Martinez defends his position on Howard

However, not sticking with Joel is a mistake. Howard does not like to be benched and would be a better keeper if benched not just rotated out for a game.

Play Joel, COYB

I would love to know what you enjoy about the manager? I'm just naturally nosy.

As for trying to understand what he says about the team, players, and football in general, don't even try, you'll go crackers if you listen to him for too long.

Looking at his 'answer' does beg the further question, did Roberto Martinez invent the waffle machine?

And Joel had an 'incredible' influence.
(But he has to be phenomenal to get in ahead of Tim).

By the way, what is the point in citing Tim's experience when he has made some basic errors recently? Surely a spell on the bench is needed to recharge his batteries / focus? Where is the competition for places when the error-prone incumbent retains his place?

Apologies for what some may interpret as negative. But it is becoming unbearable to listen to / read (at least for me). Maybe I'm alone in just not getting it.

Or is it just a BS excuse for not making the tough call that would get media attention and potentially ruin Howard for good at Everton?

It's a laudable position notion but it doesn't square with January/February this year when Howard was out for 6 weeks and he could have rewarded Robles for his form without looking like he was assigning any blame.

He's made another rod for his own back here and put Howard in an uncomfortable position which they can only get out of by the latter regularly finding some top-class performances or, at least, eliminating the errors from his game.

That doesn't seem likely but it would obviously be to the team's benefit if it happens so fingers crossed because we can't afford a repeat of last season.

The biggest Gobshite I ever heard in football was Graham Taylor but now Roberto Martinez has that dubious honour. Each week that passes becomes harder to bare with Bobby Torro-Shit in charge.

Kenwright makes out he is one of us yet he kept Moyes 8 years too long and now he is allowing this Muppet Martinez carry on with the nonsense. The inmates are definitely running the asylum at Everton..

It is OK to go out and give goals away and make mistakes because there wont' be any consequences.

My God, how much are these guys paid and now they know they can go out and consistently play shit and not get dropped.

Explains a lot about our consistency and lacklustre application.

We as fans are not saying one mistake and you should be dropped, but if you constantly make mistakes maybe for your own good you should be taken out of the firing line. I am not totally convinced about Robles but RM brought him to the club, yet barring injury or the Carling Cup, RM seems reluctant to give him a start.

As I have said before certain players are undroppable under RM, and his stance on Howard confirms it for me. So how long must a player be out of form before RM considers leaving them out of the side?

He talks about competition but it only seems to apply for certain positions, he quite often will change wide players, but very rarely changes Lukaku or Barry and McCarthy.

He may be right and Roberto certainly has a lot more information regarding Robles in training than we do, only seeing him once every month or two.

Well that seems to contradict what your saying which is basically you won't drop Howard irrelevant of the mistakes he makes because that would be construed as blame... strange.

Or maybe I'm deluded and trying to find some grain of optimism in the bucket of nonsense he regularly comes out with.

Fact is we have no competition for places apart from the wide AM positions. Every other place is nailed on if the senior pro whose place it is, is fit enough to play. Sunderland and going to load our box with crosses, it's going to be interesting to see what happens.

I've no idea why Howard stays in the team. Some on here have heavily criticised Osman in the past, Barry now, but the Howard thing is fundamentally different.

Howard is not competent at this level. We can all see it. It's like the absence of the emperor's clothes. So, whatever the reason Howard stays in the team, it's unforgivable, and it'll end in tears.

God knows what the dressing room must be like with him stealing a place in the starting eleven.

The likes of Mirallas, Barkley, Stones, Lukaku, McCarthy and soon, Galloway etc... have all signed up to long-term contracts because they believe in their manager and teammates and the direction they feel the club is heading in.

It's a known fact that the veterans, eg, Howard, Barry, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka etc, have been hugely influential with the younger players and, since the departure of Eto'o and his mate, the atmosphere at the club has improved ten-fold. This doesn't mean Tim isn't still a shit goalie (he is) but he's a huge, and respected, character around the club.

So basically, 'I stick to my favourites no matter how badly they play' is what I gather from that. His role Roberto, is to keep the ball out of the net and command his area.

He has been dreadful at both over the last year. Players should only get picked based on form, no matter how influential he is. If he's a liability he should be dropped. Simple as.

But instead Howard maintains his place and will probably be handed the captaincy on Sunday. An absolute joke.

