Talking yourself out of a job

Rodger Armstrong 25/01/2016 28comments  |  Jump to last

Back in April last year I wrote a piece “Talking a Good Game” published on ToffeWeb on how Roberto Martinez seemed always to say the right thing: he had embraced the culture and traditions of Everton, he appeared to "get" the fans and, in spite of a disappointing second term in charge, probably still had the support of the majority to regenerate the School of Science.

Fast forward nine months, and the backdrop could not be more different. Judging from reactions to the home defeat to Swansea, the first time Everton have ever succumbed to the relegation-threatened club in the League, Martinez is rapidly falling out of favour as much for what he says as to how his team is playing, and crucially, the results they are achieving. Last year his words made sense, in some way they made up for the "second season syndrome" slump; this year many of his comments appear ill-judged, hard to understand and are proving more than a little antagonistic.

In short his words are losing him friends and influencing the tide of opinion against him. After conceding a 98th minute equaliser at Chelsea, having done the same at Bournemouth, Roberto would not accept any failing in game management by the players. Instead he flipped things on their head and said he didn't want his team to "run down the clock", he wanted them to be brave. "Nooooooh we don't!" yelled the Evertonians back at him; we need to close out a game, find Row Z when necessary and not encourage Cruyff turns in our own six yard box.

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After yesterday's Swansea result Roberto said that winning was less important than the style of play, and somehow appeared to blame the fans for putting pressure on the players, making them uncomfortable playing at home. Navel-gazing claptrap to some, the final straw for others; the Twittersphere is abuzz with anger and claims that the boss is delusional, stubborn and out of his depth.

Arguably Martinez's finest managerial hour so far was his FA Cup Final victory over Man City, reportedly the moment that Blue Bill decided to make Roberto his man. With a League Cup semi-final two days away against the same opponents and "just" a clean sheet – like two weeks ago at the Etihad – required to make it to a third League Cup final in the Club's history, can the manager deliver on the promise of a hugely talented squad? There is no doubt that Everton's passionate and loyal, long suffering fans will roar the team on for 90 or 120 minutes at City on Wednesday.

Even if Everton do make it to Wembley, though, will it just be papering over the cracks that the manager's own words have created? Or could it be that the players will ultimately do the talking for Martinez on the pitch so he can be successful, not with sound bytes but with results, where only a first trophy in 21 years will probably be good enough. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, as the club motto says; Roberto should surely know his history and the fans will settle for nothing less.

Here' s hoping...

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Reader Comments (28)

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Rob Hooton
1 Posted 26/01/2016 at 07:19:55
Unfortunately Roberto is full of more of the proverbial than a sewage treatment works.

Sometimes we play some great stuff but this is drowned out by too much insipid, slow and downright dull football which inspires nobody but El Bob himself.

I want him to do well and have backed him until recently but it would appear no lessons are being learnt and that he thinks himself above mistakes. Last chance saloon, unless we win pretty much every game in the next 18 months of course!

Darryl Ritchie
2 Posted 26/01/2016 at 07:33:18
This is all getting very bizarre.

Roberto says we need more intensity in the first half, yet game after game we come out flat. We're lucky if the score is even at the half.

Roberto says we need to learn from our mistakes, yet we make the same mistakes repeatedly.

Roberto says the atmosphere of Goodison is affecting the players, yet the possession style that he coaches the players to play, is ponderous... often downright boring. The fans aren't booing, they're yawning... loudly.

I don't know how to interpret Martinez's three years. Was the first year an aberration? A case of new manager syndrome, and the next two years, more normal? If so, we're in a no win situation (pun intended).

Everybody says we have the best talent we've ever had. Either they're wrong, and we're just not as good as we think we are, or, they are being badly mismanaged.

I think our talent is pretty good.

Victor Jones
3 Posted 26/01/2016 at 08:50:48
Not so sure now, that Martinez is even talking a good game. In fact he talks pure nonsensical rubbish most of the time. A school boy coach would talk more sense. A school boy coach would not have his team repeating the same mistakes, over and over. A school boy coach would play his best players at all times. The list is endless. Only Martinez cannot see the flaws. And the league position does not lie.Teams can get lucky in the cups. But not in the league.

As for needing to show more intensity in the first half of games. Well ,is that not just plain old common sense. Is that not a given for all clubs to strive to do? Get out of the blocks quickly. So high intensity. How exactly does Martinez explain why when we do start with high intensity, and go two goals up, we then fall to pieces, and concede goals at a rate of knots. How does he explain this bloody awful run of form? As I read on another thread, this current run of poor home results is on a par with old Walter Smith's team. How can that be? Why is Martinez not pushed on that? Does he even realise that? And is he going to try and change things. Don't bother answering. I know the answer.

