Martinez: Minimal difference between the two sides

No organisation, no Plan B, no idea, lost the crowd and seems to have lost the dressing room!

The only thing I'm worried about is this negativity that must be permeating through the team and fans in the run up to the Semi. He should have been binned off weeks ago for a caretaker in my opinion.

The press give LVG a difficult time - RM gets away with anything like the sort of scrutiny the Dutchman has had to go through. I was hoping I was going to wake up the headline "Martinez Gone"!

Because I am an optimist by nature, I hope for the day that we may hear "rubbish and I will sort it!"... How cool would that be.

This is not an underperforming squad, or the best in a generation. This is a squad performing to a level it deserves to be at, and the table does not lie.

Give me a younger Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar, Lescott over this overhyped bunch any time.

I disagreed saying that he had a squad of much better players and the quality would stop this happening. I would like it known that I was wrong!!

I know how long this "period" will last, Señor Martinez: until you resign or get sacked!

He won't resign.

Will have to be sacked and that won't happen until Moshiri and Bill fall out.

Long dismal times ahead!!!

But when my own team arse around without much fight, I lose more interest. I fear for us against Liverpool and cannot see 2 wins on the trot to win Cup. I hope the new owner has a plan.

One has a manager who admits faults and one doesn't.

One has a manager who is talked about as getting heaved at the end of the season and one fucking should be.

Reporter: "That was tough today, Roberto."

RM: Yes, we were up against a top top side today but I think we deserved better.

REP: How so?

RM: Well, we had some good moments of possession when mentally we were in a good moment and we controlled much of the game. Don't forget that this is a young squad with huge potential and we will learn from this.

REP: What was Joel thinking for the first goal?

RM: Well you know this is a young man, a goalkeeper and all goalkeepers like to think they can play a bit, I will have a chat with him and say that he should not try Cryuff turns in the six-yard box.

REP: Two subs at half-time, Roberto, what was the thinking behind them?

RM: Well, Geri told me that he was very tired after running past the full back all the time and putting crosses in, he is on a ventilator as we speak, but he is a young man with huge potential and he will learn from this. As for Rom, he told me that he was feeling a bit lonely on his own and was finding it difficult to concentrate so mentally he wasn't in a good moment.

I brought Kone on as he is a young man with huge potential and Hibbert I thought could unlock their top top defence as he is a young man with massive potential, and Ross told me that he didn't know which way was up anymore. I am not sure what that means but Ross is a phenomenal talent so it will no doubt be meaningful.

REP.: Erm, ok. On to the semi Roberto, how do you see that going?

RM: Well, we are up against a top top team with fantastic players so we will have to make sure that mentally we will be in a good moment and these amazing young players who have phenomenal potential will be able to express themselves on a day that is massive for this great football club.

REP: Thanks Roberto.

RM: You're welcome.

The only person not learning from our performances is Martinez himself, I fear the Derby more than the semi to be honest, a good kicking in that will finish me off.

Like others I have begun to lose interest. I barely reacted when Utd scored, it felt inevitable to be honest and mine and other fan's apathy to Everton at the moment is perhaps the most daming indictment of Roberto's legacy here. Under Moyes it was rare that we would have nothing to fight for in April with European places and maybe Champions League still in our sights, the last two seasons have seen us fall away and become firmly established as a mid-table side, looking behind us almost more than ahead.

I see zero evidence to suggest that RM is capable of returning us up the table despite the players at his disposal.

From the Telegraph today:

“You don't expect to concede when you are well in the game. The reaction was straight away hitting the bar and the reaction was more with our heart than our head, that is our only disappointment.”

Totally dispiriting and totally pathetic remarks. Nothing more to add on this.

He will be forced to sack Roberto at some stage or risk relegation, winning the cup would be great but irrelevant. Next season with Roberto in charge will see us slip even further towards the bottom it's obvious, even to Kenwright.

Can't keep a clean sheet to save out lives and we've relied on Rom's goals with no support from Barkley who's turning into Ray Wilkins In front of our eyes. A lot of posters have given a can't be arsed attitude but I've never screamed at the TV so much when Barkley gets the ball with space to run into only to check and lay a 5-yard ball off.

