Martinez hails the divine gift of Eto'o

, 30 October, 34comments  |  Jump to most recent
Roberto Martinez has described Samuel Eto'o's presence at Everton as "a gift from the footballing gods".

The Cameroonian star started his second successive match when the Blues beat Burnley last weekend and he took his tally to four goals with a brace at Turf Moor.

With the 33 year-old showing signs that he is now settled into his new surroundings and regaining his match sharpness following the World Cup, Martinez is excited by what he can offer the team as the season progresses.

“Nothing changes from our point of view in terms of how we will use him,” Martinez said. “Having Samuel Eto'o here is like a gift from the footballing Gods for us. He is the perfect ingredient for our young players, a phenomenal example.

“The way he took his finishes at Burnley was like the old days. I hope he can enjoy his football here and we are working hard to make that happen. I think he is enjoying it and that is very important."  



Reader Comments (34)

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Ben Mackenzie
2 Posted 30/10/2014 at 17:50:50
The man just oozes class. Fantastic touch, awareness, vision and work rate. Very impressive. Loving being a blue right now. Just hope we can put The Swans to the sword.
Ajay Timothy
3 Posted 30/10/2014 at 17:56:06
I just lose it when he uses the 'phenomenal' word. Even when it is justified.
Ajay Gopal
4 Posted 30/10/2014 at 17:53:56
"A rare diamond of English football" (Barkley), "a gift from the footballing gods" (Eto'o), "phenomenal", "incredible" (everybody in the team at some point). I can't imagine Martinez in a press conference if Lionel Messi was playing for us.
Patrick Murphy
5 Posted 30/10/2014 at 18:34:46
Ajay - I think he would use every superlative in the book even if Lionel Richie or Lionel Blair played for Everton.
Julian Wait
6 Posted 30/10/2014 at 18:45:08
Patrick, he'd be dancing on the ceiling ...
Paul Mackie
7 Posted 30/10/2014 at 18:46:24
I"d rather he overuse the word phenomenal than errr, you know, errr, keep saying 'err' or 'you know' all the time.
Mike Childs
8 Posted 30/10/2014 at 18:44:45
If Messi was on the team I wouldn't put it past Roberto to bring an onion to the press conference to make sure he cried. Then again with his use of superlatives he'd probably cry without the onion.

Who cares we got Eto'o that's all that matters at this point. The more the gaffer praises him hopefully the more the youngsters pay attention and copy.

Mick Quirke
9 Posted 30/10/2014 at 19:02:38
I really don't know what our manager's thinking of. Why can't he just slag his players off in public like a proper coach?
Kevin Rowlands
10 Posted 30/10/2014 at 19:15:06
I know Phil Wally wouldn't agree but I'd much prefer RM's positivity even if some quotes are a bit OTT, it sure beats the hell out of 'disappointing' Walter Smith, or 'we don't have the funds to compete'/'bringing a knife to a gunfight' OFM, that's for sure.
Eugene Ruane
11 Posted 30/10/2014 at 19:32:23
Completely agree, Kevin.
Colin Glassar
12 Posted 30/10/2014 at 19:43:06
Kevin, I was just going to write the same. The Scots are hardly known for their ebullience and joi de vivre(?) are they? Ginger would be saying, "Aye, that Eton lad nay bad is he? But he could do better, work harder, and I've got Roundy and Pip working on his defensive responsibilities."
Tony Abrahams
13 Posted 30/10/2014 at 19:44:39
It was the rest of the interview that had me thinking. When he talked about Eto'o's fitness, he also alluded to the squad in general and said it was about making sure everyone was ready for the second half of the season.

I think we have played 10 matches now, but I've never seen any Everton team ever look to conserve energy like our present squad. In fact the only game we have looked to have played to our maximum was when we had to chase Chelsea for nearly 90 minutes.

Still early days but I'm already looking forward to when this squad is going to be let off the leash and players with the quality of Eto'o can only help us.

Kevin Rowlands
14 Posted 30/10/2014 at 20:25:00
Don't even get me started on 'lets roll our sleeves up/finishing in the top ten is a great achievement for a club like Everton'.

Phil fucking Neville, Colin, still pisses me off — that twat not only played for us but also captained us, can't stand the prick.

Tony Abrahams
15 Posted 30/10/2014 at 20:31:13
Especially when Neville's first competitive game for Everton, was a Champions League qualifier, Kevin!
Kevin Rowlands
16 Posted 30/10/2014 at 20:38:17
Don't forget his last game, Tony, and that sublime pass to McManaman for Wigan's second, whilst Barkley and Gibson were both sitting on the bench!

Grrrrr, still pisses me off to this day, we could have won the cup that year.

Colin Glassar
17 Posted 30/10/2014 at 20:47:55
Ditto Kevin, that period just feels like a bad dream now.
Rob Baker
18 Posted 30/10/2014 at 21:00:38
I've been impressed with Eto'o in a Toffee shirt so far. His link up play is class and finishing top drawer. I hope Romelu watches and learns!

The antics at QPR are making me chuckle, Adel "Fat" Tarabt & Rio "Sket" Ferdinand vs Harry "I don't get twitter" Rednapp and Fat Boy Fernandez. That club is comedy!

Tony Abrahams
19 Posted 30/10/2014 at 21:26:25
It would have been my last match at Goodison as well, only for Moyes leaving, Kevin. I had decided that I had enough of Moyes and Kenwright and only watched Everton away from Goodison after that capitulation.

