Cruel end to a brave comeback

Not a bad line-up but I can't imagine Jags is fully fit.

Light stretching
Breathing exercises
Pasta
Isotonic drink

When it kicks off I'll have a beer and half time pasty.

Come on you Blues!!!
3-2 to us.

Jags partnered with Gibson at centre back and Stones right back...?

Dodgy...

A day for a hero to be born.

Make it happen, Blue Boys.

PLEASE make it happen.

On a more negative note, Man Utd have carved open our defence on a number of occasions already.

At least the blues seem up for it today. Could go either way!

Barkley is embarrassingly poor. Need a miracle.

Against a very average United team!

Hi is shot to pieces and needs to come off and give Geri a chance to support Rom.

We are playing with one striker, you would think the extra man in midfield would help control possession, but the exact opposite is happening! We are all over the place.

Man it really hurts supporting Everton. Manager who can't manage anything and players stumbling around aimlessly!

Martinez has earned the sack. The first half was Martinez all over and we, the players and the media know it.

Knowing Everton and Martinez as I do, he will wax lyrical about the performance and will still be in place next season to lead our descent down the league table.

Unless Moshiri has had enough.

Seeing John, Ross, Rom and Del flying in that second half was something.

Gutted.

Stones was immense in midfield. Gibson was excellent. Barkley was very poor, didn't even pick up Rooney to stop his influence. I was asking why not Ossie? RM can get that taxi now.

This has to be the rock bottom that people talk about, when they say you have to be the lowest, before you can rise again.

Martinez out in order for us to soar once again!

COYB..... without that baggage!

The players took charge in the second half? Absolute bollocks just to suit your own agenda.

Maybe if we had started the game like we played second half we would have won that match..

Typically the defining week was just how I predicted last week..

A beating at Anfield followed by the predictable hard luck story tonight..

I am absolutely sick of being an Evertonian, it just never gets any better does it?.

Terrible game from Lukaku, why did he take the pen???

Terrible shape from the defence which lead to Martial's winner, why was Jagielka bursting out of the backline??

I really hate this team, what an absolutely horrible season this has developed into and no doubt will be topped off by Klopp working a miracle and winning the Europa League with that lot...

Totally utterly hate football.

Only we could lose three times to this United team..

I've washed my hands of all things Everton now.

Hope Leicester win the league and I sincerely hope Norwich win here on the last day to keep Naismith up..

As for the free kick for the winner. Why did they get a free kick? I saw nothing.

We were a fraction unlucky today and some of that was that it just wasn't Lukaku's day. He should look at that the next time he sounds off about Champions League. Just glad we didn't collapse.

But as stated above, 45 minutes and not scoring a goal ourselves against an average Utd team should not get Martinez breathing space. We went into it out of form hence why Lukaku was so rusty. That is down to the way we've been set up.

Great fight by us in the second half, and our travelling fans did us proud. Sadly it's all too little, too late for Roberto.

Why the fuck that ball wasn't handed to Baines to take the penalty I'll never know, and always regret.

PS: Adios Roberto.

45 minutes in a whole season and you are praising them. I say fuck them because they are only interested in themselves, not us.

Get shut of Martinez now and I don't care if I never see Lukaku, Stones or Barkley in an Everton shirt again. They try when it suits them, when they have an agenda, ie Stones at Chelsea or Lukaku for Champions League football.

Good riddance to bad rubbish – your call, Mr Moshiri.

Bye-bye, John Stones – you gave it everything today.

Bye-bye, Roberto – you were a disgrace from the start of last season and I am kinda not too heavy hearted as it is always not the worst thing to lose a battle in order to win the war and we certainly would lose Premier League status with you in charge...

And, if he stays, then for me it's bye-bye football. 30 years of rubbish following a motto that means fuck all.

Someone should remind him that he was playing for a Champions League team in Chelsea and they ruthlessly discarded him as not being good enough. He still isn't.

I am proud of the lads today.

We started off nervy and tentative and the game could have been over by HT although strangely enough Lukaku had two golden chances to open the scoring but was let down by his famed control.

The second-half United had gone when we equalised and that was the time for Martinez to gamble by taking off McCarthy and putting Mirallas on, but he didn't and the only ball that Jagielka didn't win all day found its way behind our defence and game over.

We seem to lose games that we deserve better from whilst others not too far away seem to win them when they least deserve it. I feel really terrible for all those Blues at Wembley today, once again they have seen an Everton side on the cusp of glory only to see it snatched away in the cruellest manner you could think of.

Moshiri has to somehow change the mentality at the club and take it by the horns and really focus on how to achieve footballing success. Brave as the second-half performance was, Kenwright should not be allowed to continue in his role and Moshiri should bring 100% football men to the board-room not a supporter who happened to be in the right place at the right time to lead the club.

I don't recall seeing a player get so many chances to score, including a penalty, and spurn them all. But I recall it was his goals that got us to Wembley, so I won't say any more.

Looking forward to seeing what another manager can do with the squad Moyes and Martinez (principally) have assembled.

Too many on here saying players were just total rubbish. I don't agree. Players were okay, not brilliant, just okay, but there's no need for this.

Hurting like the rest of you and that spells the end for Martinez, I hope.

Who knew it was that simple? Well... everyone on this site, for a long time.

If Bill is still calling the shots (and I suspect he is), and if I know him (which I think I do), there's no way he sacks Martinez before the next game. He won't miss the opportunity to rave about his brave blues and his romanticism will keep Roberto in the seat a bit longer.

Lukaku can do one, Champions League? – you're having a laugh, lad.

Better team 2nd half when they forgot what RM told them and had a go. Really thought we were going to do it, I don't believe in God but, if there is one, he must hate Evertonians, gutted.

1st half: RM told them tippy tap/sideways and backwards pays off. Possession; possession.
2nd half: The players decide, "Fuck RM, let's play it our way."
Tough luck lads. I was real proud of you!

I fully expect the Spanish clown to be gone by Monday.

I was glad just to turn over as he has not got a clue about football. Why is someone like him commentating in the first place, he was a third rate player.

We had chances to score and never took them, it's all about finishing and sticking the ball in the net.

I don't think we can claim bad luck – our captain escaped a red card and got away with giving up a penalty and Man Utd did miss chances but they got that bit of luck at the end when the ball ran for them and they took it.

Barkley and Lukaku both continue to really frustrate me – it's got nothing to do with any manager if you can't shield a ball or pass it to a team mate at the right time, at the right pace or even the player you intended! John Stones was fantastic in the second half.

I will be rooting for whoever plays Man Utd in the final because that Van Gael is a total dickhead.

We could have won this, but it ends as usual like it always does.

Absolutely gutted.

That summed up all we could be,but are not because of a Martinez style which jumps from impotence to gung-ho suicidal attacking football. There is no balance and the decision to play Besic at right back was an awful one. Martial had the beating of him all day and the game could have been done with before we decided to start playing.

A missed opportunity and the end of Martinez. It could have gone our way today, but the last two years have condemned the charlatan in charge.

Gutted

Well, we haven't got the perfect changeover of power. Mr Moshiri probably wanted to get to the end of the season and then look; but the situation is dire. This team and this club need major surgery now, not a sniff of the smelling salts.

