Villarreal win Duncan Ferguson Testimonial

Very worrying that Martinez seems to believe this group plus Deulofeu will threaten anyone. No signings, no changes to our formation and no chance next season even in the cups. Get rid of Kone, Osman and Naismith and if he won't buy then play McAleny plus a few of the other youngsters.

We had the two most potent attacking full backs in the league before he arrived.
We had a regular England centre-back in Jagielka who had some of the best stats in the league before he arrived.
We had someone who was the biggest emerging talent in Ross before he arrived.
We had a world class goalkeeper who was lauded by everyone before he arrived.
He killed Distin who formed a formidable partnership with Jagielka.

We are now a mockery in a downward spiral who can't attract players, who refuse to spend on anyone which in turn makes us unattractive. I am not looking good forward to this season; Watford will be interesting next week but at this rate we have relegation written all over us..

I'm seriously worried. A repeat of last season but others have strengthened considerably.

Villarreal were knocking the ball about with hardly a care in the world. Their players, when they were on the attack, were up quickly in support. By the time we had the ball in the final 3rd we'd lost the bloody thing by the time our lot had ambled up. Rooney must have been cringing with embarrassment having to witness that performance first hand.

I think I'd rather get the kids involved at the risk of relegation than give Martinez any more to spend. He could bring Rooney back and negate his play in 5 minutes. Maybe relegation would give the whole club the kick up the arse it so desperately needs. Doesn't mean I want us to go down though.

Glad Rooney got a good reception and great to see a real Number 9 for once. If only they both still played for us...

Things need to change.

Where did Sin Miedo go after 2014-15? Cleverly sounds a good deal. I'm looking forward to Stones and McCarthy staying. I'm looking forward to some late activity in the transfer market. Best wishes to the team and supporters, from a very worried Blue.

Why has this idiot been allowed to further degrade our club this season?

Our passing is pretty good, in fact it's too good such that we pass for the sake of it.

There is very little action in the opponent's box and we have got no finishers apart from Mirallas and Lukaku.

As a youth coach over here, I'd rather be looking for our 'famous' academy to start yielding some real talent and not selling them off. McAleny over Naismith any day of week. Browning has been a shining light of preseason, too.

Lastly, I know he's injured, but Besic is a player who is criminally overlooked. His passion in midfield is glaringly absent. I'm done with the sick-notes and old-timers.

COYB!

I think Ferguson might have had more pace than Osman and Barry in that match... not joking. Mirallas looked sharp (playing for a move?) and hopefully we can get Lukaku and Deulofeu back with Barkley in behind to get a fast front four as soon as possible.

Best starting eleven imo:

Robles, Coleman, Baines, Stones, Jagielka, Cleverley, McCarthy, Mirallas, Barkley, Deulofeu, Lukaku.

Martinez will probably play Howard, Barry, Naismith and Osman though who I think should be substitutes. Lennon in by Southampton away would also help; hopefully we are still after him.

Seems like Martinez has learnt nothing tactically from last season.

We have a Chairman that uses this political rubbish as a smoke screen for his own failings. Martinez got the job primarily as a "yes-man" to the board.

This is a dangerous combination of factors & I think its going to get worse before it gets better. And before anyone accuses me of over-reacting to a meaningless friendly, I say no wins in 4 games against decent opposition and one goal from open play in that time. Totally consistent with what we saw last season. He's got to go.

If Rooney really is a Blue, he'll have seen that today and said, "Right, give me that armband Jags. Martinez, Barry, Stones & McCarthy, fuck off... and that goes for any other player that doesn't want to be here. Get the money and build around me for the next four years. We're going to the Champions League."

Bring Moyes back with a point to prove too. You'd soon see high intensity blood-and-thunder games back at the Old Lady because quite frankly I can't even watch this cardboard shite anymore. It's actually becoming one big awkward silence at GP.

There simply is no accountability for the guy who is running the club. Martinez is simply out of his depth. I think he has a fine conceptual model of the game, but has so far not developed the tactical nous of how to actually create it on the pitch.

I coach teems over here in the States and, from what I've seen of Ross over the last couple of years, he is a fine footballer. His development has been mishandled, especially last season when he was moved all over the park. Ross looks like he flourished when he was free to express himself. He has every physical advantage you'd want as a player, but he needs to play without the weight of expectation all over him. He's also not going to do it on his own. All great players need foils to shine and despite tinkering incessantly with midfield, Martinez hasn't gotten it right for a long time.

