Enough is Enough. Time to Go.

If BK reads this and stays silent then the the pen is no longer mightier than the sword and we should all stay away.

This man is not and never has been up to managing a club the size of Everton.

I think it is only recently that the dressing room has blown up in his face and these results are showing the real cracks in his reign.

I want to highlight one part of your report and it's the lack of fitness of these players; I've never seen a squad of players in such bad shape. We struggle after 60 minutes. The recent home game to Arsenal was one of the worst starts to a home game I'd ever seen; we were totally goosed both physically and mentally after 5 minutes against a side who'd just played against Barcelona and had traveled in the week.

Time to go? Definitely, but it's long overdue for me. This man is an absolute disgrace of a manager in every department and should be booted out of this great club ASAP!

I'd make the change right now, and be getting Joe Royle to spend two days convincing this team that they can win, and impressing upon them the importance of the game to this grand old club.

It might not work, but we couldn't be any worse off.

Being an Aussie I have a soft spot for Hiddink but I think his mojo might be gone.

It's been coming for a long time but this death spiral is terrifying. The speed at which things are unravelling over the last few months makes us very lucky we've just about secured safety.

The Howard situation was pure farce and everything he's done since is abject failure. Tactics, selections, substitutions, man management, press conferences, fitness levels....everything is a total embarrassment to our football club.

If he isn't gone by Saturday then quite simply the crowd have to make his position completely untenable at the next home game.

Mr 49.9%, Come on Down...and sack him will ya?!

No one, involved in any sport on earth, could witness something like we just had the extreme displeasure of watching – against the arch-enemy – and not come to the conclusion that a change MUST be made.

Even if you like Martinez – and quite frankly I still see positives – you CAN NOT come to any other conclusion that a change MUST be made!

That was brutally embarrassing.

The rot is so deep. He absolutely MUST go.

I don't know who that manager is but it can't be someone like Moyes or Howe (even though I have a lot of respect for both).

We need a winner, someone who detests losing who won't stand for mediocrity. Who makes it absolutely clear that NO player is bigger than the club. The performances of most of those players over the last few months has been downright disgraceful.

The problem is who would come?

Arsenal were in a similar situation in the 90's with Rioch. Their board at the time were open minded and visionary... They took a chance on a thoughtful ambitious man who no one had heard of. Wenger completely altered Arsenal from boring boring Arse... to a club that attracted genius players like Bergkamp and Henry.

The problem is why would someone who is capable of doing similar things for us come here.

The board and Moshiri should now make it their objective to find those candidates... and start now.
It will need to be someone special... but they are out there if enough research is done. Klopp is the evidence of that, they've got it right.

Who had really heard of Pochettino or Wenger before they had arrived over here. But it has to be done right and soon but it can be done, if there's the will... We can't fuck about anymore...

Let's do it properly this time.

This said, and yes I really do want Martinez gone, what's this nonsense some are airing about wanting to see Moyes brought back? Fuck me, the guy's clearly shot as a top manager!! Fundamentally, what has he done since he left us to merit even the slightest consideration of a return? He couldn't even beat US under RM, with a Man Utd team, that's how much of a saviour he could be!!! And, anyway, haven't we a little too clearly gone back far enough since Martinez' first season to contemplate compounding this rear-view wishful but absurdly dumb vision by bringing in the previous 'mid-table' at best manager???

We need someone new and fresh.. a totally new Everton start for us ALL. Martinez has to go, and ASAP, but old man Moyes ain't it!!!! Martinez out, Big Dunc in to fire the lads up for Wembley, new man in place as soon as. COYB!!!!!!!

Martial vs Oviedo, could get real ugly

I don't know how we pick ourselves up for Saturday, but pick ourselves up we must.

Your comments are as usual spot on. I have supported Martinez until around 6 weeks ago.

A new caretaker manager would hopefully give the team a bounce effect.It would also take away the excuse of "they don't want to play for this manager"

As you say, Enough is enough.

They will play the same way, stay back and try and defend and brake away, but I can see his excuses coming that he has a injury depleted squad.

Why have an unfit (more so than most) Pienaar and Niasse on the bench? He has said the forward will not be ready till next season so why use a possible subs place, is his eyesight bad so he has to be close to the action?

To finish, excellent article that puts in writing things I think and have tried to say over the last few months, I can only hope he or the board listen to the fans and get shut now.

We will not win on Saturday, no matter who pics the team. I said weeks ago that we are unfit both physically and mentally.

This mess is going to take a full season to clean up. I firmly put the blame on Kenwright, he chose the idiot and had backed him.

Keep up the great work TW, you make my dull life interesting.

Remember watching Everton in a pre-season friendly in Shropshire in 80's.

Sheedy went in too hard on a tackle and Reid had to tell him to tone it down.

My point ? That team combined skill with determination, grit, hard as nails etc mentality

RM has created 'Everton Lite'

Without substance.

Without depth

Without character

As fans, we will have to show patience when a new man comes in, it will take a virtual miracle to transform this bunch of losers into something that resembles a never-say-die team to be proud of.

With luck and justice, What A manager should go today.

And the Chairman should share the taxi.

But the thrust of the preview really was a true expression of just how despondent I've become in recent weeks. I "crossed the Rubicon" regarding Martinez weeks ago but I resolved not to openly call for his head until after the semi-final.

Last night was just too bad, though. It was shocking. People throw around "that was the worst Everton performance I've ever seen" but I'm pretty sure that was the poorest I've ever seen us play in 30 years of watching the Blues, perhaps only matched by a home game against Coventry in the late 90s that we lost 2-0 and were so awful I didn't think it could be topped.

There are flaws with nearly every player in it. In recent years the best team was under Moyes when we had Jags and Lescott in their prime with Arteta, Cahill and Pienaar (who has never been replaced).

When a a manager 'loses' the dressing room you have to act quickly, It's sometimes not fair but look at the mess at Chelsea earlier this season.

For me the players come out of this with no credit whatsoever, where was the pride in the jersey, if they aren't playing for the manager what about the fans in a game that means so much to us?

Could there have been a worse place to put up on such a display?!! Walter Smith should have been sacked a year earlier after the Tranmere game which was, until, last night my worst day as a blue.

How has it all come to this?!?!?!

Can't believe it?!

Seriously Bill? You're the incredible one! You have no fucking credibility.

With the mood building up to the game, I think the fans knew something bad was coming.

I'm going on Saturday and I will force myself to get rid of the dread.

I hope this is the end for Martinez and not just the beginning of it. Please let the club already have their replacement for him lined up. My worry is though much like Martinez they too don't have a plan b and we could be half way through the summer before a new manager and coaching team are in place, if we are lucky!

Has a trip to Wembley ever felt so unrewarding? If we were a wounded animal we'd have been put out of our misery by now. The situation is a cruel game for us all and we deserve so much more.

Unsy hopefully will grab the wheel with both hands, introduce a few kids at weekend who he can trust to do a job and know how to play the Everton way and hopefully this car crash of a season can be averted. Sit on your hands, Bill, and the fans will never forgive you.

Whether or not we have a semi final in 2 days time, Martinez has to go NOW.

That was the worst performance I have seen by an Everton side at Anfield, & I am a pensioner.

To go to Anfield without a single defender on the bench is a disgrace. Past performances there indicate that we may have a man sent off. He must of known before the start that Stones was unwell.

Moshiri act NOW, Bill wont.

What you want and what you need are two very separate things.

I would rather be phoning Gus Hiddink but I doubt he or another manager of his standing would touch us with a barge pole at present. We are way below where Liverpool were when they brought Klopp in. Does anyone really think he would have taken the Liverpool job if they were as bad then as we are now?

I'd put Joe Royle in charge for the final... in fact I'd rather have fucking Jim Royle!!

He is not going to resign after the most humiliating result in a derby for as long as I can remember either. Conclusion; I have no more respect for the joker.
My last bit of respect for those running the Club will also be gone if this guy is still there when we arrive at Wembley.

I expect defeat again, but I am willing to Accept that if action is taken and we see a team that actually tries for a full 90 minutes. I don't expect to see that as of now.

Funes Mori should be in the press first thing this morning, to say he is sorry for being an absolute twat last night and for humiliating us even more with his badge kissing antics. As disgraceful as anything I have seen.

If Rom utters another Word about leaving before the last ball is kicked this season, I don't care how many goals he has scored this season. Show some respect you Dick!

John Stones.... If those stomach cramps were a known issue, you should never have entered the Pitch last night and it's on yourself and Martinez. It looked like you withdrew after making a bad mistake, leaving your teammates to contend with a proper thrashing on their own. Any way you look at it, it was a farce.

Bryan Oviedo. I believe you did Your best last night, but you should never have been put in that position. On Martinez, yet again.

Gareth Barry. Showed real passion in the first half, Our only shining beacon in that first half, perhaps apart from Robles. Are you truly injured or did shit hit the fan in the dressing room at half-time? I Guess we'll never know.

The look on the faces of those blues who turned up at Anfield should say it all. They deserve a whole-hearted display on Saturday, win or lose. 90 minutes of giving it everything. They deserve just that for every remaining game this season. Anyone doing anything less is Beyond redemption. Do we still have that in us? I'm just not sure.

I for one will not be watching Saturday if he still is in charge. I'm sorry, but I just can't... I made myself sit through 97 minutes yesterday, and to be frank I can't bring myself to that again.

It must end now

I was feeling sorry for Martinez at the end of the game as he's so obviously out of his depth and BK should have put him out of his misery a long time ago.

It's was past the point of no return for many blues months ago but last night surely also turned the last RM backer – surely there can't be any left.

There really is no point in keeping him on for the semi, serves no purpose as the players will be playing for themselves anyway.

We need to start all over again but there is hope. We have about 5 old players coming to the end of their contracts or leaving in Howard's case and I'll be very surprised if Lukaku and Stones don't force moves. So at least 7 senior squad members will go and there should be at good 100m in transfer money and a massive amount in the wage bill available for a new manager to build his own side. Main thing is to bring in a decent guy and bring him in early.

There is no way RM will be in charge next season, I'll be surprised if he manages another game at GP after that – simply no way back.

EFC is the laughing stock of world football today and that is something that none of us can accept. I don't have words, I honestly don't. It hurts even more today than it did yesterday.

When you get your Mates that support the dark side sending you messages after the game saying they feel sorry for us, You know it is bad (Because they are normally the biggest WUMS known to man)

He has lost the team, Funes Mori kissing and pointing to the badge as he walked off towards the blues in the ground, said it all – he was angry and wanted the fans to know that he is with them NOT Martinez. Stones just gave up; I truly believe that Martinez has lost the respect of the players.

Barkley's face when he was subbed said it he looked at the fans to say HELP ME! he was truly gutted.

Maybe someone could answer this question for me as I am at a loss: We had no right back so we play Oviedo okay -– but then play Lennon and Mirallas out of position? Surely Lennon's work rate and tracking back would have given Oviedo more cover?

Martinez Out.

If BK brings that twat back I think I'll be done as far as Everton is concerned. Wasted enough of my life so far.

(And I'm not overreacting after last night, simply been very little joy over the last 5-6 years watching the blues with shite like Heitinga and Neville in CM and now the RM 'philosophy'. BK needs to finally just fuck off.)

If RM was a boxer, there's no way you'd be sending him out for another round. "You've had enough, son, you've had enough".

Martinez should be sacked this morning. I don't see one reason why he should not be.

Totally off the wall,someone should get on the phone to Mourinho and ask him what he's doing at the weekend. Get him up here for a few days and see if he can manage this fiasco through the game on Saturday. FFS I'd even ask Moyes to come back for this game, that's how bad it is.

Even the RS fans at work this morning have been easy on me as, in their own words, 'they feel sorry for us'.

Yes Klopp would have taken the Liverpool job if they were as bad when he took over Liverpool as we have been. It's a top job. Anyone ambitious enough would be keen on any vacant jobs at clubs like that. Everton would be an attractive proposition to most managers. Big club. Big history. Traditions etc. Looks like a reasonably stable board. He may have even considered us. After all he rocked up at Dortmund

Bit of money available. Ok recently not playing so well but still a great club to be part of.

Whether some of those managers would be suitable to us is another matter. It may be that a Guus Hiddink type would be beneficial to us. Someone who is experienced to deal with players.

I agree with what you want and what you need comment. Totally. Which is why it wouldn't bother me if we turned to Benitez either. He knows the game. He knows the city. Don't care that he's been at Liverpool and what he said about is. He did alright for them, as he has at most clubs. Knows how to set up a winning team if given the raw materials to work with.

We still have a good squad of players and some good youngsters. But a poor match day team. If we sell some on for decent money, in the words of Gerrard we go again!

Looking at Villa. I think most current available managers including Moyes would consider their vacant post if it were not for the owner.

