Roberto – Swansong Or the Start of a Beautiful Relationship?

Let's face it, until Christmas there were many people convinced we had what it takes to comfortably finish in the top four and some even talking (tongue in cheek, perhaps) about the Title. Indeed, we were playing for 2nd place on Boxing Day before disaster struck against Sunderland.

The ensuing injury crisis forced us to battle through with depleted attacking options and though Barkley and Deulofeu have returned, the interruption has clearly disrupted their season in a big way. Had we kept those two plus Lukaku fit and in the form they were in prior to their injuries, I'm convinced we'd be in a much better position. With all due respect to Steven Naismith's application and finishing, he is just not a top-class striker on who you can rely on for goals.

I've said before that the failure to bring in another striker after Lukaku got injured was probably the moment where, consciously or not, Martinez gave up the top four this season but we don't know the reasons why. If it's part of a longer-term strategy that bears fruit next season than I'm prepared to accept it, even if I feel we missed a trick this time around given United's struggles and Tottenham's instability.

I suppose I just don't share the doubts over Martinez at this point. We've won at Old Trafford (admittedly not as great a feat as it would have been in seasons gone by) and also gone to Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham and played those teams off the park for most of or at least half of the game. Everything was there except the cutting edge up front which we can still find.

I'd rather be in the situation of having to find that missing piece – and I believe Martinez will — than constantly doubting the manager's ability to build a side that is psychologically able to live with the big boys as I was under Moyes.

I struggle to understand how long the board think we can go on at Goodison as at some stage it will require serious expensive refurbishment. To charge the prices it does for such poor facilities is not on!

The saga of finding a site for a new ground has been going on since Adam was a lad and there is no end in sight. A lot of clubs in the lower divisions have better facilities.

I think the situation has been made worse by the performance of the team over the park, plus the great start we had.
We have to give the manager time he hasn't even had 1 season yet.

Managers are paid to make decisions and every decision is a calculated risk. For Martinez in terms of his transfers, many have not paid off, so far.

Many of the new players are injured, or have been injured/unfit for long periods and this has affected our performances and the results.

However, its clear that many of the injuries are just fate, players like Gibson, Barkley, Baines, Oviedo, Jags, Distin, Pienaar, Coleman all been out injured and are all existing players.

So, had we kept Jelavic/Anichebe would we have got anything away at the RS with half a squad out injured? Would we have got anything from a Chelsea game where they're unbeaten in 70+ games and spent a shit load of money? Probably not.

What we can see is that the side are trying to play the right way. The fear and inferiority complex is mostly gone. The football is not great or incisive, but with all the injuries, players playing without full sharpness and so many in's and out's this season, the fact we're able to compete with teams who spend close to our annual wage budget on 1 player for 1 month, is actually quite remarkable.

The RS away aside, none of our results have been that bad. Martinez is building for the future and needs time. The one big advantage we have over the rich teams is that we can offer the manager control and stability. The day we take that stability away is the day we become Fulham, fighting at the wrong end of the table.

New stadium?!
Restless natives?!
Kenwright disloyal?!
Player power?!
Transfer funds?!

In my mind Martinez cant be questioned yet. I think he's trying to build a system to play anyone anywhere. The problem with Liverpool's is that it relies on the opposition making a mistake. When they don't (Arsenal at The Emirates twice, Chelsea, City) you can't affect the game. Our results largely depend on us: when the system is working, we can better Arsenal on their own patch; when it doesn't, we get done by Liverpool.

My one reservation is that, for the system to work, you need fit inventive midfielders who move the ball so quickly that chances get created. At the beginning of this season it worked. Now Barry and McCarthy along with Pienaar look physically and mentally drained. The carousel has ground to a halt. I think Gibson and Kone were his variety in the squad. Without those players its been plan A or nothing. Had Gibson been fit, I think we could be at least 4 points better off.

I am the first to admit that the wheels have fallen off since the New Year, but that is down to injuries and the lack of a squad. My only gripe is I would like them to move the ball faster in the final third.
We need a quality striker that's for sure, didn't the Belgian lad's parents say he was signing for us. Maybe a bid was made only for Bill to say no as there is no money..

What happens?

Well..if any natives believe after 3 months, RM's had his 'swansong' and as a result they become 'restless' and decide he's going in 'the wrong direction', they will be behaving like ludicrously impatient petulant toddlers who know fuck-all about fuck-all and people like me will let them know it.

One problem who is going to buy it as a business? As a hobby, yes. But, not too many of those type of investors out there.

