Roberto Martinez discussion

[mkrudden]

From the echo:

verton don't need Champions League budget to make top four - and Leicester City are showing why

• 05:00, 11 FEB 2016
• BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE

Roberto Martinez reiterates belief that Everton can make top four without mega bucks

• COMMENTS

Gareth Barry challenges Jamie Vardy of unlikely title-contenders Leicester City
Leicester City have shown that you don’t need mega-bucks to challenge the ruling elite in the Premier League.

And Roberto Martinez is determined forEverton to follow the Foxes’ example and soon be in the mix for the top four.

Consecutive league wins have moved the Blues up to eighth in the table and back in touch with those teams vying for European qualification.

ADVERTISING









But Everton are still 12 points adrift of Man City in fourth but Martinez insists that his side can soon be challenging for Champions League qualification - even though they have a top four budget.

Leicester are five points clear at the top of the table and Martinez believes Everton can also start challenging.

Claudio Ranieri's men are the example


“It would be very easy for me to accept and say let’s see how far we can go but I am the first one to understand that football clubs should be competing for silver wear and to get into the Champions League one day,” he said.

“I don’t see money or Champions League budgets as an excuse.

“We need to find a way and I will be the first one to push that forward and I have an incredible belief on what we can do.

“There have been painful lessons. To get into a semi final of the league cup is very, very close to where we want to get to but we use that as an inspiration to keep going in the FA Cup and to get as high as we can in the league.

“And clearly the last three performances show that desire, that hunger, that we are on the right path.”

Leicester City's Robert Huth (right) celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game against Manchester City


Martinez has come under fire in recent weeks but received a warm reception from the Blues fans after last weekend’s win at Stoke,

“The fans know I am so proud of being the Everton manager,” the Catalan added.

“I am so proud of being the Everton manager.

“I feel so privileged to be that and I understand that we are all so focused of trying to do the same thing – which is winning games.

“And when we are not winning games we are all going to get frustrated and I am the one responsible and I will accept that.

“We have a board that does an incredible effort to put a strong team out there, one of the most special squads we have seen out there for years and years.

Roberto Martinez is proud to be Everton manager


“All I want is exactly the same as the fans.

“They know that I am going to give my life to bring silver wear and put the club where it belongs and I accept that results have not been right.”

Martinez added: “I think it is just the understanding, the concentration levels, you need to very, very quickly switch from when you are in possession and when you are out of possession.

Everton's Aaron Lennon (centre) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with team-mates Tom Cleverley (left) and Ross Barkley


“Sometimes we can be a little bit loose and leave ourselves too exposed too quickly.

“The philosophy will never change.

“We need to get even better, we are getting more experience.

“The introduction of Tom Cleverley and Aaron Lennon in this period had been very influential.

“Having a player like James McCarthy coming back, he has a unique relationship with Gareth Barry, having Phil Jagielka coming back and stating his leadership.

“It is learning from the painful lessons.”

 

[Ashtonian]

The way i see it, we have a second chance at this season now thanks to the poor form of united. We can finish 6th easily with a bit of consistency and the fact that martinez has positively changed the team to play the players who are winning shows he is not afraid of dropping the likes of Baines and Deloufeu, This for me is the biggest step in his management, all i want to see from him is to fix things when they aren't working. It's all well and good complaining about bad luck but if we aren't changing it then we may as well just give up.

so yeah, put pressure on united now, we may not catch them but at least breathe down their necks, win a fair few games, hope city beat liverpool to open up 6th place, have a good go in the fa cup and perhaps the season might just turn around into something positive.

And 6th-7th would be a good finish for us if martinez can do it competitively rather than limping. I'm happy with that, not like we are dropping league places from the norm so can't complain at finishing there and by beating all the teams around it in the process.

 

[Saint Domingo]

From the echo:

verton don't need Champions League budget to make top four - and Leicester City are showing why

• 05:00, 11 FEB 2016
• BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE

Roberto Martinez reiterates belief that Everton can make top four without mega bucks

• COMMENTS

Gareth Barry challenges Jamie Vardy of unlikely title-contenders Leicester City
Leicester City have shown that you don’t need mega-bucks to challenge the ruling elite in the Premier League.

