After years of lingering around the prestigious top four, Everton’s reputation as the Premier League’s dark horse is seriously under threat. On the back of their worst Premier league points total for 11 years, Everton and Roberto Martinez have lots to do to prove they’re still good enough to compete with the big boys. But, with a host of Premier League clubs strengthening wisely and Everton struggling in the transfer market, this campaign could prove to be even more challenging than the last.
Are Everton Falling Behind Their Rivals?
When David Moyes departed for Manchester United at the end of 2012-2013 season, Martinez inherited a side in its prime. The introduction of Martinez’s trademark free flowing football pushed an already well-polished side further; finishing fifth with a club record 72 points. Now, two seasons on, an argument could be made that this current Everton squad has had its moment. Eight players in Martinez’s first team squad are over 30 years of age, six of them over the age of 32. Last season, although Everton performed admirably in the Europa League, their ageing squad struggled with the demands of combining a European campaign with a domestic one. Whilst Everton don’t have the ‘distraction of Europe’ this season, not enough has been done to refresh their squad.
The signings of former Barcelona man Gerard Deulofeu, Tom Cleverly and Mason Holgate do represent an attempt to add an element of youth to their side, just not in the right areas. To realistically challenge for European places this season, strengthening at the back has to be a priority. The departures of Sylvain Distin and Antolín Alcaraz leave Everton with two experienced centre-backs: John Stones and Phil Jagielka. And with Stones’ future far from certain amid interest from Chelsea, Mason Holgate, a player with only 20 senior appearances to his name, may be involved far sooner than Everton would like.
The left back position is also attracting some concern, with the ever-dependable Leighton Baines facing a further three months on the sidelines. Although Bryan Oviedo has declared himself 100% fit following a metatarsal injury, Martinez’s decision to play Gareth Barry at left back for a period against Watford will raise eyebrows about Oviedo’s involvement as a defender. The retention of promising left back Luke Garbutt would possibly have solved Everton’s problem. But, with Garbutt’s departure on loan and Oviedo seemingly preferred as a winger, a Leighton Baines’ sized hole will remain until his return, unless a signing is made.
Everton’s failure to replace what they’ve lost with real quality is ultimately what separates them from their Premier League counterparts at the moment. Liverpool, Aston Villa and Southampton have all recruited well since the loss of big players. And it is not only the teams that have seen money come in from departures that have impressed in this transfer window. Newcastle and Swansea have made some shrewd singings, whilst Stoke City and Crystal Palace may have possibly made the coups of the summer in brining in Xherdan Shaqiri and Yohan Cabaye, respectively. Whilst it remains to be seen whether Everton will be left behind by some of the aforementioned clubs in the Premier League, they are definitely being left behind in terms of transfers.
The failure to bring in more players will once again ensure the Toffees are far too reliant on certain players. James McCarthy’s performances last season have seen him attract attention from some of England’s top clubs, and rightly so. The young Irishman was a standout figure in what was otherwise a dismal season for Everton, but he was left isolated in that midfield. McCarthy’s midfield partner, Gareth Barry, was found out one too many times last season and a personnel change alongside McCarthy could see improved results. Bosnian holding midfielder Muhamed Bešić offers a more aggressive, forward thinking approach whilst Ross Barkley could be deployed in a deeper role with new acquisition Tom Cleverly playing in behind the striker. Both options would compliment an exciting and dynamic midfield that will see Kevin Mirallas and Deulofeu offer attacking support to Romelu Lukaku.
Staying with Lukaku, the Belgian contingent of Lukaku and Mirallas has been Everton’s main source of goals for the past two seasons, with only Steven Naismith making any other sort of goal-scoring contribution. If you look at Tottenham last season, midfielders Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli both entered double figures alongside Harry Kane, as Spurs finished fifth – something Everton will need to replicate to finish in a similar position. Barkley is Everton’s main hope of goals from midfield, alongside Mirallas, and after the young Englishman’s goal against Watford, Everton will hope for more of the same as they look to compete with the likes of Spurs. The reemergence of Arouna Koné will feel like a new singing after a long injury lay-off, but at 31 years of age, Everton fans will be hoping to see someone else offer competition to Lukaku.
Without a major singing since the 25th of June, Everton are far behind the competition. Whilst the singings of Deulofeu and Cleverly make Everton a stronger side, more needs to be done to refresh an ageing side and reengage the Goodison faithful. Martinez and Bill Kenwight have a huge amount of work to do in the coming weeks as they look to close the gap on their competitors, a gap, they’ve allowed to grow far too large.
