Dismal Blues show zero desire and lose at home again

A bright Everton start is snuffed out by an early Arsenal goal from Welbeck.

Michael Kenrick 19/03/2016 185comments  |  Jump to last

Muhamed Besic is the replacement for Gareth Barry in a line-up that doesn't feature any other changes from the win over Chelsea.
Everton 0 - 2 Arsenal

Everton reverted to type, letting Arsenal, who have failed in the FA Cup and Champions League in the last week, slaughter them in the first half. Mo Besic, on in place of Gareth Barry, who serves the first part of his two-match suspension after getting sent off against Chelsea last weekend, was particularly poor and got hooked at the break.

For Arsenal, Alex Iwobi made his first start as a Gunner and scored. Danny Welbeck also started for Wenger's side who had only won one of their last eight games in all competitions. Brendan Galloway returned to the Everton bench as defensive cover after a long spell back with the Under-21s, while Kevin Mirallas was absent, serving the last portion of his two-match ban.

Everton kicked off and started well, Coleman getting down the left, crossing and eventually getting a corner that was very low and Coleman did well to clip the ball just outside the park-end post. At the other end, Welbeck got in close before Besic whacked it behind off the Arsenal man. Everton attacked with Lukaku crossing for Barkley who could not get his head on it. Funes Mori then had to give up a corner that Gabriel tried to volley, well over off his shin.

Sanchez got forward and crossed to Iwobi who took a fraction too long and was closed down but Welbeck was next to break the Blue line after some clinical Arsenal passing and he went around Robles to score with ease. From the restart, more slick Arsenal passing cut the Blues apart but Iwobi shot straight at Robles.

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The Blues were suitably stunned and tried to batten down the hatches, but Arsenal's energy and determination had them looking second-best to every ball. Baines went on a good run but was chopped down by Bellerin. From the set piece, the delivery by Baines did not beat the first man.

Lennon tried to clip the ball forward to Lukaku but he was blindsided by Gabriel. Arsenal continued to look very fluid with the ball but the Everton defence were keen not to concede again, Baines stealing the ball well. But hesitancy when in possession was maddening for a crowd who wanted a much stronger reaction. A poor midfield giveaway saw Arsenal advance and win another corner that came to nothing.

Barkley finally took a shot that was blocked, and Besic then fired in a decent shot that Ospina parried along the byeline. A ball to Lukaku was too easily intercepted, setting up yet another Arsenal advance. Lukaku did win the next aerial clearance but it went lamely to an Arsenal player.

Barkley made something of a stuttering break and Cleverley crossed but a long way from Lukaku but winning a corner that was just abysmally delivered by Baines. Coleman did well until his cross was easily intercepted. Besic did well in defence and then tried a clever ball forward with the outside of his boot to Lukaku that went straight to Gabriel.

Robles cleared the ball long for Lukaku who was beaten again by Gabriel. Lennon went on a good run but passed straight to Koscielny. The turnover saw Arsenal attack and Sanchez going down amidst screams for a penalty after contact first from Besic, then a dive over Funes Mori, so not given. A tremendous cross from Monreal was handled well by Jagielka. Funes Mori was strong to head away.

Another laboured Everton attack won a corner that Cleverley looked to have lifted but it again was headed away by the first defender. Another cross was played toward Lukaku but Gabriel again had the Big Man in his pocket. McCarthy tried to run through but it was blocked and seconds later the long ball over the top to Iwobi was fired under Robles and into the back of the Gwladys Street net for a shocking second goal to the visitors.

Lennon tried to volley in from a corner, high, wide and horrible, underlining a shockingly poor first-half performance by the FA Cup semi-finalists, as Arsenal surged forward once more, Iwobi dancing in again and shooting wide. Everton's only response was long hoofed balls that Lukaku had to watch bounce away from him, as boos rang around Goodison at the break.

John Stones replaced Mo Besic, who had not had a very impressive half, to give Everton a back three and allow Coleman and Baines to advance. Stones was required to make a defensive clearance early on, which he did with his usual confidence.

Everton tried to get the ball forward with pace but an overhit pass saw Arsenal in possession again. Lukaku had a good run down the left and cut in but fired his cross without looking up at an Arsenal defender. Barkley played the ball behind Lennon, and poor clearance of a bouncing ball saw Stones almost let in Welbeck but he recovered well from his mistake. Coquelin tried a potshot from distance, well way from the Everton goal. Robles cleared into touch as if he was playing rugby.

As Arsenal tired, it still looked like Everton had played two games this week, not the visitors. Lennon got free, but his cross was farcical. Everton were getting more possession but doing very little with it. Baines was next to poorly overhit his cross. Lukaku again could not beat Gabriel.

Stones was very strong defending against Koscielny but another Everton attack ended in an awful cross from Baines straight to a defender. Coleman fired in a low cross that Lukaku, Gabriel and Ospina went for, Ospina coming off the worst and needing treatment.

Everton won a corner with Ospina still struggling but Jagielka unchallenged headed over when he should have scored, and Everton then failed to press off the next corner. Cleverley lashed an off-target shot straight at Gabriel. Everton had some better pressure on the Arsenal area but nothing came of it as a bearded Deulofeu replaced Barkley. Coleman and Coquelin had words after a little clash.

Another ridiculous ball lofted up to Lukaku only saw Arsenal craft another attack and win a corner as they seemed to recover some energy against a seriously lack-lustre Everton side who were offering little to nothing. More corners to Arsenal, Giroud heading in ahead of Robles but Clattenberg remarkably calling a foul on Jagielka.

Arsenal broke and were immediately into Everton's area but Iwobi's pass was poor and he was replaced by Chambers. Stones made a soft mistake in midfield and gave the ball away but it eventually came to Deulofeu, who had made no impact since he came on. Lukaku finally got his head on a cross, weakly nodded down to Ospina.

An Everton free-kick in added time led to a corner that Ospina snatched out of the air. At the other end, Giroud fired into the side netting. Deulofeu did a couple of step-overs and crossed straight to Ospina. The umpteenth ball was pumped up in the vague direction of Lukaku before the final whistle blue and more boos hopefully rang loud in the manager's ears. Not good enough by any stretch of the imagination.

A really really poor display by Everton, who seemed to feel they had done all that was required of them by beating Chelsea under the floodlights last weekend. Nobody likes the early-kick-offs but there was simply no excuse for such an uninspired Everton performance that ended all too predictably in their abject EIGHTH home defeat of the season.

Scorers: Welbeck (7'), Iwobi (42')

Everton: Robles, Baines, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Coleman, Besic (46' Stones), McCarthy, Cleverley, Barkley (74' Deulofeu), Lennon, Lukaku.
Subs: Howard, Kone, Niasse, Osman, Galloway.

Arsenal: Ospina, Gabriel, Koscielny, Ozil (75' Gibbs), Sanchez, Monreal, Welbeck (75' Giroud), Bellerin, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi (86' Chambers).
Subs: Macey, Mertesacker, Walcott, Campbell.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

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Reader Comments (185)

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James Byrne
2 Posted 19/03/2016 at 12:56:54
Clueless pile of shite – you could see that coming in the first minute. Normal service resumes under this clown.
Colin Hughes
3 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:08:46
It's a myth about this so called best squad for 30 years. I will counter that with saying it's our worst defence for 30 years. Do we ever keep a clean sheet at home in the league?
Rob Hooton
4 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:13:06
You’d think Everton had been run ragged by Barça midweek. Sluggish, sloppy and lethargic so far.
Colin Hughes
5 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:18:25
Rob (4#), it flies in the face of those saying rest players for the derby match because it’s three days before the semi final. If you are good enough you are fit enough and sadly we are neither. Arsenal have been made to look ordinary by Swansea and Watford recently yet they have had the arse out of us today.
Rob Hooton
6 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:24:25
You’re right, Colin, they just don’t look up for it half the time. So frustrating.
Mark Andrews
8 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:29:46
Life under Martinez. One step forward... three steps back.

How long must we suffer this man and his inept management? We’re toothless and clueless.

Lee Atkins
9 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:30:18
Even Martinez can’t put a positive slant on this pile of shit.
James Byrne
10 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:30:57
Unless a miracle happens, the Martinez synopsis is going to be interesting today! But like always, he’ll make it all sound OK.
Gary Carter
11 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:31:25
Colin Hughes, are you serious, statistically and quite obviously this was one of the top 4 defences in the Premier League until that clueless idiot Martinez got his hands on it!
Peter Gorman
12 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:35:25
So far, just totally inept all over the park. We are kidding ourselves if we think this 'best squad' will achieve anything of note; we are not even keeping up with the Jones.

Harsh to single anyone out but, Besic - my God what a mare he is having.

John Atkins
13 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:43:36
Spot on, Peter.
Colin Glassar
14 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:44:05
What a shambles!! I know Funes Mori and Besic are popular due to their effort but neither can pass a ball accurately. Get Gerri and Stonesy on and put Ross deeper.

I said a few days ago there was no way Arsenal would lose this game.

Paul Andrews
15 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:44:50
Stones for Funes Mori is a must.

Terrible first half display from Funes Mori.

Anto Byrne
17 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:51:23
Very poor second goal to give away. Baines was nowhere. Was an open paddock to run in to and nice finish. If this ends up 4-, 5- or 6-0, it has to be the end for Martinez. Where is Oviedo?
Neil Cartwright
18 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:55:24
I can wait for the muppet's post-match comments. Players are not fit enough, defensive coaching seems completely absent. Besic and McCarthy didn’t look like they’d ever met each other. Cleverley is NOT a winger – he’s a Barry replacement.

I keep think how much better our left side would look if we had the equivalent of a fit Pienaar. Mind you, Martinez would probably play him in goal.

John Atkins
19 Posted 19/03/2016 at 13:57:01
No way Rom will want to stay playing for a team like this.

His body language says it all.


