Martinez: We need to strengthen

, 6 June, 58comments  |  Jump to most recent
New Everton manager Roberto Martinez has set his stall out for what he feels needs to happen this summer in order to build on where David Moyes left off last season.

The Spaniard was unveiled as the Goodison boss at a media event yesterday and he already has eyes on strengthening the team he has inherited as he prepares for the coming season.

"We need to bring new signings, players who will develop... competition and give different options on the playing field," the 39-year-old told BBC Sport in reference to one of the Premier League's smallest squads. "We want to bring an extra dimension and competition for places."

That senior squad will lose three members this summer when the contracts of Phil Neville, Jan Mucha and Thomas Hitzlsperger expire and there will be plenty of interest in the Blues' brightest stars when the transfer window opens on 1st July.

Martinez brushed off concerns of losing the likes of Leighton Baines, though, saying: "When you are successful, and Everton were clearly very successful last season, you will always get interest in players from other football clubs.

"It happens here, and in every football club in the land," he continued. "We are not worried about that. We want the players to feel really appreciated."

He reiterated his desire to bolster the first team, though, with the funds that would have been provided to Moyes had he stayed on at Everton.

"We need to invest and bring players in which will allow us to start this season with a stronger team than the one that ended the campaign," he said.

The headline that the media have seized on from Martinez's introduction to Blues fans yesterday was Chairman Bill Kenwright's assertion that the new boss had promised to get Everton into the Champions League.

The ex-Wigan man was quick to qualify his goals, though, to ensure that he is not seen to be pledging too much too quickly.

"I am not saying [the Champions League] is a realistic target, it has to be the dream.

"We cannot expect that to be a target straight away, that is not the league we are in."

That honesty and realism will be no doubt be welcomed by most Evertonians and Martinez has been keen to include the fans in all of his rhertoric so far.

"The only thing I want is that every fan at Everton can be proud of what we are trying to do. I need to answer all the critics with work. That is nothing different to what I have done in the past.

"It is healthy that there are people questioning [my] appointment. It keeps me desperate to show them what I can do and one day turn them around."

 

Reader Comments (58)

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David Bryant
1 Posted 06/06/2013 at 18:34:41
So far, so good - loving the positive but sensible words, and especially the 'people' focus (appreciation of players and fans). Get the chequebook out Bill!
Kevin Hudson
2 Posted 06/06/2013 at 18:35:56
Hang on a minute....

"I am not saying (the Champions League) is a realistic target, it has to be the dream. We cannot expect that to be a target straight away."

Contrast this with David Moyes who frequently talked about trying to reach the top-four last season.

This gem: "That is not the league we are in.." sounds very 'knife to a gunfight-esque,' to me.

If Moyes had made that statement last season he would have been slaughtered for it.

Surely if you've finished in the top-eight 9 times in the last 11 years, and in the top-seven for 5 years in a row, reaching the top-four shouldn't be dismissed as a dream..??

Paul Andrews
3 Posted 06/06/2013 at 18:49:50
Kevin,
It was a nightmare season after season for David
Drew Shortis
4 Posted 06/06/2013 at 18:36:07
Getting the balance right between numbers and quality is a tricky one, especially when there is a limited wage budget. Under Moyes' system the rotation of the players was pretty limited so it made more sense to buy established quality players who could go straight into the first team. A notable exception to this rule was Coleman.

If Martinez gives plans to give younger players an opportunity to show what they can do in the first team it would be worth building a larger squad and rotating a few of them into the team to give them experience, bearing in mind not all of them will make the grade. With our financial constraints a few more Colemans are what we can really do with trying to find, rather than risk money on marquee signings. If we were Man City I would say spend, spend, spend, but I think we have to plan for a more sustainable future policy, at least until we get some major investment.

Tony J Williams
5 Posted 06/06/2013 at 18:54:10
"If Moyes had made that statement last season he would have been slaughtered for it." - Funnily enough, that was my first thought.

I don't blame him coming out and trying to set peoples expectations lower, it takes the pressure off him a little.

Get some good players in and let's see where we go from there.

Colin Glassar
6 Posted 06/06/2013 at 18:51:45
Moyes's target every season was 40 points. Kevin, you say he tried to reach top 4 last season. Just how did he try and do that?


