Koeman livid as Everton throw away cup hopes

There is a clear message to the Board (and Walsh) in his comments. Change can't come too soon, but Koeman must be given a fair chance to do the job.

Not a lot Koeman could do about that. No heart, backbone, desire whatever you want to call it, the players lost that game rather than Leicester winning it. They should be ashamed of themselves but they won't, we have seen it too many times before. Overpaid pampered fuckwits.

This is why everybody advocates a mass clear-out whether practical or not. Most are just not good enough and Koeman knows this. He has taken over a car crash of a club. This will take time.

If you honestly think that the club will spend money before the summer, I'm afraid you're very much mistaken, they'll say they tried this, that and the other but we'll end up with our usual musical chairs nonsense: one out – one of similar quality in.

Why should the board spend money now when there's nothing or little to gain? Our place is almost assured in the Premier League for next season.

Or does Koeman think it's simply up to them for the 90 minutes and he can just watch impassively and enjoy a bloody great whinge afterwards? In which case, buy a bloody season ticket, mate.

Whilst Dumb and Dumber remain in charge of transfer negotiations and the evident haggling that seems to apply to 90% of transfer activity, then we are unlikely to make progress. Moshiri needs to loosen the purse strings – Van Dijk and Manolos please.

He's the one who picked the team, gave the team talk, and made the substitutions. You couldn't fucking make it up!

Nobody can be surprised at how Leicester played; it's what they do, but once we scored, and Geri tore them an extra arsehole, it just petered out and turned to rat.

No passion or fight. Surrendered the midfield an their pace took care of the rest.

His comments which appear to give the board a bit of a gee up are a bit concerning though.

Imagine the pontificating we would have had to listen to last season.

Let's hope he gets a helpful reaction. The alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

Taxi for Koeman?

Losing Gueye was a big blow. Hopefully, McCarthy will be back soon. Yet, for all Koeman's ranting against the team today, why does he continue with Barry in midfield?

I'm not even convinced that an influx of new players will make any difference, if this is the best that the current management can do with the existing squad.

I like the dig he gave Walsh and the board re transfers but if Bill and Ben are still in charge of transfers then I'm not too hopeful.

What was it that Moshiri told his BFF, Jim White, after the last window?

He can drill them all week, once they step on the pitch it's ot of his hands. This is where we need a strong, vocal captain. Williams is my choice.

Recently, without Barry in the team, we had been playing better. Hopefully McCarthy will be back to partner Davies against Man City next weekend. I'm still not convinced by Koeman but I guess to sack him now might be a bit rash.

Firstly – top marks for saying it how it is.

Secondly – if he's saying this to the camera's God knows what he's said behind closed doors and I think that's the root of the problem.

I don't think it's even a case of "losing the dressing room" – I think he's come in and had a look and made it clear he "doesn't want the dressing room".

Major problem with that is a) you can't change it over night; b) you rarely get the best out of people by telling them you think they're shit.

My guess is Ron rates Stek as a back-up, possibly Coleman, Williams but my instinct is not Baines, Barry but knows he's had it, Gueye, maybe McCarthy, Davies and Holgate as potential, Bolasie who's out for a year and Lukaku – that's it. I don't think he gives a toss about the rest and has made it pretty clear to them hence no team spirit, no desire to get results, no consistency or style.

By my reckoning then, I thinks he needs a class long-term keeper, at least two defenders, four or more midfielders and probably two strikers.

That's 8 players, getting on for a whole new team. Which is why he mentions Walsh, it's his job now to find the players that can fill those spots on a budget – which wont be anywhere near the £200m (?) you'd expect that lot to cost, if we're lucky its half that at best. But if he can unearth half a dozen Gueye's then it's game on.

Koeman's frustration will be born out of, unlike many of our players, the fact that he wants to win. He is also in a hurry and we are going backwards fast.

So – he wants players in to turn this around. I'll bet, if he doesn't get half of what he needs by the end of the month, the Goodison dressing room is going to be a pretty bleak place to be.

Martinez's legacy... but older.

Valencia, Cleverley, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Gibson, McGeady, Lennon, Niasse, Jagielka... Squad needs serious investment to even get near the top 6.

As for Schneiderlin, let WBA pay silly money for him and his wages. He will be closer to 28 when next season kicks off if Everton need him.

But there seems to be something missing and going wrong with the plan and Komean is clearly frustrated. Apart from the obvious mediocrity of many of the players. I wonder what or who it is that's the problem?

You don't have to outrun the lion, you just have to outrun one person between you and the lion.

Then – a bloke comes in with ambition and money. Shit the bed, the gravy train could be hitting the buffers. Then he gets in the moody Dutch fucker who's been there, seen it, and done it all, and absolutely knows what quality looks like, and the cosy little number is well and truly looking like it's over.

Cue sad face :(

They're all sulking that paradise is lost, aren't they....? The veil has been lifted.

It's like being in a never ending maze supporting this Everton team. Turn one corner . And everything looks great. Then bang. We run into another dead end. We just go round and round in circles. Going nowhere.

Its one game at a time with this outfit. Who knows what will happen next.

What Koeman should find unbelievable is the fact that six months into the job and he has no plan( other that to buy more players).

He has no workable tactics in place.

And no footballing philosophy for players and supporters to buy into.

Yes the players were poor. But Koeman has not exactly inspired much confidence.

FFS... when did Everton ever play well with this five at the back nonsense? Arrrggghhh ...this is groundhog day all over.

PS, I wonder what Gueye thinks about today. No FA cup run for him to look forward to when he returns.

And also let's get real here, Van Diyk is not going to join Everton

Koeman may as well now blood four or five youngsters now for the rest of the season. Let's see what they can do.

But I suspect that he won't. So its more of the same old same old. I even doubt that by the start of next season that much will have changed..

People think that we are on the cusp of something big but in the meantime we keep losing football matches. There has to be a turning point sometime. We need a sign, then I might just start believing again.

He seems to be scapegoating the quality of our players as an excuse for his own managerial faults.

I've been trying to think what the real issue is with these players. The only word I think to sum them up is they are just so fucking passive.

That's two words but you know what I mean.

No manager ever takes over a team of his own signings and the immediate task is to get the in situ players to give an extra 10-20% and devise tactics to ensure he gets it.

Because he's Moshiri's appointment, the Dutchman will get time to put things right. Let's hope he's up to the task!

We can't blame Koeman – he is working with another man's tools / squad.

Koeman complained of how the team sat back, but why didn't he berate them from the touchline, and tell them to up the tempo?

I have sympathy with Koeman, because he picked just about as strong a starting side as he could. The fact is, that many of them have no future at the club, and they know it. They won't be bumping into fans at the local Spa, as they move in elevated circles, well away from us oiks. There is very little for them to fear in terms of feedback. They live life in a bubble and Koeman can't get rid of them.

Koeman needs a shitload of new faces that he can trust. Most of this shower have let Martinez down, and now him. The board need to heed his exasperated request, or he might walk.

I didn't see the game but from what I've read it sounds like we were poor and probably thought once we went ahead that they would fall away and we would have it easy. Football has a nasty habit of kicking you when you're down and we have a lack of true leaders to ensure we close the game out.

I'd say Koeman feels the pressure now and, after quite a good December, his players let him down AGAIN. He has one hell of a job rebuilding this team but I guess we are in for a lot more frustration and pain.

Clearly we need players who want to win, not just collect silly money for doing fuck all. The modern players are so out of touch with the real world that they have no idea of hardship, or how to really dig in when things go against them.

Just because the manager calls it how he sees it is no reason to down tools, it should be the catalyst to prove that they are better.

We need to start from scratch in the summer.

Our season died today and that is lamentable but in the, frankly, dull months ahead (we epitomize mid table mediocrity) perhaps we will see development on and off the pitch. We need a big result but I think there are positive signs.

He signed Stekelenburg. He is second rate and we perhaps could have had Joe Hart but he said "I don't want him..."
He signed Williams. He is past his best.
He signed Valencia and has hardly played a 4-4-2.
He couldn't raise the team to beat Norwich
He couldn't raise the team today.
He can't really get a rise out of them most weeks.

Is it the players fault? They are not all Martinez's team. I am losing patience in his after-match drivel as much as I hated listening to Bobby's drivel. It is just different drivel. He blames the players. Martinez didn't. I'm at a loss to know what is going on.

It's like saying to a chef, right Beef Bourgogne all round in 90 minutes but here's your ingredients: a pound of tripe!

I did not see today's game, but sounds like nothing much was different.. Just saying...

Money always helps to get the best, we have promises of money so give it time. It really does not matter if you know where or what is going on, it is Koeman and Walsh who need to.

If Koeman goes out and buys a player who he should know, won't play any part in the important post New Year fixtures, why didn't he bring in a loanee to bridge the gap? Maybe he couldn't get anyone, but he must have known Barry was finished (we've known it for 2 seasons), but instead of gradually blooding Davies and another youngster, he leaves it until he HAS to play Tom next to the sloth.

Also, he pays as much attention to the treatment room as his predecessor, never showing concern that players are not recovering for long periods (or in Gibson' case, being sectioned) and ignoring the lack of fitness in his team.

£6m/yr is alot of cash for someone who delegates every responsibility when things go wrong; he's got his brother and Dunc sitting next to him on the bench, he has Walsh looking for players and Elstone conducting transfers.

All he has to do is coach the players and pick the side, but he doesn't seem to be drilling them in any kind of system as they never look like they know what they're doing, and hardly ever know who they'll be playing with.

The captain seems to just be the longest serving player – regardless that Jags and Baines are the meekest members of the squad – and not the most capable, i.e. Williams or Coleman...

