Martinez takes pride in strong home display

1, Martinez started a defensive team.

2, Chelsea came to ruin the game and almost succeeded.

The most impressive performer today was Lennon by a mile, until big Rom just exploded into action.

Truly rubbish game but a brilliant outcome.

Yesssssss Rom.

Martinez deserves some credit. He's clearly listened to the criticism and tried to change things. It wasn't pretty but 2 goals and a clean sheet against a resurgent Chelsea is no mean feat. Think the School of Science may take an early summer break but, as a club, we'll be all the better for the rest!

A perfect tactical set-up.

"Shit game". Well there is no pleasing some people. I'm suspecting you weren't lucky enough to be at GP tonight but it was brilliant.

You say "Martinez started a defensive team". Well thank the fucking Lord, it's about time.

I actually didn't think it was Lennon's best game especially from an attacking point of view but as ever he worked his nuts off. For me if he maintains his current form he should be in the England squad.

Lukaku was the game changer but there were some really good individual performances. All the mid three were great but for me Jags was immense.

We seriously need to reach the final now with this talented squad. I personally would love to beat Arsenal because they have had the most lucky home draws going for the last 3 seasons.

Oh and their fans whine so much. I live in North London so that is why I am so bothered by them.

I hate the Wembley semi thing. We should be at Villa Park or wherever. But if we can get past the side we are drawn against then who knows?

The neck he exhibits above, on the back of the past two whole fucking seasons, is no doubt amusing to the media and the fans of other teams.

Just when I was allowing myself a little celebration on the back of a victory I have to read his usual bollocks re "performance/results" but this week's spin suggests, but only suggests, that after seven years in the job as a Premier League manager he might just be realising that one leads to the other.

Halle-fucking-lujah!!!!!!

I don't think that's a subtle change, that's a huge leap from his previous comments, which were all about bad luck and freak occurrences. In this statement he's nearly aligned to the rest of us in acknowledging there is some ownership and responsibility for these results.

Next step is to understand that possession isn't the same as performing and we might have made a manager of him.

Credit where it's due today, though. The right team from the start and didn't screw it up with odd subs. I'm not saying we've been poor at home but we've been very poor at being able to get the results that our performances have deserved.

I'd love to know who was coming off for Del before we scored. I suspect Lennon but I wonder if he would have surprised us with Macca, Cleverley or Ross?

For this day, this opponent and this occasion, Martinez got it right. Finally.

This game itself was weird, cagey and full of fight. I don't think I've seen it this season, perhaps even ever since rm came on. Let's hope it's not a one off and we start fixing things that actually needs fixing, like fitness and defense.

Last season in April he made public reference to winning games by virtue of "the old Everton way" but if Martinez took a dim view it's long since gone past the time for forgive and forget. To me Seamus is 100% the honest professional footballer.

You can see it in his face.

We were saved from self destruction by a Barkley - Lukaku goal that was one of the best I have seen in all my years of support.

When Martinez did make his subs he thankfully did so with the aim of defending our lead. He should take heed of the lesson in this.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day..

That plays out during the course of games as well, where he just doesnt seem comfortable to keep a game tight, controlled and see it out. Let's see what he does next week.

Roberto is still a young manager with far more to learn. He has a passion for stylish football which seems to stray into blind obsession too often. The true great managers were all single minded, determined with their own style of football. But surely they must all have been analytical, critical and even self critical (even if only in private).

Howard Kendall came perilously close to being sat in a taxi speeding away from Goodison with a final payment cheque in his freshly shaken hand.

We can only hope that Roberto has "wised up", for no-one can be great at 50% of their job but a zero performer in the other 50%.

We can only hope that the fresh personality, impetus and viewpoint in the Boardroom makes it plain that the good stuff is just that, but the missing portion will not be overlooked.

Well done against Chelsea, but the clean sheets need to be just as valuable as the two we score at the opposite end.

Later in the game, he looked to change it up with Deulofeu and avoid a replay at Chelsea. I for one was crying out for Deulofeu to sprinkle his magic and open up Chelsea which Lennon couldn't.

