Sleepwalking towards Wembley

Sleepwalking indeed.

Injuries played a part today obviously, but the general malaise has been there for a long time and it seems to have now spread to those players who are on the fringe.

If it hadn't have been for the two young players making their first appearances, there would have been absolutely nothing to be positive about. We'll see what happens in the coming week, but those two upcoming encounters would be a difficult ask in most seasons with an Everton team in good form. Right now, it looks like it will be too big a leap to expect anything other than failure, unless fate has decreed otherwise.

He was saying that we must wait until the end of the season before we make a change, and I just could not understand it.

Hopefully we get through to the FA Cup final, but if we don't, I don't know how this man, will be able to set foot inside Goodison, for the Bournemouth game.

Playing Kone all game!!! Signing a guy for £13.5M on £50k a week (guess) and not play him is unbelievable. I don't know about corruption at Fifa, but this signing needs investigating.... someone got a good bung if still not fit to play.

Well done to the 2 young lads today, if only to give us a light of enjoyment.

The prawn sandwich eaters at the club seem to be serenely unaware of what is happening but the team and fans seem to see very clearly the slow mo side into lower league football that is without doubt happening.

I now believe that RM would get Barcelona relegated given 4 seasons. He is a chancer and one who has been found out by everybody from Swansea to Everton via Wigan apart from the Everon board or shall I say BK. Bill's done a job at EFC but he needs to pass the baton now.

I'm not going to say anything. Massive week ahead. Just got to summon up all the hope and positivity and hold onto it until this next week. Hopefully, just hopefully we can do it...

If you have no intention of playing Naise, then at least leave him out of the squad and promote Dowell to the bench, ok not a striker, but will at least put a shift in.

Hark back to 2009 and 1995 when we were in this position, even 2012 , the build up was full of excitement and anticipation amongst Evertonians, but today just felt like another damp squib with no enthusiasm whatsoever, no Wembley fever just more discontent.

We all know what will unfold that's probably why.

We will get tanked on Wednesday with our usual Anfield-phobic non appearance and next Saturday we will somehow contrive to make a pretty damn ordinary Manchester United side look dangerous for a third time this season.

There's no expectations there watching Everton anymore, because you never ever get any surprise element, we fail in the games we know we will fail in and frankly there's no enjoyment anymore going the match.

The post match interview given by RM was the most bizarre my mates and have ever heard.

There seems to be something 'wrong in the state of EFC'.

Vote out ...... and I am not referring to the EU referendum!

Serious point. You write better than most of us could ever do. Could you consider writing a public letter to the board about this chancer? Nothing is going to happen before next week. But I'm sure you guys in ToffeeWeb can see that this fella is a lunatic. 99% of the fan base want him out. We need the board to see this.

Please guys – even if it is just to share the results of the poll. We need someone to speak up for the vast majority of the fan base. The Echo has started reporting some things now, but we all know we can't rely on them to write an honest critique about the club. This fella has taken us backwards. He's taken a top 6 club to probably the bottom 6 within 3 seasons. He's fallen out with players, the fans don't want him. He keeps telling us everything is 'incredible, phenomenal' – but we are not stupid.

I don't think the board will do anything dramatic now, but they need to understand that we need a new manager this summer at the latest. We'll be relegated with him in charge next year.

Regarding letters to the board, there's really no point, the only message should be visual and I would suggest that if we are beaten by the shite and lose at Wembley then the next home game should either be a massive no show from supporters or a walkout at some point in the game, early doors preferably, then the board would see exactly how we feel and no mistake.

#MartinezOut

And, under this tepid regime we've been under, it'll just get them blacklisted as another bunch of "knobheads".

We've lost a lot of regular contributors over the last few months / couple of seasons. (For reasons of frustration, not through going to Goodison-On-High - RIP Harold)

I actually half wish that Bluekipper was still going - maybe they saw what was coming and got out quick as their editorial policy would've been in shreds. Keep TW independent!

There is nothing to stop the lads at ToffeeWeb sharing the results of their poll. In case you are not aware:

Total number of votes: 14455

85% think it's time for him to go! 8% want to see what happens in the FA Cup. If we lose on Saturday, that means 93% of those polled will be wanting him out. This is based on nearly 15,000 votes by the way.

The editors can pass on the concerns of these fans and remain independent.

The number 1 concern for all of us is the club itself, and based on the results in this survey, plus the fact we have had 'Martinez Out' banners at the last 2
matches and a guy run into the pitch to protest, things are obviously not right.

Drastic times call for drastic action, I'm afraid. The club needs to be aware of the mood of the fans. And this is what concerns me most, because there are suggestions that all is hunky dory at board level. Kenwright's last public utterance was 'what a manager!'

