Martinez remains cautious over transfer activity

, 28 January, 176comments  |  Jump to most recent

Roberto Martinez remains insistent that the key to turning around Everton's faltering season lies within the existing squad and not in trying to work what he feels is an unfavourable January transfer market.

With the Blues on a run of just one win in 13 matches and the squad depleted by both injury and the departure this week of Samuel Eto'o, many supporters have been waiting eagerly for signs that the club will look to bolster the team with signings before next Monday's transfer deadline.

With his misgivings about the January window already on record, however, Martinez has restated his belief that there is seldom value for money to be had in the middle of the season. Nevertheless, while he has ruled out buying a straight replacement for Eto'o and doubts that there will be any "significant business" done before the deadline, he has left the door ajar for late developments.

The Spaniard has already said that he is on the lookout for goalkeeping backup for the injured Tim Howard but confirmed that he would not be rushing out to buy "just for the sake of it." There has been speculation linking Everton with a move for Norwegian stopper Orjan Nyland, but if there is anything imminent on other targets, the media have not caught wind of it.

Martinez admits, though, that in addition to searching for a 'keeper, he and his staff are looking to see if there is scope to bring in a creative midfielder to fill the void created by injuries to Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar. His rhetoric remains cautious, however.

You never get value for money [in January], first and foremost, and you will not get players you have been following for a long time, Martinez says.

And if you want to rely on January to find solutions for your season then it is a big gamble. But we will carry on working.

With Arouna Kone being fully fit, I see him as a replacement for Samuel's position and it is more about trying to get the players back from injury."

Martinez's injury concerns have eased substantially recently, with James McCarthy the latest due back following his recover from recurring hamstring problems when the Blues return to action at Crystal Palace this coming weekend.

The Irishman has been missed over the past few weeks but it is the crucial creative engine that has been found particularly wanting in recent matches and that area of the team is likely to remain depleted by injury for the foreseeable future.

Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman have been two players missing throughout the season which has been disappointing because they are important in the way we want to play," Martinez continues, So I am looking around that.

January is not the place to find solutions. Our moment of form, we want to change, but the solutions are in the squad.

There are players coming back from injury to create the competition in the squad and I don't feel it is the window to bring solutions for us.

But saying that, we are trying to work as hard as we can.

 

Reader Comments (176)

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Anto Byrne
2 Posted 28/01/2015 at 06:23:18
Fantastic young defender in the Stones mould playing for Australia. Key to success according to Cahill is hard work and the will to win. Could do with some of that at Everton just now.

Cahill plays within his abilities and through sheer determination makes up for his obvious short comings. At 35 leading the attack puts our current crop to shame.

Peter Barry
3 Posted 28/01/2015 at 06:41:46
Do something, man, for God’s sake – don’t dither! Our Premier League survival is at stake.
Steve Guy
4 Posted 28/01/2015 at 06:48:43
Let’s see if they are good enough then. Win v Palace please.....
Darryl Ritchie
5 Posted 28/01/2015 at 07:25:38
To paraphrase RM’s manager babble: "If a decent player becomes available, we might try and bring him in, but don’t get your hopes up."

Personally, I sure would like to see Geri back.

Tony Hill
6 Posted 28/01/2015 at 07:21:57
We just have to see what happens against Palace and before the window closes. Both Pienaar and Osman have been on the slide for the last 2 years so it is worrying that the manager thinks them very important to our play. Neither player was ever going to be able to contribute consistently this year.

Not inspiring.

Stephen Brown
7 Posted 28/01/2015 at 07:37:28
When you really think about it we have an awful lot of deadwood. The mentioned Pienaar, possibly Ossie too, Alcaraz, Gibson and Distin. Even a number of the youngsters don’t look like making the grade.

The squad needs refreshing and the sooner that process begins the better even if loans are used in this window. It’s all a bit stale!

Matt Traynor
8 Posted 28/01/2015 at 07:46:19
- Doubts about doing significant business in January
- Not getting value for money
- Injuries blah blah
- So-and-so coming back covers for X moving out

Straight out of Moyes’s January playbook.
That’s not a dig at Moyes either – it’s just how we usually do business in January. If we can’t bolster a squad when 4th is on (last season under RM, probably 2-3 times under Moyes) then why expect it to be different.

If BK is thinking of a change, he wouldn’t do it now as a replacement would want money to make changes – there isn’t any. If RM is a dead man walking, he’s as likely to go in February as at the seasons end.

James Hughes
9 Posted 28/01/2015 at 07:52:04
"But saying that, we are trying to work as hard as we can."

Is he working as hard as Bill is in trying to sell the club? When we needed 6/7 players to help cope with the demands of Europe...

Paul O'Neill
10 Posted 28/01/2015 at 07:52:34
I think RM is being quite classy here actually. His usual
positive spin seems to clearly be defending the fact that Blue Bill and his unambitious skint board won’t provide any extra money. Top 20 clubs or not our commercial revenue doesn’t cut it. I’m sure that must be a big part of it...
Brian Waring
11 Posted 28/01/2015 at 07:53:20
"And if you want to rely on January to find solutions for your season, then it is a big gamble."

And when you’re struggling, Robbie, to score and win games, then not finding solutions in January for your season is a MASSIVE gamble.

Colin Glassar
12 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:09:46
Yes but no but maybe but probably not. Confusing.
Ian Hollingworth
13 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:05:10
Most of the fan base think Pienaar and Osman are past it and in need of replacement yet our manager thinks they are key to the way we play?

Either we have a clueless manager or some worrying spin on the state of affairs behind the scene. Frightening for us is that it is probably both!!

Kase Chow
14 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:30:17
If we’d bought a striker last January we may have clinched 4th.

If we don’t buy a striker this January we may get relegated

Yes, buying in Jan is a gamble – sometimes one worth taking Señor Martinez.

Phil Walling
15 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:31:09
Then I’ll oblige you, Ian @1 by paraphrasing Roberto’s words to say, "If you are looking at me to find solutions in January, you are looking at the wrong guy!"
Kieran Fitzgerald
16 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:35:20
I’d mentioned Darren Bent last summer as a possible transfer target. He’s barely played all season, goes to Derby on loan and scores three in two games. I know it’s the Championship and not the Premier League but it shows there are goals in Bent. Villa have been cutting costs over the last couple of seasons. How hard would it have been to get hold of Bent?

Ian Hollingworth
17 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:37:48
Sound of chair legs scraping on a hard floor followed by a nervous cough:

"Hi, my name is Ian and I am an Evertonian who thinks we could be relegated."

Let’s hope Roberto comes to the next meeting as change only happens once you admit / accept you have a problem...

Ross Edwards
18 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:45:31
Hmm. Bill has no spare change, I take it? Ah well. Kone and Atsu will have to be our phenomenal new signings when they return.
Trevor Peers
19 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:45:35
No surprise there then, his statement was that of a broken man, looks like the manager has had his wings clipped in preparation for the inevitable dismissal.
James Marshall
20 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:54:45
Why the surprise? Every manager says the same thing so what’s the big deal? What do you want him to say? "Yes, we have plans to buy loads of top quality players in January because mid season is the best time to buy". It isn’t, so he’s just telling it like it is.

Have we missed an on from Pienaar and Osman? Yes.

Have we lacked creativity in midfield? Yes.

Have we missed McCarthy? Yes.

Have we sold Eto’o and gained a fit Kone? Yes.

Have I missed anything?

David Chait
21 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:07:55
Unless of course the player’s contract is running out in June and this is the last opportunity to make some money... like the Ukrainan lad: Trasnfermkt list over £14M value... but with 6 months left, bargain time.
Lee Gorre
22 Posted 28/01/2015 at 08:50:51
Presume his belief that there is never value for money in January is based on bitter experience in signing McGeady.
Lesley Evans
23 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:15:42
Not very inspiring.
Tony Hill
24 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:32:37
James 20, it is plain that both Pienaar and Osman have little or nothing left to contribute on a consistent basis, so to describe them as important to our play, as though they were critical to our strategy and as though he has been thrown off course because of their absence, is disingenuous to put it kindly. It is that sort of nonsense, especially in our present situation, which has become so annoying about the manager.
Ross Edwards
25 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:38:05
Martinez has obviously not been given any money to spend. Usually when something like that happens when the squad is in need of strengthening it indicates that the board is pissed off.

Although Martinez is lucky to still be in a job. He must love working for an idiot like Bill. 1 win in 13 would be a sackable offence anywhere else. In some countries even 1 defeat in 6 is meriting of the sack.