When Rom's goal went in, he changed the sub strategy and rightly! Given the comments on here it is evident that gentleman knows far more than most.

Martinez even got his subs right on the night aswell! Good day all round.

If Martinez took this approach more often, especially in games where it is needed, then I'm sure we'd of done much better in the league this season.

But let's forget about getting on the managers back for now and enjoy the fact that we're off to Wembley! COYB.

We know we can score goals, but that's not been enough. I always said this season was make or break for him and it's still on a knife edge as far as in concerned.

However, even if we DON'T win the cup, he can have another season as long as he picks up more results that show he's willing to adapt like he did yesterday. That's the key for me, progress.

What a fantastic first season Funes Mori is having! Everything was like a symphony, right down to the fact that Karma came back to bite Costa on the arse!

Remember last season? The 3-6 defeat! when Costa goaded Coleman after he had put the ball in his own net! Revenge was sweet and was washed down with a good few beers! It's a long time since I heard post match comments by Martinez making such sense and sounding so sweet!

COYB!

It was a very Everton way of playing and thoroughly enjoyable! The crowd never fail to react when we play in this manner!

We should play all of our home games in this manner. High pressing, not giving the opponents 2 seconds on the ball, combined with our attacking intent!

Most fans have asking for this for two years (at home). Can we continue in the same manner from now on please?

I'd like to say a massive thank you to the crowd, who were immense!!

It will take more than a wonder performance from Lukaku to see if Martinez has changed his spots and given up chasing his whale.

ps: Can we see more of Mr Oliver, please. Great reffing from probably the youngest in the Premier League.

Hopefully Man Utd and/or Arsenal get beaten today.

No way was this a "shit game". We did the defending, hassled them, and scored two very good goals. The crowd, the players and even Bobby were superb.

Wembley!

I was displaced from my normal Upper Bullens seat, taken over by their fans, and it's strange how you can hug complete strangers on scoring. Have watched Rom's goal over and over and still feel that lump in the throat every time for its brilliance.

1) Maybe realisation has finally set in with RM that sometimes you need to set up defensively against certain teams and try and win the battle in the trenches. I thought we we achieved this and deserved the victory. It doesn't always have to be champagne football to keep the fans happy.

2) The referee, quite rightly, has been commended on his handling of the game. I thought he let a proper cup-tie flow when he could and stepped in when it was required.

3) Leaving a fit Stones on the bench was the right call and we reverted back to a more solid back four. I still love Stones but at the moment he has rightly lost his place as a starting centre-back. I would love to know if this was 100% RM's decision or is he finally taking note of tactical suggestions?

4) I think the manager's future is still up in the air. This team will ultimately have hugely under-performed in the league, in a season that there was real opportunity... "One swallow does not a Summer make".

I sense he has more of a presence in the dressing room. Personally I think he should have been captain in 2010 and Phil Neville moved on especially when the captain at the time couldn't hold down a berth in the side.

It is tricky being a captain at the back because you cannot drive the team forwards or grab a game by the scruff of the neck other than a crunching tackle or headed goal.

We will miss Jags when he does hang up his boots which hopefully won't be for a few more seasons.

Suddenly Martinez picked the right team, when everyone has been fit that is the team that has been playing, but that narrative doesn't suit the Martinez bashers.

The only difference to the rest of the performances this season is that we seemed to press further up the pitch and actually got stuck in, but everyone wants to take credit. Maybe... just maybe, Martinez knows what he was doing all along and finally the players got it and put his philosophy into action.

I can't stomach Martinez but all credit to him for that performance. This is the way it's got to be between now and the end of the season. Everyone I've spoke to has said the same. I just hope the manager has the same thoughts. I won't hold my breath on that though.

The manager isn't responsible for everything that goes on once the players are on the pitch. If the men in blue shirts had put that sort of effort in all season and shown that sort of intensity when defending we would be flying.

I see some posters who stated they wanted us to lose every game from now until the end of the season seem to have forgot to turn on their computer. You know who you are.

Yes, we have reached two semi-finals; yes, we still have an outside chance of a Europa League place; yes, we are 10 points better off now than at this point last season; yes we are playing much better, and quicker, football; etc....

