Seasons  »  2015-16  »  Everton News

Martinez admits criticism is part of the job on the eve of pivotal game

by Lyndon Lloyd | 22/04/2016  35 Comments  [Jump to last]

Roberto Martinez says he understands the scrutiny of his team's results and the questions over his future at the club but says he can't afford to be distracted while he prepares for the FA Cup semi-final.

An under-strength Blues side, one that is unlikely to feature captain Phil Jagielka despite his desperation to play, will attempt to remove some of the pain that the Everton manager admits exists following the debacle against Liverpool in midweek by progressing to the Final for the first time in seven years but Martinez has finally been willing to discuss his culpability for the team's poor run of results.

“When you lose games the criticism is justified,” Martinez told The Guardian's Andy Hunter. “As a manager, the same way you get idolised, there are extreme emotions. I have to accept it and I need to be responsible.

"My position as a manager is always questioned. As a manager you are always three defeats from being questioned. I don't think that has changed.

"Sometimes it's in a public manner and more highlighted and there are different circumstances, but the position of the manager is never guaranteed. I don't think any manager expects that.

“Since the quarter-final of the FA Cup the results have not been good enough so any manager should be under scrutiny. That is part of our position — down to the results. But, believe me, it is not in my mind because now is not the time.

"At the moment the focus is all on the FA Cup and seizing the opportunity. I am not wasting time on things I cannot control. Everything is about the semi-final and how we can get players ready for a big sporting occasion. Everything else is for the end of the season.”

Martinez has admitted that he was embarrassed by the manner in which his team collapsed in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday but claimed he has been able to put it behind him and focus on the cup game against Manchester United.

“I find it easy to reset constantly,” he continued. “The only thing you can do when you carry pain is to see how to change it. In football, that is winning the next game.

“It is about constantly finding solutions — like bringing Matthew Pennington back from his loan spell at Walsall. He will be involved. Maybe I've been through too much pain over the last 10 years to lose focus from one defeat to the next.

“The last month has been difficult and tough and I would be lying if I said it was not painful but, in the same way, I need to be responsible. As a manager you can't waste too much time on your feelings as a human being. You need to concentrate on your role and there are too many things you need to do to get it right.

"In football, maybe I'm a dreamer. All you can fight for is that winning feeling of the next game."  

Reader Comments (35)

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Clive McBride
1 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:54:07
"In football, maybe I'm a dreamer. All you can fight for is that winning feeling of the next game." A losing battle so far
Peter Gorman
2 Posted 22/04/2016 at 23:58:04
Fair play to Martinez for dreaming, the rest of us are having a total nightmare.
Andrew Laird
3 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:11:34
Shut. Up.
Don Alexander
4 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:18:20
I just don't believe that his command of English is hampered because he's Spanish. This guy has immaculate English. It's the one thing he's good at. So his "I need to take responsibility" grates with me. "I am responsible" would have made even me cut him some slack. He is fundamentally "IN-CREDIBLE", a shyster, a con-man, and he's long since been sussed as such.
John Davies
5 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:21:55
Why doesn't this clown just shut up and keep his head down? The man and his endless drivel are a total embarrassment to the club. Why haven't the club hierarchy gagged him for Christ's sake?
Damian Wilde
6 Posted 23/04/2016 at 00:33:20
"I find it easy to reset constantly,"

Well you'd need to win your crap record!

"It is about constantly finding solutions — like bringing Matthew Pennington back from his loan spell at Walsall."

Wow...genius!!!

Brian Porter
7 Posted 23/04/2016 at 06:22:50
More bullshit from the total master of the art. His words are beyond meaningless, if you read them carefully it's clear he believes all this current criticism is merely based on the last three bad results. He just doesn't get it does he? That this is about TWO SEASONS of bad results, TWO SEASONS in the bottom half of the league, TWO SEASONS of inept in-game management and false promises.

He talks of recalling Pennington from Walsall as if this is done major masterstroke, or a great new signing. Really?

Roberto Martinez is without doubt the worst manager I've seen in 57 tears as a supporter and makes Smith and Walker look like consummate professionals by comparison.

