Our series of 2015-16 Premier League team previews continue with Outside90 editor Joel Fruci running the ruler over the Toffees.
Summer transfers
For the majority of Evertonians, this transfer window will seem like business as usual. The Toffees are not traditionally big spenders and this window has been no different. The club sits at the bottom of the ‘money spent’ table, with an expenditure of just £4.3 million – a sum that was spent on ex-loanee Gerard Deulofeu. The club has signed two other players, Belgian youngster David Henen and former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, a favourite of Roberto Martinez.
On the flip side, experienced duo Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz were released, while youngster Luke Garbutt has been sent on loan to Fulham after inking a new five-year deal. An array of younger fringe players was also let go, including striker Chris Long.
Last season
The 2014-15 campaign is not one Everton will want to revisit any time soon. After finishing fifth the season prior with 72 points, the Toffees slumped to 11th, accruing just 47 points, seemingly struggling to adjust to the added rigours of Europa League football. A sub-standard season included a winless run of six matches and four straight defeats, the club’s worst run of results in a decade.
Much of its problems stemmed from slow ball movement and a lack of pace in the wide areas, an issue that was later remedied by the loan signing of Spurs’ Aaron Lennon in January. Lennon has since returned to North London, but Martinez has sought to permanently address the issue by turning to the aforementioned Deulofeu.
Manager
Spanish gaffer Martinez enters his third and most crucial season at the helm. Having overseen an underperforming team that boasted a great deal of promise at the beginning of last campaign, and likewise this one, Martinez faces a season under pressure to challenge for European football, in particular, the Champions League.
Much criticism surrounding Martinez had centred on his refusal to deviate from his trademark possession game style, with many believing his team’s play had stagnated and become haphazard. The ex-Wigan boss finally bit the bullet half way through last season and tinkered with his tactics, occasionally sending out the team in a 4-4-2 formation rather than his preferred 4-2-3-1.
Nevertheless, the manager’s passing-based outlook is not likely to change any time soon.
Strengths
Everton’s major assets lie at right and left-back, in particular the crossing abilities of Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman. The latter was again linked with a big-money move to Manchester United in the window, but rumours have since cooled and it appears the Irishman is set to remain at Goodison Park for the time being.
Both Coleman and Baines will play a critical role in bringing out the best in another major weapon, Romelu Lukaku. Still just 22, Lukaku experienced something of a downturn in form last season, scoring just 10 league goals, of which three were penalties. That number must increase by at least five if the Blues are to challenge for the Champions League places.
Weaknesses
The old saying is that attack wins games, but defence wins titles. That was proven true last season. Everton was plagued by defensive errors and led Europe’s top five leagues for goals conceded from mistakes at the back. Despite boasting a more than apt central defensive pairing in England internationals Phil Jagielka and John Stones, the manager’s emphasis on playing out from the back means the Blues employ a high-risk game style and leaves them susceptible to high-pressing tactics.
Much like the defence, goalkeeper Tim Howard showed last season that he is error-prone and those errors cast his future as an Everton player into doubt. He was given the vote of confidence by Martinez, however, and remains the number one custodian. Whether he has the unwavering confidence of the fans is a different question though.
Key player
Since trading Wigan Athletic for Everton in 2013, James McCarthy has been Everton’s lynchpin. The Irishman is a genuine box-to-box midfielder, linking defence to attack as well as fulfilling his defensive duties alongside stalwart Gareth Barry.
But with the transfer window yet to close, the 24-year-old’s future remains uncertain after a summer of speculation. Tottenham have been strongly linked to the man signed for £13 million, but Martinez has since declared McCarthy is off-limits, regardless of what fee is offered.
The 2014-15 season saw McCarthy ranked seventh for midfielders in defensive actions while creating 16 chances including one assist. He also found himself on the scoresheet twice, most notably in Everton’s 3-0 home defeat of Manchester United.
Best XI
(4-2-3-1): Howard (GK); Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Deulofeu, Barkley, Pineaar; Lukaku.
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Prediction
Despite spending a miniscule amount of money on new talent thus far, the ingredients are there for a successful season under Martinez’s tutelage, they simply need some extra spice, in particular the defence and attack. Finishing fifth in Martinez’s maiden campaign with the same squad, more or less, was no fluke.
Of more importance, however, is that the defence is tightened up. This means no-nonsense football when under pressure and, more importantly, the addition of another centre-half to keep the pressure on Jagielka and Stones.
The defence and whether it performs will be the difference between challenging for European places and stagnating in the bottom half. Given the club has lagged behind in terms of transfer business, however, it is difficult to see it finishing any higher than seventh.
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