Throwing away one-goal leads in countless games doing what? Playing deeper and deeper in most games, never trying to score that killer goal, defending every set piece with 11 men behind the ball, starting with one striker in almost every game (home and away), playing people out of position or sticking with his favourites despite their form etc......

I agree with you that CL football was within our grasp but Moyes's conservatism ruined our chances. If Martinez can combine our 'spirit' with a more adventurous style then I think we'll be okay.

Chris Regan
7 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:01:12
I just want unto tonk the RS at their gaff just once in my lifetime, please god just once et me see my side slot more an five past hem without reply.
Tony J Williams
8 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:06:29
No Colin, 40 points was his "first" target.

I hope we do tonk the shite but its funny that some posters automatically think we will beat the Sky 4 just because we have changed managers.

Paul Andrews
10 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:12:17
The last one didn't have much luck Tony
Lev Vellene
11 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:11:46
Well, I see it as a positive that he didn't see 2-4 defensive players that needed to be replaced...

So, lets hope he brings in some nifty material for those last pesky yards inside that strange box on the other side of the field from our GK, that one marked with forbidding white lines ina square shape... :P

Jamie Barlow
12 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:14:45
Sounds like we were challenging for Champions league despite Moyes, Colin.
James Martin
13 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:07:46
Colin -'Moyes target every season was 40 points. Kevin, you say he tried to reach top 4 last season. Just how did he try and do that? Throwing away one goal leads in countless games doing what? Playing deeper and deeper in most games, never trying to score that killer goal, defending every set piece with 11 men behind the ball, starting with one striker in almost every game (home and away)'

He didn't throw away countless one goal leads though did he, he threw away a few. Plenty of others we went on to win. If he threw away so many leads we wouldn't have won any games.

How did we play deeper and deeper in most games? A lot of times we absolutely battered teams but just couldn't kill them off and occasionally fell to a sucker punch at the end. The only two games I recall us sitting deeper and deeper were Old Trafford and Anfield away. Others we were often just plain out of shape in like Norwich and Sunderland away.

Martinez likes to play one striker as well and he's also articulated countless times the many benefits of defending with every man back behind the ball on a corner. Ultimately people on here will find different faults with Martinez that will become equally infuriating to them as Moyes's faults because some people just have no patience for losing or drawing any game at all and disguise this under ridiculous assertions like '11 years of hoofball' 'no entertainment in 11 years' 'Never killing off a game' 'Never playing attacking football' 'Moyes was only bothered about 40 points' - complete rubbish that years of the premier league tables disproved time and time again.

I hope for Martinez's sake Colin that Moyes was as bad as you think he was because for those assuming a bit of attacking football, not putting everyone back at a corner and not bringing Naismith on in the 88th minute is going to see us ease into the champions league then they're in for a shock.

Of course Martinez might be the miracle worker and become the latest manager outside of the moneyed elite to get into the top 4 - only one man's done it before though - heard he was rubbish as well.

Colin Glassar
14 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:40:51
Reading, Norwich, Newcastle (home), Spurs (away) were just some of the games we threw away due to his negativity. His inability to get the best out of any of his forwards over the years was glaring to everyone. I'm not saying Martinez is going to be any better but I think (hope) he will have a more ruthless streak.
Clive Lewis
15 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:00:51
I don't like the pessimism of not in that league, lets remind everyone that this was only due to the lack of a proven goalscorer and loads of draws, that we never made it last year. Surely with the same squad Roberto should be saying something on the lines of well we will have a go at it, but its not going to be easy. Dismissing it like he has done puts a negative seed in the players minds, before they even kicked a football. We are not worthy !!!
Joe McMahon
17 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:09:05
Kevin - it's seems there's a section of Everton supporters (yes fellow blues) that want him to fail just so they can say "told you so" . For crying out loud, can we not not get behind our new manager. If every single waord is says is going to be scrutinised to death, then whats the point. As others have saidd, Arsene Wenger relagated his fits team Nancy, so who knows what Roberto can and will do - Lets enjoy finding out eh!
It's sunny outside, lets just start by enjoying the summer and looking forward to a new chapter in Evertons history.
Kevin Hudson
18 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:59:18
Martinez's SOLE expectation of the last four seasons has been to reach 40 points, Colin.

