Even after a fresh start, Everton are still faced with challenges as the new season draws near.
Offseason recruitment
It has been a relatively quiet offseason in terms of transfers for Everton, and that has certainly not pleased the fans. Thus far, new boss Ronald Koeman has brought in Maarten Stekelenburg (Fulham), Idrissa Gueye (Aston Villa), Chris Renshaw (Oldham Athletic) and Bassala Sambou (Coventry City), while a host of veterans have departed, including Tim Howard, Steven Pineaar and Leon Osman.
If Everton’s friendly defeat against Spanish side Espanyol proved anything, it is that a fresh faces are desperately needed before the season begins. Everton looked stale and lethargic, reviving sour memories of last season’s failure.
On top of that, the futures of in-demand star Romelu Lukaku remain uncertain, although the club is remaining steadfast on a hefty price tag. However, John Stones has departed for Manchester City, leaving a gap in defence.
Reports indicate long-term target Yannick Bolasie could soon arrive at the club, with a £25 million fee with Crystal Palace supposedly agreed.
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Strengths
Once a problem area, Everton can now boast a front line brimming with world-class talent, almost spoiled for choice, and faced little difficulty finding the back of the net in 2015-16. Ross Barkley sits in the hole, fresh off a move to the no.8 shirt, with Gerard Deulofeu, Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas on the wings. Up top sits goal machine Lukaku. However, his future is still very much up in the air, with a move back to Chelsea hotly touted. Although the goals dried up for the Belgian towards the end of last season, his departure would take some replacing.
Weaknesses
While the Merseysiders had no issue scoring goals at the best of times last season, the defence remained fragile and was a problem that proved irreparable for Martinez. Everton conceded a shocking 55 goals in the league last season – only Stoke City and the bottom five clubs conceded more. Plugging the holes in a very porous back line promises to be high on Koeman’s to-do list, and must he must nail any central-defensive signing after Stones’ departure.
A six-month injury sustained by hard man Mo Besic will not help his cause and reinforcements will be needed to ensure the team is not left devoid of his fierce physicality and combativeness.
6 months out! #devastated pic.twitter.com/0jg3w3OP9k
— MoBesic (@Mo_Besic) August 5, 2016
Key player – Romelu Lukaku
Everton and Koeman must do everything to convince Lukaku to remain at Goodison amid talk of interest from some of football’s heaviest hitters. Every team needs a focal point up front, and the 23-year-old brings that to the Toffees in emphatic style – his 18 goals last season was a positive in a gloomy period. His form fell away as the season wore on, perhaps a symbol of his team’s dramatic decline and his importance to it.
On his day, Lukaku can best just about any defender. Still young, the striker possesses incredible strength and an intimidating presence, key attributes for great target men. It is easy to pin expectation on the striker, but marry these will quality service, and the former Anderlecht youngster’s goalscoring ability knows no bounds.
Prediction
Even with Koeman at the helm, it is difficult to see Everton’s fortunes improving as things stand – he needs to get moving.
On paper, the squad remains eerily similar to that of last campaign and is still crying out for a freshen-up. The quality of new arrivals – and when they come – could define Koeman’s ability to reshape Everton and where they finish which, at the moment, has mid-table written all over it.
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