Besic calls for togetherness and eyes cup glory

Well I have just lost respect for Mo Besic, man up and play the game. Earn the the respect and the fans will give you everything. Go missing like you did on Saturday and expect moans and groans.

This is getting worse by the day, this is all a veiled attempt to blame the fans, once again for this woeful season. No excuses how many games have we won away from home, how many games have we drawn after being in front. BAD BAD time to be a Blue. So fucking what we have got to two semi-finals that is not a achievement. Who won the final after knocking us out, I don't know cause I don't care about other teams.

The scary part about this daily depression is that it's not going to get better anytime soon. Time for this long suffering born blue fan to find something else to do, as reading TW is bad for my mental health.

Good luck to the faithful. I wish you all good health.

Well Mo et al, on Wednesday and Saturday of this week, you've got the perfect opportunity to prove your point. I for one will be delighted if you do so.

The manager dictates the tactics at home, why not just come out and say we're not good enough? Reid certainly would have.

Blaming the crowd for our lack of ideas and form at home is unheard of since I've been watching football, that's going back to the 1950s.

If anything, the kid has gone backwards in his time here and recent form belies all those opinions that he was a true throw-back to the Dogs of War. Puppy, maybe!

It's funny how they never seem to go missing in the face of expectations and pressure isn't it?

Our bunch just drag out the book of excuses.

Leaving the ground it was just silence, no protest, no anger. I think this may have been different if Moshiri had not arrived. At the moment we're kind of in limbo waiting for something to happen. If it was just Kenwright on his own in charge I think it would be much more hostile.

Anyway, the supporters will do what they always do and get behind the team. There will be no lack of support for the players and manager to blame over the next two games. Time for the players to stand up and be counted. No point in asking or expecting that of the manager.

Perhaps if all newspapers/websites were shut down and they tried playing behind closed doors they would remove the problem. Worth a try?

Blaming fans for there poor form is a cowardly triat.

I'm embarrassed for them.

From Besics side I can't help but feel its just a easy way to endear the manager to him, in an attempt to get on his good side with the semi looming.

Before the match, and being a bit of a petrol head, I walked around the players car park. It's easy to get pissed off when there are cars worth hundreds of thousands of pounds parked there, driven by beauts who don't really give a toss and who prefer to shift the blame for their ineptitude onto us fans.

That really will be toxic.

Multi fucking millionaires can't do what they're paid to do because Alf in row A of the Gladwys Street, who has worked long hours in a factory to buy his ticket, keeps shouting his disapproval at the shite they are churning out.

God give me fucking strength...

I too was at the match on Saturday and agree 100% with your summary of the atmosphere both during and after the game. It might understandably have been flat but in no way was it toxic. I never boo our team but others that do certainly cut them some slack on Saturday!

If Mo thought Saturday was bad, I fear for him at the Bournemouth game should he and our other precious players follow the season's pattern by letting us down again over the next 6 days.

I reckon the Bournemouth game could turn out equally as toxic as that Tottenham home game in November 1997 when the demonstration against Peter Johnson reached a new level.

It's sad to see Everton like this, it's miserable being against the manager and even so many of the players now but it is what it is, thanks to inept results and too many woeful home performances in the last two years.

As I say, they have two games now this week to save face with the vast majority of Evertonians otherwise there will be no way of overturning the damage for Martinez and many players.

Every single player picked to play at Anfield and Wembley has to leave his last ounce of energy on that pitch.

Besic has joined a growing list of the first-team squad that appear to have gone on strike because the audience have put them off their game?

I hope these players realise that they are actually paid by Everton FC, that whether they like it or not, they represent the supporters hopes and dreams and that it is their responsibility to give their all to try and win football matches. The two youngsters seemed happy to put their foot into a tackle and attempt to pass the ball to a colleague with enthusiasm and seemed to enjoy their experience of playing at home, that won't last long if they are infected by the negativity from their elders and so-called betters.

I can't remember in all my time of watching the Blues such a disconnect between the manager, players and the supporters. Evertonians have witnessed many poor teams over the decades, and have seen some truly bad players, but never have they witnessed such a spineless group of players for such a long period of time and never have they seen a manager who is capable of sending a team out with such a lack of passion for such a prolonged period of time.

