rockin' robin
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Martinez to put the squeeze on title rivals
With each game that passes, hope is turning to expectation at Goodison Park. This week, and for the first time, Everton manager Roberto Martinez has sounded a warning to all those chasing a Champions League spot this season.
The Toffees aren’t only in the mix for fourth spot next term, they’ll be aiming even higher.
“We need to find a way to challenge,” Martinez said this week, “and I think the youth we’ve got in this squad, as long as we keep it and keep developing it, is going to be the unknown quantity that will allow us to challenge the other sides who’ve got bigger finances. I don’t think lack of finances will stop us from challenging the top four.”
I vividly recall playing against Martinez. At that time, the game was just in the first throes of embracing foreign players, albeit in twos and threes rather than the dozens who appear during each transfer window today.
I remember thinking: ‘Christ, these foreigners are so dirty’
The reason I remember Martinez so clearly, rather than the hundreds of other players who I’ve played against over the seasons, is because during a tussle in the middle of the pitch, he grabbed hold of my “meat and two veg” and gave them a squeeze with such alarming ferocity that I look at my kids today with a real sense of achievement.
I remember thinking: “Christ, these foreigners are so dirty.” But then I played against Dennis Wise and I realised that being an exponent of the dark arts is not necessarily dependent on geography, it’s more about the way a person is wired.
I’m not entirely sure how much control they have over it but I do know that hurting other players is one of the physical manifestations of demonstrating how much they want to win.
And in Martinez’s debut season as Everton manager, that winning mentality is still burning deep within the Spaniard, because he has certainly impressed. He has exploited the loan market shrewdly as well as introducing some exceptionally talented youngsters to the rigours of regular first-team football. And how they have flourished.
Players such as Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley may have been on the radar before Martinez arrived at Goodison but it has been the former Swansea manager’s confidence and trust in them that has allowed each to blossom this term.
Added to that, the solidity of regulars such as Sylvain Distin, Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines – who, it is widely known, hates playing football, though you’d never know it looking at the way he plays the game.
And when all these components come together, it could well mean that Everton do indeed “bridge the gap” in finances between themselves and the rest of the Champions League chasers through “getting the best from our resources and being as competitive as we can”.
David Moyes did the same for Everton but with a different style of football
To be fair to David Moyes, he did the same for Everton, but with a different style of football. Yet this season, Martinez has Merseyside rocking to a new beat – one of passing and movement as well as the traditional Everton foundations of determination, aggression and spirit.
It is too easy to suggest that the Manchester United board must be scratching their heads in wonderment at the “what ifs” of the situation but, as far as Martinez is concerned, he must surely get a nice warm feeling inside whenever he casts an eye over his shoulder.
I’ve always enjoyed playing at Everton. It is a real old-fashioned ground filled with real people who remind me of football in the terms that I understand it best. Whenever I play at any stadium, I like to finish the warm-up by striking a ball into the goal from wherever I am on the pitch.
It’s just a silly thing that I do so that whenever I talk to friends I can say: “Yeah, I’ve scored there.”
Anyway, at one end of Goodison Park, I chipped a ball toward the goal as we were jogging towards the tunnel and it clipped the top of the crossbar before hitting a huge fella, who was walking down the stairs, squarely on the cheek.
Martinez to put the squeeze on title rivals
With each game that passes, hope is turning to expectation at Goodison Park. This week, and for the first time, Everton manager Roberto Martinez has sounded a warning to all those chasing a Champions League spot this season.
The Toffees aren’t only in the mix for fourth spot next term, they’ll be aiming even higher.
“We need to find a way to challenge,” Martinez said this week, “and I think the youth we’ve got in this squad, as long as we keep it and keep developing it, is going to be the unknown quantity that will allow us to challenge the other sides who’ve got bigger finances. I don’t think lack of finances will stop us from challenging the top four.”
I vividly recall playing against Martinez. At that time, the game was just in the first throes of embracing foreign players, albeit in twos and threes rather than the dozens who appear during each transfer window today.
