Miles Starforth’s match analysis: Everton 3 Newcastle United 1
DYNAMIC DUO ... Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley celebrate against Newcastle.
01 October 2013
IT looked bad for Newcastle United at the break. It looked even worse for Alan Pardew.
Owner Mike Ashley, sat next to director of football Joe Kinnear at Goodison Park, was there to witness as shambolic a 45 minutes as you’ll see in the Premier League this season.
As the break neared, the club’s 1,000-strong travelling support were chanting for their money back.
Back on Tyneside, the mood wasn’t any lighter. The first half was reminiscent of the performance at Manchester City which got Graeme Souness the sack seven and a half years ago. It was as disjointed and disorganised. Yet the supporters didn’t turn on manager Pardew during last night’s 3-2 defeat to Everton. And there was enough of a reaction in the second half for Newcastle’s players to be applauded off the field. After all, United had pulled two goals back – and had Everton’s fans fearful of a late, late equaliser. But Pardew, unquestionably, remains under pressure. He needs results, and he needs them quickly. Pardew had made the bold, though understandable, decision to leave Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Demba Cisse out of his starting XI. Cheik Tiote and Yoan Gouffran came into his side. But Newcastle found themselves in trouble with just five minutes on the clock.
Lukaku – who had already had a goal disallowed for offside – met a right-wing Kevin Mirallas cross with a first-time shot to put Everton into the lead. It was all too easy. Ross Barkley shot narrowly wide three minutes later in a wretched opening few minutes for United. Unusually, Hatem Ben Arfa started on the left. Gouffran was on the right, with Loic Remy, closely supported by midfielder Moussa Sissoko, taking Cisse’s role through the middle. But the formation just didn’t work. Ben Arfa, Remy and Gouffran saw little of the ball, and Sissoko’s advanced position left a gaping hole behind him. And Everton made the most of it, running at will at a jittery back four which looked like it was playing together for the first time. They looked like scoring on every attack, with Lukaku – who had terrorised Newcastle’s reserves in a Chelsea shirt at Whitley Park the season before last – at the heart of everything. And it was a cleverly-disguised pass from the on-loan striker that set Barkley free for the home side’s second goal in the 25th minute. Everton’s third strike summed up United’s shambolic half. Goalkeeper Tim Howard’s long ball upfield was missed by Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul, who had come off his line. Lukaku gladly picked up the pieces. It was embarrassing.
Cabaye and Mike Williamson came on for Ben Arfa and Yanga-Mbiwa. And midfielder Cabaye took just six minutes to make an impact on a game which looked to be all over at the break.
He played a one-two with Gouffran before lashing an unstoppable shot from 25 yards which left Tim Howard well beaten, the goal the first Everton had conceded in the Premier League for 687 minutes.
Scoring another was to prove more difficult, though Newcastle, at least, had a bit of purpose about them after the break. They challenged and harried. They did what they should have done in the first half. The team had a shape it had lacked in the first half. Cisse was thrown on for the last 20 minutes, and United reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. Newcastle were energetic and industrious, and Martinez’s players, so dominant in the first 45 minutes, were on the back foot for much of the last 20 minutes. Remy eventually scored a minute from time, and Newcastle held out faint hopes of snatching what would have been an undeserved equaliser. But the damage had been done before the break. You don’t play that badly for 45 minutes and get away with it too many times.
Twitter: @milesstarforth
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Krul 5; Debuchy 4, Coloccini 6, Yanga-Mbiwa 3 (WILLIAMSON, 46, 7), Santon 4; Anita 6, (Cisse, 69, 6), Sissoko 6, Tiote 5; Ben Arfa 3 (Cabaye, 46, 6), Gouffran 6, Remy 6. Subs not used: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.
EVERTON: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry, Osman (Stones, 90); Mirallas (Deulofeu, 73), Lukaku, Barkley (Naismith, 88). Subs not used: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Kone.
Man of the match: Mike Williamson. Helped shore up a back four which had been badly exposed.
Highlight: Yohan Cabaye’s goal. It kick-started Newcastle.
Lowlight: The first half – from start to finish.
Goals: Lukaku 5, 37, Barkley 25, Cabaye 51, Remy 90
Bookings: Baines 17, Mirallas 44, Tiote 55, Barry 80
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
Attendance: 33,495

Mum's the word! Barkley in dreamland after Goodison goal
1 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echoby Greg ‘Keefe
Blues youngster 'made up' after mum's prediction
Ross Barkley revealed how his mum predicted his dream of scoring at Goodison Park would come true during Everton’s victory over Newcastle United. The teenage starlet opened his account on home soil after 25 minutes last night, to help the Blues to a 3-0 half-time lead.
Although Newcastle fought back to make it 3-2 in the end, the win saw Roberto Martinez ’s men rise to fourth place in the Premier League table and remain the only unbeaten side in the top flight.
And Barkley, 19, who first scored for the Toffees away at Carrow Road in the season’s curtain-raiser game in August, said his mum Diane told him before yesterday’s match that she believed his name would be on the score-sheet. He said: “I knew it was coming. My mum said before the game she had a feeling I’d score and I’m made up she was right. I was over the moon because I’ve dreamt about that moment since I was a kid. “It was important to get the second goal and give us an extra platform. To get three before half time was impressive and gave us a big boost.
“It was a great team performance. We were playing it about nicely and everyone was feeling confident on the ball.” Barkley combined smartly with on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku throughout the encounter, during which the Belgium international scored a brace. And the academy graduate, who received his first cap for England during the recent World Cup qualifiying win over Moldova, believes his rapport with the forward bodes well for the Blues this term. “I love playing with Rom,” he said. “We link up well and I can run beyond him and I know he’ll find me. We’ve got a good relationship on the field and it’s good having a top player like him in the side. “We’re still unbeaten and we want to continue that as long as we can. It’s brilliant that we’re in fourth place and the way we’ve been playing is more encouraging.” Barkley’s strike took his tally to two so far, and the Wavertree teenager admitted he has his sights set on plundering further goals during the campaign.
“I always set myself targets and I’ve got in the back of my mind how many I want to score this season so I’ll keep plugging away,” he added. Blues boss Martinez shared his protégée’s satisfaction in a superb first half, and a promising combination with Lukaku. “The first-half performance was so dominant, but you can drop your tempo a bit, and once Newcastle scored the first goal you can lose momentum and take risks,” Martinez said. “I was pleased as we controlled the game well enough. We can learn from it. “He (Lukaku) is strong and powerful, but for a number nine to have that awareness around him - technically he is gifted. “At times he was unplayable and that that means he opened spaces for others. “We need to get to know him. In the second half against West Ham he showed what he could do and tonight he looked at home. “It’s hard to explain how much Ross is growing game by game. In pre-season he impressed and from that onwards he is getting better.
“He’s a unique talent for an English boy. He has developed a good relationship with Romelu straight away. “He’s growing so much that if anything you need to take him away from the training ground as he’s so eager to fulfil his potential.”

Greg O'Keeffe's verdict as Martinez's unbeaten Blues march into top four
1 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Powerhouse first half showing sweeps aside Geordies
It was either savvy musical selection or apt coincidence, but the whistle blew to conclude the first half last night and Oasis hit ‘The Masterplan’ rang out around Goodison Park. The preceding 45 minutes had suggested that Roberto Martinez’s own blueprint is developing nicely, as a vibrant, finely-balanced Everton display effectively ended the contest against Newcastle and propelled the Blues into the top four. Still unbeaten in the Premier League, and still unbowed after last week’s aberration in the Capital One Cup – even the late fright of a Loic Remy goal to make it 3-2 failed to take the shine from a glowing night’s work from the Toffees. The other lyrical tale of the evening had belonged to the Gwladys Street who mischievously sang ‘Are You Watching David Moyes?’ while their side ran riot and moved eight places about the Scot’s new club in the table.
If Moyes was watching, he must certainly have wished he’d had the services of Romelu Lukaku during his Everton reign. Much was expected of Lukaku on his first start at Goodison, and the rampaging forward duly had the ball in the net before a minute had gone. Unfortunately he had strayed a fraction off side while receiving Ross Barkley’s deft through ball, but he didn’t have long to wait to get the job done properly. Just four minutes later he peeled away from Fabricio Coliccini and collected a pass from Kevin Mirallas before forcing a powerful shot past Tim Krul. The Goodison big screen flashed to an image of the watching Duncan Ferguson, whose broad smile signalled clear approval. There was plenty to approve. Before long Everton had doubled their lead when Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa lofted an aimless pass into midfield, and Sylvain Distin intercepted with a header to unleash Kevin Mirallas. The dynamic Belgian found compatriot Lukaku, who linked-up smartly with Barkley again to allow the teenager to score his first home goal for the club with a cool finish from 15 yards. The Toffees were rampant, keeping the ball slickly and operating with balance and composure in stark contrast to the dismal visitors. Indeed Coloccini & Co. were producing a defensive horror show, neatly illustrated when Lukaku grabbed his second. This time Tim Howard punted the ball long upfield, the Magpies defence parted obligingly and Everton’s loan star burst through the gap and past Krul to finish from close range. Everything was falling into place for the 20-year-old striker, who seemed a threat every time he received the ball and turned to surge at the petrified Newcastle back four. His willingness to run at defenders and take centre stage will continue to be a major asset and a refreshing change after too many Everton strikers in recent times have tended to drift outside the area and onto the flanks as their influence waned. Alan Pardew must have relished the respite of the interval, and his side were always unlikely to be as poor after the break. It was no surprise to see the hapless Mbiwa replaced with Danny Williamson, and Yohan Cabaye emerge in place of a subdued Hatem Ben Arfa. Newcastle almost hit back instantly when Vurnon Anita found Yoan Gouffran, who avoided the off-side trap only to see his attempt bounce back off the post. Then Cabaye’s belated introduction paid off when the midfielder gave his side a life-line on 52 minutes. The France international collected a pass from 25 yards, and with nobody closing him down quickly enough, unleashed a wonderful strike which found the top left-hand corner of Howard’s goal. Everton needed to weather the next 15 minutes as Newcastle showed more vibrancy and gumption than had seemed feasible previously. But with Sylvain Distin marshalling the defence supremely, they took the sting out of the visitors’ fight-back.
Lukaku might have had his hat-trick when he was teed-up by the outstanding Seamus Coleman, but this time he lashed his left-footed striker high into the Gwladys Street. There may have been more obvious candidates for the man of the match award, but Coleman’s exponential improvement over the last 12 months for Everton has been a delight to behold. It was the 24-year-old right-back who drew a free-kick when Cheik Tiote felled him on the edge of the area, allowing Leighton Baines to try and resume where he left off against West Ham. This time his aim wasn’t as true but it didn’t matter.
Even when Pardew’s side sparked back into life at the death and netted a nail-biting second as Remy capitalised on a defensive mix-up it wasn’t enough to cause an upset.
Everton are certainly not the finished article yet, that late scare reminded everyone of that, but the Martinez Masterplan continues apace.
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Barry, McCarthy, Mirallas (Deulofeu, 73), Barkley (Naismith 88), Osman (Stones 90), Lukaku. Subs not used: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Kone.
Bookings: Baines, Mirallas, Barry.
Goals: Lukaku 5 37, Barkley 25.
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Krul, Santon, Coloccini (Capt), Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Debuchy, Tiote, Anita (Cisse, 69), Gouffran, Remy, Ben Arfa. Subs not used: Elliot, Obertan, Ameobi, Dummett.
Bookings: Tiote.
Goals: Cabaye 52, Remy 90.
REFEREE: Phil Dowd.
ATT: 33,495.
NEXT MATCH: Manchester City v Everton, Barclays Premier League, Saturday, kick-off 12.45pm.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez expresses relief that Chelsea unable to recall Romelu Lukaku from loan spell
Everton manager Roberto Martinez expects to see much more from on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku after he struck twice on his home debut in the 3-2 win over Newcastle.
By Telegraph Sport, and agencies
01 Oct 2013 Telegrapgh
The Belgium international scored either side of Ross Barkley's maiden Goodison goal and despite a thunderbolt from substitute Yohan Cabaye and a late prod from Loic Remy, Everton maintained the top flight's only unbeaten record. Man-of-the-match Lukaku took the plaudits and Martinez admits he is pleased the terms of the striker's loan agreement ensure he cannot be recalled early by parent club Chelsea. "I could be sweating now if that was the case," said the Spaniard, whose side moved above the Stamford Bridge club into fourth. "Romelu is a young man who has everything as a striker but he is still developing and he needs to go out on loan like he did last season.
"Sometimes you see a No 9 who is powerful and has a great physical presence - what Romelu brings is a real awareness around him. "He is technically really gifted when he has his back to goal and that was a focal point today. He is a great goalscorer. He looked like a player who felt at home. "I want him to enjoy his football, I want him to develop and become as good as he can. "The next step now is taking what he did last campaign, in terms of number of starts, to another level. "I don't think anyone questions the quality of Romelu otherwise they would never spend the money they spent at such a young age. "We are only glad we can have him. The chemistry with the fans was terrific." Asked whether he thought Chelsea had made a mistake letting him join another club he added: "It will be easy to say that but you need to remember how many strikers they have. "You need to mention Samuel Eto'o's record, Demba Ba's record and Fernando Torres' pedigree, you are talking about a squad which has phenomenal talent up front." Martinez was not too disturbed by seeing his side concede twice in the second half, giving the scoreline a lop-sided look considering their excellence before the break. "Sometimes you go into half-time with a one-goal lead and that allows you to keep the tension," he said. "It was normal you are going to get a reaction in the second half. "It was a completely different performance. We showed style in the first half and grit into the second." Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was less than impressed by his side's opening 45 minutes. "It would have been fortuitous for us if we'd got something from the game," he said. "The first half wasn't good enough. The second half was much more like it, we showed a bit of pride and passion, won some headers, won some tackles and made some forward passes - which helped. "It was important I reminded them (at half-time) of the nuts and bolts of the game - there are fundamentals that need to be done in the team ethic and I didn't think we did those in the first half.
"In the second half we made two changes and it looked like we made 11.
"They are a good side but we stood off them too much in the first half and a couple of goals were more than defendable."

Martinez delight at victory over Newcastle
1 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Neil Jones
Blues boss delighted with his side's early season form
Everton FC v Newcastle United at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Premier League football match. Roberto Martinez on the touchline alongside Alan Pardew Roberto Martinez praised Everton’s first-half performance as they moved into the Premier League’s top four with a 3-2 win over Newcastle United. And the Blues boss believes some of his side’s football was as good as it gets.
Two Romelu Lukaku strikes, sandwiching a Ross Barkley effort, had Martinez’s side 3-0 up at half time after a one-sided opening period. And though Newcastle responded well after the break, with Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy setting up a nervy finale, the Spaniard was delighted with a sixth unbeaten league game for his side. He said: “I thought we were very good in the first half. We defended extremely well, we restricted Newcastle to very little threat, and then from that point on, some of our attacking play was fascinating to see. “Our link-up play between Romelu, Ross, Kevin Mirallas, it was at its best. We saw phases of play that are as good as we can produce.
“And once that happens, sometimes you can score too many goals! Sometimes you go in with just a one-goal lead, and you can keep the tension in the second half. “Newcastle have terrific individual players, and you were always going to get a reaction. But after we conceded the first goal, I thought we controlled the game. Newcastle took risks, and we had two or three really good opportunities, but it is normal when a side has nothing to lose. “I was pleased with how we held on to the three points. It was two different performances from the first half to the second. It was a very well deserved three points.” Martinez was particularly fulsome in his praise for Lukaku, who grabbed his third goal in two league games, and bullied an experienced Newcastle backline. He said: “He’s a young man that has got everything as a striker. Sometimes you see a number nine that is powerful and that has got a great physical presence, but what Romelu brings is a real awareness of what’s around him. “He was a focal point today, and that understanding, that relationship with Ross Barkley was magic at times. “You could predict the link up play that he had with Ross. He had it in the second half at West Ham, and there is a natural understanding with Kevin Mirallas from the national team. I have been very impressed with his build-up play, and I thought he was clinical and a real threat. That’s really exciting for the future. “He’s a great goalscorer, and I think the reception that he had at Goodison settled him down. He looked like a player who felt at home, and that’s very pleasing from my point of view. I want him to feel at home, I want him to develop and I want him to become as good as he can. He added: “It’s a good start to the season, but that’s all it is. We were disappointed with the return we had from the first three games, I thought our performances were very good in those games and deserved a lot more. “What pleases me is that we have been very consistent in our performances. Three wins gives us a great opportunity now to look forward, but there is a long way to go.”

Remy wants to make amends to fans
by MILES STARFORTH
01 October 2013
Shield Gazetta
LOIC Remy felt Newcastle United let the club’s fans down at Goodison Park - and he’s adamant it won’t happen again at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Newcastle were woeful before the break and trailed by three goals after Roberto Martinez’s side punished a series of defensive mistakes. United improved after the break, and goals from Yohan Cabaye and Remy restored some pride. Remy had a chance to equalise in injury time, but missed the target. The 26-year-old felt the difference between the two halves was like “night and day”.
“I’m very, very disappointed,” Remy told the Gazette. “It’s difficult. The difference between the first half and the second half was like night and day. “The gaffer changed two players (Cabaye and Mike Williamson came on), and there was a big difference between the two halves. “We conceded three goals. We could have done better for the goals. “It’s difficult when you concede three goals. After that, we scored two goals, but it wasn’t enough. We were all disappointed. “The second half was much better in terms of intensity and quality, but you know when you concede three goals it’s difficult. “In the first half it wasn’t the good Newcastle. The gaffer said we had to do better.
“When Cabaye came in, it was very good. He scored a fantastic goal. It changed the game, I think.
“It’s difficult. I scored, and then I had a good situation in front of the goal, I kicked with my left foot, and missed the goal.” Newcastle’s fans chanted “we want our money back” late in the first half, but they applauded Alan Pardew’s players off the field at the final whistle in recognition of their comeback. The club’s supporters face another long journey on Saturday, when United travel to South Wales to take on Cardiff City. “In the future we have to do better,” said Remy.
“It was a long journey. The group is disappointed. The supporters supported us all the game.
“We heard them a lot in the second half. They continued to support the team. I’m sure we’ll do better at Cardiff.”

