Four key areas Roberto Martinez and Everton must improve

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A predictable and sometimes unusual starting line-up based around manager favourites

Without fail, Martinez opts to play a 4-2-3-1. Despite terrible form, players such as Howard (Far past his prime) and Kone (Does not make the grade at a Premier League side chasing European football) consistently make the starting eleven. Announcements of these players are often accompanied by groans by fans at the match; hardly the sign of confidence in the manager’s choices.

Players such as Mirallas and Lennon (Both of whom have scored in recent weeks) are being dropped for an out of form striker who offers little to the team. Some try to argue that it’s Kone that has allowed Lukaku to perform, but even ignoring goals scored, Kone is not adept at either hold up play nor taking on players.

Teams come to Everton knowing how they are going to play, and can set up accordingly. Even a fan watching at home would know to set their team to sit back and soak up pressure, and when Everton push forward to hit them on the counter. Subsequently, Everton’s weak defensive unit then often begins to crumble (Perfectly executed by Stoke).

The Man City game was no anomaly. Martinez’s hand (due to injury) was forced to play a 3 man midfield with Besic, Barry and Cleverley. City could not handle this tactical surprise and for the first time this season, Everton showed a balance to their team that could attack effectively but also track back and defend. The bringing in of Besic has been a revelation; he effectively marshalled an extremely impressive strike-force and embarrassed Yaya Toure by man-marking out of the game completely.

The Everton fans ask for Martinez to continue to spring tactical surprises and play in-form players such as this; see their wish granted and Everton might start to see their potential realised and a climb up the table may ensue. If Martinez brings Howard and Kone back into the team at first asking and they continue to underperform then Martinez may begin to slowly lose the fans. If this was the case, expect the heat under Martinez’s chair to rise a few notches.