Article wrote by bornexplorer88
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A Brave Man: Martinez silences critics
fourfourtwo.co.uk
1st March 2014
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Everyone within football considered Martinez to be foolish but brave man to succeed Moyes, and under new ownership it was all happening as Goodison Park this season. Despite coming under early pressure in his Everton reign, Roberto Martinez has silenced his critics after his Everton side put together a run of seven games without defeat, helping his team climb ever closer to those sacred european places.
Since their embarrassing 1-0 defeat away to Championship opposition, Notts Forrest , many pundits speculated that Martinez?s job could be under threat but to his credit he has managed to turn things around. Martinez's team have now gone on a seven game unbeaten run, which included a home win against title contenders Chelsea and draws against Manchester United and Spurs, all of whom will no doubt be competing for the european places come the end of this campaign.
People were very quick to criticise the team performances in his short reign, even new chairman, Neville Southall threatened to sack Martinez at one point. But, after countless discussions with Martinez, Southall admitted that he may have over stepped his mark this season. The club in debt of excess of twenty-eight million and this due due to rise over the second half of the season. Achieving european football is now a must for Everton this season, Southall spent over ?30m in the summer transfer window, leaving Martinez with nothing. Southall has admitted he has given Roberto this season to evaluate his squad, and then he will be given more freedom to expand his squad, rumoured is of a shared budget with roughly half the available funds to spend for himself.
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Southall may have signed talented players this season but he signed all these players off his own back and, in some peoples eyes he took away the managers ability to put his own stamp on the club.
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Permanent Deal: Carlos Puyol ? Alex Grimaldo ? Jean-Marie Dongou ? Callum McManaman ? Lucas Digne ? Marco Verratti ? Mason Bennett ? Jem Karacan ? Gabriel Barbosa
Loan Deal: Sergi Roberto ? Sebastian Giovinco
"I admit I had given Martinez a challenge in his first season at the club, but we both feel that this club should be playing in european competition," said Neville Southall.
"but all that aside Roberto really has to be credited for his management skills this season, I didn't give him any say on the clubs signings and we currently are still in touch of european football, so, what can I say."
Currently Everton find themselves in 7th place and still have the possibility of Champions League place.
That will be all for today....
fourfourtwo.co.uk