Howard: Blame the players not Martinez

At the business end of the season, RM et al are defending the indefensible. But we're progressing apparently.

Also, fuck off, Howard, with your cosy little retirement package (arranged by Bill and Bob) under your arm – just be sure not to drop it, as is the norm with you!

(I'm seeing Denis Waterman, as portrayed in "Little Britain", now thanks Tim).

Actually it doesnt work. . . . Sure You have been utterly useless for two years, but you didnt pick yourself did you ? . . or did you?

I think he did believe he was a dead certain to play, regardless of his ever increasing bad form.

Tim was good in the past, but his sell by date came and went 2 seasons ago.

I wish him well, however, some of Roberto's deluded influence has rubbed off.

Perhaps he's rehearsing his excuses for when he becomes a manager in the future. He's had a good teacher.

I was going to say, "you've got to laugh", but it's not even funny.

You heard it here first.

His comments would not have been made if he was playing here next season but there is a lot of truth in them. If you are considered good enough to represent your country but let your standards slip, you are failing the club.

Thanks, Mr Howard, for all the times you have saved the game.

If that's not how Martinez begins to read out his starting line up on a Saturday, then it really should be. Wonder how the rest of it would go though?

"Gobby gnome-faced shortarse who must think he's Walter White the way he's been mouthing off about all this 'chemistry' wank: you're wearing number 3.

You. Big, friendly, Sully from Monsters Inc imitating soft fucker who wants to be mates with the entire world: I'm making you captain son.

Patched up pisshead who stinks of petrol. Slot into that midfield and drive us forward son. Safely! No hit and run. Remember the rules: refrain from any unseemly physical stuff and play at a brisk walking pace at all times".

He has a point though.

I also would like to add that Tim has had a good send off by us,and rightly so. But, Martinez has let him down in a way, along with letting us down, by allowing Tim to remain at us last his sell buy date. He's done the same with Osman, Peinaar, Hibo, and Gibson IMO.
He's talked about some of the above as though there needed as cheer leaders in the dressing room, but lets be honest, there paid far to much for that, and it clearly has not worked.

Oh by way, Timmy, whist you all are watching, please ask Martinez if he can go and ask the Leicester City team how it was done because he clearly doesn't know what it takes to win a title or cup, does he> If titles and cups were won with just words, your mate Martinez would win the it all, season-in & season-out.

Please do us all a favour, Tim, and keep your gob shut and both of you please just fuck off

I despair for Everton FC.

That's right Tim, he's not a player, he's a player! Does he understand the role of a manager?

Roberto IS to blame, it's his job to manage the bloody team. The fact that these highly paid and talented professional footballers regularly play like half pissed, blindfolded club 18-30 holidaymakers is completely down to Roberto.

There's plenty of blame left over when Roberto has had his bellyful and if Captain Starfish wants to tuck in then that's just dandy with me, 'cos he has made numerous contributions over the last three seasons to me holding my head in my hands and thinking "Dear sweet baby Judas is this the same club that had Big Nev in goal or am I in a parallel universe ? ! ".

We have a manager who is still learning, halfway through a project with players who are still young with loads of potential (actually listening to the papers and pundits too much).

We now have a new investor who looks as though he has his head on his shoulders – so give him time...

We have some of the best matchgoing fans in the world...

Yes, we have all been disappointing this season, but we have had two semi-finals and some good performances to cling onto – so for me it's no change please... get together as a team!!! And see how Mr Moshiri can influence us!!

Be careful what you wish for, Everyone?!?

Neville Southall said something along the lines that Roberto had been left isolated and unsupported by the board, yes he has had money and time but apart from the "what a manager" statement what support or direction has he had from the board? David Moyes sheltered the boardroom from most of the flak they should have taken, because he could balance the needs of the team with the financial constraints of the club, by being pragmatic, straightforward and dour, and to a certain extent it worked.

