Season › 2015-16 › News
Proud Unsworth looking to end season on a high
David Unsworth has described yesterday as the most difficult he has experienced since returning to Everton but says he and the players will be doing everything they can to end the season on a high this Sunday.
Roberto Martinez's three-year tenure with Everton was brought to an end yesterday following the 3-0 defeat at Sunderland on Wednesday evening, a result that extended the club's recent run to just one win in 10 matches.
Along with his former manager, Joe Royle, Unsworth was appointed at Martinez's suggestion to take charge of the final match of the season against Norwich City on Sunday and he expressed his pride at today's pre-match press conference at Finch Farm.
“I'm very, very proud,” Unsworth said. “It was the proudest moment of my life yesterday when I got the call. At the same time, one of the most difficult days I've had since I came back to the club.
“A good man has lost his job and that's always difficult but that's football management.
“My relationship with Roberto is outstanding. It is a fantastic personal relationship. He's the one who rubber-stamped me coming back to the club … and when Alan [Stubbs] left to go to Hibs, Roberto was the first one on the phone to offer me the job.
“So I've got nothing but great words to say about him. The way he was with me and the young players, the way he worked with young players in training … he's a top guy.”
Unsworth was asked why he felt things had gone so badly for Everton in recent months and the former Blues defender echoed the former manager's belief that the Blues had found themselves on the wrong side of fine margins.
“I think over the period you've got to win matches and it's been a difficult time for us,” he explained.
“We've got top players. Some our performances that I've seen have been outstanding and the fine margins in football at the very highest level are so small, aren't they?
“Two semi-finals, so close to being in a major final. It's just fine the margins and it's very hard for any manager or any team when those fine margins are taken away from you.”
Asked whether he felt he could be in the frame to replace Martinez and whether he would take it, Unsworth was quck
“Who wouldn't want this job? I have massive aspirations to be a manager and this the only place I want to manage. Whether it comes now or whether it comes somewhere down the line, other people will decide that.
“I'm just very, very proud to be given the opportunity on Sunday.”
Unsworth confirmed that Tim Howard will be given the opportunity promised to him by Martinez to play one final time in front of the home fans and get to say his farewells by starting against the Canaries.
In that vein, he expects the mood to be different at Goodison Park and he admitted that Everton's home ground hasn't been the easiest place to play recently.
“I think the fans will turn out in force and respect the likes of Tim playing,” Unsworth said, “and whatever team we pick I'm sure they'll get behind us.
“We have to give them something to shout about. I said to the players this morning that we owe [the fans] a performance on Sunday and we owe them a win. And the way we're going to try and play will get them up and they can get behind us.
“Myself and Joe, Duncan [Ferguson] and John [Ebbrell] will come together this afternoon and we'll pick a team tomorrow to win the game,” he continued, saying that it would be a selection aimed at winning the match. “We certainly will want a performance so we'll do our homework and do it as professionally as we would always do.”
“We [told the] players this morning — we have to finish on a high, we have to finish with a performance and a win. Evertonians have got to leave Goodson at 5 o' clock on Sunday with a smile on their face and that's really important to us.”
Reader Comments (76)
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2 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:26:10
3 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:28:38
Anyway. Looking forward to seeing what team gets picked.
4 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:28:52
5 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:30:04
6 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:32:58
8 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:38:48
9 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:43:20
10 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:55:24
As has been mentioned pure..class.
I was genuinely expecting something more along the lines..
Interviewer: "David, in charge of the first team for the final game, what are your feelings?"
Unsworth: (looks confused) "How d' yer mean 'feelings' like?"
Interviewer: "Well what are your thoughts?'
Unsworth: (shrugs) "Just...y' know..haven't really got none like"
Interviewer: "It must be a huge honour"
Unsworth: (takes chewy out, sticks it on the end of the mike, lights a Benson) "If you like..not really arsed t' be 'onest"
Interviewer: "But obviously mixed emotions regarding Roberto Martinez"
Unsworth: "Not really"
Interviewer: "Is that something you'd like to expand on?"
Unsworth: "Well he was shite wasn't he, a fuckin' nob-head"
Interviewer: "Will it be a thrill to have Joe Ro..."
Unsworth: (shouts to someone at back of room) "Hey, do we get any tea and fuckin' biscuits!?"
