Deulofeu unlikely to be fit to face Watford

Please prove me wrong!

Oh wait, you can't say that because you have no real idea of when it'll pop again. And it will.

I can't really comment on other teams as I don't follow them enough, but I guess that in the modern day all these players are finely tuned athletes and so more susceptible to injuries than the pub-ready players of yesteryear.

What's the story with Aaron Lennon??

They say be careful what you wish for, but I don't think I'm the only Blue, who wishes the season wasn't starting this Saturday.

It's criminal how this club, is never prepared for the new season.

Howard
Coleman Stones Jagielka. Baines
McCarthy. Barry
Mirallas Osman (or Barkley) Cleverley
Lukaku

Won't be inspiring stuff but hopefully we'll have enough for an unsettled hornets team.

As for the season starting, I'm not looking forward to it. I haven't watched any pre season games so I've no idea if we're anywhere near where we should be but after reading ToffeeWeb every day, I'm not filled with any great hope.

Apparently, we're not fit again and the squad we have is nowhere near strong enough. We've got two shit goalkeepers. A dodgy centre back pairing. An ageing left back coming towards the end of his career. A midfield that can't pick a pass, unless it's sideways or backwards. Half our players have hamstring injuries and won't be up to speed until February. We also have two shit strikers. All that managed by a useless clueless manager with no plan and no ideas of who to sign or where to play them if he eventually does sign anyone.

Roll on Saturday and Watford. COYB

Roll on Saturday indeed with likely Mr Kone upfront on his own.

Saint Rookwood: Knackered

The football is boring. The platitudes spouted by the manager are insulting. We haven't strengthened any single position. I just can't be bothered. And if I'm honest, I'm extremely worried about us this season. But I have so many other things in my life to worry about, that I'm blocking Everton out mostly.

Every sentence he comes out with leaves me feeling short changed, he just can't give a straight definitive answer and leaves me feeling full of doubt in him and evrything he does. Does he even know what he is doing or is only 60% sure??

His distress was clearly seen by spectators and TV viewers and was a topic of conversation between the two experienced commentators, both of whom stated it was foolish of Martinez not to have immediately subbed the lad.

The Echo's claim to have turned a new leaf on Everton matters begs the question of why it made no mention of let alone criticise the Everton bench over its inaction.

Totally agree about the Sky top 4. I tend not to watch the pre-match buildups anymore on Sky because they're a bunch of biased ass lickers who believe the Premiership has only 4 teams in it.

As a man approaching middle age with the spread that comes with it maybe I'm the wrong person to comment but have a closer look at the players and they seem to be carrying a bit of timber compared to their comtemparies in other teams!

With regard to the 60% thing, remember two years ago when Kone was close to 100% and maybe the next game would be too soon for him -- in August, then September... then October, and ultimately he missed basically the whole season.

Similar story with Oviedo who "might be ready for the World Cup" and basically is still working his way back to fitness two years later. No need to mention Gibson or Pienaar.

It seems to me that, if RM is a physio, then he got his degree from some kind of mail order thing and even then it was probably second hand on eBay, and even then it was probably a fake Nigerian physio certificate scam that someone was trying to recoup some money on by selling it on eBay. The guy is a jokester.

Similar story with Stones leaving. He rambled on for 10 minutes straight about how we don't need to sell and Stones is great etc but he never actually categorically said "We aren't going to sell him." He is like a poor man's Riddler from Batman. With his soft tissue injuries and "moments" he could make a fortune flogging deep heat pads to old ladies on QVC at 3am. What he lacks is the ability to coach a football team.

I hate to mention the name of an RS "legend" on here, but towards the end of RM's reign at Wigan I remember Lawro just shaking his head after Wigan conceded 10 and saying "He's been here all these years and he still has a defence that ships 10 goals." Says it all really. Had he not inherited the defence he got from Moyes, God only knows where we'd be.

My worry is when Stones is gone it'll be Jags, Cosmo the clown in goal and a couple of soft has-beens holding their hammys as our backline. Fire this joke today.

