Why Cuco Martina Is A Shrewd Addition For Everton
Everton have completed their seventh transfer of the summer, after they captured full-back Cuco Martina on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with Southampton (ESPN).
The 27-year old was signed for the South Coast club back in 2015 from Dutch club FC Twente by current Everton boss Ronald Koeman. But during his two years at St. Mary’s, he failed to establish himself as a regular, with Cedric Soares being the preferred option at right-back. And following the expiration of his contract with the club, the Saints released him at the end of the season.
Everton have had a blistering transfer window having brought in as many as six players already. Koeman, who was appointed the manager ahead of the last season, led the club to a strong 7th-place finish in the Premier League and in the process, taking the club back to the UEFA Europa League. And with the added number of games coming their way, it was imperative that the Dutchman strengthened his ranks in the summer, in order to be able to compete strongly on all fronts.
The Merseysiders will be without their first-choice right-back Seamus Coleman at least until the end of the year, following the double-leg break he suffered on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in March earlier this year. Youngster Mason Holgate did a fine job of replacing his experienced teammate towards the end of the season. But having sent Tyias Browning out on loan as well, Everton were seriously short on numbers at right-back.
In Cuco Martina, the club are getting their hands on a player that Koeman knows well from their days together at Southampton. The 27-year old has also played under the manager’s brother and assistant Erwin Koeman, back during his stint in the Netherlands, and as a result, he enjoys the trust and the backing of the manager and his backroom staff.
Having brought in by Koeman at Southampton, Martina made 18 appearances for the club in the 2015/16 season, scoring a solitary goal – the wonder strike against Arsenal on the Boxing Day in 2015 and bagged 2 assists as well. In the subsequent season under Claude Puel, he featured 19 times, registering a single assist.
Despite having not played as regularly as he would have liked to, the right-back has shown great defensive solidity and has shown that he can be effective at the other end of the pitch as well. He can operate in a left-back position too, adding more depth to the position, behind Leighton Baines and Luke Garbutt. Captain of the Curacao national team, Martina will bring in his leadership and his experience to the table as well, which will be of great benefit for the younger players in the squad.
The 27-year old is the ideal stop-gap option for the Toffees until Coleman returns to the first team, as he is someone who the manager already knows and trusts. Also the fact that he comes in with experience in the Premier League and Europe too makes him a valuable addition to the team, more so on taking into consideration that he has not cost the club anything.