EVERTON PREVIEW: Martinez filling Moyes' big boots and hoping to avoid a sticky start to Toffees' new era

Club at a glance

Manager: Roberto Martinez
Captain: Phil Jagielka
Ground: Goodison Park
Capacity: 40,221
Last season’s finish: 6th
Official club website: evertonfc.com

Story of the summer…

There’s been a change of the guard at Goodison Park as Everton swapped Moyes for Martinez. While the Scot headed down the M62 to Old Trafford, Roberto Martinez has brought in some Wigan old boys to make himself feel at home. But the Spaniard faces a tough job if he wants to match his predecessors’ achievements.

Manager’s main challenge…

Keeping Everton competitive. David Moyes worked miracles on a tight budget to push the club up the league and consistently challenge for Europe. Martinez will be expected to continue that tradition.

New era: Roberto Martinez has big boots to fill taking over from David Moyes

Hiccups on horizon…

Much of Moyes’s success was built on resolute defending and hard work. Martinez’s Wigan played some attractive football last season but went down due to their defensive frailties. Can the Spaniard successfully blend the two styles in his new job? 

First name on the team sheet…

Leighton Baines – nobody created more goal-scoring chances than Baines in Europe last year.

Crucial: Everton fans will be hoping Leighton Baines will stay rather than follow his old boss to Manchester

Youngster to watch...

John Lundstram Age: 19 Position: Midfielder Twitter: @johnlunny33

If much is expected from Ross Barkley this season, it won't be long before his fellow midfielder Lundstram is pushing for consideration at first-team level. A regular for England at age-group levels, he has been to three major tournaments already. Powerful in the tackle and passes the ball with elegance.

Pre-season quote…

‘What we have got here is an incredible platform and we need to follow that dream of getting into Europe and the Champions League’ – Roberto Martinez

Top Tweeter

Sylvain Distin (@sylvaind15tin) - Enjoys tweeting inspirational quotes.

Followed: Arouna Kone moved to Everton with former Wigan boss Martinez for £5m

Ins: Arouna Kone (Wigan, £5m), Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan, free), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid, undisclosed), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, loan)

Outs: Thomas Hitzlsperger (released), Jan Mucha (released), Jake Bidwell (Brentford, undisclosed), Conor McAleny (Brentford, loan), Phil Neville (retired)

New kit

The club have released a new badge, but the new era isn't off to the best start with fan complaints already meaning the badge is likely to be scrapped at the end of the season.

Sadly the the U-turn will come too late to not feature on their new home shirt, which supporters will at least be pleased to know sticks to the familiar concept of a blue shirt with white trim.

The away kit is yellow but features a heavy amount of blue across the shoulders.

Kit cost: £50

Yellow peril? Everton's away kit also features a large amount of blue

Stats from 2012-13 season...

• Everton had the second longest run of games scored in (18) and the second longest of games conceded in (16).
• Leighton Baines created 116 goal scoring chances in 2012-13; 12 more than any other player in the Premier League.
• Everton made fewer substitutions than any other side in 2012-13 (88).
• Baines is currently the only player in Premier League history to have taken 10 (or more) penalties and maintained a 100 per cent success rate.
• The Toffees played a league-high 68 per cent of passes in the opposition half in 2012-13..
• Everton drew more fouls than any other Premier League side in 2012-13 (496).
• Everton were one of only two teams not to concede a goal on the break all season.
• David Moyes used just 23 players in 2012-13, the lowest PL total.

Pushing for inclusion: Ross Barkley has already made his first team bow, but John Lundstram (left) could be the next off of Everton's impressive production line

Where do I buy tickets and how much do they cost?

Tickets can be bought through the official website, via phone, 0871 663 1878 or at the stadium box office, which is open 9-5 Monday to Friday. Category A £22-£38, Category B £22-£37 and Category C £21-£36.

Pre-season results

July 14 Austria Vienna (Franz Horr Stadium) - lost 1-2
July 17 Accrington Stanley (Store First Stadium) - won 4-1
July 27 Blackburn (Ewood Park) - won 3-1
August 1 Juventus (AT&T Park, San Francisco - Guinness International Champions Cup) - drew 1-1 (won 6-5 pens)
August 4 Real Madrid (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles - Guiness International Cup) - lost 1-2
August 6 Valencia (Sun Life Stadium, Miami) - lost 0-1
August 11 Real Betis (Goodison Park) - won 2-1

FULL PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

AUGUST

17: Norwich City (a)

24: West Bromwich Albion (h)

31: Cardiff City (a)

SEPTEMBER

14: Chelsea (h) - (Sky Sports, 5.30pm)

21: West Ham United (a)

30: Newcastle United (h) - (Sky Sports, 8pm)

OCTOBER

5: Manchester City (a) - (BT Sport, 12.45pm)

19: Hull City (h)

26: Aston Villa (a)

NOVEMBER

3: Tottenham Hotspur (h) - (Sky Sports, 1.30pm)

9: Crystal Palace (a)

23: Liverpool (h) - (BT Sport, 12.45pm)

30: Stoke City (h)

DECEMBER

3: Manchester United (a)

7: Arsenal (a)

14: Fulham (h)

21: Swansea City (a)

26: Sunderland (h)

28: Southampton (h)

JANUARY

1: Stoke City (a)

11: Norwich City (h)

18: West Bromwich Albion (a)

28: Liverpool (a)

FEBRUARY

1: Aston Villa (h)

8: Tottenham Hotspur (a)

12: Crystal Palace (h)

22: Chelsea (a)

MARCH

1: West Ham United (h)

8: Newcastle United (a)

15: Cardiff City (h)

22: Swansea City (h)

29: Fulham (a)

APRIL

5: Arsenal (h)

12: Sunderland (a)

19: Manchester United (h)

26: Southampton (a)

MAY

3: Manchester City (h)

11: Hull City (a)

*Fixtures subject to change