Daniel Lim
20 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:03:49
Want to bet the brown shoes wouldn’t make a substitution until the x-th minute? I say 78...
Michael Polley
21 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:05:17
This game sums up our season, and the reason why Martinez the clown needs to go.I see the new owner is watching. Wonder what is going thru his mind ????
Ian McDowell
22 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:05:54
Arsenal played 90 mins away at Barcelona on Wednesday then 2 days rest before an early kick off away. We should've pressed them high up, got stuck in from the start.

EIGHT home defeats... the most home goals conceded. Not much we can say to defend the manager with a record like that. 2-0 down at half-time. Bilic made changes last week to recover when WHU where 2-0 down. This is the test of how good a manager Martinez is. Can he change it around?

Kevin Johnson
23 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:07:02
To dizzy heights of last week, to the depths of dire shite this week.

Will the real Everton please turn up?

Barry Morrison
24 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:26:59
Fucking gutless.
Nigel Rickman
25 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:31:14
When we are bad, and it’s been more often than not this season, we are awful. But this shambles takes some beating.

No effort, no idea, no plan, no different tactics, utter clueless how to change a game to get something out of it.

I sense disappointment come end of April somehow.

John Atkins
26 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:33:27
Have we missed Barry that much?

McCarthy and Cleverley have been shocking.

Dave Clark
27 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:37:04
Now you all know why I get upset when they sing his name just because we’re winning against Stoke! The season lasts more than one game, watch everybody chant his name at the semi-final! Not me, I’m no fool, even at Wembley I’ll be shouting "Martinez Out!"

He should never have been given the job in the first place! How on earth my beloved Everton (biggest club in the world to me) hired a manager who had just got a team relegated is beyond me!

Forget the FA Cup, the Premier League is the most important and we have a clown managing us, can’t you all see it????

John Atkins
28 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:38:13
I really really want Martinez out


Please do the honourable thing and go

Phil Sammon
29 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:38:45
2-0 up on 85 mins and Everton look like they are under siege.

2-0 down on 85 mins...barely a whisper of a threat.

We are meek, weak, a team of individuals devoid of any desire or industry.

I'd love the FA Cup...but this manager HAS TO GO.

Pathetic performance. Get him OUT

Colin Hughes
30 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:39:54
Managers are judged on their league form because as soon as you go out of a cup you then see what’s left and the league position will almost certainly be nearer the bottom than top. Another shocking season on the horizon if we don’t win the cup and on this evidence there is little chance of that happening.

Act now or pay later EFC board.

Ernie Baywood
31 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:40:52
This will be one of the most unanimous ToffeeWeb threads in history.

That was a disgracefully gutless effort.

Stu Smith
32 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:40:57
I think that's the worst performance I've seen for some time. Pathetic.
Roman Sidey
33 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:42:56
MARTINEZ OUT!!!
Ian McDowell
34 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:43:06
Well, Roberto, once again, you failed to change a game in play. Time to go. Please.
Ernie Baywood
35 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:44:42
Hey we won the possession.
Nigel Rickman
38 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:45:14
I have to wonder if the team plays that way to get Martinez out.

We’ll never win anything with him in charge... utterly woeful.

Paul Kossoff
39 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:45:50
Shockingly poor, no effort, gutless Martinez has to go. He can’t motivate his team, not that these over paid lazy fuckers should need it.

I feel sorry for the supporters, are these players not putting the effort in so as to get Martinez out?

Tom Cuffe
40 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:46:11
Lennon & Coleman were the only ones showing a bit of passion today for us, truly shocking performance, Martinez just go please, before you do anymore damage.
John Graham
41 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:47:59
McCarthy and Cleverley don’t bring anything to the team. Total lack of ideas. But can’t pick out anyone who’s had a decent game.

Totally different to last week when we played a more pressing game. I think most of the players look disinterested with the tactics.

Mr Moshiri will be wondering how much of his money he will need to spend.

Anto Byrne
42 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:48:54
Eight home defeats is reason enough that time is up for Martinez. It was patently obvious that Baines wasn’t fit, and it was a pathetic display of crab slow-paced bollox.

Fuck this idiot off today, now, get rid, call a taxi, show him the door. Eight home defeats... three home wins all season is Wigan relegation form. Poor defending for both goals. I’m sorry but I have no more patience with this manager.

Mark Andrews
43 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:49:44
We can’t keep doing this but we will with this manager, that was a truly shocking, gutless performance against a very average Arsenal side. I say average but we made them look great. Martinez again got it so wrong and proved his ineptitude and lack of tactical ability in changing the game.

How he remains in post is beyond me, our home form alone must get him the push. The only thing keeping him alive is a cup run, maybe that’s what this anaemic performance was about, maybe they’ve given up on the league and are focussing on the cup. It’s hard to explain such a woeful performance in any other way.
Martinez must go for the sake of our club.
Paul Conway
44 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:49:46
Definitely not the time to give up the drink!
Mark Lewis
45 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:50:42
If Mr Moshiri isn't happy with this management, then he’ll just be throwing money down the drain.
Paul Kossoff
46 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:51:29
Why put on a centre half when, at-home we are two down? Arsenal have lost five out of their last seven, beaten at home by Watford and Swansea, players out injured and we are clueless.

Martinez has got to go, we could be 14th this weekend and only two points above Palace and Swansea, not good enough.

Andy Ellis
47 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:51:31
More like Wigan every week, be wearing stripes next season. BK, what a manager indeed, you mug.
David Barks
48 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:52:21
There is now a mentality that has infested the club in which losing is the norm, and that is a very dangerous thing. The saying is that winning is contagious, that once you get ok that roll you keep expecting t and wanting it, and by contrast the opposition does as well.

We've allowed the opposite to take hold at this club now and when that happens, it doesn't just refresh itself for the start of the new season. Just look at United, it's been a slow creep but now winning is not the norm and not expected. The opposition no longer fears them, and they themselves do not have a winning mentality.

And if you want to see where that can lead you, look no further than Aston Villa. They've gone from consistent top 6 finishes with a quality team, but then had a series of managers, and one in particular, who wanted to persist with growing a new generation of players that would play his way and come through the ranks. Winning wasn't expected, instead it was always talk about the future, and looking at performances instead of results. Well he got sacked eventually and now they are the worst side in the league and who knows how far they'll drop over the next few seasons.

Martinez goes on and on about performances being more important than results. He tries to speak positively about every loss, no matter how bad it was. Imagine for one fucking second Alex Ferguson talking about the positives in a match after losing time and time again.

This is a dangerous thing we've allowed to infest our club. The man should have been gone last season after it was patently obvious he was a clueless ideologue. But we've allowed him to continue and now we're even worse, continuing to get worse and drop lower down the league. An FA Cup run means absolutely nothing, nothing at all. In the league, he has proven to be a joke. But of course we should have known that when he relegated Wigan.

Ivan Varghese
49 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:52:33
This is FA Cup tunnel vision. Bad game.
Frank Crewe
50 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:53:35
RM has had a week to get them ready yet they looked like they just met each other today. Arsenal were fitter, faster, stronger, than us.

No point in continuing to rehash everything that has been rehashed too many times already. It's just boring now.

We are desperate for a new manager and come the summer I've no doubt Mr Moshiri will give us one. He didn't become a billionaire by accepting the third rate and he certainly isn't going to throw his money away on the worthless assurances of our resident nitwit that it will be ok next season.

Mike Oates
51 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:54:20
To me, it just showed how far we’ve are behind the Top 6. The players we bought – Cleverley, Funes Mori, McCarthy, Besic – just aren’t good enough and the likes of Baines, Howard, Pienaar, Osman, are past it.

For a top 6 team, we have Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Barkley, Barry, Lukaku – we need a wholesale clearout... and include in that the manager.

Ray Jacques
52 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:54:24
After the euphoria of last week, I think that spineless exhibition says as much about our gutless players as it does our bewildered manager.

Best squad in a generation is an urban myth. A passing team who can’t pass and the most open defence in the division. If they can’t kick on after the game last week, then something's rotten in the dressing room.

Perhaps Martinez is right about one thing and that’s Barry is one of the greatest English players because without him we are farcical.

Typical Everton, eh!!

Paul Andrews
53 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:54:24
Tom 40, Cleverley and Jags had a go as well as them two. The rest were rock bottom. A truly awful display.

Martinez was done tactically, he didn’t react to positional changes. He tried to beat Arsenal at their own game, when it wasn’t happening we should have upped the tempo and got about them,got it back to front quicker.

1 foul we comitted in the first half, not enough aggression. Most of the team let the fans down today.

Peter Barry
54 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:54:44
WIMPS... led by a CLOWN.
Glen Garrett
55 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:55:16
Roman Sidey, post 319 – you took the words right out of my mouth; spot on.
Dan Davies
57 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:58:49
Gutted. Arsenal wanted it more. Somebody at the club needs to sort this out. No wonder Rom wants to go. That was depressing.

No belief no fight just tip tapping it around at two-nil down. That was Bad!

Paul Conway
58 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:58:51
With ex-Wigan players and manager in your team, what the fuck can we expect better then freefall?
Jack Cross
59 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:59:14
Worst display I've seen from Everton. Played like strangers.

I've heard Moshiri has a manager lined up.

Max Murphy
60 Posted 19/03/2016 at 14:59:20
Gutless, shameful, talentless, embarrassing, chronic performance.
Gerry Quinn
61 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:00:37
Jack, from whom have you heard that?
Gerry Quinn
62 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:00:56
Is it Moysie?
Karl Jones
63 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:01:33
I don't see how a manager can keep his job after a display like that.

EIGHT home defeats! Unheard of in my lifetime.

Barry Stevens
64 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:03:17
After the West Ham game, I gave my season ticket to my cousin for the rest of the season. Last weekend, I was gutted I had done, and this morning in the build-up, I couldn't believe what an idiot I am. Then we had that crock of shit, and I remember why I made the decision in the first place.

This clueless fraud of a man is ruining our club. Even an FA Cup win won't change that. Not once when we've tried 3 at the back has it looked anything but dodgy. Yet today at two-nil down, he decides that's our best way back into the game.

Martinez Out!!!!!!!!

