Martinez has Toffees’ Irish crew ticking
The 3-2 defeat was undoubtedly a blow for an Everton side which had won seven on the spin and were playing with great confidence and belief in pursuit of Champions League football. Now they find themselves a point behind Arsenal with four games to play and with a much tougher run-in. But, regardless of the outcome, this can only be judged a superb season for Roberto Martinez and his players.
It says a lot about the reputation of Martinez within the game that, despite his relegation with Wigan last season, it seemed as if Everton only had their eyes on one man once news broke of David Moyes’ departure for Old Trafford. It was a very shrewd move, as Martinez is someone I have long admired. For me, he was the one that got the ball rolling at Swansea and gave them their identity as a footballing side who like to dominate possession. While I was playing at MK Dons we faced them in the Johnson’s Paint Trophy in a two-legged semi-final as they headed for promotion from League One and we were going up from League Two.
And even though we went through, it was obvious they were a good side who, in playing some fine football, reflected the widespread belief that Martinez was destined for bigger things.
It can’t have helped an under pressure David Moyes as he struggles in his first year at Manchester United that his successor at Everton not only slotted seamlessly into his seat at Goodison but transformed the way the team plays and backed it up with outstanding and consistent results. However, Martinez has benefited from the hard work of Moyes in developing a well-organised and disciplined outfit. The new man inherited a squad full of good, experienced pros who, crucially, were keen to succeed – and, trust me, that isn’t always a given. He then added some key signings, especially in the loan market, with Gareth Barry, Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu coming in.
Although it’s not the biggest of squads, it boasts a nice blend of experience, youthful enthusiasm, pace and technical ability. The back six/seven players have been fairly set in stone for most of the season and there’s no doubt that this has been the foundation of their success. With Tim Howard behind a back four of Coleman, Jagielka, Distin and Baines, and then two holding midfielders in Barry and McCarthy, it has enabled Martinez to rotate the attacking positions and make the most of panel which, in terms of depth, is probably the most restricted of the top seven teams.
The consequences of that were evident when I saw them play live a few weeks ago at Craven Cottage. Although they won comfortably against a then struggling Fulham side, it was a frankly lacklustre performance until substitutes Naismith, McGeady and Mirallas came to change the game by injecting much needed pace and trickery.
My feeling was that maybe Everton (and their main players) were starting to feel the pace of a gruelling Premier League campaign.
Their strengths have been obvious throughout. In Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines they have two of the best full-backs in the league who are pivotal to the way Everton play, lending real width and directness to the attack.
Crucial to that too, is having the security of Gareth Barry and James McCarthy protecting the centre-halves and filling in the spaces vacated when the opposition counter-attack. James McCarthy has had a superb first season at Everton but I’m sure he would acknowledge has had the perfect partner in Barry. The former England midfielder is always calmness personified as he keeps things ticking over in a role that is often underestimated.
If Everton finish above Arsenal and achieve Champions League football then it will be good news for Ireland as we now have a huge connection with Goodison in the shape of Coleman, McCarthy, McGeady, Darron Gibson and the on-loan Shane Duffy. It would be hugely beneficial for our national team if these players could test themselves against the best in Europe next season.
But if it’s not to be, the consolation is that all these players are sure to keep improving under Martinez, a man who gets his teams playing great football and who is as tactically astute and forward-thinking as any young manager in the game.
