From My Seat: Arsenal (H)

If only our present manager can transform himself into our FORMER manager!

I think the greatest crime any manager can commit is to send out a team of players who play without heart, spirit, grit, determination, blood and guts etc.

This great club and the fans deserve so much better!

The themes on all the threads, Martinez Out Now.

(An image of Adolph Hitler in April 1945 just came to mind...)

I've said it consistently since January 2015 that he has to go – he is clearly not the right man for the job. It's been glaringly obvious for so long now that I can't believe he has any backers.

The calendar years of 2015 (throw in Christmas 2014 as well) and also 2016 (to date) have been a total disgrace for Everton FC on so many levels. There's no sign of any lessons learned – quite the opposite.

If RM stays beyond May 2016, then it is both a dereliction of duty as well a sign of weakness and / or mediocrity by the Board. That potentially will adversely affect ticket sales, TV money etc.

I'm hoping for a brave new dawn with Mr Moshiri. A signal of intent – sacking this fraudulent employee – would be a good starting point.

Mr Moshiri – don't give him any funds. Before considering it, think of which other Premier League team would employee RM. I'd suggest there is no other club in the top flight that would consider him. He's destined for the lower leagues or TV / radio punditry after this shambles.

(And before someone posts, "So who would you replace him with?" – I have no idea. But I – like every other normal Everton fan – have no bearing on who gets the job so it's an unfair question. That's no reason to keep him. He's taking us backwards, so cut the losses at the end of this season.)

"Oh, wait for the next 12 games, then the next etc." A snake oil salesman if ever there was one. I can't wait to see the back of him.

If Everton don't get rid of this man as soon as, or at least at the end of the season, then it will show exactly the zero ambition at the club. The RS soon got rid of Rodgers, Chelski got rid of Maureen, Man City rid of Pellegrini and Man Utd rid of Moyes when it was apparent it wasn't working.

Martinez is making us a laughing stock and has a much worse record than any of those clubs and yet he is still here. Before anybody brings the amount of money the other clubs spend, save your breath. We have spent more money than we have ever done and performed woefully on par with the dismal days of the mid 90s.

8 defeats at home!! Crikey, say what you like about Moyes but I always expected to win at home with him in charge. I read a stat earlier that Moyes only lost 5 of his last 90 home games!! Martinez really does make Moyes look like a football genius compared to him. No more. Enough is definitely enough. He can win every game between now and the end of the season for all I care, I still want him gone.

It's up to the board to show some common sense and ambition and get rid. The words pitiful, pathetic, spineless, gutless, weak... I could go on... spring to mind. I despair if he doesn't get the sack. Cup win or not, his time was up 12 months ago – let alone now.

I suspect the fate of OPM is tied to the FA Cup but – if we continue to slide down the league – even to win it would leave a very sour taste.

Ken, you always take a balanced view, so, what do you say, Martinez Out?

However, I feel Evertonians will soon be suffering the worst of both worlds. Knocked out of the Cup and Martinez still not getting the boot.

Kenwright has very publicly told Moshiri that Everton are not a sacking club.

I took the coward's way out - saw the writing on the wall and switched off the TV 5 seconds after the start of the match. When I woke in the middle of the night, I was relieved to find I hadn't wasted precious sleep time watching that.

When a man of your normally gentle words says so plainly "he has to go" then that is evidence enough for the rest of us. I think the man adds nothing to the team or club style and is just a waste of our time.

My only disagreement with you was "Arsenal playing a patient passing game". I think we sometimes play a patient passing game across and back. What Arsenal have is speedy midfielders who can play a good pass and keep moving forward to receive one back. How I wish our team could do that and make those exciting forward runs. Never see it.

Arsenal were technically better than us by a country mile. Men and boys and with RM in charge I feel we will always be boys relying on the individual brilliance of one or two great players. Even their backs play better passes than our Cleverley and McCarthy. We need to update and upgrade our playing style.

I stepped away from the live forum for a few mins at the end for a pee... well, you get the picture. I came back glass refilled with something stronger in the pain deadening line and saw 'Martinez out'. I held the scroll down button until my finger went numb, all I got was variations on the same theme until I got fed up and went to bed.