Paul Mackie
65 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:03:21
Absolute garbage.
Nigel Rickman
66 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:03:34
In the first week of the season, I said on this site, we would finish between 12th and 14th.

At this rate even, that is in doubt.

Sean Patton
67 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:03:45
Appalling and unacceptable lack of effort.

And the most humiliating thing was Wenger didn't feel the need to replace the keeper when he got injured as he knew Everton wouldn't score.

Ian Riley
68 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:04:22
Desire starts at the top. The manager thinks without hunger and fight we are good enough. At least the new owner has experienced our frustration today. We will be lucky to finish in the top fifteen.

Oh well, the semi-final will save you, Roberto!! Please let the season be over!

Chris Williams
69 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:04:41
Moshiri must look at Everton's squad in the context of being a top 6 or top 4 finish. We keep repeating that this is a good squad that is underachieving, but I can’t see the evidence for this since the last 6 games of RM's first season.

In the context of top 4/6, you have to ask is it good enough to have Howard, Osman and Kone on the bench?

In this context, are Robles, Funes Mori, McCarthy, Besic, Cleverley or Barkley a first choice in The Champions League?

I think we’re all guilty of media/RM brainwashing or self-delusion. This is not a good squad underachieving. Good squads do not lose 8 games at home and concede the number of goals we do.

RM is not a top 4 or 6 manager either. Before the extra TV cash hits and Moshiri puts in cash to invest in players, I sincerely hope he takes a cold hard look at this manager and this squad and is not swayed by all the bullshit. I think he just might.

Andy Meighan
70 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:05:51
Theres been some truly shocking performances under this clown but today’s topped the lot. The squad is full of cowards we've also got a full midfield.all of whom've played international football and not one of them can pass a ball – that was embarrassing today. A totally gutless display.

As for the manager, well... two-down at half time and he brings a defender on just about sums him up.

And please if anyone comes on here and says this is the best squad for years, I’ll scream. Because it’s not. We are a poor side. And I think 8 home defeats tells you everything about this so-called best squad. Disgraceful.

Phil Sammon
71 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:06:20
Jack Cross

Really Jack?

You are aware that statements like that have to be backed up? Otherwise you look like just another twat on the Internet.

Dean Rolstone
72 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:06:47
We were terrible today and there aren't no excuses for that performance but how much did we miss Barry. Also the crowd did not help one iota today. I couldn't make it there today but after witnessing the poisonous atmosphere on the box I'm glad I wasn't there.

Once we went a goal down and our support turned the players looked devoid of confidence and couldn't do the simplest of things. I know we are going through a difficult home period at the moment but the booing and groaning isn't helping either.

We need to get behind the players for the remaining three home games of the season irrespective of the manager to get confidence back in time for next season. There is no coincidence that our away form is much better than our home form.

Can I say that it was refreshing to hear Roberto tell it like it was for once today that we were poor in his post match interview.

John Parker
73 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:09:06
Martinez has just stated he hasn’t seen us play this bad all season. Is he taking the piss or what? That’s our 8th league defeat of the season. Enjoy your day at Wembley then do one, you clueless manager.
Anthony Flack
74 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:11:39
Nothing went well, lots of off days and Arsenal played well. McCarthy and Cleverley were hopeless. Baines not much better.

Is Niasse shite? If not, then why not bring on a striker, alongside Lukaku?

It looked odd pushing Lennon down the middle. Shit, I forgot about Barkley, enough said. Now for shit train home full of gooners

Colin Glassar
75 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:11:42
Martinez won't survive the summer. His handling of this squad is outrageous considering the talent available. I've supported him through thick and thin but enough is enough.

A telling moment is when their goalie is injured and what do we do with two consecutive corners? No pressure on Ospina and then we decide to knock it around at the back giving Ospina sufficient time to recover.

Another botched sub by putting Gerri wide and Lennon down the middle when it should've been the other way round. Added to that his refusal to give Baines no cover/assistance down the left side is criminal.

To finish I'd just like to say Funes Mori is a disaster waiting to happen. I hope he's dropped so Stonesy can rejoin Jags in defence. Not though it matters as this season is over and was over weeks ago.

Victor Jones
76 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:13:09
Well there we are. Eight home defeats...and counting. Normal service has been resumed. Not really much to say about that. Arsenal were supposed to be knackered, after a tough week. But Everton have taken knackered to a whole new level.

Just wonder how the few clowns, who last week suggested that because of ONE good result, that the "Martinez Out" supporters should eat some humble pie. No.....I'm not going down that path....no tit-for-tat nonsense... that's it, from me.....knowledgeable supporters know that this Martinez team has a long way to go. And even an FA Cup this year, would be only papering over the cracks. Give Martinez time... yeah, yeah, give him time to lose more home games, next season. Drag Everton even lower.

I hope that we can win this season's FA Cup. FFS even Wigan managed that. But I still want Martinez out. Give this bunch of players (before they split up) a proper chance to fulfil their potential. Ah well... there is always next week. We should by then be pushing hard to get into 14th place.

Up the Toffees.... those soft wee Toffees.

Jon Cox
77 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:15:23
It could be a simple case of everyone's head was in the dressing room.

At Wembley.

It certainly wasn't out on the pitch. That was the most collectively and badly organised set up of an Everton football team that I think I've ever seen.

Until the next time.

Martinez out now.

Anthony Flack
78 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:17:19
Phil, nicely to the point...
Phil Sammon
79 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:19:36
Colin,

Trouble is, mate, every time Stones has come on, he’s looked even worse.

Robles, Baines, Funes Mori, McCarthy, Becic, Cleverley, Barkley.............

I’ve seen a lot of blame passed around today. May I remind everyone it’s been TWO YEARS of this crap. There is a very obvious solution.

Kunal Desai
80 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:20:27
The cup progress simple papers over the cracks. This idiot will ruin another eight more of my weekends. I can’t foresee any further wins at Goodison this season. Norwich will probably take a point and both Bournemouth and Southampton will pick up wins.

Please, please, Mr Moshiri, just sack this clueless man at the end of the season.

Jay Harris
81 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:21:19
Arsenal had only won one of their last eight. Not one Everton player showed up today. Martinez too busy thinking about the cup to prepare the players properly. Phenomenal.

Always jam tomorrow. Please, Mr Moshiri, get rid of this second-rate charlatan.

Denis Richardson
82 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:23:19
Back to normal service and the strange thing is that I’m not even that bothered. The cup game was a one off, our home league form is simply unacceptable.

By tomorrow afternoon, we could be 14th with just 9 games left, below the likes of Watford, Bournemouth and West Brom. That's 41 league goals conceded now in 29 games – still on course to beat the 50 conceded last season.

For all our attacking form, if Lukaku was not in our side, we’d be in the relegation zone. Credit to Martinez for bringing in some decent players but, as a manager, the guy is simply out of his depth.

Another home game, another loss, another step to the day when Martinez is sacked. Surely it can’t be long now.

Colin Glassar
83 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:23:20
Phil, I think he needs a run of games to get back in form. Funes Mori is a decent defender (even though both goals today were his fault) but his distribution is poor.

Stones can defend, of that there is no doubt, and his passing is superior. I’d have him back in an instant.

Joe Clitherow
84 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:23:52
Watch us peak for our last 10 games...err, 9 games....err 8 games, err, err......

"I am not the right manager to lead Everton back into the Premier League."

Worst Everton manager I have seen in over 40 years in my opinion. Worse than Bingham, worse than Lee, worse than Smith, worse than Walker, and on the basis that Smith was completely potless and Walker was swiftly dealt with when it was apparent he was all suntan and wind.

Shameful that we were given a football lesson by a team of Arsenal reserves who played midweek, and shameful that he is apparently not held to account by our Chairman.

If Lukaku leaves and Martinez is given another season, we will be guaranteed to be in a relegation battle next season.

Jay Wood
85 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:24:17
Where do you begin to analyse a performance like that?

Everton have had all week to prepare for this game. Arsenal have played two demanding games since Everton last played.

And yet we looked the leggy, lethargic side, second best all over the park.

The Arse, not reknowned for being a physical side, easily blasted through or simply turned away from every man-on-man challenge.

Time and time again our full backs were caught far up the pitch, well out of their defensive position, as Arsenal turned over the ball and advanced with menance, drawing in particular Funes Mori also out of position and we were hammered for it. This is a Martinez tactic.

Thankfully, Jags had an outstanding game, but he can't do it all himself.

Elevating Besic to legendary status as some have been inclined to do on TW was exposed as way too premature today. That was as poor an individual performance I have seen from an Everton player all season. Missed passes, missed tackles, out of position and no game awareness.

So bad even RM recognised it and hooked him at half time. For those calling to experiment with Stones in a defensive midfield role, it was telling that is not how RM set up the team with his introduction, preferring to go with the risky back 3.

Initially, there was even more confusion and space for the Arse to expose with Everton still being gung ho; 3 up front with Lukaku, Barkley and Lennon, Baines and Coleman still way advanced, Funes Mori still playing too high up the pitch on occasion and we were lucky the Gooners didn't add a 3rd in that time, so outnumbered and meek we were in midfield.

Yes, we eventually got some kind of foothold in the game, but at no time did we build up a head of steam or carry a real threat.

Compare our shape to the Arse. We were wide open through midfield and defence all game. When we had the ball, they were compact and had solid defensive lines across the park that offered us no way through. Anything into the danger area was competently dealt with in a no-nonsense fashion. Pragmatism at its best.

Eight home defeats this season in the league. E-I-G-H-T!!! And we ain't done yet!

Since 21 November when we beat Villa 4-0 - FOUR months!!! - our home PL record reads:

P9 W 1 D2 L6 F13 A 17 Pts5 (out of a possible 27).

The solitary win in that time was the 3-0 victory against the Barcodes.

There is a systemic problem with Everton that is being exposed time and time again.

And the man responsible for implementing that system is Roberto Martinez.

Regardless of whether we lift the FA Cup or not this season, his performance is the one that should be under most scrutinity when it comes to evaluating the season in the summer.