But the simple fact remains that we've thrown away at least 16 points this season which would see us challenging for the title, never mind trying to get into the top half of the league.

Everton v West Ham final

Everton winners

It was interesting to see Sunday Supplement this morning and actually see Everton being discussed. The main thrust of the collected Journos was no different to points on this site:

We have a great squad and should be challenging, like West Ham are, for top four spot and Champions League.

We have massively underachieved in the most open season.

Roberto cannot set his teams up to defend and his track record highlights that fact. A bit ironic after a 2-0 victory but against last week not much argument is there.

I have to agree with their opinions and it is a real shame that the man who left the space on the wall for the next trophy winning team is not the man to take us forward.

But as Everton have surrendered 45 points from winning positions since he took over, I respectfully suggest that Martinez may be incapable of learning from his mistakes. Would absolutely love it if I was wrong by the way, as that means we are successful and I did make the case for giving Martinez the first half of this season to sort things out.

I'm glad the Arse are out.

I'm old enough to remember the APPALLING treatment Howard Kendal got from some 'Evertonians' in the early 1980s – even his home was attacked. It suddenly went right for him (and us) in a big, big way. Watford getting past Arsenal today to set up the possibility of our having another Wembley meeting with them is, I hope, a huge and joy-laden omen.

COYBB

We can beat any of the sides left in, on a good day. We have a golden opportunity before us, please god let us get the breaks our way.

My idea of the match betting to win the tie if we meet, not 90 mins betting:- v Crystal Palace we should be 8/11 favs.
v Watford we are 4/5 favs.
v West Ham Utd we are 4/5 favs
v Man Utd would be an interesting tie, not easy to price up, the firms will probably make Man Utd fav at 8/11 because they're Man Utd, but they're beatable if we have to play them.

The opportunity is there for us, let's hope we can make it happen.

Seems there are two extremes on TW for and against the manager. Taking the emotion out of it and looking at the cold hard facts of the last two seasons, would a cup win not just be papering over the cracks?

I've got nothing personal against Martinez seems a nice enough bloke away from football. The question is, is there a manager out there who could do a better job for us?

On the other hand, wishing him to lose games is a bit extreme and smacks of biting your nose off to spite your face. Can't say I've met too many Evertonians of that ilk in 50 years – particularly amongst those who attend matches.

No, it's all about judging whomsoever is the incumbent on the results he achieves – liking him doesn't enter into it. For instance, I can't stand Roberto's bullshit but if he brings substance to it – as he did yesterday – he'll do for me. For now.

Yes, I did Phil. Harry, for me, was Everton's best ever manager although he faded at the end of his time with the Blues, through poor health.

I want us to win at Leicester.

Just out of interest hypothetically, you think Martinez should be sacked if we win the FA Cup?

Never been so torn, but it was not a game where an Everton win would have made Liverpool mathematically certain to win the title. So I wanted us to win.

I don't care how Everton score – off the referee's backside for all I care. It's the result first and then the performance. If any goal we score is a belter then brilliant, but the important bit is scoring.

To say a goal from a free kick would be a shame shows he's more concerned with scoring a beautiful goal than winning the game.

Fantastic victory and it was a joy to leave Goodison with a carnival mood in full swing, but for me, he's still got to go.

If people want to flaunt their anti-Martinez credentials by claiming they want us to lose games to hasten his departure, good luck to them. If people would prefer to call them out and score points, good luck to them. This is a forum, what's the big deal?

The important thing is that we played well, did the business and are in the hat.

Yes. In my opinion Matinez should be sacked regardless.

I do not base my opinion on the odd victory here and there.

Martinez should be sacked based on results from the end of his first season until present.

Winning the FA Cup does not give Martinez a free pass to bollock up next season a well as the past two

One change I noticed, last season we lose 6-3 to Chelsea, Seamus and Co tried to get in Costa's face and Roberto didn't like that saying that's not how to play the game.

Yesterday was off the scale in doing what it takes to win. That smacks of senior players talking and Roberto listening.

