Uninspired and sloppy Blues fall to defeat again

Man Utd team looks weak, reckon we can beat these...

Best player on the pitch first half.

I like the free roam that Lennon and Deulofeu have. I'd like to see Barkley further forward, and because Cleverley isn't very defensive:

I would have Stones and McCarthy holding, Funes Mori and Jags in defense & Barkley roaming the attacking third.

"We'll get beat." was my reply.

Unfortunately, with 20 minutes to go it seems this is how it may work out today, again.

I have had virtually zero expectation of winning matches since about November 2014. We are just a very, very poor side.

It's as if the players know that Martinez is gone.

No passion, no urgency, players disinterested.

We have now lost more matches than we've won this season. That really should be the most damning stat for any manager.

Bill is an absolute nutter to think Martinez is earning his cheques. I've only been supporting since 2002, but I am finally starting to understand what the 1990s must have felt like.

I thought we were robbed today. It was a good performance from the capitulation against Arsenal. We were committed and were unlucky not to score.

Sadly, in the wider context Roberto will be slaughtered again this evening, even though we didn't do anything wrong today. At the end of the day it's a results game and we are not delivering, so the manager is accountable.

Never mind, let's not do anything brave or interesting like sacking this manifestly hopeless manager. We are Everton after all and we do things differently. We can perhaps look at it again at Christmas if we can pluck up the courage.

He Played with 3 central Midfielders and 2 right wingers with Lennon playing... errr... as a shadow striker??

Lukaku is so Isolated it is unreal, there was no width. I think he has lost the dressing room, I don't think the players understand and buy into his tactics. How many times I seen so much space down the left and there was nobody there!!

Shocking

Martinez Out.

That was the definition of unacceptable.

All this 'top talent' in our squad is becoming somewhat of a parody because all thats evident on match days is that we are second best to pretty much everyone bar the bottom 3.

United are a poor side these days with no world class players yet the have beaten us twice without really getting out of first gear in either game.

We look no better than Sunderland or Norwich at the moment, it's a good job the games will run out before they can catch us.

I can't see this current team somehow overcoming hungrier teams in the FA Cup and I really can't see too many points being put on the board in the last few league games – there is something rotten in the state of Denmark and it needs sorting and quickly.

Without any doubt the worst manager I have ever seen at Everton in 45 years of watching and he is seemingly under no pressure to perform or achieve.

What is the point when that is the situation?

How many of the United fans would have looked at you today and thought "Yes, let's go for this lad"? None. Not good enough.

Yet again, bizzare substitutions. Time for a change or we are in real trouble next season. And as for that 13.5 million quid striker Niasse!!! Oh, lol, lol, lol!

The tactics, the formation, the confusion... it seems pretty clear to me he has lost the dressing room, I can't even be arsed knocking out the seasons stats as we all know how depressing they are.

We need to install a caretaker to inject a bit of pride before the semi-final.

We made a poor Man Utd team look like world beaters.

I had no idea what formation we were playing?

I had no idea where certain players were playing?

My heart was in my mouth with every corner or ball into our box.

This surely can't get any worse, can it?

I was sure the board didn't want to sack Martinez now whilst we still have a chance of a cup, but I'm not sure now.

This now looks like a forlorn hope and one thing that I hate to witness, is our beloved Everton playing without fire and imagination. They were going through the motions today and that is inexcusable!

That was an ordinary Man U there for the taking, only Mata played well for them, but still too good for us. No belief in that team, all stems from the manager. That Niasse is a dud, no doubt about that, £13.5m, ffs!

He can't motivate these men – it's so obvious.

This was the tipping point. Maybe it took me a bit longer than most, but there's no turning back after today.

It's time for him to go. The Club, for the good of the Club, simply must make a change.

One of the last Roberto backers has been pushed over the edge today.

TY for your service Roberto. It's time, for everyone involved, for you to move on.

The spirit has gone, the players were arguing amongst each other and you can see we are a broken team. It used to be a case of taking a knife to a gunfight now, it's more like taking a dildo to a gun fight!!

It's got to such a point I don't care anymore. My spirit, and enthusiasm, has also gone down the bog.

Are there still any blues out there that seriously think we can beat these or West Ham? I noticed the face of our phenomenal one as he trudged off after the final whistle, he had the expression of a man who knows finally that his game is over.

This was so embarrassing to watch. For God's sake get shut now. There will be a huge exodus from Goodison in the summer with or without Martinez, so why not someone as a stand in until then? It couldn't be any worse.

No idea, no plans on how to mix it up. Just what formation was he playing midway through the second half? I couldn't see it and the players didn't seem to know either. How long can he get away with this? The media give him such an easy ride, locally the press are worse.

There just doesn't seem to be an end to this total garbage. It's a painful time to watch us knowing how safe this clown is in his job.

Or "now that we got through the tough games, the next 12 games will be crucial"; or how "we fucked up those crucial games, but that's okay, the next 8 games are crucial" or how "we were unlucky, linesman, referee, missed penalty, grass was wet, his wife wasn't......

I'm an infant in blue years compared to most over here, but that can not be the best squad/team in a generation!

We on the other hand are lucky we're not fighting relegation, particularly with our home form letting us down badly. Hopefully we'll lift the FA Cup, but as far as this Premier League season goes, I can't wait for the final whistle.

But I'm not buying the uninspired performance. We played a lot better than the 1-2 defeat there last season. If we play them in the FA Cup semi-final, we can and should get a result.

"The goal was a very soft action, it's not up to our standards. The performances were very, very level" – No, they were not level and even if they were, aren't we supposed to be better than this poor poor Man Utd team?

"... and we shouldn't have lost the game. It's that sort of game that came down to small margins – the ball hitting the crossbar is the difference between us getting something out of the game." – Yet another lie, we had little going forward and our one moment had to come from our central defender.

"We are a young group with great potential but our home form hasn't been anywhere near good enough." – Martinez full of shit spiel again.

A test for Mr Moshiri which I pray he is going to pass.

Dead duck of a team. On the beach April 3rd before we've even reached 40 points.

They'll try to focus for the FA Cup but you can't just switch intensity on and off. Doesn't work that way.

All our young players are regressing, eg, Coleman for their goal... pitiful.

One shot on target. No passion. No drive. No heart. No proper organisation. Of course the players must take some blame, but only one man is responsible for selecting the line-up and determining the tactics. I suspect that, if he were responsible for collecting my bins, the likelihood is that they will still be on my drive on Tuesday!

Good to see John Stones back and doing quite well, and you have to love Jags. He is a true blue Corinthian who always gives 100%. A few more like him might make a difference.

I watched impassively. Barely a flicker of emotion. Can't even get angry any more. The only thing left to look forward to today (The Night Manager having finished and the bins being out already) is the drivel to be spouted from our esteemed leader soon to appear on this site. No point in watching MOTD2. Babestation for me. At least something might stir!!

He's also stopped shooting on sight as he's probably under strict orders to pass the ball. Like Stonesy his career isn't progressing under this regime. We either make the changes now or lose these players.

After we conceded, we had a couple of chances and perhaps unlucky not to equalise but truthfully there was no urgency or energy.

Martinez's one supposed positive trait, marking him out from Moyes and our previous manager, was that his teams would pass the ball, and go to grounds such as Old Trafford and play without fear.

