Roberto Martinez must preserve Everton's new-found pragmatic blueprint
If Roberto Martinez continues to set Everton up in the style which worked so effectively against Stoke City, then the the swell of angst against him in recent weeks will quickly dissipate.
If Roberto Martinez continues to set Everton up in the style which worked so effectively against Stoke City, then the the swell of angst against him in recent weeks will quickly dissipate.
Perhaps alongside the 3-0 win against Southampton in the second match of the season, the triumph at the Britannia Stadium by the same scoreline was the Toffees’ most balanced showing of the entire campaign.
It was a victory made extra sweet as this was the first time in 10 months the team has notched back-to-back Premier League wins, the other coming against Newcastle United on Wednesday; six points in four days is most welcome for a side who, despite moving up to seventh spot with this victory, are still underachieving.
They’re wins and clean-sheets which have come about due to a clear shift in tactics from the manager, one which has been in motion for the majority of 2016. Now, Everton have to cherish this new-found efficiency in their football.
We saw signs of a more pragmatic ethos against Tottenham Hotspur in the first game of the calendar year, with Muhamed Besic and Aaron Lennon impressive. In the first-leg of the League Cup semi-final, a similar set-up was used, with Tom Cleverley tucking in on the left flank and Besic snapping around in midfield.
Joel Robles has played his part too. Granted, he’s had little to do in Everton’s last three outings, but a trio of clean sheets in seven days is not something many would have considered this brittle defensive structure to be capable of; needless to say, the Spaniard’s presence has been settling at the base of the XI.
It’s a set-up which has worked well for Everton when utilised this season and one which saw this side flourish at the Britannia, as the Toffees ran riot in the first half before being foiled by the excellent Jack Butland in the second.
Like the showing on the south coast, it was a comprehensive effort. Everton were industrious out of possession, with Lennon in particular seeming insatiable in his willingness to get any kind of a touch on the ball anywhere down the right flank. Cleverley and James McCarthy, both superb on the day, also played crucial roles.
At the back, there were no great dramas either. Although John Stones is a special talent, at the moment the fundamental defensive qualities of skipper Phil Jagielka and Ramiro Funes Mori helps relieve pressure off the back line rather than encourage it.
The extra focus on keeping clean sheets also means that when this side does get in front, there’s a better chance of keeping the advantages intact too, something we’ve seen as Newcastle and Stoke have been snuffed out. Also, when things don’t quite go to plan, significant firepower is in reserve on the bench.
And while the side is not quite as full of attacking talent, with Gerard Deulofeu the noticeable omission in recent wins, it’s a structure which has brought the best out of other offensive gems, especially Ross Barkley.
With Lennon, McCarthy and Cleverley all ratting around in midfield and nicking the ball back, Everton are turning possession over quicker, getting it into Barkley’s feet and giving him more space to burst into.
It’s no surprise that the England international has played his best three games of the season in the last three matches. He’s relishing the responsibility of being the side’s key creative crux and with a more cohesive foundation in place behind him, Barkley seems to have been encouraged to take the game to the opposition. With him, Romelu Lukaku, Lennon, Cleverley and the two full-backs all in the XI, there’s more than enough attacking quality to trouble sides.
This has to be the way forward for this team; balancing steeliness with an attacking flair. Martinez is renowned for his attacking mantras, but his team has shown they can juggle the two and the benefits of doing so have been clear.
But we’ve been here before with this side and this manager. Martinez has a niggling reflex for cavalier football which has been prevalent throughout his career in management; now, especially with a relatively favourable set of fixtures to come, it’s going to be interesting to see whether he can stave it off.
Of course, there may well come a point when the likes of Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas will be needed, but they must fit into a system which has proven the best fit for the greater good. Tim Howard, Leighton Baines and Stones should have to wait for their chances too, regardless of their pedigree and perceived influence on the starting XI.
Hopefully, this week the penny has dropped for Martinez. The model may not cater for the utopia of attacking play which the Catalan seems to crave, but it’s still entertaining. More importantly, it has proven to be extremely effective against sides from all sections of the Premier League table.
Follow @MattJFootball
Reader Comments (31)
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2 Posted 07/02/2016 at 00:20:52
4 Posted 07/02/2016 at 01:04:12
5 Posted 07/02/2016 at 02:23:15
6 Posted 07/02/2016 at 02:35:26
7 Posted 07/02/2016 at 03:45:01
8 Posted 07/02/2016 at 04:30:24
Okay, we're not yet Atletico Madrid or even Leicester City but we're moving in the right direction. Our fire power has been pretty awesome all season and the addition of Niasse shouldn't do any harm.
At the other end the clean sheets are not a coincidence. McCarthy, Barry and Cleverley with help from Lennon are stifling the opposition across the width of the whole pitch. I wouldn't mind a Robert Huth type to help out at the back but at the moment I'm quite happy with the mobility and bravery of Jags, Funes Mori, Coleman and Oviedo.
All in all, two or three satisfying results with the promise of more to come. Lukaku is taking quite a battering up on his own and I was pleased to see him score from the spot. He's still the man defenders fear and the goal will have done his confidence a load of good. Let's hope he bangs in a few more in the games ahead.
9 Posted 07/02/2016 at 06:12:07
Is it short term expediency or a long term genuine Sea Change.
Best stick with 'one game at a time' for the foreseeable future.
I do think though, that He and The Squad should be made, once a day until it sinks in, to watch a replay of The City Vs Leicester game. My personal opinion here, that was a performance that the 84-85 squad would readily claim as their own...that's how good it was.
As Mr Punch says...'That's the way to do it.' and it is too.
10 Posted 07/02/2016 at 06:29:06
11 Posted 07/02/2016 at 09:13:32
One game at a time I suppose, but at least this Evertonian is feeling a wee bit happier.