Jim Bennings (53) Jim, have a look at the coming few months and see if the changes we hope for come about. It might be the catalyst now to see us begin the change into a proper club again

Yes I want Norwich to beat us to keep Naismith up, one of the few decent pro's in football.

What are we going to get if we win a few games that don't matter one jot now??

Does any supporter care if we win or lose 4-0 next week??

I personally don't, these wasters have a defining week yet only play one half of football, that first half tonight was as bad as Anfield..

It's pathetic, utterly pathetic..

Two misses out of the last three, still I'm told he's worth £60 million. God knows what Roy Vernon would have been worth.

Can't we EVER get over the line in a semi-final or final for once?

A player needs to come out and say they rollocked everyone, including the manager, at half time and that's what changed the performance in the 2nd half... otherwise it goes down as a phenomenal performance that saved his job!!

Do you think Bainsey would have missed that penalty? I don't. For the rest of the season he needs to draw in his inflated ego and keep his mouth firmly shut.

Yet another poor performance from Ross. I don't know another player who does my head in as much as Ross. This could have been his stage but yet again he blew it, and in front of Woy.

This is the worst feeling in the world right now, changes will happen and we can all look forward to a bright future.

I hope we can keep Stones after today's showing, and build a team around him with the proper management team around him.

We must pick the right manager, when surely the axe now falls on Roberto's head. The club needs sorting from top to bottom.

We need someone (Mr Moshiri) to set, for the supporters of this club, a course for Everton Football Club, that will begin getting us back to type of club we've been for most of our history.

Our defending today was Sunday league. Only started playing when we missed the penalty.

#BACK HIM OR SACK HIM

Oh and losing in the 93rd minute? What a surprise.

As for Rom, by all means join a Champions League club now and get us a fools ransom, 25 goals but how many should you have had over the season, at Everton you can afford to play well once a month and continue to get a start. At Man Utd, you'd be benched, so I hope it works out well and you find the consistency you think you possess, at a top 4 club, you would warm the bench a lot more than you think.

Lastly, my new manager I'd ring tonight, Martin O'Neill, he knows how to play in the Premier League, knows how to motivate, doesn't tolerate prima madonnas, wouldn't reward poor performance with continual playtime, knows how to defend as he was a defender, knows European football albeit with Celtic but Still counts, knows how to sign players unlike dithering Davey, and also knows how to deal with the media.

I'm not even surprised nor depressed tonight, just hoping for that fresh start to begin.... Oh and tell Martin to let Roy Keane stay on with Ireland! He's not needed.

Possibly a different story if we had gone at them from the off, but with too many players of similar type in the squad I suppose the outcome was inevitable.

They dabbled with Brenda with the supposed new young breed of manager and binned him. We need to be as ruthless.. We are EFC... Nothing but the best will do and Roberto clearly hasn't got a clue.

Not having Coleman or Barry was crucial. Besic wasn't up to it, and Lennon having to cover for him, meant we lacked attack down that side, as we struggled with Martial. Can't really blame Besic or Martinez for that - just our Achilles heel. McCarthy and Gibson didn't cut it today, and while no one else had a mare, our lack of momentum from the kick off, and Lukaku's loss of touch, meant we have been beaten by an average Man Utd team who we should be beating, even with their young guns up-front.

It's a no brainer that Martinez now goes. Even "Blue Bill" can't keep him in the job given nothing but desperate hope and dashed dreams this year and a lost dressing room to boot. The question is, do we put him out of his (and our) misery now - or have him face several meaningless games with us raising banners and chanting for change. "They shoot horses don't they?" Let him sneak out the back to catch his taxi - and let's start again!

Evertonians are born not recruited. If you want to wash your hands of the team, so be it. The rest of us although disillusioned remain loyal.

Yes Martinez has to go now. But that's not a reason to wash your hands.

Barkley reminds me of the player in the middle of winter on dirty muddy pitches walks off at the end with his kit spotless. Needs a kick up the backside. Only positive, who would want him?

Bill K looked very unwell, time to go Bill, enjoy the remainder of your years and allow Moshiri to rekindle this great, yes great club.

Jim 85#

Yes I care.

Naismith should never have been sold. He was 100% committed, the Catalan was his downfall, couldn't see the talent and commitment Naisey had to the cause.

Don't see any sudden parting of the waves. However the sooner Martinez goes, the more chance we have of keeping this squad together.

Enough said, after 50 yrs + support I'm at the lowest ebb ever.

For me appoint Unsworth till the end of the season as caretaker as we pinpoint the right man to take us forward and let Unsworth introduce some of the Under 21's he's been working with.

Lukaku was having a stinker as a striker, he'd already screwed up at least two excellent chances in the first half and his close control was that of the proverbial concrete bollard. That said, he was not having too bad a game in holding up, causing problems and doing the other things that centre forwards are meant to do.

So an opportunity comes for a penalty. At this point, the manager should have made sure the captain said "Anybody but Rom. His control is bad, he's anxious and in anything involving accuracy he's useless." So it should have been step up Baines (best penalty taker since Roy Vernon, as someone noted), Barkley (good nerves and excellent shot), or even Stones (playing very sensibly and intelligently) or perhaps Gibson (again calm and with a good shot).

If it was all too frantic on the pitch, Martinez should have taken control and made sure that anyone (maybe even Robles) but Lukaku took that penalty. This is worse than the Mirallas pen, since at least he was playing with passion.

The penalty (and it certainly was!) was the key moment in the Martinez fiasco.

And Wembley continues to be nothing but a graveyard for this club.

We showed buckets of character in the last half hour but don't have the nouse or quality to be winners at the highest level, and haven't for a generation.

Martinez will stay until the end of the season; if he's here next season, we're doomed. The next man needs to be a serial winner, not a nice guy with a broken philosophy.

The end.

This was a big game and I thought Jagielka and Stones gave their all. A bit more luck today and better finishing and we would be in the final. It wasn't to be.

Usual dross first half. Then suddenly the fight of the blues of old... but the real suspicion that it was their call not the managers.

I thought that John Stones was immense and showed true leadership. Great character too.

RM won't be sacked Monday... He will be gone soon.

Also, if one thing was proven today it is that Besic should never play in defense again. I still cannot get my head around the fact that we have one of the best penalty takers in world football (Baines) and yet Mirallas, Lukaku, Barkley etc seem to have decided he is not up to it and our manager has left them to sort it between them.

Lukaku might have scored quite a few goals in his career but he contributes nothing else at all.

He has the touch of an elephant and will not close down or open up space. He just wants the ball played in front of him so he can barge defenders off the ball and get a shot in. He has nothing else in his armoury.

As for the first half, typical Martinez shite passing the ball around with no purpose whatsoever.

If he is not gone by next Saturday some form of protest needs to be put in place.

You saw in that second half what that team with some belief could do. And I'll still maintain that a change on the final whistle at Anfield could have had us ready to go from the first minute.

The season is well and truly over. It's a bit earlier than we'd like, but my life will be about different things for a few months from now.

Who would buy Lukaku at a price we are prepared to sell?

Who would buy Barkley ditto?