Today we sat deep and played direct. Lukaku was isolated. Our best chances were from set pieces. Lennon and Cleverley were played out of position. We had less of the ball.

The supposed building job Martinez is doing must be with invisible bricks, because I cannot see what he is constructing.

At the moment it is very hard to take what is going on, on the pitch. On paper this is a good strong squad, but for whatever reason they just can't play as a team together.

Lukaku looks lost and disinterested, Barkley is way way off the finished article, there is no balance, no ideas and no other tactics go wrong, which is in most games.

I've given up on this season, I don't think we'll win the cup, other teams left in will want it more and have a pre-planned game plan.

It's just not working under Martinez; for me, I'd go for Koeman. He's got one year left on his contract and with the money that should be available, he might be tempted.

Unlucky? is that a new way of saying Tactically Inept and without idea's?

We played with a winger as a second striker (Lennon) he was running around the pitch in the first half not knowing what to do. We had Nobody down the left at all.

The only player on the pitch who looked like he had any fight was Jags.

If you are happy with that performance and standard then Martinez is lucky to have you as a fan.

I've been a supporter of Martinez for too long. Today is the day I've given up on him and by the looks of it, so have a lot of the players.

He has to go before the Semi-final. Because if by some fluke we win it, there is no way the board will get rid of him.

We have a billionaire. Ambition is critical!

That's the manager and players looking forward to the last few games of the season, well a great start. That must be the worst Man Utd team for years and I think we managed one shot on target. No doubt we will get the apologists on making more excuses and more optimistic comments about us almost being there.

So predictable and slow. On paper we had a good team out but there was no fucking effort. Before the game we talked about crap teams and managers, still reckon this clown is top of the list.

Very insipid, timid, boring stuff against useless opposition there for the taking.

The 2 penalty shouts and a nasty foul on Baines in the second half were met by meek half hearted appeals from us. No edge, no energy. That's this lot all over. There's no life in the fuckers.

Can't honestly see us doing it when the pressure's really on in the semi either. I'm a Martinez fan but there's a spinelessness that has carried over from Moyes and has polluted the whole team.

The cricket was a kick in the nuts too.

And why did I enjoy watching Leicester more than us today? Oh yes, they look like they know what they're supposed to be doing. How I wish Ranieri was our manager.

RM bought a striker for £13m who wasn't fit and just runs about like a headless chicken. Early days but I can't see him getting any better.

As Schmeical just declared winning the FA Cup is a nice day out for the fans but it is the leagues that matters (Mr Martinez please take note).

Just watched the Martinez post match interview. What can I say? Is he now to be judged on the first 12 games of next season now and not the last 12 games of this season as he declared the other week. Will Bobby Bullshit move the goal posts again? He talks about performing instead of winning. We need to re-group he says. What is he talking about. He is just an excuse merchant of the highest order.

I despair with this manager. If he is still in charge next season god help us. Will the Board please just sack him now.

More fun to follow Leicester than watching Everton. That sums it up.

Awful effort again. We must be the thickest team in the league. No fuckin clue what so ever and far too many bottlers.

Can't wait for the season to end to be honest.

You're right, everyone is on Barkley's back, but he has no out balls there is one width. At one point in the he broke free and Del Boy had 2 players on him and Lukaku had 2 players on him there was nobody out left and everyone else was behind him. He was stuck, he is a good player but what the hell is he meant to do?

Then again in the second half he turned and was away. Mirallas, Coleman and Lennon were all down the right and Rom was crowd by 3 players. Again nothing to open the play up. He had to go back to Baines the Camera panned to Barkley's face and he look down, done, pissed off.

Barkley could with the right system and players around him ripped teams apart, But under Martinez he has never been played same position or been given the same role to grow into. We all know Moyes was a Square Peg in round hole manager but that was down to small squad. Martinez has the players but insists on playing players out of position.

Our club is a shambles and is in need of some serious surgery.

If we don't get rid of this fraudster we'll end up a cross between Wigan and Bolton.

A time of great apprehension ahead, that's for sure.

The "project" progresses and next year will reach its ultimate and inevitable fruition unless Martinez is stopped, make no mistake.

As I feared when he was appointed though, the severe damage is done and the solid Top 6/7/8 team he inherited, with its discipline, rigour, fitness and team spirit is clearly already dismantled and it will take more than 3 seasons to reconstruct back to the level we were.

Martinez Out!!!

Tactically we where naive against a very average Man Utd team. Stats don't lie and we have played 30 and marooned on 38 points for weeks now! Martinez is clueless and the players work rate is an embarrassment. Get the joker out now!

How bad would it be to win the cup and the euphoria from that force our board to give him another season. I can't believe I could say this but I hope West Ham or Man Utd batter us for all that we are not and all we pretend to be.

I think a parks manager could send out a big standard 4-4-2 and the players would have more idea!

Where were they supposed to be playing?

That feeling where you can't be bothered anymore. By the looks of it neither can Martinez or the players be bothered.

Pissed off. Martinez out now.

Rom looked so far off Champs league, more like Employ Me. No thanks mate teflon feet, out-jumped by a dwarf and generally out thought throughout. Good to see Jags tear a strip off him when he failed to go far post on a corner. At least Jags can hold his head up- he led by example.

The fact is though, that this is a distinctly average United side, and they had to make 3 changes during the game and we still failed to put them under pressure. Once behind, it was clear that the formation lacked the ability to open them up. Niasse got on in the 85th minute. Some chance to get involved!

This game shows that we really are on the road to nowhere. Martinez has learned nothing, and our much lauded most talented squad in ages flatters to deceive yet again.

The commentary hit the nail on the head when they said that we lacked precision. This is the difference between good teams and average teams... we are a very average team.

Martinez has totally lost the plot. What formation was he playing today. We had two right wingers, no one on the left, where was Lennon supposed to be playing? And Lukaku isolated upfront, even though he wasn't even trying.

We are 12th in the table, below West Brom, and lucky the bottom 3 are so bad. He's totally lost the dressing room, Bill has to come to his senses, and get rid of him, before our Wembley date.

Oh, Mr big mouth I want Champions League football, you where shite today, but of course you didn't have the service your talent deserves.

Seriously, the whole team were directionless, running around seemingly without a clue. If that is what happens when the manager has lost the dressing room then the sooner he goes the better. Simply dreadful to watch.

What are our chances of relegation, if not this season, then next? This has gone beyond a joke.

Being stuck on 38 points for what seems like forever?
Dropping down the table every week and could end up 17th?
Cant win at home ?
Have only won 4 away?
The manager blaming the fans?
The manager proclaiming we have some of the best talent in Europe but he cant buy a win?
The manager stating we can compete financially with any club which is unhinged from reality?
Just what does it take??

The passing was awful in the final third, either too far forward or behind the player. Do these mugs talk to each other? How many of our players are caught in possession? What happened to "Man On!!"?

So before you blame Ross, Lukaku or JS look at the players around them first, look at the passing, the movement etc....and you will see there isn't any.

#72, good luck finding another club to support mate.

I think Martinez puts Niasse on to help the opposition close out the game.

I've was a fan of Martinez but I've lost patience now. We were beaten today by the worst United team that I can remember. It does not augur well for a semi-final at Wembley should we face them.

I have supported the club for 55 years (my first game at age 10) and have been fortunate enough to see the greatest years in the club's history plus lots of dross.