Wait until the stadium is half full or worse Mo, then you will know how difficult it is to play at Goodison Park, how Bill, Elstone and the rest are able to sit back and watch this circus unfold without saying or doing anything is beyond me and I do wonder what is happening at Goodison both on and off the pitch.

The Steve Miller band had a song called 'Take the money and run' circa 1976 if it had been penned today as a tribute to the current Everton players it would have to be re-named "Take the Money and don't run"

I agree with that point.

I also can't remember the last time it felt like there was such lack of connection between fans and the team/manager.

Even in the bad times under Moyes we still had cult players that gave everything to the team like Tim Cahill or Lee Carsley or fan favourites like Arteta and Fellaini, even just seeing the seriously lacking talent Denis Stracqualursi running himself into the ground for the team, it meant something for the supporters.

As for Besic who in his first outing in a blue shirt tried the most audacious back keel against Chelsea that led to a goal. He has done absolutely nothing so far in his career with us, and probably gave the most inept performance I have seen from a midfield player against Arsenal were he was dragged off at half time.

And I don't buy that we were ever thrilling under Roberto. We played "great football" but it was never too exciting, what made it great was taking it up to teams and competing on their level. I'm confident that anyone expecting a famous, passionate, high tempo Everton performance in the next week will be left waiting. That's not to say that we won't win one or both games – but it certainly won't be blood and thunder stuff.

A Liverpool Echo article “Everton's Mo Besic Calls for Harmony Ahead of Defining Week in Season“, on which this story is based, is a call for club unity in a challenging and important week. It quotes Besic saying “Away is a different game, we have to defend more and the opponent has more of the ball. Here we have to take the ball and play. That is maybe the difference this season not that we are afraid to play at home”.

The story is then reproduced, with a different spin, in the Mail and the quote becomes “…That is the difference maybe this season in that we are afraid to play at home”. The journalist adds his own opinion saying that the atmosphere at Goodison,…is becoming increasingly detrimental. There is little positivity from the crowd and any mistake is greeted with groans. That isn't in speech marks and isn't attributed to Besic.

By the time this ToffeeWeb story is written, the Echo article is disregarded in favour of the Mail version and Besic himself is quoted directly as saying "There is little positivity from the crowd and any mistake is greeted with groans.” Cue the anti-Besic comments from TW readers.

We are all entitled to an opinion, even if others vehemently disagree, but those that shape opinion have a duty to make sure they report accurately. For the sake of the club, get it right ToffeeWeb.

It's just embarrassing what the players have come out with. It's all talk then no action.

They follow the manager in one respect then.

Overpaid primadonnas suggesting the fans are affecting the players and Baines, unsurprisingly having an injury after pretty much telling everyone we are playing shite and it's not right.

One game and then suddenly it's a minor injury, it's almost as if Bobby thinks he can fool us by giving him one game and then binning him.

Now where's that tin foil?

Couple of things.

1) We didn't equalize, they did (you sure you were there?)

2) If you are talking about when we scored, well I understand there is currently a kind of 'look how hurt I am' arms race going with some of TW's drama-queens, but my response to any Evertonian saying going a goal up elicited no response whatsoever, is as follows..

Link

I shit myself every game Martinez is in charge.

You don't mind if I call you Mo do you? But I've read your and other players comments on 'the fear factor' at GP and, if I may make some observations.

A) I'm paid to do a job and sometimes I don't feel like doing it because hangover, can't be arsed etc bet hey oh someone's paying so put a shift in. Now I'm led to beeline that you and your teammates get paid 10s of thousands if pounds a week so surely as you're a well paid professional why do you or can't you put a shift on regardless of the 'atmosphere'

B) I understand that the majority if the team are fully fledged internationals and as such are not only well paid but vastly experienced players who should be used to playing in hostile environment. For example I would imagine that a game between Bosnia and Croatia would give the hostile atmosphere in Goodison Park a run for its money.

C) I understand that a number of your team mates are making it known that they're Champions League material (not you to be fair) and they're far too good to be swannin around mid table. Perhaps you should encourage them to show that talent they're bragging about off at Goodison Park to prove their superiority in deeds anther than words.