Alan Pardew has no defence for Newcastle United after 3-2 defeat at Everton
WHEN IN ROME: Everton's Romelu Lukaku scores his second and team's third goal at Goodison Park
01 October 2-13
Hartlepool Mail
ALAN Pardew admitted his Newcastle United side had no case for the defence at Goodison Park.
Newcastle conceded three first-half goals in an abject first-half performance against Everton last night. United improved after the break and after Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy found the net, the team pressed for an unlikely equaliser. But Remy was off-target with an injury-time chance and Newcastle lost 3-2. Pardew – who took off Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at the break and replaced him with Mike Williamson – blasted his team’s defending as Romelu Lukaku scored twice and Ross Barkley also found the net in a torrid period. “Our goals against doesn’t look good,” he admitted. “We need to tighten that defensive side of things.” “You can’t concede goals like that at this level, I’m afraid.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb.” Williamson helped Newcastle get to grips with Lukaku, who had dominated Yanga-Mbiwa and captain Fabricio Coloccini. “We had more or less the same players in the second half, but for two changes at half-time,” he said. “There was a change of attitude. “There was a tackle won, a header won and it makes all the difference. Then suddenly we’re back in it. “Those goals in the first half? I’m sorry – we can’t defend like that.”
Williamson could now be handed a start at Cardiff City on Saturday while midfielder Cabaye is also likely to return to the starting XI. “We have to get rid of that inconsistency,” Pardew added. “We have to remind the players that we can’t have that at Newcastle. “It has to be proper 90 minutes.”

Blues Analysis: He’s understated but Gareth Barry is composed and classy
1 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
Midfielder marks landmark game with typical style
He's not the flashiest player ever to grace the Premier League. He hasn’t got the loudest voice or the busiest agent. His YouTube highlights reel is a lesson in economy and understatement, and Roy Hodgson appears to have deleted his number some time last summer. But whilst age creeps up, and England opportunities dry up, Gareth Barry shows no signs of letting his standards drop.
At Goodison Park last night he became, at 32, the youngest player ever to reach 500 Premier League appearances, doing so with a typically assured, understated performance, as his side moved to fourth in the table. It is some achievement. Only nine others have reached that particular milestone. Barry, alongside the likes of Ryan Giggs, Frank Lampard, Gary Speed and Jamie Carragher, is in illustrious company. If that sounds like faint praise, it shouldn’t. Barry, rarely the headline-grabber, deserves all the plaudits that come his way. Since 2009, only one Premier League midfielder – Michael Carrick – has completed more passes than Barry. Only three – Carrick, Mikel Arteta & Yaya Toure – have a better completion percentage, whilst only Lucas Leiva, Scott Parker and Mohamed Diame have made more successful tackles. He has certainly made a difference to Everton. Of all the good things Roberto Martinez has done since taking charge at Goodison, convincing Manchester City that Barry would be better off on Merseyside for the final year of his contract must be right up there. No wonder he is eager to make the midfielder’s loan move a permanent one, if at all possible.
Composed and classy, thorough and thoughtful, Barry provides the nous and the discipline in a midfield that looks more attack-minded by the week. Martinez was keen to infuse his squad with youth and energy this summer, but there will always be room for a wise head to help the process along. Barry is exactly that. Time and again here, he got Everton playing with short, swift passes, often collecting the ball from Tim Howard as his central defenders split. His presence allows others, most notably Ross Barkley, to express themselves further up the field, and it is fair to say the teenager will benefit hugely from having such an experienced campaigner behind him.
He certainly looked like he was enjoying himself, drifting effortlessly into space in front of Newcastle’s defence, and causing problem after problem with his touch and movement.
Barkley is the sprinkling of stardust in Everton’s midfield, a player whose talent it is impossible to overstate. But positionally excellent, and with a sure touch and a calm head under pressure, Barry is the ideal insurance policy behind him, his left foot providing a useful balance, and enabling the Blues to move the ball across the pitch with speed and regularity. His history as a left back is also handy, allowing Leighton Baines to maraud at will. Between them, Barry and James McCarthy, whose first league start was a a productive one, look well-suited as a pair, with Barry’s holding enabling the Irish international to press the ball more energetically. One such instance, early on, saw him rob Cheik Tiote deep in Newcastle territory and draw an awkward save from Tim Krul with his left foot. Goodison, forever desperate for a high tempo, sounded its approval. Suddenly, Everton look a perfectly-balanced side. With Romelu Lukaku’s Didier Drogba impersonation getting better by the day, and Kevin Mirallas rediscovering his mojo, there is a threat and a purpose about Martinez’s side that can be hard to live with. Newcastle certainly couldn’t. Alan Pardew once said his side were “in a different league” to Everton. On this evidence, he was right. His side’s first-half performance here had the look of a resignation letter. They improved after the break, of course. How could they not? Barry and co found life tougher following Yohan Cabaye’s introduction, with the Frenchman’s stunner reducing the deficit shortly after half time. Barry was needed to deny him another sight of goal with a timely interception soon after and, together with the vibrant McCarthy, ensured his side awoke from their post-interval slumber sharpish. The ability to consistently find a team-mate is a useful one when momentum is lost, and Barry’s quality enabled Everton to recover theirs to a degree, even if he did pick up a yellow card for a late challenge on Tiote, and concede another free kick with a careless handball. The sight of him ploughing through self-styled hardman Tiote in the tackle late on drew strong applause. All in all, a promising night at Goodison. Martinez will have noted room for improvement in his side’s second half display, of course, but Everton 2013 looks like it could turn out to be a pretty good model. And if it does, then Barry may just be the glue that holds it together.

McCarthy’s delight at making dream Goodison debut
2 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Scottish midfielder says home bow was a dream come true
James McCarthy realised a boyhood dream when he made his full home debut for Everton in Monday night’s 3-2 defeat of Newcastle United. And manager Roberto Martinez expressed his satisfaction with the young midfielder’s performance. For the second home game in succession Gareth Barry received rich plaudits for a commanding display. But the man 10 years his junior was also quietly very effective. “It was brilliant just to get out there in front of the home fans,” said McCarthy whose only previous start since his £13m switch from Wigan was in the Capital One Cup at Fulham. “It’s what you dream of as a kid to come and play at such a big stadium as Goodison. The fans were different class and it’s just a real honour to get my first start especially at home.”
Manager Martinez was delighted with McCarthy’s contribution and is optimistic about the impressive crop of young players now at his disposal. “I was very impressed with James,” he said.
“I have mentioned many times that our dressing room is very gifted and we have also great experience. “But now you are looking at the youngsters who are coming through like James McCarthy at 22, Ross Barkley at 20, Romelu Lukaku at 20, Gerard Deulofeu when he came on, at 19, Seamus Coleman at 23. It’s so important that these players are ready to make an impact and I thought Ross Barkley and Romelu were outstanding, but I thought James McCarthy had a terrific partnership with Gareth Barry and that pleases you a lot. “It allows you to build a good future for the football club.” McCarthy has relished his brief but productive partnership with Barry and added: “I enjoyed it with Gareth alongside and Ross just in front of us, but I still need to keep my head down and keep working hard. “It’s three important points, the unbeaten record is still going and we’re gelling as a squad. Hopefully it will continue. “You want to be up there and challenging.”
Of course with Barry ineligible for Saturday’s visit to his parent club Manchester City, fit-again Darron Gibson is the obvious replacement and McCarthy already has a liaison with the Republic of Ireland international from their times together in international squads. Gibson elected not to play for his country under Giovanni Trapattoni after being overlooked throughout the entire European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine, but now that Trapattoni has been sacked he has been named in the latest Ireland squad. “I’m delighted to see him back in it. He’s been different class. He’s brilliant to work with,” said McCarthy. “You’ve got Seamie (Seamus Coleman) and Gibbo and obviously Shane Duffy’s out on loan at the moment but he’s been in squads as well so it’s nice to have people in there who you get on with.” Gibson will also be relishing his return to the international fold after more than a year in the international wilderness. “Trapattoni’s command of English wasn’t such a big deal to us,” he said in a recent interview in Ireland. “In team talks he’d point to a screen and we’d get his message. But on the training field, there were times when we hadn’t a clue what he was on about. “The other major issue was his absence from club games. Most players wouldn’t be that bothered by the fact he was watching them on TV. “But from my perspective, it would have been nice to know he was watching, especially if I was going well.”

Feeling at home: Everton's top 10 scoring home debuts
2 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By David Prentice
After Lukaku's memorable start against Newcastle, we take a look back at who else wowed the Goodison faithful from the off
As home debuts go, Romelu Lukaku’s Monday night introduction to the Goodison faithful was eventful. Two goals, two more ruled out, a slick assist – and described by his manager as “A young man who has got everything.” The young Belgian has clearly been taken straight into the bosom of the Gwladys Street. But where does his performance rate in the list of all-time Everton goalscoring home debuts? Here’s David Prentice’s highly partial Top 10. Feel free to disagree, or make your own suggestions. Only criteria is that the player had to score on his home debut.
1. DUNCAN MCKENZIE - December 18 1976 v Birmingham City
It wasn’t just the two goals McKenzie scored against Birmingham City, it was the exhilarating sparkle he introduced to Billy Bingham’s mundane, struggling and functional side which made his home debut so special.
Everton were 13th in the table, with less points than matches played, and had just lost back-to-back league games 4-1, 3-0 and 4-2. Then McKenzie arrived. “Do a few tricks early on and the fans will love you,” advised Mick Lyons. He did – and they did, unconditionally. The Daily Post’s Charles Burgess summed it up beautifully. “As they do at this time of year they came in search of a star. They left having found Duncan McKenzie. “Yet, more important than the shining in places, of the New Instant Everton Hero, was that excitement and people returned to the Goodison portals.
“McKenzie had the crowd in ecstasy in the first few minutes as he went through his repertoire of flicks, wall passes, dummies and body swerves. He quietened down after that, performing occasionally, but with such obvious class and style that the crowd fell in love with him.”
Oh, and he scored twice and saw a chance of a a hat-trick denied by a saving challenge from, of all people, Birmingham’s Howard Kendall.
2. TONY COTTEE - August 27 1988 v Newcastle United
WHEN you’ve signed for a British record transfer fee a striker needs a goal quickly to silence any sceptics. Cottee took just 34 seconds to open his account, added another before half-time – and then became the first home debutant to celebrate a hat-trick for almost 25 years.
On a day when four expensive new signings made home debuts and Everton beat Newcastle 4-0, it was Cottee’s name who was on every Evertonian’s lips.
3. FRED PICKERING - March 14 1964 v Nottingham Forest
PERHAPS best remembered for a match he didn’t play in – the 1966 FA Cup final when the little known Mike Trebilcock took advantage of Pickering’s lack of match fitness to write his name into Evertonian folklore, the burly striker made an instant impact when he arrived at Goodison for a hefty £75,000 fee in March 1964. He scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of Forest and the Post’s Horace Yates enthused: “£75,000! Yes, and cheap at the price! With ordinary luck Pickering can prove to be the link to make Everton as well known and feared in Europe as they are in England.”
Sadly Fred wasn’t blessed with ordinary luck. “The ground echoed and re-echoed to the crowd’s adulation of a man who will surely fill the gap left by the departure from the scene of Dean and Lawton, as no man has ever plugged it in the interim,” he added. Despite an outstanding return of 70 goals in 115 appearances, Fred didn’t quite live up to that billing.
4. DUNCAN FERGUSON - August 23 2000 v Charlton Athletic
BIG DUNC took seven games to open his goalscoring account for the Blues in his first celebrated spell at Goodison.
But when the Tartan talisman “came home” in 2000 he took just 17 minutes. Introduced as a late substitute following an emotional homecoming from Newcastle, he struck twice in the last six minutes to complete a 3-0 victory over Charlton. Typical of Ferguson’s luck a crude challenge by Richard Rufus meant that he had to spend the next four months on the treatment table, but he had already announced his return in style.
5. JACK COCK - January 20 1923 v Stoke City
EVERTON were holding out for a hero in the immediate post-war years of the 1920s – and they found one in the charismatic Jack Cock. Signed from Chelsea, Everton beat Stoke 4-0 and the Football ECHO’s Saturday night headline said it all “Cock O’ The North Gets Goal in Big Win.”
An exultant ECHO correspondent declared: “In London they said very emphatically that Jack Cock had lost his confidence. He himself has said something similar – and he had reasons for saying it, too, for the crowd and others were unkind to him in his late Chelsea days. “However the fresh air of Wallasey, the golf-aid, and a few side bets with his plus four friend, Sam Chedgzoy, have brought him back to his best game judged by yesterday’s standard.
“When Cock made a sharp dribble and a shot the crowd went into the delight stage.”
6. JO - February 7 2009 v Bolton Wanderers
EVERTON had endured mixed fortunes with their attempts to introduce a Brazilian blend to their squad before Jo’s arrival on loan from Manchester City. The unfortunately injured Rodrigo and the shelved deal for Muller rendered Everton’s expriences more sombre than samba. But Jo swept away those memories with a stunning first goal and a confidently converted penalty.
“Such was the 21-year-old’s swagger that it left Everton fans bombarding the club’s website with pleas to sign him on a permanent basis,” reported the Daily Mail.
7. MARK WARD - August 20 1991 v Arsenal
A combative midfielder with an eye for a spectacular goal, Ward was the one who got away when Everton let him leave as a youngster. They eventually paid £1.1m to bring him back to the place he considered home – and he celebrated with an effervescent display against Arsenal that he later described as “the best performance of my career.” With striking talent like Peter Beardsley, Tony Cottee and Robert Warzycha on the pitch, Ward upstaged them all with two fierce strikes.
8. ALAN BILEY - August 29 1981 v Birmingham City
BLUES fans thought they had found a new striking hero when the impressively mulletted Alan Biley lobbed one over Jef Wealands to mark his home debut with a goal. He scored in his first away match, too, but his Goodison career sadly peaked there.
9. GARY SPEED - August 17 1996 v Newcastle United
NEWCASTLE so often seem to be on the receiving end of Everton home debutants – and when boyhood Blue Gary Speed rapped in Duncan Ferguson’s knockdown to seal a 2-0 victory it was a dream start for a player who would go on to captain the club he loved.
His Goodison spell later ended in acrimony, but that sunny August afternoon things couldn’t have been brighter in the Blues world.
10. BARRY HORNE, August 15 1992 v Sheffield Wednesday
“DON’T expect that to be a regular occurrence!” joked another boyhood Blue when he marked his home debut with an impressively finished rising drive.
Barry Horne was true to his word – but then his next goal was possibly one of the most significant in the club’s history – the wickedly swerving thunderbolt which drew Everton level against Wimbledon which secured the club’s top flight status in 1994.

The potential of Lukaku is scary - Jagielka
2 Oct 2013 Liverpool Daily Post
Lukaku has made a blistering start to his Goodison career having signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea last month. Phil Jagielka believes the potential of Romelu Lukaku is “scary” – and revealed he tries to steer clear of the on-fire Everton striker during training. Lukaku has made a blistering start to his Goodison career having signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea last month.
The Belgium international followed his winner at West Ham United last week by marking his first home start by netting twice and providing an assist for Ross Barkley in Monday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United. And Jagielka is confident the 20-year-old can develop into one of the Premier League’s most fearsome marksmen. “He has all the attributes to be a top-class player and he’s still quite a young boy,” said the Everton skipper. “When you look at him and he’s so physically well developed, you expect him to be in his late 20s but he’s just a young man. It makes it quite scary to think, really. “Possibly he makes the wrong decisions from time to time, but he’s got everything.
“His vision is superb too, he can hold players off, and he’s someone the other midfielders and attacking players love to play with. “He’s a fantastic acquisition for us. He’s a great player and has probably taken us up to that next level. If he can keep himself fit and keep himself confident, he could be great for us.” Jagielka admits Lukaku’s physical prowess and enthusiasm have led to some bruising battles during training at Finch Farm since his arrival. “He’s definitely a handful,” said the centre-back. “I try to stay away from him in training, to be honest! “He has all the attributes and he loves playing football, and if you put it all together then it can lead to some interesting days on the training pitch for us defenders.” Jagielka added: “He’s a real presence up front. First and foremost he’s a fantastic lad, on the pitch and the training field, he’s just desperate to do well.
“Can I see some of Didier Drogba in him? Definitely. But we’re not comparing him to anyone but himself. “Drogba doesn’t mean anything to us here at Everton. We know a lot about him of course, but we don’t want to draw comparisons. “Rom’s his own person, his own player, he’s got his own style. He plays a bit different, but I can see why people have made those comparisons – and at the end of the day it’s not a bad guy to be compared to. “Obviously he wasn’t quite getting a nod at Chelsea and that’s made him even hungrier than he was last season.” Lukaku scored 17 times in 38 appearances during a season-long loan at West Bromwich Albion last season and figured three times for Chelsea this campaign. But despite concerns over the form of his strikers, Stamford Bridge manager Jose Mourinho elected to allow Lukaku to leave on loan prompting Everton counterpart Roberto Martinez to pounce. “When you look at Chelsea they play with one up front,” said Jagielka. “They’ve just brought in Eto’o, they’ve got Torres and Ba, so it’s difficult. “They have an amazing squad but for whatever reason were not offering Rom as much football as he wanted.
“It makes a difference that he knows he’s going to play. I know that no-one is guaranteed a place, but if he keeps putting in those kind of performances it would take a brave man to drop him. For us that’s perfect. We want people who are hungry.” Meanwhile, 19-year-old midfielder Barkley has been recognised for his fine start to the season by being named Everton’s Player of the Month award for August.