Who would buy Stones ditto?

This is a talented squad. If we can keep them with the right manager/coach we can achieve the hype we have swallowed for the last 3 years under Martinez.

New manager, same squad, new era!!!

Totally agree with your comments.

Yes, we did deserve to lose as we were plain old shite in the first half. This is a very poor Man Utd team that were not that great at all, so it wasn't a classic like the media are making out.

One fairly decent 45 minutes doesn't paper over two years worth of crap football and endless bullshit from Martinez.

When he's sitting on someone's bench next season he'll rue leaving this club.

I feel for you and all Evertonians that were up there today. If it's any consolation you did the club proud.
Some day some day....

Lukaku caused United a lot of problems, but to have 6 clear cut chances and not score is not top class centre forward play. The support was great, I was pleased with our second half fight, but the day, and being an Evertonian, was summed up by the sight of my pal's 8-year-old son in tears at the end, with his dad doing his best to comfort him.

Roberto Martinez is, I suspect, set to continue - at least until the end of this season. I've always thought that Kenwright takes more notice of the bollox his manager speaks than the evidence of his own eyes.

Our pain is set to continue, I fear.

The team really had a go and gave themselves a little bit of pride back but that doesn't alter the really poor performances of late.

Though I think Barkley is vastly overrated as a footballer. He has a lot to learn about other aspects of the game than just doing a nice run or decent shot. I thought Rooney gave a good example of what Ross should add to his game.

Still, there are aspects that John Stones needs to learn, and Romelu Lukaku. Whether any of them stay is another matter though. If they do, I'd like to see a manager come in who coaches them into the better players they can be.

The second half was encouraging but we must make the managerial change now. There is a lot for us to be optimistic about if we are decisive.

But that's enough blowing smoke up the players arses. I can't be too angry, we gave it our all in the 2nd half and played a direct game bereft of Martinez's philosophy. It's a shame these games have been too and far between.

It's too late for Martinez and and we will get a new 'name' manager who will get more out of these players. On the basis of that I'm remarkably positive under the circumstances knowing he'll be gone and a new era with substantial backing begins.

We did all we could today and we would have won on another day. So I'm going to lay off the players. Yes, there's the argument that we gave them too much respect in the 1st half but we could have let in an early goal and it could have been a landslide. We were more aware defensively and Rom should have scored from one of those chances on the break so I won't knock Martinez today. He said himself that he had to win a trophy. He hasn't, so he has to go and I wish him the best of luck.

Cross after cross second half; and us standing off.

Fucking sick... sick of this shite. Time for a new chief.

For Martinez himself, I feel a degree of pity but no rancour. During his tenure I believe he has represented Everton with some class and is a true gentleman. This obviously wins you neither points nor trophies though. He did his best, of that I am sure and I have no doubt he will become a talented coach elsewhere.

What has really disappointed me however, are some of the personal comments made against him; 'the Spanish this and the Spanish that', really ugly stuff. I understand the passion and anger after days like today but these comments are out of line.

I prefer the excellent Ken Buckley's approach. We Evertonians like to think we are a step above the rest so let's finish our time with Roberto with some class and respect.

Congratulations to those magnificent supporters who proved that there is plenty of passion off the pitch.

I thought Stones was excellent. Strangely enough before Liverpool's first goal the other night I thought he was playing well with Paul McGrath-esque blocks in that game and today again. As someone mentioned above, he begun most of our best attacks.

I thought Jags did well considering he was supposed to be injured and Gibson did ok considering how little football he has.

Lukaku was poor and there's enough said about him above.

However, I felt that the Blues were playing with ten men having Barkley in the team. It's incredible to watch him when the opposition have the ball. Either he doesn't have the common sense or he's being told not to waste energy but he just seems to jog on the spot and "monitor" the player with the ball. Truly amazing. It wasn't until Herrera pulled him back that I knew he was awake.

A moral victory, but the run we're on it's probably as much as I expected.

Gutted for the fans that travelled down.

The thing is, if we have a team relying on luck, then in turn the manager who actually talks about luck ALL the time, then I'm sorry but that's just bad business practice, and a ridiculously amateurish way to run a professional sports team.

I honestly don't believe he's fit for purpose, and Moshiri will at some point be looking at his position, no question. He's a businessman, not a football man and he will have given Martinez time to prove himself. Perhaps that is the end of the season, perhaps it's Monday, but I simply cannot see Moshiri taking this as acceptable given the money he's pumping into the club.

You can also pretty much guarantee that he (Moshiri) will be having a very large say in who the manager is, regardless of Kenwright's role.

As an aside about Bill – I thought he looked very unwell today and wish him the very best of luck with his health. Whatever we think of him, he is a blue and for that alone we should wish him well. I also think he should retire from the club, for both health and the good of Everton reasons.

I agree with all your comments.

I remain the eternal optimist.

Martinez has to go, before we see any improvement on this under performing group of talented footballers.

Yes (some) players dredged up a performance and showed some fight and pride which has been largely absent for too long.

Yes, we probably merited the minimum of 30 minutes extra time rather than suffer another (soft) last-minute loss.

The harsh reality is, as Patrick @ 70 writes, the club needs a shake up, from top to bottom, to turn us into a thoroughly professional, win-at-all-cost outfit, rather than the soft touch we have been for too long.

With the new riches from the bumper TV deal, together with Moshiri assuming control of the club, the stars are perfectly aligned to undertake and implement a complete root and branch review and change of Everton FC.

The clearest statement Moshiri can make to cement his credentials with the faithful and convince us he is serious in his ambitions to see us WINNING, not merely competing for titles and trophies, is to appoint a marquee manager who gives us a serious chance to achieve just that.

The longer Roberto Martinez remains as manager of EFC, the less credible Mr Moshiri is likely to appear and the greater will be the growing disillusion amongst fans.

There is no longer any rational reason to retain Robert Martinez's services beyond today's loss.

Let's face it, they tortured us down the left the whole game and ultimately that's where their goal came from.

Back to what-ifs – if Lukaku (who had a good game) put away his chances, if we had Barry and Coleman fit etc. That's the end of our season and I strongly suspect the end of Martinez. Onwards and upwards, fellow Blues.

I thought Lukaku showed great strength and yes his touch is poor but I think Dimitar Berbatov would have struggled with Smalling constantly grabbing a hold of his shirt, no one around him and Carrick right in front of him to nick the ball.

Once Barkley and Del Boy pushed up and got close to him Lukaku bullied Smalling and Blind.

His penalty was not great but as someone pointed out, its the managers job to sort this out and having missed against West Ham I thought Bainsy would be back on pens.

I thought Stones was did well too. Reminded me of Frank Rijkaard in his pomp, coasting through midfield. He lost his man for both goals but its harsh to single him out, as on both occassions the defence was asleep.

Barkley looks injured. He hurt his ankle against Watford and I noticed at the start of the second half he was doing exercises. He is simply not fit enough and playing him was a bad decision. When he has been fully fit he has produced some top performances. 8 goals and similar number of assists tells its own story.

I will be very sorry to see any of these lads leave. Under a good coach, with the right mentality and sensible selection policy they will thrive. Hope its with us, and coincides with the departure of Martinez.

