From My Seat: Sunderland (H)

Since we emigrated almost 14 years ago, I have only visited Goodison 4 times. When people ask me what I miss about ’home’, I always tell them – family and The Old Lady.

Well, I stood up in the lounge for the entire match last night and it really hit me why people are talking of not renewing their season tickets. At least for my Â’season ticketÂ’ I also get access to UKTV, Fox Classics and a host of other offerings. The one channel on offer at Goodison for those of you there every fortnight must be hard to stomach.

Yet again yesterday we only start playing with any gusto when we are chasing the game already a goal down and it begs the question: "Why not start like that?" But we have had that argument time and time again so when the management never learns from mistakes you start to ask yourself why do we even bother?

Too many players have been given wrongly inflated egos from MartinezÂ’s OTT superlatives. Lukaku has to be the clumsiness striker I have seen since Bret Angell, not a patch on the supremely talented Louis Saha for example.

Barkley needs coaching so that he actually gets his head up from time to time rather than just running in circles like a dog chasing its own tail. Again, for all MartinezÂ’s hype regarding him, he has been outperformed by many midfielders this season that have been derided, such as Charlie Adam and Shelvey, even the likes of Ki at Swansea or Siguardsson have done more.

Martinez, if heÂ’s here in the summer (which he shouldnÂ’t be in all honesty), needs to start using a little more tact in public regarding this ridiculous lavish praise on players that have done little or nothing yet.

DonÂ’t even get me started on whether this man should be in charge next season: he shouldnÂ’t be, with the amount of ill-feeling around the stands at the minute, I doubt he will get patience if we start badly again.

The lap of honour in two weeks time should be interesting; we usually acknowledge the efforts of the players and manager but this time while they do their ritual walk, it will feel more like a Slap of Dishonor.

We are absolutely crying out for a Delph or Puncheon in midfield to lift the fans and propel this team forward. We only seem to find defenders in our coaching methods and I reckon it is time for a change.

I couldnÂ’t have put that any better myself. IÂ’d also add to that, under Martinez we only do "Walking football, not running football."

You are not alone at leaving at 2-0, I did also and so did the entire row in front of us.

Only things to take away were Barkley playing quite well, especially after the slow Barry was taken off, and Garbutt, who slotted in well and looked as good as anyone in defence. When Mirallas came on at least the substitution was done in reasonable time.

During discussion time during the M6 and M5 slog home, we decided Lukaku is better with another striker to play off. He was often way out of the area chasing the ball.

Two main thoughts from yesterdays fiasco:

1. Lukaku is a disgrace of a forward. He actually starts off many opposition attacks with his sloppy back passes.

2. Why oh why do we play with two defensive midfielders against supposed lesser teams who park the bus? It means we pass the ball around too deep and are caught out by counter attacks when the ball is lost through a wayward pass (such as by Lukaku).

ItÂ’s a matter of opinion but Barkley played well?? All I seen him do was hog the ball and barely pass the halfway line. He never seems to have his balance sorted; whether thatÂ’s due to not getting his head up enough, who k.nows.. but I think heÂ’s gone backwards under Martinez this season.

When you look at what Sherwood has done with Grealish, heÂ’s got the lad understanding the game and more aware of whatÂ’s around. Barkley looks totally lost, he doesnÂ’t know what heÂ’s meant to do or how to do it.

He is very powerful, but does not seem to be able to anticipate the unexpected – he's no Aguero, that's for sure.

IÂ’m not sure Big Dunc will be able to improve his movement as that was his own biggest weakness.

No matter how bad the Tottenham game is, though, I will stay until the end, if only to see whether that useless charlatan has the temerity to try and lead a lap of dishonour at full time. IÂ’m sure I wonÂ’t be the only one to make sure that my opinion on the dross heÂ’s presided over this season is made phenomenally clear to him.

I believe the same problem exists with Lukaku is what held Anichebe back to some extent. ItÂ’s a lack of bravery when he comes up against rough-and-tumble defenders, he just lacks that fire in his belly; whether he doesnÂ’t want to get hurt or what I donÂ’t know, only Rom knows but he certainly doesnÂ’t seem to enjoy the physical battle that you see lots of centre forwards engage in.