Alan McGuffog
86 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:24:23
Chris (#69),

Spot on. There is a degree of Emperor’s Clothes about this squad. I think we all finally saw this today. We just aren’t very good. Sure we have improved in some departments but we will not challenge for the big prizes with this bunch.

Martinez must go and, irrespective of any new money, we need to get top dollar for Lukaku, Stones and probably Barkley (in his case, asap – before people wake up to the fact that he is an average talent). These three should raise maybe as much as £100 mill.

We start again. A decent manager could be entrusted to create the basis of a new squad with this. Let’s hope Moshiri was watching today

Anthony Flack
87 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:25:15
And I suspect it involves booting Senor Martinez... I ie last week was marvelous, but we seem unable to make an impact or change the game when it starts going wrong.

Stones looked terrible but might be better from the start. I wondered if Besic was fit as he never gift up to speed at all.

We missed Barry.

But for me I have lost confidence. I do not think Martinez knows what good is, so when it goes well, he doesn't understand why, so there is no chance of consistency.....

Mike Powell
88 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:28:37
Haha... so we have turned the corner with the Chelsea win... are you sure, you Martinez sympathisers? Sorry, got to laugh – nothing as changed and nothing will with this clown in charge.

I said last week, get rid off this buffoon even if we win the cup. And as for the derby, the people on here who say play a weakened team are you for real? They only thing us scousers have got left this season is to beat the Red Shite.

Alastair Donaldson
89 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:29:00
Awful and Arsenal played at 50% in the 2nd half. For some reason it didn’t seem to hurt so much as say the last one against hammers, a sense of resignation may explain that.

Win the FA Cup Roberto then fall on your sword... you’re not good enough.

Daniel A Johnson
90 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:30:47
I still remember Spurs beating Wigan 9-1 and laughing my arse off at Wigan & Martinez. I guess the joke's on me now.
Robin Cannon
91 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:32:06
Fire him now. Have a motivational caretaker who we are NOT going to hire on a permanent basis. Hope that fillip helps us win the cup. Still don't hire the caretaker (don't do a Tim Sherwood).

Use the remainder of the season to conduct an intense search for a high quality manager with a clear strategy. Appoint that manager as early as possible when the season ends, so that there's no uncertainty for half the close season, and we can move quickly and effectively to put together the squad we'll start next season with.

Don Alexander
92 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:36:10
After Rom and Jag's bit to the Press this last few days (which I very much welcomed) it's reasonable to assume that Martinez has in effect lost the dressing room. Had there been much doubt, today's collective gutless surrender confirmed it.

And at the risk of being hammered, one very good pass aside a moment before he was taken off, Barkley was powder-puff personified. If I was in the same team as him (as if!) it would do my crust in to see so little effort from him when the chips are down. He wasn't the only one, granted, but for reasons of scouse-ness he seems to escape fans' flack as effortlessly as he fails in winning the ball from just about any and every opponent.

I really believe a hard-nut boss would bring steel to his skills, albeit they're getting rarer and rarer.

Teddy Bertin
93 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:39:07
Martinez has to go at the end of the season, FA Cup or not. There’s no way back for him now at home. The only thing that will get the fans back onside is a new manager.

The fans aren’t to blame to for the home performances, that’s down to the players. Martinez sets the team up to play in a predictable way at home, so he has to shoulder some of the blame but ultimately we have enough talent out there to damage teams, the players seem deflated and nervous in front of the Goodison faithful.

What I will say though is that while the players are the only ones who can turn the fans back onside, through strong, defiant and classy performances, the fans have also got to remember that we don’t have 11 Barry’s and Jagielka’s out there. We’re looking at a core of young men in Barkley, Deulofeu, Besic, Robles, Stones, Lukaku and McCarthy. While Barry and experienced players may get fired up to play better from the fans groaning or shouting at him, this season has proven that it has not been an effective way to get the young lads going. They all look far more confident away from home and just like our manager the fans have stubbornly refused to change tact despite the gulf the quality of away performances versus home.

All the players needed to do was win a few home games convincingly on the trot earlier in the season and the fans would have got back on side, but with the young nerves in the team (these are young lads who want the fans to love them, not seasoned pros who know that fans change their minds 5 or 6 times about a player over the course of a season) and the rising opinion among supporters that the best way to get Martinez out is to put down his tactics and boo losses, we’ve been unable to do that.

Ultimately the manager has messed up at home by pushing forward with a young team trying to play open football and we’ve been caught out time and time again. While we all shot down Moyes for repeatedly going with boring experienced players over young exciting talent, we were tough to beat. Ultimately the responsibility lands on Martinez’s shoulders even though it is the players who haven’t performed properly at home. The fans can also take their share of responsibility for uniting at crucial moments but with performances like today it’s hard to know how to get behind the team. I don’t like hearing London clubs chant "Shall we sing a song for you", we’re Everton FC! We’ve got the best home support in the country. Everyone should fear coming to Goodison.

Martinez has to go at the end of the season and we have to get Goodison park back to the fortress of excitement and enthusiasm that it was during Martinez’s first season in charge.


Daniel A Johnson
94 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:39:42
Part of the problem is that Martinez gives certain players a licence to do fuck all and be shielded from blame.

Contrast that with Ranieri who has Vardy and Mahrez 100% aware of what he and the team expects of them in terms of the defensive side of the game.

Alan Thompson
95 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:40:23
How does this man manage to survive. It’s bad enough being 2 down at half time but he takes off Besic, it may be an injury but to bring on a defender to move your full back to the wing while you have a player like Deulofeu on the bench is just criminal.

Then to take off Barkley while McCarthy is having his usual rubbish game is beyond belief! How does this man get a game and would all those who say he covers every blade of grass mind telling me which games these were as I haven’t seen them! Never mind if he actually does anything with the ball or to create scoring chances or support the attack. We might as well play with ten men.

I could go into the lack of organization which sees the man with the ball isolated. Watch Arsenal, if they haven’t set up at least a triangle, if not a diamond, then the player in possession holds the ball until others arrive, and they do arrive. Do we pressure them in this position? Well, you watched it. Do we mark players, at times 2 of theirs outplayed 4 of ours. We play a dustbin defence, this is my spot if the ball or player doesn’t come near me then I do nothing.

To say that to a large extent it is down to the players on the park is to pose whether we actually need a manager at all.

This man has to go! Who would you replace him with? Does it bloody matter!!!

Daniel A Johnson
96 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:45:48
Wigan got progressively worse under Martinez untill they fell through the relegation trap door. I’d hate to be the first to say I told you so next season but it looks like that's the Martinez blue print for us.
Colin Glassar
97 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:48:53
I think the only excitement we will have between now and August is playing, ’guess who’s the next manager’. There’s nothing left to look forward to, not even the semi-final if we play like today.
Darren Hind
98 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:49:32
Past being angry. I feel so miserable about the way things are. Couldn't even be arsed to go for a pint afterwards...

What on earth are these people who so avidly support this third-rate manager watching?

Colin Hughes
99 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:50:04
Could you imagine Klopp with our squad? He doesn’t even have a decent striker over there yet they have thrashed City (twice), United, got to the League Cup final and I wouldn’t put it past him plotting Dortmund's downfall in Europe, all with an average squad of players.

Martinez has had too many chances now to end our 18-month long shocking home form but has failed. It wouldn’t be tolerated at real big clubs.

Joe Clitherow
100 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:52:29
You wouldn’t be anywhere the first Daniel, sadly.

Some of us feared that from his appointment.

Lukaku’s goals taken away next season and the timescales for the Martinez "project" are bang on target with his four years at Wigan. His stats and behaviours are all eerily consistent and still some come on to defend his "jam tomorrow" deluded garbage.

Dan Davies
101 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:55:19
We can argue Stones or Funes Mori all day... I’ve said on here before, individually we’ve got quality defenders; collectively they're all over the place, why is that? Has to be the coaching. Simple.

I expected more from Besic, I admit, but you can’t single him out – they were all shocking today. Did McCarthy do any better?

James Marshall
102 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:55:42
We always lose to Arsenal – I never lose any sleep over this fixture. As expected.
Darren Hind
103 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:56:13
I say get rid now.

It's only fair that the new manager gets a good look so he can decide who he wants to keep and who he will off load.

Let him have the summer to try to turn us into a proper team.

James Marshall
104 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:57:39
Also, I’ve given up on us in the Premier League till next season – I’m using my energy on Leicester upsetting the status quo, while supporting us in the FA Cup.

It’s a lot less negative, and better for my ailing health.

John Audsley
105 Posted 19/03/2016 at 15:57:54
Remember what BK said last week: "What a manager" or some other bollocks.

Maybe we are all wrong and BK is right....

THAT performance was shameful.

Amit Vithlani
106 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:02:53
I have to confess I had this down as a defeat. Martinez's career record is really beginning to provide a sound indicator of how many games we can win. He has a 33% career win ratio in his career, and a similar ratio over the last 65 games at Everton.

You know when we win 1 match, the next 2 are unlikely to be victories. The recent spurt of 4 wins in 5 came on the back of 1 win in 10, giving us a... 33% ratio.

People have derided the statistics citing that his career for a large part was spent with Wigan, and the last 60-odd games at Everton can be mitigated by the fact that he is "building" the club.

What exactly is he building, because we ain’t seeing it. Putting fancy facilities at Finch Farm is not building if this does not translate to results on the pitch.

Robert Martinez, please go.

Tahir Abdullah
107 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:03:52
David Barks @48, TOP, TOP post....
John Austin
108 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:05:50
Why wait until the end of the season? RM should go now. It serves no purpose to keep him any longer. The club needs to show the players and fans real intent for next season sonner rather than later.
Andy Meighan
109 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:05:53
James (#102) – the most idiotic comment I've ever read on here. Why was it expected? They had lost 5 out of their last 7 so our players should've well been up for it. But once again, the spineless shower of cunts threw their hand in at home and to me that's the only thing that was expected.

Did you actually go the match, James? I doubt you did, especially coming out with smug comments like that.

Dave Ganley
110 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:07:58
Pathetic display. Martinez is doing with us what he did with Wigan. The odd decent display amid a pile of shit for the rest of the games.