I remember when Inter sacked Gianpiero Gasperini after just 6 games a few years ago. Martinez is lucky that he has Kenwright as his chairman and not someone like Abramovich or Daniel Levy. He’d have been sacked by now if they were in charge.

Ian Brandes
26 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:42:31
My iPad has just mysteriously deleted the text of the Martinez interview without any help from me.

Are supernatural forces at work here, or is it,like the rest of us, just weary of reading the nonsense that spews out of the manager’s mouth?

Denis Richardson
27 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:36:36
"January is not the place to find solutions" – as proven by the signing of McGeady!

Okay – a little harsh on old Aiden there...

Raymond Fox
28 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:42:42
I don’t think Martinez would be cautious if he was backed like Man City et al! This is Everton were supporting, and are guaranteed plenty of disappointments each season, it goes with the territory.

What do you want Martinez to say, "The Board’s told me there’s no or bugger all money available"?! You could of course blame Roberto for spending £28m or whatever on Lukaku, but that’s hindsight.

Anyone who thinks we are going down, there’s still 25/1 available! It doesn’t look like the serious punters fancy us to be relegated as the 25/1 been around for a few weeks now.

Trevor Peers
29 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:01:43
Ray 28. What will the odds be if we get 1 point out the next 5 games? On current form, that’s possible.
Sandra Bowen
30 Posted 28/01/2015 at 09:55:14
Pienaar and Osman have both been massive losses to the side. As frustrating as both of them are as players, they both have football brains and contribute much more in terms of being able to receive the ball in tight areas which the majority of our current side don’t seem to have.

The only other player we currently have who has the intelligence to pick up good positions and create space with movement is Naismith, unfortunately for us he doesn’t have the same technical attributes of the other two. His second touch is usually a header or an over-hit or under-hit pass into touch. Good finisher though.

Pienaar has been a huge loss, pretty much everything that has been good about our football over the last few years has generally been through his combo with Baines, Ossie and Fellaini.

As many have mentioned, we have huge and expensive holes to fill with the demise of our elder statesmen. Namely, Ossie, Pienaar, Distin and Howard, with his own individual loss of form. Big big job coming up in the summer for whoever may be in charge.

Sean Kelly
32 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:04:06
If you or I were on the board controlling money. Would you give funds to a guy who has 1 win in 13? The same guy who has wasted money on Traore, Atsu, Alcaraz and McGeady. This is the same guy that promised top four but now it looks like bottom four.

Would you give him money? I wouldn’t. I’d tell him he got three games to save his bacon and count himself lucky he’s still employed. Oh and by the way Roberto if the answers to our shitty form are within the club why haven’t you used those resources properly. What about Garbutt?

Dan Hollingworth
34 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:20:42
He is right: you never get value for money in January.

He signed Aiden McGeady on a free this time last year. What a rip off!

Clive Rogers
35 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:23:01
Sandra #30,

Naismith a good finisher? He has scored 2 league goals in the last 5 months and has not a single assist all season in all competitions. He never gets a shot on goal and we are out of the cup because he can’t even score from the spot.

Tony McNulty
36 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:35:14
If there are to be no new clowns injected into the circus, let’s change some aspects of the circus. We actually have some really good players in our squad – in some ways it is the strongest group individually we have had for years. But our style has been rumbled. There is nothing wrong with it; it just never seems to vary, and teams have found a way of defending against it, especially in the Premier League.

I believe things would improve markedly if we tried the following:

1) Mix it up occasionally, and certainly play to our centre forward’s strengths by letting him run onto the ball periodically, rather than expecting him always to perform with his back to goal (it isn’t his strength).

2) Practise defending set pieces, especially corners.

3) Practise some tactics when we get corners. The current "spray and pray" approach isn’t working.

Clive Rogers
37 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:36:52
Sean,

You’re right, he has shown no inclination to use youngsters, even when they have done well. If we don’t use Garbutt, rumour has it he could be playing for the RS next season.

Nigel Gregson
38 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:40:17
Tony 38 - excellent post. Probably the most succinct and analysis of the current situation. Add to this - some players coming back from injury will help - a LOT (McCarthy and Osman in particular).

Also we need to figure out a way to move the ball faster in the opposition half and be more unpredictable (like we were with Deulofeu in the squad last year).

Sam Hoare
39 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:44:44
The single biggest failing of our squad is the lack of a playmaker. Many good teams have at least one if not two or three (Chelsea- Oscar, Hazard, Fabregas).

Our closest imitation is Mirallas, who can makes things happen and he will be missed for that reason. Baines may be another but can have only so much influence from left back.

Sadly Barkley is just not there yet and may never be. He can beat a man and shoot but his passing is only decent and his vision and decision making are below the required standard. Naismith offers application, instinct and movement but again not precise passing or vision, or even touch at times. McGeady can actually make things happen but is mercurial at best. Pienaar is capable but mostly MIA this season and lacking a crucial yard of pace from two seasons ago. Osman as well is missed at times.

This is the reason we have failed spectacularly to turn our dominant possession and territory this season into chances and goals.

What scares me is that Martinez does not see this all.

Mark Andersson
40 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:18:32
Ohh all sounds pretty familiar. I have to agree with Sean Kelly.

Now I feel sorry for Martinez his dream is becoming his and our nightmare. As a TW addict, I love all this drama. Roll on Saturday, no matter the result, I still don’t think Martinez will be sacked.

I can only assume that the board are really big gambling freaks or, like Martinez, they live in a parallel world where we’re top 4 and all is well.

Andrew Ellams
41 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:49:31
I think we get carried away by Naismith because Evertonians have always loved a try-hard. He’s a good guy but not a good enough footballer for a club who want to be where we do. Saying that, if some of the more talented players had his work rate, then we wouldn’t be in the shit like we are now.
John Daley
42 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:52:45
To suggest that a fully fit Pienaar and Osman wouldn’t have been a part of the managers plans this season is stretching it a bit.

The two little shits are the only proponents of ’pass and move’ in the entire squad. Yeah, they’re both on their last legs and need replacing but, the fact of the matter is, they haven’t been as yet. Obviously there are bodies you can play in their place but none who perform the same sort of role.

Pienaar may not have been the same player since his switch from Spurs was made permanent, but still the most balanced the team has looked under Martinez was when he was out on the left with Mirallas on the right.

As for Osman not being important to the way Martinez wants to play? How many games did he feature in last season? The little Lilliputian has many limitations but he at least shows some imagination with the ball at his feet, finds little pockets of space and looks for a forward pass that might lead to an opening, rather than lazily laying it off to whoever might be nearest and then staying marooned to the spot.

Neither player is among my favourites and I’ve criticised them both in the past, but I don’t know how anyone can claim we’ve not missed their contribution to a midfield containing less cool heads than Idi Amin had chilling next to his fucking packed lunch.

Sandra Bowen
43 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:52:13
Clive, fair point on those stats but I do still maintain that he is a decent finisher. Maybe I’m clouded by the goals that he has scored have been good finishes. The assists though echoes my point about him being pretty useless with his passing.
Ant Summers
44 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:45:10
He should have said.

"I have had a meeting with the board, and after an in depth look at my dealings in the transfer market, the board decided I was not fit and proper to sign players, therefore I have to mend and make do".

Bottom line for me, he will be sacked after the LFC or Chelsea game (or maybe before for a lift). We will lose both of them in our current state, and I have no confidence on turning Palace over.

BK playing a good financial game here, you have to applaud him on that, the transfer money will pay the compensation.

Brian Waring
45 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:52:52
The problem is though, Nigel – Pienaar and Osman have both been out injured for awhile; they are going to need a fair few games to get back up to match fitness... time we haven’t got.
Bob Heyward
46 Posted 28/01/2015 at 10:50:12
Brian, Brian, Brian...do I detect a rather entrenched, pro-Martinez worm starting to turn? Was that almost a criticism of the your Bobby?

Slowly, far too slowly, are you actually starting to get with the programme?

Matt Butlin
47 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:06:27
The Villa fans at work are saying that Charles N’zogbia tweeted (and deleted it quickly) about a new start at Everton yesterday.
Graham Morris
48 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:05:19
Here’s a solution.

Man City offer £30 million + add ons etc for Barkley on deadline day. BK accepts and upsets/ undermines Martinez. He sulks and resigns with a reasonable agreed payoff. Joe Royle plus Sheedy come in short term to sort the mess out. We should survive then with the current players we have. Of course would anybody offer anything the way Barkley’s been playing?

