It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

An open letter to Roberto

Dear Roberto,

I am writing this on a crowded train, on my long, weary way home from Goodison Park, where I have just watched Everton lose yet again on their own turf, this time 3-2 to West Ham. Like so many of Everton’s games this season, it was a cracker for the neutrals. But I’m not a neutral.

It will take me three hours to get home. But that’s nothing compared with the two Blues I shared a cab with on the way to the ground from Lime Street. They had come from Norway. And even that is a hop compared with the lad whose taxi I shared on the way back to Lime Street. He had travelled all the way from New York City, just for two days, just for the game.

Of course, that’s the gamble one takes as a football fan. I understand that. And I don’t doubt that you and the players are hurting after squandering yet another commanding lead. But I do hope you might spare a thought for all those who make such a huge investment of time and money to come and see you, week after week. And whose pay-off is a string of painful home defeats.

Now, having said all that, let me add that I like the cut of your jib, Roberto. I think you’re a decent, honourable man, and you understand what it means to follow Everton. Everyone thinks their club is unique, but only Evertonians know that theirs really is. You seem to get that. Moreover, you have added flair to the solidity David Moyes brought. You do get your teams playing entertaining football. I appreciate that.

But I think now is the time to look into your soul, to discover whether you are a man of humility. Because if you are, you will surely accept that defeats such as today’s are down to nobody but you. It was disingenuous of you, perhaps even cowardly, to say that big Rom’s missed penalty – ghastly as it was – was the main reason we lost this afternoon. Players do miss pens. It happens.

However, what I can’t remember happening in my 45 years as a diehard Everton fan is seeing a team so repeatedly and catastrophically incapable of protecting a lead. And that has to be your fault. I watched today’s game, and then discussed it afterwards, in the company of several distinguished ex-pros. I won’t name them because I wouldn’t want to embarrass them. But like me, they were flabbergasted when you replaced Lennon with Niasse.

Like me, and I should think virtually everyone in the stadium, they could see that if Lennon had to come off at all (arguable, given how well he was playing, and how hard he works) then the situation – 2-0 up but a player down – screamed for someone with the experience and defensive instincts to guard our advantage. Barry, in other words. Or even Osman. Not a striker new to the Premier League (who, by the way, looked thoroughly out of his depth from the moment he came on).

I imagine you’d counter that attack is the best form of defence, that Niasse’s job was to hold the ball up, that closing a game down smacks of negativity (which you hate). And you have other arguments in your locker. You can point to your extensive coaching qualifications, to your FA Cup winner’s medal with lowly Wigan, to the fact that you see the players every day in training, and we don’t.

But don’t let any of that blind you to what is glaringly obvious to everyone who loves Everton perhaps even more than you do. There is no shame in protecting a lead. It is just as much of a footballing art as establishing a lead. But, manifestly, you don’t know how to do it, how to re-organise your personnel, how to make match-saving substitutions. So please, be humble. Find someone who can teach you, and do it soon, for your own benefit as much as the club’s.

Otherwise you will never be the success in management that you plainly aspire to be, unless of course you become the manager of a convenience store. You’ll be great at that, because you never shut up shop. Joking aside, though, you might find that as new investors lead Everton towards a brave new world, you’re not part of the advance.

With best wishes,

Brian

Comments :-
I think I know the guys you refer to Brian - distinguished indeed they are!

I have just got home after a 270 mile drive ( reading your fine book about the side of the 70s on the coach) and echo your views. We played really well until the substitution after which they had far too much time on the ball. Niasse ,contrary to what he said when he arrived at Goodison, didn’t work at all let alone work hard! One midfielder down already we were swamped and the defence which had looked decent up till then capitulated.
Guys who have supported Roberto are on the turn now and when you look at our home record over the last two seasons you can see why. A day at the match costs a lot in terms of cash, time and brownie points with the wife and for the regulars who have seen only 4 wins but a dreadful seven losses this season we are reaching a point where something has to give. My day at the match took up 16 hours so I can imagine the disappointment of the guys to whom you have referred- they came an awful long way at a heavy cost to watch something which promised much and then fell desperately flat.

Does Roberto realise that this has to stop or is he the stubborn individual who so many ToffeeWebbers believe is too intransigent to change. The problem is of course that Lukaku will not hang around a mid table side and we need him to stay. I suspect Chelsea next week is the crucial moment- win and we can smell the silverware. Lose and the season will be seen as a disaster .



Brian there comes a point where the kind of courtesy you have displayed here starts displaying the core features of Neville Chamberlain's appeasment policies. Sorry but Martinez has now, other than with an extremely small number of individuals, campletely lost the fanbase. It is only going to get a lot nastier and vicious from this moment on and the sooner this guy vanishes the better. All talk from supporters from this point on should be aimed at getting the Everton management to stand up and recognise the obvious. Everybody without exception I talked to on the way back from this catastrophic exhibition seemed to to understand that he turning point has been reached.

