Roberto Martinez discussion

[oldblue]

Think new investment may well mean Martinez is even more secure for the time being.
I feel pretty certain we'll see as little change as possible as far as management and squad go for a couple of years. Especially as first priority is a mutual sense of trust with the rest of the club and board. There is really no such thing as proven or sure fire winners so I'm hoping they will take their time working out what works for us and what can work with better investment. Their first thoughts are surely not going to be what do we throw away but what do we build on.
Getting a battling mentality out on the pitch may just take a couple of signings we thought we couldn't make a week ago and we'll see a huge change just with that.

 

[Ashtonian]

I guess the good thing right now is looking forward to next season, there is a possibility that the first team could be greatly improved.

when howard goes we will sign a new keeper, makes sense

plus if Yarmalenko is the level MArtinez looks at then even an alternative could be in that bracket, that level of player. We then have Tarashaj to join up, Mori and Nassi more bedded into the squad, possibly a few young players who can make a step up as well.

It would be make or break for Roberto for certain, but potentially the managers fantastic transfer record could put our squad in a amazing position for the future. Hell the prospect of signing someone like Rooney as an experienced star to raise spirits for all the younger lads in there could be what takes us that extra step. It's not like we are a bad team, so just quality additions in the right places, perhaps a couple of young players again to join the academy and this new dawn could well be a promising one for us all.

 

[BlueToff]

With no europe and hardly any injuries this seasons league form has been shambolic with the players we have.
We play some nice stuff at times and look lost at times but we should not be 12th at this stage

And there's the key. It's not just down to the manager and the players have to take half the blame.

Also, you say we haven't had injuries but again you are so wrong.

Injuries so far -

- Stones (out for three weeks from Sept through to October - out again from Jan to now)
- Jagielka (out from end of October through to January 9th)
- McCarthy (end of November through to December 28th - 15 minutes played then goes off and out until Jan 27th)
- Besic (out from pre-season through to 26th August. Out from 16th September to Dec 26th. Out from Jan 24th until March 1st (hopefully))
- Lukaku has obviously played with a knock since City at home in the cup - so Jan 6th
- Baines out from pre-season up until December 7th
- Oviedo out from September to November, then November through to January
- Coleman injured from Sept to October and again for all of January
- Mirallas injured August and then again from Jan 24th through to Feb 6th
- Piennaar - injured from pre-season until Jan 24th
- Browning - out all season from October
- Cleverley - out from August to November. Out for spells of December and January.

So yeh, no injuries at all...

Now, that isn't an excuse as we still dominated games even with injuries and the results should have been better had we defended better and taken chances.

But, injuries to key, integral players haven't helped, and it's those injuries that teams like Leicester and Spurs and (bar the Payet lay-off) West Ham have avoided on the whole.

 

[BlueToff]

If he takes us into a relegation scrap or we even stay around 12th/13th he should be and will be gone

And we are much more likely to finish in the top 7 than in a relegation scrap. Honestly the negativity is incredible.

If we finish where we are now, unless we win the cup, then yes he will be under pressure but he won't be sacked in the summer. He'd be given at least the first few months of the new season to show signs of progress.

 

[bluewally]

And we are much more likely to finish in the top 7

You keep saying this. What exactly makes it more likely. That we managed to win 2 league games in a row for the first time since September?.

 

[daz4matty]

And there's the key. It's not just down to the manager and the players have to take half the blame.

Also, you say we haven't had injuries but again you are so wrong.

Injuries so far -

- Stones (out for three weeks from Sept through to October - out again from Jan to now)
- Jagielka (out from end of October through to January 9th)
- McCarthy (end of November through to December 28th - 15 minutes played then goes off and out until Jan 27th)
- Besic (out from pre-season through to 26th August. Out from 16th September to Dec 26th. Out from Jan 24th until March 1st (hopefully))
- Lukaku has obviously played with a knock since City at home in the cup - so Jan 6th
- Baines out from pre-season up until December 7th
- Oviedo out from September to November, then November through to January
- Coleman injured from Sept to October and again for all of January
- Mirallas injured August and then again from Jan 24th through to Feb 6th
- Piennaar - injured from pre-season until Jan 24th
- Browning - out all season from October
- Cleverley - out from August to November. Out for spells of December and January.