Clive Rogers
49 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:12:50
Sandra,

After a decent start to the season, he has been useless at everything for months.

Sam Hoare
50 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:12:57
Really Matt? That would be depressing in my mind. A player who can’t do anything for a team even more destined for relegation than us?

If true then what is Martinez’s obsession with ex Wigan players. It’s like he doesn’t trust the scouting unless he has worked with them...

Andrew Clare
51 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:13:34
Can’t start a fire without a spark and we sure do need that spark!
Matt Butlin
52 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:26:17
It seems real. I’ve seen a screen shot of the tweet.

Raymond Fox
53 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:02:49
Trevor 29, you could well be right about the results, nothing’s going our way this season. All the more reason to take the 25/1 on offer.

I pretty much agree with all that Sam 41 and John 44 say in their posts. In regard to Barkley disappointing, he seems to me to have the physical capabilities but my impression of him when interviewed is there’s not much happening up top.

Brian Waring
54 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:25:50
Bob, if we go out against Palace on Saturday, playing the same tactics that all and sundry have sussed out, then I’ll start having to seriously reconsider if Martinez is the right man for the job.

Hopefully though he will lose his stubbornness and change things around; the first thing he should do is stop trying to shoehorn Barkley and Naismith into the starting 11 and all my doubts will go out the window.

Nigel Gregson
55 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:32:28
Brian - I agree, add Darron Gibson to that list also. Wow that’s three players who are crucial to this pass-and-move type play, but haven’t played for vast majority of the season. Instead we have been trying to push Barkley/Barry/Eto’o/Naismith in the midfield.
Anthony Hughes
56 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:26:10
No more money until Sky bring the goodie bag in the summer. No TV money, no players bought.
Tony Abrahams
57 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:50:43
Kenwright always plays a cracker, Ant.
Andrew Laird
58 Posted 28/01/2015 at 11:59:02
"Our moment of form, we want to change, but the solutions are in the squad"

Well Roberto, we have currently played 31 games this season and I cannot remember any "phenomenal" performances. Maybe these "solutions" include NEVER including Naismith and Barkley together and playing wide players, errrm... Wide?

31 games and still not finding a solution in our existing squad is professional negligence.

Steve Carse
59 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:05:06
Anthony, with all respect, I don’t think clubs get their Sky money and then immediately spend it all and then have to wait until the next season’s payment comes in.
Nick Wall
60 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:08:31
I know there’s still time for someone to come in – but it’s sad to see how little time it’s taken for Martinez to ditch the commitment to end every transfer window stronger than when we started it, and sad that so few fans are holding him to account over this.
Björn Håll
61 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:13:19
The difference from last year when we were a top club is that all other teams no how to play us and form/self esteem of the players we got. What we need is alternatives. We need to be able to change tactics both between games and within games. To do that our manager, who I believe is really good, need to get out of his comfort zone and make use of the staff. And we can add players that are different - creative midfielder, lightning speed striker, Pippo Inzaghi-type, lightning fast defender. But as RM says - don’t do anything in haste. At least 75% of the solutions are within the current sqaud and staff.
Bob Martin
62 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:19:28
Clive,

That is very harsh on Naismith, the lad is a workhorse and has consistently shown energy and enthusiasm for the cause all season – you might say minimum requirement and I agree. If you want to look at stats compare him to the rest of them and then see where he sits. He started off the season very well and faded a little after his injury but for me if we vote now he is my player of the season!! That might sum us up at the moment but don’t blame him for us being out of the cup, blame the whole team for not turning up in the first game till the 85th minute..

Nick Page
63 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:43:09
If we end up with fucking Charles Insomnia that is it for me. No more. I sincerely hope that is one fucking wind-up.
James Stewart
64 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:48:15
What a load of bullshit. Konoplyanka for less than £5M is an absolute snip. They wanted £20M not so long ago for him. We are virtually 3/4 men down on the squad we had last year. No Gerard, Pienaar, Osman and now Eto’o goes.
Brian Waring
65 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:49:22
I like that, Nick: "Charles insomnia" – supposedly the twitter thing was someone fucking about, hopefully!
Iain Thomson
66 Posted 28/01/2015 at 12:59:15
A creative midfielder, like Ryan Gauld who was £4 million and has now after few months in reserves broken into Sporting Lisbon’s first team and scoring and creating goals... gutted. He was a bargain with huge potential.

I expect a depressing loanee and nothing more. 20th richest club – fucking soul destroying

Nick Page
67 Posted 28/01/2015 at 13:09:06
The money goes somewhere, Ian. Best to raise the issue at the AGM. Oh, wait...
Nick Entwistle
68 Posted 28/01/2015 at 13:36:27
Mark 8 says straight out of the Moyes playbook. Absolutely. But this is under the new broadcast deal.

Show me the money!

Paul Ellam
69 Posted 28/01/2015 at 13:50:25
The old Moyes saying re-surfaces - "we go with what we got".
Pity.
Jim Bennings
70 Posted 28/01/2015 at 14:10:30
You don’t get value for money in January? But paying a madly overpriced £28 million for Lukaku in summer and somehow coughing up loads to make Barry’s deal permanent is good value for money? Hmmmmm....

Smacks as desperation from Martinez and blind hope really that this current crop which has failed dismally since August will be able to turn this wreck around. I think we are two injuries to key area’s short of being one of the clear favourites for relegation.

Just say we don’t win any of our next three league games? It may not happen but just say it does? The next three are Palace, Liverpool and Chelsea, then on February 22 is a game at home to Leicester... These next four matches could have a massive say in our future and surely the future of Roberto Martinez.

Andrew Ellams
71 Posted 28/01/2015 at 14:30:46
Jim, follow that Leicester game with consecutive away matches at Arsenal and Stoke and we are looking at potentially being deep in the proverbial by mid March.
Anto Byrne
72 Posted 28/01/2015 at 14:03:30
Relegation could well bring the Kenwright Dynasty to an end. All the years of searching for a new owner, new investment and a new stadium will have a dramatic effect on the club if we go down. There is a real possibility that we can get sucked down just like Norwich last time around and they weren’t that bad when you consider who did stay up.

Who knows, we could be ground sharing with the likes of Wigan (not like it’s that far away) in the lower leagues. Everything sold off to cover debts and going into administration where they take a whole heap of points off you just to make sure you go down (Pompey anyone) while the likes of Garbutt and Browning strut their stuff in the big time.

My wish is for a manager that will play to the strengths of the team, maybe someone with that top 4/5 experience to take charge. Who?
The other Spanish waiter maybe, but we are a small team so maybe not. Anyway, a manager whose surname does not start with an M.

Terry Downes
73 Posted 28/01/2015 at 14:42:39
Jim (#72),
Everybody goes on about £28 million but I heard it was £24M plus add-ons?

Either way, he’s only 21; if he scores 15/20 goals in the next couple of seasons, we should get our money back at least... so it’s no that bad?

Will Firstbrook
75 Posted 28/01/2015 at 14:53:37
"And if you want to rely on January to find solutions for your season then it is a big gamble. But we will carry on working."

Precisely the reason why you avoid putting yourself in that position by properly planning and reinforcing the squad in the summer. Jaysus!

If he honestly believed that Osman and Pienaar were to be the creative lynchpin in midfield for this season, then I despair. Both have been great servants to the club, no doubt, but both have been on the decline for a couple of years.

I think we all knew there would be no replacement for Eto’o. Clearly a "luxury" this team couldn’t afford.

As for the hope that BBS will return this weekend with a new plan/ strategy/tactics for the match against Palace, don’t hold your breath. Having Macca back in the squad is a massive boost but he is not going to solve our goal-scoring drought. Also, the benefit of his inclusion in the starting XI will be offset by playing Barry along side him instead of Besic (you know this will happen). He will be spending the majority of his time covering for Barry when Palace press with pace (and you know this will happen too).

I would love to see the gaffer prove me wrong here.

Andrew Ellams
76 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:19:26
Imagine the delight of the shite fans in 10 days time if our players are booed off at the end.
James Joseph
77 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:11:02
Terry (75), I understood that the £28 million included the £5 million loan fee we owed for having Lukaku the previous season, a similar fee to that paid by West Brom the season before. In the murky world of football finances it’s probably only the accountants that really know what’s going on but knocking off the £5 million brings it roughly into line with the fee Everton suggested they were prepared to pay the day before Chelsea grandly announced the higher figure, which no doubt helps them in their battle with FFP regulations.
Ross Edwards
78 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:36:35
Will, does BBS stand for Bobby Brown Shoes or Bobby Bullshit?
Max Wilson
79 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:20:06
Yeah, Saturday will be the day of reckoning. Our decent players and our "try-outs" have all been away together in the sun for a
little holiday to get over their recent stresses...