Nice piece, Brian. I agree with Ron; we have to show some of the ruthlessness that the unmentionables over the road show in these situations, indeed would have shown a long while ago.
We are always soft but if we do not act now to relieve RM of his duties then we will rue it. Waiting till the season ends is pointless because he will not change, not ever. Winning the FA Cup - highly improbable in my view - should make no difference either. This decent man (as far as I can tell) is not competent in his job. It is no kindness to anyone to prolong the inevitable.

Brian. I hope you put a first class stamp on that letter and post it to RM. I doubt he'll be logging on to ToffeeWeb this evening. Top marks to all EFC fans who travel so far to watch the games. You all deserve so much better.
Ron - I agree with you. The line has been crossed. There is real anger brewing. As I said on another thread, winning the cup will not change my views about RM. He has to go. Tottenham and Leicester are no better than us man for man. What they have got is good management. It's not rocket science to figure that one out.

Down to 10 men , winning position , I have NEVER seen a manager bring another attacking player on . The situation screams for a wise defensive minded player who can organise the team . It's so simple Lukaku " Sorry lad but that was an awful pen, early bath for you " , "Gareth get on and sort it out ".
Words cannot express how I feel and how it's ruined my day , silly really but non the less true.
Bobby you haven't got a clue , nice bloke but please do one.


There have been a few open letters to Roberto this season and they always lead me to wonder, if they were actually sent, how would he respond? I've now decided: probably via a recorded message complete with Mission Impossible style warning saying 'this tape will randomly self destruct at some stage during the second half'.
Brian, I feel your frustration and this season has long since become another arduous slog. Our home form has been nothing short of a disgrace and the hard luck stories should no longer wash with anyone.

Martınez- I thought wıth better players than he had at Wıgan. He would ımprove defensıvely.

So did we Claret, so did we! At the end of the match yesterday your manager ran down the tunnel in disbelief before coming back up to celebrate :0) Well done the Irons, I hope Leicester win the Prem and you guys finish 4th.

Thıs season has been the most unusual sınce the start of Premıer League. Spurs could wın the league or possıbly not make top four. Not predıctıng anythıng. It just makes ıt a lot more ınterestıng than the usual lıne up. At the other end of the table where I usually look. Seeıng Aston Vılla and Newcastle strugglıng to survıve. Not your typıcal season.

..you ain't seen nothing yet CD, just wait till "you know who" get up there next season -):

Burnley did win....thank god for that as I lost on Hull just before....

Had to rely on a penalty. Man of the match was Burnley keeper. Some tough games ahead.
2517

Wrong on 3 accounts George.

a) Goals change games so if we had not quite righty been awarded the penalty then we would have scored anyway.

b) I know that England's No1 made 3 fine saves but I gave all of them 9/10 for a magnificent and economic performance given that 2 influential players started the game with injuries.

c) No tougher games left then the others I maintain.

Scored anyway, highly unlikely. The penalty was the only score so:-
a) I'm right
b) Burnley keeper MoM, no question-----Vokes 9/10 having a laugh, he had an off day.
c) You may well be right but they will be tough games

Rose tinted and glasses spring to mind.
2517

Engaging your brain would have been helpful in fully understanding the game.. you clearly don't drive much these days.

By the way, I note that dirty Leeds managed to win for a change.

Awkward game tonight for The Clarets. Brighton v Shef Wed should be a good game.
2517

All games are from now for everyone. A draw at Brighton will suffice.. your lot at the Carduffers not easy these days as Dil will confirm if he ever returns.

Tough league to get out of The Champıonshıp. Wıll be even more dıffıcult next season ıf Vılla and Newcastle make the dreaded drop.

'' your lot at the Carduffers'' That's not my lot Stan
2517

Can't believe that Villa will end up relegated......Europeans champions 1982.....Nottingham Forest there as well European champions 1979 and 1980....perhaps Newcastle.....Euro...euhhh....fairs cup winners..and some pre season euro cup....toto something winners cup....

Andre Gray has scored the winning goal for Burnley in their last three games,
Burnley moved four points clear at the top of the Championship after coming from behind to beat Fulham.

Another penalty securing points, have to admit it was a shrewd move getting Tom Daley on the coaching staff.
2517

"Andre Gray has scored the winning goal for Burnley"

.. Your brain appears still not to be engaged George.

Sean Dyche of Top of the league Burnley FC nominated for manager of the month.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has been named the Championship Manager of the Month for February.

http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/article/2016/sean-dyche-named-sky-bet-championship-manager-of-the-month-2999911.aspx