Moyes consistently pushed on from that, and was nearer to 60 points virtually every year.

RM's been in the job 5 minutes...and he's already scaling back the expectations of us all. We're talking about challenging just TWO places above where we finished last season, with the prospect of a larger war chest.

Last season, Moyes said that we should ALWAYS be challenging for Europe...yesterday Martinez said that finishing 6th was great "for a club like Everton."

At the top level, he's only experienced relegation battles, and is un-used to the sharp-end of the Premiership; but with our superior squad, his mindset ought to be much more ambitious, assertive and definitive.

Moyes was frequently bollocked for pessimism on ToffeeWeb. It appears that Martinez is being a little vague here.

Hopefully, the modesty is merely mis-direction.

Joe McMahon
19 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:14:26
Sorry for typos, i've had a couple of beers in the garden!
John Shepherd
20 Posted 06/06/2013 at 19:38:48
James, we did throw a lot of points away: we drew 15 games.

There was a shocking run of 8 draws in 11 games; in that run was a draw against QPR, a defeat to Reading, and a draw against Wigan who are all now relagated. These were surly games that were thrown away. That would've given us an extra 7 pts... Add the 2-0 head start we gave the RedShite plus the late Fulham equaliser would've comfortably put us in Champions League qulification with an extra four points.

I could go on but I can't be bothered, I think at one point we had a record for early goals conceded.
James Martin
21 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:06:45
come on Colin at least three of those games you'e mentioned weren't even down to his negativity. We absolutely ripped Newcastle a new one, Fellaini scored a prefectly good goal that was disallowed for offside then Anichebe also had one over the line - we would have been 4-1 up. How is it Moyes' fault that in the last minute of the match his two top class CBs can't defend a long punt down the middle? Just because we drew that game doens't mean he was negative - our players gave everything trying to get the winner - the ref robbed us.

Equally Spurs are a good team, no one is going to go to WHL and just batter them to a pulp, you have to defend at some point against top sides its just delusional to think otherwise. A draw was a fair result - they went in front we got it back, we went in front they got it back. Just because they had the ifnal say doesn't mean Moyes somehow chucked that game - they piled the pressure on us and forced us to retreat, that's what top sides do at home when they need a goal - that's exactly what we did to them at Goodison.

We should have had loads of pens in the Reading game - we then got one against us that was barely a pen - we didn't play well but we were hardly sat deep, we battered them first half. Stuff like that happens and will continue to happen under Martinez because funnily enough when you go ahead against a side away from home they don't just sit there and allow you to score 4 or 5, a lot of the times they hit back and apply the pressure - for a lot of the season our players dealt well with this - on certain occassions they didn't.

That's why we were 6th in the league because we had the 6th best team - the players on our books do not have the strength or depth to get top 4 without additions. They do not compare to Arsenal's squad. Moyes played in a way that tried to negate the quality gap - unfortunately at times it meant against lesser opposition you were sometimes caught wanting. When/if we open up under martinez there will be some big wins against teams but there will also be some games where an Arsenal or Chelsea will show us just how much better their squads are and what seemed like infuriating KITAP1 away draws will turn into heavy heavy defeats. At the end we'll probably still end up outside the top 4 because this squad of players is not good enough. The only surprise in premier league history of getting in the top 4 was Everton of 04/05 - every other season has gone with whoever has spent the most on their team and has the high value squad. next season will probably go the same way unless Roberto truly is special. I hope he is.

Colin Glassar
22 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:16:02
Kevin, it might be a case of "Lost in Translation". I just hope that this time next year we are celebrating a great season.
Kevin Hudson
23 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:15:23
Joe,

Please don't paint me into the 'I told you so,' Brigade. I've repeatedly stated that I will back him to the hilt, and my Season Ticket has been renewed.

Oh, and every time Moyes SNEEZED it was psychoanalysed to the nth degree. No reason why we shouldn't scrutinise the new man too.

My premise is a simple one: He is here to surpass Moyes. Period. Any vague whiff of even a hint to the contrary, will simply not be good enough. This is the best squad we've had for a long time.