I am recently back from a 2 week trip of Thailand. I did quite a bit of travelling. I was expecting to see all kinds of people walking around with Everton shirts. Didn't see one! As a matter of fact I did see 1 Everton shirt for sale. Well actually I didn't see it, I had to ask him for it. Pulled it out of the back. Thought I might buy one cheap. Of course a Thai adult is the size of a 12 year old. No XL's to be seen.

As a matter of fact I made it my personal mission to find a jersey. Search as I did...nothing. I asked them why as they had plenty of Barcelona, etc. even the shite! He said maybe next year. WTF!

Back to the stadium.....turn it around. Keep the mainstand and the Park end. Knock down the school and a few houses that we probably own. That would leave a new Bullens Road stand. And a future new Gwladys Street.

OFM manger was revered by the media and those inside the game as some sort of genius for gaining the finishing positions above on a small budget.
Hence the Utd job.

Martinez looks like attaining a similar position but appears to be coming under fire because he's failed to improve our position or so it seems!

Hands up who thought he would struggle to maintain our position in the league when he took over, most of us I would say.

Hope springs eternal I suppose, but as a squad we just do not have enough quality for a top 4 finish.
How many of our 1st choice players would get a start regularly in a top 4 side, 4 or 5 and that's being generous!

I think we have to be realistic and show some patience for a year or two, its hardly been a poor season so far has it.

They and every other top team have been doing it for years and getting results from it. To me, it seemed like an excuse, not a reason for defeat. Oh, we only got beat cos they conned the ref, not really.

The lack of strikers doesn't help; signing too many crocks really doesn't help; then insisting on patient build-up – when we have players of real speed who could out pace defences is ignored – really, really doesn't help.

So, Roberto, stop making excuses and find answers to the real reasons why we aren't scoring.

Plus, I very much want you to succeed... YOU – not the next man.

Having said that, Martinez's transfer dealings so far have been average. 2 permacrocks from wigan and a backup keeper who doesn't inspire confidence. Selling our only half decent backup striker and then getting in an injured loan striker who we'll be lucky to see play again before April. McCarthy was a good signing and McGeady was obviously bought with an eye on next season. The loan players have all turned out pretty well but based on the above I'm a little concerned about whether he can bring in adequate permanent replacements.

I'm sure on Sep 1st we'll have a much clearer picture of whether Martinez has the answers.

We sold a player that, whilst no in favour, was an established Premier League striker when we had no back up.

Given the safety of our league position this probably does make economic sense, I don't believe Jelavic would have greatly changed the course of our season.

Where did the money go from the handsome profit made in August?

Vellios has become one the Disappeared Ones. Whatever the question was, Anichebe was not the answer. Hopefully Lukaku will come back stronger than ever – but when?

Can you imagine hitting the last three months of the season and finding you don't have a goalkeeper? No. But we don't have a striker, which is worse. Fortunately this is one of his few, very few mis-steps this season and, while I fear the competitive part of the season may be just about over bar a miracle at The Emirates, I'm hopeful for next season.

We're told by plenty that Moyes had unswerving support (see the farewell he got at the West Ham match at the end of last season) and BK still gets clapped whenever his mug appears on the screens at Goodison.

This is so off base I'll leave it to others to respond. I'm still gawping.

Stick to the Memory Lane articles – they're brilliant (apart from reminding me how old I'm getting).

Matt's right in one sense, the views of some on here doesnt always reflect the views of Evertonians as a whole, but of the two of you, I don't think you are the one guilty of believing all they read on TW. Goodison hasnt suddenly been filled with shiney happy people, The five thousand returning fans havent materialised ( GP couldnt house them if they did ). We are not creating more chances and we havent ( as somebody claimed in an article before Chrimbo ) taken sixteen points from teams in the top eight.

To me Evertonians are a little happier, but they havent suddenly become complete mugs, If the team performs badly they will make their feelings Known to the manager, the boos around GP when the HT whistle went against Villa were not the first heard this season.

Evertonians have shuffled out of places like Cardiff, The Brittania, The Hawthorns and Selhurst in miserable, dissapointed silence ( don't ask me ask Ken Buckley ) and but for late free kick at The Liberty and The Boleyn we'd have been doing so at those places too.
So are we all Moyes worshippers for being critical of Robbie ? No, of course not, thats just another TW myth Matt has bought into. We are Evertonins who care only about our team.