I agree with you, unless he took a correspondence course there is no mention of him going to a facility to study for a physiotherapy course. I also read that he has a post graduate degree in business.

In regards to soft-tissue injuries it is interesting to note that in 2012 he told the Daily Mail that " I always believe every injury can be avoided. vbI don't believe in soft-tissue injuries, if you get a soft -tissue injury in football a mistake has been made."

Go figure that one out.

According to Martinez, he got his degree in physiotherapy from the University of Zaragoza whilst playing for....cue Cilla... Zaragoza. If you're trying to suggest he didn't get a degree in the subject and is simply bullshitting about it, then how did he blag his way onto a post-graduate course?

There is nowhere in my article that I stated that Mr Martinez lied; I simply stated that I agreed with someone else in his reading of Mr Martinez's history in Wikipedia. There is no mention of him having a degree in Physiotherapy. I never even mentioned that this could be grounds for dismissal.

Think we're all concerned about these injuries happening before a ball is kicked in anger. Heavy legs too.

Don't need a degree from Zaragoza to see that something isn't right as present in the set up, either in the training or after care.

I wouldn't make claims one way or the other about his proclivity to tell porkies, but I do know that he takes plenty of stick for making sweeping statements that seem somewhat detached from reality. Statements that seem quite ludicrous when you step back and think about them. Bit like someone saying if your degree is not hanging on your office wall for all to see, then it's a figment of your imagination and probably evaporated when you pulled it out your arse.

There's a large number of questions to be asked of our manager going into this make or break season but never did I think "Has anybody seen the inside of his office?" would be one of them.

You say you "had a good look" in an attempt to verify his academic credentials. How did you go about that? How much time and effort was put into this fine tooth comb background check? I hope it was a bit more thorough than Bill's admitted technique o typing 'Has Roberto Martinez got a degree' into Google.

Yes, you agreed with Eddie, who said: "I have had a good look for him but found nothing. A possible reason for dismissal which would save having to compensate him if true".

Also, if you're going to put faith in Wikipeia as a reliable source, then at least read it thoroughly. You say it mentions nothing in regards to Martinez studying a physiotherapy course?

It's right there, under 'Personal Life'.

I suspect that transfer dealings are not entirely his remit. If we had loads of money I COULD BRING IN A FEW GOOD PLAYERS. Also, I don't imagine he , or at least I hope he doesn't, carries out the duties of a physio. I think he might have studied physiotherapy, who cares where, as back up in case he didn't make it as a coach. I 'll leave it there.

The fact still remains, we have hamstring injuries up and down the squad. He tries to play off a player grabbing at his hamstring as heavy legs, while then saying he's 100% fit. He left Gerard on the pitch when it was plain for all to see his hamstring was injured.

I don't think the issue is what degree he has. But rather, what the hell good has it done?

So that sort of falls in to what you are saying Andy, doesn't it?

Geri being injured is a major blow as he has to be the creative spark we have lacked last season, but even without him we should have plenty in the tank to take this one.

Again we can not take it for granted as if we play like we did the other day v Villarreal we will be caught out.

Massive game for Ross and Mirallas for me, Lukaku can avoid responsibility in my opinion with his recent injury.

Where have I 'backed' Martinez? Beyond backing him against accusations of falsifying a degree, I think you'll struggle to find an example.

Don't raise the veering off track card either. I never raised the issue. It was brought up by others who questioned whether he actually studied for one simply because their search results brought up no results, cited it as a possible reason for instant dismissal without severance, and then suggested Lyndon should 'investigate' (like he's Columbo or something). You can't sidetrack a conversation that's already took a detour through a bulls colon.

Anyway, even if I was 'Martinez's biggest backer', what exactly would be the problem with that? It's an Everton website after all and until the season starts and/or we begin to struggle then I certainly won't be panicing and complaining about everything turning to shit, or squeezing a little snub-nose against my cranium because I can't cope with the doom and gloom thoughts of what might happen.

I apologise. I just had a look back and I got the order of the posts the wrong way round. The 'grounds for dismissal' one actually followed directly after the post in which you signalled your 'agreement'. So, it was unfair of me to lay that specific part on your shoulders.