(tut, the modern world - where as long as you don't drop your kecks, pull your arse-cheeks apart and shout 'Ithangyew!', you qualify as having 'class')
11 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:08:28
To those saying Martinez "got" Everton. Unsy is one of us.
I'm convinced him and Joe will put some pride back for the last game. He has started already
12 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:08:35
13 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:10:33
14 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:18:25
15 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:24:01
16 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:33:25
The manager went because of his own failings and one major failing was his failure to recogise the need to purchase a top class keeper pre-season 2014-2015. And alarmingly ignored that need still further come pre-season 2015-2016.
Then again come January of this year he paid out 13.5 million for a centre forward whose ability at best is questionable, when more than ever the club needed to get things right. RM has gone and gone because of his own shortcomings and the collective failings of his appointed coaching staff.
17 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:37:07
I'd happily give Big Joe a shot for a year and wait for the right man than put another joker in charge!
Big Joe the last man to win us a trophy say no more!
18 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:43:48
19 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:46:47
If Unsy, Royle or Ferguson are not up to the challenge then do me a favour and do one.
I'm sick of being mediocre in this City and mid table bollocks is not acceptable or good enough; remind me again what it stands for - NSNO????
20 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:55:24
It has to be (forgive me for saying it) an incredible moment for Joe Royle. To be back in a management capacity with Everton again, but also to see two of his "kids" in Ferguson and Unsworth taking the reins of the family business. I'm actually kind of sad that this is only going to be for one match. It would have been very interesting to see what this team could have done over the course of a month with Royle and Unsy at the helm. It could have been better, or it could have been worse, but I do believe the team would have put up more of a fight.
21 Posted 13/05/2016 at 18:57:56
Nothing changes as Kenwright takes Bobby's advice on who is best to hold the fort. Wouldn't be surprised if he didn't ask him to provide a shortlist of likely successors. And the valedictory announcement sounded more like a reason to appoint than a reason to sack.
The sacking was the easy bit. Expect to be disappointed by the appointment !
22 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:02:20
23 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:07:36
24 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:09:45
25 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:11:06
Get fucking rid of the whole mid table mentality from top to bottom. I'm bored to death with it.
This club needs to start to deliver the goods under this new regime.
26 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:17:03
Martinez has infected our club; I just hope the new Manager has a good clearout.
28 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:22:32
29 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:24:48
Hopefully the fat clown will be enjoying his new found millions on some Cypriot beach by the start of the new season. You never know Phil, you could be neighbours soon.
30 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:28:18
Also time to say our goodbyes to some good servants and enjoy the speculation in what is a huge summer for whomever our new Manager is as there's a rather large rebuild/reshape of our first team squad required.
Just passion, effort and three points on Sunday please, David.
31 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:33:30
Mediocrity may indeed have permeated the club during BK's tenure, but maybe, just maybe, the enlisting of Farhad Moshri could be the catalyst for seismic change for Everton's fortunes.
If that proves the case, a review of BK's parting legacy to Everton may be, just may be, in order.
32 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:38:04
However, I wish Unsy and Joe all the best on Sunday but on the final whistle I will be leaving. I have no wish to celebrate nostalgia with former players as they do the lap of honour. The season has been a disaster for EFC and the fans and I am still hurting from our recent results.
No sentimentality from me and once it is over let's focus on finding a true leader with a winning mentality. Can't wait for it all to be over now to be honest.
33 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:43:05
Honest, straight forward and genuine with no bullshit.
Lets hope the players are equally honest on Sunday and give the fans an occasion.
Likewise I hope the fans turn it into a carnival atmosphere to show how pleased we are at the change in manage.
It has been a very disappointing couple of seasons but we are about to begin a new journey - let the team know how Goodison can sound.
34 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:44:23
35 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:50:40
36 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:53:56
37 Posted 13/05/2016 at 19:59:00
However I think the Prem has moved on a bit now and foreign coaches seem much better tactically prepared.
38 Posted 13/05/2016 at 20:31:45
If we have a surge in performance Sunday it could push the Unsy band wagon forward a bit.
40 Posted 13/05/2016 at 20:47:09
Fair play Rhino. Future manager in the making but probably needs to leave to cut his teeth properly, unless things change drastically at the club. Which they may. Here's hoping
41 Posted 13/05/2016 at 20:53:05
RHINOOOOOOOOO
42 Posted 13/05/2016 at 21:03:18
Then Bellow fight next Sunday, happy days are here again
43 Posted 13/05/2016 at 21:12:33
I was waiting for him to say, we have scrapped the 4-2-3-1 formation even if it means starting with only 10 players! Also I wanted a statement that he will substitute anyone who passes the ball back to the keeper from more than 12 yards away or who tries to take a penalty kick away from Baines.