And Roberto Martinez is determined forEverton to follow the Foxes’ example and soon be in the mix for the top four.

Consecutive league wins have moved the Blues up to eighth in the table and back in touch with those teams vying for European qualification.

ADVERTISING









But Everton are still 12 points adrift of Man City in fourth but Martinez insists that his side can soon be challenging for Champions League qualification - even though they have a top four budget.

Leicester are five points clear at the top of the table and Martinez believes Everton can also start challenging.

Claudio Ranieri's men are the example


“It would be very easy for me to accept and say let’s see how far we can go but I am the first one to understand that football clubs should be competing for silver wear and to get into the Champions League one day,” he said.

“I don’t see money or Champions League budgets as an excuse.

“We need to find a way and I will be the first one to push that forward and I have an incredible belief on what we can do.

“There have been painful lessons. To get into a semi final of the league cup is very, very close to where we want to get to but we use that as an inspiration to keep going in the FA Cup and to get as high as we can in the league.

“And clearly the last three performances show that desire, that hunger, that we are on the right path.”

Leicester City's Robert Huth (right) celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game against Manchester City


Martinez has come under fire in recent weeks but received a warm reception from the Blues fans after last weekend’s win at Stoke,

“The fans know I am so proud of being the Everton manager,” the Catalan added.

“I am so proud of being the Everton manager.

“I feel so privileged to be that and I understand that we are all so focused of trying to do the same thing – which is winning games.

“And when we are not winning games we are all going to get frustrated and I am the one responsible and I will accept that.

“We have a board that does an incredible effort to put a strong team out there, one of the most special squads we have seen out there for years and years.

Roberto Martinez is proud to be Everton manager


“All I want is exactly the same as the fans.

“They know that I am going to give my life to bring silver wear and put the club where it belongs and I accept that results have not been right.”

Martinez added: “I think it is just the understanding, the concentration levels, you need to very, very quickly switch from when you are in possession and when you are out of possession.

Everton's Aaron Lennon (centre) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with team-mates Tom Cleverley (left) and Ross Barkley


“Sometimes we can be a little bit loose and leave ourselves too exposed too quickly.

“The philosophy will never change.

“We need to get even better, we are getting more experience.

“The introduction of Tom Cleverley and Aaron Lennon in this period had been very influential.

“Having a player like James McCarthy coming back, he has a unique relationship with Gareth Barry, having Phil Jagielka coming back and stating his leadership.

“It is learning from the painful lessons.”

The never ending learning process. Let's see if actions speak louder than words and lesson 1 has been learned: Robles over Howard. If he can learn that easy lesson maybe there's hope for him.

 

[Ashtonian]

finishing in europe would be massive for us this season for many reasons.

It will convince players especially overseas that we are a competitive club. Hell even Yarmalenko if there is the smallest chance still there can see we are a european team in that scenario rather than a midtable club.

The take over that is meant to be happening, if they are going to put a bit of money up for transfers then again the lure of european football off the back of the euros as well will go in our favour.

Increased prize money, surely the extra few places it would take will positively impact us.

We get european football, which isn't a bad thing, and hopefully the gateway this time round for some of the younger players like henan/foulds/holgate/galloway/rodrigez/tarashaj to make an impression on the team.

 

[royalblue66]

Heard he is now on the short list,for the Inter Milan job.

 

[deipnosophist]

From the echo:

Roberto Martinez reiterates belief that Everton can make top four without mega bucks ...
“It would be very easy for me to accept and say let’s see how far we can go but I am the first one to understand that football clubs should be competing for silver wear and to get into the Champions League one day,” he said.

...the away kit

 

[b4sunryze]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-fc-view-gwladys-street-10874907

Good read for Team Cult Bobby Brown Shoes

Bobby's brown shoes, on their way into Selhurst Park in 2013.

This week's View From The Gwladys Street is by Terry Smith, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at University of Chester and regular contributor to When Skies Are Grey fanzine. His latest feature, in staunch defence of Roberto Martinez, is published in WSAG's EO28 which is available from Friday.



