Atonement and another step on the road to redemption

Keep it going blues!

It is a credit to the manager that he motivated the players yesterday to put in a good shift, tackling, closing down and competing. Then letting their attacking talent win the game.

It is a total discredit to the manager that he failed to organise and motivate the team to do this against Swansea and Stoke where were simply far too open.

He must continue in this vain and not allow the team into the laissez faire shite we have had to endure because, when this team is motivated to compete and is defensively, few sides can live them.

Getting McCarthy back has been important; he compliments Barry, and protects the back 4 well.

Surely Robles has stated his claim to stay in goal. Interesting to see the keeper selection for the West Brom game. It would be a travesity if Howard plays.

COYB

The cup and a top 6 finish is still on, but the season could have had more for injuries to a number of those starting XI, and the manager insisting on playing Kone and Howard when clearly they are neither good enough.

Leicester are top of the league with the least number of used players. Sure they've had some luck with injuries, but football is not rocket science in keeping a winning side. The bench against WBA should be interesting.

I think it would be fair to say that none of these players are considered fan favourites but it was the inclusion of this trio that has brought balance to the side.

With the injury to Besic I suppose the inclusion of Cleverley was an easy call but fair play to the manager for picking Lennon and Oviedo in preference to Deulofeu and Baines.

I am chuffed for these three players. Lennon and Cleverley, discarded by Spurs and United respectively, and Oviedo coming back from that terrible broken leg.

These three all did well on the ball yesterday but the thing that made the difference for the team was that they pressed the ball and kept going for the full 90 minutes.

On that performance Baines, Mirallas, and Deulofeu are really going to have to fight to get back in the starting eleven.

Frustrating also that our best football should come in the league after the real prize has already escaped. Spurs and Leicester show that, if we had been well managed this season, we could surely be contesting the top 4 if not the title even!

Howeve,r I am always delighted to win, especially back to back, so credit to the lads and Martinez for making it an infinitely better weekend. A cup run could yet salvage this season and the last 2 weeks have proved what a lot of us have been saying all season; there is real talent in this squad and we have to use it well before the diamonds are inevitably stolen away.

It's such a shame that we could not do what Leicester did yesterday 11 days ago, it was a huge opportunity to bring a 22-year drought to an end! When one considers that Lennon could have been used in the last 10 minutes when we were chasing the game or as a direct replacement for Dulofeu, it's hard to take.

We have a big enough squad to deal with another crack at the Europa League and our aim must be to finish 6th, which after the weekend is a feasible target; if Manchester Utd don't win at Chelsea then they are another feasible target to catch. Unfortunately, the top four will remain the top four between now and the end of the season.

Two years ago, he exceeded expectations – particularly mine – by gaining 5th spot and, by so doing, set a new benchmark which he was not been able to replicate. We should not be surprised, such things have been happening forever. Just think Catterick post-1970!

The trouble is, we all demand miracles – and they do happen – just look at Leicester. But what pain there is in expecting them! Just because a team contains talented players does not mean automatic success. If it did, the talent purchased by 'the Sky clubs' would never be 'struggling' in the way they are this season.

So merely having 'the most talented squad since 1987' (not my view, incidentally) means little if they are not trained, coached, coaxed and set up to achieve RESULTS rather than display flair.

I, for one, never 'called' Moyes for his 'perpetual 7th' although the style could be a little turgid at times. If Martinez can repeat that feat as our entitlement and occasionally 'over achieve' as a bonus, I shall be happy to accept him as a worthy manager of Everton FC.

I know there will be no surprise taxi ride and He may well be here for the start of next season. So that to me means one game at a time until October.

I hope he has seen the light...permanently...but.

A frustrating season, more so from our manager than the team, generally we have the players to be a successful side but all too often the team selection and defensive coaching has been suspect. Playing players out of form, refusing to play others smacks of a very stubborn manager who cannot adapt well in game situations or mix and match to get results.

I hope he has got the message but honestly I await to see the team when Howard and Stones are fit...

