Cruel end to a brave comeback
Fellaini scored, De Gea saved Lukaku's penalty before Deulofeu forced a Smalling own goal. Everton fought well but couldn't stop Martial scoring in added time.

After another poor first half and then a missed penalty, the players seemed to throw out the Roberto Martinez gameplan and came close with a spirited comeback.
Everton 1 - 2 Manchester United
It looked like a reprise of Woeful Wednesday as Fellaini scored with Man Utd dominant in the first half. But Everton won a questionable penalty that De Gea saved despite a very strong shot from Lukaku, and the Blues finally woke up, giving it a good game but still not really doing damage until a Deulofeu cross was turned in by Smalling. A strong comeback by the Blues almost came off until a sharp move cut through the Blues defence and Martial scored in the second minute of added time.
After the most traumatic of weeks for Evertonians, in a season of increasingly desperate trauma, some respite to the abysmal Premier League form was hopefully on offer at Wembley Stadium this afternoon. Despite a massive groundswell of derision toward the manager, many calling for him to be sacked before this pivotal game, Roberto Martinez remained in charge of his clearly unhappy retinue.
But today should have been more about the players and the fans, with Martinez having to cobble together a line-up that lacked Gareth Barry, possibly out for the rest of the season, Seamus Coleman also suffering with hamstring issues, and Ramiro Funes Mori, red-carded on that horrific night at Anfield.
Defender Matthew Pennington came into the squad as cover after being recalled from his loan spell at Walsall, with Tony Hibbert also on the bench. Captain Phil Jagielka was declared fit despite his current hamstring damage, with some uncertainty over who would play right back from four defensive midfielders in Gibson Cleverley, Besic, and McCarthy. Could the Blues line-up 4-3-3? Or 3-4-3?
Manchester United, with Rooney and Fellaini on the field, Martial and Rashford in attack, kicked off to get the game going, with Barkley running hard at Blind but not winning he ball as Man Utd played around a bit before hoofing it forward to Fellaini, to no avail, but the Reds controlling early play and slowing things down to a walking pace.
The Blues got a little possession but did nothing with it and a throw-in led to Martial galloping forward and winning a corner off superb defending by Stones. Robles collected, launched high to Lukaku who got past Blind but a horrendous first touch pushed him wide and allowed Wayne Rooney to get back on the line and head the ball away... hopeless really from Lukaku.
That at least livened up a rather sluggish start. Martial almost got past Lennon at right back but was body-checked. The free-kick from Rooney was glanced wide by Rojo. The Reds were clearly the better side despite that missed effort by Lukaku but the Blues did advance, Barkley with a low shot in on De Gea.
Rashord and Lingard got behind the Blue line and Robles was sharply out to block a certain goal, and Lingard then got on the end of a great diagonal ball but Robles was again out fast to snuff out the danger. But the Blues were poor trying to move the ball out of their half, giving possession up cheaply and Utd were soon on the attack, Besic halting the move with a good tackle.
Martial again got past Besic down the Everton right, Besic blocking out for another Utd corner taken by Blind deep, but a free-kick was ordered for Rojo pushing Jagielka. Another long ball to Lukaku and he did well to get ahead but his horrible horrible first touch, chest off knee, again pushed him far too wide and all he could do was pass the ball back to De Gea. A second golden chance squandered.
Lingard had the beating of Gibson but Baines was across sharply for another corner, taken short. Pressure on the Blues continued, Besic finally clearing, but only brief respite before Martial got on the end of another defense-splitting ball that was lashed over Robles and the Everton goal.
It was all one-way traffic, Fellaini heading back for Rashford but Robles saved the Blues again. Barkley tried to break out and was fouled. Baines got forward and crossed but straight to De Gea. The Blues continued to struggle for meaningful possession, exemplified by Stones playing forward to Lukaku's feet, the Big Man unable to make a telling pass.
Barkley finally probed forward but was immediately swarmed by three red defenders and it came to nought, while Utd surged forward again. But the Blues were getting a little more of the play... yet still not really threatening when they did have it at their feet. At the other end, Robles saved a weak shot from Rooney before Martial skipped past Besic and along the byeline, cutting it back to Fellaini who had an easy task even mis-hitting the ball as he converted high into the net past Robles. It had been coming...
The Blues tried to respond but were repelled on the edge of the area, Barkley's shot blocked, and the Reds were soon up the other end, winning a corner, as Everton were being increasingly outclassed by the sharper play of the Red Devils.
More slow, ponderous build-up play saw the ball again launched toward Lukaku's head and the lay-off just not sticking. Everton were a little more competitive in midfield and won a free-kick that was only taken short, but possession play was easily countered by a solid Reds defence that kept them well away from De Gea's goal.
Everton were simply not clicking, and in grave danger of collapsing as they had on Wednesday night, such was the paucity of their play, with all the bad habits created by Martinez's hopeless coaching coming to the fore as they went in after one added minute.
The Blues kicked off after the break, and showed a little more forward intent, Lennon looking for a free-kick as he was blocked off the ball at the byeline. More slow build-up play eneded with a forward ball played to Lukaku the tree-trunk that bounced back high and to an opposition player.
But the Blues did put something together, winning a free-kick wide left off Martial but headed away by Fellaini. Besic, now playing left-back(?) almost got caught and was saved by a handball call. Cleverley had a chance to release Barkley but his pass was impossible to control. Man Utd worked the ball forward and created a great chance for Lingard that he thankfully screwed wide.
Martial was fouled by Besic but the free-kick was defended away but a swift attack by Everton, Lukaku doing well, Barkley and Lennon combing, and Barkley getting a rather fortunate penalty, the defender just getting a touckh on the ball. Lukaku lashed the peknalty hard but De Gea had it down perfectly with a tremendous one-handed save to deny Everton an equalizer, no matter how unjust it might have been.
Everton got a good looking free-kick that Barkley did well to get over the wall... too well as De Gea had time to save again. But at least Everton were attacking, Lennon crossing to Cleverley coming in at the far post but his control was poor as he felt a touch off Lingard, but this not called as a penalty. .
Everton attacked again and again, as if they had finally found a new script, Barkley trying to curl a shot in but winning a corner that came to nothing. A high cross was too high for Lukaku, who should have left it to Besic coming in behind him, and another chance went begging.
At the other end, it looks like Fellaini would score from close range but Jagileka threw himself down in front of Robles and stopped it with his arm, unseen. Blues attacked with gusto, Lukaku heading over, then swinging in a fierce ball that Cleverley could not convert, then a corner swung in too deep.
Barkley picked the ball up and looked o run at the Reds but an interception dispossessed him and Deulofeu came on for Lennon with 20 minutes left. Deulofeu got a run but played the ball away not once but twice. He picked the ball up again on the left side later and passes it straight to a red shirt, creating another strong Man Utd attack down the Everton left.
The Blues tempo had flagged a little but the next attack finally saw a remarkable end product, Deulofeu pausing before firing in a cross that Lukaku had no chance of reaching because Smalling did his job for him, slicing the ball very nicely into the United net, Blues fans erupt!
A great attack don the left saw Barkley release Deulofeu but his cross didn't reach Lukakau as De Gea made a great interception. Baines then whipped in a fantastic ball that was just too high again for Lukaku. A counter by United won a couple of corners after a css went through everyone.
A fantastic counter attack, Deulofeu, Barkley and Lukaku but somehow they contrived not score when i seemed the easiest option, Fellaini getting the crucial interceptions the pace of the match reached fantastic new heights with seven minutes left of the 90. At the other end, another wicked low cross looked lie an open opportunity. Man Utd had a strong spell of attacks, Rooney playing in Rashford, Stones messing up but Jagielka rescuing him.
Hopefully the Blues had not shot their bolt but the final 10 mins were dominated by Man Utd, who switched Fellaini for Herrera. It was desperate defending at times but the Blues broke, Barkley unable to get away from Herrera, who rugby-tackled him, Barkley tumbling and kicking out a little in annoyance: yellow card. Nothing came of the free-kick and Utd attacked again, winning a corner as Gibson went down qwith cramp, 3 mins of added time shown as Robles catches the corner with confidence. Lukaku went on De Gea as he tried to clear, but only gave them a goal kick.
But seemingly from nothing, quick interpassing, the bounce beating Jagielka and Martial somehow wriggled through the Blue line and lashed the ball easily past Robles to win the game in added time. One final attack by the Blues before the whistle blew and that was it. The Everton players had put a great effort for 35 minutes after a pretty poor start that lasted all of 55 minutes. Not the capitulation many expected in the end, but crucial chances missed mean our name was not on the cup after all.
Reader Comments (326)
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2 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:27:13
3 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:29:28
4 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:35:27
Light stretching
Breathing exercises
Pasta
Isotonic drink
When it kicks off I'll have a beer and half time pasty.
Come on you Blues!!!
3-2 to us.
6 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:47:08
Coyb.
7 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:51:10
8 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:06:10
9 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:06:32
Jags partnered with Gibson at centre back and Stones right back...?
Dodgy...
A day for a hero to be born.
Make it happen, Blue Boys.
PLEASE make it happen.
10 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:11:17
11 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:11:38
12 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:11:57
13 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:32:17
On a more negative note, Man Utd have carved open our defence on a number of occasions already.
At least the blues seem up for it today. Could go either way!
14 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:38:08
15 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:48:52
16 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:59:15
17 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:59:37
18 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:01:16
19 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:06:17
20 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:08:20
Barkley is embarrassingly poor. Need a miracle.