So yeh, no injuries at all...

Now, that isn't an excuse as we still dominated games even with injuries and the results should have been better had we defended better and taken chances.

But, injuries to key, integral players haven't helped, and it's those injuries that teams like Leicester and Spurs and (bar the Payet lay-off) West Ham have avoided on the whole.

As far as injuries go we have been lucky this season and even with some missing its no excuse with the squad we have.
At the end of the day the manager is in charge and its not the players who have been picking flappy in goal or sorting team tactics.
There have been mistakes by the players but all roads lead back to the manager

 

[daz4matty]

And we are much more likely to finish in the top 7 than in a relegation scrap. Honestly the negativity is incredible.

If we finish where we are now, unless we win the cup, then yes he will be under pressure but he won't be sacked in the summer. He'd be given at least the first few months of the new season to show signs of progress.

Its not negative its fact get your head out of the clouds.
We have won 4 games in 8 months at home thats not negative or my fault its down to a manager who is not up to the job and is fact.
We are 12th at the minute getting worse every season martinez is with us that is fact look at the table.

 

[BlueToff]

You keep saying this. What exactly makes it more likely. That we managed to win 2 league games in a row for the first time since September?.

The fact that we're closer to the top 7 than the bottom 6...

Perhaps I should re-phrase it - 'just as likely'...

 

[BlueToff]

As far as injuries go we have been lucky this season and even with some missing its no excuse with the squad we have.
At the end of the day the manager is in charge and its not the players who have been picking flappy in goal or sorting team tactics.
There have been mistakes by the players but all roads lead back to the manager

Lucky?

Compared to what exactly?

We have had lengthy injuries to key players and their re-introduction to the side has coincided with our up turn in form?

 

[daz4matty]

Lucky?

Compared to what exactly?

We have had lengthy injuries to key players and their re-introduction to the side has coincided with our up turn in form?

We have always put out a strong team and in previous seasons we have had a lot worse injury record to major players as well.

 

[BlueToff]

Its not negative its fact get your head out of the clouds.
We have won 4 games in 8 months at home thats not negative or my fault its down to a manager who is not up to the job and is fact.
We are 12th at the minute getting worse every season martinez is with us that is fact look at the table.

Again, no it's not your fault and it isn't good - in fact it's extremely poor.

However our away form has been superb. We are 12th due to not playing a game this weekend.

Had the players on the pitch done simple things against West Brom then we'd be much higher.

McCarthy and Lukaku both switching off at a corner has sweet fa to do with the tactics, similarly for Coleman missing from a yard out vs Swansea...

There's things within RM's control that he is responsible for. I don't think everything is his fault though and I can guarantee that the view of Moshiri will (for now) be the same.

 

[BlueToff]

We have always put out a strong team and in previous seasons we have had a lot worse injury record to major players as well.

Yes, at a time where there were 6 teams competing for the six top places, not 12...

Look, I'm not using it as a total excuse but to say we've had 'hardly any injuries' is ridiculous

 

[daz4matty]

Again, no it's not your fault and it isn't good - in fact it's extremely poor.

However our away form has been superb. We are 12th due to not playing a game this weekend.

Had the players on the pitch done simple things against West Brom then we'd be much higher.

McCarthy and Lukaku both switching off at a corner has sweet fa to do with the tactics, similarly for Coleman missing from a yard out vs Swansea...

There's things within RM's control that he is responsible for. I don't think everything is his fault though and I can guarantee that the view of Moshiri will (for now) be the same.

We are 12th mate because of poor results with a very good squad.
Yeah players make mistakes but if we are making too many which we have there is an underlying problem which needs sorting by the manager.
We should have beat west brom but things even out over a season and we are where we are in the table because we deserve to be there

 

[daz4matty]

Yes, at a time where there were 6 teams competing for the six top places, not 12...

Look, I'm not using it as a total excuse but to say we've had 'hardly any injuries' is ridiculous

In seasons gone past we were hammered by injuries to key players at the same time.
This season has been a lot kinder in that respect

 

[Little Ralphy]

If we finish where we are now, unless we win the cup, then yes he will be under pressure but he won't be sacked in the summer. He'd be given at least the first few months of the new season to show signs of progress.

Why would he be given more time?