Yesterday was a top level all round performance but he'll do something really annoying next week like put Howard back in goal........we'll be back to normal.

Last season it was possession, possession, possession. Getting nowhere fast with endless passing with no end product. Christmas had come and gone and RM was feeling the heat. Finally he started playing to the players strengths and we started to move up the table.

This season it has been attack, attack, attack. Even when games were all but won we have continued to attack instead of closing down games. It's cost us dozens of points that would have put us in the top four. On top of this his urge to relentlessly pick players who are clearly out of form or just not good enough (we know who they are) has once again put the heat on RM. Once again Christmas has come and gone and suddenly RM starts picking the right players in the right positions using the right tactics and we start winning and moving up the league.

Next season RM has to stop messing about with the side. No more experimentation. Pick in form players in their proper positions using realistic tactics and stop the fantasy football. The season starts in August not January and I'm sure we're all fed up with this pattern of playing catch up.

There's still an outside chance of making a european spot and winning a cup this season so we must hope for the best. But if this happens again next season RM will definitely have to be shown the door.

Lukaku only needs one more goal to take the title of our highest ever scorer in the P.L. era, he's now level with Cottee & Kanchelskis on 16 League goals already. I suppose that make it all the more galling we find ourselves in 8th spot.

You can't read any article on the Blues without the word 'underachieving' popping up somewhere - but that applies to about 70% of teams, because Leicester are top of the table in February, with a side that cost less than Lukaku! You can only hope we realise our potential, and manage to keep hold of our best goalscorer for a generation. Sadly, I think he will be sold for around £60-70m this summer.

Martinez has to shoulder the blame for sticking with players who clearly needed replacing, and our awful win ratio over the past 18 months, but let's hope he's proved he can be a little less stubborn over the run-in.

The shouts for the likes of Pulis, Pardew and Hughes have now thankfully subsided, my eyes were hurting reading those names and Everton in the same sentence. If we are to make a change, we should to be aiming a whole lot higher than those journeymen.

I am looking forward to our next game for the first time in a while, so I hope we can put the calamitous experiences of this season behind us. It has been like watching the Keystone Cops in our defence this season - totally unacceptable.

Swansea home
Stones/Howard cock-up
Swansea's second goal hand ball in the build up
Coleman's miss with the last kick
Besic & Kev's injuries

City away
No Besic
Deflected first goal
Terrible line-call for the second
Replacing Geri with Kone as a sub (when it could of been Kev M, see Swansea above)

If we had an extra three points and were in the League Cup final we would be celebrating, but that's football and at least the players & coaching staff have responded.

So let's get behind them especially Ross. The groans every time he didn't do something spectacular against Newcastle was worrying. He proved his bottle when he trotted 30 yards to pick up the ball and bring it back for his first penalty. He was taking it and no one was taking it off him.

On the previous occasions the Manager has reverted to type and I have no doubt this will also be repeated.

Like last season I do not think a mid to end season surge that basically stops us getting too bogged down at the bottom gives this Manager a free pass - or atonement.

If he keeps Howard on the bench after his "injury" and sticks with the players who are presently winning then I would see something of a tangible change in his so called philosophy.

The players presently performing deserve to keep their places regardless of who is on the bench.

Lets see, however, leopards don't change their spots

In Mahrez they arguably have the League's best player. Why will they be in a relegation fight? They have a bloody good team.

As for Stones, I feel he has just been taken out of the firing line. Perhaps playing through a slight knock. Either way, he will come back a better player and become the outstanding defender we all know he can be.

Hopefully Delboy is looking at Lennon as a tried and tested Premier League player and thinking this is how you play in this league when the going is tough.

I feared for us after the City game. The management and players deserve praise for the recent turnaround. This steel and determination has to be the blueprint for Roberto. Then and only then should he add the flair to complete the perfect team.

Roberto himself has to toughen up with players he has felt loyalty to. I do get that as we all appreciate loyalty in our work place from our own Boss too I guess.