21 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:08:25
22 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:08:46
23 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:09:50
Against a very average United team!
24 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:10:23
Hi is shot to pieces and needs to come off and give Geri a chance to support Rom.
25 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:11:22
26 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:18:20
27 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:21:57
We are playing with one striker, you would think the extra man in midfield would help control possession, but the exact opposite is happening! We are all over the place.
Man it really hurts supporting Everton. Manager who can't manage anything and players stumbling around aimlessly!
28 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:29:50
29 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:30:07
30 Posted 23/04/2016 at 18:32:14
31 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:08:10
32 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:08:25
33 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:09:53
34 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:10:01
Martinez has earned the sack. The first half was Martinez all over and we, the players and the media know it.
35 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:11:33
36 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:12:01
Knowing Everton and Martinez as I do, he will wax lyrical about the performance and will still be in place next season to lead our descent down the league table.
Unless Moshiri has had enough.
37 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:12:18
Seeing John, Ross, Rom and Del flying in that second half was something.
Gutted.
38 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:13:51
39 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:14:13
40 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:14:26
41 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:15:21
42 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:16:42
43 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:17:17
Stones was immense in midfield. Gibson was excellent. Barkley was very poor, didn't even pick up Rooney to stop his influence. I was asking why not Ossie? RM can get that taxi now.
44 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:17:50
45 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:19:19
This has to be the rock bottom that people talk about, when they say you have to be the lowest, before you can rise again.
Martinez out in order for us to soar once again!
COYB..... without that baggage!
46 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:20:16
47 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:20:38
48 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:20:42
49 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:21:03
The players took charge in the second half? Absolute bollocks just to suit your own agenda.
50 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:21:21
51 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:22:36
52 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:22:57
53 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:23:01
Maybe if we had started the game like we played second half we would have won that match..
Typically the defining week was just how I predicted last week..
A beating at Anfield followed by the predictable hard luck story tonight..
I am absolutely sick of being an Evertonian, it just never gets any better does it?.
Terrible game from Lukaku, why did he take the pen???
Terrible shape from the defence which lead to Martial's winner, why was Jagielka bursting out of the backline??
I really hate this team, what an absolutely horrible season this has developed into and no doubt will be topped off by Klopp working a miracle and winning the Europa League with that lot...
Totally utterly hate football.
Only we could lose three times to this United team..
I've washed my hands of all things Everton now.
Hope Leicester win the league and I sincerely hope Norwich win here on the last day to keep Naismith up..
54 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:23:08
55 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:23:58
56 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:25:21
57 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:26:00
58 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:27:52
As for the free kick for the winner. Why did they get a free kick? I saw nothing.
We were a fraction unlucky today and some of that was that it just wasn't Lukaku's day. He should look at that the next time he sounds off about Champions League. Just glad we didn't collapse.
But as stated above, 45 minutes and not scoring a goal ourselves against an average Utd team should not get Martinez breathing space. We went into it out of form hence why Lukaku was so rusty. That is down to the way we've been set up.
59 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:28:54
Great fight by us in the second half, and our travelling fans did us proud. Sadly it's all too little, too late for Roberto.
60 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:29:34
Newsflash for Lukaku: You're fucking not mate. That was the performance of a fucking donkey!
Why the fuck that ball wasn't handed to Baines to take the penalty I'll never know, and always regret.
PS: Adios Roberto.
61 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:29:55
45 minutes in a whole season and you are praising them. I say fuck them because they are only interested in themselves, not us.
Get shut of Martinez now and I don't care if I never see Lukaku, Stones or Barkley in an Everton shirt again. They try when it suits them, when they have an agenda, ie Stones at Chelsea or Lukaku for Champions League football.
Good riddance to bad rubbish your call, Mr Moshiri.
62 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:30:10
63 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:30:47
64 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:30:50
Bye-bye, John Stones you gave it everything today.
Bye-bye, Roberto you were a disgrace from the start of last season and I am kinda not too heavy hearted as it is always not the worst thing to lose a battle in order to win the war and we certainly would lose Premier League status with you in charge...
And, if he stays, then for me it's bye-bye football. 30 years of rubbish following a motto that means fuck all.
65 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:31:02
Someone should remind him that he was playing for a Champions League team in Chelsea and they ruthlessly discarded him as not being good enough. He still isn't.
66 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:31:40
I am proud of the lads today.
67 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:33:18
68 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:33:47
69 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:34:48
70 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:34:51
We started off nervy and tentative and the game could have been over by HT although strangely enough Lukaku had two golden chances to open the scoring but was let down by his famed control.
The second-half United had gone when we equalised and that was the time for Martinez to gamble by taking off McCarthy and putting Mirallas on, but he didn't and the only ball that Jagielka didn't win all day found its way behind our defence and game over.
We seem to lose games that we deserve better from whilst others not too far away seem to win them when they least deserve it. I feel really terrible for all those Blues at Wembley today, once again they have seen an Everton side on the cusp of glory only to see it snatched away in the cruellest manner you could think of.
Moshiri has to somehow change the mentality at the club and take it by the horns and really focus on how to achieve footballing success. Brave as the second-half performance was, Kenwright should not be allowed to continue in his role and Moshiri should bring 100% football men to the board-room not a supporter who happened to be in the right place at the right time to lead the club.
71 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:36:08
72 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:36:17
I don't recall seeing a player get so many chances to score, including a penalty, and spurn them all. But I recall it was his goals that got us to Wembley, so I won't say any more.
Looking forward to seeing what another manager can do with the squad Moyes and Martinez (principally) have assembled.
73 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:36:34
Too many on here saying players were just total rubbish. I don't agree. Players were okay, not brilliant, just okay, but there's no need for this.
Hurting like the rest of you and that spells the end for Martinez, I hope.
74 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:36:44
75 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:37:25
Who knew it was that simple? Well... everyone on this site, for a long time.
If Bill is still calling the shots (and I suspect he is), and if I know him (which I think I do), there's no way he sacks Martinez before the next game. He won't miss the opportunity to rave about his brave blues and his romanticism will keep Roberto in the seat a bit longer.
76 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:39:01
Spot on
77 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:40:12
78 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:40:53
Lukaku can do one, Champions League? you're having a laugh, lad.
Better team 2nd half when they forgot what RM told them and had a go. Really thought we were going to do it, I don't believe in God but, if there is one, he must hate Evertonians, gutted.
79 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:43:09
1st half: RM told them tippy tap/sideways and backwards pays off. Possession; possession.
2nd half: The players decide, "Fuck RM, let's play it our way."
Tough luck lads. I was real proud of you!
80 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:43:30
I fully expect the Spanish clown to be gone by Monday.
81 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:44:01
I was glad just to turn over as he has not got a clue about football. Why is someone like him commentating in the first place, he was a third rate player.
82 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:44:12
We had chances to score and never took them, it's all about finishing and sticking the ball in the net.
I don't think we can claim bad luck – our captain escaped a red card and got away with giving up a penalty and Man Utd did miss chances but they got that bit of luck at the end when the ball ran for them and they took it.
Barkley and Lukaku both continue to really frustrate me – it's got nothing to do with any manager if you can't shield a ball or pass it to a team mate at the right time, at the right pace or even the player you intended! John Stones was fantastic in the second half.
I will be rooting for whoever plays Man Utd in the final because that Van Gael is a total dickhead.
We could have won this, but it ends as usual like it always does.
Absolutely gutted.
83 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:44:57
That summed up all we could be,but are not because of a Martinez style which jumps from impotence to gung-ho suicidal attacking football. There is no balance and the decision to play Besic at right back was an awful one. Martial had the beating of him all day and the game could have been done with before we decided to start playing.
A missed opportunity and the end of Martinez. It could have gone our way today, but the last two years have condemned the charlatan in charge.
Gutted
84 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:45:36
Well, we haven't got the perfect changeover of power. Mr Moshiri probably wanted to get to the end of the season and then look; but the situation is dire. This team and this club need major surgery now, not a sniff of the smelling salts.
Jim Bennings (53) Jim, have a look at the coming few months and see if the changes we hope for come about. It might be the catalyst now to see us begin the change into a proper club again
85 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:45:41
Yes I want Norwich to beat us to keep Naismith up, one of the few decent pro's in football.
What are we going to get if we win a few games that don't matter one jot now??
Does any supporter care if we win or lose 4-0 next week??
I personally don't, these wasters have a defining week yet only play one half of football, that first half tonight was as bad as Anfield..
It's pathetic, utterly pathetic..
86 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:46:59
Two misses out of the last three, still I'm told he's worth 㿨 million. God knows what Roy Vernon would have been worth.
87 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:47:43
Can't we EVER get over the line in a semi-final or final for once?
88 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:50:16
89 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:50:23
A player needs to come out and say they rollocked everyone, including the manager, at half time and that's what changed the performance in the 2nd half... otherwise it goes down as a phenomenal performance that saved his job!!
90 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:50:25
91 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:51:18
92 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:51:28
Do you think Bainsey would have missed that penalty? I don't. For the rest of the season he needs to draw in his inflated ego and keep his mouth firmly shut.
Yet another poor performance from Ross. I don't know another player who does my head in as much as Ross. This could have been his stage but yet again he blew it, and in front of Woy.
93 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:51:56
Put Unsworth in charge and get a bit of fight and passion back in signing the season off in a positive spirit.
94 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:54:35
This is the worst feeling in the world right now, changes will happen and we can all look forward to a bright future.
I hope we can keep Stones after today's showing, and build a team around him with the proper management team around him.
