Jagielka: Players must share the blame for poor results

, 1 January, 81comments  |  Jump to most recent
Phil Jagielka has moved to take some of the pressure of his beleaguered manager by insisting that it's up to the Everton players to sort out their current run of dreadful form.

The Blues' skipper was asked whether it was time for Roberto Martinez's management to be questioned after the Blues' worst run of defeats in 10 seasons but he says there is enough experience in the ranks for the players to look at themselves rather than blame the boss.

“We're massively behind him. I don't think it's come to that point ... things haven't gone from hero to zero in the space of nine games.

“At the end of the day we go out there to play and if we don't pick up results, the manager will take a bit of the blame but the players have to go out there and perform. We've got a lot to answer for and the only way we can make it up to the fans is by winning games.

"We're not a bunch of kids. We've been in similar situations before.

“The way we performed last season was so far removed from this that people have started to look upon it a little bit harder. We know we're not where we want or need to be and it's only us who can sort it out.”

Admitting that the Blues were hesitant coming into today's game at Hull, Jagielka is already looking forward to Tuesday's FA Cup Third Round tie against West Ham, the first of three consecutive home games, to start building team morale.

“We lacked confidence going into [Hull] and then conceding twice, the second just before half time, sort of took the wind out of our sails.

“We tried to change things around second half, possibly improved our performance, but got nothing out of it. There's a lot of things to sort out but hopefully we can get a result in the FA Cup next week and that can give us a bit of confidence and in turn we can start getting some points in the league.”

 

Reader Comments (81)

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Michael Winstanley
1 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:10:24
Thanks for clarifying that Phil.
Tom Loughrey
2 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:11:33
Such a meek and disappointing captain. Never shows any passion for the club or the role of captain.

He should be leading from the front but instead has been one of the biggest offenders of late. It's bewildering being Blue at the moment. Hard to see where the next win is going to come.

Kieran Riding
3 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:14:07
Inspirational rally call Jags.
Peter Laing
4 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:13:41
Good to see the captain coming out and speaking honestly and offering his support to the Manager. Martinez has probably got half a dozen games to save his job, he needs those players who have pride in pulling on the blue shirt behind him. If it's true about the unrest in the camp then we need to know which players are up for the fight or seemingly putting their own ego's and interests before the Club. With or without Martinez a bad apple is a bad apple and has no place at a Everton.
John Daley
5 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:22:55
"....the players have to go out there and perform. We've got a lot to answer for....."

Well, you're the captain Phil. Get them fucking told and remind them of that fact when you're out out on the pitch,

Dick Fearon
6 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:13:55
A suggestion Phil, you have been honoured with the captaincy of this club. Justify your position as such by displaying some on-field leadership.

There are times when critical advice or an encouraging pat on the back for a team mate is needed or sometimes a bit of a bollicking is best.

In your case there is no visible sign of anything like that.

Alex Taylor
7 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:23:19
Just doesn't cut it with me. I don't think they want to play Martinez's style, and I don't think they're comfortable with the man himself. Time buys you more time I'm afraid and Martinez hasn't banked enough with the Blues in my opinion to hang on to his job much longer.

Goodison will be edgy on Tuesday and if West Ham turn us over, which on the face of things they are more than capable of doing, then I really feel like that might be a turning point for the players' backing of the gaffer.

Oliver Molloy
8 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:14:06
We don't know what is being said behind closed doors but in public Mr Martinez keeps saying very silly things and the penny should have dropped by now that the fans are not stupid. Maybe what he is saying in the dressing room or training is part of the problem.

He MUST change tactics come Tuesday night and play a more physical and direct game, anything to get a result. He MUST stop talking garbage. He MUST show he is capable of tactics.

Tony Farrell
9 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:27:52
Wow!... really, Phil? — the players must share some of the blame? ... Understatement or what!?!?

Understandably, players are told to play a certain way... but, for god's sake, we are just turning up at the moment. Gutless... clueless... you name it. I can go through the list of players that shouldn't be there... but, as Evertonians, we know who they are – pity the manager doesn't!

Yes, players are told to play the manager's way but even if you're not suited to that style, (and clearly ours aren't), there's no excuse not to give 100 %.