I tend to fall into the camp that when it comes down to it, it is up to the players to perform to the best of their ability and beyond.

Moyes wasn't a great manager by any means but he was great at getting the best out of limited resources and finding the occasional gem. Martinez does not seem capable of inspiring the players and that is why they are under-performing compared to much less talented teams in our relatively recent past.

Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if we reach the Cup Final and fluke a win. Martinez will then once again be the media's darling and Kenwright's favourite, so we will have to suffer more of the same next season.

But we are here to see it from our Everton fans' perspective and I don't believe that Martinez sends the team out to be so unimaginative as that. Of course, it may well be that this 'best squad for xx years' are not quite as talented as they are made out to be. Or, indeed, don't believe in the manager or his tactics.

But for all that they earn film stars' salaries and must have some pride in their personal performances. If they have, it was extremely difficult to see it this afternoon.

So Martinez out? Yes, but some of these guys should hang their heads in shame at how they have served him.

I don't think he'll be moved before the end of the season, and I just hope and pray that of we win the cup he's not given another year. I don't think the new owner will put up with him, bill probably would but the new owner, no way

I am a big fan of Ross and with the right manager he will thrive. However, today he was shite. No excuses.

Did we really? De Gea made world class save after world class that game and we also missed a penalty. If you're going to post something get your facts right.

The headline at the top of this page will tell you all you need to know about the turgid shite that was served up today. But, then again, it's becoming the norm under this false fucker.

I really cant believe there's posters still defending the clown. But the likes of me and thousands more wishing him gone are pissing in the wind. Were stuck with it.

Robles – Not sure, jury still out, but should have been in the side a long time before he was finally picked.

Coleman – Great player up until 2 years ago... loses concentration and dithers too much nowadays. Looks like he needs guiding back to his old self. He's been going backwards these last 18 months.

Stones – An enigma wrapped in a puzzle... he can have one great game, then go to pieces in the next. Needs to be made aware of the danger of holding onto the ball too long and work on his heading.

Jagielka – He's been a great servant and still solid in the tackle but needs someone powerful in the air alongside. Also, not captain material, but apart from Barry, can't think of anyone who is.

Baines – Still a great player but his defensive attributes are looking a tad more frail since he returned. Always needs an outlet to work with but the likes of Cleverley, Barkley etc are not the right options out wide.

McCarthy – Another who hasn't improved since 2013-14. Brilliant defensive mid but offers nothing in the attacking 3rd. Would proper coaching help his development?

Cleverley – He's been a victim of the manager not knowing where to play him. Fills in all over the park and until he gets a run in his best position (?) we'll never see him achieve his potential.

Barkley – Possibly the laziest player I've seen in a blue shirt. He has the potential but it looks like the management don't know where he should be playing, or how to turn that potential into a top player.

Lennon – A hard working player who – like some of the above – seems to be moved around the pitch by a manager who, after 3 years, doesn't know how to set up his team. Not a world beater but again, until he has a sustained run in one position, we may never know how important he can be to Everton.

Deulofeu – With Barkley and Lukaku, it's difficult to fit another flair player who neglects the defensive side into the team. He is an exciting and positive distraction from the turgid tripe on offer this season but I would rather see him take Barkley's place if it means the side being better balanced.

Lukaku – Looked more a Scottish Premier League player than a Champions League player today, but, as Souness correctly stated, without his goals, we'd be 'looking over our shoulders' this season. I think it would be worse than that to be honest, and if we are relying on Niasse next season, our long stay in the top flight could be in jeopardy. Rom's game could be improved with the proper coaching, as he still hasn't learned the art of trapping/holding the ball up, or being in the correct scoring positions instead of stuck out on the wing when the ball is fizzed across the six-yard box. He has the potential (familiar?) to be one of the greats, but something seems to be holding back his development. His first goal for us was uncharacteristically brave and resulted in him being knocked out but he wouldn't go off the pitch: these days he looks like he doesn't want to be on the pitch and bravely challenging for headers in the box is rare. Dixie had a life threatening head injury but came back even stronger in the air, so if there's a psychological problem affecting his game, the management should be aware of this and get the professional help to rectify it.

The problems I have mentioned (only my opinion of course) mostly seem to have one common denominator: the (mis)management of the players.

I am starting to get very worried now. Like Mike Walker worried. The guy is a goon. Get gone from this great club. .

I'd also tell some of our regulars that they either shape up or ship out (Baines, Coleman, Jagielka, Cleverley etc...) and get rid of deadbeats like Gibson, Mirallas and Kone and tell them to start looking for another club.

It's time for radical change and that includes the manager. We either do this now or drift aimlessly for another few seasons. Get on it, Moshiri.

The board HAS to acknowledge, accept and act NOW!! Even Davey Unsworth in the caretaker role MIGHT give the players a slight lift... And who knows, they might even want to try and play!!!

We have nothing to lose yet they played like weight of the world was on their shoulders. We have a supposedly £3.5M forward there. Stick him up front with Lukaku and let's see what he can do. Yet right through the game Rom was on his own and starved of service.

Martinez has persisted in playing this 4-2-3-1 formation for the last two seasons even though it's obviously not working. We have defensive midfielders that don't support the attacks or protect the defense. Two useless players who don't add a anything to our play. It's like playing with 9 men.

Now Martinez wants us to judge him by the first 12 games of next season. FFS what is it with him and "the next 12 games" ? He's already had 139 games. Why does he think the next 12 will change things?

The fact is we are drifting. If it hadn't been for our early season form we would be truly in the shit right now. We need a new manager with a new approach and if the look on Roberto's face as he trudged off is anything to go by he knows that is what is going to be happening. Roll on the end of the season and we can get rid of Martinez and bring in a manager who knows what he's doing before we become the next Aston Villa.

This fool will never change, with or without Lukaku believe me we will really struggle next season if he remains and I truly fear for our survival in the big league. If we do win the Cup, I would let Martinez get on the open top bus for the tour and the next day order a mini bus for him and his staff. If there's a spare seat then it'll save us a taxi for Elstone.

I reckon if we get to the final, the players will take over anyway. I reckon no way would they play to the clown's instructions. It'll be a case of a one chance in a lifetime – go for it!

Barkley gets slated on here, sometimes rightly, but with the lack of movement in front of him, he's invariably got fuck all on, that's why our so-called passing game has to be sideways and backwards! Zinadine Zidane would look fucking ordinary in our midfield!

As Souness said, take away the goals Lukaku has scored and this team is a relegation team. Kenwright said a couple of weeks back that he thought Martinez had come under unfair criticism; well, if he still thinks that, then we are in serious trouble.

Maybe us fans need to let Mr Moshiri know exactly what we think of Martinez at the next home game – otherwise, he might think the fans are in agreement with Kenwright's view.

He has ripped the heart out of this team with his possession based, boring side who make more passes in their own half than in their opponent's.

Firstly, we have seen many Managers come and go in this league since it began and there have not been many managers where us fans can consistently look at their signings and think "He makes good sense to that squad" or "I can see what he brings to that football club".

We have been very fortunate to have had Moyes and Martinez who have both had a good record of bringing in good players that have a role at Everton. So many managers in this league have spent big on absolute dross and you only have to think about Villas Boas and Pellegrini as perfect examples.