But this is Everton and nothing but the best is good enough. We are not faraway from this goal. Roberto now has to deliver the FA Cup. We are good enough to beat anyone to achieve this...COYB.

What a dilemma for RM. I suspect our 'FEC ' will not be in the wings for long!

We have a run of games coming up that (on paper) should result in points on the board. If we can put a run together that includes a lot more wins than draws or defeats then I might be convinced, long way to go though.

I see some people are unbelievably talking about CL after that result. Can only laugh at that.

West Brom, Bournemouth and the RS up next. I'll hold judgment until we've safely navigated these games. 7 points, balanced team selection and I might start to be convinced.

I don't see why we should make Stones a better player for another club. Let them do it. We need to concentrate on Jags and Mori. We look more solid with them anyway and Mori is more dangerous at set pieces and corners than Stones is.

Look to the future. There are only 13 league games left. We are on a winning run so I don't see any need to tinker with the side. In the summer let Stones go to wherever he wants to and use the cash to buy cover for the aging Jags and bring in a GK because no doubt Howard will be on the boat back to the US of A.

'It's the hope...........'

Obviously, the big talking point is success and improved performance without Howard and Stones. or even Howard, Stones and Baines. I won't add Deulofeu and Besic because they had very little to do with 18 months of poor results.

Many will be pleased with the change of keeper but, for me, the big difference at the back has been the absence of Stones. A very talented inexperienced lad who stuck rigidly to the possession policy but was caught out and made to look foolish far too often. In contrast, if Jags and Ramiro need to hoof it, they will.

We now have a problem. If Stones, Jags and Baines don't play, they don't go to the Euros. Hodgson will be on the phone to Martinez who will tell him that all three will get plenty of game-time. Of course, pleasing Hodgson and keeping the fans and players happy will not be easy.

Besic, Coleman and Lukaku are certs for the Euros but Mirallas, Cleverley and Gibson need to impress. Not sure about Lennon and Barry. Good players but Hodgson seems to be building a young squad.

So where does that leave us? Ranieri tries to field the same Leicester team every week but Martinez will be pressed to make changes. Tough decisions to make which we hope he gets right.

As for atonement. Bit too late for those with great expectations I'm afraid. Personally I'm just hoping the penny has dropped and we continue to improve.

If RM picks a side that looks decent and we lose on the day, then fair play. However, he's consistently cocked up the selection and often only changes (for the better) when injury has forced his hand. The stoke result was a real surprise but I'm yet to be convinced he's learnt why the side is playing better. I.e. The likes of Howard and Stones are not in it! The defence seems more settled with much less farting about at he back.

Will be interesting when Howad and Stones are fit again..

I feel that he will bring Stones no matter what (to showcase his talent to Sky 4), possible question is Baines and his last Euro. Let's hope a few weeks away from first team football does JS a world of good, seeing how Jags and Mori do the job and then adding his own flavor when he returns (hopefully to no mishap).

Still, RM's job is to push us higher up the table first, Stones will have to wait if that needs to be the case. Will RM has the guts to do that? Or will he go back to showboating and try to showcase JS?

His past few poor games can't do his England credentials any good so if he's not back in form, I don't see why we should play him, because it will not only hurt us, but also his career.

Also some pertinent comments to the effect that we have been here before and will we revert to type after a couple of decent results.

The fundamental question is whether Martinez has intentionally and fundamentally changed our tactics. There were long periods during the Stoke game when we were pressing the opposition higher up the pitch and if the first tackle failed immediately this was followed up by another Everton player.

It wasn't 'keeping possession' that was the single one-dimensional mantra because it was coupled with a 'win the ball back as quickly as possible' approach.

Whether this change was related to the players brought in because of injuries is hard to tell at this stage. I don't believe it was. I honestly beieve (and hope) that Martinez has been forced to accept some of our horrible to bear capitulations arise more from apparently single basic doctrine that keeping possession is the truth, the light and the way!

