Six key tasks for Roberto Martinez at Everton
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Six key tasks Roberto Martinez must address at Everton: From keeping Marouane Fellaini to reviving Nikica Jelavic
Roberto Martinez has big shoes to fill at Everton after David Moyes turned the Toffees from perennial strugglers to a regular top six outfit in an excellent 11 years at Goodison Park.
Martinezs appointment, which has been widely expected since it was announced he was to leave relegated Wigan last month, has divided the Blues faithful with plenty of fans worried he is not the right man to take their club forward.
Here are six key issues the Spaniard must address if he is to prove the doubters wrong and become a success on Merseyside.
Keep hold of Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini
Stories linking Baines and Fellaini with big-money moves away from Goodison Park have been doing the rounds for months. Chelsea are long-term admirers of the big-haired Belgian, while David Moyes is being heavily linked with a deal to take both to Old Trafford with him.
Keeping hold of the duo is Martinezs most important job of the summer.
Fellainis goals were crucial to Everton last season and his presence in the middle of the park equally so when he was shoved further back to his favoured defensive midfield position.
But Baines creativity from full-back was probably even more vital. No Premier League player set up more goals than the England international.
If the new manager can persuade the star duo their future lies at Goodison hell have got his reign off to an excellent start.
Answer defensive doubts
Martinez has proved both at Swansea and Wigan that his teams will always play attractive attacking football. The overwhelming concern for most Everton supporters is at the other end of the field.
Wigan shipped 73 goals last season, the most in the division alongside Reading, a statistic that ultimately cost them their place in the top flight.
At Goodison Martinez will have better defenders at his disposal but he has to prove that hes the right man to keep getting the best out of them.
Find a forward
Evertons main problem last season was the lack of a marksman who could find the net on a regular basis up front.
Victor Anichebe is a useful target but far from a quality finisher. Fellaini chipped in with more than his fair share but is better suited to midfield, while Nikica Jelavic went horribly off the boil.
Martinez must look to find an answer during the summer. A move for Arouna Kone from his old club has been mooted but 13 goals for the Latics last season is hardly prolific.
Get the best out of Nikica Jelavic
Money will no doubt be tight at Goodison Park again so the best answer to the issue upfront may be for Martinez to help Jelavic rediscover his mojo.
The Croatian cut a desperate figure for much of the last campaign, as he tried unsuccessfully to recreate the goalscoring touch that saw him hit the net 11 times in his first three months on Merseyside.
Despite his struggles there were glimpses the 27-year-old could still be a threat and if Martinez can get him firing again it will give the Toffees attack another major weapon.
Give youth a chance
Theres no question Moyes did a fine job at Everton but one thing that always frustrated the fans was his apparent caution when it came to throwing in the youngsters. Ross Barkley, 19, is a huge talent but has been continually overlooked even when the thin Toffees squad was down to its bare bones.
Twenty-one-year-old Greek forward Apostolo Vellios is another many supporters would love to see given more of an opportunity.
A trophy would be nice
Most of all, though, the Everton fans want some silverware. Its been 18 years since the Blues won their last trophy, beating Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley to clinch the 1995 FA Cup. Thats far too long for a club of their size.
Moyes came close to ending that drought on a couple of occasions but his desire to finally give the club the success they so desperately craved almost became a millstone around his neck towards the end of his reign.
Certainly many fans questioned his cautious approach after taking the lead against Chelsea in the FA Cup final in 2009 and again in the semi-final against Liverpool in 2012.
Maybe, just maybe, Martinezs fresh ideas can find the answer.
Roberto Martinez has big shoes to fill at Everton after David Moyes turned the Toffees from perennial strugglers to a regular top six outfit in an excellent 11 years at Goodison Park.
Martinezs appointment, which has been widely expected since it was announced he was to leave relegated Wigan last month, has divided the Blues faithful with plenty of fans worried he is not the right man to take their club forward.
Here are six key issues the Spaniard must address if he is to prove the doubters wrong and become a success on Merseyside.
Keep hold of Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini
Stories linking Baines and Fellaini with big-money moves away from Goodison Park have been doing the rounds for months. Chelsea are long-term admirers of the big-haired Belgian, while David Moyes is being heavily linked with a deal to take both to Old Trafford with him.
Keeping hold of the duo is Martinezs most important job of the summer.
Fellainis goals were crucial to Everton last season and his presence in the middle of the park equally so when he was shoved further back to his favoured defensive midfield position.
But Baines creativity from full-back was probably even more vital. No Premier League player set up more goals than the England international.
If the new manager can persuade the star duo their future lies at Goodison hell have got his reign off to an excellent start.
Answer defensive doubts
Martinez has proved both at Swansea and Wigan that his teams will always play attractive attacking football. The overwhelming concern for most Everton supporters is at the other end of the field.
Wigan shipped 73 goals last season, the most in the division alongside Reading, a statistic that ultimately cost them their place in the top flight.
At Goodison Martinez will have better defenders at his disposal but he has to prove that hes the right man to keep getting the best out of them.
Find a forward
Evertons main problem last season was the lack of a marksman who could find the net on a regular basis up front.
Victor Anichebe is a useful target but far from a quality finisher. Fellaini chipped in with more than his fair share but is better suited to midfield, while Nikica Jelavic went horribly off the boil.
Martinez must look to find an answer during the summer. A move for Arouna Kone from his old club has been mooted but 13 goals for the Latics last season is hardly prolific.
Get the best out of Nikica Jelavic
Money will no doubt be tight at Goodison Park again so the best answer to the issue upfront may be for Martinez to help Jelavic rediscover his mojo.
The Croatian cut a desperate figure for much of the last campaign, as he tried unsuccessfully to recreate the goalscoring touch that saw him hit the net 11 times in his first three months on Merseyside.
Despite his struggles there were glimpses the 27-year-old could still be a threat and if Martinez can get him firing again it will give the Toffees attack another major weapon.
Give youth a chance
Theres no question Moyes did a fine job at Everton but one thing that always frustrated the fans was his apparent caution when it came to throwing in the youngsters. Ross Barkley, 19, is a huge talent but has been continually overlooked even when the thin Toffees squad was down to its bare bones.
Twenty-one-year-old Greek forward Apostolo Vellios is another many supporters would love to see given more of an opportunity.
A trophy would be nice
Most of all, though, the Everton fans want some silverware. Its been 18 years since the Blues won their last trophy, beating Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley to clinch the 1995 FA Cup. Thats far too long for a club of their size.
Moyes came close to ending that drought on a couple of occasions but his desire to finally give the club the success they so desperately craved almost became a millstone around his neck towards the end of his reign.
Certainly many fans questioned his cautious approach after taking the lead against Chelsea in the FA Cup final in 2009 and again in the semi-final against Liverpool in 2012.
Maybe, just maybe, Martinezs fresh ideas can find the answer.