Winning the FA Cup, whilst it being a good day out, will mean nothing if he is still here next season. Yet again, boos at half-time; yet again, boos at full-time; yet again, streams of fans leaving the ground in disgust before the final whistle. What more evidence does the board/club need to get rid of this man?

We are a shambles. Whilst we can, rightly so, blame the players for a shambolic performance, it's the manager who sends the players out in that frame of mind. We were lacklustre and lazy. Everything good we did last week against Chelsea was absent this week. We just cannot do it on a regular basis with this man in charge. He doesn’t have the nous or know how to prepare players properly for top-level football. He is a lower league manager who can occasionally get players up for cup games but that’s it.

As others have said, our home form is the worst I can ever remember. I'm sure someone may tell me different but in 40 years of going to the game I can't remember such consistently bad, lazy and downright sloppy play from players wearing the blue shirt, especially given, as we are often told, there is so much talent in the squad.

Oh how I dream of getting a manager who actually knows what he is doing to get hold of these players and make them reach their potential. Watching players like Barkley wasting his obvious talent strolling around the field, wasting passes, killing moves on the break by coming back on himself. He is not on his own. Stones has/is going backwards. The whole defence has gone backwards.

Deulofeu has completely gone off the grid. Mirallas has been turned into a shadow of the player he once was. The once marauding full backs have all but disappeared. The middle of the field is none existent. Only Lukaku has shown anything like the quality we know is there and he will be on his way come the summer.

This man is destroying our club. Given any more time he will complete the job. Moshiri needs to show he can make big decisions and the first one is to pay Martinez off as soon as to save the club and our sanity!!

Kim Vivian
111 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:08:44
Trouble is, you know - IF.....IF we win the FA cup RM will be lauded among the celebrations (justifiably) and it will be a real dampener having to do that with the shadow of our league performances hanging over us.

And IF... IF we win it I just pray it doesn’t provide a lifeline for the man. I am in dread that he just might still be here next year.

I truly hope Jack Cross is right and not just bullshitting or winding us up (not funny if he is), and I hope he’s been chatting up Mourinho, Mancini or Simeone.

Tony Twist
112 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:09:23
Quite possibly, consider money made available to him to spend ,the worst manager of Everton of all time. I hope this totally nips in the bud anyone with the crazy idea of... if he wins us the FA Cup we should stick with him.

I have said it so many times before but will say it again, given time he will get us relegated. In the words of BK....What a manager!!

James Marshall
113 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:10:36
While I don't support Martinez, it's interesting that there's not one post on here slating the players.
Tony Hill
114 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:18:21
It’s baffling that the players last week looked so energised and this week looked like a team waiting for the manager to be sacked. Let’s hope that suggests some background development of which we are unaware.

The worst games I have seen McCarthy, Besic and Funes Mori have. Besic looks half-a-stone overweight.

Amit Vithlani
115 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:18:22
I am not going to slate the players for one simple reason: it is not possible, at the highest level, to put in a performance if you are not fit and not organised. Our tactics are incompetent. From the tempo of the passing, to the positions, to the approach on set pieces and, most galling of all, to defensive organisation.

The fabled 4-2-3-1 formation appears to be a distant memory, replaced by something resembling 4-3-1-1-1, which in recent matches has switched to 3-something-something.

Today we saw Baines playing as an inside forward, then in defensive midfield. What exactly was Cleverly’s position?

What was the tactic to Lukaku? When Deulofeu came on, it was blindingly obvious – get wide and hit a cross early. Over and over again. With 2 players in the box versus 6-7 from Arsenal.

No, I will not slate the players. The pile of steaming turd that was today’s match must squarely be laid at the feet of the manager.

Kim Vivian
116 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:19:01
I think he’s lost them, James, but you’re right – they should stand up and take their share of the flack.
Jack Cross
117 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:21:26
Phil Sammon 71.

Would a policeman say who his informer was?

Daniel A Johnson
118 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:22:34
You feel with Martinez the players are just not being coached correctly or at least applying the basics.

When you see players like Barkley being given licence to do whatever he wants, which is sometimes just nothing, you realise there is a lack of professionalism running through the team from top to bottom.

Anthony Dwyer
119 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:23:04
Any blue who believes Martinez is worthy of his job is as deluded as my kopite mates. He has no idea whatsoever. Until we replace him, we will never go to the next level.

I’d offer Mourinho the job first thing tomorrow morning; if he declined, I’d seriously consider Moyes.

I know many on here dislike Moyes, but for me he is head and shoulders above Martinez, and he’s available now.

Tony Twist
120 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:23:40
I would love for Martinez to be sacked now but my fear is that the club hasn’t got the bottle to do it. The FA Cup just papers over the very large cracks. True the players performance was poor but are they performing poorly just to clarify the still present (and always will be) short comings of the manager. I think he lost a lot of players, like the fans, a long time ago.
Ian McDowell
122 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:26:02
David Barks @ 48 is spot on. Losing at home has become the "norm" for Everton now. Its become a habit and not enough questions are asked of why its happening. The mentality we have is one of losers. We drew at Man City away 0-0 in the league when the pressure was off.

A week later we collapsed and lost 3-1 away in the cup. The semi final will be the same old story of players, manager congratulating each other on getting there and then choking when it matters.
Terence Tyler
123 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:28:02
Besic well off the pace today, both mentally and physically. Had a hand in both Arsenal goals. Hence the hook at half-time.

Barry was a big miss. Yes, he needs game time. Today was not the game to start him. Managerial error again.

Hannes Eerola
124 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:28:50
An absolutely shambolic performance! Now, no-one can surely blame Rom for wanting to leave. He would be crazy if he wanted to stay under the management of a man whose understanding of the game is not from this planet... in the worst possible meaning of the expression (obviously)!
John Aldridge
125 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:30:00
I can only think the players have had enough of the clown, just like most of the fans have. Looked like they didn’t give a toss.

I want us to win the cup, but not at the expense of keeping Martinez next season. I want him gone, silverware or not.

Steve Woods
126 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:40:01
While agreeing with just about all that has been said above about an urgent and priority taxi for Martinez, my week was already ruined after Kenwright’s "What a manager" comments seven days ago! Spouting shite with his arm draped around our new majority shareholder and effective owner, I had really hoped to have seen and heard the last from this deluded bullshitting blue!

For heaven’s sake, Mr Moshiri, do yourself a favour and distance yourself from this charlatan while you are busy sacking Martinez and his entire backroom staff. Don’t give Martinez the opportunity to waste yet another season, dragging the club even further down the league in the process.

Darren Hind
127 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:41:03
Funes Mori was absolutely lamentable.

I have seen defenders sell themselves before, but not 15 yards into the opposition half, he had already sold himself for the first goal, charging out and leaving his post like a schoolboy.

Was it £10 million Martinez paid for him?

Ray Jacques
128 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:42:40
Anthony, c'mon let's not go there, we should be looking beyond that.
John Atkins
129 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:44:45
The really worrying thing is what BK said last week

"What a manager" ... FFS

God help us as he ain’t going anywhere just yet.

Tony Hill
130 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:47:24
How can the club sack Martinez when the dreadful ham Kenwright has publically extolled him only last week? That is why the mechanics of the Moshiri purchase were so inappropriate since they allowed this posturing ass to hang on in a position of influence.

We must hope Moshiri can act decisively, even with the Kenwright millstone.

Kim Vivian
131 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:53:17
Today has just reminded me really that we actually played pretty shit last week as well. With grit for sure but, if not for a worldy from Rom, we would probably have gone 0-0 and be facing a dumping out of the cup at the Bridge.

A real feelgood factor was about after last week’s game for sure but the result did gloss over the pretty average performance. Let’s not forget that.

"What a manager"... my arse.

Robin Cannon
132 Posted 19/03/2016 at 16:59:35
Well, the "What a manager" is a sentence only missing one word: Shit.
Julian Exshaw
133 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:05:29
No excuses today. I have supported Martinez all season but that was horrendous. Whoever is at fault for it, it isn't good enough.
Barry Jones
135 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:08:47
Last week I was going to make some comment about "one swallow not making a summer", but declined as we needed our moment in the sun for a change. However, there were several people on TW last week who were showering praise on RM like he was the greatest thing since sliced bread and about to take the manager of the year award. I hope that we are all back in the real world now.

Everyone, in every job has to be judged on consistency, not one game. Yes RM has to go, but look at BK's comments last week about "what a great manager RM is". Does he really believe that crap or is he trying to justify his selection to the new owner? Either way, it is troublesome.

All of you who think that Robles is the GK answer also need to think again. I hope that you all noticed the perfectly good Arsenal "goal" by Giroud that was disallowed. Robles resembled "flapper" at his worst. Both of our keepers are spineless and need replacing, but RM recently said that we are well covered in this position. What a joke. I think we could get a collective off TW to do a better job than RM. At least the after game spiel would be more palatable.

I also think that he has lost the dressing room. His bizarre team selections and substitutions have sucked the confidence and trust out of many of our players, although RM believes that to be the fault of the Goodison crowd. His man management stinks, his tactics and selection stink and his excuses and statements stink to high heaven.

Daniel A Johnson
137 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:14:27
Kenwright is a lamentable buffoon, an over emotional sentimental pantomine act, full of bullshit histrionics and gushing soundbites.

I ask everyone to watch the video of him being interviewed with his arm draped all over Farhad Moshiri. It was embarrassing and cringe-worthy and totally unprofessional. Moshiri looked uncomfortable to say the least.

Then came the soundbite "What a manager". A Lukaku solo goal undoing nearly two seasons of turgid unprofessional naïve football because of a champagne day-trip to Wembley for him and his Mrs.

Kenwright's behaviour highlights what a shambolic amateur act we really are as a football club. It also indicates that Martinez is in reality going nowhere, he’s Kenwright's man and he will stick by him.... it's the Everton Way apparently.