Gareth Prytherch
24 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:31:51
Oh Come On! Martinez ended up having to manage the expectations BK put out in the press conference. Would he really have said what he did if BK hadn't said what he did?

I'd really like to know what he would have said if left to his own devices...

Joe McMahon
25 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:26:47
Fair enough Kevin. It's a good squad yes, IMO I think the squad of 2008 was better, we scored some goals then!
I think Roberto is just trying to calm down the laughter of everton and CL football, the laughing policeman by big fat Mick Quinn etc. I see it as he's being realistic, but he will give it a shot. We ain't an attractive big club anymore (premier league era), and I do beleave that the Roberto Martinez's are the best we are gonna get. It could have been Hughes, O Neil, Macky, Lennon and even Weir, could have been a lot worse. He's 39 I think the relegation link is harsh when put into context of what was happening with Wigan since JJB collapsed. 9 and the FA cup ain't bad though i'm sure you'll agree. The Moyes years needed to end, and i'm glad they have.
Chris Jones
26 Posted 06/06/2013 at 20:58:33
That comment about the CL places not being "the league we are in" is not negativity, it's the truth. I think with that comment RM was not talking about a league table or competition: we are not in the same league financially and generally cannot compete in attracting the same quality of players that the Sky 4 (or 5) can (Mirallas being a notable exception).
Lyndon Lloyd
27 Posted 06/06/2013 at 21:12:58
I'm with Gareth (641), here. I see Martinez's comments as an attempt to realign expectations after Kenwright put him in such a difficult position yesterday. Call it a Good Cop, Mad Cop (sic) routine.

After all the great stuff Martinez has come out with over the last 24 hours, to seize on one line is harsh no matter how tempting that may be.

Harold Matthews
28 Posted 06/06/2013 at 21:50:05
It has been a different league for quite a few years now. Last season we were miles away, finishing 9 points behind Spurs, who also failed to make it even with Gareth Bale playing out of his skin. The top 4 these days is a world apart. They have £100million sitting on the bench.

Martinez is well aware of this and given time and support he will put together the kind of team we have all prayed for. Much will depend on him being allowed to keep his star performers.

Tom Bowers
29 Posted 06/06/2013 at 22:33:08
So Bill is guaranteeing all funds from any outgoing transfers to Roberto.
Very magnanamous of him. So if nobody is sold for any worthwhile fee then Roberto will have very little. Okay Fellaini is the one man who may fetch a big fee if he decides to leave but not many others rate very much individually except Baines,Jags and Coleman
Some of the others are getting a little older and inconsistant such as Jela,Peanuts and Osman.
Some of the benchwarmers have not really had prolonged outings to really establish themselves thanks to Moyes and so I would think that perhaps Roberto may change that by having a good look at Duffy,Barklay, Velios and Gueye before those guys are let go.
Perhaps there are other youngsters who may be given a chance in the lose season and be rated better by Roberto than Moyes did. Only time will tell.
Fellaini was a costly acquisition and spent the best part of 2 seasons finding his feet whilst collecting 2 many cards and only this last season did he really start to repay his fee.
I would like to keep him but he is not indispensable and so if he wants too then lets cash in on his present worth.
Dan Brierley
30 Posted 07/06/2013 at 08:34:53
Lyndon 672, I initially had the same thought. I believed it was really unfair of Kenwright to spew that out about what Martinez had said in order to get him the job.

But then upon further reflection, I thought to myself 'well, if he can make the statement behind closed doors in order to get himself the job, why not highlight the fact in public?'. His backtrack now makes him look a bit of a twat in all honesty, if he did say that was the target.

I think there are some very valid points being raised above. I anticipated Martinez to have this 'no fear' attitude that people had been talking about. He now comes out with statements saying that CL is not actually a plan, but only a dream? Whilst I believe personally this is true with the squad and finances available, it seems to contradict this 'winning' mentality that Martinez is meant to instill. So what will the players make of that? What would Fellaini think when his boss says the CL that Fellaini himself obviously craves, is just a dream? It's as though he is making excuses already.

Patrick Murphy
31 Posted 07/06/2013 at 08:46:00
Many posters said it during last season but Everton's best chance of attaining CL was 2012-13, an opportunity was there and for a variety of reasons we fell short. Nobody with any knowledge of Everton or football in general could expect a new manager to come in now and realistically challenge the BIG 6 clubs surely?