Feels good to finally be able to come in off the ledge. I am worried though that the rumor of a sporting director model being considered means Roberto could be submitting his resume. The interview would include RM claiming that in the position he would make sure the manager had adequate funding and support from management to create a phenomenal team.
On second thought, maybe I will stay out on the ledge until things get sorted properly. It is almost summer after all and the weather is tolerable up here.
44 Posted 13/05/2016 at 21:19:56
Hope Unsy stays on in a central role whoever takes over. Having seen some under 21 games this season he seems to know what he is doing and we need to progress some of those youngsters, something we haven't been good at in recent years (a bit ironic if we have good young players at the same time as loads of money).
Tell Ferguson to do one, if he wants to be a coach, go and practice somewhere.
De Boer for me, a good record with young players, looking for a new challenge, capable of adapting (I hope). Rafa - yesterday's man. Mourinho - massive ego, hasn't built a team for years just buys them, no interest in young players, totally cocked up at Chelsea - go to United please.
Roll on Sunday - looking forward to a match for the first time in ages and that includes the semi-final.
45 Posted 13/05/2016 at 21:37:07
He's being 'polite'. Chances are that is not his view, just didn't want to rock the boat a few days after.
I thought he did well. Manager's job? No chance. Love that Joe is back.
46 Posted 13/05/2016 at 21:53:41
47 Posted 13/05/2016 at 21:54:41
"Oh, Roberto would be exactly what we need" to "I always wanted Brendan" to "actually Rafa was a joke and I honestly told him so, honest, honest" – "Please Jurgen, let me come back, I'm not the big deal over here!!".
It's one game, and hopefully the well paid, professional players will play for him and Joe and we can all celebrate like it was all a bad dream ---- then we get hmmm....
48 Posted 13/05/2016 at 21:56:21
49 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:03:25
The disappointment was he could not deliver the success we wanted, but he reminded us that the sky was the limit for our club....
I think we may get Mourinho.
50 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:03:26
51 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:16:58
Kenwright had years of promising us he was looking for investment but said he just could not get it. At this time, plenty of clubs in the lower divisions (Blackburn, Reading etc) seemed to be able to find investors.
Kenwright had no intention of sharing the limelight with anyone else. We have as a consequence of this stood still for years and years and years. He has only acted now because of ill health.
Let's get him out now... then watch us move forward at last.
52 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:29:27
And, yes he was the best penalty taker we've had.
Presuming Baines is back on penalty duty!!!
53 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:33:40
I have no criticism of Unsworth, only of those who think his completely normal, unremarkable response was 'class.'
If I say 'good morning' to the postman and he replies 'morning, lovely day' I don't think 'class'
54 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:38:22
Hope the lazy one/ones is/are dropped. Just hundred percenters please, who want to be at our great club, even in this game.
But the sacking should have been done after the Derby 4-0, the first one that is!
55 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:49:12
If I owned Everton, I promise you I would sack Unsworth on the spot! I'd have basically said told him it has nothing to do with Martinez you either want to work for Everton or not.
It's comments like that from Unsworth shows just how weak we are as a club and is the underlying reason we are not successful!!! Do you think Ronnie Goodlass would ring Martinez for permission!!! No chance, Ronnie has been as upset as the fans over the state of our club!
Time to get rid of these "toe the line" hangers-on! Whoever called Unsworth's interview as "class" get a life will you!!!
If I owned the club, Sharp, Stuart, Unsworth, Elstone, Kenwright and anyone else who supported Martinez would be booted right out of the door! I liked Unsworth until I read his interview, why don't you leave with the clown if you like him that much!!!
56 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:57:31
Of course he is going to be diplomatic and gracious towards the man who gave him his start.
Plus Martinez is gone, get over it! You should be thinking about the future not being more bitter than a barrel of lemons.
57 Posted 13/05/2016 at 23:04:33
58 Posted 13/05/2016 at 23:07:17
Everyone's a 100 per center now!