I find it inconceivable that RM doesn't realise himself it is time to go and it is even more inconceivable the club hierarchy didn't act last night. Surely they can see what the majority of us can see in that to remove him now before the semi-final will actually be the shot in the arm the players are desperately looking for (not to mention the fans!).

No blue should ever have to go through that humiliation ever again – this morning I feel as if I have been run over by the metaphoric truck goodness knows how those long-suffering blues who went to the match feel.

The players don't want to play for him anymore and that was evident for all to see from Bainsey (rolling eyes), Funes Mori (getting sent off) Barry (refusing to come out) Stonesy (shitting himself, literally) basically, all of them except Robles and Lennon.

Put him out of his misery, and ours, and get Unsy and Sheedy in till the end of the season. Otherwise, Saturday could be even worse.

And so true and revealing are your observations about no RB back-up, no Pienaar replacement, no Lukaku back-up, the stupidity of the Naismith transfer. As you say, "Martinez's dereliction of duty", and "the crowning turd in the water pipe".

Firstly, they should have won 7 or 8 nil (Barca won 8-0 away last night) but for some great saves by Robles.

Secondly, they (along with Leicester and Spurs) have shown what a good manager can achieve even with average players. No more of this 'golden squad' shit – piss poor most of them.

Thirdly, and most importantly, they have hastened the departure of the fraud. Can't even be arsed to try to make a joke here, it couldn't be as funny as the one we have as manager.

Absolutely nothing to be gained by letting him choose or manage whatever team we put out on Saturday now.

HE SIMPLY HAS TO GO TODAY

No dilly-dallying. Martinez must go today.

Roberto's position is untenable now regardless of what happens in the Cup. To be honest after last night the thought of us even walking out on Saturday makes me feel a bit ill. What a mess.

All we can hope is that when Mr 49.9% and Mr 8.9% turned their backs on a then 3-0 scoreline and left Anfield 20 minutes from the end, it was to ring Mr 12.16 % to tell him he and his 'WHAT A MANAGER' were both done for.

Nothing less will do.

Tony #29, you may yet get your wish. Just casual listening today has had Michael Ball and Barry Horne saying his time is up, and there's no way back, FA cup win or not. And that's just on one station.

Someone pointed out yesterday that in each of his 3 seasons with us, his hairline has noticeably receded each year. So if Billy Bullshit is too spineless to sack him for football reasons, relieve him of his duties for the sake of his barnet. Where's the humanity Bill?

About 10? Give him a chance to say goodbye to the players and clear the family photos off the desk.

Martinez has been found out. I don't think his style of football suits the Premier League (I wouldn't be surprised if he did ok on the continent). We never shut up shop when ahead in a game, Moyes's solid defence and ability to eke out a 1-0 win is history now. This defeat hurts the fans far more because of the abject style of it and who we were playing, but what fans want and what club administrations want often seem to be some distance apart.

I went to Earls Court the following day to see Pink Floyd (Division Bell tour). To this day, that weekend sticks in my mind as comprising two live events one of which provided great entertainment and value for money whilst the other represented no entertainment and daylight robbery. No prizes for guessing which is which.

Hoping for vfm and some entertainment on Saturday but alas the Floyd won't be performing.

When: Opinion divided on this, but my view possibly away at Bournemouth, but definitely home vs West Ham

Chances of Finding it: On the evidence of recent months, and confirmed by last night, absolutely none.

Urgently required: Taxi for Roberto.

We get raped and left for dead in the worst possible circumstances by the worst possible club and this clown is still allowed into Finch Farm in the morning. What the fuck!!!

I'd be surprised if he's even thought about a successor. He definitely won't sack him before the semi final.

Moshiri has to step in and take control of the situation and get rid of Kenwright or we're going the same way as Villa next season.

I don't think I've ever seen a sporting team anywhere come back from these sorts of problems without a change of manager/coach. It simply has to happen.

A big test of our new shareholders influence. Will speak volumes if he isn't sacked.

Martinez is the poorest leader I've ever seen at a football club. He is bizarre in his analysis, embarrassing in his communication and simply is no longer taken seriously by fans, pundits, other clubs and worst of all, his squad. He of course should be sacked NOW and Lyndon, your piece is a superb, cold, accurate assessment.

But the demise of leadership at the club extends far beyond the manager. Bill Kenwright, who I've often been slaughtered for defending on "football" grounds, has stayed too long at the club I know he loves with all his heart. He has been so ill, faced what many suggest is a life threatening situation, and whether that's true or not, he badly needed to withdraw. He didn't. He was an absentee landlord for a long time. Investment has arrived and theirs credit for that, but the leadership vacuum has destroyed the clubs prospects and rebuilding in a hugely competitive environment will be harder than ever.

The CEO is far better than many understand but he seems to have also withdrawn. I know he is a hate figure for many groups but the arguments of that aside, he needed to be up front and leading... shouting... regularly... reassuring... bullish... Yet he's relatively quiet. Why ?

Mr Moshiri has made a very quiet entry. I understand that in part, and yes the new ownership structure at present doesn't yet allow him the leadership role he will have to deliver. But even in the last few weeks there is more he could have done, but hasn't.

The players need to be ashamed of their collective failures to take responsibility on the pitch. Personal errors aside, there is simply no leader on the park. Players do not step up. When they do, like Baines, the reaction from inside the club is to hound not support. But the players are demonstrating one of the worst signs of leadership... apathy. They just do not appear to be able to motivate themselves regardless of the managers failings. They are highly paid but that alone doesn't get you a leader.

I cannot see us winning another league game and actually if one of the North East clan goes on a run we are not yet safe from relegation. Without a leader anywhere in the club that scenario, whilst unlikely, remains a harrowing possibility.

This is why sacking Martinez now makes sense because we literally can do worse by keeping him. I know Man Utd would fancy themselves against a team of younger players but I genuinely feel they would at least restore pride in the blue shirt and show fans some respect. Drastic action yes, but to bring in five or six U21 players for Saturday, managed by Unsy with Joe Royle supporting, or maybe vice versa is more obvious, that strategy has much merit.

Leadership, it's all about leadership and sadly there is just silence and misery.

As for Martinez, all has been said, but for once I'd like to hear him use "I must" instead of "we must". The club as a whole is being painted with the same brush as he and it is NOT ON! Of course, to make matters worse I'm married to one from the dark side (yes, it's true – love knows no limits!)

But no more, not for the last month or so.

I've sat here reading on a daily basis thinking 'you're all wrong', for this I apologise.

The man is lost, totally. There is nothing there, nothing.

Reading these well put comments and initial piece there is only one glimmer of light we have for Saturday, and that is Sheedy, Unsworth, Royle or even Dunc leading the team out at Wembley.

BBC Sport should be leading with BREAKING NEWS about his sacking. This, my friends, is the last straw. He HAS to go NOW!

Even with Mike Walker's spell, you had that feeling that it would turn and a result would turn up, but I have never in all my 40+ years of supporting this great club felt so flat, dejected, and in desperate need for the manager to go.

As much as I wish last night was just a bad dream, I wish even more for his role to be removed from the club.

We're not going to get relegated but it says something when we have only four games left and yet are still not mathematically safe. Still not mathematically safe, FFS! Challengers for 4th place?!

Remember after Kenwright sacked Smith, he asked him to recommend his successor, and Smith gave him Moyes. The man is a total fraud who knows nothing about football.

Moshiri, get rid of BPB as well. I can imagine Kenwright, having just sacked Martinez asking, " Who do you recommend, Roberto?"

And he replies: "Well Bill, I know this guy called Alcaraz..."

I posted earlier in the week that if Oviedo played RB in the game we would get raped. But I think it is unfair to single him out, he at least has a bit of heart. He is a symbol for me of EFC and expectations under Martinez: an average player, a poor defender, but wildly over-hyped beyond belief who we have a soft spot for because he scored the winner against Man U and suffered a horrendous leg break. He is cut some slack because of emotional attachment and maybe that is the same with BK and Martinez. Unfortunately you have to be brutally honest and ruthless in business as Sir John clearly was and hopefully Mr Moshiri is. Cold hard logic, not emotional attachment or loyalty, should be the guiding factors in decisions taken.

He absolutely must go before the semi as cancer must be cut out ASAP. He is an utterly beaten man and a loser in charge transfers a losing mentality to the troops. Martinez and his crew being in charge will actually detract from the team. There is absolutely nothing to lose now and everything to gain. He must be sacked today and Unsworth put in charge for Saturday. I don't think fighting spirit from the manager would be in any doubt then and that surely would transfer in some way to the team on the pitch.

He's been the only voice. The only one prepared to stand for something and be brave. Unfortunately he's just not a leader and doesn't possess the capability or credibility required, and the only thing worse than having no obvious leaders, is having a poor one fill the vacuum.

"Our aim now is to win as many league games as possible for the remainder of the season and that will put us in good stead for next year. This season has been a big learning curve for us and so it will be a perfect stepping stone for us into next season Blah,Blah,Blah."

Please give me and all Blues strength!!

Well. It is a defining week, there's no doubt about that. But not in the way Roberto Martinez meant it. It isn't so much about whether the week would end in glorious victory or valiant defeat.

What this week is about, is the defining moment of the Manager's career at Everton Football Club. His career is now finished.

Kenwright might keep him on until the Final, might keep him on until the end of the season or might even keep him on until next season. But as from this morning, he has no team manage, as the team have lost any belief in him.

I had a premonition last week about the Reds having one of their momentous nights and had to be surrounded by reds fans after they did.

I guess a lot of us could see what was very likely to happen last night, before the team set foot on the pitch. I was just hoping it wouldn't go into double figures.

Kenwright is the one who should take action, or at the very least advise Mr Moshiri of his possible solution. But he won't.

Not because he believes in Martinez ("What a manager!") but because he will not want to be proved wrong.

A change immediately can only restore some hope for Saturday.

Kenwright is a true romantic as we know, he will be thinking Martinez got this team to the semi final he deserves the chance to win it!

But make no mistake Martinez will not be manager of Everton come the start if the new season – us fans simply will not allow that to happen.

When Kenwright was previously under heat from the fans, what happened? That's right, a nice, hearty round of applause for the buffoon-in-chief echoing around Goodison. Apparently, it's the "Everton way" and has supplanted on-field success as the new and only source of Evertonian pride. How utterly, ruinously, pathetic.

Rather than allowing ourselves to be conned by such artifice, we should be baying for blood. What the club needs is a revolution from the boardroom right down to the tea ladies. The loser culture, the "Everton way" tripe, the forever-in-a-red-shadow mentality...

In particular, the derby record is a crime against both football and the laws of probability. It's like, bar those few seasons in the mid 1980s under the late Howard Kendall, we have been in a Shankly induced coma. The trauma of LFC's rise to domestic and European heights has never truly been healed; rather, as the years roll by, it has festered into an ever expanding sack of putrefaction and pus. Hence here we are, in 2016, without an away win in the derby since last century. Contrast how Everton, as a club, responded to Liverpool's achievements with how our approximate counterpart in Milan (AC) did to their own upstart offspring's (Inter) stellar success in the mid 1960s. They countered Inter by making sure they matched, and then overtook them, rather than cowering in fear and entrenching themselves in lifelong resignation.

In the past I have been candid in my assessment of my fellow Evertonians and their defeatist approach to derbies, suggesting that such negativity becomes transmitted to the players. I still stand by that position, but I do understand the difficulty in mustering confidence in advance of derbies given our appalling record in them. It's a self-perpetuating negative feedback loop.

But the greater offence we as Evertonians are guilty of is buying into fallacies / club-sanctioned propaganda about displays of displeasure being only something Kopites would stoop to. Now of course, I don't advocate physical abuse or reviling anyone. That would be very scummy behaviour. But isn't it obvious that some kind of organised protest is the only meaningful leverage fans - of any club on earth - possess? Yet we have willingly, out of fear of being seen as "like the other lot across the Park", self-censored our way out of that recourse. What a bunch of idiots we must seem to everyone else.

And so, as a club and fanbase, Everton has become enfeebled on all levels. That means only a revolution as described above can remedy the situation. A start would be for Mr Moshiri to insist on the immediate removal of the manager and a very hefty crackdown on Lukaku for his comments that brought the club into yet more disrepute, a crime - yes, a crime - against every one of us who bleeds blue. But even more so, we need an end to the "Everton way" mindset / psyop. Otherwise, it will be more of the same: seeking solace in the kindly words of outsiders who openly laud us for our ostensible restraint and dignity (while secretly sneering at our weakness). Meanwhile, Klopp will see to it that Liverpool's comfort will be more silverware.

To him and his arrogant stubborn nature, it'd be akin to admitting hes made a mistake he will give him to the end of the season and, mark my word, at least until October or November, I don't think the semi-final will have any bearing on it whatsoever. No other club in world football would put up with the home record alone, so it's baffling how he is still in a job.

