Martinez bemoans lack of intensity

, 19 March, 136comments  |  Jump to most recent
Roberto Martinez was left frustrated by his team's performance in today's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal who he admits were superior in every way.

The Gunners were coming off the back of successive cup defeats and had to travel back from Barcelona in midweek but they brushed the Toffees aside with an energetic first-half display.

Everton, by contrast, were slow and uninventive and could have no complaints about a result that doomed them to their eighth home defeat of the season.

"We have never performed in this manner," Martinez said after the game. "[W]e were second best. I thought Arsenal had a bigger bite and more intensity. We looked like the team who’d had an extra game so it was so disappointing in contrast to the performance seven days ago.

“We had a big player missing, Gareth Barry is someone that gives you something extra but that is not an excuse.

“We never got a platform in the game and we were ineffective with the things we were usually good at. Arsenal were better than us in every aspect of the performance.

“When you lose the ball so quickly, you leave yourself open and we never looked like being able to cope with the movement of Arsenal," the Catalan continued by way of explanation for his decision to withdraw the disappointing Muhamed Besic for John Stones at half time. "I thought an extra man in a deeper position could help us."

“But, it wasn’t enough to get us into the game – you have to compete and show the intensity that we had seven days ago.”

 

Reader Comments (136)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Jim Bailey
2 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:06:25
So, who better than the manager to inspire intensity?

Get gone, Bobby.

Paul Columb
3 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:07:20
No talisman on the pitch and an ineffective manager who seemingly has lost both the faithful and the players = no belief, intensity, pride nor points.

Nice bloke but time to go. Now. Not after the cup run.

Phil Sammon
6 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:14:38
For once, some sense from Martinez. Trouble is, he seems to be talking about this game like it's an isolated incident.

TWO YEARS Mr Martinez. Two years of crap...and even worse explanations. You've had your chance and blown it.

I want FA Cup success, but not at the expense of our long term future. Sack please!

Jim Bennings
7 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:22:57
"We have never performed in this manner "

Errrr.. Swansea at home Roberto??

Go back last season and you'll see numerous abject performance levels smattered throughout both at home and away..

You are a believer in your own philosophy, nobody else trusts this team, nobody has faith in the manager.

It can't go on for a third season, if it does then we know where our ambitions will lie.

Dave Ganley
8 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:22:58
"We have never performed in this manner?"

Oh please, we perform in this manner most weeks. Completely sick of it now. Get gone as soon as....

David Pearl
9 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:25:20
He should've started with 3 centre backs with Barry missing. I can't see Besic & McCarthy playing together, too similar... or at least drop Cleverley and have Stones bringing the ball out in between them.

Disappointing, they give up after 5 minutes and grew frustrated not being able to close down quick enough, when they did the ball had gone already.

Could the FA Cup save Martinez? Can the players show the correct frame of mind and desire week after week when they have nothing to chase in the Premier League? Do Lukaku, Stones, Barkley etc retain their confidence in the manager's philosophy? Stay tuned!! Same Bat time... same Bat channel. Same fucking result. Uuurghhhh!!!

Dave Abrahams
10 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:25:24
He only used two subs (again) when he could've used eight if they were allowed. The players are getting away with murder under this weak manager, they should be taking things over themselves, they are as weak as the man who supposedly gives them instructions.

Put Martinez on gardening leave and make Barry player-manager for the rest of this season, it’s impossible for him to do any worse than the present manager.

Paul Andrews
11 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:28:55
David (#9),

McCarthy is not good enough. He is a midfield player who doesn't want the ball.

Cue "he runs and runs all day"... We could sign Mo Farah to do that.

Steve Pugh
12 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:30:50
Dave Abrahams, I was thinking of Barry as a caretaker too. If it really is him that gets the team going on the pitch, let's see what he can do. If he does a decent job until the end of the season, then put him as assistant to the new boss next season and groom him in the same way Man Utd are doing with Giggs.
Carl Peters
13 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:30:50
Sick of the excuses now. Martinez is simply not good enough for Everton FC. His substitutions are simply mind-boggling.
David Mosses
14 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:50:49
When teams come to Goodison, they close the Everton players down; what do Everton do? They let the other team play. What are they doing in training or, more importantly, what is the manager teaching them? You can't let teams have so much space; if you do, they will take you apart, as have all the teams that have been to Goodison this season.

We are not Barcelona, and we don't have the players to do it. Surely the other coaches can see what is wrong, why don't they have the balls to tell him what is wrong? If they can't tell him what's wrong, they should be sacked along with the manager.
John Aldridge
15 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:59:38
Decent shout for putting Barry in charge until the end of the season. I think the players respect him and, let’s face it, he can’t do any worse than Martinez.
John Newland
16 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:04:16
The only consistent thing at Everton is Martinez. He is phenomenally consistent. This phenomenal consistency underscores his incredible character as with every passing game his phenomenal post-match interviews are phenomenally consistent but unfortunately also incredibly predictable.

But we should be grateful that our phenomenal manager shows so much character to come back, week-in and week-out, to give us such incredible after match interviews. However, for most of us fans the only phenomenal reaction to his incredible opinions is how this incredible character is still in a job at our phenomenally incredible club.

Sorry for this incredible rant but I am phenomenally pissed off after an incredible eighth home defeat of this phenomenally incredible season.

Derek Knox
17 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:13:04
I was always one to give Martinez the benefit of the doubt, truly beleiving that he would, eventually turn things round, and I still believe we have the playing squad to have achieved that.

I can only hold my hands up and say ’Sorry, I was wrong’

I think Bobby has proved that his game-plan is all-too-predictable, for visiting sides, who must be rubbing their hands, with the expectation of an easy three away points.

I honestly also thought, with last week’s performance in the Cup against Chelsea, the new ownership saga finally concluded, and the promise of future funds in the transfer market to be available, that it was going to be the start of the new era.

I would go for a young exciting manager, who can get the most out of his players, and one who knows what Everton is all about. In that, I mean Eddie Howe of Bournemouth.

Just imagine what he could have achieved with Everton’s resources and training facilities, not to mention the squad we have?

Frank Crewe
18 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:13:52
"Arsenal were better than us in every aspect of the performance."

Yes Roberto. We noticed. Although I'm sure that's got nothing to do with you at all.

Frank Crewe
19 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:19:18
Derek these last few games are the last knockings of the current era. Once the season is over Mr Moshiri can clear away the wreckage of RM’s tenure and we can start rebuilding on a firmer footing. Just grin and bear it for a few more games.

You never know... we might win the cup and salvage something from RM’s disastrous reign.

Graham Morris
20 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:20:14
As our dear Chairman would say. " WHAT A MANAGER" !!!
Jim Bennings
21 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:21:10
Well as someone at the match said today during a rant.

Under David Moyes we were a middle to top team.

Under Roberto Martinez he's transformed us into a middle to bottom team.

Frank Crewe
22 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:23:30
One more thing. The next manager should not be Eddie Howe. It’s going to be difficult to attract big-name players as it is without the added encumbrance of an unknown manager.

I’m sure he’s one for the future but right now Everton need a manager with stature. A proper name who's been there, done it, and bought the tee-shirt.

Jay Harris
23 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:24:25
Never mind Gareth Barry... the groundsman could do a better job than Martinez.
Ian Brandes
24 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:28:24
Goodison is turning into Desolation Row. As the great Bob Dylan said:" They're selling postcards of the hanging."

Cannot come soon enough. This idiot has driven me insane.