We had punched above "our weight" for too long, except when it mattered, of course, and although the chairman remains, it's still a much more enjoyable feeling watching Everton these days.

Mike Childs
20 Posted 30/10/2014 at 22:31:05
Did you folks hear or read Jose's evaluation of Andre Scherle and Salah after the Capital One Cup game against Shrewsbury?

I'd like to see that from our gaffer. Maybe just maybe our guys would get the point when they play like shite.

Kevin Rowlands
21 Posted 30/10/2014 at 22:38:03
Mike, from what I've heard RM in private does tell the players if they've been shite. He doesn't like to air dirty laundry through the press. I personally think that's a much smarter way to do things – why berate them in public?
Brian Hennessy
22 Posted 30/10/2014 at 22:50:00
Eto'o "a gift from the footballing gods"? I'd go along with that.

Oh but our lord has forsaken us with his "gift" of Arouna Kone. He works in mysterious ways.

Shame our God doesn't do full refunds provided the purchaser has a valid receipt...

Phil Walling
23 Posted 30/10/2014 at 23:48:05
A positively phenomenal, amazing, astonishing, astounding, exceptional, extraordinary, fantastic, incredible, marvellous, mind-boggling, outstanding, prodigious, remarkable, sensational, singular, staggering, unbelievable, wonderful and yet understated comment from our ever-critical manager. We are indeed blessed.

The Catterick tome just fell off the book-shelf!

Harold Matthews
24 Posted 31/10/2014 at 00:14:22
Try listening to the guy across the park.
Len Hawkins
25 Posted 31/10/2014 at 02:27:25
It’s nice to hear the manager talking like a man enjoying his job, instead of like a man about to order a deep fried Mars bar.
Tony Sullivan
26 Posted 31/10/2014 at 10:34:02
I think some of us would do well to remember English is RMÂ’s second language, hence the repeated use of adjectives. It is always easier for native speakers.

I like his positive approach and I think it shows in our approach on the pitch, which is where it counts most.

Tony J Williams
27 Posted 31/10/2014 at 13:42:38
Phenomenal thread!
Paul Dark
28 Posted 31/10/2014 at 13:59:32
Good point, Len.

Martinez has raised the bar of expectation - and he has also brought us back in line with our fine traditions in so many senses. For that alone (despite his blind spots for Osman, and McGeady), he should be congratulated unconditionally.

Long may he remain Everton manager!

Martin Mason
32 Posted 31/10/2014 at 18:15:29
A breath of fresh air as a manager, a magnificent player in Eto'o even in the twilight of his career, the club making a profit and paying off debt. Times are good.

Soon we will be praising Kim Jong Bill as our saviour.

Phill Thompson
33 Posted 31/10/2014 at 18:36:18
I caught a bit on Sky the other night showing Barcelona and Eto'o at his best. Interesting that Guardiola apparently sold him on because he was to much of a leader/character in the dressing room and he didn't want that on his "uniform" team. Sounds like the kind of guy you need to me , hope he stays a few years he could have a tremendous , sorry phenomenal , influence on our squad.
Colin Glassar
34 Posted 31/10/2014 at 18:48:15
Phil, Guardiola got rid of Eto'o, Ibra and another Bigname Charlie (can't remember his name) because, according to him, they wouldn't adapt to his game plan.

If you read the book Barça, Andy Hunter says, in fairness to Eto'o, that he did get his head down and had a fabulous last season with Barcelona winning the double (treble?). Ibra just buggered off to Italy as he wanted to be the centre of the team.

Tom Evans
35 Posted 31/10/2014 at 21:43:36
This "phenomenal" thing.

Robert Elstone must have used that word on a dozen or so occasions at his talk at Hull University on Tuesday.

I wonder who is following who in this matter?

Richard Pike
36 Posted 01/11/2014 at 00:39:46
"A gift from the footballing gods" that we must have solicited. He didn't end up an Everton player by accident.

Nevertheless: you sign a player like him, you expect that he'll reliably get things done on the pitch in return for a top dollar salary, and no more than that. You don't necessarily expect that he'll do it smiling like he's never been happier, or that he'll willingly work with the younger pros to make them better players.

Eto'o does both of these things. He could probably still get paid more in Russia or the middle east if his aim were merely financial gain, but no. He came to Everton, and consequently we have access to a wealth of footballing knowledge and experience.

His willingness to pass on that knowledge and experience is the gift from the footballing gods, not merely his presence.

Trevor Lynes
37 Posted 01/11/2014 at 09:59:44
Etoo has probably mellowed and no longer wants his own way so much.Many great players were virtually unmanageable.Best, Gascoigne, Bowles etc etc.All were drinking and/or gambling.Best was always late at training and Busby had a difficult job keeping him under a semblance of control.Gazza was/is a nutter and Bowles was a compulsive gambler.Barca's dressing room had lots of top players who wanted their own way and managers/coaches had to be real diplomats to get the best out of them as a team.Etoo is now an elder statesman who needs to be nursed along to get the best out of him.He will always know how to score due to his experience in creating space and his natural ability and weight control.He still has a little of his pace and agility.I just hope that he can teach our club strikers the best way to be effective, hold up play and find space.It is about time someone scored a hat trick for us, seems an age since Saha scored his four goals.If we can get another season out of Etoo I will be absolutely delighted so long as the boo boys don't start on him when they get fed up of booing Osman.
Brian Waring
38 Posted 01/11/2014 at 10:44:41
The funny thing is, if Martinez did come out and slag players off in his interviews he would get slated to death for doing it.

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