Michael Polley
4 Posted 26/01/2016 at 09:34:36
Maybe if we are wiped out on Wednesday by Man City, he’ll be sacked on Thursday morning. What’s the chances???

I hope we can scrap through against City, but it’s a big ask. May be we’ll get some divine intervention to help us!!!!

Either way, he is destroying our club, and it makes me want to cry witnessing it unfold in front of my eyes. Poor Howard Kendall would be turning in his grave.

Martinez is unwilling to change, so we need to change him right out the front door!!! Big Dunc and Co can steady the ship until someone new comes in.

Mark Tanton
5 Posted 26/01/2016 at 09:40:45
Perhaps a topsy turvy, mental 2-2 draw at Carlisle might push him closer to the door? A perfectly conceivable result.
Christopher Dover
6 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:06:26
I do not know what I want? If we lose on Wednesday and that makes RM go then I will take it, if we win and he then stays that seems worse!!

A win at Carlisle and Man City and he will be up and running again, the results in the league will not seem as important to him as it's still a learning curve, I can hear the talk now and it drives me crazy.

As others have said, you EXPECT us to get beaten in every match; it's so frustrating and the answer, the only answer, is the manager to go... but in my heart, I know it will not happen.

Steve Hogan
7 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:14:20
Good article, Roger. The problem really lies with the man himself. He's like the mad scientist who is convinced he has the correct solution, whilst everybody else is WRONG.

"Can't change, won't change" is his dogma, I'm afraid, and the longer he stays, the more damage he'll do.

Watch the exodus in the summer of our best young players, they’re not stupid, and can spot a bullshitter from 10 miles away.

The problem is, we’re pretty much rudderless at the moment as a football club, with no-one apparently willing to invoke change. I can only see dark times ahead, despite the wealth of talent in the squad.

Kevin Tully
8 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:15:47
Anyone wanting us to lose in a semi-final to see the back of any manager wants to take a good look at themselves. Especially in a competition that we've never won. Unbelievable.
Trevor Peers
9 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:31:53
Roberto sometimes has the luck of the devil, when the chips are down and all looks lost he can somehow get the result he needs to survive. It’s happened before. I honestly hope his luck hasn’t finally ran out and we overcome Man City tomorrow night and get through to Wembley.

That won’t alter the fact he urgently needs replacing; nothing he does will change our poor league form, which is far more important than the League Cup.

Phil Sammon
10 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:36:12
I’m not in that boat, Kevin, but I do fear that a win tomorrow will see RM safe in his job, in BK’s eyes at least. That's certainly a bad thing.
Mike Gwyer
11 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:37:47

Kevin Tully.

Spot-fucking-on. I do not know any blue that would want to see this great club take a spanking at City – just to see the back of RM.

David Graves
12 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:43:04
I cannot believe that you would be happy for us to loose on Wednesday if it meant he went.

I'm going with every confidence that, despite him, we will win because we have the players capable of getting the result.

I will be following Everton long after he is gone so the chance of a Wembley final is all that matters on Wednesday.

Kevin Tully
13 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:44:42
Phil, I personally believe that any manager of EFC will never be relieved of his duties unless we come under serious threat of relegation.

It’s pointless and goes right against the grain wanting to see us lose any game, never mind a Cup semi-final and possible Wembley date with the RedShite!

Dave Pritchard
14 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:45:00
Agree with Kevin and Mike. I want us to go through tomorrow and get to the final and win it.
Brent Stephens
16 Posted 26/01/2016 at 10:52:27
While Bill is ill and still with us, I suspect Roberto isn't going anywhere. Bill is possibly too ill to deal with it. And the board ditching Roberto in Bill’s absence would be seen as disrespectful to Bill.
Tony Abrahams
18 Posted 26/01/2016 at 11:02:37
Trevor, over a period of time, I would have to agree with you about the league being the priority, but surely not this season, the way it's panning out.

We are ninety minutes away from a cup final, and haven't won a trophy for over twenty years. Some people might be forgiven, for forgetting what Everton, are supposed to exist for? I always thought it was to win trophies, but it's been that long, I suppose a lot of people have forgot.

Hope we lose, if it gets rid of the manager?????????? I remember when Moyes lost a quarter final against Wigan, but we beat Man City, the next week. I was absolutely disgusted myself, and have never understood the logic of three points being more important than winning a cup tie, unless your chasing the title, maybe.

Trevor Peers
19 Posted 26/01/2016 at 11:29:57
Tony, there’s no chance of Roberto not taking this game seriously; it looks like his job is hanging on the outcome. That is if he still wants the job.

