Baines looks for improvement against Hull

Right now the players just don't seem to care as much as they should do. As for Martinez, his constant 'bright side out' complex makes me want to nut him. Repeatedly.

"There is no sense kidding ourselves" and "the amount of goals we're conceding" tells me at least that he understands where the problem lies but have other people at the club identified that as a 'problem' that needs to be fixed?

Imagine if they'd sent out McGeady.....

What else is he gonna say? We're shit and we know we are?

I'd even like him to take Roberto to one side and say, "listen lar, we need to mix it up a bit until we are out of this slump".

I honestly don't want to hear their angst or chest beating. I want to see an improvement in their displays and effort, nothing else.

Brian Clough used to say that successful football is 80% organisation and just 20% ability. I believe our players are looking so poor and so lazy because we're simply not organised properly. Never more so was that illustrated than on Sunday when, against a poor-average Newcastle side, we were rarely organised and positioned well enough win the second balls, interrupt counter attacks at source, or generally press the opposition when not in possession.

Funny thing is, RM is fond of the word 'intensity' when describing why we are so 'phenomenal'. But is there a team anywhere in the PL that plays with any less intensity and momentum than Everton?

What I do criticise Barry for is that he's too bloody quiet. For a man with his experience he should be bollicking the players around him for being so inept.

Now maybe it's me being picky but I don't care if you are 15 nil up you should wear that shirt with pride be it for 90 minutes or 90 seconds.

These are idols of young boys and girls and adults alike who get paid ridiculous amounts of money that essentially we, as supporters provide. I would run and give 100% until I fell over and couldn't physically move anymore for this football club.

Sadly, Eto'o and Pienaar made their lack of motivation quite clear to the point where Roberto had to tell them three times. Imagine doing that in a normal industry...

I too would give everything for this club, I bleed blue and all I want to see is attack, attack for 90 minutes every single game, which we as fans are not getting. Nothing but the best means just that, give it your best or go home!

And Baines/Pienaar have been up there with the best, including Gary Stevens and Trevor Steven. Both played for Everton and England in the same positions.

And after our miserable defeat away to Hull on Thursday all I can say is...

"Mr Martinez, your time is up. Please collect your P45 on the way out!"

Robles

Coleman
Jags
Stones
Baines

McCarthy
Barkley
Besic

Mirallas
Lukaku
Kone

Robles - do we have to? really, is there no one else?

Coleman - 6/10 must try harder
Jags - not got a clue at the moment
Stones - getting there
Baines - no, kick the ball FORWARDS

McCarthy - if you are fit enough, you can play
Barkley - stop believing the hype and play like you can
Besic - go on son! Just don't get booked

Mirallas - Yes! let the Kevster off his leash
Lukaku - 㿈mill, really? Prove me wrong, PLEASE!
Kone - Pleasantly surprised, go on lad, show Lukaku how to do it.

We have big Dunc for that. What had happened to him? He used to scare the living daylights out of his own team let alone the opposition when he was on the pitch. Bobby should use him like some sidekick Bond villain – not as a striker coach because, let's be honest, that isn't working. If they cannot be bothered to get off the bench or they are not playing well enough then he'll give them the Steffen Freund treatment.

Steavey, I agree about the Baines / Pienaar combo, but PienaarÂ’s best days are behind him. I would give the Garbutt / Baines duo a chance. Garbutt looks the real deal and Baines can pick a pass and, I think, would grow into a midfield / left sided MF player before too long. He also appreciates the defensive responsibilities required for that position.

Coleman looks like a man waiting for his move to Old Trafford.

Besic also has a pass in him much like Barry so for me it's a no brainer. Simply trying to compete against strong, athletic players like sissoko/wanyama/toure/matic is getting too much and we seem to be very lightweight at the moment.

We just seem to lack balance and l appreciate that injuries effect this. Look at Chelsea.. They have a player like Matic who is strong, athletic, young along with the tricky players like Oscar and hazard. We have been using Barry and at one point Barkley in the Defensive Midfield role. Yes, Barkley actually played quite well their but let's be honest, he hasn't got a tackle in him and despite being a big strapping lad he's not got it in him to scrap in a midfield battle.