I am sick and tired of hearing Roberto come out with the same old shite... Don't praise your players for playing crap! Quick solution: sack Bob and his Wigan backroom staff... appoint Joe Royle and Duncan Ferguson till the end of the season. Get shut of this slow crab football, get back to basics, feed Lukaku balls he can run onto, give Barkley the freedom he wants... and we won't get involved with a relegation dogfight.

Under Bob, we certainly will!!!

Tony Rutherford
10 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:43:44
Barry needs a rest, end of!
Peter Laing
11 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:44:31
Kenwright needs to get the cheque book out this week with two centre half's and a goalkeeper recruited. You either back Martinez or you sack Martinez. The transfer window is open and we all know where the deficiencies are, Distin, Barry and Alcaraz need to be bombed out.
Tony Hill
12 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:43:45
Yes he’s part of the problem. Another nice man full of platitudes.

I am trying to see how we are magically going to become a force again over the next 6 PL fixtures - West Ham is irrelevant for me, save that it might be the final nail. On any objective assessment, and with the present chronic underachievement, we are likely to lose most of them. That will put us in relegation trouble.

We don’t have the luxury of time and certainly we don’t have time for Jags’ mumblings, however well-intentioned.

Colin Glassar
13 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:48:37
Can we get Mick Lyons back out of retirement? I think he's in Australia.
Clive Rogers
14 Posted 01/01/2015 at 23:50:14
Kenwright should go, after this catastrophe, and the state the club is in, after 15 years of him in charge.
Patrick Murphy
15 Posted 02/01/2015 at 00:02:55
I know these things are subjective and can be swayed by whoever is the reporter but the Daily Express reporter gave the following marks:-

Everton (4-2-3-1): Robles 5; Coleman 7, Alcaraz 3, Jagielka 4, Baines 3; Barry 3, Barkley 5; Besic 3 (Oviedo 46, 4), Naismith 4, Mirallas 3 (Lukaku 46, 4); Kone 4.

Is this really the level of performance that Evertonians can expect from this team regardless of the higher than usual expectations this season Jags?

Colin Glassar
16 Posted 02/01/2015 at 00:08:50
Flattering some of those Patrick.
James Joseph
17 Posted 02/01/2015 at 00:13:56
Bobby Collins too please Colin (13). And I'll bet HK's still got his boots tucked away in his wardrobe! If not, Reidy's still knocking around somewhere.
David Edwards
18 Posted 02/01/2015 at 00:29:37
For pity's sake Phil - I'd have hated to have you as my commanding officer in 1914! Get a grip and start to bloody inspire the team around you. "Sort of took the wind out of our sails." I don't even think Moyes's yes-man Neville would have said that. I suppose a refund to the loyal away fans is asking too much?
Steavey Buckley
19 Posted 02/01/2015 at 00:36:31
There is something wrong with an Everton team that can't cross the ball into box, because the ball appears to be too heavy, to lift the ball over the first opposition player in the way. And how many times will it take Naismith (who has gone off the boil big time and was guilty of missing a good chance in the first half) to thread a ball through to Lukaku towards goal or someone else in his position?

If there is a team out there going through a patch, Everton are sure to accommodate them and give them an easy game and easy win. Just ask, Southampton, Stoke, Newcastle and Hull or even your local pub team. Everton are sure to please the opposition.

Aman Kanji
20 Posted 02/01/2015 at 00:44:31
Oliver (8) what are you on about.

If you bothered to listen carefully to the last two post match interviews on EFC you hear his passion and his message.

Bad ref decisions, Individual errors and players not committing are a result of current form. If you play ANY competitive sport you'll know poor results ALWAYS impact the next game.

Golf on the first hole, you feel good, perfect day, new driver, inexplicably pull your t-shot, on the second T five over... How do you feel?

Bob Heyward
21 Posted 02/01/2015 at 01:00:45
Jags says what he has to. I wonÂ’t mock or criticise our captain for that.

However, regarding his hope for a win in the Cup; no. Better we lose.

I find it hard to hope for a loss but there is a reason. Our great Club cannot be distracted by a Martinez cup run, just as Wigan were.

This time way back in 2012, Whelan told Wigan fans that he was Â’unafraid to sack MartinezÂ’. Then a Pyrrhic victory in the Cup distracted and destroyed them.

Let us instead look to our own glorious past for inspiration. Big Joe, taking over from sacked Walker in 94, focused on the Dogs of War and used the Cup to help save our team.

