As new year beckons after a festive feast of Premier League football, Everton find themselves in fourth spot. But are Everton exceeding expectations or are they the real deal?
Roberto Martinez has introduced a new ethos into the football club this season, a very possession based style whilst continuing David Moyes’ reliable defensive work that was his mantle during his time at the club. The fewest goals conceded in the calendar year supports this (33) and the league position speaks for itself. Some may say on the other hand, playing out from the back can be a dangerous game and this was highlighted in the goal conceded at home to Sunderland on Boxing Day. However, for the most part it has worked really well and Martinez has done a superb job thus far, injecting expectation into supporters from the get-go with his aim to deliver Champions League football and he is exactly where he said he’d be at the midpoint of the season.
Ross Barkley has come on leaps and bounds under Martinez, he is a player of real quality having watched him in every game he has featured in this season. Everton fans won’t haven’t witnessed a player this exciting at the club since the emergence of Wayne Rooney. A keen dribbler on the ball who is either footed with tremendous shooting ability and great physical presence; it really is no wonder why the 20 year-old has a lot of people talking about him.
You could talk about individuals in the team all day as all have chimed in with their own contributions, Gareth Barry, Romelu Lukaku and James McCarthy have proven shrewd acquisitions whilst Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka have remained ever-present at the back along with the very attacking minded full-backs Leighton Baines, Bryan Oviedo and Seamus Coleman. Not to mention, Tim Howard kept the most clean sheets of any goalkeeper in the calendar year (16).
The real question is, can they do it? Can Martinez replicate Moyes’ achievement in 2005? Personally, I don’t see why not. The squad depth compared to 2005 has improved a lot, the players who have come in when first choice players have been injured have done well. We are seeing a much more complete unit in footballing terms; defensively sound, attractive to watch going forward and relentless at pressing opposition. Martinez will certainly be pleased with how things have gone so far, but I can also see him dipping into the transfer market with injuries somewhat taking their toll at the minute. Rumours have also been circulating about Nikica Jelavic and Johnny Heitinga leaving, if I was Martinez I would look at that and think about suitable replacements as if Lukaku got injured, the striking options would be a bit threadbare with Arouna Kone out long-term.
Regardless, I think Everton have as good a chance at cracking the top four as any other teams in and around them, considering the financial power Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and even Liverpool have compared to the Toffees – it would be a remarkable achievement nonetheless.