Ian Snodin: Everton's the team that plays beautiful football
2 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
‘First’ impressions are so impressive
I thought that Monday’s first half performance against Newcastle was one of the best I’ve seen from an Everton team for a long, long time. Don’t get me wrong, I know that we had some great nights under David Moyes and some famous victories, but for 45 minutes on Monday we were bright, purposeful and playing the kind of fluent, passing football that I want to see Everton Football Club playing. The signs of progress in the philosophy Roberto Martinez wants to introduce are clear.
For the first few games we were passing the ball and keeping it, but not really making any significant inroads at the top end of the field. There were times when we were passing it for the sake of it.
But now we are starting to pass the ball more quickly, incisively and purposefully – and as a result we are starting to look like a much more dangerous team. That first half display against Newcastle was excellent. I know you have to take into consideration how poor Newcastle looked in the first half, but you can only beat what’s put in front of you and you have to also credit Everton’s performance for making Newcastle look bad. Conversely, when Newcastle got back into the game after half-time I think you have to credit the visitors for that rather than criticise Everton.
Yohan Cabaye – a very good player and one I couldn’t understand not being in the starting line-up to begin with – came on, scored a superb goal and helped Newcastle get more of a control in midfield.
I was at the match but watched it again when I got home afterwards on television and even though Newcastle were much more dangerous after the break, we still controlled long periods of the match and created decent scoring chances. And while Newcastle created a bit of nervousness with Loic Remy’s very late goal, we didn’t look to sit back and defend the lead but continued to try and take the game to them. And as a result Gerard Deulofeu created an excellent opportunity for himself which might have killed off the match. Like I said, I know it was a game of two halves, but the first half excellence easily outweighed the less impressive second half and gave plenty of cause for optimism for the future. Still unbeaten going into October is a very healthy state of affairs.
But even more impressive has been the improving quality of football.
Like I said at the outset, I haven’t enjoyed a half of football at Everton like Monday’s for a long, long time. Long may it continue!
It’s a tough Etihad test for ... City
A VISIT to Manchester City is usually a daunting trip – but we haven’t made it look like that.
On our last six visits to the Etihad we’ve won four, drawn one and lost just once.
So when people say Everton have a tough match on Saturday, I think you should also say Manchester City have a very tough match too! It may also be a reasonable time to go to City, with them entertaining Bayern Munich barely two-and-a half days earlier. It would have been even better if City had been travelling to Bavaria, but we shouldn’t get greedy! It will be a great opportunity for Darron Gibson to stake his claim for a recall, with Gareth Barry ineligible because of the terms of his loan agreement, but the fact we have such an influential player ready to step straight back in now underlines the strength of the squad at the moment. I looked at the bench on Monday and was reassured to see so many potential game-changers available. And that didn’t include players like Steven Pienaar, Bryan Oviedo and Tony Hibbert, a fantastic clubman and still a very good player who can do a job when called upon. City’s squad is phenomenal, but they know they’ll be in a match!
FOR many years now we’ve come to accept that Everton have got one of the best full-backs in the Premier League. But now I think we have to accept that we’ve got two. Seamus Coleman produced another outstanding performance against Newcastle. And that has been typical of his form over the past few months. He’s always been exciting going forward. Those attacking qualities are what persuaded David Moyes to bring him over from Sligo. But he’s improved more and more as a defender in recent years and I thought his performance in all areas on Monday for 90 minutes was exceptional. To keep a player of the quality of Hatem Ben Arfa quiet is difficult enough.
But to do that without sacrificing the penetration he brings at the other end of the field was hugely impressive. Seamus is still a young man, too, and will continue to improve.
He’s widely known to be a down-to-earth lad who is keen to learn and listens to advice which is given to him by his manager, coaches and team-mates. We already have Leighton Baines performing miracles down the left on a regular basis, now we have someone almost as good on the opposite flank.
Toon offer home comforts!
I KNOW all about explosive home debuts.
I was playing – coincidentally against Newcastle again – when Tony Cottee scored a hat-trick on his home debut back in 1988. And I thought Romelu Lukaku was going to repeat that feat against Newcastle this week. He’s a real handful, took his goals really well and at 20-years of age is still learning some of the tricks of the striking trade. He gave the ball away a couple of times in the second half – but if he carries on playing the way he did throughout his loan spell here I think we’ll accept that.
Signs of progress
I KNOW that plenty of Evertonians were apprehensive about the arrival of a new manager and a whole new playing philosophy at Everton after such a long period of stability and consistent top six or seven finishes.
That’s only to be expected.
I felt exactly the same way.
But after the second half display at West Ham and the first half display against Newcastle I think those apprehensions are starting to be swept away. It’s not just the victories that were so pleasing, but the signs of progress in the style of play.

Blue watch: Everton show they do have a plan B
3 Oct 2013 Liverpool Daily Post
By Nic Davies
The Blues put Newcastle to the sword
Monday night’s opening 45 minutes of play was as fluid an attacking spectacle as has been seen at Goodison in recent times. If the narrative of Everton’s opening three games was that our play was one dimensional and lacking penetration, then the story of the last three has been that we have the attacking options and fluidity to blow away any side in the league. The influence last month’s transfer deadline purchases have had on our fortunes cannot be underestimated. Romelu Lukaku’s display demonstrated the kind of pace, power and quality that we have not seen in equal measure from a forward for some time. In addition, his ability to push defenders back and play in Ross Barkley closer to goal in wider spaces was a delightful by-product. Everton’s dominance was significantly boosted by a midfield boasting great balance and composure on the ball in the shape of Gareth Barry and James McCarthy, whose rapid impact on the Toffees’ charge may have surpassed the dreams of even the most optimistic bluenose. Despite the Newcastle fightback, this was a really assured Everton display and one that showed we have a more direct ‘Plan B’ to accompany the possession-based game. It leaves us nicely ensconced in fourth spot with plenty of confidence going into the weekend trip to Manchester City. During his career City’s new boss Manuel Pellegrini has been the master underdog, taking a fairly ordinary Malaga to the brink of the UEFA Champions League semi-final last season – a feat he achieved with little-known Villarreal back in 2005 after controversially beating us over two legs in the qualifier. So far, City’s form has been rather patchy; at home it’s been ruthless with four wins and 15 goals from their four domestic games, but on the road they have registered just a solitary point. We have, of course, experienced great success against City home and away in recent years when we’ve compressed the centre and forced City to use the flanks knowing that they prefer to play through the middle. Their new variable is Jesus Navas, an old fashioned right-footed winger who provides the pace and width City have tended to lack to really stretch us. The Citizens have a weakness between their rather attack-minded central midfield duo and the central defensive axis where space tends to open up more, and if we can find Barkley in this zone enough times we have a great chance of getting something from the game. With City’s 100% home record and our status as the top flight’s only unbeaten team something has to give; and on current form it’d take a brave punter to bet against this Everton side.

Jagielka - youth great, but we need experience too
3 Oct 2013 Liverpool Daily Post
By Ian Doyle
Old heads vital to steer young players
Phil Jagielka believes an injection of youth has helped bolster the impressive start to Roberto Martinez’s reign as Everton FC manager. But the Goodison skipper insists the squad’s older generation still has an important role to play in continuing their unbeaten opening to the Premier League campaign. Martinez’s side can move alongside leaders Arsenal with victory at Manchester City on Saturday having earned a thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle United on Monday night.
On-loan Romelu Lukaku, 20, scored twice and 19-year-old Ross Barkley netted the first Goodison goal of his career, while 22-year-old James McCarthy started his first league match since his move from Wigan and teenage duo Gerard Deulofeu and John Stones emerged as second-half substitutes.
And although pleased Martinez has addressed the long-standing problem of an ageing squad, 31-year-old Jagielka has highlighted the need for experience within the team. “We have spent well and brought in players well, and it was important that that was largely put into young players,” said the England international. “Ross has needed time to bed in and a lot was expected of him, and still is.
“It’s important to have that youth bedding in, but we’ve still got a few old guys like myself in the team playing most weeks. That’s important. “Gerry (Deulofeu) came on and John Stones as well against Newcastle. It’s looking healthy in terms of the youth end of the spectrum and the manager is doing well by bringing them in slowly.” Jagielka, though, admits building for the future does not come cheap, and said: “To have bought Rom it would have been a hell of a lot of money, James was decent whack and Ross came through the youth team, so that helps.
“We haven’t been blessed by an awful lot of cash in the past although the Fellaini deal going through has freed up some money.” Everton earned a host of plaudits for their first-half performance on Monday in which they stormed into a three-goal lead and subsequently held off a belated Newcastle comeback. “We’re still knitting the squad together and when you look at the team against Newcastle, it’s quite a different way of playing now,” added Jagielka.
“The team’s a bit different, a bit newer and fresher. Hands up to the attacking players on Monday, they were a real handful, especially on the counter attack. “(Kevin) Mirallas, Rom, Ross again... it’s nice to have that firepower. Obviously we’re a bit gutted to concede two in the second half, though.” Martinez will have to change a winning formula as he seeks a fourth successive Premier League win this weekend at City with on-loan Gareth Barry ineligible to play against his parent club. Deulofeu, on loan from Barcelona, is moving nearer a first top-flight start having come off the bench in three of Everton’s last four league games. And Martinez said: “Every week he is getting stronger. He is the sort of player that can win you games. “He is still learning the differences of the two leagues and that is understandable – it is going to take time and we need to give him that time – but I am very pleased with his attitude and the way he takes opportunities every time he is on the pitch. “I will need to keep thinking about when to allow him to be on the pitch but I’m very excited by his talent and his potential to win games for Everton.”

Lukaku hoping to show compatriot Kompany who's boss
3 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’keefe
On-loan Blues forward relishing battle with Belgium international team-mate
Romelu Lukaku wants to show Vincent Kompany who’s boss on Saturday as he helps Everton maintain their unbeaten Premier League run. The 20-year-old striker is relishing the showdown with his international team-mate and Manchester City skipper, and hopes to take bragging rights into the international break with him. Belgium face Croatia in a crunch World Cup qualifier on October 11, and on-loan Toffees forward Lukaku is determined to do all he can to ensure the fourth-placed Blues remain the top flight’s only unbeaten club in the meantime. That will mean navigating a tricky visit to the Etihad stadium this weekend where City, who are in seventh spot after a mixed start under Manuel Pellegrini, will be looking to bounce back from their defeat by Aston Villa last time out.
And Lukaku, who bagged a brace on his full Goodison debut against Newcastle on Monday, wants to give Kompany & Co. and equally fraught afternoon in Manchester. He said: “I want to prove to everyone that I can be the boss. We have an important match in Manchester City. Hopefully we can go without defeat for the international break with Everton and then we’ll see what happens there.
“I look forward. I will just perform as well as possible and then the rest will automatically follow. If you just simply love football and you love yourself to the duties of your position then the rest come naturally. “Off the field I just stay professional. It’s about seeing that I work and observe the other teams as hard as possible and learn from them.” Lukaku is happy with his progress at club and country lately, and remains excited about the prospect of forging an attacking partnership for Belgium with Villa forward Christian Benteke. “You always want to play with the best players,” he said. “I would always play with Christian. Or he with me. We have put together a team and we all grow to one goal and that is the World Cup achievement. Hopefully we will do that.” Meanwhile, Phil Jagielka has confessed to doing his best to avoid Lukaku in training - because the powerful goal-scorer is so hard to handle. He said: “He’s definitely a handful. I try to stay away from him in training, to be honest! “He has all the attributes and he loves playing football, and if you put it all together, then it can lead to some interesting days on the training pitch for us defenders.
“He’s a real presence up front. Obviously he wasn’t quite getting the nod at Chelsea and that’s made him even hungrier than he was last season (when on loan at West Brom).
“He’s a fantastic acquisition for us. He’s a great player and has probably taken us up to that next level. If he can keep himself fit and keep himself confident, he could be great for us.”

Everton FC reveal new club crest
by Richard Buxton. Thu 03 Oct 2013 Liverpool Click
Everton have revealed the design of their new crest as chosen by the club's supporters.
Roberto Martinez confirmed the winning design, which will take effect at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, at Finch Farm this morning after fans had their say on the outcome of the Blues' emblem.
Liverpool-based consultants Kenyon Fraser were enlisted by Everton to collate and design three potential new badges to be put to the fan base after the current incarnation, introduced at the start of this summer, sparked widespread criticism for stripping away several key elements. Voting closed on Monday and the new design, a modernised take on their previously long-standing crest, secured the majority vote of 78% from over 13,000 registered members in an online poll. The elements controversially omitted from the current crest, notably the club's Latin motto of 'Nil Satis Nisi Optimum', have been restored in the design, which Everton believe is 'modern and clean but with a strong element of tradition'.

Blue Boys: George Green rewarded for top form with England U-18s call-up
3 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
17-year-old ready to make step up
George Green has been rewarded for his sparkling form for Everton so far this season with an England U-18s call-up. The 17-year-old forward, who was signed from Bradford City two years ago in a headline-grabbing move ahead of interest from Liverpool and Fulham, scored a hat-trick in Kevin Sheedy’s side’s 3-1 away win over West Brom on Saturday. Green slotted home two penalties either side of a superb individual strike from 25 yards to help the young Blues maintain their excellent recent run which has propelled them to second in the table with two games in hand on league leaders Manchester United. Green, who has also featured for Everton’s U-21s this term, is a second year scholar with the Blues, and his recent form has impressed Sheedy. He said: “He is playing regularly and having an impact in games by scoring goals and showing his undoubted potential. “He’s also training well and has worked hard. We know he is a good player and now he’s performing at the level we expect of him and we hope that can now continue. Hopefully this is just the start and there is plenty more to come from him. “The England U-18 selection will give him a big boost.” Green has been playing in a free role for the Toffees, drifting in from the left hand side and Sheedy added: “We want to get him on the ball as much as possible in games and causing trouble for opposition defences. “But also he is buying into the strong team ethic we have here which is very important. We were pleased with the performance from all our lads on Saturday although West Brom kept pushing and we have played better this season.”
Kevin Sheedy asks young stars to adapt in order to progress
EVERTON U-18s are asking their players to adapt in order to progress as they bid to become stars of the future. Kevin Sheedy wants his players to prove they can operate in more than one position, and believes that putting them out of their comfort zone will help them improve. Wales u-18 winger Gethin Jones is a right winger who has been impressing at right back for the Blues in recent weeks, and Sheedy wants his men to embrace the changes. He said: “The idea is that they are not just pigeon-holed in one role but can play a number of different ones because in the modern game you need that. We ask our strikers to play as wide men for a spell and so on, because they need to learn how positions around them operate. “Last season Matthew Pennington who is a centre back was excellent at right back.”

As it happened: Everton's new crest unveiled by Roberto Martinez
3 Oct 2013 09:19 Liverpool Echo
Relive our updates from Finch Farm as the EFC manager unveiled the new club crest
We'll have live updates from Everton FC's training ground Finch Farm as Roberto Martinez reveals the new EFC club crest for next season and beyond, chosen by public vote.
The EFC manager will also be discussing this weekend's game against Manchester City.
9:19 am
And that's that - Martinez has broken away for one to one sessions with journos. The upshot is that it is crest one which Evertonians will be sporting from next season. We'll have the full report and reaction soon
Everton FC crest option one
9:18 am
Barry helping McCarthy: That's a good point, he has made 500 appearances in the league and the way he is as a person is an incredible experience for the likes of Barkley and McCarthy. They can look up to him On the pitch McCarthy has developed a good chemistry with him and players like James will get better and learn so quick from someone like Gareth. That's invaluable.
9:16 am
Martinez: The start of the season, there has been a lot of talk. Three wins now, but we were disappointed with the performances for the first three. Overall I'm pleased with players' attitude, but it's too early to assess any reward as six games is a good start, but just set a good standard for the rest of the season. You fight for winning every game, you don't say anything else. You want to compete and win and I got that impression that in every game we did things well enough to do that, but you need to look forward and we have a huge and exciting challenge on Saturday and you will be tested
9:14 am
Martinez: I knew Barry would be out, but the influence he has had is big and we are excited to have him. On saturday it will be an opportunity for someone else and we are excited by that. he has been important for us, but there are players who can come in too with experience. It seems Gareth has been here for a long time - that's how comfortable he looks
9:13 am
More goals from free kicks - why is that: Well, the stats are there and I would say the quality of free kick takers is better. The league has been really open at the start of this season with a focus on attacking play. That gives an advantage to the taer, but you must take quality of players into account.
Leighton Baines is the master at it.
9:12 am
Hoping Darron Gibson will be ready, while Kevin Mirallas is 50/50. Will be without Barry owing to the loan deal. Alcaraz has had a setback in training, but back on the road to recovery
9:11 am
We have a really important game on Saturday - yiou can approach it as a final ahead of the international break. No manager will welcome international breaks and I'm no different.
Ross Barkley won't need a break. He has been waiting for this opportunity and will enjoy every second. he has a terrific energy and this is showing through.
9:10 am
We try to win every game and this is no different. This is the same situation - players fighting for their places and that brings a pessure we welcome to push our performance to the maximum.
Asked about Lukaku Juventus link: That's the first I've heard, but what matters is he is enjoying his football. His understanding and relations is impressive and we're looking forward to that growing
9:08 am
Manchester City are very different now to last season, with different ideas and a different manager. It will be a new challenge. Everton have a good record against City, which from a mental point of view helps to start performance in the right level. It's important to have that in our heads
9:07 am
We need to look to ourselves - only the best will be good enough against Manchester City. Watching Bayern last night, you see they are Euro champs for a reason and have gone to the next level. You have to admire the way they are playing and taking their football to a new degree. They werte magnificent, which is nothing against Manchester City
9:06 am
It's always a great motivation to carry on unbeaten. Saturday will be a tough challenge, but we embrace that and look forward to it, knowing we'll have to be at our best
9:05 am
On start of the season: Only six games, but a good start. Young generation with talent pushing hard to play an important role, alongside older heads. We've performed home and away and that's a good start
9:05 am
We took everything on board and this was the right result.
9:04 am
Roberto Martinez says Evertonians will be happy and there has been good work for the club to come up with something that pleases everyone. The badge means everything and can bring the image of your football club in a single image
Straight away you can see icons which represent the club through history
9:03 am
And the winning crest is number one - 78% voted for it

Mark Lawrenson: Why would Chelsea let Lukaku go out on loan?
3 Oct 2013 Liverpool Daily Post
Plus, Lawro's verdict on David Moyes' poisoned chalice, and Brendan Rodgers' centre-back u-turn
Every time Romelu Lukaku pulls on an Everton shirt, he makes Jose Mourinho look a bit daft.
When you consider the trials and tribulations Mourinho is having with his strikers at present, it makes it all the more bizarre he allowed Lukaku to leave Chelsea on loan.
Not that Everton will be too bothered. Lukaku appears to be in the Duncan Ferguson mould in that he can lift the crowd simply by being on the pitch. He is that type of player. Everton love a big centre forward. Think Joe Royle, Graeme Sharp, Ferguson and now Lukaku. The Belgian has won over the crowd already with three goals in as many games. He was fantastic in the first half against Newcastle, but that he again dropped off significantly in the last half-hour underlines how he still needs to build up his fitness and stamina. But, at just 20, that will come. If injury-free, he will be playing regular football at Everton this season and he is only going to get better.
It’s another indication of how well Roberto Martinez performed in the summer transfer window.
I said when the Spaniard took over it would be an extremely difficult job following David Moyes, but Martinez has given himself a great chance with the players he has brought in and let go.
Martinez has lowered the average age of the squad, eased the debt, increased the depth of the squad and improved the first team. It’s debatable he could have done any more.
That’s why Everton are still unbeaten and stand only three points behind leaders Arsenal. Early days, yes, but Martinez is making the right decisions so far in terms of Premier League progress.
Keeping hold of Leighton Baines was always going to be the main aim during the summer. But how many Evertonians are overly bothered Marouane Fellaini has departed? I’d be surprised if it’s very many. Everton may have beaten Chelsea last month but, for me, the first proper test of the Martinez era comes at Manchester City this weekend. City are the title favourites and, while they have had their struggles on the road, they have generally rolled teams over at the Etihad.
It’s a blow Gareth Barry is ineligible. But what might be in Everton’s favour is that City will have played a big Champions League match against Bayern Munich less than 72 hours earlier.
New City manager Manuel Pellegrini is clearly under orders to guide City out of the group stages, and that has come at a cost of consistent Premier League form. Everton have been something of a jinx for City in recent times, and if Martinez’s side emerge unscathed then perhaps people will start talking about a top seven rather than a top six. The fixture will also be a test of Martinez’s philosophy. It’ll be interesting to see how he plays it. Will he still use the same attack-minded approach? I can’t see Everton going to City and not wanting to carry a goalscoring threat. Martinez has never been one to go anywhere and put 10 players behind the ball. That’s not his way. He never did that at Wigan. And I’d be surprised if he ever does that at Everton.

