Reports claim Koeman close to Everton deal

I'm hoping for the Emery-Monchi dream team but ready now for the merry-go-round to end soon. Hoping we have something in place within the next week.

More likely that 'our people' have been talking to 'his people', don't you think, as direct contact with a contracted manager without permission is prohibited.

I imagine that interviews with Pelligrini and Moyes HAVE taken place although permission to talk to the other names mentioned is awaited.

As the Editor said a week ago, we need to be patient.

"Our New manager – Mr David Moyes!"

And the end of my 53-year association with Everton.

No, it was just a nightmare

I guess when SAF invited Moyes round for a chat months before the end of his contract, this wasn't a breach according to the FA.

Mind, whether the discussions are via his agent or with Koeman himself, it looks like he is our main target. So that suggests to me that Moshiri is the man heading up the quest for a new manager. He obviously knows who he wants and knows in all situations money talks.

If not Emery, still FdB or Pellegrini for me.

At the outset, Koeman for Martinez was an exciting step up but having suffered (enjoyed) the recent anticipation of such as Emery/Monchi etc, Koeman now seems a bit of a let down, as I think he will be using us as a stepping stone to Barcelona.

He has done fantastically well with Southampton, buys good players and organises well and has the advantage of knowing the Premier League which the other favourites don't.

I still can't convince myself but it is probably just that he is a less glitzy signing but a safer bet not to crash and burn in his first year but still has the potential to succeed and win stuff.

He'd be a good appointment but offer me Simeone, Emery or De Boer and...............

The other options- we don't know how they'll do in the prem. Optimists feel they will razzle dazzle - but they could crash and burn.

It would be very interesting if Southamton got De Boer and we got Koeman... Then we might live to regret it, or know we made the right choice

Interesting and exciting times, the suspense is killing me!

Why Emery? FdB for me since the day he put his hat in the ring. He wants to prove himself, Koeman does not. He has already pretty much said "No thanks". No point waving cash in his face. Go with with FdB and if he fails, sack him.

I'm not after a Wenger who wants to stay for 20 years. I want a hungry manager. Give Frank a go. Don't go for the man that wants the most money.

Unai Emery?? who the fuck is he, Martinez in disguise. He looks like Count Dracula. Is it just me or is there a big problem with taking FdB??

The odds on Koeman at Sky Bet are now 5/4
BV are now 1

I love the way we've gone about this so far, I remember we lost Bobby Robson coming in as manager due to a leak to the press. The fact that journalists and bookies are scratching around for clues tells me this is being done the right way.

...,and the prize for best Adam West impersonation goes to....

So says Tim White, correspondent for the NIS in the UK on Twitter.

Then you have Sammy Lee... the last thing you want is that RS on our touchline.

Also guys, Morshi live in Monaco for Tax reasons would he not interview in Monaco? As I think the 90 Days a year rule applies.

I know the City achievements have to be taken in context of the players and money he had, but he still did it. Keeping a "big" side at the top isn't as easy as it sounds. Just ask LVG, Mourinho or even Wenger.

May I advise them that reading anything that isn't a fact is by it's very nature conjecture, hearsay and gossip and perhaps they should avoid all media and Everton related sites until the new guy has signed on the dotted line and wait for the ink to dry. There may be lots of games being played by agents and all of the parties involved for a variety of reasons and perhaps that is why there is a counter rumour to each story as it appears in the press.

if we want to see Everton as a big club again, these are the sort of things we had better get used to. Wait until the new manager is in place and watch as the transfer rumour mill goes into meltdown, that will really test the patience of some as we miss out on certain players but attract others, but this time we won't be competing with Sunderland et al but with some of the bigger hitters.

Also, I'd rather have Koeman now, than Emry later. We need to get a move on planning for next season.

#Everton been told to free both #SevilleFC #Emery - #Monchi from there contracts it will take 8 million euro's, 3 Mil Emery, 5 Mil Monchi

Might not be a lot of glamour attached to those accomplishments but, when you consider a similar exodus of players from Everton could be on the cards this close season, then you can see why Koeman might be an attractive option for those at the top.

