Everton : The right to be disappointed. by David Downie

Everton started 2014 in 4th place in the Premier League. The fact that I’m able to write this is a measure of how far this team has come in less than six months under Roberto Martinez. The Blues have been in and around those Champions League places since we kicked off at Norwich back in August – again a huge testament to the progress made in such a short space of time. But a question has been lingering in the back of my mind ever since the School of Science re-opened with the casually coiffed Spaniard leading us, and it’s one that has me torn.









The question posed by my often overly-paranoid psyche is: what exactly is a disappointing season for Everton now and how disappointed can we possibly be?







I can’t quite determine what the level par score is for Roberto Martinez in his first season with the club nor can I conjure up any realistic eventuality in my head that would have me fairly and rationally conclude that this season has been a disappointment. But the flip side of that is I know it’s inevitable I’ll feel a huge disappointment if we don’t secure a Champions League spot given the transformation in the football we play and the fantastic league position we find ourselves in at the turn of the year. I’m worried my enthusiasm and a growing, unquenchable thirst for success in the short term will leave me and many others unfairly disappointed with even a fifth place finish. Is Roberto inevitably going to be a victim of his own success? It’s not like it hasn’t happened before is it? In other words, I’m worried the hot heads amongst us could throw a spanner in the works. We saw, in my opinion, a massive over-reaction from many to a draw at Crystal Palace earlier this season and I fear similar could happen again as each game from now until May having added significance.







So what is fair?







Like many Blues I wasn’t hugely overwhelmed by Martinez’s appointment. In fact I’ll admit I thought he was extremely lucky to given such a prestigious job and even labelled him the easy option in succeeding David Moyes. I’m delighted I was made to eat them words and then some, but still I remember stating a top half finish and a half decent run in the cup competitions would be suffice for a manager trying to find his feet in his biggest job by far. 20 Premier League games later and I’m like a spoilt child at Christmas waiting to open his next present as I count the seconds to Everton’s next game. I’ve never felt like this as an Evertonian. I think and feel we can win every game we play. For the more experienced of you reading this I imagine you pitying me as this feeling would be like a drop in the ocean compared to the glory days. Please forgive me that small indulgence, it is unprecedented for us under the age of 30-odd.







I find the most appropriate conclusion to my question, and I welcome your response, is to simply enjoy each and every moment being an Evertonian over the next few months. Barring complete catastrophe and free-fall, and yes I am even going to tempt fate – such is my confidence right now, I don’t think Everton can possibly have a conclusion to this season were we can be completely disappointed.







This new regime, philosophy and ethos beaming from Finch Farm to Goodison is here to stay. If absolutely nothing is gained either in terms of silverware or dusting off passports this season, Roberto Martinez has laid the foundations for Everton to return to the elite of English football. I know there will be the inevitable groans should we fall short this season. I’ve found myself punching walls and kicking tables when we concede a goal now given how tantalisingly close we are to silencing those who have put us down for years.







So I suppose what I’m calling for is a bit of rationale and some calm. The next time, like me, you find yourself on the verge of a trip to A and E having put your fist through your kitchen door because some nobody has slotted a pen after Tim Howard’s been red carded, then take a few seconds and just remember to enjoy the ride. Look how much has changed for the better in six months under Martinez and just think: this is only the beginning, whatever happens between now and May.



David Downie

The biggest disappointment is reading how often fans are crediting Martinez with what amounts to a big percentage of Moyes’ work.



Martinez has brought big smiles and positive words with him, but let’s not get too carried away just yet, as there is much work to be done this season.



We haven’t changed that much under Martinez as we were under Moyes if people are honest with their evaluation. Yes, we are playing some pretty stuff, but some will remember us playing some pretty stuff under Moyes too towards the end, and references to Barcelona were being offered by the likes of Merson and Jol.



It would please me to see more fans finding a compromise in terms of offering credit. My own stance is that we were progressing well under Moyes, and Martinez has taken the baton and it’s his lap now, and if we win the race it will be because of both men, and certainly not down to Martinez alone, who I feel is proving to be a slightly ‘lucky’ manager without detracting from any of his work so far.



Allow me to offer not a ‘negative, pint half empty’ comment, but one that I feel needs to be considered in equal measure:



“Yes, we have only been beaten twice”. It sounds tremendous doesn’t it?



Now try this:



“In our 20 matches so far, we have failed to beat our opponents 10 times”.



It doesn’t sound that great when you look at it that way does it?



Draws are not good results if we want to progress in to the top 4 or better, and we need to start looking at them as a failure to get 3 points. This is why Liverpool are still above us despite losing 5 games.



We are also out of the League cup too, but that could be to our favour in terms of focus for the rest of the season.



All the teams above us are ‘all’ better points wise this year than they were last year after 20 games, and we ourselves are 5 points better off, but only now are we starting to look stable, and probably the Merseyside Derby came at a great time, as we’ve been better since then.



Attack wise, regardless of having Lukaku, we have only managed to score 1 goal more for all our possession, so we really need to address this if we want to push on, and maybe the answer is to play 2 strikers, who knows.



We have traditionally been gutsy against the big teams and let ourselves down against the lesser sides, and if we want to be winners we must think like winners, and be better psychologically when it comes to raising ourselves for every game.



This is possibly where Moyes, and indeed Martinez ‘may’ fall down as neither have the pedigree in terms of major success and so are unable to draw upon personal experience like the big name managers can.



If we are going to lose at home to Sunderland at a time when we are looking to create a little history, then how does that sit with those hoping for trophies and Europe? It is important to learn how to win, and you can only do this by being surrounded by winners and becoming a winner.



Perhaps then it is important to buy players with experience where possible and not just players who have fancy foot work? The difference between winners and losers is often down to handling pressure, and not taking your eye off the finish line.



I hope my response doesn’t come across as trying to be a party pooper, but to recap, too much excitement over very little seems to be the order of the day at the moment, and I’d like Martinez to prove himself over a much longer period than 20 games before he is credited with ‘anything’ and certainly the Moyes bashers, not that they exist here, need to take their heads out of their arses and stop pretending Everton were born 6 months or so ago.



All the best btw.