Unless he screws up big time, Roberto Martinez will be here as long as he wants, premiership respectability and loyalty go hand in hand as far as Kenwright is concerned, the last manager latched on to his very quickly and my main concern is the current one MAY do the same .. . .but heres the thing.

Martinez is capable, We have seen his Wigan sides get remarkable results at the home of the top Boys down the years and he has done it by going straight for the jugular, he does have it in his locker. He did'nt leave Goodison shell shocked last season by fucking about with it in their own half, they tore into us from the off.

I have not heard one person call for Martinez's head, but that doesnt mean he is above criticism. If he wants to get the best out of his side he needs to bring his own A game. . .and not just when his back is to the wall. Evertonians have a duty to challenge the manager

I am disappointed by the last 3 defeats - who isn't? But its been a solid start to the new regime and the fact that we have continued to outperform is remarkable in a transition year. Fingers crossed for the cup (but the odds are definitely against us).

Ah well.

I am as always quite clear in my mind. I am with Martinez all the way.

Cosmic grooves Blues.

Let's look at the league leaders...How many goals have the Chelsea strikers scored this season, I wonder?... Torres, Eto'o and Ba...? 19 in total, this includes European games.

Naismith, Lukaku and Mirallas...? 20... The lack of goals from midfielders is our problem..

So, we probably wont finish 4th... This is a failure, why? Is it something the club achieves regularly so not to is to take a step backward? No.

Finishing 5th is realistically achievable and the Europa League – and before I get the usual "It's a waste of time", next year the competition is worth nearly three times as much to the participating clubs and it attracts a higher calibre of player.

There will always be those who aren't satisfied. Finish 4th? They'd moan we're not second and be ready with all the "if my aunty had balls she'd be my uncle" scenarios. The football has improved, their attitude has also, maintaining an attacking approach when we've had most of the first team out at some point. I'm confident that we've weathered the storm and we'll kick on now.

These relate, variously, to team picks, tactics, substitutions (who and when), transfer window deals, statements to the media, etc. There have been posts on all these areas before now but it really strikes me how the mood-music is changing. I don't mean that all or even most TWebbers buy into any or all of the criticisms. But they are significant.

My own hunch is that there are very few of these posters who genuinely wanted Roberto to fail and are now crowing. Most seem to have been "behind" Roberto and are just pointing out one or more issues currently as they see them. And in doing so, they are not denying his current good calls nor passing overall judgement on whether he will "do it" for us. Always legit to identify the cons as well as the pros.

I don't know how far TW is representative of the GP crowd generally but if this is the mood music generally then I do wonder how much patience there will be in the GP crowd, for how long, as things progress and depending how they progress.

As for me, as I've said before, I'm behind Roberto. The good stuff excites. But / and he is and will be limited by resources; he can still and does make mistakes as anybody can. And I'll reserve judgement for now on whether he's going to do great things for us.

I've said the same myself a couple of times recently. There is no conspiracy, nobody wants the manager sacked or is saying he'll never ever get it right, and every single fan I know will back Roberto to the hilt for the foreseeable future. However, anyone who thought Everton fans would just sit back and watch us disappear out of contention for the top 4 with a gallic shrug and put it down to 'transition' obviously hasn't spent much time at Goodison.

No need for conspiracy theories, Patrick, the answer's simple: we don't have the money.

I believe a lot of fans have or will have to change their mindset. It's difficult after 11 years of workmanlike football with no risks of failure, but this also brought 11 years of no success. We have a manager now that dares to be different.

With 10 minutes left at the top 4 grounds, if we are drawing he will make changes to win the game, not keep the point. He will give youngsters a chance and allow them to make mistakes. He trusts all his players in the match day squad. We have seen the benefits with Oviedo, Barkley (early season), Coleman and even Naismith to a degree. The only thing missing is a goalscorer.

Selling Jelavic WAS a mistake but who could have known Kone would be injured so early on and Lukaku would be taken out by his own team mate? Traore was a risk that seems not to be paying off, but this is my point: Martinez is prepared to take risks. We have tried the safe way and it only got us so far... To move forward, we have to do something different, and we have a manager that will do just that.

I don't believe for a second his job is under threat as the OP has suggested but I do agree there is still not 100% support for him. I say give him a summer transfer window with a bit of money and let's see what he can do with a team of HIS players, aided by the presence of Big Dunc, and then we can make our judgement.

Bullshit Brent, no Evertonian wants us to fail, it's just the inbuilt "I told you so" reflex that all people with opinions have.