Take the likes of Jon Walters at Stoke, Austin at QPR... limited guys talent-wise, but they seem to relish that type of battle.

Another striker is definitely needed in the summer, along with a centre-half and left midfielder.

Without wishing to dissect yet another disappointing game (anybody wishing to can just read any previous post match comments from most of the season) the worst thing for me was when Sunderland scored, I just wasnÂ’t that bothered.....I couldnÂ’t even summon up the energy to get angry with the team.....just more of a "shrugged shoulders" Oh well type thing. The team/manager have totally switched me off. Maybe a summer off will revitalise me.......ha ha I actually thought that with a straight face.

I will continue to go to the game (season ticket alredy purchased for better or most probably worse) but I fear that until Martinez is gone then I will still carry a sense of apathy around with me.

On the plus side though, I stayed till the bitter end yesterday and found that there were no queues in the car park and could drive straight off......small mercies eh!!

I know many say we didnÂ’t need two defensive midfielders yesterday, but once Barry went off, the heart of our defence seemed to open up like the Red Sea.

It makes me worried for next season, if Sunderland (who played a very conservative game) could cause us problems at the back, on every foray forward.

Agree with many post, especially the one post saying we play walking football not running! Great observation.

It will be interesting to see how this coming pre-season goes after the debacle of the last one, which in my mine set the standard for this season!!

I also said I thought that he deserved 10 games on the back of his first season as manager - now I am not so sure.

When he was manager of Wigan they were always capable of a big result, we ourselves were on the end of one, however most of the time they would be leaking stupid goals and found themselves in a relegation battle.

Martinez defensively is at a loss, I mean how can he stick Alcaraz in front of a fit Distin irrespective of what happened between the two. We can all go on about luck etc,but just like Sunderland yesterday you make your own luck.

Last week against Villa place the result was not a surprise to me, I expected us to get beaten given VillaÂ’s disparate need to win the game.

Losing at home yesterday against a side who are plain crap, is not acceptable, possession counts for nothing if the team score and we donÂ’t.

Duncan Ferguson coming out with his love of the club just now, for me is no coincidence and I think is testament to the fact that Martinez is under pressure big time from within the club. The big question is can Martinez be made to change his ways, can he get the best out of the players at the club?

The constant praising of everything Everton really has taken its toll on me this season. For me, Lukaku really needs to grow a pair of balls as others have mentioned, send Lennon back, we saw yesterday why he can not get in the Spurs side, headless chicken.
If a big money offer comes in for Barkley or Coleman I would snap their hands off, same applies to Lukaku.

Stones is the only player I would like us to keep, but hey money talks as we know. I also think we will be beaten in our final two games.

Which draws the conclusion we are being managed by a nice totally inept clueless individual, I would love to be wishing him good luck on his next role but alas we are going to be stuck with him next season I shudder to think of the disappointments ahead!!!

Sherwood is very keen to keep him, saying "if he donÂ’t sign for us- then IÂ’m not gonna pick him for the Cup Final!"

A lot of people here were slagging him off a few weeks ago....I wonder if any are thinking differently now?

Incidentally, if anyone can find me a bookie laying odds on us not to be relegated next season, please let me know. Or maybe some of the doom - filled soothsayers could meet me on Betfair to discuss?

As an aside, I was really concerned yesterday about how easily our new great prospect, Garbutt, was turned inside out by Adam Johnson.

A good percentage of fans now want Martinez out of the club,Kenwright hasnÂ’t uttered a word on the situation Everton are in, I think itÂ’s time for him to make some positive move and act like he cares about the club as he is supposed to be one of us, let him prove it.

Regarding the lap of honour (hard-faced bastards) if they go round as fast as they play their football, the towel will be on by the time, anyone daft enough to stay, gets out.

But I said I can not understand why Arteta was never replaced with a "younger " version, Osman is older than Arteta.

Wow, IÂ’m in a Toffee duel over comments about Barkley. Our JB, a blue with clearly defined prejudices challenges me. ItÂ’s back to back, take twenty paces, turn and chuck your Everton mints at will.

