Good morning.
Roberto Martinez, then. I have watched with what I can only describe as ‘some considerable confusion’ the adulation of the Wigan manager reach fever pitch.
How the hell did this happen?
Let’s start somewhere near the beginning and let’s stick to the facts of the matter, eh? As a manager he’s been accused of achieving much and being a rising star. SO what has he actually done? Well, to say he’s won nothing might be harsh, but it’s undeniably true. But he’s only been in management since 2007.
And so to the first myth. How many times have you read or been told in worldly wise manner that he ‘built’ Swansea? This week I’m hearing it with the frequency of time checks from Alan Partridge.
Tony Bennett said that he never left so much as an umbrella in San Fransico. All Roberto Martinez left behind at Swansea was a forwarding address. Here’s a list of the current Swanse City squad:
Gerhard Tremmel, Michel Vorm, Neil Taylor, Steven Caulker, Ferrie Bodde, Danny Graham, Scott Sinclair, Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, Josh McEachran, Leroy Lita, Luke Moore, Darnel Situ, Joe Allen, Kemy Agustien, Mark Gower, Curtis Obeng, Ashley Richards, Scott Donnelly, Lee Lucas, Ben Davies, Joe Walsh, Daniel Alfei , Casey Thomas, Jordan Smith, Gwion Edwards, Kurtis March, Rory Donnelly, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ashley Williams, Angel Rangel, Alan Tate, Leon Britton, Andrea Orlandi, Garry Monk and Federico Bessone*.
The names in bold are those who played there at the same time Martinez was the manager of Swansea City. *Bessone was a free transfer brought in by Roberto in 2008 who then left but was then brought back by Brendan Rodgers.
Next up, his track record as the Wigan manager.
His first season in the Premiership was a memorable one for Spurs fans, of course. We beat them 9-1 . That game wasn’t exactly a blip for them. Chelsea also did them 8-0. They escaped relegation on the last day of the season though, by beating Arsenal 2-3. Hurrah.
His second season was almost identical in every respect. Walloped by all and sundry. Yanited beat then 4-0 …but then so did Blackpool. They escaped relegation again on the last day of the season by beating Stoke.
So by contrast, this season was indeed a runaway success. Why because, Martinez woke up sooner and the relegation he had courted for months on end was swerved a few weeks ahead of schedule.
His apologists will presumably now be found with underpants over their head and a pencil shoved up each nostril mumbling phrases like ‘limited resources’, ‘toughest league in the world.’
I have no kind words for you.
Martinez, Any place, Bottom 5 EPL, Anywhere, Anfield, Anytime,Next season
When he pitches up at Anfield Roberto will have headspinning amounts of loot to play with. Who can we sell – ideally for an inflated fee – Defoe? Who would we buy from the ‘Pool squad – remember they did get 4 into the England squad.
In all honesty Id take Kyut.never gives uop incredible engine right attitude.
Are you HR in disguise? He’s too old & has totally lost it, I’m afraid…
I’ll be quite happy to see Martinez go to Anfield.
He ain’t going to attract world class players and the club itself is less than attractive with no ECL.
The stature of the club has killed off other managers and Martinez has been loved at his previous clubs. I don’t see a recipe for success here.
He would be inheriting a fair amount of droos too, if he does get the job. Downing, Adam, Spearing etc. etc.
Suarez is hankering after a move to Spain or Italy. He ain’t going to win the ECL with L’pooh now, is he?
Might be time for a cheeky Gerrard bid.
Anyway, it’s all an irrelevancy with this Saturday coming up.
I think people consider the limited resources, professionalism and style of play he strives for, when heaping praise on RM. It’s easy to point at defending, but there aren’t many teams on a similar budget that put their record to shame, surely?? What is a shame, is his inexperience. IMO he’d do well for Liverpool given time. I see him as a person players respect and want to play for, & quite astute with it. I’d prefer him as manager representing Tottenham. Now is too early for us, and for the bins dips if they jump on his back from day one…