Stresses? The awful tactics, the players out of their best positions, the missing skilled colleagues, the poor results. They will be back and the fans want to see Fortress Goodison and inside, a pack of hungry blue wolves. If they don’t get what they hope for there will be a huge loss of faith. Toffees fans can’t take much more disappointment.

Trevor Peers
80 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:32:44
Andrew (#73),

IF we can’t find a win in our next six Premier League games we will have equalled our worst run of games – 12 when Mike Walker was in charge!

God forbid.

Simon Lloyd
81 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:38:46
Anto (#74)
We might as well ground share with Wigan, at least half of the team will feel at home!
Mike Price
82 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:43:41
Lots of money goes on over the odds wages to average or old players, or others who put up with our location because it’s not London or Manchester. Naismith is the classic example, we just gave him a 3 year extension and he’s a Championship player. He tries hard and had a short purple patch but he is a very poor premiership player. Howard, Hibbert, Barry, Osman etc are others on contracts way beyond their worth.

We sign players and they quickly become liabilities, more often than not.

Sam Rangle
83 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:02:48
So, I ask, if this manager isn’t fit enough to spend a bit of dosh while the ship is sinking (mostly bc of him) why is he still around??

I’m also with Anto here #74 signing old players to long contracts and not developing our own youngsters was always going to have the effect we are seeing now. We were always going to IMPLODE and that time is now.

We have 4 days to bring in someone. Not just for quality sake but to show the existing players we care and want to win. Remember, if we go down, the players don’t necessarily come with, they move on and we sink, alone, as fans, with the club and hope somehow we come back before we do a Leeds

Victor Jones
84 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:46:14
I know this is Everton, and to be honest I don’t expect anybody of any great significance to come in this transfer window. But it is hard to read what Martinez has said. "the answers are within the squad". This has come from a manager who when his team was getting beat 2-0 at half time, he reckoned that no changes were needed and that all was well and that his players would turn everything around. We went on to lose 3-0. What a bloody master stroke.

No changes made then and no changes made now. Really inspires everybody with confidence. Lets just plod on regardless and cross our fingers and hope for the best. Heres a thought, how about forcing the issue and start making things happen. Bloody pronto.

Ps. The match above was the defeat to Southampton. Which all us Evertonians want to forget. Last comment, the upcoming derby will, in my opinion, seal Martinez’s fate , one way or the other.

Daniel A Johnson
85 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:00:51
It the mangers job to get the best out of the players.

When you see the so called talent in our squad its obvious Martinez hasn’t done that and in my oppinion hasn’t been doing his job properly.

He can stuff his beliefs its his job to extract the maximum from the players not to alienate and confuse them and strip them of their confidence.

He’s an arrogant man of questionable ability. His face says it all he’s looking down the barrel of a gun only Kenwright has no bullets.

Jim Bennings
86 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:57:52
Terry

Maybe, time will tell regarding Lukaku of course but just 2 league goals since the end of October is not suffice for a striker that cost so much money, football is not a game where patience is not displayed.

McManaman signs for West Brom for under 5 million?

At such a low fee that might have done us, we need a wide player because Mirallas won’t be here in 6 months, Pienaar is closer to retiring rather than inspiring, McGeady is well, McGeady, and the fact Martinez is even suggesting Atsu can inspire a team in a relegation battle concerns me no end.

McManaman is 23 and has potential.
He was Man of the Match when Wigan won the F.A Cup Final.

For me it’s the type of signing you’d have seen Moyes make, a player that has something to prove after dropping down or being at a lower level, ala Cahill, Lescott.

Ant Summers
87 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:59:22
If we loose at CP, He May be sacked on Tuesday, just to late for the transfer window. Would not surprise me if BK done this. Maybe a lift before the Derby and Chelsea. Plus no lose situation for New manager to take over after the Chelsea game. Jobs a gooden for BK, winner winner.
Matt Butlin
88 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:09:16
N’Zogbia looks to be coming to us on loan maybe to free up wages so Villa can bring in Scott Sinclair. Who they’re apparently talking to.
Nigel Gregson
89 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:11:11
Jim Bennings - I quite like McManaman also, and was surprised Martinez didn’t try to get him, given the Mcmanaman is also an Evertonian. I can only imagine that we don’t know something that he does, having worked closely with callum in the past.
Raymond Fox
90 Posted 28/01/2015 at 15:51:09
Anybody that thinks that Martinez or any other manager, would turn up the chance to buy 1 or 2 class players when his job is on the line, if he had the money available better think again. Would you?

The usual suspects will finish in the top 6 positions this season, Southampton have been getting great results but I’m willing to bet they will drop away.

Regardless of your opinion of Martinez, any manager of ours each season starts with one arm tied behind their back. This season shows what a outstanding job Moyes did in the league over the last 9 or 10 years.

Anthony Lamb
91 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:08:30
I hate to mention this but having watched last night’s game between Chelsea and Liverpool the thought of facing either of these two sides in the coming days can only fill me with dread. Compare the pace, technique, drive and energy from both sides; the quite superb technique of Hazard and to a slightly lesser extent Coutinho; the pace of Sterling, and the finishing ability of Costa (loathsome though he is) and one gets the picture.

If either of these teams play with the same level of intensity against Everton as they did last night, then one can only hide under the settee. The thought of Everton’s pedestrian, woefully aimless leaden football trying to cope with performances such as this – let alone cause them any concern – is quite chastening. Perhaps the only hope is that, such is the stupor that characterises Everton’s current approach to the game, it may well send opponents into the same boredom that Goodison’s faithful have been experiencing so far this season... and completely throw them!

If there is not a sudden re-emergence of energy, purpose and commitment from the Blues in these matches, then the goal difference that currently separates us from the other poor sides against whom we are having to fight to avoid a threatening relegation will not be looking too healthy. And this is not even taking into account the little matter of another visit this weekend to the capital, where we always perform wonderfully well... don’t we?

No, I am afraid that the next two weeks will be the ultimate wake-up call for all who have responsibility for addressing and solving the sorry mess that Everton have become this season. Let us hope that the "warm weather" training (is this for real?) has something of the miraculous about it!

Michael Kenrick
92 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:39:26
And so, Ray, by that confused logic, last season must have showed us just what a poor job Moyes did in the league in the preceding 9 or 10 years?

Oh no, not that boring argument again? Can we never just move on? MOYES IS GONE! (But don’t tell David Prentice!)

Nigel Gregson
93 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:53:26
Anthony Lamb - I hear what you are saying. But perversely, I think we have a better shot at these teams than the KITAP teams. The game was dire against West Brom, but it was because we were up against a team that kept 10 defenders and one man up for the entire 90 minutes allowing us to hold possession, but get no space. We are a lot more threatening when we can counter with pace and use Ross / Lukaku / Mirallas etc.to their strengths.
Ian Burns
94 Posted 28/01/2015 at 16:10:58
John Daley - Idi Amin didn’t have cool heads next to his packed lunch they were IN his packed lunch!

It beggar’s belief that BK has left matters on the RM front knowing we are going to get so little out of the upcoming 6 games.

Either he is a super optimist; has his head buried in the sand or finances dictate his hands are tied.

Whatever the reason it doesn’t change anything and we are heading into the abyss without so much as a fecking parachute in my opinion

Raymond Fox
95 Posted 28/01/2015 at 17:08:36
I don’t see it as confused logic Michael. I’ve never been a lover of Moyes, and steadfastly supported Martinez since he arrived, some might say overly supportive.

Yes, Roberto beat Moyes in so much that we earned a record number of points last season, but that’s one season only, maybe we were lucky as well as playing good football!

This season, I would argue that we have had little or no luck come our way which has certainly not helped our position. There’s still going to be comparisons between what Moyes achieved and what will be Martinez’s legacy, that’s inevitable.

The Premier League is a money race basically, and credit where it’s due Moyes did keep us consistently competitive for the time he was here, and on peanuts relative to the money clubs.

Jim Bennings
96 Posted 28/01/2015 at 17:36:05
Martinez talks of not making panic buys in January but surely he should have been planning for this transfer window from the autumn when it became apparent that the team looked jaded and lacking in ideas and creativity, coupled with the usual injury crisis.