"Funny old game football"
59 Posted 13/05/2016 at 23:24:19
61 Posted 13/05/2016 at 23:38:16
Roberto decides to take Lennon off, Niasse on, hopefully in the attempt to stop the surge from the Hammers by having 2 up and giving them more to think about and restrain them. It doesn't work... on the basis that Lukaku's missed penalty is a fine margin which we never recovered from. It spiralled into a complete mess but if we could have just seen that game out...
62 Posted 13/05/2016 at 00:06:39
In all seriousness, this should have happened months ago if only to see if Unsworth could manage the side.
63 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:32:37
64 Posted 14/05/2016 at 01:04:04
It's time we did our talking on the pitch.
65 Posted 14/05/2016 at 01:10:14
Hey I just had a really good light bulb moment.
Eureka!
Let's start a Toffeweb poll to get Neville Southhall on the board to represent the FANS.
Now that would be interesting. NSNO.
66 Posted 14/05/2016 at 01:58:05
67 Posted 14/05/2016 at 02:28:50
Let him carry on letting off steam on the after dinner circuit.........provided you're not easily shocked by a very generous use of every conceivable expletive in the book!!!!
68 Posted 14/05/2016 at 03:07:36
Now, that could be total lies, but it is a good yarn, and it is similar to what I want the new manager to say to our squad when he arrives at his first training session. A handful of players who think they should be in the Champions League acting so, and X Manager making them run hills shouting "I only got this job because you lads couldn't win games!"
69 Posted 14/05/2016 at 04:50:34
I don't think Rhino is the long term solution as too close the player's. Norwich are down so its a nothing game but hopefully they will both play for pride and give us a great game and we win 3-0.
70 Posted 14/05/2016 at 08:26:30
Job done for press interview. Brings back link to better days.
Lose to Norwich he'll forever be linked with this dreadful period under dreadful Bobby "what a deluded psychobabblist manager" Martinez
71 Posted 14/05/2016 at 08:44:27
I prefer to see 4-4-1-1 with Barkley further forward, closer to Lukaku: however, if it doesn't work, then give Dowell the last 20-30 mins for Barkley and let him play and get some Premier League experience. Same for Davies on for Barry or Besic after 60-70 mins.
Barry and besic holding; two wingers in Mirallas and Lennon. No Cleverley or McCarthy as, to be honest, they're not worth a start at the moment.
Back 4 same as Sunderland only because we haven't got any better options; again, after 60-70 minutes, introduce Connolly or Holgate for one of them.
Let's give lift-off to some of our future stars in a positive environment, Goodison gloom has lifted and we can cheer every good thing these kids do.
72 Posted 14/05/2016 at 09:00:30
I have the greatest respect for him as a youth coach and ex-player but I find it difficult to swallow that he wasn't glad to see a pair of clean heels of RM's brown shoes. A brandy and Cuban cigar, or something similar should have been the order of the day.
He was obviously not reading TW these past months. This Club needs to be purged of everything Martinezesque, from players to staff to back-slapping cronies.
73 Posted 14/05/2016 at 10:24:22
74 Posted 14/05/2016 at 11:22:15
75 Posted 14/05/2016 at 11:55:26
76 Posted 14/05/2016 at 12:28:55
77 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:03:31
He should've said that both the manager and the players were to take the blame but that's the past and now we move on. Next question.
The paragraph above which starts 'Two semi-finals' is Unsworth channelling Martinez bullshit babble. Tell it like it is, man! I suggest Unsworth gets his tongue out of Martinez backside and gets on with the job at hand.
Anyways, I'm not talking about Martinez again. He's history.
78 Posted 14/05/2016 at 17:19:12
I did not say 'failed investments'... I said 'lack of investment'. The clubs I mentioned all had really good investors and had new stadiums; we had nothing new... and for that matter, still haven't.
We are a long way from being The Merseyside Millionaires as we were often described in the days of Sir John Moores. Maybe now we will get some action towards a new ground of our own.
79 Posted 14/05/2016 at 18:28:16
80 Posted 15/05/2016 at 22:26:33
Everton are also very unwell.
Take a well earned rest Bill, focus upon your prime concern, please ? Get well, just get well.
Everton, need to likewise, focus upon some serious hard issues, and you know Bill, just like you mate, when we do our circumstances will take a great bloody turn for the better.
I bet that Everton improving will do you the bloody world of good Bill. This club CAN damage a good mans health.......
Sir John......
Harry.......
Howard.......
William Ralph.......
Get well Bill.
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1 Posted 13/05/2016 at 17:23:54