Can Roberto Martinez elevate Everton into the Top 4?

After being appointed Everton manager yesterday, Roberto Martinez promised the chairman Bill Kenwright 'I'll get you in the Champions League', an ambitious target from a young and intelligent manager. Is it possible, though, for the Toffees to break the Top 4? Is it possible for the Merseyside club not only to compete with Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal but to better them throughout the whole season?

Great manager, great appointment.

Roberto Martinez is a young manager, one of the new generation of coaches who favours the modern game, known by its proper title, the beautiful game. He teaches a passing game with slow build-up and complex formations. Martinez truly made Wigan Athletic his own his own, using what little funds he had to make a s
tylish side that went on to win the FA Cup. During his tenure at Swansea, he was the first to introduce the beautiful game there, laying the foundations for Brendan Rodgers to build and make the Swans into a successful Premier League team. So at Everton, should he bring in the right players, he can transform their traditional style of football into something attributing to the beautiful game.

However, style of play does not always guarantee success. Every method has flaws. Wigan fielded a weak defence, week-in, week-out, leading to them getting hammered against many teams every season. Defensive problems plagued the Latics for years, and with all his intelligence, Martinez never found the right solution to these problems. Wigan are not a team capable of gathering a squad of players that are fit for purpose. Everton, though, are half-way there.

This season, Everton have competed for the Top 4. They caused problems for all of the top teams, beating United, City and Spurs, siting at 5th and 6th place for most of the season. For the first time, they not only finished the season well, they also started the season well, only losing twice in their first 19 games. They also finished above their Merseyside rivals Liverpool for the second consecutive season for the first time since 1937. There is no doubt that Roberto Martinez is inheriting the healthiest Everton side in years.

Moyes and Martinez, passing on the baton.

When thinking of the best players at Everton, Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar, Kevin Mirallas and Sylvain Distin come to mind. I rate them alongside some of the best in the league. However, the rest of their squad are not on that level. Like Wigan, Everton are not blessed with a talented squad, something a Top 4 team demands. Martinez must build a squad, not just a team, that can compete throughout a whole season. With 4th place Arsenal finishing on 73 points, it has never taken so much consistency and so many wins to get into the Champions League.

The one thing above all that I believe is needed to make the Champions League is investment, and a small mixture of good management, style and talent can come with that one factor. It is well publicised that Everton are not a wealthy club, and David Moyes' success there was somewhat of a miracle considering that. With Financial Fair Play being introduced next season and the further inflation of our league, poor Everton will find it near impossible to compete with the six other teams for the Top 4.

I don't doubt for one second that Everton will be a strong team next season. Given time, Martinez's style of football will make them feared alongside some of the very best in England. Despite that, it will require some more magic to come out of the hat of Roberto Martinez and Everton F.C to make that coveted Top 4.