Cleverley looks like a very smart buy, but we need to lose Barry, Osman, Pienaar, Gibson from starting 11 as they simply don't have the pace or drive to run a game anymore. The modern game is about transitions and that's an area where we seriously struggle. Note the break away today after we hit the post from a corner.

And Fergie showed the whole team how to challenge for an aerial ball in the 5 mins he was on. I'd pick him over Kone.

I'm going crazy that this buffoon can get away with such lies over and over again! Who does he think he is?! Who does he think we are?! Well we are the life and soul of this grand beautiful club.

And I for one will not stand back until something happens! Every game I will be asking for answers. I will be there to do the dirty work!!!

Was it a friendly when, last season, we put together the worst run of form since HK Mk III with arguably our most gifted squad in a generation?

There's nothing friendly about my feelings toward the current situation. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

We shouldn't be so reliant on the 1-v-1 situations he bangs on about. If we were to attack at speed in unison more often, we wouldn't need Deulofeu and Mirallas to make something from nothing.

Good luck to the players anyway.

Does anybody "actually" know the intensity the players play at in these games? It's difficult to judge how "real" games are going to pan put, although today did answer some questions:

Is Kone any good? No, not at all.

Is Ross Barkley seriously suffering from lack of confidence? Yes.

Do we need any more signings? Yes, at least three, a centre back, a creative midfielder, No.10 if you like, and another striker.

Does Duncan Ferguson still love Everton? Oh yes.

Does Wayne Rooney still love Everton? I'd say yes to that too. Saw one of the Villarreal players ask him to swap shirts at the end of the game and he was having none of it. I'm not basing my opinion on just that, by the way, before the trolls get going.

Last question answered: Do Evertonians still love Wayne Rooney? Without a shadow of a doubt.

If we don't win, there can be no 'if's or 'but's!

Bleating about transfers needs to stop. It's just stupid until the window closes. Yeah, we'd like signings in earlier but they cost more earlier and players, of the quality we need, might hope for more noteworthy teams than us coming in for them before agreeing to come here.

That's just fact. No need for the old-woman wailing and handwringing.

What's wrong is the manager. Discipline... leadership... steel... man-management. Call it what you will... it's missing. So far it looks like season 1 Martinez the players still had Moyes concepts of order and effort. Last season, they twigged it wasn't there anymore and a team rife with quality... able to put Wolfsburg to the sword... couldnt be arsed and still isn't arsed. Once the discipline is gone and the mindset is Easy Street, it's very hard to get that back into a unit. Especially a unit that can walk out and find a payday anywhere with grubby agents all to happy to facilitate.

Martinez needs to get this turned around and done so at the rush.

From where I was sat I would say 99.9% recurring applauded him on. I would say 100% but a guy in front of me farted and I wasn't sure if that was a statement of derision.

As for Kone - eee orr, eee orr, eee orr to be shot.

I remember my Giants just simply skating by until the fans showed up at the game and instead of going inside burnt their tickets. After that it changed and since then they have 4 Super Bowl titles.

He hasn't really got a Plan A... let alone a Plan B, and he solely believes that his style of football will win Premier League matches. Maybe the Spanish league but even that I doubt. it is going to be a Mike Walker moment again and wait and wait and wait until he is removed.

I'd lend him my gun to do it himself but he'd probably miss!

Everybody had something to prove in Martinez's first season. Martinez would have been a breath of fresh air to the players and our "loan" signings stepped up to the mark for many reasons.

Season 2 was a case of teams finding a way to stop us and basically Martinez going all out to win the Europa League, I am convinced of that.

I agree with you over the transfers and if we have no money then that is not the managers fault. What is the manager's responsibility is to find a way of making what he has better, and although I have said he deserves 10 games to prove that Season One was not a blip, I am beginning to doubt that Martinez has what it takes to make us better because, as you point out, there seems to be no leadership from him.

Four or five weeks ago, I was well up for this season, excited and optimistic, but I just can't see us playing well enough to do anything. Collymore reckons we will will be around 10th or so; I hope he's wrong but he probably won't be.