Everton FC Transfer Rumour Mill: Juventus target Blues loan star Lukaku, United to make fresh Baines bid, Martinez scouts goalkeeper Kjetil Haug
3 Oct 2013 Peter Guy
Everton linked with highly rated young goalkeeper as Italian eye Blues striker
Everton FC transfer speculation today sees the Blues linked with young goalkeeper Kjetil Haug.
The 15-year-old has had a recent trial with the Premier League champions Manchester United but the Blues boss Roberto Martinez is also monitoring the youngster. Haug, who plays for Norwegian side Sarpsborg, was happy with how his spell at United went, saying: "The experience has been fantastic." Meanwhile, Italian champions Juventus are targeting Everton loan striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku, 20, has been loaned out for the season for a second successive season by Chelsea and that has alerted Juve. The striker has proved a revelation so far for Everton scoring three in two games for the Goodison Park side. Finally, Manchester United will make a fresh bid for Leighton Baines in the January transfer window, but the Everton star will be expected to submit a transfer request to force the move. The Premier League champions made a £15 million offer for Baines in the summer but Everton refused the bid and demanded £20m for the England international.
Baines is under contract until 2015 with Everton being prepared to double his salary to around £75,000-a-week.

Mark Lawrenson: Romelu Lukaku making Jose Mourinho look daft
2 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
EFC striker looks a class apart
Every time Romelu Lukaku pulls on an Everton shirt, he makes Jose Mourinho look a bit daft.
When you consider the trials and tribulations Mourinho is having with his strikers at present, it makes it all the more bizarre he allowed Lukaku to leave Chelsea on loan. Not that Everton will be too bothered. Lukaku appears to be in the Duncan Ferguson mould in that he can lift the crowd simply by being on the pitch. He is that type of player. Everton love a big centre-forward. Think Joe Royle, Graeme Sharp, Ferguson and now Lukaku. The Belgian has won over the crowd already with three goals in as many games. He was fantastic in the first half against Newcastle, but that he again dropped off significantly in the last half-hour underlines how he still needs to build up his fitness and stamina. But, at just 20, that will come. If injury-free, he will be playing regular football at Everton this season and he is only going to get better. It’s another indication of how well Roberto Martinez performed in the summer transfer window. I said when the Spaniard took over it would be an extremely difficult job following David Moyes, but Martinez has given himself a great chance with the players he has brought in and let go. Martinez has lowered the average age of the squad, eased the debt, increased the depth of the squad and improved the first team. It’s debatable he could have done any more. That’s why Everton are still unbeaten and stand only three points behind leaders Arsenal. Early days, yes, but Martinez is making the right decisions so far in terms of Premier League progress. Keeping hold of Leighton Baines was always going to be the main aim during the summer. But how many Evertonians are overly bothered Marouane Fellaini has departed? I’d be surprised if it’s very many. Everton may have beaten Chelsea last month but, for me, the first proper test of the Martinez era comes at Manchester City this weekend.
City are the title favourites and, while they have had their struggles on the road, they have generally rolled teams over at the Etihad. It’s a blow Gareth Barry is ineligible. But what might be in Everton’s favour is that City will have played a big Champions League match against Bayern Munich less than 72 hours earlier. New City manager Manuel Pellegrini is clearly under orders to guide his charges out of the group stages, and that has come at a cost of consistent Premier League form.
Everton have been something of a jinx for City in recent teams, and if Martinez’s side emerge unscathed then perhaps people will start talking about a top seven rather than a top six.
The fixture will also be a test of Martinez’s philosophy. It’ll be interesting to see how he plays it. Will he still use the same attack-minded approach? I can’t see Everton going to City and not wanting to carry a goal-scoring threat. Martinez has never been one to go anywhere and put 10 players behind the ball. That’s not his way. He never did that at Wigan. And I’d be surprised if he ever does that at Everton.

Youth great but we need experience too - Jagielka
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Daily Post
By Ian Doyle
Goodison skipper insists squad’s older generation still has important role to play in continuing unbeaten start
Phil Jagielka believes an injection of youth has helped bolster the impressive start to Roberto Martinez’s reign as Everton FC manager. But the Goodison skipper insists the squad’s older generation still has an important role to play in continuing their unbeaten opening to the Premier League campaign. Martinez’s side can move alongside leaders Arsenal with victory at Manchester City on Saturday having earned a thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle United on Monday night.
On-loan Romelu Lukaku, 20, scored twice and 19-year-old Ross Barkley netted the first Goodison goal of his career, while 22-year-old James McCarthy started his first league match since his move from Wigan and teenage duo Gerard Deulofeu and John Stones emerged as second-half substitutes.
And although pleased Martinez has addressed the long-standing problem of an ageing squad, 31-year-old Jagielka has highlighted the need for experience within the team. “We have spent well and brought in players well, and it was important that that was largely put into young players,” said the England international. “Ross has needed time to bed in and a lot was expected of him, and still is.
“It’s important to have that youth bedding in, but we’ve still got a few old guys like myself in the team playing most weeks. That’s important. “Gerry (Deulofeu) came on and John Stones as well against Newcastle. It’s looking healthy in terms of the youth end of the spectrum and the manager is doing well by bringing them in slowly.” Jagielka, though, admits building for the future does not come cheap, and said: “To have bought Rom it would have been a hell of a lot of money, James was decent whack and Ross came through the youth team, so that helps. “We haven’t been blessed by an awful lot of cash in the past although the Fellaini deal going through has freed up some money.”
Everton earned a host of plaudits for their first-half performance on Monday in which they stormed into a three-goal lead and subsequently held off a belated Newcastle comeback. “We’re still knitting the squad together and when you look at the team against Newcastle, it’s quite a different way of playing now,” added Jagielka. “The team’s a bit different, a bit newer and fresher. Hands up to the attacking players on Monday, they were a real handful, especially on the counter attack.
“(Kevin) Mirallas, Rom, Ross again... it’s nice to have that firepower. Obviously we’re a bit gutted to concede two in the second half, though.” Martinez will have to change a winning formula as he seeks a fourth successive Premier League win this weekend at City with on-loan Gareth Barry ineligible to play against his parent club. Deulofeu, on loan from Barcelona, is moving nearer a first top-flight start having come off the bench in three of Everton’s last four league games.
And Martinez said: “Every week he is getting stronger. He is the sort of player that can win you games. “He is still learning the differences of the two leagues and that is understandable – it is going to take time and we need to give him that time – but I am very pleased with his attitude and the way he takes opportunities every time he is on the pitch. “I will need to keep thinking about when to allow him to be on the pitch but I’m very excited by his talent and his potential to win games for Everton.”

Martinez says Everton's defence is rock solid
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
The case for the defence is rock-solid at Everton FC according to Roberto Martinez.
But the Everton boss knew he was inheriting two of the most reliable central defenders around in Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin when he took the Goodison reigns in the summer.
What has pleased him more, says the Catalan, is the way both have adapted to his new expansive approach of playing from the back – and seeing plenty more of the ball – without losing their steadfast solidity. “They have been incredible to adjusting to having so much of the ball,” says the Blues boss. “It’s about taking responsibility for different ways of playing and starting the play from the back. “They have been the solid rocks of this squad for a long time and this season they’ve really embraced changing the way we start the play and been incredible ambassadors for this project.”
Martinez is still excited about his defensive options being boosted further by the eventual return of summer signing Antolin Alcaraz, who is still having to be patient as he bids to fully recover from a groin problem which has prevented him from making hid competitive debut for the Blues. “It has been frustrating for all of us but him especially,” he says after revealing that the centre back faces a further month on the sidelines. “He joined a new club, had a really good summer and pre-season then his groin started troubling him. He was trying to get match fitness and it got worse. “Now he needs to build that frustration into something positive in the end. I think he’ll be a huge player for our squad and this frustration will help in the long-run. He can’t wait to impress the fans, and to help the team. It’s been a hard time for him.” Martinez is at least hoping Darron Gibson and Kevin Mirallas will shake off injuries to be available for the game at Manchester City tomorrow. Gibson’s knee and Mirallas’ ankle are the primary injury concerns for the Blues boss. Mirallas twisted his ankle during the win over Newcastle on Monday, a game which Gibson missed because of a recurrence of his knee problem. The Etihad Stadium clash could come too soon for Steven Pienaar, however. “We hope that Darron is going to be fit,” Martinez says. “We have a bit of doubt with his knee from the previous knock that he had. “Kevin Mirallas is still a concern and I would say he is 50-50 for the weekend. Obviously he was able to stay on the pitch but he has got a twisted ankle (against Newcastle). Another player with a watching brief tomorrow lunchtime will be Gareth Barry, as the on-loan midfielder is unable to face his parent club under Premier League rules. And the 32-year-old, who has enjoyed a sparkling start to his career at Goodison Park, admits is rotten timing. “It’s come at a really bad time for me,” says Barry. “In terms of fitness, you want to keep that run of games going because the fitter you get the easier the games become and the more you can get into your stride. “It’s a tough one because the international break is straight after so it could be a three-week gap without a game which isn’t ideal. I’ll work hard to keep the levels up in between.” As a Manchester City player, Barry twice suffered defeat against Everton at the Etihad Stadium. He also was involved in last season’s 1-1 draw between the sides at the start of December. The Toffees have lost just one of their last eight matches against the Citizens – and the former Aston Villa man will be happy to provide any inside knowledge to help that sequence continue. “The lads will know enough about the team [Manchester City] without my input but if anybody needs advice they can ask me,” he adds. “They’ll be expecting a tough game because Manchester City have shown that at home they are a tough team to beat. The couple of performances they have put in [in the Premier League] have been brilliant, especially the Newcastle game. To beat Manchester United in the derby – they played some fantastic stuff. “We are going to have to play a really top game to get a result at the Etihad but we are capable of doing it. “They [Everton] have always been tough to beat when I was on the other end of it. If the manager [Martinez] sets the team up as hard to play against but try and create problems for them at the other end then I’m sure we are capable of getting a result there. “The manager won’t be too defensive – he will go there and want the lads to play their normal game and create problems [for Manchester City]. “I’m looking forward to watching the game. It should be good.”

Martinez praises his dynamic duo
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Everton FC full backs are best partnership in league
Roberto Martinez believes Everton FC have the most complete full-back pairing in the Premier League. The Toffees boss reckons few clubs in the top flight can match the defensive solidity and attacking prowess offered by Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman, two players he credits massively with helping the club remain unbeaten so far this season. England left-back Baines grabbed the headlines with a brace of spectacular free-kicks in the Blues’ last league away game against West Ham, and Coleman was in outstanding form during the 3-2 victory over Newcastle on Monday.And Martinez, who is plotting his side’s trip to Manchester City tomorrow, insists that they represent the perfect blend of modern full-backs. He said: “There aren’t many clubs that have as good full backs as Everton. That’s been one of the features of our team so far this season. “Having Leighton and Seamus rightly gets a lot of attention for their attacking ability but defensively they both cope with the transition in games as good as anyone I’ve seen. “It gives you such a solid outlook. Leighton is in his prime with experience and maturity. Then Seamus balances that with a real desire to break new ground for himself and go to another level. It’s a special balance which we benefit from hugely.”
Martinez admits he is still staggered by the bargain £60,000 price his predecessor David Moyes paid for Republic of Ireland international Coleman. “It’s a clear example of what a market there is in Ireland and how patient the football club has been with his development and now the end product is a success,” he said. “I thought he gave a complete performance against Newcastle. It was a joy to watch. “He has a bit of everything. You don’t get complete players much in the modern game who can defend, get on the ball, run all day and then have the composure in the final third to assist or score. But Seamus has all of that and he’s in a great moment.” After the City game, Baines will join team-mates Ross Barkley and Phil Jagielka in the England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland. Barkley, who was this week named Everton’s Player of the Month for August, made his Three Lions debut as a substitute in the 4-0 victory against Moldova in September and his promising early-season form has resulted in another senior call-up. Jagielka and Baines have won 21 and 19 senior caps respectively and will be looking to add to that tally in the Wembley double-header. “It’s pleasing to be involved for two such important games,” said Jagielka. “I’ve managed to play quite a few of the recent games and obviously it’s crunch time now, so hopefully we can get two positive results and book our ticket to Brazil in the summer.” Meanwhile, John Stones has been included in the England Under-21s squad for the Euro 2015 qualifiers against San Marino and Lithuania. Academy duo Ryan Ledson and Jonjoe Kenny are in line for more Under-17 caps as Head Coach John Peacock prepares for three European Championship qualifiers. The pair could feature against Armenia on October 24, with fixtures against Gibraltar two days later and Republic of Ireland on 29 October. All three games will be played in Armenia.

Defenders' development delights Martinez
4 Oct 2013 Daily Post
Stoppers becoming creators under new manager's masterplan
Roberto Martinez has praised his centre back partnership for keeping Everton's defence rock solid
The Everton boss knew he was inheriting two of the most reliable central defenders around in Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin when he took the Goodison reigns in the summer. What has pleased him more, says the Catalan, is the way both have adapted to his new expansive approach of playing from the back – and seeing plenty more of the ball – without losing their stead-fast solidity.
“They have been incredible to adjusting to having so much of the ball,” says the Blues boss. “It’s about taking responsibility for different ways of playing and starting the play from the back.
“They have been the solid rocks of this squad for a long time and this season they’ve really embraced changing the way we start the play and been incredible ambassadors for this project.”
Martinez is still excited about his defensive options being boosted further by the eventual return of summer signing Antolin Alcaraz, who is still having to be patient as he bids to fully recover from a groin problem which has prevented him from making hid competitive debut for the Blues.
“It has been frustrating for all of us but him especially,” he says after revealing that the centre back faces a further month on the sidelines. “He joined a new club, had a really good summer and pre-season then his groin started troubling him. He was trying to get match fitness and it got worse.
“Now he needs to build that frustration into something positive in the end. I think he’ll be a huge player for our squad and this frustration will help in the long-run. He can’t wait to impress the fans, and to help the team. It’s been a hard time for him.” Martinez is at least hoping Darron Gibson and Kevin Mirallas will shake off injuries to be available for the game at Manchester City tomorrow.
Gibson’s knee and Mirallas’ ankle are the primary injury concerns for the Blues boss.
Mirallas twisted his ankle during the win over Newcastle on Monday, a game which Gibson missed because of a recurrence of his knee problem. The Etihad Stadium clash could come too soon for Steven Pienaar, however. “We hope that Darron is going to be fit,” Martinez says. “We have a bit of doubt with his knee from the previous knock that he had. “Kevin Mirallas is still a concern and I would say he is 50-50 for the weekend. Obviously he was able to stay on the pitch but he has got a twisted ankle (against Newcastle). Another player with a watching brief tomorrow lunchtime will be Gareth Barry, as the on-loan midfielder is unable to face his parent club under Premier League rules. And the 32-year-old, who has enjoyed a sparkling start to his career at Goodison Park, admits it is rotten timing. “It’s come at a really bad time for me,” says Barry. “In terms of fitness, you want to keep that run of games going because the fitter you get the easier the games become and the more you can get into your stride. “It’s a tough one because the international break is straight after so it could be a three-week gap without a game which isn’t ideal. I’ll work hard to keep the levels up in between.” As a Manchester City player, Barry twice suffered defeat against Everton at the Etihad Stadium. He also was involved in last season’s 1-1 draw between the sides at the start of December. The Toffees have lost just one of their last eight matches against the Citizens – and the former Aston Villa man will be happy to provide any inside knowledge to help that sequence continue. “The lads will know enough about the team [Manchester City] without my input but if anybody needs advice they can ask me,” he adds. “They’ll be expecting a tough game because Manchester City have shown that at home they are a tough team to beat. The couple of performances they have put in [in the Premier League] have been brilliant, especially the Newcastle game. To beat Manchester United in the derby – they played some fantastic stuff.
“We are going to have to play a really top game to get a result at the Etihad but we are capable of doing it. They [Everton] have always been tough to beat when I was on the other end of it. If the manager [Martinez] sets the team up as hard to play against but try and create problems for them at the other end then I’m sure we are capable of getting a result there. “The manager won’t be too defensive – he will go there and want the lads to play their normal game and create problems [for Manchester City]. “I’m looking forward to watching the game. It should be good.”