Monk going to Leeds
Monk arrested for smuggling tigers

Is he trying to get Hulls best?

He has proved himself in the prem, with a team that losses key players every season.
Frank De Boer has a very good record, but has only coached in one league for one team.

Bring him in - he'll sort everything out when he wants to go to Barca, we will be a lot better off, and can move onto someone exciting - like De Boer is now.

I'd be very very very happy! As long as he keeps Stones and Barkley.

He is exactly what we need! A safe, yet very promising and exciting option.

There's a good comedy series in the States called Silicon Valley. Its about a start up tech company and its story lines are based on real life events that have happened in the industry yet played out in this one company.

So anyways, the company's young founder Richard, is sacked as CEO by the board of directors. After a series of events he is to replace his replacement and put back in charge.

So why is this important? Well ToffeeWebbers have been talking about cloak and dagger stuff, that its all very strange the public courting etc going on and on.

To quote from the programme when someone asks the board director with most voting power why she is interviewing candidates when she will be reinstating Richard, she answers...

'I'm publicly courting some outstanding candidates and some not so outstanding candidates, to give the impression that Richard is not the most expedient choice, but the right choice.'

As Moshiri got his way sacking Martinez, it may be Bill will get his way with Moyes and the above is an example of managing perceptions.

So take note of that nonsense... and do with it what you will

I would hope that any manager, whomsoever he may be, will say at his press conference announcement that the clincher to his joining was the fantastic changes that lay ahead for this great club... that would I hope include a statement on Moshiri fully taking over, Kenwright stepping down, and a stadium on the waterfront. Without the root and branch changes occurring, nothing much will dramatically improve.

I couldn't agree with you more.

It was simply a case of, 'just saying' but he does seem to be lot more tactically savvy than his Dutch counterpart with EPL experience and not known - or as well known - for playing slow, possession based footy from the back which frightens the queer stuff out of me, he gets my vote over RDB.

Ideally, it would be Simeone but realistically none of us have any other choice than to wait.

Not easy is it James?

Let's hope all the waiting will be worth it in the end but one thing - and the only thing we know - it has to be better than what we had before as long as it's not someone who like RDB and the cut price Catalan, knows how to change things if it ain't working.

The RS bought Lambert, Lovren and Lallana, he replaced them with Van Dijk, Pelle and Tadic. He's no mug in the transfer market.

Just the fact that we have gone to the manager of a club who finished 5th and sold our vision to him gives me great hope for the future. A move like this shows we have something tangible to offer any prospective manager. He seems well respected and has managed to bring in a few good signings in his time.

It seems safe to say he will do well at Everton if he makes the move North. Good stuff.

I've got the impression Moshiri at least wants to explore 'better' alternatives before going for the 'expedient' one.

Let's see what he does.

He knows how to get the crowd going as well...

Link

1 Copa Del Rey and 1 Dutch title since 2004 doesn't exactly shout WINNER. Also picked up a nice 6-1 home spanking by the RS in his tenor at Southampton.

I fear a regret if he comes to Goodison and De Boer ends up at Southampton.

We should just wait for the announcement of a news conference. But unfortunately the plots and sub plots are addictive. Got to go away for an hour. Back for my next fix then.

Though they knew him to be the right choice they didn't want the industry to perceive him as the expedient one to maintain their reputation.

I don't say that as a Moyes fan, it just covers the 'lazy' option that Matinez was labelled last time an appointment was made.

Koeman is not a bad choice but I worry like others that money will be his main motivation for joining us rather than the exciting prospect of awakening a sleeping giant.

Moyes also did well on a relatively small budget, but there is a massive difference between the two men. Koeman was a winner as a player. He played for big clubs and was an elite player. Moyes wasn't. Koeman's mentality will be very different. I think Koeman would be a fantastic appointment.

Did Koeman bring the midget to Southampton or was Sammy already there.

I know your reference material is a comedy based on real events, but I can only state that should this potential scenario come to pass, it would be a complete tragedy for Everton.

I pray I won't be saluting you on your foresight, but this is Everton were talking about so anything is possible!

The Koeman link rumbles on….. but as others have said, it's safe to say no one has really got a Scooby doo what is going on.