95 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:54:50
96 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:55:33
97 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:56:11
We must pick the right manager, when surely the axe now falls on Roberto's head. The club needs sorting from top to bottom.
98 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:58:07
99 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:59:56
100 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:00:41
They're no less true fans than your good self.
We need someone (Mr Moshiri) to set, for the supporters of this club, a course for Everton Football Club, that will begin getting us back to type of club we've been for most of our history.
101 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:01:32
Our defending today was Sunday league. Only started playing when we missed the penalty.
103 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:02:10
#BACK HIM OR SACK HIM
104 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:02:53
Oh and losing in the 93rd minute? What a surprise.
105 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:04:41
In terms of Barkley, he's overweight, as a boxing coach I can see he's clearly carrying weight as is Jagielka?!
As for Rom, by all means join a Champions League club now and get us a fools ransom, 25 goals but how many should you have had over the season, at Everton you can afford to play well once a month and continue to get a start. At Man Utd, you'd be benched, so I hope it works out well and you find the consistency you think you possess, at a top 4 club, you would warm the bench a lot more than you think.
Lastly, my new manager I'd ring tonight, Martin O'Neill, he knows how to play in the Premier League, knows how to motivate, doesn't tolerate prima madonnas, wouldn't reward poor performance with continual playtime, knows how to defend as he was a defender, knows European football albeit with Celtic but Still counts, knows how to sign players unlike dithering Davey, and also knows how to deal with the media.
I'm not even surprised nor depressed tonight, just hoping for that fresh start to begin.... Oh and tell Martin to let Roy Keane stay on with Ireland! He's not needed.
106 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:04:56
Get shot of Martinez and GO for a real top end manager, 1 who has won trophies. I couldn't care less if it's Benetiz or Mourinho. They are professionals and they will do the job and maximise the squads potential. PLEASE PLEASE stop talking nonsense about Eddie Howe and David Unsworth and people who have done FA. What is wrong with some people really?
107 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:06:09
Possibly a different story if we had gone at them from the off, but with too many players of similar type in the squad I suppose the outcome was inevitable.
108 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:07:13
They dabbled with Brenda with the supposed new young breed of manager and binned him. We need to be as ruthless.. We are EFC... Nothing but the best will do and Roberto clearly hasn't got a clue.
109 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:07:35
Not having Coleman or Barry was crucial. Besic wasn't up to it, and Lennon having to cover for him, meant we lacked attack down that side, as we struggled with Martial. Can't really blame Besic or Martinez for that - just our Achilles heel. McCarthy and Gibson didn't cut it today, and while no one else had a mare, our lack of momentum from the kick off, and Lukaku's loss of touch, meant we have been beaten by an average Man Utd team who we should be beating, even with their young guns up-front.
It's a no brainer that Martinez now goes. Even "Blue Bill" can't keep him in the job given nothing but desperate hope and dashed dreams this year and a lost dressing room to boot. The question is, do we put him out of his (and our) misery now - or have him face several meaningless games with us raising banners and chanting for change. "They shoot horses don't they?" Let him sneak out the back to catch his taxi - and let's start again!
110 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:09:40
Evertonians are born not recruited. If you want to wash your hands of the team, so be it. The rest of us although disillusioned remain loyal.
Yes Martinez has to go now. But that's not a reason to wash your hands.
Barkley reminds me of the player in the middle of winter on dirty muddy pitches walks off at the end with his kit spotless. Needs a kick up the backside. Only positive, who would want him?
Bill K looked very unwell, time to go Bill, enjoy the remainder of your years and allow Moshiri to rekindle this great, yes great club.
Jim 85#
Yes I care.
Naismith should never have been sold. He was 100% committed, the Catalan was his downfall, couldn't see the talent and commitment Naisey had to the cause.
Don't see any sudden parting of the waves. However the sooner Martinez goes, the more chance we have of keeping this squad together.
Enough said, after 50 yrs + support I'm at the lowest ebb ever.
111 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:11:16
For me appoint Unsworth till the end of the season as caretaker as we pinpoint the right man to take us forward and let Unsworth introduce some of the Under 21's he's been working with.
112 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:12:33
113 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:14:18
Lukaku was having a stinker as a striker, he'd already screwed up at least two excellent chances in the first half and his close control was that of the proverbial concrete bollard. That said, he was not having too bad a game in holding up, causing problems and doing the other things that centre forwards are meant to do.
So an opportunity comes for a penalty. At this point, the manager should have made sure the captain said "Anybody but Rom. His control is bad, he's anxious and in anything involving accuracy he's useless." So it should have been step up Baines (best penalty taker since Roy Vernon, as someone noted), Barkley (good nerves and excellent shot), or even Stones (playing very sensibly and intelligently) or perhaps Gibson (again calm and with a good shot).
If it was all too frantic on the pitch, Martinez should have taken control and made sure that anyone (maybe even Robles) but Lukaku took that penalty. This is worse than the Mirallas pen, since at least he was playing with passion.
The penalty (and it certainly was!) was the key moment in the Martinez fiasco.
114 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:14:34
115 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:14:50
116 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:15:04
And Wembley continues to be nothing but a graveyard for this club.
117 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:15:21
118 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:15:34
We showed buckets of character in the last half hour but don't have the nouse or quality to be winners at the highest level, and haven't for a generation.
Martinez will stay until the end of the season; if he's here next season, we're doomed. The next man needs to be a serial winner, not a nice guy with a broken philosophy.
119 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:16:37
The end.
120 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:17:05
121 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:17:10
This was a big game and I thought Jagielka and Stones gave their all. A bit more luck today and better finishing and we would be in the final. It wasn't to be.
122 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:17:52
Usual dross first half. Then suddenly the fight of the blues of old... but the real suspicion that it was their call not the managers.
I thought that John Stones was immense and showed true leadership. Great character too.
RM won't be sacked Monday... He will be gone soon.
123 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:18:01
Also, if one thing was proven today it is that Besic should never play in defense again. I still cannot get my head around the fact that we have one of the best penalty takers in world football (Baines) and yet Mirallas, Lukaku, Barkley etc seem to have decided he is not up to it and our manager has left them to sort it between them.
124 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:18:02
Lukaku might have scored quite a few goals in his career but he contributes nothing else at all.
He has the touch of an elephant and will not close down or open up space. He just wants the ball played in front of him so he can barge defenders off the ball and get a shot in. He has nothing else in his armoury.
As for the first half, typical Martinez shite passing the ball around with no purpose whatsoever.
If he is not gone by next Saturday some form of protest needs to be put in place.
125 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:18:39
You saw in that second half what that team with some belief could do. And I'll still maintain that a change on the final whistle at Anfield could have had us ready to go from the first minute.
The season is well and truly over. It's a bit earlier than we'd like, but my life will be about different things for a few months from now.
126 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:18:54
Who would buy Lukaku at a price we are prepared to sell?
Who would buy Barkley ditto?
Who would buy Stones ditto?
This is a talented squad. If we can keep them with the right manager/coach we can achieve the hype we have swallowed for the last 3 years under Martinez.
New manager, same squad, new era!!!
127 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:19:17
Totally agree with your comments.
128 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:22:00
Yes, we did deserve to lose as we were plain old shite in the first half. This is a very poor Man Utd team that were not that great at all, so it wasn't a classic like the media are making out.
One fairly decent 45 minutes doesn't paper over two years worth of crap football and endless bullshit from Martinez.
129 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:22:38
130 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:24:57
131 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:25:43
Spent half the match fucking things up and the other half standing motionless with his hands over his mouth and that look of disbelief thing he does when something goes wrong.
When he's sitting on someone's bench next season he'll rue leaving this club.
132 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:26:04
133 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:26:27
I feel for you and all Evertonians that were up there today. If it's any consolation you did the club proud.
Some day some day....
134 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:26:49
Lukaku caused United a lot of problems, but to have 6 clear cut chances and not score is not top class centre forward play. The support was great, I was pleased with our second half fight, but the day, and being an Evertonian, was summed up by the sight of my pal's 8-year-old son in tears at the end, with his dad doing his best to comfort him.
135 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:27:20
136 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:28:05
Roberto Martinez is, I suspect, set to continue - at least until the end of this season. I've always thought that Kenwright takes more notice of the bollox his manager speaks than the evidence of his own eyes.
Our pain is set to continue, I fear.
137 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:28:40
138 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:28:53
The team really had a go and gave themselves a little bit of pride back but that doesn't alter the really poor performances of late.
Though I think Barkley is vastly overrated as a footballer. He has a lot to learn about other aspects of the game than just doing a nice run or decent shot. I thought Rooney gave a good example of what Ross should add to his game.
Still, there are aspects that John Stones needs to learn, and Romelu Lukaku. Whether any of them stay is another matter though. If they do, I'd like to see a manager come in who coaches them into the better players they can be.
139 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:30:23
The second half was encouraging but we must make the managerial change now. There is a lot for us to be optimistic about if we are decisive.
140 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:31:02
But that's enough blowing smoke up the players arses. I can't be too angry, we gave it our all in the 2nd half and played a direct game bereft of Martinez's philosophy. It's a shame these games have been too and far between.
It's too late for Martinez and and we will get a new 'name' manager who will get more out of these players. On the basis of that I'm remarkably positive under the circumstances knowing he'll be gone and a new era with substantial backing begins.
We did all we could today and we would have won on another day. So I'm going to lay off the players. Yes, there's the argument that we gave them too much respect in the 1st half but we could have let in an early goal and it could have been a landslide. We were more aware defensively and Rom should have scored from one of those chances on the break so I won't knock Martinez today. He said himself that he had to win a trophy. He hasn't, so he has to go and I wish him the best of luck.
