TL;DR for the wall of text I'm going to write, it's frustrating but every premier league side is facing the same problem and we're building something special.
If you look at the change in the last 5 years in the Premier League teams, the wealth of money becomes more and more evident. 2/3 seasons ago Crystal Palace were relying on players like Barry Bannan, West Ham Ravel Morrison and Kevin Nolan, Stoke still had Peter Crouch as one of their main strikers etc. etc. Teams that in the Moyes era would be yo-yo clubs and be reguarly steamrollered by the 'top 4' 6-0 now have money to buy players from teams in Europe that traditionally play in the Europa or even Champion's League - Dimitri Payet, Wjinauldrum, Ogbonna, Shaqiri, Cabaye, Andrew Ayew. These players are using their current teams as stepping stone clubs and I doubt many of them (Cabaye excepted) will be there for that many more years. What this has meant though is that the League is mental. How many times have Manchester City, a team that spent £105 million on 2 players, been reliant on a last minute goal to get them out of sticky situations. Liverpool for all the Kloppmania have huffed and puffed cold. This is simply because the 'middle order', while not having the squad depth of the elite have all got now first XI that, when set up to play on the counter as almost every team other than the top 4 do now, really stick it to the established order.
How to keep hold of those players. If you set yourself as a stepping stone club for waifs and strays e.g. Stoke, then with good performances you acknowledge other clubs may come calling. If you set yourself as a team that can afford large wages in a nice big city for a rich young footballer e.g. West Ham, you might encourage a mercenary attitude that strips team morale. Everton we are trying something different. We tried big names with Samuel Eto'o. We're bringing in - and trusting - in youth. That means more than giving a youth player 5 minutes at the end of an easy win. It's trusting in youth, players still 21, 22 23 and younger - to carry the team, enact the philosophies the manager wishes to view, and so on. The only other team that I think is doing so is Spurs, who have a much higher wage bill, squad depth, and revenue than us, and for all their much deserved celebration will be 6 points at most better than us by the end of today. 6 points in December is far from insurmountable.
This is not to say the last 3 performances have been anything other than immensely frustrating. I was in the crowd for the Palace game and I have no idea how we didn't win it 5-1. However no team currently in the Premier League has got that balance of youth, game management and flair correct. Look at Manchester United, bringing in established internations with a solid defence - how many of them want to play with the old Fergie flair. Look at Arsenal, huge revenue, superstar players, but still losing to teams like WBA and Norwich. How much have Liverpool spent on strikers in 2 years and still don't have an established frontman? We should have won the last 3 games, no doubt. I'm not saying to whitewash it. But in the context of the most evenly matched and frankly unpredictable league in years, it has to be looked in context.
With regards the new goalkeeper, I think one is necessary, and it will probably (for better or worse) be in the summer. I think martinez subscribes to Wenger's philosophy of a few new first team players at a time, keeping wiser heads on for dressing room stability - see Osman and Hibbert, and it's no surprise Osman was crucial to us last season when we were struggling. But that is paying dividends in the understanding and responsibility our young players have together. When we play well, we are one of the most pleasing teams in the premiership, with only Arsenal and City (and possibly Spurs) close to what we can produce. We have a great mixture throughout the team, and it's clear we're building something. And I'm not sure what any other manager at this point would do, other than necessitate a rapid rebuilding of foundations.
The only teams in the world right now that can win every week and do so with flair and style are Barcelon and Bayern Munich. Everyone else is trying to find the balance. I was as frustrated as anyone else last afternoon and I hope we are working on defending set pieces but that doesn't mean that I'm not excited about what's growing here
