---
title: "Southall – Martinez needs a defensive coach"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/southall-martinez-needs-defensive-coach/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ste Hoare"
section: "Other"
published: "2016-02-23T15:40:04Z"
modified: "2016-02-23T15:40:04Z"
---

# Southall – Martinez needs a defensive coach

Former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall has backed Roberto Martinez to stay in charge of the Blues next season but has recommended that the club bring in a defensive-minded assistant to help improve the leaky backline.

The Blues play some lovely attacking football at times, with Ross Barkley, Gerard Deulofeu, Romelu Lukaku and company posing a real threat to opposition defences.

Unfortunately, Everton still concede too many goals. They’ve let in 35 goals in just 26 league games – only Liverpool have conceded more out of the top eleven sides.

![Steve Bardens/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2016/02/511415008.jpg)

The Blues have scored an impressive 46 league goals – only Leicester, Man City and Tottenham have scored more – so if they can find a solution to help keep the backdoor more secure next season, a push for Champions League football will not be out of the question.

Speaking to [Bwin news](https://news.bwin.com/en/football-betting/euro-2016/neville-southall-exclusive-interview-everton-legend-on-the-toffees-wales-and-of-course-goalkeepers,98474.html), Southall thinks that bringing somebody in to help Martinez with defensive coaching could be the way to solve this issue.

He said:

> I personally wouldn’t get rid of him as I think he’s a fantastic manager but in the summer, he needs to sit down and see if he can find someone to work on the defensive side of the game.

> Our problem is balancing attacking prowess with defending. I’ve got no problem with our attacking play, it’s old-school in that it’s outscoring your opponent rather than keeping it tight. But to be honest, they’ve got international players in goal and across the backline.

> They’ve got a good back four and if you can’t defend with five internationals, you shouldn’t be playing in the Premier League.