Four key areas Roberto Martinez and Everton must improve

Add as preferred source on Google

Game management and poor use of substitutions

As previously mentioned, a Moyes Everton side would ensure that once a lead had been taken they would rarely give it away and especially at home. However, Martinez’s focus on attack and inability to waver from his game plan have cost the club a huge number of points already this season.

In games against Stoke and Bournemouth, once Everton had taken the lead they would continue to press forward and counter in large numbers leaving them extremely open at the back. In the Bournemouth game for example, with 86 minutes on the clock the score remained 2-1 to Everton.

Rather than bring on a holding midfielder such as Besic or Gibson to help see out the game and shore up the defence, Martinez brought Lennon on. The game finished 3-3. Even Gareth Barry recently expressed to the media that Martinez must stop this from happening in the future and there needs to be an improvement.

Everton fans stress the importance for Martinez to become more pragmatic, adapting to the situation around him, rather than always sticking to the same script. If the game calls for a more defensive player to brought on then do so accordingly.

Martinez stresses the importance of playing good, attractive football and while that can’t be argued with, results must always come first.