He would be a decent appointment imo, as long as Fat Sammy aint part of the package!

Im still dreaming of Simeone, with Monchi/Emery a close second.

Ooops, wrong week, wrong manager to speculate about.

De Boer and Emery are both winners of major honours and would have something to prove In England.

Koeman, if he comes, would only to keep us as a top ten side and he would be classed as a success.
Koeman will get a four year deal with more money than he was on at Southampton and have more money to spend on players.
He is a no from me, and I can see a fairly good first season and nothing else.

Personally, I'm tired of that mentality.

Staggered at this. His three European trophies are and consistent good managing with little or no money clearly doesn't impress. Ridiculous.

People are saying EFC is a stepping stone for Barca, why on earth would they take him? He hasn't done that much.

Whoever we het at least they'll be better than RM. But hope it's Emery.

Monchi - Director of Sport (or whwtever)

Koeman - Coach

Let's get a manager that brings us success, then get concerned about him leaving.

If that is the pinnacle of our ambition, the we should just pack up, because that behaviour is an insult to the proud name of Everton FC.

With the Moshiri influence should come higher standards and gone will be the patience that characterises the 'Everton way' when to comes to doing things with decency....

There should be clear goals which if they aren't met that should result in the guy getting the boot

The lack of explicit, clear targets from board (BK) has been staggering, and if Martinez had been given that level of pressure I think we'd seen him change his ways and maybe hed still be here

Fingers crossed

Koeman's stock is high at the moment for his first season of massively overachieving, as they were one of the teams expected to be relegated, and a second season of slightly overachieving... but I don't see much more progress – even if he did have a large transfer budget. I think the next couple of seasons will be similar to the last. I don't see him as a top manager for some reason; a good one, yes... but someone who does fairly well reaching a certain level. building a reputation. until he gets to what are considered the biggest/most fashionable clubs where he can compete on massive budgets winning silverware occasionally but not regularly.

I think Emery would be a better choice but even he doesn't get me as excited as the prospect of the unknown in De Boer who is without doubt my preferred choice by some distance. What's not to like about the fella, he wants to manage Everton, he's hungry, likes to give youth a chance, is strict, meticulous, has a 60% win ratio, has done something that's never been done before in winning four Dutch titles in a row, is young in managerial terms, has plenty of charisma, a bit arrogant (for me, a good sign in a manager) and was a very good player learning his craft at Barcelona and Ajax so would also get the respect from the players and will be able to attract some good ones.

Unfortunately it looks like the board don't rate him highly or are unwilling to take a risk on a manager from what they might think is a weak league but I'm sure, as Gareth( #12) said, if we get Koeman, Southampton will bring in De Boer and I think it would prove to be another Potchetino type masterstroke because they would've had the belief we should've had and we'll be left with an inferior manager to them.

Of course, I could be completely wrong and, as others have said, no-one really knows who is going to be a success until time proves it but my gut feeling is De Boer is tailor-made for us and COULD be a top manager in the making.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

I still think Pellegrini, closely followed by FDB, would be our best option. As for Emery, Simeone and OFFM, that's just fantasy football stuff. Well, the last one would be more akin to Nightmare on Elm Street.

A DoF should move Elstone into the long grass and limit our exposure to someone who has never to my mind been of the right quality to decide and run things at Goodison

I wouldn't be surprised if Elstone was moved out, it would be another signal things are been run more akin to the way Moshiri wants

Will be interesting if it is Koeman what length of contract hes offered...

Worrying about whether Everton FC is purely being used as a stepping stone is quite frankly silly as all ambitious managers want to move on at some stage, we will be lucky to see any Everton manager remain in post for longer than three years regardless of how successful they may become at Goodison.

..............unless he was winning everything with Everton!

All getting double Dutch to me.

My own questions are is goin to be first coach, as Graeme Jones was shit, and where do Big Dunc, Unsworth who I think could be a good manger, and Joe Royle fit in, plus I would have Big Nev as Goalkeeping coach, as you need to keep within the club's traditions, and identity, but we need to modernise, catch up, and take our place back amongst english's football's elite where most of the time we have belonged, give us the money chelsea and man city have enjoyed, then you would see the different, history and support says it all.

