Martinez has summer targets in mind

Agree with Joe, "privileged"... WeÂ’re not privileged to have him, heÂ’s privileged to play for Everton surely?

No wonder the spoonfooted fucker keeps gobbing off as if he owns the place.

Privileged to have a very average keeper as your No 1? God give me fucking strength...

He really needs to stop bigging up these players the way he does as it just comes across as we should consider ourselves really lucky to witness such average performances. We want players who consider themselves lucky to grace GP not the other way round. ItÂ’s no wonder our players seem to think theyÂ’re much better than they actually are.

It could be something to do with the fact that itÂ’s June 8th and the transfer window doesnÂ’t open til July 1st and close til two months later. Plus most players are on their holidays.

You can probably count on one hand the amount of players that have been transferred to Premier League clubs since the season ended.

Will El Bob address this?

Maybe we should just sit back and await for things to unfold and then hope whatever they are that next season will be a big improvement.

However, we shall most probably have to wait till the last minute to see who is arriving when really these so called Â’Â’targetsÂ’Â’ should be in the fold soon so that they may be integrated in the Summer warm up games.

As far as Howard is concerned, sure he is past his best... but isnÂ’t Osman, Barry and one or two others who keep getting in the starting eleven? There has to be outgoings otherwise any new additions will just be benchwarmers.

Everton did not have a strong starting eleven at any point last season due to glaring inconsistency and of course injuries but every team has injuries.

I see Martinez starting with the same tried, tested failed selections and tactics at least for 10-12 games as he just didnÂ’t show any way of solving the problems at any point last season.

He will have additional experience in Cleverly but another class striker is needed and if that situation is not improved on then it will be a struggle yet again.

I dread the future of our club with coco at the helm I really do... Privileged for TH??? I donÂ’t know whether to laugh or cry.

One player weÂ’ve not been linked with who is available is Hernandez of Man Utd, heÂ’s 27 and has had an easy career as of yet. HeÂ’s about to hit his peak an would be a massive asset for most clubs. HeÂ’s said to want to play regular football at a good level so why not have ago at stealing him on the cheap.

Another player who may be interested in a move may be Peter Cech. This one is a bold one but again, the offer of first team football!

You never expect to see us be so bold in the transfer market but in my opinion these two players are getable and would massively strengthen our first team, not just the squad.

I donÂ’t think Howard has Â’been a liability for yearsÂ’, though his ability is clearly in decline and he had a very, very poor season. I would say that heÂ’s been a good servant of the club, and really cared about Everton in a way that many whoÂ’ve passed through the doors havenÂ’t, but that doesnÂ’t make you the first choice at your position.

Having said that, I can only think one (or more) of four things:

A) Martinez is convinced Robles is ready win the #1 job, and thinks Howard has earned the right to not be pilloried in the press by his manager as he is eased into the #2 spot (or out the door);
B) Martinez doesnÂ’t want to tip his hand and increase the value of a potential GK target;
C) Martinez is simply incapable of saying anything negative about a player in public, no matter what;
D) Martinez is off his rocker;
E) All of the above.

I know that most on TW would grab for Â’DÂ’ in a heartbeat, and it may be true, but personally I donÂ’t know whatÂ’s going on here; it may be Â’EÂ’.

What you can say is that, in aggregate, the GK performances havenÂ’t been good enough to target the top 6, let alone the top 4. Can Howard still do that? Maybe, but father time -- and recent form -- are absolutely against him. Can Robles do that? Maybe, but he hasnÂ’t been in enough Â’bigÂ’ matches to say (at least for me).

In addition -- barring some seismic change in investment -- we donÂ’t have the funds to simply buy our way out of a problem position overnight. We simply canÂ’t afford to buy a fully-fit, prime-of-their-career top-4-in-the-Premier-League GK and have any hope to reinforce any other part of the team.

WeÂ’ll have to do with someone who is younger and talented, but less experienced; someone who may not have elite talent but is in the prime of their career and close to the top-4; or someone who was/is elite, but clearly in the twilight of their career.

Frankly, I think this assessment goes for every single position on the team. We simply cannot buy our way out of our striking problems -- or any other problem for that matter.

Given that, I really hope that the answer to the question of what is going on in RobertoÂ’s mind is a combination of Â’AÂ’ and Â’BÂ’, not Â’CÂ’ and Â’DÂ’.

One thing I have noticed of late is that fans are really having a go at our own players. I include myself in this; IÂ’ve slated Howard, Barry, McGeady, Naismith, Kone and Alcaraz. Some of the above have been good for us and deserve more respect but my abuse of these players is born from frustration from having an half-wit of a manager.

Howard and Barry were brilliant last season but have aged over a short period. For me, a manager should see this first long before the fans... but Roberto does not. Others are just plain shite and were brought to the club by our half-wit of a manager.

