Robert Martinez's 3-5-2 Formation Could Provide a Necessary Boost for Everton

When things are going badly for Roberto Martinez, he often turns to his trusted 3-5-2 formation. With his Everton side near shambles heading into the summer transfer period, perhaps it's time for Martinez to bring back his old friend.

Finishing 11th in the Premier League table during a down year is usually not cause for alarm. Everton's impotent attack and leaky defense, however, should be enough for Martinez to begin rethinking his approach.

Martinez has already made clear, via The Liverpool Echo, that a playmaker is his top priority during the transfer window. Depth in defense and a winger to play opposite Kevin Mirallas are also needed. 

A shift to the 3-5-2, however, could alleviate some of the pressure to spend the club's limited transfer funds, as well as balance out a shaky side. The change might not be drastic on the surface, but it could make a world of difference for the Toffees as they move forward. 

The numbers game

As things stand, Everton’s primary issue heading into the summer is the unbalanced nature of their squad.

It is not unreasonable to declare the situation on the wings to be a general disaster area. Steven Pienaar, Bryan Oviedo and Aiden McGeady combined to make 41 appearances and score one goal last season.

The 3-5-2 formation would simply do away with the problem. Two wing-backs—Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman, to start—would occupy the flanks, while a striker—Romelu Lukaku—and one hybrid winger/inside forward would sit on top of the formation.

It is in no way coincidental to this article that Mirallas has the ideal skillset to succeed next to his countryman Lukaku as a wide forward. Mirallas has proven more than capable of playing inside or near the touchline.

The other benefit of the formation, from a squad standpoint at least, is the possibility it could relieve the logjam in the middle of the pitch.

In a wildly optimistic universe in which we are free to assume the good health of Darron Gibson, Everton currently have seven players competing for three central midfield positions.

Although an imperfect fit, the 3-5-2 would afford Steven Naismith, who has struggled as a midfielder in a 4-5-1, the flexibility to spell Mirallas as a strike partner for Lukaku.

While Naismith is pushed up in the formation, Gareth Barry and Muhamed Besic are candidates to move back from center midfield. Martinez has utilized Barry as part of a three-man defense in the past, and Besic was a centerback in Hungary before joining Everton.

Is that an ideal scenario? Well, no. But this is Everton we’re talking about, not Chelsea. It’s at least worth a pre-season experiment to see if Barry or Besic can cope next to John Stones and Phil Jagielka.

Lukaku and Barkley

Perhaps no one stands to benefit more from the 3-5-2 than Lukaku and Ross Barkley.

Despite a 20-goal return across all competitions, Lukaku struggled mightily in the Premier League this season, netting only 10 times. A creative strike partner would undoubtedly improve that tally. The real appeal of the formation is the freedom it would provide the big Belgian.

Martinez utilized an interchangeable 4-3-3/3-4-3 formation against Arsenal in April, 2014, positioning Lukaku as a right wing. Put politely, Lukaku instilled no small measure of fear into the Gunners’ back line, running at them with abandon.

That is where Lukaku is at his best, facing the goal and cutting in from the right to his favored left foot. The 3-5-2 would create those opportunities more often.

Barkley, meanwhile, is at something of a crossroads. He possesses neither the end product for the No. 10 role, nor the discipline (yet, anyway) to play as No. 8 in center midfield.

Positioned deeper behind two strikers, free of some of the creative burden, is where Barkley can thrive. His differential ability exists between the two boxes, imposing his will on the game through powerful runs, evoking images of the unstoppable Juggernaut of the Marvel Universe.

This video of Barkley against Norwich in 2013 by YouTube user Lorefc90 highlights everything the 21-year old can be for Everton moving forward.

A move to the 3-5-2 won’t be a simple fix. Enforcements at centre-back and at right-back behind Coleman are necessary, and finding the appropriate strike partner for Lukaku is crucial to the formation’s success.

Still, it’s the kind of inspired move that earned Martinez his reputation at Wigan. With the Latics, Martinez used the formation to avoid relegation. At Everton, Martinez could use it to climb the table.

Who knows? The challenge of adapting to a new system could be the spark a lifeless Everton squad needs to return to form.