I could not do a link to this article and have had to copy it. long read admittedly but worthwhile.
Roberto Martinez has lost the Everton fans with his words and is running out of time to save his job... he talks a good game but the damage has already been done on the pitch
- Everton dropped to 14th in the Premier League after drawing at Watford
- Toffees are on a run of six wins in 24 matches and yet to reach 40 points
- Fans at Vicarage Road called for manager Roberto Martinez to be sacked
- The Everton boss has failed to address the club's slide this season
- Supporters also backed Leighton Baines after recent comments on form
- Blues have endured miserable season but are in the FA Cup semi-finals
By
ELLIOTT BRETLAND FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 12:20, 10 April 2016 | UPDATED: 17:16, 11 April 2016
'The fans are allowed to express their views. Once the game started, their support was magnificent and we felt that support. They are the best fans in world football,' said Everton boss Roberto Martinez after a banner calling for his head was unfurled ahead of the 1-1 draw at Watford.
Now winless in four matches and sitting 14th in the Premier League table, Martinez claimed earning a point at Vicarage Road was a 'strong' result. Maybe in isolation but not to fans who have witnessed the team amble to just six wins in 24 matches - five of which came against sides in the relegation zone.
It was yet more hyperbole used by the Everton boss after another disappointing showing. Hollow words the fans are accustomed to and have grown tired of.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez is coming under increasing pressure as the club's dismal form continues
Everton fans unfurled a 'Martinez Out' banner ahead of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Watford at Vicarage Road
Seamus Coleman and goalkeeper Joel Robles were hapless as Watford defender Jose Holebas headed home
The Spaniard talks a good game but failing to back up his claims on the pitch is wearing thin with the Toffees faithful - so much so that fans made their feelings known during Saturday's clash; boos rang out from the away end at half-time and after the final whistle. They are not impressed.
Supporters also backed Leighton Baines - a hugely popular figure at the club - with a 'Baines is one of us' banner after it was revealed the defender apologised following a meeting with Martinez over comments concerning recent poor form.
Sections of the away following also showed their allegiance with a song, chanting: 'Baines is right, Bobby's s****' in a pub close to the stadium ahead of kick-off. This was yet another incident which further alienated the manager from Everton's loyal and demanding fanbase.
Martinez was credited with re-opening the famed School of Science - the name given to the brand of football synonymous with the Everton sides of the sixties and eighties - but, as Baines suggested, chemistry in the team appears to be missing from the curriculum at present.
Results have not been good enough and have frustrated but Martinez's inability to acknowledge the failings have irked supporters further.
The Everton boss claimed Saturday's performance showed 'the team is on the up' as they dropped further down the standings. Quotes like this have seen fans lose complete faith.
Everton fans also displayed a banner stating 'Baines is one of us' at Vicarage Road in support of the defender
Leighton Baines apologised after claiming the team are lacking chemistry with just six wins in 24 matches
Martinez's inability to acknowledge Everton's failings has irked fans nearly as much as the club's poor results
EVERTON'S REMAINING FIXTURES
Apr 13 - Crystal Palace (A) - Prem
Apr 16 - Southampton (H) - Prem
Apr 20 - Liverpool (A) - Prem
Apr 23 - Man United/West Ham (N) - FA Cup
Apr 30 - Bournemouth (H) - Prem
May 7 - Leicester (A) - Prem
May 11 - Sunderland (A) - Prem
May 15 - Norwich (H) - Prem
Football fans across the country tuning in to Match of the Day on Saturday night may have been shocked to see the banner demanding Martinez's dismissal.
For outsiders during this crazy season as Leicester sit top and Chelsea flounder, Everton's struggles - the club now positioned below West Brom, Swansea and Bournemouth in the table - have perhaps gone under the radar.
Yes, Everton have reached two semi-finals under Martinez this season - they take on West Ham or Manchester United at Wembley on April 23 - but those cup runs have come in spite of the abysmal performances the Toffees have served up this campaign.
The playing squad have failed to deliver but, as one of the most talented Everton sides of the last 20 years, that is down to Martinez as far as fans are concerned. The past two seasons have been nothing short of a disaster - the Blues finished 11th last season with 47 points and are just four places above the drop this year. It is a complete failure for a club with genuine ambitions to be a top-four side.
Observers may be shocked by the banner with Everton's form going under the radar during a crazy season
Form on their own soil has been a serious problem. A team boasting Romelu Lukaku, Leighton Baines, John Stones and Ross Barkley has amassed just 16 points from 16 matches at Goodison Park - only doomed Aston Villa have a worse record - and this Everton side look set to become the worst performers on home turf in the club's history.
Four wins, four draws and eight defeats amassed before they face Southampton, Bournemouth and Norwich in the final three home fixtures of the season.
The Toffees have conceded 28 goals in those games on Merseyside and hold one of the worst home records in Europe. Matches have become a chore for supporters and matchday is now void of enjoyment for the 40,000 Blues who attend Goodison week in, week out.
Enthusiasm has been sucked out of the fanbase to the extent some claim they are not looking forward to the trip to Wembley while others insist even a triumph in the FA Cup - what would be the club's first silverware in 21 years - will not be enough to convince them that Martinez should remain at the helm.