The players do look fitter, if not sharper than this time last season. Mirallas looked up for it, but could it be that he sees himself in the shop window? I hope he stays as he is one of those players who can give us something special.

I think the two players we have got in so far will fit in well and offer us different options. Browning and Galloway both look like useful cover at the back but ideally we will still get in an experienced centre-back. I have a feeling that Martinez has a plan in the market. He has picked up Tom and Gerard for next to nothing and is saving his funds for deadline day when he can drive a hard bargain (Lennon for a few million cheaper?).

I really hope he has a solid plan for a Number 10 and manages to pull it off as Barkley is not the answer. I think he has a big role to play, but he needs to be used at the right time and in the right role. We need someone with creativity and vision in that position to link everything together.

I also wouldn't be surprised if we got in a couple of wildcard loans on deadline day, like the Barca boys we have been linked with. I wouldn't say I'm brimming with confidence, but I do think a few key signings late on could give the squad a big lift. The key for me has been keeping hold of the core of our squad (so far, touch wood).

On topic, it was great to see Big Dunc again and I was surprised how happy I was to see Rooney in blue again.

Don't get why Stones stayed on when they had their corner and he was down injured. Mirallas went off pretty soon after the challenge on him; Stones should have gone likewise.

Browning looked composed when he came on, scored a good goal, much to Dunc's chagrin.

Rooney showed what a centre forward should do and hell, for his brief cameo Big Dunc offered more than Kone did in 45.

Have to say though, the No 6 for Villarreal looked very composed as did Nos 4 and 8.

Martinez might not last til Xmas IMO.

We only need to buy another Arteta and we are set. We have McAleny as backup striker and we can use Kone and Naismith as subs. So we should try to bring Lennon back on loan. And, use all the money we have to replace Arteta.

Oh and we should never start with Naismith or Kone anymore. Need to put down Osman, Kone, Naismith and Kone ASAP if you ask me.

Use the youngsters instead. They could not do any worse.

Sunderland are adding M'Vila and Fer now, that's after they already signed Lens. Newcastle have added quality in every area of the pitch, Mbemba, Wijnaldum and Mitrovic. Most of those players would have improved our squad.

Yes, I think Martinez can improve tactically by being more pragmatic (unlikely, I know), but until we address our ageing and unbalanced squad with investment, it will be a constant battle to tread water. Championship clubs are spending more than us, for Christ's sake!

Very clear to all concerned!! He should have added the goalie too... so that's just the whole spine of the team then...

Let's hope he delivers.

We were lucky last season with slightly worse teams than us. What can we do? Nothing is the answer.

The board are massively to blame; they should not have hired him. But RM is not going anywhere he will be with us all next season, not just for 10 games. Let's see how he does.... ALL season!

A good manager gets the best out of his players and I can't help feeling that Roberto is closer to the opposite.

We have some decent players but something did not work last season and it hadn't really been working in pre-season.

Hopefully it comes good next weekend.

My 11-year-old lad said the same sat in the Park End...

I had to disown him when the row in front turned round glaring!

Roll on 3 o'clock Saturday. Nothing but a win will do.

Priority, hey posters. Have a reality check. What really matters? How the Blues played today? Or the above?

Much needs to happen before the end of the transfer window, will it ? If it doesn't we are in very very serious trouble.

Have no quibble paying £30 for a friendly game when the proceeds go to such a worthy cause and after all we are there to celebrate big Dunc, shame as one poster added above it wasn't longer though.

Now throw in the Everton FC aspect in respect to the game on offer and it is worrying. I appreciate your point but can differentiate between the two.

Players that are coming in one minute and then they're not; the number 10 argument, the CM, that we need. Naismith's shite. Osman's shite, Ross is great, then he's rubbish, Were going to get relegated. The fucking season hasn't started yet. Martinez is this and Martinez is that, (I'm not a fan), but it's so bloody boring.

Let's get the season underway and then criticize the team and management. And not just go by a few pre-season matches that mean fuck all. Because the same people on here who are calling for blood, will be the same supposed fans, that will be cheering our success.

There is no way we will improve this season because we still have the same problem, HIM. He should have been sacked last Christmas, if he had we would now be in a much better position, new manager, players, tactics, optimism.

I don't think the Board are prepared to back him with funds, presumably because they think they may sack him soon. If that is the case we've already just blown next season.