He couldn't wait to get McGeady out of the door or write off Niasse, but seeing Geads playing against Arsenal tonight makes me believe there is a player there if he's managed properly; also Niasse is scoring for fun in the ressies but won't get a chance under Koeman.

I know he's not going anywhere for a long time, so I will get behind him while he's our manager, but he has a long way to go to make me believe he knows what he's doing.

Then Everton WILL be in fucking great shape, silver in the cabinet & regular wins against "the whale-hunters".

Thanks for spoiling my Dad's day out, Blues.

Cheers.

What I will be watching now is to see how serious Moshiri is, and how much he is willing to spend.

The new stadium I hope is the most memorable thing about this Season. You would need to be a mug to buy "Everton, the Season 2016-17 Review" when released.

We are all hurting, and I've said in a few posts that the spine of the team needs major surgery. Hopefully, Schneiderlin will be added to the squad early next week but we should be judging Koeman next season, provided the Board and Walsh can negotiate the deals he wants.

Keep the faith, Blues!

It's not long since he was bleating about the team having to go behind before they react, now he is complaining they cant react when they go in front... I wonder who he thinks should be sorting this out ?

today he tells us Davies was our best player, three weeks ago, he told us he wasn't ready... and why do we take of the younger legs and leave the arl tiring ones on.

Honest Ronnie? He's coming across as more of a Simple Simon. Absolutely clueless.

Season over on Jan 7th... Even by our own miserable standards that takes some doing – especially as we have been lucky enough to be drawn at home in both cup competitions.

For all that, I still think he should be getting more out of them than he is. I'd rather the manager break this lot up and start again. I couldn't put my hand on my heart and say he's the man right now. We'll just have to see. And hope.

It's not just technically better players we need. The culture, attitude and mindset has to change.

Too many of our current players quite simply don't try hard enough.

When does it become his team and his responsibility? 1, 2 or 3 transfer windows?

It's what I needed, I'm just so very fucked off and knowing that the RS are in the League Cup this week it shows there is a gulf between our current team of "has beens" and their team of up and comings.

Klopp v Koeman –from where I'm sat there is a huge gulf. I'm always happy to be an Evertonian but I think Klopp is happy to be a RS whereas I don't get the same feeling about Koeman wanting to be part of our great club.

Everton are a fucking joke of a club with one of the worst squads I have seen in over 40 years of going to Goodison Park. We need to ship out at least 12 players over the next 2 windows:

Funes Mori, Robles, Jagielka, Barry, Kone, Oviedo, Gibson, Besic, McCarthy, Baines, Mirallas and Del boy – all need to go soon as. They are all either sick notes, over the hill, or just plain fucking shite.

If things don't change rapidly, it could be many years before we see some silverware at the club. You could argue that there are probably only 2 players worth keeping at all: Lukaku and Gueye. Season over.

Thanks very much, lads. Just when you think things couldn't get any worse, they fuckin pull another rabbit out of the hat. What a bunch of wankers. Enjoy your pay cheques, lads, you've earned them!

Because Barry is the best he has got. He is being brutally honest and that is what we need.

It will be interesting to see what happens next.

Leicester had 3 players away today but they got their man in time for this game whilst we piss about over Schneiderlin. The club is so poorly managed I wouldn't be surprised if Koeman walks away this month.

Calling for the manager to be sacked is knee-jerk nonsense. The time to judge Koeman will be around this time next year.

Let's see how he does on transfers and judge him after a couple of seasons.

I agree we are mentally weak, but surely that strengthening comes from the backroom staff too? Constantly hearing we have no leaders, but Williams, Coleman, Barry, Baines and Jags have all captained teams at some point – surely big Dunc adds those leadership qualities in the dressing room too?

Not sure what to make of this anymore... no silverware for 22 years. We ALL need to wake up... fans are too quiet, players too accepting of mediocrity, manager too willing to point the finger, owner too quick to rule out the relevance of a cup run. That game today should have topped a great week for the club, but instead it underlines our collective weaknesses.

Koeman needs time, but c'mon, Ronald – get the best out of the lads you have got until the players you want show up... At the moment, you're failing to do that and excuses are wearing thin.

I'm backing Koeman as at least he gets the whole set up needs massive improvements, but results like today are inexcusable, my Dutch friend!!

I knew from the start, our midfield was under pressure. Gueye and McCarthy were a huge loss, but we knew before today that Barry is finished, so not only did he play him, but gave him 90 mins, and take off Barkley, when we were behind and needed creativity.

I'm not a Cleverley fan, but he should have started today, and he certainly knows now, he's on his way.

Also with Barry as the holding player, Williams's and Funes Mori's pace was exposed, and when he changed to a back four, Holgate shouldn't have been the one to make way. Two big mistakes, Mr Koeman.

Conte didn't change out his entire team, but has immediately put his stamp on the team and has them playing in his style with great results. Koeman added five players in the summer, a keeper, central defender, central midfielder, winger and striker.

Mourinho no doubt was able to bring in two amazing players in Pogba and Zlatan. But the rest of the squad? Same as previous years. But as the season has gone on, he is putting his stamp on that team and they are regaining the reputation of a Man Utd team of the past. Klopp, we know the results he's been able to get with largely the same players that we on this very site we're laughing at as a poor side under Rodgers. Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana, Henderson. All have become new players under Klopp. And in just a year they are challenging Chelsea, the other squad who missed out on even qualifying for Europe last year and replaced their manager, now leading the league.

Nobody on this site has said Koeman should be sacked because he doesn't have us winning the league. What so many of us are saying is that we are not seeing progress under Koeman. We do not see any offensive philosophy developing under him, other than being completely reliant on Lukaku to score our goals. What we've seen is a lot of hoofball and very inconsistent results. We have seen a defense that still gives up goals far too often and too easily.

We should be seeing much more improvement in the team than what has been provided so far. To be knocked out of both cups at the very first round of entry after making it to the semi-finals of both cups just last season, that is shocking and completely unacceptable.

There have been articles on here calling for patience. In order to do that, it must be clear what we are being patient for? What is the expectation and when is it expected by? What in the hell is the goal and how do we judge whether we are moving in a positive direction or the opposite?

Should Koeman be sacked right now? Of course not. But just accepting these horrible losses while saying Koeman needs time to completely remake the squad? No manager gets to do that, nobody. You can not flip out an entire team – nor should you need to. You get the players in the team to improve, add the quality in the positions needed, and move the team forward playing the football the way you demand.

You look at the best coaches around, they don't spend £50 mill on players and can't create a philosophy for the players, management team and fans to follow. I haven't a fecking clue about the way he wants us to play, also his man-management skills are shocking... everything about him seems wrong!

I look at the top 6, their managers have quality written all over them, the performances of players nearly every week is exceptional and at least half of them came in at the same time as our guy who blames everyone except himself!!!

False twat – feck off from my club!!

A) Scott Robinson @ 12; If a winning attitude was conveyed and impressed upon the players, perhaps a 1-0 victory would've remained. A good workman never blames his tools. I'm just saying...

B) Tony Hill @ 13; Yes, those comments are pretty brutal the more you look at them: this team is shit and the board are dicking around. Let's hope he gets a helpful reaction. The alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

C) Damian Wilde @ 14; He also wants to take a closer look at himself. We do indeed have a number of poor players, but two early cup exits is simply 'not good enough'. Taxi for Koeman?

D) Seamus McCrudden @ 15; Players are simply not good enough when it comes to the mental side of the game. Change cant come soon enough for me re the playing staff.

E) Chris Williams @ 22; I reckon he was pissed off after the last window and he's not about to tolerate a similar balls-up this time. He's flagging up his concerns, and let's be honest, many of us share his concerns.

F) Koeman hasn't got a plan except to throw money at the problem and hope to get it right.

G) Elements of all the above.

All of us know that having won a game it is vitally important to win the next game. Three Managers and a raft of players have consistently failed to do this. They have been in dreamland as far as the next match is concerned. Martinez did it for a while, but returned to type with a vengeance.

This is the only yard stick that counts.

Now, this does not make me less gutted than any Evertonian at today's result. Nor does it blind me to the size of the task Koeman faces. I believe he is the man for the job but accept that some Evertonians cannot see that.

It seems to me, though, that it is too soon to judge and those who run the club see it the same.

Could it be that he's good reason to believe that the board won't back him as he'd like and all blame has been therefore pointed at them prematurely.

It sounds like he's making his excuses early. If we don't get the 5-8 players he wants, then he can walk away with his reputation intact.

Should he be allowed to? If he was promised something that the board can't/won't deliver, can we blame his frustration? But should he be more professional in the light of the serious possibility of a January window disaster, knowing that he'd have to continue working with the same players?

We can't afford for him to lose the dressing room right now.

A fragile win today would have made things look so different.

We are on the verge of being something other than average. It just depends which direction we head, I think Koeman is trying to head north, quickly.

It's not like its not happened before is it? Do they not discuss tactics before the game, you know what if!

Yes we have too many second rate players, but come on he's on £6m a year, plus the cost of his assistant and others.

Koeman has been very ordinary in every department; in fact, he's been bad in some.

A lot of what Koeman says, I actually agree with but, for a man who has been involved in football for a very long time, I can't believe how little cohesion we have in our team now he's had half-a-season to sort things out. I know it's easy sitting in the stands, but I thought the tactics today were consistently wrong.

Agree with Paul Tran who was agreeing with Mike Green, and I also think this squad lacks real character but I think the manager should be thinking things out so much better than he his.

The season is a write-off and bar a miracle there's only the league and "pride" to play for. The concern is as professionals this team don't fight like wolves and it seems lack inspiration and guild on the pitch.

