Martinez admits football is about results as big two games loom

, 19 April, 58comments  |  Jump to most recent
Roberto Martinez has restated his belief that Everton go into a defining week with a hop across Stanley Park to face Liverpool and then the trip to Wembley to play Manchester United in the last four of the FA Cup.

The Blues boss is looking to leverage his team's perplexingly superior away form his season to earn two big results that would go some way to lifting the gloom hanging over the club and also relieving the pressure on his shoulders and those of his players.

Everton have the seventh-best record on their travels in the Premier League this season but have won just four times at Goodison Park since April last year, a run that puts them 19th, ahead of only relegated and crisis-riven Aston Villa in the table based on points won at home.

Martinez continues to stress that the focus is on trying to replicate the Blues' away form in front of their own fans.

“Our away record is the way forward,” Martinez said in his press conference today. “It's quite a unique situation. A team can be going through a bad spell and you have bade games home and away. It's very rare to see a team that is so good and consistent away from — and that's our situation, it's Champions League form away from home.

“And that's what we need to address. There are many aspects where we could go into detail but I think that's something that we need to do at the end of the season and make sure that our home form mirrors this year's away form.

Martinez was asked there was a need before the end of the campaign for him, as manager, to try and iron out the mistakes and weaknesses that keep allowing teams back into matches that Everton are leading.

“I don't think it's a case of addressing mistakes. I think it's a case of having a strong enjoyment playing at home and coping with expectations. All we're doing is trying to play [in] a way that is going to be very effective, but it comes down to a model that will allow us to become a winning team.

“At home, our results haven't been good enough and I'll take responsibility for it . In the same way, away from home we've found the right consistency and [while] we're trying to [become] the finished article, that's what we need to achieve at home.”

The manager was asked if this week, with the Merseyside derby and the cup semi-final at Wembley, represented not just a defining week for the current Everton side but also a defining week for him as manager of the club.

“It's a defining week but with real excitement. To be in the semi-final of the FA Cup is an incredible opportunity and it's something that we're all very excited [about] but that's something that we'll address after Wednesday.

“We've got five games left in the league and, as you know, we want to finish as strong as we can. The derby is more than a game; it's not just three points. It's an opportunity to make our fans proud.”

“It is a defining week for our season as with any any team still involved in more than one competition. I wouldn't like to go through this season without a defining week. In the same way the quarter-final was a defining week and we were successful and we got through to the semi-final.

"We're going to be as good as we can and enjoy the big footballing occasions that are in front of us."

With banners appearing in the stands, first at Vicarage Road before the draw with Watford nine days ago and then again at the Southampton game last Saturday, speculation over Martinez's own future at Goodison Park has moved increasingly from social media and fan websites to the national press.

It was put to Martinez that he might need a positive result from one of the next two games in order to retain the backing of the Everton board and he admitted again that results are key.

"Football is about results. It's results business and I would never be stupid enough to look away from that aspect," the Catalan continued. "When I arrived at the football club, I'm the one who brought the expectations [upon myself]. I'm the one [with the drive], the hunger and the desire to take Everton to where we should be, which is competing for silverware, playing attractive football, playing teams eye to eye and that's what we're going to do."

 

Reader Comments (58)

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John Graham
1 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:00:51
Well, saying all that the first thing to do is put some energy into your team. Stop passing the ball 20 times in your own half which everyone has worked out and get the ball forward. Press other teams in their own half and try to get the ball back as quick as possible. Frighten teams by running at them with quick passing and varied play.

Then what you might get is a packed Goodson giving lots of support to you and your team and a few fans who are no longer getting totally disinterested by what you have to say.

COYB
Jermaine Jennings
2 Posted 19/04/2016 at 18:50:02
There are so many points in this article to discuss I don't know where to start but either way he talks a pile of crap.
Brent Stephens
3 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:16:18
Gotta laugh, haven't ya!
Chris Morris
4 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:19:04
Mr Martinez, Stop talking now. You are an embarrassment. I want the club to win the cup more than anything and still do. We don't want to hear another word. Deliver some results specifically two this week and an FA Cup win and then pack your bags and please never return again.
Andrew Laird
5 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:21:32
Good old Roberto "tomorrow" Martinez.
Jamie Crowley
6 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:23:06
Only good thing in my humble opinion said by Roberto in a litany of oft repeated, psuedo-campaign scripted lines:

“At home, our results haven't been good enough and I'll take responsibility for it ."

Of course if you actually strike the first two words of the sentence, it's even better. But beggars can't be choosers.

Phil Walling
7 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:24:32
'When I arrived at the football club, I'm the one who brought the expectations (upon myself). I'm the one with the drive, the hunger, the desire.........'

