Everton FC – Marks out of 10 for Roberto Martinez?

Roberto Martinez

So, we’ve reached ten games gone of the 2013/14 Premier League season and as such, a rather convenient landmark by which to judge the early reign of Roberto Martinez as manager of Everton Football Club.

It’s probably fair to say that initial reaction by supporters to his appointment was mixed; a man known for his attacking, stylish footballing principles who had just won a shock FA Cup victory, yet whose naivety had also guided Wigan Athletic through the relegation trap door. Throw into the mix the uncertainty and trepidation for the future that swept over Evertonians following the departure of David Moyes to Manchester United. Imagine a small child facing the world without its security blanket.

From that very first press conference in June when he sat next to the often under-fire chairman, Bill Kenwright, he exuded the confidence of a man who felt he belonged at a club like Everton. Okay, there was the boast made in his job interview (rather crassly let slip by the ever-theatrical Kenwright) that he could get Everton into the Champions League, but unashamed ambition is something we’re not often used to at Goodison Park.

I won’t be laying into David Moyes in this piece, that would be too easy, but it’s probably not harsh to say that the marriage of manager and club had run its course; an amicable divorce to a happy, if ultimately unfulfilled relationship. Moyes and his methods dragged Everton from the quivering mess he inherited from Walter Smith in 2002 to one of the most respected teams in the land, and for that we will be forever grateful. But despite a change in style last season that saw the Toffees play some very attractive and attacking football at times, you never really got the sense that the Scotsman or his players had the belief in themselves to achieve something that was always within their grasp had they just really gone for it.

Martinez’s task was not only to improve the team on the field of play, but to convince them that they could go to the next level; something that the previous manager couldn’t do.

It seemed (through the media) almost instantaneous that the players took to the new boss. The usual club propaganda wouldn’t have allowed it any other way, of course. But the love-in seemed genuine and the experienced and influential members of the dressing room such as Leon Osman and new club captain, Phil Jagielka, were well and truly on-side. Martinez had his first victory.

For the first time in many years, Everton had a promising pre-season campaign. Rather than witnessing disappointing defeats to the likes of Blackpool, we were seeing wins over Juventus and making Real Madrid work hard to edge us out by the odd goal in three. Notorious slow starters? Maybe no longer.

Having had such preparations, the opening three fixtures of the league season gave further cause for optimism. All winnable games – Norwich City and Cardiff City away, West Bromwich Albion at home – yet some of the old habits were hard to shake off. Last season, Everton drew an incredible 15 games; far too many to have sustained a credible Champions League challenge. The lack of killer instinct was all too evident again in those opening games. Norwich should have been dispatched with ease. The performance demanded it. Final score 2-2.

West Brom in his first home game in charge should have been a walk in the park. It turned into something of a non-event. The visitors, who stunk the place out, came for 0-0 and got it. Best league in the world apparently. The onus was on Martinez and his side to take the initiative but they couldn’t go through the gears. A case of too much possession perhaps? Style over substance?

The trip to the Welsh capital was a similar story and by this time the transfer rumour mill was in overdrive. While it did not affect the consummate professional, Leighton Baines, it was obvious that Marouane Fellaini’s motivation for the Everton cause was on the wane. That leads us nicely to Martinez’ second victory – transfer deadline day.

Fellaini was always going to leave the club, and Manchester United was the most likely destination. Moyes was his most fervent admirer, and how Everton made him pay! Having turned down what they saw as a derisory £28million joint offer for Fellaini and Baines, the pressure on the powers that be at Old Trafford to make a purchase having missed out on several previous targets became so overwhelming that they incredibly relieved themselves of £27.5million for the towering Belgian alone. Even more significant for the Blues, Baines was going nowhere; a vital piece in Martinez’ jigsaw – Everton’s own crown jewel. Win number 3 for the Spaniard.