All-in-all, our manager is the main problem. We need to get shut while we still own some real quality players as weÂ’ve waited a long time to get stability at the club and one man can destroy it.

Stones, Baines, Cleverly, Gibson, Coleman, Mirallas, Jagielka – all quality international footballers. McCarthy, Besic, Barkley, and Lukaku are all young quality international players too. Add the young guns on their way through and the experienced players who are still knocking about an we’ve got a good basis for a quality manager to start a decent process.

My vote would be Bilic, but if you look at some of the other big names linked with the West Ham job, thereÂ’s some real quality managers about. Move now Bill before itÂ’s too late.

Is it that we just donÂ’t have a credible scouting network or heÂ’s simply drawn to players that he has managed in the past? Either way, we just donÂ’t seem to have much imagination in the transfer market these days.

There does seem to be a general air of resignation around Goodison these days, not helped by the general inertia of our great leader from theatreland.

IÂ’m on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next Â’phenomenonÂ’ to be announced from El Bob, followed by another diatribe of how blessed we should be as supporters that they have chosen Everton to continue with their career.

Cue massed throngs of Evertonians all on their knees, praising the heavens, for we have been truly Â’chosenÂ’.

After Howard (old and getting older) and Robles (potential, but untested), who else do we have under contract? If either those two is out, whoÂ’s the next in line?

HeÂ’s just hoping that neither Robles nor Howard are injured at the same time I guess.

Martinez just seems incapable of constructive criticism. After that dire campaign it blatantly obvious we need reinforcements, yet he insists weÂ’re pretty much sorted. Its infuriating babble. Would take a punt on Marshall or Westwood. WouldnÂ’t break the bank either...

I was keen on Pantilimon last Summer before his free transfer to Sunderland and IÂ’m sure there are other good keepers who would not cost the world.

My only hope is that Martinez really believes in Robles and plans to integrate him more into the first team because Howard sadly does not fill us – or our defenders, by the looks of them – with confidence.

And as for "privilege", the players are all privileged to be earning vast amounts of money, playing the great game of football for Everton.

As much as Martinez does continuously talk in platitudes, we know from Eto’o and Distin that he can be a hard fucker when he wants to. I very much doubt he has missed the decline in Howard’s form, and he certainly hasn’t missed the fans’ reaction when Howard came back in for Robles – who, by the way, everyone but everyone was saying was a terrible signing by Martinez in the first place.

Getting hot and bothered over the word Â’privilegedÂ’ is probably a bit over the top. Having said that, if Howard plays on next season with the same form as the one weÂ’ve just had, IÂ’ll be pretty hot and bothered myself...

Now I know Roberto can be over the top with his praise and use the word Â’phenomenalÂ’ a lot, but to be honest I think heÂ’s chosen his words quite carefully here. I may be wrong, but itÂ’s funny how people jump straight down his neck whenever he says... well... anything!

Of course, he couldnÂ’t just say that, could he?

Also, as an extra attacking option, how about Lucas Podolski, unwanted at Arsenal but would be a massive improvement on our squad. A proven international with a eye for goal and the ability to play central and in wide areas. Also only has a year left on his deal so could steal on the cheap.

C) Martinez is simply incapable of saying anything negative about a player in public

....was the case even before he joined us.

Every week Wigan would be dire but his post-match interview would be full of the positives, which seemed like lunacy, but that togetherness and confidence he instilled would pull them out the mire at the last minute.

The only question for me – and only approach from him I could see having a success with us – was whether he could instill that attitude in the BETTER players of Everton EARLIER in the season than at Wigan.

So IF he was ousting Howard IÂ’d see him fill our keepers confidence (in case he never managed to get a new one), then bring in a new keeper claiming he was "as 2nd backup" then that keeper would Â’somehowÂ’ manage to win the number 1 spot... mind you I thought that was what he was doing with Robles.

BTW What does everyone think of Carles Gil for the wide position? He looked like he was going to single-handed keep Lambert in his job at one point. Apparently Sherwood doesnÂ’t like him and heÂ’s for sale.

Why are all managers so adamant that their judgement on players is always right despite clear and undeniable evidence that their judgement is nonsense? Arrogance, hubris, stubborness or sheer stupidity? They all seem to think they have a greater wisdom that leads them to spout nonsense in public.

Priorities for me would be a real No 10, backup (left-footed) central defender and a winger (Del Boy please).

Regarding some of the comments about doing business quickly. RM says that he has his "ideal" list and is prepared to be patient (even til the last minute) to get the best person. Doing business early is all well & good if you have plenty of money and players definitely want to move to you.

However, in the real world, I guess it is far more complex. Players and clubs are sussing out their options & offers. Even if players are interested there are still T&Cs to be negotiated. So, as usual, it will be a long hot & bothered summer.

Moyes has himself backtracked on how many he would sign on more than one occasion. Alex Ferguson had to eat his words after selling Ronaldo as the virus to the mob.