Geri had a crack and set one up and done okay, but proved again that his decision-making is as unreliable as ever but in fairness changing the team in my view didn't work and as in the EFL we bow out again in undignified style and an all too common trait.

It's been in some ways a typical week at EFC, and the positive news from the AGM, tarnished by the business end result on the pitch. I'm getting too old and whilst the love never dies for EFC, the calamity can't be prolonged as I sense many supporters whom are as old and older than me are sick to the back teeth. I'd like to think the club will make a positive statement this month, but To get the best players here now will take some doing.

Next Sunday, there must be a positive reaction and I'd put the kid Mola in the squad. Barry should be rested next week and should be used as a squad player henceforth. Hope eternal, but the show is now becoming too predictable and the stench of failure is always hanging.

One thing I would change: this guy is not suitable for our club at this important stage within our history. We need a manager with a vision and philosophy that would lift all Evertonians – not totally confuse and frustrate the hell out of them.

We are where we are and Koeman has ambition and determination coursing through his veins and is a winner. He has inherited an ageing team which has been starved of serious investment for a decade. It is obvious that we need six or seven players at least.

A number one goalie is a must. I would go for Hart. Jags and Barry look finished and how we have managed without more forwards is beyond me. The time to judge the manager is in eighteen months once he has had a chance to form a team of his making. Power, technique, and pace, all over the park, is needed.

Never going to compete for a trophy again; never going to have the bottle to see out a match when they're winning; never going to seriously challenge for anything worth winning; never going to care about the passion of their supporters desperate to avoid being left even further behind by teams like Chelsea, like Manchester City etc who weren't fit to lace our boots in years gone by! Everton have still won more league titles than those two put together!!!

22 years since our last trophy of note! I'm fortunate I have followed decent (and some dross!) Everton teams since 1966.

Fact is that most footballers are treated so royally at the higher levels of the game these days by mostly greedy agents; they don't care about their supporters who pay good money and want their team to show pride, passion and commitment even if ultimately they lose a match! To give away winning positions so cheaply is totally unacceptable!!

No Everton players or management will probably read this but, if they unexpectedly did, I would say it is outrageous that a football team of our historical rank and standing as a founder member of the original Football League and winners of many trophies until it ended(?) in 1992 continues to throw opportunities to progress away; year upon year upon year! Come on Everton!!!! WAKE UP to the realities of the situation and start by always showing at least the desire and effort to win EVERY game you play!

Yet another January has just arrived and the season is as good as over!!!

Sorry folks been stewing over this afternoon's latest debacle too long! And yet still we hope... for something... sometime... whenever...

After loosing, it is so easy to blame everybody else but maybe he needs to look hard in the mirror. There are good enough players in the squad to beat a very average Leicester side. It all boils down to tactics and motivation and I have not seen a master class in either area as yet from Ron.

It sounds like everybody was completely baffled with the Barkley substitution today. Why would you give up your attacking midfield player when chasing the game; surely you would surrender one of your defensive midfielders or a defender? Still what do I know about tactics because I am not paid £6M per year!!

Moving forward, we will not make Europe this year so why would we spend £22M on a player that is not even good enough to warm the bench at Man Utd? And being 28 next season, he can hardly be seen as somebody for the future.

My money would go on investing in a good keeper, such as Heaton from Burnley, and one solid defender with some energy and a long-term future. These 2 positions should have been a priority in the last transfer window. Then, look to rebuild in the summer when the prices are more realistic.

Barry had to play as Cleverley is clearly on his way out, and even though I suggested a centre midfield of Davies and Barkley on Toffee web yesterday, on reflection it would have been a massive issue had Ronny lost the game with the two young lads in the centre.

Ronny also (IMO anyway) made a positive substitution; Holgate was unfortunate to make way for Geri, but in all fairness we completely dominated the first half without having any real threat, so it was a bold substitution, one that was needed.

Unfortunately, after the sub was made, we lost control, we allowed Leicester to play and the game became much more even. From here on Ronny couldn't get nothing right as far as I could see.

Valencia looked a menace, his pace and willingness to run gave Leicester something to worry about, swapping him with Miralas was almost a negative, but in putting Geri on Ronny had already made a move so there wasn't much else left he could do.

The biggest most puzzling moment came when at 1-2 down, Ronny thought Kone would add the creative guile needed (from the left, may I add) to drag us back into the tie. In making this substitute he left Davies to run around everywhere to do almost all the graft in the centre as Barry has no legs and we had gone with what looked like 4 up top. We had no craft other than Geri on the right, and to top it off Williams was struggling with what looked like a knock.

I can't see sense in the Barkley substitution, he played really well last game, but today he looked like he didn't really no where to be as Ronny put him out on the left, so once he seen it wasn't working, why not put him back central?

Also bringing on Kone for Ross was criminal in that he almost hung Kone out to dry, we haven't seen sight or sound of Kone all season, we're pretty much waiting to see him move on, and Ronny cup-ties him and murders him all in one rash swift move!

Ronny can rant and rave all he likes, but as far as I can see he doesn't appear to be buying players for positions we need anyways.

Today we were short through the middle, this is due to Gana being away (which we all knew was happening), McCarthy being injured, which was unfortunate, but in all fairness he's another player Ronny hasn't really been fair with. Gibson and Besic are always fucking injured so no change there, and Cleverley has been completely ignored.

My gripe with Cleverley is that I'm not a fan, but its clear we were stuck, and Ronny clearly knew he wasn't playing Barkley and Davies together (no one else can make the call), so why didn't he use his head and bring Cleverly in bit by bit over the Xmas as its been clear Barry is struggling.

Also I can't see why contracts have been dished out to Barry and Gibson, there basically going to take the out right piss next season by stealing a living out of our club.

Ronny can moan, he's got some fair points, but he's far from blameless; it's us fans who suffer again, 12 long months until were back in the Fa cup, and simply fuck all to look forward to on the pitch all this season.

Let's hope the Russians come and sort out this big mess.

What was today's final 15 minutes plan?

Okay, from the right Geri can whip it in, but left sided and through the middle, what was the plan?

Kone to do what?

Barry to create what?

Davies to do EVERYTHING?

Totally agree.

These twats have had more than enough time.

Send out a message by getting rid of the lot.

It doesn't have to be done as a fire sale-just start selling them off and replacing them. Any of them that want to stay have to start playing ( or at least trying ).

Koeman's taking a fair bit of stick on here, rightly or wrongly, I honestly don't know. What I do know is that he can't force the players to go into 50/50s full bloodedly, with 100% expectation of winning the ball. I watched at least three players today back out, or jump out, of 50/50s.

I know that he can't be on the pitch to force his centre forward to be where he should be on the pitch when we're on the attack and to try to win the ball when it's more than a foot away from him instead of throwing his hands in the air and remonstrating with players who don't do exactly as he wants.

We were out-run and out-muscled all over the pitch today, especially in midfield where I have to say, yet again, we need big, strong, fast athletes the type of which we see week in week out playing against us.
Just so pissed off... AGAIN!

Erm ...Geads?! Jesus wept.

Before he was sacked even Martinez had placed that clown in the deep freeze.

A few hours later, sobered by the Bowie documentary and intoxicated by the remnants of my Xmas Famous Grouse, I feel like I now have the objectivity to pronounce on our plight.

Ronald may well be a shit motivator / and tactically challenged. On the other hand, I suspect, he has walked into Finch Farm (as it was once known), and he has been underwhelmed at his squad, their physical and mental strength, and perhaps has had an inkling of the methods of our board. Steve Walsh will not have been his choice, and now Kenwright, Walsh et al are having influence in our recruitment.

Ron is Moshiri's man. If we want to get all starry-eyed over our saviour, then we need to get behind his choice of manager.

I remember pre-season, most on here were saying top half of the league and new faces in, and we would be happy, after the joke of Martinez. I am as guilty as the next man of being too impatient after our amazing start.

I do, on reflection, think that we have been lumbered with a squad full of has -beens, crocks and people who are looking at their future elsewhere,(whether that future is Sunderland, London, or Nowheresville).

Koeman is fed-up; he needs a big window to bolster his faith in "the project"... So far, we have been given a child from Charlton, and in the last window, we didn't spend a penny due to the Stones sale.

Koeman and the fans need a statement of intent from the board, or I honestly think he might resign. If the knockers on here think that is good, then consider the next candidate, and what he or she might be able to do with this bunch of losers.

I know who I am backing. This club needs an overhaul from top to bottom which has only just begun.

Gets mundane, supporting a club that never fails to let down the fans.

A good result against Southampton, a very upbeat AGM, a new signing with a couple on the way and finally a home game against a poor Premier League side in the cup of course it was going to end in defeat. Out of both cups early and best we can hope for is 7th. Nothing changes.

But I hope Barcelona give Koeman a ring and he fucks off. He never takes any responsibility and throws everyone else under the bus. 'It's the team, not me', 'Walsh better sort it out otherwise I can't do anything' and 'It's nothing to do with my tactics, selection. motivational skills or substitutions'.

Well Ron, news for you. It's your fucking team. It's your fucking tactics. It's your fucking substitutions. Look in the mirror instead of fucking off down the golf course and counting the money in your bank account.

Lots of posters still on the gin juice from the potential good news from the AGM.

Koeman doesn't need the hassle of Everton nose diving whilst he hastily looks to embellish a chequered record that will get him to Barca. Fat chance. If Everton don't move quickly enough as a club, then he will resign that much is clear, he's done it before.

For all you out there who believe Ronnie will get it together once he has 'his' players, I believe he's shown me little that much will change. If I get better players in my team I'm sure things will go better, not that sage really.