It should have been careful planning not a case of panic buying.

He’s got one decent wide player at the club, Mirallas, he can big up Atsu and McGeady all he wants but we as fans are not thick, we can see a player that has made an impact or could make some kind of difference.

Martinez has had a very poor 6/8 months really.

Gareth Fieldstead
97 Posted 28/01/2015 at 17:37:28
Ian (99) I think he will do as he did with Smith. He will give him as long as he possibly can to turn it around whilst aknowledging that he has to give a new manager enough games to save us from the drop. Between 8 to 10 games remaining would be my guess. If there is money available he will give him it, again like he did with Smith when he signed Linderoth and Carsley.
Jay Harris
98 Posted 28/01/2015 at 17:38:03
Expect Nsomnia coming in as the only arrival.

That should send us all to sleep watching him run into defenders but there again he can play cards with all the other ex Wigan players as they make their way to the Championship.

Mike Hughes
99 Posted 28/01/2015 at 17:38:06
Raymond -

This ’luck’ thing is a load of rubbish. You were referring to our lack of ’lucky’ goals (deflections etc) on another thread the other day as though we should be due our share but have missed out.

We are where we are because we are crap. And, in my opinion, we are crap because of RM who has us less than the sum of our parts.

And the same goes for this lack of resources argument.

Any club / business works within its resources to get the best out of them. RM’s dereliction of duty started pre-season and his head has been stuck firmly up his own backside ever since.

The buck stops with the highly paid manager (the one who I get the impression believes Dave "Did I mention I broke my leg?" Whelan’s assertion that he is destined for great things on the European stage and is using EFC as a stepping stone. Unless that stage is the Eurovision Song Contest, I think he’s way off the mark.)

But this obsession with luck smacks of delusion.

Clive Rogers
100 Posted 28/01/2015 at 17:45:40
Bob, #64,

He has zero assists all season so he is bottom of the pile. That is not acceptable for an attacking mid. Another stat is that he hasn’t had a shot on target for three months. I have been watching him closely for the last few games and he has been absolutely dreadful. The energy thing was true at the start of the season but recently he is plodding about and never gets a tackle in.

James Byrne
101 Posted 28/01/2015 at 17:45:49
I’m just about to depart Dakar, Senegal and I haven’t had much chance over the past 3 weeks to absorb the TW latest post’s so I’m a little out of sync news wise.

I’m sitting here with a cold bottle of Flag reading some of the posts and I’m now getting really concerned regarding the long term future of our great club.

Is the Palace game another so called "Watershed" moment and how many do we need to determine the competence of this fool of a manager. If Watershed Moments were the equivalent of "Cats Lives" we’ve surely ran out of ours weeks ago?

Mike Hughes
102 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:01:34
James -

Nice bit of name-dropping there.
Did I mention I’m off to Tenerife on Saturday? :)

By the way, the Cat’s Lives analogy is spot-on.
I can’t believe RM is still here.
If he had any decency he’d have walked.

I’m just waiting for the next excuse: "The warm weather training was incredible. But we didn’t get the result we deserved because it was so phenomenally cold at Selhurst Park / GP. If it was warmer, it would have been amazing."

Mike Oates
103 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:06:34
if anyone watched last night’s Chelsea vs Liverpool match, they would have realised that we have fallen so far behind them both. Movement with pace, pressurising all game, solid defending, excellent attacking. If Martinez had watched that he would realise we need at least 2-3 more quality players in our team, strong centre half, creative midfielder and attacker with pace. Bill find the money !, start with one in January.
Colin Glassar
104 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:14:42
Every January it’s always the same story.
Raymond Fox
105 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:10:20
Mike 104, if you’re saying that luck/chance doesn’t play a part in every happening on this planet you’re the one that’s deluded, what about someone killed by a falling tree or a lottery winner, it plays a part alright.

On resources, if they don’t count, why are the rich clubs consistently occupying the top league spots? They don’t spend £100’s of millions for the fun of it, do they?

Ant Summers
106 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:24:44
Colin. January is always cold in England, Everyone is Skint, a depressive mood falls on Goodison Park. Yes January is always the same, however, whereas nights get shorter, the cash flow improves, The current mood around Goodison Park will last for some time whilst Bobby BS remains in charge.
Trevor Peers
107 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:18:59
Colin - Martinez (1 win in 13 games) is moving ever closer to repeating Mike Walkers disastrous record in the 1994-5 season of 1 win in 16 games which seen him dismissed and Joe Royle take over as manager. So I think this January is a bit different.
Darren Robinson-Cooke
109 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:36:39
Martinez for me is full of contradictions and that is scary, he seems to constantly contradict himself and backtrack on things previous. It is like he has no idea what he wants to do and just spins bullshit to the media and fans with his nice guy persona, but we are not soft and are onto him.

We all thought he was the messiah last season but this season has showed him as stubborn, indecisive, narrow-minded and scariest of all oblivious to what is unfolding before him on the field and in training. The man is sleepwalking us into the Championship with his brand of ineffective football and I fear for our club if left till the end of the season.

Bill Gall
110 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:33:52
Gareth #102

BK was only a board member when Walter Smith was let go. The Chairman at that time was Sir Phillip Carter who was the one that hired Walter Smith, and if you read Smith’s story on Wilkipedia you may understand why he hired some old has-been players. BK may have been the major shareholder in the club at that time and he may have had some influence on other board members but it is the chairman that fired Smith.

BK took over the Chairman’s position in 2004; Smith was let go in 2002.

Mike Hughes
111 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:33:53
Raymond - no offence but you are talking utter nonsense.

You say: if you’re saying that luck/chance doesn’t play a part in every happening on this planet, you’re the one that’s deluded, what about someone killed by a falling tree or a lottery winner, it plays a part alright.

Er, where did I say that in my post? I didn’t – I made the point that you repeatedly refer to our lack of luck in defence of Martinez. By it’s nature, luck isn’t evenly distributed. But you seem to want to pre-plan for it. In any case, have you not heard that you make your own luck (by playing to your strengths, ie, getting the ball into Lukaku quicker might do for a start)?

You say: On resources, if they don’t count, why are the rich clubs consistently occupying the top league spots.
They don’t spend £100’s of millions for the fun of it, do they?

Er, where did I say that in my post? I didn’t. My point about finances was that to refer to a lack of resources for where we are is garbage. The manager’s job is to get the best out of our resources – RM patently isn’t. If it was simply down to finances (thankfully it isn’t), should we even bother to turn up? For reference – see where the relatively rich NUFC have finished compared to ourselves the past 10 years.

Be my guest and have the last word, Raymond.
No offence but I’m not having a debate when your basis for discussion is blind faith, clutching at straws, wishful thinking and delusion – all in defence of RM.
No logic, no evidence to underpin the argument.

Anyway, have a nice evening.

Jim Bennings
112 Posted 28/01/2015 at 18:52:56
Martinez is stating that "Pienaar and Osman are so important to how we play"

Pienaar has hardly featured since Martinez got the job, and has scored something like one goal in 18 months, if it was the Pienaar of old I’d say ok yes fair enough, but he’s clutching at straws.
Even Osman, he’s injured, it’s highly possible he won’t come back and he’s 34 in May anyway.

Does Martinez really think we can put our faith in these two fellas?

He goes on about players returning will make a difference...But who??
There is only James McCarthy who is a regular starter.
Gibson? Don’t make me laugh.
Atsu?. Oh please Roberto.

It’s right, he just contradicts stories and basically if everything he spoke in his first 6 months at the club made perfect sense then the last 8 months or more he’s been full of bullshit.

Ross Edwards
114 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:01:59
I wonder if this is the beginning of the end of the Martinez era? Because this latest crap is definitely a lot less convincing than his usual pink fluffy clouds, everything is fine propaganda.

The board are clearly not happy with him and are not going to give him anything. We need 2 or 3 players but he has been given no money so tries to spin some bullshit about Pienaar being important despite hardly even getting on the bench and the likes of Gibson and Atsu having phenomenal impacts or whatever rubbish he said.

I think we’re seeing the end folks perhaps. And I think Bobby Bullshit knows it too.

Colin Glassar
115 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:04:28
Ant/Trevor, I’m talking about our lack of transfer activity most January’s. As far as I know, our managers don’t control or dictate the amount of money available for transfers, so you can’t even blame Mike Walker on that one.
Jim Bennings
117 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:21:30
I think the cracks started showing with Martinez in about January last year.