So, why beat ourselves up over anything that can seem incongruent? Chris Funk (#36) is probably right in the sense that almost everything that is said is always slightly veiled.

Martinez is a genius. ItÂ’s all there in plain sight.

Amazing how having more perspective enables you to see things the rest of us cant.

Most of us think heÂ’s talking bollox

I agree with Andrew #47 about Szczesny. He attacks the ball well inside of his box, especially on crosses. I think that he is much better than both of ours at the moment. Is he available?

With Henen looking like heÂ’ll sign that means weÂ’ll be only be looking at a left sided CB to come in. So no Lennon or Delboy then. Am I reading that wrong?

Could it be that due to the massive Whale Shark that is Barca, hoovering-up all of the plankton in Catalonia? Perhaps anything that is half-decent is already in the Spanish system.

WasnÂ’t it Albert Einstein who said "genius is a form of insanity".

Any Everton chief who makes it to the top half dozen is guaranteed to be lauded for Â’overachievingÂ’ as Â’pints for poundsÂ’ tables indicate we should be no higher than eighth.

Moyes did it half a dozen times in 11 seasons, Royal 1 in 2 as has Martinez. And, on the back of that BK is giving him more time to make his mark.

Whether we agree or disagree with that decision, Roberto will not be Â’doing it with moneyÂ’ and his ability to spot a bargain will determine his and EvertonÂ’s future. The excuse for failure here is built in!

We should persevere with any manager who maintains our top 7 status, and progresses the club. Moyes did that over an extended period without money, but Martinez has not. We had the one good season, but last season was our worse for a good 10 years. He has made error after error, and inspires no hope of improvement. This club returned to the right end of the table because we did overachieve - until we no longer overachieved anymore. And that was Moyes did well - he transformed the squad, and to an extent, the expectations. We hoped Martinez would kick on from Moyes - but he has taken us back. He has also spent more money, and is clearly not the progressive manager we hoped for. He has been stubborn like Moyes (and perhaps even more so than Moyes), and his positivity strikes me as more ridicolous than Moyes pessimism.

He will get another chance now to prove me and many of us wrong. It will begin with this market - Cleverley is a good player but not the right player. It will not matter if he brings in the right players, but IÂ’m not confident that we will. Ideally we need a very good cb, a creative midfielder, a top quality winger and a back up striker. He will also need to demonstrate that he can find a style which suits the players we have, and not just the style that suits his philosophy.

We are in deep shit if he thinks we do not need to bring a goalkeeper in.

Off subject a little how about Van Persie for £10 million... £12 million if they accept Kone in part exchange.

For those of you that think US players canÂ’t play, you werenÂ’t watching this week's friendlies where the US beat the Netherlands 4-3 and yesterday beat Germany 2-1. These games were both road games for the USA.

US players donÂ’t cost a bloody fortune and there were exciting young Americans on the field. The most expensive player would be Michael Bradley. HeÂ’s now wearing the arm band for the USA and looked really good against Germany. American soccer fans WOULD watch Everton games if Bradley were on the team.

Want another goalie option??? Buy Brad Guzan from Aston Villa. I rate him above Tim Howard. Mix Diskerud is a very good midfielder and scored the equalizer yesterday against Germany. Want an up and coming striker??? Sign Gyasi Zardes, he started up from for the USA yesterday.

Spurs did good business when they signed right back Yedlin from MLS. He played on Clint DempseyÂ’s team the Seattle Sounders. HeÂ’s pacy and has a ton of potential.

Agree with marketing in America, shame our marketing team is shite.

I know thereÂ’s an eternal debate about the merits or not of conducting transfer business on the quiet or in public, but occasionally, just to liven up the dog days of this non-existent Summer, I wish there were more news from Everton about ongoing player negotiations!

Everton don’t purchase many players before deadline day unless they offload somebody unexpectedly – a couple of loanees may or may not materialise and a freebie may be in the offing but you might as well spend the summer doing something other than waiting for the Blues to spend money.

You watch: weÂ’ll go and break our transfer record over the weekend just to spite me!

In his case, from the player’s perspective being at the end of his contract, he would be without a pay packet from 1 July... so definitely some incentive there to get on someone’s books and maintain cash flow through the balmy summer months (or should that be ’barmy summer’ — you decide!)

ItÂ’s been mentioned many times on here, but why on earth is our SPANISH manager not shopping in the bargain basement Spanish and South American leagues? Talented players going for a relative song by the bucketload!

I like Howard but agree we did see some howlers last year though – Psychological problems methinks rather than a collapse in ability? I think that is the problem with our whole team to be honest. I can’t fathom out what is going on behind the scenes.

Get Steve Peters or someone similar in. How about Dave Brailsford as team manager? Need a good football coach alongside him and leave the managing to DB.