There have been lots and lots of words written about Martinez recently. Some insulting the man; some insulting the intelligence.

Every journalist, super fan opinion leader, talk show shock jock Kopite provocateur, bedroom keyboard assassin or payroll ex-player have posted and tweeted their cut ‘n’ paste jibes sometimes with and sometimes without justification.

Facts have been used to beat every ounce of optimism out of every positive supporter. No optimism; no argument.

Like the drunk hanging onto the lamppost, facts have been used for support rather than illumination.

It has been hard to keep believing in the promise that Martinez gave us and the justice of justifiable facts have been used to hang Martinez from that lamppost. In defence of his attackers it has been the defence which has given him no defence.

Champions League to Championship. Roberto’s Dream to Martinez’s Nightmare.

It’s been hard to accept my own blind faith in his failings. It’s becoming increasingly lonely in the corner, losing my religion.

But I am still here hanging on. And while it is difficult to praise him, I am not about to bury him.


Martinez speaks English but doesn't translate.
For a man with two degrees and a soft touch in personal relations, Martinez doesn’t help himself in Press Conferences. His constant positivity tends to grate even for the pro-Martinez supporter.

When he was in his Coronation year – like Klopp at Liverpool now – he could do wrong. Every Spanish twist (Solo lo mejor or Sin Meido) was greeted with delight and instant acceptance. Now, we get every pundit and ignoramus scrutinising his every word and inflection.

Yes he says “phenomenal” too often. Yes he never publicly bollocks players when maybe he should. Yes he doesn’t mean what he says and doesn’t say what he means.

He doesn’t think about the connotations of the words he uses. News without knowledge of nuance becomes nonsense.

Saying that it is performances rather than results which are more important is palpably nonsensical. I’m sure he is referring to the underlying development of play; it’s going in the right direction not that he likes getting beaten.

He says that we are not underachieving. He’s wrong. We are. But he means that there are pockets of spectacularly good play and this will stand us in good stead. He’s right on that.

Years ago, the Everton team beaten by Liverpool in the League Cup Final (ironic I know!) knew they were ready to challenge – even in desperate defeat. They went on to dominate English football for a while.

He is accused of not getting angry but when he does everyone accuses him of moaning. Johnny Giles – yes that little sh*t who used to circle referees like Indians around a wagon with his bullying Leeds United team – accused him of moaning too much about two Atkinson howlers which cost us momentum at the Etihad. Johnny Giles!!

For me, a lot gets lost in translation. Like Klopp who curries favour with gullible young Jurgenmeisters, sound bites without nuance can be a nuisance.

Klopp's grandstanding, with his Hokey Cokey Kop celebrations, would have been manna from heaven for the Anti-Martinez mob. The crowd-pleasing reference to John Lennon was the oral equivalent of a half 'n' half scarf: a futile gesture confusing local knowledge and connotation.

The media chuckle at him but mock Martinez. For now, Klopp’s the King of the Kop who can do no harm and Martinez is the Clown.

Some fans are wise; some otherwise.

Knowledge is a dangerous weapon when in the hands of an idiot. The viral vitriol of Anti-Martinez supporters often use statistics and analyses of results as their weapon of choice. That’s fair enough. Facts are incendiary devices in a results-oriented business.

What I object to though is the use of figures of ridicule (like Paul Merson) or news outlets which are despised (like The Star and The Mail on line) being cited as credible sources when it suits.

A headline of “Fans use Merson as an intelligent person” would be retweeted endlessly if it wasn’t for the fact he uses the magic phrase “Martinez must go”. Using Paul Merson as the Font of all Knowledge is like collecting water in a colander. The nutter on the bus is bound to say something you agree with eventually.

Similarly, just like putting 100 Twitter monkeys in a room with 100 keyboards, they’ll type something sensible eventually. That’s a bit of a Martinez there. In amongst the Antis who upping the ante, there’s some great deconstructions of being uncomfortably numb as a Blue.

The new phenomenon is the endless, pointless moronic click-bait Twitter polls. They are ostensibly a way to engage people and gauge opinion. Some Everton websites use them as ‘proof’ of disenchantment or supposed ‘action’ by disgruntled fans.