I want the old Ross back the one that ran the length of the field v Newcastle or to set up a goal v Arsenal not the 'possession at all costs' which Booby obviously demands.

I'm dreading the derby and the semi and I'm back to last year just wanting the season to be over. Moshiri, over to you.

Everything should be done to get Koeman.

Taxi!

Hate the fact that I wrote that last sentence but I can't take another season of this dire shite from a manager who is clueless and dragging this great club down.

They simply give the impression they don't care any more and in a way, who can blame them? They're probably as dispirited and confused by his failure as a tactician as we are but have to follow his instructions or risk losing their place in the team.

As others have said. LVG gets tons of stick from the media and his own club despite challenging for Champions League, but Martinez gets away with destroying our club, taking us down into the bottom half and no one says a dicky bird. WHY?

We have some players who can be devastating on their day, but don't do the hard work – Barkley and Deulofeu most notably. Allowing players to express themselves is one thing but not demanding the required work rate is another. I know who I blame for the culture at the club.

I was one of those that ignored them and in fact told them where to go.

To all those posters, I humbly apologise.

Dave, regrettably I fully agree with you.

Would be great to lift the cup, but at what expense?

Give the new man time to sit down with our players who look to be heading for the exit, might be a character to make players turn heads and sign up for another year.

Furthermore, I think the choice of Moshiri as a partner was based on his having no designs on 'playing Football Manager.' True, he promised to provide funds for players if required but Martinez made much of the fact that he had been assured that his Chairman and not the newcomer would continue to be 'the Conductor of Transfers.'

Moshiri's attraction for Kenwright was his money, his passive involvement with Arsenal, and a tacit agreement that he would concentrate on off-field matters such as the stadium project. I suspect the deal would never have gone through had Moshiri insisted in immediate overall control (51%) or had ambitions to become involved with the football side.

Only Roberto's Cup success – apart from some salesmanship from his mate, Whelan – could ever have persuaded Kenwright to appoint the Spaniard although the pair's common predilection to spouting bullshit ( 'He promised me Europe as soon as we met') must have been the basis for a common bond.

I hope I'm wrong but I truly believe that, whatever the Anfield result or the Cup outcome, 'The Philosopher' will get another season unless the relegation threat appears very early next term, as per the Walker experience!

Sampaoli said: “One night, I went to a bar, I was with a woman. We talked all night. We laughed, we flirted, I paid for several drinks of hers.

“At around 5am, a guy came in, grabbed her by the arm and took her to the bathroom. He made love to her and she left with him. That doesn't matter, because I had most of the possession on that night.”

Just about sums it up.

I pay attention to your posts, Phil; I think and hope you are completely wrong on this one.

I'm not sure what Moshiri's involvement is going to be, but Kenwright's 'What A Manager' comment was a way of publicly telling Moshiri and the fans that the gaffer will not roll. It was was shameless and underhanded and will slip seamlessly into the extensive back-catalogue of BK bullshit.

I'm afraid it's going to fall on the head of the match-goer to make enough of a fuss to see this plonker dismissed. Cup run or not, I think it's time there were some demos that the club and media simply cannot ignore.

This was the side that fought out a 4-4 draw in April 2012 it was a typical Moyes side 4-5-1 that was pretty much taken to the cleaners by a very good Man Utd side. Utd were cruising yet we got a draw.They showed passion blood and guts and with a couple of decent signings could well have been a top 4 side.

Fast-forward to 2016 and it's all change to an insipid 1-0 loss with a team that has no fight, no imagination, and no passion. We do have much better players but it's a team game and this team sucks as it can't do the basics and that's why you have a manager that sorts this stuff out. In our case, we don't and we have turned on players like Howard, Baines and Coleman when the flawed system has broken down.

He's right. They were bad and we were worse.

I would take him back with open arms at least he can sort out the mess that is our so called 'defence', if we can keep Lukaku (unlikely) then who knows Champions League could be a reality next season if we can add a solid striker with experience and know how. If we can keep Stones and turn him in to a rock again then anything is possible?

Lennon, Baines and Cleverley in particular were very impressive.

Still not happy with him overall, to be clear.