So, although none of us want Martinez to remain, he has at least bought players that have the potential to make us a top 4 team with whoever the next Manager will be. It's just that Martinez doesn't know how to make them top 4 as he has a flawed system. So at least any incoming Manager will have a great squad to add to. That is the first positive.

Secondly, our defence is the worst I have seen in the many many years I have been watching Everton. However, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Stones, Baines and Coleman are all very exceptional defenders but for the last 3 years they have had the defender dragged out of them by a flawed Martinez system. So my suggestion is that whoever takes over from Martinez will have a great squad as a base to start from, and also a fantastic defence who will be allowed to defend as defenders are supposed to. The new Manager that comes in will get back the clean sheets because that is what defenders strive for.

GROUNDHOG DAY

GROUNDHOG DAY....

I'm just going on what I saw and don't believe there was anything between the sides. LVG has said as much in his interview after the game.

Now maybe I'm giving Man Utd too much respect and looking at an even game at Old Trafford for more than it's worth. Admittedly the same performance at the Stadium of Light and I'd have been fuming, so I am just trying to give the most balanced view of the game as an isolated result.

Of course most fans will look at the wider context and what's gone before and I don't blame them. We need to bring in a new manager with fresh ideas. It's time for Roberto to go.

What do you mean "isolated result"?

That's a normal result for the past 2 years.

Defeat.

Check it out.

No way would I not want cup success, although I know several who would take a loss as a price worth paying for longer-term league success!!! The thought of a grinning clown smiling upon the team as they collect the cup would seriously get me gagging! The only solution is to get rid now!

I'd love the new owner to stand up to Blue Bill at this stage – what a great signal it would send out! Sadly, I fear business as usual for the remainder of the season. April 3rd and still not at 40 points – disgraceful!

Don't please.

The day is shite enough with that guy, and his few disciples, coming on.

There's no chance that Moshiri will pump millions into the club if he thinks the man in charge isn't up to the task. So it's thanks for the first season, Roberto, but adios.

That said, I agree with Phil Walling (#100) about some of our players, there is never an excuse for not trying.

I still find it difficult to forgive Kenwright for his idiotic interview after the Chelsea game and the difficulties it has created in making the fundamental changes that we need.

But the commentator and Ronnie G were both commenting on the missed passes, the look of puzzlement on some of the players faces and the sheer lack of bite, oomph, and energy running (no – walking) throughout the team.

Well, I believed in Roberto's vision of attractive football but it is just that... a dream.

I didn't particularly expect us to get into Europe and the Champions League. In fact, I thought we would be progressing if we finished 6th this season... and perhaps a cup victory.

But, in the end, the game is about getting results, and we're not getting anything like enough. If we begun fighting snarling, scratching for every point (Tim Cahill, Phil Neville style) then grafted on the football when the performance levels were peak, then we might have got somewhere (we might still do so). But it doesn't look remotely like we have either at the moment.

Something is wrong in the House of Denmark – or the Hammer House of Horrors – and it needs radical overall in double-quick time.

Lukaku has had his moments but most of the time looks uninterested and lazy. Barkley and Deulofeu haven't got a brain cell between them – their decision-making is fucking atrocious and they're a pair of cowards to boot.

As for Stones... yes, he played well today, for an hour. But looks like he's always got a mistake in him.

They could sell the four of them and I wouldn't bat an eyelid. Our results, even with your Fab Four in the team, have been shocking and the Premier League table clearly doesn't lie.

I said after the 2nd game of the season (Southampton away) we wouldn't finish in the top half of the table and by god I took some stick over that remark. It doesn't give me any pleasure whatsoever to see us languishing where we are. But I expected it under this fraud.

Oh, I've just seen his post-match interview. Was he watching the same game as me? Obviously not because he thinks we played well, and there was nothing between the teams?!?

Untrue: Man Utd didn't even have to work hard for the win and that's what hurts. I can't wait to see the back of him and he can take the Beatles with him. Honest, it wouldn't make a blind bit of fucking difference.

If you don't believe that, please explain how the corner can be turned?

We need a new keeper, at least one dominant centre-half, a creative midfield player, probably two new strikers, a holding midfielder at least, probably just scratching the surface their.

If you were a serious businessman, who has made his money by being a good one, would you seriously even consider for more than ten seconds to give a warchest to Roberto Martinez?

Martinez looks to me that he does not like confrontation and ignoring and not speaking to players appears to be his method of informing a player that they are no longer in his plans.

The players look like they have given up on his "philosophy". When Martinez walked back to the dugout from the corner players' tunnel at OT today, he looked very unhappy indeed – Lukaku was very late back onto the field as well – I strongly sense a bust up.

My two sons keep telling me, he's not getting sacked as nobody has the balls to do it. I disagree, if the club allows this terrible situation to continue, Goodison will see a whole new level of toxic vibes.

MARTINEZ OUT NOW.

For fucks sake – take away Vardy's goals and where would Leicester be? You could say the same about the top scorer at any club, any season. It's a fucking stupid phrase.

Back on topic, I have just said on the forum that it was with foreboding that I watched the misery of those Villa fans when you consider where they were a short time ago.

We have got to stop the rot now and make a serious statement of intent by at least trying to and hopefully succeeding in getting a fucking seriously good manager in.

Today was a worry because we probably played as well as we can and in the interviews afterwards Jagielka looked depressed and Martinez looked like he knows that he's been found out. I'm not sure how you identify the point when you enter the crisis stage but we may be there.

Good to see Stones back and playing well, Ross wasn't bad in fact as individuals they all looked OK but as a team they are not at the races.

Okay, so the manager is poor but so are the players. They have been seriously over-rated and must be believing the hype.

Our defenders carried us today and Lukaku had absolutely no support at all. If Niasse is not fit then put Kone on the bench.

The tackle was particularly pleasing because it was a purely defensive act and a beautifully timed one. If only we can hold on to him – again, over to Mr Moshiri.

Take away Vardy's goals at Leicester and you would still have Mahrez, plus an extremely well drilled team that quite simply work their socks off for eachother and seem to hate conceding a goal.

We look like a disjointed schoolboy team and this is a plain fact, without Lukaku's goals we would be where Norwich City are...

We beat bottom placed Aston Villa twice (2)

We beat second bottom Newcastle twice (2)

We beat West Brom once but only after a 84th minute goal (1)

We beat a Chelsea that didn't want to play for Mourinho (1)

Which means the only credible wins we can take credit for were Southampton and Stoke (2).

How bad does that look?

Two seasons now of the same mind-numbingly predictable dross. Going backwards with our supposedly (best squad in a generation). You don't need world class players and loads of money to make a run of a good season... Leicester City? West Ham Utd? Southampton? even Man Utd? Hard work, fight and passion plus proper coaching, tactics and in-game management can go a long way; we seem to be lacking in every department.

For me, our problems all boil down to poor management. The man is clueless and has well out-stayed his welcome. We should begin protests to remove this charlatan before he does irreparable damage.

Bloody fantastic, I have no idea why people are getting on our managers back. A truly phenomenal record.

