Everton FC: Why the Toffees Will Be a Hit Under Roberto Martinez This Season

David Moyes transformed Everton from an ageing squad, often battling relegation, into a roster crammed full of international players predominantly situated around the top six or seven places in the Premier League.

He had them competing for European berths, occasionally entering the reckoning for Champions League places and making the odd deep run in cup competitions.

With minimal financial backing, Moyes rebuilt the club's standing and the task for Roberto Martinez is to carry on from where his predecessor left off.

Understandably, there's a feeling among some football fans—shared by certain journalists—that the Toffees will now struggle to replicate such finishes. Iain Macintosh described the big shoes facing Martinez as "canoes with laces" in an excellent recent piece for The Mirror. 

However, while his job will certainly be tough, there's nothing to suggest the Toffees' can't continue competing for a top-six finish.

First off, no key player has—as of yet—left the club. Martinez has an almost identical squad to use from the one that sustained a top-four challenge for most of last season.

He can deploy almost the exact XIs that beat Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and remained unbeaten against Arsenal and Liverpool.

That roster has then been bolstered by four new players. Joel Robles to push Tim Howard in goal. Antolin Alcarez to add depth in defence and help enforce Martinez' three-at-the-back philosophy. Arouna Kone to add goals and then Gerard Deulofeu, on loan, to add additional flair in attack.

The fact three of these signings were plucked from a relegated Wigan has also concerned some, with Dan Ripley writing how Evertonians may be more worried about relegation next season than the Champions League, in the Daily Mail.

However, it's hard to see how these additions don't strengthen an already strong playing staff. Goals were the Toffees' main weakness last season and Kone's 11 strikes in a relegated side indicate he can boost that department, as should Deulofeu, while the other two additions should increase competition and raise the standards.

While little substance can be based on friendly results, preseason has only improved Martinez's stock at the Toffees and increased excitement levels for the coming season.

Everton have more than held their own in recent fixtures with Real Madrid and Juventus, beating the latter on penalties, and Martinez has impressed against some of the best in Europe with his complex systems and tactical nous.

Aside from that, it's hard to see who could overtake the Toffees. Teams below them have enjoyed decent transfer windows, but Everton still finished a significant 14 points clear of the Premier League's eighth best team last season and sides from the top seven are facing one or two issues themselves.

While the Manchester clubs and Chelsea should be engaged in a title scrap, Arsenal are yet to strengthen and Tottenham could also find things tough without Gareth Bale. Liverpool will still feel they have spent enough to at least finish ahead of their rivals, but if they sell Luis Suarez, they will find it hard to replace his goals. 

Whether Liverpool can push past the Toffees in sixth or not, it still seems unlikely another side could make up the difference and force them out of top seven altogether.

It's important to not raise expectation levels too high, as maintaining a top six or seven position would represent success in Martinez's inaugural campaign. Yet, it would perhaps be less of a surprise if Everton nestled their way into another tussle for Champions League places instead of dropping out of European contention.

Of course, it's still possible the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines could be wrestled away from the Toffees during the transfer market. That would certainly give Martinez a much sterner challenge for the coming season, but, as it stands, his side are in a strong position to start the new Premier League campaign in style.

For those assuming Martinez's arrival will coincide with Everton relinquishing their top-six standing and falling into mid-table mediocrity, the events at Goodison Park this season may come as a surprise.

Follow @Matt_Cheetham