After an abysmal season, it looks like it actually can end in European football for Everton! Although we haven’t hit the heights of last season, there is still a possibility of us playing in Europe through fair play. England finished second in UEFA’s Fair Play table, earning an extra spot in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. The place goes to whoever ends top of the Premier League’s fair play table, currently Liverpool. They are extremely likely to get Europa League next season through their place in the table, so the team who is second gets the place. Although Everton currently sit in third behind West Ham United, it is neck-and-neck to see who’ll be getting the spot. So, will Everton benefit going through another season of European football?
Positives of Europe:
The fans travelling
Who doesn’t love a European away day? Especially when it’s Everton. The Toffees took almost 20,000 fans to see the blues across Europe this season and the atmosphere was always buzzing. The fans were re-paid is well with fine performances against VfL Wolfsburg and BSC Young Boys. Although it ended painfully, it was a brilliant effort from the fans and I am sure they would want to do it all again next season.
Another European run?
If we do the right things in the summer, I certainly think we can get to the quarter-finals next season. The Europa League was brilliant for Everton fans, taking their minds off the awful Premier League campaign and we even saw some fine performances home and away.
For us to get further than we did last season, it’s important we add players to the squad and we need Roberto Martinez to be more ‘flexible’ with his rotations (e.g. having Gareth Barry play Thursday then Sunday).
We need a trophy
Considering we haven’t won a trophy in 20 years, we need one and winning the Europa League would be worth the wait. It’s been far too long since we won actual silverware, the Everton board needs to face the facts that if we are going to win a trophy they need to put some investment into the squad, facilities etc.
I’m not suggesting it’ll be easy, there are some incredible teams that would be in the competition. I watched Sevilla vs Fiorentina on Thursday evening and the Spaniards (who won the competition last season) destroyed Fiorentina, a team we would find it difficult against. In the Bundesliga, it looks a strong possibility that Borussia Dortmund will be in the Europa League next season and FC Schalke are also in the mix, currently just outside the Champions League places).
We need to throw everything at every competition we are in. If we do get into the Europa League we certainly must go all out to win it.
Negatives of Europe:
Destroys league form
Source: evertonfc.com
We have certainly felt the full force of this factor throughout the campaign. Since UEFA decided to add groups to the Europa League, the average league position fall when in Europa League is 2.3. 64% of teams that are in Europa League fall in the league. We have dropped six places. Only 5 other campaigns from teams are worse – Middlesbrough (2005-06), Everton (2005-06), Bolton Wanderers (2007-08) and Newcastle United (2004-05 and 2012-13).
I partially blame our league position thanks to our Europa League campaign. It’s great fun when you get to the knockout stages but when you lack depth like Everton do it was always going to be a tough ask.
The squad hasn’t reacted well to the ‘Thursday to Sunday’ schedule. Many of the older players have seen a massive dip in their careers, players such as Tim Howard and Gareth Barry are certainly the ones who have struggled. Doing it all again could see them becoming even worse.
We lack depth
We discussed this problem back last summer, yet it’s still a major issue. We still have no squad depth at all. We have just two strikers (one that actually scores goals), no defensive cover – if your accepting Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz as decent cover, please check yourself and somehow Tim Howard is still getting games.
Everton should have delt with this problem ages ago, but with no investment and a manager who barley makes changes (and when he does they’re completely wrong), we are certainly going to struggle to cope with the demands of European football.
Schedule batters players fitness
As I said earlier on, the ‘Thursday to Sunday’ schedule has destroyed some of the player’s fitness levels and has even caused a few injuries. Gareth Barry has become a lot slower (not saying he was ever fast in the first place), whilst we’ve seen injuries for Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Christian Atsu and Leighton Baines have all appeared during Europa League ties.
With no depth, it’s almost impossible for us to replace these players, after losing James McCarthy against VfL Wolfsburg (27th of November) we won just one game since his return (26th of December), losing 5 games in a month.
Conclusion
We have seen teams plummet down the table in recent years when being in Europa League and Everton this season is one of them. I don’t entirely blame the competition for our big drop, however it does make an effect on the team. Despite looking at the stats, I certainly think that we should take the fair-play qualification. We desperately need a trophy and if Everton manage to win the Europa League then it would be a big achievement in Everton’s long history. As long as we keep our discipline in the last three games, we would have a great chance of making it.
Up the toffees.
Joel Parker
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