The ‘Martinez Out’ brigade often flaunt their credentials of being ‘Grand Old Teams’ and ‘Toffee This’ and ‘Everton That’ and yet they forget the basics. The basics of a manager might be learning to defend but the basics of a fan is to defend the team.

These so-called supporters don’t support, they just water the seeds of hate in a barren desert of under-achievement.

For sale: brown shoes, never worn.

Brown shoes, not worn


Roberto Martinez is the footballing equivalent of that gold and blue dress that was all over social media some time ago. Perceptions and interpretations of what Martinez is and isn’t are understandably subjective.

Integrity is either seen as a strength or misconstrued as delusional. Sticking to principles will be seen as bravery or stubbornness.

In the juggling of pragmatism over philosophy, trust in youth development over short-term results or the contradictions of his team selections, Martinez is his own worst enemy.

Time is more or less against him but I think he should be given more time.

When the Away fans sang “The School of Science is on its way back” it was like the old days. Bobby Brown Shoes was on his way back as well.

I bought a pair of brown shoes recently, against my personal taste and better judgement. I bought them as a futile symbolic gesture of defiance in supporting Martinez.

I’ll probably never get to wear those brown shoes in symbolic support.

It made me think about my biggest worry in all this.

It’s not the frustration of throwing away leads. Or falling at the Semi-Final hurdle yet again.

It is this: if we sack Martinez (and we all know it will be backed by endless facts and expert opinions to support it), we may never see what the squad HE has assembled - the best in recent times – could achieve. That’s the real loss.

If we’d sacked Howard Kendall in 1983, we would never have experienced the best part of our history. We would never have known what would have happened.

If we sack Roberto, his dream will die and paradise postponed will finally be paradise lost.

We will torch the haystack to find the needle.

Hope and footwear will be forgotten.

For sale: brown shoes, never worn.

Terry Smith @terry__smith

 

[mkrudden]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-fc-view-gwladys-street-10874907

Good read for Team Cult Bobby Brown Shoes

Bobby's brown shoes, on their way into Selhurst Park in 2013.

This week's View From The Gwladys Street is by Terry Smith, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at University of Chester and regular contributor to When Skies Are Grey fanzine. His latest feature, in staunch defence of Roberto Martinez, is published in WSAG's EO28 which is available from Friday.



There have been lots and lots of words written about Martinez recently. Some insulting the man; some insulting the intelligence.

Every journalist, super fan opinion leader, talk show shock jock Kopite provocateur, bedroom keyboard assassin or payroll ex-player have posted and tweeted their cut ‘n’ paste jibes sometimes with and sometimes without justification.

Facts have been used to beat every ounce of optimism out of every positive supporter. No optimism; no argument.

Like the drunk hanging onto the lamppost, facts have been used for support rather than illumination.

It has been hard to keep believing in the promise that Martinez gave us and the justice of justifiable facts have been used to hang Martinez from that lamppost. In defence of his attackers it has been the defence which has given him no defence.

Champions League to Championship. Roberto’s Dream to Martinez’s Nightmare.

It’s been hard to accept my own blind faith in his failings. It’s becoming increasingly lonely in the corner, losing my religion.

But I am still here hanging on. And while it is difficult to praise him, I am not about to bury him.


Martinez speaks English but doesn't translate.
For a man with two degrees and a soft touch in personal relations, Martinez doesn’t help himself in Press Conferences. His constant positivity tends to grate even for the pro-Martinez supporter.

When he was in his Coronation year – like Klopp at Liverpool now – he could do wrong. Every Spanish twist (Solo lo mejor or Sin Meido) was greeted with delight and instant acceptance. Now, we get every pundit and ignoramus scrutinising his every word and inflection.

Yes he says “phenomenal” too often. Yes he never publicly bollocks players when maybe he should. Yes he doesn’t mean what he says and doesn’t say what he means.

He doesn’t think about the connotations of the words he uses. News without knowledge of nuance becomes nonsense.

Saying that it is performances rather than results which are more important is palpably nonsensical. I’m sure he is referring to the underlying development of play; it’s going in the right direction not that he likes getting beaten.

