Each day from now until the beginning of the Premier League season, we will preview two teams from England’s top flight. You can view them all here at PST Preview central. Don’t forget, the 2013-14 PL season begins on August 17th, and for the first-time ever you can watch every game live on NBC Sports.
Everton enter the 2013-14 season after an impressive 6th place finish in last year’s Barclays Premier League. Just one place shy of 5th placed Tottenham, Everton fell just short of its dreams of qualifying for Europe for the first time since 2008-09. But with only seven losses during the 2012-13 season and playing a more thoughtful style of football, Everton was a team that no one could afford to take lightly.
Now, the club that operates under the notorious shoe-string budget of owner and chairman Bill Kenwright must look to take the next step in its storied history. With David Moyes’ 11 year tenure at Goodison Park over, the blue side of Liverpool will now put its faith in the tactics of former Wigan manager, Roberto Martinez.
Transfers In: D Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan); GK Joel Robles (Wigan); F Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, loan); F Arouna Kone (Wigan)
Transfers Out: GK Jan Mucha (Krylya Sovetov Samara); D Phil Neville (retired); M Thomas Hitzelsperger (free agent); D Jake Bidwell (Brentford); M Magaye Gueye (Brest, loan); F Conor McAleny (Brentford, loan)
Key Player: Kevin Mirallas (pictured). In only his second year at Goodison Park, Mirallas already finds himself the key component to Everton’s success. The primary reason is one of circumstance.
With continued speculation surrounding the possible transfer of Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines to Manchester United, Mirallas is the offensive weapon that remains a sure thing. The Belgian international, who led the Greek Super League in scoring with 20 goals in 2011-12, is more than capable of off-setting the 11 goals that Fellaini scored in last year’s Premier League. Outside of Baines, Mirallas also happens to be the squad’s most creative player – a dribbler whose silky touch and devastating cuts have been known to leave defenders on the floor.
Mirallas’ role becomes even more enhanced under Roberto Martinez. Under Moyes, Mirallas primarily operated on the right wing but under the new boss it appears the 25 year old will be featured in a central attacking role. Whether deployed as a striker to score goals or in the supporting role to create them, Mirallas will be the difference-maker in the Toffee attack. If he can avoid the nagging injuries that plagued him last winter, Mirallas has the potential to break out in a big way. A 20 goal season is not outside the realm of possibility.
Manager: Roberto Martinez arrives on Merseyside looking to instill a brand of attacking football on a club that has spent the last 11 years learning how to defend under David Moyes. At former club Wigan, Martinez favored a 3-4-3 approach that led to an attractive offense but a leaky defense. This preseason the Spanish manager has dabbled in that formation, as well as a 3-5-2, a 4-4-2 and Moyes’ favored 4-4-1-1.
Whatever formation he settles on, Martinez will be expected to defend as well as attack, or else feel the wrath of the Goodison faithful. Coming into a new club is never easy for a manager, but from all indications Martinez has taken to it well with players raving over his training sessions. The goal for Martinez is simple – keep Everton out of a relegation battle. Achieve that feat and his job should be secure going into year two.
Outlook: With Moyes out and Martinez in, the expectations at Everton will be reduced this season. Few are expecting the club to finish ahead of Liverpool for the third straight year and even fewer will expect a challenge for Europe. But the Toffees have the talent and heart to surprise anyone. A Top 10 finish should be the goal but don’t be shocked if come May we find Everton in the Top 8 for the eighth year in a row.