The main culprit in the Fiasco was Lukaku who lost every tackle to a defender around 6 inches shorter than him , was caught offside several times, and very poor ball control, a prolific scorer he is, but a far from 'world class' performer, the only players who emerged with any credit from a dire afternoon were Jagielka, Stones and to a less extent McCarthy and Baines; can't include Robles because he had nothing to fear from and equally poor home team, who we should have put to the sword if we had turned up,

As it stands, we are still technically unsafe being still two points short of the recognised 'safety target' of 40 points, maybe if we were in relegation danger we would see more fight and passion than we saw today, is it any wonder Evertonians brought up on a diet of class play and players, including a 'School of Science' definition, want to see those times returned to Goodison; after all our proud motto reads 'Nothing But The Best', and it will again be the case when Señor Martinez finally gets his comeuppance ASAP

Very dry comment but very funny too.

Rom is destined for greatness barring injury or much more managerial incompetence, and I regret it will not be in an Everton shirt.

I know this thread is not about Lukaku but I am sure in the future I will be able to say I was privileged on a very few occasions to be able to watch him play (distance and time prevent more than a couple of games a season). So far I haven't watched one of his stinkers live.

Jim beat me to it; I think Vardy has got 19 and Mahrez 17 so certainly not a one-man team. I just wish more pundits were like Souness and Collymore in pointing to Martinez's deficiencies. But we are only plucky Everton and most pundits couldn't give a toss about us.

Could you imagine if this was Liverpool or Spurs in our position in the league? They would spend every hour on Sky discussing how their manager could survive being so low in the league.

We weren't horrible today, barring the goal itself, but we've been average at best the rest of the season to be honest, and lacking much spark of late.

I was told a couple of weeks ago about an incident before the Arsenal game where the first team left training as a unit and went to the gym instead; "embarrassing" was the term used when they upped and left training.

In the current climate, they have to show a united front to deflect any weakness the opposition can exploit, but it seems to be pretty obvious to the casual observer that all is not well.

The home form in particular has been a joke -– "Martinez Out" chants before the Liverpool game?

We really are at the crossroads for future success, it is so obvious, a new manager, new belief, a new honeymoon period with the best squad that we could hope to have for the next year or so (that's if the stories become reality and we lose three of our "star" players in the summer).

We do have good players, unfortunately they have flaws. A clown of a manager just highlights how good the players are at the good things and rests on those laurels, a good manager concentrates on making good the weaknesses and therefore improving the players overall.

I just hope that the one who has the say at Goodison acts now and removes Martinez and shows everyone that making do, doing nothing, is not acceptable.

Pellegrini has spent £100s of millions and players like Mangala, Fernando, Fernandinho, Navas and they are all dross, let alone Pellegrini looking half dead in interviews.

Villas Boas spent £120m including the Bale money on 12 players and then got sacked because most of them were bang average.

For me it has to be one from Jose Mourinho, Marcelo Bielsa, Thomas Tuchel, or Diego Simeone.

We have a team of individuals under Martinez with no organisation, no motivation and certainly no leadership! If, by a miracle we win the FA Cup, we still need a top class manager to take us forward (and spend the money wisely) because, let's face it, this clown is out of his depth.

If Martinez still thinks that Ross Barkley is capable of playing as an out-and-out central midfielder (despite the overwhelming evidence, to the contrary), I'm afraid he's signed his own P45!

We're useless without him. And that's saying something.

Inept. Dull. Lifeless.

He's confirmed to himself that there's lot of room for improvement (a good business to buy is one that is under-priced but has upside) and is making plans for change.

No need to sack Martinez while we are still in the Cup. But he will. Martinez knows it too.

I get the feeling that off the field Martinez has been good in developing our facilities, squads, social and media presence, etc... But, on field, we are now Wigan and will go down next season without change.

In the first place I'm going to Wembley on 23rd April and Everton are hoping to go through to the final.

Secondly, we are going to win the cup quite simply because our name is on it. This will be Martinez's limited but important legacy to our club!

Once that happens, he will then be replaced by the manager he will beat at Wembley – Slaven Bilic. Remember... you heard it here first.

How do I know this? For two reasons:

Number One – because there can be no other reason why some higher authority has inflicted this likeable but calamitous man on our club.

Number Two – I've had this feeling for some weeks now and, the worse we play, the more likely it seems!

Intuition! Just wait and see!

Things cannot be allowed to go on like this – it is helping nobody, especially us the fans who are the lifeblood of the club and who are being drained of any hope while this situation is not being sorted.

Please end this nightmare. Martinez is killing this club ...it feels like death by a thousand cuts! I hate to say it but I'd quite happily swap the FA Cup now if it means this clown would depart....!

Mr Moshiri, I am sure you will do what is needed but I urge you to make it quick as there is absolutely no point in prolonging this agony!

I don't think any of us dislike the man, but we are permanently scratching our heads regarding his team selections and game management.

I thought the team sheet looked good today – 2 wingers, finally! Except that he plays Lennon at Number 10, and Cleverley on the left?

We are then getting beat – Mirallas comes on, but why even bother bringing Niasse on in the 86th minute? Give him 20 minutes or so, or nothing at all.

I fear Martinez has lost the dressing room. I don't think the team spirit looks great. I saw the usual suspects giving their all – Jagielka, Baines, McCarthy, Cleverley, Lennon and Coleman. I saw some of them getting frustrated with Lukaku and gesticulating at him – I saw him gesticulating at his team mates to get forward.

I don't think the players' fitness is great. We looked knackered after 75 minutes. I don't think we can play Lukaku and Barkley in the same team – it was like playing with 9 men at times today. Barkley's mobility for a young midfielder is shocking. I don't think he can play there – we have no option other than to morph him into a Le Tissier or a Sheringham, playing up front dropping deep. He needs a whippet up there with him – like a Vardy – not Lukaku, who is another trotter blowing for tugs after 20 minutes.

I am left with more questions than answers after today, and fear the time is coming for Roberto to be given the Spanish archer.

If we can convince them to stay with the addition of a top top Manager that has won lefts of things, and add £100-150m of quality players then we could argue that the grass isn't greener at another club. Martinez stay and I am positive Stones and Lukaku will go, with Barkley only staying for one more season out of loyalty.

Just to think Eric Dier of Spurs, we had him in our youth set-up, he can pass a ball and protects his defence, even Barry does the occasional forward pass.

And as for Barkley, so predictable, receive the ball, do a little turn back a yard or dilly-dally on it... For those who say world class, he might be a blue, one of us, but like fans were saying at the start of the season, the myth about this being the best squad for decades, I think you can say the same about Ross, sorry.

Usually we let teams stick two banks of four in front of us & pass around to death in front of them aimlessly. Instead today, we were trying to hit direct balls to Lukaku early & aimlessly, the amount of balls that were fired up around his neck to control was unreal & as already stated he was totally isolated up there & was dealt with comfortably by their defence. Yes, he was poor today but the rest of the team didn't do him any favours either.

I have tended not to make any knee-jerk reactions as far as Martinez goes, but I am losing patience now & this simply can't go on as it is!

One other thing, I know we have just lost, but some of the posts on here are truly shocking, just a couple of snippets below:-

"If Martinez don't quit soon I will start to look for a new club to follow." – Tala! If you can change allegiance so easily, good luck to you; personally, I am a lifelong Evertonian & always will be regardless of who is in the hot seat!

"I can't believe I could say this but I hope West Ham or Man Utd batter us for all that we are not and all we pretend to be." – Shocking! No matter how bad things are, I would never wish Everton to lose any game, let alone a cup semi-final!