Now that is not a weakness but a sign of strength in potential leadership which bonds a group together. It's one game yes, who knows what Saturday will bring, but a thumping of Arsenal and Roberto may well turn it around.

I certainly hope he isn't because what he ought to be doing is examining how we can best get into the top 4 of the Premier League next season: an objective which we all presumably share on here since it will give us the prestige and quality of player, and the prospect of durable success, that we all crave.

I think RM should be let go in the summer even if we win the FA Cup. League position terrible tactics and a multitude of failures should see him looking for new employment this summer.

More, please, Roberto if you want to inherit the Mosheri riches.

Yes, and another part of that I think is that the pace of play means playing can't be solely by numbers but has to be also by intuition, and that's when it gets really exciting and creative.

But you don't know what the final league position will be yet. There is still over a quarter of the season left.

I asked a hypothetical question, we don't know how the season will pan out but sacking a manager who delivers our first trophy in 21 years would seem a bit odd, no?

I can't remember a more frustrating season than this, the number of league points squandered has had all of us tearing our hair out. But one of the reasons it has been so frustrating is we are a very good side on our day, our Cup record and our away record are extremely good. Our goal difference in all competitions is +26. It is an awful long time since that was the case.

So personally, despite reservations, why don't we see where we are at the end of the season before we decide whether Martinez gets more time.

Admittedly, he shut up when Rom scored that goal, and had to acknowledge we were the better team in the end... But I think we were making a very ordinary Chelsea team look good for large parts of the game.

I hope we get Palace in the semis and a re-run of '84 in the final!

Our greatest problem as a club, for a long time now, has been failure of nerve and an inability to act decisively and far-sightedly at crucial moments. That is why we have been mainly mediocre and I fear that we're going to make the same mistake yet again.

My hope is not so much that Mr Moshiri brings his money – though that is obviously crucial – but that he brings the ruthlessness that makes winners. It's something we've lacked since the days of Sir John Moores despite our 80s successes.

Of course we have failed to do that on a frequent basis, but it is genuinely in our hands.

No I said it in the post as I composed it. My question was would you sack a manager if they won the FA Cup, you said you would.

I think that's bonkers.

A consensus from ToffeeWeb might do better against Tranmere might do better than the last time we played them in an important game, we lost 3-0 at Goodison in an FA Cup game, managed by, was it Walter Smith?

We are a bigger and better club than RM can manage, he is small time when we need big time. We are on the march and this man can only hold us back.

So hypothetically, if we do not win the cup, are you still happy for him to remain as our manager?

Well actually it's not undeniable. Sure Wigan's record was very poor but of course they were side constantly fighting relegation.

His record at Everton is 1.23 goals conceded per PL game, not much different to Moyes record which if I can remember correctly was 1.15 or 3 goals a season. His Cup record is actually better.

However your second paragraph is bang on the money. That's my biggest concern about his management style. Does idealism trump pragmatism. Can he instill that winning mentality that turns good players into winning players. The jury is definitely out.

Last week there was a feeding frenzy and I get that, I can't remember leaving a match feeling more pissed off about a result but there is still three months to go and the season could still be a good one.

I think his balls are on the line. At some stage he has to deliver. Failing to win the Cup and a damp end to the season and, yes, I would say let's go and find someone else.

He doesn't have an abysmal record, he just has an average one. No-one aspires to average.

But to say that if he does win a trophy he should still go is ridiculous in the extreme. The difference between success and failure is often a fine line.

For instance in HK's first three seasons his average finishing position was 7th, there was much discontent but we ended up winning the FA Cup and the rest is history. Maybe 32 years ago, you would have been calling for Howard's head.

A lot of us leave the ground totally frustrated. How many supporters have posted, after the very few wins we've had, that Martinez has changed, that he's seen the light, that he's adapted etc etc only to revert to type the next game!

It's all very well speaking "hypothetically" but let's talk straight. Do you truly believe that Martinez will change now after refusing to change his philosophy since the day he became a manager?

Based on the season thus far, we can expect 3 or 4 more wins the rest draws and defeats. Next up is Arsenal by which time I expect them to have been well dumped out by Barcelona and a ripe time to get them.