I would take him back with open arms. At least he can sort out the mess that is our so called 'defence', if we can keep Lukaku (unlikely) then who knows Champions League could be a reality next season. If we can add a solid striker with experience and know how and if we can keep Stones and turn him in to a rock again, then anything is possible?

Just saying like.

No one remember the fact he took the job at Man Utd months before the end of the season? His comments at Utd about now being able to go out and win football matches?

His arrogance at telling us we where holding back the careers of Baines and Fellaini because we wouldn't basically sell the for fuck all to him?

He's a cunt of the highest order...

Please have some self-respect. If there's a need to name an interim manager then let Sheedy or Unsy take charge. Why give it to some money grabbing failure like ginger? Get a grip and get over him!!

In a season of brilliance, this could have been a result we stomached. In this season, it is just another failure to add to the pile. We are currently 12th, and I expect an 11th place finish. We've had relatively good luck with injuries, bar a spate of defensive ones earlier in the season. We've had no European football.

How can Martinez keep his job after this? How long do we have to put up with this? Our points total was the worse in 11? years last season, despite the clear ability of the squad. We've improved on that this season but risk finishing in the bottom half. We are beyond bad at home – we are embarrassing. And our away form is good but not as great as conceived by some – we've still only won 5 from 14 away, and have Leicester and Chelsea to go to yet.

He is right – there wasn't much difference between the sides. But United won. That is the 9th time they've won this season, and they've managed 30 points at home despite scoring only 20 goals. We, on the other hand, have scored 29 goals and managed 16 points and played one more at home than United.

That is a reality that cannot be concealed by 'a minimal difference between the two sides'. There is one key difference – United are incredibly efficient at home. We are incredibly inefficient, and our inefficient manager needs the sack. We need to make this clear. I don't think we should ever boo our own players at home, and we should support the team to the utmost during the game (although that's pretty hard to do at home at the moment). But we need to show our discontent after the games, and we need to keep showing it.

The Media, whilst becoming increasingly aware of the situation, should be chastising him for this season. They are not, because we are conceived as a 'smaller' team. Rodgers was under so much more pressure and didn't nearly do as a badly as Martinez. Get him out and give Eddie Howe the job.

The sad thing is that we could, and should win the FA Cup this season. But if we win it, I will not celebrate completely wholeheartedly, because I know it will keep Martinez in the job for longer. That is probably wrong, but it is what I feel, as much as I would love us to finally bring a trophy back.

BK wont want to add another error to his list of errors/failings and will stick with RM til at least Crimbo next season and that's being optimistic as I can see him getting another full season before any heads begin to roll.

Phil #46 was also spot on in saying the only way to get rid of this fraud is to demo at the ground as until there is visual dissatisfaction via banners for instance and lots of them nobody will pay attention as the media seem quite happy at present to watch our demise from a back row seat. Without the assistance of the media asking more and more questions of RM Bill will sit tight and ride it out as he always has done.

Something needs to happen or set up to be carried out and soon otherwise we can only look forward to more of RM's ramblings whilst also watching what talent we have leave through the back door.

Apology accepted completely mate, as I said exactly that at the time along with signing off "Sin Defendo". It gives me absolutely no pleasure whatsoever to be proven right. The real kick in the nuts for me is whatever else you think of him OFM had put together a tight unit who had good team spirit, good tactics and would run through walls for each other. It was an edge that more than made up at the time for the lack of spending power. It was a great platform to move on with especially with the funds opened up. Gone for good.

This clown has dismantled that so much that we are way behind the rest in these aspects at exactly the worst time possible since the financial playing field has levelled a lot with the new TV deal.

Phil 41 I tend to agree with you so far as BK's intentions are concerned. I do wonder whether his drive is just to see one last glory day for Everton if the health rumours are sadly correct. But I have to say I lost lots of respect for him with "what a manager"; it was shameful and cringeworthy and just really really ill-judged.

Where I disagree with you though is that in reality, Moshiri will be his own man, irrespective of any handshakes or gentleman's agreement with Bill. The second he feels his investment in a supposedly upwardly mobile club is threatened, Senor Martinez will be figuratively sleeping with the fishes and there will not be a thing Bill will be able to do about it.

And quite right too.

I would like to add that while Kenwright is at the club we will not progress.