141 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:31:41
Cross after cross second half; and us standing off.
Fucking sick... sick of this shite. Time for a new chief.
142 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:32:39
I spent all day Thursday tuned in to Talksport waiting to hear he had gone. I truly believe that without Martinez the players would have fought like warriors for 95 mins without fear or constraint and would have seen off an average Utd. And we would all be uncontrollable with joy.
143 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:33:23
For Martinez himself, I feel a degree of pity but no rancour. During his tenure I believe he has represented Everton with some class and is a true gentleman. This obviously wins you neither points nor trophies though. He did his best, of that I am sure and I have no doubt he will become a talented coach elsewhere.
What has really disappointed me however, are some of the personal comments made against him; 'the Spanish this and the Spanish that', really ugly stuff. I understand the passion and anger after days like today but these comments are out of line.
I prefer the excellent Ken Buckley's approach. We Evertonians like to think we are a step above the rest so let's finish our time with Roberto with some class and respect.
144 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:33:48
145 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:35:04
146 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:35:59
Congratulations to those magnificent supporters who proved that there is plenty of passion off the pitch.
147 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:36:25
I thought Stones was excellent. Strangely enough before Liverpool's first goal the other night I thought he was playing well with Paul McGrath-esque blocks in that game and today again. As someone mentioned above, he begun most of our best attacks.
I thought Jags did well considering he was supposed to be injured and Gibson did ok considering how little football he has.
Lukaku was poor and there's enough said about him above.
However, I felt that the Blues were playing with ten men having Barkley in the team. It's incredible to watch him when the opposition have the ball. Either he doesn't have the common sense or he's being told not to waste energy but he just seems to jog on the spot and "monitor" the player with the ball. Truly amazing. It wasn't until Herrera pulled him back that I knew he was awake.
A moral victory, but the run we're on it's probably as much as I expected.
Gutted for the fans that travelled down.
148 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:36:48
The thing is, if we have a team relying on luck, then in turn the manager who actually talks about luck ALL the time, then I'm sorry but that's just bad business practice, and a ridiculously amateurish way to run a professional sports team.
I honestly don't believe he's fit for purpose, and Moshiri will at some point be looking at his position, no question. He's a businessman, not a football man and he will have given Martinez time to prove himself. Perhaps that is the end of the season, perhaps it's Monday, but I simply cannot see Moshiri taking this as acceptable given the money he's pumping into the club.
You can also pretty much guarantee that he (Moshiri) will be having a very large say in who the manager is, regardless of Kenwright's role.
As an aside about Bill – I thought he looked very unwell today and wish him the very best of luck with his health. Whatever we think of him, he is a blue and for that alone we should wish him well. I also think he should retire from the club, for both health and the good of Everton reasons.
149 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:37:40
I agree with all your comments.
I remain the eternal optimist.
Martinez has to go, before we see any improvement on this under performing group of talented footballers.
150 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:39:37
Yes (some) players dredged up a performance and showed some fight and pride which has been largely absent for too long.
Yes, we probably merited the minimum of 30 minutes extra time rather than suffer another (soft) last-minute loss.
The harsh reality is, as Patrick @ 70 writes, the club needs a shake up, from top to bottom, to turn us into a thoroughly professional, win-at-all-cost outfit, rather than the soft touch we have been for too long.
With the new riches from the bumper TV deal, together with Moshiri assuming control of the club, the stars are perfectly aligned to undertake and implement a complete root and branch review and change of Everton FC.
The clearest statement Moshiri can make to cement his credentials with the faithful and convince us he is serious in his ambitions to see us WINNING, not merely competing for titles and trophies, is to appoint a marquee manager who gives us a serious chance to achieve just that.
The longer Roberto Martinez remains as manager of EFC, the less credible Mr Moshiri is likely to appear and the greater will be the growing disillusion amongst fans.
There is no longer any rational reason to retain Robert Martinez's services beyond today's loss.
151 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:40:45
Let's face it, they tortured us down the left the whole game and ultimately that's where their goal came from.
Back to what-ifs if Lukaku (who had a good game) put away his chances, if we had Barry and Coleman fit etc. That's the end of our season and I strongly suspect the end of Martinez. Onwards and upwards, fellow Blues.
152 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:41:44
I thought Lukaku showed great strength and yes his touch is poor but I think Dimitar Berbatov would have struggled with Smalling constantly grabbing a hold of his shirt, no one around him and Carrick right in front of him to nick the ball.
Once Barkley and Del Boy pushed up and got close to him Lukaku bullied Smalling and Blind.
His penalty was not great but as someone pointed out, its the managers job to sort this out and having missed against West Ham I thought Bainsy would be back on pens.
I thought Stones was did well too. Reminded me of Frank Rijkaard in his pomp, coasting through midfield. He lost his man for both goals but its harsh to single him out, as on both occassions the defence was asleep.
Barkley looks injured. He hurt his ankle against Watford and I noticed at the start of the second half he was doing exercises. He is simply not fit enough and playing him was a bad decision. When he has been fully fit he has produced some top performances. 8 goals and similar number of assists tells its own story.
I will be very sorry to see any of these lads leave. Under a good coach, with the right mentality and sensible selection policy they will thrive. Hope its with us, and coincides with the departure of Martinez.
153 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:41:51
154 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:42:24
Robles 7 solid display, handling was good
Baines 6½ did okay defending, would have liked to see him coming forward more
Jagielka 7 stood up to the challenge even with an injury
stones 7½ made a few vital blocks, and brought the ball well out of defence
Besic 5 poor game by Besic, he is not a defender
Cleverly 6 keep going but should've had a goal to his name
Barkley 6 has plenty of ability but only show's it in bit's disappointing
McCarthy 6 a lot of running around but not much else
Lennon 6½ always works hard for the team but lacked end product
Gibson 7 one of our better performers who has missed much of the season
Lukaku 5 we would be in the final if he brought his shooting boots
155 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:42:25
Let's hope in the last four games the likes of Dowell, Davies, Connolly, Pennington, perhaps Holgate, get some game time. I think they will if Unsy is given the job of caretaker manager. Here's hoping.
156 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:42:58
Rooney is still class
Van Gaal proved himself to be the classless buffoon I suspected he was.
Lukaku....you truly are awful, could have scored 3 or 4 today... Champions League you must be having a laugh.
Barkley... Lazy passenger who needs a good look in the mirror. Nowhere near the level he should be.
Stones is a midfielder!!
Martinez... Just fuck off will you.
157 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:43:42
An audience of millions from all over witnessed what EFC means to special people and out of the disappointment of today I feel immense pride in those who roared us on today. Thanks and sorry we didn't deliver for you.
158 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:45:32
Let's act like a big club now. Lukaku "I want champions league football" should have fired us to a final and a trophy. That's the closest we have come in 21 long years. NSNO.
159 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:45:59
However, Lukaku and Barkley have to be the too most over-rated players we have ever had. Both of them are so lazy, and Lukaku spouts so much crap about where he wants to play in the future when he should be concentrating on his god-awful first touch. He reckons he is worth £50 mill??? Well not on today's performance!!!
I have mixed feelings; I was encouraged by the last 30 mins. We showed a bit of fight at long last but it was a semi final, we should have been up for it from the first minute. I think Martinez might have trouble sleeping tonight, I think he should do the decent thing and walk away. It's a shame because his dancing is phenomenal.
160 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:46:59
Is Lukaku playing to stay? No CL team will pay what we'll be looking for.
Anyway hats off to all who attended. No doubt tomorrow in work all the part-time Man Utd fans will saunter past my office to offer condolences
Can't wait.
At least we don't have any RS in the company.
161 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:50:22
Once again spot on... as Patrick was.
162 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:53:30
I would like to think there must be a world class foreign manager out there who witnessed that and thought "I want to awaken that giant!"
163 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:54:08
164 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:57:33
165 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:57:46
166 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:57:57
167 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:59:04
He makes Billy liar seem like a saint.
168 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:59:24
Try it. You know you'll want to...
169 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:02:52
170 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:03:00
I thought Everton were desperately unlucky not to win today, especially on your second-half performance. If Lukaku was on form today, you would have won today, no question.
Take some solace from your second-half display. You deserved to win. And you showed character to come back.
171 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:04:02
While other clubs are bringing in top European managers, he gets one from just relegated Wigan. Spurs, Leicester and now the RS are showing what a good manager can achieve in a short time.
172 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:04:41
We probably played the best we could today taking into account the suspensions, injuries, unfit players and playing out of position etc. Yet we still didn't win. I've wanted RM out for 18 months and I stand by that, not going to be fooled after a spirited 2nd half.
Need a manager who can instill fight, win the important games, and talk sense. That's Everton's problem!
173 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:05:38
In the words of Simon Cowell, "It's a million times NO from me."
Just how many pints have you had since the game ended?
174 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:06:13
175 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:07:52
Stones has some great qualities which were on show today.
176 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:09:03
Stones was fantastic. Jags immense. But ultimate tee predictaby fell short.
Time for a new era.
177 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:11:27
178 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:11:51
179 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:14:43
180 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:15:18
181 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:18:28
182 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:19:00
After a dire first half 'performance' I was just waiting for the game to finish so I could eat my tea. But at the end I was almost in tears as they put their heart and soul into those 45 minutes.
I knew there was no added time as I kept on looking to see how much time was left so every time we attacked I thought, this is it. It wasn't to be sadly.