That last night was the lowest of the low and anyone can see there's players who do not want to be here. They'd talk the talk obviously. But it sticks out like a sore thumb we know who they are so its pointless naming them.

On another note, someone said the other day if we lose the two big ones (one down one to go) the atmosphere at Bournemouth game will be toxic. Personally I don't think it will. It looks like we've resigned ourselves to the malaise. Sad, sad times indeed.

What kind of manager against a good team, plays a left footed right back? What kind of manager has no defensive substitutes on the bench? What kind of idiot signs a player for 㾹.5 million and then discovers he's so unfit you can't play him at all?

Martinez your time is up.

Time for Martinez and Kenwright to go. Unsworth (plus players from the Under-21 side) until season end.

Put a caretaker in charge today in the shape of Unsy backed up by Royle & Sheedy until the end of the season. Try to cobble together a team out of the best of the U21's and 1st team players willing to leave everything on the pitch on Saturday to try and bring some pride back to the supporters and the shirt!

He cannot manage this team. He brought in some seriously second rate players. He has no Plan B.

Is that the look of confusion, or is it the look of resignation. Lets hope it's both.

It comes to something when nobody is better than somebody.

This is not a piss-take I honestly believe this has to happen before Saturday, if these men have any feelings whatsoever for the club they should not stand by and simply watch Martinez make us an even bigger laughing stock, if that's possible after last night's debacle

As far as Everton is concerned, if Moshiri is half the businessman we think him to be, he will ensure that the whole Board (and himself) carry out a proper recruitment exercise and whatever BK believes his authority to be, his friendly chats with the likes of Smith and Peg Leg for guidance should be consigned to history.

Nothing but the best.............

If we get beat against United, I cannot begin to imagine how poisonous the atmosphere will be like against Bournemouth. I wouldn't wish that on any manager – however incompetent and full of bullshit.

How many season ticket holders are withholding renewal, I wonder?

It was my son's first Anfield derby, God help him. Not sure how long the scarring will take to heal... :)

Alan Stubbs, anyone?

It's a weird coincidence to think, should we get through to the FA Cup final and Martinez leaves, Joe Royle is mentioned as a temporary replacement. He was the last manager to win the cup. Personally, I believe a temporary option would be a team effort between David Unsworth with Joe Royle and possibly Peter Reid as his advisors.

Then Moshiri will have to use his contacts to find a proven, successful replacement for next season. We brought in Moyes as an up and coming young talented manager, the same was said of Martinez. However, the club is embarking on a new era where money is no longer an issue. Someone like Mourinho or Pellegrini have been there, done that and bought the t-shirts... although getting them to sign for the club would be a challenge.

A bright, upcoming, young manager is great for a club who wants to maintain a respectable presence in the Premier League and look at domestic cups as a bonus. Everton have spent too long in this position, we now look to move forward and take that next step. In order to do this, we need money and an experienced and proven PL manager.

We now have money and we just need the right manager. I had hoped Martinez would be that man, but with everything that is happening at the club right now, I just feel the writing is on the wall.

The only hope we have on Saturday is to have a unified club believing in the future.

Martinez cannot do this.

During the Moyes tenure, there always seemed to be a sense of frustration that maybe we could be better and loose him keep him argument was always divided. But with Martinez I cannot find a single Evertonian that sits in the keep camp, possibly aside from Kenwright.

He must go and it must be before Saturday.

RM is toast so why give him the honour of going to Wembley as Everton's manager after he has embarrassed and humiliated us like this?

Sadly, yesterdays result was entirely predictable. I remarked to a friend before the game, I would accept a 2-0 defeat now. The feared humiliation that was in the back of my mind unfortunately came true.

So what now? In my view thank Roberto for his efforts and bid him farewell and give those going to Wembley some sort of shot in the arm and hope for Saturday. Otherwise, I seriously fear another humiliation against the poorest United side since they were relegated back in the 70's.

As regards who should replace Martinez in the short term? Personally, if he is well enough and available, Joe Royle would be my choice.... though, I'm sure there are plenty if other viable short term options. But please, not big Dunc. Can't understand why he is held in such high esteem? Only played when he fancied it. Was a liability when on the pitch, and has had great difficulty managing his own wallet, never mind a football club.

Phil also states that Mr Moshiri was with him when they departed. I am genuinely keen and interested to know if the reports of their very early departure are accurate as it would give me hope that perhaps something may be afoot and that action may be taken (at last) by what would be a displeased board majority, holding shares of about 58% between them both.

Kenwright OUT!

Martinez OUT!

I thought of the final days of Smith's reign when my head hit the pillow last night. The feeling is very similar and if ever there was a sure bet it's that United will progress on Saturday.

If Martinez is able to pick that team up, mentally and physically, to prove me wrong then I would actually keep him on.........in the very short term, as that would be an amazing achievement.

How can everyone except Martinez and that arse of a coach fail to see that at 2-nil down and down to 10 ten men; you DON'T PLAY TIPPY TAPPY SHITE in front of your own area.

There was no banks of 4; just headless chickens and no leadership.

Wembley's a big pitch and energy sapping. Could be another bad day out; especially in the last 20 mins if we're still in the game.

Give it to Barry as Player Manager for the remainder of the season.

Please For Fuck Sake; do the honorable thing and just GO!

Yet, for awhile, before Liverpool scored those soft goals, Everton were looking like they could survive until half-time. No matter what team Everton put out last night they would have still been beaten. That is why it made more sense to put out an understrength team to save face.

The Board will not sack Martinez until after defeat on Saturday. Why? Because that's not what Everton do and that's why this club continues to lag behind.

The players had fear written all over them last night, headless chickens because they have lost trust and self-belief and are going out expecting to lose... Put Dunc in charge for the remainder of the season and then sell off half the squad. The view of the media that this is potentially an excellent Everton side is rubbish.

Going through the squad, I'd keep only the following:

Robles, Baines, Jagielka, Funes Mori (even after that irresponsible behaviour from last night) Barry, Besic, Lennon, and maybe Barkley as well as the young guns coming through. The rest need to go. Not fit for this club either because of ability and / or attitude.

We expect nothing on Saturday.... except the constant affliction of disappointment that we have to live with... so let's get behind the club, our club and stick together and show much this club means to us. Maybe Moshiri and even some of the players might just feel it. And who knows... pigs might fly!

I also want to call out that snide Geoff Shreeves for his classless interview. I don't care how bad the manager is - you do not talk about a managers security in his job on live TV like that. Disgusting and SKY need to do something about him. They won't they love being snides themselves.

As for fitness. Will never ever understand that. I imagine RM thinks the ball does the work. Ummm

Never witnessed us getting a four goal thrashing by a Liverpool team in my lifetime. Twice now under Roberto. The first one was a horror show that left me mentally scarred for the Anfield Derby's after that.

But last night. No tackling, no pressing, no effort, no heart, no pride, no passion. Nothing. Not even a shot on target all game. As a manager in a Derby, you know you're done when that happens.

Attempts at Goal Liverpool 37-3 Everton
Attempts on Target Liverpool 13-0 Everton
Touches in opposition box Liverpool 64-3 Everton.

Word is that Moshiri and Woods stormed out after the third goal, so did Graeme Sharp. I'd say the wheels are being put in motion this morning.

With the Semi Final looming large, if Roberto gets the boot they will have to have the back-up plan in place immediately, which means sounding out temporary replacements tasked with the semi final which will put a load of pressure on them instantly.

Either that or we're waiting for the Semi Final outcome before taking action. There's not enough time to get someone in to re-arrange things for the semi preparation wise. If this had happened a week ago I'd say Roberto was toast right after the final whistle in the Derby.

The new largest shareholder billionnaire storming out with 30 minutes still to go at Anfield? I'd say it's safe to say that Roberto is drowning in the brown stuff this morning.

I suspect he will get the semi and he's out after that regardless of the outcome. I'd guess with a lot of certainty this morning at Everton HQ is about getting a replacement in, in the guise of a temporary one until the summer. He won't be sacked until a replacement is ready to be put in instantly.

I think last night was fatal for Roberto. Great article Lyndon. If Roberto is still there for the Bournemouth game...good luck to him.

A well planned, coordinated show of strength at the next home game that makes the Manager's position (and maybe that of Kenwright,who in my mind is equally to blame) untenable.

The club is a mess from top to bottom from our inept manager and small club back room staff 'David Lawrence' anyone to our clueless commercial setup. Last night needs to be a watershed and no more can the malaise continue.

Looking at some of the players' faces last night at the end told us all we have known for months now – the game is up for this set-up. Make no mistake, we will be fighting relegation next season with this 'best squad of worst players'.

There really is no hope, is there? The Board is moribund – even with the new blood – and we are expected to cheer that excuse for a manager and his so-called team in two days' time.

Not me, until he's gone!

I watch on an American channel last night and the commentators said that Woods and Moshiri had walked out.

Something has to happening right?

We can also openly look for a new manager for next year from now. If Roberto stays for the rest of the year he will be under so much pressure to win that there is no way he will play kids and, in the long term, this will cause further damage. We need to try and finish the season with some positives for next season and Roberto going NOW is the best way to do this.

I also think it's a myth he's a nice guy, he stamps on anyone who gets in his way. Arrogant man who is ruining our club. I was hoping I'd wake up to 'Martinez gone', sadly not. But don't fret everyone, G.Jones' skills from Bridlington Utd will save us.

John Stones has been severely let down by Martinez. All our defenders, some who have been excellent in the past, look horrific under this manager! And I am sure all would look much, much better under a proper management team.

I don't think that Martinez will be sacked before June 1st at the earliest, but I can't see him being in charge for pre-season. I would imagine that Moshiri will want to have a new manager in the bag before booting the current one out. I also think that the club will remain much the same until the accounts for 2015-16 are finalised.

I would expect that once those accounts are passed, we will see the end of the Kenwright era and a new Everton chapter will begin. At least I hope that to be the case, because they are the only reasons I can see for Roberto and his back-room boys remaining in their positions a minute longer.

This current situation is far bigger than whether the manager should stay or go, it is a period that needs careful handling and shrewd decision making, we as fans can react passionately and vocally, but we need the people in power to be calm and focussed in order to arrive at the right decisions, because what transpires in the next few months will in all probability shape the club for the next ten years.

I'd rather wait a few weeks/months for Everton to get it right off the pitch in order to fix things on the pitch.

If the club carry on in the same vein as they have for the past 15 years then the 'takeover' will be seen as a sham and we will witness the club falling down the table and find ourselves in a similar place which Aston Villa now occupy.

To the future. I personally think this is one of the biggest summers in Everton recent, even total, history. I'm talking about the new manager. I believe if we go for another middle of the road, conservative choice (someone like Alan Stubbs, with respect to our former player) then we are setting ourselves for more of the same of our recent past.

I really believe we have to go for a managerial big hitter this time. They've done it with Klopp I'm sorry to say. I don't know if someone like Simeone is feasible, but we have to set the bar that high for ourselves. Anything else, and I honestly can't see anything getting better any time soon.

Many were raving on about 'joined-up football' while I was trying to point out how damn slow and boring it was and how fraught with danger.

As fans gradually came to the same conclusions and in light of on field reversals made their views known Martinez became more vocal in support of his possession mantra.

We are faced with a stark reality of unthinkable relegation. Even his most loyal sycophants have seen the light. Along with main stream media they are partly to blame for our predicament.

I certainly have any sympathy for Martinez who has received a millionaire wage and failed in so many aspects.

There remains nothing wrong with having more of the ball. That's not what has undone Martinez. For the majority of this season his chief issue was defence and an inability to make sound decisions to see out a game. The slow passing stuff wasn't great to watch but it was returning goals.

I'm sure there'll be people out in force about the next guy too. As early as possible they'll tell us that we'll never win the league with our current manager and it will eventually fall apart. In all likelihood they'll be right. But that just doesn't feel like being a supporter to me. You have to have hope. If you don't, what are you doing?

They put 4 past a superb Dortmund side, Man City and even Stoke conceded 4 with Liverpool reserve team. They are riding high on a big wave and Everton happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

For all Martinez's faults, he has significantly improved the quality of the squad, brought down the average age of the squad. With many of the senior players who hardly play a game leaving this summer it would be a further chance to improve, as he generally has had a good record in the transfer market. I certainly would trust him to replace the old deadwood that is departing.

Many have used the recent signing of Niasse as a stick to beat him with, however he has generally been protective of deploying new signing from overseas and bloods them in slowly. I don't see this as a negative, it was the same with Deulofeu, Funes Mori and others. If you were to sell all the Martinez signings today, it would generate a decent profit, which would indicate a good transfer policy.

Another aspect of annoyance to many is his repeated use of certain words in interviews such as 'incredible', 'phenomenal' etc... sure he is the eternal optimist and always tries to paint a bright picture even the darkest days. It sure is much better than being negative and angry. Players are protected generally and not thrown under the bus. When Baines spoke out recently about the lack of chemistry, Martinez's reaction was misunderstood. I believe he didn't intend on attacking Baines, but protecting the integrity of the group.

