Sherpa

After a great first season he has now had a poor second and regardless of what any of us think or believe he will still be here next season, and barring an absolute disaster will carry on for the forseable future. I have been toing and frowing with my thoughts on him so often it has kept me awake at night!, will he take us down, is he the right manager, can he stop this stubborness and be more flexible are some of those thoughts. I do see a glimmer of light though as his approach seems to have changed slightly, we all know many of the reasons why we are in the position we find ourselves but I now truly believe that we and Martinez will benefit from the learning curve of this season. I then look at us and then look at the shite and think we won't have half the problems they will next season and fully expect us to be back in the top 6 again.

Best: Sharpy's volley, followed by the guy in the glasses doing his flying impression!! Most memorable: Andy Gray's first diving header against Sunderland 85. Bracewell overhead pass to Reidy down the wing, great cross great diving header my favourite Everton goal.

I have softened a bit on the Martinez out front, while I believe we are in the position we find ourselves because of his stubbornness and inflexibility, I also believe at present there are no other candidates that stick out yet. If he doesn't improve on last years disastrous pre season and bring in the right players then we will struggle again, regardless of that I would give him until October. I truly hope he turns it around as I believe there is a very good manager in him.

As we are now safe I think this topic can now be buried along with the many knives in my fellow posters backs!!?

The worrying thing for me is the number of players we will need, probably at least 7 or 8. If we only needed 2 or 3 I would be happy with Martinez acquiring those. This is a massive summer for us, we need to replace the likes of Distin, Peinaar Osman et al, as well find another striker, keeper and a couple of wingers! I just think he may struggle to sign the players we need. I would love to be wrong and gladly eat humble pie.

Here's how I think it will go: Out: Howard Hibbert Distin Mcgeady Peinaar Mirallas In: Goalkeeper... Maybe Nyland ?? Centre back?? Cleverly Ayew Lennon ...permanent Winger ??? Martial Love us to go for Kajer and Perisic and also Kovacic, but these would depend on funds available. Also got a sneaking suspicion United will be in for Coleman and be offering Janusaiz (sorry about spelling!!) as makeweight.

Utter drivel, rantings of a lunatic!!

Last night confirmed how tactically inept he is! The system he has played all season, packing the middle which has worked so well in Europe he changes. Fact is he needed to change the way we play in the league, but he didn't need to for Europe! I just can't work this man out??

Agree with that and I think today's results have shown Qpr and Leicester are gone and that Sunderland are most likely to join them.

35 should see us safe but I believe we will get at least 41....,, ever the optimist.

Another good article and completely spot on, if Martinez could compromise and get us out of the mire he would gain more respect and increase his standing amongst the fans.We could then kick on with a manager who is better equipped for the task in hand .... Sadly I get the feeling he won't compromise his principles.

Bilic for me, did a great job for Croatia and currently doing well at Besiktas. Could also attract the likes of Kovacic and Perisic as well.

Good article but irrelevant if Martinez doesn't change.

Agree with all you said, he is completely out of his depth, and the one thing he was renowned for, attacking and inventive football is this season conspicuous by its absence.I look at where we are with our squad and then look at Southampton who were shorn of most of their best players and are fighting for Europe! It shows what a tactically astute manager can do for you. That's why we need to get shut of Martinez and soon, I don't believe we will go down but this has been an absolute waste of a season and should have been much more.

It's funny how quickly sides are taken and the blame game is started. We can all point to certain games and moments that may or may not have cost us... Missed penalties, fumbled shots, dropped catches and poor finishing you could go on and on. But the fact remains most teams suffer from these moments not just us. We have been poor from the moment Arsenal pegged us back in August, from that moment it was if we didn't believe anymore. I honestly don't know why but it is most certainly a combination of all of the reasons often posted about on this site. Martinez isn't responsible for the individual errors but he is responsible for our sterile play by rigidly sticking to his principles regardless. I don't have a problem with Mirallas stepping up to take the penalty, the fault with that lay with Jagielka who as our captain should have stepped in and made the decision, but he strangely slipped into the background at a time he was needed. That incident is symptomatic of the lack of leadership and direction afflicting our club at present from the top to bottom and in my opinion is the main reason we are where we are.

Let's get this straight we have the best squad/ team since the 80's glory days. Yes we have been down there struggling before but those teams where nowhere near as talented as this one, and this is why I believe it is one of the worst seasons in my memory... No rose tinted glasses, romanticism needed.

The season was the low point, not the Wimbledon game which was memorable for many reasons, which you are now romanticising about ?.

No romanticism about those escapes they were the absolute low point for me as an Evertonian. My point is if we showed even a modicum of fight or passion we wouldn't be in this position, and that is the travesty for me.

I honestly believe we will achieve at least 40 points but not without a few more scares and panic attacks.I have supported the Blues for over 40yrs and in that time have witnessed some dire teams, but even though I have seen us nearly relegated twice I have never seen a team so lacking in fight !! And that is the most frustrating thing about us at present, last year Roberto could do no wrong and was riding on the crest of a wave of adulation. This year every that can go wrong has done....( Murphy's law)... But it is in those moments you see the true character of someone and I have to say so far I am not impressed.!! Whatever the outcome we need a change as if we don't it will be a repeat next season.

He did make changes early but he only does this when we are a goal down..... We should be going for games from the off and try and get the early goal, but we don't we sit back and try and draw the opposition in. Unfortunately for us the other teams have cottoned on to this, we never have anything to defend and we constantly chase games. I would rather go more direct at times and try and force the issue as we need goals, it worked for Villa the other night, ok it's not pretty but it is effective and we can't be fussy right now.

I have looked at every scenario and possible connotation , practically to death, and I still believe we will be safe. Truly believe we will beat Newcastle, Burnley and Sunderland at home and get at least 4 points from QPR and Villa away... That will give us 41 points which will be enough. Despite that I still think that Martinez has to go because it is his stubbornness and inflexibility which has put us in this situation... We are shambolic at the back, static in the middle and toothless up front. And yet again in every press conference he talks about how good his attacking players are....well use them then !!!!!!! . The more I think about it the more I get angry ... I absolutely hate the shite but what did Tom Thumb do when they were having a bad run ... He changed it and look at them now..!! Absolutely gutted!!

I know some are saying give him time, he will turn it around but I just can't see it. This slide has been in the offing all season starting with the inadequate pre season. I know he seems to lack ideas at times...players out of position, inability to change shape or system, but what worries me most, is the lack of passion and fight.!!! Without this we are doomed as this is a pre requisite for any relegation dogfight! We can't afford to wait it out and we now have 10 days to our next league game.... Decisions have to be made and I pray it is the right one.

Thing is we need someone with a bit more experience and is able to motivate our players. Howe hasn't dealt with any of these international divas before and that's why I believe he would be out of his depth..... But I could be wrong ?

Good potential manager but think he would be out if his depth here....would like Bilic.

Less points than Wigan at this stage in 2013!! If he could change he would have done by now, plays same system with different players often out of position hoping things will improve... Why not change the system ????!!!! With the future financial stakes I think Bill may yet surprise us and bullet him.