping that he, and the likes of Ledson and Browning make the grade. ThereÂs some good things going on with the youth set up, and a club like ours with limited resources has to depend upon the odd home-grown player coming through. I do wonder, however, if we are to see Leighton Baines sold in the close season.
29 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:32:57
Who us going to buy Baines? Why would we sell him?
30 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:32:58
31 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:41:49
Baines will finish his career at Everton now, his one chance of the "big move" passed in 2013 when he didnÂt join United.
His stock has fallen since then and heÂs 32 I think in December, or 31 not sure.
Nobody will offer a substantial fee now, which means he stays at Everton probably for another 3/4 seasonÂs before jibbing it.
32 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:08:53
To me it is plain to see.
The players simply do not but into his ethos, and the result is half-hearted display followed by, surprise, anther half-hearted display.
They have been told that in keeping possession of the ball equals the opposition cant hurt you.
Whenever we do get in front, we have ( Man Utd game apart) reverted back to that concept.
Consequently losing the upper hand and allowing opponents a way back in the game.
It happened at Swansea, at QPR, Newcastle, Spurs and thats off the top of my head.
The big problem is, that the players are not playing for him.
He talks about a World Cup hangover, but loads of clubs had players in Brazil, he talks about the effects of the Europa, but other teams were in it, and I didnt hear their managers moaning, or their form drop-off as badly as ours.
Most of the players are not enjoying their jobs.
They dont like the system, and many have struggled to fit in to unfamiliar roles.
The lack of tempo has diminished the likes of Lukaku, who cant play with his back to goal, or Barkley, who is at his best when he plays instinctively.
The lack of balance, with only one winger, has often left Coleman stranded, with no cover, so we have missed his attacking threat.
The defensive midfielders have been too slow and unable to support the attack.
There are also problems with personnel.
It is clear that Kone is never going to be good enough, that Barry is too slow to play every game, that Howard needs more competition, that Barkley is not being developed well enough, McGeady is not good enough, and Alcaraz needs to go.
The arrival of Lennon saved us from a relegation scrap. His attitude improved the team and his presence on the right balanced the team, and his pace helped everyone.
It is true that over the last quarter of the season, we have amassed points that would put us in the top seven, if it was taken out of context. However, we only beat 2 top seven teams in that run. A Man U team missing their play-maker Carrick (and we always get up for them) and Southampton, who were unlucky on the day.)
Even with the addition of say Cleverly and Lennon permanently, and A.N. Other, I just think we will be served-up more of the same, with a half-arsed effort, from an unmotivated team, lacking fitness and pace.
We will then be treated to yet more mind-numbing explanations of how the first three games affected the rest of the season.
Sorry, enough is enough. Stop it now, save us all so much wasted money and time, and sack Martinez, and offer the job to Nigel Pearson.
Id love his after-match chat!
33 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:45:57
RM and the dubious backroom team should be sacked and give us a manager who can motivate and give true leadership to players. We have the quality already to be top seven if all our big players are fit ,and motivated. Sadly, they are two attributes that have been missing from normally reliable performers like Coleman and Baines in this dog of a season. Good riddance, 2015-16.
To finish on a positive note, itÂs good to see young Galloway come through, and hereÂs hoping that he, and the likes of Ledson and Browning make the grade. ThereÂs some good things going on with the youth set up, and a club like ours with limited resources has to depend upon the odd home-grown player coming through. I do wonder, however, if we are to see Leighton Baines sold in the close season.
34 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:34:16
When you consider some of the things that are going on at Everton and have been for years now, the hysteria imbalance is striking.
The concept of the Echo acting as the conscience of EFC and holding our board to account on the many issues which plague the club, & which the board seem powerless to address, is anathema.
Meanwhile, the back page of the Echo today certainly does not pull any punches regarding its opinion of Liverpool's season.
Everton's slowly sinking status and moribund owners? Nothing.
Since EFC banned the Echo in 2013, it has firmly pulled its weight. The leaked emails referred to the Echo "owing us". What is this strange & warped relationship between EFC & the Echo?
Its a death cycle of beigeness. The Echo perpetuates the falsehood all is well at EFC. This in turn is actually believed by significant elements of the match-going fanbase. The club continues to drift. No pressure from above & no pressure from below.
And the drift into irrelevance continues. Well, we are already there. But you have to make yourselves relevant. Plainly, Evertonians need to start demanding better from those tasked with running the club. They are meant to DEVELOP the club.
You get the club you deserve. Evertonians can accept this... or they can demand better. The club used to stand for something. It's been a long, long time since it did.
35 Posted 25/05/2015 at 09:56:04
36 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:05:38
37 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:08:19
"Bilic would be just the job imo, knows the club and what it means to play for EFC!"
Cheers for the laugh. Knows the club? Yeah, knows were a soft touch when it comes to players contracts. Knows what it means to play for EFC? Hmmm I know he did, I just dont recall too many games...