Like I said, I donÂ’t wish defeat easily but, after Hull, IÂ’m afraid Martinez has to go. For the future, letÂ’s remember our history and not let ourselves be distracted by MartinezÂ’s increasingly unrealistic patter.

Frank Crewe
22 Posted 02/01/2015 at 01:27:23
What a load of bollox. They still collect their prodigious wages though, and will continue to do so should we get relegated, but no doubt they feel really bad about it all the way to the bank. Boo hoo I'm all broke up.

The opposition scored a goal and it took the wind out of our sails. AKA we just rolled over and died. There is more deadwood in this side than in the Amazonian rain forests – the sooner a new manager comes in and starts chopping it away, the better.

Tony Byrne
23 Posted 02/01/2015 at 02:12:32
Bob@21

I totally agree with your sentiments.

Steve Brown
24 Posted 02/01/2015 at 02:30:25
Patrick, we didnt play 4-2-3-1 so the Express reporter is obviously as credible as his newspaper. We played 3-4-1-2.... very badly indeed.
Martin Owen
25 Posted 02/01/2015 at 02:59:36
I firmly believe that the writing was on the wall when Mr Kenwright accepted Martinez as head coach! Yes they had a tasty season last year, but that wasn't because of his fresh ideas. If that were the case, we wouldn't be in this position now! Martinez talks a good game full stop! The crap that comes from his mouth post match interviews is an insult to us all! He has never been a decent manager just a lucky one.

The players he's brought in? Jeez Wigan rejects! They should have sacked him last week and brought Tony Pulis in. At least he has fire in his belly and gets players playing for him. Martinez has destroyed Everton in 18 months! From being the most difficult team to play against and break down in years, to this?

I'm genuinely concerned for our club. I don't think they know which way to play anymore. I've never seen our defence pulled apart so badly in years. Yet he comes out with rubbish! Not 1 point over the festive period. It's not just a game it's business. Martinez is not the man to sort it. But this is just my opinion.

Harold Matthews
26 Posted 02/01/2015 at 04:37:01
No longer interested in the FA Cup or Europa.

Patrick. He obviously failed to notice Coleman's pathetic attempt to stop the cross for their first goal. Real chicken hearted defending..

Brian Hill
27 Posted 02/01/2015 at 05:28:43
Watch the post-match interview on the BBC. What on Earth is he talking about?
Ian McDowell
28 Posted 02/01/2015 at 08:57:40
So my question to you Jagielka is yesterday Burnley fought back 3 times after going behind, showed fight. Leicester fought back from 2-0 down at Anfield, showed fight. How come we, with arguably more experienced and supposedly better players didn't manage any response whatsoever?

Mike Allison
29 Posted 02/01/2015 at 08:53:53
They don't seem to practice the basic stuff. Does anyone have any idea what happens in training? Defenders need to be well organised and know how to defend, attackers need to be able to make the right decisions about what to risk and when. We are not doing either of these things at the moment, it's as if an entire squad of professional footballers have forgotten how to do their jobs.

We need to get back to basics, but I fear that Martinez seems to genuinely not know what the basics of football are. He seems to think it is passing, whereas goals decide football games, not passes. We need to stop the other team scoring them, and we need to kick it in the goal ourselves. That's all. The most important way of doing this is through set pieces, and Martinez is on record as saying he doesn't think set pieces are important.

I'd say he has a few games to show he is capable of learning, adapting and improving, or I will become a resolute Martinez out person, something I will find extremely difficult, as I generally think getting rid of a manager is basically having to start again from scratch.

Helen Mallon
30 Posted 02/01/2015 at 09:00:18
Then STOP playing the way he tells you to play ( passing all the way back to defenders when we have a chance for a cross into the box) and bloody go out there all guns blazing that starts with west ham.
Steven Telford
31 Posted 02/01/2015 at 09:06:59
It's beginning to feel like our cub is an experiment for Martinez's self proclaimed style.

It's his refusal to adapt or change anything that is the most damning attribute it all.

Is he seriously going to carry on changing nothing!

Richard Lyons
32 Posted 02/01/2015 at 09:13:17
Oh God this is so depressing. Now it seems Jags has learned his manager's art of using 1000 words to say nothing because there are only negatives. There was NOTHING positive about yesterday.

