How will Martinez utilize Samuel Eto’o?

It’s been clear for weeks now that Everton’s biggest squad question was who can cover for Romelu Lukaku — a phrase we highlight for reasons that shall become clear — a need that has since been addressed with the signing of Samuel Eto’o.  We are now faced with two new and altogether more exciting questions:

Can the 33-year old Eto’o actually help?  And what can we expect with Eto’o on the pitch?

To answer the first question, we’ve asked Khaled at The Pride of London for some help.

How did Eto’o perform for Chelsea last season?

"He was a good finisher when the opportunity presented itself but rarely if ever did he create his own goalscoring chances. He also showed flashes of good link up play with the midfield but he wasn’t the target man that Chelsea needed. Demba Ba was more of a target man but he was not good enough to do the work on his own and often looked stranded when he was played alone."

The numbers bear out that Eto’o was Chelsea’s biggest threat at striker in the Premier League.  Was that the case?

"At home yes, on the road, not quite. He was clearly Chelsea’s best striker last season but again, that isn’t saying much at all. He was certainly better than Torres and Ba but I wasn’t any more confident that he would score over the other two players. It was just a bad situation at the position overall and I knew that our goals would have to come from midfield."

Based on what you saw from Eto’o from last season, can he help push Everton into the top four?

"I think Eto’o is still a valuable player and can make big contributions to Everton when he’s fit and on form.  He had his fair share of fitness issues and there were a few crucial matches that he missed because of it, but I guess the problem won’t be as glaring if he is just the backup striker.  Him being second choice is one of my concerns for Eto’o because he might be moody or a diva about not playing as often. I don’t think a few substitute appearances here and there will make him happy.He can help Everton get in to the top four but a lot of things have to go right for that to happen.  He has to stay healthy and of course stay happy and on form. Martinez is a great man manager so he can definitely keep him happy.  I’m also surprised that he signed with a club that isn’t in the Champions League, but I suppose he’ll get plenty of playing time with Everton over Liverpool or some other Champions League club."

The too long, didn’t read version is that yes, Eto’o can still play as well as one can hope for a 33-year old out of contract striker.  He’s no longer a world beater, but he’s still better than — to pick a name not at all at random — Fernando Torres.  For us, it’s maybe greedy to ask for much more than that in a summer where Roberto Martinez and the board have already given us so much.

——

The question that is altogether more fun to ponder is the second one:  what can Everton expect not from Eto’o, but because of Eto’o?

It’s easy to think of football teams as static entities that don’t change shape.  Substitutions are like-for-like swaps and philosophies do not evolve and adapt over the course of a match.

Roberto Martinez does not subscribe to the above theory of football.  His teams change seamlessly not only from match to match, but also from minute to minute within a match.  Everton’s four man attacking lineup can take many different forms.

As was mentioned in the lede, Eto’o was, but some lights, brought in as cover for Lukaku.  His role may be limited to late match substitutions and Cup-and-Europa League starts.

Or he may just open up a whole world of options for Martinez.

Yes, Eto’o is accomplished at leading the line.  But he’s also played in the hole and on the wing, both at a high level.  There’s no reason he can’t fill in for Steven Naismith and link up with Lukaku.  There’s also no reason why Eto’o can’t handle the middle of the park, while Lukaku again moves to the wing.

Or Martinez can get rid of the wingers and play Eto’o and Lukaku in front of Barkley.  Or Naismith.  Or Kevin Mirallas.

Really, the combinations are almost limitless.

When weighing the value of Eto’o, it’s important to factor in not only what he brings to the table, but the doors he opens up for the rest of the squad.

That’s where the fun starts.