Robles 7 solid display, handling was good

Baines 6½ did okay defending, would have liked to see him coming forward more

Jagielka 7 stood up to the challenge even with an injury

stones 7½ made a few vital blocks, and brought the ball well out of defence

Besic 5 poor game by Besic, he is not a defender

Cleverly 6 keep going but should've had a goal to his name

Barkley 6 has plenty of ability but only show's it in bit's disappointing

McCarthy 6 a lot of running around but not much else

Lennon 6½ always works hard for the team but lacked end product

Gibson 7 one of our better performers who has missed much of the season

Lukaku 5 we would be in the final if he brought his shooting boots

Let's hope in the last four games the likes of Dowell, Davies, Connolly, Pennington, perhaps Holgate, get some game time. I think they will if Unsy is given the job of caretaker manager. Here's hoping.

Rooney is still class

Van Gaal proved himself to be the classless buffoon I suspected he was.

Lukaku....you truly are awful, could have scored 3 or 4 today... Champions League you must be having a laugh.

Barkley... Lazy passenger who needs a good look in the mirror. Nowhere near the level he should be.

Stones is a midfielder!!

Martinez... Just fuck off will you.

An audience of millions from all over witnessed what EFC means to special people and out of the disappointment of today I feel immense pride in those who roared us on today. Thanks and sorry we didn't deliver for you.

Let's act like a big club now. Lukaku "I want champions league football" should have fired us to a final and a trophy. That's the closest we have come in 21 long years. NSNO.

However, Lukaku and Barkley have to be the too most over-rated players we have ever had. Both of them are so lazy, and Lukaku spouts so much crap about where he wants to play in the future when he should be concentrating on his god-awful first touch. He reckons he is worth £50 mill??? Well not on today's performance!!!

I have mixed feelings; I was encouraged by the last 30 mins. We showed a bit of fight at long last but it was a semi final, we should have been up for it from the first minute. I think Martinez might have trouble sleeping tonight, I think he should do the decent thing and walk away. It's a shame because his dancing is phenomenal.

Is Lukaku playing to stay? No CL team will pay what we'll be looking for.

Anyway hats off to all who attended. No doubt tomorrow in work all the part-time Man Utd fans will saunter past my office to offer condolences

Can't wait.

At least we don't have any RS in the company.

I would like to think there must be a world class foreign manager out there who witnessed that and thought "I want to awaken that giant!"

He makes Billy liar seem like a saint.

I thought Everton were desperately unlucky not to win today, especially on your second-half performance. If Lukaku was on form today, you would have won today, no question.

Take some solace from your second-half display. You deserved to win. And you showed character to come back.

While other clubs are bringing in top European managers, he gets one from just relegated Wigan. Spurs, Leicester and now the RS are showing what a good manager can achieve in a short time.

We probably played the best we could today taking into account the suspensions, injuries, unfit players and playing out of position etc. Yet we still didn't win. I've wanted RM out for 18 months and I stand by that, not going to be fooled after a spirited 2nd half.

Need a manager who can instill fight, win the important games, and talk sense. That's Everton's problem!

In the words of Simon Cowell, "It's a million times NO from me."

Just how many pints have you had since the game ended?

Stones has some great qualities which were on show today.

After a dire first half 'performance' I was just waiting for the game to finish so I could eat my tea. But at the end I was almost in tears as they put their heart and soul into those 45 minutes.

I knew there was no added time as I kept on looking to see how much time was left so every time we attacked I thought, this is it. It wasn't to be sadly.

Now where do we go from here? Will Martinez be sacked tonight? I thought that was to be the breaking news when I logged on but maybe he's bought time till the end of the season and he can go quietly in May.

Another wasted season, another major disappointment. This can't go on, can it?

John Stones, I thought, was magnificent and I believe keeping him at our club is, second only to the dismissal of Martinez, the best thing are new owner can do.

John Stones celebrated like mad when we had scored.

Better display today....

He also looks to have a jippy ankle, but the above still.......holds......some.......weight.

Along with RM, Lukaku and Barkley should seek pastures new Stones should definitely stay and BK should go back to 'Corrie', Well done to the lads on the day but it wasn't to be.

- our fans fucking magnificent. There were a lot of us in CW with the prawn sandwich munchers too but looking over at that constantly moving sea of blue, what support.

- saw Bill Kenwright on way out. My mate and I shouted that it's time to get a new manager. He just gave us a wave and looked rueful.

- Barkley, lukaku, stones... This was your chance to show you are truly the world class players you think you are. At least two of you fucked it up.

As for whether he should have been taking it at all, didn't De Gea save a Baines penalty a couple of years ago? So perhaps LB was not all that keen. And at that time his penalties were by no means a certainty, if I recall. Barkely did score 2 against Newcastle but I don't know if he had the confidence to take this one.

As for our Prince of Penalty Takers, Roy Vernon missed one in the Charity Shield game against Manchester United bt it was retaken and he scored then. I did see him miss one in a reserve game at Goodison against Burnley.

Spot on, how else can you have such differing halves.

First had as per Martinez 'philosophy'

Second half 'up yours Roberto' we have had enough of tippy tippy football.

Thats how I used to work out the outcome of highlights in the past!

Have to say the difference in many respects today was the 50million rated strikers-I know which one I would rather have

With the next manager we should ask can you finish next season in the top half of the premiership next season with the current squad? with the current squad they will say yes so we say prove it agree to a base salary for our next manager £1.5 -£2M for staying in the premiership, (this is the same base every season you are with us) yearly payments increases by £1M for a top 10 finish and by another £1M - £2M for a top 5 finish etc with more rewards for cups etc. You can bet the next manager will not mess around with stupid tactics and subs they will focus on success for the club and more money for themselves.
The same for every new player base salary + bonus for a top 10 finish, cup wins, appearance money. Then you can bet every player will run his heart out for himself and the club.

Plus we need to ask the manager serious questions on team performance at the end of every season based on every match i.e. you were winning against WHU why did you lose? why bring on Niasse? In fact why did you buy and not get him on loan? Also the manager should write a report at the end of every game. I know I have to write a report on every meeting I got to - it focuses the mind on what you need to do next.

If the manager and players say no think about Colman when he started and our youngsters they would break your arm off for any deal to get into the premiership.

well said,

The sooner that lazy big time charley big billy bollox ego tripin twat is away from my/our club the better for all Evertonians.

I loathe Lukaku with a vengence. When I think of guys like Yakubu and even Saha I just want to cry.

Martinept just fuck off and take that wanker centre forward with you.

And Mr Barkley, you've one more season as well and if you don't pull your socks up you can piss off.

Martinez's time is up but anyone who think's this current squad will be much better under another manager is kidding themselves.

A new manager will need funds to bring in new players and selling Lukaku, Stones & Barkley would be a start

We lost to the poorest MU team of the EPL era.

We missed a pen which on another day we may well have not got and still cocked it up.

We had a clear pen by Jags ignored.

The players imo decided to do it their way in the second half and looked a team again.

The goal we got was an og despite the numerous chances we created - clear cut chances that I reckon Martial would have put away - at least one of them.