As such, I believe Martinez deserves our support and should be given another season at least to make the required changes.

Get it wrong again, and I think the unspeakable will happen.

Vice chairman The Russian guy?

"Put bluntly, Everton under Martinez are simply not as good as either he or they think they are and the gathering signs are that they never will be under his stewardship. The potential is there but the same refrain from the manager regarding a young side that is “getting close to being a winning team” is getting old. He has had ample time to demonstrate that he has the answers to a worsening defensive record and a succession of unacceptable results but the grim realisation now is that he has taken our club as far as he can. Whether there is any appetite — or capacity, for that matter — at boardroom level to make the decision to replace him in the face of that deteriorating record, however, remains to be seen".

Uncanny, eh? The fall from grace has been gathering momentum for so long that he is now in free-fall. Personally disappointed that I'm not reading of his sacking/resignation already.

Martinez did not actually step on the pitch, he was not playing. He might have not set the team up right, his bench was worse than my first ever attempt at woodwork at school, and he might have filled their heads with his usual bullshit, but he was not on the pitch.

There are too many people in that team who are either not pulling their weight, refusing to try for the manager, or playing like headless chickens. The first two are absolutely indefensible for me, regardless of their relationship with the manager. If they don't like him that much, have a word in ears – there are plenty of people who would listen if there was something valid to say. It is simply not acceptable them getting very well rewarded via my money, and all other long-suffering supporters cash.

The third one is simply down to the players involved. How have two England stars, Baines, and Stones turned into gibbering wrecks?

Not only does Martinez have to go – and today if possible – the next manager needs to take a long hard look at those players who have ALSO let us down very very badly this season.

He will lose Lukaku and Stones this summer on top losing the rest of the dressing room mentally, he will be given the biggest financial war chest this club has ever had and will only be able to attract money grabbing cunts who don't give two shits about us and Martinez will inevitably not be able to control or will buy sub par Wigan standard players (Cleverly, Koné, Alcaraz, Niasse, McCarthy) who will just be happy to be playing in the Premier League and that to me is a recipe for disaster. Yes he attracted Lukaku and Deulofeuy 3 years go, but do you think they would join us now??

We need to get shot of him immediately and bring in a manager that has proven experience on all levels, can manage big names, is a winner and demands respect and who can ultimately attract top players and rebuild what Martinez has destroyed.

I am hoping for Mancini or De Boer.

We need to move away from the Eddie Howes and young new managers with limited proven experience. We need to take advantage of what we hope Mr Moshiri is offering us and go and become the team and environment we know we can be.

I'll be there on Saturday with zero confidence but hoping we do them and get a result!

I don't like Jamie Carragher but what he said last night is correct. This isn't one of the best Everton teams since the mid 80s. The league table, if anything flatters them. We're so desperate for success that we take any green shoots and convince ourselves that we are heading back to the big time. If the likes of Stones, Barkley, McCarthy, Lukaku, Cleverley were as good as they thought they were then we'd be a force again.

Martinez has been a good ambassador and he is a likeable bloke. This has shielded him from criticism up to now. The Man City away leg was the final straw for me. I said after that that I never wanted to see John Stones in an Everton shirt again. Some posters on TW questioned me saying that.

There have been sporadic good performances, predominantly in his first season. The games against Arsenal and Man United spring to mind. The clues were there though towards the end of that first season. The capitulation at Southampton with two own goals, one by the beleaguered Alcaraz. The hammering at Anfield was a nadir until last night. Crystal Palace outfoxing us at home. Overplaying against Sunderland on Boxing Day when we only needed two wins to go a calendar year undefeated at home and losing a comedy goal. The capitulation in the cup game against Arsenal.

Roberto would get a modicum of respect from me if he said that it isn't working and he needs to leave before the semi final. It feels very much like the Walter Smith days.

I woke my 5 year old son up this morning to tell him that we'd lost 4-0 and he was dreading going into school to face two LFC fans in his class. Welcome to life as an Evertonian son!

So Mr Moshiri, as I said in an article over a week ago, it's time you took control, when you were a shareholder at Arsenal you and Usmanov sent a letter to the board complaining over the team under Wenger were performing. Well, you are the major shareholder now so get off your arse and sack the charlatan today. Not wait till we have been knocked out of the FA Cup. That's not leadership – that's dereliction of duty.

Many thousands of us are off to Wembley, so make the change and let Joe Royle take charge. I know it probably won't change us from an unfit and under performing team. But he will tell them what playing for Everton should mean. There will be no clap trap from Joe, he will at least send them out fired up, more than RM ever does.

And before you sing the praises of Deulofeu and Funes Mori, you should ask yourself what have they actually done on the field this season? They have been as accident prone and inconsistent as the rest of the rabble.

So, Roberto got lucky with a couple of signings? So fucking what I say. What matters is how the eleven he puts out on the park play, week-in & week-out and what I saw last night was a collective display of cowardice and ineptitude.

The buck stops with the boss. I'm fucking furious now. I'm sick of reading these threads and contributing to them while Kenwright does fuck all. If he had any respect for his 'beloved' Everton or more importantly the fans he'd sack Martinez immediately.

Taking you other points;

- Liverpool may have been playing better than us in recent weeks and have a far superior manager but you're missing the main point. This was a local derby and all form goes out of the window. The players should be 150% motivated and passionate about the game and our players are no worse than the Liverpools man for man. The players obviously are not behind the manager anymore and that coupled with the flawed tactics and lack of fitness resulted in the farse that was last night. The players are obviously not free from blame but the main blame lies with the brown showed spaniard. He for instance was the one who chose not to have any defenders on the bench and include Niasse - who apparently can't even play!

- significantly improved the squad. Other than Lukaku, is the squad really that much better than 3 years ago? Remember we had a much younger Osman and Pienaar then (who both played a big part in RMs first season) as well as a younger Mirallas and Distin. The likes of Cleverley, Lennon, Besic, Deulofeu and Niasse have not pulled up any trees yet. Barry was a good signing but its a bit embarassing that he's now our best midfielder. McCarthy is a championship player imo. Kone is marginally better than Anichebe, only just.

- Age. Most of this season we had Howard in goal, Barry in CM and Jags at CB - all not far off retirement. Coleman is 27, Mirallas 28, Lennon 29, Baines 31, Kone 32. Age may have come down a bit but people seem to think just because of Stones, Barkely and Lukaku we somehow have a team full of kids. McCarthy also now 25.

- Language. Last nights post match interview was the FIRST time the manager has actually described the game accurately. Every other interview is filled with so much hyerbole and bollocks that the words never match what actually happened on the pitch. The actual words used by Martinex only became irritating once it was obvious to most that they were nonsense. If the guy simply called a spade a spade from day one, he would not be as hated as he is now.

Bill Kenwright and Roberto Martinez + backroom staff all need to leave Everton ASAP.

“But we have to move on quickly and repay our fans with a proper, proper performance and proper showing in the semi-final. We shouldn't dwell on this game too much."

Well MR MARTINEZ...........We will dwell on this match 'A LOT', because WE HAD to watch or listen to it.........YOU stood and watched as the carcrash that is Everton Football Club that YOU created totally disintegrated..............WE had to listen to the taunts from the KOP and to face the reality in work this morning.......... you promised different...........YOU promised Champions' League.....YOU promised and promised and still no return.........YOU NEED TO GO............and NOT lead out OUR TEAM at Wembley on Saturday..........YOU have brought this club that some people have feelings for into total disrepute............BE A MAN for a change and WALK ON, WALK ON...............WE DON'T DESERVE YOU............NSNO..............and when you've gone we will discuss the Titanic, or is it the Royal Daffodil that Captain BK and his cronies have piloted onto the rocks................IN WHOM CAN WE TRUST?

What the hell are you talking about?

It's as if you've only watched one match in the last 2 years.

A one-off 4-0 spanking would be bad enough alone...but this bad blood is a tragic culmination of 2 years of shite.

I honestly don't know how ANYONE can back the manager at this stage. He's proved beyond all doubt that he's not capable of sorting out the same problems he was having TWO YEARS AGO.

1), A huge over reaction; 2) How good the redshite are; and 3) it's not Martinez's fault... Are you in cuckoo land?

Carragher couldn't believe Martinez formation last night. Why he played Oviedo on the right, after being destroyed on the left last Saturday, no defenders on the bench. It's completely his fault.

As for you're assessment of Liverpool, Rodgers was 'SACKED' , after the 1-1 draw at Goodison. This is the same team with a different manager. What does that tell us???????

Please....I need some hope !!

I have a horrible feeling that BK will still let Martinez lead the team out on Saturday but the writing was well and truly on the wall last night. Relieve him of his duties today and let Joe Royle and Unsworth take care of things. Even if we lose, we'll do it with our heads held high.

Putting someone else in charge is the only decisive thing that will galvanise the players and supporters alike.

Give that idiot another season and we will be in the championship with a worse record that Villa next term.

Did you see that the Liverpool Echo refused to give Mignolet a rating as he had nothing to do all game. Now that is embarrassing and shameful

Have a horrible feeling RM is going to be in charge. I thought the game tomorrow was too big for the players not to be up for it but from the off you knew what the outcome would be. That makes be anxious about the semi. Surely the game is so big that the players can ignore the manager and do it for the fans?

Then again, Lukaku is already half way out and Stones is too scared and looks like he can't hack it mentally. Barry Is probably out (can't see him recovering in 3 days from a groin strain unless he plays with injections – not exactly ideal but will be his last semi). Jags and Coleman out. It's almost a question of seeing who's standing on sat before picking the team.

Could really do worse than putting 2 youngsters in and binning Stones. Oviedo cannot play at right-back on Saturday!

A first class manager makes all the difference. Look how improved Liverpool are with effectively the same squad. Look at the difference Benitez has made to Newcastle in a short space of time.

With the increase in TV revenue next season, it is absolutely essential the next managerial appointment is correct. It could define our status for the next 20 years or so. Next season all the big teams are going to improve. The wrong choice it could set us back years. We could well fall behind the likes of West Ham, Stoke, Leicester, etc.

The change has to be soon before Lukaku, Stones and Barkley leave. All 3 have to be aware of the new set up before they are gone anyway.

Words fail me, Martinez's perpetual excuses and his inability to train his team to show any defensive nous prove that he simply has no idea what he is doing.

Please go, please sack him.

However, your post has caused me to break my habit to say there is absolutely nothing in what you say that will make sense to the vast majority of Evertonians; it is as far out of touch as our hierarchy for not taking dismissal action after that garbage last night – TOTAL LACK OF CHEMISTRY as one of his players has been trying to point out to him.

The players' performance is ultimately the responsibility of the manager and his coaching staff – he is out of time and I pray shortly out of office.

How long have significant numbers of the support base been able to see the shambolic mismanagement of the team allied to the often risible attempts by the manager to communicate honestly with the public? A mismanagement that seems to have reached the absolute pits at Anfield if all reports are to be believed, for I could not bear to watch what was an inevitable outcome.

The letters page is hardly likely to prompt the urgent action that is needed so perhaps the only way that fans' disgust can be conveyed is through direct action, namely to refuse to support this management and its team by actually refusing to attend the remaining home/ away games? This of course will fall to individual choice as sadly there is no "Supporters' Union' so it will not be a complete boycott in any sense but hopefully a significant one in that it may send a direct message to the Board that we will not have our loyalty, love for, and commitment to Everton Football Club trampled underfoot or exploited any further by this lack of professional competence and integrity at every level.

Just a couple of further points. Are we mathematically free from the threat of relegation? If not we are definitely in deep trouble. If we are in fact assured of survival then make a stand against players such as Lukaku' s arrogant disdain for common courtesy expected towards his employers and their support base. Bring and end to the nonsense of having players such as Hibbert, Gibson, Pienaar etc being paid 㿞,000 a week or so for going to the gym for years on end. Oh and please could we ourselves put an end to this worshipping of "tough guy Big Dunc". In case we have not noticed he is a member of the team producing this shambles, he is part of the problem not the solution.

If Roberto isn't sacked before Saturday, he could actually win the FA Cup for us. If that happened the board would be almost forced to keep him in charge for next season. We then lose our only goal threat in the summer (done deal) and probably let him relegate us next season (Benteke/Villa, RM's 4th season at Wigan).

Last year the Everton road show visited Belfast. I said then at that meeting that with our season hopes of Euro qualification gone and Howard injured that the manager should use the remaining fixtures to have a look at Robles in order to see if he could be a long time replacement and if that did not look like being the case that come May 2015 we could hunt down a new keeper as a matter of priority.

