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http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36099285
Roberto Martinez: Everton boss faces critical FA Cup match
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
- 3 hours ago
- From the sectionFootball
- 122
Roberto Martinez replaced David Moyes in the summer of 2013
Everton's abject display in the Merseyside derby defeat at Liverpool left manager Roberto Martinez fighting a growing crisis that threatens his future.
Martinez was already the subject of growing hostility from Everton's supporters before his popularity rating dipped even further after a lamentable showing in the 4-0 loss at Anfield.
It is against his backdrop of rising discontent that Martinez has one last shot at redemption in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley.
Martinez not only has an increasingly angry fanbase to appease - although it may be too late for that after Wednesday's embarrassment - but a new billionaire powerbroker in Farhad Moshiri.
Is hapless Martinez's three-season reign all but over - or can he save himself in the FA Cup?
And why has it gone so badly wrong for Roberto Martinez?
Blue sky thinking or desperate delusion?
Martinez's permanent positivity is his trademark - but to maintain it, even exaggerate it, during this dreadful campaign has led to widespread criticism and mockery from Everton's fans, although the pathetic nature of the capitulation at Anfield was no laughing matter.
He wisely admitted the "embarrassment" of Anfield but has too often talked in glowing terms about performances that have left fans questioning whether they have attended the same game.
The Catalan's consistent use of the word "phenomenal" to describe routine events is now a stick with which he is regularly beaten, along with lines such as expressing his "incredible, incredible satisfaction" with a goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
The arrival of new majority shareholder Moshiri, who bought a 49.9% stake in February, brought this eyebrow-raising statement from Martinez when striker Romelu Lukaku was linked with a move away from Goodison Park: "Financially, we can compete with anyone in world football at this time."
Romelu Lukaku signed for £28m from Chelsea
The problem for Martinez, and indeed Moshiri, is that this statement will be put to the test this summer should Everton's under-achievement continue and the likes of Lukaku want better things.
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton received widespread support from fans on social media when, after the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United, he told BBC Radio 5 live's Monday Night Club: "He comes out and talks a pile of nonsense. 'We controlled the tempo' - is he mad? He's not watching the same game as everybody else and this is the frustration for the fans."
Martinez's hyperbole was even the subject of a quiz in the Liverpool Echo evening newspaper - where readers were asked to match his gushing phrases to unnamed players.
Gareth Barry was described as "one of the best English players ever" after the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg win against Manchester City while Tom Cleverley was labelled "one of the most sensational free transfers you are going to see in Premier League history" after victory at Stoke City.
Defender Stones was backed after a poor display against Swansea City with the claim he could be "one of the greatest players England has ever seen".
Everton defender John Stones signed from Barnsley in February 2013
Various players have had the title of "phenomenal" bestowed upon them from Ross Barkley to Aiden McGeady - who flouted the billing to such an extent he is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
This veritable blizzard of joyous news for Everton fans would ring true if they were competing for a place in the top four, which many believe they should with the squad at Martinez's disposal, rather than below mid-table with only four Premier League wins at Goodison Park this season.
Where Martinez sees blue sky, supporters study the reality of results (especially the humiliation of a derby thrashing) and look at thunderclouds overhead, although even he will struggle to see the sun poking through today.
When Martinez first arrived from Wigan in summer 2013 after winning the FA Cup but also taking them into the Championship, this outlook was regarded as a counterpoint to the perceived dourness of his predecessor David Moyes - now it has worn thin and has become one of the major criticisms levelled at him by an increasingly disillusioned fanbase.