Well, IÂ’m pleased to say I have help. Simon Mullock, chief footie writer of the Mirror agrees with me. He awards 7 out of 10 only to three of our players, Barkley, Stones and Mirallas. Out of interest, our hardest working players were Ossie, McCarthy and Ross, all of whom covered just under 7 miles during the game.

Their hardest worker was Lee Cattermole. Oops, did I just catch you one in the eye? Sorry la! I said I took away some positive impressions of Ross and Garbutt (who was given 5 points, not bad for a subby).

Barkley may cover plenty of ground but his attempts to play a pass at the end of it ends up being the start of an opposition counter attack way too often. There was at least three occasions on Saturday when he tried some sort of clever backheel and possession was lost each time.

We badly need a creative midfielder in the mould of Coutinho. We also need a winger like Del Boy who can get in behind teams. Apart from ColemanÂ’s runs, we never looked like penetrating their defence.

I am not sure if it is that difficult to fathom out though. I feel that the majority of the players lack confidence and motivation, which all boils down to the leadership and the decisions made. For instance, would you be happy if you were Mirallas or McGeady when you are sat on the bench watching players such as Osman or Naismith playing forward in wide positions? Would you be happy if you were Osman sat on the bench watching Naismith playing in an attacking central midfield position?

Martinez has played people out of position all season and constantly tinkered with the formations and line-up. As for McGeady, who unfairly gets slaughtered on here, his demise is totally due to a lack of confidence, thanks to Martinez. Last season, a loanee, Deulofeu was preferred ahead of him. I thought that this showed poor judgment. At the time, McGeady looked promising, but he has been given very little opportunity to prove himself. As a consequence, his confidence is in the garbage.

Mourinho gets the best out of his players on a regular basis because he treats them better and inspires confidence in them. He also has a very rigid system which the players understand well and he rarely changes it. Chelsea may go off the boil once or twice in a season which is acceptable, but Everton falls more into the Forrest Gump category: "You just donÂ’t know what youÂ’re gonna get".

In all my time going to Goodison Park, the display was well below standard. The only players to hold their heads high were Coleman / McCarthy and Jagielka. Lukaku needs a lesson in how to put himself about. The rest had their minds on the holidays...

And also to mention, not once did we hear a chant from the blue side of the stands. Sad situation.

We continue to Â’findÂ’ fine young defenders and looking at the current poll of fans’ Player of the Season so far it is Jags and Stones miles ahead of the rest of the squad. Why do our coaches only produce defenders from the stacks of youngsters who pass through our system. Where are our young replacements for Osman and Pienaar?

I really enjoy your match articles every game and I always seem to agree with your comments. But I would like to ask yourself and other fans what they think of our scouting and coaching systems? I would expect that when a coach is appointed he is given some idea of what is expected of him. Surely someone must look at our squad and be able to pinpoint the positions that need action?

Unsworth was a defender and was never a creative attacking player so why donÂ’t we find coaches who were? We spend all our transfer fund on buying strikers who never fully fit the bill. Without players who can beat a man and find a killer pass, our strikers will never receive the ammunition.Lukaku is now our penalty taker and has dried up otherwise. Kone was scoring at Wigan but not with us. Barkley is almost goal less apart from the odd screamer. Apart from Lukaku and Mirallas, only Naismith has outscored our defenders.

Players like Osman and Pienaar can be excused as they have both been long term injured. But what about Barry, McCarthy, Besic, Barkley and Kone? Jags, Coleman and Baines have out scored that bunch.

Without goals we cannot win and will always be a target for smash and grab defeats. We need to produce attacking midfielders and strikers from our young players.

Even Sunderland have a decent striker called Whatmore in their young side. Where are our Kanes? Shake these coaches up and get them to work on what we need.

Next Season: we need a new keeper; sell, or pass on one of the left backs bar Baines, Kone, Gibson, Alcaraz, Distin, and buy a proper Number 10; a centre back; and get Pienaar fit with Baines.

Our main priority is too score, as outlined by many fans, and let the Old Lady sing again. Martinez should take this chance to try and test the likes of Besic, Robles, McGeady and any Under 21 worthy of a start in the last two games.