Now where do we go from here? Will Martinez be sacked tonight? I thought that was to be the breaking news when I logged on but maybe he's bought time till the end of the season and he can go quietly in May.
Another wasted season, another major disappointment. This can't go on, can it?
183 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:19:39
184 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:21:20
185 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:23:32
John Stones, I thought, was magnificent and I believe keeping him at our club is, second only to the dismissal of Martinez, the best thing are new owner can do.
186 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:23:42
187 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:24:37
190 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:26:03
At that point I gave up trying to work out where some players were playing.
John Stones celebrated like mad when we had scored.
Better display today....
191 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:26:21
192 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:26:35
He also looks to have a jippy ankle, but the above still.......holds......some.......weight.
193 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:29:15
Along with RM, Lukaku and Barkley should seek pastures new Stones should definitely stay and BK should go back to 'Corrie', Well done to the lads on the day but it wasn't to be.
194 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:29:17
195 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:29:20
- our fans fucking magnificent. There were a lot of us in CW with the prawn sandwich munchers too but looking over at that constantly moving sea of blue, what support.
- saw Bill Kenwright on way out. My mate and I shouted that it's time to get a new manager. He just gave us a wave and looked rueful.
- Barkley, lukaku, stones... This was your chance to show you are truly the world class players you think you are. At least two of you fucked it up.
196 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:32:19
As for whether he should have been taking it at all, didn't De Gea save a Baines penalty a couple of years ago? So perhaps LB was not all that keen. And at that time his penalties were by no means a certainty, if I recall. Barkely did score 2 against Newcastle but I don't know if he had the confidence to take this one.
As for our Prince of Penalty Takers, Roy Vernon missed one in the Charity Shield game against Manchester United bt it was retaken and he scored then. I did see him miss one in a reserve game at Goodison against Burnley.
198 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:34:59
Spot on, how else can you have such differing halves.
First had as per Martinez 'philosophy'
Second half 'up yours Roberto' we have had enough of tippy tippy football.
199 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:35:53
200 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:35:57
201 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:36:43
Thats how I used to work out the outcome of highlights in the past!
Have to say the difference in many respects today was the 50million rated strikers-I know which one I would rather have
202 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:42:07
With the next manager we should ask can you finish next season in the top half of the premiership next season with the current squad? with the current squad they will say yes so we say prove it agree to a base salary for our next manager ٟ.5 -٠M for staying in the premiership, (this is the same base every season you are with us) yearly payments increases by ٟM for a top 10 finish and by another ٟM - ٠M for a top 5 finish etc with more rewards for cups etc. You can bet the next manager will not mess around with stupid tactics and subs they will focus on success for the club and more money for themselves.
The same for every new player base salary + bonus for a top 10 finish, cup wins, appearance money. Then you can bet every player will run his heart out for himself and the club.
Plus we need to ask the manager serious questions on team performance at the end of every season based on every match i.e. you were winning against WHU why did you lose? why bring on Niasse? In fact why did you buy and not get him on loan? Also the manager should write a report at the end of every game. I know I have to write a report on every meeting I got to - it focuses the mind on what you need to do next.
If the manager and players say no think about Colman when he started and our youngsters they would break your arm off for any deal to get into the premiership.
203 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:47:19
well said,
The sooner that lazy big time charley big billy bollox ego tripin twat is away from my/our club the better for all Evertonians.
I loathe Lukaku with a vengence. When I think of guys like Yakubu and even Saha I just want to cry.
Martinept just fuck off and take that wanker centre forward with you.
And Mr Barkley, you've one more season as well and if you don't pull your socks up you can piss off.
204 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:49:38
You can feel that the moment has come, the dressing room has been lost and that it is the end of the line for the RM experiment. Even if we'd taken our chances or been luckier today, the dice has been cast. We won't win anything with RM and he has to go.
It's not been all bad and he has done some good things for the club and done his bit in building a good team (All be it a flawed team). I believe we should let him see out the season and then get someone in who will let them play but at the same time not allow us to be cut through like butter time and again. Who do we want?
205 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:51:25
Martinez's time is up but anyone who think's this current squad will be much better under another manager is kidding themselves.
A new manager will need funds to bring in new players and selling Lukaku, Stones & Barkley would be a start
206 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:55:21
207 Posted 23/04/2016 at 21:56:01
208 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:10:09
We lost to the poorest MU team of the EPL era.
We missed a pen which on another day we may well have not got and still cocked it up.
We had a clear pen by Jags ignored.
The players imo decided to do it their way in the second half and looked a team again.
The goal we got was an og despite the numerous chances we created - clear cut chances that I reckon Martial would have put away - at least one of them.
Rom learn your trade and complete your apprenticeship before screaming for CL football your not up to it - yet.
and finally we lost to a goal in injury time - again !
RM resign please - we want a winning team - we demand it.
209 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:11:39
On that basis alone, I would suggest RM's position is very much up for review at the end of the season.
I would also wager that RM will get until the end of the season, as it would be very much the Everton way to part with him close-season, rather than off the back of our bad results.
Kenwright in an attempt to save some face, would probably prefer it that way rather than kick him out with games to play. Not that any of them really mean that much in the grand scheme.
210 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:12:17
Martinez being sacked SHOULD be a 'gimme.'
As I said earlier, the longer Moshri takes in making that decision, the more disillusioned the faithful (than they already are) will become.
He HAS to be replaced, for the good of the club and for the good of the (still) talented players on our books.
211 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:13:39
Big fat and useless Lukaku... poor ball control and no idea how to kick a ball properly...
Half-asleep Barkley who has no influence on the game at all..... in fact we had no midfield at all for most of the match.
John Stones always wants to go backwards towards his own goal... even from the half way line he is passing back to the keeper.
If big money is available for these three we should snatch it quick... maybe they could join Roberto wherever he ends up... and let's hope that is very soon.
Let's hope our new owner now puts in an appearance and makes a difference.... he was at the game today and must have been as gutted as the fans. Kenwright will of course make excuses for Martinez but let's hope we get some real action from the board very soon.
212 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:14:17
I thought the coverage by the BBC was awful and I'm going to complain. They didn't keep up with the game, always switching to see the fans reaction and constantly focusing on certain players and, Danny Murphy, even for a rs wanker, was a fucking disgrace with his anal rs bias. Cunt.
Now as this nightmare is soon to end I'm quite looking forward to next season as I think we will be a different animal entirely. Out with the old, in with the new.
213 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:15:23
I hope one day that he might just find some humility and that his big head might shrink a tad. Cost us the game today but I'm sure he will never admit it. Arrogant boy.
214 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:15:32
215 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:16:41
Unfortunately I doubt that our board have a Plan B in place. So to the end of the season it is. Prove us wrong. Put on some wonderful attacking stuff with clean sheets from domination in midfield.
Or keep tip tapping around the back til we give the ball away as usual.
Thank the lord you listened to reason and put Robles in goal we would be in a relegation battle otherwise.
216 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:20:39
Can we please fast forward to the end of this god awful season? get shot of anyone who wants to go (except Stones) also anyone who thinks he is bigger than the club. And get players who WANT to play for us. Roll on August
217 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:23:32
If we get them to stay we need to build the next team around the likes of Robles, Coleman, Stones, Barkley, and Lukaku. We desperately need (and this is Martinez's greatest failing in not recruiting them) decent full back cover, new centre halves, creative and defensive midfielders, and at least 2 more quality attackers.
The transition time will take another couple of years and I suspect Lukaku and Stones wont wait. We have on a number of occasions over the last 10 years or so, got close to the coveted CL place, but fell at the last hurdle and we have to start again. This time hopefully we'll have the cash, but what quality player will want to come to a club languishing in mid-table mediocrity.
218 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:29:55
It can be turned around but not with this manager and in my opinion this chairman. We are first class fans though and I hope the new majority shareholder realises this and reacts to the fans footballing wise opinions.
Failure to do this and things won't change but if he does take note then we will again be a force to be reckoned with.
219 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:30:53
STARSPORT bring you a team of the worst signings made by Premier League clubs this season.
check this out! Oumar Niasse makes the 11, at least he got in the first 11! after only 4 months...phenominal!
220 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:34:49
I'd put him in MF next season and tell him to take games by the neck and do his stuff. Ross needs to play next to Lukaku, not in this MF role where he just aimlessly wanders around not really knowing what to do, or which position to take.
With a good manager, we would have three great players who are currently being ruined.
222 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:44:57
I think Coleman was the biggest loss we had, defending and going forward.
223 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:46:35
224 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:48:03
I've been harping on since Xmas that Stones should take over from Barry as a defensive midfielder with his huge potential to also add creativity to this position. His performance today will have reawakened the likes of Chelsea, City, Man Utd desire to have him on board next season.
I'd love him to stay but not as a centre half like it or lump it you need the likes of Dann, Skirtel, or Kompany back there.
225 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:52:35
He has to go!!
226 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:54:51
Good shout, Stones looked class today, and maybe a new manager would see that.
Spend big on a good centre-half in the summer to partner Funes Mori, who should be the future. Jags would be a good sub to bring on if an injury occurred.
227 Posted 23/04/2016 at 22:58:11
If he had been disciplined and held his line in the last seconds, as a top level defender would have done, he would have been able to get a challenge in or even been able to intercept it. Positionally and defensively he is consistently found wanting, but he looks good on the ball sometimes so I guess all is okay.