Rom learn your trade and complete your apprenticeship before screaming for CL football your not up to it - yet.

and finally we lost to a goal in injury time - again !

RM resign please - we want a winning team - we demand it.

On that basis alone, I would suggest RM's position is very much up for review at the end of the season.

I would also wager that RM will get until the end of the season, as it would be very much the Everton way to part with him close-season, rather than off the back of our bad results.

Kenwright in an attempt to save some face, would probably prefer it that way rather than kick him out with games to play. Not that any of them really mean that much in the grand scheme.

Martinez being sacked SHOULD be a 'gimme.'

As I said earlier, the longer Moshri takes in making that decision, the more disillusioned the faithful (than they already are) will become.

He HAS to be replaced, for the good of the club and for the good of the (still) talented players on our books.

Big fat and useless Lukaku... poor ball control and no idea how to kick a ball properly...

Half-asleep Barkley who has no influence on the game at all..... in fact we had no midfield at all for most of the match.

John Stones always wants to go backwards towards his own goal... even from the half way line he is passing back to the keeper.

If big money is available for these three we should snatch it quick... maybe they could join Roberto wherever he ends up... and let's hope that is very soon.

Let's hope our new owner now puts in an appearance and makes a difference.... he was at the game today and must have been as gutted as the fans. Kenwright will of course make excuses for Martinez but let's hope we get some real action from the board very soon.

I thought the coverage by the BBC was awful and I'm going to complain. They didn't keep up with the game, always switching to see the fans reaction and constantly focusing on certain players and, Danny Murphy, even for a rs wanker, was a fucking disgrace with his anal rs bias. Cunt.

Now as this nightmare is soon to end I'm quite looking forward to next season as I think we will be a different animal entirely. Out with the old, in with the new.

I hope one day that he might just find some humility and that his big head might shrink a tad. Cost us the game today but I'm sure he will never admit it. Arrogant boy.

Unfortunately I doubt that our board have a Plan B in place. So to the end of the season it is. Prove us wrong. Put on some wonderful attacking stuff with clean sheets from domination in midfield.

Or keep tip tapping around the back til we give the ball away as usual.

Thank the lord you listened to reason and put Robles in goal – we would be in a relegation battle otherwise.

Can we please fast forward to the end of this god awful season? get shot of anyone who wants to go (except Stones) also anyone who thinks he is bigger than the club. And get players who WANT to play for us. Roll on August

If we get them to stay we need to build the next team around the likes of Robles, Coleman, Stones, Barkley, and Lukaku. We desperately need (and this is Martinez's greatest failing in not recruiting them) decent full back cover, new centre halves, creative and defensive midfielders, and at least 2 more quality attackers.

The transition time will take another couple of years and I suspect Lukaku and Stones wont wait. We have on a number of occasions over the last 10 years or so, got close to the coveted CL place, but fell at the last hurdle and we have to start again. This time hopefully we'll have the cash, but what quality player will want to come to a club languishing in mid-table mediocrity.

It can be turned around but not with this manager and in my opinion this chairman. We are first class fans though and I hope the new majority shareholder realises this and reacts to the fans footballing wise opinions.

Failure to do this and things won't change but if he does take note then we will again be a force to be reckoned with.

STARSPORT bring you a team of the worst signings made by Premier League clubs this season.
check this out! Oumar Niasse makes the 11, at least he got in the first 11! after only 4 months...phenominal!

I'd put him in MF next season and tell him to take games by the neck and do his stuff. Ross needs to play next to Lukaku, not in this MF role where he just aimlessly wanders around not really knowing what to do, or which position to take.

With a good manager, we would have three great players who are currently being ruined.

I think Coleman was the biggest loss we had, defending and going forward.

I've been harping on since Xmas that Stones should take over from Barry as a defensive midfielder with his huge potential to also add creativity to this position. His performance today will have reawakened the likes of Chelsea, City, Man Utd desire to have him on board next season.

I'd love him to stay but not as a centre half – like it or lump it you need the likes of Dann, Skirtel, or Kompany back there.

He has to go!!

Good shout, Stones looked class today, and maybe a new manager would see that.

Spend big on a good centre-half in the summer to partner Funes Mori, who should be the future. Jags would be a good sub to bring on if an injury occurred.

If he had been disciplined and held his line in the last seconds, as a top level defender would have done, he would have been able to get a challenge in or even been able to intercept it. Positionally and defensively he is consistently found wanting, but he looks good on the ball sometimes so I guess all is okay.

I was on the tube back to Central London around 9pm from the ground with loads of blues and we had the tube rocking with Everton songs - have lost my voice

Can honestly say if the payers had an ounce of the passion we had on that tube in the first half we wouldn't have lost the game today

Made me proud to be a blue - something we seem to been deprived of lately - The Man U fans applauded us off the tube when pulling into Euston

Do you know what lads ? We are a very special club with very special fans and that will never ever be taken away from us

Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh Everton oh we love Everton and we love our Neville Southall, Shaggy Stevens, Physco Pat, Kev the Rat, Degsy Mountfield, Peter Reid, Tricky Trevor, Andy Gray, Graeme Sharp, Paul Bracewell, Kevin Sheedy, Adrian Heath, Howard Kendall ......... Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo Everton oh we love Everton, Everton oh we love Everton

Is it coincidence that Man U and the top clubs win countless big occasions like that? Not at all, it's all about expectations. Mediocrity pervades the entire club and I hope Mr Moshiri secures his investment by turning over this club from top to bottom.

*Other semis are available

Are we going to drag this out or are we going to take any positive steps ahead of next season. I feel if we wait too long we will forfeit next season.
Martinez out now!

Anyway, lovely to go back there again, others will comment about it, just sad at the outcome.

Lost my phone service while on Train back to Manchester Picadilly, hope the guy who had the illness is ok.

However, as at writing, am surprised that he has not gone.

As someone else says on here, "it's the hope that kills you" how right and at about £200 lighter, how sad too.

Nail on head. Ross is built like a cage fighter not a footballer. Jags is too heavy, so is Rom, even the ever fit Baines has come back heavy & Deulofeu is just plain unfit.

Another manager would get these lads fit & hungry and give proper direction & drive.

It's no wonder we give every team we play all the time & space they need to pick their heads up and play a pass. Our boys aren't fit enough to close down, press, tackle & make it difficult for teams to play. We allow them to 'express themselves'.

Watch the Derby & the first half today. Nobody puts a tackle in, they don't even get near the man in possession let alone mark up an opponent. This must be the 'philosophy' that Martinez extols. Unfortunately (with the exception of the hapless, relegated Villa) no one else allows us to 'express ourselves'. Naive, idealistic, buffoon. 2 full years of doing the same thing & expecting a different result. Delusional, charlatan.

It's clear that the players have seen through him. Contrast the first half with the second. They played on adrenalin & went about it the way I want to see an Everton team play. High tempo aggressive football with purpose & drive. It's Martinez who insists they slow it down & keep possession in his trade mark slow predictable fashion around the dangerous area of the pitch.

It's got nothing to do with not being able to "defend as a team" or "not being able to afford the kind of players to carry out his instructions". It's the inevitable result of what he wants. Every player misplaces a pass every game. We just do it in areas that invariably give guilt edge chances on our goal. We are one of the few teams that give goals away. It's just a car crash waiting to happen each & every game. Yet he doesn't change.

