Steve Wigan
Player Valuation: £35m
It's interesting really I remember going to the Celta Vigo game? (the first pre-season game) at home and it was incredibly boring to watch, we were sluggish and off the pace: My Grandfather actually said "I hope we don't play like that every week, it is like watching Mike Walker again. I hope he proves me wrong".
Of course we did pretty well last season so he kind of pushed me towards 'liking him' more, but at the same time I thought that the Moyes effect could have carried his tactics a little defense wise- as well as the fact he actually started a balanced team with 2 wingers. His signings that summer were great but also wasted- Kone out for the season and Alcaraz going to less places than a disposable camera (I'd add Joel considering I don't rate him either, but he is still pretty young and gkers' peak later on). On the other hand though Del Boy, Barry, McCarthy and Lukaku were extremely good additions to the side.
The problem I have is this season we have looked like Martinez's first home game, every home game. And whilst we did sign Lukaku and Barry on perm deals he hasn't added enough to the squad to cope with the Prem & Europa league, and similarly doesn't seem to know what his best team is.
With Moyes granted it would feel like the draw was the minimum benchmark, but I would much rather a draw than a loss; whenever we go 1-0 under Martinez I just can't see his team fighting back into it; maybe it is the fact that Martinez doesn't feel like it is his formation/tactics that are at fault.
Edit:I don't think Martinez is a bad manager however and I think if he brought someone in (Steve Roundor Irivine) to work on the defensive side of things we could return to the form of last season again.
Thats a well thought post , and I personally think Martinez will get it right given time. If you are at a money rich club and can buy all the top players you need, a manager will quite qickly know his best team because he's been able to buy it. If a manager can add only one key ingredient in the summer, and have to make do with lesser players(not neccessarily bad players, but not top players) in other positions, it isn't possible to 'know your best team' because you have to juggle your squad to take account of the opposition and other factors. Very top Premier League players can adapt slightly to trouble any Premier League opposition...thats why the teams that can buy the best every time(or buy enough to ensure the best come through) are the top teams in the league. If Oscar and Hazard, or Sanchez and Ozil, were playing for Everton, then the 'top' or potentially 'top' players that we have would be more effective every week. A team is only as good as the worst of it. So far, We may have goalkeeper covered with a potentially top keeper in Robles, and our defence as it is can be as good as any, better than most. Barry will be gone soon, or at least not a starter, Besic has potential, Barkley still hopefully has potential, and personally I'm not sure about McCarthy, maybe he will become a 'top' player. Instead of picking Oscar, Hazard and others every week, Martinez has to rely on making the right decision as to which of McGeady, Barkley, Lennon, Osman,Mirralas etc will be suitable and effective against whatever opposition. All those Everton players i've mentioned are not 'top' players, they are very good players but are not often game changers. The odd occasion, certainly, but not consistently winning players. So we have to rely on others things until the manager, over a period, can get better players. We have to rely on effort, teamwork, and tactics. Give Martinez a few more windows, and let him buy top players when possible, and if we are no better than we are now, I think you would find him gone.