Yet again well have less than most to spend on the squad this summer. We could use a couple of mill of that to tempt el-Bob to take a walk, but then who would we get in who would buy into the Chairmans vision (spend nothing, keep us where we are)?
38 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:12:09
You only have to look at how the likes of Patrice Evra have flourished after a late career move. Not that I want Baines sold, but it will be yet another close season where we will have to balance the books, and Leighton is one of our top earners. As important to me is that we find balance again on the left mid, as RM has tried several options with the likes of Barkley, Naismith and itÂs not worked... LBÂs form going forward has suffered as a result.
39 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:17:37
I fear another shite season next year littered with shite talk from this charleton who thinks he is managing in never never land.
Roberto OUT
BK OUT
40 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:24:09
42 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:42:00
Galloway's future wonÂt be at full-back but centre-half eventually.
43 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:52:03
44 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:57:16
All this molly coddling of Ross Barkley is getting right on my tits. HeÂs not a child, heÂs old enough to be able to be told heÂs playing badly, and be able to take it on the chin.
Martinez is all mouth and no trousers, and Barkley is all hype & no action. I really hope someone comes in with a decent bid for him in the summer, sooner rather than later and we make some money on the show-pony.
45 Posted 25/05/2015 at 10:58:29
47 Posted 25/05/2015 at 12:12:11
49 Posted 25/05/2015 at 13:10:08
50 Posted 25/05/2015 at 13:20:43
WasnÂt he telling us only a few weeks ago that we were going to finish the season strong? We lost our last two home games and three out of the last four. The sooner heÂs gone, the better – that goes for Kenwright and Co as well.
51 Posted 25/05/2015 at 13:17:32
Mr Martinez has taken to speaking quite frequently of our "wonderful", "phenomenal" supporters. How patronising is this attempt to show that he understands the people he is charged with entertaining each week? Perhaps he is not yet aware of the difference between peopleÂs emotions at a cemetery and a football stadium?
Does it really take someone to actually say to him each Saturday at Goodison "Boss, this is absolutely awful, I think you had better get out of town while the going is still relatively peaceful"! Does he really think that a muted /silent response is characteristic of a normal Goodison Park?
Meanwhile Mr Rodgers has the gall to tell Liverpool supporters not to be too harsh on this appalling Sterling character! So the Kop should get behind this guy who says he does not want to play for them, should they? Just how gullible do these creatures think supporters are?
The sooner they take their smooth talking attempt to convince people that this game is so difficult that we do not understand it, the better both clubs will be. They are complete charlatans, the pair of them.
52 Posted 25/05/2015 at 13:42:25
55 Posted 25/05/2015 at 13:36:11
IÂd really like to know, as I canÂt believe weÂve spent 5 days, prior to each match, debriefing the previous game (pinpointing areas for improvement), on match tactics, team structure and mental preparation, only to bother with the lower gears!
56 Posted 25/05/2015 at 14:25:44
57 Posted 25/05/2015 at 14:41:15
As we donÂt have a plan (from the board), I donÂt expect anything to happen. Unfortunately, relegation from the PL is (IMO) the only way weÂll get rid of BK and RM...
58 Posted 25/05/2015 at 16:10:42
Having said that, the club needs desperately to find an identity. It must include better physical conditioning and more physical toughness. If this means playing RMÂs sideways and backwards style then get three or four players that can do so and that can then get the rest of the players involved. Go get Arteta back, get Delboy (a one trick pony but used to the style of play) and get Oviedo fit and in the midfield or winger spot. Get a coherent plan and move forward.
If this is not to happen for financial or other reasons then move RM out, and get a new manager in who can adapt his style of play to the strengths and skill sets of the players available. Get one who can also manage mid week and weekend games with proper squad rotations (ie: Robles, Ledson, Besic, Garbutt, Browning, Galloway playing in cup competitons (not all at the same time) and certain Christmas-time fixtures when the schedule gets jammed.
Here is to a more positive next season. A stong start would be welcome.
59 Posted 25/05/2015 at 17:26:54
Tonight on Talkrs thereÂs a prog all about the rs being 3-0 down at half time in a remembrance of a Euro cup final.
IÂll bet in 10 years time we don't get the 6-1 anniversary of yesterdays game v Stoke.
The media people are nothing more than gobshites with an agenda. And as George Carling says "ItÂs a big club and you (us) ainÂt in it"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5dBZDSSky0
I want my club back and I want it back soon. And BK,
IÂM TALKING TO YOU!!!
60 Posted 25/05/2015 at 17:53:21
"The Martinez / Bill Kenwright dream, you have to be asleep to believe it" rings true to me at any rate.
IÂm going to spend the rest of the evening watching this comedian although it will only confirm my already biased confirmation bias
61 Posted 25/05/2015 at 18:03:30
62 Posted 25/05/2015 at 18:22:32
63 Posted 25/05/2015 at 18:15:49
It was the only appropriate metaphor I could think of to articulate where our club is now and will be, for the foreseeable future.
Have a great summer Patrick and Andrew and all TWers.
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1 Posted 24/05/2015 at 19:29:55