Anthony Millington
25 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:35:06
2-0 down at half-time... bring another defender on to shut up shop and settle for a 2-0 defeat. That was Martinez’s gameplan, right?

We never looked like scoring 2nd half and the striker he signed for £13 million didn’t even get on. Why? If he’s worth £13 million, he should be coming on and if he’s not then is this a bad signing... another player with no Premier League experience?

Lee Gorre
26 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:45:56
Paul 11, completely agree McCarthy’s performance was atrocious today. It was like watching snooker at times, when the back 3 get the ball he moves himself into a position where they cannot get it to him. Whether he just lacks intelligence or confidence I don’t know but I saw a player out there today who really didn’t want the ball.

He managed to chase 50 yards up the field to knock one of their players over the touchline and do nothing more than get them a goal kick. Some may see that as putting in the effort, but that’s wasted 'headless chicken' stuff for me.

Tony Rutherford
27 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:46:46
Complete and utter shambles. The manager is clueless! I think when we win it's just that he’s got lucky! The bloke is a joke and will eventually take us down if we give him enough time!

Last 20 mins, players got away with murder, it was as if they didn’t realise we were getting beat and we didn’t have anyone having a go at them to get the ball forward quicker!

My son, who’s 11, and I were talking about the summer and who we should sign... and my son said it doesn’t really matter, because Roberto wouldn’t know how to get them to play as a team!

I'm truly shocked at how bad we were today.

Barry Pearce
28 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:52:15
Until Martinez goes, and a new manager comes in, we will be just treading water.

To me, the squad seems to be nowhere near the fitness levels required for the intensity of the Premier League. We only seem to press teams now and again. When we do, we always play better.

David Pearl
29 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:53:01
Paul (#11) – Yes, I’ve never rated him as an all around midfielder plus his distribution is very average. The odd good tackle aside, Besic is a much more rounded player. Just not as rounded as Humpty Dumpty.

Derek (#17) – I think Moyes and Martinez were both hungry young managers... time for a change and get a highly respected and experienced manager in that the players will look up to and not look at in bewilderment.

And Anthony (#25) – 3 centre-backs, including one that brings the ball out with him and looks for a pass, meant we would have more bodies in midfield so we could try to get a foothold in the game so I don’t necessarily see that as a defensive move. The players' heads dropped after being given the runaround in the first half and Martinez really didn’t get any belief back in the team during his half-time call to arms.

I think the players may be losing confidence in the manager and I haven’t said that since this time last year. If we win the FA Cup, and if we get past West Ham, I think we will, then it might be more due to the players' desire for a trophy than anything else.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we beat Man Utd next week away from home.

Kieran Kinsella
30 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:58:28
Barry is 36. Great player but worrying if he’s the answer to our problems. He should be helping the younger guys, not being the key man in the whole squad.

McCarthy is a Wimbledon-style rough and tumble headless chicken. He’s not good enough for a top team. He’d have been okay for the Dogs of War team but that’s it.

But ultimately the manager picks the team, sets the tactics, coaches the players. His record at Premier League level shows consecutive years of decline at both Wigan and Everton. He might do okay in the Mexican or Portuguese league but his style doesn’t work in England.

The FA Cup should not save him. If we win, his medal can be his Golden Handshake. No one wants to play for a crappy team just cause it won the cup. Wigan fans can confirm that.

Shaun Traynor
31 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:00:54
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result, Albert Einstein.

Your philosophy is insanity Bobby, it’s not getting us anywhere, but you don’t fucking change. You are ruining the best crop of talent we have had in 20-30 years. Time to go, we will not allow you to take our club to the edge of relegation, just like your philosophy got Wigan relegated.

MARTINEZ OUT!

James Potter
32 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:02:44
Home record:

Played 16
Won 4
Drawn 4
Lost 8

Conceded 28 goals at home, worst record in the Premier League.

Steve Guy
33 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:02:57
At the game and exasperated by many things. (Which team was it that had the mid week game?) But the bizarre nature of the substitutions continues to astound.

Galloway warms up for at least 10 minutes and I think "Yeah, bring him on for Baines" who was stinking the place out, Galloway sits down. Deulofeu carries on warming up (looking at Martinez from time to time to see if he wants him on yet) and I think "OK, stick him wide and stretch them both sides or take Lennon off" (as Coleman was at least trying)... but no, he takes Barkley off just as he was starting to get a hold of the midfield.

I hope our new investor can see what we can see. A manager unable to motivate a team and tactically inept. The gulf between the two sides was a chasm today.

Martinez Out! Pellegrini In!

Sid Logan
35 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:10:28
One of the most spineless and inept performances this season.

Once again Martinez has failed to produce two back-to-back good performances.

I watched with concern Bill Kenwright’s comments after the Chelsea game. It was a "Did you see that, all you Martinez doubters #150; Chelsea beaten with some to spare".

It was a hefty defence of Martinez and a mild ticking off of supporter criticism of him. If Bill had spoken in the context of the season instead of wearing his romantic spectacles, he would never have said what he said but unfortunately he can’t help himself.

He’s got a pre-conceived and entrenched idea of Martinez’s qualities – quite simply because that’s his way.

Our problem is whether Moshiri is a shrewd enough businessman to see beyond the gushing praise that Bill will continuously feed him about Martinez or will he look at the table and maybe have an ear to the ground to hear the views of those who’ve been obliged to watch so many disheartening games this season.

Today’s game on top of its sheer awfulness, I think we had one shot on goal, which is not untypical of many home games this season. Many of our goals have happened in gluts and distort our Goals For stats.

My biggest fear is another season of Martinez – a deeply flawed manager who is dragging our club to a permanent lower-half team.

Colin Hughes
36 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:16:38
Look at the teams we have beaten at home, three woeful sides in the bottom three and Chelsea when they were in turmoil early in the season when Mourinho was causing unrest with the doctor. Every other side has left here with something.

We go to Man Utd next where we have registered just one victory since 1992 so that means failure to win there and we could reach mid April still not having reached 40 points.

If this Moshiri has any real influence or ambition, he must make an early impression with the fans who need to know he means business. Forget winning the FA Cup – we are the worst side left in it defensively.

Phil Walling
37 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:17:27
After last week, our team has no excuse for today's performance because we know they are capable of much better.

Don't blame Martinez, he picked the team most of us would have opted for and they shat on him and us. All this bollocks of a super-talented squad is just that – bollocks. It may have players capable of moments of greatness but the reality is that it is plain ordinary, just as the league table shows.

After praising Roberto for last week's performance, I don't blame him for today's. All I will say is that the team he has created, trained and coached is spineless and lacking in bottle. Tonight, rather than sacking the manager who should never have been appointed, I would be negotiating the transfer of some of the players who have let him and us down so badly!

Colin Glassar
38 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:19:23
Sid, I’m sure Moshiri isn’t being hoodwinked by last week's game as our league position speaks volumes.

I said after the Chelsea game that our cup runs are simply papering over the cracks. 11th last season and a bottom-half finish this season, with this squad, is simply unacceptable (winning the FA Cup or not) and cannot be condoned.

Mr Moshiri seems to smile a lot but I imagine he’s a tough, hard-hearted, shrewd businessman who’s not going to plough millions into a club if he can’t trust his manager to repay him with a minimum amount of competence. I’m expecting big changes in the summer.

James Stewart
39 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:20:28
Pathetic. Looked every inch like one of Martinez’s Wigan sides.

