First Everton’s new manager Roberto Martinez arrived from Wigan Athletic.
Wait, did you hear that horn blast? Now the cavalry are on their way.
Former Wigan striker Arouna Kone joined Everton yesterday for $9 million, earlier today Wigan’s Paraguayan defender Antolín Alcaraz arrived at Goodison Park and now the goalkeeper Wigan had on loan from Atletico Madrid last season, Joel Robles, has signed for the Toffees on a five-year contract
Martinez certainly likes to have familiar faces around, with more players from his Wigan days rumored to be on the way in cut price deals. Is this a sign of things to come for Everton?
Alcaraz is a quality defender, who is a bargain on a free transfer after being handed a two-year deal. Alcaraz was more suited to the 3-5-2 system Martinez deployed now and again with the Latics, so is his signing an early indication that Everton are set to switch to that formation for the upcoming season?
Perhaps. But the arrival of Kone was expected after Everton and Newcastle both met the 29-year-old Ivorian’s release clause. He will add goals and power to Everton’s attack, but how pivotal a role he will play is questionable.
And then their is Atletico Madrid’s young goalkeeper Robles. He wasn’t first choice at Wigan while on loan last season but did play in the FA Cup run and showed that he he has plenty of potential to develop into a top class ‘keeper after winning the European Under-21 title with Spain this summer. At 6 foot 5 he is certainly intimidating, and he is just 23.
What does that mean for Tim Howard? Maybe we will fire up another blog post on the USMNT ‘keepers future at Everton later. But I’d assume it is safe for the foreseeable future. But you never know. Stranger things have happened.
(MORE: Everton finalize $9.7 million deal for Ivorian striker Arouna Kone)
So is Martinez taking a huge gamble by recruiting players that have just been relegated? Yes they are all good players but Martinez, no matter what people say about their playing style, did get Wigan relegated. Okay his resources were very limited and many would argue he worked wonders to keep them within touching distance of safety all season.
But should he be going back to grab the players who ultimately failed to secure Wigan’s EPL survival? I thought at Everton he would have had more resources to bring in some bigger name players who were impressed with what he did with the Latics. A step up in the quality of the club you manage should signify a step up in the standard of player you recruit.
However certain managers take certain players wherever they manage, it just happens, look through the history books.
Maybe it is just me, but if Everton want to push on, Martinez will need to bring in more quality, quickly. His loyal servants from Wigan are solid buys for relatively small sums of cash. But if Everton expect the Spaniard to deliver an improvement on what David Moyes achieved on a smidgen of the budget, they have a rude awakening on the horizon.