If we can see a seed change against them, I will be surprised. Hypothetically I will be interested to see your conclusions after the last game of the season.

I don't think we are talking hypothetically. You want Martinez gone regardless of whether we win a trophy, I'm saying the season is not over yet and it could still work out well for us.

I think that is a crazy position, but if we end the season potless and mid table we should change. Am I being unreasonable here?

Hypothetically, as you brought in this word, if we won the Cup and lost half our remaining games would you keep him on ? If so then I think that is ridiculous in the extreme !

For the record I never understood Carey getting the heave at the time. However when I stood in Goodison Rd after the Fulham game watching us lift the league ......well who was Carey ?

I also came out of the ground after Coventry at home thinking Kendall would be gone by Monday

Big difference between Kendall and Martinez is that Kendall was adaptable and would change to suite.....Martinez is not and can not

He wins the Cup, he stays without doubt. That's not just my opinion but the undoubted reality of the situation.

Look, I'm not yet convinced but a trophy after 21 years goes a long way to helping. We are still in that position where that is possible; he will be here for the remainder of the season so I'm happy to wait and see.

I think so.

I said it was a hypothetical question. We've won fuck all yet, much like the last 21 years.

I'm just genuinely surprised that many still want him to go should we lift the Cup in May.

Of course he managed to achieve that and get relegated with Wigan as Martin Mason points out but realistically this side is not getting relegated.

As I said it's what I would describe as 'cock on the block time' for Roberto.

Either you think he is the man to lead us to the big time or he isn't. I don't think winning the Cup should affect that.

Brilliant if we won the Cup but the league is our bread and butter. This is what everyone will base us on, where the money is.

I wanted him gone midway through last season as I, like many, could see his tactics and philosophy was flawed and he refused to adjust never mind change. This season has only solidified my view.

Keeping Martinez just because he got us to Wembley, is, in my opinion, wrong. Based on league results and management skills with both Everton and Wigan he should be moved on.

As you rightly say he is here to the end of the season now and let's see how the remainder of the season unfolds. Personally I do not think our league form or position will noticeably change, wish I am proved wrong.

When Moyes was here I often said a 5th/6th place finish didn't mean shit to me and I would gladly swap such 'achievements' for something tangible to toss in that abandoned cabinet only arl codgers remember housing anything but cobwebs.

When it comes down to it, the pursuit of trophies is the very reason competitive games are played in the first place and Everton have been starved of such success for far too long. There are actual Evertonians out there whose only experience of EVER seeing an Everton captain lift a fucking big cup above their head was Phil Neville proudly showing off about the fact he'd finally learnt what happened when you tipped boiling water over a tea bag.

As such, my own take on it would be if he does manage to bring us a trophy at the end of the season then that fact would supersede all the other frustrating shite in my eyes and he should be given the chance to see if it could be the start of something rather than a freak one off.

Incidentally, I don't think he will be sacked either way.

This is bleeding hard work.

Another classic. "Based on league results and management skills with both Everton and Wigan he should be moved on."

We sort of knew his results at Wigan, he was recruited on that basis. To sack him based on his Wigan record is ridiculous.

His performance at Everton has been average at best. One very good season, one poor season and this year the most infuriating season I can remember. But it's only March we could still end up with silverware.

My point is he should be given the remainder of the season, if he wins the Cup that is progress for me and on that basis he would deserve more time to see if we kick on.

And on that note I'm done.

If only I believed he was the right man to deliver enduring success, and I still think that is what we should be aiming for starting from next season in the league.

Anyway, we can only hope and I must say last night was a great joy to experience.

"His performance at Everton has been average at best."

For that read "shite"!

We pressed the ball all over the pitch
We tackled hard
We were tougher than them

Special mention for Jagielka and Barry - they really did lead by example.

What a footballer Gareth Barry is. I have always rated him since his days at Villa. One tough hombre. Every team needs one.

We were never going to win anything under Moyes – he played the percentages against a loaded deck.

Martinez has developed and improved the squad. He's probably not the person to deliver on success with the team he's built, but he's also quite young himself. Despite his arrogance (we call it self belief when it's players?) he's still developing himself... is it unfeasible to suggest he might improve as a manager?