The disgrace, and that's what the reality of losing both cup games is, at home to indifferent opposition is scandalous. Rebuilding blah, not his team blah. It's all so substandard from the top down.

I'd expect the board to make it known how unhappy they are at both exits. But that's a significant part of the problem isn't it? Truly disgusted with Everton today, Koeman front and center of it.

The club haggling over pennies tells me little has changed.

Koeman will probably be given at least another year. If things don't improve by then, I hope Moshiri is as ruthless as he was with Martinez.

All we can hope is that between this window and the summer Koeman gets rid of between 7 to 10 players from this current squad, buys one or two proven quality players, and unearths a few hidden gems. I have had enough of most of this current squad.

I would keep all the young players (under 21). Of the rest, for me only Coleman, Gana, Barkley and Lukaku should be certainties to stay. I wouldn't mind if we held on to either keeper - but only as back up, along with Williams, Funes Mori and Deulofeu for one more year to see how they turn out. The rest I would gladly get rid of as quickly as possible.

Bolasie is hurt, but we were playing well at times with him. Williams, who is an immediate starter and should be. Gana, who has been a massive upgrade. Stekelenburg has been fine. That's it.

With Bolasie, McCarthy, Besic hurt, Berry a step slower, McGeady/Niasse/Gibson not effective, it's not a great squad. Even if everyone was healthy.

Schneiderlin would be a massive upgrade. We absolutely need a legit centre-back. Jags is past it. Funes Mori is okay. We have no wings – Lennon, Deulofeu, Bolasie is out, Mirallas is kind of a wide player. That's not great. We also have no playmaker – Barkley, on a good day kind of – but no one else to link with Rom. What about a strike partner for Rom? Valencia has played well, but he's not a legit top 6 team starter, not even close.

If there's one thing that's obvious about the game of football, is that you are only as good as your weakest link. Rom and Ross can play really well, but there are just too many other huge holes out there that stymie their abilities.

Centre-back, central midfield, attacking central midfield, winger are all huge needs. Even if everyone was available.

I'm amazed at the impatience of some on this thread. Koeman's tactics have been hit and miss this season, and within reason when he cocks up the in-game management of the team then yes, he leaves himself open to criticism.

But Koeman is now also the only Everton manager in my 40 years to publicly criticise (as thinly veiled as it was) our redundant board.

For that at least, he should be applauded. His ambition – for the moment at least – far exceeds the Board of Directors at our club.

"His comments which appear to give the board a bit of a gee up are a bit concerning though."

My exact thoughts when I read it. It's as if he's been told there'll be no big spends this window, or he has no confidence in the chief negotiators to deliver.

I'm not exonerating the inept board by any measure but £6 million just to coach the players and pick a team? Surely there's a reasonable expectation that a "coach" earning that much can raise the level of the players?

I understand he's not a miracle worker but let's just examine the pressing issue (pardon the pun) The coach wants the team to press but they don't. So either they're unfit which falls under his purview or they're not motivated which is also in his realm of control. Does he lack motivational skills? Training prowess? Or both?

Players can improve with training. Shearer credits Dalglish from turning him into a star with tips on the training field. Mediocre players can produce a winning team with the right desire and tactics as Leicester have shown. So what is it that Koeman brings to the table?

We always think like a tuppence halfpenny organisation. If Man Utd want £21m for Schneiderlin and Ron wants him – pay it or tell us everything is pie in the sky as fucking usual. We are resigned to EFC's shortcomings – great result followed by a pile of shite syndrome – its been going on for years as has the inferiority complex to our beloved neighbours. The Club needs winners within it.

Ron, love – welcome to our world – it's shit. Good luck with geeing them up. If I were you, I'd give them an ultimatum – "Buy me Van Dijk and Schneiderlin – get me Depay on loan and let me start getting rid of the dross that stinks the place out. Otherwise, you can stick your non existent project were the sun don't shine."

As I see it, if Koeman does not manage to get the board to spend some money, then we are in serious trouble, because then we will never spend any money.

The biggest risk here is that Koeman gets fed up and quit, like he did in Valencia. Then the board can hire another manager that eat all the shit, and fans get fooled for another couple of years.

Koeman has been a world class player and knows what it needed to succeed. Just face it, we do not have a squad that is good enough, or at least the squad is not at all close to being as good as it should be to meet the expectations of the Evertonian fans.

I believe that if we are to win anything we need to get in a bunch of new players. Until then we can argue and talk how much shit we want in here. Either the board spends some money or we are fucked for years to come.

A crate of Chardonnay, "The little book of indoor golf games – 18 ways to improve your handicap" and a rather large bank balance.

Ronald was asked "What is your handicap?" and he tetchily replied "Them stingy bastards on the board at Goodison and the other 20-30 lame buggers at Finch Farm"

If he was really honest he would say, "I am the manager and I take responsibility for the way team has played this season."

It is his job to motivate and enthuse them as well dictate tactics and strategy. The quality of football played has been dire ALL season.

For those who are saying he hasn't had any money he got 47½m to spend straight away, what other Everton manager was given that type of transfer kitty.

Ron's comments today make me think he's being undermined by someone at the club. Either because they want him to resign because some of the senior players don't like him or whoever it is has decided they are against the project and therefore Moshiri.

As usual, something stinks within EFC and Ron's decided the smells becoming a little to much for him. The fact that Moshiri mentioned EFC being a museum tells me he's picked up on it too.

Museums are musty places, dwelling in a romantic past and I know of only one guy at EFC who thinks in rose tinted romantic ways about the blues. Maybe the way Osman and Hibbert were treated still rankles as its not the EFC way, well at least not their EFC way.

Moshiri must back RON now, so show us the money and lets knock this ancient edifice down and become a modern Premier League club that competes at the top and not the trier that ends up being the 'Best of the Rest', as even that's doubtful for this season, at least.

"Koeman and Walsh appeared to have a positive relationship at the Everton Annual General Meeting earlier this week, but there have been stories from within the club that not everyone at board level is convinced by Walsh's abilities."

IF true, it might explain a thing or two. I would hazard a guess that the identity of one of the board members is a recently promoted bean counter?

He says it's always difficult against Leicester – yeah Ronald, the so-and-sos turned up and were competent, how on earth were we supposed to cope with that? Must be frustrating for you that the people you're paid so handsomely to prepare to perform so signally fail to do so on almost every occasion.

I took a friend today who used to play professionally in his youth; the poor man was speechless. At least we could admire the professional performances of Musa and Mendy. But we did wonder what exactly you DO, Ronald?

Williams – better than stones

Bolasie – definitely an improvment

Gueye – the best ballwinner in the league together with Kante. But Kante had quality creative midfielders around his last season in Leicester, Gueye does not have that luxury.

Enner Valencia– I like him.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Koeman would do that in a heartbeat and I could see 7 players going this month if he could do it. He has had enough.

Rather than, who would go, who would you keep... the list is getting shorter by the day.

At least he has told it as it is...

If all we need is new players why isn't Roberto still in charge?

The team aren't some rudderless entity who gift a manager a reputation because that's all it takes.

He has had 4 players in all of which are first team starters. The team by your logic should be better?

Whether we finish 7th, 11th or 16th the football has been base, moribund and devoid of any enjoyment. It's matters, those who say otherwise might judge what the purpose of watching Everton is about?

I expect a tighter, more keenly open judgement of any Everton manager, Koeman and beyond. We as a fan base have been plenty patient across nearly 3 decades.

Moshiri stated in the meeting regarding the ground there is a limited window of opportunity. That's stands for the squad too. The gap is widening and unless the both the playing squad, and should it require it, the manager need replacing then so be it.

The whole point of a directior of football model is to allow the change both players and manager whichout the structure of the club being repeatedly changed.

Won't bet on Koeman seeing out the season.

Martinez said after every game that the players played fantastic. What kind of bs is that? Martinez was a fraud and Koeman is not.

Koeman is honest. What else do you want? A bullshitter like Martinez?

Koeman knows what it takes to succeed – he had it in spades and he can suss out a bunch of phoneys in a heartbeat.

Today he just put it in to the public domain and he wasn't just referring to the players either. Good on him I say.

Refreshing or a bullshitter doesn't really cut it, don't care if the manager sings a song, I want to see progress made with the current manager, that is not happening.

He is paid to coach, to date not one player however bad we think they are has shown an iota of improvement.

Getting better players is fine, none will be the finished article so what faith can I have Koeman can improve them? Evidence to date, none.

Koeman almost singled handled ruined that game with his subs and formation changes, completely altered the momentum and then full out blamed the players.

Problem for Koeman is he has pissed off so many of the squad, if he doesn't get bodies in, then he's got a load of guys both pissed with him and not really interested in playing for him.

You make your bed, he could well be lying on it, that bed is made of nails.

The players do not want to play for him? Bullshit – I don't buy. No manager is apparently good enough for this team. That is pure bullshit.

What I couldn't understand was him taking off Valencia who was one of our better players on the day. I am now getting a bit worried about handing Barry an extension to his contract as, with each passing week, he seems to be getting worse. Also the likes of Mirallas, Barkley and even Lukaku are frustrating the life out of me. They just stroll around offering nothing and big changes are obviously needed.

We probably need to sign 5 players this window. With Lookman in I would like Schneiderlin, Smalling, Pickford and Lacazette. Then probably another 3 - 4 in the summer window.

The team I would then like to see given a chance till the end of the season would look like this:

Pickford (when fit), Coleman, Baines, Smalling, Holgate, Gueye (when back), Schneiderlin, Davies, Lookman, Lacazette, Lukaku.