We have the basis of a very good side with some youth already 1st team era and some coming through. We need to look at a player such as Deulofeu coming back to give is that tricky skillful aspect. We need a good solid defender and a new keeper.

Fantasy it may be but achievable and potential to be a very effective side:

Marshall

Coleman Stones Van Dijk Baines
McCarthy. Besic
Deulofeu Barkley. Mirallas
Lukaku

If we can't tempt Del Boy back – I have said before we should try to pull out all the stops to get him – then maybe Townsend?

What I want to hear is the manager come out and tell the truth for once that he is to blame. His tactics, his selections and his transfer activity is abysmal. But all I have heard is from him is he wont change his style and the players should stick to what he is saying and not listen to the critics. I think if he buries his head in the sand any further we will quickly find ourselves in the bottom 3/4.

Comfort, indeed.

Baines, for long recognised as an excellent full back finds himself shoring up midfield whilst our record signing constantly stinks the place out.

As for Eto'o, I don't think Roberto knows what to do with him but has to find him a spot to justify the mega wages he's being paid.

Altogether a dog's breakfast, then..... otherwise known as 'a philosophy'!

Most errors leading to goals (10)

Fewest number off crosses from open play (225)

Conceded fewest number of fouls (178 - clearly too fecking nice)

Won the most amount of fouls (246)

Caught offside the most (49)

Clearly, we need to get stuck in!

The average 'safe' total is 37 but who would gamble at this stage of the season that such a modest number would be enough?

’complIment

Agression and desire to win the ball, in the air or otherwise, is definitely lacking severely from the this Everton team with one or two exceptions. And it galls me.

If we have the alleged millions that miraculously flooded in the minute Moyes left, what's the problem?

Now all I remember is this quote: "The danger of an adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort". At this very moment, we aren't comfortable and such is the time to handle the challenge that's been around us with guts. That goes to the players and the fans, get on, get together and you know where you wish to go, so take this one-way ticket to play catch up!

On Barry, I couldn't believe the number of tackles he pulled out of - people were just gliding past him.

I've no idea why Phil Walling is picking on Hibbert and Osman - they haven't even been playing in this recent dross.

Yes, true, we never do much with free kicks these days and I think the fact that we take quick, short free kicks, sometimes before we are ready, and which usually ends up with the ball back at Howard is partially responsible for THAT stat. Likewise Martinez has said that he doesn't value corner kicks, consequently we do eff all from them, either, and you can add crosses into the equation as well. Hence we have the fewest number of crosses. WTF is wrong with the man? Corners get the crowd going, they put/keep pressure on the opposition defence, defenders don't like trying to cut out crosses as they race back towards their own goal...Martinez! Wise up, for fucks sake.

Unless major investment comes in we are going to be more mid/lower table than top half. Kenwright has sold well over the years and invested nothing into the playing staff.

Unless the utterly pathetic board show Martinez some cash (he isn't going anywhere whether he should or not) you can't keep on over achieving every season.

Howard, Distin, Barry, Pienaar to name but 4 need replacing soon as possible.

Will the board help with this??

Well, by selling Coleman/Barkley or Stones they might but they haven't put a penny into EFC unless someone has left for big money.

That can't last forever and the squad is aging rapidly.

I disliked Moyes immensely towards the end but you have to admire the job he did on very little playing investment.

December 8: Man City 1 Everton 0
December 11: Sheff Utd 0 Everton 0
December 18: Everton 0 Newcastle 2
December 27: Everton 0 Sheff Wed 2
December 29: Blackburn 2 Everton 0
January 1: Everton 0 West Ham 1
January 3: Chelsea 4 Everton 2

No goals in six games, one point from seven games - and then Mike Walker got appointed!

We a manager says he doesn't rate corners and they are of no consequence then maybe that explains two things. We are shite at our delivery and execution of corners. We never score from them. Secondly we can't defend them or set pieces. How many times have we conceded on corners and set pieces? FFS there may be up to a dozen corners in a game to either defend or score from and our manager doesn't rate them. What planet is he living on?

I know the game's changed, but if you're not a disciplined manager you can never, or will never succeed.