Five things... for Roberto Martinez to stay positive about
1 The Cup
“ When the rainy days are dying. Gotta keep on, keep on trying, All the bees and birds are flying Ahhhh…” Bobby Martinez started today like he does every morning - by putting on his CD of uplifting hits and eating a massive bowl of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes - but even hearing the inspiring lyrics of his favourite track by 5ive would have struggled to lift his mood on this occasion. A 4-0 defeat in the Merseyside derby, intensifying fan unrest and the knowledge that he spent £9.5m on of Ramos Funes Mori have put Everton’s manager at the lowest ebb of his career. But if anyone can stay positive, it’s Martinez. And as the next track on the CD starts playing, ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin, the Spaniard begins tapping his fingers and daydreaming about this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United. He knows that his fantastic young Everton team will win that game. He knows he is *CD track change* “Simply the Best, better than all the rest…”
2 John Stones’ learning curve
When Martinez predicted that his 21-year-old centre-back would become “one of the greatest players England has ever seen”, he would have known this could only be achieved through the defender’s continued learning and development. It has therefore been a massive boon to Martinez that Stones has recently learned a series of harsh lessons about football and life in a very short space of time, having come under increasing scrutiny for casually giving away goals for club and country alike. Martinez has praised the “incredible character” shown by the player, who at his current rate of learning is projected to know almost everything about football by the end of the season - after which he will emerge as one of England’s greatest players. Ever.
3 Aiden McGeady’s renaissance
The winger once described as “phenomenal” by Martinez seemed a bit down in the dumps earlier in the season, saying he had “forgotten what it was like to be a footballer”. But a loan move to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in January seems to have jolted his memory, as he has helped propel the Owls into the play-off places while only being substituted in about 90 per cent of the games he has started. This upturn in the winger’s fortunes can only be good news for Martinez, who is slowly being proved right in his assessment of the Irishman’s superlative footballing abilities. It’s also great news for Everton, whose fans can begin to dream of McGeady and Oumar Niasse forming a devastating attack next season after Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley have been sold.
4 Jason Derulo’s upcoming tour
There have been two highlights of Martinez’s season so far. The first was when he inspired Steven Naismith to score a perfect hat-trick against Chelsea, and the other was when he went to an absolutely wicked Jason Derulo concert in Manchester - the Spaniard’s enthusiastic dancing having been captured on video by awestruck fellow music fans. But while it’s unlikely that Steven Nasimith will ever score another hat-trick, the chances of Martinez being able to see Derulo again are far higher. That’s due to the phenomenal news that the American R&B star is headlining the Fusion Festival in Liverpool this September, alongside Olly Murs who is also good. And even if Martinez has been sacked by then and will not be able to return to the city without a police escort, this won’t matter because Derulo will also be performing the same weekend in Norwich. Him and Naismith could even go together! Every cloud has a golden lining, as Bobby likes to say (to himself in the mirror).
5 Tony Hibbert’s return to fitness
It’s another example of Martinez’s blessed existence that the upcoming semi-final against Man Utd - the biggest game of his Everton career - has coincided with the return of his most heroic player. Injury-hit full-back Hibbert has been on the sidelines all season but came through 45 minutes of a reserve match this week - just days after regular right-back Seamus Coleman went down with a hamstring strain. Martinez has already reassured his beleaguered squad that the stars have aligned to ensure the 35-year-old will score his first ever Everton goal at Wembley and send them to glory. Then he stuck on his CD and began clapping his hands, “Get on up, when you’re down. Baby, take a good look around. I know it’s not much, but it’s okay. We’ll keep on movin’ on anyway.” When United’s players squad hear 5ive pumping out of the Toffees dressing room on Saturday, they will be hit with a sobering realisation. Even if you can beat Everton on the pitch, you can never beat them in Martinez’s head.
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