This 'project' went tits up a long time ago (January 2015 was the time to change path for me).

We need to fail more quickly as a club if we are to succeed.
In other words, try something (e.g. a new manager / approach) but be ready to take brave decisions and jettison when the signals indicate that it isn't going to work and isn't likely to work.

The signals have been there for a long time and have only been masked by the smoke and mirrors created by TV pundits ('nice football Everton play'), media-trained football players ('we must try harder') and, more than anything, the manager himself (see TW for any number of inane soundbites / excuses / false promises / waffle from his press conferences).

I don't know if I was the first to label him a 'snake-oil salesman' but no successful manager I am aware of has ever come out with the confused, jam tomorrow ramblings of this current manager. The talk is so much better than the walk.

The major signal - results - has been damning for 2 seasons now.
As fans we are also to blame. There were even people posting on here almost celebrating our 3-6 defeat to Chelsea last season. "That's the way to lose." etc. There have been many other examples of posts excusing a defeat because there were a few nice passes, possession stats or other similar nonsense. All complete bollocks.

Now it's well and truly coming home to roost.

But the board are culpable more than anything for tolerating such mediocrity. Limited ambition (PL survival), little in the way of business savvy (there's not enough space to provide examples but if there's no Plan B on the pitch, there's none off it either from what I can see) and stuck in a comfort zone that is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for Evertonians.

We're not going backwards.
Unless this club changes its mindset very quickly, we are falling off a cliff.

The signal for that may well be a dwindling fan base under current conditions.

I'd go with a spirited draw at the Tin Mine & victory at Wembley in that parallel universe.

In the real world we'll get battered on Wednesday and lose via a sob story on Saturday. It's the Everton way.

I think Tom Davies is Alan Whittle's nephew not grandson.

Fondly remember the 2009 semi-final where Alan, Duncan McKenzie and a few other ex-pros where on the balcony or whatever it is called at Wembley in our block sharing a pint and having a good old natter with fans at half time. Really decent bloke.

ToffeeWeb has a large number of members who have overwhelmingly voted for a change of manager, independent or not with such large numbers of fans involved does TW realise the potential it has to influence matters even if indirectly?

Would not a simple email to our Chairman, sent in a way which implied impartiality on Michael and Lyndons behalf, just to hit home the point of the current feeling of the majority, be a fair thing to do for both ToffeeWebbers and the Everton hierarchy?

I'd assume in this day and age that EFC would be monitoring websites like TW anyway for understanding their, for want of a better word, market. I wouldn't be surprised if I was wrong mind.

I'm not "stirring the pot" here honestly. Closing in on 15000 people voting is serious sway in my book and the board if presented with this poll, would be very foolish to ignore it.

So touche' to you Danny for having the balls to bring it up!

Andy, how can you say Niasse is 'woeful'.

He hasn't been given a chance and doesn't look like getting one.

So how can you judge him on 29 minutes playing time since January??

Deulofeu and Kone were simply awful. Ossie and Gibbo looked short of fitness which was hardly surprising given their lack of match time over the past few months. It was no surprise Coleman succumbed to his third hamstring strain this season after playing three games in eight days.

There were a few positives from today, notably the performances from Robles, Stones and Funes Mori in defence. Mirallas put in a decent shift and it was good to see Connolly and Davies make their debuts. It is time to leap a generation by giving a chance to a few of the Under-21s. If they are to be part of the club's future now is the time for them to show it simply because of the paucity of talent and fitness among the current senior squad.

It is incredible that we have paid 㾹.5m for a player deemed unworthy of a place in today's severely under-strength starting line-up. Selling Naismith has reduced the viable options for our attack. In the absence of Lukaku the foolishness of our January transfer dealings was fully exposed today. The squad is weaker than it was in December. Indeed with the decline in form and fitness of many of the players it is weaker than it was 12 months ago.

Howard is going, Hibbert, Osman, Pienaar and Gibson are all out of contract while no tears will be shed if several others were shown the exit door in the summer. There are some huge transfer dealings to be done in the summer but the big question is who is going to oversee those dealings.

I honestly believe our players would show an incredible transformation for the semi final if Martinez was sacked and the shackles were removed from their natural creativity. Imagine a team fired up from the start, a la Funes Mori, ready to go toe to toe with Man Utd, fighting for every ball, ready to sweat blood for the cause. No way is that going to happen under Martinez, but if, say, David Unsworth was given the caretaker role until the end of the season we just might see the 'real' Everton once more.

"CRY HAVOC AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR" as that great Evertonian William Shakespeare once so eruditely put it.

