Wins seem to breed more wins. And this is certainly the hope of Everton and Roberto Martinez.
The Toffees have had a disappointing season, never managing to kick on after winning or playing well for 20 minutes before disappearing.
But on Sunday, Everton managed to record their first home win in the league since 15th December, and only their second league win in total in that time. This was on the back of a good performance, and crucially a win in the home leg of their Europa League last 16 tie against Dynamo Kiev.
Their poor form up until now had seen Everton stagnate, finding themselves lying only a handful of points above the relegation places all season. In stark contrast indeed to their wonderful and easy-on-the-eye football from last season, they have been bereft of ideas and far from their fluent best this time around.
Earlier this season I thought that, like Merseyside rivals Liverpool, Everton would kick on after their poor start to the season.
I thought the poor start may have meant that Everton would be fighting for 5th place and Europa League qualification rather than fighting for 4th like last year.
I thought it might have cost them a Champions League place, but I didn’t dream it might have cost them their Premier League place.
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When Liverpool lost 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in December, they went ahead of Everton. When the Toffees won their own game a few days later, beating QPR at home they went back level on points. But as we know, since then, Liverpool haven’t lost a league game, whereas that win was Everton’s last league win at home until Sunday.
Three months ago, the two were level on points in mid table, and now Liverpool are 20 points ahead of Everton. And Liverpool have played a game less.
This shift has mostly been about form. It’s not that Liverpool are so far ahead of Everton. They have more money and probably a better squad, especially when you look at depth. But Everton shouldn’t be 20 – maybe 23 after tonight – points behind.
Last season, Martinez was such a refreshing addition to the top half of the table, with Everton playing 3 at the back on occasions. This season, he has stuck rigidly to a 4-2-3-1.
Whereas Liverpool, from the same starting point in mid-table, have taken an opposite trajectory. They have changed formation and freshened things up, reaping the benefits as they shot up the table. Everton have stagnated, sticking both to their formation and their league position.
I’m not saying that changing formations is all that Everton need to kick-start their season. But what I am saying is that Liverpool’s change in formation seemed to turn things around, though it was only the catalyst for the confidence that started their run, rather than its root cause.
This, I think, is what Everton need. They need something that brings confidence back to the group. That could been anything, a change in formation, a good home win, even a change of menu in the club canteen.
But after a win in Europe followed by a home win against Newcastle, they now have proof that they can win in both competitions. And this can spur them on.
At this stage in the season, it’s about putting a run of wins together, either in a cup competition, or in the league. Liverpool have started theirs and are now challenging for the Champions League places, Everton have stagnated. But if anyone knows how to hit form towards the end of the season, it is Roberto Martinez, who has masterminded late relegation escapes with Wigan in the past.
Everton are still only six points clear of the drop and are not safe yet, but a run of games to take them safely into mid-table might give them the confidence they need to go further in Europe. This is crunch time now, and the win on Sunday might just give the Toffees a boost to kick on and make the best of their poor season.
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