Like you say they are all positive steps though and as long as Moyes doesn't get the nod, then I will welcome and support whoever is appointed. Even if they do go back, I will, albeit begrudgingly, support him too.

I personally think Koemans isn't the best that we can get but I won't worry as I can't influence the choice. Remember the golden rule, him with the gold makes the rules and that is Morshini now.

My view is that the most risk free would be Simeone (have I got that right) but failing him my personal preference would be Frank De Boer maybe with Overmars as DOF.

He again would be a risk but one I think would be worth taking.

However any of those currently linked would be a step up from the way we haqve operated in the past.

So he has won things but I get the feeling if he comes to us it will be for the big cheque he sees dangling in front of him and not the challenge.

If it is Koeman then let's give him a chance. Some people on here would be unhappy with Guardiola, Mourinho etc. A new manager is always a gamble, we just have to wait and see. Until the Europa final no one mentioned Emery and now he is spoken of as a genius on here by people who have possibly only seen one Sevilla game.

Southampton 1- 6 Liverpool (League Cup Qtr final) hovers ominously in my mind.

I'm not really that excited by any of the new managers linked with us, there's risks with most managers, even Mourniho, who would last about 2 or 3 years at most.

So give the new manager a chance, ToffeeWeb followers, whoever it is – Koeman, Emery, Frank de Boer – the support they will need.

In Moshiri we trust.

Do you know if he had a significant amount of money to spend before?

But at least compared to past years, instead of Bill looking down the sofa for spare change to buy a squad player like Gibson; we have at least a serious transfer war chest to buy a better quality of player.

Whoever, the manager will be, he needs to get the respect of the dressing room straight away, cause the fans will always back a new manager.

I just don't see him improving us especially with the other top managers who are going to be in the league next season. We can do better, Blues. And hopefully with the waves Moshiri has been making, I hope he's thinking bigger too.

Now we are in a position that would indicate our ambitions are higher than those respected managers might be capable of achieving, whether it be Koeman, Emery, De Boer or Pellegrini who is eventually appointed we and the 31,000 season ticket holders have to back the new manager and hope he can produce a winning team.

Do you know something we don't ?

I only asked because I didn't know and don't follow too much. Actually, I couldn't care less about other clubs, well apart from FC Bukovina (and I'm gonna get slayed for this) Dynamo Kiev...eek...

I lived in Ukraine for 7 years and was at the Olympic Stadium for 'that' game about a month before moving back to MostlyFuckingCloudyLand)

Me and my 'fellow' Dynamo fans were all on the national news too)

After arriving about 10am, I couldn't figure out why we were waiting outside the ground for so long when we should have been getting tanked on beer and vodka...it turned out I was set up by one of my guys who knew very well how much I hate cameras and after being asked if I knew any Everton songs with the cameras secretly rolling and me blasting out the first few lines of Johnny Todd, in what I'm sure was a premeditated manoeuvre, the 'gopnik' pricks mauled me to the ground....then we went for some beer and vodka so it was fine until the game but there you go)

"Slava geroy!!"

I'll admit, and some of you have probably seen, that Koeman wasn't my preference. Frank de Boer was always my 1st choice, then Pellegrini, then Koeman but IF we do get Koeman then I would actually be happy. He's done a good job at Southampton, he's got an eye for a good player and his brand of football seems to suit the premier league and with the right backing, I'm sure he can turn us into regular CL challengers and depending on how much investment, even further hopefully.

I'd rather have Koeman than Emery if I'm honest. I know he's just won the Europa for the 3rd time running and it's an unbelievable achievement but domestically he's done nothing. He finished 3rd a few times with Valencia a while ago but back then Valencia, even with their financial struggles, were still one of the best teams in Spain, probably the third best behind both Barca & Real Madrid at that point. The best he's managed at Sevilla is 5th! Now I know Sevilla lose star players most season, but don't be fooled into thinking that they don't spend money and get some good players into replace what went out! But people kind of mocking Koemans achievements at Southampton need to realise that what he's done domestically with them is probably a more impressive job than Emery getting Sevilla to 5th. Tbf, Sevilla should be challenging for the top 4 in Spain and CL qualification each year, Imo anyway has their still one of the better teams in La Liga.