In conclusion you, and other players shut the fuck up and walk it like you talk it. Take your 䀆k a week, I don't begrudge you as long as you go out and sweat blood for the cause. When you're getting outclassed by Soton, run, close down don't give them a second on the ball.

But this really shouldn't be happening because we're a top side packed full of internationals and Champions League players should it?

I reckon the last time I actually cheered when we scored was Lukaku against Chelsea.

Sin miedo, you can come out now.

But on this occasion, this is how it is. This is how I felt, I can't change that and why should I. If you celebrated, congratulations.

PS Drama Queen...bit of projection there :D

Did anyone hear about Jags storming off the training ground recently in protest to something?

"I am big! It's Everton who got small" (closes the blinds, puts shades on)

I suggest you give away any remaining tickets you have for games this season, rather than put yourself through that level of pain again (I'll be honest, I'm in floods just thinking about what you're going through).

And yes, I do love a link

Link

There is no point in the game where I now expect to win after scoring a goal; if we take the lead with 10 seconds to go, the opposition will equalize, and maybe even add another, it's inevitable. Goals for us make it slightly harder for the opposition to win, hence the draws.

I will cheer if we are ever leading and the ref blows the final whistle, but I'm afraid that just doesn't happen anymore. No drama there, in fact a serious lack of drama!

You're a card you, E, you crack me up :D

Bah Humbug!

Personally, I think it's over for Martinez, the players don't trust him so there is no way back. That won't stop me enjoying every matchday, in spite of what's occurring on the pitch. I have to say though, this season the football has taken a distant back seat to the social side. Not getting too upset is the key. Imagine if you had to traipse around town with the Mrs shopping? Try a medicinal half a dozen large scotch before the game – works wonders for me.

It provides a social service - and it's freeeeeeee !
If you don't like what you read, don't read.

Problem solved ? Now I heard this bloke who..............

You are absolutely right, Steve, and I'm actually indebted to you for pointing out my error on the one hand and a key, misleading change to Besic's quote in the Mail's article on the other.

If there are two sources carrying the same quotes and one of them is, say, a local source like the Echo and the other is a tabloid with dubious ethics then I will, of course, put greater faith in the Echo for accuracy. Even more so, of course, if the Echo is actually the source of the quotes themselves which, in this instance, I didn't know

The piece published on MailOnline is actually under a Press Association byline which is usually an indication that a given paper has syndicated the content and I made a quick assumption that Besic's comments were being widely quoted from an interview given to the media in general.

The difference between what was carried in the Mail article and what was, I assume, the actual quote in the Echo is, as you rightly point out, Steve, is vital:

"That is the difference maybe this season in that we are afraid to play at home because we feel maybe it is better to defend and play on the counter." [MailOnline]

"That is maybe the difference this season not that we are afraid to play at home." Liverpool Echo

It's unfortunate, because that was the thrust of the headline I chose which made it worse. That was then compounded by another error of mine which was to include a sentence from the author of the PA piece – the one about fans groaning at Goodison – that should never have been attributed as a quote to Besic at all.

Again, an unforgivable oversight on my part, particularly given the role that ToffeeWeb can play in shaping opinion, one that I'm ashamed of and offer this open correction and apology, both to our readers and Besic himself.

I had always thought your site to be totally independent albeit with a duty not to be deliberately misleading of the club and it's spokepersons' statements for which you give the requested apology.

At times like this especially you shouldn't be surprised that coaches and players are briefed as to what they should and shouldn't say. It doesn't help this time Besic seems to have been misquoted. Even so he still spoke about playing home and away and there being a difference.

Besic is towing the line in this interview I feel. He is still far from a senior player so he's trying not to rock the boat with our manager, unlike Baines who went off script and spoke his mind.

I think the players are between a rock and a hard place, on one hand keeping the manager placated whilst on the other trying to keep us onside.

What a mess.

Some fans are too quick to sieze any opportunity to beat the players and manager.

Take a deep breath and think before posting.

Lyndon, an easy mistake to make. I reckon with your personal representation of all things Everton one lapse can be forgotten.