Actually, Jags, I think things HAVE gone from hero to zero. Nobody believes this can now be turned around without a change of plan... except RM and BK of course.

Oliver Molloy
33 Posted 02/01/2015 at 09:23:39
Arman @ 20...

The ability of the manager to correct this slide is at question here or are you as blind as him.

Every team gets its fair share of bad decisions.
What is your point exactly - that Mr Martinez is right?
I really am fed up listening to the rubbish our manager comes out with,so I don't!

If we are to believe what he says,we have a team of "phenomenal" footballers which we all know is utter rubbish.
The man is becoming a laughing stock within the media and it's NOT FUNNY.

It is one thing trying to protect your players in public,quite another to get them to do what needs to be done on the football pitch,and without doubt this is the big question that every fan wants to know.
Can this man change the teams style in order to get a result?

He deserves the chance to do so,but he MUST do it now.

Phil Walling
35 Posted 02/01/2015 at 09:45:27
No problems at Everton then. Just lack of confidence, it seems. In whom, I wonder.

As someone said to me last evening, 'Even Southampton lost four on the trot and just look at them now !'

With nice guys like Roberto and Phil at the helm, what are we worrying about ?

Jay Doyle
36 Posted 02/01/2015 at 09:56:49
He's proved, since the arsenal cup debacle, that he's not upto the job. This isn't a blip it's been relegation form all season, and Europe has flattered. Why does he deserve more time ?
More time to take us down?
No, Martinez OUT now!
Clive Rogers
37 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:06:22
Mike #29,

Spot on. It's a simple game. I've been saying for a while we just don't run about enough. Barry, Eto, Osman, their legs have gone. We don't compete in covering the ground.

Ray Roche
38 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:23:29
Clive, to be fair, Eto'o and Osman didn't get on the pitch yesterday in the latest of a lengthening list of shambolic performances.
Allan Board
39 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:13:18
Losing games meekly, no fight and players donÂ’t give a shit. Fuck off Jags, your stupid behaviour at the toss up showed what you are-akin to the" laughing policeman". This "lot" think theyÂ’re above criticism and have an awful attitude and no pride in their work.

We’ll beat West Ham – but only because Allardyce will send his 2nd team up. I hope!

Anthony Hanlon
40 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:23:33
W 1 D 1 L 7 ... Last nine games says it all. As our club captain donÂ’t bullshit the fans and say all the players are behind Martinez. (Or will it all come out in your autobiographies?)
Derek Thomas
41 Posted 02/01/2015 at 09:21:18
1) The players are not going to sort this out, there is nobody there with the Mana to carry them where they need to go ( straight to Bills office )

2) People have said what about the best ever 72 points etc etc. He will get it back on track give him the time to do the job. They have been putting the cart before horse, why I hear you say, or not, but I'll tell you why I think so anyway.

When I was wearing my Mk I MOB uniform, I knew what I wanted, all I wanted was for OFM to take the shackles off, just a bit and let them play, it was after all our best squad since blah blah.

And that's exactly what happened, OSTBFM ( our soon to be former manager; free usage for all, it's Christmas ) came along, took the handbrake off, the abs, the traction control, all the computer controlled everything else that stops you killing yourself unless you are a Finn in a rally... trouble is we have no Finns in our team.

Switches examples, we are now Back to the future III, in Roberto's Philosophy, there are 2 options, you get to ( by passing the shit out of it ) 88mph or you crash into Martinez Canyon

Newsflash: we are not going to get to 88mph...game by game we ( well Barry and Alcarez ) are getting slower and slower.

Bill; How long are you going to let this train wreck ( in very slow motion ) go on.

note; got my MOB uniform back from the cleaners and it still fits.

Great Scott!

James Morgan
42 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:31:45
We desperately need to get back to basics and grind out a one nil win. Pack the midfield and keep the full backs on a leash and make them defend. We have shown we are far too open and vulnerable to counter attack. Phil needs to Marshall his defence and fire rockets up some arses!
Tony Abrahams
43 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:31:33
The club needs to be united at the minute, so I hope Jagielka is telling the truth. One way to put a bit of feeling that they really care, would be to reimburse those supporters, who have travelled well over a thousand miles, to watch three pathetic away performances over Christmas? That said, there does need to be heated discussion because the managerÂ’s head has gone at the minute.