We don't have the squad or the forwards to compete over a 38 game season, but that doesn't mean we can't aim for it, if it is purely down to finance then 7th is Heaven and anything more is a bonus. If BK hadn't have opened his mouth, Martinez would have been smart enough to negotiate the question without raising expectations too high. Suppose Everton have the bad start to the season that had become the norm under Moyes and we are in the bottom half at the beginning of October then all of RM's critics will be using the 'CL you're having a laugh' line against him.

If we're not going to get CL or even Europe, the least we can expect is too watch a team play decent football that at least wants to win the game rather than settle for not losing it. I just hope that RM gets a decent amount of time before those who don't rate him start their campaigns to have him removed, I thought that stability was seen as a major positive of the club but perhaps that depends on which personnel are involved.


Ciarán McGlone
32 Posted 07/06/2013 at 11:48:51
My main problem with what Martinez 'apparently' said about getting us into the Champions League is not that he said it. Frankly I'm astounded that this 'magical' soundbite is enough to net one a job worth millions per year...

Frankly, I think it's more Kenwright bullshit.

Due diligence eh!

John Jones
33 Posted 07/06/2013 at 13:41:38
For me, I get what he is saying...

He wants Champions League but understands that next season will be tough as players will need to learn a new system of play. This doesn't mean that it will not be a target; it just means, come on, let's be realisic.

I think a few people on here are too quick to jump on everything that he says to turn it into their negative. I do like that fact he wants to make the squad bigger, I could never understand Moyes's 16-man squad policy.

Martinez was not my first choice; however, after thinking about it, I think it was the right one, and I think we should all give him the chance to prove what he can do.

James Stewart
34 Posted 07/06/2013 at 16:10:16
Kenshite is a baffoon of the highest order and as soon as the cameras are on him he can't help himself play up to the crowd.

We should be aiming for Europe and have been for the last few seasons so there is nothing new to see here.

Stuart Eaton
35 Posted 07/06/2013 at 17:40:27
If we can keep all our top players and find the money to get Benteke plus a few free signings for cover, top 5 is very achievable.

He is everything we are looking for in a striker, him and Mirallas up front would be fantastic.

Thomas Windsor
36 Posted 07/06/2013 at 19:40:03
I cant see Everton doing any better than they did in the league last year but it is in the cups we have to try and win. The top 4 teams will be the same but maybe in a different order, they are the clubs that will be spending big.
Colin Grierson
37 Posted 07/06/2013 at 23:03:58
Lots of you allude to the pessimistic comment made by RM regarding the 'league we are in'. I think he is talking realistically. This is not yet his team and it will take time (not just additional playing staff but a change in training drills and possibly formation) for him to make his mark. I hope that we make the Champions League places but I certainly don't expect it.

When DM made his 'knife to a gunfight' remark he had established his team and tactics and in my opinion bottled it when up against what he thought was a stronger team. Psychology wins games. Moyes was a pessimist. I believe Bobby M is an optimist but at present I'm happy with his realistic words.

In Bob we trust!

Danny O'Neill
38 Posted 07/06/2013 at 23:26:11
Colin (121), not pessimistic. I've kept quiet until now but spent too many years hearing Moyes get absolutely slated for coming out with similar expectation management statements so why treat Martinez any different?

I'm nervous. This could go either way! Personally not my preferred option but now he's the Everton manager he gets my support as did Moyes. I support Everton Football Club. The day we support an individual, we will resemble Mourinio FC and Kenny Dogleash supporters.

Danny O'Neill
39 Posted 07/06/2013 at 23:31:20
Sorry, I obviously meant Chelsea & Liverpool!

And Chris (562), don't ever base success on getting one over on them - it fuels the bitter tag. I feel your pain, but a measure of success isn't beating Liverpool in a one-off fixture. The last time we won the league I endured a 3-1 defeat at Analfield against a Liverpool team who were the Utd of that generation. But we were champions so that victory was hollow. Rise above the short-termism!

Mark Pierpoint
40 Posted 07/06/2013 at 23:42:31
Stuart, the test of a truly great scouting team is to get next seasons Benteke. This seasons will be big money. I wouldn't mind a punt on Darren Bent myself in the short term.