I'm not sure why you would suppose that, Phil. I'm just assuming that Steve is a concerned reader who has eloquently pointed out a couple of huge errors on my part. [In any case, the club would contact us privately if they objected to anything to that degree.]

Unfortunately, if you do this for long enough (almost 20 years in my case), you're bound to slip up from time to time... and when you do, it's in front of many, many thousands of people. I'm glad that there are people out there to "keep us honest" and pull us up when we make a mistake. I'm also more than happy to hold my hand up and admit when I've been sloppy or inattentive.

Er..how observant.

That's right, I use the bold on certain key words, to give them emphasis, should I feel they need it.

I think it really helps get a point across (and is probably why TW gives us the option).

By the way, experts believe Shakespeare would have undoubtedly used a bold option many times in Othello, but as it was printed in 1623 and bold wasn't a printing option then, he used italics for emphasis instead (no doubt some local turnip-smelling, pox-ridden serf who had just been let out of the stocks was on hand shouting 'Hey Bill, still using the italics - hur hur').

Anyway whether it works or not is subjective I suppose, but I'll tell you what, I'll let you judge.

Here is the same paragraph twice, one bold-free, one with a few carefully selected words in bold for emphasis.

Which one do you think gets the job done?

1) Damian is a flouncy, it's-all-about-me drama-queen, who says he went to the match on Saturday but thought Southampton scored first. Then he says he did nothing at all when we scored because he was 'sad', but now, two days later, is crowing we 'do the shite and the Mancs' and is now giving it 'COYB''

2) Damian is a flouncy, it's-all-about-me drama-queen, who says he went to the match on Saturday but thought Southampton scored first. Then he says he did nothing at all when we scored because he was 'sad', but now, two days later, is crowing we 'do the shite and the Mancs' and is now giving it 'COYB''

(be honest - it's the second one isn't it)

Sincere apologies to Steve (although it might do the Club a bit of good to engage him!) and to your goodself for questioning the independence of this excellent site.

On about 70 minutes where other than a goal against the run play we had largely been chasing shadows since half time, Barkley and Davies actually started passing the ball to each other and around and about for about two minutes. Not much came from it but at least we started exerting a little control. Cue groans of 'fucking get it forward' and Funes Mori strode forward and twatted it about 20 yards over the cross bar.

I point this out not to point blame at the crowd but that the patience has gone, not surprisingly given that in our last 19 home Premier League games we have lost 10, drawn 5 and won only 4. It seems pointless to me to ask fans for 'togetherness' when actually what they need to do is just get fucking stuck in, look like they are giving a shit and win a few games.

What disturbs me most is the complete lack of self-belief amongst the players. The only few I can think who possess any of this quality are Besic, Deulofeu and my main man Brendan Galloway (all young and yet to be jaded by years of underachievement I suppose).

Born winners don't need the crowd to inspire them to perform. The evident lack of born winners amongst the squad make me doubt our prospects of ever achieving anything.

Blood.

Link

PS You use the bold to say 'look at me everyone, I'm all bold and great!' Zźzzzz

Fair enough, I imagine I would seem odd to you.

For instance, I cheered when we went one-nil up on Saturday, rather than sighing, sitting on my hands and feeling 'sad' (I know, weird right).

Banners were not allowed into Goodison on Saturday.

I have never known the crowd so quiet.

The silence was deafening.

If Martinez didn't pick up on that he's dafter than we all think he is.

I didn't shout like I intended and nobody around me shouted.

He just had a very bad cold.

(here all week - ithangYEW!)

He turns the media and other supporters onto dissenters.

Stops AGMs when embarassing questions are asked.

Has a banner ban when it suits him.

And I am sure there is a Rotten Tomato ban at his theatre productions.

I'm fed up of player after player moaning to the press about how difficult it is to kick a football under pressure! These privileged young men are earning more in a week than most nurses earn in 2 years: how would they like to be mopping blood up off a stab victim on a Friday night, while a drunken thug is threatening to kill everyone in earshot?

That's fucking pressure, and if they haven't got the guts to come out and say 'Our manager is to blame' then they ain't worthy of that Royal Blue shirt.

"The manager's work is so good” he told Sky Sports. “We need to stay altogether and all take responsibility, because the manager does not play on the pitch."

Did they wake up? The jury's out!