Martinez is doing fine but, like most managers, he could do better. If his Plan A doesn't work... he forces the issue with... ermm... Plan A. If he was a magical manager, he wouldn't be employed by Everton, he would be managing a Champions League side. He is learning, but I wish he would learn quicker and for feck's sake, tell his players to have a shot once in awhile.

Like Moyes, he has constraints because Kenwright doesn't have any money to give him unless he sells. Which has been the process for about 6 seasons now.

No-one is calling for his head but, unlike with all the happy clappers at the start of the season, all is not well either.

Jelavic was useless for a season and a half but to sell him and bring in a crock, well that is just bad management, unless Bill forced the sale?

Next season will be the big test, to see if we can keep our better players and see what the squad looks like when the loanees go back.

But I think injuries have been the major concern, and surely one should look at West Ham. Look how well they're playing now when they get their players back. Having Lukaku injured at a viral part of the season has hindered us, same with Coleman, same with Gibson and Kone, same with Traore now.

People has questioned his signings, but they've either been good (Barry and McCarthy), brought in as back up (Robles and Alcaraz, maybe McGeady), or has been injured! So I just don't understand the criticism, Roberto doesn't get them injured, it's just bad luck.

The summer's a big one for me, and the major question is we need 2 strikers, one of them has to be a big signing, who is that going to be?

I have the greatest respect for what Moyes achieved during his reign. We came a long way after that cup humiliation against Boro with an ageing squad and hardly any funds to turn it around. With discipline, organisation, a great team spirit and some canny moves in the transfer market we managed to regularly punch above our financial weight.

Without vast sums of money I'm struggling to see how Moyes could have really improved on what he had already achieved but under Roberto I have started to believe in miracles again.

I think he can build on the solid foundations put in place with an emphasis on technique and possession football. It has been often stated on this site that to play like Barcelona you need Barcelona players. I expect there will be some dark days along the way, we have already had one of them at Anfield but I can cope with the belief that there will be something special at the end of the road. We took some right spankings off Arsenal under Moyes and most of us stuck with him, surely Roberto deserves the same courtesy.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Roberto buys into the idea that the youth teams are set up to play in the same way as the first team so when a young player comes in he immediately knows his role. Cruyff built a similar philosophy at Barcelona that is still adhered to and benefitted from today. Hopefully Roberto can do the something similar.

If he won the FA Cup with Wigan, completely out-playing mega rich Man City in the process, having sold their best players for each of the previous two seasons, then I have faith he can achieve something quite special with us.

Oh, sorry, Tony! Bullshit it was then, if you want! It wasn't in any way the main point of my post.

We can not buy top class strikers or midfielders even if we have the transfer money as the club can not afford to alter their wage structure that has at the moment their top earner getting less than 1/3rd of Rooney's wage and less than 1/4er of most of the top 4 teams top players.

I am not an accountant so I do not now why the chairman and the board are (a) not willing or (b) not able to come up with funds to improve the team at critical times. My feelings are over the years they have got the club in a position that any transfer money coming in 25-30% of it can go to the manager and 70% goes to the banks or down what a number of people call the Black Hole.

I believe that come next year the manager is going to rely more on youth at the club with a mixture of some experienced players and build up at team in a similar way that Aston Villa are doing but with a better youth squad. With still a way to go in this season I think more of the youth players must be given a chance because if you are good enough you are old enough and next year back the manager to see if this system works.

We have to realise that money talks in this league and without a dramatic turnaround in our finances we have to find an alternative route to achieve success instead of just being content with a 6-10th position in the league and a good cup run. Everton supporters deserve better.

If I am not mistaken Didnt we go to Chelsea, the league leaders, multi million pound assembled squad and lest we forget, one of the most talented coaches around at present, and give them a right fright. A scrambled last minute goal ended up being the difference. Eto, who not 3 years ago was valued in the 30 million bracket, Torres 50 million had less impact than Nais, who whilst never threatening himself worked hard and created chances. Earlier this season the same team schooled Arsenal away, defeated Utd away and have played several teams off the park on the way.

If this season ends in 7th, which it could, it could be considered an unsurprising return. New boss, top player leaving. But instead we could still be hanging on the coat tails of the wealthy in the later stages of the season. either way, its been a lot better to watch than most of what the last guy served up

I don't think most people would be too concerned about the Chelsea result in isolation, but as the most recent game in a run of 5 away games yielding 2 points and 2 goals (one from open play) it's hardly surprising that people are raising concerns.