228 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:00:10
230 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:08:35
I was on the tube back to Central London around 9pm from the ground with loads of blues and we had the tube rocking with Everton songs - have lost my voice
Can honestly say if the payers had an ounce of the passion we had on that tube in the first half we wouldn't have lost the game today
Made me proud to be a blue - something we seem to been deprived of lately - The Man U fans applauded us off the tube when pulling into Euston
Do you know what lads ? We are a very special club with very special fans and that will never ever be taken away from us
Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh Everton oh we love Everton and we love our Neville Southall, Shaggy Stevens, Physco Pat, Kev the Rat, Degsy Mountfield, Peter Reid, Tricky Trevor, Andy Gray, Graeme Sharp, Paul Bracewell, Kevin Sheedy, Adrian Heath, Howard Kendall ......... Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo Everton oh we love Everton, Everton oh we love Everton
231 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:16:57
232 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:20:39
I agree re Danny Murphy
To me, his voice creates the impression he is stretched out on a settee and can't be arsed..
235 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:34:26
237 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:36:46
Is it coincidence that Man U and the top clubs win countless big occasions like that? Not at all, it's all about expectations. Mediocrity pervades the entire club and I hope Mr Moshiri secures his investment by turning over this club from top to bottom.
238 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:38:05
*Other semis are available
239 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:39:49
240 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:42:46
Are we going to drag this out or are we going to take any positive steps ahead of next season. I feel if we wait too long we will forfeit next season.
Martinez out now!
241 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:49:57
Anyway, lovely to go back there again, others will comment about it, just sad at the outcome.
Lost my phone service while on Train back to Manchester Picadilly, hope the guy who had the illness is ok.
However, as at writing, am surprised that he has not gone.
As someone else says on here, "it's the hope that kills you" how right and at about £200 lighter, how sad too.
242 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:51:34
Nail on head. Ross is built like a cage fighter not a footballer. Jags is too heavy, so is Rom, even the ever fit Baines has come back heavy & Deulofeu is just plain unfit.
Another manager would get these lads fit & hungry and give proper direction & drive.
It's no wonder we give every team we play all the time & space they need to pick their heads up and play a pass. Our boys aren't fit enough to close down, press, tackle & make it difficult for teams to play. We allow them to 'express themselves'.
Watch the Derby & the first half today. Nobody puts a tackle in, they don't even get near the man in possession let alone mark up an opponent. This must be the 'philosophy' that Martinez extols. Unfortunately (with the exception of the hapless, relegated Villa) no one else allows us to 'express ourselves'. Naive, idealistic, buffoon. 2 full years of doing the same thing & expecting a different result. Delusional, charlatan.
It's clear that the players have seen through him. Contrast the first half with the second. They played on adrenalin & went about it the way I want to see an Everton team play. High tempo aggressive football with purpose & drive. It's Martinez who insists they slow it down & keep possession in his trade mark slow predictable fashion around the dangerous area of the pitch.
It's got nothing to do with not being able to "defend as a team" or "not being able to afford the kind of players to carry out his instructions". It's the inevitable result of what he wants. Every player misplaces a pass every game. We just do it in areas that invariably give guilt edge chances on our goal. We are one of the few teams that give goals away. It's just a car crash waiting to happen each & every game. Yet he doesn't change.
I wanted him gone before the end of his first season. I was bemused by this brand of football. I felt there was an element of the Emperor's new clothes. I couldn't see this so call free flowing attacking football. I cannot abide this tepid, turgid, surrender-football. Passionless, insipid drivel. Not good enough for any paying fan, certainly not good enough for me & my club. Most definitely not good enough for the hoardes of magnificent fans who graced Wembley today.
Had we have spent the last 2 seasons playing the way we did in the second half we would be in a far better position than we are.
The players know it & the vast majority of fans know it. The board must act and usher this waster on his way...
243 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:52:14
244 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:54:50
245 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:55:13
Regarding Baines and his not taking penalties.
I reckon he lacks the self confidence to accept that responsibility. especially at times such as this when Everton are in turmoil. I know he has a fantastic record regarding penalties and used to have with free kicks.
I recall an article in the Guardian from 2007 ( soon after he joined Everton) which highlighted him as being a worrier.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/sep/29/newsstory.Everton
246 Posted 23/04/2016 at 23:59:12
247 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:07:06
They scored 2 decent goals from 2 decent moves.
I've said it before, has there ever been a more unconvincing penalty taker than Lukakuu, well yeah Mirallas but you get the point. The thing is Martinez lets them get away with all this shite and Kenwright lets him.
So on balance, we blow our 'Get out of Jail' card our only goal is an OG.
Lukaku's touch has improved a little but not enough. I don't know whether to be glad or sad that he's not playing like a CL striker.
Bill, Moshiri, Elstone, Tea Lady, whoever, make the announcement now please.
248 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:12:29
Lessons from today - Martinez has had three seasons and it hasn't worked so he has to go; Lukaku is not Champions League quality; Barkley is overrated and we should cash in while we can; Robles is a EPL quality keeper; we still need a proper centre half; Everton fans are better than Manure fans.
I'm too tired to think of any others.
249 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:16:01
That may have been true a couple of years ago Roberto, but not today, not this season, the current United team is pretty ordinary in reality and it wouldn't surprise me if Palace or Watford beat them in the Final.
What this does reveal is Roberto's lack of belief to be in charge of an ambitious football club as Roberto is living the dream 'win' or 'lose' the fact that he mostly fails to win is the major reason he should be looking for a new gig at another club. What's Spanish for 'knife to a gunfight'?
250 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:20:20
Perhaps Mr Moshiri thinks that Everton is a club so badly run from a commercial, merchandising and football point of view that his experience and expertise from Arsenal can significantly improve it?
Light at the end of the tunnel?
251 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:22:32
Baines has always been honest in his appraisal of games, and as we saw recently, he is the only one RM jumps on.
252 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:22:34
253 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:23:18
Martinez has to go. Loads of players need shipping out, including Lakaku if he doesn't want to stay.
No matter how down we all feel tonight, Everton is in our blood. It's not in the players they come and go... but not for us. Everton will win trophies again, we will will beat our RedShite neighbours, and we will win the FA Cup, have great European nights... it's not the weekend but it will happen. We will parade cups and I believe the Championship. If we don't believe this we might as well pack up tonight. COYB
254 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:25:51
The best laugh I've had all day.
255 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:26:48
256 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:28:28
Just as Rooney looks like he'll have to move back from the strikers role at the Mancs maybe we have found our long-term replacement for Barry. On saying that, God we missed Barry (and Coleman) today!
257 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:38:54
It could be down to Martinez or it could be down to the fact that this season he's been complete shite. You decide.
In any decent club with proper back up Coleman should have been dropped months ago.
Along with another footballing fraud at centre forward.
258 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:44:55
I said yesterday that there was no win-win situation today and I feel absolutely gutted with the result.
Some strong performances in the second-half but not enough unfortunately to get us over the line. I'm looking forward to the season's end now so I can hopefully wind down my emotions. What started off very promising has delivered nothing. Time to go Roberto, thanks for your effort and turn off the lights on your way out.
259 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:46:09
260 Posted 24/04/2016 at 00:47:36
Agreed my man..
261 Posted 24/04/2016 at 01:02:55
To be fair to the interviewer he tried to rebalance things bringing up our numerous chances but Sponge Bob head wasn't having any if it. The guy looked like a madman ranting. He makes Nigel Pearson seem like Kofi Annan.
262 Posted 24/04/2016 at 01:09:57
When Lukaku was about to take the penalty I got that sinking feeling so wasn't surprised when De Gea guessed the right way and saved it.
But it felt like we were somehow still in it. I was please when Deulofeu came on and thought he's got that right.
When we got the equaliser I thought yes, we need to finish this because we don't want extra time. We started winning the second ball and I thought we can.
Then when the four minutes came up I thought we might get the last minute winner. I should have known it wasn't to be.
I thought the plays did try in both halves. No complaints from me on that point.
To all the blues at Wembley you did the club proud.
263 Posted 24/04/2016 at 01:14:00
By the way, didn't Blue Bill look ill today on the TV. Don't agree with his approach or style for quite a while now but hope he perks up and hands over all decisions to Moshiri ASAP so we can have a fresh start without the Spanish clown! Time to take a back seat, Bill.
264 Posted 24/04/2016 at 01:21:36
McCarthy and Besic could have tried switching, anything was worth a go.
To many poor performances: Ross, Rom, Cleverley, Gibson and Lennon all needed to do more.
Frustrating trip, frustrating game.
265 Posted 24/04/2016 at 01:26:56
Hibbert, Pennington, Holgate, Chambers, there's four right full backs who could have played there today.
I hope to wake up in the morning to the Breaking News on Sky Sports that Martinez has been sacked.
266 Posted 24/04/2016 at 01:34:53
267 Posted 24/04/2016 at 01:37:30
268 Posted 24/04/2016 at 02:11:29
He then spends a fortune on Niasse who again cannot contribute or help the team in any way. By the time August comes round, he'll have been paid £2 million in wages by the way...just think about that!
These judgement calls have screwed us big time and are a sackable offence in isolation, along with the multitude of other reasons, he just has to go. We've made so many inept clowns multi millionaires, both players and managers, it's sickening and it leads us to our constant cycle of failure.
269 Posted 24/04/2016 at 02:15:10
I see a naive, ball-watching prima donna. He lost Fellaini, go watch the replay: he takes a look sees him points at him then turns away. He gave the ball away where martial then had a free run at goal, then of all fucking things he steps up in the last minute of a semi-final to try and start an attack, losing Martial and Boom! Game Over!
