Formby

Apologies for the bit of self-promotion. My new book, Daddy Dearest, is out today. Blurb and link below, if anyone is interested!

An estranged father’s weekend with his beloved five-year-old daughter turns into a nightmare when she gets into the lift of a city centre tower block and goes down without him. She vanishes without a trace. It sets off a race against time, and a nationwide manhunt, to find her. As the police investigation closes in, suspicion falls on those closest to her - with devastating consequences. Daddy Dearest is a terrifying story of love, obsession and psychological meltdown.

http://amzn.to/1VrQgfZ

Always supported Martinez, but this has gone too far. A really honourable man would admit his failings and resign after this. A board with half a clue would sack him if the resignation wasn't forthcoming. It's just horrible. We need a lot of new players and a new direction.

I suppose the acid test for them will come next year in Europe. Not wishing to downplay their achievement, but I think they have been the beneficiaries this season of everyone else playing so crap. I thought we were better than them at Goodison.

Would gladly lose today in exchange for a victory on Saturday. Martinez starting to look like that clown Moyes when facing the top sides (don't think Moyes ever won an away fixture against them). I was very much pro-Martinez when he joined but this season has been very difficult. If we could somehow get past Man Utd, though, I think the whole picture changes. There are a lot of players not pulling their weight, and considering the money they're earning, they should be ashamed of themselves. My heart sinks when I see them not trying. Hoping for a gritty and committed draw today to build confidence and a gritty and committed win at the weekend.

Bad times for who???? I was ecstatic.

We’re nowhere, to be honest: a once relevant, but currently insignificant club, somewhat admired by traditionalists, too small and too poor to make an imprint anywhere, playing in a stadium which is the definition of an anachronism, capable of producing good young players but not keeping them, capable of raising their game now and again, the supporters living on memories and forlorn hope (like Waiting For Godot), but fundamentally like most other clubs, playing for league position and not the biggest prizes. We’re not alone in that.
On Martinez: I was a big supporter but he’s making the mistakes Moyes made. So, more of the same. The only thing that would change our fate is money (lots of it). It’s not going to happen soon and may never happen. Plenty of clubs in that boat, too.
Doesn’t stop me loving the club.
​

We’re nowhere, to be honest: a once relevant, but currently insignificant club, somewhat admired by traditionalists, too small and too poor to make an imprint anywhere, playing in a stadium which is the definition of an anachronism, capable of producing good young players but not keeping them, capable of raising their game now and again, the supporters living on memories and forlorn hope (like Waiting For Godot), but fundamentally like most other clubs, playing for league position and not the biggest prizes. We’re not alone in that.
On Martinez: I was a big supporter but he’s making the mistakes Moyes made. So, more of the same. The only thing that would change our fate is money (lots of it). It’s not going to happen soon and may never happen. Plenty of clubs in that boat, too.
Doesn’t stop me loving the club.
​

We’re nowhere, to be honest: a once relevant, but currently insignificant club, somewhat admired by traditionalists, too small and too poor to make an imprint anywhere, playing in a stadium which is the definition of an anachronism, capable of producing good young players but not keeping them, capable of raising their game now and again, the supporters living on memories and forlorn hope (like Waiting For Godot), but fundamentally like most other clubs, playing for league position and not the biggest prizes. We’re not alone in that.
On Martinez: I was a big supporter but he’s making the mistakes Moyes made. So, more of the same. The only thing that would change our fate is money (lots of it). It’s not going to happen soon and may never happen. Plenty of clubs in that boat, too.
Doesn’t stop me loving the club.
​

We’re nowhere, to be honest: a once relevant, but currently insignificant club, somewhat admired by traditionalists, too small and too poor to make an imprint anywhere, playing in a stadium which is the definition of an anachronism, capable of producing good young players but not keeping them, capable of raising their game now and again, the supporters living on memories and forlorn hope (like Waiting For Godot), but fundamentally like most other clubs, playing for league position and not the biggest prizes. We’re not alone in that.
On Martinez: I was a big supporter but he’s making the mistakes Moyes made. So, more of the same. The only thing that would change our fate is money (lots of it). It’s not going to happen soon and may never happen. Plenty of clubs in that boat, too.
Doesn’t stop me loving the club.
​

Well, I think we can all agree that Lukaku will never be a Rooney. That said, Rooney never became the player he (we) hoped he'd be (certainly not on the international stage). I don't care what Lukaku does / doesn't do so long as he scores regularly. Klose did nothing all game and didn't do too badly for himself. Latchford and then Lineker were purely poachers and they had good careers. One thing that would obviate a lot of criticism of Lukaku is if he'd improve in the air: no excuse for a man of his size not to score more with his head (although I accept our crossing / corners / free kicks were / are abject). We still need a bona fide no.10.

We haven't. Dunc's figures are wrong.
 
We've played 57 games in all competitions since losing 4-0 to Liverpool last year.
 
Our PL record the second half of last season after that loss was W10 L5 (no draws), including winning 7 on the bounce, so not too shabby.
 