Having said that, Martinez being Martinez, you always get the feeling that a couple more good results will see the old cappuccino- sipping press conference confidence comes creepin back with a predictable readiness to resume the 'Barcelona' project.

I am a happy man after the Carlisle, Newcastle and Stoke games. The next half a dozen games will demonstrate whether the leopard really can change his spots and whether Martinez (or Roberto as I will again be happy to call him) is after all the man who has it in him change our fortunes.

We've got a litany of goals that have been down to Howard, I would be interested to actually see how many have been down to Stones being caught in possession at the back, perhaps you could enlighten me because I'm struggling to think of many over the past 3 months. Please don't say the Swansea back pass because that was all down to Howard, who stood waiting for the ball for over 4 seconds whilst Ayew ran from the edge of the penalty area. Any half decent goalie would have cleared that ball comfortably. I can think of good play by Stones bringing the ball out from the back that have started a move off that has resulted in us scoring. I think there are areas of defending that Stones needs to work, but I think this argument that he's causing us to concede lots of goals by trying to keep possession is a myth.

The thing I like about Oviedo is his attitude on the pitch, a bit of the Besic about him and he is never intimidated or fazed by the opposition. Also his attitude off the pitch is exemplary. And he is only just 22 - another young gem. Same age as Byram. . . . . !

One of the best memories of the Martinez era thus far must be the shoulder ride of Distin after beating Manure at Old Trafford.

The biggest challenge for next season will be keeping the squad together and slotting in any potential new players. I will be pleased if we can keep hold of Stones, Lukaku and Mirallas, but if not, then I think a large chunk of the sales price will go for a 'keeper, a play-maker and another utility forward player as we seem to have a good cover on most fronts.

COYB / NSNO

In the last three games, I've noticed certain players taking the game by the scruff of the neck, showing leadership, aggression and organizing players around them. The two banks of four that confronted Stoke when in possession, could've been lifted straight out of the textbook. Is this a consequence of the managers instruction or the players? If we are to progress, it has to be a combination of both.

A minimum of an away win to our neighbours and against Bournemouth in the cup, will go some way towards convincing me that Roberto Martinez is the right man for the job. Great managers deliver, consistently and in my opinion that's the criteria for any manager of Everton.

As far as the future is concerned 'the proof of the pudding' will be in RM's team selection when all players are available and whether he insists on a return to a less pragmatic approach.

Last season we heard an injured Baines say from the commentary box after one of the team's limited number of victories that ' the manager will always demand a return to his preferred style' and Roberto has said as much himself no more than a fortnight ago. (' I will never change my principles in pursuit of short term results' )

But, come what may, I repeat my assertion that whatever we may desire, his job is safe as long as the budgeted 8th place is attained. And it will be.

Scoring goals is not our problem. We have now scored 64 goals in 33 games in all competitions which is a title winning rate. We have scored 3 or more on 10 occasions in just 25 league games. It is encouraging that our shape seems much more solid, whether that is through design or circumstance I don't care, as long as it continues.

I still think our strongest eleven sees Baines and Stones returning but have no problems continuing with yesterday's side.

Just the fact we could have a bench that reads Howard, Funes Mori, Oviedo, Besic, Niasse, Mirallas and Deulofeu shows the progress in quality of our squad.

I say, stick with this team until injuries, or loss of form, dictate otherwise.

I have enjoyed our recent victories but I believe they came about because Martinez has fluked upon a winning line-up and because we have good players. I still believe he is utterly useless.

Everton have to be congratulated in adapting to the poor conditions and especially disregarding the tippy-tappy at the back that the heavy pitch dictated that it would have to be tippy-wacky to succeed playing that style. We may have achieved by having a couple of injuries, eg, Stones and Howard, a more balanced side, and we will only notice if this is the case when both players are fit,nand if the manager brings them back right away, if we maintain this balance or we revert to our previous failings.

If we revert to the latter, it shows he has learned nothing and is definitely too stubborn to change. If we keep a balanced side, it will show that he is willing to adapt, and although it is late, will have dodged a bullet.

