Martinez happy with display against Lille

, 6 November, 28comments  |  Jump to most recent
Roberto Martinez expressed how pleased he was with Everton's comprehensive win over Lille at Goodison Park this evening which kept his side on course for the next stage of the Europa League.

Goals from Leon Osman, Phil Jagielka and Steven Naismith, plus an impressive display by Romelu Lukaku who was likely denied a goal by an erroneous offside decision, helped the Blues to a 3-0 victory that leaves the Blues top of their group. "I thought we played really well. What pleased me the most was that every player was ready and embraced the chance to play in Europe.

"We were very strong defensively against a strong Lille attack. Then going forward we always looked a threat.

"We played with a maturity that suggested we had been playing in Europe for years."

The Catalan wasn't getting carried away, though, and admitted that they next face a very strong-looking Wolfsburg side that demolished Krasnodar in the other Group H game. Nevertheless, his Everton side are well-positioned going into their final two group games.

"It is a long time since we won a trophy and you can look foolish if you talk about winning competitions in November," the manager concluded, "but we want to go as far as we can in this competition. All we can do is keep testing ourselves.”

 

Reader Comments (28)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Martin O'Hare
1 Posted 07/11/2014 at 03:41:03
Great win, Now we see what a player Lukaku is, I know he didnÂ’t score but he played really well.

Also Naismith and McCarthy were outstanding; we need a point in Germany and weÂ’ll top the group.

Darren Hind
2 Posted 07/11/2014 at 06:07:10
"You can look foolish if you talk about winning competitions in November"

Thats more like it Robbie lad, brush aside these silly journos and let your players do the talking on the pitch.

BTW Congratulation on a job well . . VERY well done

Craig Fletcher
4 Posted 07/11/2014 at 06:19:25
"A strong Lille attack". Not sure about that Roberto, Lille have scored only nine goals in twelve games in the French league so far this season.

Very good performance from the lads though. Great to see Jags back to his best, and a much improved game from Rom.

Martin (1) a draw with Wolfsburg and a win against Krasnodar will guarantee we top the group. If we draw in Germany and drop points v the Russians; Wolfsburg could sneak ahead into top spot.

Anyways; weÂ’re pretty much through into the final 32 at the moment which is the important thing.

COYB

Jim Bennings
5 Posted 07/11/2014 at 08:05:49
Good performance just what we needed and surely even though not mathematically, we have all but qualified.

I was impressed with the defence even if it was against a slightly blunt attack, Jagielka looks back to his best now thankfully, Distin was generally solid, had a few hairy moments but was in the main good.

Lukaku was better than he has been so far, much more of a threat and looked more mobile.

Special mentions though for as per usual McCarthy and Naismith.

How much ground does McCarthy cover eh?
Is he even human?..

Naismith just does what he does so well and it's a great shame when he gets taken out of his favourite position to accommodate Barkley, it'sa nice dilemma to have for Martinez though.

Eddie Dunn
7 Posted 07/11/2014 at 10:19:35
McCarthy's best game yet, he was collossal.
Much better from Lukaku who upped his game- could Big Dunc be getting the message through?
A more complete centre forward display from him, and unfortunate to be judged offside.
A composed display from the Blues.
Derek Knox
8 Posted 07/11/2014 at 10:34:42
Very pleased with that performance all round, I just hope they can carry that forward to Sunday against Sunderland. If we can get a win there, depending of course on other results, we could well be in the upper echelons of the Prem.

The task then being, to stay there or get as near to Chelsea as possible. I do hope leaving Seamus out last night was precautionary, and not a sign of something more sinister. I can't see Sunderland posing that much of a threat, given their recent form and showing, however as always they must be treated with respect.

Charles McCann
9 Posted 07/11/2014 at 10:40:39
Really great team performance last night. Some of the players who I feel get an unfair amount of stick like Hibbert, Osman and McGeady did very well. Hopefully some of the Martinez critics will pipe down a bit for a while and have some faith in him! thoroughly enjoyed watching us control possession so well, and also thought Gibson looked sharp when introduced.
Jim Bennings
10 Posted 07/11/2014 at 10:44:55
Derek

Don't take Sunderland too lightly either though mate.

We are Everton and we rarely make anything look easy.