Those battles had to be won and for once the end justified the means. Sadly the second yellow was unnecessary which means he misses a game but Mo Besic is an able deputy.

After 7 seasons in the Premier League do you see any signs of improvement? Any signs of adapting or changing in any way?

We can't really use the excuse of him being young any more...

My gut feel is that, if we can keep this team together, we're onto something that would ultimately be achieved once Martinez moves on.

But Martinez isn't stupid – he knows what he's assembled here and must be aware of the opportunity in front of him, particularly given a changing financial landscape. If he reflects on his performance and takes good advice then it's not unthinkable that he might address his deficiencies (even just by hiring better support for next year). That's what I'd do.

If he can do that, finish this season strongly, and win a cup... Well it wouldn't all be over for him yet?

Only the influence of Moshiri would see him sacked after winning the Cup although if we finish 'down among the dead men' in the Premier League (most unlikely) he'll be a gonner regardless!

If that was the case not one single fucking football supporter in the country would follow any other team apart from those fortunate elite 10 or 12 teams at the top of the tree. And I include Everton there and for that I feel privileged. Unfortunately over the past 30 years or so the game has become so obsessed with money and money earned from success that the simple pleasure of going to, and watching a decent game of football has become eclipsed.

It is great to be a supporter of Everton, with our history, our past successes, our current players and potential and fantastic fan base. I,like every Everton supporter, ache for us to show our true potential and achieve the results we all want.

Sure, the pursuit of 'silverware' and championships is what we all aspire to but it is not the be all and end all, or as I said, why does anyone bother to go and watch any other than the top 10 or twenty clubs in the country.

When I first started watching professional football as a lad it was at Fratton Park in the old second division featuring such legends as Mike Trebilcock among others - that's probably the only name anybody on here will remember - including Ray Hiron, Norman Piper, Jim Storrie and even Ron Davies. I would travel to every home game (on me todd) hook up with a couple of other lads at the ground and go through the usual traumas of watching your beloved team (as they were at the time).

There was barely any football on TV (barely any TV actually) and simply getting to see Pompey actually on the box in an FA cup tie vs arsenal was a thrill on it's own. Times change and we are stuck with the Sky elite and all the commercial hype and money chasing and business interference in the game but we still have that grass roots football support up and down the country and 99% of those loyal supporters haven't got a fucking hope in hell of ever seeing their team achieve anything more than maybe a bit of a cup run and perhaps a prem elite team visiting their ratty old home ground.

That statement that the pursuit of trophies being IT is utter shite. The pursuit of success is a better phrase and success is relative.

Relatively speaking we are not achieving this season, or indeed the last two and a half seasons and RM has the lions share of the blame to take for that. Yesterday I think it was as much about the players as about RM and I think our underachieving is likewise. If some catalyst has miraculously started a long term change for the better and a continuation of yesterdays fire in the belly performance (which has happened before) then I think our future as a squad with RM may be rosy. I have posted on a number of previous occasions that I think we are on the cusp.

However, we do need to keep this squad together (including JS) and I fear that RM may just not be able to do that, particularly if we revert back to old ways. If a top name manager can be found and attracted to us our marquee players may just stick with it a while longer. I will be bitterly disappointed if we fall at one of the last two fences on this cup run - so close now and genuinely no team to fear. I was worried we would get Arsenal in the semis but that ain't happening gladly - but how we perform over the final 1/4 of the season will determine whether RM should go or stay, not the cup success (or failure).

Let's just see if RM can get this team performing to it's potential, give us enjoyable football and results and just do as well as we can. I hope we can do it with RM because the hire and fire on a whim culture depresses me also. I'd like Everton to avoid being tarnished with that brush.

I was in fact at Goodison Park tonight, as I am for every game.

I am a season ticket holder and have been for over two decades.

My opinion that the game was shit is based on the fact that we were at home and didnt test the keeper of a mid table team for over an hour.

Mori had a header from a corner some were in the second half, that was about it.

Chelsea ruined the game by play acting too which ruined it as a spectical.