We need to be more ambitious than that.

If we can return to the 2013-14 model of compactness combined with incisiveness then we will be a threat. Next season I would like to see us play with only one withdrawn midfielder and find a proper number 10. As I say, West Brom will be interesting to see how our formation deals with Pulis who's held us 0-0 the last 2 years at Goodison.

I want wins at Anfield and OldTrafford. Bring 'em on!

He was also slowing us up. Walking with the ball then stopping and putting his foot on it. No wonder the crowd were getting at him. When Albrighton handled Coleman's throwin before sending the ball over to Okazaki for Leicester's 3rd goal, Stones was standing by the corner flag and no-one knew why. Against Stoke at our place, Bojan ran him ragged. He was too slow on the turn. Great on the ball moving forward but much to learn on the defensive side.

As for the goal-keeping situation. I didn't want Howard when he came from United and I still don't want him. He suits some people, fair enough, but he doesn't suit me. Strangely enough, I've voted him player of the season on more than one occasion despite him causing me to pull my hair out. Like all players he has his good points but his time with Everton is reaching the end. I hope big Joel keeps his place. He has sat on the bench behind Courtois, De Gea and Howard and deserves a run in the First XI.

Thus far Martinez has managed a 5th place and an 11th place, we are currently eighth and have a reasonable chance of finishing higher, we have reached a semi-final already and are still in the FA Cup.

Consider Moyes record over his first four full seasons in charge. He finished 7th, 17th with our lowest point score ever in the PL, 4th and then 11th. Phil Walling suggested the football could be turgid I think that is generous viewpoint. In his first four full seasons we had a negative goal difference in every single season. Yes we could defend but the evidence suggests we didn't really attack too much and still ended up conceding more than we scored.

Moyes got 11 years and benefitted from more or less loyal support from the crowd throughout that time. I think Martinez and more importantly the team deserve a little more backing at home at least for a while longer. We have lost once on the road this season and judging by the 'stick' that some players have taken at home particularly Barkley I am not greatly surprised that we are sometimes nervous at home. We do truly have a 'diamond' in Barkley, when a thief such as Man City steal that particular jewel we might then realise what we actually had.

Can I ask you why? What have they won given the years they have been managers? And what is their best position in the Premier League as a manager?

It is the previous contributors on this thread including yourself that have invoked the spectre of the ginger one

It must be admitted that we played a much depleted Stoke but the way we took advantage of their defensive problems, plus the desire for revenge at the Goodison loss meant that our display at the Britannia would have happened anyway,Most pleasing was the reaction of the national media to the game including many of our rival supporters who were generous in their comments,all in all a great day all round,COYB.

Praise goes to all the players and Martinez for the big defensive improvement and picking the same starting eleven. Lennon is showing tremendous work rate and Cleverly was a lot better than he has been.

Hopefully this is the start of a good run after the 2 earlier victories albeit at Carlisle and against the Barcodes. It would be nice to be bang in tune for the derby game and Bournemouth in the cup.

If we finished 7th would that be good enough for you? Or is that mid table? That position seemed to be good enough for many on here when Moyes tenure is considered. Martinez has thus far finished 5th, 11th and ?

Jose may have won many trophies but with the exception of his initial success at Porto he has been bankrolled at all clubs and this clubs have experienced success under different managers as well. I'm not sure Martinez is the right man for the job but he does deserve a reasonable amount of time to evaluate his performance. If we can finish 7th and can manage a further cup run I think he will have earnt one more year to try and win something. I'm not sure whether we are on the brink of something great or not, what I do know is that we were ready to get rid of our greatest ever manager just before we went on to taste success in 84, whilst another manager got 11 years without winning anything.

Roberto does not do that and plainly got 5th off the back of Moyes' drill sergeant approach still ringing in the defence's ears.

I think we're 12 points off top 4 and 12 points off the relegation zone. If RM scrapes top half I'd be happy, as that's his potential realised.

I am not arguing that times are different but continually changing your manager is as nuts now as it was back then.