So what did we learn from Sunday’s fixture? Well firstly, that Everton are still good! In a bewildering season of mystifyingly poor performances, results and league positions, Everton were starting to have us believe they’d gone. The side that showed significant progress last season and nearly sneaked into the Champo League looked to have disappeared only to be replaced by a mediocre side with no rhythm, confidence, solidity or flair. A season where plenty only dismissed Everton’s relegation chances with the notion that “there are probably 3 even worse sides below us.”
But how distant a memory that seemed as Everton rolled back the years… literally a year to April 2014 when they looked a side capable of sweeping top sides away at Goodison with blistering counter attacks, pace, tactical know-how and an admirably solid backbone. As indeed they did against Arsenal and Man Utd.
On Sunday we saw what was possibly Everton’s strongest lineup and, surely not coincidentally, Everton’s best performance of the season. The in-form Aaron Lennon had never looked so in-tune with Seamus Coleman before, who both provided the pace and invention on the right side they hadn’t done for a while. James McCarthy and Gareth Barry provided the solid, in control sort of fulcrum we saw them bring last season, Jagielka and Stones were rocks at the back. Ross Barkley looked like the Ross Barkley of last season again, running fearlessly at opposition players and clearly bringing fear into them as he glided with the ball so reminiscently of his sparkling season a year ago.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think everything’s perfect and Martinez is a saint by any means; he in particular has made many bad decisions this season. However, with a full team out again and with the side focused with a big team coming to town, Everton did look exactly like they did when they were at their best last season. There was such spirit, organisation, pace and confidence flowing through the side. Most players had at least an 8/10 performance.
I think what we have learned is that the ability and potential that Everton showed a year ago is still there. With the right investment, more squad depth and more consistency Everton are still well placed to challenge the top 6 again next season.
This season has been quite bizarre; there have been a lot of injury problems, the adaptation to those problems has been poor and there have been other issues. But forget that, now is a time for optimism and thoughts of what could be achieved next season on the back of this late season revival and showing of last season’s qualities.
The thing to take away from Sunday is that the potential and ability is still there. Everton have so often lacked width this season but now with a rejuvenated Aaron Lennon and a more enthusiastic to be here Mirallas, there are two tricky, exciting wingers at the club’s disposal. A more consistent back four and players being added in positions such as up front, a backup centre half and a keeper would see Everton have the potential for a very good season next year.