Our total record, including both cups and Europa and PL this season, is P57 W24 D12 L21, so no way near as bad as he claims.

We haven't. Dunc's figures are wrong.
 
We've played 57 games in all competitions since losing 4-0 to Liverpool last year.
 
Our PL record the second half of last season after that loss was W10 L5 (no draws), including winning 7 on the bounce, so not too shabby.
 
Our total record, including both cups and Europa and PL this season, is P57 W24 D12 L21, so no way near as bad as he claims.

We haven't. Dunc's figures are wrong.
 
We've played 57 games in all competitions since losing 4-0 to Liverpool last year.
 
Our PL record the second half of last season after that loss was W10 L5 (no draws), including winning 7 on the bounce, so not too shabby.
 
Our total record, including both cups and Europa and PL this season, is P57 W24 D12 L21, so no way near as bad as he claims.

We haven't. Dunc's figures are wrong.
 
We've played 57 games in all competitions since losing 4-0 to Liverpool last year.
 
Our PL record the second half of last season after that loss was W10 L5 (no draws), including winning 7 on the bounce, so not too shabby.
 
Our total record, including both cups and Europa and PL this season, is P57 W24 D12 L21, so no way near as bad as he claims.

The problem is, Mike, that Islamic scholars can't even agree on how to reconcile the 'peace verses' and the 'swords verses' in the Qur'an - the idea of parts of it being a religion of violence in the same way the Old Testament is, is not without foundation (see Dawkins, Hitchens et al for a long discourse on this). And, whether it is or not should not prevent people from saying so, if that is their belief. You can't get quite cross and turn to extremism because someone says something bad about your religion, particularly as one's own scholars can't agree on its interpretation.
The idiots who blame all Muslims for the actions of a few are just that - idiots (and dangerous ones, too) - but that doesn't mean there aren't some very fundamental (if you'll forgive the term) questions that Islam (and maybe all religions) has to ask itself.

The problem is, Mike, that Islamic scholars can't even agree on how to reconcile the 'peace verses' and the 'swords verses' in the Qur'an - the idea of parts of it being a religion of violence in the same way the Old Testament is, is not without foundation (see Dawkins, Hitchens et al for a long discourse on this). And, whether it is or not should not prevent people from saying so, if that is their belief. You can't get quite cross and turn to extremism because someone says something bad about your religion, particularly as one's own scholars can't agree on its interpretation.
The idiots who blame all Muslims for the actions of a few are just that - idiots (and dangerous ones, too) - but that doesn't mean there aren't some very fundamental (if you'll forgive the term) questions that Islam (and maybe all religions) has to ask itself.

To quote Paul Merson doesn't really add credibility really does it... here's some of his beauties:-
 
"When Everton knock it long, they don't knock it long"
 
"Reading won't have the confidence to be confident"
 
"There's only one person gets you sacked and that's the fans"
 
"Football's all about yesterday, it's all about now"
 
Merson aside - its quite incredible that sentiments towards Moyes have changed according to our recent downturn. Some may forget the fact that his dour tactics, poor substitutions, negativity when playing the top 4 led to disgruntled fans and decreasing attendances but I won't.
 
He dined out on his rescue act and therefore was indulged to continue to be a one dimensional manager. The very fact that fans can call out specific games where we played nice football says it all he managed us for 518 games... yet specific games are being called out in order to say "he did play nice football" - Absolute nonsense, those games were the exception to the rule.
 
 
I'm beyond angry with Martinez right now. My only hope is that behind the scenes he is really having a long hard look at himself and understanding that he needs to evolve his methodology and not just stubbornly stick to it. The lack of tempo is the biggest issue, the lack of fight in certain players, and his inability to see that Gareth Barry needs to be disciplined for his recent performances - not started again.
 
A bit of humility and not positivity is what he needs.

What are these strange other plans Moyes apparently had? I can remember a lot of utterly predictable and sterile rubbish played under him, with a lot of gormless staring from the halfway line when things went wrong, late and ineffective substitutions, and the insistence on playing his favourites. Perhaps the spirit of Moyes is haunting Martinez? We have been horrible all season, culminating in this even more horrible run. Agree with much that has been said in this thread by various parties, but haven't got quite as desperate as to want the Moyes days back. I want Martinez to be brave, positive, and gamble - which I expected of him when he came - not stick to things which just aren't working. Play your players in their best position and drop Barry from any position.

We run creative writing classes and hit the bottle. Or just hit the bottle.

Actually, only one is. The plural is octopuses or octopi. No u in the latter.

Anyone else watching Gerrie Nel (SA state prosecutor) rip Pistorius's story to shreds? As compelling as the OJ case was all those years ago. Hoping for a guilty verdict here. Pistorius's version just does not stack up. Nel is absolutely riveting.

That strengthens the argument for me. Sold one first team player and brought in 3, overall improving the first team plus an extra one strengthening the bench add the kids getting a chance and RM has got us the best Everton squad in over a decade.

PM'd you both.