Martinez hails Blues' full-backs
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Post
Toffees boss: 'There aren’t many clubs that have as good full backs as Everton. That’s been one of the features of our team so far this season.'
Roberto Martinez believes Everton have the most complete full-back pairing in the Premier League.
The Toffees boss reckons few clubs in the top flight can match the defensive solidity and attacking prowess offered by Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman, two players he credits massively with helping the club remain unbeaten so far this season. England left-back Baines grabbed the headlines with a brace of spectacular free-kicks in the Blues last league away game against West Ham, and Coleman was in outstanding form during the 3-2 victory over Newcastle on Monday.
And Martinez, who is plotting his side’s trip to Manchester City tomorrow, insists that they represent the perfect blend of modern full-backs. He said: “There aren’t many clubs that have as good full backs as Everton. That’s been one of the features of our team so far this season. “Having Leighton and Seamus rightly gets a lot of attention for their attacking ability but defensively they both cope with the transition in games as good as anyone I’ve seen. “It gives you such a solid outlook. Leighton is in his prime with experience and maturity. “Then Seamus balances that with a real desire to break new ground for himself and go to another level. It’s a special balance which we benefit from hugely.”
Martinez admits he is still staggered by the bargain £60,000 price his predecessor David Moyes paid for Ireland international Coleman. “It’s a clear example of what a market there is in Ireland and how patient the football club has been with his development and now the end product is a success,” he said. “I thought he gave a complete performance against Newcastle. It was a joy to watch.
“He has a bit of everything. You don’t get complete players much in the modern game who can defend, get on the ball, run all day and then have the composure in the final third to assist or score.
“But Seamus has all of that and he’s in a great moment.” After the City game, Baines will join team-mates Ross Barkley and Phil Jagielka in the England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland. Barkley, who was this week named Everton’s Player of the Month for August, made his Three Lions debut as a substitute in the 4-0 victory against Moldova in September and his promising early-season form has resulted in another senior call-up.
Jagielka and Baines have won 21 and 19 senior caps respectively and will be looking to add to that tally in the Wembley double-header. “It’s pleasing to be involved for two such important games,” said Jagielka. “I’ve managed to play quite a few of the recent games and obviously it’s crunch time now, so hopefully we can get two positive results and book our ticket to Brazil in the summer.”
Meanwhile, Everton’s John Stones has been included in the England under-21s squad for the Euro 2015 qualifiers against San Marino and Lithuania.

City focus: Why Everton are the Blues' bogey side
4 Oct 2013Manchester Evening News
Manchester City have been given more than their fair share of trouble by Everton in recent seasons - check out an analysis of the two sides recent meetings.
In recent years Everton have been Manchester City's bogey side.
Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992/93, these two teams have played each other 32 times with Everton winning 17, Manchester City winning 10, and five draws. The record is more impressive for the Toffees in the last few years as they have won nine of the last 12 matches.
So, what is the reason for this apparent dominance for the Merseysiders? Some would say luck whilst others would point to David Moyes's style of play. Here are five of the most recent matches and possible reasons for City's failings.
1. December 13 2008: Man City 0-1 Everton
Everton came into this game off the back of an injury time loss to Aston Villa and they turned the tables on Manchester City in dramatic fashion. Tim Cahill scored at Eastlands deep into injury time as City could not break down a depleted Everton who were unable to field any fit strikers, Cahill filling in admirably. You could say that City were to blame for their own downfall as Richard Dunne gave away a needless corner and Cahill stooped to head Leon Osman's cross past the helpless Joe Hart. City did have their chances and Sean Wright-Phillips managed to strike the bar, but Everton stood firm and hit City when it mattered most.
2. March 24 2010: Man City 0-2 Everton
City lost this one to another Tim Cahill header and a late goal from Mikel Arteta, who settled it once and for all in the 85th minute.
As often seen with Everton, they scored the first goal thanks to Cahill and then defended for their lives. City were also unbeaten at home before losing this one, so how did they do it?
The foundation was the solid defensive displays from Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka, as well as Johnny Heitinga who stopped the supply line. Simple, but effective.
3. December 20 2010: Man City 1-2 Everton
Ten man Everton held City at Eastlands and denied them the chance to go top of the table at Christmas for the first time since 1929. What did Everton have this time? They had lucky charm Tim Cahill to thank yet again as he scored in his third consecutive game at the home of City, pouncing after four minutes and setting up Leighton Baines for the second. Everton also had a player sent off which gave them an excuse to pack the defence.
4. December 1 2012: Man City 1-1 Everton
City had to rely on a controversial penalty to get something out of this game. Inevitably, they fell behind to a Marouane Fellaini header from a Leighton Baines cross, but Fellaini became the villain of the story as he was adjudged to have tugged Edin Dzeko's shirt, and Carlos Tevez converted from the spot. Credit for the draw was given to the battling Everton defence, who continued their fine run against City snuffing out the dual thread of Tevez and Dzeko. This prolonged City's unbeaten run at home to 37 games, and the last team to beat them were Everton two years earlier.
5. March 16 2013: Everton 2-0 Man City
This was the last meeting between these two sides when it was David Moyes vs Roberto Mancini, and it was another game where Everton were reduced to ten men and still managed to come away with a win. City were still harbouring slim title chances, but these were all but extinguished by Leon Osman who curled in a 30 yarder to stun City. Steven Pienaar was sent off on the hour, but City could not respond as they missed the influential Yaya Toure and did not look comfortable playing three centre backs. Moyes won his sixth game out of eight against Mancini. Did he simply understand the tactics needed to beat City?

David Prentice: Will Lukaku be more than a holiday romance?
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By David Prentice
Striker looks set to leave, but who knows what football magic can bring
Evertonians can be a passionate lot. And watching Romelu Lukaku at the moment is a little like the bitter sweet sensation of a holiday romance. It’s exciting, intriguing, sets the heart racing – but you know it’s not going to last. In just two brief appearances Everton’s on-loan young striker has already looked like that rarest of beasts – a proper Everton number nine. He boasts pace, power, touch, tactical awarenesss – and a voracious appetite for goals. Which is why a club with pockets as deep as Chelsea’s holds his registration and he is likely to head back there next spring.
But football can change in a heartbeat. Goals change games – and careers too. And a goal thundered into the Gwladys Street net seven games into the loan spell of another Everton centre-forward changed his career for good and ignited a love affair which shows no signs of fading even today. Duncan Ferguson joined Everton in October 1994 (no transfer window to worry about then) to escape the goldfish bowl of Glasgow with an SFA charge hanging over his head.
A few hours after his debut at Portsmouth, when he sat on a hotel couch with his ankle heavily strapped and iced, I asked him: “Do you think you’ll stay longer than three-months?”
“I wouldnae thought so,” he shrugged. A month later something changed when he walked off that Goodison Park pitch with adoring Evertonians hanging from his arms and shoulders.
He’s still here now, cherished by Blues fans of a certain vintage, sporting a tattoo of the club crest on his shoulder – and now making a significant impact as a forward thinking coach. Roberto Martinez has already spoken of the “terrific chemistry” between Lukaku and the Everton fans.
Who knows where this “holiday romance” may go?

Howard Kendall: Everton were as good as my 1980s team against Newcastle
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
Electric atmosphere at Goodison was joy to see
The biggest compliment I can pay Roberto Martinez is that Everton’s performance during the first half against Newcastle on Monday night was the best I’ve seen in a long while.
At times, the way the Blues were dominating and moving the ball around was reminiscent of our golden era when we were winning titles and trophies in the 1980s. At half time I bumped into Bill Kenwright who was beaming. He asked Sammy Lee what he thought, and Sammy said: “Not bad.” Nobody could believe his assessment was so terse. I had to make sure I got my say in and told Bill straight it was wonderful stuff. The fans recognised that too because the atmosphere was electric. They knew they were being royally entertained. Of course the trick is to play like that for 90 minutes and that is very difficult. The opposition were always going to have a spell in the second half and they even had an opportunity to make it 3-3 near the end which would really have been an injustice. By then Romelu Lukaku had began to tire. In the first half he was rampant.
The big striker was sprinting everywhere and doing everything right, but by the second half those sprints had turned into jogs and I thought it was the right time to bring on Nikica Jelavic.
Perhaps Martinez was leaving Lukaku on to get his hat-trick. There were 10 men of the match on the pitch but if you forced me to pick one I’d go for the same man as in the win over Chelsea – Gareth Barry. Being an ex-midfielder I always watch that position closely and Barry is a really classy performer. He’ll be missed tomorrow.

Gibson in race to replace ineligible Barry for City clash
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
Manchester City v Everton: Team news for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League
Everton FC's on-loan midfielder Gareth Barry is ineligible to face parent club Manchester City in Saturday's lunchtime Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium. Darron Gibson could provide the replacement but Everton FC manager Roberto Martinez is unsure whether he will be fit as he is still suffering some after-effects from a knee injury. Forward Kevin Mirallas (ankle) is rated 50-50 while it is still too early for Steven Pienaar to return from a hamstring injury.
Everton FC: Howard, Coleman, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, McCarthy, Osman, Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku, Jelavic, Robles, Heitinga, Gibson, Stones, Oviedo, Kone, Deulofeu, Mirallas.

Everton boss hails Barry boost
4 Oct 2013 Manchester Evening News
Everton boss Roberto Martinez reckons Gareth Barry is having a superb impact for the high-flying Toffees - but he can't play against the Blues on Saturday.
The calming presence of Gareth Barry may be missing against Manchester City but his influence has already rubbed off on team-mates, according to Everton manager Roberto Martinez.
Barry has slotted seamlessly into the Toffees' midfield since his loan move late in the transfer window, but he is ineligible to play against his parent club at the the Etihad Stadium.
It is a match when the former England international's vast experience would have been in demand, but Martinez is keen to focus on the positives and how the Barry effect has filtered out to the rest of the squad, particularly the impressionable youngsters. "There has been a lot of talk about his 500 appearances in the Premier League (chalked up in Monday's win over Newcastle) which is an incredible stat and shows the experience he has," said the Spaniard. "But the way he is as a human being is an incredible influence for players like James McCarthy, Ross Barkley up to a point - players who can look up to someone who has been through many experiences and can give some sort of calm influence. "On the pitch I thought James McCarthy developed a good chemistry with Gareth.
"In the second half against West Ham he did that straight away and he grew even bigger against Newcastle. "Players like James and Ross are going to get stronger and better and learn so quickly from someone like Gareth - he adds to the development of our youngsters, which is invaluable really. "I was always aware (of his ineligibility against City) so we need to accept it will be a period when he can recover, have a breather and get ready for the next game. "What matters is not what you are going to miss with Gareth, it is the opposite: (it is) what he is bringing already and the influence he has had in the dressing room and the games and how excited we are to have him for the rest of the season. "It will be a great opportunity for someone else and I think as a team you welcome those opportunities. "I think we have enough experience to do that but obviously Gareth has been very influential and it seems he has been at Everton for a long time - that is how comfortable he looks with the team." Martinez watched City get taken apart by European champions Bayern Munich in midweek with some admiration. However, he does not think it will have any effect on their game against Manuel Pellegrini's side. "Bayern are European champions for a reason and they have gone to the next level now," he said. "For anyone who plays against Bayern it is going to be the biggest football test at club level and you have to admire the way they are playing. "They are taking possession football into a new degree and I thought they were magnificent. "There is never a good or bad time because when you play a top side you know they are going to be ready on the day, they have a really good squad and can make changes and refresh it if they need to. "We know we will have to be at our best but we will embrace that challenge, and we look forward to facing Man City in their own backyard because, in my eyes, they are title challengers this season. "We need to look to ourselves. Only the best can be a good enough performance against Manchester City."

Martinez targets Man City's suspect defence in bid to extend run
4 Oct 2013 Liverpool Daily Post
Everton FC aim to preserve their unbeaten Premier League record when they visit Manchester City
Roberto Martinez has urged his Everton FC team to target Manchester City’s wobbly defence – but admits it will take a “perfect” display to extend the hoodoo over their North West rivals.
Martinez’s men aim to preserve their unbeaten Premier League record when visiting a City side that has conceded six goals in the past week after following defeat at Aston Villa with a Champions League mauling at home to Bayern Munich. Everton have enjoyed a remarkable recent record against their Manchester neighbours, winning nine of their last 12 meetings with four victories coming at the Etihad. And Martinez – who guided old club Wigan Athletic to a shock FA Cup final success by taking the game to City in May – has no intention of parking the bus against the title favourites. “You need to be able to be yourself and that will be important at City,” said the Spaniard. “If you think you just need to defend well and defend for 90 minutes, it’s impossible to do that.
“We’ll have to be perfect defensively and have to carry a threat so it’s one of those performances that you need to concentrate on yourself more than the opposition. “Sometimes you get too carried away thinking about the threat of the opposition and you nullify yourself. We have to realise we have to be as good as we can and then maybe you can compete against them. “We’ll have to be perfect tactically. Unless you get an advantage tactically you’ll never be able to compete against the top four, that’s the nature of the game.” Much could depend on in-form Romelu Lukaku, who has been hailed by his manager as a “modern target man” after netting two goals on his first Goodison start in the 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Monday. “Romelu is not a typical number nine,” says Martinez. “When you see Romelu you think of power, strength and that he’ll hold the ball up for you. “He is a lot more than that and when you speak to him he just blows you away with his knowledge and the way that he wants to understand the game. “I think he plays in that manner. He has an incredible awareness. His overall play is not that of a normal target man. He is a modern target man and that excites me. “There are not many around world football of that type. You have the other type – the clever one with good mobility and good space awareness. “Then you’ve got the powerful one and he is a mixture which is very, very exciting. He can be as good as he wants to be.”
Lukaku, on a season-long loan from Chelsea, had played a full 90 minutes only nine times in two years since moving to England, but has now completed back-to-back matches following his arrival at Everton. And Martinez added: “It is like seeing a young man who has now become a proper man with an important role and that’s what we want him to have here. “That’s why I am excited to see him ready to step up and do that. But it is a new role for him and as a young man, until you are put in that position, you don’t know how you are going to react. “That’s why I am excited because this is the first time in his career that he is going to take that role so everything is in his hands, really.”
Gareth Barry, on loan from City, is ineligible to face his parent club tomorrow afternoon, while Kevin Mirallas is rated as 50-50 to be available. With Darron Gibson still working his way back to fitness, Steven Naismith and John Heitinga are both vying for a starting role.

Jagielka talking about an evolution...more so than revolution
4 Oct 2013 Daily Post
By Ian Doyle
Excitement has been engendered throughout the club since Roberto Martinez’s arrival this summer
Shortly after Everton FC's thrilling victory over Newcastle United on Monday night, Phil Jagielka is holding court deep within the bowels of Goodison. The faint beads of sweat that remain on his forehead speak not of great exertion but more of the unnecessarily nervy finale that saw the visitors come close to snatching an unlikely and undeserved point. For the first 45 minutes, the old ground had reverberated to a performance of such style, pace and ruthlessness that it prompted at least one seasoned observer to suggest it was the best half of football played by Everton at home since the heyday of the 1980s. A touch too far, perhaps. But it underlines the excitement that has been engendered throughout the club since Roberto Martinez’s arrival as manager in the summer, the Spaniard guiding his team into fourth place on the back of an unbeaten start to the Premier League season. Jagielka, though, prefers to look at the changes as being evolution rather than revolution.
“It’s not rocket science,” says the Goodison skipper. “Nobody has changed the dimensions of the pitch or the shape of the ball. “But there are differences. We passed the ball around really well during the first half against Newcastle, but not so well in the second half. “If the passing is good and everybody is confident and everybody’s touch is spot on, then it makes life a little bit easier.
“The first half against Newcastle must have been an amazing half to watch for an Evertonian, but the game doesn’t last 45 minutes. “It has been different under the new manager, but what hasn’t changed is the fact we still want to go out to win games and put the points on the board.
“Whether we create chances by passing the ball around or being more direct, we have to make sure we come up with the right formula in the right games.” There has also been a shift in mentality within the dressing room since Martinez replaced Manchester United-bound David Moyes, as evidenced by the Spaniard's reaction to Everton allowing a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead to be slashed to a misleading 3-2 final scoreline. “The manager is ultra-positive,” adds Jagielka. “He came into the dressing room after the Newcastle game and said he was really proud of the lads, whereas some of us were a little bit down due to us conceding the two goals. “The philosophies are slightly different and their man-management is slightly different. It doesn’t take a genius to work that out from press conferences and interviews. “They are two totally different guys. At the moment, touch wood, Roberto is doing a fantastic job here and long may it continue.” Jagielka acknowledges the biggest test of the fledgling Martinez era comes when Everton make the short journey down the M62 to face Manchester City. But although Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been backed by many to regain their Premier League crown, they stand three places and two points adrift of fourth-placed Everton after an indifferent opening. “When Chelsea came to Goodison obviously we were a bit fortunate not to concede in the first half but I don’t think they are the complete package yet, they’re still growing into their season,” says Jagielka. “City have either been amazing or a little bit naïve, so we’re still seeing with them. They have been amazing at home but that’s what we expect when we go to the Etihad. “The way the league is panning out, no-one seems to be taking charge or has been invincible. “Arsenal have had the best start and nobody expected that after they were beaten heavily in their first game at home. “Everybody else has shown their weaknesses, and nobody has taken full points after six games. It’s going to be an interesting season.” While City have a 100% record at home in the league from three games – thumping neighbours United 4-1 in the process – they were undone 3-1 by holders Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek.
Everton have won on four of their last visits to the Etihad, and with Martinez insisting his team will not go there simply to defend, it promises to be an open game between two of the Premier League’s leading scorers this campaign. “It’s always been a tough place to go, but also an enjoyable one,” says Jagielka. “It’ll be difficult but they are the ones you want to play in and we have had some good results against them, so it will be interesting to see how we go out and play in this one.
“Normally we have been a bit cautious but with the confidence the boys have at the moment, and the way the manager wants us to play, it could be a very interesting game for us. “We have to be confident we can go there and do a job. We have given ourselves a good enough start that we can go there and be positive and see where it takes us. “If we go there and win, then fantastic. If we go there and draw or lose, we’re not going to be the first team this season to do that. “Hopefully this run isn’t just a flash in the pan and we can keep things going and see where we end up.”