Let's hope Moshiri will usher in a new era of the club being run professionally and with purpose and the circus clown Kenwright will be marginalised. Let's also hope Moshiri will also realise that, in the new competitive era of the modern Premier League, a manager with genuine talent and experience who can get the best out of his players on a week-by-week basis will make the difference.

Mark Hawkins
138 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:14:52
Dreadful Performance. I thought Funes Mori wasn't as bad as being made out. He got no covering support whilst going forward from Baines. Baines looked woefully unfit.

Shocking tactics from Martinez, he's got to go. The only chance of us keeping Lukaku is if another manager is brought in straight away.

Steavey Buckley
140 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:18:19
The problem with Martinez is he often forgets Everton are playing away instead of at home, so has all players behind the ball except for Lukaku. That is why Arsenal could press the game early on and get into their stride, as Lukaku looked a lonely figure all by himself with the nearest Everton player nearly 20 metres away.

If Everton played with two wide players alongside Lukaku and moved the ball early to them, today’s match could have been so different – that’s if Everton could pass the ball the straight, which was beyond them today.

James Marshall
144 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:22:39
Andy@109

Thank you for your comments. I've had time to digest them and have decided to respond by killing you with kindness. I hope you manage to calm down in time to enjoy a lovely weekend.

Terry Aylward
145 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:38:13
Two-Nil down at half-time and the Spanish Buffoon brings on a defender.... What’s happened to our new £13 Million striker, Niasse???

Is it because, as rumour has it, he's absolute shite and Martinez doesn't want us to see how bad he actually is?

Kevin Naylor
147 Posted 19/03/2016 at 17:54:45
Bill has a radio show on Tuesday night playing '60s music and I believe he thinks he’s still in the '60s and Everton are a nationalised industry (being bankrolled by Sky instead of the Government).

In those days, you had a job for life and only had to turn up in some places to get paid. No success criteria, no targets so long as you don’t perform too badly (relegation in this case) you can stay as long as you like. He just wants to be mates with everyone which is impossible if you want to be successful in this game.

Somebody quoted John Moores on another thread and Martinez would have been gone last year if he’d still been in charge. Hopefully Moshiri is cut from the same cloth and gets shut of Martinez sooner rather than later.

Peter Cummings
148 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:05:45
I said it all in my post yesterday, and it came to be, but even I, a supporter for well over 65 years, couldn’t believe what I was watching today. No fight, no heart, no urgency or desire, completely lacking cohesion or a will to fight back, a totally disgraceful insult to the best fans in the game.

No excuse can be accepted for a display of cowardice like this; the only answer is for Martinez to accept his inabilities, show some respect, and resign... NOW!!!

Kim Vivian
149 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:15:53
Looks like Norwich are on the march now.
Fuck, we've got some tough matches to come!
Richard Farrington
150 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:23:09
Martinez is a weak, pathetic character.

He is a weak, pathetic Manager. He is a loser.

If Moshiri truly does know anything about football, which we are led to believe, he MUST be already working on his replacement.

Seriously got to question my own sanity to renew my season ticket while this joker is at the helm.

Please please sack him.

Keith Monaghan
151 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:32:34
It’s difficult to argue the manager is not at fault.

However, the biggest problem is our midfield:- Besic was poor today, but no worse than McCarthy, Ross & Cleverley – the latter put in effort, but tended to run round in frustration like a headless chicken, McCarthy is at the very best an average championship player and the talented Ross is bone idle and his movement off the ball, both defensively and offensively is pathetic (he should be the first of our stars to be sold). He and McCarthy are the core of our problem – slow, too keen to go backwards, get caught in possession and put team-mates under pressure.

I have come to believe that we need a change of manager at the end of this season whether or not we win the cup.

Peter Murray
152 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:43:22
Manager... a nonentity; home tactics all season... totally inept & every Premier League team arriving at "Fortress" Goodison fully knows this & just approaches the game accordingly – hence our 8 losses... total incompetence total!!

This so-called leader of men, who after this "performance", classifies totally his incompetence, & dressing room nounce, is actually supported by our own blue fan Kenwright – what chance him being removed, futuristically? How low do we have to actually drop, this top 4 so-called side, after a performance like today, witnessed by our own, true blue supporters, & television? Some form of obvious action, regardless of any cup success – is just required. This team & play, under him, could not win an argument??

Pathetically, but unfortunately honestly – if it had been a boxing match, it would have been stopped, to avoid any other punishment to one & all – punishment to our home team.

PLEASE, enough is really enough, 30,000 supporter’s are not WRONG – he is charlatan, a so-called manager in disguise.

COYB – Wembley just a sad distant, hope regardless, totally irrelevant overall in the long history of our Club. The thought of it saving this no-mark is just horrendous & would have zero detrimental effect on next season's ticket sales!!!

Frank Crewe
153 Posted 19/03/2016 at 18:55:23
I notice two or three people are still going on about Kenwright.

Moshiri hasn’t bought into Everton so that he can play second fiddle to a theatre luvvie. He couldn’t get his own way at Arsenal but he fully intends to get it here.

Forget Kenwright... his time is coming to a close. He did his best for Everton and I can’t criticise him for that. Come the final whistle on this season, a new era will begin. Kenwright will hand over the reins to the new man. We can wave goodbye to Mr Brown Shoes and look to the future.

Colin Glassar
154 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:04:10
Don’t blame Besic for their goals. He’s not match fit/sharp and was treading water after 5 minutes. It was Funes Mori, and to a lesser extent, Baines who were guilty of falling asleep for the goals.

Funes can’t pass the ball to save his life, is caught in possession far too often, and has poor positional sense. Baines isn’t the Bainsey of old. His crosses and dead balls are dire and now he can’t track back like he used to so he’s always getting caught upfield.

Saying all this, at the end of the day, it’s the manager who picks the team and tactics and if, game after game, we are getting done by the opposition with no reaction, then it’s his fault and it’s obvious the players have given up.

Richard Farrington
155 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:07:57
Frank, (153) – I hope with every ounce of my energy, that you are right.

I despair that some people are still defending Martinez, I find it very confusing. I go home and away and my view is very clear on him – the guy is a 100% loser and I confidently predict that he will go on and achieve nothing in top-level management.

The sooner he’s gone, the better... and as for Kenwright’s, "What a manager" comment during that grotesque and cringeable interview with Moshiri, he’s just proved that he really is deluded and has his head firmly in the clouds.

Sleeves need to be rolled up and people need to be removed pronto. Over to you, Mr Moshiri.

Tony Hill
156 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:14:09
Frank (#153), the end of the season is too late because the new manager will have no time to prepare.

The problem with Kenwright is that he does retain power and influence, as a deliberate part of the transaction bringing in Moshiri. He disgracefully asserted that power and influence last week to shore up his man.

Do not underrate the selfish cunning of Teary Bill nor his capacity to mire us in the mediocrity which has been the hallmark of his time in charge.

Colin Glassar
157 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:20:59
Tony, I’m sure Mr Moshiri has already made up his mind one way or the other. If it’s a case of a change of management then things will be set in motion well before the end of season.

Mourinho, for example, knew months before he was announced as Chelsea manager which players he wanted onboard, the same goes for Guardiola. If a new manager is announced in May then a lot of the groundwork will already have been done.

Andy Ellis
158 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:22:36
He would have been shown the door at any other Premier League club a long time ago. Bill’s ’What a manager’ comments were ridiculous and cringe-worthy but sum up the problem. We’d only reached a semi-final; we’re Everton, we expect that.

Remember him popping the bubbly when we finished 4th, embarrassing. What we do not expect is to be in the bottom half of the league and sinking fast with such a shocking home record. What a manager indeed.

Dave Lynch
159 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:23:50
All Moshiri has to do is buy another 2% of the shares and he’s got total control.

If I owned any, I would flog them to him in a heartbeat, with the guarantee that he told BK to keep his sycophantic fucking gob shut and sacked Martinez immediately.

Dennis Ng
160 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:30:00
Colin, optimistic piece perhaps, but not unimaginable. I can only hope it is one of high calibre.

I was not expecting much from this game since I fully expect Martinez to sacrifice the Premier League for the FA Cup now that we have nothing to play for.

Once that’s over, I fully expect Moshiri to fire Martinez, hopefully the board must go also.

Tony Hill
161 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:34:52
Colin (#157), fair point and I very much hope you’re right. My worry is that we will, even at this stage, have a split Board but we can only pray.
Ian Smitham
162 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:39:09
Dave (#159), I'm going to have to disagree with you. Imagine some issue crops up and the Board decide to put it to the Shareholders for a vote. Like the ground move. Even if all the Shareholders can be contacted and even then, if they can be bothered replying or even voting, Moshiri can just vote how he wants now and it will be a statistical anomaly if he lost the vote. He is in control; usually anyone who has an influence over 25% of the shares is regarded as being in control.

Anyway, talking of stats and noting Kim's comment (#149), I wonder if Moyes's comment about getting to 40 points is seen as so negative as the way it has often been depicted??

Bearing in mind the way Wenger seems to get a bad press off the Arsenal fans, and bearing in mind the connection with the new owner, and having watched the Arsenal game from the stands today, I just wonder if we could dream that we saw the next Everton manager today?

For over a year now I have supported change. Today proved nothing, reinforced nothing, I learned nothing. Nothing to change my view. Though I thought they were the best team I have seen at Goodison this season, not sure we really tested them.

Paul Conway
163 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:41:10
What I couldn’t understand was the amount of long passes we tried which were intercepted or blocked by Arsenal.

Every attempt at a long ball to Lukaku was stifled by a couple of defenders. And, if and when Lukaku did recieve the ball, there was no support. Everything was mopped up by Arsenal, including stray passes, bounces, etc. This was the trend throughout!

How many times does a horse have to piss on yer boots, before you realise it's a horse! Fucking outrageous carry on and even worse tactical changes. Correction: zero tactical changes.

Chris Buckingham
164 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:43:43
Listening to the game on 5 Live, there was an interesting piece at half time about the impact Eddie Jones, the new England rugby coach, has had on the team’s performance since taking over from Stuart Lancaster after the world cup debacle.