Despite United being dead ordinary, I expected us to lose and I'm aware that I've basically been watching our recent games with this same attitude for weeks - ie: we'll fart-arse around and... not win.

I think I went past fuming months back and now I'm relatively calm - having kind of out-of-body Evertonian experiences.

The fellers I was watching with appeared to be in a similar frame of mind.

I think many blues are thinking the same way right now, basically – 'this is all so fucking horrible, can we just get the semi-final out the way (one way or another – hopefully the other) get over the 40 pts mark and end this season of unbelievable frustration and let-down.'

Positives?

Stones did well as did Lennon, but as I've said before, our problems, imo, go waaaaay beyond Stones instead of Mori (or whoever instead of that feller etc).

This is a mentally weak squad and until someone (nb: who will be listened to) screams 'the king is bollocko!' we're only going in one direction.

Up the Toffees?

I doubt it.

Agree entirely with your last sentence; however, you say that you are "losing patience now". Just out of interest... what would it take or how bad would things have to be before you finally lost your patience?

Now I never expected that today. I'm smiling already :)

He's an automatic pick in the National squad and the rumoured target of a high bid from Man Utd. He cost us nothing.

I think I'll believe what me and the rest of the football world says about him. Sorry. Have you thought about Spec Savers?

I'll just use two.

Martinez out.

I can also see us losing to LFC by about six goals to nil. If we lose the semi-final surely we will say goodbye to Roberto.

My gut feeling is that not only is our name on the cup but so is Martinez's. That doesn't bother me one bit providing he is not here next season.

This season – apart from the little matter of winning the Cup – is over as far as I'm concerned. My feelings when watching Everton right now are pretty close to to those described by Eugene above (#169).

I have liked the way we have scored freely under Martinez this season & a forward on 25 goals is testament to that. However, we have conceded freely as well unfortunately; I have always told myself that if he can get the defensive aspect of the side right,we may have something special on the horizon.

Too many false dawns this season: 2-goal leads dropped, the League Cup semi defeat (from a winning position), the West Ham defeat, and now two dire defeats on the trot without are usual goal threat in either match... Yes, my patience has worn thin & it won't be a bad thing to install a new gaffer in the summer!

And the long ball? Saints preserve us, surely the point of playing effectively 5 in midfield is that you work the ball through that area to give time to get support up for the striker? If the tactic is long ball then need two strikers; I felt sorry for Lukaku today.

Agree with Eugene, I watched it all in a state of resigned apathy. Somehow we have morphed into a bad team all under Matinez's watch. Somebody download Uber onto Bill's phone.

When they scored, I didn't even flinch. When we hit the bar, I jumped up, but that was the one and only time I got in to it today.

There's a weird void surrounding watching us play at the moment. I thought it was my age, but evidently many of you feel the same way. Sad times.

Your credible source isn't Anon Blue, is it?

Why bother giving Martinez notice to leave via a tap on the shoulder? Just sack him when the time is right which could be now or at any point until the day after the Cup Final. If I could time travel the 'right time' would have been January 2015.

I have no doubt we both will!

Another thing I feel is I don't care much for any of the players! It used to be if a player was linked away I was worried about it! I couldn't care less if any of these left for the right money!

Quite simply, he has to go now. We need to:-

1) Finish as high as possible, to get more income the higher the place in the league we finish. (Does anyone know how it is divided up?)
2) To give us the BEST chance of winning the FA Cup.
3) To keep our good players as a core to our expected revival in the following seasons.
4) To attract high quality and fit players who are under instruction from a high quality and respected manager.

Because achieving all the above would be immense steps forward. But I want change now... so how do we do it?

Evertonians on this website having a go at Rom are you living the real world? Long balls from deep with the man on his own... No wonder he wants to get the fuck out of the club.

After the last cup game, I was brought down to Earth when our Chairman, Bullshit Bill told everyone on TV "What a manager" this twat is. We have a go at Kopites but they would not put up with the shite we put up with.

A worse record than Steve McClaren and Brendan Rogers, and they got sacked; we still put up with this shite.

"The goal was a very soft action, it's not up to our standards. The performances were very, very level and we shouldn't have lost the game. It's that sort of game that came down to small margins – the ball hitting the crossbar is the difference between us getting something out of the game.

"We are a young group with great potential, but our home form hasn't been anywhere near good enough."
Do you believe this shit? The man needs to go, now!

Although we have played some great football this season, it is a results business and, in such an open season, to have the results we have had is appalling. He has to go if we are to compete!

Today was yet another example of complete frustration. His final decision if only giving Niasse only 5 minutes to get the pace of the match and make an impression is just stupid! Rant over!

Bobby bullshit at his best :)

He must have been watching the Leicester game.

And I'd only be happy with Danny Broderick's banner (#164) if it said "Adios Martinez, usted es una mierda."

Cos he is.

ROBERTO MARTINEZ, HAS TOOK OUR EVERTON AWAY.

John Prine, Dobie Gray and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils still sound great.

....Anyone know what Roberto Mancini's up to?

How many times did Barkley get caught in possession today?Did you see Lukaku chase the ball down like Rashford or Martial? We are just so slow and there is just no movement off the ball. Nobody comes close to the player on the ball for a pass like Arsenal.

These guys just need to get fitter. what do they get up to in training? Deulofeu was finished after 60 mins and Baines and Coleman did not get up and down the wings like they used to.

The goal was just a comedy of errors from Baines to Coleman and, other than two set pieces from Jags, we never looked like scoring. If we have to play this bunch at Wembley, I hold out no hope.

Our manner of our play is not changing. I cannot get angry anymore because we are playing how the manager wants. Ten years ago, staying in the league and cup runs were great because I had no expectation. The hunger and desire we showed then with half the ability we have now is the problem.

My biggest concern is next season. I don't see a run of wins coming up or performances getting better. Leaving this season with no form will creep over into next season. How can we be disappointed with this season. On last season's performance, it was expected.

I am in the acceptance phase that Martinez will be here next season but my expectation will change. Staying in the league is our priority and if we do that, happy days!

As a fan it's the hope that kills you.

The most painful bit is United will get rid of their inept Val Gal while we will have to suffer on with Martinez until he brings us to the brink of relegation.

In any event, what has the unwavering support of our loyal fans got to do with the quality of our current manager? If we wait to drop down to your quoted level before we move against Roberto - we can wait another decade and our slide into the National League! Even then, we'll still be there in numbers.

Please put me right if I'm missing something.

He also has a team that is just not fit enough, is this the reason for Ross huffing and Deulofeu not able to do more than 75 minutes?

Additionally closing down and off the ball movement, options to the player in possession is not there.

As I have said before, it would be frightening to think where we would be without Lukaku's goals this season, he has masked so many deficiencies, think about that!

It's not like we were 2-0 up and lost!

Out of position, out of form, out of ideas... and I'm not even annoyed by Martinez anymore – I got off that train at Bournemouth. I am now more annoyed with Bill Kenwright who has come out recently saying "What a manager" – which in my opinion is disrespectful to the majority of the supporters who see him as a Grade A twat.

The lack of ambition being shown by the club by insisting on keeping this muppet in place makes me feel sick. I can't even listen to him anymore. If the club don't have this idiot replaced by the summer, then I'm not going to any more games. Depressing and everyone knows it except Bill and Bob.