Like others have said, he could make a decent center midfielder but is fucking shocking as a center back. And by the way all the "great tackles or blocks" are always last ditch. That tells you he was in the wrong position in the first place, great defenders slide tackle as a last resort our kid is always on his ass. Not to mention my dead cat could jump higher. Sell for me.
270 Posted 24/04/2016 at 02:32:56
The problem is that on the rare occasions that we actually have a go at teams we show just how good we could be. The second half showed up our first half performance. Everyone benefited, especially the young quartet who had us so excited earlier in the season.
Which obviously leads to the question, why don't we pressure teams up the pitch more often?
For all the criticism of Ross, it's the manager playing him in a pedestrian style of football that simply doesn't suit him. It doesn't suit Rom, Del, or John either. Baines and Coleman have been negated by it. McCarthy is forced to play a game he's not comfortable with. Mirallas can't have an impact, nor Lennon.
In fact, the style seems only to suit Barry.
The answer really doesn't seem that difficult. That it will take a new manager to find it is "incredible" but I still think we've got good players who can thrive under a new regime. We've just got to keep as many of them as possible.
271 Posted 24/04/2016 at 02:34:19
Got to give credit were its due, because I have been critical of him recently, but John Stones was immense, as was Jags who reportedly wasn't even fit.
272 Posted 24/04/2016 at 02:38:49
Yes! Supporters absolutely do care if we lose 4-0 next week.
Can we have a poll of Evertonians who don't care if we lose 4-0 next week please?
Prediction: the vote will be 3159-1 or 764-1 or 23-1 or 11675-1.
274 Posted 24/04/2016 at 02:53:26
Good, because he will have witnessed the best and most deserving football supporters on this planet.
Now it's time to give us a team worthy of our support.
275 Posted 24/04/2016 at 02:55:04
Why does James McCarthy not come in for more flak on this website? He offers nothing and always goes missing in the big games.
Despite playing only one game all season in what was essentially a dead rubber (Southampton), Gibson today showed McCarthy up with his range of passing, football intellect and incredibly, his work rate too.
The sooner we get rid of our inept manager the better, hopefully we will then also lose James McCarthy.
276 Posted 24/04/2016 at 03:14:04
277 Posted 24/04/2016 at 03:21:17
278 Posted 24/04/2016 at 03:36:31
Our beloved club will be in free fall and a relegation fight before BK will make a stand. I can only hope Moshiri has big plans that do not include RM or BK.
279 Posted 24/04/2016 at 03:41:27
280 Posted 24/04/2016 at 03:48:25
Our great fan base with it's blind FAITH in this club, after years of poor returns on and off the field. The BK dictatorship who lied and promised so much.
HOPE, That one day any of these so called potential stars make the big time. Especially Barkley, who starts every game irrespective of how bad his last performance was. He now looks like a muscle bound punch drunk boxer walking around the pitch.
CHARITY, The one thing that has been achieved by this club is our charitable, wasteful, and useless defence that has squandered most of the winning chances we have had.
281 Posted 24/04/2016 at 03:58:39
You're right that he seems to dodge criticism but that's because you don't really notice him as he does nothing but run around and get on the wrong side of opponents a lot.
282 Posted 24/04/2016 at 04:12:19
McCarthy has his limitations but, like pretty much everyone else, he's being played to his weaknesses. Ask him to cover every blade in a pressing game and he'll do it well. Ask him to fill in right across the defence and midfield as they break away at pace and he'll do it - and should be needed to for our attacking fullbacks who nowadays can't get out of their own halves. He needs to improve going forward but no-one is developing (at best, they're just getting older) in this side right now so harsh to land that on him alone.
Basically, I don't think you can fairly judge anyone in this side at the moment. The tactics are soul destroying. Yet in short periods you see what they are capable of.
283 Posted 24/04/2016 at 04:13:46
Sunderland still has 15 pts to play for which could take them to 45. Norwich can still get to 43 pts. Unlikely I know, I know. And everyone from Palace up to Watford can easily exceed our current 41 pts.
I don't have much confidence in RM leading us to at least 3 pts from from our final 4 games. Thankfully we can be reasonably certain that Sunderland and Norwich will each drop at least 4 pts........ right???
285 Posted 24/04/2016 at 05:02:39
If we have money to use how much would it take to sort out Gibson's injury worries. I'm not fully aware of his problem but he seems to me, even at half fitness, just what we need in midfield, someone who can spread passes. He seems to know instinctively where every other player is and the accuracy and weighting of his passes is a lesson to the rest.
As for who would buy Lukaku, Barkley and Stones? Any manager who would know how to sort out there obvious problems. Lukaku's control, first touch and his desire to throw everything at half chances, a sniffer's ability. Barkley seems to need some purpose put in his game. Too much turning little circles and he seems to have a problem hitting the ball when shooting, or more accurately slicing it.
Stones, brilliant on the ball but really needs to up the ante on some of his defending.
New manager? Not until the end of the season with Kenwright as he worries about how much compensation he'll have to pay.
286 Posted 24/04/2016 at 05:14:12
As much as I would like to keep Lukaku, his heart is not in our club and he will be sold. Keeping stones is a must and maybe after today he could play a different role for is.
Ross is gone stale, he really need's to up his game if he want's to achieve thing's in his career.
Build our team around Stones, Funes Mori, Coleman and Deulofeu.
Jagielka, Barry and Baines were very good players for us but their time is up if we have to move forward.
Osman, Hibbert and Pienaar should get free transfers.
I would keep McCarthy, Besic and Cleverley but only as squad players.
It's time for Moshiri to put a stamp on things, aim high starting with a new manager.
287 Posted 24/04/2016 at 07:21:50
As well as the qualities you mention he is tough and intimidated by no one. He can compete in the air and he can shoot. Like Barry he has a footballers brain.
If Gibson hadn't been on the pitch yesterday Fellaini would have finished us off before half time.
In my view Gibson and Barry would be a potent left and right footed combination especially if you put Besic in between them. We might get one more season out of Barry – I hope so. Then again, after weighing up Stones' performance yesterday I have flipped again and think he can play the Barry role. Instinctively he wants to get forward.
As far as Barkley and Lukaku are concerned, I would grant Lukaku his wish, sell him, and give Barkley the strikers role.
A mention for Jagielka – proper footballer and club man. I bet you he is in all sorts of mental and physical pain this morning.
As for me – the pain has subsided. Let's see what next week brings.
289 Posted 24/04/2016 at 08:13:06
Losers talk.
290 Posted 24/04/2016 at 08:31:03
291 Posted 24/04/2016 at 08:32:16
The most ambitious target would be Simeone and I think he would fancy a crack at the Premier League, if not, we can't look beyond De Boer, Tuchel, Koeman, Pellegrini or an outside bet of Howe. A very small part of me would like to see how Moyes would do with the riches the club is likely to have, but I don't really think this is the way forward.
A new defence needs to be constructed although I would retain Coleman at right-back and promote Galloway to being the regular left back. Jagielka can still do a job but from the bench and Funes Mori should be sold and two proper centre-backs should be signed.
Stones should be played in a centre-midfield role alongside the hugely talented Tom Davies with Barkley at the point of the triangle.
A top class winger with goals in his game along with Dowell playing behind Callum Wilson (can do the same job or better than Vardy) with a quality target-man style striker on the bench. The Swiss boy who was signed in January looks a player and with the addition of a top goalkeeper, another attack-minded midfield player, and a wide player on the bench, this new-look team will have everything needed to compete. Over to you, Moshiri....
292 Posted 24/04/2016 at 08:35:34
293 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:06:18
They got their pride back and played as we know they can for most of the second half.we could have won but to be honest we got beat for the third time this season by a very average team.
I stayed behind at the end with the majority of our fans to applaud the team off the pitch, most of them deserved that they had given their all for long periods of that half.
Sad to see young fans upset and unable to stop the flow of tears, even some older fans looked ready to join them.
Came away proud, not so much of the team but most certainly of our brilliant fans,I wish some of the players had their spirit, energy and pure love of EVERTON.
We all know what needs to be done now, the quicker it is done the better.
294 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:09:41
'Fat, lazy Lukaku' has almost single-handedly kept us safe from any fear of relegation this season.
I can only hope that a lot of the comments above have been said in the heat of yesterday's huge frustration, which makes me feel better about choosing to ignore the vast majority of them. The second-half performance went a long way to restoring my faith in certain players, and conformed that certain others need another year with us at least before they get the move they crave, and that we can profit from.
Any mileage in keeping hold of Roberto in another capacity within the club, ie, scouting or attacking coach?? It's crossed my mind a few times that he has many admirable qualities that could do with being retained somehow.
295 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:11:51
Over rated, over weight, touch of an elephant, lazy arrogant boy.
I'll drive him to whoever bids the stupid money he's supposed to be worth.
296 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:16:29
I was going to post something along the lines of 'brave comebacks' are not what we should be reading. etc etc.
Small team talk, that.
297 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:21:06
Only the third time? Don't think so mate.
298 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:21:37
Let's have a clear out ready for next season... start with Lukaku and Barkley and Birdbrain himself... why wait until the end of the season?
299 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:28:27
First half we were totally exposed down our right and Martinez did fuck all about it, just stood with arms folded as usual. Besic is not a right back and no support from Lennon who was way too far forward. Ross did what comes naturally to him second half and looked ten times the player driving forward. Whatever the reason, and I'm not speculating here, the second half was much nearer to how Evertonians aspire us to play, and much more natural to how the players play. The first half was how Martinez has trained these players to play - fucking abysmal and the most telling assessment I have is that no-one in our team looked like they knew where they should be playing or what exactly they were supposed to be doing. They all looked really confused.