In reference to you thinking I may not have been at GP for the game, I can only presume you say this as I failed to mention the atmosphere, which was exactly how you would expect GP to be for a quarter final, brilliant.

But can you honestly say the game was played by two sides who had nothing else to play for, two sides who gave everything to win a game of football, two sides that deserved the support both ourselves and Chelsea fans gave.

I don't believe so, I believe both sides were pass poor, and the only quality on display was Rom.

Rom fed off scraps at best until he magiced up something spectacular all by himself.

I will agree that Jags played well, I will also say we looked solid too.

But Chelsea were awful, they looked like they had no idea, William, Fabregas and Pedro looked clueless while only Costa showed any real fight.

For us, Barry done a good job but was booked twice, Jimmy Mc didn't make a forward pass and neither Ross or Cleverly supported Rom.

Lennon was the biggest threat, yet he didn't do an awful lot other than battle hard and won a fair bit of possession back for us.

All the above is why I stated the game was poor, if you viewed it differently then fair enough, but I would only presume you were happy we won more than the quality (or lack of it) on display.

Bill's last two hires have been young managers who have shown potential at smaller clubs. Hired for their performance or their potential?

On that, I think Bill's had the right approach. If you can't afford or attract the ready made article then you might need to look a bit further. The same goes for many of our purchases.

Did Moyes stay too long after he'd shown he didn't quite have the highest level potential? Yes, probably.

Now I'm a Martinez critic. He's driving me mad with his tactical naivety and nonsense press conferences. But he has done a decent job in the transfer market and promoting youth. He backs them to improve and the squad isn't far from being able to challenge. A couple of signings and some tactical management? We feel closer than we've been for a long time. Martinez could be great if he could work on his flaws.

If you were Martinez. Knowing the squad you've got. Knowing that there's a new owner who may be able to provide financial support. What would you do?

Roberto will never have a better chance to manage a top side. And it's slipping away from him. If I were him I'd have a good review of my shortcomings and bring in fresh support. It could work.

What really scares me is that if it comes to appointing a new manager, I've got an idea about who Bill would be recommending...

I simply said that the chance to ultimately win something (doesn't matter how fucking slim that chance may be) was the reason behind 'competitive' games being played in the first place. If that isn't the case then why aren't all games just played out as friendlies and why are teams awarded points for victories and draws? Either I've been utterly misled or it's so they can be added up at the end of the season to see who comes out on top? Then we get on to cups. You don't believe the very core of a knock out competition is to see who can succesfully navigate each round, make it through to the final and ultimately win the thing?

I didn't think it was a shit game. Granted there were not lots of goal scoring opportunities. I thought both sides set up quite tight, both sides defended well. But there was a lot of commitment on show.

It's not like we have played expansive exciting football recently and walked away with nothing is it?

I guess what I find a little strange leaving a quarter final having seen a one of Goodison's great goals followed by another. The whole ground bouncing as one celebrating a victory and a trip to Wembley and say "well that was shit".

I guess it takes all sorts.

We are both entitled to our opinion, I don't agree that the game was great, that said maybe it's a little harsh of me to call it shit.

Like I've said, the game was a semi final between two teams who had massively under performed all season, both had nothing else to play for and there was only 4 shots on target in the whole game.

Id have expected both teams to go for it a little more, although Chelsea are not what they were last season, and I felt they were there for the taking.

Granted we won so it softens the blow of watching what I'd describe as a poor spectacle.

I'd agree with you when you say we have played expansive and lost too. I'd take boring and winning any day over exciting and beaten.

I think if you looked back over my original comments you will see I described the game as shit, down to two things.

1, Martinez set us up to defend, I don't think this is a wise tactic at home v Chelsea.

I will admit that I was wrong in thinking that as we won.

2, I think Chelsea came to ruin the game with play acting and basically bad sportsmanship.

I feel most fans will agree that there players rolling around and almost wasting time, was poor to watch.

I'd guess any neutral would have called the game poor.

As I said, if you read my comments without picking bones, I'd say it was a fair reflection of the game.

I credited Rom and stated my happiness at the victory with a 'Yessssss Rom'.