Everton have failed to reach their potential this season.
Ask any Everton supporter where they believe they are capable of finishing in the Premier League, and most would point to a place somewhere in the top six with the squad at their disposal.
The Toffees have an abundance of top quality youngsters at their disposal, a top class goal scorer in Belgium international Romelu Lukaku, and renowned pros such as Phil Jagielka and Gareth Barry.
But for all their talent, they currently lie in 11th position in the table and for the past half of the campaign, they’ve not looked like a team capable challenging at the top.
As shown by the table provided by Opta below, the Merseyside club have picked up just 23 points from their last 19 games – 18 points less than surprise league leaders Leicester City.
| Appearances | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals | Goals Conceded | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 33 | 15 | 41 |
| Tottenham | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 38 | 15 | 39 |
| Arsenal | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 16 | 38 |
| Man City | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 22 | 32 |
| Southampton | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 15 | 31 |
| Stoke | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 30 |
| Liverpool | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 31 | 27 | 27 |
| Watford | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 22 | 27 |
| West Ham | 19 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 25 | 22 | 27 |
| Chelsea | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 22 | 25 |
| Man Utd | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 19 | 25 |
| West Brom | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 23 | 24 |
| Everton | 19 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 35 | 28 | 23 |
| Bournemouth | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 33 | 21 |
| Newcastle | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 38 | 21 |
| Sunderland | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 26 | 34 | 21 |
| C. Palace | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 25 | 20 |
| Swansea | 19 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 26 | 18 |
| Norwich | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 38 | 15 |
| Aston Villa | 19 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 34 | 12 |
Roberto Martinez is a considerably popular manager due to his team’s style of play, his general attitude to football and the respect he earned from guiding Wigan Athletic to an FA Cup triumph.
But having said all that, Everton’s current position is not good enough considering the quality they have and five wins over the past 19 games is less than both relegation threatenee Sunderland and Newcastle United.
A blip in form could be forgiven, but the club’s form under Martinez this season suggests they have gradually regressed from what was a terrific debut campaign under the Spaniard’s guidance.
It’s rather questionable why Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren has come in for so much flak this season, while Martinez in contrast has barely been in the spotlight.
But over the past 19 games, Everton have mounted just two more points than the Magpies and over that period McClaren has had to deal with doubts over his credentials and speculation over his future.
The Toffees latest 1-0 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion highlighted their frailties, and without improvement, they are in danger of falling a long way short of where they really ought to be.
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