I told those representing Everton who were in attendance that the manager in selecting Howard to play after his injury was a big mistake. Such a decision lacked vision. Worse I now realise that RM did not see that Tim was in his swansong days and that our need for an efficient and reliable keeper was not paramount in his mind. Martinez had limited vision. His player assessment was well and truly up the left. His tactical awareness is poor and especially so during games where he has often struggled to cope with opposition managerial changes made to capitalise on his Everton side's weakness's. YES he should have been relieved of his responsibilities last evening.

I, like you, Lyndon, believe that that would represent our only chance for this Saturday. Royle could see us through until the end of the current season. Then decisions could be made. I take no pleasure in calling for anyone to loose their job but the truth is that at any other premiership club he would have already gone. And lets not forget the fact and we now know why Liverpool rejected his services and they have already removed the man that they choose in preference to RM.

Maybe just maybe we should take a leaf out of Liverpool's book. Next season it looks as though it will be Champions League football for them and for us??

Every comment is calling for Martinez head, plus the hashtag Propagenda.

Everton are trying and failing to paper the cracks, however there is no hiding on social media.

Really hope that they get the message.

At the risk of sounding like a teacher going over someone's mock GCSE essay....

Rather than just spout trite and easy stuff like "I'd give him another year" could you do the harder bit and show your workings out that brought you to this conclusion? In particular could you refer back to evidence based on examples on either a macro (i.e. over a period of time) or micro (game to game basis) timeline. At your discretion, you can either limit your answers to his current tenure at Everton or widen this out to the totality of his top flight record.

No marks will be awarded for development of points which rest on purely spurious and untrue foundations (e.g. "We play fast flowing attacking football", "We score goals for fun", "some of our play is a joy to watch", "We just need to make a couple of tweaks to our defence and hey presto!! Champions League!")

"No marks" can also be used as a reference phrase to Messrs Martinez, Jones and Lawrence within the context of describing their relative qualifications and suitability for their current roles within Everton Football Club.

I think we need to be aiming at a manager who will attract players and perhaps might make some think twice about leaving.....

We've survived this year on the basis of a handful of really great performances. The remaining games have been mind-numbing dross, the memories of which have already faded despite Martinez's post match interviews trying to convince otherwise. I would have had for more respect for the guy if he'd been more realistic and less delusional. He insults my and everyone else's intelligence virtually every time he opens his mouth to spout yet more bullshit. Long overdue time to go!

Here's what I think. They might well be right.

Everton has the best players it's had in years and I do fervently believe that Everton are massively under-performing. But they're not Real Madrid quality players. They're not even Man City/Chelsea of a few years back quality players. Capable of top4? I think so. And that's where Martinez's plans fall foul.

If a manager has a squad of world beaters or international quality players (England?) then he can afford to play tactics that extol the attacking virtues to the exclusion of defensive duties.

The whole team has to use the formation and tactics that play to their strengths. Look at Leicester. They've come from nowhere but play as a cohesive team. Spurs, they're playing as a unit and to their strengths. Man Utd aren't doing too badly now they're playing to their teams strengths.

When a manager continually removes the most creative players from the field because they're getting tired, even though they are playing above the other team members... When the team is chasing a goal and the forward gets taken off for a defender... When a goalkeeper continues to be used when everyone can see his confidence and ability is not where it should be... When a manager continues to deploy ideal tactics that don't underpin the teams strengths...

It all leads to one ending.

Martinez should go. NOW. If a caretaker manager can not galvanize the team to win the FA Cup, the existing manager certainly won't.

If Martinez stays all I see is the team being pulled apart.

I've stuck with Roberto through thick and thin (mostly thin) for the last 2 seasons. On the basis of the first season I thought he should be given a 3rd season in charge in case last year was 2nd season syndrome and teething problems that would be put right this season. It hasn't, and will never be put right while Martinez is Everton manager. He could have sacked Dennis Lawrence in the summer and got someone from the Moyes era to cover defensive duties. He didn't because he is totally inflexible.

I'm going to go against the grain and say I still think that Martinez has some very good qualities as a manager and at a different club in a different league abroad, he might have more success. But he'll never be a top, top manager because he doesn't listen. He's had 18 months to put this right, but he hasn't because his philosophy goes above anything else. The quote where he says he doesn't put teams out to keep clean sheets, but win games tells a thousand words. That's all well and good if you manage Barca and have forward players like Messi, Neymar & Suarez who are guaranteed to score. We don't have that luxury and never will. We've been depending on Rom's goals all season. Now they've dried up and he wants to go and Martinez as well and truly been found out. HE HAS TO GO...!!!

Oh dear, you state your opinions well but I have to disagree with all of them. Just choked on my Pot Noodle!!

Our job now is to be 'Supporters' - whoever is in charge Saturday.

I reckon it isn't a great idea to do anything except get behind the team. We need to stand up and be counted here - especially if we lose. We really have no choice. No one will come to a club who's fans are deserting them anyway.

Let's send a strong message of support for our club (not Martinez) now by not booing, not sodding off early, not losing our sense of humour and not whining. We are the club. Managers, Players, Stadia, kits come and go. But we keep turning up like the stars who determinedly stayed in the Annie Road till the bitter end last night. I nearly turned it off on the telly and I was on my own! Just think how hard it was a to have load of jeering Norwegians laughing at you.

Let's not let our club down. Let's rise above this and show the rest of the country, Moshiri, Man U, whoever. Every body is expecting is to go out with a whimper Saturday. Well let's show em. This is a big opportunity to overturn a few expectations. We are Everton.

Why now are we still waiting for him to be sacked!!

Roberto is a nice man likable, but he has not listened to anyone on his overall management of our club.

Sadly last night was the worsed experience of ever being a Evertonian in my 53 years of being a loyal blue.

Also these so called international players are a disgrace to our club to.No fight non interested at all.

I only hope now we get a top class manger to bring us the good times back to our great club.

Got that much to say but sadly myself can't be bothered.

One of my dying fathers final wishes...

Dear Bill

I hope you are feeling better.

I have been an Evertonian for 54 years.

My late Father, who died 12 days ago, was a proud Evertonian for over 82 years.

One of my father's dying wishes was for me to write to you and ask you to relieve Mr Martinez of his duties.

Only the best is good enough for us Evertonians and Mr Martinez is far from being the best manager available to us.

I would strongly suggest that you need to put him, the players and every Evertonian out of their prolonged misery and sack him today.

One of the famous Evertonians who work for you – Kevin Sheedy, David Unsworth or Joe Royle – can then lead the team out on Saturday with renewed energy and pride.

You and the board will then have the time you need to make the right managerial appointment ahead of the pre-season.

This next appointment is clearly critical – a proven safe pair of hands please – a man who spends the next two/three years repairing the damage that has been done to our wonderful club during the Martinez years.

Yours sincerely

Chris

William Kenwright, you are a disgrace to the club you supposedly support. Your 'what a manager" quote was you putting two fingers up to the real supporters of this club.

Well I know you personally don't read this site, however there are many real supporters who do, and they deserve more respect.

You and the board are useless. Sure, ignore what we as fans feel and see, keep your idiot manager for another season and you will go down in history as the man who took Everton FC down, not Martinez, because You have the power to make changes

The point here about Martinez is not about last night – there is a wider issue of the way the team has played all season. He's full of nonsensical superlatives and moronic rhetoric at all times and we've all had enough.

The team is sent out in his image, and they cannot, and will not ever be able to defend under this manager. We're wide open without the ball, and sometimes toothless with it. Admittedly we also score a lot of goals, but that's only half the deal when you're a football manager.

He has gone on record as saying he's not interested in clean sheets, and was incredibly satisfied with a draw away to Palace.

The man has made a rod for his own back, and though last night is indicative of his reign, it is not the real reason why the entire fanbase, bar a small few, have had enough of him.

I would suggest he's even more despised than Mike Walker, and that's impressive.

Last night's game was officially, and statistically the most one-sided Premier League game of the season, and one of the most lopsided of all time. They had around 35 shots, we had 3. We touched the ball THREE times in their area. Unacceptable.

There is no reason to keep Martinez on the books – he'll never be a top-class manager, though he would make a very good scout in my view (aside from Niasse).

His backroom staff are useless as well – and I can't wait for them all to disappear.

Looks like Martinez may have little support from anywhere soon?

Everyone can see he's a joke in the making – time for Kenwright to deliver a punch line.

First thing I did upon waking for my day was jump online and troll the Internet for news of a sacking.

The sound of crickets in the night was all there was...

They should not be waiting for the FA Cup semi. Anyone with a modicum of pride would act now.

Even with a win on the weekend, hell even with a trophy, the damage is just too great.

Why wait? Someone try to pen an argument why waiting is the right thing to do?

These are the teams we are, and used to be, challenging in the league; instead, we are now classed with the likes of Watford and Sunderland.

There are lots of supporters who keep on saying give him a chance and bring up some reasons for it, but I am sorry the bad points are now outweighing the good points by a large margin.

Every manager has good points and bad points but in a result sports that have statistics that do not lie, when you are unable to improve your performances over 2 seasons and can not see any way to improve it over the philosophy you firmly believe in, there is only one way to put it, and that is you are a failure.

Football is one of the most rapidly changing sports in both tactics and players/ and what was successful last season may not work the next, and burying your head in the sand will not bring you success only failure. "If you live by the sword, you die by the sword."

How can he claim to have stomach cramps after that gutless showing?

So disappointed to see that he has not gone.

It looks like he will still be in charge for the semi. Cue more embarrassment.

Weekend ruined already. We are supposed to be looking forward to Wembley. Not now.

Stones leaving the game was just diabolical.

He has to go now. Has to.

As does.... Argh!... Lukaku.

That'll be probably 75 million a new gaffer can invest in his vision and his squad.

It's time to grab the liquid Drano and clean the turd out of the pipe.

There's no other way forward in my opinion.

We need to give him the boot asap. I always want us to win, but it would craw me to see this delusional dunderhead lift the FA Cup as our manager.

I could only compare it to the joy I felt when Big Joe's team pulled off a shock win so many years ago, the more so because I won a lot of cash because of a bet I placed early in the season.

Unlike Joe, who would be a great short term fix for semi-final ,and would apparently step in , if asked, because he is a true blue, this Catalan con-man is destroying our club, our players, and even our fan base.

Come on, Mr Moshiri, the value of your investment is plummeting, wield the axe now.

MARTINEZ out!

Sometimes acting on principle, despite knowing it's a futile cause, is the right thing to do...

Instead BK wants to be vindicated for making that stupid comment - 'what a manager' in the hope we do a Roy of the Rovers and win. If we get embarrassed on Saturday this f*ck up will go alongside the litany of disasters from NTL, Kings Dock and Fortress overseen by boys pen Billy. SACK HIM NOW BILL..!!

Hurt? Bloody right, especially those who went over to Anfield to support the lads, we all are.

It's the manager's job to sort out who we will keep and who will go. It looks like Lukaku wants to go to higher things, then the manager will probably view him as not a good asset for us. The others though, Well. I think it'd be best to let the new manager (if Monsewer Kenwright actually doesn't believe Roberto is the greatest after all) sort through our players, test them and then decide who he wants and who he doesn't.

Stones, Barkley, to me, are both lacking in a number of areas in the roles they play in. A manager should have identified those areas and worked with the kids on em.

Ross Barkley seems to be lost at times and the play just goes past and around him. He seems to have little idea of tackling and the need to harry (a la Steven Gerrard, Peter Reid, Bracers)

John Stones makes a lot of unforced errors that Martinez seems to be willing to allow him overcome in his own time, Gerry Deulefeu has not developed as he might well be able to under another manager.

So, those who want to go, if that includes Stonesy, then let them go but lets leave it to a new manager to decide if he can do something with a talented but flawed group of young players.

Verdict - As bad as any Villa side this season!

Relegation battles are won or lost in the mind. What I saw last night was a Championship performance from a side that gave up prior to arrival.

What a cancer he has become on this team. Not even an apology from them. We have tough times ahead.

Seriously we were contenders for 4th and yet from that point on we have nosedived into oblivion. The players don't look fit or organised and this keep ball in your own half and the slow paced indecisive football was present last season until the crowd got on their backs and they started to play.

The third season has seen a continuation of the theme, a manager who has no other plan but to keep the ball and score goals from open play only.

I was reading about Beckham spending hours perfecting free kicks, perfectly weighted passes swinging away from the defenders among other things. News from finch farm is our players don't bother with that.

Corners. What's the deal there? Is there any reason why the ball can't go to the back post and clear the defender? There is so much wrong with how we play and far too much reliance on a centre forward expected to ply his trade against 4 or 5 defenders and then create his own chances. It's supposed to be a team game and everyone is accountable for their job in the team but if they don't know what their job is or when to change things around. It used to be the captain that would either force the issue or put up the shutters, chasten players or cajole them but it don't happen. The whole culture of the club is toxic. The last straw was for a senior player to be made to apologise for saying the team lacked chemistry, even if the manager was unhappy about it he should have dealt with it behind closed doors.

