Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Martinez plays up squad togetherness
45 Comments 
Coming on the heels of weak displays against Arsenal at Goodison Park and United at Old Trafford and a trio of weak draws, Everton's shocking performance in Wednesday's Merseyside derby has prompted questions over whether the manager has "lost the players".
The Blues are winless in six matches heading to Wembley but Martinez echoed the sentiments he expressed before the defeat to Liverpool — that he and his charges are focused on what he says is the culmination so far of 10 months of work.
"I am aware that we are all carrying a lot of hurt and everyone connected to Everton [is] hurting at the moment," he says in the Liverpool Echo, "but, in the same, way the focus from us is to take advantage of the opportunity we have got in front of us.
“To get into the semi-final of the FA Cup is not something that we have been drawn into or found, we have had to work really hard for 10 months.
“Even looking at the success we had in the Capital One Cup, wouldn't allow us to get to Wembley so that droves us to get into Wembley.
“At the moment we are in the semi-final of the FA Cup and I know that everyone is aware that when you go into the semi-final of this competition, any positive momentum doesn't help you to win and, in the same way any negative momentum shouldn't stop you from being your best.
“Now is focusing on what we can achieve in this occasion. It is as simple as that.
“Our team has always been very responsible, with an incredible, incredible focus for working hard and I think we will always face adversity, in different moments, in the right way.
“It is no different now."
Reader Comments (45)
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2 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:17:45
It's hard being a Blue, isn't it?
3 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:21:07
Who called it I don't know but Jon Woods has not been happy for a while.
Defeat tomorrow and press conference on Monday or preferably win tomorrow and still have press conference on Monday.
4 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:27:43
He won't shut up but more or less bland-speaks the same as other managers do. Just uses lots more words.
5 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:28:07
Get rid no matter what. The league doesn't lie!
6 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:37:56
7 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:56:11
By shitting our pants and running off the field?
8 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:58:40
Oh, and according to the 'report' Moyes was there too. Nice cosy gathering!
I honestly wouldn't worry about who called it. It didn't happen.
9 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:12:03
10 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:28:38
I'm really struggling to get up for the game knowing that a scrappy 1-0 victory could save this idiot's job.
11 Posted 23/04/2016 at 01:13:58
12 Posted 23/04/2016 at 01:19:24
Just incredible!
13 Posted 23/04/2016 at 01:29:21
I really think that Martinez has now taken on Kenwright's mantle of 'bullshit'. Two of our failings are 'not focused and not working hard enough'; for him to think they are two of our strengths... really, I am lost for words.
14 Posted 23/04/2016 at 01:30:49
In all my 55 years supporting EFC I've never ever known a feeling or a time like it. It's horrible and I want it to go away asap.
COME ON, EVERTON – WAKE UP, SMELL THE COFFEE AND BEAT UNITED!!!
15 Posted 23/04/2016 at 02:31:43
16 Posted 23/04/2016 at 02:32:57
If that is what he truly believes then it points to why the players are not as physically fit as those in other teams.
None the less long past the midnight hour I will be glued to the TV hoping and praying with all my might that the lads pull this game out of the fire.
17 Posted 23/04/2016 at 02:48:25
18 Posted 23/04/2016 at 04:06:09
I'm an eternal optimist. I hope when there's no hope. And even I can't quite get myself up for the semi. Usually I'd be bouncing off the walls.
I don't see how this squad could be getting anything but flat.
19 Posted 23/04/2016 at 04:48:21
I am one of the lucky ones who was at Wembley in 84 to see us beat Watford also at Rotterdam to see us win our only European trophy, I feel for the generation below us who have never seen us lift a trophy.
I would love Roberto to lift the FA Cup in May. I would love the likes of Jags, Baines, Howard, Ossie, Hibbo to get a winner's medal in May but this is a massive summer for EFC. I am listening again to the Echo semi-final podcast. I have a funny feeling that we will find an unsung hero tomorrow.
All fans going to Wembley have a great day I've been there and it's great when you win. Do the club and the city proud 4-4-2. If we're gonna lose let's go down swinging... COYB..
20 Posted 23/04/2016 at 04:57:25
I heard from someone who is normally reliable that an emergency board meeting was called.
I wasnt told why or where apart from Haydock being mentioned .
What have you heard?
21 Posted 23/04/2016 at 06:39:54
My thoughts are that the players possibly are 'together' but they are not 'together with Martinez.' They don't want him any more than we do apart from his ex Wiganites maybe. This is another load of bullshit from a real master of the art.
Leicester are 'together'; Tottenham are 'together'; Everton sadly, are not 'together'; like Villa, we are badly broken and becoming more and more fragmented week by week. The only cure for the cancer infecting our once great club is to cut it out.
Radical surgery is required, beginning with the removal of the two biggest tumors, Martinez and Jones. If BK, who is around our age really I a 'true blue' as he professes to be, he should now grow up, realise this is not an issue Roy of the Rovers that can be rewritten if things aren't quite right and do the grown-up thing fir the good of the club.
If he doesn't then the words 'What a manager' may turn out to be his mocking epitaph when he finally steps down or is eventually forced out by Moshiri when he's obtained enough shares to exercise full control.
MARTINEZ OUT!
22 Posted 23/04/2016 at 06:52:21
23 Posted 23/04/2016 at 06:52:23
Just think where we will be with another ten months of his work, I have never felt so down on a semi as I am torn that if we win he stays, now that would be incredible.
Know it won't happen but would be very positive in support if it was announced that he leaves end of season
( at worse) so I can relax and enjoy the match.
Maybe I get called by others for being honest about how I feel and that I cannot help.