James Haskell described how much more he enjoyed playing under Jones; players were described as exuding self-confidence and ’walking tall’ with a real sense of belief in themselves. Jones himself, although no diplomat, was described as having a ’clarity of thought’.

Contrast that with comments throughout the first half from Pat Nevin saying the Everton players looked as if they’d all just been introduced to each other in the dressing room before the game and the total lack of confidence they displayed. I was expecting them to come out in the 2nd half and tear into Arsenal after an almighty bollocking from Martinez, but it was just more of the same. Too much ’arm round the shoulder’ instead of ’hand round the throat’.

But then that’s probably the problem – Martinez either doesn’t have or has lost the ability to motivate and inspire his players, as well as having no real clear idea about what he’s trying to achieve.

I think he’ll survive to the end of the season irrespective of results. Perhaps he’ll become the first manager to complete a unique double: win the FA Cup and get relegated; win the FA Cup and get the sack.

Here’s hoping!

Andy Crooks
165 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:49:36
That was embarrassing. I watched the game with some Martinez admiring pro Everton neutrals. It was shameful. This man will relegate our club. He is the worst coach in our history by a million miles. In fact, I would suggest that he would be in the top ten worst coaches ever to shame the Premier League.

Bewildered, arrogant, clueless, inept, insipid, uninspiring.... this fool relegated Wigan and he will do it to us. Who could replace him? Anyone with a coaching badge. He is that utterly shit. Our new owner could do himself a lot of good by sacking Martinez before the semi-final. This fraud does not deserve to lead our club out at Wembley.


Gerard Carey
166 Posted 19/03/2016 at 19:51:39
More of the same again today. Insipid display again by the players, no urgency, no fight. I just hope the wheels are in motion that sees change coming. We need a new manager and backroom team to move forward.

How anyone can keep defending RM is beyond me. We have had two full seasons of this and it gets harder to take. As someone else has said, if he stays in charge we will keep dropping down the table.

Jon Cox
167 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:07:52
How many times have we heard: "We have every confidence in our manager" then the poor geezer gets the boot?

I think BK has got more faces than Big Ben. If I was Martinez, tonight I would be thinking about job seekers allowance.

"What a manager" indeed!

Kieran Fitzgerald
168 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:14:18
I caught the second half. Arsenal showed us how to see out a game. Defence in depth and then put pressure on the opposition at every opportunity. Do you think Martinez will watch the video with his defensive coaches?
Jon Cox
169 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:23:39
Kieran,

No!

Christopher Dover
170 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:27:02
We will not get relegated this season, so sack Martinez now. I would rather see us lose with a temporary man in charge than keep the clown who is our manager.

I don’t know if to laugh or cry when the season ticket announcement comes on. In one way, it’s good they are holding and reducing prices but another part is saying, "I’ve had enough of watching this rubbish every home game."

Today, I was tempted to leave at half-time as I could not see us scoring if we played all night, and before the crowd gets stick again – just remember, many of us turned up... pity the team did not, AGAIN!!!

John Codling
171 Posted 19/03/2016 at 20:36:44
An absolute fucking disgrace. We were second to everything, men against boys. Get rid of this Spanish cunt. That's all I have to say.
David Edwards
172 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:00:54
A dreadful match – but nothing unexpected. We weren’t particularly dominant in the cup, but Rom’s goals made it seem more special than it was.

16 months of underachievement, and I just can’t get angry any more. I’m hoping the shrewd new owner realises what is required this summer. We haven’t even reached the 40-point ’safety net’ yet!

An interesting point this thread has raised is one that I have to admit I’ve gone with the flow with too – this myth that we have our best squad for decades. The last few weeks, it is clear we have half a team of great quality, but the rest are inconsistent and frankly ordinary at times. A look at some of Moyes’s teams suggests that, while we didn’t always have the mega-stars, we had real grafters who put in a shift and could work together – especially in defence.

I do hope Moshiri is getting his team to look at sites like TW to gauge what many of us have been saying for quite a while – that Martinez must go. TW tends to be ahead of much of the Goodison faithful – but surely the boos at the end of the game, only a week after the Chelsea success, must make him realise the BK spin and Roberto’s increasingly shambolic interviews are not to be given any currency after this summer???

Peter Roberts
173 Posted 19/03/2016 at 21:03:42
Enough is enough. Pack your bags, Roberto.
Colin Glassar
174 Posted 19/03/2016 at 22:26:58
The boos, by the few souls who remained at the end could well sway Moshiri’s final decision, David. No new owner will want to hear that.

Tony, Dennis, if this guy wants to protect his investment, he’ll get the people in he thinks will achieve that. Wouldn’t you?

Tony Hill
175 Posted 19/03/2016 at 22:50:58
Colin, I would indeed but the question is whether the bad influence of Kenwright may affect matters. To sack Martinez at any point will mean Moshiri overriding Bill who is so arrogant that he cannot see, or chooses not to see, what is blindingly obvious.

I suspect that if Moshiri was on his own and in full control then he would be getting rid straight away. It will be difficult for him to just dismiss Martinez after the nonsense spouted last week by Kenwright.

I agree with those who say that the fans have to tip the balance. In any event, I can't wait for Kenwright finally to fuck off out of this club, a club which he apparently considers to be his personal realm.

And, yes, I know he is ill but that doesn't make him any less of a gobshite.

Anthony Dwyer
176 Posted 19/03/2016 at 22:59:10
How can everyone be so wrong!

The club surely have to act now, especially when they are putting messages out at half time about renewals of season tickets, literally minutes after the team were boo’d off the pitch.

Anthony Dwyer
177 Posted 19/03/2016 at 00:17:38
Reading through the comments I can see that most are hoping and preying that Moshiri can see sense and get shut of Martinez. That said, Kenwright may still hold pull and he’s banging on about what a great manager Martinez is.

He was first to pipe up last week, up out of his sick-bed telling Moshiri that he promised him Wembley. What a small-minded man.

He is beaming with joy over a trip to Wembley for a semi-final. He should have kept his trap shut and just spoke about the investment, instead he spoke, glowing with a smile from cheek to cheek about how great Martinez was.

He has to move over and realise that the value has moved on, the players are all internationals now, they are mostly young lads with ambition, they want to win things and perform at the highest level. They are looking for medals and Champions league football. Kenwright is like Martinez, head in the clouds, bullshitter who is okay with being Joe average.

Our players will walk away, and rightly so. I half-wonder what Baines was thinking to turn clubs down, Coleman too, Jags was linked with Arsenal a few years back as well. Rom, Ross, Stones, Funes Mori, Deulofeu, Besic and so on should all jump ship, given the opportunity, if we persist with Martinez as manager, and this small-minded approach to football as a whole.

We need new blood at the helm, Moshiri needs to speak about us in a new light. He needs to remind the footballing world that Everton are a founder member, and that we have won many league titles and cups, he then needs a manager who can put us back on the map.

Moshiri himself is known as a major business man, he’s an associate of billionaire Russians who deal in steal and oil. He is around the mega rich and the mega ambitious on a daily basis. He should bring a manager to Everton who is respected.

Ronald Keoman, Frank De Boer, Michael Laudrup, Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pelligrini, they have the type of profile that can make players join Everton, they have the name in football that can attract players to the Prem and put us above the London clubs when we need that extra pull.

We have missed a big one in Bilic in my opinion, but there are lots more out there. Look at the job Ranieri is doing, most blues would have laughed from June last year until Xmas if we had offered the job to him, yet he looks like a top manager to me. He has come into Leicester and stuck to his principles, he has kept players out of the lime light of the press and he has managed his club accordingly. His players respect him, they work for him, and they are going to achieve something incredible, all because of his management.

So when wondering who we might get in as a manager if we took the plunge to sack Martinez, lets all realise that whoever it may be, he can’t really do much worse.

Let’s trust Moshiri to find his guy, hopefully soon, before the end of the season, giving the manager a chance to assess what he needs to buy, but also what he actually has already at the club.

We have a good squad, it’s just a little unbalanced in my opinion. We need to shake off a lot of dead wood, look to strengthen the goalkeeper position along with the left of midfield. We may also need back up at right back, depending on what we have in the youth squad. We also need someone to play up top with Rom, or be an adequate replacement if Rom is injured or out of form.

But firstly we need a new manager, and we need our owner to show the footballing world that Everton are looking to become the real deal, because in my opinion we simply don’t have the right mentality at the club.

Paul Mackay
178 Posted 20/03/2016 at 03:47:46
Why do so many fans believe that the club will sack Martinez?

I have posted so many times that Everton only ever sack a manager when the club is on its knees, in the relegation zone and losing every week. It normally gets to a point when things are so bad the manager is ready to walk anyway and the decision is an easy one.

Martinez will start next season as manager, guaranteed!!

Dennis Ng
179 Posted 20/03/2016 at 04:36:31
Colin (#174), absolutely, that’s why I agree with you that Martinez’s days are numbered. The only problem is when. Most of you want it now; as much as I do, I don’t see that happening, not without a huge embarrassment at least. Derby, Leicester, take your pick. If we’re still in the FA Cup, it won’t happen.

Paul (#178), I think we’re going to lose every week till the end of the season. We aren’t threatened by relegation and don’t have enough fortitude to fight for pride unless a prize (FA Cup) is to be had. If Moshiri falls for the "nothing to play for anyway" excuse, sure. Is Everton worth the £175 mill valuation by Moshiri if are not in at least #10? I googled on the prize money for each position. 4 places is worth £5 mill in prize money along, unadjusted for other dependencies. Surely that means Moshiri will need to fork out more money to pay for Martinez’s incompetence.

Peter Barry
180 Posted 20/03/2016 at 05:12:41
I hope all the blind faith that is being expressed about the actions of our new owner proves to be true.
Thomas Surgenor
181 Posted 20/03/2016 at 06:31:48
Paul Mackey (#178),

While Everton have no previous for sacking a manager while mid table, we are currently transitioning to a new regime. What makes you think Moshiri will be as lenient as the last?

He will expect results and what better way to stamp his authority on the club than sack the first team manager?

