But each year they sold any of the players that showed any promise in the league, the reason they started to play well towards the end of the season IMO is because that's when they have blooded In together and know which each players strength and weaknesses are etc. then lo and behold the summer comes and the better players get sold on again, thankfully that is not a problem Roberto will face at Everton.
If you think of it in Formula 1 terms, if you stick Lewis Hamilton in the crapest car, over a season he may get a few high place finishes, but in the end he is going to finish down the final standings. natural talent will take you so far but the prestige and backing of a far superior race team will win out in the end. A bit like Roberto at Wigan and Roberto at Everton I hope.