This incompetent in charge is slowly destroying our club, many other teams are going forward and getting too far ahead for us to be able to catch up quickly. If the situation is allowed to continue for much longer we will be a lower level EPL team, year-in & year-out, just like Villa have become.

It took David Moyes years to get us back to being a top team and his work has now been mostly destroyed by an egotistical Spaniard who won't listen. It's sickening.

Unlike on here, most there saw it as just a friendly but loved the celebration of being a blue.

Next season... who knows, but after today I am even prouder to be a Blue.

Nice one, Dunc and Club.

Got in the ground and the subs were warming up with Duncan Ferguson leading them. One touch in a circle, right in front of me. Wayne Roney taking part just like the others.

Names read out; game on... DF decides to warm up. Emotions difficult, the whole ground singing that song. Then WR gets up and wild applause all round and singing of his name which he modestly acknowledged.

Fast-forward to 75ish mins, Wayne on; if anyone has any doubts whatsoever, the noise was like when we were good, true theatre... and when Big Dunc came on, leading the applause in the pitch, Wayne Rooney.

Someone cleared a defensive header I think, the ball in the air to be won, DF, he cannot help himself, up he went elbows the lot, won it, glanced to WR. That smoke was in my eyes.

It was offside, but WR got put through, score please, alas. The corner, Browning scored, DF commented after.

We are moaning about Stones being unsettled by Chelsea tactics. Wayne has pretty well everything, untold amounts of money, won everything there is. He has Bill on the pitch with him before the game, love, just love from the whole crowd, I did not hear one single, not one single adverse comment. I honestly believe everyone in the ground applauded him, not just politely. The crowd echoed to the rafters "Rooney, Rooney" and at the end Duncan said some really well thought out words about him.

If I was that player today, I would be doing some serious thinking and if I was Man Utd, I would worry.

As for Duncan, well he looks as fit as when he played. He looked as aggressive too. I know it was 5 minutes, but he clearly has got "it" and I can recall not just the 10 top things he did on the video they showed, but also some of the less good days.

Lastly. If I were RM I would also worry. The team look to me to lack confidence, drive and enthusiasm, not really based on today.

How passionate was DF when he spoke to the crowd? I do not know if he is a good coach, but based on what I saw and the way he spoke, including a few words to "his Chairman" I would suggest after game 10, if it takes that long, that a certain person will be in prime position.

Today, the keeper kicked the ball six times, not once to an Everton player; Coleman gave them a goal; Jags thought he was Messi at the back; Jimmy Mac was OK; Barry even in a friendly had to concede fouls due to lack of pace; King Kev has a new contract, passing to Everton players is not a part of it; Naisy is, well Naisy; Barkley is just being ruined, and Kone, A... WTF? We might as well have a Player/Manager.

Thanks for reading.

Some people keep blaming Ross about situations that have feck all to do with him! (What game are you looking at?) Another point: Ossie, done absolute feck-all again today! (90mins of absolute feck-all!) Ossie lovers, silent today after game! (Wonder why, no smoke blowing up his arse) but they still moan about Ross!...

Like I said, Ross has done more in today's 30 mins, than their "great visionary who dictates/creates" so much within the final third has done all pre-season!... and for many seasons before that. (I fecking hate double standards.)

We couldn't get Mickey Rooney to play for us after some of our pre-season displays.

We have dedicated all of our lives in one aspect or another to the club. I won't smile for the sake of it, I will smile when things look like they are getting better.

Moyes got us back to a top team? We won nothing. All we were was the nearly team. But never quite achieved fuck all. If you call a regular top 8 plus position success, well it's pitiful.

I think some fans on here should have a reality check: we are not the big club that we think we are anymore. We're in and around Crystal Palace and Stoke City, sad but true. They're the teams we're competing with. Not Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City or Arsenal. Were light years away from them. We need a tremendous input of money. But where is it coming from? Nowhere soon on the Arizona. So we have to just cope best we can, until something major happens.

I gave our defence last season some terrible stick, and it was justified in my view. I know where you're coming from with this slow tactic passing and it's not for me, John.

But in your first sentence you say that pre-seasons games mean fuck all. So therefore let's see if with maybe one or two additions John, whether RM changes his game plan if only slightly.

What I mean is criticize on what you see and not what you might see.