But like some have mentioned, I fear that IF we do get Koeman, de Boer goes to Southampton and ends up doing a really good job and has them challenging along with us for that top four and shows we should of gone for him instead really.

Whoever we get it is quite obvious now that the massive change that comes with investment, that we have all been praying for 24/7 for years, has happened. We are in completely different place now, and the future, while uncertain, is a lot brighter. If Moshiri was not around, and we still had Bill et all in charge, I can assure you the likes of Jose, Koeman, De Boer, Emery, Pelligrini would not have even been in the equation, and either Alan Stubs, David Unsworth or god forbid Moyes would already be our new manager.

The intent, and ambition, not to mention talks of a new stadium and a huge transfer kitty, from Mr Moshiri, are very, VERY exciting to me.

COYB. Let's welcome whoever we get. There is Royal Blue on the horizon, lets embrace it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dynamo-Andy-Dougan/dp/1841153192/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464896083&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=dynamo+paul+dougan

I would rather leave Royle & Rhino in charge for a bit than acting in haste and repenting at leisure, how many bloody times have we done that?

The last time I remember going to a game and being filled with true excitement was when we'd just bought Kanchelskis fresh from winning a trophy. Who was in charge then?

However, since I read about Monchi's possible departure from Seville & Emery's reduced buy-out figure I feel a tad disappointed that Koeman is now looking likely to be the next manager/coach.

On the plus side, Moshiri's influence has had a positive effect on the quality available to us & I hope the 'right' one is appointed to take the club forward in an even more competitive Premier League next season

Slava Ukryina...geroem Slava yob twayoo mats...hahahahahaha

Well, I wasn't expecting that...have you been on mainstream Ukrainian TV too?)))

Although, Pocchetino, came from no-where, Southampton to Spurs, without winning anything. Compare that to Van Gaal, managed at the highest level, who would most people go for now? Goin for the biggest names doesn't always work.

My point is, the new manager, must have the drive and ambition to take us forward, and be completley fearless almost like a mourinho, plus Southampton's last 2 managers seemed to have done well, losing alot of players to the RS, so there set up does not seem bad, ours need a kick up the arse, we know it, now up to the board to deliver.

Looking at last year's Premier League Table, after the abuse Martinez got for a 5th, two 11th finishes plus 2 Cup Semi Finals (one which we should have won). Where has the new manager got to finish before he gets the same abuse!

Bear in mind we're up against Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, throw in Leicester, West Ham and Stoke who are also owned by multi millionaires!

Real short-sightedness from our board again; the Premier League isn't the be all and end all, and it certainly isn't a difficult league to be successful in.

It's been a dreadful standard since it's onset. Just look at how English teams do in European competition every year, with many times the resources of any other league. It must have been lost on our board that Southampton did actually compete in the Europa League last season – they were knocked out in the qualifiers. Comparing Koeman's record to Emery's in all competitions is just no comparison whatsoever.

From all reports, both Emery and Monchi have buy-out options in their contracts, so let's meet those buy-outs and make them an offer they can't refuse.

But hopefully we can spend well and gel quickly and hit the ground running next season and kick on with whoever gets the job!

A lot of boards/owners are going to be disappointed with their 'big name' managers - as the likes of Pep, Jose, Klopp, Conte etc. when they don't deliver the Premier League in the next year or two. I think we need to play a longer game, and Moshiri strikes me already as a shrewd customer who will be doing a lot of research and I do think his decision will be a good one. He's the one putting up the notes

So while Koeman isn't my first choice, I can live with it - compared to who we'd have got with Blue Bill fully in charge. Just would be nice to get this done by the weekend, so next season's planning can start before the Euros.

Then, hopefully.... The future's bright..... The future's Royal Blue!

I remember the tweet he sent out a few days into the job with a picture of an empty training field, titled "team training". He had to basically rebuild a team ravaged by their former coach and the RS. To get that team to the top 6 within 2 years is a great job.

