Everton were recently commended for cutting the price of season tickets at Goodison Park, but judging by their collapse against West Ham today, they can't make the tickets cheap enough. Leading West Ham 2-0 with 12 minutes to go - albeit with ten men - the Toffees managed to miss a penalty and then lose 3-2.
Roberto Martinez' substitutions drew the ire of supporters, as the Spaniard brought on a second striker rather than consolidate their then 2-0 lead.
Since the opening day of last season, Everton have won just 23 of their 68 games, and the fact a side with featuring the talent of Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku, John Stones, Gerard Delofeu, James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman are eleventh in a season that has Leicester City at the top is a damning indictment of Roberto Martinez.
Martinez was brimming with optimism at the beginning of the week with the announcement of new investment at Goodison, but judging by the reaction among Everton fans to this latest capitulation, the Spaniard will be fortunate if he gets the opportunity to invest some of his new transfer funds.
2-0 up. Down to 10 men. No effort to manage the situation.
Bring on unproven forward in Niasse. pic.twitter.com/vQcOHzH7oT— GrandOldTeam (@grandoldteam) March 5, 2016
The phrase "2-0 is the most dangerous lead in football" could have been invented for Roberto Martinez. Proving it with regularity.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) March 5, 2016
Can someone please ask Roberto Martinez if he has ever heard of game management. Utter shambles at Goodison. Utter shambles
— Stuart Pyke (@stuartpykesport) March 5, 2016
Roberto Martinez has caused us to finish mid table in a season we could easily have been in the top 4 #martinezout
— Henry (@bighfizzle) March 5, 2016
Absolutely appalling management from Roberto Martinez! Down to 10 men, 2-0 up and decides NOT to defend our lead!!! #martinezout @Everton
— Dickie Wood (@dickiewooduk) March 5, 2016
For Martinez, it appears it doesn't rain on the plains in Spain, it pours, as Martinez passed up the opportunity to sign match winner Dimitri Payet in a bid to help Ross Barkley develop.
Martinez personally scouted Payet, but ultimately cooled his interest in the Frenchman:
“I always felt that Ross would be our number 10 and he needed that space – definitely.
Ross has matured this season, no doubt. He has progressed and he needed that time to show what he can become.
Barkley will get time; Martinez may not.
