Everton: Will The New Era Take Its Toll?

2012/2013: 6th

Transfer(s) In: Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic, Free), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid, Undisc), Arouna Kone (Wigan Athletic, Undisc), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, Loan), Roberto Martinez (Wigan Athletic, Undisc), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, Loan), Gareth Barry (Manchester City, Loan), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic, £12 Million)

Transfer(s) Out: Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jan Mucha (Both Released), Phil Neville (Retired), David Moyes (Manchester United, Undisc), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United, £27.5 Million)

Transfers Review:

                                            Undoubtedly, the most important transfers that have occurred at Everton this season involve the managerial position rather than any on-field place. After over a decade of loyal support, David Moyes decided that the Manchester United job was too good to refuse. After his repeated heroics with Wigan, firstly keeping them up season after season, and culminating in their FA Cup triumph in May. These credentials attracted the attention of Bill Kenwright, who managed to settle a fee with Dave Whelan to bring the talented Spaniard to Goodison.

                                               Most of the signings that Roberto Martinez has made have, at one time or another, represented Wigan during his time in charge. Alcaraz will add to the already strong defence, with Distin and Heitinga highly competant defenders. Joel Robles, who played that FA Cup final a couple of months ago, having been on loan from Atletico, will also provide adequate cover for Tim Howard. Arouna Kone is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, having made double figures in a relegated team last season, and will provide many valuable goals in attack. James McCarthy, though an expensive signing, will provide further steel and creativity in the centre of midfield. Both Barry and Lukaku are good loan signings, and will provide short-term gains, but I feel that longer term solutions will be required. Deulofeu is a promising youngster from Barcelona, and I feel will be used sparingly throughout the season to give him the experience. However, whilst these signings are good, the majority of them have come from a side that have were relegated last season, so one must wonder just how much they will add to a top half team. In comparison to my prediction from my Everton season review post, Callum McManaman is about the only member of that Wigan side that looks promising not to be snapped up by the ex-Wigan manager. And typically, he is the one I predicted would go!

                                                    What the Toffees have managed to do is keep their hands on the majority of their star names. Though Marouane Fellaini did make the journey over to join his old manager, Leighton Baines remaining at Everton is a major boost to their success. With old manager Moyes and Manchester United seemingly desperate to secure their signatures, throughout the window it was a real battle to keep hold of Baines until September 3rd. The call from their old manager seemed to be too much to resist for the big Belgian, though Martinez will be pleased to have got £27.5 Million, a full 4 more than the old release clause.

Pre-Season:

                                               Everton began their pre-season preparations on home soil, with games against lower-league opposition. A good opportunity to try and find some new youth prospects, and a chance to bed some of the new signings into the squad earlier. Two wins, against Accrington and Blackburn followed, before we moved into August, where the competition got considerably more impressive. In the International Champions Cup, Everton faced Juventus in San Francisco in their opening game. After 90 minutes, a Kwadjo Asamoah strike levelled Kevin Mirallas's effort on the hour mark, and the game went into penalties. After 13 successful spot kicks, the game was settled in Everton's favour after Peluso's kick was saved by Howard. This left the Liverpudlian side with a tie against Real Madrid in LA. After Ronaldo scored the opener, he created a second for Mesut Ozil before the break. Nikica Jelavic grabbed a consolation for the Toffees, but Madrid hung on to eliminate Everton. Considering the opposition, Everton will be heartened by their performance.

                                                Their final two games took place back on home soil, with the visit of two Spanish sides. Firstly, they entertained Valencia, where they suffered a chastening 1-0 reverse. This readied them for their final game of the pre-season warm up against Real Betis, where they performed much better, securing a promising 2-1 win. These games suggest that they have the personnel, and the ability, to secure a positive performance in the Premier League, however, there are aspects to Everton's form that may cause them trouble during the campaign.

Key Players:

                                                I think that this will prove to be a massive season for Kevin Mirallas. The winger had a good initial season at Goodison Park, scoring a couple of memorable goals, and I think that he may have to take a more central role this time around. With Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic both out of form, this is when the Belgian will have to stand up and be counted.