It's funny seeing comments on social media from people saying they can't believe he would leave Saints for us. I grew up in Hampshire and Pompey probably have a bigger fan base than them. They might have a billionaire owner as well, but potential wise, where they are now is probably at their ceiling.

I'm settled on Koeman because I've learnt a few new things about him recently and it ain't doing my health any good with all the chopping and changing I've done and don't worry Raymond, I'm sure he won't get any abuse....

First he has a bigger choice of adjectives and I know he's a hella of a lot more tactically savvy...he's be gonna be great dudeski

Do you know how I know?
I feel it)))

All we can do is hope the powers that be ultimately get it right. Moshiri must have taken advice from many experienced contacts. And to be fair the shortlist we have heard about is pretty decent. For a start there has been no serious talk of the Nigel Pearson's, Phil Neville's, Duncan Ferguson's, etc,. Moyes talk worried me for a while but I believe that would have been Bill putting his pennyworth in.

For me I'd love Simone - but I don't think it's a goer. From the remainder I'd be happy with Koeman, Emery or my second tier of Pelligrini or De Boer.

Face it - your guy is probably not going to get it. Prepare yourself for another slightly less palatable choice.

Whatever happens let's back the guy to the hilt and not start his reign with just slagging him off.

I think you believe that the players got off lightly last season. I agree but for far too long Martinez was allowed to continue being useless. Whoever the new coach is he will need to get the right personalities and have a huge amount of luck. Whatever one thinks of Martinez hecertainly didn't have much luck.

Whilst acknowledging we are no longer in the space of needing a complete overhaul and 10-year recovery plan and more in the achieve something relatively soon space, I just feel that we would be a stepping stone to greater things (providing it went well for him IF he became our manager and IF he succeeded).

IF we go with him, I support him as manager of Everton however for me this doesn't feel like a good fit. Incidentally I (like many) said the same of Roberto yet got behind him. I support Everton not the individual.

So, why do you think De Boer "has a real hunger to prove himself", but Koeman might be a money grabbing bastard whose "heart" may not be in it? De Boer has been trying to get a gig in the Premier League for the past three years. People close to him have let it be known he was 'keen' on the Spurs job, the red shite job, the Newcastle job and now the Everton job. Basically, he's looking to manage in the Premier League. How can you be sure such eagerness is based on ambition and nothing at all to do with the riches on offer then?

Koeman, by contrast, is supposedly contemplating moving on from a club where he has had to cope with the loss of 𧵎m worth of players over the past two summers and a sticking point of his contract talks has been him seeking assurances that a similar situation will not continue to unfurl on a yearly basis. That suggests to me a manager interested in having the opportunity of building on his work and actually progressing with a team, rather than having to tear it up and start again from scratch each term.

Sure, the money on offer is going to play a big part in his decision, but that surely stands for any manager contemplating taking up a vacancy? To suggest that would be his primary motive in moving to Everton is speculative in the extreme. Whilst some of the dullest lights of the punditry circuit may be trying to make out that leaving Southampton for Everton is now a fucking step down, Koeman has been in the game long enough to know there is a massive difference between the two stages he's got the opportunity to tread.

Anyway, at least Everton appear to be the one's doing the chasing and courting of (charity bucket out) Koeman, whereas with (don't insult me with cash) De Boer it appears to be completely the other way around with him/his brother coming over all fucking Duncan Norvelle about it and shouting "Oooh Chase me, chase me!", before stopping, bending over, sticking his head between his own ankles and wondering why those upside down bastards are rapidly backing away rather than jumping right in.

1) Koeman was my original first choice. He has a certain gravitas as a player- to attract and to keep our current crop this is important. Got experience in several leagues and has done well at Southampton.

2) Post Uefa Cup I have started to fancy Emery more.. He is a risk though coming from such an alien footballing culture as Spain. How many managers with experience limited to Spain ( I am not including his spell in Russia) have made the transition other than Potch?

3) De Boer. Liked the idea of him, read a lot that troubles me with him though, particularly his lack of experience in competitive leagues. I struggle to see what possible advantage he has over Koeman, apart from he 'wants' the job with no negotiation?