Martinez believes Blues can't afford to become complacent
5 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Everton FC need to replicate Monday night's first 45 minutes if they are to get anything from Etihad
Everton FC v Newcastle United at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Premier League football match. Roberto
The Toffees boss has challenged his side to replicate their first half dominance against Newcastle when they travel to the Etihad stadium today, bidding to stay in the top four of the table. Martinez admitted he is excited about his team's potential to surprise the top flight in his debut campaign, but insisted they have a long way to go before the rest of the division really sit up and take notice.He said: "It’s too early to say we’ve changed people’s perceptions of Everton this season. What’s important is that we carry on as we have been. The first half against Newcastle was exceptional and where we want to be for 90 minutes. That’s the target."You’ve got six clubs that work in a different financial climate from anyone else and everyone outside that has to be creative and reach very high standards to win games consistently. That’s where we are right now but we know we need to continue with those standards. "I’m really excited with this squad. It’s not often you get such a perfect blend of that young, brave talent with the know-how of the senior figures we have here. "It’s important that we keep everyone fit and ready. But the start has been what we needed and we need to make sure it continues." Everton must make do without star performer Gareth Barry this lunch-time, with the on-loan midfileder unable to face his parent club under Premier League rules. Gareth Barry in action But Martinez does not think the inconvenience should detract from the usefulness of such season-long loan arrangements to his side." The decision is do you want the player for 36 games or none," he said. "That’s quite a clear decision in the end. Gareth and Romelu (Lukaku, who was unavailable to face Chelsea) have significant influences and although we miss Gareth today he has already had a big influence. He’s as good as he’s ever been for me. In the peak of his career. "He has developed competition and made other players even more determined to come in and show what we can do without him. That’s a good natural way to react as a team." The Blues will hope that Darron Gibson can be passed fit to fill Barry's position today, and must also give Kevin Mirallas (ankle) a late fitness test. If Mirallas does feature, he is one player who Martinez's nod of caution is aimed at, although the Belgium international can't help aiming high. "We've had a really good start and we've also got a very good team," explained the forward, who joined from Olympiakos for £6m in 2012 and has scored nine goals in 40 appearances. "Probably most people would not have believed we would be where we are now, but we want to maintain that. "It's important that we continue this run. We don't know how long it's going to last for, but it's important we win as many games as we can and I think we could find ourselves in a good position. "We're playing well and it's not by investing in £30m or £40m players. The team is better this season than last."

Everton tactics need to be spot on for victory says Roberto Martinez
5 Oct 2013 Daily Post
Manager has overseen an unbeaten start to Everton’s Premier League season
ROBERTO MARTINEZ has urged his Everton team to target Manchester City’s wobbly defence this afternoon – but admits it will take a “perfect” display to extend the hoodoo over their North West rivals. Martinez’s men aim to preserve their unbeaten Premier League record when visiting a City side that has conceded six goals in the past week, following defeat at Aston Villa with a Champions League mauling at home to Bayern Munich. Everton have enjoyed a remarkable recent record against their Manchester neighbours, winning nine of their last 12 meetings – with four victories coming at the Etihad. And Martinez – who guided old club Wigan Athletic to a shock FA Cup final success by taking the game to City in May – has no intention of parking the bus against the title favourites. “You need to be able to be yourself and that will be important at City,” said the Spaniard. “If you think you just need to defend well and defend for 90 minutes, it’s impossible to do that. “We’ll have to be perfect defensively and have to carry a threat so it’s one of those performances that you need to concentrate on yourself more than the opposition.
“Sometimes you get too carried away thinking about the threat of the opposition and you nullify yourself. “We have to realise we have to be as good as we can and then maybe you can compete against them. “We’ll have to be perfect tactically. Unless you get an advantage tactically you’ll never be able to compete against the top four – that’s the nature of the game.” Much could depend on in-form Romelu Lukaku, who has been hailed by his manager as a “modern target man” after netting two goals on his first Goodison start in the 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Monday.
“Romelu is not a typical number nine,” said Martinez. Martinez said: “When you see Romelu you think of power, strength and that he’ll hold the ball up for you. “He is a lot more than that and when you speak to him he just blows you away with his knowledge and the way that he wants to understand the game. “I think he plays in that manner. He has an incredible awareness. His overall play is not that of a normal target man. “He is a modern target man and that excites me.
“There are not many around world football of that type. You have the other type – the clever one with good mobility and good space awareness. “Then you’ve got the powerful one and he is a mixture which is very, very exciting. He can be as good as he wants to be.” Lukaku, on a season-long loan from Chelsea, had played a full 90 minutes only nine times in two years after moving to England, but has now completed back-to-back matches following his arrival at Everton.
Martinez added: “It is like seeing a young man who has now become a proper man with an important role and that’s what we want him to have here.” “That’s why I am excited to see him ready to step up and do that. But it is a new role for him and as a young man, until you are put in that position, you don’t know how you are going to react. “That’s why I am excited because this is the first time in his career that he is going to take that role so everything is in his hands, really.”

Royal Blue: Martinez's City approach will be fascinating to see
5 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
New manager brings new approach - but will Blues maintain good run of results?
Everton FC have enjoyed some buoyant results at the Etihad Stadium in recent seasons but there was usually a consistent theme. When David Moyes memorably compared preparing his side for a visit to Manchester City with taking a knife into a gun fight, it underlined the mentality of defiance fostered ahead of such trips. It was often a winning defiance but towards the end it started to seem like that was being down-graded to plucky second best. “I have to go in there and see what I can do. It will be a difficult task,” said Moyes in September 2011. “It’s like going into a gunfight when you’ve only got a knife.” The resulting 2-0 defeat heralded the end of an impressive sequence of four straight victories for the Blues in East Manchester. But if the omens had been bleak in terms of Moyes’ pre-game assessment, they were equally inauspicious when the whistle went and the visitors’ tactical plan became evident. At that time David Silva was the flair-man taking the top flight by storm, playing between the lines and wreaking havoc on opposing defences.
A mercurial talent enjoying a period of sublime form. Moyes’ solution to the Silva problem was to assign Jack Rodwell an old-fashioned man-marking mission. Wherever Silva went, the young midfielder went too. Such was the tightness of his remit, Rodwell was not expected to contribute when his side had possession – leaving the Blues a man short whenever they broke and with only Tim Cahill leading the line their attacking impetus was minimal. Nevertheless, the plot looked like being effective, but then Rodwell was booked and things started to go steadily downhill. Mario Balotelli scored and in the end it was the unshackled Silva who created the second for James Milner.Moyes the pragmatist – often it was a successful mentality, sometimes it seemed to set a negative tone before a ball was kicked. Either way, the Evertonians making the trip along the M62 today will no longer be sure of what to expect. So far Roberto Martinez appears the type of manager to worry less about what the opposition will do, and focus more on how his side can cause damage. That’s not to say the Catalan won’t have a thorough game-plan including due respect to City’s array of potentially match-winning performers. But he is less likely to send out a team with the lexicon of containment ringing in their ears. When the Toffees were beginning to fear a bona-fide fight back by Newcastle on Monday night, Martinez reacted by bringing on a creative attacking player in Gerard Deulofeu. Under the reign of the previous incumbent of the Goodison dug-out, it would more likely have been John Heitinga being pitched into the fray on a mission to hold on.Ultimately, Moyes can point to a successful record at Manchester City. Martinez still has to forge his own record in the back yards of the moneyed elite. But it will be a refreshing change to witness how he goes about it.

Beware wounded City, says Martinez
5 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Everton boss wary of a Bayern backlash
Roberto Martinez savoured the master-class plotted by his fellow Catalan in Manchester on Wednesday – but as he left his seat in the Etihad stadium he knew it posed him an ensuing problem too. City had been schooled by Pep Gaurdiola’s Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and while the admiring Everton manager lapped-up the footballing spectacle he was acutely aware that Manuel Pellegrini’s men will want to prove a point today. Consecutive defeats are rare for the Citizens, and with or without the troubled Joe Hart in goal, they will be keen to ward off talk of crisis by getting back to winning ways when the Toffees come to town. “What happened on Wednesday doesn’t change our approach,” says Martinez. “They are a top football club and when you are like that you know how to move from result to result without carrying any damage. “It wasn’t the type of game you can be too hurt by because the quality of the opposition was there for everyone to see. They’re the European champions and with the new players and new manager they’ve just taken it to another level. “There’s no shame to lose to them. City will now want to respond and get back to winning ways so we will have to be prepared for that. We’ll have to be perfect if we want to win.” Martinez enjoyed the high point of his managerial career against this lunch-time’s opponents in May when his Wigan side beat City 1-0 to lift the FA Cup. But he insists that counts for nothing when the action gets under way today, and he bids to help Everton continue their habit of humbling City. “Football is about players and this is a completely different situation,” he says. “Now the record of Everton against Manchester City is more relevant and that’s something that excites me. “That allows you to prepare for the game in a positive way and we can look forward to it. I want the players to enjoy their football and be positive.” The 40-year-old believes his side will have to shine in every aspect in order to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, a run which has seen them rise to fourth in the table with a chance to briefly move into joint top position should they be victorious at the Etihad. “You have to defend and defend well, there’s no doubting that,” he says. “The focus and intensity of our defending has to be complete. You have to keep the ball too, because you can’t defend for 90 minutes. “You need to be able to pose a threat in the final third. But I feel we’ve got the experience now to do that.” Martinez has also warned his side they will have their hands full dealing with two players whose careers he has followed for some time; Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas. And the Blues boss admits he knows full well why his Goodison predecessor was so keen to try and sign Negredo from Sevilla back in January. “He was always going to be a good signing,” he says. “He came from Real Madrid and as a striker it’s not easy to make it there in that position. He started out in their B side and they sold him then bought him back. “Then they sold him again for £15m to Sevilla and he’s grown and grown at different clubs in different roles. “He’s ready to make a big impact in this league and we need to be really aware of him. “Against Bayern Munich he was the positive note for City. He came on and showed no respect to them. “He was ready and that’s a big sign of where he’s going. With Aguero they have a formidable pair up front. “Then with Navas they have someone who has adapted quicker than I thought. “With wingers sometimes it can take longer but it shows he was ready. He’ll be a big threat for them.”

Manchester City 3 - Everton 1: Aguero at the double as City seal win over Toffees
SERGIO AGUERO scored twice as Manchester City bounced back from their midweek defeat against
By Nick Lustig 5th October 2013
Daily Star
Manager Manuel Pellegrini kept faith in goalkeeper Joe Hart, however there was nothing the England stopper could do to prevent Everton taking the lead in the 16th minute through in-form Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku. But a double from Aguero and one from Alvaro Negredo gave City a much needed win after back-to-back defeats. The result takes City up to second in the Premier League, while Everton remain in fifth position. City were first to go closest as Aleksandar Kolarov curled his free-kick into the side netting, although Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard looked to have it covered. However it was the away side who broke the deadlock as Lukaku, latching onto a long ball from the back, side stepped Joleon Lescott before slipping the ball past Hart. But City hit back within a minute to level the contest as Yaya Toure fed Negredo, who put the ball beyond Howard.
The home side could, and probably should, have extended their lead in the 25th minute, but Aguero fired just wide of the post after a well worked free-kick between Fernandinho and David Silva.
City captain Vincent Kompany will give his manager a huge injury worry after being replaced in the 34th minute by Matija Nastasic. Right on half-time Pellegrini's side did take the lead as Aguero lashed his low shot from inside the penalty area into the back of the net after being played through by Silva. It took City until the 68th minute to add to their tally and it came in an unusual fashion after referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the spot for Seamus Coleman's pull back on Pablo Zabaleta.
Aguero stepped up to take the penalty and saw his effort saved onto the post, however the ball rebounded into the net off the back of Howard's head. The Everton stopper was in good form to stop Negredo and Sami Nasri adding to City's adavantage in the final nine minutes of the match.It mattered not as City saw out the remaining period of the match to secure a valuable three points prior to the international break.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1 match report: Sergio Aguero leads comeback win but all eyes on Joe Hart after Romelu Lukaku opener
Goals from Alvaro Negredo, Aguero and a controversial penalty lifts the pressure on England goalkeeper after he concedes seventh goal in a week
Eleanor Crooks
Saturday 05 October 2013
Indenpendent
Manchester City ended Everton's unbeaten record in the Barclays Premier League to finish a difficult week on a high. Defeats by Aston Villa and Bayern Munich had made this a very important game for City and under-pressure goalkeeper Joe Hart, and they responded in style with a 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. Romelu Lukaku put Everton ahead in the 16th minute but Alvaro Negredo equalised a minute later and Sergio Aguero struck to give the hosts the lead just before half-time.
The unlucky Tim Howard then diverted in a third in the 69th minute after initially saving Aguero's penalty. The victory was only City's third in 13 attempts against Everton, who tasted defeat for the first time in the league under Roberto Martinez. Despite his refusal to confirm that Hart would start following his mistakes against Bayern, City boss Manuel Pellegrini showed faith in the England man while changing more than half his team. Only Vincent Kompany survived from the defence that faced the European champions while David Silva, James Milner and Negredo were also included.
Everton boss Martinez was without on-loan Gareth Barry, ineligible against his parent club, and the Toffees missed the midfielder's calm presence in a frenetic first half. Hart was straight into the action, diving on a ball from Steven Naismith with Lukaku lurking, but it was City who had the best of the early chances. In the fifth minute, Howard pushed a shot from Yaya Toure behind, while two minutes later half the crowd thought the hosts had taken the lead when Aleksandar Kolarov's free-kick flew into the side-netting. But it was Everton who made the breakthrough in the 16th minute, and again there were questions over Hart. A long ball from Phil Jagielka beat the City defence rather too easily and Lukaku broke into the area before placing a shot under Hart's right hand.
The Toffees had no time to enjoy their lead, though, as from the restart City poured forward and Toure played in Negredo, who beat Howard. There was no let-up in the pace of the game, and it was the hosts who were doing most of the pressing. Milner's deflected cross hit the outside of the near post while in the 26th minute Aguero missed a clear chance when he shot wide after being played in by the impressive Silva. City were dealt a blow in the 35th minute when captain Kompany limped off to be replaced by Matija Nastasic. The Serbian's first act was a risky push in the back on Lukaku in the area but referee Jon Moss waved away muted penalty appeals. It had not been Aguero's day, the Argentinian unusually clumsy in the final third, but he showed the sort of clinical touch for which he is renowned to give City the lead in the 45th minute. Silva was the architect, the Spaniard's precise pass helping Aguero, who was just onside, beat former City man Sylvain Distin and tuck the ball into the far corner. Aguero could even have had another before half-time after being played clean through by Toure's chipped pass but Jagielka got back to deny the striker. City were keen to add a third and pressed hard at the start of the second half without creating a real chance.
Everton hit their hosts on the break with a fine ball from Ross Barkley putting Kevin Mirallas through but the Belgian's first touch was too heavy and Hart was able to pounce. Kolarov, who had been having an influential game, was forced off in the 58th minute after suffering a cut to his forehead when he was nudged into a collision with Nastasic by Naismith. City were in the wars, with Pablo Zabaleta also taking a bang that drew blood, but with cotton wool up his nose he returned to the pitch and promptly won a penalty. Seamus Coleman leant into the full-back, who seemed to go down easily, and Everton were furious with Moss' decision. Aguero stepped up and Howard tipped his shot onto a post but the ball hit the keeper in the back of the head on the rebound and went in.
Martinez had sent on Darron Gibson and Gerard Deulofeu for Leon Osman and Mirallas but Everton could not put any real pressure on Hart. City continued to look the side more likely to score and Howard prevented Negredo from making it four with a smart stop before also denying substitute Samir Nasri in injury time.

Manchester City 3 Everton 1: Premier League report
5 Oct 2013 Manchester Evening Post
Manchester City defeated bogey side Everton thanks to goals from Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero (two) at the Etihad Stadium.
David Silva’s return gave Manchester City just the lift they needed as they got back to winning ways in style. The little midfielder has been missing since August, but his return put the spark and the fluidity back in a team which had been shocked at Aston Villa, and then devastated by Bayern Munich in midweek. Manager Manuel Pellegrini rang the changes, with Matija Nastasic the main casualty, although he stuck by under-fire Joe Hart. With Silva bringing the best out of Yaya Toure and Alvaro Negredo, and providing a killer pass for Sergio Aguero’s goal, the Blues were back in form. They went behind to Romelu Lukaku’s goal as the defence suffered another case of the collywobbles, but hit back through Negredo, Aguero and an own goal from goalkeeper Tim Howard, as Aguero’s penalty went in off him. The only negative point for City was Vincent Kompany limping off with what looked like another groin injury. The Blues had the edge in a rip-roaring first half which showed why the Premier League is watched around the world. It had everything – goals, misses, physical collisions, a head-to-head confrontation, and some nice football glueing it all together. Everton were on the front foot from the off, perhaps trying to catch City cold after their midweek drubbing by Bayern Munich. We saw why Joleon Lescott had been preferred in the starting line-up to Matija Nastasic as he immediately met the force of Lukaku with force of his own.
That was a good contest, but the on-loan Chelsea striker got the better of it on 16 minutes when he raced on to Phil Jagielka’s pass. He slipped past Lescott, and with Aleks Kolarov and Vincent Kompany offering no cover, the big man had a free run on goal and fired his shot under Joe Hart.
It was the last thing City needed, but within 90 seconds they were back on level terms. Yaya provided the quality, holding the ball on the edge of the box under pressure until exactly the right moment, before slipping a pass for Negredo to finish. That was the fillip the Blues needed, and they proceeded to take charge of the game, albeit without injured skipper Kompany whose fitness curse struck again. One training-ground free kick routine worked to perfection – until it free Aguero, who curled his shot beyond the far post. Then Negredo teed up the little Argentine, but with the goal at his mercy he got his feet in a tangle, and the chance was gone. With half time approaching, City grabbed their second goal, as Everton were distracted by a showdown between Negredo and Seamus Coleman. Play continued and when David Silva slipped a pass, Aguero raced past Sylvain Distin and this time he smashed his shot beyond Tim Howard’s grasp. Now City needed to show their character, especially when Kolarov was forced off early in the second half with a cut to his head – the Serbian left back was unhappy that his collision with Nastasic’s elbow which caused the injury was caused by a shove from Steven Naismith. City were worth the third goal they still needed, and they got it when Pablo Zabaleta burst into the box and was hauled down by Coleman.
Aguero’s spot kick was not the best, but Tim Howard pushed it onto the post, and the ball bounced back off the keeper and rolled in.

