I don't think I go along with the idea the league is harder now than under
Moyes. We've always occupied a place about half way up the league in terms of turnover and wages spent. While City have got a lot stronger there is little doubt there has been a serious decline in United, Arsenal and to some extent Chelsea in that period. In
Moyes's time those 3 alongside Liverpool were regular Champions league quarter finalists if not further.
How to judge Martinez is an interesting question. I don't think he should be viewed positive for finishing 8th. Ultimately stability has already been provided to us by Moyes. What we should hope Martinez can do (and a weakness of Moyes) is developing a distinctive style and starting to create at atmosphere of risk taking and winning. A trophy should be how he is judged.
How we measure if we leave a stronger squad or weaker squad is also fright with difficulty. Martinez inherited a very good first team, well organised and drilled who were competent at winning games and finishing in the top 6/7. It was also a side though that regular fell at the final hurdle in big matches. In essence the conundrum of the Moyes era, the glass half empty/half full dilemma.
That team would need to be broken up though. Moyes's biggest weakness towards the end, was his reluctance to try and rebuild a new team and too much loyalty showed to some of his more experienced players. Martinez is trying to rebuild. I think he's doing it slower than most of us would like (re players such as Howard and for some Jagielka). We have moved on players like Anichebe, Distin, Alcatraz, Heitinga and Jelavic though. Expect Peinaar, Osman & Howard to follow soon.
The difficult position I now see us in is I think we are part way through developing a stronger squad. We have blooded far more young players. Lads like Barkley & Stones are now world class talents and have come on leaps and bounds. Alongside guys brought in like Lukaku & Deulofeu as well as decent squad players in the making in Galloway, Browning & Garbutt. It is the type of young squad a manager should relish.
The real challenge we have is it is not automatic these players will become top pro's at Everton. We are in a delicate moment. However strong the squad looks in many ways it lacks the consistency of the late Moyes teams and arguably the starting 11 is a little weaker. As with young players you get hot and cold days. A replacement for Martinez may mess up the younger players and we would be in a difficult situation. This is why it's quite central for me Martinez is given time to bring his squad through.
Nothing is automatic. Certainly not supporting Everton. I remember in 1985 we won the league with a whole host of players under 25. All of our back 5, Bracewell, Sheedy, Sharp etc. Within 9 years we were surviving relegation on the last day of the season.
In 1970 we won the league with a young squad, loads of lads under 24. Likewise we would fall away into Liverpool's shadow as they went on to win everything. What both of these things have in common, is we had a manager who built the teams left and those who followed were;t good enough.
A more contemporary example might be around the late 90's. Like the Moyes team, Royle's side went from dogs of war, to a side that played some decent football. However it began to age and needed replacing. We never recovered from sacking Royle. Even though we won the youth Cup we never mad the most of that situation. It was completely squandered.
There was a post a couple of pages back that said we would be sensible to give Martinez 5 years. I think most managers, as long as they keep us away from relegation problems deserve time. Martinez is clearly working to a longer term plan of developing young players. I think we have to try and hold our nerve against inclinations and anger at poor defending and the odd poor result. We'll have to accept playing with young players will lead to inconsistency but they may develop into something special. They are more likely too with stability.
For all of Kenwrights faults I think he grasps the need for that. Constantly changing managers in the 90's and acting as if we had a divine right to win the title didn't get us very far, it just plunged the club into a downward spiral. All the time Martinez keeps giving young players a chance he will have my support. You can see he is developing them and touch wood we will see the benefits over a longer period.