Sorry I disagree, simply because ANY new guy would not be Martinez, who will detract from our performance on Saturday and wouldn't have the smell of a serial loser around him.

Anyone coming in would not have to do anything to boost the squad except to not be Roberto Martinez, Graeme Jones or Dennis Lawrence. Martinez is not the only one with an FA Cup win at the Club. Unsworth and Royle even as a purely figurehead player/manager combo as caretakers would be a good choice for Saturday in my opinion. I can't see them standing silently on the touchline arms folded all game.

Time is against us because of the summer tournament and because of the likelihood that at least two of our main players will leave. Failure to act now could well mean that even a talented replacement manager will struggle to re-organise in time. This league is brutal and if we enter 2016-17 while trying to bed in a new man in charge and new players then I fear for us.

I believe it is not an exaggeration to say that this period will determine our whole future as a top level club. Get it wrong and we could easily become another Leeds, Birmingham, Notts Forest and so on. I think we always have this worry at the back of our minds but it's a major risk in the present dire circumstances.

That's what's at stake.

I agree with you though he should have been sacked this morning. That lot sacked Rogers after a draw with us and we get battered 4-0 and still nothing. No self respect as a club, disgusting. We won't get hammered by United but it will be a comfortable win for them, surely that will be enough for us to wake up and get rid.

However, apathy has gotten more managers sacked than anger. Let's hope this is true for Martinez.

We have too many injuries now, plus the suspension of Mori, it would be a miracle if we didn't take another beating.

Genuinely feel for anyone who has to go to Wembley and suffer, but that's my honest opinion.

Is it just another day at FF? Watching videos of the game over tea and muffins? This club of ours needs a fucking rocket up its arse ASAP!!!

The players of course should be ashamed of themselves but it is the manager who should be able to get such an expensive squad of players to do the bear minimum and last night it looked as if he achieved just that.

What the owners and directors see in the manager only they know, as to most interested observers there is nothing left for him to offer the club, he appears to be bereft of ideas and lacks the necessary motivational skills that the current situation requires.

The Chairman or somebody at the club should make it known to the fans that they will stand by their man or tell us that they will review the situation at the end of the season, because having no real clarity aside from the sound bite "What A Manager" has caused the issue to spiral out of control, the fans are uncertain, the players are uncertain and the manager is uncertain and that after years of stability is not the Everton way is it?

I think I'll stick 㿞 on him to be here, at least then I can seriously drown my sorrows.

As for Mr. Stones, while we've all seen the "official" explanation for his removal yesterday, I remain unconvinced. To me, that looked like a player unable to cope with the moment and taking the easy way out. No doubt about his ability and potential but seems to be seriously lacking in mental toughness and possibly character. Martinez hasn't done the lad any favors to be sure, but there is absolutely no excuse for quitting - especially in a derby!! For the right offer, I would move him along sharpish.

Dark days

No regard for the fans then, or even the best interests of the club.

Reckon the Yanks would have got shut by now if they had been successful.

Very depressing, now worried about life under Moshiri.

What better time to do it? A sacking can often have a positive effect for the next few games. Teams normally go on a 2/3 match run which would be perfect for us at this time.

Give Unsi the job till the end of a season, reward him for what seems to be a decent job with the U21s.

But much as it hurts, I do want us to make progress on Saturday for the sake of the thousands of Evertonians who have spent good money in the cause of their club.

I now read that neither Kenwright nor his investor bothered to make the trip so no embarrassment for them, then. Woods obviously left early to miss the traffic !

No news today and I suspect we are stuck with the bugger for a while yet !

I think most of us were having a difficult time yesterday keeping everything down and in watching that spectacle unfold!

Please think big !

They are actually going to let him stay on? I can´t even begin to describe how that makes me feel.

Martinez is undoubtably the problem but we can't ignore the other leading villain of the piece for my money: Bill Kenwright.The contrast last night between the two teams couldn't have been more marked and that in itself is a huge pointer as to why we've ended up in this absolutely shambolic fucking mess!

One club has a board that at least takes some notice of its supporters while the other (our team) has a board which does its level best to ignore supporters for as long as it can get away with it. Additionally under Kenwright the board has not been above taking steps to silence dissatisfied supporters.

Everton's Board despite the two pretty disastrous years under Martinez still presides over a decidedly undemocratic regime. In an age were supporters contribute to their clubs more than they ever did either through gate money (although this is apparently needed less by clubs than ever before) and also through their subscriptions to to Sky and BT etc supporters remain a pretty disenfranchised bunch. This is never more evident when after a steadily growing discontent with the manager (or maybe because of it) Kenwright, makes one of his rare but predicable appearances after the Chelsea game, to effective give two fingers to the fans with his "what a manager" quote. How can a chairman who professes to be ‘one of us' be so out of touch with the fans?

Brendan Rogers, with a better record than Martinez, was rightly give the heave-ho by their board when the the fans' discontent began to grow louder. The Liverpool board then select a manager with a proven track record. Contrast that with the way Bill Kenwright operates. Apparently his rule of thumb is to only appoint a manager who works within a 50 mile radius of Goodison Park. Far less effort involved. Despite his assertions to the contrary I don't believe, for one minute, that he interviewed anyone else for the Everton job when he selected Martinez. Somebody made a suggestion (possibly Moyes) and I reckon he jumped at the chance to take the easy path.

He has turned Everton Football Club in to a hobby for his personal enjoyment. Selecting Managers who indulge him and with whom he can enjoy endless footballing chats. It seems to me that some time ago he realised he had little chance of ever presiding over a team intent on winning trophies so he decided to turn match days in to some sort of theatre event where winning was not quite so important.

Timelines, murals,half time kick abouts, Everton in the community were all part of the package and all the stress and hassle involved with driving for trophies would become far less central to our raison d'etre. Our club motto could become ‘doing it in the community but never on the pitch'. I'm not in anyway knocking what the club do in the community and these have a place in a club that's successful but at the moment they look remarkable like diversionary tactics.

We have quite simply morphed in to an unprofessional outfit that has forgotten what it's main aim is. The partners in this doomed project Bill Kenwright and Roberto Martinez is a marriage made in heaven. Two bullshitters inexorably drawn to each other and able to talk endless football related shite, whether in front of the camera or not. However never expect either of them to deliver anything which gets close to what supporters desire most.

I contend that the mess we're in lies firmly at the feet of Kenwright and Martinez is simply his emissary on the pitch.However it must be said there is just a faint glimmer of hope and it may be that Kenwright has at long last done the right thing (perhaps the only thing) for the supporters. That hope is in the wooing of Moshiri. We have to hope that Mr Moshiri will now realise it's time (particularly after last night's unbelievable capitulation) for him to take proper control and to do it immediately.

It's naïve to expect a fully democratic system to operate at our club but I do expect them to listen to the supporters particularly when their dissatisfaction grows, as it now has, to a crescendo.

I am now utterly convinced by the point made by Lyndon's point that he should go now before the semi and a management team under Joe Royle should take over. This for me is the best chance we have of preventing our trip to Wembley from being a repeat of last night's fiasco.

Is anyone out there listening? Probably not.

But nothing happened, with many even saying proudly that Everton doesn't operate like that, and we don't want to be like Spurs or the shite.

Well, the reds did sack their manager. At the time we were above them in the table. Now, they have an outside shot of a champions league spot while we languish at 41 points. They have a quality manager who has been able to spend half a season evaluating the players so he'll know who needs to go in the summer. And of course, they just humiliated us.

So we did nothing because mediocre is totally acceptable at this club now. We have a new majority shareholder but it appears nothing is changing. Failure will be tolerated, as will embarrassment. Not by the reds supporters. Not by Spurs supporters. Not even by West Ham supporters. But here, yeah why not. Last season wasn't enough. The first half of this season wasn't enough. So why do we think that last night will be some watershed moment?

I can see him finishing the season and I could honestly even see him getting the start of next season. It wouldn't surprise me one bit. But God forbid we supporters voice our displeasure with banners or marches or any of that. We're just friendly plucky Everton. Happy to be here, we'll treat everyone nicely and watch others demand success while we just sort of exist.

Everton have to stop appointing nobodies as manager. We need a man with stature and prestige. A proven winner with a record of success behind him. If we going to have money to spend then we need the right man to spend it. Someone who is known across the football world. Someone who can convince big money players to sign for us instead of City, Arsenal, ManU, Chelsea, Spurs. Because considering our current predicament a big name manager is all the hope we have of attracting anybody.

If we have to tolerate this nitwit until the end of the season as long as we get the manager we are all desperate for then so be it.

You know what the really scary part is? 18 years ago Arsenal hammered us 5-0. Tony Adams scored. We were brushed aside. In all the years since then we have made absolutely no progress at all. Just the same also ran rubbish now as we were then.

Sad sad times.

But can you really imagine that a man worth £1.25 Billion is so stupid as to allow Martinez to spend his money in the summer transfer fest ?

These conundrums are all very Lerneresque - just look at Villa's league and Cup records last season and what has happened since !

Surely someone has told The Investor the old proverb that if you place your trust in a fool (Kenwright ), he'll end up making you look foolish !

That was the first question the second question being asked is 'who are the 11% - well it's now 13% by the way.'

So let's answer the second question first - don't know who the others are but I am one of the 13%

Next the $64K question - My answer is no - not before but win or lose he should certainly go afterwards and BEFORE the final.

So that's it, where I stand OUT but after the SEMI.

How about after the semi or the final - regardless of the outcomes - we request every TW member who would be supportive - to write to Mr Moshiri requesting he replace Martinez before next season.

I'm sure someone could find a suitable (business) address.

He's never going to read them but if several thousand arrived he would be made aware of it and would surely look into why - if he doesn't already know. I don't think we can sit back and rely on providence (or for that matter Bill Kenwright's common sense should that exist) to move things for us!

Just what is the Everton way? Happy to make up the numbers, glad to be involved and basically performing like a spare prick at a wedding?.

I can't believe that Martinez is still here, last night was a total capitulation and yet he still waffles crap.

There are undoubtedly many problems that Everton face in the next few weeks, and yet the biggest is the easiest to solve.
Kick the manager into touch NOW.

It won't make any difference for the semi because I don't think we have a prayer. Sad days indeed for this club, absolutely shameful.
MARTINEZ OUT!

Game after game he has told the media how fantastic and phenomenal players are. Last night they brought shame on our club. In all the years watching Everton it was the worst performance I have seen. Everton looked divisions apart.

The only thing Reberto did right last night and all season was be honest. No pundit words or words of comfort. He couldn't defend his team in any form. When your players don't perform for you as a manager. There can only be one outcome. Go gracefully Reberto. Reflect on your mistakes and come back stronger.

that a great link to an eye opening article. I can guarantee Kenwright reads the Guardian so if he was oblivious before he won't be now.

I hope the Moyes connection is not in anyway a possibility. That really would be a retrograde step literally and metaphorically.

Good luck to all of you whether travelling down or not!

I really think he must go before Saturday. There is a trophy to be won and a place in Europe to be gained - which makes us more appealing t0 players and raises our profile in a positive way - not like last night. Remove him now and give it to a blue - DF, DU or KS or all of them. The lift will be immediate to the club, players and fans. That relief can only be a positive for Saturday. These players are capable of beating the poorest MU team for a generation - they know it, we know it. So get on with BK, bite the bullet and give us hope for Saturday, delay and its all over anyway.

Gallows humour ha got me through today - I heard he was getting the Supervet in, as he's good at fixing back paws. Sorry !

An excellent article and the summary around the loss of confidence of the players in the manager and the manager's own realisation that his position is untenable.

I find the result from last night is no better or worse than I expected, I didn't even bother kicking my wife off the computer to watch it (which I had done last Saturday) purely because I knew we did not stand a chance. Having watched Lennon running round like a headless chicken in too many games lately, the kick the ball out when defending only to see it come right back again and the general lack of qualtiy or guile in our play, I knew we were in for a hiding. At the end of the game when the BBC told me it was all over at 4-0 all I could think was thank God Rush wasn't playing because it could have been worse than the 5-0 back in 82/83.

I never wanted Martinez, I told my family who were keen on him being appointed that his record clearly showed that he could not take a team forward and that his record with Wigan showed continuous decline. Even after he was signed they sang his praises even when I pointed out after the West Ham game the weaknesses in his defensive strategy and that the pedestrian pace of the passing game he is so enamoured of would become even worse when we played teams who pressed up against us and did not allow us time to dwell on the ball.

That first season was an exception to the normality that we are now used too and solely because Martinez had bad tactics from day 1 not just the last two seasons.

It takes a lot of balls to sack a manager two or even one day before an FA cup semi final, the consequences either way would split the board. Poor old Billy Bingham just happened to have a cold blooded chairman on the day, Roberto doesn't have to worry about that with the current board.

