Pressure beginning to mount on Everton boss Roberto Martinez
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With a £30m-rated centre back and the division’s second-highest goalscorer this term you would have expected Everton to be sitting higher in the Premier League table than 12th.
But after another defeat, this time 2-1 at home to strugglers Swansea City, Roberto Martinez’s position as manager is beginning to look far from secure.
After their defeat to the Swans at the weekend, Martinez’s comments could have been taken as a dig at the fans and the atmosphere on Merseyside.
“We were looking forward to coming to Goodison and enjoying our football, but we can’t find a way to do that,” the Spaniard said.
“We have become fearful and expect the worst.”
Whether or not it was a thinly veiled jibe at the support or not, Martinez has seen his odds cut on him being the next Premier League boss to be sent packing.
While he is still a 25/1 shot (from 33s), were Louis van Gaal not under so much scrutiny, the Toffees boss would surely be much shorter.
And now it certainly appears that some fans are looking for a change of personnel in the north west in the near future.
Some have taken umbrage with Martinez’s latest comments…
pic.twitter.com/LZ4Y7hq7xo Martinez has the cheek to suggest the fans are to blame with recent results,Bobby needs a mirror to look in #EFC ??
— John Pierce (@Abelsouthall) January 25, 2016
Blaming home support for his own failings is perhaps Martinez’s most costly mistake. His end has suddenly got much nearer #efc
— Tony C (@TonyChristian1) January 25, 2016
While others remain unconvinced by the style of play being delivered on Merseyside…
ROBERTO MARTINEZ’ brand of football is OUTDATED! Obsolete! The pressing by the team is non existent Utopia football ? #everton #efc — Doddy EFC (@tsdoddy) January 25, 2016
How Everton play under Martinez #EFC pic.twitter.com/pfVi4FTkvQ — Solo Loan Mejor™ (@Clemo89efc) January 25, 2016
…and his apparent stubborness to change anything…
Can’t wait for Martinez press conference later. Another chance for him to tell us what a genius he is and how great all his players are #efc — Tom Naysmith (@tanaysmith)January 26, 2016
At the end of the day, football is a results business and with the squad Everton have at their disposal, they should be doing much better than they are.
They have two potential mainstays in the England squad for the foreseeable future in John Stones and Ross Barkley, one of the most potent strikers in the Premier League in Romelu Lukaku…oh and one of the “best English players ever”, Gareth Barry.
But with just one win in 10 league fixtures, and just nine points picked up in that time, it appears time may be running out for Martinez in some people’s eyes.
Has Martinez been fired yet? #MartinezOut #EFC #Everton — Thom I (@ThomIrish) January 25, 2016
#Martinez #EFC #Everton #DuncanFerguson. Roberto is making a lot of Evertonians feel like this at the moment ?⚽? pic.twitter.com/GUFsrFDAIx — Phil Livingstone (@Livooo) January 25, 2016
Wednesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second-leg could well have a major baring on how long the former Swansea boss has left at Goodison Park.
And with pressure beginning to mount he urgently needs an upturn in fortunes.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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