Barry too slow for midfield, playing alongside Alcaraz, in a back three? I was shocked at that, but even more shocked that we then proceeded to play a very high line. Fucking hell, for godsake, but isnÂ’t the reason you play with 3 centrebacks, is so that one can sweep the other two? Martinez, talked about going back to basics and then gave us that formation, with the wrong players again selected to play it.

Baffled and very worried is how most of us have brought the New Year in with regards to Everton. CanÂ’t you see that football is about momentum, and after stopping playing after a hour against QPR, we have carried that negativity right through Christmas. DonÂ’t give up on the Cup though, itÂ’s a chance to get some positivity into a very bad period.

John Keating
44 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:57:54
Leicester - fightback, Burnley - fightback, Sunderland - fightback, Everton..........
Darren Bailey
45 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:38:15
Bottom line is Martinez has to go now. We got found out this time last year, this isnÂ’t new. Second half of last season was the start of this decline & the only reason we were okay was because of our good start to the season.

If Bill gives him January, that means a caretaker will only have the same players. Change it now, let the new man bring in a couple of new faces to show what he wants to do.

As for a replacement, it has to be Joe Royle with Big Dunc. Royle knows whatÂ’s needed & hopefully Ferguson will drive some much needed passion in to the players if heÂ’s given a more influential role.

The club needs a massive clear-out between this month & the summer but with Martinez in charge I can see new contracts for the likes of Distin & Alcaraz.

ItÂ’s time to say goodbye to Martinez & his back room staff as well as Howard, Robles, Alcaraz, Distin, Barry, Pienaar, Gibson, Atsu, McGeady & EtoÂ’o. TheyÂ’re not the answer right now but the likes of Jones, Browning, Kenny, Galloway, Garbutt, Ledson, Lundstram, Green, Dowell, McAleny, Long & Henen need more introduction in to the squad.

Paul Dark
46 Posted 02/01/2015 at 11:10:14
It's all very very depressing.
Joe Foster
47 Posted 02/01/2015 at 11:17:55
Depressing as if keep this up next seasons derby's will be against Wigan ,
Roman Sidey
48 Posted 02/01/2015 at 10:31:22
MOB
Ian Burns
49 Posted 02/01/2015 at 11:23:57
Ian McDowell - 28 - I hope the players read your post - enough said and well said.

For those wanting more time for RM to turn this around, just think it is one more game towards the brink and less time for a worthy replacement to fix it before it is too late - if it isn't too late already!

Steavey Buckley
50 Posted 02/01/2015 at 11:24:45
Can't really blame those players who are not up to standard anymore. There has to be a clear out of Gibson (who can focus on just playing for Ireland) Distin, Howard, Alcaraz, Eto'o, Osman, McGeady (who keeps giving the ball to the opposition) and Barry (who has become so slow, he keeps fouling in dangerous areas and picking up record numbers of yellow cards.)

But there is a core of players who can drive Everton forward, if they can just pass accurately and make more crosses into the box that find their own players. They are Coleman, Browning, Garbutt, McCarthy, Besic, Lukaku, Stones, Mirallas, Ledson, Barkley and Oviedo.

And whoever is the manager has to find a commanding centre half and goal keeper, a couple of good wingers who can cross the ball consistently and accurately into the box and a back up striker to take the weight and responsibility off Lukaku's shoulders. A big ask, but Everton should use this time of desperation to rebuild.

Eric Holland
51 Posted 02/01/2015 at 11:38:21
I honestly think if the players picked the team themselves and just went out and played football they would do a lot better. This one dimensional mindset will take us to the brink of relegation.
Darren Bailey
52 Posted 02/01/2015 at 12:15:10
IÂ’d be tempted to call this current geriatric squad DadÂ’s Army but then thought how unfair this would be on Capt Mainwaring & Co as they showed more fight!
Dave Williams
53 Posted 02/01/2015 at 12:28:44
Same old words but no sign of action! Someone earlier mentioned Mick Lyons - if only we had him, Bally, Reidy, Tony Kay, Ratters ...etc!