Don't like his tactics at corners at both ends of the pitch and can't stand McCarthy playing sideway and backward balls constantly which appears to be a direct instruction. I suspect instruction to McCarthy will change next season and eventually true ball playing centre halves.

I am excited by the future and can see us being a contender for the title in years to come.

I think we have a fair chance of a trophy this season and even greater chance of 5th place

I feel there is a tendency for some to go from one extreme to another and perhaps this is another example. Martinez is not the Messiah. Fact is, he is highly unlikely to get us into CL without a commensurate budget, except maybe one year as a fluke.

He's actually quite unlikely to even beat Moyes' record over a sustained period, which is far better than his detractors would have you believe. In my view, if he matches it, that will be very decent.

I never started from a position of homage with Martinez- he was after all, manager of a relegated club- so perhaps the positives I do see have more resonance. I like the empathy he has with the club. That might seem insubstantial, just nice PR, but I don't think it is. I like the style of play he is moving us towards. I know we lost against Chelsea but for once, we did not look like the inferior team. I like the fact that we can get our hands on exciting talent like Delboy and that Martinez may have had a hand in getting much more out of current players, like Coleman, Oviedo and Barkley.

I don't like the fact he brought so many from relegated Wigan- two too many in my view. I cannot understand why you would sell a fit striker and bring in as loan cover, someone who is unfit. That is frankly inexplicable, when your main striker is himself injured. I think he needs to ensure that while playing out from the back is the ideal, sometimes it needs to be more direct.

So in a nutshell, although there are areas to grumble about, I think he is still very much in credit. And even more so if the alternative is Big Dunc!

So... if Kenwright was involved... then it wasn't utterly inept? !?

Are you developing a fresh image of our great leader?

Having watched the Horizon programme on how we make decisions (I recommend it to all) I can now spot 'confirmation bias' and 'loss aversion' a mile off.

I think most of my scepticism comes from the fact that I think he is an actor more than anything, who puts on a great show. His PR skills are excellent, he is one of these guys who has been educated to know exactly what to say, and when to say it. I still judge him on what happens on the pitch, and this season has had some wonderful performances, but equally some shite also.

In terms of transfer budgets etc one factor you have to consider is long term v short term. My gut feeling (no evidence to back it up, mind) is that BK has told RM that funds are available for the right player(s) and he will leave it up to him how he spends. However, RM is trying to use those funds wisely. So, while lots of people are complaining about lack of signings (especially a striker and a defensive midfielder) in the January window, I'm guessing that there was nobody of quality available so RM didn't want to throw money away. He was prepared to wait it out until the summer and get the best value for money etc. In the meantime he is trying to fill the gaps with loanees etc. Given our bad luck with injuries, I think we have coped pretty well and I am prepared to suffer some short term pain for long term gain.
COYB.

Give the guy a chance everyone- 7 th and quarter final of the cup is a decent start - to even consider an article like this at this stage is bizarre!

What I would expect after 8 months, is some signs that we are going to improve at some point in the future. My main hope of future improvement, Ross Barkley, has not improved this season as I hope he would. In all honesty, I don't see a better player than the one who came on in fits and starts for Moyes. Still potential instead of effective player. Equally, I have not seen improvement from our 2nd highest signing in history, he still only seems to be able to pass sideways as he has done for the last 4 years of his career. Jags and Distin are certainly not getting better, also Baines has gone backwards compared to previous seasons. Coleman has improved though however. Robles is not an improvement on Howard, nor is Alcaraz an improvement on Distin or Jags. Kone we don't know, but at 30 years old is not even a mid term strategy.

I am not someone who rates managers on the 'oh, isn't this attitude and mindset refreshing' criteria unfortunately, hence the reason I need a lot more before I am convinced.

I read this pre-match [Chelsea] piece from the Daily Mirror after the result at Stamford Bridge and thought hang on a minute Roberto, just because we don't have cash doesn't mean that we as supporters only want to win in a certain way, we want to win by whatever way we can, we understand the restrictions and will tolerate a few set-backs if we can see progress even if that progress comes in small steps rather than giant leaps.

While Mourinho has to be pragmatic, Martinez is glad he can be romantic at Everton and play his brand of passing football.
"When you have clubs with bigger budgets, the only things that matters is winning, isn't it?" he said.
"You have to win. Your role is judged on winning. I'm a bit more of a romantic. The way we win dictates how far we can go - that's our position.
Link

Don't get me wrong I fully understand what Roberto means but he also has to understand that Everton is a far different beast to Swansea or Wigan and we don't have the luxury as Evertonians to be the only club in the city and therefore the pressures and demands are automatically different regardless of our financial position.

