Five things we've learned from Everton’s season:

Plenty to ponder: Martinez has his work cut out this summer

1.       Playing in the Europa League proved costly

It goes without saying playing in the Europa has a detrimental impact on your league form. Strictly speaking, this shouldn’t be the case. Sides playing in the Champions League have to contend with playing two games in a week – Wednesday / Saturday, so why should Thursday / Sunday be any different? The reality is over the years, it’s proven to be a hindrance. Firstly, some Champions League gameweeks fall on a Tuesday, so there’s the extra day to recover. More open to debate, is that players are constantly playing catch-up. Mentally, they have to play 24 hours later, and know in advance how many points they need from each game to remain in the chasing pack. One undeniable factor is Europa League sides are far more likely to travel to far-flung places. Yes the Champions League has played host to several minnows over the years but, by and large, trips to the Baltics and Eastern Europe are reserved for Europe’s secondary competition. Hopefully the younger players have grown from this experience.

2.       Howard’s World Cup hangover cost points

Below par: Howard will come back stronger for 2015/16 season

Tim Howard has had his worst season in an Everton shirt. His form has been erratic, and has not exuded confidence to his fellow defenders. This is far from being his last season at the club though. I fully expect him to recover and return rejuvenated for next season after a full summer off. One word of caution, as it stands he is due to return to the international fold this autumn after a year away from the US team. Only time will tell whether the 36-year-old is able to juggle the demands of playing for both club and country.

Source: Opta	Team	Errors Leading to Goals
Rob Green	QPR	6
Tim Howard	Everton	4
Asmir Begovic	Stoke	4
Brad Guzan	Aston Villa	4
Tim Krul	Newcastle	4

3.       Aging squad

Much has been made of Everton’s fine younger players. But it is undeniable that several areas of the squad need revamping this summer.

Average Starting XI Age	Years	Days
Source: Opta
Manchester City	28	349
QPR	28	220
Leicester	28	152
Everton	28	143
West Brom	28	140
Sunderland	28	143
Crystal Palace	28	97

As a keeper, Howard is far from finished at 36. But he only has one or two seasons left at the highest level, and the jury is still out on Joel Robles. Sylvain Distin and Gareth Barry, more than any, have aged a great deal over the past 12 months. Distin has been a fine performer for this club, and his contributions should be widely acknowledged. Time waits for no man, however, and it looks likely he’ll leave when his contract expires this summer. 

Midfield steel: Flamini & Song would be welcome additions

More worryingly, is Barry’s situation. So desperate was Roberto Martinez to tie the former England midfielder down last summer that he offered him a three-year deal. At several junctions this season, this decision seems laughable. Slow in possession, and caught out on several occasions, Barry’s years are catching up with him. Everton could do far worse than moving him on and bringing in a younger replica. Both Mathieu Flamini and Alex Song appear surplus to requirement at Arsenal and Barcelona respectively, and should be attainable.

4.       Lukaku has no competition

Arouna Koné’s fitness issues remain a concern, while Steven Naismith is not an out and out number 9. Samuel Eto’o arrived last year with great anticipation, and showed glimpses of class when deployed up front. But too often, he was utilized either as a number 10, or in an unfamiliar left or right-sided role. It is pointless lamenting his mismanagement, as it is believed he was a negative influence around the dressing room. Moving forward, the introduction of one, possibly two strikers is needed. Not only will this take the weight of responsibility off the 21-year-old Lukaku’s shoulders, but will also make Everton less one-dimensional in the attacking third. Far too often we’ve been chasing games with a lone striker this season. It’ll give Martinez the option to play two or three forwards should the situation merit it either from the off or during a game.

5.       Lack of character

There has been a lack of leadership and sense of responsibility in the side this campaign. Ironically, captain Phil Jagielka could well end up winning the club’s player of the season award. But by and large, throughout the squad, players have to take more responsibility. Leighton Baines relinquishing penalty duties is one case in point. Collectively, they need to show the required determination to see themselves through games.When they’ve fallen behind, very rarely have they shown the fight or quality needed in the final third to reverse the game in their favour. While winning positions have far too easily disappeared.

Source: Opta	Pts lost from leading positions
Everton	19
Leicester	16
Sunderland	16
Swansea	16
Hull City	15
Arsenal	14
Aston Villa	14

Robles consoled at West Ham after seeing his penalty hit the bar

True, bad luck has played its part. When they have shown strength in the face of adversity - down a goal and reduced to ten men at West Ham in the FA Cup - lady luck was not on their side. (2-2 AET before a 9-8 shoot-out resulted). Martinez has regularly said his charges have been playing catch-up from points dropped against Leicester and Arsenal in the first two league games. But frankly, such a defeatist attitude should be consigned elsewhere.