Has Tim Howard taken his eye off the ball?! Well, we know he has in the literal sense... usually when there's any kind of set piece! Yes, the deficiencies were always there, but they were not so glaringly apparent. I'm having a panic attack every time there's a corner now.

Maybe age is catching up with him and the reflexes are a little bit slower. Or the slide in form, which coincided with him being lauded nationally for his World Cup heroics is a sign of complacency and Tim's started to believe his own hype?!

IMO, it's probably a mixture of both. I had felt more assured in the first few games. He'd shaved the beard off, which had become a sideshow in itself – Howard was quickly becoming some kind of role model for aspiring facial hair growers, and there was also the work for PETA, while admirable, this could be another factor that might be confusing Howard what his role is and what should be his first priority? Keeping a high standard of goalkeeping for EFC who pay him an obscene amount to do so.

The money and contract probably play a part too along with Martinez saying he's No 1 come what may. I'm not a fan of players flashing their wealth. The recent Instagram pic of Howard showing off his leg room on a transatlantic flight while purposely displaying his diamond encrusted Rolex is an example of everything that's wrong with the modern professional IMO.

I count myself as a Martinez supporter and I think there's been some improvement this season. But I cannot support him on his decision to stick with Tim Howard in goal.

I agree, Howard's dip in form after the World Cup could be due to his huge burst of fame and not feeling like he needs to focus or work as hard. Hopefully he's over that now and is working hard again but it's difficult for us to know if that's the reason.

Those not in America may not know that Howard has become a semi-regular color commentator for American broadcasts of the Premier League on NBC. He was on the commentary team for the Manchester Derby one day after Everton's loss to Arsenal. He usually only does Liverpool, Manchester United or Manchester City matches on days where Everton does not play. Still, I have to wonder if it's taking focus away from his main job.

While I can see where Howard's experience and better communication could be good for the young back-4 against Sunderland, there's a limit to that benefit. I'll be watching him closing on the weekend to see how he's performing. I don't think Roberto can put this off too much longer if things stay the way they are.

I was at the game the other night and could not believe how bad we were. Team selection, tactics (or lack of), negative body language from players, it was one of the worst in a long while but somehow we fluked it through.

That game reaffirmed to me that he needs to go. This decision over Howard will just alienate him further from fans like me and may sway others who've been more supportive of him to think again.

As for your comment that Howard is a better communicator, I think you're mistaken; from what I've seen sitting behind the goal, Joel talks more and isn't afraid to have a go at the back four.

He's always been shite at crosses, always. That's why SAF bounced him out of the door. A top-class goalkeeper needs to have a degree of bravery; Tim Howard doesn't have it and Fergie knew it.

This notion that Howard had a fantastic World Cup (the last one) is fanciful too. Yes, he impressed the fuck out of a nation who are still learning the game... but, from what I saw, he seemed to be making an awful lot of routine saves... the sort you would expect any professional keeper to make.

Martinez has had a shocker here.

Too much of a struggle to think of any rational, straightforward, logical reason; just the way Roberto sees it, I guess. Hard to imagine then, with a knowledgeable and patient fan base, he must be out of step with nearly all if not everyone. Why?

I haven't really seen where Robles is particularly decisive or better at coming off his line. On the first cross against Norwich, he was way off, fell down, and left his goal wide open. Stones had to head away the ball on the goal line.

As for his communication, Robles does seem to be getting better but I don't think he's as good as Howard in that regard yet. We also don't really know if he's communicating the "right" things. Martinez sees him every day at practice and obviously has concerns or else Robles would have taken the top spot by now.

I'm willing to give Roberto a little leeway on this since he has more information than I do. I just hope he's capable of making a switch if Howard can't improve his form.

If you concede goals from crosses and corners, which Tim Howard is doing regularly, his individual performance is 'shite', and his back four must be terrified, and can't figure out what is his fucking role.

I can't see any changes in Howard since he turned 30 or since the World Cup. For me, he has always been a brilliant shot-stopper who flaps and makes poor decisions when he has time to think.

There is very little competition for places. We have the permanent starters who come straight back in after suspension or injury. We have the not-so-permanent subs who sometimes start, ie, Osman, Gibson, McGeady, Naismith, Oviedo, Robles, Besic, Kone, Browning and Lennon.

Form has little to do with selection; it should do but it doesn't.