I don’t think we will sack Martinez mid season or without having his replacement already lined up. So if someone suitable becomes available in the summer, I expect the deal to be done then. If no-one suitable is available, Martinez will live to fight another day.

Joe Foster
183 Posted 20/03/2016 at 08:46:23
He could be possibly the worst manager in Premier League history. A part of me thinks we may end up 16th in the table but having the striker who won this season's Golden Boot.
Phil Walling
184 Posted 20/03/2016 at 09:28:16
Paul, I don't quite share your confidence but fear you may be right on the Martinez issue. Bill will do nothing to upset his dream of going out with a trophy and as he signed the Catalan on the back of his Cup 'expertise', he will not want to rock the boat until Everton's fate is determined.

On the other hand, I suspect that Moshiri and his banker on the Board may look more at the huge drop in Premier League place money that a 12th place finish would result in. Indeed, if the newcomer is not to be more businesslike in his Club involvement than the men he bought the shares from, what the hell is he doing here?

Martin Nicholls
185 Posted 20/03/2016 at 10:16:40
Dean Rolstone (72) – I have not missed a game at home for many years and attend many away games. I do not slab off players during the game nor boo them off at the end.

It is however a bit rich for you to judge other match going supporters who do so from your seat in front of the TV. You urge supporters to get behind the team and I agree the sentiment – perhaps if you swapped your armchair for the seat of one of the critics you decry, it might help you achieve your wish.

To you and other like-minded people – match-going fans are NOT responsible for the mess our Club is in.

Andy Meighan
186 Posted 20/03/2016 at 10:44:02
Anthony (#177), a brilliant post.

You're totally right about getting shut of Martinez, but I'm afraid while the spectre of Kenwright is still looming, spouting his shite about how great a manager we've got, it's not going to happen.

Let's hope Moshiri has got balls of steel and sacks the clown asap and gives the club a manager us long suffering fans deserve. And any of the names you mentioned would do for me. In fact, I reckon they'd jump at it. Like you said, Who could do worse?

Terence Tyler
187 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:24:37
It just gets worse. Pienaar now saying he has been fit for six weeks, but seems Martinez has ostracized him for some reason. Yes, Pienaar will never be a nailed-on starter again, but surely in the last six weeks could have been some use to the squad, especially now Baines is fit and playing.
Kevin Johnson
188 Posted 20/03/2016 at 11:46:33
As sure as cows shit in the fields, this masquerade of a manager will be history at the end of this season. FA Cup win or not...
John Hoggarth
189 Posted 20/03/2016 at 12:05:39
Martin Nicholls (#185). I agree entirely. On MotD, Danny Murphy blamed the supporters for our home form too. I can understand a RS coming out with that but can’t take it from an armchair Blue.

There’s a tipping point when supporters get so brassed off they can’t raise the enthusiasm to raise the roof when they’re watching rubbish. We reached that tipping point last season and its spilled over into this one.

We’re not sheep and we’re not stupid. Give us effort, a team that understands what it has to do, play on the offensive instead of ponderously and the crowd will be loud. It’s what you’d expect from any professional sportsmen.

It’s not asking a lot.

Steve Alderson
190 Posted 20/03/2016 at 12:16:06
Contemplating keeping Martinez if we win the cup is irrelevant because we won't.

Everton have been guilty of letting good opportunities to win silverware slip through their fingers for years.

Having Bobby as manager just makes it inevitable.

Mike Gwyer
191 Posted 20/03/2016 at 13:24:19

Martin Nicholls. #185

Fucking Touche.

All this dross about the Goodison crowd not supporting their team is total bollocks. I’ve just sat through two seasons of Martinez serving up crap after crap, he has been totally out thought and out gunned by almost every manager in the Premier League. You cannot just sit there and watch every fucking team take the piss; I mean, it’s getting so bad now that fellow blues are coming to blows and this is not because of support to Martinez, fuck no, every-one and I mean every blue wants that fucker gone.

No, certain blues have an affinity to certain players and this is kicking off all sorts of shit in the stands. Yeah, bravo Mr Martinez you really have no idea what you have done to this great club, the division and loyalty in the stands is not for you, you fucking prick. The loyalty is for the players that you are destroying. Mr Martinez you have, all on your fucking lonesome, turned Barkley into a nervous fucking wreck. The boy no longer has any idea and continually looks lost and totally pissed off. I say it again Mr Martinez, fucking bravo.

But rest assured, the support Barkley has in the stands will not be divided, he is one of us and you will not be allowed to destroy him with your obsession for crab passing, your obsession with keeping the ball and worst of all, your total obsession with tippy-tappy fucking shite football with absolutely no end product. Fuck off.

Barkley is a footballer, so it's really fucking simple. Let the boy play football.

Sean Kelly
192 Posted 20/03/2016 at 13:36:11
Well said, Mike; I couldn't have put it any better.
Andy Crooks
193 Posted 20/03/2016 at 13:53:44
There are folk who go to a match to let off steam. Nothing pleases them. I have never barracked an individual player because it only damages confidence. However, when lack of effort permeates the side, when ineptitude seems acceptable, when the coach, the hugely paid coach, looks bewildered, then it is time to let them know. Criticising good people who pay a lot of money to witness the shaming of the shirt is totally out of order.

There is a little clique of pundits who talk about supporters in a smug patronizing way. Evertonians are loyal and expect nothing more than endeavour every game; now that is not too much to ask.

Joe Clitherow
195 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:12:24
Martin, John and Mike,

Spot on. Nothing winds me up more than armchair fans criticising the match going crowd when they could do something different if they could be bothered dragging their carcasses to the ground, rain hail or shine as thousands of others do. I don’t boo during the match but it is absolutely the job of the crowd to pass judgement at the end of each half and we are no mugs. Yesterday I was disgusted by the attitude of the management and players. Thirty odd thousand plus if us paid hard earned cash to watch a bunch of arrogant millionaires take the piss with training-ground effort! Enough!!!

It is very difficult to sit through utter crap and be told we play exciting attacking football when we do not. I have seen genuinely good attacking football at Goodison and I know what it looks like. It isn’t what this fraud thinks it is. Two shots on target yesterday and I think I missed the first one because I clocked the match time for Lukaku’s tame header and it said 87:39.

It is almost impossible to generate enthusiasm for the backward-playing shite served up by the third-rate chancer we have in charge. The crowd tried for a few minutes after half-time to raise some effort but it soon waned when the team could not be bothered.

The players are so programmed to turn back to face our goal as soon as they get the ball that the opposition know exactly what to do and McCarthy was caught twice like that yesterday. Barkley is a natural attacking talent being so thoroughly destroyed by the crap third-raters coaching him that he turns back almost every time now instead of attacking the man in front of him which I am sure used to be his instinct. It is soul-destroying to sit through that rubbish for years. Now though I think it is apathy in the crowd that keeps us quiet.

I think it is the lull before the storm.

Paul Tran
196 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:24:22
As an exiled armchair fan who only gets the chance to go when I’m working close to Liverpool, I can only support the loyal Blues who turn up every week.

My last game was the Hull 1-1 debacle last season. Great evening, couple of nostalgic pints in the Spellow and Winslow, seat in the Top Balcony where my Dad took me in the 70s and I had a good view of where we laid his ashes behind the Park End byeline.

Then the match started; the most mind-numbing, insipid rubbish I had seen since the early seventies. The only difference was the lack of cushions raining down.

I love the idea of a passing game. It has to be mixed with some drive and purpose. Until we see some of that consistently, the crowd are entitled to be as quiet/abusive as they like!

Dave Abrahams
197 Posted 20/03/2016 at 15:36:10
Joe (#195), I couldn’t agree more. Like you I looked at the clock when Lukaku made the weak header, 87 mins, to go with the shot Besic made in the first half... just not good enough.

And it is a myth we have been scoring goals for fun this season at Goodison Park: we have scored 19 goals in five matches versus Sunderland, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Stoke and Chelsea, which means we have scored ten in the other eleven games.

I don’t like booing Everton but have resorted to it on many occasions, none more so than under this manager.

Peter Laffey
198 Posted 20/03/2016 at 20:48:14
In the Talking Points of this site, a fan wrote an article 'Transfers And The Future'

It just wasn't Saturday's result but we need a new Goalkeeper, possibly 2, a right-back, cover for Seamus, a centre-half or 2 (proper centre-halves) at least 2 creative midfielders, if Lukaku stays or not, 2 strikers, and let's not forget the deadwood in the squad.

That's at least 10 new players.

If I had a pound for everytime I've heard 'this is the best squad for decades' or bring 'Moysie back' I would have had enough money myself to buy some shares in the club!

I've been supporting Everton for over 30 years and apart from the obvious, the title winning seasons, give me Joe Royle's 'Dogs of War' any day of the week over this. When he got his message across you had 11 men who knew what it was like to play for Everton.

Brian Wilkinson
199 Posted 21/03/2016 at 00:59:14
One-nil down to West Brom, one shot on goal all afternoon, he takes a striker off and puts a midfielder on.

Two-nil up against West Ham, down to 10 men and a midfielder short, he takes another midfielder off and sticks a striker on.

Two-nil down against Arsenal, he only uses two subs and leaves both strikers on the bench.

I need to lay down in a dark room and try and make sense what planet Bobby is on.

Rob Halligan
200 Posted 21/03/2016 at 01:13:30
Brian, you missed out 2-1 down to Swansea, takes a full back off and puts a full back on. Coleman for Oviedo I think it was.
Rob Dolby
201 Posted 21/03/2016 at 08:31:59
Leicester change their manager and hopefully win the Premier League. West Ham change their manager and could qualify for Champions League. Moshiri must be tempted to do the same thing.

Without doubt, this is the best squad we have had for years and Martinez can't get a tune out of them. His tactics make the players look like a gutless, heartless bunch of shitbags. If we brought in a new manager who cared about organisation off the ball, we would be right up there.

Lukaku will leave in the summer and if we get another injury to Jagielka, we will be relegated under this idiot next season.

SACK HIM NOW.


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