24 Posted 23/04/2016 at 07:51:54
25 Posted 23/04/2016 at 08:48:08
1. We beat ManUre (I'm happy)
2. We lose and Mr Hyperbole is fired (I'm happy)
3. We lose and there's no sacking (Then I'm not happy which is an inverse Martinez comment)
26 Posted 23/04/2016 at 09:27:17
27 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:08:53
Although Evertonians have poured scorn on my suggestion that it was a condition of the sale of shares to Moshiri that BK should continue ( in the medium term at least ) to call the shots on football matters, I firmly believe that to have been the case - and he continues to have faith in Roberto if only to save face over his original appointment.
There are now stories that the Chairman's faithful acolyte and deputy, Jon Woods, may have wavered in his support of the status quo although the only evidence on which that theory is based is his early exit on Wednesday. In truth, he probably wanted to avoid the traffic !
Whatever the result today - and let's ALL hope for a Blues victory - I think the managerial surgery will be delayed. After all, decision making in Everton's interest was never Bill's strong point, was it ?
29 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:20:31
As that is where the majority of board members,staff,players and manager will have been ready for today's game.
30 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:40:35
I would get rid of the lot from chairman, manager, coaches and players with only one or two exceptions.
Kenwright has wrecked our club.He has got to go.
31 Posted 23/04/2016 at 11:06:03
32 Posted 23/04/2016 at 12:59:41
If by some miracle we win today, more than likely RM will stay at the helm, but under no circumstances can this man be near our club after the season is over! I still recall him being in Brazil for the 2014 WC & me screaming at the telly, for him to get back to Finch Farm, as our season was only weeks away! Quite a few of us had a very uneasy feeling even back then & sure enough, our season was one of bitter disappointment!
Our loyal, die hard fans deserve a victory today, I truly hope the team can ensure that happens?!? COYB #Taxi4Martinez
33 Posted 23/04/2016 at 13:27:36
Come what may however, I will be writing to the board to explain why, should they continue to employ this manager, they need to start preparing for Championship Football in the next 18 months or so because that regrettably is the outcome whilst Roberto Martinez is manager. Perhaps the new 49.9% shareholder may wish to consider whether in light of that material risk to the club he may wish to take over the businesslike running of Everton FC whilst Bill Kenwright focuses on the most important thing in his life at this time, his health.
34 Posted 23/04/2016 at 13:28:05
35 Posted 23/04/2016 at 13:45:34
I have been a diehard blue since 1960 and have always felt devoted through thick and thin.
Even the sticky bum game against Wimbledon didn't make me feel like this.
I think the final straw for most blues was the humiliation by the dark side.
36 Posted 23/04/2016 at 13:49:34
Del, Rom, Ross, McGeady, Kone etc......some of the laziest players to wear the shirt and others like Jags seem to be carrying more weight than they ever have.
37 Posted 23/04/2016 at 13:50:24
38 Posted 23/04/2016 at 14:07:16
As for the game today, I'm heading to Wembley in about an hour and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy the day, whatever the result. I've already resigned myself to losing so anything else is a bonus. We're going to have a threadbare defence today against the likes of Rashford and Martial.......
Hope the players put in the shift - whoevers selected.
39 Posted 23/04/2016 at 14:07:59
The same message, over and over, from many different ToffeeWebbers, and now the media, calling for Martinez's removal. We can't all be wrong. General view is he will be gone soon, thankfully. However what if we win today, and go on to win the cup, and also win all our remaining games in style?
I very much doubt t will happen, but, what if?
40 Posted 23/04/2016 at 14:39:05
However what if we win today, and go on to win the cup, and also win all our remaining games in style?
Why will that make a difference to the past two seasons of dross?
An FA Cup win bears no more relevance to Everton's week-to-week sub-par performances in the league than it did to Wigan when they were relegated.
Under this manager we have:
–our worst home league points tally in our history.
– home wins against Newcastle, Villa, Sunderland and a very sub-par Chelsea. Fortress Goodison?
–3 points out of the last 18 available.
–two 4-0 thrashings at Anfield, the latest of which has been described by some as our worst ever performance.
–no cover at right back despite funds to spend.
–a £13.5m striker bought in January who won't be ready until (pick any date).
– the Sylvan Distin and Leighton Baines fiascos.
I could go on and on about the inane rambling, poor tactics, lack of match fitness, draws and defeats from winning positions.
This bloke is on £2-3m / year wages for what?
It irks me that some people (not you) still express sympathy for this utter charlatan. (Save the sympathy for refugees, steel workers, the homeless or even long-suffering fellow supporters - anyone - but not for RM).
In PL terms, he's a no-mark.
A late season flurry in the league when the show is over should not save him.
I hope we win the FA Cup but still expect the club to show more ambition than to retain Martinez beyond May.
Come on you Blues. Let's stuff the Mancs today.
41 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:05:09
42 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:36:10
43 Posted 23/04/2016 at 17:54:31
Definitely agree about Woods by the way. If Martinez has any support on the board, it is Elstone and Kenwright.
Right now Jay, minute 38 of the semi, Martinez is getting the boot on Monday. (Get Sheeds in; give us something to smile about and play the youngsters Sheeds knows so well.)
44 Posted 23/04/2016 at 19:24:32
45 Posted 24/04/2016 at 21:27:23
If not those quality players we do have will be gone, and the new manager (it will happen) will not have had the opportunity to retain them!
Tomorrow should bring a new era!!!
46 Posted 27/04/2016 at 17:54:07
Get rid of Martinez now...BK for that matter also.
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1 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:08:58
Big day for the players and fans tomorrow, lets put the derby behind us and hope for the best.
Imo Roberto should be removed from his position at the end of the season, hopefully after delivering us the FA cup.
That said, if we lose Roberto should be gone by Sunday.
Anyways Wembley here we come.