This team already looks like it would have more energy about it... although it is fanciful to think Lacazette would come to us.

Peter you deal in the here and now, and come February 1st Koeman will have mostly the same bunch he started with. If you can't do that you won't get the chance the play with the expensive toys.

A manager, any manager has to show he can improve his players. That is the minimum requirement I would hope.

But you seem happy with paying the chap £6m a year and have nothing to reproach the man for until he gets a load chequebook players and has enough time to hang himself like the previous manager.

Ambitious well run businesses don't show that level of benevolent, paternal patience anymore.

If he can't do it and sort it quickly there's someone out there who can regardless of the playing stock.

Add to that 'his' recruiting has been questionable anyway.

He brought off Barkley today for a striker. People forget this. He brought Holgate off for a winger. Remember when Moyes used to shut up shop for a draw and we bemoaned not being more adventurous/attacking. The problem today and the main problem with our squad is the mentality and ability of the current batch of players. Many of them have already had their last chances to prove something but they're still on the payroll. Koeman has to deal with what he has got at the moment.

By the end of this season/start of next season 3 things are likely to have happened and we should be optimistic as blues

1) Most of the deadwood will have been removed and Koeman's players he wants in will be up and running.

2) The new stadium plans will show signs of actual progress.

3) We will be playing in the Europa League by finishing 7th in the League this year, which is very probable. (Via a Man Utd - Liverpool League Cup Final and two of Spurs, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City or Arsenal being in the FA Cup Final.)

Happy Days Blues!

My thoughts exactly. Not only our abysmal performances from last year have not been improved this season; on the contrary, we have regressed this season. In fact I cannot remember a decent game under Koeman (well, perhaps the second half of the Gooners game).

I also blame the board and the players. They only care about their bank accounts and give fuck all about the long suffering fans.

And, I'm afraid there won't be any significant signings during this window – nor the next one.

It's both of course, it's everything. Football is a simple game at heart, but composed of many subtle complexities. There are many elements involved, many views, as someone showed above. The number of variables is enormous, and they vary in effect.

This is the reason that results like today's can & do happen... losing at home to a team that we recently beat at their ground (I wonder how sounded the Leicester fans' inquest after that?). There are always random elements. It's about keeping them to a minimum.

Due to this nature of football, someone needs to be in a position to keep control as far as is possible, and that's the manager. He has to set the tone, the tactics, the direction. He has to make the required changes – support, criticize, motivate, amend, adapt, and on. On top of it all, he then has to shoulder the responsibility. It goes with the job.

The players too, have their to-do list. We all know some of what's on it, and even allowing for their varying abilities, we know when we aren't seeing it. We rarely know the real reason why we aren't seeing it – as fans, we have no access to the inner sanctum, and are left to speculate 90% of the time.

We therefore can only work with what we know for sure, what we see and hear. In players, lack of effort and mistakes are simple to diagnose. Good passes, tackles, shots, covering, saves – those too. The whole tactical intent however, movement, positioning, playing style, motivation, how it all comes about; we don't intimately know what's behind it.

It should be the manager, 100%. If there is any autonomy, that too should be set by him. Yet today we have him blaming the players (three times) for dropping back. He's unable to communicate this? In training or during the game?

I wasn't at the game, and saw only highlights. Was he his almost usual self, sat motionless on the bench? Going only on what I read here, the substitutions seem a little hard to read.

What is undeniable: this guy is a blamer. The die is now well cast, it's happened too many times. I can't believe the players would still be strongly behind him at this stage. Now, it seems he might be leaning on others in the club re player acquisitions.

We don't know the precise terms upon which Koeman took the job, how defined and firmly promised was the investment. It looks more and more as if this is a manager whose modus operandi leans firmly towards the buying-in route to success.

He's showing absolutely minimal evidence of being able to develop and maximize what he already has. The players in the last month have certainly upped their effort and commitment. Most are also some way better than we're seeing, I believe. We've seen it in the past. So I don't believe they're all lazy, big timing, hiding, conning...

I'm about sick of this whole, relatively recent, "His team" concept in football. Is this ever a let-off for a manager. From the moment he took the post, it became his team.

Maybe Koeman believes he is on the end of broken promises. Maybe he is. That's between him and the board. Certain issues with the players are not for public broadcast either. He'll pretty quickly alienate himself at this rate. Hell, it will be the fans fault next.

HIS decisions made a material impact on that game. Coleman should have been taken off before Holgate, he switched from 4-4-2 just before the goal, taking off Valencia and bringing on Mirallas on the left where he is totally ineffective. Then he brings on Kone for Barkely!

He was stood on the touchline when we went 1-0 up and should have immediately switched it back to the 4-4-2 and told them to keep the pressure on. Instead, we left Lukaku isolated up front and invited them on to us.

But the players as well! Coleman has zero positional awareness for runs, Williams and Funes Mori were shocking, Barry was almost immobile, Mirallas was as ever ineffectual and the rest were just not good enough. Only Baines, Davies, Rom and Deulofeu with that run (what happened to that guy?) did not totally shame themselves.

But everyone at this club needs to take responsibility for their failings – the chuckle brothers, Kenwright and Elstone, the PLAYERS, Steve Walsh if he blows this transfer window (his first), and you, Mr Koeman, for getting your tactics and substitutions so badly wrong during the game.

There's a way to be honest, James. Koeman is now cementing his tendency to lay the blame with anyone but himself. If not this, then he has a lack of diplomacy re. the club, greater than any other manager I can easily recall.

Why did we see/hear none of this during his time at Southampton? Something's not right behind the scenes, I believe. He's becoming a negative influence – and that can never work.

He saw the omni-shambles of the last window, and was far from impressed. Evertonians will have been unsurprised by how things turned out. Moshiri came out and explained that the players they wanted, Slimani, Perez and Sissokho went to Leicester, Arsenal and Spurs, all of whom were in Europe. This gives us the clue about what we are looking for. Add to this the loss of Bolasie.

Now he is frustrated that the same dithering and general buggering about is happening again and is letting it be known. In fact, he allied himself with Walsh in his original quote but that bit seems to be edited out in some versions.

Are Evertonians surprised that we appear to be buggering about again? Has not pretty much every window been a masterclass in buggering about and penny-pinching?

I think we need to be looking at the usual suspects here and Koeman, I suspect, is saying this.

Moshiri needs to listen – and stop listening to Bill.

Koeman is no better than a Moyes, Pulis or Allardyce though. An authoritarian with little tactical nouse other than to launch it. There is no Plan B other than to throw more forwards on if it's going pear-shaped. Whilst we may be fitter than under Martinez we have no style. His managerial record is actually mediocre.

Moshiri will ditch Koeman once the ship has been steadied – I think at the end of the season but maybe next. Steve Walsh is the key man here. We need him to find young, hungry players like Gana to replace the current apathy. There are too many players who don't care – like Cleverley, Lennon, Mirallas, Gibson, Lukaku – some who aren't good enough – Oviedo, Stekelenburg, Valencia, Kone and some who are past it.

Long-term, I think Moshiri will bring us success, a new stadium and a team to be proud of. It won't be with Koeman though – he will oversee the transition like he did at Southampton when they saw big changes in the playing staff.
For us supporters, success can't come soon enough but we may have to wait a few years yet – maybe til after the first spade is in the ground at Bramley-Moore Dock. I honestly think we'll see Champions League football before we see silverware.

That seems to imply more solidarity than division.

Sadly, I don't think Koeman is a good coach, he reminds me of Nick Faldo, brilliant player but arrogant and a hopeless leader of men (Ryder Cup). He wasn't naturally comfortable leading and they didn't want to follow, no matter how many majors he'd won.

The key word these days in sport is 'Leader' and IMO Ronald is an old fashioned out dated 'manager' and not a modern coach/leader. Sadly, unlike Herr Klopp, they're all very happy to be led by him and will run through brick walls to have that winning hug with him sickening I know, but it's the way forward and moody aloof Dutch PAST masters do not inspire! Koeman will be given time but I'm fairly sure it will be time wasted.

ps: Is his brother the very best coach he can muster for his Number 2 and assistant manager of EFC?!

Oh, and since Big Dunc became a 1st team coach we have been shite and that's a fact, folks! Love him or not, what's he brought to the table?!

Paul (#151) – some good points.

It gives us an insight though into some behind-the-scenes issues and a possible conflict between the old ways and the new brooms.

I agree with him on this. I hope Moshiri does too.

At the ground yesterday, everything seemed flat – the crowd the team. I don't know if the dire first half was the cause, but was basically Leicester doing what Leicester do well and us lacking both the guile and physicality to break them down. Koeman changed things, one bright burst of sunlight and then capitulation. To a very quick, physical team.

I think Koeman has seen enough of these players, on match day and every day in training, to have had enough. He hasn't lost the players; they have lost him!

We are allowed a squad of 25; we are lucky if we have 15 real choices that we could feel comfortable putting on the pitch, let alone bring on as a sub and make a real difference.

On top of that, I would be reluctant to play our youngsters for fear of ruining there confidence for the future. I get that Barry is fading fast but who would you have played in his place today? Gibson?!?

Seriously, who would you replace from today's team and with who? Yes, it's a fucking shambles that has been 30 years in the making and you expect Koeman and Moshiri to turn it round in six months?

Get real, guys – this is a transition project and ain't going to happen over night. Taxi for Koeman? You must joking. Koeman is right to put the blame on the players – they did the same last season and the season before.

You claim all the players he brought have improved the team... err, how?

Gueye is a good little player, I will give you that, but that aside I'm not convinced about any of the others. Are you being serious when you say Williams is an improvement on Stones?? FFS take off your royal blue tinted glasses, will you. I suppose you would swop a Ferrari for a Ford Mondeo as well. There is no improvement the quality of football is Walter Smith-like and we are dreadful to watch.