Man City 3 Everton 1 - Blues unbeaten record ends
5 Oct 2013
Liverpool Echo
Blues rue tough decisions as City recover from Bayern defeat
Roberto Martinez's unbeaten Premier League record as Everton manager was brought to an end by defeat at Manchester City. Despite taking an early lead, the Goodison outfit were ultimately no match for a City side that carried too much attacking threat. Romelu Lukaku’s fourth goal in as many appearances since arriving on a season long-loan from Chelsea had put Everton into a 16th-minute lead. But Alvaro Negredo equalised less than a minute later, with Sergio Aguero putting the home side ahead in the closing stages on the stroke of half-time. A controversial 69th-minute penalty awarded for a foul by Seamus Coleman on Pablo Zabaleta allowed City to seal victory, although Aguero’s penalty was ultimately credited as an own goal by Tim Howard. So there would be no continuation of Everton’s remarkable record against City having won nine of their previous 12 meetings, with four victories coming at the Etihad. Martinez had indicated there was little chance of his team parking the bus given the manner in which City had swept English opposition aside at the Etihad already this season. And the visitors signalled their intentions directly from the kick-off, former Goodison defender Joleon Lescott strong to hold off Lukaku as he ran on to a throughball from Steven Naismith, the Scotsman replacing the ineligible Gareth Barry in Everton’s only change.
City soon found their rhythm and Aleksandar Kolarov curled a free-kick into the side-netting before powerfully heading over David Silva’s corner from the left. Despite speculation following a series of high-profile blunders, Joe Hart was retained in goal by City for his 121st successive Premier League start. But he was found wanting on 16 minutes when Lukaku struck. Racing on to a long Phil Jagielka pass and played onside by Vincent Kompany, the Everton striker then nutmegged Lescott and struck a shot that Hart, despite getting a strong hand to it, couldn’t keep out. Everton’s lead lasted less than a minute. A delicate Yaya Toure pass into the area set Negredo free behind Coleman and the Spaniard finished beyond Howard. An end-to-end encounter ensued with City perhaps deserving of the interval lead given to them by Aguero on the stroke of half-time. With Everton’s defence having been unwisely distracted by breaking up an ongoing set-to between Negredo and Seamus Coleman, Silva slipped a pass down the inside right channel to Aguero, who lost the attentions of Distin sufficiently to fire a shot across Howard into the far corner. Aguero had suffered a nightmare in the period preceding his strike. First, a brilliantly creative set-piece saw Aguero freed inside the area with just Howard to beat, but curled his shot woefully wide from close range. And then, sent clear by Negredo’s clever toe-poke, the Argentine was caught in two minds whether to shoot or dummy, and ended up just falling over. City could have ended the half with 10 men had a more strict referee than Jon Moss – poor throughout – adjudged James Milner’s wild challenge on James McCarthy worthy of more than a yellow card. A more cagey second half followed, although City remained in a comfortable level of control. It prompted Martinez to bring on Darron Gibson for his first Premier League appearance of the season shortly after the hour, along with Spanish starlet Gerard Deulofeu.
But the game drifted away from Everton on 69 minutes in contentious circumstances.
Coleman lost the marauding Zabaleta on his inside and then it took only the slightest of touches from the Irishman to send the City man sprawling to the turf. It appeared no more of a foul as Matija Nastasic’s first-half shove on Lukaku that went unpunished. As if to rub salt into the wound, Aguero’s poorly-struck spot-kick was saved by Howard on to the post, only for the ball to rebound off the back of the goalkeeper’s head and over the line.
That was that. With Lukaku running out of steam, City’s defence went into lockdown and the final moments passed with relatively little goalmouth incident.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany (Nastasic 35), Lescott, Kolarov (Clichy 58); Fernandinho, Toure; Milner, Silva, Aguero (Nasri 80); Negredo. Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Navas, Dzeko. BOOKINGS: Kompany, Milner, Silva, Zabaleta and Fernandinho (all fouls).
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Osman (Gibson 63); Mirallas (Deulofeu 63), Barkley, Naismith; Lukaku (Kone 82). Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Stones. BOOKINGS: Distin and Howard (both dissent) and Coleman and Naismith (both fouls).
REFEREE: Jon Moss.
ATT: 47,267.

Blues' unbeaten record brought to an end by City
5 Oct 2013 Daily Post
Manchester City 3 Everton 1 - match report
Everton FC’s unbeaten record in the Barclays Premier League came to an end as Manchester City finished a difficult week on a high.
Defeats by Aston Villa and Bayern Munich had made this a very important game for City and under-pressure goalkeeper Joe Hart, and they responded in style with a 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Romelu Lukaku put Everton ahead in the 16th minute but Alvaro Negredo equalised a minute later and Sergio Aguero struck to give the hosts the lead just before half-time. The unlucky Tim Howard then diverted in a third in the 69th minute after initially saving Aguero’s penalty. The victory was only City’s third in 13 attempts against Everton, who tasted defeat for the first time in the league under Roberto Martinez. Despite his refusal to confirm that Hart would start following his mistakes against Bayern, City boss Manuel Pellegrini showed faith in the England man while changing more than half his team. Only Vincent Kompany survived from the defence that faced the European champions while David Silva, James Milner and Negredo were also included. Everton boss Martinez was without on-loan Gareth Barry, ineligible against his parent club, and the Toffees missed the midfielder’s calm presence in a frenetic first half. Hart was straight into the action, diving on a ball from Steven Naismith with Lukaku lurking, but it was City who had the best of the early chances.In the fifth minute, Howard pushed a shot from Yaya Toure behind, while two minutes later half the crowd thought the hosts had taken the lead when Aleksandar Kolarov’s free-kick flew into the side-netting. But it was Everton who made the breakthrough in the 16th minute, and again there were questions over Hart. A long ball from Phil Jagielka beat the City defence rather too easily and Lukaku broke into the area before placing a shot under Hart’s right hand. The Toffees had no time to enjoy their lead, though, as from the restart City poured forward and Toure played in Negredo, who beat Howard. There was no let-up in the pace of the game, and it was the hosts who were doing most of the pressing. Milner’s deflected cross hit the outside of the near post while in the 26th minute Aguero missed a clear chance when he shot wide after being played in by the impressive Silva. City were dealt a blow in the 35th minute when captain Kompany limped off to be replaced by Matija Nastasic. The Serbian’s first act was a risky push in the back on Lukaku in the area but referee Jon Moss waved away muted penalty appeals. It had not been Aguero’s day, the Argentinian unusually clumsy in the final third, but he showed the sort of clinical touch for which he is renowned to give City the lead in the 45th minute. Silva was the architect, the Spaniard’s precise pass helping Aguero, who was just onside, beat former City man Sylvain Distin and tuck the ball into the far corner. Aguero could even have had another before half-time after being played clean through by Toure’s chipped pass but Jagielka got back to deny the striker. City were keen to add a third and pressed hard at the start of the second half without creating a real chance. Everton hit their hosts on the break with a fine ball from Ross Barkley putting Kevin Mirallas through, but the Belgian’s first touch was too heavy and Hart was able to pounce. Kolarov, who had been having an influential game, was forced off in the 58th minute after suffering a cut to his forehead when he was nudged into a collision with Nastasic by Naismith. City were in the wars, with Pablo Zabaleta also taking a bang that drew blood, but with cotton wool up his nose he returned to the pitch and promptly won a penalty. Seamus Coleman leant into the full-back, who seemed to go down easily, and Everton were furious with Moss’ decision. Aguero stepped up and Howard tipped his shot onto a post but the ball hit the keeper in the back of the head on the rebound and went in. Martinez had sent on Darron Gibson and Gerard Deulofeu for Leon Osman and Mirallas but Everton could not put any real pressure on Hart. City continued to look the side more likely to score and Howard prevented Negredo from making it four with a smart stop before also denying substitute Samir Nasri in injury time.

Man City 3 Everton 1 - Ian Doyle's verdict from the Etihad
6 Oct 2013 Daily Post
Honeymoon period over for Martinez as City inflict first defeat of his reign
When Roberto Martinez suggested last week the performance would have to be perfect for Everton to extend their hoodoo over Manchester City, he was referring to his players. But come the final whistle on a frustrating, disappointing afternoon, the Spaniard would have been more prescient in demanding a flawless outing from the officials. The display of referee Jon Moss and his assistants was the chatter among the disgruntled away end as they trudged out of the Etihad on Saturday having seen their team’s unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign brought to a definitive halt.
Yet, while there was good reason to question the officials, ultimately they were not to blame for his chastening defeat. It would be too strong to suggest this was a reality check. But there’s no doubt the honeymoon period for Martinez is now over. If the thrilling, goal-laden first half at home to Newcastle United five days earlier had been the high point, then the visit to City certainly acted as something of a cold shower for any over-excited Evertonians. This is the standard to which the Goodison outfit must compete if they are to build on the foundations left behind by David Moyes from last season’s genuine – at least until the very final stages – challenge for a top-four berth.
Martinez had indicated there was no chance of Everton parking the bus at the Etihad, the Spaniard instead urging his players to go toe-to-toe with Manuel Pellegrini’s side. They did. But City were simply too good, too strong and too keen to avoid a third defeat inside a week following successive setbacks at Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. This, though, wasn’t Everton at their best. They threatened in patches but were too often the architects of their own downfall, whether through indifferent defending or a worrying lack of concentration, a failing that had resulted in an unnecessarily nervy finale against Newcastle. City didn’t need the help of referee Moss, who in truth infuriated both teams by booking nine players in a game that, while always competitive, was never bad-tempered. But the home side benefited at key times, most notably in the 69th minute for their third goal. Having allowed Pablo Zabaleta to ghost in on his inside, Seamus Coleman’s slight nudge was all it took to send the Argentine sprawling to the ground and for Moss to subsequently point to the spot. A soft penalty? Of course, particularly given City substitute Matija Nastasic’s more substantial shove in the back of Romelu Lukaku in the same area during the first half. To rub salt into the gaping wound, Sergio Aguero’s poorly-struck spot-kick was saved by Tim Howard on to the post, only for the ball to rebound off the back of the goalkeeper’s head and over the line. “If that's a penalty, it's an impossible game,” said Martinez. “It is a football disaster.” The Everton manager, though, will surely have been concerned at the manner in which Coleman had given Zabaleta the opportunity to draw the foul, not least at it wasn’t the first time the right-back had been caught out.The Irishman was similarly undone for City’s equaliser on 17 minutes, although Yaya Toure’s delicate pass was perfectly weighted for Alvaro Negredo to race in behind Coleman and finish through Howard. Everton’s lead had lasted barely 90 seconds. Lukaku, played onside from Phil Jagielka’s long punt forward, progressed into the area, nutmegged the recovering Joleon Lescott and then struck a shot that City goalkeeper Joe Hart, under pressure following a series of high-profile errors, couldn’t keep out despite meeting the effort with a strong hand. Lukaku – his goal a fourth in as many appearances for the club – terrorised City during the first half, particularly when working in tandem with Ross Barkley and Everton’s stellar performer Steven Naismith, a busy presence on his recall down the left flank. But, as on his previous starts against Fulham and Newcastle, the Belgian faded badly after the interval. Lukaku had only completed nine full 90 minutes in English football before arriving at Goodison, and it’s clear harnessing the young striker’s potential over the period of a full match will be an ongoing process for Martinez. City went ahead on the stroke of half-time with another avoidable effort from the visitors’ point of view. With Everton’s defence having been unwisely distracted by breaking up a set-to between Negredo and Coleman, Silva slipped a pass down the inside right channel to Aguero, who lost the attentions of Distin sufficiently to fire powerfully across Howard into the far corner. In truth, Martinez’s side never truly recovered from that blow, unable to capitalise on City captain Vincent Kompany hobbling off before the break with their second-half threat limited to Kevin Mirallas failing to control a Barkley throughball. And the Everton midfield sorely missed the steadying influence of the ineligible Gareth Barry in front of a back four that has now conceded seven goals in their last three outings. Things may have been different had Moss adjudged James Milner’s wild challenge on James McCarthy worthy of more than a yellow card. But there could be no complaints with the result, meaning there was no continuation of Everton’s remarkable record against City having won nine of the previous 12 meetings. The unbeaten league record may be gone. But his team’s response after the international break will be another learning experience for Martinez.
MAN OF THE MATCH. Steven Naismith. A hard-working performance down the left from the improving Scotland international
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany (Nastasic 35), Lescott, Kolarov (Clichy 58); Fernandinho, Toure; Milner, Silva, Aguero (Nasri 80); Negredo. Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Navas, Dzeko. BOOKINGS: Kompany, Milner, Silva, Zabaleta and Fernandinho (all fouls).
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Osman (Gibson 63); Mirallas (Deulofeu 63), Barkley, Naismith; Lukaku (Kone 82). Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Stones. BOOKINGS: Distin and Howard (both dissent) and Coleman and Naismith (both fouls).
REFEREE: Jon Moss.
ATT: 47,267.

Howard points finger at officials after Everton's defeat to Man City
6 Oct 2013 Daily Post
Blues keeper: "In big games, you need big calls to go your way"
Tim Howard pointed the finger at the officials after Everton’s unbeaten Premier League start was brought to a shuddering halt. Roberto Martinez suffered his first top-flight defeat as Goodison manager when his side suffered a 3-1 loss at Manchester City on Saturday. Everton were in the game until City’s third goal, a penalty from Sergio Aguero that Howard turned on to the post but couldn’t prevent rebounding over the line off the back of his head. The visitors were furious the spot kick had been awarded after Pablo Zabaleta went to ground following slight contact from Seamus Coleman, not least as a more obvious foul by Matija Nastasic on Romelu Lukaku inside the area had earlier gone unpunished. And Howard believes Everton did not enjoy the rub of the green throughout the match from referee Jon Moss and his assistants. “It was a soft penalty,” said the United States international goalkeeper. “But in the build up to that, City won a corner and it should have been given as a handball by Aguero. It wasn’t intentional but it was there for the linesman to see. “Unfortunately, that leads to bad things. Those calls need to go right. The fact it was down the City end, sometimes referees are influenced by those things. I don’t think it was right.
“It was one of those days. On another day, maybe the penalty stays out but it hit me and went in.
“At 2-1 we are still in the game. But once it goes to 3-1, it kills it off. That was always the danger as we had to commit players forward.” When asked if the penalty decision was one of a few decision to go against Everton, Howard responded: “Only a few?! Both teams would have been a bit upset at times, though. There weren’t many good things as far as that was concerned. “In big games, you need big calls to go your way. Or at least you need a balance. And we didn’t get that.”
City full-back Zabaleta admits it was a “silly” penalty for Everton to concede but insists the relative lack of reaction from Martinez’s men suggest they had no real quarrel with the decision.
“Yes, I think there was a small contact,” said Zabaleta. “It was maybe a silly penalty (to give away from Everton’s point of view). “I watched it again in the dressing room and there was a small contact. It was maybe a little bit soft but it was a penalty. “I was goal-side of him and he pushed me away a little bit with his arm. I can understand why he was a little bit disappointed but the Everton players weren’t angry with me. “I’ve been talking to Leighton Baines after the game and he accepted there had been small contact.” Zabaleta also praised Baines for preventing him from becoming the 10th name in referee Moss’s notebook of a simmering if never truly bad-tempered encounter. “Late in the game, Baines tried to save me from a booking after I tackled him,” said the City defender. “He told the referee I had got a contact on the ball and I like that. It’s good to have that sort of conversation with your opponents.”

Everton's Baines admits Blues are still learning under Martinez
7 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
But defender admits whole squad is loving life under new Everton boss
Everton's learning process under Roberto Martinez will see them move forward as a club, believes The defender insists he is enjoying playing under the Catalan, and was in upbeat mood despite the Blues losing their unbeaten run after a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday. England left-back Baines, 28, reckons the signs are encouraging after seven games under the former Wigan manager, and although the setback at the Etihad stadium showed there is room to improve, he remains confident the future is bright. He said: “It’s a work in progress but we’re working towards being a much better team. I’m enjoying that aspect of it. I’m learning and hopefully we will continue to build on what we’ve started. “We’ve been working on different things and people have begun to enjoy watching some of them. “Playing at Goodison in the first half last Monday night you can start to see it come together. We were brilliant in that game. We’ve just got to tighten up the other aspects and keep developing. “The players that have come in have meant there’s room for rotation, horses for course where certain people are better suited to certain games. That’s where the manager is clever and knows that. Now we want to come back from the international break and get back to winning ways.” Baines admitted City had done their homework on how the Toffees would try to play, but felt his side could have adapted better during the contest. “It’s always going to be a work in progress for a while and nobody is going to be at their best every week,” he said. “We’ve still got things we need to improve on. We gave the ball away too quickly high up the pitch to allow us to get any momentum. “So every time we started to creep forward we’d lose it and that’d one of the thing we’re working on improving; being better in possession in the opposition’s half. It’s about sustaining attacks. Not doing it against City meant we kept ending up on the back foot again and susceptible to the counter attack. “Whenever we tried to build up through the middle, which is one of the subtle changes in our way of playing at the moment, they had identified that and were quick to flood those areas when we tried to get it into Ross and Rom (Lukaku). “That’s where we need to have the awareness to draw those players in then pop it out to wide areas. We need to still have a bit of both rather than just the middle. They had done their homework and did a good job. “But we’re good enough to be aware of that in game. We shouldn’t have to just reflect on it afterwards. The next step tactically is to show that awareness during a game and say ‘OK we’ve seen what you’re doing,’ and then change, but we didn’t.” Martinez was unhappy with some of the decisions from referee Jonathan Moss, who denied the Blues a solid penalty claim in the first half when Matija Nastasic shoved Lukaku over in the area, and also awarded a dubious spot kick to City in the second half that sealed the result. And Baines shared his manager’s frustration, especially after Pablo Zabaleta – who was awarded City’s penalty after Seamus Coleman was adjudged to have impeded him – admitted afterwards it was a borderline call. “Anywhere else on the pitch you get a foul for that,” said Baines of the incident involving Lukaku. “Someone can’t push you in the back in another area and get away with it. It was a soft decision to push Rom, and you don’t see that often. It was careless. Maybe that almost prevented the ref from giving it. “There was one in the corner when Naisy cut into the area and I heard the click of the contact on the shin pad and he didn’t give that either. Then he gave the one against us which was minimal and I asked Zabaleta afterwards and he said he just felt a slight touch so he went down.”