A reminder that in his first season the team got their highest points haul. His second season he had the Europa League to blame for a disaster in the Premier League.

This season, he can not hide. I am looking forward to seeing this manager get what he deserves.

It's shit or bust, not only for him but Everton FC. There seems to be less and less posts defending Martinez.

No news today about new players then...

The fact we had loads last year and already this year (when the season hasn't even started properly!) sets off warning bells. Martinez should be looking into this and rectifying whatever the problem is.

Watford's priority will be to avoid defeat on Saturday. They'll park the bus and look to steal something from a dead ball situation where we've looked vulnerable in mid season.

I suspect this one to be less about guile more about getting the ball to Lukaku quickly; even if it's not pretty. We need Deulofeu back for the games against the top sides where he can make a real difference.

Yes Stephen #30. Several lads were definitely carrying extra timber. Not surprised with Delboy. He's hardly played a full game in the last six months.

Barkley and Lukaku never look any different and I often wonder how they rate on the body fat measuring test. When big guy Cantona played for United, his lack of body fat topped the charts.

Benteke started last season with a build like Lukaku. He also played like him. Cue injury and a layoff followed by a return where his large head appeared to have been transplanted onto a slim athlete's body.

Needless to say, this new Benteke ran around like a 2-year-old and helped save Villa from the drop. The other day, still slim, he scored a wonder goal which left Brenda speechless. The world rocked on it's axis.

The message is clear but will our boys follow suit? Are Lukaku, McGeady and Deulofeu knocking off the pounds as we speak? Will we be amazed when we gaze upon their new streamlined bodies or will some jerk comic chuck them a sausage roll? We await with interest...

He never gives a direct statement that can be used to question him, ie "Deulofeu will be ready for next weekend's game." By saying he is 60% ready, he can say 61% next week if he doesn't make as much progress or 80% if he does.

A good manager is very clear in what he wants. Doesn't confuse things. Everything is black and white. Easy for everyone to understand. Martinez give us 50 shades of grey every time he speaks to the press.

So imagine what he is like when telling the players what he wants them to do. And the tactics the team need to follow. No wonder the players look confused and knackered.

He just does not inspire or excite me and neither does the team.

If you are interested in the fitness training at Everton and Mr Martinez's involvement, read the highlighted article in my #34 posting. It makes interesting reading especially his views on soft-tissue injuries. Hamstring injuries unless they are a complete tear are considered soft-tissue injuries.

And Jerome Beckford was complaining (I think during a cup tie) that he felt tired. He was having a slanging match with Moyes, and Davie, said to him you don't get tired at this club.

It's like going from one extreme to the other, but the team seemed to have more passion under Moyes. Maybe our lifeless displays are just simply down to fitness or lack of it.

Looking at the pre-season games, I wouldn't say fitness seemed a major concern, though sharpness could well be an issue for one or two. Mirallas and Cleverly both looked pretty sharp.

From the sound of it, we will be missing Deulofeu for the first match, Lukaku should be fit, McGeady, Pienaar, Besic and Gibson will all be out but that leaves us enough to field a very strong squad. By the end of the transfer window, we will have a couple more players in and hopefully McCarthy, Mirallas and Stones will still be with us.

I share the concerns after last season, but remain hopeful remembering the season before. I think the biggest issue facing us is Martinez adapting his tactics to suit the game. He proved against Arsenal with the 4-3-3 that he could spring a surprise, but I would like to see him mix things up more often as other teams have sussed out how to deal with our default style of play.

If Martinez can prove he can adapt then I see no reason why this season couldn't be much better than last, but I fear he may be as stuck in his (4-2-3-1) ways as much as Moyes was with his favoured 4-5-1 system. I hope he proves us all wrong!

But everything tells me that he will stick to his 4-2-3-1.

Also this leaves another space, McAleny looked lost in wide area last time out, Kone would be Martinez's preferred choice but is useless an after that were back to forcing Barkley out wide.

Osman hasn't got the required pace to be wide in the 3 so I can't think of another option.