Well he could have told the truth and said 'I'm a crap manager who's just got his team relegated and I don't want to hang around to repair the damage.'

And, probably, Uncle Bill would still have given him the job. 'What a manager !'

Michael Winstanley
8 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:30:01
It's all about him. See ya la!
Brian Porter
9 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:32:31
All this from the man who just a few weeks ago said the results didn't matter, it was the performance that was important. You see, Bobby, we don't forget the imbecilic dross you spout, even if you do. Something happened to change your mind has it? Like self-preservation maybe?
Colin Oakes
10 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:33:28
It's just more meaningless bullshit from our manager. He would be brilliant as a Tory minister dressing up all the failed government policies and promising 'jam tomorrow'.
Steve Woods
12 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:35:07
I just hope these are the final few weeks that I have to read your deluded crap Roberto. I would wish you a fond farewell unfortunately I can't. Just fuck off. Oh and Kenwright grow some balls and get rid, this is Everton FFS. NSNO.
Patrick Murphy
13 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:42:32
Roberto Mermelada mañana, in case you hadn't realised this club that you are lucky to be manager of, has played in many many FA Cup semi-finals and this club didn't need you to set the standards for us, as it has over a century of experience of being in the latter stages of competitions.

As fans we only need you to instil those standards in to the players and ensure that they go about their job with enthusiasm and integrity, but so far you have failed to do so and not many fans can see you achieving anything with our club. That's your own fault – not the club, not the fans but yours and yours alone.

Rob Halligan
14 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:45:13
It's very rare to see a team that is so good and consistent away from — and that's our situation, it's Champions League form away from home.

I thought, according to what I've read, our away from was the 6th best in the premier league? So not quite champions league form away from home. But hey, we're getting there, nearly.

Just need to improve our almost certain relegation home form.

Martin Mason
15 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:51:44
Rob, it would be if we were in the Champions League but we aren't, we're in a competition where accumulated points wins and we aren't as good as he believes away from home.

If we beat Liverpool and United I'll go easy on him and say it's fair for him to stay until the end of the season.

Michael Penley
16 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:52:59
"When I arrived at the football club, I'm the one who brought the expectations [upon myself]. I'm the one [with the drive], the hunger and the desire to take Everton to where we should be, which is competing for silverware"

Bloody hell, what were we doing before you came? That's right – competing for silverware. Not winning it, but we were competing. What are we doing now? Sitting in the bottom half every season, sending the fans to sleep with boring football.

Ian Linn
17 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:55:09
Martinez admits football is about results.

T'was ever thus – did he think it was about something else?

Joe Clitherow
18 Posted 19/04/2016 at 19:56:36
"...it's Champions League form away from home."

Is it bollocks. How does he get away with crap like this?

How do journos not take him to task for either a) being delusional b) insulting people's intelligence c) a and b? Have they taken pity on him or something?

Brian Harrison
19 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:02:20
Maybe this clap trap went down well in a town more noted for Rugby than football, but this is a major football city and bullshit doesn't get you far in this city.

Many like me will have seen our club win league titles more than once so we have an idea of what it takes to be successful. As he points out himself football is a results business, and his teams results are far from good enough. This is not a knee-jerk reaction this has gone on for 2 seasons.

Of course he wont resign, he has got another 2/3 years left of a very lucrative contract. And he knows that getting a club as big as Everton will be very remote.

So should the next 2 results go against us don't expect any contrition from Señor Martinez, he will then tell us he has learned many lessons from this season and we will see the improvement next season.

Steve Davies
20 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:02:31
Just stop talking Roberto, you blurt, and just win the next two games.
Ian Linn
21 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:12:22
Despite whatever happens in the next two games, I expect Martinez will be our manager last game of this season but not to be our manager the first game of the next.

This season is done, we will achieve our worst finish for at least 10 years if not longer unless by some miracle we win the rest of our remaining games.

I'd love us to win the cup but I can't see us getting past Man Utd – if there's a glimmer of hope it's that we're not playing at home.

Dave Lynch
22 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:14:45
'Sticks fingers in ears'...

Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaalalalalalalalalalalalaal.
Lalalaalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalal...

Brian Murray
23 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:20:14
Re Brian Harrison and Co, has someone had a word with him and explained we are in the results business? I could have sworn one of his death knell beliefs was I'm more interested in performance than results.

Either way just do one to a club with your ambition and yardsticks. Same as Moyes. Regardless of the next two games.
Kim Vivian
24 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:22:00
For your information, Roberto, only Arsenal (28) and ManU (28 incl this year) have been in more FA Cup semis than Everton (26 incl this year) in the history of the cup so don't be telling us that you're ".....the one [with the drive], the hunger and the desire to take Everton to where we should be, which is competing for silverware......"