I can't say I'm happy with Martinez but I'd feel better if he talked straight and truthful like Koeman, Bilic or Monk. All this verbal ring-around-the-roses claptrap is quite insulting and continually leaves us in the dark.

He is the manager and I accept that he is trying to do it his way. I am a fan and if I need to protest I will do it my way. Cheers.

He's not perfect by any means but the question is whether he is better than Howard. Right now I'd say it's not even close!

I also don't buy the argument that, because he sees him in training, he knows better than the fans. Supporters often throw this up but football is a game of opinions. I remember years ago people arguing that Hinchcliffe should be in the team when Walker was the manager. He clearly didn't like what he saw in training. Joe Royle came in and put him in the team straightaway.

There again, I could be grasping at straws!!

Dealing with the senior professionals is another matter; he seems to be far too easy-going with them, and it shows on the pitch with so many indifferent performances from that group.

The reason being, some senior players know they will be selected, no matter what their form is, and that leads to complacency.

Describing a Premier League goalkeeper as a good shot-stopper is just ludicrous. Imagine the opposite. Err... he's okay but not so good at shot-stopping. He is very poor and the coach's sad support of him demonstrates once more what an utterly shit coach we have.

What is important? That all, and absolutely all other opposing teams know that, when Howard receives a pass, his skills are so bad so that about the only thing he can do is to kick the ball as far away as he can?

Howard is actually a problem when coming to having ball possession. If the opposing team can press Everton high enough to pass the ball back to Howard, they lose ball possession.

Is there anyone that has not seen that? We have a goalie who cannot pass the ball.

I just do not understand the drivel he comes out with sometimes. Howard is done and dusted (of course he will produce saves but he will cost us more points – watch and see) and Martinez needs to stop the pretending and get his finger out and sign a keeper if he doesn't rate Robles.

If the League Cup is a competition Martinez wants to win, why is he playing Robles in front of Howard? Will he drop Robles for the next match against Middlesbrough or what? The man is a hypocrite with some of the stuff he comes out with.

The Sunderland game is going to be interesting... but when is BK likely to act... if at all? When if ever will we get new owners? Kenwright has no intention of selling and the club will continue to stagnate while much smaller clubs have new owners, new grounds, grandstands etc. I would be happy to have a new manager right now.

According to Paddy Power we're 1/2 on for a win while a draw is 3/1 and an away win 13/2.

Even more bollocks given our home form and their 'new man' effect (John Barnes excluded).

I obviously hope we win but the smart money says 3/1 draw looks very tempting. Not that I'll be having a football bet.

Second thoughts... 2-1 to us (a Funes Mori header and a Lukaku bicycle kick from 30 yards in off the bar on 90 mins).

Yes, under Moyes we let in goals. And yes, at times, we were stuffed, but mainly in my humble opinion Everton were more defensively aware, and solid; we are no longer solid. Our defenders seem to not know how to head a ball clear. Combine that with TH not coming to punch or catch the ball... well you get the picture.

Not very good, but not all Howard's fault... although he hardly inspires confidence. The buck stops with Martinez for poor defending and for all this nonsense over Tim Howard. It could only happen at Everton.

And sell Coleman. Cash in now while his stock is still high. His mind seems to be elsewhere. I think his better Everton days are behind him, sorry. He has been making just as many mistakes as Howard. And Stones also needs to tighten up... in fact, most of the team needs to smarten up.If a few results go against us tomorrow, we could find ourselves in 14th or 15th place. Even more pressure heaped on to Mr Howard, and our leaky defence. So more pressure then on to our misfiring midfield and our "wingers" (who spend more time at RB) and then pressure on our "hit and miss" £28 million striker.

Still, our manager talks nonsense, and still people think he is the man to take Everton forward. We need to beat Sunderland; I stress again, it is vital that we beat Sunderland, or this is close to being another lost season. Another capitulation.

When Robles was playing in a run of games last season, that run saw Everton play well and we managed to scramble to safety. Just wonder what would have happened with Tim Howard in goal? Would we have kept those few clean sheets? Just a thought. Rant Over.

"Yes he impressed the fuck out of a nation who are still learning the game..."

What an absolute boatload of shite that is.

First, it wasn't just us that Howard impressed the fuck out of... FIFA unanimously named him MotM, the BBC called him "brilliant", the Mail said he was "deservedly hailed a hero" and Vincent Kompany tweeted: 'Two words: TIM HOWARD. Respect.'

