Bournemouth Surrender Exposes Everton’s Lack of Leadership

Frustrating, but even more worryingly we’ve conceded 24 goals in all competitions this season and conceded the most headed goals, which points to a glaring problem with the defence and concentration levels. And sadly, Martinez has got 'previous' – as they say in cop programs.

We lacked leadership on and off the pitch.

I’ve always believed that this season was just a little too early for this particular group of players, at least as far as the league is concerned, due to their ages and relative lack of experience, but I would rather watch a team that scores goals than a team that regularly digs out single-goal victories.

Sometimes you get what you deserve in football and we probably ended up with a point more than our second-half showing deserved, the last minute shenanigans were made in the 45 minutes that had preceded them.

By not pushing on for a third goal, the team once again gave the initiative to the opponents; we cannot be European contenders with that mindset... we have to be looking to score at any given opportunity, no matter what the scoreline.

Hopefully the manager will instil some steel into his team and make them realise that they all have to do the dirty work and can’t afford to rely on one or two to do it. There is much to admire and be complimentary about but, as usual, there is quite a lot to berate the team for. Let’s hope they can show they have a ruthless, professional streak on Tuesday night, but it will probably be another nerve-shredding performance that will test our patience to the limit.

We haven’t got one.

How could they get so much room on the left with only seconds left on the clock? What were we thinking? Easy... we were reading the bleeding headlines of tomorrow's papers, thinking about what to say at the post match interview... So amateur that it's hard to believe.

I would love to have heard Martinez half-time team talk. I mean, what really was the game plan against little Bournemouth when we came in with a two-goal lead at the break?

I accept that a lot of our players are young and still learning, but I do not accept that we can't put a game like this to bed. Martinez and crew need to grow up fast.

Martinez needs to step up to the plate too. I'm all for giving players a bit of leeway to try things and maybe make a mistake or two but he has to realise that sometimes there is no benefit to keeping players on the park who are struggling. He did that last season and he seems to be falling into the same trap again this season. Everybody occasionally has a bad/average game or the legs tire but most good managers recognise this and make a change.

Martinez is back to his stubborn best by keeping players on the park to the detriment of the team. It doesn't make them bad players if they are replaced but it does make Martinez a bad manager if he doesn't recognise the need for change. Martinez at times seems blinded by his need to justify including certain players in the team and shows that by ignoring performance by keeping them on the field. He shouldn't need to be learning and I shouldn't need to be hoping he learns his lessons.

As for leaders on the field, Barry, Howard, Coleman, Kone and to a lesser extent Stones and Barkley all need to be doing better. None are newcomers and all should be more vocal to each other when things go wrong. There's no point going into their shell because if they do then we are not going to achieve anything this season. Tuesday is vital to get back on track.

In stating our lack of on-field leaders, Matt was absolutely correct. I differ where he says Jags is that type. It has been many a long year since we had a commanding captain.

It is even longer since we had a manager who could change the course of a game.

The unbeaten Arsenal side back in the day (2003-04 season) had real leaders right through the team (Lehmann in goal, Viera in midfield and arguably Henry / Bergkamp in attack); by contrast, we seemingly don't have one player that seems capable of rallying the others.

The Wiganisation of Everton continues...

The first half was great; I was amazed at the contrast in the 2nd half. I kept thinking, "Oh we will get on top sooner or later." But we have to give credit to Borough, they fought like their lives depended on it.

Barkley seemed to be trotting from box to box in a daze, the only time he upped his tempo was to run to the fans after scoring a goal.

We know what happened next. You just knew as soon as they kicked off they would go for broke. It paid off; good on them and shame on us for coming out in the 2nd half with the wrong attitude.

Martinez failed in this one but unlike others who want him sacked every time we have a bad game, I know he ain’t going nowhere; he is building a good young team, if he can keep hold of them.

Neville and Cahill seen their time. They're two nasty fuckers we haven't replaced, though. None like them will be signed under our manager.

Best we keep in mind that everything AROUND Roberto is ABOUT Roberto.

Been obvious.

Lack of big characters and big voices!

Very likely the main reason why we haven’t won a trophy and we have bottled too many big matches over the last 20 years since the 1995 Cup winning side, a more limited bunch ability-wise but pack to the rafters with big characters and in Joe Royle, managed by one too!

Very likely the reason why, yet again, we will let ourselves down again this season. Ability-wise, great, yes... but it’s what can you do when you have NOT got the ball that matters just as much, and we simply don’t make it hard enough for opponents to score against us.

A couple of high scoring wins, against poor opposition, have led to a rush of false expectations for the rest of the season. He’s doing a reasonable job, but expecting more than a mid-table finish is unrealistic with him in charge. BK will be quite happy with his record as manager I would imagine.

There are definitely lots more technically astute and gifted managers out there, but no desire by the club to recruit one of them, no matter how disgruntled the fans may become.

To concede two and then score in injury time and still concede another is naive and suggests exactly what Matt Jones says: a lack of leadership. It’s not a lack of experience: Howard and Barry are veterans and McCarthy, Coleman and Kone are obviously experienced.

Yes, Seamus, Macca and Kone are experienced but they are all quiet lads. We need someone with a gob like a fucking fog horn on the pitch.

Although RM did say last year when leading Arsenal by 2 goals with 8 minutes left and only drew that a 2-0 lead was a dangerous score. So next time we are leading by 2 goals... be very afraid.

Criticise the man for what he does with the team on the pitch by all means but character assassination without evidence doesn't sit well with me, but perhaps I am alone in that.