BPL Kick-off: 'Ambitious' Everton aiming for top four
Our club-by-club guide ahead of the start of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign
Everton
Everton completed the permanent signings of Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku and experienced midfielder Gareth Barry after the two shone during loan spells as Everton secured a club-record points haul and fifth place in the Barclays Premier League last term.
Lukaku joined from Chelsea in a club-record £28million transfer after scoring league 15 goals on loan with the Toffees and Barry, who reached 500 Barclays Premier League appearances last term after spells with Aston Villa and Manchester City, established himself as an integral part of the Merseyside club’s midfield.
The club's historic campaign was masterminded by manager Roberto Martinez, who was appointed in the summer of 2013 and also led the Toffees to the FA Cup quarter-finals in his first season at Goodison Park. The 41-year-old Spaniard previously had kept Wigan Athletic in the Barclays Premier League for four seasons before winning the FA Cup Final.Under Martinez’s guidance, Everton secured home wins over Chelsea and Arsenal as they pushed the latter in the race for fourth position, before three defeats in their final five matches ended their chances of securing a place in the UEFA Champions League.
Fifth means that Everton will compete in the UEFA Europa League this season and to help their challenge they have also added 21-year-old midfielder Muhamed Besic, who impressed for Bosnia & Herzegovina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Milton Keynes Dons defender Brendan Galloway has also signed but will join the Under-21s to begin with.
Everton begin the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season with a trip to newly promoted Leicester City, who beat the Toffees in a pre-season friendly in Thailand. Home matches against Arsenal and Chelsea follow, before they make the short trip to Liverpool at the end of September. The two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Goodison Park last term.
The Toffees came one position short of their best Barclays Premier League finish last term. They have been competing in the top flight since 1954, were fourth in the 2004/05 campaign and have gone on to secure top-eight finishes in all but one of the seasons since then.The local view - Greg O'Keeffe (Liverpool Echo)
Hopes for the new season.
The priority is to ensure that the Europa League enhances Everton's season rather than having a negative impact. Everton have not been in Europe since the 2009/10 season. They are back and it is an important stepping stone for Roberto Martinez and his plans of eventually turning them into a Champion League unit.
They are an ambitions club and with a bright young manager and they can only hope for better than last season. They finished fifth and for large parts of the campaign they were in the mix to get fourth. They have come very close before to the Champions League back in 2005 and just missed out in the qualifying stages. Fourth place would be the target.
What was the overall impression of last season?
A tremendous success. Everton got a record Premier League points total and the fans were absolutely delighted. They probably suspected last season might be a transitional period after 11 years of David Moyes.
The new guy coming had a good reputation but nonetheless had just had his Wigan Athletic side relegated. There was a degree of trepidation, it was a big change. Martinez surpassed all expectations and built on the good work that Moyes had done and introduced a new style of football that was a pleasure to watch.
What are the special qualities of Roberto Martinez?
He just brings a boundless optimism that Everton can defy any financial restraints and buy into a system of football by believing in a style of play that can get them where they want to be. It's a tremendous thing, the belief he brings to the club. He also brings a real appetite for success. He won a trophy at Wigan and he clearly wants to win things with Everton, too. As well as trying to move the club forward in terms of getting into the top four, he will want to progress in the FA Cup as well. Everton have not won a trophy in 20 years and it's just too long for a club of Everton's size.
Everton's strengths and weaknesses.
One strength is their stylish, attacking football. The way they keep the ball and can break teams down in possession. Certainly in possession, they are great. Everyone knows their roles.
That's part of Martinez's coaching brilliance. He has come in and taken apart a side who played a certain style under Moyes and he is asking them to do something very different. So far it has worked. Everyone has a set way of playing, they know the ball is to be passed.
They know that it's very much a case of trying to emulate the Barcelona model and break teams down with the ball and keep possession.
One of their weaknesses last season was their attacking set-pieces. There didn't seem to be much from corners or free-kicks. The only thing they really had was Leighton Baines and his deliveries. Early in the season he had success with his direct free-kicks but that faltered towards the end of the campaign.
What have you made of Everton's signings so far?
Everton's summer business has been really good so far.
Gareth Barry was an important signing. Everyone who watched him last season saw that he and James McCarthy have a wonderful partnership in midfield. It was the perfect blend of energy, youth, vitality and experience.
Martinez is keen to build a team full of young players but he knows he needs experienced wiser heads as well. The pedigree of Barry with of his experience, his England caps and his time at Man City and Aston Villa meant getting him to stick around was important.
Martinez was out at the World Cup looking for players while he was commentating for ESPN and liked what he saw in Muhamed Besic and managed to get him for what looks like a value fee. We have only seen him in a couple of friendlies so far but he looks the player we saw at the World Cup. He has loads of grit and energy and on the ball he looks very comfortable.
He looks a really dynamic player who will probably be a bit of a cult hero at Goodison if what we have seen is anything to go by.
Romelu Lukaku was another great signing. Everton have needed a big No 9, a striker capable of scoring 20 goals a season for a long time. He got 15 in the league in his first season at the club and that was only on loan so the big hope is that he is going to go one better now he is a full-time player.
He is only 21 and has got plenty of years to grow and develop.
What are the matches the fans always look forward to, and what are the ones they dread?
They obviously always look forward to the Merseyside derby, although last season left a bit of a sour taste with a 4-0 defeat at Anfield, so they will want to avenge that as soon as they can.
Trips to Old Trafford are always big fixtures. Last season Everton went and finally got a result there after a long time. That will be something they will look forward to. Of course, Man City, which is a club that Everton have done well against in recent seasons.
They are a real litmus test and trying to get something there will be important this season.
As for the ones they dread, probably the visit to Southampton after last season. The nadir of the 2013/14 campaign was when they were still in the mix to get in the top four and they went to St Mary's, scored two own goals and lost 2-0. It was a really dismal day and it was the final nail in any hopes of getting into the top four. Everton will be looking to get that out of their system.
Who is the best young talent BPL fans might see emerge this season?
You can't talk about one without the other: Ross Barkley and John Stones. Everton have got two tremendous young players who have already got England caps. They are both not 21 and really are fantastic talents.
Stones is a central defender who is really comfortable on the ball, loves a pass and has got a real brain. Barkley is a dynamic, exciting central midfielder with an eye for goal who seems to have everything that's required at the top level.
Martinez is a manager who believes in youth. He is going to play them and give them a chance. He showed last season he won't hold them back and he will play them in big games as well. Ross and John are at the perfect club and under the perfect manager to thrive.
Everton in three words
On the brink.Greg O'Keeffe is the Everton correspondent for the Liverpool Echo. You can follow him on Twitter: @gregok.