I wanted him gone before the end of his first season. I was bemused by this brand of football. I felt there was an element of the Emperor's new clothes. I couldn't see this so call free flowing attacking football. I cannot abide this tepid, turgid, surrender-football. Passionless, insipid drivel. Not good enough for any paying fan, certainly not good enough for me & my club. Most definitely not good enough for the hoardes of magnificent fans who graced Wembley today.

Had we have spent the last 2 seasons playing the way we did in the second half we would be in a far better position than we are.

The players know it & the vast majority of fans know it. The board must act and usher this waster on his way...

Regarding Baines and his not taking penalties.

I reckon he lacks the self confidence to accept that responsibility. especially at times such as this when Everton are in turmoil. I know he has a fantastic record regarding penalties and used to have with free kicks.

I recall an article in the Guardian from 2007 ( soon after he joined Everton) which highlighted him as being a worrier.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/sep/29/newsstory.Everton

They scored 2 decent goals from 2 decent moves.

I've said it before, has there ever been a more unconvincing penalty taker than Lukakuu, well yeah Mirallas but you get the point. The thing is Martinez lets them get away with all this shite and Kenwright lets him.

So on balance, we blow our 'Get out of Jail' card our only goal is an OG.
Lukaku's touch has improved a little but not enough. I don't know whether to be glad or sad that he's not playing like a CL striker.

Bill, Moshiri, Elstone, Tea Lady, whoever, make the announcement now please.

Lessons from today - Martinez has had three seasons and it hasn't worked so he has to go; Lukaku is not Champions League quality; Barkley is overrated and we should cash in while we can; Robles is a EPL quality keeper; we still need a proper centre half; Everton fans are better than Manure fans.

I'm too tired to think of any others.

That may have been true a couple of years ago Roberto, but not today, not this season, the current United team is pretty ordinary in reality and it wouldn't surprise me if Palace or Watford beat them in the Final.

What this does reveal is Roberto's lack of belief to be in charge of an ambitious football club as Roberto is living the dream 'win' or 'lose' the fact that he mostly fails to win is the major reason he should be looking for a new gig at another club. What's Spanish for 'knife to a gunfight'?

Perhaps Mr Moshiri thinks that Everton is a club so badly run from a commercial, merchandising and football point of view that his experience and expertise from Arsenal can significantly improve it?

Light at the end of the tunnel?

Baines has always been honest in his appraisal of games, and as we saw recently, he is the only one RM jumps on.

Martinez has to go. Loads of players need shipping out, including Lakaku if he doesn't want to stay.

No matter how down we all feel tonight, Everton is in our blood. It's not in the players – they come and go... but not for us. Everton will win trophies again, we will will beat our RedShite neighbours, and we will win the FA Cup, have great European nights... it's not the weekend but it will happen. We will parade cups and I believe the Championship. If we don't believe this we might as well pack up tonight. COYB

The best laugh I've had all day.

Just as Rooney looks like he'll have to move back from the strikers role at the Mancs – maybe we have found our long-term replacement for Barry. On saying that, God we missed Barry (and Coleman) today!

It could be down to Martinez or it could be down to the fact that this season he's been complete shite. You decide.

In any decent club with proper back up Coleman should have been dropped months ago.

Along with another footballing fraud at centre forward.

I said yesterday that there was no win-win situation today and I feel absolutely gutted with the result.

Some strong performances in the second-half but not enough unfortunately to get us over the line. I'm looking forward to the season's end now so I can hopefully wind down my emotions. What started off very promising has delivered nothing. Time to go Roberto, thanks for your effort and turn off the lights on your way out.

Agreed my man..

To be fair to the interviewer he tried to rebalance things bringing up our numerous chances but Sponge Bob head wasn't having any if it. The guy looked like a madman ranting. He makes Nigel Pearson seem like Kofi Annan.

When Lukaku was about to take the penalty I got that sinking feeling so wasn't surprised when De Gea guessed the right way and saved it.

But it felt like we were somehow still in it. I was please when Deulofeu came on and thought – he's got that right.

When we got the equaliser I thought – yes, we need to finish this because we don't want extra time. We started winning the second ball and I thought we can.

Then when the four minutes came up I thought we might get the last minute winner. I should have known it wasn't to be.

I thought the plays did try – in both halves. No complaints from me on that point.

To all the blues at Wembley – you did the club proud.

By the way, didn't Blue Bill look ill today on the TV. Don't agree with his approach or style for quite a while now – but hope he perks up and hands over all decisions to Moshiri ASAP – so we can have a fresh start without the Spanish clown! Time to take a back seat, Bill.

McCarthy and Besic could have tried switching, anything was worth a go.

To many poor performances: Ross, Rom, Cleverley, Gibson and Lennon all needed to do more.

Frustrating trip, frustrating game.

Hibbert, Pennington, Holgate, Chambers, there's four right full backs who could have played there today.

I hope to wake up in the morning to the Breaking News on Sky Sports that Martinez has been sacked.

He then spends a fortune on Niasse who again cannot contribute or help the team in any way. By the time August comes round, he'll have been paid £2 million in wages by the way...just think about that!

These judgement calls have screwed us big time and are a sackable offence in isolation, along with the multitude of other reasons, he just has to go. We've made so many inept clowns multi millionaires, both players and managers, it's sickening and it leads us to our constant cycle of failure.

I see a naive, ball-watching prima donna. He lost Fellaini, go watch the replay: he takes a look sees him points at him then turns away. He gave the ball away where martial then had a free run at goal, then of all fucking things he steps up in the last minute of a semi-final to try and start an attack, losing Martial and Boom! Game Over!

Like others have said, he could make a decent center midfielder but is fucking shocking as a center back. And by the way all the "great tackles or blocks" are always last ditch. That tells you he was in the wrong position in the first place, great defenders slide tackle as a last resort our kid is always on his ass. Not to mention my dead cat could jump higher. Sell for me.

The problem is that on the rare occasions that we actually have a go at teams we show just how good we could be. The second half showed up our first half performance. Everyone benefited, especially the young quartet who had us so excited earlier in the season.

Which obviously leads to the question, why don't we pressure teams up the pitch more often?

For all the criticism of Ross, it's the manager playing him in a pedestrian style of football that simply doesn't suit him. It doesn't suit Rom, Del, or John either. Baines and Coleman have been negated by it. McCarthy is forced to play a game he's not comfortable with. Mirallas can't have an impact, nor Lennon.

In fact, the style seems only to suit Barry.

The answer really doesn't seem that difficult. That it will take a new manager to find it is "incredible" but I still think we've got good players who can thrive under a new regime. We've just got to keep as many of them as possible.

Got to give credit were its due, because I have been critical of him recently, but John Stones was immense, as was Jags who reportedly wasn't even fit.

Yes! Supporters absolutely do care if we lose 4-0 next week.

Can we have a poll of Evertonians who don't care if we lose 4-0 next week please?

Prediction: the vote will be 3159-1 or 764-1 or 23-1 or 11675-1.