They also must show real ambition and appoint a proven pedigree manager in the summer and not (as some suggest) Duncan Ferguson, David Moyes or Eddie Howe. If they really can compete with the top clubs now financially, then they must also compete for a top coach.

Therefore there should be a leadership challenge. Booing and banners at the ready, people.

There's more life in a graveyard than in this team.

Since the start of October, Everton have won 6 games out of 23.

5 of them were 20th-placed Villa, twice.
19th-placed Newcastle, twice.
And-18th placed Sunderland.

One of them happens to be Bournemouth (80/1) who, having played 2 games more than us, are on the same number of points (38).

In fact, 7 of the bottom 8 have relegation odds quoted (Villa are not listed being considered 'already gone'.)

We are one place above that lot – obviously with games to spare – and I'm not suggesting we're going down this season. But those games to spare don't necessarily bring any additional points.

There is a clear trend here. Only those too blind to see don't get it. This loser is taking us one way – and spending money to boot.

Get rid now. Or at least make a very serious replacement search as soon as possible.

My challenge. Can any sane, long-standing Evertonian provide a case for keeping Martinez into next season based on the evidence on or off the pitch, pre-or post match waffle, bullshit-tolerant or resistant. (I've even made the goal posts wider.)

Anybody out there?

Into the blue again
After the money's gone
Once in a lifetime
...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was...
Yeah, the twister comes
Here comes the twister
Same as it ever was...

There really wasn't a great deal to separate two very ordinary sides today, but Everton inevitably gave up a soft goal with poor defending. First, stopping the cross coming into the box, then Seamus's lack of awareness and failure to stop the ball getting to Martial.

Like many in this thread, I too often feel a numbness watching Everton these days, with a sense of resignation that the team will fail to animate or excite me or achieve a positive result.

We won't be relegated (we should NEVER be relegated!). We could yet win a much desired trophy. In all likelihood, Martinez won't be sacked before the season's end, though he might be dispensed with early with a defeat in the semi-final.

But if the board are not seriously reviewing the manager's position and the team's performance under his tutelage, they damn well should be.

To end on a positive note: John Stones was back to his imperious best. Best player on the park by a country mile.

It just felt like I'd been sedated and was vaguely aware of the lack of urgency, ineffective tactics, poor shape etc etc but somehow it was so familiar it didn't register so you were left with this feeling of, well, nothing... empty... That's what Martinez has done to this squad: he's made it okay to lose, frequently, to believe that winning 9 games so far this season is okay, that we are often unlucky, so don't fret.

Bill with his arm around Moshiri declaring how good our manager was after beating Chelsea in the FA Cup. How does he row back from that without losing face? He can't, can he... and he knows it and won't save the idiot running the team.

Moshiri? I just don't see him forcing things for £12M; he's too invested in the whole People's Club thing, the club that does things properly. I'd love to be wrong but don't think I am.

Despite all this, I do think it's crazy to write off a cup win as a nothing achievement by Martinez, as some are now doing. We haven't won a thing for decades so how can it be nothing? Unless, of course, the fool takes us down – which looks highly unlikely though until we get three more points... no, the cup would help ease the pain, just a little, of this dire pathetic season and even the often tortuous and damaging Europa League would be fun.

Martinez will be here at the start of next season so it's no good saying that the cup is keeping him in his job. He's in it until at least January 2017. So a trophy would be nice anyway. But then, after the last three games, does anyone think we can actually perform well enough to win the cup? Depressing stuff.

Kenwright is a pseud. We're asked to believe he re-mortgaged his house etc etc but there's always been a ginormous spin of undeclared, unknown "business" to allegedly "save" our club, to the cost of progress as any normal fan understands that term.

Unaccountable tens of millions have left us by "virtue" of accountancy waffle for year after year after year. He and the other shits on the board even flicked the fingers at us fans by failing to even convene AGMs or, when they did convene, failing to attend them. It's gone on for years. Kenwright and his shithouse associates have done a major number on all of us... and we've basically accepted it.

The incredibly loyal attendances on match days prove it to be so.

On the positive side, Kenwright and his associates, and whoever they leave their dosh to, are made for life at our expense.

Mr Moshiri can hopefully do it better than Bill Bullshit.

Starting next season the cash distribution based on final league position will be in £2m increments per position. Top gets £40m and bottom gets £2m.

If we finish 12th, we'd get £18m.

This season, top gets £24m and bottom gets £1.2m

See this link for total distributions.
http://www.totalsportek.com/money/premier-league-tv-rights-money-distribution/

1) Lukaku on being ready for Champions League. Obviously one game is not a season, but he looked bad today (part tactics and service and part my second point which leads us to....)

2) This team is garbage off the ball. Spacing on defense, anticipating passing lanes, making supporting runs, it has all been especially bad (for me, that's mostly on the players).

3) Our guys are quitting; I'm especially annoyed with Ross's effort. Play both sides of the ball! You can be a good attacking player, even an offensive virtuoso, but we need players who are at least willing to clog passing lanes and apply pressure as well as attack (you can do both, they're not mutually exclusive, and when you're side is struggling you absolutely must fight on both sides).

Unfortunately, as the game went on, we lost a lot of our individual battles. Lukaku didn't get support and Blind did a great job on him. We went direct far too early – which, if it had worked, would have been leapt on as a sign of the players ignoring Roberto.

I couldn't really pick any bad performances, it was just a bit short in all departments. And ultimately they created one chance with an unfortunate error from Seamus while we were only slightly more threatening. Did they have another shot all day?

In any other season, I wouldn't have been so disappointed with that performance. It really wasn't that bad. But, in the context of this season, it's not showing any great improvement.

I'll say it again, the reason why we're not up competing with the likes of Spurs is because we don't demand the same. If their manager was struggling at the bottom of the table, he'd already be gone. We've let our clown do so for two seasons, and we're talking about him getting yet another season.

To hell with what the Board would do, we should be demanding the change, just like Spurs, Liverpool, and even fucking West Ham did. But no, we continue to accept it and that's why we're an afterthought and the media doesn't respect us. Why should they, we accept this shit season after season?

Just to my left there was a section of the greatest fans in the world all dressed in royal blue.... my Spanish girlfriend, who's never been to football match before, asked me why they were so quiet... says it all to me, somethings got to change.

Please, Mr Moshiri – take no notice of Bill and sack this idiot before he puts us in terminal decline.

"Everton are a very good team, much stronger away than at home, and it was a very tight game. We were the lucky team today."

I think because of Martinez's "nice" manner, he keep's people on side for the wrong reasons; the fact's are plain to see – we are a poor team under this guy!

The lack of organisation and understanding of people's jobs on the pitch is plain to see; there are gaps everywhere and no method to our play. It's as if the players have just met and, as said above, are not afraid to lose or make mistakes for fear of reprimand!

I really think as fans we need to rock the "Martinez Out" boat as soon possible before he get's another season in charge, regardless of the inevitable FA Cup capitulation which will no doubt end up in with some type of piss-poor Martinez bullshit excuse!

I can't stand the man and his hollow bullshit statements and it is honestly going to make me give up going the game after 20 consecutive years as a season ticket holder!

