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Everton Stats Analysis | Assessing the Opening Months Under Martinez

Why James McCarthy Could Prove to be More Than Value for Money 

At the time when James McCarthy was driving into Everton’s Finch Farm training complex ahead of his £13m move from Wigan in the closing stages of the August transfer window, Marouane Fellaini, a man who had so notably influenced a vast amount of games during his five years at the club through many momentous goals, was moving in the other direction to Manchester United and unfair comparisons between the two were drawn.

Whilst big money was involved in his switch, McCarthy is a completely different type of player to Fellaini, who moved to Old Trafford for £27.5m, and bearing in mind a change in the way Everton want to play is taking place, McCarthy is far more suited to Martínez’s structure whereas Fellaini looked unsure of where he was regimented in the opening three games of this season before his exit.

[sws_blockquote_endquote cite=”Frankie McAvoy, Academy Director at Hamilton Academical, believes the £13m Everton have stumped up for McCarthy is an absolute steal” quotestyle=”style02″]There’s no doubt about it, he’s the best player Scotland has ever produced. Technically he’s great, he’s got a fantastic right and left foot, he can pick passes and he’s got great energy levels to go and support.[/sws_blockquote_endquote]

Capture7After two starts and two substitute appearances, McCarthy has completed 84.6% (121) of his 143 passes attempted, with a 97% success rate in the defensive zones of the pitch and 34% overall going forwards. The 22-year-old has sublime serenity when in control of the ball and never holds onto it for too long.

He is always looking to get the ball moving by recycling possession, easing any pressure team-mates are under and logically pushes forwards in support, whilst also being proficient at putting his foot in and chasing defenders down. McCarthy has completed 92.8% (14) of his tackles so far, with a challenge currently being attempted every 18 minutes, and he protects the backline really well – making three blocks, with two coming inside his own penalty box, in particular against Newcastle.

With last season’s midfield pairing of Phil Neville and Leon Osman being used the most frequently under Moyes, Martínez has quickly solidified that area in terms of tackling, doing the ugly work on the pitch efficiently and sharing the burden of starting attacks on both Coleman and Baines’ shoulders through McCarthy and Gareth Barry’s arrivals – married with Barkley’s impressive development just ahead of them.

The Republic of Ireland international was Martínez’s gem at Wigan by keeping things ticking over crisply in the midfield and the defensive side of his game massively improved last season when Mohamed Diamé left for West Ham and the void needed to be filled. The evergreen McCarthy – who played all 38 games for Wigan last season – resembles a young Michael Carrick and he will only get better the more games and experience he gets in a team that will demand more and drive him further.

Overall Judgement

The international football scene on Friday night summed up how things have suddenly changed around Everton. Seamus Coleman, who turned 25 and captained Republic of Ireland, is no longer the young kid that cost a meagre £60,000 and is now an established Premier League right-back and one of the best at that.

Phil Jagielka again looked solid in the England defence and his vocal leadership for his club has now made him his country’s first choice centre-back, whilst Leighton Baines earned a thoroughly deserved starting berth at left-back and it’s only a matter of time until he nails the place down permanently.

Whilst the style of play has evidently changed in the first seven games, the squad has naturally become more wise and Martínez has kept the core principles that Moyes cemented after 11-years of work and has instead just slightly tweaked them. His tactical acumen could push Everton onto the next level as he proved by winning the FA Cup with Wigan – one of the greatest footballing achievements in modern history – that he is one of the brightest managers in the game and is still so amazingly young.

In the next few months building onwards, Everton supporters will be hoping to see more of Gerard Deulofeu in the first-team, who showed glimpses of class in both league cup ties, and the likes of Steven Pienaar – who created the seventh most chances in the league last season (82) – will be a huge player to get back into the team after injury and continue to bring the best out of Baines, who was ineffective in the last two games against both Newcastle and Manchester City, down the left-hand side.

The future looks bright and an extra enthusiasm from all corners has been restored, as Martínez ultimately strives to turn Everton into a footballing dynasty that epitomises breathtaking football – as the motto reads: Solo lo mejor.

Matthew Judge
Matthew Judgehttp://www.ftbpro.com/matthew.judge
Matthew is currently studying a Journalism degree at Liverpool John Moores University and writes Player Focuses, Team Focuses, Player Analyses, Transfer Reports, Scout Reports and much more for EPL Index. He is also a writer for FTBpro and an Everton juror every two to three weeks for the Liverpool ECHO newspaper.
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