Lukaku completely starved of service. The stupid decision to never put the ball in the box or cross it early was infuriating.

Horrible to watch and a horrid result off the back of a good one. Martinez in a nut shell. Just be gone already, I hate being an Evertonian when I can’t get behind the manager.

Les Martin
40 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:26:16
The balance again seemed all wrong, it was only when Deulofeu came on that we posed a threat. Lukaku got no service or support all afternoon, and of course he will move on at the end of the season. Even an FA Cup win just papers the cracks.

Ross continually having to come deep to get the ball and start moves, as there was no-one else doing a job, when he should have been up the field supporting Lukaku.

Seamus deserves some credit as he ran his heart out, Lennon too put in a shift. Baines can go, the number of wasted crosses. Summer overhaul... it's going to be very interesting.

Roberto can pick a player but not a team, which makes it all the more ironic!

John Francis
41 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:27:19
What a manager. What a plank. £60 grand a week and the brain of a goldfish. Be gone you imbecile, be gone now.
Ken Williams
42 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:29:48
Dear Mr Martinez...

Please fuck off and take your shitty football philosophy with you. We will be lucky to hold on to Lukaku, the heavy hints are already there...

David Pearl
43 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:31:26
Shaun – Einstein didn’t say that... The quote was attributed to him but with no proof.

Martinez does say phenomenal a lot though – plenty of proof!

Not sure about Pellegrini or if he would come to Everton. I mean, he has kind of underachieved hasn’t he with the players he’s had. I took an interest in him after watching us get schooled at Goodison by his Villarreal team. Although he wouldn’t have far to come in his Lamborghini.

William Cartwright
44 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:31:30
Just watched Roberto's after-match interview. Very embarrassing, and to be honest quite sad. He's lost the plot. Completely.

A replacement manager will be organised behind the scenes. He will join in the early summer. Possibly sooner if the league status is under threat.

The cup run is a brilliant sideshow I don't want to end; but a sideshow non the less.

Rom is setting his stall to depart as he will, with genuine regret and I wish him well.

So disappointing to see all the promise of Roberto's reign go downhill because of his own stupid ego.

So disappointing for all the loyal Everonians who deserve so much better than what Roberto has been able to deliver.

Kieran Kinsella
45 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:31:42
Moshiri made a billion in post-Soviet Russia. He’s nobody’s fool. Under performers there end up in the Volga with concrete boots. Just a matter of time for RM and BK...
Brent Stephens
46 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:35:26
I'm not a Roberto fan but so many individual players stunk with ineffective challenges, giving away possession, and being done for pace, that I don't think any substitutions or tactical realignment would have made a difference.
Chris James
47 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:36:07
To be honest I’m not gutted we’re losing more home matches if it means a fast track to Robbie’s departure.

He’s had 3 seasons now – the project started well but, even by the end of that first season, it was showing signs of collapse and since then it’s gone backwards.

Tony Hill
49 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:44:25
The players were garbage but I think they want Martinez out on the evidence of today. The level of incompetence – repeated passing to the opposition, half-paced floundering throughout – is only explainable by a decision not to perform. Disgraceful in itself but an inevitable consequence of allowing this manager to remain in his job.
Sid Logan
50 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:45:33
Colin,

I hope you're right. I couldn't agree more that cup success would only be a massive papering over the cracks.

Obviously Moshiri likes Bill and has been influenced by him greatly in his decision to come here. I'd much rather Bill got real over Martinez and save us all the trauma of worrying whether Moshiri will or won't see the wood from the trees!

Ian Jones
51 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:46:43
Everton's third substitution was totally ineffective today.
Ian Burns
52 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:47:54
The team is physically unfit; the manager is mentally unfit; if Lukaku had any second thoughts about leaving, today’s shambolic performance will have made up his agent’s mind for him.

A defender for a midfielder when 2-0 down says it all – another damned weekend ruined. Mr Moshiri for goodness sake, step in and put this manager, unfit for purpose, out of his misery and prove your appointment means business – and not business as usual.

Paul Ellam
53 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:54:22
I have to agree totally with Colin (#38). We may yet stumble to an FA Cup win (fingers crossed) but since Moyes left we have rapidly become a mid-table team, and once the better players leave (due to us being a mid-table team) we will become a bottom half club!

I believe our smiling assassin investor is ruthless and will not accept such under achievement for long. I expect big changes this summer. My choice for manager is Vitor Pereira, as it was before Martinez came.


Steve Pugh
54 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:54:41
The team want to win the cup so they play their own way. They don’t see any point in the league games, can’t be bothered with blathering Bobby’s phenomenal philosophy any more, and so don’t play.

It really is quite simple, as I said last week: if we win the cup, it will be in spite of Roberto Martinez, not because of him.

As many wiser men than me have already said... "Martinez Out!!"

David Pearl
55 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:55:36
It was a defender for a midfielder so we could push our full backs further forward so it was not a negative move at all, it was the opposite.

I’ll agree though that as a team we don’t seem to have anywhere near the fitness levels we had under Moyes.

Ken Jones
56 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:08:14
Excuses, excuses, excuses..... the man doesn’t know what he is doing, he just stumbles on & on...

Our record against Arsenal is shocking, one win in 19 games all competitions & today we were lifeless & hapless. The substitutions were ineffective & didn’t cause any inconvenience to Arsenal, who strolled it.

Paul Conway
59 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:03:39
Ian Brandes @24.

I had a good chuckle at your post, I know exactly how you feel. Seeing as we are on a music theme for misery, how about Tom Petty ’Free-falling'? Or Rory Gallagher, ’It's the same old story’?

Anyone else, for anyone else? Might as well make a Saturday Night out of it, seeing as Roberto tried to pour petrol on it!!

Dave Ganley
60 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:05:20
I agree the players were rubbish today and need to take a good look at themselves in the mirror. However, it's the manager's responsibility to prepare the players and set a game plan ready for when they take the field and Martinez has been derelict in his duties regarding sending out a team competent enough to consistently win football games at the highest level.

His philosophy isn't necessarily flawed; it's his interpretation of that philosophy. We all agree that he is trying to mirror the Guardiola way of playing. However, he is neglecting all the hard work that goes into being able to play pretty football.

When Barïa and now Bayern don't have the ball, they work like Trojans to get the ball back. That includes the whole team, no passengers like Barkley or Deulofeu who stroll around, and get away with it, when not in possession. You have to earn the right to play pretty football – it doesn’t just get given to you.

Martinez's teams don't earn that right. They are lazy, too unfit to run for 90 minutes and let the opposition run at them instead of defending from the front. You look at Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Ribery, Robben , Muller etc... all brilliant players capable of stunning football, work their socks off harassing the opposition. None can be described as tacklers but nonetheless, don't give defenders a minute's peace all game. We just stroll about doing jack-shit, letting teams do what they want, especially at home.

Martinez will never learn. While the players should be shamed by today's performance, Martinez takes total responsibility for sending the team out under-prepared and also letting them get away with shoddy play for the last 2 years. It's totally unacceptable. Martinez has no place being a top level manager – let alone being manager at Everton.

Tony Abrahams
61 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:14:06
Same team, except a straight swap, for Barry, with Besic, but was it really? Last week, we played Cleverley in front of Baines, and stayed in the game, so this week, Martinez, reverts back to type.

How can a team build any momentum, when every time we have a good win, the manager changes our shape?

I have heard a strong rumor that Moshiri has been talking to Jose Mourinho. Maybe we could let Martinez stay, to look after the academy?