Christine Foster, I don't buy the legacy argument, the squad Martinez had left was and is not bad at all and a coach would have been able to lift them not demoralise them. A good manager bollocks his players in private, supports the team and club in public and takes responsibility with things don't go well. That should be the response of any sane leader in any walk of life. Conte, Klopp, Ranieri and many other coaches share their enthusiasm that builds belief on and off the pitch Koeman just whines like a child 'it's not my fault' I am sick of it..

If I was Moshiri I'd give him a kicking in public for talking down the club and the board who for once are making things happen. We would do no worse with Unsworth in charge until the end of the season.

Sometimes in a relationship, you are better ending it early – particularly if your supposed partner is just after the money you have, shows you no affection, and runs you down in public.

Yes there are positive sounds from behind the scenes but actions speak louder than words for me. Some of our players are clearly not good enough and you can question the commitment from some of them also.

Regardless of manager, stadium etc we need better quality players and we need them now. This current bunch royally piss me off on a regular basis. To go out of both cups in the first round at home is unacceptable. No trophy in 21/22 years is unacceptable. Derby results and performances are unacceptable. To be playing for 7th place at best is unacceptable.

Bold actions are required; I am sick of words.

Koeman has been sold a dream to come to Everton to prize him away from Southampton. Now the owners are responsible. When you look at our squad of players, with the exception of the youngsters and Lukaku, which players would play for any of the top 10 teams? Some would struggle to play in the Premier League again.

As Evertonians, we have to realise what we have, a mediocre squad of players. Please do not turn on Koeman or he will be off to a much better team, as he is not the type to suffer fools gladly. In my opinion, the only real class act we have is Ronald Koeman

Given there's little to play for, we might as well give this highly reputed manager the rest of the season to show he can forge an effective team, I suppose. There have been some better results of late and losing to the Champions (albeit weakened) is not the most embarrassing cup exit we have had or will have.

Irrelevant of what Walsh and Co manage in the transfer market the burden now is on Koeman to show he can get the best out of what he has. That's the minimum that should be expected of any top manager.

Then the saved money can be put towards a real squad overhaul in the summer hopefully with the now proven u23 players as part of that!

God, it's frustrating being an Evertonian – one step forward... two steps back!

Absolutely! I don't know how many times that conclusion went through my head last night – could be our new motto!

"Gredi unum, duo gradus retro" (or something like that!)

There is no point getting rid of Koeman, he has half a season probation now to see if he can turn it around.

If we had £100m to spend it would get us further in the summer so I'm not convinced we should spunk it now just to save Koeman face.

I expect he has this season at least and probably some of next. The big test is on Walsh's squad building, I would've thought – even if Koeman leaves.

We simply don't have players up for it or ability to carry out the managers orders. First half performances this season have been awful.

Koeman can't do the bullshit with the media. He is struggling to defend his own players. New players is not an if but essential. Stuff all talk of new stadium. On the park must be improved now! So gutted to go out of the cup in the third round at home.

Koeman should be judged this time next season. He would have had three transfer windows and 18months in charge. Martinez had three years and look at the mess he left.

Not sure what he should do, what Martinez did last season and waffle a load of rubbish about how good the team was when it clearly wasn't. I do like his honesty compared to Martinez's waffle.

We all wanted a new keeper after Howard as Robles will fluff his lines more often than not and Stekelenburg is cover. We all know that Baines has had better days and not withstanding injuries is not the player from 10 seasons back.

Coleman nice guy but headless chicken getting forward. Jagielka the signs were clear last season and Funes Mori (well I think he can improve) Barry supposed to be a defensive midfielder but as the Shite demonstrated he does not have the legs for a fast paced game and is guilty of slowing the team down to a crawl.

Williams was good for Swansea but then he had 3 other big defenders with him and a half decent keeper.

McCarthy is too prone to injury and we have Gana.

Barkley has no support or anyone giving him the guidance he needs aka Peter Reid or Gravesen maybe an Arteta.

Mirallas our most talented footballer but is down right selfish and not imo a team player. Lennon is a lemon. Deulofeu better in the middle not getting seven sorts of shit kicked out of him, spots a pass has pace and has improved defensively. Kone why? Bolasie misfit in this team.

Lukaku is world class on his day but looks like an average donkey sometimes. Don't think he is suited to the lone striker role but when your on a 100 grand a week you better learn. The kids all have potential.

Valencia I have not seen enough of to form an opinion, has pace is two footed and scored a good goal when we needed one. I'm looking for about 6 players who can play with gusto and want to win at all costs.

Koeman has another 18 league games to put this right and January to bring in some players to make a difference. Let's hope he can do it.

After leaving Everton, Moyes said that the squad of players he left behind didn't really need a manager but they got one who was the polar opposite anyway. It worked at first, but the players were being asked to do things they didn't like, so they stopped trying.

I could understand it even if I don't agree with it in the case of Chelsea, whose players have got rid of managers in the past, but then gone on to better things when a new manager has been appointed. But when a football club lowers its expectations and coming 6/7th, is acceptable, then it's no wonder they don't really need a manager?

Koeman, hasn't done a lot right, and the only time we have looked like a team with any real direction, is when playing 4-4-2. Why can't we start games this way and revert to 5-4-1,when trying to see a game out, especially when using players with such limited pace in key areas of the football pitch.

We went backwards yesterday once we changed our formation and started to get over-run in the middle of the park; if a manager who is being paid £6 Million a year can't react to this, then we are in trouble. I think he took Barkley off yesterday because the kid must be frustrating the life out of him, but even he must have known at the time that it wasn't for the good of the team?

A rant I know, especially because I'm no expert, but the earlier poster who said that Shearer learned so much off Dalglish does seriously make me also question what Duncan Ferguson is actually doing? I haven't kicked a ball for years but I would bet anyone anything I had that I could make Lukaku a much better player, especially considering he thinks he's so much better than he actually his.

Is he preparing himself from blame if things don't improve with the new transfers? £6 million a year – not really anyway near value as yet.

United are requesting over £20million, the full-price that they paid for him two years ago, a player who has failed to establish himself. I can understand the club wanting to get the best deal for the club, but at the same time, I can understand Koeman's annoyance at promises probably not being delivered.

Koeman hasn't stuck around with many of the clubs he has managed at, for whatever reason. But I wonder whether he will see it through to the end of the season or not. I'm not sure Mr. Moshiri will appreciate Ronald's comments in the public domain.

I have never thought it sensible to have the old guard lingering on after Moshiri's arrival. Kenwright, Elstone and their recently appointed supporters on the Board are bad news as far as I'm concerned, they represent a style and culture which have had their day. In any walk of life, it never works if you have a fresh regime which is hampered by influential elements of the previous one.

That doesn't mean that Moshiri doesn't also have to prove himself, of course he does and I continue to reserve judgement on that, pending delivery. At the moment, there is a distinct impression that we are heading for a classic Everton car crash.

Whatever his shortcomings so far – and I agree that they are pretty obvious – Koeman in his tactless way is pointing to things which have long afflicted our club: mediocrity and inertia designed to serve the interests of those at the top. Add a dollop of distracting sentimentality and you have the total recipe.

He wasn't the only one who thought Delboy was a better option on the right and we scored almost immediately; before that we didn't look like scoring at all.

The really depressing thing is that we were almost at full strength and they fielded a weak side with little desire to win the game... until they realised how poor we are at the moment.

When you look at Conte and Pochettino and Klopp and Mourhino, their players would run through brick walls for their managers. You can see the passion they have for their teams, and it seems the Koeman doesn't have that same affinity with our players.

Usually new managers get a swell of affection from the fans even Martinez got this in his first season and a half.

Maybe because these aren't all his players that it is still very much a work in progress, although apart from Gueye his other buys haven't impressed. But the atmosphere at Goodison is as bad as it was under the last 12 months of Martinez's reign. So it doesn't bode too well for the future. Maybe Koeman is always going to be a manager who adopts the position of I expect you to play this way if you don't you are out, which is fine but that hardly generates a good team spirit.

Finally if he is prepared to let Deulofeu go and keep Lennon and Mirallas then I think it says a lot about his style of management. Yesterday Deulofeu came on and within minutes had delivered a killer pass to Lukaku. The fact that Lukaku had got himself marginally offside and still didn't finish is hardly his fault.

He was the only player in a blue shirt who looked remotely likely to open up Leicester's defense which he did for the goal. We only ever looked a threat when Deulofeu got on the ball, can we really let this lad leave while keeping players who are much older and lack his creativity.

Does Koeman have a clue? Is he trying to persuade everyone by using blame?

Honesty works well but negative Honesty directed at the players just equates to blame and blag.

Distances himself from inner workings and abilities of players, whom he knew about before getting the job. Not a massive mention of rebuilding in the early days.

During radio commentary yesterday, an interesting comment mentioned during a break in play . "Most of the Leicester players receiving instruction from Ranieri, Everton players not doing the same; are they scared of the manager or something?

I am getting the feeling that Koeman is disengaged, especially with the papers suggesting Barca have contacted him about next season's managerial position. I hope he goes – that will save us a few million.

Koeman is ramping the pressure up, because he was let down in the first window, I think that is crystal clear. No matter if you think he is the right man or not, isn't it about time we had a guy telling the board these players are not good enough.

Get the money, buy the players and stop the fucking about. I've said it before and will do again, if an acceptable offer comes in for Barkley and Lukaku, watch what happens.

Even though people have been saying for a while now that this kid should be playing instead of Barry, who has got a good hour in him against the lesser teams, and is just too slow now against the better ones.