He thinks he's still at Wigan.

Jim Jennings
25 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:27:14
"it's Champions League form away from home"

As others have pointed out, it's not. It's really not. We have the 7th best away record although a win tomorrow will put us 4th best on that imaginary table, ahead of our loveable neighbours.

Neil Gribbin
27 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:29:21
“I don't think it's a case of addressing mistakes. I think it's a case of having a strong enjoyment playing at home and coping with expectations. All we're doing is trying to play [in] a way that is going to be very effective, but it comes down to a model that will allow us to become a winning team."

What does that mean? The man just rambles. It's words put together randomly. Just bore off, you fraud.

Eddie Dunn
29 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:45:46
"It's Champions League form away from home". No Roberto, we have the seventh best away record, so that means we are not even in Europa territory. After we get a hiding over the park, we will slip further down even that little table.
Ian Brandes
30 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:50:04
Do despair! Can we get rid of this quarter-wit as son as!
Kunal Desai
31 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:50:37
The only positive I can take is that there are only 5 possibly 6 more pre-match and post-match press conferences remaining from this guy.

Bob Cumiskey
32 Posted 19/04/2016 at 20:59:49
Come on, lads... give us two good results this week please. The supporters deserve it and I for one will be roaring you on tomorrow and Saturday.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

COYB!!!

James Stewart
33 Posted 19/04/2016 at 21:00:04
As others have pointed out its not "Champions League form away from home" at all.

Digging his own grave with comments like these.

Martin Mason
34 Posted 19/04/2016 at 21:00:50
Aidy Dews
35 Posted 19/04/2016 at 21:20:02
Why the change in tune? Before he was a 'performances over results man..."! And he said that at the start of this season that performances were more important to him.

He's so full of shit it's ridiculous. He goes about games in the same way week in, week out and if his philosophy isn't working, he won't change tact to try and grind a result out so he's talking bollocks that results are more important. The possession stats and how many passes we've made per game is what matters to him the most!

Phil Sammon
36 Posted 19/04/2016 at 21:49:06

“It is a defining week for our season as with any any team still involved in more than one competition. I wouldn't like to go through this season without a defining week. In the same way the quarter-final was a defining week and we were successful and we got through to the semi-final."

It's got to the point where clap-trap like this is completely overlooked.

What on earth is he talking about???

Anthony Dwyer
37 Posted 19/04/2016 at 23:18:54
If Roberto is aware that football is about results, then he's aware he has failed, regardless of what he says.

But let's be honest, none of us would walk away from such a well paid job if our boss was happy to continue to pay us.

Kenwright or Moshiri have to see what is happening to there club (our club) and act.

Charlie Lloyd
39 Posted 19/04/2016 at 23:51:05
Clueless.

His talk are the words of a man clutching at straws to find an answer to the overwhelming issues of his stint as our manager.

I dearly want us to win both games this week and go on to lift the cup but I maintain a change would still be needed to remove his flawed blueprint.

For every great performance, Stoke and Southampton away, there are too many poor ones.

Mick Davies
40 Posted 19/04/2016 at 23:51:33
Dr Goebbels isn't even in his league when it comes to baffling the public; even my bullshit detector's gone ape. When he is fired from his job, he could always get a job on one of these comedy panel programmes, where everybody laughs at incoherent garbage, as he is the master, and if it wasn't OUR club he was embarrassing, I'd be in pleats.
James Watts
41 Posted 20/04/2016 at 00:12:33
Seriously, has anyone seen his latest sound bites in The Mirror?? Go have a read... in his own words, incredible!!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/defiant-roberto-martinez-warns-fed-7788641?


James Thornhill
42 Posted 20/04/2016 at 00:17:32
As the axe falls... the penny finally drops!

Yes, it's a results game... could be to late though, Bobby.

Ian Jones
43 Posted 20/04/2016 at 00:32:41
I had a quick look at the Home and Away Records. It appears from a purely mathematical view Everton have 5 wins away, 15 points, plus 9 draws at 1 point each, 9 points, 2 defeats, so a grand away total of 24 points.

If our home form had been as good, we could have 48 points after say 32 games, so handily placed in 9th place for a last gasp dash up the table to grab that last Champions League spot....or not

Remember, it's how we finish the season that's important, not the first 30-odd games

James Flynn
44 Posted 20/04/2016 at 00:53:57
Mick (40) – "Dr Goebbels isn't even in his league when it comes to baffling the public"

Is that so? Find the nearest corner and stand it it.

