The persistence with the gung ho system after the third goal was complete arrogance. Martinez can talk all he wants about footballing arrogance but I'd much prefer humble hard graft.
Hard to know where we go from here. The players must be shot. We just have no confidence in seeing any game out.
That is a spot on post for me. Nice one. I loved the graft of Moyes teams. Baines and Coleman are fading under Martinez. Osman and Gibson who were positive influences are sidelined. OK they're edging towards end of their careers but we're losing concentration and canniness with them. I always felt the pressing and attitude of Moyes team was a stand-out quality that could see out games.
I thought Martinez was blessed in recognizing the power of what he could add to that backbone and discipline. Fair play he got Lukaku (great, great signing) and Del, which did help for one season -and we were unlucky not have CL to show for it.
The test was then:
a) replenishing bits of the back 4, whilst b) maintaining competitiveness.
Replacing back four - he's persisted in Howard and let Distin go. With injuries (which are to be expected) he's come up very short so far at CB and LB. Defensive frailty being a Martinez trademark I think it's fair to ask is Martinez learning? In theory yes - in practise I'm not sure. Is that arrogance, inability? It's certainly f(*(N irritating when it's so obvious.
If he loves Robles he should play him. If he even thought about keeping Distin for our promising Galloway, Stones and maybe Funes Mori to learn from, then he didn't do it. If he thought about a cheaper option like Huth or Dann (if it even crossed his mind - who knows) he didn't do it. Martinez defensive frailty and naivety is turning Everton into Wigan. If I don't see a CB or coach brought in to address this- or less of the 'gung ho' (which you're spot on to point out) he effectively for me undermines any attacking plusses he offers any side.
b) maintaining competitiveness.
After his promising start and bad luck missing CL, we're exactly where we were last season. In that respect he's not improving but as someone pointed out elsewhere spending wise we are roughly where the league table says we should be - albeit below teams we wouldn't like to think of as having parity with Everton owing to recent history.
The rest of this season:
1) Bad patch or are we actually anything much without RL?
EXECUTION, Can improve. For all that we press (a plus) a lot of it is routinely flinging balls in at Lukaku and hitting the first man, so it's not that good however much it's 'promising'.
LUCK, can't rely on this!
Yes we also seem to be inspiring monster performances from sides e.g. Newcastle Keeper, who sense the opportunities owing to the space we leave, Bournemouth come back, Palace hanging on, Norwich result, Stoke's attacking etc. That and a few shaky pen decisions may mean we're due a bit of luck. Can't go around bemoaning luck - two u20s in the back 4 isn't luck.
TEAM STRENGTH
I think the real measure of that is RL (phenomenal - great signing) being rested and then we'll see where we're really at as a footballing side. He's rarely rested and not even his two goals paper over the defensive cracks which in turns make us ever more predictable and desperate in chucking the ball at him. Stand-up Kone, Barkley, Deulofeu (Mirallas has to go) Cleverly, Lennon, Besic and Barry et al. Is they flop without him, Martinez has created n-o-t-h-i-n-g beyond 1 very good signing. Much like Suarez at Liverpool.
League or Cup?
For me, the league is now wavering a bit - albeit in a topsy turvy season who knows if a run can't still scrape 4th? I honestly think I'd favour a cup final and if the potential Europe keeps RL happy then great - prioritise him for that. Use the remainder of this season to really establish our first XI and improve defensive pairing(s).
NEW OWNERS
If no cup final and outside top 7, for me Martinez has gone backwards for 2 years and he should go.