4) Simeone is not a realistic option. He doesn't speak English despite trying to learn, and shows no real desire to work here. His next move will most likely be to Italy, and probably Internazionale. This is from BBC 5 live journo when questioned on him. If he was interested in England, it would be him, and not Conte, at Chelsea. This is not a defeatist argument, just simple fact.

Koeman will do a solid job. He probably ticks most boxes of those #available.

Come on Everton.

Take Ranieri, everthings gone wonderfully well this season, but how many times has he been sacked for failing to come up to expectations.
Koemans in the same boat, doing well with Southampton up to now but has also been sacked several times.
Its very difficult to judge managers, because success is a very transient thing, very often when things just drop into place and things go your way.

Its crucial whoever the manager is, that he is backed up by the best players we can possible afford, and I'm talking real quality.

For the time being, that change will do well enough for me.

David, 211:
Try it!)

Have a look at the league table from last season. 18 wins (two more than WHU & Liverpool) and a goal difference of + 18 (which is better than Utd, WHU and Liverpool).

The season before that, again 18 wins with a goal difference of +21.

Hopefully he can bring Long, Tadic, Wanyama & Forster with him. He's now 1/4 with PP. I'm on board.

http://www.skysports.com/football/competitions/premier-league/table/2015

Like you say though if anyone has inside information get on quick.

I think Koeman has done a good job at Southampton considering he has had to change the team each season he has been there because his best players were sold by The board of directors at Southampton.

If he signs for Everton all we can hope for is he does a good job, same as any manager who takes the job. How does he treat young players at the clubs he has been at, does he give them a chance, quite a few young lads coming through at Finch Farm, hope he gives them a chance.

Incidentally once he sees Finch Farm he will be overjoyed at the facilities there, it will be the best training ground in England if not Europe in the next few years.

Well I hope we do a Leicester next season and shut up these fuckwit journos once and for all.

I didn't live in Kiev, too fast and big for me but excellent if you know the right places to go for a few nights)

I was in a very pretty little place called Chernivtsi. Austro-Hungarian architecture, 600 years old, 220,000 very friendly people with another 30,000 mostly female students when it was uni time...30 mins from Romania, an hour from MOLDOVA and voted by Ukraians the best place to live just about every year...a wonderful taste of real Ukr life.

I didn't know anyone when I got there, any language or understood the culture so when I calmed down, I put some bunk beds in my flat and called it a hostel consequently spending most days getting hammered with interesting, lovely people from around the world, so not bad and I miss it so much, my friends and above all their eternally positive attitude which makes a nice change. Maybe I was infected by the positivity, I don't know but it seems I have become possibly a bit over sensitive or maybe the occasional bouts of what used to be the national pastime of complaining, seems to me to have evolved into something more like a numbed, constant whinging sound.

Anyway, it's great to have veggie options again where chicken and fish are classed as meat plus I get to drink some lovely real ale instead of (and to be fair, quite poky at times) yet still, fizzy, cats piss lager.

Personally I'm over the moon. Ronald Koeman is a shrewd operator who has an excellent pedigree, both as a player and manager.

He more than exceeded expectations at Saints getting a team who were favourites for the drop, after they had a exodus of their supposed best players. He bought in players who were better.

I think that this has been the major attraction for Moshiri. It's not just Rom and Stones who will leave. It's all the deadwood who are out of contract. We'll be able to replace the likes of Gibson and Pienaar with players like Tom Davies and Kieran Dowell. That all said, It's still a big rebuild and Ronald Koeman has a proven track record, so he seems perfect choice IMO.

I don't understand the Dutch David Moyes comparison. For one, I don't think he's a bottler and he's actually won some trophies.

He's won 3 Dutch titles and what also gave him the edge over De Boer was probably the fact that he also won the double in Holland wining the Dutch equivalent of the FA cup. He's also won the Copa Del Rey in Spain with Valencia, so he's also won trophies in a superior league. It's a haul David Moyes could only dream of.

I was edging towards De Boer over Koeman a few weeks ago, because he clearly wants the job and he has more potential being the relative unknown. I must admit though, the fact that FDB has a poor record in cup competitions and the possession philosophy he apparently favours put a few doubts in my mind. I also think it would have taken De Boer few years to integrate his style. A little bit like LVG at United, who was just starting to turn the corner before he was sacked.