He's a man on the edge.

Love him or loathe him, managers like Maureen create an 'us against them' mentality deliberately. Making enemies of other teams, managers, the press, everyone, which riles up supporters but I've always seen it as a deliberate ploy to create an atmosphere among players an supporters that means you work hard, and don't take any shit from anyone – it's a brilliant motivational tactic, one that RM simply has no understanding of.

You can motivate individuals as much as you like, but it won't do shit when the crunch comes and your team falls apart at the seams because you failed to created a 'team'.

We're a talented team/squad as he keeps saying, but until he does the above we're going nowhere.

Easy for me with no shares, I know, but desperate times etc.

If he wants Roberto to get one more season's go, he'll give it.

What I have trouble believing is that Mr 49.9% is taking orders from Mr 13.7%.

Removing Mr Martinez may prove to be the catalyst that the team and fans need to re-unite them and may prove fruitful if they are 100% together for the remainder of the season. Carrying on as we are drifting from one bad performance to another, unable to honestly believe that our team is going to win another game is painful and annoying in equal measure.

We don't have to appoint the next manager immediately, get a caretaker in or promote someone for the last knockings of the season, somebody who will instil some belief in the team and most of all someone who will get the players to play in a system that suits them.

It has been done before at other clubs and brought success, admittedly not this late in the season, but the club should seriously consider doing something now and not wait until the anger of the Goodison crowd is on show for all to see – for once in your life Mr Kenwright be pro-active and do something to ease the fans pain.

I am waiting for the Ross who actually has a shot on goal to return.

Late on yesterday, gets the ball in a perfect position to have a dig.... oh now, the thick twat knocks it to his left and ends up passing it to the wing.

This has been his MO all season. He used to have a dig with either foot from all over the field. Why doesn't he shoot any more?

Has Bobby told him to look for the pass (to our static forward players) instead?

Lazy, unfit, scared to tackle, won't track back and now scared to shoot. It's not a good combination for our "diamond".

What Moshiri thinks is anybody's guess but I suspect at this stage he will go along with the flow. And it won't be the drain of our hope he will be concerned with.

Not yet.

Frankly, I've just had enough. And I've had more than enough of seeing Leicester top of the fucking league. No disrespect to Leicester, made up for them and their supporters.

It just knocks me sick that we've been so insipid and shit and we could've been so much more, so much better, so much closer to (I can't even say it) Leicester.

I hate comparing Moyes, but at least under him we knew we weren't doing fuck all. We knew were 2 or 3 top quality players short of being a decent. And we hoped we might just get a European spot or possibly a cup run.

I've actually never felt so indifferent to my beloved team. I blame only one person for this indifference, because I don't want to be indifferent. (How many 'indifference's can I fit into one paragraph?)

I'm glad he appears to have lost the players, one more nail to hammer in the coffin for me.

There were worrying indications during Mr Moshiri's official introduction that the existing guard would continue to manage club operations. I said at that time I was cautiously optimistic that Mr Moshiri's arrival would eventually help bring positive change to the club. I am still optimistic that it will, however, such change will be stymied as long as those who hired Martinez are permitted to exert influence over team matters.

While it may be true that BK and his lots' days are numbered, I get the impression it is not in line with the timeframe for which many fans hope. Many things could happen to change that, of course, but I don't believe that impetus for change will be originating from within the ivory towers of Everton FC.

Anyway here's hoping. So if you copy the link into your browser and sign it I would appreciate it greatly. Assuming you agree that Martinez needs to go.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/126537/sponsors/12DuyieTnt4MLRX5B98m

Do those who go to the game have the wherewithal and determination to get Martinez out, as I am now firmly convinced needs to happen asap? We're not a 'big' enough club, so the media won't ramp up sufficient pressure to do our work for us as they did at Chelsea, Liverpool – albeit the RS fans also took it upon themselves to protest about Rodgers until he was sacked – and will shortly succeed in doing at Man United (no way LVG will be there next season).

The bottom line is, if Everton fans want Martinez out, they're going to have to make their feelings clear with banners and protests at the game. Kenwright will not sack him and he's still the one calling the shots by the looks of things. Sadly, venting spleens on fan forums isn't going to make a blind bit of difference. I know we don't like direct action and have looked down upon it in the past, but the unfortunate truth is, it does work...