Tony Abrahams
62 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:21:24
David (#55), I didn’t see it as a negative move either, because it created a lot more balance to our team, that first sub.

The second sub, was ridiculous though, because at the time we were getting a bit of joy with Coleman around the outside, playing as a wingback.

Why didn’t he just let Deulofeu, play in Barkley’s role and keep us playing the same way? Because as soon as Gerry went wide, they just doubled up on him, with Gibbs, who had possibly just come on because of the joy that Coleman was getting.

Anthony Lamb
63 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:26:26
Why all this talk about papering over the cracks "if we win the cup"? Can anybody with hand on heart see this team on the big stage at Wembley actually beating either Man Utd or West Ham Utd?

Man Utd are a truly poor team who were outplayed by Liverpool over recent games because our beloved neighbours have a driven, tactically aware and demanding manager who harnesses total physical commitment to the skills of players such as Coutinho.

West Ham Utd, along with Leicester City, have been one of the truly surprising teams of the season and, in spite of recently only beating Everton due to bizarre circumstances, are another focussed, energetic team driven by an equally demanding astute manager harnessing that to the skills of the likes of Payet.

In "normal" circumstances, Everton should be able to compete and beat both on a good day etc. But such is the malaise around the club and the team that, on such a big stage, Everton’s brittleness will inevitably ensure another "nearly" outcome unless something sensational occurs before then.

And before we start writing off the season etc, keep an eye the Premier League table: we are by no means safe from relegation yet.

For being in this current state, the manager, his so-called staff, and significant members of the squad should be shown the door as soon as is practicable. There is something rotten in the "state of Everton" and to think what these fraudsters are paid makes one weep.

Peter Mills
64 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:34:15
Sr Martinez was so noble he recognised he was not the man to take Wigan back into the Premier League after he had got them relegated. Surely he will be sufficiently dignified to acknowledge he is incapable of pulling us back from where he has taken us now...
Neil Pickering
65 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:34:37
I know I’m going to get slaughtered, but as long as we stay up, I hope we lose every game from now till the end of the season. I include the FA Cup in that too. Last thing I want is for our fraud of a manager to win us the cup and paper over the cracks.

He’s a disgrace. A joke of a manager on par with Mike Walker. Get him out.

David Connor
66 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:45:23
Martinez looked a worried man in his post match interview on BT Sports today. And rightly so. He knows deep down his clock is running down on his time at our great club. The sooner he goes, the better for all concerned.

He has proved time and time again this season and last season that he just isn't up to the job. He is a Championship manager at best. I just pray he is managing another team there and not ours.

"What a manager" – indeed, Bill... He is truly fucking shite.

Mike Berry
67 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:53:36
I will pay for the taxi.
Stewart Lowe
68 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:54:26
Has anyone heard the Martinez interview after the Arsenal game?

Firstly, the fuckwit blames not having Gareth Barry in the squad as the reason we lost. Un-fucking-real. He really is clutching on to anything as an excuse, and to use a slow 37-year-old Barry as an excuse from a fully fit squad is absolutely embarrassing.

He also drivels on about today being "a one-off" and that we were not able to be ourselves?????? Excuse me????? I just assumed that the inconsistent shit we witnessed today was ourselves as Martinez has made that our standard??? And to say this is a one-off, well bugger me daft, I thought I had heard it all...

Steve Barr
70 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:14:40
Stewart, I heard the interview and as usual Roberto spewed out the same old waffle.

What's even more annoying is that the interviewer doesn't even bother to challenge any of it, particularly the "one-off" statement which is patently untrue.

Seems like the media and club managers have a cosy relationship rendering these interviews useless. Great work if you can get it!

Stewart Lowe
71 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:20:15
Steve Barr: You're absolutely right. However, the interviewer on this occasion was the resident Everton journalist who will only be able to ask questions that the club allow him to, which means you never get a fair or balanced answer, just a Martinez one.
Steve Barr
72 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:33:18
Stewart, Bloody hell, didn't realize that! Notwithstanding, I long for a hard-hitting interviewer/journalist who actually asks real probing questions, particularly to serial bullshitters.

I have the same gripe around lazy/sycophantic sports interviewers in general to be frank. How annoying is it when they go on about how great certain coaches are (Sky four in particular) when in my opinion most of their success is down to the fact they have millions of pounds to spend on the best players!

Jay Harris
73 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:42:05
As I sit here watching the "Leicester City story", I grieve at the missed opportunity to put Everton FC back on the big stage. Even with Moyes as manager, I am sure we would be top 4 this season.

Listening to Martinez again today, making excuses about Barry being the one who makes us tick and his miss was such a great loss, just irritates me even more that this man is still in charge of this club.
Martinez Out asap – cup win or not.

Xavier Spencer
74 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:42:14
Neil, I said exactly the same thing at exactly the same point of last season. I got slaughtered, nothing changed and look where we are today.
Gerard Carey
75 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:46:16
I bet if one was to look back at the various threads/posts this time last year, people were saying the same thing. RM was not good enough then and is not good enough now.

Results don't lie; we are where we are because of one man. We even blew the League Cup semi-final from a winning position. Time for change, if anyone has the guts to do it!?!

Ian Lloyd
77 Posted 19/03/2016 at 22:03:50
We’re in a relegation fight. We could be 15th before we even play Man Utd. This clown Martinez needs to go, simple as that. Useless manager.

There also needs to be a MASS clear-out in the summer starting with;

1. Martinez
2. Martinez's back room staff and his non-league defensive superstar coaches.
3. Osman
4. Hibbert
5. Pienaar
6. McGeady
7. Gibson
8. Kone
9. Howard
10. Mirallas
11. Cleverely
12. Mattioni

We’re a joke... we’re WIGERTON

Patrick Murphy
79 Posted 19/03/2016 at 22:42:19
Get out of my club, Señor Martinez, and take your back-room staff with you. I want my Everton back. Thankfully the new owner was there to witness what we've all seen and if he knows anything at all about football, he will get rid of the mis-management team asap.
Harvey Miller
80 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:01:05
I drove 300+ miles to watch the game on tv this time with my daughter. What did we get? A half-hearted, no guts, no fight performance, again.

The same players (bar Barry) did a very good job the week before, so did they suddenly forgot everything they once knew?

Well, they did not but the manager is not capable to maintain the good feeling amongst the team. He would ruin every team he ever has power over.

Will they sack him? I hope Mr Moshiri does not suffer fools gladly.
Anthony Dwyer
81 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:06:28
Ian Lloyd,

You have a list of 12, most of which I fully agree with.

Mirallas and Cleverley – I would allow a new manager to run his rule over them both.

Cleverley stunk the gaff out today, but he was played out wide and looked confused. He is a half-decent squad player, not first-team starter.

Mirallas has ability, a decent manager could get something out of him.

The rest do need to be part of a mass clearout, starting asap.

Ben Dyke
82 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:06:37
Here’s hoping for a quick recognition by Moshiri that Martinez's Wigan record is a realistic one, not merely constrained by finances, and that it is not good enough for Everton.

Even if we win the cup, which of course I hope for, he must go in the summer. Here’s hoping Moshiri is hard nosed enough to want a better return on the pitch for his investment. And that he sees through Bobby and Billy’s blabbering bullcrap.

Anthony Dwyer
83 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:09:41
How much more can we take? Every stat points to a nightmare season, every fan says it’s a nightmare season, how can it all be wrong?

