Tough Start Presents Opportunity for Martinez's Everton

Also, the fact that Martinez believes that the players were psychologically hobbled after two games epitomizes, for me, what is poor about his management. Maybe heÂ’ll get it right. These are the days of optimism.

Plus I had a vision in which we finished 2nd this season (curiously followed by a vision of dinosaurs). So IÂ’m good till kick-off day. COYB!

Last year he blamed a poor season not on his woefully planned pre-season but on the loss of points in three early games. That was a clear admission of his inability to rise above a psychological barrier caused by that loss of points.

His great many public statements since then provide little hope that his general outlook in that regard has improved. What that points to is an urgent need of a sports psychologist for him as much as for the players. In fact, I would place that high on the list of priorities.

See were this is going, Roberto, still two slots left! 4-4-2... simple.

I really hope Roberto does succeed to be honest for the stability of the club and hopefully moving on up to better things...

You must work hard and put in 100% effort because even against Watford on the opening day you can safely guarantee, while they may be limited, they will certainly run and work more than us.

One thing vitally lacking from MartinezÂ’s Everton team so far has been the ability to work hard, press, harry and basically run lots during football matches.

One of the key factors as to why last season we were so poor was not because the opposition outplayed us week-in & week-out but because they worked harder and ran more than us.

Football is a game that involves running but way too often under Martinez we play the game at walking pace, in some games last season our players resembled a Subutteo match such was the lack of movement, it was like watching statues.

I want Martinez to prove that he can get the players fit and play the same way as the rest of the league. Play "running football" not just lock ourselves in pre-season mode for 9 months.

Yes, in the last game against Spurs, it was obvious that we were over run in midfield, basically because Barry and Osman just didnÂ’t cover the ground.

That will keep us fans happy.

Nowadays, they stick all the midweek matches in Winter, stupid!

Games against Scottish clubs and lower league clubs are irrelevant and will provide no indication whatsoever of the shape weÂ’re in. We usually host an average European side at home in the last friendly, remember when we were totally outplayed by Celta Vigo, or was it Real Betis?

In RobertoÂ’s first year we played Juve, Real and Valencia in that Champions Cup, which provided us with 3 difficult games to test the squad and our preparations.

Last season as we know was shambolic, three lower league clubs, a Porto reserve side and a shocking performance v Paderborn who went on to finish bottom of the Bundesliga.

This season, knowing the start we have, we have to play more competitive fixtures in pre-season or else we could get left behind again. Watford will be no pushovers on opening day thatÂ’s for sure. As Colin says, Flores is a good coach and now has 3 months to get used to his squad and get them used to his ideas.

Roberto went on last season saying that we failed to recover from the first 3 games. Well, if we fail to get a win out of the first 3, Watford, Southampton and Man City, weÂ’ll definitely be on the back foot early doors.

ItÂ’s never good to play a newly promoted side early on because of the surprise element and still riding on the high of promotion. Ask Roberto himself: Blackpool destroyed his Wigan team 4-0 away in their first ever PL game. Not like Watford would do that to us obviously but we have to get 4 points minimum out of the first 2 games.

Heard about the RS fan who said "I said we need signings, not sign Ings!"

Of course, you may be right on both counts but the trouble with our man is that he seems incapable of inspiring his teams to maximum EFFORT on more than the odd occasion. Is that because heÂ’s too nice, too soft or just too obsessed with tactics?

Another South African, golfer Gary Player, when asked about a Â’luckyÂ’ shot, was quoted as saying, "It seems that, the harder I practice, the luckier I get."

Perhaps a lesson is in there.

Most managers are obsessed with tactics and these days far too many managers try and be far too clever, when a bit of simplicity would be more useful.

The best managers are the ones that can communicate their ideas to their players. ThatÂ’s the area where I think Martinez has fallen seriously short in the last year.

Or perhaps he is seen as indecisive – an even worse trait in a football manager? But whatever he is, all he needs to do is average two points a game and he’ll end up a fucking hero!

I wonder whether the contrast between his Â’nicenessÂ’ and the ruthlessness heÂ’s used with the likes of Distin is regarded as confusing/two-faced by the players?

Just our luck; we had the PE teacher who by his own admission, couldnÂ’t put his arm around a player. Now weÂ’ve got the effusive optimist, who by some accounts, has an authoritarian streak!

Please tell me these comments on us winning the league are just banter. We're not that deluded... are we? IÂ’d love to believe we can sneak into 4th place but with the strength of Chelsea and Man City plus the fact Arsenal never fail I feel, our chance is limited to say the very least.

If I was a betting man IÂ’d put my money on Man Utd. But IÂ’ve bought my season ticket, despite my dislike in our manager, so IÂ’d like to believe we have a slight chance.

Long way to go for him to win me back. As the saying goes fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.