For me, that classless twat Fellaini should be seen for what he is after his utterly disgraceful taunting of supporters after he scored. Disgusting behaviour.
lastly Jim Bennings - I'm really a bit taken aback by your post here but you go and have a long hard look at yourself about your comments about not caring if we lose, and about wanting Naismith to stay up, when you have stopped foaming at the mouth. Naismith is a professional footballer and will find employment at the level appropriate to ability. Since when did we start supporting individuals over the team anyway? I don't give a fuck about Naismith, or Lukaku, or Martinez. They will be alright come what may, but Evertonians deserve better. Tens of thousands of us spent a great deal of time and money yesterday and throughout this and every other season only to see us win - and that's it. That's it all of it right there. You think that's less important than whether a millionaire cosseted player plies his trade in the top level? You try and explain those "tactics" to kids I saw crying at the end. Try consoling the honesty of those kids with the fact that Martinez is nearer the exit door and you will be met with puzzled looks. That's the conscience and emotional bellwether for our football club right there.
I thought you were better than that and I will put it down to frustration in the heat of the moment. Hang your head in shame if it wasn't.
300 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:31:52
301 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:39:10
Harsh on Gibson who I thought had a good game considering all the injuries and lack of football. However he is obviously not a long term solution & needs to be released.
That central midfield area needs addressing. McCarthy is limited. Barry ageing. Ross is......well, Ross. Theres a lack of goals, legs, craft & quality depth. Its a big problem & one a new manager needs to address. We need something in there. In fact the spine of the side needs looking at.
302 Posted 24/04/2016 at 09:43:26
I would respectfully submit that those individuals who told me Gibson was shite and should be got rid know absolutely fuck all about football. Gibson is still only 28 and definitely has something to offer us for another season or two if based on Barry and Osman still on the playing staff at their age.
303 Posted 24/04/2016 at 10:04:05
By some distance, Baines is the best striker of a dead ball at the club. This responsibility and recognition of his ability prevailed under Moyes, and, I assume was decided prior to the game, simply because Baines was presumably the best.
As soon as Lukaku stepped up to take that penalty, I was filled with doubt. Irrespective of a pretty poor performance by him yesterday, this is no general criticism if Lukaku. You can't argue with his goal tally. Though his workrate and inability to hold the ball must be mentioned.
So where do we go from here? Martinez thinks he is the man to take us forward. Sorry, Bobby, you've had a good shot at the job and picked up a few bob in the process. I would like to see a tried and trusted man in charge. Martinez was always a gamble, I'm sure even uncle Bill realised that.
The question is..... who is available, who will take the job on? Interesting times ahead. Let's hope the custodians get it right. Over to you, Moshiri and Uncle Bill.
304 Posted 24/04/2016 at 10:28:09
305 Posted 24/04/2016 at 10:33:55
I've totally lost it with this incompetent board of no-marks and egotists. True Evertonians they most certainly are not. Like I said at he start of this season, we have slipped behind West Ham and Leicester, now add Watford to that list. We simply have no vision, no ambition, no clue and are being run into the ground by some lying duplicitous luvvie who can't admit he's been wrong EVER.
Sick to death of it.
306 Posted 24/04/2016 at 10:39:17
307 Posted 24/04/2016 at 10:43:05
We were terrible in the first half but showed some pride and respect for great traditions of the club in the second.
Martinez will have to be judged on his record over the past three years and the only conclusion one can now come to is that it is time for him to move on. This I assume will happen sometime between now and June.
I found it hard to put up with shots of BK during the course of the game, 21 since Paul Rideout put the ball in the United net, it's shocking and he has to go!
308 Posted 24/04/2016 at 10:45:30
Can I ask the question then why is it he can't even get his body between the opposition player and our goal? That's something you're taught in school, for fuck's sake.
He can't tackle, he won't tackle, he doesn't close down and he doesn't ever give an opponent grief in possession, and he shouldn't be in the side!
309 Posted 24/04/2016 at 11:41:05
My mate told me that we've seen Liverpool win more times at Wembley than we've seen Everton win there. I did the maths, and he's right. Fucking incredible.
310 Posted 24/04/2016 at 11:45:25
311 Posted 24/04/2016 at 11:56:32
312 Posted 24/04/2016 at 12:05:18
I get the same feeling about Martinez getting sacked, it's not going to happen.
Hope I'm wrong.
313 Posted 24/04/2016 at 12:05:45
I won't be at Goodison until the Norwich game and I will be doing all of the above, to let them know that the manager needs to go.
314 Posted 24/04/2016 at 12:06:57
spot on about Darren Gibson. I think when he gets the ball he plays like a fine tuned Les Paul..
315 Posted 24/04/2016 at 12:25:24
316 Posted 24/04/2016 at 12:25:41
Also Gibson yesterday was pretty much playing centre half, he was totally wasted.
317 Posted 24/04/2016 at 12:39:27
318 Posted 24/04/2016 at 13:27:02
If only....
319 Posted 24/04/2016 at 13:52:52
320 Posted 24/04/2016 at 15:28:54
321 Posted 24/04/2016 at 15:32:05
We have amazing fans who deserved more. It was heartbreaking.
322 Posted 24/04/2016 at 15:45:02
Saw that poor kid crying and he wasnt the only one, I saw a few kids crying and some adults close to it, such a bloody shame.
323 Posted 24/04/2016 at 16:25:36
Only thing I want to say is I think some people are too harsh on Ross yes he was very average in the first half but like the team as a whole he really upped his game in the second half.
I think he is too heavy and maybe not 100% fit as there were a few occasions were a couple of years back he'd have left his opponent for dead with his skill and strength but wasn't quite able to get free yesterday.
324 Posted 24/04/2016 at 16:29:31
325 Posted 24/04/2016 at 16:31:42
Before you come on spouting your own brand of shite (to use your own charming vernacular) it would be useful to stay on topic. In this case, have you actually watched us over the last three years? Because if you wanted to start listing out the things that are basic and are taught at schoolboy level and giving them as reasons why certain players don't do certain things we'd be here all fucking day. I've posted lots of times on here that you can't judge any player's merits by how they perform under Martinez. Some of these players we ha have will be transformed under a different manager who actually trains and drills them properly and Ross is one. In my opinion. Everyone has either gone backwards or not developed as they should.
I've been in the same room as Martinez on two separate occasions when he has clearly stated that he does not and never will "put shackles" on his "flair players" as he wants them to be able to "express themselves". You can interpret that how you want but I take that as not having to have any disciplines for any duties that are not to do with "expressing yourself". Defending is a dirty word to Roberto Martinez for certain players, whether that is tackling, chasing back or just getting in the way. Ross looks far more effective playing for England than he does for Everton, and I don't think that is just down to having better players round him.
326 Posted 24/04/2016 at 16:51:35
327 Posted 24/04/2016 at 17:44:18
McCarthy and Barry are supposed to compensate for the lack of Barkley's bite. Problem is Barry is too slow, (if not injured or suspended) and McCarthy is a headless chicken. So this only amplifies Ross's inherent weakness to the overall detriment to our team.
Moshiri will make changes but it's going to take time. He's still not the majority shareholder so I think he will be prioritising the restucturing of equity in the club before he starts to tackle our inadequate manager. I expect to see changes but not before the summer, in reality there's no need to do anything until the season is over. Some of the knee jerk comments that Moshiri has to act now or he's useless is well, er, knee jerk rubbish. Look at the long term, we need to plan and get things right. BK jumped into appointing Martinez based on no decent EPL past performance evidence and the majority of fans were at the time, wrongly impressed with his appointment. Well he didn't have ginger hair, a dour demeanor and he talked up his ability like the Wolf of Wall Street didn't he? Let's not make the same mistake again please.
328 Posted 24/04/2016 at 18:29:49
329 Posted 24/04/2016 at 18:50:20
But as they say, we are chosen. Was never going to support any other club since every male in my family and extended family was a match going Blue.
Jesus, I sound like Kenwright. Sorry!
330 Posted 24/04/2016 at 19:49:51
If and when the idiotic Martinez disappears, we may see a change in them... he ruins players and the biggest example is John Stones who has gone backwards very badly.
Why is Baines not taking the penalties these days? He never missed any... is this more of the idiotic Martinez?
331 Posted 24/04/2016 at 20:13:26
332 Posted 24/04/2016 at 20:58:28
333 Posted 24/04/2016 at 21:04:21
Jags says to Barkley, "They weren't booing you" and pats him on the ass.
Barkley is obviously one of those players who needs a hand round his shoulder.
Baines can also be heard saying "It's a big pitch and we are making it bigger" or something like that.
334 Posted 24/04/2016 at 21:17:07
Brian #310 That's made me laugh for the first time today, don't know why though. "But City are a massive club"
Read another stat today which sums everything that is wrong with Everton at the moment. Leicester have won more games in the League this season than Everton have in the last two seasons.
So why has Martinez STILL NOT BEEN SACKED? And yes, I have heard all the rumours flying around on Twitter and Facebook.
335 Posted 24/04/2016 at 21:22:14
336 Posted 24/04/2016 at 23:11:39
337 Posted 24/04/2016 at 23:15:05
338 Posted 24/04/2016 at 23:45:04
Hopefully Moshiri will recognize the need and move quickly. I don't think Bill will admit to himself that he has made the wrong choice of manager.
339 Posted 25/04/2016 at 23:15:40
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1 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:19:04
Not a bad line-up but I can't imagine Jags is fully fit.