We have to get shut of Martinez.

Andrew Laird
84 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:28:51
If anyone wants more of Martinez, then they need to look no further than one James McCarthy. This is a player whose MO is to immediately look backwards whenever he gets the ball and has spent every professional minute in the Premier League under the tutelage of Roberto.

The "Duracell crab" has energy and enthusiasm but has very limited ability; he is the physical embodiment of our manager and unfortunately he is also, somehow, the first name on the teamsheet.

Ron Sear
85 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:39:09
The Arsenal fans may have taught us a lesson with their singing

It’s a simple modification, All together now – ’Get out of our club, fuckoff Roberto Martinez, get out of our club.’ – Only let/s sing it louder than the Gooners.

Anthony Dwyer
86 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:44:18
Spot on Ron
Liam Reilly
87 Posted 19/03/2016 at 23:58:20
I would love to see Barry given the job until the end of the season. Last time we got a player manager, we didn’t do too badly.

Actually, I’d give it to Phil Neville not to have to hear this horseshit anymore.

Dick Fearon
88 Posted 19/03/2016 at 00:01:12
Play like that against the RS and it will be like lambs to the slaughter with the most embarrassing thrashing in our history.
Andrew Laird
89 Posted 20/03/2016 at 00:10:06
I will also clarify that Besic was somehow worse than McCarthy today, trying far too hard and ending up as one of Arsenal’s better players. This new rule where a team can only make 2 substitutions in a game they are losing must have come in to force when I was still in a "possession at all costs" induced coma.
Ian Riley
90 Posted 19/03/2016 at 00:14:02
Martinez has to go. My biggest concern is the frustration at Goodison by the fans. I actually fear us playing at home. The hope is killing us and expectations are gone. The crowd three years ago would lift the team and they would respond. Our style and pace at times reflects our manager.

I would sack him now or have a manager signed up to take over in may. It's a European Championship summer with many players given an extra two weeks off at the end of the tournament. To assess, implement changes will be short. To make such changes to our style and mentality is going to take time.

People on the forum have had a crack at the new owner already. Unbelievable!! Today is a true reflection of Everton over the past 18 months. He will have noticed the crowd displeasure. Time to move him on!!!

Dennis Ng
91 Posted 20/03/2016 at 00:15:34
I said my piece...Hope to see this mess cleared up by 15 May, ideally sooner.
Gordon Crawford
92 Posted 20/03/2016 at 00:48:43
Is Roberto still here?
Fed up with his excuses.
Darren Hind
94 Posted 20/03/2016 at 07:06:35
The morning after.
I’m not kiddin, I woke up and my heart felt like it weighed a ton

Scanning through all the threads, It’s very sad to see such a unanimous thumbs down for ANY Everton manager. The current one appears to have beaten even his most ardent supporter into submission.

How the fuck did we get here?

Martinez is a likeable man, but when he was given the gig and promised Champions League football, I kinda felt like I did when my frail old Auntie turned up when we were moving house asking "Where do I start?"

I notice that even Phil Walling (a long time critic) has stopped hitting him – no point any more.

I just Hope we/he can pull three rabbits out of the hat (two at Wembley and one at Anfield) so we get to have our glorious parade through the City and he gets to walk away with his head held high.

Neil Pickering @ 65 + Xavier Spencer@ 70

You are allowing your emotions to twist your logic Guys.

Kevin Tully (if reading)

You have my apology. I honestly thought you were talking out of your rear end.

Ernie Baywood
95 Posted 20/03/2016 at 07:45:21
I've defended elements of his leadership, while I've been critical of others. Mainly, my criticism has been that gee can't hope to stick around with such a disdain for results. He seems to believe that development is everything; no, it's a results business too Roberto.

Yesterday I think I saw something else. A team that didn't believe in what it was doing. A complete lack of effort in front of 40,000 at Goodison. Maybe a team who figured that the league doesn't matter now.

I'm not going to excuse the players. Coleman and possibly Stones aside, that was piss weak. But the easiest change we can make is the manager and I can't see any way back from this point.

A derby and Cup semi win can't even save him now. But those two games could easily put the final nail in.

Feeling genuinely gutted today. Losses always hurt but that was gutless, and it feels like we're going back into an era if churning through managers trying to find the right one. Stability is important and the next appointment needs to be a very good one.

Paul Nicholls
97 Posted 20/03/2016 at 08:35:00
Just watched West Ham on MotD. If we face them in the semi, I fear our goose is cooked. Better manager and, as it currently stands, better team than us.

I’ve been wanting rid of Martinez since Hull away last New Year’s Day. It gives me no pleasure to be proven right. Just hope Moshiri can see through the bullshit. I can’t deal with another season like this.

Neil Cartwright
98 Posted 20/03/2016 at 08:43:53
Looking at the Martinez post-match comments, he looks a beaten man. I wonder if he’s been told he’s out at the end of the season? Wouldn’t surprise me if the new guy has got somebody lined up already.

I really wanted it to work for Martinez. For the first six months of his time, we played some fantastic stuff but he’s coached the magic out. He’s tactically one-dimensional and this team are simply not fit enough.

Every season, we get to March and the players look shot. Just look at the work rate of West Ham, Spurs, Leicester and even the bloody Red Shite and compare that to us. I’m afraid he’s utterly clueless and totally out of his depth.

Jamie Barlow
99 Posted 20/03/2016 at 09:20:00
"He's a disgrace"

That makes two of you Neil.

Miles Jordan
100 Posted 20/03/2016 at 09:41:21
Apparently Guadiola told his players at half time last Wednesday that he’d cut their balls off if they didn’t beat Juve. I wonder what Roberto said to our lot at half time yesterday? If he wants to emulate his hero he needs to toughen up, which we all know he can’t.

I fear the only way BK will support a change is if we get humiliated at Anfield and then lose the semi three days later. If we win the cup, he’ll probably extend his contract, especially as he will have kept his team in the premier league this time (just).

Thanks, Ian Brandes @24, for reminding me of Desolation Row. It seems to sum up our situation pretty well:

"Then someone said you’re in the wrong place my friend – you’d better leave....."

Chris Corn
101 Posted 20/03/2016 at 09:57:09
Have to say I wanted him to succeed so much, but even I am at the point where I have had enough. As alluded to by Ernie at 91, the lack of acknowledgement regarding results is disturbing as are his increasingly delusional comments regarding ’development.’ The home form over the last two seasons is cause for dismissal alone and they have the cheek to pat themselves on the back re ST prices.

It’s as if he has absolutely no respect for the fan base and that we know nothing. He is the classic case of the Emperors New Clothes.

Please prove me wrong, Roberto, but right now, I would gladly pack your bags and drive you out the club.

Tony Abrahams
102 Posted 20/03/2016 at 10:12:20
Ant 77, I would also keep Cleverley, but I disagree with what you said about him yesterday. He played out wide against Chelsea, last week and didn't look confused, but he did yesterday, I agree.

Why do you think the manager gave a player who is already filling in, two jobs? It baffles me, and it must also baffle the players. No footballer on the planet can be in two places at once..

Yesterday was poor but I got some satisfaction. It made me realize that even if Everton win the cup, then Martinez, last game In charge should definitely be at Wembley. He continually tries to fix things when they are not broken.

Oliver Molloy
103 Posted 20/03/2016 at 10:44:04
That performance told us a lot yesterday. I truly believe that some, if not all of our players feel the same way now about the manager as I do. They couldn’t be bothered.

