A Busy Evertonian Summer

Article by e-Everton's Kenneth Jarvis

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With the season over, attention turns to the summer transfer window. Martinez has said that Everton have money to spend and it is a huge window for Everton as they look to kick on for another strong domestic campaign with an eye on winning the Europa League. Here is my look at your strength in all areas.

Goalkeepers. Strength: 8

Tim Howards recent contract extension shows that Martinez has no plans to replace the man who is nearing on 300 league games for the club. Tim Howard is a very good goalkeeper and looking for any better would be difficult and a needless expense. Joel Robles has looked shaky at times but he is very young and about as good a number 2 as Everton could wish for. This is a position that we wont have to consider for a few years yet.

Right Back. Strength: 8

Seamus Coleman is incredible and has had a fantastic season for the club, and he seems to be only getting better. It seems a long time ago now that he was on loan at Blackpool. The only reason that this doesn't get a 10 is depth. Hibbert is Hibbert, and John Stones doesn't seem to be a natural right back. If Coleman gets injured then this is a real problem area as the Anfield game showed. Obviously not an area of real concern but we could do with finding another Oviedo.

Left Back. Strength: 10

Leighton Baines is a man who has been recognised for his talents for many years now by Evertonians but it's nice to have seen him getting the praise he has deserved recently. I don't need to say how good he is. When he was injured, Bryan Ovidedo became a fan favourite before his cruel leg break. With these two and youngsters coming though in that position. This is Everton's strongest position.

Centre Back. Strength: 6

The reason for the low rating here is the lack of a 4th centre back and Distin's age. He has had a vintage year but he can't go on forever and may only have another season left in him. Jagielka should be good for a few seasons yet. John Stones is an incredible talent and will hopefully be in the Eveton back line for 15 years or so but due to his age you wouldn't want to rely solely on him just yet. Alcaraz is just not good enough. Duffy needs to be tested at Premier League level, if we keep him. This is an area of concern, but maybe can hold off for another year if the targets aren't right.

Centre Midfield. Strength: 6

This is a 6 on the presumption that Gareth Barry stays on, as a player of his ilk is important to Martinez' style of play. James McCarthy will hopefully hold one of these spots for 10 years but away from these two there is only one player. Darron Gibson has been brilliant since signing for Everton, however, he has however been blighted by injuries and adding a 4th centre midfielder is important. Tom Cleverley has been given a tough time at Man Utd, like Gibson was, due to the expectation for him to be the next Paul Scholes. What he is, similar to Rodwell, is a player who would rotate possession and would be the base of Martinez' possession who I think, like Gibson, would excel in at Goodison Park.

Wingers. Strength: 5

Pienaar looks to me like a player close to retirement. Some of the things he has said and his performances on the pitch make me feel that there may not be many seasons left in him. Deulofeu will go back to Spain and is too raw to be relied on and the jury is still out on McGeady and it'll only be in next season that you could really judge him. At the moment it looks like he is a decent bench option. Mirallas reamins by far our best winger and was an absolute steal at the price we got him. He can be inconsistent but he is a fan favourite who will hopefully grace that right touchline for a few years yet. I think however, he needs a new partner in crime.

Behind the striker. Strength: 7

Whether it be a false 9, A traditional 10 or a playmaker Everton seemingly have 3 options for this role: Naismith, Barkley and Osman. It's quite clear that Barkley will have this position long term but he needs help. It doesn't seem to work fully when Naismith and Barkley play together and long term, I think Naismith is better as a bench option. Osman is clearly not good enough to be starting there but would be useful to have at the club in time of injuries. A midfielder who could play both 10 and centre midfield would be ideal but this is certainly an area that needs adding to with the Europa League rotation. Barkley is clearly not ready to be starting 60 games in a season.

Striker. Strength: 2

As much as Everton fans have grown to like him, Naismith isn't what you want as a starting lone striker and Kone is untested at Everton but most fans don't hold much hope. Lukaku has shown many times this season how raw he is but I wouldn't shy away from spending big money on a striker who scored just under a goal a game and will get better and better. Regardless, this is the position of highest priority.

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