Manchester City 3 v Everton 1: Referee blows Blues' unbeaten run
7 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
By Greg O’Keefe
Officials ruin Roberto Martinez's fine start to season as City make home advantage count
Perhaps in hindsight the omens were never favourable. The last time Everton were undone by a Manuel Pellegrini team, the Chilean manager had to rely on a dodgy refereeing performance to force an unjust advantage. Evertonians still bear the mental scars of that balmy August evening in Vilarreal’s Madrigal stadium eight years ago, when a doddering Pierluigi Collina inexplicably ruled out the Duncan Ferguson header that should have secured David Moyes’ side Champions League football proper. Once again on Saturday, Pellegrini was smiling after another blundering official stitched-up the Toffees and gave his side the impetus to triumph. Sure, Jonathan Moss’ name will not linger in the Royal Blue annals of dishonour as long as the saucer-eyed Italian, and Everton can’t quite claim the same degree of innocence in their demise this time around – but they will still feel hard done to heading into the international break with their proud unbeaten Premier League run over. It was clear from the off-set at the Etihad Stadium that Moss was going to give most of the decisions to City. The referee, who controversially dismissed Crystal Palace’s Kagisho Dikgacoi for a foul on Ashley Young which happened outside of the area at Old Trafford in September, was in shameless homer mode. Hence he ignored Everton’s stone-wall first-half penalty claim after Matija Nastasic blatantly shoved Romelu Lukaku over in the penalty area, a dereliction of duty Moss was aided in by his equally myopic assistant. Then with the game balanced and heading into the break, he declined to pause proceedings and resolve a head-to-head dispute between Seamus Coleman and Alvaro Negredo that distracted Everton’s back-line. Play continued, and City bagged a crucial second which altered the entire game. That’s where Roberto Martinez’s men will have to make their own admission of guilt however. Yes, they were repeatedly let down by the official, a headteacher who deserves prolonged suspension for this shocker, but concentration is key in the top flight and you switch off against a side of City’s attacking threat at your peril. They should have known better.
The Toffees had largely been impressive until that fateful end to the half. City were predictably fired-up to atone for that midweek humbling at the hands of Bayern Munich, and fielded a starting line-up that oozed quality. In contrast, Martinez was not helped by the absence of Gareth Barry, who has been such a reliable shield to his back four so far, and the failure of Darron Gibson to reach full match fitness. With Steven Pienaar also absent, the Catalan was at least able to start Kevin Mirallas, but it is debatable whether the flying Belgian had fully recovered from the twisted ankle he suffered against Newcastle and he appeared out of sorts all afternoon. Nevertheless Everton soaked up the initial pressure from the hosts and hit back with another goal for the irrepressible Lukaku, who zipped past Joleon Lescott and squeezed a shot past the troubled Joe Hart to open the scoring on 16 minutes. The big striker can’t stop scoring at the moment and duly had City’s defence terrified, especially once his international team-mate Vincent Kompnay had limped off with an injury to be replaced by Nastasic. But it seems that he would benefit from some training ground stamina work, after the 20-year-old's impact clearly has receded in the second half of the last two games.
Martinez won’t lose too much sleep over that though, not when the on-loan forward seems to have goal-scoring in his DNA. An early goal against opponents low on confidence could have been influential, so it was extra frustrating that the Blues conspired to concede within a minute. The outstanding Yaya Toure played Negredo in behind Coleman, and the former Everton transfer target provided the equaliser. Martinez will be encouraged at his side’s response. City were dominating possession and looking a constant threat through Sergio Aguero, even if the forward’s sureness of touch appeared inconsistent at times. But Steven Naismith and James McCarthy were holding their own in midfield, and Everton were very much still in the contest until that terribly timed setback, as the spat between Coleman and Negredo distracted them and Aguero rediscovered his ruthlessness to fire past Tim Howard after a lightening quick attack. The second half was less eventful until Moss added further weight to the argument he is inept. Coleman appeared to make minimal contact with Pablo Zabaleta’s arm as the City full-back went down in the area, and subsequent replays only underlining the fact. But Moss pointed to the spot, and Aguero received a slice of luck when his penalty went in off the unfortunate Everton goalkeeper’s head after he had initially pushed it on to the post. Coleman has proven he is a fast learner and will know not to place his arm on an opponent in the area again, but the ever-flourishing right-back should not let one difficult afternoon cloud what has been an excellent individual start to the season. That sentiment must apply to his team-mates too. Martinez will not be too discouraged by a contest when the odds were already stacked hugely against him thanks to the clueless man in the middle. The Blues boss will want to see his side keep the ball better, even against opponents as blessed with talent and players willing to press as ceaselessly as City. But once he has drawn a line under this he can begin to plot the start of another unbeaten run when domestic action resumes.
Everton are yet to find their imposing rhythm for 90 minutes. But they showed in the first half against Newcastle, and in spells at the Etihad, that there will be plenty to savour when they do.
MANCHESTER CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Lescott, Kompany (Nastasic 34), Kolarov (Clichy 58), Silva, Fernandinho, Toure, Milner, Negredo, Aguero (Nasri 79). Subs not used: Pantilimon, Richards, Navas, Dzeko.
Goals: Negredo 17, Aguero 45, Howard (og) 69
Booked: Kompany, Milner, Zabaleta, Silva, Fernandinho.
EVERTON: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman (Gibson, 63) , McCarthy, Mirallas (Deulofeu, 63), Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku (Kone, 82). Subs not used: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Stones.
Goals: Lukaku 16
Booked: Coleman, Howard, Distin, Naismith.
Referee: Jonathan Moss.
Attendance: 47,267.

Blues given a lesson in the standard they must achieve
7 Oct 2013Daily Post
City too good, too strong and too keen to avoid third straight defeat
When Roberto Martinez suggested last week the performance would have to be perfect for Everton to extend their hoodoo over Manchester City, he was referring to his players. But come the final whistle on a frustrating, disappointing afternoon, the Spaniard would have been more prescient by demanding a flawless outing from the officials. The display of referee Jon Moss and his assistants was the chatter among the disgruntled away end as they trudged out of the Etihad on Saturday having seen their team’s unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign brought to a definitive halt.
Yet, while there was good reason to question the officials, ultimately they were not to blame for his chastening defeat. It would be too strong to suggest this was a reality check. But there’s no doubt the honeymoon period for Martinez is now over. If the thrilling, goal-laden first half at home to Newcastle United five days earlier had been the high point, then the visit to City certainly acted as something of a cold shower for any over-excited Evertonians. This is the standard to which the Goodison outfit must compete if they are to build on the foundations left behind by David Moyes from last season’s genuine – at least until the very final stages – challenge for a top-four berth.
Martinez had indicated there was no chance of Everton parking the bus at the Etihad, the Spaniard instead urging his players to go toe-to-toe with Manuel Pellegrini’s side. They did. But City were simply too good, too strong and too keen to avoid a third defeat inside a week following successive setbacks at Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. This, though, wasn’t Everton at their best. They threatened in patches but were too often the architects of their own downfall, whether through indifferent defending or a worrying lack of concentration – a failing that had resulted in an unnecessarily nervy finale against Newcastle. City didn’t need the help of referee Moss, who in truth infuriated both teams by booking nine players in a game that, while always competitive, was never bad-tempered. But the home side benefited at key times, most notably in the 69th minute for their third goal. Having allowed Pablo Zabaleta to ghost in on his inside, Seamus Coleman’s slight nudge was all it took to send the Argentine sprawling to the ground and for Moss to subsequently point to the spot. A soft penalty? Of course, particularly given City substitute Matija Nastasic’s more substantial shove in the back of Romelu Lukaku in the same area during the first half. To rub salt into the gaping wound, Sergio Aguero’s poorly-struck spot-kick was saved by Tim Howard on to the post, only for the ball to rebound off the back of the goalkeeper’s head and over the line. “If that’s a penalty, it’s an impossible game,” said Martinez. “It is a football disaster.”
The Everton manager, though, will surely have been concerned at the manner in which Coleman had given Zabaleta the opportunity to draw the foul, not least as it wasn’t the first time the right-back had been caught out. The Irishman was similarly undone for City’s equaliser on 17 minutes, although Yaya Toure’s delicate pass was perfectly weighted for Alvaro Negredo to race in behind Coleman and finish through Howard. Everton’s lead had lasted barely 90 seconds. Lukaku, played onside from Phil Jagielka’s long punt forward, progressed into the area, nutmegged the recovering Joleon Lescott and then struck a shot that City goalkeeper Joe Hart, under pressure following a series of high-profile errors, couldn’t keep out despite meeting the effort with a strong hand.
Lukaku – his goal a fourth in as many appearances for the club – terrorised City during the first half, particularly when working in tandem with Ross Barkley and Everton’s stellar performer Steven Naismith, a busy presence on his recall down the left flank. But, as on his previous starts against Fulham and Newcastle, the Belgian faded badly after the interval. Lukaku had only completed nine full 90 minutes in English football before arriving at Goodison and it’s clear harnessing the young striker’s potential over the period of a full match will be an ongoing process for Martinez.
City went ahead on the stroke of half-time with another avoidable effort from the visitors’ point of view. With Everton’s defence having been unwisely distracted by breaking up a set-to between Negredo and Coleman, Silva slipped a pass in the channel to Aguero, who lost the attentions of Distin sufficiently to fire powerfully across Howard into the far corner. In truth, Martinez’s side never truly recovered from that blow, unable to capitalise on City captain Vincent Kompany hobbling off before the break, with their second-half threat limited to Kevin Mirallas failing to control a Barkley through ball. And the Everton midfield sorely missed the steadying influence of the ineligible Gareth Barry in front of a back four that has now conceded seven goals in their last three games. Things may have been different had Moss adjudged James Milner’s wild challenge on James McCarthy worthy of more than a yellow card. But there could be no complaints with the result, meaning there was no continuation of Everton’s remarkable record against City having won nine of the previous 12 meetings. Everton’s unbeaten league record may be gone and the response of his team after the international break will be another learning experience for Martinez.

Howard blames refereeing calls for loss at City
7 Oct 2013 Daily Pot
By Alex Hickey
Blues goalie believes side did not get 'rub of the green' from ref Jon Moss
Tim Howard pointed the finger at the officials after Everton’s unbeaten Premier League start was brought to a shuddering halt. Roberto Martinez suffered his first top-flight defeat as Goodison manager when his side suffered a 3-1 loss at Manchester City on Saturday. Everton were in the game until City’s third goal, a penalty from Sergio Aguero that Howard turned on to the post but couldn’t prevent rebounding over the line off the back of his head. The visitors were furious the spot kick had been awarded after Pablo Zabaleta went to ground following slight contact from Seamus Coleman – not least as a more obvious foul by Matija Nastasic on Romelu Lukaku inside the area had earlier gone unpunished. And Howard believes Everton did not enjoy the rub of the green throughout the match from referee Jon Moss and his assistants. “It was a soft penalty,” said the United States international goalkeeper. “But in the build-up to that, City won a corner and it should have been given as a handball by Aguero. “It wasn’t intentional but it was there for the linesman to see. “Unfortunately, that leads to bad things. Those calls need to go right. “The fact it was down the City end – sometimes referees are influenced by those things. I don’t think it was right.
“It was one of those days. On another day, maybe the penalty stays out but it hit m e and went in.
“At 2-1 we are still in the game. But once it goes to 3-1, it kills it off. “That was always the danger as we had to commit players forward.” When asked if the penalty decision was one of a few decisions to go against Everton, Howard responded: “Only a few?! “Both teams would have been a bit upset at times, though. “There weren’t many good things as far as that was concerned.
“In big games, you need big calls to go your way. Or at least you need a balance. And we didn’t get that.” City full-back Zabaleta admits it was a “silly” penalty for Everton to concede but insists the relative lack of reaction from Martinez’s men suggest they had no real quarrel with the decision.
“Yes, I think there was a small contact,” said Zabaleta. “It was maybe a silly penalty (to give away from Everton’s point of view). “I watched it again in the dressing room and there was a small contact. It was maybe a little bit soft but it was a penalty. “I was goal-side of him and he pushed me away a little bit with his arm. “I can understand why he was a little bit disappointed but the Everton players weren’t angry with me. “I’ve been talking to Leighton Baines after the game and he accepted there had been small contact.” Zabaleta also praised Baines for preventing him from becoming the 10th name in referee Moss’s notebook of a simmering if never truly bad-tempered encounter. “Late in the game, Baines tried to save me from a booking after I tackled him,” said the Argentine defender. “He told the referee I had got a contact on the ball and I like that.
“It’s good to have that sort of conversation with your opponents.”

Everton FC Transfer Rumour Mill: Moyes to offer £15m and Valencia for Baines as Spurs and Chelsea join race, United to make January Barkley move
7 Oct 2013 Liverpool Echo
Top Everton duo wanted by host of Premier League sides
Everton's Ross Barkley is wanted by Manchester United
Everton's transfer speculation today focuses Manchester United's renewed attempts to lure Leighton Baines to Old Trafford. Reports suggest United will offer Everton £15million plus Antonio Valencia in the January transfer window in a fresh attempt to sign Baines. United boss David Moyes is more convinced than ever he needs a top left-back after spending his first two months scrutinising the squad. Patrice Evra was poor in the Manchester derby defeat three weeks ago while his understudy, Alex Buttner, is not considered up to the job. Moyes had a joint £36m bid for Marouane Fellaini and Baines turned down in the summer and later split the offer so the Belgian could join on his own. But with the England defender so far stalling on Everton's attempts to get him to sign a new contract, Moyes is keen to try again ( The Mail ). Reports at the weekend also suggest Tottenham and Chelsea will rival United for Baines in January. Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas is also monitoring the Baines saga and could be willing to enter the bidding now that chairman Daniel Levy has thrown off the financial shackles. Spurs signed seven players in the summer but still want a striker and a left-back ( The Mirror ).

Roy Hodgson must give Ross Barkley and Leighton Baines the chance to reproduce their Everton form for England
7 Oct 2013 Daily Mirror
By David Anderson
David Anderson has been thoroughly impressed by the Toffees and thinks they could boost the Three Lions this week
It's been a bit like the 80s revisited at Everton this last week.
With Romelu Lukaku banging the goals in like Andy Gray, that thrilling first half against Newcastle, and Everton being fourth in the table, it has been reminiscent of Howard Kendall's glory days.
I think Roy Hodgson should get into the mood and give his England side a similar 80s look for their huge World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland. Everton were well represented in Bobby Robson's Three Lions squads by the likes of Peter Reid, Paul Bracewell, Trevor Steven, Gary Stevens and Gary Lineker. And I think Hodgson could do a lot worse than go with three of Roberto Martinez's current side for these defining nine days for England. Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Ross Barkley should all start against Montenegro for me. Jagielka is without doubt England's best centre-back. He is solid, reliable and has grown into his new role as Everton skipper. He's a bit of a Ronseal player in that he does exactly what it says on the tin and defends. He is also the only centre-half who plays week-in, week-out in his position; Gary Cahill doesn't at Chelsea, while Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have been in and out at Manchester United. Ashley Cole's injury strengthens Baines' case, but I would pick the Everton left-back every time for England. His start to the season has been nothing short of sensational. He also offers pace and creativity down the left, and, unlike a lot of attacking full-backs, he can defend. Barkley is a more controversial choice. Yes, the kid is only 19 and still very wet behind the ears, but he has already shown that big occasions do not faze him.
This kid has been groomed for stardom for several years and everyone who has worked with him at Everton knows he's destined for big things. He has seized with both hands the opportunity given to him by Roberto Martinez at the start of the season and has established himself as a key member of the Blues midfield. Of course, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere are ahead of him in the pecking order, but I will not accept that Michael Carrick, James Milner and Tom Cleverley are playing better than him at the moment. I just think Barkley brings something else to the party and the way he dribbles with the ball and goes past players reminds me of a young Gazza. He's cutting down on his errors, which was always David Moyes' main reservation about playing him. He has formed a fine understanding already with Lukaku and I feel he could be a great link between midfield and Rooney and Daniel Sturridge. So come on Roy, try some blue blood as you attempt to seal your crowning glory as England boss.

Cole's bane is Leighton's gain - Blues defender in line for England starts
7 Oct 2013 Daily Post
By Ian Doyle
Ashley Cole poised to miss decisive qualifying double-header paving way for Leighton Baines
England's Leighton Baines (right) and Moldova's Alexandr Antoniuc battle for the ball during the World Cup Qualifying, Group H match at Wembley Stadium, London Leighton Baines is in line to help England secure their World Cup finals berth with Ashley Cole poised to miss his country’s decisive qualifying double-header. Cole is expected to sit out the Wembley showdowns with Montenegro on Friday and Poland next Tuesday after suffering a rib injury during Chelsea’s win at Norwich City over the weekend. Roy Hodgson’s England currently lead Group H and know that victory in both of their final two games will guarantee a spot in the World Cup finals in Brazil next year. Baines has won 19 caps since making his debut against Egypt in March 2010 but has previously started only four competitive matches for his country. The 28-year-old would likely be joined by centre-back Phil Jagielka in defence with fellow Goodison team-mate Ross Barkley expected to be among the substitutes. The Everton trio join up with the England squad today having lost their unbeaten Premier League record in the 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday. Defeat, though, could not detract from an impressive start to Roberto Martinez’s reign as manager, with Baines indicating he was enjoying learning under the Spaniard. “It’s a work in progress but we’re working towards being a much better team,” said the defender. “I’m enjoying that aspect of it. I’m learning and hopefully we will continue to build on what we’ve started. “We’ve been working on different things and people have begun to enjoy watching some of them. We’ve just got to tighten up the other aspects and keep developing.” Baines added: “We’ve still got things we need to improve on. We gave the ball away too quickly high up the pitch to allow us to get any momentum.
“So every time we started to creep forward we’d lose it and that’d one of the things we’re working on improving; being better in possession in the opposition’s half. It’s about sustaining attacks.
“Not doing it against City meant we kept ending up on the back foot again and susceptible to the counter-attack. “We shouldn’t have to just reflect on it afterwards. The next step tactically is to show that awareness during a game and say ’Okay, we’ve seen what you’re doing,’ and then change, but we didn’t. “Now we want to come back from the international break and get back to winning ways.” Meanwhile, Martinez has been nominated for the Premier League manager of the month for September after recording successive wins over Chelsea, West Ham United and Newcastle United.
Martinez is up against Arsene Wenger of Arsenal, Southampton’s Mauricio Pochettino and Steve Bruce, manager of Everton’s next opponents Hull City.