This could be a very difficult season for the club and could see us in very serious trouble and by this I don't mean not winning trophies but continuing to exist. If we go down, it could be curtains for the club given its dire financial position means we're dependent on us being in the EPL.

The only other thing I can think of is, just have a look a WR's face on one of the photos, honest to god, I have never seen him smile.

I think we all hope the season goes well and that means winning matches. But if the worst happens and we hit a losing streak, much the same as last season, hopefully the board will act quickly and not put our EPL place in danger.

I've accepted (certainly under BK) that we'll never win the title again and that we are basically competing in a league within a league - a league below the league that Chelsea, City, Utd and Arsenal compete in.

I've also accepted that Newcastle, Liverpool, Spurs (and whoever else) can/will/do outspend us so I try to be as realistic as I can.

I know we are run/owned by the shifty and inept and know that until they're gone, very little will change.

But... Villarreal?

"Hey they're a good side, don't underestimate them"

Well yes they are, but do they have our resources?

Without knowing the ins and outs of Villarreal's finances, my guess is they don't get our gates or charge what we charge for tickets (and/or season tickets).

And they deffo don't get the telly money we get.

So why (a week before kick-off) did we look like shite compared to them?

Why was their touch loads better?

And why was their movement, passing and and forward-play better?

And most annoying (for me today) was why was their closing down and pressing much more effective? (I can accept more skillful but not working harder.)

I genuinely don't give a shite about pre-season results, losing every game wouldn't worry me at all, but today's performance, if I'm honest, made me nervous.

As for Kone, I would (genuinely) not be against us paying a team a million or two to take him off our hands.

A great turnout by the way.

(good luck to anyone who bought a season-ticket in Seat 274, Row C, Lower Bullens, fucking big pillar in front of you, even though, when I bought my ticket for today, the girl in Everton 2 who sold me this seat told me "No, duz not'un' in yer way, yer fine like.")

And you could argue in RM's defence that he had no cash at Wigan to put into place the players he really wanted for his plan. But what I can't make out of this man with vision, is, why he didn't stay at Swansea and get them in to the Premier League like Rogers did (you could argue that they went up with RM's team).

And why didn't he see or couldn't he see, just how a well run club with money behind them Swansea were? They could have given him the successful team of his own making, unlike scraping the barrel each season with Wigan. So I have a question mark over his loyalty at Swansea and Wigan (I know he spent 7 years as a player at Swansea). But I think he will stop at nothing, even if it means running a club in to the ground. Because it's all about RM and his vision and not us or ours.

As for our director's doing their best for the club, well that's arguable and they did employ RM after all.

Whichever one it is, it isn't good enough.

"And not just go by a few pre-season matches that mean fuck all." So why bother having them? Why bother watching them?

Last season's pre-season games certainly gave an indication how the real season panned out,

Anyone for déjà vu?

Are we not in the deepest of deep trouble?

"Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots".

Think it was Cloughie, well he's dead right and we have the biggest dunce in the class.

I honestly get no joy from Everton at all anymore, the only emotions I have are disappointment and occasional anger. I am not expecting us to win a thing but the board has shown no ambition for years and they are making mugs of the real supporters of this club.

I am not giving them another penny. In fact, I live in Rotherham and have just bought a season ticket at New York.

However, the team that played the majority of the second half is a team in a relegation battle! There are no goals in the team without Lukaku and Mirallas! And no pace!

With a leaky defence to boot I am worried for the season... I pray Lukaku and Kevin M stay fit!!

Being who I am, I have wondered during the afternoon "what's going on?", and then tuned into Facebook to hear Rooney getting an excellent reception (well done, Goodison), and Ferguson speaking after the match. Maybe he is still being a fraud, maybe he was pandering to Kenwright's ego. But bloody hell, he didn't half sound like Shankly.

Kone has to go; he is the worst forward since Brett Angell. Every game I see, he gets worse... surely a manager who's job it is to look after a team can see this!!!

Why was Long sold? Why can't McAleny get on the bench? Why no bid for Chichro? What does Duncan think of Kone?

Why after 2 seasons can't Roberto find Barkley's best position? What's happened to our defence? What's happened to Coleman, the best right back in Europe? Why no incoming transfers?