The last straw? His cowardly run down the tunnel on Wednesday without bothering to acknowledge the poor fans who had stayed to the end of the worst performance I can remember from an Everton team in living memory.That was the time to "Take responsibility" by immediately tendering his resignation.

He is 'un hombre sin honor' a man without honour, a false prophet, and it's past the time he should be gone from our club.

MARTINEZ OUT (No matter what tonight's result is).

John Belshaw
8 Posted 23/04/2016 at 06:26:51
“Since the quarter-final of the FA Cup the results have not been good enough..." - Martinez.

Reality bites! But what about all the poor results BEFORE the quarter-final of the FA Cup?

Unfortunately, every time he opens his mouth he digs himself a bigger hole.

Garry Martin
9 Posted 23/04/2016 at 07:02:17
This man never knows when to stop the rambling... he's in the wrong business, he should have been a Shakespearean fucking poet!
Mark Lewis
11 Posted 23/04/2016 at 08:04:19
Martinez also "Hey remember guys with me in charge, nothing is so bad that it can't get worse."

On a serious note, good luck to everyone travelling down today and I truly hope we can nick it.

Liam Reilly
12 Posted 23/04/2016 at 08:20:36
"The only thing you can do when you carry pain is to see how to change it. In football, that is winning the next game."

He must be in agony.

Ian Burns
13 Posted 23/04/2016 at 08:36:10
It is so embarrassing having to read and listen to what this man says - he lives on another planet! He doesn't realise Evertonians actually have a brain and can see right through him and his ridiculous utterances. We know our football RM you can't hide, we can all see what you are doing to our club.

Today is supposed to be a day to look forward to (which I am of course) but here I find myself yet again screaming for him to go.

On a more pleasant note, safe journey for all today, I will be with you in spirit from afar watching every minute in hope, kicking every ball; making every tackle; getting first to every header. I'm knackered already!

Steve Pugh
14 Posted 23/04/2016 at 08:47:28
Why is there a constant reference to results since the Chelsea game not being good enough?

Does that mean that the results beforehand were good enough?

I swear that the man is on some sort of psychiatric drug that lets him float along in his own happy little world with virtually no idea of what is really going on around him.

Brian Porter
15 Posted 23/04/2016 at 09:25:00
Paul Rideout, scorer of the winner when we last won the cup in 1995 has now joined in the criticism of Martinez on BBC Sport.
Eugene Ruane
16 Posted 23/04/2016 at 09:37:42
“I find it easy to reset constantly” he continued.

Good for you Bob, coz if we get wellied this avvy, I reckon resetting yourself (fucking sharpish!) would be very wise.

In fact if Evertonians are leaving Wembley feeling humiliated later, I suggest you reset yourself as someone with a big false beard, a pair of shades, a cushion up the front of your car-coat and a pair of black shoes.

(or you could just wait for the Bournemouth game - have a feeling there'll be thousands there prepared to 'reset' the shite out of you).

Mike Green
17 Posted 23/04/2016 at 09:38:39
It is all waffle but l think what he's trying to say is he knows he's in the shit but he is trying. I think both he and we know he's in the last chance saloon now though. Maybe he's just a good Cup manager but not equipped to handle league football.

Either way we need a change at the end of the season, and I think he knows were going to make it. I just hope he goes with another FA Cup medal for his sock drawer, and if he does and leaves us with the trophy he will go with my blessing. To be honest if he goes at the end of the season regardless I won't hold a grudge, the job has just transpired to be too big for him, he just needs to realise that and that this is the right time to go.

Tony Steele
18 Posted 23/04/2016 at 09:50:20
Not sure of the exact context, but he used the word 'idolised'. The club were guilty of idolisation pretty early on. But fan criticism of him is totally justified.
Kevin Lovelady
19 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:02:09
Eugene #16 That's the funniest thing I've read about Bobby.... Ever!

IMHO the club are allowing the man to have the honour of leading a team out at Wembley having destroyed it. He shouldn't have been permitted that right after the Anfield debacle. He must have some serious dirt on Billy.

Andrew Yates
20 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:19:32
Again, what the hell does, "You need to concentrate on your role and there are to many things you need to do to get it right!" mean?

Does that mean he's never going to get things right because he's got to much to do? If he can't concentrate on his role he's buggered!?

