Testing Times for Martinez as Everton Continue to Flounder

“I will get you into the Champions League,” Roberto Martinez promised Everton chairman Bill Kenwright following his appointment in 2013. In his debut season in charge of the Toffees, progression was clearly made. They secured nine more points than the previous campaign as Everton finished seven points short of 4th-placed Arsenal. 

Improvements were clear for all to see as it seemed Martinez would make good on his promise just two years into his four-year contract. The joy, though, was short lived. Everton dropped quickly the following season, finishing 11th as the Merseysiders ended a whopping 23 points behind Manchester United, who secured the final Champions League spot. The problems were clearly evident. A lack of defensive solidity ultimately saw Martinez fall way short of his target. Everton conceded 39 goals in his first season at Goodison Park, the third-fewest in the 2013/14 campaign. 

The following season, that number rose to 50, one fewer than relegated Hull. With four league games still to play and 48 goals conceded already - one of the worst returns in England’s top tier this term - Everton are expected to surpass that total. A 4-0 thumping at the hands of Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Anfield in midweek could prove to be one of the final nails in Martinez’s Everton coffin. 

Indeed, his Toffees team were second best for most, if not all, of the encounter against Liverpool in what was a throw-in-the-towel performance from the away side. After a bright start, Everton were blown away by the Reds, who mustered 37 shots to the visitors’ pitiful three. Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet could have spent the second half watching from the stands, such was the Belgian’s lack of action after the interval. 

Ramiro Funes Mori’s second half red card not only compounded Everton’s woes, but provided a timely metaphor for the season. Second to the ball with a tackle that has since ruled Divock Origi out of Euro 2016, Everton have been second best in a vast majority of their Premier League outings this campaign, owing predominantly what appears to be a lack of proper defensive coaching.

Martinez was lauded for his aesthetically pleasing offensive approach to matches. However, once the goals dry up, the praise quickly follows suit. The downturn in form of key players Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley in particular has coincided with Everton’s underwhelming displays. Lukaku has now failed to score in his last five league outings, while Barkley’s form has worryingly dipped in the second half of the season. Without the attackers firing on all cylinders and the defenders struggling without adequate coaching to help them on their way, Everton have floundered. 

It’s done little but heap further pressure on Martinez, whose current Everton side resemble that of his Wigan team during his final months at the helm. The Latics succumbed to relegation in Martinez’s last season at the DW Stadium, with an FA Cup win the only saving grace. Everton have a similar chance to gain domestic success this term, albeit without the threat of relegation looming. 

Yet the general consensus is that should Martinez fail to secure FA Cup glory, his time at Goodison Park will be considered a failure. The early signs in his tenure were encouraging and it goes without saying that Martinez has secured the services of some key performers to bolster the squad. The likes of Lukaku, James McCarthy and Muhamed Besic were all acquired by the Spaniard, but despite a hefty level of investment, Everton seem to have regressed while their rivals for a Champions League berth have all moved forward. 

As previously mentioned, a lack of proper defensive coaching and organisation has proven to be their downfall. Martinez attempted to rectify the issue with the acquisition of Mori and while the Argentine has impressed in his debut season gaining a WhoScored rating of 7.20, that the former River Plate defender has been required to instantly remedy the ongoing defensive concerns without the sufficient coaching has been a huge oversight on Martinez’s behalf. 

It’s been an ongoing problem for Everton since the Spaniard’s appointment. Only Liverpool (83) have committed more errors from outfielders that have led to a shot than Everton (76) since Martinez took charge at Goodison Park. The difference being that Liverpool aimed to correct the problems by bringing in Jurgen Klopp back in October and the Reds are stronger for it. With the summer quickly approaching, it appears as though the best course of action if Everton are to improve is for Martinez to go the same way as Brendan Rodgers. 

Under David Moyes, Everton were defensively solid and he managed to establish the team as Premier League regulars. “You will not get relegated,” were the Scot’s first words to Kenwright when he took charge in March 2002 and he was true to his word. While Martinez’s Toffees side showed signs of development, they have failed to close the gap for the Champions League places and, with the influx of TV money, the gulf will grow unless the cash injection provided by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is invested accordingly. 

With the FA Cup semi finals looming, Everton have as good a chance as United, Watford and Crystal Palace to secure domestic glory in a weekend that - unless the Toffees overcome rivals United - could well prove to be Martinez’s last in charge of the Merseysiders.

Will this season be Roberto Martinez's last as Everton manager? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below