These are just a few questions me and fellow supporters are asking, there's many more I could list. I'm trying to be positive but, when I see the club I love going down shit creek, then I will be vocal about it.

That suggests to me that they've got it right, though it's worth a second look at Skybet, who have Martinez a standout 20/1 to be next prem manager to lose his job (I got 33/1 a few weeks ago).

So, for those who keep saying we're certain to go down, fill yer boots at 50/1 - I think the odds on us not to go down are more realistic.

We now compete with Stoke and Crystal Palace as you say, but this means we have dropped back to mid table and are no long a nearly club, just a "miles away from the top" club.

With any sport, to win anything, it's typical to come close a few times and then maybe, with persistence you do eventually win. We aren't even close to winning, though, now, with little hope of things changing any time soon.

I'd rather we finished 5th than 15th. Sure we win nothing for either place, but we ain't going to jump into the top 4 from 15th in one season but we just might from 5th. That realistic sense of hope is a big difference, as is the level of entertainment fans now see watching the Blues, which frankly last season was generally pretty bad.

I have to say it -- I'm embarrassed for us, I feel we're a joke club, with a joke manager who's totally out of his depth. Give me back Moyes any day, at least he said it how it was.

http://www.justbookies.com/premier-league-odds/?gclid=COXxiqCmi8cCFYOv2wodLGgNpg

But the response to pre season has been, erm, phenomenal.

We had people on the live forum calling for Roberto's head on the back of a friendly. We had people claiming our only decent players were performing fitness tests for other clubs. Others were adamant that the Leeds game highlighted our problems while the Scotland tour demonstrated nothing. Some bloke reckoned he was listing his season ticket on stub hub. The same bloke who complained we had no pace to our attack during that good spell in the first half.

Funnily enough. When I asked the question of whether anyone else's stream was down I got silence until Michael K confirmed it was for him too. Was it down for a bit for everyone? I got a strong feeling that half these people weren't even watching... just seemed like rent a mob trolling.

Personally, I'm optimistic that out of this we find that JMac and Tom form a solid midfield partnership. Our back 5 show their ability. That Kev and, later, Del bring that cutting edge we lacked last year. And that Rom bangs them in for fun. Unfortunately even I can't feel too optimistic about Ross... something huge needs to change with him and it's too much to expect.

Start of the season is upon us. COYB!

The club has not sold for the sake of selling but many take the media stance that we will and it just breeds more and more worry and stress from an element of the fanbase. I would guess that almost every club has a similar situation.

I've just got a feeling recently that there are a few who are quite happy to just spout off with no real substance. Some strange absurdity contest. In the case of yesterday, I'm pretty certain there were many who weren't even watching!

I can't disagree with anything you have written. The only comments I will add to yours is Martinez has had over 50 games in charge and his formation and philosophy is still the same. It will never change, it is like a religion to him. I honestly believe if he had Chelsea's players he would be trophy less.

Whatever happens in the window we have to grin and bear it until Kenwright can stand no more of him.

It's never something I have ever really thought about, but you notice everything a bit more when you have got a bit of a downer on things.

We need a new goalie, a new centre half, a new forward, a playmaker, a new ground and a FUCKING NEW BOARD!

Like the tide at West Kirkby, it creeps up on you slowly, but we are not going to keep making it back to shore forever, under this present regime.

Villarreal, like Young Boys and Kiev, scored from a corner with a near post flick on, we don't even have a player, ball side of the near post.

So not only do we not practice defending them, it just doesn't look like we practice taking them either. It's scandalous, even if we did take a decent short one in the first half, when Miralles should have done better!

He's a VERY good playmaker, French (ex-)international. Needs a good manager and a passionate support to get him running again. Yoann Gourcuff. Get him in.

Okay, I agree the owners leave a lot to be desired, but we've known that for a long time. Every supporter is disappointed with the amount of money spent on players over the years and there lies the real problem.

I respect every ones opinion of the manager but why go over the top after games such as friendlies? We achieved good finishes in the League under Moyes management, but he was regarded within the game and in the media as someone who got the team to perform above their capabilities. Also don't forget we've not won a trophy for twenty years, even under Moyes, who fault is that?

The manager has said we need 3 more players, and so we do; what a difference a player like Rooney would make in the middle of the field for us. Problem is we know that we will not be buying top drawer players, ٤m-10m and frees is our usual range.

