Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that the Premier League’s managerial merry-go-round took another swing with the appointment of Roberto Martinez as David Moyes’ replacement at Everton. A popular club and a popular manager – from the day of Wigan’s relegation, it seemed almost inevitable that the two would join forces over the course of the summer.
Yet, according to Bill Kenwright, regardless of Roberto Martinez’ glowing reputation in England and natural suitability for a club that has never had the privilege of the powers of the purse, the former Wigan boss had to do his fair share of convincing around the conference table to stave off competition from the other candidates.
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What Martinez showed during the first few minutes of his meeting with the Toffees chairman was a belief that he could get Everton into the Champions League, breaking the glass ceiling between the Merseyside club and the Premier League’s top four, a feat only accomplished once by David Moyes during his eleven year reign.
According to Kenwright, the simple phrase from the Spaniard’s lips of “I will get you into the Champions League” resonated with Moyes’ first words to the Everton chief; “You will not be relegated”. Belief and desire are one thing, but is Champions League qualification an achievable goal for the Toffes? Is Martinez simply adding pressure to what will already be an intense situation? What stands in the former Wigan man’s way in bringing success to Goodison Park?
Sometimes, ambition and intent is all you need to get the ball rolling. The sheer subtle difference in tone from Moyes’ manner of remaining continually hopeful that Everton can claim fourth spot, but with the clear knowledge that the slightest injury crisis or dip in form could scupper their whole season, in comparison to Martinez’ self-confident and self-imposed target of achieving continental qualification could be enough to get the fans and the players at Goodison thinking in a more positive light, and galvanise the club to begin working towards a tough and challenging goal that will require full collective and individual effort.
Yet, to make the dream a reality, Martinez will need something far more substantial than simply words. The Spaniard has announced that he will be tinkering with Everton’s currently typically English philosophy, and he will be hoping that an evolutionary rather than revolutionary opening-up of the Toffees’ game will go some way to reducing the ten point gap between themselves and Arsenal this season.
There is a concerning naivety on Martinez’ part considering Everton have recorded their best results this year by remaining sturdy, physical and combative, with victories against Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, in addition to draws against Arsenal, however, the myth that Everton aren’t capable of playing expansive football is simply untrue.
Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman and Darron Gibson are all very accomplished with the ball at their feet, and the four are very much the Toffees’ creative hub that provide the vast majority of their goals. Furthermore, just as with Swansea and Wigan, Martinez will be hoping his more stylish philosophy will create an institutional legacy at Goodison which outlives the coming and going of players, and even his own tenure.
Before the former Latics boss can begin installing his fresh, forward-thinking and open approach on the Everton roster however, his first battle will come in the transfer market. David Moyes is reportedly very keen to bring Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines with him to Old Trafford, whilst Phil Jagielka has been lined with a move away from Merseyside for a number of years. Of course, Martinez will be hoping he can hold onto all three, and that the trio have been convinced to stay put by his appointment and the ambition he brings to Goodison.
Yet with Chelsea, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs all looking to bolster their squads and bring in added quality over the summer, it remains unlikely that the Toffees’ will be able to stave off interest from the Premier League’s elite. Keeping two of Everton’s three key men will be an acceptable loss, however, the new boss will have to get the best return possible on any departures, as it will make up a sizeable chunk of the club’s summer transfer kitty.
In regards to incomings, the first priority is undoubtedly a forward whom can consistently provide goals. Everton’s current collection of strikers – Nikita Jelavic and Victor Anichebe – recorded just 13 goals between them this season, and there is a common feeling at Goodison that a number of results could have been different if the Toffees possessed a forward that provided a greater cutting edge and could be a determining factor in his own right during matches.
Martinez’ acquisition of Arouna Kone last summer proved to be a solid piece of business, but the Spaniard will have to pull off a real master-stroke to bring a forward to Merseyside that can make a substantial difference to results without putting the club’s finances in jeopardy. There aren’t too many obvious candidates on the horizon, and Martinez will have to use his knowledge of Europe, ability to spot potential and his eye for a bargain to find a cut-price summer recruit whom can contribute at least 15 league goals a season.
Martinez is young, bold, enthusiastic and ambitious, yet the pressure of the Everton appointment makes it the most challenging step of his career to date. With the club already operating at full capacity in terms of finance and resources, it will be a tough task to bridge the gap between the Toffees and Champions League qualification within the space of four years – the length of the 39 year old’s contract – let alone within his first season.
From a more negative viewpoint, the margin for failure is incredibly slight; whilst Moyes had the Everton squad continually performing to the best of their abilities, and any slump in standard of performance could easily see the Merseysiders plummet down the Premier League table. Similarly, there will undoubtedly be teething pains from one era to the next, in addition to the change in philosophy.
Bill Kenwright is no fool – Martinez will be given time to complete his goals, as Everton have experienced more than any other club the benefits of overall stability and consistency. But the Spaniard’s tenure could unravel very quickly should it get off to a poor start. The Toffees’ home form must be maintained – David Moyes recorded just a single defeat at Goodison Park this season, the best record in the English top flight – and it would be a shame if plans for continental qualification are scuppered by a slow start to Martinez’ inaugural campaign.
It will take a miracle to get Everton into the Champions League next season, yet for a manager of Martinez’ abilities, conquering the Premier League’s top four as a project with a duration of four years is achievable. The squad is in good shape, even if it is in need of a few extra pieces to complete the jigsaw, and the sense of collective effort and shared mentality at Goodison remains strong even after Moyes’ departure.
But the seeds for European success will have to be sewn within Martinez’ first season – it will undoubtedly be his biggest opportunity to spend, with Bill Kenwright giving his new manger a chance to imprint his own vision upon the Everton roster via purchases in the transfer market, and it will be the only year where any step backwards in terms of league standing will be judged by the fans as acceptable. Furthermore, and most importantly, he will have a single season to strike a healthy balance between philosophy and pragmatism, or it will not be long before the argument of the Spaniard and the Toffees being chalk and cheese begin to re-emerge.
Can Martinez lead Everton into the Premier League’s top four?
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