Ronald Koeman discussion

[Titus Bramble]

Tough one on Sunday, I actually thought we went toe-to-toe with Chelsea up until the 1st goal. At that point we'd dropped too deep, yes it was one hell of a goal but if we were holding a line a yard or 2 further forward he may not have been in that position. From there onwards the difference in quality showed and they overpowered us.

He's done a lot right this season, but there's still plenty of improvements to make. 2 or 3 more away wins and a few silly home draws converted to wins and we'd be right in the mix.

 

[Khalekan]

Tough one on Sunday, I actually thought we went toe-to-toe with Chelsea up until the 1st goal. At that point we'd dropped too deep, yes it was one hell of a goal but if we were holding a line a yard or 2 further forward he may not have been in that position. From there onwards the difference in quality showed and they overpowered us.

He's done a lot right this season, but there's still plenty of improvements to make. 2 or 3 more away wins and a few silly home draws converted to wins and we'd be right in the mix.

Yes, particularly in the first fifteen minutes, I thought we were easily the better team.

 

[jceverton]

We're miles better now than we were this time last season.

We've improved.

Also, this shows that we're about where we should be...



The task now is to get us into the top six next season, or at the very least maintain our top 7 position while being a force in the cups (inc Europa). That'll require money to be spent (net or no net - as long as any funds from sales are redirected back into the squad), and better players to come in.

Miles better than last season - I should hope so as we were being managed by one of the worse managers i've had the misfortune to see at Everton! Koeman has done a decent job but he's only got us to where I would have expected with a decent manager. The jury is still out on him for me.

 

[blue to the bone]

Transfer window and next season will tell am awful lot. We have improved and home form has been very good. Most impressive thing for me is shipping out most of the dead wood. A few left to go

 

[The Rhino]

Miles better than last season - I should hope so as we were being managed by one of the worse managers i've had the misfortune to see at Everton! Koeman has done a decent job but he's only got us to where I would have expected with a decent manager. The jury is still out on him for me.

I'll be honest after 2 seasons of Roberto I'm very thankful for 7th place right now! Next season my expectation of Koeman is essentially secure 7th again and really make a push for one of the 3 cup competitions we are in (hopefully Europa). The top 6 are simply too far away without massive investment over a number of seasons in which I doubt Moshiri can or would provide us, losing one or both of Lukaku and Barkley will also set us back somewhat and would require us to get things bang on in the transfer window.

 

[BlueToff]

Miles better than last season - I should hope so as we were being managed by one of the worse managers i've had the misfortune to see at Everton! Koeman has done a decent job but he's only got us to where I would have expected with a decent manager. The jury is still out on him for me.

He's got us back to where we should be, which was the target for this year. So he's achieved those targets.

Next step is to get us competing against the top six sides more than we have done, and a good run in the cups. If we can do that while maintaining or bettering our league position next season will be a success.

 

[BlueToff]

I'll be honest after 2 seasons of Roberto I'm very thankful for 7th place right now! Next season my expectation of Koeman is essentially secure 7th again and really make a push for one of the 3 cup competitions we are in (hopefully Europa). The top 6 are simply too far away without massive investment over a number of seasons in which I doubt Moshiri can or would provide us, losing one or both of Lukaku and Barkley will also set us back somewhat and would require us to get things bang on in the transfer window.

Agree with the first part.

Second part, no they're not. We aren't miles away from them, but what is needed is smart investment in the right areas of the squad.

It's a big summer but not because we need an X net spend, but as you point out mainly because of the potential of losing two important players.

That being said, there hasn't been a manager in the league in recent years who has had to cope with that more than Koeman has, and in every situation like that he's maintained high standards.

 

[bignev23]

After one season it seems he's got us punching at our weight again, pretty much like we've been since the turn of the millennium bar the odd few seasons, which is quite nice, question is can he or someone else if he can't, take us to the next level. my opinion is until we've been splashing the cash at the levels the clubs above us do consistently for at least 5 or 6 seasons or more on the trot I just can't envisage it myself. Grim but the reality I'm expecting is we won't be competing anytime soon for the Title no matter who's at the helm, finishing top four is not likely but could happen if we're on top form but would also have to coincide with a few other teams that usually finish above us now having bad seasons a Cup is a possibility and would be a pleasant surprise but the domestic ones are no more than a few decent days out for the supporters and bring no prestige what so ever these days, the Europa would be the one I'd want to win and would of course provide the Holy grail of Champions League football so we can keep hold of our want away players and attract better ones as well. So the future's bright and cheery!

 

[ToffeeTim]

He needs to hound every penny out of the board. I'm glad he's not going to do a moyes and wallow in self pity and defeatism.

 

[chippy1722]

At the beginning of the season not many people said we'd be top 6, a lot said top 10 would be an improvement on last season and they would be happy. I'm not Koeman's biggest fan but he has exceeded a lot of people's expectations, especially when you see the gap between between teams below. He's got rid of the dead wood too. This summer we will see what players he thinks will help us step up and more importantly if we have the right people at the club to actually sign the right players.

 

[The Rhino]

An interesting thought that if Koeman only stays his 3 years and goes I wonder will the club be keeping tabs on upcoming managers in the next season or 2? That Marcos Silva at Hull has been impressive and the papers reckon he'll be going to a Watford type club in the summer. If he has an impressive season next year/the one after I wouldn't mind us looking at someone like him for Koemans eventual successor. Reminds me of Pochettino and how Spurs kept tabs on him whilst at saints.