Got to be 'When, not if' now surely.

The thing is though, the 'Acolytes and Disciples' and there are many, they're just keeping a low profile, will, unless the new guy hits the ground running, will always remain convinced that he would've got it right given more time.

No lads (and lasses), he wouldn't; it is/has and will get worse.

Is that something else to be sacrificed at the altar of possession at all cost?

I hope someone puts a league table in his kitchen so he can see many times a day what he has bought into and start the ruthless streak straight away not the end of the season.

Some have been calling for a team without Gareth Barry – we'll there you go. This team is clueless without a 35-year-old midfielder, golden generation or not. Blame Martinez, and blame the rest of the senior squad on that pitch yesterday, leadership....

There are so many excellent points made across all the threads relating to yesterday's game. It's difficult to know where to start. I'll have a go though.

During the warm-up, the players were given green bands for their ankles and spent three or four minutes stretching. Not Besic, he stood and chatted to Baines the entire time. For the remaining warm-up, he went through the motions, putting in a half-hearted attempt.

McCarthy came out the dressing room 7 minutes after the warm-up started and joined the others. I wonder if there is any correlation between their lack of pre-match professionalism and the muscle injuries both suffer from?

Jones and Lawrence stood and watched this warm-up. Neither dug both players out and it did get me wondering if the players have a lack of respect for our management team and know that there will be no consequences to their actions.

Why were the Arsenal players quicker, fitter, sharper, more interested, more motivated, better organised, more tactically aware than ours? What do our players do at their work all week?

Two-nil down and needing to score? If only we had a £ 13 million centre-forward we could have brought on. Why did we sign Niasse? He is doing what Naismith did except at £5 million and £30k a week higher cost to the club.

I've only skimmed the surface, there are many more questions and points that could be made.

Finally, not even an FA Cup win should save Bobby. I desperately hope we win it, and if Bobby is still in charge he gets the open top bus on the Sunday and is clearing out his desk on the Monday. Our Premier League form and more importantly results are not good enough.

I've had a go on another thread so will follow your gentle appraisal of our team and just hope that Mr Moshiri knows enough about football to do what needs to be done, and I think about 90 per cent of us know what that is.

The point Dick (#19) makes is a good one – we just don't look ready to compete at the level required; the conditioning of the players appears poor, and that is, for me, a damning indictment of this regime.

The fitness of the team is a fundamental that Moyes ALWAYS got right, but under OPM and his coaches, the performances are all over the place, week-on-week – hence the "chalk and cheese" outputs vs Chelsea and Arsenal. Unacceptable.

Maybe he would stay on as we then have some investment to strengthen some key areas and address weaknesses in the team. With Mourhino, we could get Rooney back and give him the captain's job. Rooney, Barkley, Deulofeu, Lukaku, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway, Oviedo and Lennon.

I'm not a fan of overlapping fullbacks leaving the team exposed at the back, especially when their end-product is non existent. Leave it to the specialist wingmen. I think Cleverley is a good player and would thrive under a Mourhino. There is the makings of a very good side; with the right man at the helm, they could become a real top four team.

Yes, I know he wouldn't take no for Stones but someone offering me £38 million for a 21-year-old who is good on the ball but weak in the air – that is good business. There is also a rumor that Man Utd are prepared to pay £64 million for Rom. Two players on the books worth £100 million – for that money, we can't get decent replacements?

I would be listening to offers for Baines and Coleman and, as I don't rate McCarthy that highly, he can go to. Yes, we have Barry... but we still concede lots of goals, so I would let him go to enjoy America with Howard.

I want defenders who can defend, a keeper worth 20 points a season, and someone in the middle directing play and making everyone accountable. First things first – it's time to give Roberto a taxi from Goodison Park before he does any more damage.

Custis says 'Word is out that Moyes is on his way back and his team organization would be welcomed.'

Really?

But there is only one common denominator in all of that – Martinez and I am pleased to say it was me that started the MARTINEZ OUT meme on the TW Live Forum.

Yes, he had a defeatist attitude in big games but I doubt he would with this squad. A debate not for this thread perhaps but I d have him back, Phil.