Someone has to get downright nasty with this lot now and sort them out by Tuesday. Defeat to West Ham followed by humiliation against City and Roberto could be gone. I have always liked him but it is so clear that our style of play has been rumbled that it beggars belief that he won't change and send a team out to fight for their lives. Tippy tappy only worked for Barcelona because they had Iniesta and Xavi creating space and Messi who moved into that space to score goals. We don't have anyone remotely in that class so surely we must adapt our style accordingly? This is just common sense - Joe played dogs of war because he didn't have creativity in midfield and it worked. Moyes got his teams super-fit to outwork all but the very top teams because for most of his time here he didn't have the players to outplay the opposition. We don't have the players to retain possession and create chances and they give away possession and goals to teams who just press us and wait for the mistakes to happen so please Roberto use some common sense and adapt your game..........now!!!!!

Paul Dempsey
54 Posted 02/01/2015 at 14:46:13
I’ve supported this team since my dad first took me to a vibrant GP in 1969... I have also lived through three or four near relegation seasons. In each of those relegation dogfights, what I worried about was lack of quality in our team, for whatever reason, not lack of spirit...

For the first time since OFM, I lay awake, unable to sleep, worrying about the spectre of relegation... let me say that again: RELEGATION! in 2015!!!! I cannot believe the board or the fans will allow us to lose our last remaining sense of pride... our stay in the top flight of football.

I am not a ’hater’ or a miserabilist, I take absolutely no joy in the current predicament and wish with all my heart I was disappointed about a mediocre midtable performance but we are in mortal danger – and if anyone thinks I’m being melodramatic, remember Leeds, Blackburn, Newcastle and Man City, Notts Forest all went down in the Premier League era....(some lesser clubs than ours to be sure) but all clubs whose fans believed that relegation was unlikely.

If Bill and RM think this is a ’mini slump’ and we’ll kick on and come out of this continuing in the same way, then they are deluded... Where is the fight, the passion the communal, club-wise belief??? And I include the many thousands of ’awayday blues’ who travel away at enormous cost and also our amazing home support — how many of us believe we have the nous under the current regime and circumstances?

I am preparing my little lad for the inevitable already... as if I hadn’t already cursed him enough with passing on the tradition of supporting this club and a mad passion for the blues whilst growing up down here in Manc/Villa/Shite land and him the only bluenose in his secondary school....

Act now, Bill, or we are surely down.

Gavin Johnson
55 Posted 02/01/2015 at 16:13:36
That's a really good post Paul, and I echo the sentiment that in previous dog-fights I've experienced, those being under Mike Walker and Kendall MK 3, it was always whether there was enough quality in the side; Gareth Farelly scoring the goal along with some help from Chelsea, says it all really! This side feels different, it has undoubted quality. I can't remember the last time we had three quality strikers at our disposal in (Lukaku, Eto'o and Kone) which makes the situation even more worrying. How can a team with such a wealth of talent play so badly?!?

A big red flag for me is the amount of veterans another year older. Howard, Distin and Alcaraz should not be in the side. The former 2 should not have been offered new contracts. I can understand it to a certain extent with Ossie and Hibbo because they're Everton through and through and I've been please with Hibbert this season and Osman can still make a valid contribution when played in the centre and for 50-60 mins. Also if it is to be believed that Distin has become a voice of dissent in the dressing room he needs to go with immediate effect. I feel like I am becoming Paul Dark – like in my criticism of Distin but he has not had one good game for the whole of the season and must be put out to pasture.

Gavin Johnson
56 Posted 02/01/2015 at 16:35:33
Sorry hadn't finished #55 post.

With someone like the Danish kid from Lille or Winston Read coming in as a replacement. This window is crucial for Martinez because if BK isn't going to back him with funding then there's no point him continuing.

I know it's going to be unpopular on here, but I'd sell Coleman if a large bid in the region of £25-30million came in. We could immediately buy Delboy and Montoya from Barca (a ready made replacement) and still buy Some one like Winston Read and a new goalkeeper. I'm a massive Coleman fan, but as I say. We need to bring in at least four players and get rid of the dead wood in Howard, Distin, Alcaraz, Gibson and Pienaar. I could go on with another four names but these are the biggest concern for me. Thankfully the two lumbering defenders are out of contract anyway in the summer.

Regardless of Martinez staying or going. The above need to go so we can bring down the age of the squad with some useful additions. I can't see Bill finding another £28M down the sofa. So someone needs to go for the greater good, probably Martinez, but if BK doesn't give him the chop we need to bring in some players ASAP if we have any chance of staying up under the current regime.

