Roberto Martinez has not ruled out further summer arrivals at Everton but is vowing to take his time while he continues to assess the areas of his squad that need strengthening.
The new Blues boss bolstered his options last week with the signings of goalkeeper Joel Robles, defender Antolin Alcarazand striker Arouna Kone, while forward Gerard Deulofeu arrived on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Ivory Coast international Kone could be in line to make his first appearance when Everton travel to Accrington Stanley for a friendly on Wednesday but is one of four players who only reported back for pre-season training on Monday.
Deulofeu, Tim Howard, Ross Barkley, John Stones and Luke Garbutt all remain absent – and Martinez says he will use tonight’s game, next weekend’s trip to Blackburn Rovers and the Club’s three-match tour of the United States to evaluate his options.
“I think it is important to bring in players early,” the Spaniard told evertontv. “I do feel the squad has always been strong and we have got great experience, but we needed to have certain additions to have different options.
“The biggest aspect of our squad is the experience and the continuity that we have in this group and that has been very impressive to see how they adapted to the new work.
“But you can never stop searching, you can never stop looking to help the players that we’ve got at the football club.
“I can imagine the next four weeks are going to very much be about assessing the competition that we’ve got in the squad, assessing the youngsters and how quickly they can help and how quickly they can be prepared to have a role in the first team. Then we’ll always keep an eye to try to be as strong as we can be at the start of the season.”
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How to strengthen the Everton squad?
As we all know being strong in a position is inherent and focused on through a player’s skill building and development. Our much adored Mr Baines is a great defender but he can comfortably take that ball up to the oppositions penalty area, cut through the defence and score, it can truly be a wonderous event. Passing prowess is key he needed a few 1-2’s with Peanut and Felli to get there but he displayed an amazing drive and force that puts him number one on the leftback league as far as this balding adonis of a supporter is concerned.
And this should be said for all Everton players and under Moyes I feel that was his greatest achievement…all men to all things.
If Martinez can hone the natural abilities of his squad whilst focusing on each player’s sixth sense then we will have a Team of Champions
my fellow bluenoses. If we can shoot from midfield, miss, pick it up again, reform and score with a continental passion we will be fine, better than fine, most of the time we’ll be winners.
Rose tinted specs off…back to annoying my wife n kids.