The current Everton team, full of talent, are on course to be the worst home performers in the club's history
Everton have thrown away a number of leads this season and have sunk deep into the bottom half of the table
Romelu Lukaku celebrates against Chelsea in the FA Cup during a rare high point for home fans this season
The forward fired the Toffees into the semi-finals but even a trip to Wembley can not enthuse some supporters
Everton fell to 14th in the table on Saturday evening
It's become all too predictable for Everton under the former Wigan boss. The capitulations and leads lost to West Ham, Bournemouth, Stoke and Chelsea - the Blues conceded 13 goals in those games, four of which came in injury time - increased anger levels and have led to the fan revolt.
During Martinez's tenure, Everton have dropped 46 points from winning positions. The stats are damning.
Saturday's draw with the Hornets neatly summed up Everton this season. They took the lead through James McCarthy during first-half injury-time but went into the interval all square. They were ahead for all of 30 seconds.
Of course, the players must take their share of the blame, but Martinez's in-game management has come in for criticism with poor decisions and tactical changes having a negative impact on the final scoreline.
His insistence - some fans claim it was stubborness - to stick with Tim Howard in goal for the first part of the season despite the American's poor displays, further incensed the Everton crowd. It is felt a number of the defeats this season could have been avoided.
Further fume has been caused by Martinez's claims the club is developing, growing, getting better. Not the words fans want to hear from a man who has been in the hotseat for close to three years. They expect a more polished side, more the finished article. They want success and they want it now.
Everton fans grew frustrated with Martinez's insistence on sticking with Tim Howard despite his poor displays
Everton have lacked the high energy levels exuded by the Premier League's top two, Leicester and Tottenham, and have looked lethargic and void of ideas. There seems to be no clear plan to win games. Attack, attack, attack - there is little alternative under Martinez - will only get a team so far. Yes, some of the flowing football has delighted Everton fans but it has not earned the desired results.
As well, heads go down when Everton concede. Joe Royle's 'Dogs of War' and the hard-working sides of the David Moyes era fought to the end. The endeavor just doesn't seem to be there under Martinez, even with greater quality at his disposal.
The Everton manager openly admits he would never base a performance on keeping a clean sheet and, according to a first-team player, rarely works on set-pieces. When it is known a manager is neglecting parts of his job, it is hard for supporters to back him.
David Moyes' Everton never gave up and beat Manchester United on penalties to reach the 2009 FA Cup final
While Moyes (right) got the best out of his squad, Martinez is failing to do so with more quality at his disposal
THE DAMNING MARTINEZ STATS
- Everton have dropped 46 points from winning positions during Martinez's tenure
- The Toffees have amassed just 16 poins from 16 home games this season - only bottom club Aston Villa have a worse record
- Martinez's men will be the worst home performers in Everton history if they fail to win their final three fixtures at Goodison Park
- Everton have recorded just six wins in their previous 24 Premier League matches
- Just one of those victories has come against a side outside the relegation zone
- Everton have conceded 3+ goals 16 times in the 107 Premier League matches under the former Wigan manager
These are testing times at Everton and the pressure is building. Lukaku has spoken of his desire to play Champions League football next season. Baines last week gave an honest assessment of the team and felt they were lacking chemistry while captain Phil Jagielka appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Meanwhile, Stones - at fault in the build-up to the Watford goal with a poor back pass on Saturday - has gone from one of the best young defenders in Europe to appearing a liability.
Not every Evertonian wants to see the back of Martinez but some polls on social media suggest over 90 per cent of supporters want to see a change. Of that number, the fanbase is split. While some do not feel Martinez is up to the job and want him sacked, others are keen for him to do well - focusing more on the man than the manager, perhaps - but acknowledge his failings. However, there are very few who believe he is actually capable of improving Everton's fortunes.
With each defeat or abject performance, support for Martinez has dwindled. Disappointing aspects of the season proving the 'final straw' for different fans at different times. There are few left sticking by him.
Star striker Lukaku is keen to play in the Champions League next season - something Everton can not deliver
Everton captain Phil Jagielka has appeared to have the weight of the world on his shoulders in recent matches
John Stones was the subject of a £38million bid from Chelsea in the summer but has struggled this season
'I don't expect any fan to be happy after three defeats in the league. I don't think we are happy with it,' said Martinez on Saturday evening. Only with pressure growing has he really started to acknowledge the club's slide.
Referees, extended injury time and bad luck have all been blamed by Martinez for this season's woes but fans are desperate for him to look closer to home.
As part of his ever-positive outlook, something that was needed and buoyed the club during his first year in charge as Everton finished fifth with 72 points - Martinez was idolised after that maiden campaign - he claims the squad has got stronger with each window since his arrival. This is true, but the fact the Toffees have dropped further down the league each season points to the manager.
The Everton boss will insist the club is moving forward and on their way to achieving success. However, the reality is stark. Fans can see no progress and worry the club will continue to fail.
Martinez was idolised during his first season as his positivity swept through the club and Everton finished fifth