This would bring more attention to the board and the dire situation we are in

Ronnie Goodlass on Radio Merseyside on Wednesday night was seething and was good to hear but we need much more ! Usually Big Nev doesn't hold back - come on boys where are you ? Reidy, Rats, Andy Gray even a Joey Barton tweet would do

Sharpy, Snods and likes can't cos they're still employed but surely some can and will

I want to them to ask why is he still in a job and ramp up more pressure

I'm pretty sure though the board are aware but if Bill still has the final say, Martinez is not going anywhere just yet and I even think he'll give him the start of next season, remember Bill in the post match interview 'what a manager'

Deary me

I've been hoping he would get sacked for the last few weeks as it would've helped us win the cup. I have to say if we lose the semi final with a poor performance I'm going to very angry with this board for failing to take any action. The current situation is unacceptable.

My lad rang me after the game and said we need players that can tackle at Anfield next Wednesday, and Davies, after 20 minutes in a blue shirt, has already put Barkley to shame in this department.

I think it's too soon for that, but you never know, but why the fuck did Martinez bring on Barkley yesterday? It defied logic, even if he probably got just as much rest on the pitch!

A few posters were wanting US supporters to lead the players to glory yesterday

Well I wasn't one of them and from where I was I didn't see anyone leading the crowd, especially from the Upper Bullens!

Can't blame them either (though I didn't say I'd lead thenm did I!

I would call the display yesterday "A Shambles" but they weren't that good.

That doesn't change the fact that the season as a whole has been very poor though! Martinez out this summer, Emery or Pereira in.

As mentioned on Friday, I am done with our league games. I go but, although my body is there, my thoughts are getting out for a few pints on the way home!

All around me, everyone is just the same – there is no passion or support. Just acceptance we are there to see another dire performance.

It is NOT the supporters fault in my opinion it is fully and wholly due to Martinez. This arsehole has sucked the passion out of us. I've just read the latest ramblings from him – Unbelievable!

Still, Jim, roll on Wembley. It will be totally different – supporter-wise, and hopefully result-wise!

Also, how shite must Niasse be? If he couldn't even get game time today seeing how bad Kone played.

Please just don't waste a space on the bench.

On a serious note, I'm not giving us a hope in hell for Wednesday night, Liverpool will put us to the sword and take full advantage of our fragility. That will lead us onto Saturday where again, I can't see we will offer anything to trouble Man Utd.

Forget Wednesday but I reckon if we lose to Man Utd he'll be gone by this time next week.

To quote Lescott: "a weight lifted off the shoulders"

Feels like a pressure cooker waiting to burst you can feel the angst amongst the fans. The football is slow and boring, only a piece of individual skill is likely to lift the boredom.

I look at Deulofeu, the kid looked a really exciting prospect 4 months back, and he still performs when he plays for Spain's Under-21 side. Yet under Martinez his game is going backwards. The same can be said for Ross Barkley, he has become a shadow of the player he was at the start of the season. Now is this young players losing a bit of form or is RM destroying their natural games.

I would ask Joe Royle to take the team to Wembley especially if we lose heavily to the other lot on Wednesday. Despite the players all wanting to put a shift in at Wembley under Martinez's guidance and style I just cant see that happening. And maybe even asking Joe to take over what RM has ingrained into these player will take more than the 72 hours Joe would have before Wembley. But it might give us supporters more belief even if it is miss placed.

As it turned out, Davey had kidded himself and some of us.

The difference now is we can't even pretend that we're saving the best til last and I for one am dreading Wednesday night.

So to induce the current level of unhappiness takes a special sort of poison. Step forward Roberto Martínez Montoliú.

If he has any fans left they may try to salvage the signings he's made as the last hope in their desperate defence of their scoundrel.

If you look at them, none of them are as yet "first team", except perhaps Lukaku who's made his opinion of a future under Martinez plain as a pike staff. He wants away.

Barkley is now looking as ponderous in body as he's always seemed to be in brain (and it's Martinez who sanctioned his contract, so he's his signing), Deulofeu is unfit, always, unless doing the business for Spain U21s. Besic is persistently unfit, and Niasse is allegedly even more unfit. Funes Mori is invariably nowhere close to unfit however, but in Martinez opinion is therefore unfit to make the first 11 whenever Stones and Jags are fit. Cleverley seems to be mostly fit but a position for him to fit into seems a long way off.

Let's not be prissy. "Fuck Off, Martinez" has a certain ring to it.

It's already worse than last season. Martinez has to be sacked surely. Rumour has it there's a Chelski manager looking like he'll need a job next season. Come on Everton, get him chatted up now.