Mark Andersson
57 Posted 02/01/2015 at 16:30:05
Oh dear, for our captain to come out with this stinks of a cover up. Basically he has been told by his boss the Blue Bill boss no least. So fellow Evertonians suck it up Martinez has a stay of execution.

The more I read the more I get angry. I feel for you really die-hard fans. For me as an 11-year-old in the early 70s, I switched off from being born a blue. Then, out of the blue (no pun intended), my next door neighbour asked me to go to a match. That was in 1995... the love affair started again.

Now IÂ’m 54, dying of cancer, with no fucking hope of ever seeing the glory days again. Our captain is a shithouse like most of the fuckers wearing the blue shirt.

Ant Summers
58 Posted 02/01/2015 at 17:22:27
Mark 57, keep on fighting with your health... donÂ’t give in. Best of luck.

As for our captain, its all pish. Money can make you do a lot of things, PG has his price with EFC, I will be very surprised if we donÂ’t go down to a May showdown relegation. Hope youÂ’re around to see it. All the best.

Dave Williams
59 Posted 02/01/2015 at 17:31:05
Dreadful to hear that Mark and it makes it even more unpalatable that overpaid players can't be bothered to try too hard when it means so much to fans who have all sorts of misfortune to contend with.

My very best wishes to you!

Dominic Tonge
60 Posted 02/01/2015 at 17:51:52
I have to be honest here, but this is just another pointless spouting of drivel. I think we had all worked out the players and the manager are to blame. The thing I want is for a few of the lads who have had new deals roll up sleeves, and show a bit of steel. I can cope with us getting beat, but ; the toothless, insipid, uninterested, inept dross that has been served up of late : Thats not good enough, not for Us as fans, not for the club, and not (I hope) for the players themselves. Just put it right via performances: we seem to have gone from The school of science to the school of soundbytes. Stop frigging cryarsing and start playing.
Ian Burns
61 Posted 02/01/2015 at 18:01:48
Mark 57 - my heartfelt thoughts go out to you, keep up the fighting spirit, I only wish the players would do the same and feel for the club such as your good self and other true blues.
Brent Stephens
62 Posted 02/01/2015 at 18:08:31
Mark #57 - that's brought me to a halt. My wish is that you can see Everton turn this round and enjoy some good wins. Best wishes.

I would love the fans next week to shout one thing, continuously: "FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT."

Roger Helm
63 Posted 02/01/2015 at 18:22:18
All the best Mark #57 - don't let the current Blue problems get you down.

Turning to less important matters, Bill and the board will have to do something if the present malaise is no better by late January. Either get rid of Martinez, which I doubt will happen, or actually put their hands in their pockets and invest to maintain our PL membership. We have no divine right to be there; bigger clubs than us have been relegated.

The whole football world (apart from Martinez) is agreed what we need - a better defence, which means a proper CB and a PL- quality goalie. Also a defensive coach, as they are getting no help from Martinez.

In the meantime Jagielka needs to grow a pair, start demanding more effort from his team-mates and reminding them that they need to earn the right to play, as the saying goes

Colin Glassar
64 Posted 02/01/2015 at 18:54:23
Mark 57, mate your health is the most important thing. Sod the football just look after yourself and take care. Getting so upset by our poor season isn't worth it. You've just put everything into context.
Gavin Johnson
65 Posted 02/01/2015 at 19:43:36
Mark # 57, your post puts things into perspective. Look after yourself and keep fighting mate. All the best.
Helen Mallon
66 Posted 02/01/2015 at 19:38:00
My love goes out to you, Mark.
Paul Hewitt
67 Posted 02/01/2015 at 20:11:03
Mark@ 57 good luck with your battle mate makes a few bad results meaningless.
Kieran Riding
68 Posted 02/01/2015 at 20:31:18
I hope some players read this site Mark.
Good luck to you.
Steve Carse
69 Posted 02/01/2015 at 22:51:17
Roger (63) 'Bigger clubs than us have been relegated', by which I presume you mean Utd in the 70s. In any event when we go down we will be the most honoured club to have played outside the top Division.
Gerard Carey
70 Posted 02/01/2015 at 22:50:57
Mark, all the best mate. Keep fighting. These over paid players don't live in the real world, what are the odds if we lose to West Ham that someone else will be dragged out to offer some excuse as to why we lost.
Sean Kelly
71 Posted 02/01/2015 at 23:47:00
Mark take good care of yourself mate. These useless tests are it worth the energy. I hope someone can turn us around mate to give you some cheer. All the best mate
Mark Andersson
72 Posted 03/01/2015 at 01:37:45
Thanks guys for your show of support. This forum keeps me going, with all the different views. ItÂ’s certainly been a education. I love the humour, the wit, the anger, the love, but most of all the passion of the fans.