I suppose I worry that Roberto may fall into the trap of putting results second to the quality of performances and while Swansea may have been in the situation that their fans could be patient and wait to see progress; the foundations at Everton have already been laid and the fans at least still have a big club mentality even if we understand that money dominates the modern game.

I hope that Roberto does achieve great things at Everton as he seems a charismatic person and has been good for the Club in most aspects during his brief time with Everton, but if he continues to write off points as part of the learning curve or fails to address our chronic shortage of goals or even chances created since Christmas then he will be making a rod for his own back.

But he is still working with players that are largely the choice of our former manager so he still has time to create his own dream team, but he won't get nearly as long as David Moyes and hopefully by this time next year he will have made his mark on the squad and they will have started to deliver what we all want a team to be proud of that can truly challenge for a whole campaign and not just for half a season.

Patrick, I would agree that style cannot be allowed to totally displace substance but I think it is far too early to debate whether we are being propelled inexorably towards that eventuality. I would take the manager's 'righteous indignation' over the result at the weekend to be indicative of the fact that he would never be happy for us just to be undeserving losers.

It seems he has great faith that we can gain palpable success by playing the right type of football; let's wait until there is decent evidence one way or the other before we judge him for that.

After witnessing Manchester United's woeful display in Athens on Tuesday night, curiously, it was the recent comments of former player Tim Howard in praising Everton manager Roberto Martinez that sprang to mind. Evidently, the experienced goalkeeper has been inspired by the positive attitude of David Moyes' successor at Goodison Park.

"No matter what game we go into," said Howard, "the focus has not at any point this season been on the other team - it has always been about us. You have to do this 40 weeks of the year, it is nice not to come into work every day thinking 'Oh, that's looming ahead'. The manager keeps us bright and bubbly and focused on ourselves. Not always having to look over your shoulder at who is coming next is good. We work on ourselves and it's a difference."

Dan, under Moyes you hardly heard anything about Barkley, under Martinez he has been raved about by the media, pundits and ex players.
He made his England debut under Martinez and has a great chance of going to the World Cup.

Martinez suffers from the same problem. How can we compete with the top 4/5 who massively outspend us every season, or even those looking upon us with envious eyes from below, who routinely spend £10-15mil more a season on their squad? However, having witnessed Martinez's manner, his application, and ambition, I think he will do a great job. I don't think he will improve on league positioning, but I think he will bring a trophy, because he plays in the kind of manner which brings trophies.

I also think he will better introduce young players, and generally give us a better watching experience because of an attack-orientated possession football approach. I think he needs a top striker and more creativity (imo, Barkley is over-rated, and although I like Pienaar and especially Mirallas, they are too inconsistent), and then I think we will have a squad which can at least challenge for top four over a season.

My one concern is his ability to replace an ageing defence. For all Moyes's critics, he knew how to set up our team defensively, and I feel that our defensive stability this season is the product of Moyes's tenure. I hope we don't lose that under Martinez, and the loss of Heitinga, the failure to bring in another centre-bck, and my experiences of Alcaraz, do not inspire hope.

Barkley called up after shining for the Under-21s against Scotland on August 13th, he didn't play his first competitive game for Martinez until August 17th. Martinez did not make an international, he inherited one.

It will be interesting to see what happens this weekend, Martinez spoke very publically about allowing the youngster to learn from his mistakes in the first team, it was roundly applauded at the time, but like most youngsters, Ross's form has plateaued and he IS making mistakes, lots of them.

Think he'll start at the weekend?

He's come in with all the potential upset that a new manager and coaching staff can bring and the team has performed at least as well as when OFM was in charge.

So what's he doing wrong, where is he failing?

What a trashy article... What a waste of time. I only read the first few lines after reading Terry Smiths tweet. You start of stating that everything you write us conjecture, as in 'a collection of thoughts loosely joined together' to make a nonsensical rambling.

Why am I even wasting my time on this... Because negativity spreads negativity and slowly builds momentum in the darker corners of pubs. We need white light (blue is also good) around the club to help play / performance progress.

Have a great day. Enjoy the match, deafen the hammers with your support for the blues, that's where your voice is needed. 3:0 EFC :-) Keep Smiling

Historians constantly review situations and second-guess what may have happened if a different path had been taken it helps to understand the reasons and whether certain decisions were correct or not. So from that perspective, conjecture is not always a negative.

However, I agree with you that the only thing that matters is that the Blues get the 3 points from any given game.