Lets be honest we need a little more still than Benteke and a few frees after all, we cant spend all of a budget on a (unlikely but eminently possible) one season striker.

Mark Frere
41 Posted 07/06/2013 at 23:59:13
The Belguim's seem like the latest craze at the moment, What about Jele Van Vossen? Could be the next Benteke or Lakaku
Brian Waring
42 Posted 08/06/2013 at 10:03:16
Danny (#125) the reason why Martinez should be different is because he has only been in the job 5 minutes. We had 11 years of Moyes coming out with negative comments, expectations etc.
Tony Marsh
43 Posted 08/06/2013 at 10:56:50
Kenwright went public with a comment that was said in private between him and Roberto. The stupid Champions League quote should not have been aired to the press. All this has done is put unneeded pressure on the manager and his team. BK is an out-and-out fool. All RM is doing now is some damage limitation exercise he should not need to do. Basically Martinez has said nothing until BK pushed him into a corner. Leave the man alone FFS, Davey has gone, get over it.
Kevin Hudson
44 Posted 08/06/2013 at 11:43:56
Fundamentally disagree with that Brian.

If Martinez comes in and says that essentially, he aspires to keep us at the same level as Moyes did...then what is the point of that?

He needs to believe he can surpass the last manager, and he needs to tell us that minus the cautionary language.

In his defence however, he did mention something about "taking it to the next level," which is great; and at 39 years old, I do suspect he's an ambitious manager with a progressive attitude, who should be given room to grow.

But the paucity of adverse reactions to the scaling-down, when this site positively shrieked with outrage when Moyes did it, points to a hypocrisy amongst ToffeeWebbers, under the umbrella of 'benefit of the doubt,' or laughingly, 'lost in translation.'

Mike Hughes
45 Posted 08/06/2013 at 12:09:09
Kevin #203 - completely agree on all points.

Nobody was excited with the DM ceiling of 6th.

RM has to be aiming higher. We finished 6th...with a surplus of draws in winnable games sp it's not an unrealistic target to finish top 4. I welcome the CL comments.

Also hope he brings a new mindset in big games, a bit like SAF's mission of "knocking the RS off their perch" when he arrived at OT. Let's take that mindset into every game - including matches with the so-called Big Four.

This is a massive opportunity for change at EFC - with the luxury of a solid foundation and a full summer to prepare.

Chris Morris
46 Posted 08/06/2013 at 12:34:14
Mike @204
I mentioned yesterday about all DM's draws and how we should have went to win in those games but I was shot down for having my opinion.

BE PREPARED!!!!!

Danny O'Neill
47 Posted 08/06/2013 at 13:40:26
Fair point Brian, but I don't think it took 11 years for critics to get on Moyes' case. Hey, as stated, he gets my backing as manager of Everton just as Moyes did.

Personally I hope he doesn't come in a change things radically. This team is good enough to push on and achieve something better than 6th but play to its strengths and introduce your own style gradually (less the defending philosophy - leave that in Wigan please). Rather than go all out I think it just needs a few decent additions to provide depth in the squad and release the shackles that Moyes instinctively couldn't relax on enough occasions, especially in the last season where for once he had the type and quality of player to do so.

That's why I think he could go either way....try to change the style too much too early and the doomsday situation is a Mike Walker scenario (I remember Southall complaining that we were trying to "tippy tap" it out from the back when we simply didn't have the players to do it). Tongue in cheek but does anyone else shudder at the prospect of Hibbert and Jags playing one-twos out of our own 18 yard box!!

Good luck Roberto; take this team to the next level. We weren't far off Tottenham last year until the last few games and I think fell foul of a particularly strong top 5 this year. That sort of performance and points tally would have been rewarded with European football of some flavour any other season.

Kevin Hudson
48 Posted 08/06/2013 at 15:11:32
Tony Marsh,

You're another Moyes critic who's being disingenuous here.

You were VERY vocal about DM's conservatism, but strangely tolerant of Martinez pointing out similar constraints, and echoing a familiar refrain.

