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Manchester United usually dominate the sports page given that they have immeasurable support globally. That being said, Everton, everyone’s second favorite team, has been given the cold shoulder.
From what Sir Alex Ferguson left behind to what can the new manager do in the transfer window, Everton hasn’t been given a second thought. David Moyes, or former Mr. Everton, is now thick in the middle of scouting reports, even trying to dip into his ex-employer’s roster with a bid for Marouane Fellaini.
After Sir Alex Ferguson retired, David Moyes became the second longest serving manager in the Premier League, lagging only behind Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. That is a considerable feat, taking into account how quickly managers are left high and dry after a couple of disappointments.
Everton, in the process, have been left out of the limelight, and are still playing second fiddle to the top four, even in the humdrum period of transfer speculation. What Moyes did with Everton is certainly unparalleled: almost no star names to speak of, a solid squad at best and consistency over an amazing stretch of time. But in this ‘After Moyes’ period, can Everton survive the ordeal?
New Manager
First things first. New man Roberto Martinez is not so new to the English Premier League. His time at Swansea and Wigan have proven how cut-throat a manager he can prove to be, and how best he can manage a club with a small treasure chest.
He finished last season on an unprecedented and unexpected high, taking his former employer, Wigan Athletic, to the final of the FA Cup, where they beat big spending Manchester City. At par with the other silverware up for grabs, winning the FA Cup was tremendous for Wigan, but they couldn’t avoid relegation from the Premier League at the hands of the Arsenal.
A point of interest here is that Wigan had not seen relegation since their promotion in 2005, which is a feat in itself for a small club.
Martinez can’t be blamed for jumping ship when he did; any straight thinking football professional knows when it’s best to make the move.
Wigan did well to win silverware, but they weren’t the best in the league. They suffered eight straight defeats at one point in 2011-12; they managed to pull themselves up, before eventually accepting fate a year later. Martinez showed perseverance, and the ability to stick his neck out in times of need; something Moyes did for the Toffees time and again.
Martinez should be able to pull the squad together and make a season out of it, but he will need money, which Everton don’t seem to have, at least at the moment.
Exit interviews
Moyes has taken his backroom staff along to Manchester United, which is quite the expected move when a manager makes a change to a bigger club, and it leaves Everton in a mess. Martinez also followed the tradition and shifted his quota of loyal staff to Goodison Park, but it is not the same equation.
Moyes is at Manchester United, a club which has its feet dug into the ground, ready to dive into the new season, whereas Martinez needs a much greater effort to tie up all the loose ends.
One of these loose ends is the squad. Talents like Fellaini are already being pulled into transfer speculation, courtesy their former manager who clearly shares a bond with these players. Moyes literally raised the talent at Everton, adding the buy-out clauses that now plague him, but he will have the first refusal for certain.
In case of Marouane Fellaini, David Moyes will have the first refusal
Martinez needs to clamp down on any unwanted attention and latch on to any talent that may play a part in his vision for the club. Fellaini certainly makes the cut, unless his transfer money will be used to channel others, but the outgoing talent usually raises red flags for teammates, eventually leading to questions and discussions which dilute the manager’s word. Everton do not want to be in the middle of a tug of war, and they urgently need a Plan B.
Stop Loss
Martinez has already signed winger Gérard Deulofeu on loan from Barcelona, and Arouna Kone has been picked up from sinking Wigan. James McCarthy seems next, but will apparently cost £8 million, which is a little wayward honestly. Antolin Alcarez and Joel Robles have also been thrown a lifebuoy.
But these signings have put the current crop under pressure.
For instance, Nikica Jelavic has expressed his concern after Kone was brought in. A clear sign of merging squads, Everton players cannot afford to be at the wrong end of a monumental shift. Then there is also the case of Leighton Baines, the 29-year-old left back, who will appreciate a move to an interested United, but how soon will Martinez come to terms with the eventual void is a major issue.
Everton need to move fast and quick to plug gaps and tap the talent. If Martinez wants to pick up from where Moyes left, it is going to be a grueling transfer window and an even more harrowing season.
