Our Next 5 Games: Make or Break for Koeman?

[ToffeeTim]

Between now and the FA Cup 3rd round in the first weekend of the new year, we have the following fixtures:

13/12 Arsenal (H)
19/12 Liverpool (H)
26/12 Leicester (A)
30/12 Hull (A)
02/01 Southampton (H)

It appears, to my eyes anyway, that this is not just a crucial point of our season as we look to arrest this horrible slump we are in, but also crucial for Koeman to prove that he can turn things around. Failing to register any victories from these games would undoubtedly leave us in a relegation scrap. However, an upturn in fortunes could give us a spark for a late charge for maybe 7th place and EL football.

For Koeman this is a crucial period for his long term future at the club. As far as I'm concerned, as long as we didn't end up in a relegation scrap this year, then he would be given the first half of next season to prove we are on the up. A bad christmas and he will be under immense pressure. Is Moshiri going to back a manager in January who has saw the side actually regress from last season. I wouldn't be so sure myself.

So this is going to go one of 2 ways over the next month or so. We are either going to see an upturn in our form, consolidate a solid position in the top half of the table, and put ourselves in a position where we might actually be able to convince good players that there's something good about to happen at Everton.

Or otherwise, we are going to see a continuation of our slump, landing us in a dogfight at the bottom of the table, with a manager on the brink of being dismissed.

Which way is it gonna go?

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Nah he will be given the season no matter what.

Rightly so really, but Id hope we wouldnt have misplaced loyalty towards him if the season is a poor one.

 

[BlueLlama]

No. He will clearly be given the transfer window to buy who he wants and then be judged.

 

[Milk]

Southampton went on a losing streak last year & still finished 6th. Perhaps it's a Koeman thing to put the fans through the wringer before emerging triumphant at the seasons' end???

Still, we are **** poor at the moment

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

WWWWW
be positive ffs

 

[KaiserEFC]

Think he'll get the full 3 years because of how much it'd cost to sack him.

 

[Khalekan]

To be honest, Hull is where the line in the sand is drawn for me.

I do not fancy our chances at all against Arsenal or Leicester after the way they played yesterday.

I think we will at least draw the derby......maybe even sneak a win.

But Hull.

If we don't win there then a relegation battle is very much on IMO.

 

[blue to the bone]

Think he'll get the full 3 years because of how much it'd cost to sack him.

Could cost more if we don't though

 

[ToffeeTim]

For what it's worth, I think we will beat Hull and probably nick a point in one of the other fixtures. So I'd guess 4, maybe 5 points.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

We'll take 15 points there.

 

[Khalekan]

Could cost more if we don't though

This is it.

There is far too much to lose by letting an underperforming manager see his contract out because of the cost of firing him.

It would be the ultimate false economy.

 

[ijjysmith]

Who would people realistically want to replace him??

 

[KaiserEFC]

Could cost more if we don't though

That's the worry, no way can I see Moshiri binning him during his first season though

Not after putting his neck out to sign his "number 1 man" in the first place

 

[ToffeeTim]

Who would people realistically want to replace him??

I've no idea. I'm just very concerned that if we don't pick another win before the new year, then the players will completely give up on him and his position will be untenable. Not because he's necessarily a bad manager, but because once the squad have downed tools it's all over. I hate our squad. Gutless, heartless, lazy, pathetic prima donnas.

 

[Zezti]

Who would people realistically want to replace him??

Unsworth, because of that one game where we looked okay.