Good, because he will have witnessed the best and most deserving football supporters on this planet.

Now it's time to give us a team worthy of our support.

Why does James McCarthy not come in for more flak on this website? He offers nothing and always goes missing in the big games.

Despite playing only one game all season in what was essentially a dead rubber (Southampton), Gibson today showed McCarthy up with his range of passing, football intellect and incredibly, his work rate too.

The sooner we get rid of our inept manager the better, hopefully we will then also lose James McCarthy.

Our beloved club will be in free fall and a relegation fight before BK will make a stand. I can only hope Moshiri has big plans that do not include RM or BK.

Our great fan base with it's blind FAITH in this club, after years of poor returns on and off the field. The BK dictatorship who lied and promised so much.

HOPE, That one day any of these so called potential stars make the big time. Especially Barkley, who starts every game irrespective of how bad his last performance was. He now looks like a muscle bound punch drunk boxer walking around the pitch.

CHARITY, The one thing that has been achieved by this club is our charitable, wasteful, and useless defence that has squandered most of the winning chances we have had.

You're right that he seems to dodge criticism but that's because you don't really notice him as he does nothing but run around and get on the wrong side of opponents a lot.

McCarthy has his limitations but, like pretty much everyone else, he's being played to his weaknesses. Ask him to cover every blade in a pressing game and he'll do it well. Ask him to fill in right across the defence and midfield as they break away at pace and he'll do it - and should be needed to for our attacking fullbacks who nowadays can't get out of their own halves. He needs to improve going forward but no-one is developing (at best, they're just getting older) in this side right now so harsh to land that on him alone.

Basically, I don't think you can fairly judge anyone in this side at the moment. The tactics are soul destroying. Yet in short periods you see what they are capable of.

Sunderland still has 15 pts to play for which could take them to 45. Norwich can still get to 43 pts. Unlikely I know, I know. And everyone from Palace up to Watford can easily exceed our current 41 pts.

I don't have much confidence in RM leading us to at least 3 pts from from our final 4 games. Thankfully we can be reasonably certain that Sunderland and Norwich will each drop at least 4 pts........ right???

If we have money to use how much would it take to sort out Gibson's injury worries. I'm not fully aware of his problem but he seems to me, even at half fitness, just what we need in midfield, someone who can spread passes. He seems to know instinctively where every other player is and the accuracy and weighting of his passes is a lesson to the rest.

As for who would buy Lukaku, Barkley and Stones? Any manager who would know how to sort out there obvious problems. Lukaku's control, first touch and his desire to throw everything at half chances, a sniffer's ability. Barkley seems to need some purpose put in his game. Too much turning little circles and he seems to have a problem hitting the ball when shooting, or more accurately slicing it.

Stones, brilliant on the ball but really needs to up the ante on some of his defending.

New manager? Not until the end of the season with Kenwright as he worries about how much compensation he'll have to pay.

As much as I would like to keep Lukaku, his heart is not in our club and he will be sold. Keeping stones is a must and maybe after today he could play a different role for is.

Ross is gone stale, he really need's to up his game if he want's to achieve thing's in his career.

Build our team around Stones, Funes Mori, Coleman and Deulofeu.

Jagielka, Barry and Baines were very good players for us but their time is up if we have to move forward.

Osman, Hibbert and Pienaar should get free transfers.

I would keep McCarthy, Besic and Cleverley but only as squad players.

It's time for Moshiri to put a stamp on things, aim high – starting with a new manager.

As well as the qualities you mention he is tough and intimidated by no one. He can compete in the air and he can shoot. Like Barry he has a footballers brain.

If Gibson hadn't been on the pitch yesterday Fellaini would have finished us off before half time.

In my view Gibson and Barry would be a potent left and right footed combination especially if you put Besic in between them. We might get one more season out of Barry – I hope so. Then again, after weighing up Stones' performance yesterday I have flipped again and think he can play the Barry role. Instinctively he wants to get forward.

As far as Barkley and Lukaku are concerned, I would grant Lukaku his wish, sell him, and give Barkley the strikers role.

A mention for Jagielka – proper footballer and club man. I bet you he is in all sorts of mental and physical pain this morning.

As for me – the pain has subsided. Let's see what next week brings.

Losers talk.

The most ambitious target would be Simeone and I think he would fancy a crack at the Premier League, if not, we can't look beyond De Boer, Tuchel, Koeman, Pellegrini or an outside bet of Howe. A very small part of me would like to see how Moyes would do with the riches the club is likely to have, but I don't really think this is the way forward.

A new defence needs to be constructed although I would retain Coleman at right-back and promote Galloway to being the regular left back. Jagielka can still do a job but from the bench and Funes Mori should be sold and two proper centre-backs should be signed.

Stones should be played in a centre-midfield role alongside the hugely talented Tom Davies with Barkley at the point of the triangle.

A top class winger with goals in his game along with Dowell playing behind Callum Wilson (can do the same job or better than Vardy) with a quality target-man style striker on the bench. The Swiss boy who was signed in January looks a player and with the addition of a top goalkeeper, another attack-minded midfield player, and a wide player on the bench, this new-look team will have everything needed to compete. Over to you, Moshiri....

They got their pride back and played as we know they can for most of the second half.we could have won but to be honest we got beat for the third time this season by a very average team.

I stayed behind at the end with the majority of our fans to applaud the team off the pitch, most of them deserved that they had given their all for long periods of that half.

Sad to see young fans upset and unable to stop the flow of tears, even some older fans looked ready to join them.

Came away proud, not so much of the team but most certainly of our brilliant fans,I wish some of the players had their spirit, energy and pure love of EVERTON.

We all know what needs to be done now, the quicker it is done the better.

'Fat, lazy Lukaku' has almost single-handedly kept us safe from any fear of relegation this season.

I can only hope that a lot of the comments above have been said in the heat of yesterday's huge frustration, which makes me feel better about choosing to ignore the vast majority of them. The second-half performance went a long way to restoring my faith in certain players, and conformed that certain others need another year with us at least before they get the move they crave, and that we can profit from.

Any mileage in keeping hold of Roberto in another capacity within the club, ie, scouting or attacking coach?? It's crossed my mind a few times that he has many admirable qualities that could do with being retained somehow.

Over rated, over weight, touch of an elephant, lazy arrogant boy.

I'll drive him to whoever bids the stupid money he's supposed to be worth.

Let's have a clear out ready for next season... start with Lukaku and Barkley and Birdbrain himself... why wait until the end of the season?

First half we were totally exposed down our right and Martinez did fuck all about it, just stood with arms folded as usual. Besic is not a right back and no support from Lennon who was way too far forward. Ross did what comes naturally to him second half and looked ten times the player driving forward. Whatever the reason, and I'm not speculating here, the second half was much nearer to how Evertonians aspire us to play, and much more natural to how the players play. The first half was how Martinez has trained these players to play - fucking abysmal and the most telling assessment I have is that no-one in our team looked like they knew where they should be playing or what exactly they were supposed to be doing. They all looked really confused.