It all started with that naivety in the Anfield Derby playing Stones right back and displaying a total disrespect for the defensive side of that match against the Shite, we could have lost 8-0 that night but got lucky.

Then there was the whole Lacina Traore business..

Going to a F.A Cup quarter final away at Arsenal with a keeper so short of match practice at that time (Robles) and dropping your usual number 1.

The pissfarting around in Brazil over the summer and getting into a spot of bother whilst there.

The cracks have just widened since then.

Victor Jones
118 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:10:54
McGeady, Kone, Alcaraz, Atsu, Barry (one good half season). The big fella who scored a back-heeler and was never heard of since. Robles, and maybe Lukaku (not quite sure yet if he is good value). Not exactly setting the footballing world alight, are Mr Martinez’s signings?

And yes, I admit he has a few hits to his credit, but IMO a lot more misses. I realise that even the best managers can sometimes get things wrong, but Everton cannot afford too many mistakes. I don’t trust Martinez with his so-called football philosophy (look where it has taken us). And I don’t trust him in the transfer market (even with a limited budget).Far too many let downs supporting Everton, and in this modern game nothing will change unless Everton can ever attract proper money. I’m resigned to that fact.

James Stewart
119 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:23:02
(119) I think there is some truth in that. We will have limited funds as everyone is aware so with that in mind would you really give it to Martinez to blow this month? I think they will wait and see how things pan out. Poor performances in the next 3 games will see him gone. Especially if we get done in the derby I can’t see him surviving that.
Raymond Fox
121 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:14:49
Mike 116, your not having a debate, your resorting to childish insulting because I don’t agree with your points of view!
You started with your first reference to rubbish and delusion,
if you disagree say so, you don’t have to insult anyone.

Your giving your opinion as if it indisputable fact, which of course its not, there many reasons why teams lose matches which are not under the control of the manager that’s all I have said, I’ve given you a couple, if you disagree tough.

As far as your parting shot goes, thank you I will.

Ian Burns
122 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:30:57
I have said numerous times on TW that I posted prior to the opening game of the season an open letter to RM highly critical of his pre-season debacle and that it would come back and haunt him.

My concern about this man being out of his depth serving his apprenticeship at our great club has grown ever since. I am no longer surprised at his team selections; substitutions (or lack of them in the Southampton game); his embarrassing diatribe in front of the media - but I am surprised he still has the best job in football.

I am so upset he is still manager of EFC I would give up drinking my Bombay Sapphire if he would reciprocate and piss off tomorrow

Andy Crooks
123 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:54:29
Martinez really cuts a ludicrous figure. He parrots an endless stream of utter nonsense that makes him look increasingly ridiculous. He really must go.
Ross Edwards
124 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:01:15
I agree James. A particularly heavy derby defeat could be the end of Bobby. The aftermath could be too toxic for Billy’s liking.
Will Firstbrook
125 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:13:22
Mike Oates 108 - that game was also a reminder how little bottle we’ve shown this season when things turn nasty. That first half, in particular, was quite dirty and I am not so sure some of our lads would have the stomach to deal with those tactics for 90 mins. I’ve seen enough of them shit out of tackles this season that I cringe to think what will happen when that thug Costa decides to put the screw in our back four!

On the other hand, maybe that is precisely the type of game we need to pull everyone together? They certainly need to find some edge to their game if they want to pull away from the scrap heap at the bottom.

Tony Hill
126 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:03:41
There is an emptiness at the core of the whole club at the moment which really worries me, an air of paralysis around the place. Gibberish from RM, total silence from the board. I’m not surprised the Sampdoria chairman was baffled because I am too. Who is going to get us out of it, where is the heart of Everton?

We’re like a band of zombies and you can feel it when you go to Goodison.

Somebody has to take it all by the scruff of the neck and shake us into life. Don’t know who.

Mike Hughes
127 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:55:36
I’m sorry that you took offence Raymond.

However, just read my post again and didn’t think it was offensive at all. Surely I’d have been ’moderated’ if it was?

For the record, I didn’t like my own post (104) being taken massively out of context (110) - it clearly was.

And since when has, "Anyway, have a nice evening" been ’a parting shot’?

I didn’t realise we were such a sensitive bunch on here.
But no offence intended.

Darren Hind
128 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:05:28
"There are players coming back from injury to create competition in the squad and I don’t feel its the window to bring solutions for us " WTF?

This has to be his most idiotic statement yet (Despite some fierce competition)

Does this Moron believe we wont get any more injuries?

Ross Edwards
129 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:16:03
Even I am running out of defences for him Darren. I think we’re reaching the end, and I think Bullshit Bobby is finally realising that we are seeing past his continuous propaganda crap.

Lose badly in the derby and he is out.

Ant Summers
130 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:11:27
Odds for Saturday, 2/1 CP 2/1 the draw, 6/4 EFC, The bookies seem to think we are favourites. Cant agree with that.
Jim Bennings
131 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:17:03
Wow!

What a free-kick that is from Christien Eriksson, what a player he’s turning into for Spurs this season, and that’s what you call a proper dead ball specialist, when’s the last time Baines did something like that for us?

How I’d love a midfielder at Everton like Eriksson.

Kevin Tully
132 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:14:58
Tony #131 - completely agree. We have been rudderless for many years now. The structure for the past decade was based around Moyes, he had total control of all football matters. Now we are deep in the shit, there is no-one there to kick some arse, and get everyone back in line.

Bill is a full-time theatre producer based in London, and is the only board member who has any real say. Elstone is just a messenger for Bill, so he’s not going to get involved on the footballing side.

That leaves the manager to his own devices, and we all know how that’s working out.

We are desperate for some leadership - but it’ll never happen with this board, the have never wanted any interference in the club, good or bad.

John Keating
133 Posted 28/01/2015 at 19:51:35
Raymond 100 — another to put a lack of luck as a reason for our being in the position we find ourselves in. So, based on this, Hull, West Brom, Leicester, Burnley and QPR are even unluckier than us. Chelsea, ManCity, Stoke and Newcastle are above us because they are luckier than us??

Raymond, is it possible that we are in this position because we are playing absolute shite? We had no pre-season and got off to a shite start. Our tactics have been abysmal and our team selections have sometimes defied logic. Substitutions – or lack of them – have been mystifying. Our manager sometimes speaks in foreign tongues.

No, maybe the above has got nothing to do with our present position. It’s just us being the 12th unluckiest team in the League. No doubt we’ll get the "We’ve suffered bad injuries to players" posters on now too.

Ant Summers
134 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:23:47
Yes Jim, a very good goal. Spurs picked up a manager who had a winning mentality at Saints. No favouritism, no big heads in his teams. Two good players in every position, great work ethic, won more games 2-1 than anyone else, tells its own story.
Denis Richardson
135 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:26:16
Ant, normally don’t go against the bookies but there’s something odd with the odds in general at the minute - excuse the pun...

Everton and Villa are far and away currently the two worst teams in the league on form. We’ve only managed one win in 13 odd games, just sold Eto, have numerous players long term injured and we’re just 4 points above the drop zone with Chelsea, Arsenal and RS coming up shortly.

Taking all that into account, you can get a massive 33/1 for us to go down! All the promoted teams are quoted odds on for the drop so I can only assume that the bookies don’t think we’ll come close, despite how shite we are, simply because other teams are considered even worse.

Betting against your team is obviously off side but if I were a betting man and not an Everton fan I would jump on MASSIVE and lay us against Palace. We may not lose the game but I just cannot see how we’re going to beat a rejuvenated palace, at their ground, with a new manager, who’ve btw won their last 4 games in a row!

Just can’t see it, even with McCarthy back. Unless Bobby found some magic beans in the desert!

Colin Glassar
136 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:41:47
They have the money to get two good players in every position Ant. We don’t. It’s a sad fact of life that we (under this board) can’t compete even with the likes of Stoke and Hull. Blame that on Martinez as well if you like (not you Ant) but we are in the bottom half of the table, investment wise, and it’s starting to show.
Jim Bennings
137 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:44:30
Ant

I agree, and I think we are starting to see quite why Spurs always want so many midfielders, they are coping far better now as the season has progressed mainly because they have quality like for like replacements when they get injuries.

Whereas with us, injuries to the likes of Mirallas or Coleman and your quickly playing square pegs in round holes and players of a lesser quality.