He says that we are not underachieving. He’s wrong. We are. But he means that there are pockets of spectacularly good play and this will stand us in good stead. He’s right on that.

Years ago, the Everton team beaten by Liverpool in the League Cup Final (ironic I know!) knew they were ready to challenge – even in desperate defeat. They went on to dominate English football for a while.

He is accused of not getting angry but when he does everyone accuses him of moaning. Johnny Giles – yes that little sh*t who used to circle referees like Indians around a wagon with his bullying Leeds United team – accused him of moaning too much about two Atkinson howlers which cost us momentum at the Etihad. Johnny Giles!!

For me, a lot gets lost in translation. Like Klopp who curries favour with gullible young Jurgenmeisters, sound bites without nuance can be a nuisance.

Klopp's grandstanding, with his Hokey Cokey Kop celebrations, would have been manna from heaven for the Anti-Martinez mob. The crowd-pleasing reference to John Lennon was the oral equivalent of a half 'n' half scarf: a futile gesture confusing local knowledge and connotation.

The media chuckle at him but mock Martinez. For now, Klopp’s the King of the Kop who can do no harm and Martinez is the Clown.

Some fans are wise; some otherwise.

Knowledge is a dangerous weapon when in the hands of an idiot. The viral vitriol of Anti-Martinez supporters often use statistics and analyses of results as their weapon of choice. That’s fair enough. Facts are incendiary devices in a results-oriented business.

What I object to though is the use of figures of ridicule (like Paul Merson) or news outlets which are despised (like The Star and The Mail on line) being cited as credible sources when it suits.

A headline of “Fans use Merson as an intelligent person” would be retweeted endlessly if it wasn’t for the fact he uses the magic phrase “Martinez must go”. Using Paul Merson as the Font of all Knowledge is like collecting water in a colander. The nutter on the bus is bound to say something you agree with eventually.

Similarly, just like putting 100 Twitter monkeys in a room with 100 keyboards, they’ll type something sensible eventually. That’s a bit of a Martinez there. In amongst the Antis who upping the ante, there’s some great deconstructions of being uncomfortably numb as a Blue.

The new phenomenon is the endless, pointless moronic click-bait Twitter polls. They are ostensibly a way to engage people and gauge opinion. Some Everton websites use them as ‘proof’ of disenchantment or supposed ‘action’ by disgruntled fans.

The ‘Martinez Out’ brigade often flaunt their credentials of being ‘Grand Old Teams’ and ‘Toffee This’ and ‘Everton That’ and yet they forget the basics. The basics of a manager might be learning to defend but the basics of a fan is to defend the team.

These so-called supporters don’t support, they just water the seeds of hate in a barren desert of under-achievement.

For sale: brown shoes, never worn.

Brown shoes, not worn


Roberto Martinez is the footballing equivalent of that gold and blue dress that was all over social media some time ago. Perceptions and interpretations of what Martinez is and isn’t are understandably subjective.

Integrity is either seen as a strength or misconstrued as delusional. Sticking to principles will be seen as bravery or stubbornness.

In the juggling of pragmatism over philosophy, trust in youth development over short-term results or the contradictions of his team selections, Martinez is his own worst enemy.

Time is more or less against him but I think he should be given more time.

When the Away fans sang “The School of Science is on its way back” it was like the old days. Bobby Brown Shoes was on his way back as well.

I bought a pair of brown shoes recently, against my personal taste and better judgement. I bought them as a futile symbolic gesture of defiance in supporting Martinez.

I’ll probably never get to wear those brown shoes in symbolic support.

It made me think about my biggest worry in all this.

It’s not the frustration of throwing away leads. Or falling at the Semi-Final hurdle yet again.

It is this: if we sack Martinez (and we all know it will be backed by endless facts and expert opinions to support it), we may never see what the squad HE has assembled - the best in recent times – could achieve. That’s the real loss.

If we’d sacked Howard Kendall in 1983, we would never have experienced the best part of our history. We would never have known what would have happened.

If we sack Roberto, his dream will die and paradise postponed will finally be paradise lost.

We will torch the haystack to find the needle.

