It’s the start of a new season in the Premier League, with teams like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur breaking the bank to improve their squads and obtain ultimate “Top 4” glory. For Everton, a new era is being ushered in, with David Moyes departing for Manchester United and Roberto Martinez taking up the helm at Goodison Park, bringing with him players, coaching staff, and a completely new mentality to the Toffees.
The preseason for Everton was all about introducing the players to Martinez and his playing style. The Toffees implemented a new, three-at-the-back system multiple times throughout the summer games, playing Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman in wingback positions. Also, Marouane Fellaini, the target man for Moyes game plan last season, was played in his preferred position throughout the preseason. Rather than being placed right behind the striker and having balls hoofed up to him, Fellaini played a much more defensive role in central midfield.
Nikica Jelavic, horribly out of form last season, seems to be finding his scoring boots once again, scoring four in all games. Arouna Kone featured in a few games and Gerard Deulofeu, the exciting young loanee from Barcelona, had a couple run-outs as well. Belgian forward Kevin Mirallas has looked his usual explosive self and figures to feature heavily in Martinez’s plans for the upcoming season.
Looking forward to the looming season, Everton is a very good position. Having kept their best players at the club and adding depth and talent, Evertonians are very keen to see how the club will fair under the new manager. Personally, I can see the season being either very good, or very average. With any club, but Everton especially, having a new manager can bring about growing pains. David Moyes had been at the club for 11 years and his playing style and mentality was grounded into the very fabric of Goodison Park that whole time. With the introduction of Martinez, that bedrock will have to be built upon and progressed.
While the squad performed well in most of their preseason matches, there are some worrying trends popping up. Against Real Madrid, Everton were constantly hounded on the counter attack. Now, any team would find themselves in trouble with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil running at them, but Everton constantly let it happen, losing the ball in bad areas and putting their defenders in bad positions. Darron Gibson, a potent passer in Moyes’ system, looks frustrated at times with the lack of movement from his teammates, constantly finding that he has to pass it back to Phil Jagielka or Sylvain Distin and start the move over again.
The passing between the defenders is another cause of worry for Evertonians, mostly because it’s nothing we’re used to at all. Most of all, in the match against Real Betis on Sunday, Everton were constantly pressured at the back and found it extremely difficult to move the ball up the pitch. Both of the goals scored were quite lucky and, if not for Betis’s poor shooting, they could’ve been looking at a 4 or 5 goal loss.
Now, even with those trends, Everton looks extremely potent on the attacking end of things. Mirallas and Steven Pienaar have acres of space to run on the wings, and the Baines-Pienaar connection looks as strong as ever. Coleman is ever improving, Jelavic is having a resurgence, and young Ross Barkley, a player Evertonians have wanted to see in a regular starting role for a long time, is starting to come into his own. A starting XI I think would be ideal for the upcoming season would be:
Tim Howard
Seamus Coleman Phil Jagielka Sylvain Distin Leighton Baines
Marouane Fellaini Darron Gibson
Kevin Mirallas Ross Barkley Steven Pienaar
Nikica Jelavic
Now, with the recent injury to Gibson causing him to be doubtful for the opening day, I would love to see Barkley moved into his position and either Steven Naismith or Arouna Kone moved behind Jelavic. Leon Osman should be a squad player and nothing more. He’s past his prime and doesn’t need to start as we have much better, younger options. Bryan Oviedo will be a good, pacey option off the bench as filler for either Baines or midfield. Alcaraz will be good experienced depth and John Stones should feature in cup games and possibly even start a few league games.
This season has potential just as much as it has worry. Our best-case scenario, in my eyes, is a 5th or 6th place finish. I still believe we are better than Liverpool, especially with the Suarez drama still at the front of that club’s mind. I also believe we are better than Swansea, who’s squad is very good but lacks depth, which will hurt them with European football to play. The worst-case scenario for the Blues is a midtable finish. I can easily see us struggling to completely adopt the system right away and see us drop results to lower teams. It might even pan out to be a classic struggle at the beginning of the season and rebirth at the end that we were so used to under Moyes. Now, I am completely positive we will not be relegation fodder this season. We have way too much quality in our squad for that. Some pundits, such as David James, like to think that we will struggle to a 16th place finish this season. But remember, this is the same man who said that QPR would finish above Spurs last season.
Only time will tell what comes of us this season. Can we achieve silverware in the FA Cup or League Cup? Can we achieve a Europa League spot that so narrowly avoided us last season? Will the players gel into Martinez’s mindset and become the attacking machine we know we can be? The mood around Goodison is hopeful and upbeat, let’s hope that it continues throughout the season. COME ON YOU BLUES!!!
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