Baines: We have no chemistry

[Smudge1985]

The penalty situation was an absolute farce, and yet more proof if ever it was needed that Martinez has absolutely no grip on the players, and then still comes out and chats rubbish after the event.

Baines missed against United, but still took our next one against Sunderland. The next one we got was West Brom, where Mirallas very clearly wont up everybody by grabbing the ball and ignoring everybody and taking it, despite Lukaku and Naismith very clearly having a go at him at the time. Martinez not only defended him, and claimed we dont have a designated penalty taker, but also refused to say that Mirallas' half time substitution in that game had nothing to do with it and he wasnt disciplined.

Lukaku then took two against Young Boys and Dynamo Kiev where Baines didnt play, and Martinez said he was our designated penalty taker, which seemed fair enough, as in our next game, with both of them on the pitch against Newcastle, Lukaku took it. We then got one against Burnley, where Lukaku wasnt playing but Baines was, and Barkley then did a Mirallas and grabbed it again, and missed again. I think that one tends to get forgotten about because we still won, but it just showed once again that there is zero control, and factions all over the place.

EDIT Given that Lukaku missed his last one, does that mean its a free for all again next time we get one?

 

[Pete Campbell]

It is such a huge call now for Martinez on whether he starts Baines or benches him vs Watford.

 

[JAYTALITY]

It is such a huge call now for Martinez on whether he starts Baines or benches him vs Watford.

I think he'd know it would heap pressure on himself not picking Baines. I think.

 

[JAYTALITY]

Close thread. I just seen Martinez' presser, he didn't say any of that. Nothing to see. Case closed.

 

[Kiwi]

I don't disagree with the sentiment.
I think as much of it is on the players as the manager though.

 

[Kiwi]

Also incredibly disappointing the way that Martinez has thrown Baines under the bus.
It's the truth after all, we look very disjointed and don't play for one another

 

[PhilM]

To suggest Leighton Baines' comments about Everton's players having no chemistry were taken out of context looks like smoke and mirrors to me and quite insulting.

That's what he said – nobody has got an agenda and they were just plain words spoken by one Englishman to another so it's not like there was anything lost in translation.

He's apparently apologised but if that's the case I'm not quite sure what for and I think in time it will all be quickly forgotten.

I don't see how there was any ambiguity in what Baines said and I'm sure fans will understand what he meant.

Everton have got one of the top goalscorers in the Premier League and half their team would be coveted by most of the division but so it's quite obvious that something is missing given their bottom half position in the table.

Saying that they lacked chemistry was a kind, benevolent assessment when he could have pointed more specifically at the team's frailties.

It was a typically honest response from a senior player who you can trust in every sense.

There is never any baggage or any controversy with Baines and he doesn't get into trouble either on or off the pitch.

He is in many way the perfect interviewee – considerate, thoughtful and respectful – an intelligent and articulate man who is well-versed in the art of an interview and knew what he was saying and it will come as no surprise to Evertonians.

This team has lost three games on the bounce and four out of their last five games, despite having a squad that people keep saying is the club's best in years.

It's generally accepted that they should be five or six places higher in the table at least so there has to be a reason for the results.

Both Kev the Rat and Barry Horne have now weighed in with their opinion on the Baines saga.

 

[ricer10]

Baines in the starting XI today

 

[blarger]

Every word quoted was true. There is no chemistry out there once again.