Sunderland will pose a totally different threat than Lille, they will be more physical and the crowd will be behind them so the last thing we need to do is start slowly or sluggishly.

On paper we should beat them yes but it's all about attitude and making it happen on the day, we should have beat Palace and Leicester but didn't.

I'd take a scrappy hard fought win.

Karl Parsons
11 Posted 07/11/2014 at 11:46:09
James McCarthy is God. End of observation.
Craig Walker
12 Posted 07/11/2014 at 11:36:40
A very good team performance. Agree with other posters that McCarthy was superb and that Hibbert had a good game. Distin and Jags did well at the back. Lukaku's hold-up play was better but I still think he attempts to lay the ball off first time too often. I'd like to see him hold it up and either turn and run at the opposition or bring other players into the attack. His first touch for the opening goal was excellent though. I was listening to Graeme Sharp the other week and he was saying that Kendall had one rule with his mid 80s team and that was to get hold of the ball. When you think of the goal which Burnley scored the other week it was because Lukaku tried a quick lay-off as his first touch. If he'd have got it under control first then we wouldn't have lost that goal. He is still young but can you really improve general centre forward play.
Jim Bennings
13 Posted 07/11/2014 at 12:39:59
Craig

I agree with the point about Lukaku trying that first-time layoff one time too many, sometimes I know this sounds weird but I wish he'd do a bit more what Anichebe used to do, back in to the defender and shield the ball more.

It used to looked a bit lumbering and ungainly when Anichebe performed it but it yielded some results like the odd penalty here and there when defenders would try to wrestle him down.

Sometimes Lukaku needs to learn when to just get that ball, take it into his body and make himself the human shield his physique suggests he can be. That said, he will learn; he was better last night and hopefully he goes on to improve more – he needs to do it week-in & week-out now.

Harold Matthews
14 Posted 07/11/2014 at 12:18:26
Excellent performances all over the pitch. Ossie needed to come off after 60 minutes but the subs were used elsewhere. McCarthy, Jags and Naismith were awesome with others not far behind. Lukaku will never have the control of Barkley or the awareness of Eto'o and Naismith, but he worked hard for the team and looked more like his old self.

Good to see Gibbo and Atsu getting some gametime but can't ever see them in a starting line-up. Gibbo is a good player who can read the game and see a pass but the knee injury will force him to avoid tackles. Many folk can't take to Atsu but, after a nervy start, I thought he did okay and can see him featuring later on.

Watching Besic on the bench reminded me of Delboy. Eyes glued on the match, mentally kicking and heading every ball and roaring with delight when we score. In front of him sits Ross. Gloomy as a dark wet night with not a trace of excitement or enthusiasm. We know he's a blue but I wish he'd show it.

All-in-all, a job well done and on to Sunderland who upped their form the other day with Fletcher scoring two great goals. Rotation will mean a different line-up with probably a bit less fluidity than last night but the squad is looking pretty strong. I hope we do enough to win.

Jay Rollinson
15 Posted 07/11/2014 at 14:07:51

Harold Matthews @14,

Re: Besic and Barkley.

What a load of rubbish. If you are seriously trying to suggest that Everton and their results mean more to Deulofeu and Besic than they do to Barkley then you are so far off the mark it is untrue. Just like the statement itself.

Only one of those three would feel more than a blow to their professional pride when witnessing (or even playing in) an Everton loss.

How would you actually know the emotions they run through on the bench throughout a match anyway? Where would you even be able to witness these goings on for more than the few brief moments the subs bench is shown on TV?

Genuine question. From your seat in front of the TV, how did you manage to monitor the bench throughout the entire game?

Ross looked miserable, for one moment, when the TV camera was on him? So what? Who gives a damn if he looked a bit down at not playing? Maybe he was just desperate to be out there on the pitch. Maybe for the 88 minutes that the TV cameras didn't focus on the bench and were pointed at the pitch, he looked happy as a pig in shit?

A very strange statement to make and attempt to portray as fact rather than your own opinion when it is based on so very little evidence.

Tony J Williams
16 Posted 07/11/2014 at 15:22:57
It's interesting reading people views on players.

Naismith is getting praised but some posters are still having little digs at Osman.

From what I saw, I would say that Naismith lost the ball as least as much, if not more than Osman but nothing is being said about it.

