As I am sure you are aware, Everton had a rather dismal campaign last season, finishing a measly eleventh while playing some shocking football, therefore huge improvements need to be made heading into next season if Everton are to rediscover their form of the 2013/14 campaign, and once again challenge for those exclusive European places.
Next season, however, it is even more important that Everton perform to their maximum again as many teams throughout the league are seemingly pushing to improve their status from comfortable mid-table side to consistent challenger for Europe, making the task of actually achieving a European finish almost Herculean, as with so many challengers any slip up is almost guaranteed to be capitalised upon by one of the chasing pack.
The clubs I feel are pushing themselves to the limits to achieve relative greatness are; West Ham, Swansea, Stoke and Southampton coupling these with the other regular Europa League/ Champions League challengers of Tottenham and Liverpool. With Arsenal, that makes a list of seven teams that Everton will be competing against to finish either 4th, 5th or 6th- quite simply, the competition increases year-on-year.
Furthermore, with the first four teams listed signing high quality players as well as being linked to some big name players, if Everton suffer another poor season their already low appeal to said top players will dwindle further returning the club to times of signing no marks and hoping they blossom; a risky business Everton have seen the benefits of more often than its negatives.
Personally, it looks like the club are working towards some important areas which needed addressing such as the defence where many names are being bandied about as potential future Everton players; such as Angelo Ogbonna, Scott Dann and Davide Astori all of whom meet the desired requirements of being experienced centre halves who will need little time to settle in, and therefore almost immediately improve the team’s defensive stability. Moreover, the already confirmed additions of Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu have also attended to some other issues many Evertonians had raised.
Finally, in my opinion in order for Everton to be a success in the upcoming season, Roberto Martinez must lose some stubbornness and be willing to show some more tactical flexibility to ensure Everton are not easily worked out, and can pose threats to even the best of teams with diverse approaches and unpredictable playing styles. In conclusion, no matter how they do it Everton really must pull their socks up and perform in a way they can be proud of in fear of being left behind by teams who haven’t even caught up yet.
Follow Ross on Twitter- @DownTheTunnel1