                                                  Seamus Coleman could also be forced into a key player role this year. The young Irishman seems in that Baines-esque mould, and will often be seen bombing down either side. More commonly known as a right-back, he may have to transfer to the opposite side, and take the role of instigator of many attacks.

Key Fixture Dates:

03/11/2013: Everton vs Tottenham
23/11/2013: Everton vs Liverpool
03/12/2013: Manchester United vs Everton
07/12/2013: Arsenal vs Everton
28/01/2014: Liverpool vs Everton
08/02/2014: Tottenham vs Everton
05/04/2014: Everton vs Arsenal
19/04/2014: Everton vs Manchester United

Top Goalscorer:


                                                   If Kevin Mirallas takes to his more central role quickly, I feel he may well have a claim for this position. However, with the ability and pace that Arouna Kone has, coupled with the clinical finishing which led him to the top goalscorer for Wigan last time around, I feel that he may well pip the Belgian to the post. Since Roberto Martinez can get the best out of the Ivorian, it would be silly to assume that that partnership would stop working at Goodison Park.

Prediction:

                                                     I think that Roberto Martinez will do well at Everton, but he, like every other new manager in the field, will take time to adjust to his new role. His teams' mentalities of not playing until the clocks go forward will not do at a side like Everton. He can ill-afford the kind of start that Wigan were so accustomed to, as he has not only the European places to consider, but their standing within their own city. As things stand, unfortunately for the Toffees, the re-adjustment period will be too long to secure either of their objectives, and they will finish away from the European places and behind Liverpool. But they will be building for the future, especially if Martinez is given the amount of time that Moyes was.

Everton 2013/2014: 7th

                                                

Wigan Athletic: The Brighter Side Of Relegation

2012/2013 Season Review:

                After the inevitable ‘Great Escape’ we have come to expect from Roberto Martinez’s Wigan last season, he once again strengthened to attempt to ensure that Wigan avoid the last weeks’ scramble for points. Signing Arouna Kone, to provide some pace and clinical finishing, along with Ivan Ramis, James McCarthy and James McArthur (providing commentators with a nightmare few months working out which was which!), he watched his Wigan side start with a 0-2 home defeat against Chelsea. More promising, and perhaps representative, was the 2-0 away win the following game at St. Mary’s. September proved a more testing month in the league, with the Latics collecting only one point, and slipping into the relegation places by the end. Two thumping 4-1 victories in the Capital One Cup gave them something to save, and this saw their form eventually improve.

                October began in a much better fashion, with a home draw against Everton, before picking up their first win in 7 league games at home to West Ham. However, a poor defeat on penalties to League 2 side Bradford ended Wigan’s Capital One Cup good results. This type of form is comparable to early season forms of previous seasons, where they have needed their traditional ‘Great Escape’ when we get into spring. November also mirrored this form, with the Latics taking only three points out of their five league games in the month. Relegation form in anyone’s book, and one that Wigan would need to improve if they wanted to avoid the drop. This season, more so than many before it, seemed to have an air of inevitability about Wigan’s relegation, and there was widespread belief that Wigan’s upturn in form would come too late.

                December, the busiest month of the season, is essential to a successful season. Without a consistent string of results, a side will invariably fall short of their objectives for the season. Wigan, unfortunately for them, failed to significantly improve their recent form, picking up only four points during the month. Particularly disappointing was that the games were mostly against sides around them in the table, making it even more imperative they achieve results. However, the month, and year, did end on a positive note, with a convincing 3-0 away victory at Aston Villa, giving them hope for better fortune in 2013.

                January started with a 0-4 home demolition by Manchester United, sweeping away all momentum. The start of the FA Cup then signalled a chance to escape their weak league form, and start again on an even keel.  Unconvincing 3^rd and 4^th Round successes against Bournemouth and Macclesfield did little to quash the nerves around the side, and no league win in the month further exacerbated an already hopeless looking situation. After the two busy months, Wigan seemed to re-find themselves. February saw Wigan really find their cup form, dominating Huddersfield on their own patch, winning 4-1, and following that up with a 3-0 success at Reading in the league. This led pundits to conclude that the club’s cup form could be the key to the preservation of their league status in the coming months.