Patrick Murphy
46 Posted 20/04/2016 at 01:03:31
James (41) Thanks for that link - I won't be able to sleep tonight due to the knowledge that our manager has everything in hand and I feel so silly and disloyal for not seeing what he sees. Also my concerns and worries about our next two fixtures have been swept away on a wave of unbridled optimism due to the wisdom and clarity of Roberto's vision.

Roberto says that the silent majority are on his side, are they? Well it certainly explains the quietness of the crowd at Goodison for most of this season.

Roberto says 'I am not stupid. "I bring a different style of football. If we win the games, everything will be fine, if we lose, everything will be my fault. 'It is about the style of football, not how good you are with that style. I will always promote a style of football that will allow us to compete with any team – and not have a roof of the top seven.'

Well Roberto, due to your style of football it now seems that we have a roof of the top ten!

Talking about those fans that support his methods he says 'They have seen flashes of what we are about. Even seeing the team losing, they say they can see a team that has showed so much bravery, and so much attacking play, and so many signs from the players and good young players that they haven’t seen before.'They know it is going to end up successfully.'

Well that's true, not many of us are old enough to have seen an Everton team take so few points on home turf and lose so often, but at least we are pleased with the youthful exuberance and the undoubted courage and desire shown by our team. Unfortunately the most important player Gareth Barry is our best player by a mile and he along with the club captain could hardly be described as good young players.

As for knowing it will end successfully even the most optimistic Evertonian could be forgiven for thinking that avoiding relegation next season will be seen as success and anything more will be a bonus, but we'll all be happy to know that the style of play will have been far superior to anything we may have witnessed previously at Goodison Park and that will pacify us all when we are banging our heads against the padded walls in our individual cells for the disillusioned and disappointed.


Paul Ferry
49 Posted 20/04/2016 at 02:47:18
Great post ,Patrick (#46) – measured, researched, articulate, no inflammatory language, no insults, no juvenile digs at the manager, no infantile play on play of (yawn) phenomenal, incredible, what a manager etc. etc. etc.

And, therefore, on a scale of 10? 20? 30? 40? miles more effective than the cliched, hackneyed, one, two, or three liners from the people Eugene rightly lampooned and lambasted for being well, boring ........

A telling indictment, Patrick, of someone who will not be in charge at the start of next season.

Dick Fearon
50 Posted 20/04/2016 at 03:48:03
Roberto pontificates on results based football when he hasn't got a clue about that kind of game.

For three years he said possession is more important than results. All at once with his well paid job on the line he has been forced to acknowledge reality, but does he really accept it?

Anto Byrne
51 Posted 20/04/2016 at 04:32:43
I want more from McCarthy and Barry and have seen more from Gibson in terms of his forward passing and reading of the game. If he could only stay fit I would have him playing alongside Barkley in a shot. No-nonsense defending and taking one for the team (almost a red card that one).

Osman is still too lightweight in midfield and his best days are over, let's bring in some young talent, why not Davies and Connolly, Galloway and Holgate and one or two others. Whether Niasse is fit or not he should be playing the last half hour to get some action.
Brian Porter
52 Posted 20/04/2016 at 06:30:17
Martinez talks about receiving a 'number' of letters of support. In typical Martinez fashion he doesn't mention the 'number' of letters telling him to bugger off.

As the current TW poll shows that 85% out of a current total of 15,900 voters want him out regardless of the FA Cup I would imagine such letters far outweigh the letters of support which may only be two, which is plural after all.

Martinez will surely see us all in psychiatric wards if we go on believing his double talk, first possession is more important than results, now results are what the game is about.

We are pushing for European places, now we're four places from the relegation scrappers. The man is seriously deluded and has to be got rid of before we all end up going completely gaga!

Keith Harrison
54 Posted 20/04/2016 at 08:05:07
Roberto 'admits', as if he has been submitted to a polygraph test after being caught out lying. Proof positive he has been living in denial of this absolute basic fact that football is a result based game.

Wow, does this mean the penny has finally dropped, and our set-up and subs, positional play, fitness levels, and game plan will suddenly be cohesive and meaningful? Don't hold your breath.

I hope the lads wearing the blue in the next two games have enough pride and passion to marry to their undoubted skills to do it for the shirt, the supporters and everything Everton

Trevor Peers
55 Posted 20/04/2016 at 08:33:23
Roberto's methods have recorded our worst home record in history, yet we're supposed to blindly keep faith in them. Sounds a bit like the conditions of joining a secret religious cult.

All nonsense of course, ask the great manager's, they all agree, football played at it's best, is a simple game, look at Leicester!