(That said, I returned to my first wife once before realising what a mistake that was so who am I to opine on this!!)

(Incidentally, I thought Ben E King had left the Drifters when he released Stand By Me.... The Drifters...one of my favourites ever. My mate went to see a group claiming to be the "original" Drifters... two of them were white!)

We need a world class manager who will have time and money to take us forward.

Moyes had his time and this would be a backwards step.

Yes, his defence was slightly better than the current one but his substitutions, tactics and general play were just as shite as they are today and he'd never have gotten the likes of Lukaku, Gerri and Besic to sign for him, with or without money.

With the alleged investment to come, surely we can find a manager who has won and will win trophies?

As for Barkley, yes, he can be a diamond. But how many games this season have you said afterwards "Barkley was great today"? He is a very overrated player at the moment, and for all his skill, gets very little out of it!

Where are the slide rule passes that Lukaku needs? He must dream of playing in front of an Ozil or a Silva, or a Coutinho. What does he get to work with? The only through balls he got yesterday were played outside the full backs. He had to run out to the side lines to collect!

Personally I would rather see Osman, Pienaar and Co. At least they can see an opening when it appears.

This site baffles me sometimes.

With the new investment, the sky is the limit. Let's go and get the best man for the job, whoever that may be. I would like the club to bring in somebody who is a proven winner, a big name to make the rest of the Premier League sit up and take notice.

I'm not asking for the club to bounce straight into the Champions League or a title challenge given our budget in comparison to the really rich clubs but surely we can have a manager and a team who can entertain and gain points on a regular basis, without the need to stick to a particular philosophy over another.

Is it too much to ask that the eleven players on the pitch at any given time are fit and able to compete with our opponents? Is it too much to ask that the team are well-drilled in the art of defence and have a purpose when they actually do have the ball?

We don't need Moyes, we don't need Martinez – we need a manager who can get the best of whichever players are available to him, a manager who can enthuse his players in every minute of every game. We need a manager who lets his players do the talking where it matters out on the pitch. We need a manager whose sole purpose is to win as many games as possible. We need a manager who does not allow the club's PR department to interfere with his time with his players.

Football is and always has been about what is done on the pitch and until Everton FC realise as a club, that it's sole purpose is to win football matches and the rest of it, no matter how laudable, is secondary.

I would also add, believe it or not, the likes of Pellegrini and Wenger being mentioned. To misquote Christanne Amanpour (CNN) "Really Mr Evertonian? Manuel Pellegrini?" A man who has spent over £300m in two seasons to end up with a Micky Mouse cup and a league title. I would prefer a younger, hungrier manager than him

As for Wenger, well he inherited a fantastic defence and in all fairness (like Martinez) added a bit of flair and steel with the likes of Viera, Petit, Henry, Pires, Bergkamp etc....but once that invincible team came to an end what has he done? Two FA cups in ten years and top 4 finishes. He's looked clueless ever since.

Their cycle has come to an end and we should be looking elsewhere not at these two.

This is a results-driven business, and our results are way below par.

Are the hierarchy waiting for Martinez to wave a magic wand, and it will suddenly change? Martinez is clueless.

With our new owner, and an attractive transfer kitty, we should be aiming for the very best. Diego Simeone would be my choice.

If the players are not in a passing 'moment' that day, don't send them out to pass endlessly sideways. Change the tactics to give us a chance of scoring. I don't care what it is. Send a player up next to Rom when Jags has the ball for a long ball and knock down.

It's clear he doesn't know how to analyse problems, doesn't know how to fix them. That is the least we should be able to ask from a manager.

Had Kenwright replaced Martinez with Ranieri last summer, this forum would have gone into orbit.

And it wouldn't have been with joy, either!

Andrew, if that's true then next season could be either magic or tragic. Who knows, maybe managers do need three seasons minimum to change things around. I can't see Moshiri keeping Martinez on tbh.

Bill is still calling the shots on all football matters, I feel.