When he is sacked, and there is no doubt that he will because the new owner will be very aware that Wigan were relegated (and would have been the following season if they hadn't gone down immediately) after winning the cup, the new owner will be looking very carefully at both what football styles are winning trophies, what are the current managerial weaknesses and what managers are giving the impression that they can fix those weaknesses and apply a winning style. When you have just bought in to a Premier League club you don't want to see the investment collapse within the first 12 months so I imagine that Moshiri is even now working with the headhunters to get a new manager.

As to our Bill Kenwright, this is a man who is ill and lives his life in romantic roles whether in the theatre or on the football pitch. Like many Evertonians, including myself, he harks back the days of the School of Science and the all to brief golden period of the early to mid 80s when we should have gone on to even greater things but for events in a foreign land. His reasons for appointing Martinez are rooted in that romantiscism and there are still far too many Everton fans who want to play beautiful football believing that beautiful football will win you things. The problem is that dream is unreal. We need a manger who can look at what is actually a reasonable squad of player and determine what style of play will actually win games, beautiful football be damned. Even the School of Science had hard nosed utility players who provided the defensive and tackling services that you need to allow the likes of Alex Young to do his thing. And grinding out that awful 0-0 draw or 1-0 win that takes you that step closer to the title or the cup is something that every team has to do at some point in the season.

For me I wish Kloppp had a competitive twin but I will make do with a manager who realises that modern football is fast and that the ability to score from three passes as well 33 is vital.

Sean #217 its not pointless to sack him before the semi, the damage that has been done already, it just can't get any worse so we have absolutely nothing to lose by getting rid before Saturday apart from the lazy attitudes of the players...and lets face it, the sooner we lose those attitudes the better.

I have thought for some time that BK is not and will never be a true Evertonian and his total inaction is just confirming those views. His inability to be in touch with the very people who he tries to identify with, ie the fans, just shows how much he isn't one of us. He is, along with Martinez, slowly killing our club. If no action is taken then the not so slow decline may take years to rectify.

I am sure I am not alone thinking this, but after already buying my season ticket for next season, my dilemma is whether I am actually going to use it as I cannot watch that despicable spineless rubbish any longer. Its just too painful. It is just heartbreaking watching my club, my team capitulate in such a gutless way. No point listing all the catastrophes of the past 2 years as they have been done to death, but as Lyndon in his excellent post writes, enough is enough.

I've admitted I was wrong and I feel no shame in that. I thought the first season was great, the second season understandable to a degree so I was quite prepared to give him till Xmas to prove to everyone he was the right man for the job. Unfortunately, he's failed miserably and it's time to move on.

This isn't the end for Everton, we've been through worse (or just as bad) and we've always survived and we will survive this. It wasn't even the worse derby performance I've witnessed tbh. I bunked into the kop, as a very young, frightened boy, in 1972 to see us destroyed, humiliated and battered. I was also on the kop, equally scared, in '76 when we lost 3-1 and it felt like it was 10-0. 1982 is not even worth mentioning , same as the 'Gerrard Derby' etc...... Too many heartaches and disappointments to mention but we go on.

This embarrassment needs to be turned into something positive and for me that would be seeing the back of BK and his manager, and a new, ambitious team at the helm.

Robert.Elstone@Evertonfc.com
Bill.Kenwright@Evertonfc.com

Although I think the email servers have died under the weight of traffic... I sent a couple before and they never delivered.

Good read... thanks for the link. Interesting that Martinez was so intent on having a pop at Moyes; are there, perhaps, strong rumours circulating within Goodison that we, mere mortals, are unaware of?

We have a self perpetuating inferiority complex. It has to stop.

Start again as a Club and stop benchmarking against others, especially our nearest and dearest. Have our own identity and let our grandchildren reap the rewards; we wont

That's from The Blue Union who say they've had the information from two separate sources.

The result at the weekend will be a factor, and after last night how can we expect to get to the cup final... it just gets worse with the idiot in charge. He turns very good players into very poor ones with his tippy-tappy game in our own goal mouth... Let's get shut now!!!

RS mate who keeps tabs on betting forums etc says rumours are rife about a meeting this evening

Get him f*cking sacked !!!!!!!!! Please

Why the fuck would OFM be present? Is he Moshiri's new consultant or something?

Mike T Jones - thank you. And yes, I believe we need a day zero approach to fixing the malaise before we do a Villa in the season to come.

Colin I'm guessing Moyes is just standing in the corner staring menacingly, whilst punching one hand with the other (wearing black leather gloves).

So annoyed that Martinez will be involved in the FA Cup by the looks of it. Don't think we have a shout, but if by some real twist of fate we do get through and even claim the trophy - the prospect of a grinning clown looking up as we get presented with the cup might just make me 'gag'! Let's make sure we give the team our full support - but make it clear it has nothing to do with Roberto!

Finally, I'm very concerned about the Moyes rumours. He did a great job initially, over-stayed his welcome and then jumped ship understandably but rather ungraciously (remember the Baines saga?) I wish him good elsewhere - but we need a complete fresh start at the end of this season!

Now I appreciate that our current situation leaves few straws left to grasp.

That SOMETHING will happen is unavoidable. Moshiri didn't lay out all those millions to sit and watch someone else run his Club.

But maybe we lay off anything has the word "tweet" in it.

Bill is to stay on for two more years to run the club while Moshiri will take care of the stadium but he's far from convinced that he can trust Martinez with his money. Moshiri will have the final say on Roberto's future not luvvy dovey.

Surely we can do better than go back for the future ?

I'm guessing they're just covering their arses, but interesting nonetheless.

Of course, our source may be one and the same person !

MARTINEZ OUT NOW

Just get us someone who understands what he's doing. Three years in the job and RM presides over the worst set of home results in the club's history. That finally confirmed for me the man has to go. There is just no way you can make up for such an awful record, not even by winning a big shiny cup like the one Wigan won. I watched the Latics on Tuesday night - playing Burton Albion in League 1 at the Pirelli.

The fact the Board have not sacked him before the cup says it all about BK the dreamer and his clueless stewardship. RM should have been sacked today, end of. Put Joe Royle in charge until the end of the season. Give us some hope on Saturday.

As usual Everton do nothing. Except to sell us a load of semi final nonsense souvenirs. I do not want to be reminded of this semi final as under this lunatic we will be mullered. The evidence is staring us in the face.

Now the only thing I have to look forward to is a trip to Wembley with a bunch of sound lads from Kirkby, and having a few bevvies.

The club are letting us spend a fortune. Thanks BK for your years of neglect and please take your flags with you when you walk away into the sunset. I am afraid your soap opera will end shortly when you and your spanish buddy are shown the door.

COYB

Can't imagine anyone beside you and few other Evertonians would accept, "The thing is I am sure many on here would prefer finishing in 16th place with an FA cup win, rather than 8th with little to show for.

16th, eh? Not 17th or 18th? 19th? Even your "16th"
acknowledges Roberto isn't the guy to take us forward.

We all want a win this weekend, John. And a win in the final.

But the way forward under our new ownership can't include Roberto Martinez, FA Cup win or not.

Seriously, get lost with that commentary. Injury problems? We've had a full strength side almost all seasons. Our league position is a travesty. A Cup means nothin mg if we're a terrible team. Honestly, Wigan winning it that season while being relegated should tell everyone how meaningless those competitions are in the grand scheme of things.

In modern football it's all about competing at the top of the league and in Europe, that's it. Why he fuck do you think Martinez jumped ship after he won the cup and relegated them? A cup obviously wasn't enough to keep him, McCarthy, Kone and Robles with Wigan, why the hell would it be enough to keep actually talented individuals?

I keep saying it but I want to know, name me which clubs the previous two season would be seen as successful and the manager not be shown the door. Liverpool, City, United, Chelsea, West Ham, Spurs, Arsenal, Southampton? Any of them? No. Even Swansea showed their manager the door. He has absolutely no right to still be employed by Everton.

Yet from my point of view and I could very well be wrong, it is a sugar coated overly optimistic, positive spin on the current situation. I admire you John in your positivity yet I cannot agree sorry.

To call Fellaini, a "major goal scoring threat" is where you lost me I'm sorry. Decent player for us but a makeshift striker in times of need, no more. You talk of injuries, some might say some injuries are caused by players lacking fitness?

It's nice somebody is trying to be positive but you cannot deny the current crap we've put up with for too long isn't down to Martinez. We are slowly but surely being "WIganised".

I've no desire at all for the return of OFM, but only a fool can't see that the longer Martinez has been here, he's just diluted the defensive responsibility and FIGHT of our, what used to be known as "team".

I agree the summer should bring new better quality players to replace our "old guard", but Martinez should not be the man spending the cash.

If I'm wrong on this call me up in the future and shoot me down in flames by all means. If the club has any balls about it whatsoever the current manager needs to go sooner than later. NSNO.

What a Chairman

Which brings me to John Stones. I really like Stones. I think he is a special footballer. But he is playing in a side that lacks chemistry and endeavour; he wants to play the ball out, and I think the efforts of the other players have been letting him down. The whole situation at the club has clearly gotten to him - and to everyone else too. Nobody has shown any consistently good form for months. Anyway, I hope he stays and turns it around as I believe he will become a huge success at a team that doesn't have the sorts of problems that we currently have.

I'm also surprised at some of the scorn that has been poured on Funes Mori. He mistimed a tackle. It was nasty. He was shocked to get sent off. He grabbed the badge. While all of that is regrettable now, in the moment he was trying to inject some passion into the game. I wish that some of his team-mates showed similar levels of frustration and commitment.

Martinez has to go. Right now. I really don't think it matters who takes over in the short-term; if the situation is as bad as the performances indicate then the players will get a huge bounce from a new regime - whatever and whoever it is - because it cannot really be any worse than at present.

Finally, well done to all the people who cannot shut up about how they always knew that Martinez was rubbish. Maybe it's just me but I sort of feel it's the wrong time to crow about that. I'm really disappointed he's turned out to be a charlatan because for a time at the beginning I really thought - and hoped - that he might be something special. I've gradually - like a lot of fans - come to discover that he isn't, and it's a bit shit.

On this thread, many have been trying to make comparisons with former managers' times but, in my understanding and having watched the team since the mid-1950s, there has been nothing to compare with this. I have never seen an Everton team actually give up/surrender, throw in the towel.
The CEO should garnish Board approval to remove Roberto from his contract and compensate him according to the provisions of the contract. This will allow Everton to start the recovery process and Roberto to ply his trade elsewhere and maybe successfully in that different environment. The alternative, of course, would be for Roberto to resign immediately after the semi-final, win or lose............ only a miracle will provide a win, I suppose.

For the first 19 years of my life, I was a football (soccer for Americans like me) non-fan. I knew nothing. I thought, or at least assumed, it was as boring as I remembered it being while playing on a team in grade school that won maybe 4 games in 5 or 6 years. We were dreadful, and it drove me away because I didn't know any better. Fast-forward to my first year at university and I'm convinced to give it a try. Needless to say, I couldn't get enough and would watch anything and anyone.

Come the summer, I watched virtually every WC game. At the end, I had decided who I'd support: Everton (and I'm not ashamed to say it was as much because of TIm Howard's beard as it was because of his saves against Belgium. After that, I watched as much as I could find and read even more about the history of the club since it's much harder to find Everton matches than RM-Barca Copa del Rey finals and ManU matches. I decided I had made not just a good choice, but the right one too.

"Attractive," "attacking," "gutsy," "talented," "young." They were all words I heard used to describe the club, and what it had managed to achieve with considerably less money and notably less prestige within the modern game than bigger clubs like ManU, Chelsea, Arsenal, ManCity, and Liverpool.

And yet in many ways they were the "bigger" club. They were often the "bigger" people, and so were their fans. Maybe fallen on hard times, maybe having to fight for everything given to them, but always giving youth a chance, always going out of their way to help their community, always doing the right thing.

It's strange, really, that I ended up supporting whom I support. I'm an upper-middle class American with political views starkly different from those held by most Toffees. I should support Chelsea, Arsenal, or one of the Mancunians by default. But something stuck. I don't know what. But something. When I visited Goodison one weekend last summer while studying in Denmark for the summer, it was my favorite place I went, including the 3 weeks I spent on the continent later on. I can't wait to return someday to watch a match in person.

But after the success of the 2013/14 season, about which I read a great deal and was able to watch regrettably little, and the even greater future it promised, 2014/15 was, of course, a let down. I, like many, maybe even most, assumed it was just a blip on both the club's and Martinez's radars easily attributable to the tired legs and tired minds with which a European campaign can curse a team lacking experience with playing those extra games. I was convinced we'd come back stronger; I was wrong.