Argh! Someone please throw me a fricking bone, I need help.

James Marshall
22 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:51:37
"Sometimes you take positive momentum, sometimes you take negative momentum into games, it doesn't really matter"

So all the times he's said how it's "incredibly important as have that positive momentum" in the past was just a lie, right?

He's falling on his sword over and over - the death throes will not be pretty.....I fear/hope today is his last hurrah.

(today is very odd - I want us to win the cup but I also want him gone)

James Marshall
23 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:53:24
Arrrrrgggghhhh!!! I can't listen to any more of him!!!!

Each sentence more irritatingly bullshit laden than the previous!!!

Jack Farrell
24 Posted 23/04/2016 at 10:57:42
More and more I am convinced that he is delusional, I seriously think that he may have 'issues'. Either that or he is an even bigger bullshitter than Bill.
Steavey Buckley
25 Posted 23/04/2016 at 11:02:37
This is not about criticism of the way Martinez runs the first team, there is a massive wave of an opinion that he does know what he is doing or what he says makes any sense.
Sean Kelly
26 Posted 23/04/2016 at 11:10:31
"My position as a manager is always questioned. As a manager you are always three defeats from being questioned. I don't think that has changed."

Roberto, we've lost 11 times this season in the league. So what are you questioned about? THE FUCKING WEATHER?

Phil Parker
27 Posted 23/04/2016 at 11:18:06
On the way down on the Taxi club coach. That derby game has cost us 2 players we needed today. But the mood on the bus is good, and we have plenty of firepower to worry Man Utd with if we are right on the day. Time to see if Roberto's relentless positivity actually works. Up the Toffs.
Mike Powell
28 Posted 23/04/2016 at 11:43:18
I don't think he is a full shilling, the lights are on but no one is home. He just needs to keep his mouth shut till he goes to pastures new. Stop embarrassing yourself.
Clive Rogers
29 Posted 23/04/2016 at 11:47:06
Martinez will be gone soon because the results are not going to improve significantly, especially with the injuries we now have. When he is sacked Kenwright should resign, for bringing this clown and his team of amateurs to the club.
Ray Smith
30 Posted 23/04/2016 at 12:40:22
Brian 15#

What did Paul Rideout say?

Don Alexander
31 Posted 23/04/2016 at 13:00:45
In the Telegraph Paul Rideout is talking about the '95 win and saying that it was done by Joe Royle transforming the club after Walker in six months! I wish.

But in Martinez/Kenwright-world obviously managers like Royle aren't up to implementing "a philosophy" are they? Spend too much time practicing defence drills and getting the squad fit for that probably.

Ernie Baywood
32 Posted 23/04/2016 at 13:30:51
That's why I wanted Royle in for this game. He could have taken this seemingly broken group of men and had their chests bursting through their blue shirts at kick off.

I just watched an interview with him ahead of the game. He's convinced me we can win! He's got incredible passion and love for this club - but also an authenticity about him that Roberto will never match. You believe Joe means what he says.

Hannes Eerola
33 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:03:40
Why is this man allowed to discuss any footballing matter in the media? You would think that they had more relevant, thruthful and interesting stuff to cover. I know I would
Paul Conway
34 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:14:37
Brian Porter @ 7 Very profound, but also very sound!
hit the nail on the head, he is doing the old Ostrich trick regarding the last 2 seasons results. and there he goes again with the same old clichés.. as a Manager , as a human being , as a football player as a Football Club....
he is a Premier League Walter Mitty!
Timothy Blanshard
35 Posted 23/04/2016 at 16:29:08
Imagine the day (soon I hope) when we get a new manager, we have a poor game then he just comes out and says, 'Yeah we were sh!te today' Evertonians won't know what to do with such a straight talker. We'll be able to hear the sound of collective jaw dropping all over the country.
Ian Riley
37 Posted 23/04/2016 at 20:07:10
Martinez has been watching another team from the touchline.
Kev Johnson
38 Posted 24/04/2016 at 12:02:17
I will expect nothing more than The Spaniard and the Chairman to be gone in the summer. I was speaking to Snods yesterday... He said his time was done at Everton. We've gone backwards.

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