If the fans can see it but the manager can't, then I'd also say the perfect description is, "He's disengaged."

If we can't get the Schneiderlin deal done, when the player isn't wanted by his club, appears keen to come and lives locally already, how the hell are we going to sign anyone when the circumstances are a bit more challenging? Whoever is conducting our negotiations needs reminding we're not shopping in the bargain basement anymore and the rest of the world knows it.

The days of them accepting offers from us spread over years and years because we're skint are over. Shame everyone realises that apart from us!

Not one name comes to mind.

With a shite manager and a crap squad, according to many of you on here, we reached two semi-finals last season. This season we have been knocked out at home early in both cup competitions, the quality of football played is fucking dire to watch.

He is unhappy is he? So are many of us with his tactics, statements to the media etc.

It is absolutely imperative that we sign five first team players in this window to turn things around and have us well placed for next season.

Also the Mancs have stated their price so why are we dithering. We need players now not at the 12th hour when we will definitely be paying over the odds. I have advocated that Koeman needs time but so far I am not convinced.

He himself is not blameless, with his poor team selections, motivation and statements to the press unsettling Barkley and Lukaku. He's still moping about our failures in the last transfer window, but if he had got on with the job and got the best out of what we have already, then we would be in a much better position to persuade top quality players to join us this time around to help with a big push towards Europe and/or silverware in the second half of the season. Partly (mainly?) because of him, we now have little chance of competing in Europe next season. It's not just down to how much money we have; players also look at a club's prospects before signing.

Remember that Steve Walsh, as director of football, is here for the long term. Why should he and the board trust Koeman's judgement, and (if reports are to be believed) spend £50m or more on other teams' rejects, when they might end up sacking Koeman at the end of yet another season of failure?

I suggest we keep our money for now, and tell Koeman to shut up and prove that he can "cut his coat according to his cloth", change tactics and manage the players he's already got.

The likes of Baines and Jags are both entering their 10th season still as first choice players even though both of them are well over 30.

Gareth Barry signed in 2013. He was already 32 then. Will be 36 in February. Glaciers move faster than he does and a measly five goals scored in 116 league appearances.

Gibson has been with us since 2012. He's only made 51 league appearances and only 17 in the last three years.

McGeady, signed in 2014, has made a mere 32 league appearances and will probably never play for Everton again even though he still has at least two years left on his, no doubt, lucrative contract.

Kone signed 2013. Only 45 league appearances. 33 years old.

Oviedo signed 2012. Only 44 league appearances. Still only 26 but can't shift an ageing Baines.

Now Koeman has added a couple of his own ageing has-beens. Stekelenburg 34. No better than Robles. Williams 32. No pace. Bought for his leadership qualities apparently. So why isn't he club captain?

The whole squad needs a massive overhaul. We have to stop buying any player over 30. Or any player with a dubious injury record. These days, players have to be young athletes. Strong and pacey with plenty of stamina – and that's what we need to be looking for.

When Koeman was appointed, the first job for him was to get the best performance from the existing squad, using appropriate tactics and organisation. That's why he's here in the first instance, he's supposed to be the 'expert'.

Any additional signings and/or replacements would be to get even further improvement. We haven't seen any INITIAL improvement.

In other words, no change – let's stand still like we have done for as long as we all can remember, billionaire or not , that really makes sense?

Koeman is not deflecting blame but he knows the game he wants to play and he obviously doesn't suffer fools who couldn't be bothered.

I read a piece by Shane Long some time ago that Koeman told him he had no chance of getting back into the Southampton side unless he showed more energy in training, so Long upped his effort but it still took him 3 or 4 months to get a start and that was due to an injury.

Long accepted that Koeman was a hard and tough manager but an honest man also – there was no messing about.

Moshiri has said this in a roundabout recently when he remarked "Koeman is Koeman" .

No, he is not totally blameless – he is the manager, but he can only work with what he's got and has a major job on his hands. I have said this already but players who know they are not in this manager's long term plans are not going to bother.

Why the fuck should he be massaging the egos of the likes of Barkley, Lukaku, Mirallas, Deulofeu etc.

Do you think these guys should be exempt from any criticism when they clearly deserve a rocket or two up their arses for too many average and inadequate performances on the pitch?

Enough of this "arm round the shoulder" it's been done to death with the likes of Barkley.

"Other teams' rejects" – isn't this how at least 75% - 80% of how football works ?

As for not signing the players he wants well I wonder if paying £24 million for a player that has hardly kicked a ball in a season and a half. He is even behind Fellaini as both the previous manager and the present manager pick Fellaini before him.

Then the other wonderkid Koeman wants to sign Memphis Depay, another who was discarded by the man who bought him and the present manager. These signings for mega bucks hardly get the pulses racing and maybe Moshiri thinks the same.

Yet no centre-forward on the horizon so it's Kone if Lukaku gets injured.

I said months ago that the fly in the ointment is Kenwright and if he still had any say then koeman would get pissed off-now its happened.

Typical of modern day football-the players get off scot free and the manager (a winner by the way) gets the abuse. The man does not have a magic wand, for Christ's sake!

Forget new stadiums, mega sponsorship deals and the like and get rid of Kenwright and his tosser mates first up!

It's them that ruin it all. On the cheap ,sell your assets first, protect our rake offs and fuck to winning anything -that would mean adding quality at our expense!

Oh, and the team is good enough for 7th or 8th but needs real money spent to buy the quality needed to attain top 4. Quality means that even if they have an off day, they still put in a 7 out of 10 performance,still enough to win most times.

That's the thing, form is temporary but class is permanent. Quality gives you class.

Top bloke, Koeman – a realist and not an idealist – I really can't see why they are pissing him about, just a bunch of amateurs in charge.

Sack him? The mind boggles!!!!!!!!!!

We are well aware that you do not want to pay over the odds but surely you have a top figure that you want to pay, you should just say sorry that was our final figure, and if it is refused move on before we end up with the usual farce of last minute deals on January 31st.

I respect his hard line as, God knows it shows, that this team has been pampered beyond belief with the lack of bottle and leaders apparent. I think he planned to come in with a hard line with how the players behaved with the previous manager, singling out certain players who he felt were bad influences but I think he has probably shot himself in the foot finding the amount of malaise throughout the team.

We have to stick with him and allow him to do the first layer of changes with the team and evaluate the managers performance then. I am not a fan of the manager since he arrived but he does have presence which might attract players who may not have considered us previously. We need two central midfielders and a striker for the first layer of changes. Over to you, Mr Walsh.

Somehow, the following role models spring to mind...
Big Nev
Ratters
Peter Reid
Inchy

I'm not saying "no change" -– I want Koeman to change his team selection and tactics to suit what we already have.

Last season, it looked like we had a good enough squad, and we could have achieved much more if only Martinez had paid some attention to the defence. I was hoping that Koeman could build on that, by strengthening the defence. It looked as though that might happen when Stones left and Williams came in.

It seems we missed out on some of Koeman's targets in the summer (presumably) because they wanted European football, rather than just the higher wages we can now offer them. Koeman's job then was to get on with it, and work with what we have, until the next transfer window.

It looks to me like he's been sulking because he didn't get his way, rather than trying out different tactics and formations to fix our problems. This has meant we're now out of contention in all competitions, and no self-respecting top quality player will want to come here. That strikes me as poor management.

I stand by my statement about "other teams' rejects" in relation to Schneiderlin and Depay. Mourinho has said they can leave. We're not trying to buy Rashford or De Gea, are we?

We have nothing to play for now, so maybe we should wait until the end of the season, when players take a more thoughtful look at their career prospects, and there is a bigger chance of us prising players away from clubs who would prefer to keep them, as long as we can demonstrate we are serious about our ambitions to move up to the next level.

We have to bring in some quality players to improve – even if it means the best we can do is 7th.

As far as Koeman goes, he is not exactly filling us with expectations but, with only 4 months behind him, he has to be given a chance.

He expects a player who does not step on a pitch in 4 months and always had low level, to change the game. "Nil Satis Nisi Optimum", remember? Is Arouna Kone the best? With what goal did Ronald Koeman put him on the pitch? What a bad image we are giving with this guy.

Is Ronald Koeman a candidate to work in Barcelona? Maybe in the Barcelona of Ecuador and I think it's huge for Ronald Koeman.

Do you think Koeman can put new software in their heads or something? It is not going to happen.

We need new players, not a new coach. That's it.

Plymouth just went to Anfield and got a 0-0. Why are we like rabbits in headlights against the RS and whenever we go 1-0 up?

Why have we not had a top class goalkeeper since Martyn? Why have we no goals or guile in midfield? Why is our only goal threat never up for it?

I can see what is wrong why can't a succession of extremely well paid managers? Why do we bother?

It is a toxic mix of poor recruitment in the past (including by Koeman) and a weak ethos in the club, presumably fostered by Kenwright over more than a decade.

Everton are a nice club, very active in the community, very ethical, always ready to hand out long lucrative contracts to ageing, crocked "servants" of the club. No wonder our inferiority complex against the top clubs means we will never beat them or win anything. Our expectations are so low. So long as we stay in the Premier League and have an occasional cup run, that's good enough.

We need to buy more young hungry players, fit, strong and athletic, and no more long contracts to the over-thirties. We need a manager who can set them up to expect to beat the top teams regularly. Hopefully our new owners will bring a more ruthless and demanding mindset to the club.

I had hoped for more from Koeman. Even though our players are not that good, managers like Allardyce, Pulis and Moyes (not that I want them) manage to mould average players into something like a functioning team.