 

[jceverton]

He's got us back to where we should be, which was the target for this year. So he's achieved those targets.

Next step is to get us competing against the top six sides more than we have done, and a good run in the cups. If we can do that while maintaining or bettering our league position next season will be a success.

To early to judge what will be a success next season. A lot depends on what happens in the summer with transfers. Personally I'd like to see us have a real go at winning the Europa.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Koeman learned his trade under Cruyff at Ajax and Barcelona.If he is worthy of Johan Cruyff's respect then he is worthy of my respect.Some people think that he won't take us where we want to go in the long run.Fair enough we shall see.But he inherited an Everton team that was a rabble.He didn't get the players he wanted to bring in before the August transfer window remember.We have had 2 mediocre keepers manning our goal.Our defence as a whole requires an overhaul.We have had 2 ageing centre backs and kamikaze Mori in our central defensive positions this season.Yet despite these disadvantages we have one of the best defensive records in the league.We have had only four defeats at Goodison.Two in the cups and two in the league.Last season we had to endure our worst season at home in our modern history.We can still finish the season with 67 points if we win our remaining games.5 short of the 72 point barrier but a hell of a lot better than Martinez's 44 points at the time of his sacking last year.More often than not it takes a good team to beat us.Under Martinez at our worst even Tranmere Rovers would fancy their chances against us.We have improved a lot and if Koeman is properly backed by the board this summer.Then we will make a serious push at qualifying for a Champions League place next season.In Koeman We Trust.

 

[Bob Elstone]

What a disgusting manager Martinez was looking back. Then he leaves and takes millions with him in compo. Surprised he has the nerve to show his face in public. Looking forward to his demise with the Belgium's before he ends up at Wigan again.

Koeman has been brilliant for us. Agree with a number of posters on here, shifting the dead wood is the priority which he is doing. He has an air of confidence and no nonsense, a refreshing change from the clown Martinez with his smoke and mirrors.

The one thing that worries me with Everton is, we hear this summer is going to be big, we're going to sign player that will be the envy of others and just like last year it's a shambles and Valencia comes in on loan. Can't help but think this will be the same this year.

I've never understood why we don't do what some of the other clubs do and sign/line players up before the window opens. We mess about and kick start the season before we get players on board.

With Europe starting early we need to have reinforcements bedded in as soon as possible. Go and make a statement to make the footballing world stand up.

 

[orly]

Ronald Weasely?

Ronald Loyally?

For the second time in recent months, Ronald Koeman has conducted a lengthy interview with a Catalan newspaper. The Everton manager invited Sport to his Merseyside home, and the resulting articles take up the first five pages of their Thursday newspaper.

It’s fair to say it’s a big story.

After talking to the Everton manager about him looking slimmer, Sport get down to the real business.

Journalist Toni Frieros: “You know what I’m going to ask you.”

Koeman: “I can imagine it (with a broad smile).”

Frieros: “You appear in all the lists to take over from Luis Enrique at Barca.”

Screen Shot 2017-05-04 at 07.12.39Koeman: “I feel flattered and I like that you think of me.”

Frieros: “The most important thing is to know what you think…”

Koeman: “(Long silence) You see, everyone knows that I am from Barca, they know my love for a club where I grew up as a player and as a person.”

Frieros: “Would you like to be chosen?”

Koeman: “Look, in my life as a professional coach I have two dreams to fulfil. One, coach the selection of my country, Holland. I have been able to do so, but my obligation to Everton has prevented me.”

Frieros: “And your other dream?”

Koeman: “My other wish, my other dream, is to one day coach Barca. That’s the truth.”

Frieros: “You put a lot of emphasis and accent on ‘one day’…”

Koeman: “Yes, because I now owe to Everton. We have a very powerful and exciting project and we will reinforce our best to try to reach next season the Champions League.”

Frieros: “What if he called the club?”

Koeman: “That is a hypothesis in which we cannot enter too much. In football, as in life, as in business, everything can be talked about and discussed.”

The Everton manager is clearly trying to keep his current club and supporters happy whilst at the same time flirting with the idea of taking over at Barcelona. It’s not an easy balancing act to pull-off, but Koeman knew he’d be in such a situation when he invited Sport to speak to him.

Screen Shot 2017-05-04 at 07.12.54

Koeman isn’t currently one of the frontrunners to be the next Barcelona manager, and perhaps this could be seen as a last throw of the dice. The Dutchman has an €8m buyout clause with Everton, which may not seem like too much for the world’s biggest clubs, but the Catalan press have consistently repeated it’s not something Barcelona would want to pay.

The Everton manager isn’t who Barcelona’s fans are calling for, despite his glorious history with the club, and a few pages after Sport’s Koeman feature they publish the results of a poll, asking Barca fans who they want.

Koeman got 7%, and was even behind out-of-work Laurent Blanc, who got 9%, out in front is Ernesto Valverde with 41%, and Jorge Sampaoli on 30%.

In a comment which will please Barcelona fans, Koeman said he wouldn’t consider manager Real Madrid in the future, given his Camp Nou past.