And second, "still learning the game" my ass.... we poor undereducated Yanks finished ahead of your lot in the last two World Cups. We won the group ahead of England in 2010, and of course your boys had already slunk off home (last in their group, I believe?) when Howard put on his show against Belgium.

One of the greatest newspaper headlines ever was inspired by his managerial incompetence: "Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious."

I had not much time for RM as I don't think he should be managing our great club. But now, with that drivel, he proves yet again why he is not fit to run this club

Football is about winning matches. When you are not winning matches and a contributing factor is players' under-par performances, then another player is given a chance. That is the basics applied at any level of football, is it not?

We should be about winning football matches, not who likes who... I despair at this man. Get him out before it is too late.

I do like Howard but he certainly goes through phases like this too regularly; easily beaten when the chips are down. The Rooney goal, a nice finish but for feck's sake, Howard, is that the best you can be?

Here's hoping for that takeover and beginnings of a new dawn for our club.

I agree – to make a mistake and lose your place is nuts.

However, it is totally disingenuous to suggest we are talking about A (ie, one) mistake.

Howard has made the same mistake four or five times in recent games and these mistakes have cost us goals.

More worrying is that he seems to think standing rooted to the fucking goal-line, flapping at a balls being butted at him, as a perfectly fine strategy and one that doesn't need changing.

(I'm presuming this is as I've not heard one sentiment expressed along the lines 'Yeah I know, I've been fucking up good-style, but from now on, any cross anywhere near me and I'm ploughing through all hands to get that fucking ball.')

Er... not strictly true, that is it, Bobby.

Howard, McCarthy, Barry and Lukaku.

There's four who will keep their place regardless of how poor they are playing the man's nonsense is starting to wear a bit thin now.

You cannot have a team that are not picked on merit. If a player is out of form, you drop him. If the player that replaces him does a good job, you play him next week. If you don't then the message it says is that it doesn't really matter how you perform, the manager will continue to pick his favourites like Howard (and Barry last season). You cannot have that in any profession.

Even when Martinez gets it right, he changes the team at the next opportunity. The expression "Do not change a winning team" doesn't apply to this guy.

He is an apology for a manager and, after seeing the untimely death of a great man, player and manager in the same week, I have to say that Martinez as a player and manager is not fit to lace Kendall's boots.

RIP, Mr Kendall, thank you for the good times...

If that happens, Martinez will surely find himself increasingly put on a limb, with the board's support surely not extending much longer to a manager who refuses to face facts and whose team selection is based more on dressing room influence than on-field performance. He is making his own position untenable; if results don't improve drastically, he must be heading to the exit door before long.

The top clubs and managers will make these decisions and won't be worried about upsetting a senior player. If anything, when players are untouchable, it's likely to breed more disharmony in the dressing room.

Of course the fans aren't privy to everything, but judging Joel on how he played on Tuesday and the way he was playing towards the end of his run last season, he should be playing right now. Howard needs a boot up his arse. He's the weak link in the side and opposing mangers don't need to do much homework to see that with our record of conceding from corners and set-pieces.

100% correct. In our recent games, most of the wide free kicks against us have been dropped into the same area. It can't be a coincidence

At the risk of upsetting a lot of people, I have to say I absolutely love Klopp's quote which is something like "Barcelona may be a symphony but I prefer rock 'n' roll football."

Jurgen – so do I... but unfortunately we have to live with a manager who is proving unable to reconcile his Barcelona dream with the realities of the Premier League.

It all looks too comfortable for the players at Everton at the moment. We could all name the starting 11 for the Premier League games bar maybe Kone, Naismith & Lennon in the same places.

I just get the feeling they are doing enough to keep their places but not trying to achieve. Take the other night; they only upped their game after the crowd reacted to Kone being taken off... they battered Norwich for 15 mins, got the goal back, then...

With Browning, Galloway, Funes Mori and Stones in front of Howard, I think he is right to point out that experience in defence is currently an issue. A fact, really.

I just hope this seasons 'keeper issue doesn't turn into last season's central-defender issue and that we look at another 'keeper in January if this continues.

Still, he can't do much until January, and Robles is hardly Buffon is he?

I wonder if the former Barca number 1 is an option in January?

I thought Kone was outstanding today in midfield, but our defence was jittery at times with our international goalkeeper glued to his line for another headed goal against us.

I must say it was a pleasure to see the lads when in attacking mode for all the goals. Well done, Blues