Jackie Barry
49 Posted 08/06/2013 at 15:17:38
Well Kevin you would have to agree that the difference between Martinez and Moyes is that he has not had a chance to take Everton in any direction yet, these so called criticisms of Moyes came after he had been in the job for some time. All Tony is saying is give Martinez a chance, he has even done anything yet!
Patrick Murphy
50 Posted 08/06/2013 at 15:15:09
Roberto Martinez hasn't got his feet under the table and already people are saying that he will be no better than David Moyes, some are even saying that he will be a lot worse than him. Let's all wait until we have seen his team in action before we judge him. David got at least 5 or 6 years of support before many started to see flaws in his game plan. If RM is smart he will keep the pattern of play similar to what we have become used to and slowly alter it as the season goes on if he feels he needs to. Everton need evolution of their playing style not a full blown revolution.

The only thing I have read in the last few days that concerns me is RM's views on training, which one of his associates at Wigan mentioned. It went along the lines that he believes in training hard and often, which is fine, but considering the number of injuries he endured during his time at Wigan is a concern for me. I hope he doesn't only concentrate on the physical aspects of training as it is technical ability that our players need to concentrate on. I can hardly imagine that DM was soft on our players went it came to the physical aspects of training and we ran out of steam in games due to lack of rotation rather than a lack of fitness. Also he has to let some of his natural enthusiasm rub off on the squad and help them believe that they are not a bad team and can compete at the higher end of the PL.

I also think he will be making a mistake if he brings all of his backroom staff from Wigan with him and doesn't keep as many of the people already at Finch Farm, although it doesn't seem like we will have many left save Duncan and Stubbs.

Good Luck Roberto I have a feeling you're going to need plenty of it.


Kevin Hudson
51 Posted 08/06/2013 at 15:55:51
True, Jackie, but he's already limiting the scope of his ambitions.

"Champions League is a dream."

"6th place was magnificent for a club like Everton."

Colin Glassar
52 Posted 08/06/2013 at 17:29:25
Watching the England under 21s, under psycho, wigley, Neville and co., it just shows us so clearly how many light years our coaching is behind other countries. No imagination, no flair, no creativity. Thank god we got a foreign manager this time around. I shudder to think of the type of football we'd had played under the likes of McKay, Neville, O'Neil etc.....
Eugene Ruane
53 Posted 08/06/2013 at 17:35:32
Colin (264) - "No imagination, no flair, no creativity."

Absolutely spot on, all 'coaching' and no football.

Our 'system' is imo backward when compared to Spain, Holland, Germany and many other countries.

It's like we don't want to learn or we think because 'we' had an 'Empire' we have an automatic right to be good/successful.

It's odd, as long as I can remember, the FA have been setting up some new school of 'excellence' or other and from what I've seen, they've all produced virtually fuck-all.

I looked at that under 21 game against Italy the other night and thought if a kid is a great big athletic lump and it looks like someone has left a coat-hanger in his shirt, he's half-way there these days.

I watched my mate's lad playing for a local team of under 12s last year and their 'manager' (some fat shaven-headed bell in a trackie who thought he was Fergie) screamed himself red in the face after the game (nb: after they'd won!) coz this one or that one hadn't followed his instructions to the letter.

Rooney is a great player with bags of skill but he'll never look as good as he did at 17 because it's been coached out of him.

And there aren't too many like Rooney - Bale and maybe one or two others but most UK players, to me, look like plodders.

Fit, strong, fast and...very very average with a ball at their feet.

Colin Glassar
54 Posted 08/06/2013 at 18:05:07
And yet they look so good in the prem Eugene. Is it to do with the non-English players next to them in their respective clubs? Or their team managers? I don't know, but when they put on the three lions they become utter shite or, plodders like you said.
Colin Glassar
55 Posted 08/06/2013 at 18:08:32
3-0 now. We need a foreign coach/coaches at all levels now in the england set up. Dutch or Germans preferably. Our coaches are fucking useless!!
Eugene Ruane
56 Posted 08/06/2013 at 18:09:30
Colin (273) - They (generally) look fast and fit in the prem but despite what Sky would have me believe, much of what I see with my own eyes is crap.

Dull, predictable and mistakes everywhere.

In the last few days I've watched a couple of full England games, plus the Italy under 21 game and Ireland V Faroe and the standard of passing in all of them has been fucking woeful.