"A one off – no intensity" – is he joking? Does he really know what he is saying?

I also have changed my opinion about this squad being good enough to challenge the top four, we just aren’t. We could only do that if we played like Leicester do – all for one and one for all and our team have too many players who in my opinion think they are better than they really are. I’m presuming this can be put down to the manager and his constant "bigging up" of this squad and his flawed coaching style. We just have not the players to pass like Barcelona!

People saying including me we are better than this lot and that lot, the table doesn’t lie and it been like this for two years; Martinez has been consistent with that alright.

Whoever is in charge come the summer will have a huge job on their hands. There are a lot of squad players who will be on their way and will need replaced. The reason we are not in the bottom four – Lukaku has already basically said "I’m off" – Stones will go also I believe.

FA Cup? – does anyone truly believe we will get past West Ham Utd or Man Utd.

Every week we see Martinez supporters (I was one) changing their minds about this man's credentials to manage our club – the penny is dropping with a lot of those who were or are sitting on the fence. Mr Chairman and the Everton Board, stop it now... We are not fucking Wigan. This guy has been found out – he is incapable of taking us forward and should be sacked.

Jay Griffiths
104 Posted 20/03/2016 at 10:51:18
"We have never performed in this manner" – Roberto speaks with a forked tongue or he has the ability to write his own history. Like a 1930s Russian show trial.

Southampton away last season, left on 79 mins.
Newcastle away, left on 82.
Hull away, left on 75!

All round the Xmas period and all a mirror of yesterday. No fitness, no leader, no passion. Players hiding from the ball. Arsenal had two or three choices of player on the move to find with a pass yesterday. Makes it so much easier for the man in possession. Our players gave up and seemed to hide behind the away team thus locking themselves out of the play.

What worries me now is that I’m sure Roberto just doesn’t get angry enough with the players to instill a little fear. Fear and respect is what good leaders should demand.

George McKane
105 Posted 20/03/2016 at 10:52:58
I was away last week and missed the Chelsea game which by all accounts created a great atmosphere and a magnificent goal. So what happened within a week – or what can happen in a week to change everything so much.

Everyone in The Dark House told me I had missed a fantastic atmosphere. I get to the pub quite early – around 10:45 and again the atmosphere was bouncing even that early. We all spoke about Arsenal on the back of a few defeats would be there for the taking. Opinion was attack early, pressure them, push them around a bit early goal and they could well collapse. And we are not paid football managers.

My grandson thought the atmosphere was flat at the game and I couldn’t argue. Didn’t see any of the mentioned "pressure and intimidation" indeed looked like a little training exercise for Arsenal. We never ever intimidated or pressed their goalie even after his "injury" second half.

Back to TDH – stayed until around 9.00pm – talking Everton. Major disappointment. No defenders of Roberto left now. Total feeling that it's time to go.

My own thoughts are that some of the players should also take a long hard look at themselves. It seems to me that Roberto dominates all team issues. We have a group of very talented players who seem incapable of making an individual decision on the pitch. Everyone playing to the possession tune. It's not working!

We are a team of robots playing to Professor Popkis’s orders. It doesn’t look good at Goodison. Time for talk and excuses to stop and actions to be taken.

George McKane
106 Posted 20/03/2016 at 10:55:58
And another comment – The Drifters. For God’s sake.

The Drifters First Half.

The Drifters at Half Time

The Drifters Second Half.

Matt Muzi
107 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:12:13
The joys of being an Everton supporter, back to reality with a massive thud!

Last week, left the game feeling good, something that hasn't happened very often at all over the last two seasons and something that was lacking towards the end of RM's first season.

I'm not going to repeat what many people and myself have said before about RM, as (I'm sure like many others) I'm getting sick and tired of repeating myself.

Time for Roberto to go!

Colin Glassar
108 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:12:19
Poor old Roberto got absolutely hammered on Sunday Supplement today. He's now being openly questioned by the media and once this happens the end is usually in sight.

He bemoans intensity but who's fault is that Roberto? They could've been playing chess yesterday but that's your call, you train them, you prepare them, you pick them so shut the fuck up!!

Andy Meighan
109 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:12:50
Barry missing had nothing to do with us losing. He's played in the other seven games we've lost at home so that's another poor excuse from a poor coach. This was no one-off. This has been the norm for two seasons now.

I posted after the West Brom game we'll win one more home game this season... With only three home games left, I'm beginning to doubt that now. It's embarrassing but it looks like were stuck with the cretin.

Martin Davies
110 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:28:17
’’Roberto, disappointing result today, How do you rate that performance today?"

’’Well, I don't think the result was disappointing.’’

WTF Is this man smoking on a Saturday afternoon?

Help me out on this please.

Brian Harrison
111 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:31:30
Colin,

I am surprised they even spoke about us on Sunday Supplement. It usually just talks about both Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, then if they have any time left, Leicester and England. So even the Sky 6 obsessed journalists are commenting how pathetic we are doing under RM.

The problem is Colin that it is only actions by the fans that will make the board aware of how unhappy we are and booing at the end of another bad result is not doing it. I thought that BK understood the ethos of our club and fans, even though he has got some things badly wrong. When he came out last week and said he thought RM had come under some unfair criticsm, I thought well if you truly believe it then we are in a bad place.

If the chairmen thinks that finishing 11th last season and languishing in 12th at present isn’t reason to criticize then how bad to we have to get to be not unfair criticism.

Terence Tyler
112 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:35:48
Pienaar now saying he has been fit for six weeks. However cannot get near the squad. Yes he will never be a nailed on starter again, but surely 25-30 minutes of that old intensity between him and Baines could've been of some use recently, or before the end of the season.

Seems to me like another, sent to Coventry job, by our pillock of a manager.

Paul Tran
113 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:42:36
I'd have sacked him last summer, but accepted giving him a chance to show which of his first or second seasons was the true measure of his ability.

We now have a team capable of paying great football, while being incapable of winning games.

Time for him to go. From a first season of being hard to beat, scoring goals and winning games, it's come to jam tomorrow every week. Something happened at the end of his first season that shattered his good opening work.

The players have plenty to answer for, they've proved be as spineless as they were under the last guy, but the manager is the one who carries the can.

I hope Mr Moshri has been/will be pursuing alternatives to spend his money in the summer.

Colin Glassar
114 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:46:17
They had to, Brian, as John Cross (Daily Mirror – massive Gooner fan) was on. They basically spoke about Wenger and his future and legacy.

As an afterthought, they gave Martinez his 20 seconds of infamy and they were in agreement that he’s an idealist but a useless, and ineffective, one. It wasn’t nice.

Kieran Fitzgerald
115 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:48:49
I am being deadly serious here folks when I say that I would gladly give David Moyes the job in the morning.

Yes, his style of play was overly cautious and was as boring as fuck sometimes. Yes, how he left the club was bad form. But, he has managed at Man Utd and abroad in the meantime.

I think he will have learned a lot. He will bring defensive stability, a work ethic and drive to a team that is full of quality. I think he is just the fit at the moment.

Oliver Molloy
116 Posted 20/03/2016 at 12:04:42
Yes Kieran, and he would ruin any creative player we have at the same time.
Matt Muzi
117 Posted 20/03/2016 at 12:09:22
Yes I want RM to go, but I don’t want DM back!

It’s not progressive and he certainly blotted his copy book in the manner he left and his interactions with Everton at Man Utd!

