Everton Fans Turn On Roberto Martinez After Leicester Draw
After Everton had to rely on a Matthew Upson own-goal to draw with the Premier League’s bottom club, Leicester City, on Sunday, Toffees supporters started to register their disgust at their manager Roberto Martinez.
In fact, the vitriol became so intense that #MartinezOut started to trend across the world wide web during the contest.
Everton took the lead against Nigel Pearson’s side, after Steven Naismith put the Toffees in front. Home fans expected that this strike would lead Everton to their first home victory since December.
Unfortunately for them, Leicester struck back six minutes later, through David Nugent, before Esteban Cambiasso hit his third goal of the season to put the visitors into a shock lead. Tim Howard was particularly susceptible for both of Leicester’s goals, as he got into a mix up with John Stones for their opener and then flapped at a cross for Cambiasso’s strike.
Everton struggled in their pursuit for an equalizer, but they finally got a goal in the 88th minute when the unlucky Upson turned Christian Atsu’s cross into his own goal after Romelu Lukaku got a deflection on the ball.
However, this late equalizer, which led Everton to their fifth successive home draw, wasn’t enough to stop fans from turning on Martinez after the match.
Winning the EL and getting relegated, meaning Everton would be a Championship club but also in the Champions League, would be peak Martinez.
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) February 22, 2015
Had enough of Martinez and his lack of a plan B. I’d rather have Moyes back. #MartinezOut #Everton
— Kieran Taberner (@KieranTaberner) February 22, 2015
6 wins all season! Boring non attractive football! No attacking threat! #Martinezout
— sam bellis (@bellisefc) February 22, 2015
Disgusting, Pathetic, Embarrassing. @Everton #Efc #MartinezOUT
— Middleton (@Middleton2010) February 22, 2015
#martinezout @Everton pls pls pls, Mr Martinez, pls resign. You don’t deserve to manage Everton!
— Daniel Lim (@danielkb) February 22, 2015
While Everton has performed well in Europe, especially on Thursday where they registered a hugely impressive 4-1 victory over Young Boys in the Europa League, their Premier League form has been poor. This has seen them remain in mid-table obscurity, and they are currently in 12th place in the league.
While there is still a good six-point difference between Everton and the relegation battle, their supporters will have expected to be contesting for the European positions higher up the table.
Meanwhile, Martinez believes that Everton’s struggles have been because of their mid-week European excursions. After the Leicester game, Martinez remarked, “It’s one of those performances that comes from playing in Europe. We looked a little pedestrian.”
[Image via Daily Star]
