Everton have enjoyed a magnificent 2013/14 campaign under Roberto Martinez and the sky seems to be the limit for the Toffees in the future.
Here is a look at the top three players who were crucial in helping Martinez’s side earn a fine 5th place finish in the Premier League.
1 – Seamus Coleman
|
Premier League Appearances |
36 |
|
Goals |
6 |
|
Assists |
2 |
Few can argue with the fact that marauding full back Seamus Coleman was arguably the best player for Everton this season. The 25-year old was simply sensational for the Toffees and delighted the the Goodison faithful with some scintillating performances.
In the modern game, along with their defensive duties, full backs are expected to attack as well but Coleman’s six goals from right back over the course of the current campaign must be some sort of record and all of his goals were of such quality that even Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud the Irishman’s strikes.
That being said, Coleman was very solid in defence as well and formed the bedrock at which Everton’s success was built upon this season. Coleman’s rise to prominence over the years has been made all the more sweeter for Everton by the fact that the defender was bought for a meager £60,000.
2 – James McCarthy
|
Premier League Appearances |
34 |
|
Goals |
1 |
|
Assists |
3 |
While Ross Barkley may have drawn all the plaudits for his displays this season, Everton posses another prodigious talent in the form of James McCarthy.
It is fair to say that McCarthy has been one of the most integral part of Everton’s success this season. There were certainly a few eyebrows raised when Martinez splashed a whopping £13milion to secure the services of the young midfielder, but the large investment has certainly been justified.
McCarthy formed a wonderful partnership at the heart of the midfield alongside Gareth Barry and the duo have been crucial in implementing Martinez’s passing style at Goodison.
At just 23, the young man looks set to play a huge part in Everton’s future and it will not be too long before McCarthy is heralded as one the best midfielders in the world if he continues on developing at his current rate.
3 – Ross Barkley
|
Premier League Appearances |
34 |
|
Goals |
6 |
|
Assists |
2 |
Young Ross Barkley has not only captured the imagination of the Everton fans but the whole of England this season. The 20-year old has simply been sensational and the young man is probably the biggest talent that has emerged from Everton since Wayne Rooney.
Barkley possesses poise, skill and an eye for goal but his most impressive asset has to be his fearlessness. The young man never seems to get overawed by the occasion and will surely not look out of place when he represents the England national team at the World Cup in the summer.
While Barkley’s talent is undoubted, Martinez also deserves a lot of credit for handling him carefully and not burning him out by playing him every week. Barkley is arguably the best young player in Europe at the moment and under the tutelage of Martinez, the young man will undoubtedly become a world star.
Honourable mentions – Syvlain Distin, Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Barry, Tim Howard, Leighton Baines
