Where is it going wrong for Everton?

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is remaining positive despite his teams poor start to the Premier League campaign

Everton drew 1-1 with Hull on Wednesday at Goodison Park, which must have been a highly-frustrating result considering the Tigers had lost their last four Premier League games on the bounce.

Toffees boss Roberto Martinez now needs to find a way to re-invigorate his team and start producing wins again.

Tired

The Spaniard blamed tiredness for the team’s failure to win this game. Martinez told Sky Sports: “There were a few tired legs,”

“The amount of games has been incredible. It’s different to play a role where you are sitting in deep and defending you can cope with it a lot better than when you have to be expansive and use a lot of energy to break a team down”.

Depth

Ironically the current Everton squad has the most depth out of any in recent years. There seems to be two players for every position and Martinez has the option of rotating players if he needs to, even if it dilutes the quality of the team slightly.

Injuries

Just like every team Everton have endured injury problems this season, but the players who have been injured have been key ones. The likes of James McCarthy, Gareth Barry, Seamus Coleman, Kevin Mirallas, Ross Barkley and Leighton Baines have all spent time on the sidelines this season.

All six of the players mentioned above had played a crucial part in the way that Everton played last season and the way that Martinez wants to play. If one of those crucial players is missing then the team do not function in the same way.

Contrast

Despite their struggles in the Premier League this season, the Toffees have flourished in the Europa League this season. Martinez’s side have won their group with a game to spare, which was surprising considering that the Toffees were supposed to be in the most difficult group in the competition.

The Everton team that shows up for the European games seems to be reassured, confident and lively. While the team that plays in the Premier League seems to lack invention and energy.

Everton’s lack of form in the league is worrying and has even led to some Toffees fans writing off the challenge for a top four finish this season, instead putting all their eggs in a Europa League shaped basket this season.

Expectations

Last season’s fifth place finish in the Premier League table led to bigger expectations amongst Evertonians, but in truth those expectations were not that much higher than those under David Moyes, who’s Toffees team finished sixth the prior season.

Martinez’s team finished last season with a club-record points total of 72 points in the Premier League. That record finish and the permanent signing of highly-rated striker Romelu Lukaku may have raised expectations slightly amongst the Toffees fans this season.

Slow

Everton’s attacking play last season was full of pace and verve. The Toffees possession based attacking play was based on quick passing and building from defence. This season the Toffees have still built from the back, but instead the passing has been slower and far less incisive.

Poor

Everton are notoriously slow starters in the Premier League. Even last season the Toffee’s failed to win any of their first three league games. Under David Moyes the Merseysider’s season did not start until after Christmas dinner.

However, four Premier League wins from the Toffees first 14 games this season is a very poor return. Poor results and performances against the likes of Leicester, Crystal Palace and now Hull must have Everton fans worried that their team will lose ground on the top six, never mind the top four.

Roberto Martinez’s team are now closer to the relegation zone than the top four. The prospect of finishing in the top four this season was realistic for Everton at the start of the campaign. It is now looking more and more unlikely this season.

Potential

The current Everton team does have a lot of potential with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and England starlet Ross Barkley available to Toffees boss Martinez. There is still time for the Merseysider’s to make a charge up the table.

However, if they are to do that then the form and style of last season needs to return to their game sooner, rather than later or the Toffees could be in for a very disappointing domestic campaign.

Where is it going wrong for Everton?