The Roar continue our EPL season previews, this time heading to the blue side of Merseyside with Everton.
What happened last season
There was no silverware or European qualification to show for it, but season 2012/13 was a success for Everton.
For one, the club finished above despised rivals Liverpool for the second season in a row, a feat not achieved since 1937.
Sixth place, however, was perhaps not what fans were dreaming of after a sensational start to the campaign, marked by that opening day victory over Manchester United.
It was no fluke – the Toffees carried that form, and their newfound combination of style and substance, forward for some weeks.
But a season total of 15 draws, some against the likes of QPR, Norwich and Fulham, proved costly as Everton’s top-four ambitions fell achingly short.
It’s nothing to sneeze at, sixth, but it would have been a little more palatable alongside a better run in the FA Cup, where they were knocked out at home by eventual winners, Wigan, coached by a soon-to-be-very-familiar face.
It all felt like underachievement and overachievement at the same time.
What happened in the off-season
For one, Sir Alex Ferguson decided to hang up the blowdryer – which means David Moyes’ reign at Goodison Park is over.
In comes Roberto Martinez, the highly-rated former Wigan manager who looks a very good fit for an Everton side keen to not only get better, but play better stuff.
The Spaniard has brought in Arouna Kone, Antolin Alcaraz and Joel Robles from his old side and has so far managed to bat away United’s advances towards Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, but question marks still remain over whether he can keep things as tight as the back as Moyes did.
Oh, and Everton also decided to go all Nike minimalist on the club’s historic badge, prompting predictable (and justified) outrage from the fan-base and a likely mass-boycott of new merchandise.
Expect that undercurrent of post-Moyes trepidation to spark up again at the earliest available opportunity.
Why Everton fans should be excited about the 2013/14 season
Martinez might have overseen relegation at Wigan last season but few would doubt his managerial chops.
At a bigger club with more resources and a much better squad he is capable of very good things.
It might take a bit of tinkering and there will be the inevitable teething problems, but Martinez will push for an attacking, possession-heavy brand of football and he has the players to carry it out.
It’ll help if the beast Fellaini stays put and Baines resists the temptation to follow Moyes to Old Trafford, but there were glimpses of excellence in 2012/13 that should be enough for fans to want to strap themselves in for the ride.
The main man that can carry Everton’s 2013/14 hopes
Leighton Baines. There’s a reason why United wants him so badly.
The 28-year-old was there for every minute of every game last term and created more chances than any other fullback in Europe’s top five leagues – a third of Everton’s for the season.
He also tipped in seven goals of his own and together with Steven Pienaar, tore it up on the left side.
Baines is uber-consistent and level-headed, and it’s very rare those qualities come bundled with that level of attacking prowess, especially in a left-back.
Verdict
Fighting for Europe. Bettering last season is a tough ask for Martinez in his first year at the helm, but it’s hard to imagine Everton turning into disaster under his watch, as was the fear when Moyes walked out the door.
He has inherited a very good squad that requires perhaps only a line-leading striker for it to remain in strong contention for continental qualification.
There will be bumps on the road ahead but all indications are that it is the one that will eventually take Everton to where they want to be.
Marouane Fellaini needs to fire for Everton this season.
Everton striker Kevin Mirallas.
Everton’s left-back Leighton Baynes has been a mainstay for the Toffees.
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