Leadership is lacking throughout the whole club and the lack of any kind of meaningful statement by the board relating to football matters, suggests they either don't have any plan, they don't really care about the results or they are happy for the manager to be the scapegoat. I don't want Roberto to continue as Everton manager for a minute longer than is necessary but I do have some sympathy for him having to work for this club in its present state.

The apathetic nature of the fans reflects that there is a deeper underlying problem within the confines of Goodison Park apart from the performances and results of the first-team. Everyone of us are left waiting to see what transpires in the coming weeks, the longer the silence goes on the more concerned the fans will become and a change of manager - whilst desirable - may not fix the issues currently affecting the club. In who can we really trust?

We need somebody in a position of power at the club to put their head above the parapet and declare what the club is aiming to do in the next few months and seasons, if nobody is prepared to do that then the club will continue to drift from one week to the next and the fans will become even more disenchanted and disillusioned, some will cease to attend but not in significant numbers and most will attend but with less enthusiasm than is desirable. The quicker some sort of statement is made the better for everyone including Roberto.

Although there had been the idea of 'a hell' (even since before Christianity) it was Paradise Lost that provided the descriptions that gave us the pictures.

'Rivers and lakes of fire', 'floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire' 'ever-burning sulphur' etc.

There is also mention a place where there is only 'never-ending torture.'

Now I know this is a bit of a jump, but my guess is, had Milton had a season ticket for 'Ye Uppe Gwladyf' his description might have also included - "And on entering hell, every finner will fupport Evertone and after eache gayme, usually a fuking defeate like, a duplicitous knave will appear to talke interminable fhite for what will feem like all of baftard eternite. To be honeft, fire will feem like ye leaft of thou worrief"

(not sure anyone from the playing/coaching staff of the club ever reads TW, probably not. But should any of you see this and want to reduce the flak coming your way, just..stop talking. I promise you, right now, every statement makes things worse for you, not better).

I laughed so hard I didst most nearly puke from my very gizzards and didst count my felf most very fortunate not to have befhitted mine breeches.

"a duplicitous knave will appear to talke interminable fhite for what will feem like all of baftard eternite"............... possibly the greatest words ever written in the english language.

A TV license springs to mind.

(that said, I've been incredibly lucky - every telly I've ever owned has worked perfectly well without one).

Also, at least he is well able to see the problems both in terms of the need to be tactically flexible week after week and in his in-game management decisions.

Additionally, some fans are just too obsessed with stuff like defending both set pieces and leads and of going to Goodison expecting Everton to win. Surely possession and the number of passes made are far more important than 3 points at the end of the day? Look at the likes Leicester, they are regularly well out-passed by their opponents and usually have no more than 40% possession every game and where will it get them? Ask yourselves this, would you rather watch them or Everton?

Finally, Roberto has pointed out that he has the 9th biggest budget and therefore two consecutive league finishes below that should not be considered under-achieving.

I did think this Man Utd team was playing very well, especially with young kids leading the line. Rooney was superb in the Number 10 role and Fellaini is still a thug – good riddance.

I thought the ref was very generous letting a lot of stuff go. Do we ever get a ref that just lets the game flow and allows play on? Having watched Leicester since their rise to the top of the table, they have had lots of favorable decisions go their way. Even two penalties at Goodison.

That's why we should be told as quickly as possible if he is staying or going.

You have a choice as to were you play your football and the standards you are prepared to accept; from both yourself and Martinez. Unfortunately the Club's supporters will be with EFC until we shuffle off this mortal coil and we have heard and (most importantly) seen enough.

The Club needs a scouring pad from top to bottom. Kenwright Out ! Martinez Out ! Deadwood Players Out !

It was intended as a protest against Bobbies boring bollocks, but it ended up being a nose-spite-face job. I couldn't stay away and ended up paying more to sit in some very poor seats - usually down the front of the park end

Baines said the team lacked chemistry and it was assumed he was criticizing RM so everything was RM's fault. What if he wasn't? What if he was trying to criticize the players without naming individuals? Maybe he was blaming Martinez too, but we see players playing for one another at Leicester and Southampton and West Ham, and the other side of that coin at Chelsea and Arsenal (Giroud and Costa and Hazard, and Ozil come to mind).