                March, if we ignore the 0-4 hammering at home to Liverpool, was an exceptionally successful month. A shock win at Goodison Park in the FA Cup 6^th Round, meaning a trip to Wembley, started things off well, with three goals in four first half minutes to put the home side on the ropes. Successive wins against both Newcastle and Norwich then gave the Latics genuine hope of another ‘Great Escape’. Including these games, Wigan went on a five game unbeaten run, including a victory against Millwall in the FA Cup Semi. Whilst the game was unfortunately marred by violence in the Millwall end, Wigan thoroughly outplayed their Championship opponents, winning the game 2-0. Two successive league defeats followed the euphoria of achieving an FA Cup final, which severely dented their survival hopes, but a draw at home to Tottenham, followed by an away win at West Brom once again reignited the Wigan fans’ hope of survival, leaving them just three points adrift. However, a 2-3 defeat at home to Swansea left their Premier League status hanging by a thread, and it was not the best preparation for arguably their biggest game in their short history.

                The FA Cup Final against Manchester City, in which Wigan were the 9/1 long shots, started with City on the front foot, forcing Wigan keeper Joel into a number of good saves. However, as the game went on, it became more and more obvious that Roberto Martinez had got his tactics spot-on, with Callum McManaman in particular standing out. The second half continued in the same vein, with the Latics dominating both possession and chances, and once Pablo Zabaleta had been sent off for City, the inevitable occurred. Ben Watson’s 91^st minute header sent the Wigan end into delirium and left many rubbing their eyes in disbelief. The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation on the touchline and in the stands. A first major trophy in their history, and a thoroughly deserved win.

                Unfortunately, they were unable to celebrate their FA Cup victory for long, before being plunged into despair at the Emirates. A 4-1 defeat just four days after their Wembley heroics meant their relegation was confirmed. Some may say it is about three seasons too late, however I genuinely think the Premier League will miss Wigan’s indescribable late season form each season. Pundits have said that Wigan only play well ‘when the clocks go forward’. They cannot afford to do that next year, or they will be finding it very hard to stay in the highly competitive Championship.

                Overall, if you had offered the FA Cup to the Wigan side at the start of the season in exchange for relegation, they probably would have taken it. Promotions occur every year, but a cup final is probably a once in a career opportunity for these Wigan players. As for their manager, they may face a struggle to keep him, as he is too good to ply his trade in the second tier. I fear for Wigan, as the Championship is notoriously competitive, and getting back up is not easy.

 

Player of the Season: Arouna Kone – Based on the FA Cup run, I would say McManaman. However, based on the overall season, I have to go with the big Ivorian. Eleven goals in your first season is a good return, especially when you consider the position of the club. His pace and finishing ability will leave him in demand from other Premier League clubs next season, perhaps the promoted sides.

 

Game of the Season: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan – Perhaps the easiest selection I have had to make. An historic day for the club and the city, and the best illustration that you should never underestimate the underdog. Bringing back shades of Sunderland vs Leeds, and the Crazy Gang’s heroics against Liverpool a decade or so later, Wigan’s success will live long in the memory, and shows us just why the FA Cup is so revered.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Keeping Roberto Martinez, whilst a huge challenge, is their most important aim of this pre-season. I fully expect that this will be a summer of more exits than entrances for Wigan Athletic, with many of the club’s FA Cup heroes in demand. This makes it impossible to judge exactly will be needed, but they need to retain a core from the current squad to build a Championship equivalent around.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

None

Out:

Franco Di Santo (Lazio, Bologna, West Brom, ST), James McCarthy (Newcastle, CM), Maynor Figueroa (West Ham United, CB), Callum McManaman (Everton, RW), Roberto Martinez (Manager, Everton)