Roberto Martinez discussion

[chicoazul]

Really?

You want me to dig out the thread you started last season saying you wanted Moyes back?

One sec...

It was well placed corn you hideous beast.

 

[TrixyStevens]

Too often recently.

We need to win a back to back game.

When was the last time that happened?

Over 8 months now

 

[chicoazul]

The problem is, the players have the same attitude. They're not going to stay because of the teams potential if we finish midtable again and a CL club comes calling.

That is a fantastic retort to my post sir. Well in.

 

[ilikecheese]

It was well placed corn you hideous beast.

Corning you with your own corn.

 

[sageyefc]

Bawk geordism

 

[chicoazul]

Corning you with your own corn.

That's game that. Old skool.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

The problem is, the players have the same attitude. They're not going to stay because of the teams potential if we finish midtable again and a CL club comes calling.

100%

That would be terrible short termed strategy in our position.

No. Short term was last season, when you wanted Moyes back.

I'm not saying Martinez should go now, but more disputing anyone who thinks his position is untouchable, so untouchable they belittle/patronise those who dare question him.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Over 8 months now

Can't be that long since we last won back to back games?

I knew it was a while like...

 

[Boss_Blue]

Yeah it "happens like". Week in week out.

It doesn't though does it mate.

Think about it.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Can he really be blamed for the result though? Set the team up brilliantly, we raced out of the blocks and created chance after chance. Second half I imagine he said more of the same and Norwichs goal knocked the stuffing out of us. I think the players should stand up and take the blame for this, especially our inability to defend corners.

My worry was the lack of plan B.

No.

But when you see a pattern, then you wonder.

It wasn't a one off, was it?

"On another day..." is being said too much.

 

[Wat Tyler]

People saying it was just one of those games today: it has happened in our last three games, and it has happened in other games this season, added to matches we have dropped points in we should've been looking at taking wins in. Yes every team has that over a season of 38 but not to the extent we have, and it is only December.

When you take a look at our results, then you look at the whole 17 wins in 54, added to the fact that this is one of the weakest premier leagues for years, finishing mid-table with what is a very good squad just won't be good enough this season, nor was it last season.

The point is we should be fighting for top four like Martinezs first season, and as it stands, you would have to say we would struggle to get EL. All this about, oh we've only lost three, we are work in progress etc., is completely missing the point: that we have moved on quality wise and we should be doing a lot better results wise.

 

[scratchnsurf]

What would he have to do for you to think "Yeah, not good enough"

For me, 8th or below (and no cup win) and I'd say twist.

Then that'll be two consecutive seasons we've underperformed.

The board won't see it that way though. TV money still coming in and some massive profits to be had from the sale of outstanding young prospects.

The culture of the club comes from the top. If the board were ruthless in their pursuit of success on the pitch then there'd be a better chance of that translating to the pitch. Sadly, they are happy with mediocrity and the nice fat payday to come.

 

[Woolly Blue]

Have we underperformed this season? Or is this just where we are?

We've underperformed a bit in the League so far, not massively, but the number of draws shows we're not as good at getting results as you'd hope.

The thing with Martinez is that he's moulded our squad into what it is now, a bloody exciting team to watch with bags of talent in it who aren't afraid to go out onto the pitch and show the ability they have. If he wasn't in charge, that might never have happened. The flip side is that we're sloppy in defence, which is why people were questioning goals conceded against S'land and Villa. It's easy enough to sort the latter out, a lot of mistakes we're making could be ironed out on the training pitch, but, to a certain extent, our gung ho way of attacking with Coleman and Baines getting so far forward will always leave us vulnerable.

 

[ijjysmith]

If we haven't, then he hasn't progressed the club or it's ambitions since Moyes left.

There's a few ways to look at it though.

We were great season 1. Martinez took some plaudits.
Poor season 2. Martinez took some hefty criticism.
Bit better season 3 (although not perfect clearly). Should he be congratulated for fixing the broken season 2? Or not?

 

[GrandOldTeam]

People saying it was just one of those games today: it has happened in our last three games, and it has happened in other games this season, added to matches we have dropped points in we should've been looking at taking wins in. Yes every team has that over a season of 38 but not to the extent we have, and it is only December.

When you take a look at our results, then you look at the whole 17 wins in 54, added to the fact that this is one of the weakest premier leagues for years, finishing mid-table with what is a very good squad just won't be good enough this season, nor was it last season.

The point is we should be fighting for top four like Martinezs first season, and as it stands, you would have to say we would struggle to get EL. All this about, oh we've only lost three, we are work in progress etc., is completely missing the point: that we have moved on quality wise and we should be doing a lot better results wise.

Agree completely Wat.

Most will be patient, but let's not be cult like and blinkered and refuse to acknowledge there is a problem. Even Martinez knows there's a problem, 'consistency' is his new buzz word.