Ray Robinson
56 Posted 20/04/2016 at 09:16:36
This was written over three years ago in Think Football:

For a side thought of as stylish but flawed, it comes as a surprise to find that Wigan’s strength is not creating scoring chances or producing moments of individual skill, but the more prosaic protection of a lead. This is even more surprising given that Wigan have only won five of their league games this season.

I would perhaps be generous and add keeping the ball and completing a high percentage of passes to Wigan’s strengths column but there can be little doubt about the veracity of those in the latter. Simply put, Wigan are fine at controlling the midfield but do not do enough at either end of the pitch, be it in terms of quantity or quality.

For example, one of the reasons Di Santo does not score many goals is that he does not take many shots, averaging a paltry two per game. Somehow, only two Wigan players take more. A man as well-versed in sports psychology as Martínez would surely be familiar with Wayne Gretzky’s maxim ‘you miss one-hundred-per-cent of the shots you don’t take’, yet he appears to ignore it.

In terms of defending, Martínez’s Wigan have long been the benchmark when it comes to farcical slapstick – even by the Premier League’s increasingly worrying standard. This is perhaps because Martínez exclusively uses the style of coaching prevalent on the Iberian Peninsula, geared towards dominating the ball and developing good decision-making on an individual basis, but that must surely be augmented with some defensive drilling – particularly when managing a club with Wigan’s resources.

Sound familiar? If football is results-based, Martinez has learnt nothing.

Mike Byrne
57 Posted 20/04/2016 at 09:52:10
Define week? Our season has been well and truly defined already long before this week - complete and utter failure due to one stubborn and incompetent manager.
Keith Harrison
59 Posted 20/04/2016 at 11:54:31
Tanks, what tanks. There are no coalition tanks in Baghdad at the moment.............................................
Comical Ali was more believable, and clearer than Roberto is at the moment.
I hope Dunc, Unsy and Sheeds storm the dressing room before the game and put some fire and brimstone in our lads with several choice Anglo-Saxon phrases, instead of unintelligible Iberian bullshit.
Gary Carter
60 Posted 20/04/2016 at 11:55:12
So there you have it! We have the 7th best away record in the league, yet Martinez declares our away form as "Champions League". Now last I checked, 7th doesn't get you Champions League football!!!

If we ever needed proof that he is an idiot, delusional or both, then he has just summed it up there!

He quite simply has to go, no matter what we do for the rest of the season. We've been shit for 2 years and it's that mug's fault!

Ian Jones
61 Posted 20/04/2016 at 12:18:59
I always find this interview by Martinez fun to listen to, on the report, after Wigan were thumped 9-1 by Spurs.

At 5-1 down, makes a sub, another at 6-1 down, but forgets he has a third to use. Could have brought on an extra goalie to fill the gap in the goal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8365091.stm

Christopher Dover
62 Posted 20/04/2016 at 16:01:48
"So good away from home" ... So, unless I am missing something, we have won 4 at home and 5 away.

Now that would be phenomenal home form wouldn't it.

I like many other wish the people who interview him would ask follow up questions when he spouts utter rubbish, even Michael Ball on radio dodged the questions giving a Martinez swerve to them.

Michael Penley
63 Posted 20/04/2016 at 16:02:39
Martinez 2015: "Performances matter; results don't"
Martinez 2016: "Results matter more than performances"

Martinez 2015: "It's not about the style, it's how good you are at it".
Martinez 2016: "It's about the style, not how good you are".

Who said he couldn't change?

Les Netherwood
64 Posted 20/04/2016 at 17:10:18
After reading that, you have to wonder how he ever got the job... he is a joke and I am amazed he has not been emptied out long ago. The game tonight is going to be one-sided with him in our corner, let's hope he is gone soon, he is making us a laughing stock.
Dan Davies
65 Posted 20/04/2016 at 18:06:58
Les, I think Martinez interview with Mr Kenwright must have involved a swinging pendant and the words "Look into my eyes... you are feeling sleepy..."
Les Netherwood
68 Posted 20/04/2016 at 22:37:46
Dan (#65),

I think he is still sleepy to this day. How dreadful was that tonight?

Barkley was rubbish again, Stones terrible, Mirallas erratic and everybody else giving the ball away all the time... the worst Everton performance I have ever seen (and I have been watching them since 1944)... and Martinez is the worst manager we have ever had.

Even when we were relegated in 1951 we played better than tonight's performance. How much longer do we have to wait for BK to act?

Mick Davies
69 Posted 21/04/2016 at 03:42:28
'Football is about results' L'pool 4 Everton 0, for the second time in 3 seasons. No win in the last seven. If he means that, then he's written his obituary. Call a Delta for the clueless one

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