There are signs he’s had enough of all the pressure of constantly losing, turning on the crowd was a sign of desperation.

Any sane person would want us to win this game just for all our fans who are travelling there to cheer us on; I’m no exception.

Paul Smith
20 Posted 26/01/2016 at 11:58:14
I for one am in the Martinez To Go group but I want to win this cup at most costs. As somebody has already written, while Bill is in charge, I can't see him going. The only thing stopping widespread booing of the manager is our involvement in both cups but, if we go out tomorrow, this will be stepped up I feel.

That the manager blames the crowd for a lack of passion and effort is laughable when that is exactly what we get from his team. We should start games rip-roaring at teams but we just slow play giving lesser teams confidence they can get a result. This statement could be a big turning point for the manager and he has got a very big week ahead.

Barry Pearce
21 Posted 26/01/2016 at 12:01:26
I definitely want us to get to Wembley. It shouldn’t even be debatable.

Alan McMillan
22 Posted 26/01/2016 at 13:02:04
his mannerism and shifty appearance during the post match interview suggests he knows he's in trouble, like a kid in the principal's office lying through his teeth to get away with a prank that's gone wrong. For a moment he almost blamed Howard for the penalty and then quickly tempered this by mentioning the collective need to defend better. Why is he so afraid to call it as we all see it? It will at least earn him some respect and maybe even some empathy from the fans he is clearly losing with every game that passes.

Contrast this with Deulofeu's exasperation, the utter disgust, frustration and hurt etched across his face and the way he tried to express himself in broken English. It appears Martinez is in the last chance saloon with the fans and players, some of whom look far from happy with the way things are going. How much is enough?

Neil Gribbin
23 Posted 26/01/2016 at 13:15:04
I want us to win Wednesday, I want to be at Wembley, and I want to win this cup. This clown can then go at the end of the season, and take his bullshit elsewhere.

It is unacceptable the mistakes that keep happening. He can’t be blamed for offside goals against us, lack of penalties, that is shite/inept/corrupt refereeing, but don’t, just fucking don’t blame the fans, you stupid, clueless buffoon.

Martin Mason
24 Posted 26/01/2016 at 13:15:42
I don’t believe that Everton can possibly change out the manager with BK’s illness, the potential takeover, and the unlikelihood that we’ll go down this season. We may have to get used to Sunday as the norm.
David Barks
25 Posted 26/01/2016 at 13:26:10
Ok, I’m sick of this BK illness crap. If he’s really ill then it would have to be disclosed, or people put in place to run the club.

There is absolutely no way that it could be a rudderless ship, well anymore than it already is. So that should have absolutely no impact on any decisions.

Brent Stephens
26 Posted 26/01/2016 at 13:32:22
I doubt if many people believe Bill isn’t seriously ill. He doesn’t have to go public on it, and the board is presumably running things if and when he’s absent. I doubt that it’s rudderless – they might just be steering in the wrong direction.
Denis Richardson
27 Posted 26/01/2016 at 14:35:32
Much as I want RM gone, I want a trophy more.

Come on people, it’s been 21 fucking years!!

Tom Roberts
28 Posted 26/01/2016 at 17:15:33
I honestly do not believe that any EFC fans want us to lose tomorrow just to add to the pressure on Roberto. 21 years is way too long. Let's unite for tomorrow and the rest of the season. I wish some of the current and even former players who are still at the club would just take Roberto to one side and let him know that his system is flawed and he has to change. I really want the guy to do well but he hasn't learnt anything in all his time in English football.

On another note, how about a cheeky attempt to get David Weir from Rangers to be Roberto's assistant if the incredible one is not to be replaced? Or even bring Mark Warburton with him?

Paul Hewitt
29 Posted 26/01/2016 at 20:16:16
To me, it's the game next Wednesday against Newcastle that if we lose Martinez must go.
Matt Traynor
30 Posted 27/01/2016 at 11:56:22
To be honest I used to cringe during his utterances in his first season, when we did comparatively well before the inevitable choke at the final furlong. So I tuned out then whenever he was on. His style of speaking just wasn’t for me. I’ve spent too long listening to over-paid management consultants spout off to my company trying to sell 40-year-old strategy concepts.

But for the last 2 seasons when I have listened to him before reaching for the off button it’s just been downright annoying.

I used to think he was what we needed after the dour years, but now I couldn’t give a shit if he goes. My only fear is whoever would come after him would oversee the break up of the talent we do have – and I have no faith in Kenwright and Co to make an appointment that’s good for the long term. It’ll be a cheap solution, like every decision they’ve taken previously.


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