Ant Summers
138 Posted 28/01/2015 at 20:44:02
Denis they picked up Jordon Mutch today for about 5 mil. Zaha signing permanent deal, plus other players getting signed before deadline, CP mean to stay up, and I bet they wont give us a minutes peace...pass pass pass from the back wont be allowed, They will pummel Robles with high balls, yep if I was not an EFC supporter, the 2/1 looks big for CP, As for the 33/1, that could easily be in single figures in 3 games time.
Colin Glassar
139 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:03:45
I think Steve Parish might be a bit richer than our own beloved Chairman Bill, Ant. Plus Parish has some very wealthy backers who actually know where their pockets are. Unlike the cardboard cut outs who sit on our board.
Tony Abrahams
140 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:02:38
Talking about quality, then I thought Everton had much more than Spurs a couple of months ago at White Hart Lane.

What we couldn’t match was there intensity. Look at Kane, then look at Barkley. Ross has a lot more ability but Kane has much more desire in his game.

Confidence is massive, and I just hope this break has given us a chance to take stock and get back on track. Let’s fucking hope so anyway!

Ant Summers
141 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:10:02
I know this for sure, if we get beat by CP, and the shite beat us next Saturday night, there will be no place to hide for that board. Teflon Bill wont know were to go.
Colin Glassar
142 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:20:48
He must be chuffed that his manager is taking all the flak Ant while he dedicates his time, and money, to his west end shows. He gets a free ride in the press and takes most Evertonians for mugs. I am watching you Bill.
Jamie Sweet
143 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:34:18
I see that the lad who scored two against Spurs tonight has a middle name "Everton".
Will Firstbrook
144 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:38:38
In light of the fact we usually crap out in London and CP are firing on all cylinders at the moment, I’d say a point there would be a good result (pains me to type that).

However, knowing the arrogance of ’smell-my-farts’ Pardew, he’ll likely fancy having a run at us which may be to our advantage. If they park it to nail us on the counter, we’re screwed.

Jim Bennings
145 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:42:04
What a match that was!

Anyone who belittles the League Cup clearly has no experience of the sheer adrenaline and atmosphere once you reach the Quarter Final stage.

Like I say, imagine a semi final 2nd leg at Goodison?..40,000 under the floodlights??

Make a change from the usual September exit and the "oh can’t be arsed, let’s concentrate on the league " attitude...

Dave Williams
146 Posted 28/01/2015 at 21:24:01
No manager will broadcast his intention to buy in advance as the price shoots up. It’s why so many deals happen on the final day. Clubs desperate by then to get some cash in, maybe to fund another player coming in or clubs wanting to move someone on. If we don’t bring in someone decent then I will agree with everyone else but I will keep my powder dry til then.

Some memories can be very convenient as regards players - McManaman did play well in the cup final but has not been a regular since for Wigan so would surely be another gamble and guess what - if he didn’t impress Roberto would be slated on this site yet again for buying another ex-Wigan player!

On paper our squad looks good but we still have 10 players aged 30 or older plus Gibson who is too prone to injury. Take that lot out and we clearly need to strengthen and hopefully a few youngsters will be given a proper chance when things improve.

The two big misses have been Ross and James - Ross has had a poor season and looks unable to cope with playing in a struggling team.

As others have posted the derby is the watershed - lose at CP and then lose playing badly against RS and action may then be taken. I really would love to see him turn this around but we need to see positive signs against CP to inject some confidence in time for the derby.

Come on you blues - show some fight!

Colin Glassar
148 Posted 28/01/2015 at 22:11:30
Good post Dave. We need a few more cool heads right now.
Colin Glassar
157 Posted 28/01/2015 at 23:27:17
Phil S, don’t waste your time mate. Indifference is the best policy and one that hurts the most for the attention seeker.
Paul Smith
160 Posted 28/01/2015 at 23:31:37

Totally off message but this never fails to have me in stitches:

https://vine.co/v/MrKHt2IEMPP

Bob Heyward
164 Posted 29/01/2015 at 00:35:37
Ah....ok. Thanks Mike
Mark Andersson
165 Posted 29/01/2015 at 01:39:57
Good morning TW. As I’m ahead of you guys back in the UK but behind with the latest news. If as some of you say that the quote in post 171 is a blame game by Martinez, then it’s just another indictment of how deluded this manager is.

Can – or, better still, – do the players have it in them to go and perform well in the coming games? Are they deliberately playing shite to get shut of the deluded one?

I cannot see this team changing. The false dawn of the West Ham and Man City games was soon put back into perspective against West Brom.

I have been educated the last 12 Months by reading every post on here. The overall picture does seem all rather desperate and the signs are it’s not going to get better anytime soon... What ever happened to the boastful Martinez quote of top European teams wanting to loan us their up-and-coming stars?

Was the loan of Astu part of Chelsea’s demands when we bought Rom? He has certainly not made the impact that the Barcelona kid made last season.

If I was as deluded as our manager, I would be quite confident that we would get good results in our next three games. But the realist that I am says we will lose all. Those odds are bloody good; I think the bookies will lose out on that one.

Bob Heyward
166 Posted 29/01/2015 at 10:33:32
Spot on, Mark. The Atsu loan is suspect, adding a year of his wages to the Rom’ deal - oh yes, we got skinned good and proper on that one!

And yes, despite what a couple of people on here would have you believe, West Ham and Man City were false dawns. Personally, I see these games as evidence of the players playing for pride (Man City) and trying to salvage the season (West Ham). Why? Both games were replete with player quotes talking about challenging the manager to change the system, and also evidence of players playing their natural game and dumping Martinez’s phenomenal foolosophy.

His time is up. Virtually all of us can see it. It was up after the Christmas disaster. All we’re doing now is wasting valuable time. My worry is if he scrapes a win at Palace, it starts the BS machine off again and we waste more time.

I think we’ll only get shot after Arsenal in four-games time, a point that I predict we’ll be on less points than games played... worrying.

Barry McNally
167 Posted 29/01/2015 at 11:03:34
RM News Conference this morning: Asked if there is any truth in rumours that Everton have been offered Dimitar Berbatov, now at Monaco, Martinez put his best poker face on.

"I know you love to throw names out but I’ll never comment on other players. He is registered with another club so I won’t comment," said the boss.

The interviewer didn’t give up, adding ’does the same go for Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall (another rumoured target)?"

Martinez replied: "Is he registered to another club? Then yes, no comment."

Jim Bennings
168 Posted 29/01/2015 at 12:42:29
Barry, where did you hear that interview?
Kieran Riding
169 Posted 29/01/2015 at 12:57:27
Well at least we’re not signing Fletcher from Man Utd. Surprised he’s gone to West Ham though?
Brian Wilkinson
170 Posted 29/01/2015 at 12:59:12
For once, Martinez is right about bringing in players, we could bring in 4 new signings but will do little to the boring tippy tappy play.

I would much rather stick with what we have and change our tactics, than sign players that will be just as wasted, playing this awful style of football.

Phil Walling
171 Posted 29/01/2015 at 12:51:32
It’s seemed a very quiet window throughout the game although we can expect a flurry of loan movements late Monday.

With Roberto’s job very much on the line, he may be allowed only to bring in a goalkeeper – let’s all hope it’s a good ’un!

Kevin Rowlands
172 Posted 29/01/2015 at 13:13:57
I’d take Berbatov in a heartbeat if true. A proper forward who would offer us a lot more than Naismith. I honestly believe we’ll turn things around starting with a win this weekend.

As for the derby, we will have played one game in the previous two weeks, the RS four games including extra time in one of them, surely that will help us or am I being deluded?

Phil Sammon
173 Posted 29/01/2015 at 13:26:18
Oh yeah, I can just see Berbatov harrying defenders and chasing down lost causes.

The fans would have his head on a stick after 25 minutes.

Kevin Rowlands
174 Posted 29/01/2015 at 13:43:37
I’d bet he’d bag a lot more goals than our current forwards, Phil. Fuck harrying defenders, we need to score more frigging goals, he’d be better at that than what we’ve got for sure.
Anto Byrne
175 Posted 29/01/2015 at 13:51:04
We are sticking with this system until we get it right. I’m looking forward to playing Vauxhalls in the conference – does that count as a derby?
Ray Roche
176 Posted 29/01/2015 at 14:11:13
Yes, Kevin, you’re being deluded. The’ll also have a fully fit, raring to go Sturridge just to make our pedestrian back four look, well, pedestrian.
Barry McNally
177 Posted 29/01/2015 at 14:17:25
Jim (176), it was on BBC Sportsday Live: http://www.bbc.com/sport/live/30515291
Kevin Rowlands
178 Posted 29/01/2015 at 14:29:52
Sturridge may be fit, Ray, but he also won’t have played for 3 or 4 months so he’ll be rusty I would think. I don’t think our back four has looked too bad the last few games and Robles is starting to look a lot more confident. It’s scoring goals and creating chances that’s lacking right now.
Ray Roche
179 Posted 29/01/2015 at 15:06:42
Kevin, you and I may not have played for years, certainly in my case, but I think we might cause them a few problems! True, Sturridge has been missing, but it’s a Derby game for Christ’s sake. Rush would add to his tally if they game him a game.