During 'our lad's' cameo, my neighbour turned to me to remark, 'We're only one player short of being a decent team. HIM!' Perhaps an over-simplification caught in the moment but I'm sure we all catch his drift!

What we were certainly lacking was 'inspiration' -- whether that be the rare talents of a Rooney or the on-field stimulation of a Big Dunc. Certainly we have neither 'characters' nor stand-out performers in the ranks at present -- and whilst young Stones is the focus of all that's Everton at the moment, it's hard to get too excited about central defenders!

We hear that Roberto's is a quiet, academic approach to the manager's role in which he treats the players with respect and expects them to know what they are about on the field. In all my years, I recall just two of his ilk, Ian Buchan (who was little more than a fitness coach) and Mike Walker -- both perfect gentlemen but, behind their backs, scoffed at by players with the inevitable result.

Perhaps, then, it's just that after years of 'drilling' by David Moyes, the ' light touch' approach just does not work -- although what excuse the more recent arrivals have for their apparent lethargy (heavy legs?), I have no idea.

Let's hope they are all saving 'a performance' for Saturday!

When we lose a game the relentless and often vitriolic negativity towards, BK, RM and certain players is at the very least tiresome in its repetetive, and in my view harshly critical analysis. It means I give TW a wide birth until things calm down.

It is a sad situation because I enjoy the site and my daily dose of all things Everton.

Thank god that not every Evertonian buries his or her head in the sand after every loss. It's that sort of passionless crap that saw us drifting dangerously close to relegation last year.

I think Evertonians have been fairly even handed with RM. He got every bit of credit for the way we played in his first year and even last year against Man Utd saw many of us getting briefly back on his side. The stubborn git just will not accept and learn from his mistakes, sadly.

The Villarreal side had nothing to prove, no former legends to put on a show for, and none of their fans paying good money. Yet they effortlessly outplayed us in key areas, showing lovely touches here and there. They even had a centre forward who ran with the ball like a young Sharp.

How pedestrian we were. The problem is that we will be taking this lack of momentum into our first game.

This is one group of sloppy, unmotivated, disorganised players, lacking confidence, with no game plan. Already picking up injuries to key players, and already playing people in the wrong positions.

This is why many of us are fed-up and slagging off the manager. Wait until we have had 10 games including some tough ones and the writing will be on the wall.

When Dunc was thanking everyone, I thought of how he could get a team going in the dressing room. Can't imagine Roberto doing it. Also Dunc thanked the fans, players and Chairman, but did he mention Martinez? I didn't hear him mention him, did I miss it, or is it significant.

My guess is Dunc will take over at some point this season... the sooner the better.

The game lifted as soon a he got the ball, there was fire in his belly, he was one of us again, perhaps the others should take note?

They say you can change your job, house, wife but never your team; I believe this is true in his case. (Although I know an Arsenal fan that now supports Spurs!! What's that all about?)

It was a privilege to see Dunc again, really positive. I think sometimes we forget how good we were, we had two reminders today.

The goal from the corner was a training ground special and he couldn't miss from 4 yards out, completely unmarked.

Who is our defensive coach? Do we have one?

The idiot who dropped Robles, who was showing some real confidence, and replaced him with Howard without a second thought. Same approach with McAleny. Has a blinding 45 minutes against Swindon; 3 assists and a goal in 45 minutes, praised to hell then dropped.

The pre-season should be about identifying fresh new charges, but the poor guy has never had a chance. Rant over before I really get started. Duncan Ferguson as manager by Christmas. Please God...

I was there; you're spot on and your comment was a great read!

Did anyone watch the Brittas Empire? The comedy was based on a man being promoted above his ability to keep him out the way... Trouble is, RM is in the way and it's not funny.

It's all very well saying there is too much negativity, what exactly are people supposed to be positive about?

Are Chelsea going to get relegated too - after all they haven't bought anyone yet and haven't had a great pre-season either?

Some of you sound like that obnoxious reactionary lot across the park.

A completely unbalanced squad, an inadequate squad, players out of position, sideways backwards football, no leaders, no character, no motivation, unrelenting refusal to acknowledge what we can all see. The greatest irony being the cheers for Rooney. Surreal??? The leaders of our club give the impression that a nice afternoon in the sun with all our old faded cheerleaders will keep us happy and paper over the cracks. WRONG.

