Although they saved themselves towards the end of the last campaign, Everton were in a precarious position above the relegation zone mid-season and manager Roberto Martinez was under pressure.
The Europa League excuse was banded around again and the generic reasoning of the Thursday night travelling to the depths of Eastern Europe for the abysmal campaign that Everton gave their fans.
The Europa League is not treated with adequate respect in England and this is often to the league’s detriment. However, Everton’s humiliation to Dynamo Kyiv shows that it may not be about disrespecting the competition, but that Everton were performing so poorly they could not compete in even the second rate European competition.
The clumsy touch of Romelu Lukaku and wobbly defending did not look like a side capable of progressing beyond the last-16, even after a convincing win over Wolfsburg in the group stage.
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The lack of ambition at Everton is bizarre. Bill Kenwright may not invest as much as many others, but the club’s loyalty to David Moyes was a sign of the limited ambition that continues to hold the club back. As sides like Southampton, Swansea and Stoke are looking to build upon their relatively recent promotions, Everton have been treading water for years. None of the three clubs mentioned have significantly more money than Everton, but they are happier to accept mediocrity in both league position and performance. Moyes’ time at the club was not only static in progress – aside from finishing fourth in 2005 – but provided particularly uninspiring football.
At least in Martinez’s first season there was a change to a more exciting style and greater faith in the younger players. Followed by the permanent signing of the inconsistent Romelu Lukaku, the club slumped to sloppy performances in 2014/15 and were eventually flattered by their finishing position.
Although the signing of Lukaku was ambitious, there is a squad at Everton that should be competing for top seven places, regardless of Europa League football.
Ross Barkley’s development has stunted and the chance to cash in on Leighton Baines has been missed, the club is treading water whilst rivals are buying with intelligent scouting and making shrewd moves in the market. The two young stars have disappointed, with both still looking very raw, and the previously reliable old guard have finally begun to show their age as Gareth Barry, Sylvain Distin and Tim Howard look to be creaking.
Now in need of a new keeper and the burden of Barry’s high wages when he is no more than a backup, there has been severely poor management of the squad from the toffees.
The way the club is standing still leaves them at risk of losing three of their best players; John Stones, Kevin Mirallas and James McCarthy. Not to mention the consistent links of Seamus Coleman to a side with a regular chance of European football. The loss of any of those three would be a significant setback to any ambition at Goodison, if it exists.
John Stones is likely to be an England regular for years to come, whilst James McCarthy is the midfield lynchpin that must form a partnership with Besic if Everton are to challenge for Europe again.
The biggest concern for Everton fans must be the wobbly defence of last season that was reminiscent of Wigan’s during Martinez’s time. The longer the defence is as open as a Sheikh’s wallet, the closer to the drop the Toffees will go.
Lukaku must begin to look like a centre forward worth his £28million price tag and develop the subtlety required to be one of Europe’s best.