Hope and footwear will be forgotten.

For sale: brown shoes, never worn.

Terry Smith @terry__smith

Terry, if you're reading this.

I salute you.

 

[hullefc]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-fc-view-gwladys-street-10874907

Good read for Team Cult Bobby Brown Shoes

Bobby's brown shoes, on their way into Selhurst Park in 2013.

This week's View From The Gwladys Street is by Terry Smith, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at University of Chester and regular contributor to When Skies Are Grey fanzine. His latest feature, in staunch defence of Roberto Martinez, is published in WSAG's EO28 which is available from Friday.



There have been lots and lots of words written about Martinez recently. Some insulting the man; some insulting the intelligence.

Every journalist, super fan opinion leader, talk show shock jock Kopite provocateur, bedroom keyboard assassin or payroll ex-player have posted and tweeted their cut ‘n’ paste jibes sometimes with and sometimes without justification.

Facts have been used to beat every ounce of optimism out of every positive supporter. No optimism; no argument.

Like the drunk hanging onto the lamppost, facts have been used for support rather than illumination.

It has been hard to keep believing in the promise that Martinez gave us and the justice of justifiable facts have been used to hang Martinez from that lamppost. In defence of his attackers it has been the defence which has given him no defence.

Champions League to Championship. Roberto’s Dream to Martinez’s Nightmare.

It’s been hard to accept my own blind faith in his failings. It’s becoming increasingly lonely in the corner, losing my religion.

But I am still here hanging on. And while it is difficult to praise him, I am not about to bury him.


Martinez speaks English but doesn't translate.
For a man with two degrees and a soft touch in personal relations, Martinez doesn’t help himself in Press Conferences. His constant positivity tends to grate even for the pro-Martinez supporter.

When he was in his Coronation year – like Klopp at Liverpool now – he could do wrong. Every Spanish twist (Solo lo mejor or Sin Meido) was greeted with delight and instant acceptance. Now, we get every pundit and ignoramus scrutinising his every word and inflection.

Yes he says “phenomenal” too often. Yes he never publicly bollocks players when maybe he should. Yes he doesn’t mean what he says and doesn’t say what he means.

He doesn’t think about the connotations of the words he uses. News without knowledge of nuance becomes nonsense.

Saying that it is performances rather than results which are more important is palpably nonsensical. I’m sure he is referring to the underlying development of play; it’s going in the right direction not that he likes getting beaten.

He says that we are not underachieving. He’s wrong. We are. But he means that there are pockets of spectacularly good play and this will stand us in good stead. He’s right on that.

Years ago, the Everton team beaten by Liverpool in the League Cup Final (ironic I know!) knew they were ready to challenge – even in desperate defeat. They went on to dominate English football for a while.

He is accused of not getting angry but when he does everyone accuses him of moaning. Johnny Giles – yes that little sh*t who used to circle referees like Indians around a wagon with his bullying Leeds United team – accused him of moaning too much about two Atkinson howlers which cost us momentum at the Etihad. Johnny Giles!!

For me, a lot gets lost in translation. Like Klopp who curries favour with gullible young Jurgenmeisters, sound bites without nuance can be a nuisance.

Klopp's grandstanding, with his Hokey Cokey Kop celebrations, would have been manna from heaven for the Anti-Martinez mob. The crowd-pleasing reference to John Lennon was the oral equivalent of a half 'n' half scarf: a futile gesture confusing local knowledge and connotation.

The media chuckle at him but mock Martinez. For now, Klopp’s the King of the Kop who can do no harm and Martinez is the Clown.

Some fans are wise; some otherwise.

Knowledge is a dangerous weapon when in the hands of an idiot. The viral vitriol of Anti-Martinez supporters often use statistics and analyses of results as their weapon of choice. That’s fair enough. Facts are incendiary devices in a results-oriented business.

What I object to though is the use of figures of ridicule (like Paul Merson) or news outlets which are despised (like The Star and The Mail on line) being cited as credible sources when it suits.

A headline of “Fans use Merson as an intelligent person” would be retweeted endlessly if it wasn’t for the fact he uses the magic phrase “Martinez must go”. Using Paul Merson as the Font of all Knowledge is like collecting water in a colander. The nutter on the bus is bound to say something you agree with eventually.