I don't particularly like Koeman the man. I never liked him as a player. But I'm confident with the backing he's going to get us mixing it with the best.

I also personally think Koeman is a better appointment than Emery. We can still try and get Monchi who seems to be the main talent at Seviila. Emery was abysmal when he left La Liga for Russia.

The coldest I experienced was -25 but the long hot summers are usually 6 or so months between 25-38...the last 2 winters I was there, the 3rd week in November we were in t-shirts))

Have you been there?
Thinking about going?

It appears we are going to be installing a new director of football and manager with a squad thats going to lose numerous players, some way past it, a couple big name first team regulars. We are going to require numerous additions.

Things could be bumpy at first. You can therefore understand them wanting someone who has worked in the division. I personally think Pellegrini's track record shits all over Koemans, but the latter would be a good appointment.

Switch on the circuit in Barkley which has a faulty connection.

Sign us a 'Keeper.
Sign us a midfield Tiger.
Make "The Grand Old Lady Roar !".

Otherwise, we won't be waiting 3 years this time !

(Despite being a calm and reasonable man, I may yet add further demands).

Rather than the first steps into a brave new world it seems a nod to the pre Martinez era.

Everton Sign Sambou

Koeman will get a huge war chest plus the Lukaku money (seems like the club will let him go for the right money) but we will keep Ross and Stonesy. I can't wait.

Seems the dull old days really could be a thing of fading memory rather than fading glory. Bloody hope so.

Second, given the situation of our squad we're likely to more or less immediately need new signings to replace the likes of our "elderlies" (at least Hibbo, Pienaar, Ozzie, Gibson - despite his actual age) and probably two keepers to compete with Robles, the only one left, and spare me the argument that four or five of our youngsters can just replace all of them at the same time. Then there's the tricky job of replacing any of our want-aways and inadequates, and we all believe we know who they are. Again, Southampton's league position gives licence for optimism given the way their squad was reassembled after several of their "stars" left en-masse over the past two summers.

If Koeman (or whoever) is appointed I hope they have to EARN the right to get another contract by either winning something or getting into the CL proper within their first two or three year contract. To me that means we may have to adjust to a board who will please not tolerate a decade or two of the complacency and impotence of Kenwright and his string-pullers. Instead, the new board will hopefully get shut in the face of failure and appoint a better manager, and with a new stadium and new in-house revenue streams there should be a procession of proven applicants as and when that day arrives.

Of course Koeman (or whoever) may just see us as a stepping stone to "greater" clubs but, providing they achieve success for us whilst they're here, who cares?

I'd better not wake up tomorrow to see a beaming BPB announcing the appointment of his David.

I'm going with the notion that EFC is now run by a man with ambition. Not another Kenwright "financial friend(s)" (Be interesting over the next two years if the books still show those two high-interest BVI loans).

And if anyone can present a logic where Moshiri is only Usamov's frontman, I'd like to hear it.

No, I'll stick thinking a man with his own ambition, Moshiri, is in charge.

If it's Koeman he gets 2-3 years, cuts the mustard, gets more years. Doesn't cut it, he goes and . . . . NEXT!

Every fuckin night someone coughs up a personal "furball" to me. How the bloody hell am I supposed to bloody sleep ?

Tonight, I was a Moyes free, Dame Billiam free zone. Just for a few hours.

Like you Colin, I am starting to seem a little and can see us achieving something this coming season. Get shut of Lukaku and bring in Jansen and wijnaldum for starters.

Plus we moan about non-Evertonians seeing this move as a step down for Koeman. Well if we are right and they are wrong then this makes his achievements in the last two seasons with a smaller club even more impressive. The man is being touted as the next Arsenal and Barca manager and some moan he only sees us a stepping stone.

Let's hope the new found direction of the club, that Koeman had been sold on, turns us back into the powerhouse we used to be and our new successful club surpasses the likes of Arsenal.

The man is straight talking and exudes class and ruthlessness. Onwards and upwards COYB!!!!