Football Season Guide

Everton begin the new season with a new manager in charge for a first time since 2004 and it will be a big question mark whether the Merseyside club can cope with the loss of a figure as significant as David Moyes. The Scott has made Everton a far solid, respectable and strong outfit than the one that he took over all these years ago despite not bringing in a trophy to the cabinet. He finally left Goodison Park, unable to resist the lure of Manchester United, and Everton acted in a swift and decisive manner to bring on a replacement. Spaniard Roberto Martinez was the popular choice of both fans and the chairman and he indeed will be the man to lead the Toffees from now on despite suffering relegation at the end of last season. Martinez has developed a great reputation in recent years for making his Wigan team play bold and attractive football, not paying attention to their mark as underdogs and coming out to attack even the big guns. More of that bold attitude will surely please the Everton fans who have not enjoyed a win over any of the current top-four teams away from home during the time of Moyes' reign. It is still very much open to debate how Everton will line up over the coming season as Martinez has not settled on sticking on with the regular 4-4-1-1 formation used in recent seasons or implement the three-man defence that he used constantly at Wigan over the last two seasons. The former is the more likely and safe approach as otherwise the change will be too drastic for a team that is basically the same from last year and is very much used to Moyes' methods. Over time though, he may well start using his preferred tactic and make this Everton team look more like one of his image. He already raided his former club to sign Joel, Antolin Alcaraz and Arouna Kone while the other summer signing was Barcelona's highly talented teenager Gerard Deulofeu, who comes on loan and is expected to bring sparkle and flair but is so far too erratic and inexperienced to be considered a vital player for the team. Marouane Fellaini is expected to leave before the end of the transfer window and it remains to be seen whether Martinez will be able to replace him. Overall, Everton may struggle to match the overachievement of last season and a place in the top ten but outside the top six is their most probable glass ceiling, despite the boasts by Martinez when he got the job that he guarantees Champions League football at Goodison Park. It may happen but it is highly unlikely to be in the near two or three years.