For me, that classless twat Fellaini should be seen for what he is after his utterly disgraceful taunting of supporters after he scored. Disgusting behaviour.

lastly Jim Bennings - I'm really a bit taken aback by your post here but you go and have a long hard look at yourself about your comments about not caring if we lose, and about wanting Naismith to stay up, when you have stopped foaming at the mouth. Naismith is a professional footballer and will find employment at the level appropriate to ability. Since when did we start supporting individuals over the team anyway? I don't give a fuck about Naismith, or Lukaku, or Martinez. They will be alright come what may, but Evertonians deserve better. Tens of thousands of us spent a great deal of time and money yesterday and throughout this and every other season only to see us win - and that's it. That's it all of it right there. You think that's less important than whether a millionaire cosseted player plies his trade in the top level? You try and explain those "tactics" to kids I saw crying at the end. Try consoling the honesty of those kids with the fact that Martinez is nearer the exit door and you will be met with puzzled looks. That's the conscience and emotional bellwether for our football club right there.

I thought you were better than that and I will put it down to frustration in the heat of the moment. Hang your head in shame if it wasn't.

Harsh on Gibson who I thought had a good game considering all the injuries and lack of football. However he is obviously not a long term solution & needs to be released.

That central midfield area needs addressing. McCarthy is limited. Barry ageing. Ross is......well, Ross. Theres a lack of goals, legs, craft & quality depth. Its a big problem & one a new manager needs to address. We need something in there. In fact the spine of the side needs looking at.

I would respectfully submit that those individuals who told me Gibson was shite and should be got rid know absolutely fuck all about football. Gibson is still only 28 and definitely has something to offer us for another season or two if based on Barry and Osman still on the playing staff at their age.

By some distance, Baines is the best striker of a dead ball at the club. This responsibility and recognition of his ability prevailed under Moyes, and, I assume was decided prior to the game, simply because Baines was presumably the best.

As soon as Lukaku stepped up to take that penalty, I was filled with doubt. Irrespective of a pretty poor performance by him yesterday, this is no general criticism if Lukaku. You can't argue with his goal tally. Though his workrate and inability to hold the ball must be mentioned.

So where do we go from here? Martinez thinks he is the man to take us forward. Sorry, Bobby, you've had a good shot at the job and picked up a few bob in the process. I would like to see a tried and trusted man in charge. Martinez was always a gamble, I'm sure even uncle Bill realised that.

The question is..... who is available, who will take the job on? Interesting times ahead. Let's hope the custodians get it right. Over to you, Moshiri and Uncle Bill.

I've totally lost it with this incompetent board of no-marks and egotists. True Evertonians they most certainly are not. Like I said at he start of this season, we have slipped behind West Ham and Leicester, now add Watford to that list. We simply have no vision, no ambition, no clue and are being run into the ground by some lying duplicitous luvvie who can't admit he's been wrong EVER.

Sick to death of it.

We were terrible in the first half but showed some pride and respect for great traditions of the club in the second.

Martinez will have to be judged on his record over the past three years and the only conclusion one can now come to is that it is time for him to move on. This I assume will happen sometime between now and June.

I found it hard to put up with shots of BK during the course of the game, 21 since Paul Rideout put the ball in the United net, it's shocking and he has to go!

Can I ask the question then – why is it he can't even get his body between the opposition player and our goal? That's something you're taught in school, for fuck's sake.

He can't tackle, he won't tackle, he doesn't close down and he doesn't ever give an opponent grief in possession, and he shouldn't be in the side!

My mate told me that we've seen Liverpool win more times at Wembley than we've seen Everton win there. I did the maths, and he's right. Fucking incredible.

I won't be at Goodison until the Norwich game and I will be doing all of the above, to let them know that the manager needs to go.

spot on about Darren Gibson. I think when he gets the ball he plays like a fine tuned Les Paul..

Also Gibson yesterday was pretty much playing centre half, he was totally wasted.

If only....

We have amazing fans who deserved more. It was heartbreaking.

Saw that poor kid crying and he wasnt the only one, I saw a few kids crying and some adults close to it, such a bloody shame.

Only thing I want to say is I think some people are too harsh on Ross – yes he was very average in the first half but like the team as a whole he really upped his game in the second half.

I think he is too heavy and maybe not 100% fit as there were a few occasions were a couple of years back he'd have left his opponent for dead with his skill and strength but wasn't quite able to get free yesterday.

Before you come on spouting your own brand of shite (to use your own charming vernacular) it would be useful to stay on topic. In this case, have you actually watched us over the last three years? Because if you wanted to start listing out the things that are basic and are taught at schoolboy level and giving them as reasons why certain players don't do certain things we'd be here all fucking day. I've posted lots of times on here that you can't judge any player's merits by how they perform under Martinez. Some of these players we ha have will be transformed under a different manager who actually trains and drills them properly and Ross is one. In my opinion. Everyone has either gone backwards or not developed as they should.

I've been in the same room as Martinez on two separate occasions when he has clearly stated that he does not and never will "put shackles" on his "flair players" as he wants them to be able to "express themselves". You can interpret that how you want but I take that as not having to have any disciplines for any duties that are not to do with "expressing yourself". Defending is a dirty word to Roberto Martinez for certain players, whether that is tackling, chasing back or just getting in the way. Ross looks far more effective playing for England than he does for Everton, and I don't think that is just down to having better players round him.

McCarthy and Barry are supposed to compensate for the lack of Barkley's bite. Problem is Barry is too slow, (if not injured or suspended) and McCarthy is a headless chicken. So this only amplifies Ross's inherent weakness to the overall detriment to our team.

Moshiri will make changes but it's going to take time. He's still not the majority shareholder so I think he will be prioritising the restucturing of equity in the club before he starts to tackle our inadequate manager. I expect to see changes but not before the summer, in reality there's no need to do anything until the season is over. Some of the knee jerk comments that Moshiri has to act now or he's useless is well, er, knee jerk rubbish. Look at the long term, we need to plan and get things right. BK jumped into appointing Martinez based on no decent EPL past performance evidence and the majority of fans were at the time, wrongly impressed with his appointment. Well he didn't have ginger hair, a dour demeanor and he talked up his ability like the Wolf of Wall Street didn't he? Let's not make the same mistake again please.

But as they say, we are chosen. Was never going to support any other club since every male in my family and extended family was a match going Blue.

Jesus, I sound like Kenwright. Sorry!

If and when the idiotic Martinez disappears, we may see a change in them... he ruins players and the biggest example is John Stones who has gone backwards very badly.

Why is Baines not taking the penalties these days? He never missed any... is this more of the idiotic Martinez?

Jags says to Barkley, "They weren't booing you" and pats him on the ass.

Barkley is obviously one of those players who needs a hand round his shoulder.

Baines can also be heard saying "It's a big pitch and we are making it bigger" or something like that.

Brian #310 That's made me laugh for the first time today, don't know why though. "But City are a massive club"

Read another stat today which sums everything that is wrong with Everton at the moment. Leicester have won more games in the League this season than Everton have in the last two seasons.

So why has Martinez STILL NOT BEEN SACKED? And yes, I have heard all the rumours flying around on Twitter and Facebook.

Hopefully Moshiri will recognize the need and move quickly. I don't think Bill will admit to himself that he has made the wrong choice of manager.