The brute in me suggests that kicking them up in the air a few times would have changed things – but you wouldn't want me to replace Roberto so I won't push that here. Anyway, let's win what we can in the league but nail things down in the cup. Like all true Evertonians, I'll renew my ST and look forward to better days.

Onwards and upwards!

I can see a repeat of The night of the long knives before the end of May. Heads will roll, I hope.

I watched the game from a different seat I normally get, back in Row NN of the Main Stand. I had a friend and his sons (who are Arsenal fans), and I told them at the start of the game to watch Besic (he is one of my favourite players, told him how well he had marked Messi at the World Cup, and of previous games for EFC). I had been expecting an exhilarating defensive display of hard tackles and nice tight passing – from the off, he seemed ill and off the pace.

I know what you are saying about the general midfield, but I genuinely belief that Besic was played when he was either injured or had an illness – he didn't run, he didn't track players, seem devoid of energy.

I am not saying this is the sole reason we lost, but two of the goals come from mistakes from him. Also, it's not like Martinez to take off a player, so he must have had something wrong.

Did anyone else think this?

ps: Thanks for your reports.

Everton have been starved of success for too long so let's make a big statement managerial wise to show Moshiri means business and have the Sky Sports presenters choking on their cornflakes!

Proving that despite having a new owner we will have remained exactly where we have been for decades in deep shit. What will of been the point of Farhad Moshiri buying his shares?

He must offload Martinez to earn our respect.

I like the way that Howe handles himself in interviews, and has dealt with injury setbacks, and I like the way Koeman came back to beat the RS today .... and of course Hiddink has done a great job sorting out Chelsea's stinking league form and getting them organized.

I have never thought about not renewing my season ticket but I won't this time round on the assumption that this disaster remains in charge. I go to the game now because of memories and our tradition and because it's always been part of my life but I'm going through the motions and the match experience at Goodison is generally excruciating.

I saw Martinez in the crowd at the Manchester derby today and I thought, fucking hell we're stuck with him. I know this is a grumpy, miserable post but it's what I feel at the moment.

Martinez is obviously not the answer and never was.

Moshiri is no mug and although he may be a gentleman he has already set his stall out in demanding success.

Expect a major overhaul in the summer with Lukaku, Stones and others going and hopefully a bright new dawn with the likes of Hiddink, Mourhino, Simeone etc being tapped up for our managerial vacancy..

The man is not good enough for us, two Semi-Finals or not, teams have us worked out, press high and we still don't have a Plan B!

2-0 down at home and we bring on a defender, who now looks short of confidence.

Give me strength... NO, GIVE ME A NEW MANAGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't speak for anyone else, but the way you feel is exactly the way I feel, and I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't plenty of Blues who feel the same way.

It is mostly down to the fact the way Martinez is running the club, or ruining it would be a better description.

Still hurting after such an inept performance.

Phil (#53) – best comment on this thread. I don't for example remember people clamouring that Howard Kendall or Alex Ferguson were about to rip up trees just before 'it' started. And no-one said that Spurs chap (replaced by Redknapp) would be a disaster before he was. But as for Moyes second time around...

Did any of those managers oversee a nine-game league run at home that yielded just one win and two draws and six defeats – just saying!

I watched his YouTube clips before we bought him, they are usually flattering; his were not.

He will continue to be mediocre as long as he is allowed to play his non-tackling game; great with the ball, non-existent without it and makes no attempt to try and win the ball. That is mostly down to the manager but the lad himself should realise he is letting his team mates down through this lethargic style.

I will get some stick off some people for this post but that will not deter me from repeating it every time I see Ross play in this way.

It's a joke... like they want us to be wallowing in our own shit! 20 years of doing fuck all. Wake the fuck up, Everton!!!

I would love to see a proper coach get hold of him and show him exactly what it takes to play that position. He has been in and around the first team for 5 years or so now so he should be doing it week after week. Instead he gets to do almost what he wants. Very rarely harassing the opposition, jogging after players who have just waltzed passed him and turning back on himself when he has the ball to kill off any chance of an attack on the break.

It gives me no pleasure whatsoever to say this as we all want Ross to be a success but, until we get a manager who doesn't let him get away with hiding on the pitch, then I fear he will never realise his potential.