As a match going fan, I think the issue is currently one of apathy in general. Contrary to what you might read on here from armchair fans who clearly haven't been within 100 miles of the ground but still pronounce without any sense of irony how the hostile fans are really to blame for the poor form, there isn't any of that. For my part, I get so bored with the "free scoring, free flowing football we are privileged to watch" (you really have to laugh) that it is actually quite difficult to summon up any passion at all. That's what Martinez has brought us – football without any passion. It is dire.

Anyway, I think it is a combination of apathy at the style of play, coupled with the knowledge that Bill is not doing anything *at all* to put justifiable pressure on Martinez, plus the fact that our expectations as a club have plummeted over the last two decades that means – for the moment at least – Martinez and his crew are getting quite an easy ride at the ground itself.

As I have posted before though, I think (I hope) it is only a matter of time before the worm turns and the ground turns hostile towards the shite he serves up regularly.

I particularly like this nugget 'I think we're still getting through a period that is very important for us.' Would this important period be the last 12, last 10 or last 8 games of the season?

Most of us fans have another term for the 'period that is very important for us' – it's called the fucking football season – and it has 38 games!

38 points from 30 games - Champions League? You're having a fucking laugh!

I want Martinez out but there is no way I want Moyes back either. Looking back over the last 14 years of Moyes and Martinez (14 years!), easily more than half the games served up have been a complete waste of time to watch. If we're going to go back to Moyes again, I'd rather give my money to honest pros rather than pampered pre-madonnas.

BK would indeed be a brave man to front up to a press conference introducing Moyes's return.

Well that's his career, or what remains of it, down the pan. You don't mess with Roberto, unless it's is on the pitch!

Leighton, the league table doesn't lie and John, well! What a wonderful parallel universe us blues inhabit, and it won't get any better until Ork, I mean Martinez is removed.

Over to you, BK, if you love this club as much as you say, and I have no reason to doubt you, please prove it to us long suffering fans and do the right thing.

I hope I am mistaken and wish all true Evertonians what they deserve, a lot better than this, you're the best!

I live in Yorkshire and many people I speak to over here always refer to us a 'a good, solid little mid-table club'. Lots of the younger lads don't even know that we have won 9 titles! Believe it or not, there are even people who don't know we are from Liverpool.

The Sky era was our main undoing, but it has not been helped by the crap running of our great club and is certainly not being helped by the clown prince of Spain. He should have been shipped out months ago. I am shit scared that under his continued guidance, we are the next Aston Villa.

He did a great job without looking like he was going to take us further. If we want to go further I can't see any evidence that supports him doing it for us.

Martinez is failing badly (by the way, Sutton is giving him fabulously accurate stick on 5Live), but why does that suddenly make a man who nothing with us and the sack from his last two jobs the right one.

He's history. There are many managers with a track record that leaves his standing. I hope our management are looking at them right now. I'm with Phil Walling. For the second summer running, I'll be lumping on Martinez being the first sacked manager.

I would not have Moyes back. The way he treated us was despicable towards the end. We should have told him to clear his desk out and put in an interim manager. There are loads of better managers out there. Koeman, Hiddink etc. Let's move on.

I would sack Martinez tomorrow and put Big Joe or Sheedy in charge until the end of the season. It does send out a message that we will not put up with this rubbish.

I also agree with fellow Blues on this site. Evertonians are on the whole a patient bunch but the time for banners and protest is nearing.

Chris Sutton says it how it is.

I couldn't get excited even when we hit the bar. Martinez was quizzed on our poor league position, but responded in true politician style by referring to two cup semi-finals.

Martinez's after-match interviews remind me of this actual quote from Kevin Keegan:-

"I know what is around the corner – I just don't know where the corner is. But the onus is on us to perform and we must control the bandwagon."

Due to the fact that English is not Martinez's first language (although he does a good enough job bullshitting in English), he can sometimes change the context without trying. It can happen often to people talking another language. Like Martinez, all I know is that I know nothing (Socrates).

He's also 7/2 for Villa and 1/3 for Celtic...

Just awful.

Stop it!