Now, Howard comes out with "blame the players." What if like Baines, Howard is doing the same thing? Sure, on the face, it appears to be supporting RM, but what if both are trying to help and support the club as it goes forward? What if Howard, like Baines, is trying to point out that each player on the squad needs to be examined and sent packing, no matter the talent level, if he is not buying into the team regardless of the tactics and manager?

What if the point is there is more here that is wrong than just changing the manager? (I still think he should go ASAP) What if the point is that the team's form and results are down to more than just RM? This would explain the frustrating 45 minutes of effort or "Tale of Two Halves" that has become standard this season in Everton games.

Baines still has to show up to train with these guys next season, so he is less able to be critical of individuals. Howard is done at Everton. He has ten plus years of experience at two clubs and has seen Fergie, Moyes, and now Martinez- led teams and locker rooms. He has seen players pulling together and what is the right way to do things. As a professional, he isn't going to name names but maybe he is trying to tell some of the sulky little spoiled players with selfish attitudes to grow up, put on their big boy pants, and step up and admit the effort is lacking and fix it.

Granted, his message won't get through to the anti-Howard TWs on here who can't, or won't, look beyond the messenger and would rather slag him off rather than examine the message and reason for it. Howard said he is an Evertonian for life. Perhaps we should view his comments in that vein and not as support for RM per se, but a warning for next season, in regards to the squad. Quite possibly, some of the culprits will be in leadership positions within the team. That would be truly bad news for next season.

Again, maybe this is not the intent and Howard is trying to curry favor with RM. Why would he do so now instead of two months ago, or one month ago, when he had more to gain than just a couple of meaningless games to play in?

As for Howard, he's annoyed me of late with his interviews. Maybe Roberto said to him 'Tim, do this interview and you'll get a few games.'

That's a plausible viewpoint and certainly is supported by the evidence of people's own eyes every game, for far too long.

I also believe that RM cannot evade responsibility for what has been a gradual, prolonged deterioration, season on season for 3 years now, and his boneheaded stubbornness and selective and self serving pronouncements.

Ambition, my arse!

What are we doing Bill? Being 'Everton'.....All nicey nicey? No winning mentality since the 80s or true ambition...do we have any?

Can you prove us all wrong and do it quick? Roberto and his bullshit will take us down no doubt about it.

Players or team. Same thing to me as both are terms for the group. Baines said lack of chemistry which implies relations between players. I think both he and Howard are both indicating something in addition to RM is amiss at Goodison.

Howard denied he was playing badly when he was stinking the house out every weekend. He claimed others didnt know what they were talking about . . now he's agreeing with them

Thank fuck these two clowns are finished at our club and somebody else will have to listen to their never ending pap

Stick a fork in him and move on.

The idiot manager has contrived to single handedly take Everton FC from a top 6 club to a laughing stock in 3 short (well very long if you have to actually watch it) seasons. He has taken good young talent like Barkley, Stones, Coleman, Deulofeu, and completely shot their confidence and made them into a shadow of what they should be. He has taken an energetic team and made them lifeless and insipid. He has taken a vibrant atmosphere at Goodison Park and turned it into a morgue, a place where all crap teams can't wait to visit. He has continually insulted the fans with his inane drivel, the latest being that we are closer than ever to silverware......hmmm, maybe its the fact I keep nodding off at the games that I actually miss the bit that demonstrates that. Oh, and he has led us to the worst points total in a season at home....ever!!

The players seem to have no professional pride. I get that the manager sends them out with ridiculous tactics but where is the professional pride to keep yourself fit enough to last a full 90 minutes? Where is the professional pride to keep fighting from the first minute to the last? Where is the professional pride to give the fans the performances they deserve? Where is the professional pride to actually learn from your mistakes? Where is the professional pride to actually show that you give a fuck?

