New Season Excitement by Matthew Judge

New Season Excitement

Matthew Judge, 15th August 2014 - 14:22


Earlier this month, Everton unveiled a giant mural in honour of Roberto Martínez on the side of the Main Stand outside Goodison Park. Having only just passed one year on the job, the mural is a noteworthy tribute to the man who has rapidly captured the hearts and minds of the fanbase, replacing past pessimism with fresh optimism that something special is on the horizon.



Everton blossomed tremendously under Martínez’s tutelage last season as youth, experience and exciting signings all blended together to create an exhilarating Royal Blue force which secured a return to European football under the bold, attacking principles the Catalan preaches.



Season Ticket sales ahead of the new top-flight campaign have hit record heights, with supporters engrossed by the flawless football on show at L4 of late and eager to witness the next chapter of Martínez’s time with Everton unfold before their eyes.



The excitement levels around the club haven’t been as electric for years and everybody associated with the club will be going into the new season believing glory could well be on the cards. Here is a brief look at what, in my view, the Toffees have done right, what they have done wrong and what they still need to do in order to continue succeeding in English football's top flight.



6. Transfers



Everton have shaped up well for the new season transfers-wise after another successful summer window with Martínez at the helm. Everton have done their business early, which should ensure the squad is settled and ready to burst out of the starting blocks.



Signing Gareth Barry permanently, who was fundamental in helping transform the Blues' style of play under Martínez last term, was imperative, while Brendan Galloway is an excellent addition to the thriving youth ranks. Fellow new boy Muhamed Besic will be a key man to watch after his thrilling cameos during the World Cup and in pre-season, while the arrival of Romelu Lukaku for a club record fee is a real statement of intent.



The Belgian is the marquee acquisition every Evertonian has dreamt of for years and his young years will ensure he's not just a new signing, but an investment in one of Europe's most exceptional talents.



5. Pre-season



Although Everton's pre-season preparation brought no wins and ten goals conceded, the summer break is primarily about building up fitness and experimenting with fresh tactical ideas rather than results. The Toffees proved last season that they are flexible enough to play in a number of different systems, with the 4-2-3-1 structure still looking like the most fruitful formation to accommodate the current squad.



Pre-season also shed light on a couple of gifted youngsters who could be ready to make the step up to the first-team this season, with Luke Garbutt and Chris Long amongst those who impressed. The summer break also saw Evertonians celebrate the career of one of the club's most loyal servants in Leon Osman against Porto at Goodison. The diminutive midfielder has shone since making his senior debut in 2003 and his versatility will be key as the Blues target an assault on four fronts this season. Besic was the Blues' stand-out performer and his superb skill set firmly whet the appetite of the supporters.



4. Strengths



With the current crop of players at Martínez's disposal being the best in recent years, Everton have numerous strengths ahead of the new season. The Blues' backline is one of the best in the country, boasting both attacking exuberance through the quality on hand in each full-back slot as well as being a sturdy, reliable base to thwart the opposition defensively.



Bringing in Besic alongside the returning Darron Gibson means midfield is the strongest area of the squad, while the quality that has been missing for years upfront has been addressed with Lukaku joining permanently.



The steely nature of Everton's dressing room has been a constant strength for years and will no doubt continue to help the Toffees flourish in four competitions, with the squad's grit and determination to succeed for one another rivalled by few. With Everton competing on four fronts, another vital strength lies with the manager, as Martínez's tactical acumen will be crucial when the fixtures come thick and fast.



3. Weaknesses



Since Everton achieved their record points haul in the Premier League era and narrowly missed out on Champions League football, there aren't too many weaknesses in the squad. If there are any lessons that can be learned from the previous season, though, the Toffees were occasionally shaky in defence during set-pieces and could have looked more of a threat when attacking from corners.



Last season shed light on the wealth of quality available from dead-ball situations in Leighton Baines, Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley, thus the Blues certainly have the tools to improve on the latter. Another slight area of concern is in terms of depth. Although the return of injured players and new signings will prove to be essential in helping solve this problem from last year, competing on four fronts will bring injuries and therefore it will be a big test for those who come in as replacements.



2. Big Games To Look Forward To



The return of European football to the Goodison floodlights this season are fixtures that Evertonians simply cannot wait for, while the Blue half of Merseyside will also be excited to come up against the Premier League's finest - home or away.



Martínez regularly used the Spanish phrase 'sin miedo' meaning 'without fear' with his former club Wigan Athletic and that was exactly how Everton came out against English football's biggest names last season - taking 15 points off those around them in the top seven.



Arguably the club's best performances last campaign came against Arsenal home and away, with the 3-0 dismantling of the Gunners at Goodison being a tactical masterclass, a warning shot that Everton can no longer be written off under Martínez's stewardship.



Arsenal's return to Goodison as early as August 23 will therefore be an interesting clash to keep an eye on, with Arsene Wenger seeking revenge and challenging for the title.



1. Predictions



With a plethora of new contracts being handed out to key stars and a promising transfer window, Everton have built on last season's success story excellently.



The return of Umbro as the club's kit sponsor and of Joe Royle to the staff have together raised the feel-good factor even further and fans genuinely believe something promising lies ahead for the club this season.



Prediction: 5th in the league, with a solid crack at all three cup competitions.