And I'm not talking about Hoddle-style 40 yard cross-field balls either, I'm talking straight line 10 yard passes that are given away to the opposition time after time after time after..

To try and look at the big picture, I DO blame the coaches/FA.

I don't believe there's something special about the Spanish/German/whatever that means they're born with better control of a football or a better ability to read a game.

From what I've seen/heard we concentrate FAR too much on little kids winning leagues and cups and not enough on control, passing, skills etc.

The little kids version here is just like the adults version "win-win-win!"

In France I went to see my mate's son playing for his village side "La Mayeraille En Caux" (Normandy).

Talk about different.

He was 14 and it was his first year playing in a league.

Before that they played matches against other towns/villages and all the kids naturally wanted to win their games but it wasn't for a title.

Consequently there wasn't hundreds of lunatic arl fellers bursting blood vessels and screaming "FUCKING GET RID MICKY!!"

It was much more relaxed and (possibly) because the kids weren't worried about being bawled at by a psychopath, they were relaxed and confident about showing what they could do.

The answer has imo been out there for years now, but it seems the people who run our game know 'best'.

Colin Glassar
57 Posted 08/06/2013 at 18:38:58
Totally agree Eugene. I recently read 'Barca' by Graham Hunter and in Spain the kids teams spend the first 5-6 years at club level working on their technique and skills. It's only at teenage level they start playing 7 a-side on a half pitch for about an hour. Here it's all about physique, speed, stamina etc.... We are in the dark ages still.
Ryan Sloan
58 Posted 09/06/2013 at 01:40:13
Tony Marsh, completely right, sir, that buffoon Kenwright really dropped Martinez in it big time, to right he shouldn't of aired that comment, puts his new manager under massive pressure before a ball haqs been kicked. Oh why oh why was this man born a Blue???
Chris Henderson
59 Posted 09/06/2013 at 09:15:46
Everyone bangs on about Moyes and bottling it against the top 4 teams or so...

Man City: win, draw (Bad penalty decision cost another win)
Man Utd: win, lose
Chelsea: lose, lose (not great)
Arsenal: draw, draw
Spurs: win, draw (lucky last minute goal for two wins but we did to it to them first game)
Liverpool: draw, draw (both teams unlucky in both games, should've been one win each)

So that's 3 defeats in 12 games, 3 wins and 6 draws. For a club in our posistion, that ain't a bad return from teams spending 10-15 times what we do a season.

I personally didn't want Roberto Martinez to join but he is here now, a few players and a little more attack-minded and I'm sure he can build on last season.

Let Fellaini go; he was hit and miss most games, lucky to stay on the pitch in a lot of the games, and no way near the £22-24M thats being touted; take the cash and let the guy build...
Very exiting for all Evertonians this coming season...COYB

David Stewart
60 Posted 09/06/2013 at 16:49:07
Dan Brierley, Can we just get one fact straight: David Moyes left Everton of his own accord, he was not sacked; as is his right, he decided to move on to another club. Now, because of this situation, Everton had to find a new manager and the owners have decided that man would be Martinez.

Now I understand that some people are happy with this appointment, some are not sure and hope all will work out well, and then a third group feel he's not up to the job and most of these people put good points across to back up their view.

Amongst all this though there seems to be a fourth group, a group who I believe were so besotted with Moyes that they refuse to believe that he would ditch us for someone else, and they are directing their pain and anger at Martinez. I read things like he's backtracking, he's a twat, he's already making his excuses.... Fuck me, I'd be surprised if his name has been painted on the door yet and people have got the knives out.

Davey Moyes had 11 years here before he decided to dump us, plenty of time to decide if he was the Moyesiah or Dithering Dave or maybe somewhere in between; make your own mind up you're entitled to your views. So how about we cut Martinez some slack and give him a bit of time before we decide if he's gonna achieve anything? It doesn't have to be 11 years... it could even be after one game but at least let him get his name painted on the fucking door.

Will Martinez be good for Everton? Well, like everyone else on this site, I haven't got a fucking clue; some many factors to come into play and only time will tell. What he does get off me though is my support and hope that all will work out well. For those whose pain will not even allow him this, may I suggest a drive up the East Lancs Road... Who knows — you may catch a glimpse of the ex.


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