Similarly, just like putting 100 Twitter monkeys in a room with 100 keyboards, they’ll type something sensible eventually. That’s a bit of a Martinez there. In amongst the Antis who upping the ante, there’s some great deconstructions of being uncomfortably numb as a Blue.

The new phenomenon is the endless, pointless moronic click-bait Twitter polls. They are ostensibly a way to engage people and gauge opinion. Some Everton websites use them as ‘proof’ of disenchantment or supposed ‘action’ by disgruntled fans.

The ‘Martinez Out’ brigade often flaunt their credentials of being ‘Grand Old Teams’ and ‘Toffee This’ and ‘Everton That’ and yet they forget the basics. The basics of a manager might be learning to defend but the basics of a fan is to defend the team.

These so-called supporters don’t support, they just water the seeds of hate in a barren desert of under-achievement.

For sale: brown shoes, never worn.

Brown shoes, not worn


Roberto Martinez is the footballing equivalent of that gold and blue dress that was all over social media some time ago. Perceptions and interpretations of what Martinez is and isn’t are understandably subjective.

Integrity is either seen as a strength or misconstrued as delusional. Sticking to principles will be seen as bravery or stubbornness.

In the juggling of pragmatism over philosophy, trust in youth development over short-term results or the contradictions of his team selections, Martinez is his own worst enemy.

Time is more or less against him but I think he should be given more time.

When the Away fans sang “The School of Science is on its way back” it was like the old days. Bobby Brown Shoes was on his way back as well.

I bought a pair of brown shoes recently, against my personal taste and better judgement. I bought them as a futile symbolic gesture of defiance in supporting Martinez.

I’ll probably never get to wear those brown shoes in symbolic support.

It made me think about my biggest worry in all this.

It’s not the frustration of throwing away leads. Or falling at the Semi-Final hurdle yet again.

It is this: if we sack Martinez (and we all know it will be backed by endless facts and expert opinions to support it), we may never see what the squad HE has assembled - the best in recent times – could achieve. That’s the real loss.

If we’d sacked Howard Kendall in 1983, we would never have experienced the best part of our history. We would never have known what would have happened.

If we sack Roberto, his dream will die and paradise postponed will finally be paradise lost.

We will torch the haystack to find the needle.

Hope and footwear will be forgotten.

For sale: brown shoes, never worn.

Terry Smith @terry__smith

Well said.

 

[Khalekan]

I can and I will.

Same here.

I was very disappointed we never scored again after half time

 

[Chang Elephant]

Has Terry Smith, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at University of Chester, considered the outcome if Martinez is in fact not a good standard PL manager but we continue with him ?

 

[ijjysmith]

Same here.

I was very disappointed we never scored again after half time

Missing those extra chances cost us at Norwich and probably more I can't be arsed to think of.

We should have had 6 against Stoke. Just glad we didn't need them.

 

[Khalekan]

Missing those extra chances cost us at Norwich and probably more I can't be arsed to think of.

We should have had 6 against Stoke. Just glad we didn't need them.

Palace at home and both Norwich and Swansea away stand out as three glaring examples of us missing chance after chance and not taking full points.

I am most certainly not complaining about any aspect of Saturday's performance.....merely stating that I was fully expecting another two or three in the second half and I was disappointed when they didn't come.

Nowt gives me greater pleasure (these days ) than seeing the ball hit the back of the opposition net.

The chances were there...they weren't converted.

 

[ijjysmith]

Palace at home and both Norwich and Swansea away stand out as three glaring examples of us missing chance after chance and not taking full points.

I am most certainly not complaining about any aspect of Saturday's performance.....merely stating that I was fully expecting another two or three in the second half and I was disappointed when they didn't come.

Nowt gives me greater pleasure (these days ) than seeing the ball hit the back of the opposition net.

The chances were there...they weren't converted.

If we persist with Kone then we'd best get used to it!

 

[bluestevon]

If we persist with Kone then we'd best get used to it!

Niasse will take Kones place from this point onward mate, pretty sure of that