Our Next 5 Games: Make or Break for Koeman?

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

Stek was signed as a no 2
Valencia was signed to make up numbers
Bolasie....erm, yeah, err...
Has to play Jags. RFM is übergash

Bad that though isn't it? We were all convinced he'd be making major surgery to the squad in the summer, then it turns out he signs three clowns, Williams and Gueye and that's it, oh and loses England's future captain Stones.

This January best be our best transfer window in 20 years, I'm tellin' ya. That said, maybe he wants to take us to the end of the season before getting rid of the trash. Poor though for him to come in and wait a year before making the changes he needs to make. Should be done asap, should already have been done.

 

[Blue Cheese]

Do you know who I am?

 

[tommye]

Bad that though isn't it? We were all convinced he'd be making major surgery to the squad in the summer, then it turns out he signs three clowns, Williams and Gueye and that's it, oh and loses England's future captain Stones.

This January best be our best transfer window in 20 years, I'm tellin' ya. That said, maybe he wants to take us to the end of the season before getting rid of the trash. Poor though for him to come in and wait a year before making the changes he needs to make. Should be done asap, should already have been done.

They (the players) were all dragged in yesterday for a meeting/bollocking. May see some response from those who have a backbone.


Stones was ALWAYS leaving this summer. Nothing he could do about it.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

So if Arsenal and the RS beat us as expected, do we as fans just move on from those games without the fume, and focus more on the more important games (the 6 pointers) Leicester and Hull?

 

[matty1878]

So if Arsenal and the RS beat us as expected, do we as fans just move on from those games without the fume, and focus more on the more important games (the 6 pointers) Leicester and Hull?

We may aswell surrender this season and concentrate on these cup finals then lol god how this is season is disappearing already.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

They (the players) were all dragged in yesterday for a meeting/bollocking. May see some response from those who have a backbone.


Stones was ALWAYS leaving this summer. Nothing he could do about it.

I think the players have to take a lot of the blame. We're below Watford and WBA in the league ffs, and nobody could argue that they have better players than us. So the players should stand up and be counted. Again, they refused to play for Martinez for 6 months and are showing zero backbone once again. If only he could ship about 15 of them out in January, it'd be brilliant. Alas, the vast majority are here for the next few years, earning millions while performing to a relegation standard. Come on Everton ffs, it's supposed to be fun being a fan. I want that feeling back.

I spent my Saturday putting a wardrobe together with the match on in the background, I only turned around about twice, and I only just found out an hour ago that we're playing Arsenal tomorrow. I used to always know when the next game is and never, ever miss it. Right now I can't be arsed tuning in.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

I spent my Saturday putting a wardrobe together

 

[COYBL25]

Got it badly wrong by the looks of it too

 

[Mikeonlythebestwilldo]

Thanks Bri, you too.

There are two issues here, 1) has Koeman been given the tools, and 2) should he be doing better with the tools at his disposal. I think the answers are no and yes.

The difficulty he has though, is perhaps doing the 2nd one might mean flying in the face of what he is expected and used to doing. He makes quick judgements on players, is forthright and frank and will move them on.

I do think there are some "easy wins" for Koeman though. He could have easily included on Saturday Davies, Valencia and Holgate in the team, who all merit places in their ahead of Deulofeu, McCarthy and to an extent Mirallas. You could play 3 at the back, 2 up top, have more creativity in the middle of midfield with Davies. I think those are easy wins to get fans back on board. All the time he makes controversial choices and doesn't win he will be criticised.

McCarthy was smiling away when the third goal went in - del was fuming tho

 

[Khalekan]

I am sticking to my Double Top accolade, and I don't like paying money to watch this rubbish either, but is it Ron's fault that most of the team are either crap or old!!
He used to hug the touchline at the start of the season, now he just sits there thinking "What can I do with this shower!"
We will get players in in January who will make a huge difference, I'm pretty certain of that.

Ah......hope prevailing over experience at this stage.

Good man

 

[degsy]

Yay....I can hear the bugles blowing as Big John rides over the ridge at the head of his cavalry troop

I think we have Custer leading our troops...and by the lack of effort some show, plenty of yellow ribbons too.
#seewhatididthere

 

[d4kyxx]

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?

Even if he loses all five he won't get sacked

 

[Khalekan]

I think we have Custer leading our troops...and by the lack of effort some show, plenty of yellow ribbons too.
#seewhatididthere

lol

 

[d4kyxx]

McCarthy was smiling away when the third goal went in - del was fuming tho

McCarthy doesn't want to be here and it's almost certain he will leave. Why therefore we continue to play him over players who want to be here I don't know.

 

[Papa Shango]

Even if he loses all five he won't get sacked

I wouldnt be so sure about that.

He wont lose all 5 anyway. That would be ridiculous.