This isn't a Naismith bashing, he played well last night and like Ossie is a very intelligent player but it's just funny how some players can get away with things and others get immediately pounced upon when a little thing goes wrong.

I do agree with Harold though, Ossie was goosed after about 65 mins

Harold Matthews
17 Posted 07/11/2014 at 15:05:51
Jay. Try lying down in a dark room. Barkley happens to be my favourite player. I know he hates sitting on the bench watching others kick a ball about. He's never been any different. We all know he's a lifelong blue but the fact that I'd like him to look a little bit happier is none of your business. I can think what I like and you can't do anything about it. We all have different opinions but, unlike you, I can read and ignore those posts with which I disagree. You ought to try it sometime.
Andrew Ellams
18 Posted 07/11/2014 at 15:38:45
CanÂ’t help thinking the reason McGeady went off and Osman didnÂ’t was down to which one will be starting against Sunderland and which one wonÂ’t.
Jay Rollinson
19 Posted 07/11/2014 at 15:38:11
Harold,

If you are posting your thoughts on an online forum then you have to be prepared for people to comment on them.

If it is no one else's business and you just want people to ignore what you say, then that leads to the obvious question of why bother?

Mike Childs
20 Posted 07/11/2014 at 17:15:51
Geez Harold I thought like me Jimmy Mac was your favorite.
Phil Walling
21 Posted 07/11/2014 at 17:51:12
Martinez is reading these columns ! Not one 'phenomenal' or 'sensational' in sight. Happy enough for his team to do the talking with their display.

Keep that up Roberto and you might just make it into my Top Five Best Everton Managers !

Harold Matthews
22 Posted 07/11/2014 at 17:58:34
Mike. I guess it's "Joint" but No16 was quite awesome last night.

Jay. Yes. Sometimes I do wonder why I bother.

Ian Bennett
23 Posted 07/11/2014 at 18:07:52
BobbÅ· bingo - I feel short changed. where's arrogance, phenomenal, know how...
Brent Stephens
24 Posted 07/11/2014 at 18:54:04
Harold "the fact that I'd like him to look a little bit happier is none of your business."!!!!

Steady on Harold. Have you now fallen over that wooden stick you referred to before! If you want the privilege of posting on TW, then you have to take the stick - wooden or otherwise.

Neil Wood
25 Posted 07/11/2014 at 19:06:05
Harold, Jay .... Come on boys were all Everton fans why bitch at each other!!!! But in fairness Harold... They do have a point that the whole purpose of a forum is for other people to comment on your thoughts be it in agreement or otherwise.

Anyway, Sunderland looms.... Let's concentrate on that.

As for Mcarthy, he proved every penny of that transfer few last night. People talk about the likes of Mascherano, Alonso, Vidal etc.... But in Mcarthy we have a very underrated talent.

A massively underrated player who quietly goes about his work of shielding the defence line..... Look at Busquets at Barcelona... Not the first name you think of when talking about Barca, but over the last few years he has been one of the biggest contributors to there success.

Mike Childs
26 Posted 07/11/2014 at 19:47:11
What a great site just like the CLUB! COYB!
Sean Kelly
28 Posted 07/11/2014 at 20:26:36
Harold please keep the posts coming. Many many times I have read your comments and are always well reasoned. Yes Barkley did look like a miserable sod last night but I really don't want to see subs all happy out getting splinters in their rear end and picking up a big wedge. And Jay have a lie down. Did someone steal your dummy?
Sean Kelly
29 Posted 07/11/2014 at 20:26:36
Harold please keep the posts coming. Many many times I have read your comments and are always well reasoned. Yes Barkley did look like a miserable sod last night but I really don't want to see subs all happy out getting splinters in their rear end and picking up a big wedge. And Jay have a lie down. Did someone steal your dummy?
James Smith
30 Posted 07/11/2014 at 21:16:27
I thought I would take a look at the Lille website earlier on and what I found made me giggle... In a pre match interview they were saying how Everton are no Liverpool or Man Utd only to go on to talk about us being 9th in the league table.
John Daley
31 Posted 07/11/2014 at 21:58:24
If the way in which he sits on his arse is going to come under analysis, then Barkley really is operating under too much scrutiny these days.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb