13 points from five games represents an excellent start for Everton. There are reasons for them to be optimistic, and maybe one big reason for caution.
The general consensus seems to be that Everton’s best signing this summer has been the appointment of Ronald Koeman as their manager.
After all, he is a man with tremendous pedigree who did a commendable job with Southampton at a time when the Saints were losing a series of high profile players, and managed to deliver European football two seasons on the bounce.
The Toffees have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, which has seen them pick up 13 points from their opening five games.
Their good start has many wondering whether they have really played anyone of great significance, whether they can be serious contenders towards the top of the table come the end of the season, and just how much of an improvement Koeman is on his predecessor Roberto Martinez.
The summer saw modest activity in the transfer market than was perhaps expected. Koeman had clearly identified areas in urgent need of improvement immediately in a goalkeeper, defender, strength in the middle and more of an attacking threat.
Ashley Williams – an established centre-back in the Premier League with plenty of experience – arrived to provide some more leadership and solidity to a back line that was sorely lacking it for the past couple of seasons, while some may question the ability of Maarten Stekelenburg, he is a man that Koeman trusts from his previous jobs.
Some would question the fee surrounding Yannick Bolasie, but the summer saw a transfer market full of questionable eye-watering fees for players, while Enner Valencia providing another option up front is an interesting one. He showed at West Ham that he has ability in flashes if nothing else. The stand-out so far has been Idrissa Gueye who has already become a significant part of the club’s starting XI.
Sometimes sides do not need an overhaul in players for striking improvement. There have been a few changes here and there, and Koeman has reminded the rest of the league – along with a lot of Everton fans – that there is a squad full of capable players at Goodison Park.
It should be noted the excellent job Koeman did at Southampton over the course of the last two seasons, though their strong league finishes can be broken down which produce a striking figure:
2014/15 season Premier League:
| Points | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 60 | 38 |
Below is the points total that Southampton got from their first 22 games of the season:
| Points | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 42 | 22 |
2015/16 season Premier League:
| Points | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 63 | 38 |
Below is the points total for Southampton’s final 22 games of the season:
| Points | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 42 | 22 |
It may be a quirky trend, but it certainly raises the eyebrows. Koeman’s Southampton side started his first season off pretty strongly, and finished off his second season in a similar fashion – and collected the same amount of points over 22 games. But they are two very respectable points totals for over the course of the season – and would represent solid progress for Everton on the back of last season if they were to hit the 60 point mark.
One of the explanations offered over Everton’s start to the season was that they ‘haven’t really played anybody’ yet. They opened up the season against a side that turned out to be the only real challengers to Leicester City for the Premier League last season title in Tottenham, drawing 1-1. Those with decent memories will recall that Koeman wasn’t satisfied with the fitness of his side going into the opening weekend, and bossed the opening hour of the game prior to Erik Lamela’s equaliser.
They came from behind to win against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns – which nobody really fancies going to – beaten a Stoke side that has struggled, Sunderland who seem to be enduring their usual slow start to the season and a newly promoted Middlesbrough side.
It should be noted that respective fixtures against Stoke at home and Sunderland away were games that Everton lost last season, conceding seven goals in the process. This season they have won both games to nil.
Everton haven’t been playing nobody. The fixtures may have fallen kindly for them but they have made the most of their start to the season, and could take a great deal of momentum into games when things may get that little more tricky for them.
Their manager, after all, does have a track record of pulling off big wins from his previous two seasons in the Premier League. He has twice won at Old Trafford, while last season saw the Saints beat all of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal at home, and win at Tottenham in the closing stages of the season.
Some will look as December as a real test when they face Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Leicester in the space of five games. There may well be the odd surprising result, both good and bad, for Everton over the course of the season.
Everton have a capable manager who can mastermind big wins and lead them to a very good season. The challenge, judging by where Southampton picked up their points during Koeman’s time at the club, is whether Everton can sustain their excellent form shown so far over the course of a season.
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