Can you tell I’m not confident?

Robles has looked a better keeper since he’s had a bit of a run of games. Might save us some money if he keeps it up.

Victor Jones
180 Posted 29/01/2015 at 14:41:17
Bringing in someone like Berbatov would be fine with me (but only short term-about 6 months). He might bring something different, and score a few goals. Remember what Jelavic did for half a season. And yes, I know they are different players, but they are both poachers. (don’t remember Jellyfish tracking back that much either).

So to sum up, Berbatov would be a good signing, but only if played in his proper position and also the rest of the team would need to get fast service to him. And no stupid long contract.

ps: I thought that Samuel Eto’o would have also been good for Everton, but for whatever reason that didn’t work. Its a bit hit and miss with that type of player. But a few goals from Mr Berbatov might just calm a few nerves. Especially mine. COYBS

Ross Edwards
181 Posted 29/01/2015 at 15:12:18
Berbatov? People slate Barkley for being lazy but if he ever came here he wouldn’t last 5 minutes.
Andrew Ellams
182 Posted 29/01/2015 at 15:23:28
And Berbatov is 34, we don’t need any more of Dad’s Army.
Sam Hoare
183 Posted 29/01/2015 at 15:27:43
Berbatov?! Lord I hope not. The only thing he can do is put away chances and we are not creating enough of those. He would be behind Lukaku and Kone for me in the lone striking role.

We need a pacy winger and/or an incisive playmaker midfielder to put Ross out of his misery.

Seems like we will be getting no-one much but if we lose against Palace there may just be one or two ’panic’ moves at the last minute.

Ross Edwards
184 Posted 29/01/2015 at 15:38:51
I can’t see us getting anyone unless RM contradicts himself yet again and does a massive U-turn.
Andrew Ellams
185 Posted 29/01/2015 at 16:02:03
We shouldn’t get too hung up on what managers say his close to the deadline. He wouldn’t be the first or last to say deals are unlikely and then bring a couple in.
Will Firstbrook
186 Posted 29/01/2015 at 16:41:42
Berbatov? Last time I saw him play with any regularity (have to go back a ways) he always struck me as someone who chose to play when it suited him. Showed flashes of brilliance but would go anonymous for long stretches. Sounds an awful like someone who we just parted company with.

As someone noted earlier, we don’t really need another poacher, we need someone to get the ball to the poacher we already have.

Though the thought of Berbatov blowing cigarette smoke into Bobby’s face during one of his incoherent ramblings would be priceless!

Will Firstbrook
187 Posted 29/01/2015 at 16:51:53
With the news of Mutch signing with CP, Kev better have the ankle braces on for Saturday’s match.
John Malone
188 Posted 29/01/2015 at 17:04:58
Tick tock, tick tock, all around us clubs are doing deals to bring freshness and another option in their dressing rooms to elude the drop or push up the table, what are we waiting for?

We have three long term injured old timers and have just let go another attacking option go, so that’s four less than the start of the season when Bobby said we needed six to contend with everything this season. We are out of the domestic cups have been woeful in the league and are in a relegation battle when we should be challenging for european places and in my eyes got lucky with our results in the Europa, why are we not making signings to improve the team to ensure we have a better second half of the season? There has got to be money we are in the black for the first time in years so why is the manager not doing everything to bring in a right winger and a creative mid!
Ross Edwards
190 Posted 29/01/2015 at 19:39:40
If we don't sign anyone, we won't finish higher than 14th at the most. Palace have bought and are in good form under Pardew, WBA have got McManaman and I'm sure Pulis will add one or two more, Villa have got Gil and Sinclair, I'm sure the likes of Sunderland will add to their squads, and of course, deadline day is also the perfect place for Del Boy Redknapp to pull something out of the bag.

Jackie Barry
191 Posted 29/01/2015 at 19:47:16
Totally agree, Ross, yet some think we have a phenomenal squad.
Gavin Ramejkis
192 Posted 29/01/2015 at 21:18:13
Think we all knew Martinez was losing the plot over his stubborn repetition of gameplay, not caring a fig for corners, paying no attention to our alarming defensive frailties and his arrogance over subs retaining players on the pitch despite them glaringly being the weakest link.

Since then he's had the gall to criticise supporters who have continued to pay good money and travel hundreds of miles to watch his turgid dirge offerings, and to come out with shit like Kone is an ideal replacement for Eto'o and that the clearly finished Pienaar and Osman are the players to reignite our season. We have less points on the table than Wigan had when they were relegated and not even a glimpse of where our next points are going to come from.

We have problems on the pitch and they are being ignored, ageing and underperforming players that need replacing, formation changes and a big rethink. Over to you, Roberto and Black Bill.

Bob Heyward
193 Posted 29/01/2015 at 21:19:53
@Ross, I think 14th might be well beyond us! I hope you're right but, at the moment, I just can't see beyond 28-points at game 28 – and that's my optimistic view!

Denis Richardson
194 Posted 29/01/2015 at 21:27:26
Berbatov? Why are people talking about Berbatov, is it April already?

No striker is going to score in our team at the moment unless they pick up the ball on the half way line and dribble all the way to goal. Our main problem is related to creating chances and this stems mainly from the slow build up play and lack of proper midfielders playing in the AM places.

We desperately need a creative attacking midfielder (either wide or central) not another striker. Even if we needed another striker, a 34 year old Berbatov - really? We're not that desperate surely. I'd rather play one of our kids.

Steve Cotton
195 Posted 30/01/2015 at 00:12:09
The trouble is that Kenwright knows fuck all about football so he has as much idea how to remedy this collapse as RM. Sitting in the Boys Pen comparing action transfers does not qualify you in any way to make decisions that affect every Evertonian on the planet, yet there he is, humming the tune to Dreamboats and Miniskirts in his sleep...
Jackie Barry
196 Posted 30/01/2015 at 04:07:24
Yeah but Bill can never be wrong, the buck stops at the manager's feet, even though Blue Bill chose the manager and is responsible for goodness knows how many other messes. The irony.

Blue Bill... save us: save us, Blue B ill!

Alan Bodell
197 Posted 30/01/2015 at 14:50:52
Steve (#201), my love for our club was cemented in there and oh those days eh?

With McCarthy coming back we can batter our way back up the table I'm sure.

Marc Hints
198 Posted 30/01/2015 at 16:26:16
I have just been on the Sky Sports Transfer Centre and again not one post about Everton FC. It's the same every year when we all get excited about the transfer windows and Everton are never there. Today there was Hull, Leicester, West Ham, and Aston Villa all signing players to bolster their squads and nothing from Everton.

I started to think how long it has been like this and being disappointed every year when it comes to transfer windows. The clubs above are supposed to be the small clubs and we are supposed to be one of the big clubs – or have us Evertonians been dreaming this for the last two decades and are we in need of a reality check?

I think it was only a matter of time before Everton get found out and we will be trying to survive staying with the likes of the teams above.

Does anyone else feel quite depressed with Martinez' press conference yesterday about we have a squad that he needs to work with to turn the season around? Haven’t we heard the same stuff from Moyes? Is this a BK way of saying we have no money so to pull wool over our eyes tell Martinez to say this when asked about transfers?

I for one get excited about transfer windows but with Everton it seems to get depressing.

Lee Boylan
199 Posted 30/01/2015 at 17:26:26
At the start of the season we all thought this is are strongest squad in a long time. Funny how things turn out, isn’t it...

McGeady not good enough;
Atsu not worth the bother;
Distin past his best;
Alcaraz was never good enough;
Naismith a squad player;
Barkley a good prospect yet to come good...

And Roberto thinks we don’t need new recruits in January??? Get Reid and Inches in – at least they know what it means to be a blue... And get Big Nev in as keeper coach — we won’t be lacking fight then.

We all live a blue and would give are all for OUR club.


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