12 Posted 07/02/2016 at 09:59:43
13 Posted 07/02/2016 at 11:19:51
There is no reason not to start the with same team in the next game, maybe the players on the bench will understand their roles when their chance comes. As for RMs blueprint, it's shaped only by injuries if not for them it was fading.
14 Posted 07/02/2016 at 11:44:14
I think Robles has made a huge difference. Ok he hasn't had an awful lot to do but as a former centre half myself I would look at the way he patrols his area and feel he has it sorted- oozes confidence and authority.
Jags coming back has helped but the big difference for me is midfield. We have swapped Geri and Kone for Lennon and Cleverley which means we now have four players in midfield who will press hard to win the ball back. I am not knocking Geri and Arouna - I thought Arouna looked very good yesterday after he came on- but with four workers in midfield rather than two we are making it easier to defend.
Geri has to work on his fitness to become a regular starter and it will be a test of his resolve and ambition to see if he really wants to fulfill his huge potential. Lennon has shown that it is possible to run at great pace in a game and still work like a dog- what a great attitude he has. Another James McCarthy!
Final word for Oviedo- now looking the player he was before his leg break and no way Baines should displace him. His enthusiasm added to that of Lennon rubs off on the others and his delivery is better than Baines too.
15 Posted 07/02/2016 at 11:59:49
16 Posted 07/02/2016 at 12:36:38
But the big difference is, is having both Lennon & Cleverley out wide. They wouldn't be the first names picked out to play there by a lot of Evertonians but their work rate is a big plus. The pair of them don't mind getting back and putting a shift in and we looked a lot more compact and in unison when defending in 2 banks of four yesterday.
The way we have defended over the last few games hasn't just happened, it has been worked on so clearly Martinez can do that side of the game so why have we not done more of this all season? I'm pretty sure that if we had, we'd be right on the tails of the top four!
Also did anyone notice the routine at the corner for Coleman's goal? That was another thing that had been worked on! Jags spinning and running towards the back post, taking away Muniesa and confusing Wollschied whilst Coleman made the near post run, leaving defenders flat footed and he stuck the header away. Another thing Martinez can do and hasn't done enough of all season!
If we threw all this into the mix with the attacking play we can produce, then I'm sure we'd be an even better team and be on a par with the likes of Spurs!
Hopefully Martinez keeps these things up but we all know he's one for reverting back to type!
17 Posted 07/02/2016 at 14:03:34
Baines is over, I think. His glory days are behind him now. He needs to transit to playing midfield if he wants to remain in the team.
Howard needs to make the long walk into the MLS wilderness...
18 Posted 07/02/2016 at 14:13:21
However I don't see any tactical masterstroke by Martinez, it is just that the players that he has at his disposal are better at grinding out results than the ones he has been picking of late.
If you look at Jags, he hardly ever strays outside the width of the 18 yard box compared to the appalling positioning of the ill-disciplined Stones (despite what Rio Ferdinand tweets). This wasn't a tactical shift, it is simply a player doing his job properly. Martinez should have clamped down on Stones months ago instead of allowing him to stroll around like Socrates or Zico. So I will reserve judgement until Stones (and Howard) are available for selection.
19 Posted 07/02/2016 at 14:35:53
20 Posted 07/02/2016 at 15:27:26
21 Posted 07/02/2016 at 15:42:00
22 Posted 07/02/2016 at 20:12:00
As mentioned above his substitutions are still questionable.
Last season after going out of the Europa League we won 5 out of 6 league games and drawing the other, but we then went on to lose 3 out of the 4 final games. At present he is still very jekyll and hyde. If we can finish the season on around 60-63 points i'd say he will have learned because we will have maintained a consistent points return.
23 Posted 07/02/2016 at 20:14:37
24 Posted 07/02/2016 at 21:00:45
25 Posted 07/02/2016 at 23:27:24
26 Posted 07/02/2016 at 23:39:57
It could be worse this weekend: www.thisisanfield.com is not a happy place! Let's enjoy the ascendancy while we have it, and dream of spanking them at Anfield.
27 Posted 08/02/2016 at 06:54:12
West Brom (h)
Liverpool (rearranged)
Villa (a)
West Ham (h)
Sunderland (a)
They are a decent set of fixtures in which to pick up points. I know it's coming to the business end of the season and the teams above are going to be really fighting for either survival or European places, but these are winnable games. These teams have been poor to average at best all season.
If we continue with our current style of play, we have more than enough on the pitch and bench, even with our injury list, to pick up at least ten points. The way this weird PL season has gone, this might get us back into the fight for a European spot.
29 Posted 08/02/2016 at 08:03:17
Such inconsistency and disappointment had been a feature of the Roberto reign.
30 Posted 08/02/2016 at 13:25:46
31 Posted 08/02/2016 at 16:51:00
Stones, a great talent but directly responsible for a few goals against this season. I'm sure we have all played with great talents who by their very nature always give opponents a chance.
I played Sunday league for years as a defender "Thou salt not pass" was my mantra – Funes Mori & Jags seem to agree.
32 Posted 08/02/2016 at 17:26:31
An excellent post if Martinez can learn to be pragmatic when required as well being expansive when required we have a good chance of finishing strongly in the league.
I absolutely agree that Barkley is far more effective further forward and McCarthy is key to the team balance and provides much needed bite in the middle.
33 Posted 08/02/2016 at 19:02:51
No moaning when Ross can only see 4 men in front and Jacob booting him from all sides whilst trying to give Rom a pass he can thrive on.......etc etc . This is a massive game simply because when away teams set up like this it's going to be 70% possession and patient passing and probing. Patience is the key from Goodisons faithful especially if we don't get an early goal.
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1 Posted 06/02/2016 at 23:58:49