However, I fully agree we need to get shut of RM ASAP, with the Euros this summer, it limits the time a new manager would have to sort the squad out personnel wise, tactically and fitness wise.

What we don’t want is RM starting next season as manager. If he was manger at any other club, he would've been sacked a long time ago!

Jon Cox
119 Posted 20/03/2016 at 13:28:25
Mr Martinez,

Before you go to your next club heed these words:

"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail."

We've had enough now. Three seasons is plenty for all of us. You are a massive failure and your tenure at our beloved club has been a catastrophe.

John Malone
120 Posted 20/03/2016 at 14:20:15
This season was make or break for Martinez!

No World Cup, no Europa League, he got his signings he wanted and we’re in the bottom half of the Premier League with one of the top scorers in the league! Frightening!

Martinez, regardless of an FA Cup semi-final, your season just broke... now leave – and take your pathetic bullshit excuses with you!

Roger Sunde
121 Posted 20/03/2016 at 14:21:20
We won possession? I don't see any issues.
Anto Byrne
122 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:33:22
My family has been supporting Everton since 1888. It was passed down as a birthright and I tried to pass it to my daughter who is 21 and suggested that she would prefer to follow Arsenal.

I had to say once you are touched by Everton you can't change but she hasn't had my life-long association. To be honest, I can't blame her as they do play a glorious brand of football.
Barry Jones
123 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:38:34
The debate about whether we have a talented squad or not will definitely be questioned after a game like that against Arsenal. I believe that we have quality, but the confidence individually and collectively has evaporated and the players know it. That in turn leads to a lack of belief in the manager and coaches. They no longer believe in him. That is what we witnessed yesterday.

He has been found out for what he is by the players and there is no turning back after that. He has either confused or pissed off too many players. We are under performing and I think it is beyond repair. Everyone always questions his tactics but I think that his man management is also poor and this is now evident. It is not just older stalwarts like Distin and Pienaar who have had issues with him either. I don’t think that he is Mr Nice Guy to his players. His ego doesn’t allow it.

Don Alexander
124 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:41:34
If The Incredible One's reading this thread I just want to say something that might cheer the poor bloke up after that latest dismal performance;

"Bobby. you were a much better player than manager."

There now.

Mike Powell
125 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:41:37
Every man and his dog wants this tool out of our club, but with Kenwright still pulling the strings, it won't happen. We have to start letting Kenwright and the new guy know what all of us fans think off this useless clown.

He has turned us into Wigan. FFS, we are on the same points as Bournemouth. Enough is enough!!!
Andrew Clare
126 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:41:55
Please get a new manager now. A very embarrassing defeat against a club that have surpassed us in every department since 25 years ago when we were on level terms.

Better team, better manager better ground better everything. 20 years of European football compared to our 3 or 4 years.

We have been totally eclipsed by them.

For me, Bill Kenwright has wrecked our great club. I just hope Moshiri is made of sterner stuff because these last 20 odd years have been dire

Dave Abrahams
128 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:53:13
John (#119), I couldn’t bring myself to watch MotD last night, I’ll be watching it tonight, THEM bastards make me happier than my own team, especially on games like today.
Karl Jones
129 Posted 20/03/2016 at 16:05:06
After today, Koeman would be my choice to replace Martinez in the summer. Fighting back from 2-0 down against them to win 3-2. Could anyone imagine Everton under any of the previous or current manager/s doing that? Under Moyes we’d have been playing for a 0-0, and we all know what happens under this clown (see yesterday).
Richard Lyons
130 Posted 20/03/2016 at 16:22:55
Hasn't he resigned yet?
David Connor
132 Posted 20/03/2016 at 16:41:31
Not one Everton fan can have a good reason why this man and his right hand man should still be in charge of our club.

We have had highs yes, but the lows exceed them by a mile. Yes we are still in the cup but then so are Watford and Palace. He has to be replaced in the summer or we will suffer more of the shite we have seen so far this season. There’s no way on gods earth he will ever make a top manager.

Should we go out of the cup in the semis he should be sacked immediately after it. He is a fucking disaster and will take us nowhere only nearer the Championship. We are in freefall in the league and I think the only thing saving him is the cup. The sooner he is dismissed the better for us all.

We have money now and should aim high for our next manager. Simeone of Atletico I think would jump at the chance to manage in the Premier League and he takes no shit, both as a player and now as a manager. You would not see a performance like yesterday the players would be shit scared of him.
Richard Lyons
133 Posted 20/03/2016 at 17:14:37
The depressing thing for me has always been the certain knowledge that Kenwright would never sack him, unless and until we are in real danger of relegation, and even then only when it's already too late.
I'm praying now that Moshiri will not have the same blind faith...
Soren Moyer
134 Posted 20/03/2016 at 17:57:49
We need to get vocal, folks.
James Joseph
135 Posted 20/03/2016 at 18:48:43
Flash back to January 1977: Billy Bingham’s Everton storm into the League Cup semi-final courtesy of two splendid 3-0 wind against a high-flying Coventry at Goodison and Man Utd at Old Trafford. The, inspired by a dazzling performance by recent signing Duncan McKenzie, they beat Stoke 2-0 in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Evertonians have every right to be optimistic but bewildered by the team’s league form which since the Coventry game had seen them thrashed by the likes of Newcastle, West Brom, Coventry and then 4-0 by United on their return to Old Trafford. The team were languishing in 13th place in the league. Something was clearly wrong. How could a team play so well in the cups but so badly in the league? How could the same bunch of players look so dynamic in the knock -out games but so lethargic in the league?

On the Monday after the Stoke game the board acted. Bingham was sacked and the search for his replacement began.

Eventually, Gordon Lee was appointed, the Blues went on to the League Cup Final where they eventually unluckily lost to Villa (Chris Nicholl), while Clive Thomas saw them off in the FA Cup semi-final.

I hate the phrase "he’s lost the dressing room" from people who’ve never set foot in the place but we now know from various accounts that Bingham had lost the support of at least some of his players back in the 70s. Saturday’s lethargic display, following on from the committed performance against Chelsea, has raised suspicions in my mind that something similar may be going on today.

Is it time for the new majority shareholder to emulate the board of 1977 and dismiss the manager, cup semi-final not withstanding?

Patrick Murphy
136 Posted 20/03/2016 at 19:09:49
Remember last season Aston Villa reached the FA Cup final via wins over Blackpool, Bournemouth, Leicester City, West Brom and Liverpool in the Semi-Finals before succumbing to Arsenal in the final. Villa finished the season with 38 points from 38 games and ended up just avoiding relegation.

From that perspective, even if Everton go one better and actually lift the FA Cup, it won’t in any way negate the pathetic league season that we have endured, which so far in 2016 has seen us lose three home Premier League games on the trot, the first time that has happened since the start of the 2008-09 campaign, and have drawn with Spurs and beaten relegation threatened Newcastle.

Five points from our last nine home league games, that is not a team having a poor time of it, that is a team that is destined for relegation. but for the recent away victories at Stoke and Aston Villa. How can Mr Kenwright even dare to say that Mr Martinez is a wonderful manager?

Colin Hughes
137 Posted 20/03/2016 at 19:19:43
It’s twisted logic but United winning the Manchester derby was a good result for us as it keeps them well within with a shout of Champions League places. Thus meaning the FA Cup may just get in the way of bigger priorities for them should they beat West Ham in the replay.
Graham Hammond
138 Posted 20/03/2016 at 20:19:29
I have been saying it for a long long time and have gone against the opinions of many here on ToffeeWeb (and in the media) when I have repeatedly said James McCarthy is Shit. He was abysmal again yesterday.

