Team Focus: Everton Enjoying Changes Under Martínez

Given the near impossible job that David Moyes was offered in May, it’s consequently been much easier to overlook the extent of change his former club have experienced. Make no mistake, were this any other season, Everton’s adjustment would have been one of the stories of the early part of the 2013-14 campaign. When you think about it, how often do you see a modern club change manager after a 11 years, only to go for someone completely different?

The immense scale of the changes at Manchester United have rendered it almost irrelevant. So, however, has Roberto Martinez. 

His immediate impact has been hugely impressive, to the point it’s easy to forget the club are in a process of transition. Rather than stumble after the loss of a genuine Goodison Park legend, Everton have strode forwards. Their 18 points from nine games is the club’s best start to a season since 2004-05, when they had claimed 19 at the same stage.

That has raised the early question, however, as to what exactly Martinez has changed so far. In order to keep the club this steady, did the Spaniard merely build on what Moyes put in place, or is a new approach finally freeing the players? Has Martinez just added a touch more self-expression to a solid system, or is it much more expansive than that? Are the longer-serving players maintaining a higher level, or is it just a case of two specific loan signings - Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry - temporarily filling gaps?

One thing is certain. In the long term, Martinez undeniably has a different football philosophy to Moyes. Whereas the Spaniard has always attempted to push limits and expand regardless of the club, the Scot has consistently accepted barriers and worked within them. Many Everton players have elaborated on this:

Seamus Coleman: “Roberto Martinez has come in and I’m sure you see that we play from the back a bit more... everyone enjoys being on the ball.”

Johnny Heitinga: “During training we do everything with the ball, much is being done with playmaking.”

Although Everton’s play has occasionally felt a little staccato, the stats undisputedly reinforce these views. Even if the caveat is that there are just nine games gone and it is still so early in the season, there is significant evidence they are starting to transform. Everton play the ball much more, and in a greater variety of ways.

Martinez’s side are playing far more short passes per game - a 29% increase from 2011-12, as they have leapt from 348 to 449. That has inevitably led to a greater share of possession, going from 48% to 57.1% since 2011-12, but more interestingly seen a superior completion rate - 77.3% to 83.7%. So, despite playing so many more passes, they are executing them better. Moreover, Everton are crossing the ball slightly less. It all points to a greater confidence on the ball, which is also reflected in a huge leap in terms of dribbles per game - 4.5 to 13.8.

Kevin Mirallas has gushed about this aspect. “Every day I have spoken with him and it’s helped my confidence.” This is not to say Martinez has completely dispensed with all previous qualities. Everton are prepared to mix it with the same amount of long balls, and the manager has clearly realised the qualities of Leighton Baines. Despite the fact they are passing the ball around more, the majority of the side’s attacks still come down that left side, with the figure staying around 40%.

It does also seem that certain signings have facilitated all this - but not just Lukaku, even if he has undeniably offered the prolific scoring to give all of this greater end product. Barry has been key to the greater possession, illustrating a huge jump in the player with the most passes per game from 49.6 to 73.4, while both he and James McCarthy have clearly been sticking their feet in with more tackles.

These stats still do not stop all the questions regarding Martinez. It remains to be seen whether, over time, his attitude to attack will diminish Everton’s durable defence. He also has far bigger tests to pass, most obviously maintaining this level until the end of the season. So far, though, passing the ball more has made it that much easier.

Can Everton maintain their form and go one better this season under Martínez? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below