How do you work out Koeman has only been here 4 months? Didn't he join the club in July? He's had plenty of time to put his stamp on the team.

But not once in his reign so far have we managed to put in a 90 minute performance so what does that tell you about the man. It tells me that he's got no motivational skills. No man management skills or no tactical skills.

It's like watching football from the Dark Ages, watching Everton under Koeman and believe me when I tell you no amount of big-money signings will make a blind bit of difference because this fella, in his albeit already short reign, hasn't got a clue how to get the best out of players.

When was the last time any of us walked out of Goodison and said, "That was brilliant" or words to that effect? His body language and demeanor reflect his playing style. Fucking dour.

My point is that we don't need to rush into paying over the odds for players now. Maybe if we were still in the FA Cup or realistically challenging for Europe, it would be worth a gamble to get overpriced players in for the final push.

But now, we might as well keep the money until the summer, when better quality players come onto the market, perhaps from relegated clubs (another Gana?) or players who are currently staying put until the end of the season because they are loyal to their teams.

Having one bullshitter has ruined our club; if he is a carbon copy of false promises and outright lies that Kenwright is, we are in really serious trouble and may have to start up a new club from scratch ourselves.

How many more transfer windows will we fuck up? How many more deals amateurishly messed up?

It's like fucking Groundhog Day or a Carry On film only without Barbara Windsor's tits.

Silk purses and Sow's ears spring to mind...

Agree. Year after year of Moshiri – and what's to show for it?

Is Koeman playing Barry for sentimentality reasons? He's slow and past his sell-by date, and McCarthy is not the answer either.

I've said it before he has to give Deulofeu a decent run in the side – at least 6 games. When he hits form, you'll see Lukaku score more goals – but he has to play regularly. Mirallas should also start every game.

For those of you harping on about still being 7th in the table, means Jack-Shit. The top six are in a different league – we're behind 6th place by 9 points! We have West Brom and Bournemouth breathing down our necks, and we'll do well to avoid the bottom half of the table.

On the plus side, we only have to wait until April/May of 2018 to see if we're in with a sniff of a trophy.

Some posters will remind me that Unsie has stated that most of them are not ready to step-up etc. but I honestly don't believe they could be any worse than the current 1st team.

It would be nice to see drastic measures taken e.g. supplement the U23 squad with Rom and Gana, bring in a top quality goalie, 2nd striker and a #10... but it will not happen and we'll continue to be mediocre at best, infuriating without doubt.

Meantime I'll placate myself with watching the Ressies – at least they wear the shirt with pride... and win far more than they lose.

Let's look at the facts: He took over the side knowing several players were needed, so let's start from the back – We said goodbye (riddance?) to Howard, so were left with only one solitary (backup) keeper. Solution? He buys Fulham's (yes Fulham!!) reserve keeper, who at 34, is hardly going to improve.

In central defence, we have Jagielka, who everyone at the club knew, was past it 18 months earlier. We lose Alcaraz and Stones, so he replaces them with a 32-year-old, who hasn't had a break due to international duty. He doesn't like playing youngsters, so none of them will play there.

In midfield, the most important area of the pitch, we part with Osman, have Besic and Gibson permanently crocked, McCarthy becoming a serial casualty, and Barry finished. So he brings one player in, knowing that we'll lose him for a considerable amount of time, and gives Barry and Gibson new contracts.

In attacking positions, he immediately tells two players they have no future, doesn't strengthen the centre-forward position as he brings in a West Ham reject, knowing he's hardly going to play him, and never in attack. Lennon, Deulofeu, Barkley and Mirallas have been ineffective for at least a season, so he makes a record buy for a winger with a lousy scoring record. We are left with Lukaku to score ALL the goals, and pray he doesn't get injured.

Now for £6m pa, I'd expect a manager to make sure he has a stronger squad than the previous season, or at least know he can remotivate the ones he works with. Sadly – unlike Moyes, who took over a demoralised and not very competent squad, and with only two months to go, pulled them from relegation candidates to almost Inter-toto qualifiers.

Koeman doesn't look like he is a very good man-manager, and his lousy managerial record doesn't seem to justify him being given the job in the first place

It's far to early in my view to be even thinking of changing the manager however I for one am really struggling to see how he wants us to play and to say he has been here for half a season I think that is cause for concern.

He may not have the players that he would ideally like to have but he has a squad of international level players so he should be able to set them up as he sees fit to win games or even at the very least to be competitive.

How many on here can describe to me what is the Koeman style??? Because I just don't know!!! However I would love to see the man succeed as that would been great things for our EFC!!!

You're assuming the incoming players were all Koeman's choices.

If we don't get a couple of good players in, this month, I think he may call that taxi himself.

And then what? Eddie Howe?

In the summer we had an average window tbf. Yes, we got a few good players In but he wanted and expected more and we failed. This time round I think he was hoping we'd of got our act together and been better prepared. It seems we're not and he's not happy about it!

We've all known Gueye was going to the AFCON and we've been in dialogue with Man Utd for well over a month with regards to Schneiderlin, maybe even Depay. I think Koeman was expecting him to be through the door already and it hasn't happened and he's now said so. I think Koeman was expecting maybe 2-3 key signings in through the door already but it hasn't happened.

He wants to see progress, he wants the board to get him his targets and it's not happening as quick as he wants and now he's getting annoyed.

We need to fuck Kenwright & Elstone off from dealing with transfer negotiations and let Walsh and the Russian fella do it and let Moshiri give the go ahead on fees. Kenwright and his pal are still trying to haggle in talks as if we're skint and that's what is slowing deals down. Just go out and get the man what he wants!

Moshiri in the week said we haven't got much time to try and bridge the gap, get us to a level of the rest of the elite in the league as he says, and that this transfer window is a window of opportunity for us and that he's committed to pushing us on. Well, it's now time for actions and not words, he's got to put his money where his mouth is and back Koeman and give him the proper tools to work with!

Then, for me, we can really judge Koeman as they'll be no excuses on his part once he gets what he wants to be able to do the job in the manner that he does.

It's a massive window for us, this... and it's just got really interesting after Koeman's comments. Now it's time for the board to put up!

Specifically to demonstrate the paucity of options open to him; then the rant post match. Almost if it were planned?

We have Koeman and as far as I can see will have him for the foreseeable future. For better or worse, he will play out the next two seasons at least. Hopefully, things will turn around, then won't we all feel silly for doubting?

I'm not his employer, but I have a stake in Everton, having supported for 56 years. As such, I also review his performance. I have been supportive from the start, and agree that time is needed to get us to a consistent top-6 status, and maybe eventually to a position where we are comparable with the great 60s and 80s sides. All of that requires patience of course.

Having said that, in the meantime I would be expecting to see some improvements in performance, gradual, incremental improvements in organisation and tactics. Improvements that make us better defensively compared to the Martinez era, but also build upon the attacking flair and talent of players that was apparent during that time. Unfortunately, I see little if any of such improvement.

In my opinion, Koeman's job at the moment is to get the best out of the skills he has at his disposal, towards the improvements I expect to see. He should be focusing on what players can do, rather than (especially publically) on what they cannot do. He should be putting in place organisation and tactics to achieve this NOW. Instead, he appears to repeat the mantra of 'pressing'. Pressing is fine, but to be effective it has to be on the back of a clear system, organisation, tactics. I see none of that.

I am concerned by his continual focus in the media on individual players, rather than on his managerial duties. This strikes me as a diversion from management responsibility. The players have responsibilities as professionals, but the manager has a higher responsibility.

He's livid, is he? He gets paid £6M/year. I bet he's not as livid as we are.

Koeman must be given at least eighteen months to turn things around. Martinez did get us to two semi-finals last season and probably deserved another year based on that.

Sacking Koeman now will achieve what? He knows he is under pressure to succeed. Still the same rubbish next year and he will be gone.

If the club don't bring in players, then let him go and get Martinez back. Won a cup at Wigan and relegated them.

I hope they were! HE'S the boss - HE'S being paid a scandalous amount of money to build a team, so why wouldn't they be his choices?

Who'd have thought in the summer, we'd be having these discussions by the start of 2017?

In Bill's defence, I think the way recruitment works with Koeman is he doesn't actually select the players, he tells Walsh what he wants (i.e. the type of player) and he has to find someone who fits the bill. Hence the emphasis he put on Walsh in his FA Cup exit interview.

From there they both have to agree before they go for whoever it is though, so he does get a say as I understand it. If that's the philosophy then he has to get more out of what he's got – that after all is his job, not Walsh's.

I would also probably describe his record as "patchy" rather than "lousy"?

I have only read your first 2 paragraphs and your on the nail. Koeman needs to look at himself for a fraction of blame.

Everything about this club stinks lately. From hiring 3 or for scouts only for them to spot 28-year-olds and claim it's a shrewd deal. We brought a 71-year-old scout in who has a claim to fame for convincing Allardyce to sign Anelka when he was 27... haha. I am a scout if this is the case.

Then we have Ronald who gets off on holiday before pre-season when he could have been in work. We had lost four players and possibly Stones at that point and he is on holiday.

Then the fans are mostly embarrassing. Social media is pointing the finger at Kenwright again simply because Moshiri is the saviour and they can't be wrong about Kenwright. Bill is a soppy lunatic but when Moshiri says he's our biggest fan, that's okay. If Moshiri and his army fail to deliver, it's Kenwright's fault.

The mentality surrounding this club is close to imploding. Now there is massive calls to over pay for Scheiderlin when our season is over. £25 mill for a player who hasn't been getting a game. I don't mind the lad but what is the point in blowing more money? By the time he hits the ground running, he's 28 with no sell-on fee. Stinks of desperation.