Paul Andrews (#11) hit the nail on the head saying 'McCarthy is not good enough. He is a midfield player who doesn't want the ball'

Lee Gorre (#26) nailed it by saying 'when the back 3 get the ball he moves himself into a position where they cannot get it to him'

My venom should of course be reserved for and directed at our 'Manager', he is the guy who continually picks and plays this player whenever available. As Bob Geldof once sang, 'Never in a million years' is McCarthy a £13M player, far far from it. Get rid of them both!

Steven Smith
139 Posted 20/03/2016 at 20:44:05
Absolutely clueless, as we have already noticed. Adios Martinez!
Frank Thomas
140 Posted 20/03/2016 at 20:59:06
If a player trusts the manager he will play out of his skin and risk looking foolish in an effort to win a game. However if the manager loses the trust of the players by using the wrong subs and consequently losing important games then the manager is finished. I think Roberto lost the trust of the vast majority of the players in the WHU game. If he does not get the trust back in the next couple of games then he never will.
Robert Pierpoint
141 Posted 20/03/2016 at 22:20:50
Does anyone remember Dave Whelan’s comments when we signed Roberto? It was something along the lines of ’He is better than Everton – he should be manager of a top European club’. This was after he had relegated his home town club.

Now, we hear Kenwright banging the same drum with this ’What a manager’ rubbish. Granted, Martinez seems a personable guy, but it amazes me how he elicits such strong and unwavering support from some people in the game, especially these hopeless romantics such as Whelan’s and Kenwright.

Hopefully, Moshiri will awaken a more corporate spirit around the club and decide that, quite rightly, somebody paid millions a year needs to deliver results.

Darryl Ritchie
142 Posted 20/03/2016 at 22:41:30
Every source I can find says we're too good to be in the position we're in. Is Martinez holding us back or maybe, just maybe, we're not as good as everybody says we are.

We haven't any consistency. This hot and cold, Jeykll and Hyde stuff can drive a person to drink...lots of drink! Have the players switched off; just playing out the season? Has Martinez's "philosophy " caused him to lose the dressing room?

A lot of questions, that will only be answered by Martinez's exit. I like Roberto. I think he's a decent person, but a flawed manager. If the same problems persist with the next fella, then we are more trouble than any of us thought.

Colin Glassar
143 Posted 20/03/2016 at 23:18:39
Bobby’s laying down the law: pull up your bootstraps or forget Wembley. He’s not happy.
Paul Hewitt
144 Posted 20/03/2016 at 23:52:09
Moan all you want, Martinez. We are shit, plain and simple, because you can't manage a team.
Don Alexander
145 Posted 21/03/2016 at 00:54:12
Kenwright wants an easy life off his managers. Moyes and then Martinez recognised this in an instant and signed on, confident they'd never be sacked unless very, very deep in the soft stuff, and that in the meantime they'd become set for life.

Dave Whelan is a millionaire barrow-boy with a very real gift as a salesman. Only a muppet buys stuff from a wide-boy like him though.......cue Kenwright.

Of course BK may not be a muppet at all because he has now substantially soaked up millions more of our spondoolicks than even Moyes and Martinez, and us fans have just given them all the easiest ride in the Premier League, decade after decade. It's what Everton is (in)famous for; great history, great club, principles, valiant losers, know their place, etc etc.

I just hope Mr Moshiri has a ruthless, ambitious streak the like of which we've never seen, that will reverberate around the country and attract WINNERS.

Alan Thompson
146 Posted 21/03/2016 at 06:02:15
Never mind singing Arsenal supporters songs with changed words. If they don’t want Wenger, can we have him?

Not missed a Top 4 spot for how many years but only won the Cup three times on the trot. Produced arguably the best footballing side in England for a decade and knows how to improve his players. That’s the sort of failure I want.

Where did our new Director come from, the inside running?

Shaun Traynor
147 Posted 21/03/2016 at 09:39:34
Someone please tell me he's resigned or been sacked...please!

MARTINEZ OUT!

Andrew Clare
148 Posted 21/03/2016 at 09:53:05
I can’t understand the people who sing Kenwright’s praises. He has overseen one of the most mediocre periods in the club’s history. Hired two very ordinary managers and is happy just to let things drift along.

A manager should have three years to prove himself. Martinez time to go has now arrived with no improvement in that time. Even if we win the Cup (which we won’t) he should shown the door.

You know when you have a good manager quite quickly by the way the team is set up and the attitude of the players.

Eugene Ruane
149 Posted 21/03/2016 at 10:48:18
Andrew (151) - 'I can't understand the people who sing Kenwright's praises. He has overseen one of the most mediocre periods in the club's history.'

I'll try and explain it.

If Charles Manson was a fanatical Evertonian, there would be loads on here beginning posts with "I'm not condoning what he done like, but he never actually murdered..." and finishing with "In my opinion, he's paid his debt.." etc.

In other words, for some, hearing the words "I love Everton me!" is a cue to slip on a mental blindfold.

Anyone else with the same Tom Pepper record as Bill would be a 'fucking lying twat!', but by giving it 'I love Everton me!', for those wearing the blindfold, this becomes 'Er...yeah ok, he's made mistakes.'

And not only that, some are outraged when you point this out ("vile accusations, nasty, no need, blah huff-puff waffle").

I am in no doubt that if he wasn't the biggest Evertonian of all time (ever, ever, ever - no really, ever!) he'd have been chased out of Goodison by a 10,000 strong, torch-wielding mob, 5 minutes after it became known that the money wasn't 'ring-fenced' and King's dock wouldn't be happening.

Oh and can you imagine if Kirkby been suggested (nb: then fucked up) by 'agent' Johnson?

We'd still be burning his effigy in the centre-circle, just before Z-Cars at every home game.

John Louis Jones
150 Posted 21/03/2016 at 17:09:18
I copied and pasted the Tag line, Martinez Bemoans the Lack of intensity.

For a bit of fun but it is a common line he uses. After a couple of minutes this is what I found on Google:

May 2nd 2015
Dec 3rd 2015
Nov 9th 2013
Mar 2 2013
Aug 19th 2012

The Term "Fearful"

Jan 25th 2016
Jan 17th 2016
Dec 12th 2015
Nov 12th 2015
Nov 19th 2014

These are the words used by a winner.

Bob Parrington
152 Posted 22/03/2016 at 00:30:26
I was just folding my scarf while packing for the trip back to Australia after watching the ??? Mismatch!!! on Saturday. And... I was starting to really wonder what it must be like for the loyal followers of our beloved team having to watch the kind of crap that we saw on Saturday.... and, I felt so sad for all of you. Never in my 62 years of support for our club have I felt this way.

I can hope only that everything gets much better and that, at least, we can somehow lift the cup at Wembley!

But, the claptrap from RM in this instance belies belief. Cup success or not, I now think he has to go. So idealistic in his ideas of playing strategy that he forgets that you need to have the right players in the squad to play it out. Clearly, we have a great squad this season but, also clearly, the skill sets to do it the Martinez way are not there. So, play according to what you have and not what you dream to have. Then, as you improve you buy the players to eventually fit the "so-called" dream strategy. Transition from defence to attack is painfully slow.

I’m sick of the bullshit and I feel for every true Evertonian that you have to put up with this week after week. The buck stops at the top. RM get the message and change or GO (I replaced the obvious with a G).
COYB


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb