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Stalwarts like Phil Jagielka and Gareth Barry have been instrumental in giving Everton hope of a top 4 finish.
Five wins in a row, and suddenly even the mighty Arsenal seem to be looking over their shoulder. Yes, it is the wonderful performance of Everton, which has finished just outside the top four since the 2006-07 season under David Moyes, and now, under Roberto Martinez. The former Wigan manager led the side to FA cup glory against a Manchester City side – a huge achievement in what has been a fantastic two years for Martinez.
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In the past three seasons, where Merseyside rivals Liverpool have not finished in the top 4, it has signalled the rise of Everton into a team that can match the big boys. From being between 15-20 points behind the leaders of the league, they find themselves only a potential 8 points behind the table toppers (at the time of writing). Martinez has strung together an attacking yet formidable Everton side who are mighty at home and decent on the road.
Talents like Ross Barkley, Seamus Coleman, Leighton Baines, James McCarthy, Phil Jagielka and Kevin Mirallas have been at their peak this season, while Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku has given Jose Mourinho a very valid case to retain his services for the next season. Though Gareth Barry, Lukaku and the light-footed Gerard Deulofeu have been loaned in, the core unit is very much there for the seasons to come.
So, with 7 games to go, you can say that Everton have done well to catch up to an under-performing Arsenal, and finally a Champions League place looks a reality. However, shortage of experience among most players and the long standing record of finishing in the top four for Arsenal should make Everton wait at least another year.
Spurs have dropped terribly off the pace and Manchester United don’t look like they are going to win their last 6 fixtures, so a fifth place finish could be a very strong performance. With participation in the Europa League next year, Everton must be careful as Premier League sides which have qualified for the Europa League have generally tended to drop off the following season due to a lack of squad depth and extra fixtures at the start of the season. They must prevent the slide that has been seen with clubs like Newcastle, Tottenham and now Swansea.
Another long term achievement would be to sign starlets on permanent deals that could integrate with the squad much better and give the fans a belief that ‘We will do it next season’. At the moment, chances of signing the troika of Lukaku, Barry and Deulofeu, who have all been spectacular for the team this season, on a permanent basis, look bleak. The future augurs well though, with Ross Barkley attracting the attention of top clubs in England and Leighton Baines continuing to do the rounds at Manchester United.
From a lay-man’s point of view, this may seem as a normal Everton season where they finish fifth, but in reality it has been a season that has exceeded expectations in terms of both performances and points gained. Maybe Moyes leaving Goodison Park has not been so bad after all.