They struggle against bottom table teams but their record against the bigger teams is among the best in the league. You don't have to take my word for it, just have a look at their results against other teams in the Premier League this season:

Tottenham – Win (home)
Leicester – Draw (away)
Arsenal – Win (home), Loss (away)
Man City – Draw (home), Win (away)
Chelsea – Draw (home & away)
Liverpool – Win (home & away)

So expecting us to go to Old Trafford and win at a canter is ridiculous to say the least! Winning at Old Trafford, The Emirates, Stamford Bridge etc has never been easy for any team.

This is not to defend Martinez as I have been in the "Martinez Out" camp since last year. But I think sometimes we make a big deal out of the losses that aren't totally unexpected.
My problem with Martinez isn't losing at Old Trafford, The Emirates, Stamford Bridge etc but being unable to beat teams that we should be beating at home. My problem with Martinez is that the man talks a good game but has absolutely no clue about it. My problem with Martinez is that he talks about one thing then does the exact opposite, showing he has no clue about what he wants or or what he's doing.

Case in point today's game:

1. He talks about playing from the back, building the attack from the back, yet what did we see today? As soon as we had possession, we were lumping hopeful balls up to Lukaku! Even when after half-an-hour it was clear as daylight that this tactic won't work, we still persisted on this direct approach. He may have tried to isolate Blind but what happened instead was it was Lukaku who became isolated! Master tactician!

2. Deulofeu was having a field day against Rojo early in the game. Why didn't we try to replicate it on the other wing? Why didn't we unleash rapid Lennon against a not-so-rapid Darmian? Both Mata&Darmian are slow and they sure would have struggled against Lennon. Instead he kept on playing Lennon in a position where he doesn't have the tactical awareness or skill set to have an impact on the game.

3. Barkley has been playing so well in no.10 position this season so what did our master tactician do? Drop him deep! And even after when every man and his dog could see Barkley was not only struggling to have an impact on the game but also getting caught in possession in dangerous positions, he didn't change Barkley's position.

These are the little things that are coasting games. And it's all down to the inept manager that we have!

The best squad in years with a striker who has scored more than most in the league, yet we are 2 points behind Tony Pulis's West Brom!

With the current squad and the current state of the Premier League, I'm more than sure that the much maligned Moyes would have us in top 4.

Liverpool v Spurs... yes, there were mistakes from both sides but the drive, determination, stamina and strength that both teams displayed makes you wonder do we do any fitness training?

I have been a blue standing in the Boys Pen through the 60s, money was tight then but I always stuck with them no matter... But I really cannot take the clown speaking utter garbage and driving us closer and closer to being Aston Villa of the next couple of seasons. He must go.

Get Davey back, give him the financial backing he never enjoyed at our club. He'll sort the defence (he did buy them all) and bring back solidity, allied to style.

The gambler in charge is only half way through his project. As I have been boring everyone on here for 3 years, this guy has a track record of taking over an EPL team that had consolidated its position in the league for years prior to his appointment. Then he changes their style and over a period of a few seasons takes them lower and lower until he relegates them.

The popular narrative on this site that Martinez is good at Everton based on the record points total in his first season, should surely now be blown out of the water. The legacy of Moyes was strong and it took more than a year for Martinez to break it.

I have faith that once Moshiri gets his feet under the table, change will follow over the summer. As I say we could do a damn site worse than Moyes, oh and he hasn't even got ginger hair anymore which was such a big deal for some during his tenure, so they wouldnt have to worry about this critical issue anymore.

This season, hopefully his last, he has instilled fear into us, the fans, that we might actually get relegated. If that's not enough to show the dramatic decline of his reign, than I'm not sure what is.

Our first year with RM was very much off the back of DM's legacy. It was when RM's crusade started to take over that we began the slide in to our current mediocrity (ie the final qtr of RM's first season), since when we have gone steadily backward despite the strengthening assets.

I'm not advocating the return of DM but really we could do a hell of a lot worse. Already have, actually. Everyone bangs on about RM's recruitment success but remember - Stones, Jags, Coleman, Baines, Howard (defo ok before advancing years took hold), Piennaar, Oviedo, Distin, Mirallas, and I could go on, not to mention youngsters Barkley and Garbutt were all inherited from DM. Tim Cahill another Moyes diamond.

Sure he hade his bummers over the years, but which manager doesn't? And it's not like RM has an exclusive Midas touch. I give you Kone, Alcaraz, Traore, Niasse...about whom we may be proved wrong but I do struggle to think of a raft of good players who have come from Russia - which also, incidentally, leaves me in two minds about Yarmolenko. It will be interesting if the shite nab him as is rumoured and how it turns out.

As far as DM is concerned, as I say, I do not think he would worsen our predicament and failing all else I would see him in tomorrow rather than our current incubent, even if only an interim a la Hiddink. But sooner rather than later. Let him win the FA cup with us. I reckon he deserves it more than Bobby.

Records at Wigan (hopefully this pasted ok). Easy to see how he took them down!!!

I recall the same stats were posted on TW when he was appointed, but at the time many posters (rightly) thought it was only fair to give the man an opportunity.

These statistics show 174 points garnered in the 4 seasons before his arrival and 157 points garnered in the 4 seasons he took charge of Wigan. A differential of 17 points, or put it another way on average Wigan were around 4 points worse off under Martinez.

At the bottom end of the table that is a huge margin - especially as they went down with 36 points, 4 points below the magical 40 point mark.

These statistics are starting to look rather prescient, although that said I still do not (yet) subscribe to the theories that we will be relegated next season, as I do anticipate a summer of major transfer activity, even with Martinez still in charge, and he has had more hits than misses so far when he has been given cash to spend.

Sadly, his points per game ratio over the last 68 games (1.25) point to another lower half finish.

During yesterday's match one of the commentators, (Beglin) I think, mentioned the link between us winning at Old Trafford and Fergie fucking off, nothing to do with the fact that Moyes had also jogged on with knife to a gunfight bollocks.

No thanks, not a chance I want to revisit the Moyes years. Jesus, what a mess!

I would like to thank Señor Martinez for giving me a glimpse into the psyche of these posters. I simply don't care anymore. I turned the channel over and went back to talking to the family and wife.

It was over, gone, no emotion at all, not even the Walter Smith disappointment. I toyed with the idea of not renewing last year but the missus persuaded me to have one last hurrah, as my daughter was still too young to realise I wasn't there many weekends.

I toyed with the idea of renewing this year... until the West Ham game. How that dozy fecker in charge, who has now stated Niasse is not fit, can bring him on for 20 minutes in a game where we are are down to 10 men and yet only bring him in on for a couple of minutes here and there since, simply defies any logic at all.

(New advert) Take two wingers into the game, not me, I take two and then use one as a false number 69 etc.

Daft twat needs to go.

We also need to give P45s to the fitness team, as I have never seen a more unfit team in all my 30+ years of watching Everton.

Brain (#119) had it right. Jags looked like a broken man in that interview.

There is always a first for anything... here goes: Martinez Out!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35955616

Mr Moshiri surely cannot be happy with this mess. This needs sorting out now or we risk becoming a laughing stock if we ain't already.

I hope Moshri will sit Martinez down and get him to explain the difference between his first and subsequent seasons. I hope he sits down Jagielka, Baines and Barry and asks them the same.

Then I hope they give the information to the next guy, who will hopefully be a proven manager, rather than the any ex Everton player with a pulse people keep asking for on here.

The choice of the next manager is more important than sacking the current one.