For me the single bit of enjoyment and hope came after the game. The passion in Ferguson's voice. Correct me if I'm wrong but if/when Martinez gets the boot sometime before Christmas is it possible that Big Dunc as his number 2 would get his cards at the same time? Not likely after yesterday I'd say. The manager in waiting it seems to me. Why not do the right thing Bill and get it done sooner rather than later?

Nothing that I've seen this pre-season has led me to believe that we'll see any sort of improvement, and with the almost total lack of investment in the squad in addition to the plethora of hamstring injuries, I can see only one direction. Down. If not relegation, then a fight to prevent it.

I just checked his odds on being the first managerial casualty: 20/1, watch them odds drop after Saturday.

This season is going to be as pathetic and boring as last season. Why do we put up with this rubbish? Why do we put up with a board who have the lowest net spend season after season.

BILL, WHERE'S THE MONEY??????

Of course this was not to be. A couple of the main actors were missing and their understudies were just lacking star quality. A box-office flop. Goodison is so quiet, as we all wait for signs of hope. It is just sad that it takes two of our stars of the past to get us all up out of our seats.

Even sadder is the fact that Rooney, who loves the club, is beyond our dreams, and worse still, big Dunc's rallying call to one and all had all of the passion and commitment that we all want to see on the park. We have not been inspired for a long time.

Big Dunc thanked everyone, including our Dear Leader, but did not mention Roberto Martinez. Perhaps he simply forgot, but I think he has his own ideas of how things should be done, and we will see in due course... Martinez leaving by mutual consent, and Duncan Ferguson installed as our new manager. Could it be that the unforthcoming funds for players are being held back for January?

RM is stubbornly staying true to the tactics he believes will be successful. I don't think he could change, even if he actually tried. The tactics mirror Martinez. They're steady, predictable...boring. The squad has buckets of talent, they need to be allowed to show it.

This season is make or break. If we begin like we ended last season, there's hope. If we sputter out of the gate, then we will need a change.

Ferguson not including Martinez in his speech simply was an oversight... or was it? There is no doubt in my mind that he would want to manage the club, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, would he have all the attributes to do the job? -- No is my opinion. I reckon he would be a lot like Roy Keane; good intentions but no know-how.

On a different note, reports that Southampton are in for the Celtic centre half and Rio Ferdinand urges Stones to join Man Utd!

There was a moment during Big Dunc's testimonial where the ball arrived in a good position wide left and we had players arriving in the middle. Then the clock kept tick tick ticking as we reshuffled the ball out on the wing.

I'm one of those who have requested less harping on the negatives in TW threads. So I'm ending my comments here, with crossed fingers.

It seem to work for the rest of season, although we weren't in great shape it was much improved from what had gone on before the tactical change.

Fast forward to the pre-season friendlies, Roberto has reverted back to his old tactics of possession football and the result is we look inept and toothless going forward again. Proof though that Roberto will change his tactics if put under enough pressure from the supporters and the players.

It's a situation that is unheard of to my knowledge, at any other football club, but one that is allowed to happen at Everton, it's a ridiculous way to run a football club, and Kenwright should've sorted it by now.

Regardless, I still stand by my assertions about letting Rooney play for Everton again while he is a Man Utd player, for whatever the circumstances, right before the start of a new season. Judging by the posts on here he was the one of the better players on the day, who would have guessed that eh?!

Shambolic doesn't come close to describing Everton FC at present; this pre-season this season is actually worse than last... not only do we have a manager who hasn't adapted his style of play, which is beyond obvious, we are also giving in to the nostalgia of "Once a Blue, Always a Blue" for a player that has zippo to do with the club.

I also feel we need to take into consideration that the way things are going, Bobby will be sacked within 15 games of the season (probably) which I highly hope happens, although I obviously don't want us to go losing games.

Bill Kenwright has taken too much blame this summer, after spending 㿈 Million on a player Martinez wanted last year and him being highly over-rated and flopping last season (imo), and also having in the corner of his mind that he will be sacking Bobby soon (probably, again) he won't want to throw too much money at players for Bobby. He will give the money to Big Dunc when he is hired in November/December!

Until then though... COYB!

We haven't looked good in pre-season. No doubt of that. But, let's wait until game 10 is over and see where we sit.