The second international break of this young Premier League season is in full swing, with World Cup qualifiers being finished off and players receiving some respite from the hectic first few weeks of the season. As we push through these two weeks devoid of any Premier League action, let’s take a look at what Roberto Martinez’s Everton side have accomplished in their first 7 games, and what’s ahead for them.
Everton have played admirably at the start of this Premier League season and whilst they managed to draw their first 3 games of the season, they bounced back and won 3 straight before losing to a talented Manchester City side who had something to prove following a miserable week which saw them lose to both Aston Villa and Bayern Munich.
Romelu Lukaku has been the striker we’ve been looking for since the 1980’s. Creative, strong and very fast, he is quickly becoming one of the best strikers in the league. His current form sees him sitting on 4 goals in 3 appearances, and he doesn’t look ready to slow down, scoring twice in Belgium’s win over Croatia. Unfortunately, as much as I like to avoid the subject, he is a loan signing, and it would take money we just don’t have to keep him at the club. Everton’s other marquee loanee, Gerard Deulofeu, isn’t playing at quite the level Lukaku is yet but it is still very early. A 19-year-old Spanish starlet from Barcelona, Deulofeu is having a little bit of trouble adjusting to life in the Premier League. He hasn’t garnered his first start, and his sub appearances have been less than admirable. However, with Kevin Mirallas’s current form being so poor, it’s very possible we could see Deulofeu make a start as early as the Hull match. The 3rd loan signing at Everton this season is Gareth Barry, and while the media won’t be singing his praises anytime soon, Everton fans know exactly what he’s doing to improve the quality of football on the pitch. His tireless work ethic, important tackles and working mans approach to the game has paid off tremendously. His combination with the young and talented James McCarthy has made our usually thin midfield look a real threat.
Looking at Everton’s own players, Leighton Baines has been the top performer by a country mile. The much-coveted England left back is in fine form, continuously creating chances that other players at his position just can’t. His two stunning free kicks against West Ham were the stuff of legend.
Right back Seamus Coleman has continued his incredible improvement and somehow has been nearly as impressive as Baines. The Irish international is pacy and agile, combining well with Mirallas at times while also making solo runs into crossing positions. His final ball needs work but he makes up for it with his stoic defending and crafty wing play.
Kevin Mirallas has easily been the disappointment of the season so far. The Belgian international has not continued his good form that he ended last season on, failing to score in any competition so far this season. He tends to get lost on the right and loses the ball worryingly easily when trying to make runs. Couple that with hamstrings made of chewing gum and it’s easy to see why there is worry running amongst the Blues faithful about our beloved Kevin.
The final player that needs talking about is the imposing figure of exciting youngster Ross Barkley. The man backed by Martin Keown to be “one of the greatest players England has ever seen” has lived up to that claim with excellent performances as an attacking midfielder. The 19-year-old is forming an attacking partnership with Lukaku that, if somehow kept together, could rival any other in the long run. His scything runs and willingness to take on any challenge have seen him start every game for Everton this season. Martinez has put more faith in him than David Moyes ever did, and the style of play Martinez employs will benefit not only Barkley himself, but also the English national team, who struggle to find creativity in midfield.
As for Everton’s upcoming fixtures, wins seem possible to string together. A home meeting with new boys Hull City should surely end with an Everton win. An away day at young and lively Aston Villa will prove to be a challenge, but with star front man Christian Benteke still finding his way back from injury, Everton should be on the front foot and stay there. The Spurs match will be very interesting. Spurs have quality all over the field, but that quality has yet to fully gel. They lack a real goal-getting striker, with Roberto Soldado proving to be more proficient from the penalty spot than in the penalty area so far, whilst their back four can also be vulnerable. If Everton come out and attack with Lukaku and Barkley, hopefully they may be able to garner the 3 points.
The Premier League truly is wide open this season. No team seems absolutely dominant and the difference between 1st and 7th is a mere 4 points. While that gap will definitely widen as the season progresses, it remains to be seen just where everyone fits in the league. One thing is for certain, however. Roberto Martinez’s Everton will show up at every match with only one thing on their mind: win. With a mentality like that, no opposition is too great to conquer. Up the Toffees!
Thanks for Reading, you can follow me on twitter @thebesthobbit. Don’t forget to follow the site while you’re at it – @LastWordOnSports.
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands of fans at r/football or with our new IRC football Chat.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? Find more info at our “Join Our Team” page.