The club can trot out any number of players/ex players to excuse Martinez but they cannot fool the fans, who actually know that the club is rotten. Martinez should have gone months ago for me, but when (i hope) he does finally get his just desserts, he shouldn't be alone. Kenwright needs to go and also Elstone. Some of the players should also be put on the transfer list as, to be honest, some of their attitudes have been nothing short of disgraceful, pretty much mirroring the club really. Its not as easy as just getting rid of the manager (although that would be a huge starter) their needs to be a massive spring clean from top to bottom.

We were dross last season and he had the nerve to blame the Europa League for fatigue, anyone would think we reached the final ! We have been mainly dross this, disorganised and not fit enough, sooner this charlatan leaves, I am dreading a possible 4th season of this waffler.

Whoever does come in has a mountain of a job to do, to rebuild a style of play to allow us to compete. Also there are many players who will move on Lukaku, Stones will go plus McGeady, Osman, Hibbert, Howard, Pienaar, Hibbert, Gibson – a frightening situation to be in, and fascinating times ahead.

Not only has he broken horrendous records at our Club... worst home League performance. He has also broken the record for the most likeliest managerial sacking never to happen.

Giving Moyes credit for Martinez's first season doesn't add up as Moyes took over the Premier League Champions and we beat them twice!!??

It has been a mediocre season; we drew a lot of games we should have won. Who's to say, with investment and a strong leader on the pitch, we can greatly improve?

To me, the similarities with Howard Kendall's first spell are there – the nucleus of a young team with ability. It wasn't til the fight of Reid and presence of Gray kicked in that it all came together. Don't forget gates of 13,000 and protests back then.

Finally, to repeat... it has been mediocre season with the odd flash of fluent exciting winning spells; it can get better.

Martin Mason good post. Countered well by others, which is why I read this phenomenal website, which is in a incredible moment.

"What a website "

It is getting embarrassing now, we should have a bit of banter on here, who the next player will be to speak up sweepstakes.

Shortlist for me, Lennon, Coleman, or graham Jones,my vote goes to Lennon.

Cheers for cheering me up and making me laugh out loud, which considering my current mood relating to all things Everton is a minor miracle.

Oh yes, taliban Timmy, thanks for everything mate and don't let the door smack your arse on the way out lad.

If we played footy as well as we chat shite, we would be pissing every competition we enter.

However, for me, the buck still stops with the manager, even if that's the case. If there are trouble makers in there, it's his job to shape them up or ship them out... not let them ruin the team and season with inactivity.

I also remember thinking "I hope our players watching this will be inspired to think they want some of that", and on Saturday it's going to happen again only this time I think our players will be thinking "I want to join a side with a winning mentality."

I believe the manager and players are all out of excuses, there is no progress the fans can see that much.

I want to blame the other teams. They train to much, they change tactics to exploit the "Everton way" to play, they score when it's only 10 minutes left of the game, they systemize set pieces, they press the other teams players, the run unfairly fast and much...

Blame should be apportioned as 75% players fault and 25% managers.Individual errors have blighted the season and the players work rate has been pretty poor IMO.

The manager shoulders the blame for both boardroom and players unfortunately and is basically a very well paid whipping boy.

If Martinez leaves then I reckon Pearson would whip them into shape as Martinez is not strong enough to cajole the players and make them work closing down ALL over the pitch.

I do not have the personal information that some who comment on this article seem to have.However once the game is set into play it is down to the selected team to give 100% from the off.Leicester have two or three top players but have deservedly won the title due to their work rate.they have put many sides in the premier league to shame including us.

75%, 25%, 44.76%?

Every manager knows the most important percentage - he knows he'll carry 100% of the can if it goes pear-shaped.

Sure he might feel let down by some players, but he'll also know should he even think of defending himself with "Don't blame me - our back four have been performing like shit-houses all season" he'd get even more stick.