ToffeeWeb is part of my fight, so once again, thanks. IÂ’m hoping to be back in Liverpool sometime this year, a visit to Goodison Park is on, I want to be part of the famous Goodison roar like it was in the 80s.

Harold Matthews
74 Posted 03/01/2015 at 10:01:19
Mark. Keep fighting son. You're one of our family and we're all with you.
Darren Hind
75 Posted 03/01/2015 at 10:19:53
Mark

I too love the humour, the wit, the anger, the love and the passion.
I'm a big fan of courage too and you have it in spades fella.

Good luck with your battle.

Paul Dempsey
76 Posted 03/01/2015 at 10:45:53
Mark

All the best with the battle... if the sentiments of love and sense of heartfelt support is anything to go by, TW should give you a boost!

Also a genuine thank you for the much needed sense of perspective. I need to get out more often!

Wishing you well in your fight....

Andy Meighan
77 Posted 03/01/2015 at 14:13:19
Joe (#47) I doubt if weÂ’ll be playing Wigan next season... have you looked at the Championship table? More likely Charlton, Forest etc.

Anyway, all that aside, Kenwright has to act ASAP because the Spaniard might not realise it but this is serious – with a capital S! I don’t know who could save us.

I see Big JoeÂ’s name being touted with Duncan Ferguson alongside him but isnÂ’t the big fella part of the first team staff now? I mean heÂ’s hardly helped our strikers up to now, has he?

Maybe Royle could shake things up until the end of the season... who knows... but the game has moved on considerably since he last managed. I mean a Dogs of War style mightnÂ’t work given the way refs throw cards around like confetti WeÂ’d end up with 9 men every game!

The frustrating thing is us fans and the majority of pundits know the Spaniard has to mix it up and, as one poster said earlier, pack the midfield out, keep things tight, and scrape a couple of 1-0 wins. Admirable words and I couldnÂ’t agree more but we all know this stubborn fucker wouldnÂ’t in a million years listen to us because weÂ’re only the gobshites who put our hands in our pockets every week... Oh no, itÂ’s my way or the highway.

Personally I wouldnÂ’t bat an eyelid if we lost to West Ham... itÂ’s the Man City game IÂ’m worried about. We all know weÂ’ll lose that... so to the board: when does it constitute a crisis? As my mate put it earlier, "What do they want? Another Newcastle situation where they sacked the manager with 8 games left, then brought in Shearer when it was far far too late?" Please god, act know, because I am cacking myself.

Andy Meighan
78 Posted 03/01/2015 at 14:38:43
Mark. Sorry I hadnÂ’t read your post before I posted. IÂ’ll bet youÂ’ve more fight in your little finger than those cowards currently masquerading as a management team and professional footballers. Puts it all into perspective. Good luck from all of us, pal.
Kim Vivian
79 Posted 03/01/2015 at 16:46:43
"...sort of took the wind out of our sails....."? How can that happen when you're already in the Doldrums?
Mike Childs
80 Posted 03/01/2015 at 18:24:38
Better late then never. Mark, my heart goes out to you. May the soccer Gods smile on this club for you. Fuck the players and their caretaker.
Robert Duncombe
81 Posted 03/01/2015 at 17:40:20
Brent @62. That is a good idea, chanting "fight" continuously. Could that happen? How could you make that happen? That would be a headline wouldn't it:

"Everton, inspired by their fans with 'fight' in their bellies!"

Paul Dark
82 Posted 03/01/2015 at 23:20:32
Good luck Mark!

We are all behind Everton together (despite our different views) - and we are all behind you, mate.

God bless you!

Peter Mills
83 Posted 04/01/2015 at 22:08:11
Very best wishes Mark.

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