Derby day confirms the new age for Everton fans

If any day could confirm the new era that Everton fans can look forward too, then the Merseyside derby at the weekend was definitely it.  Everton fans were nervous before the match, in recent times there had been too many matches where the team just didn’t show up or simply turned up trying not to lose.  But that was the old era, that was the David Moyes style.  Lots of effort, teamwork and battling at the expense of style, attacking threat and positive subs.  But this is a new era……….

In 12 short weeks of the Roberto Martinez reign there has been a definite shift in the style and the way we approach games.  We may look a little more fragile in defence, but that is because more emphasis has been put on playing attract pass and move possession football and attacking.  Substitutions, which in the past bore the brunt of supporter complaints, are now something that are looked forward too with a wealth of attacking options on the bench.  We now try to win games from substitutions rather than hold on to a lead.

Exciting option from the bench

I don’t think the work David Moyes did should be forgotten, he transformed us from a relegation battling side into a side that was competing for European places.  The majority of the current squad is still players that he bought for the club and Everton fans shouldn’t forget that, no matter how much our former manager is trying to rile the club with low transfer bids and snide comments in the press.  David Moyes was good for Everton Football Club, but the time was right for him to leave.  He has admitted recently how we never went to Manchester United to win, we always went not to lose and it is my belief that this mentality will change under Roberto Martinez.

Roberto Martinez has instilled a sense of optimism in the club.  A positive outlook.  A winning mentality.  Obviously it is too early to say if he will be a success long term, but in the short term I am bloody excited.  Our possession looks to be working great and with a couple more transfer windows to find suitable players, I’m pretty sure that we will start to attack a lot quicker.  Substitutions are positive and I would be interested to see the stats of attacking players coming on, to defensive players ratio.

Martinez is always positive

I’m pretty sure that most Everton fans are quite happy to concede a few more goals if it means that we score more and win more.  Roberto Martinez has challenged the team to get a record points haul and I for one welcome the approach that the manager takes.  He seems to GET the club.  He interacts great with the supporters and works well with the media.  Lastnights appearance on Surprise Surprise shows the lengths the man will go to integrate with the community.

His transfers on the whole have been positive.  James McCarthy and Gareth Barry are at the heart of our decent start.  They do the donkey work really well and the biggest compliment I can give is that we aren’t missing Darron Gibson.  The loan signings of Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku look to be excellent bits of business too.  Lukaku is the striker we have missed for a very long time.  Tall, Strong and a brilliant finisher and Gerard is raw potential, but could be a very important player for us this season.  Kone and Alcaraz will be questioned, but Alcaraz was free and is fit again and we could see him with the rumours that Leighton Baines is out for a month.  Kone was a bit of knowing who he trusts.  It was a lot of money by Everton standards, but he had a good goalscoring record and its not the lads fault he is injured.

McCarthy – described by Martinez as a future captain

I wasn’t convinced when he was appointed, I had reservations.  I was also worried about the effect of David Moyes leaving the club, but I was willing to give it a chance.  I am now delighted with the appointment and it is definitely a case of IMWT – In Martinez We Trust