But you'd have thought we would be, right? We didn't lose anybody notable, I thought at the time, and the addition of Cleverley plus Deulofeu and Lennon on fulls were quality moves and showed intent. (Over the course of the season, I'd add Funes Mori's name to that list now too as, over the course of the season and despite his most recent performance, which was truly grotesque, he's been easily our best defender, and I'd argue our second-best player, sometimes even surpassing Lukaku for that title. Maybe that's just me looking for a bright spot in a dismal campaign.) Over the season we've been pretty poor. We flatter to deceive almost 100% of the time. We don't look like we've forgotten how to defend; we look like we've forgotten that we were supposed to be doing much of anything. The passing attack is occasionally inspiring, but three times as often it looks like we've forgotten that the ball goes in the back of the net, not in a constant circle 40 yards away from it.

Simply put, I can count on one hand the number of times we've looked certifiably good, slightly more where we've looked bad, tons where I've nearly fallen asleep, and last night, which was worse than bad.

I arrived at the same conclusion as most now have about Martinez probably in November, and it's all gone downhill since, both in terms of results and what my opinion of him now is. He MUST go. I know this'll sound like the proto-typical American who wants results, results, results, or else he'll give up and move onto the next thing, but I don't how much more of this I can stand before just giving up watching and supporting all together. We're aimless, and, spineless. Worst of all, we're leaderless. I realized recently that we've pretty much been that way since the beginning of December. In the league, we've played 6 more games since then than before (b:a 14: 19). We've won one fewer game than during the first 14 and have loss more than twice as many. This article mentions Barkley, and that's incredibly telling. He has 6 league goals. His last one came against Bournemouth, in the exciting but immensely troubling and frustrating 3-3 draw, on November 28. If that's not convincing I don't know what is.

Even if we win the FA Cup, the cup performances not enough for be to say he should keep his job. The run of fixtures in both competitions has been rather easy (I'd argue the 2nd easiest among the semifinalists, in both competitions). The results have been unconvincing, particularly in the League Cup, and the performances in the league have matched.

With a new owner and the big bucks (and expectations) that come with it,

I got into Everton because I liked what they stood for: hard work, , grassroots support, community involvement, determination. That's not the team I've been suffering through this season. We're leaderless, a team in search of a manager. The trouble is that we're still paying somebody to go play at it every single day. And it's got to change. At first I was wary of firing Bobby before season's end, now I'm 50/50. Anything is better than what we've got right now.

That's not the team I've been watching this season. But it can be.

I know that was extremely long-winded and that it was at the bottom of over 300 comments, so if you've made it here, bravo to you and thank you so much for putting up with the ramblings of a sleep-deprived Texan. Good night, and good luck.

But times up for Roberto. He's had 3 seasons. We're going backwards. He has signed some decent players but he can't get them to perform consistently, he can't get them to defend, they seem unfit and its either dull to watch or absolutely nerve shredding.

I can't watch the team anymore - I don't ever remember feeling like that.

I've seen Bingham and Lee come to the end. And Mike Walker and Walter Smith. If feels the same now. We are in relegation form - we can't continue. FA Cup or no, doesn't matter we need a new man in charge by the beginning of the summer.

I have said for weeks to my fellow season ticket holders around me that Stones is a holding midfielder that loves to come forward on occasion and not a defender if he's gonna come out of this a better player I can only see that as an option, he requires a back four behind him so when he stumbles as he learns there's another line of defence behind him

Martinez is no tactician and not the man we need at this club

He is as spineless as the team or may I say bunch of individuals that Martinez has created. Against Utd they will fold at some point, I have precious little evidence to the contrary.

COYB

Maybe with his severance package Martinez could go buy himself a new fucking jacket.

Sick of seeing it in every picture of him for the last 3 years. In fact I'm pretty sure I even recall him playing in it for Swansea.

BlueJacketOUT

Lukaku and Co might think they will be getting moves at the end of the season but it won't be as simple as that as transfer wise we don't roll over.

Martinez should get the sack after Saturday if it goes badly.

He and the players disgraced this great club on Wednesday.....graft like fuck on Saturday and you still have a slight chance.....though you shouldn't.

I thought long and hard about renewing my season ticket as did not want to be there when we are relagated.
So keep looking as it HAS to happen the sooner the better so the next chapter can start in the Everton rebuilding.

Did anyone else see, or hear, the alleged comments made by Cleverley that during the half time warm up (by the subs) Niasse couldn't pass the ball in a straight line? He kept on passing the ball to Niasse and then had to chase the return pass as it was going miles away from him.

Why would he want to buy a new jacket Phil? That is his lucky jacket!!
Christ, do you thinks it's the jacket's fault - perhaps he hasn't twigged!!!

Any player with a future (so that would be Robles, Oviedo, Galloway, Davies, Connolly, Deulofeu, Lukaku, even Coleman, Baines, Jagielka and Funes Mori plus most of the U21s) will want to get away from this talent destroying idiot.

I've been disgusted with the performances for much of this season, and last as no better, but the wanton destruction of real skill and talent is what finally does it for me.

You embody, once Everton has touched you, you are never the same as said by that little ginger haired genius that was Alan Ball.

Perceived wisdom of the dailies is that defeat tomorrow will trigger the switch but I'm not so sure I want to contemplate that. No true Evertonian will want to come away from Wembley feeling as we all did after the derby so god forbid that happens.

Of course, a defeat might well make it more difficult for BK to defend ' his' man to Moshiri but that assumes there is, or will be, any conflict of opinion between them. Compensation will also be a factor which might affect the timing of dismissal so we may be kept waiting until the bitter end of the season before any decision is made.

Regardless of the ultimate Cup outcome, it will be Bill's pride which will, as ever, take precedence over the best interests of the Club so I think we can stop scouring NewsNow for the time being at least.

In terms of the wider points about Kenwright, I've always thought the relationship he has with the managers who work for him are a problem. He's become (in his own words) close personal friends with Smith, Moyes and now Martinez and I think that's dangerous, in the same way as a manager shouldn't get too close to his players. Football's a ruthless business and personal feelings shouldn't come into it.

I've recently read Rob Sawyer's excellent book about Catterick and its clear that although he and John Moores had a mutual respect, it never crossed the line into personal friendship and Catterick never felt like he could take his position for granted, and this was a man who brought the club two league titles.

I've long suspected that part of the reason Martinez was attractive to Kenwright was because the relationship Martinez had with Dave Whelan at Wigan was apparently similar to the one Kenwright had with Moyes at Everton.

Clearly there's no way he's getting cut before the Semi. If they were going to do that, they'd have done it in the players' tunnel at Mordor on Wednesday. Lose tomorrow though, particularly if it's a hiding, and I can't see any point in keeping him. The last two home games will be toxic for him and the Board. Rightly so.

He's getting a fair grilling from the hacks though. Usual bullshit excuses of course.

Sounds like Jags will struggle to make it. Baines, Oviedo and Stones as an experimental back 3!

if he did I'm firing off an email now to tell the fxcking prick exactly what he deserves.

Roberto.Martinez@Evertonfc.com

and I know he picks them cos I sometimes get an out of office from his PA

I am worried what the player's attitiudes might be if they think he's gone if we lose tomorrow. I'm not convinced some of them are as dedicated to the cause as we are.

I've just read the Martinez quote from the press conference about Jagielka's injury situation. It reads "We will treat his feelings rather than the injury and see how that shapes up before that game". Anybody got any idea whatsoever what that actually means?

Even allowing for TW renowned hostility and negativity towards managers it's almost impossible to imagine a scenario where RM can continue as manager. FA cup or not.

I read Martinez' comments about Jags "Feelings" too. Lord knows what he's on about. You're either fit or you're not.

Manager and players need to ensure they put the shifts in and ensure they use us as a true 12th man and a place in the final can still be had.

They should know now what we appreciate so go to it lads. Together we can do it.

UP THE BLUES

Living as I do, for much of the year in Pafos, Cyprus, I find an increasing number of my neighbours to be Russian emigres. Strangely, the two I have found to share my interest in 'the beautiful game' are both followers of Arsenal's fortunes rather than Abromavich's Chelsea. They have reasons for that, I'm sure !

I've questioned both about their country's player of the year and all I get sounds like 'ABONHNK' and '6PAT' and frenetic laughter.

It couldn't possibly be the case (could it ?) but the nearest translation I can get from their wives is 'Brother ' and' Doppelganger'. Interesting, eh ?

What a manager

Finally, Roberto Martinez is asked whether captain Phil Jagielka is likely to be available for the semi-final having missed recent matches with a hamstring injury.

He said: "Knowing Phil he is desperate to play but we are not going to say no and we are going to [look at] his feelings rather than the injury.

What does that even mean?!?!

That was very funny mate. Burst into a yelping laugh in the pub.

"I've managed a lot of games and I think it's the first game in England I've managed on a Thursday night, I've done it away in Europe and I might just have got the preparation wrong.

“I'll be looking at myself and all the staff in respect of the way we did this, in case we have to play on a Thursday night again."

Not suggesting TP as a future candidiate by any means but nice to see a manager who puts his hand up personally and says he got it wrong, hardly seen RM take any personal responsibility at all this season.

People do get hammy's, especially at this unfit Club eh Seamus?

A groin can go without warning, been there done that, hard luck there Bazza.

I bet it's the last time you have one of those Goodison pies John Stones.

In fact Distin was 'Injured' before we found out the truth if I remember. Howard picked up a handy 'knock' when the pressure got too much. Have I missed anybody out? if so sorry.

Martinez has (alleged) form for this sort of shinanigins...could be an (alleged) case of the biter bit.

Obviously it fxcking works then, eh!?

So it comes down to not won't play but can't boss...damn those soft tissue injuries, damn them all to hell *sinks to knees, head bowed.

Robert#380
There's a lot to be said for a final salary pension......;-)

I mean, whats actually happened since hes come in apart from a few boardroom moves that seem to have little or no effect or publicity. He's not even come out with the dreaded "vote of confidence" for Martinez.

It all smacks a little bit too much of the same old Everton, silence from the club and little or no important decisions or changes being made, something just doesn't feel right to me! I hope I'm wrong but has Bill sold us his biggest lame duck yet?

Don't get me wrong: I want us to win, as always... but, if it means this pathetic excuse for a manager hangs on to his job, it will be bittersweet.

You are absolutely right and have hit the nail on the head. I see Kenwright's problem as being that he dosen't keep his distance from the managers he employs.

When someone becomes your friend, you are naturally more forgiving of them, but it's a mistake for a chairman to do this. At the very least, he should be sitting down with Martinez and spelling it out – 4-0 drubbings are not acceptable; lose again in the semi-final and you are gone.

We can only hope if Moshiri starts spending his own money that he will expect higher standards. It's the only way I can see things at this club changing.

I don't want to see managers fired willy nilly but, like another poster earlier said, other managers like Tony Pulis admit their mistakes and try to learn from them, whereas Martinez continues to live in denial.

I appreciate lots of Evertonians feel strongly about protests feeling it is not the 'Everton way'. If this is how you feel then please answer this one question:

How else can Evertonians make their feelings known to the board about Martinez position and tenure as manager of the club without protesting?

If we as supporters do nothing expecting the likes of Bill and Co to do the honourable thing we are being disingenuous to ourselves because the boards past form show the board are not in the habit of making changes unless their hand is forced by the will of the fans.

I am not advocating a sea change mentality from the 'Everton way' as this is what makes us unique but sometimes extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary action!

I was at the Southampton game, the silence was deafening!

However, that hasn't prompted any response from on high.

I'm making my own protest by staying away! Never thought I'd do that.

An empty stadium is all I can come up with!!!

Keep the faith Mike and as we all hope and pray for new manager soon (with the FA Cup in the cupboard or not) major investment and hopefully Moshiri taking over all control and keeping the talent we have for ours and their futures.

NSNO

These so called journalists are just not up to the job. Surely the response to that should be "Do you mean results haven't been good enough for the past two seasons"?

'You need to look at the many times when we have turned it around this season. We have had real blows and reacted in a good manner and taken responsibility.

When exactly? MARTINEZ OUT!!!

Ever Blue,
Ever True,
EVERTON.

I wanted Martinez, out before tomorrow; it hasn't happened. I hope the players wake up tomorrow, and think to themselves, fuck the manager, I might not want to play for him, but I do want to play in the FA CUP final, for Everton next month.

If Jagielka makes it tomorrow, I think it will be the biggest boost we will have had for a long time, but hamstrings are a fucking nightmare because they just don't let you sprint. I pray that Jagielka is fit because he's the one player I don't think we can do without tomorrow.

I'd much rather the former came true, given a choice.

Let's be clear, for the avoidance of doubt, and for the hard of thinking.

There is no upside to us going out today. None.

Martinez is gone even if we win the cup. I suspect he's been told that since the events of Wednesday night.

Winning the cup and then bobby gone the week after is an upside, what a week that will be.

Let's do this today.