I remember thinking: ‘Christ, these foreigners are so dirty’
The reason I remember Martinez so clearly, rather than the hundreds of other players who I’ve played against over the seasons, is because during a tussle in the middle of the pitch, he grabbed hold of my “meat and two veg” and gave them a squeeze with such alarming ferocity that I look at my kids today with a real sense of achievement.
I remember thinking: “Christ, these foreigners are so dirty.” But then I played against Dennis Wise and I realised that being an exponent of the dark arts is not necessarily dependent on geography, it’s more about the way a person is wired.
I’m not entirely sure how much control they have over it but I do know that hurting other players is one of the physical manifestations of demonstrating how much they want to win.
And in Martinez’s debut season as Everton manager, that winning mentality is still burning deep within the Spaniard, because he has certainly impressed. He has exploited the loan market shrewdly as well as introducing some exceptionally talented youngsters to the rigours of regular first-team football. And how they have flourished.
Players such as Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley may have been on the radar before Martinez arrived at Goodison but it has been the former Swansea manager’s confidence and trust in them that has allowed each to blossom this term.
Added to that, the solidity of regulars such as Sylvain Distin, Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines – who, it is widely known, hates playing football, though you’d never know it looking at the way he plays the game.
And when all these components come together, it could well mean that Everton do indeed “bridge the gap” in finances between themselves and the rest of the Champions League chasers through “getting the best from our resources and being as competitive as we can”.
David Moyes did the same for Everton but with a different style of football
To be fair to David Moyes, he did the same for Everton, but with a different style of football. Yet this season, Martinez has Merseyside rocking to a new beat – one of passing and movement as well as the traditional Everton foundations of determination, aggression and spirit.
It is too easy to suggest that the Manchester United board must be scratching their heads in wonderment at the “what ifs” of the situation but, as far as Martinez is concerned, he must surely get a nice warm feeling inside whenever he casts an eye over his shoulder.
I’ve always enjoyed playing at Everton. It is a real old-fashioned ground filled with real people who remind me of football in the terms that I understand it best. Whenever I play at any stadium, I like to finish the warm-up by striking a ball into the goal from wherever I am on the pitch.
It’s just a silly thing that I do so that whenever I talk to friends I can say: “Yeah, I’ve scored there.”
Anyway, at one end of Goodison Park, I chipped a ball toward the goal as we were jogging towards the tunnel and it clipped the top of the crossbar before hitting a huge fella, who was walking down the stairs, squarely on the cheek.
If I’d had another 1,000 attempts, I don’t think I could do it again
Rather than kicking off, he looked up, clocked me with my hand in the air and stuck two thumbs up over his head while wearing a huge grin. It was meant to be. If I’d had another 1,000 attempts, I don’t think I could do it again. He endeared me to Everton fans after that.
With decent support like that, a great blend of playing staff and the promise of reinvestment from funds that are brought into the club, Martinez may very well upstage one of England’s most famous clubs as well as the wildest dreams of most on Merseyside.
Lots of players and one or two clubs will be casting enviable glances towards the Martinez revolution and one or two arguably larger clubs may well be looking on with worry.
As well they might because, when Roberto Martinez has you by the balls, he doesn’t like to let go. Trust me on that.
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0COMMENTS
Rather than kicking off, he looked up, clocked me with my hand in the air and stuck two thumbs up over his head while wearing a huge grin. It was meant to be. If I’d had another 1,000 attempts, I don’t think I could do it again. He endeared me to Everton fans after that.
With decent support like that, a great blend of playing staff and the promise of reinvestment from funds that are brought into the club, Martinez may very well upstage one of England’s most famous clubs as well as the wildest dreams of most on Merseyside.
Lots of players and one or two clubs will be casting enviable glances towards the Martinez revolution and one or two arguably larger clubs may well be looking on with worry.
As well they might because, when Roberto Martinez has you by the balls, he doesn’t like to let go. Trust me on that.
Download the new TSF Mobile app! Get the latest articles, exclusive content and more – click here to download
0COMMENTS
