Coleman saves face but more questions than answers remain

The Premier League seems to have moved on a bit in the last two seasons with teams like Leicester (last season), Liverpool and even Burnley adopting an "in your face" type approach. Closing down is definitely the order of the day. We appear to only have Gana, McCarthy (on a good day), Barry and Coleman capable of that sort of approach. The rest seem to be too respectful of the opposition, affording them too much time to dictate play. The amount of occasions yesterday, particularly in the first half, when Swansea moved the ball around unchallenged was very noticeable.

I suspect if Koeman wants to play a pressing game, which I think you have to in the Premier League, he will have to change the personnel. Mirallas, Deulofeu, Barkley, Cleverley and the rest just don't have the Duracell Bunny batteries that are necessary these days. Oh for a Reid and Bracewell 'hunting pack' mentality in midfield!

Let's hope that the rebuild is carried out in a controlled manner and we don't have any crazy last-day deadline bids for players. Indeed, it would be nice if we started to do our business well in advance of the final day of the window, like all the successful clubs do!

I booked flights for the weekend of the Man Utd game but could not acquire two tickets together for the game, I don't feel so bad about it now.

Lennon, Mirallas & Deulofeu are not the answer to another wideman either, but the critical position is a midfield playmaker, oh for Sigurdsson, he would have been a wonderful addition, had we been able to pry him from the Swans in the summer. Barkley would have benefited greatly from Sigurdsson, who seems to do most things rather good, but with consummate ease, a rare commodity indeed!

It looks like a long season ahead of us I'm afraid, losing Gueye & Bolasie in January for the AFCON is absolutely awful. It means the return of the McCarthy & Barry duo, I would think, which will strike fear into most bluenoses, although Gueye is virtually irreplaceable! Even though Bolasie is not setting his wing position on fire, I don't see anybody able to take his place, that's at the club already!

I'd better stop as I'm making myself (and others no doubt) feel more negative & as Lyndon duly noted, there are more questions than answers!

Now, every time I've seen Davies (at first team and U23 levels) he has provided energy, enthusiasm, positioning to receive the ball, and an ability to move the ball quickly. With the dire performances of the last month and more, he's got to be worth a try. To not even be making the bench currently is a worrying indication of the manager's lack of faith in youth.

The dreadfully slow start yesterday was an indictment of his failure to motivate the players, especially when one would have expected to see a collective determination to make amends for the horror show at Stamford Bridge. His efforts to change things in the second half, with three wingers, two strikers plus Barkley on the pitch in a 3-1-6 formation smacked of blind panic.

The team badly needs freshening up. It is surely time to reintroduce Holgate in defence and bring Davies into midfield. At the very least their energy and enthusiasm would give the crowd a reason to get behind the players and perhaps shake some of the established players out of their listlessness.

It is time for Koeman to start earning his money.

Lennon can be partly excused given his lack of match fitness, but the other two have had plenty of opportunities and done nothing with them. Time to ship them out methinks. As Lyndon says, many of the problems are long-standing, particularly in midfield.

While we wait for the mythical playmaker, Davies is worth playing, though most people seem to have missed that he was not on the bench yesterday because he played for England Under-19s (or Under-20s) 3 times last week.

Given that Koeman also likes the high pressing game, he can't like what the players are dishing up at present; and add to that 2 holding midfielders, and the other 3 midfielders that we'll be lucky to see 20 goals between them, means if Lukaku ain't scoring – neither are we.

Looks like a long, hard season ahead – isn't this suppose to be entertainment?

We had 10 corners yesterday and it amazes how so called professional football players can be so ineffective at taking and preparing for a set piece. This also raises questions regarding the coaching of the players.

I might be alone here but in Lukaku we have one of the Premier League's best goalscorers but by far the worst front man; his ability to hold the ball up in the final 3rd is pathetic. Lukaku also suffers from a serious lack of power for a lad of his size and physique.

Koeman needs a serious clear-out over the next 12 months starting with Lukaku. I won't name the rest of the players who need fucking off as that list will be too long to write!

One thing's for certain: Jagielka is not and never has been captain material. It's looking like his time is up at EFC; removing any sentiment, he's a total liability at present.

Without competition for places, we will continue to experience lackadaisical performances.

Totally spot-on; while in the Park End yesterday, my brother stated exactly that point. With McCarthy back and with Lennon getting a shout, you'd think these players would go through brick walls.

There's something seriously wrong with this club. There seems to be an endemic issue right through from the management to the players.

Our midfield vision is non-existent and has been since Arteta left.

Stekelenburg – we need another goalkeeper ASAP, too inconsistent;
Coleman – despite scoring, does not do enough;
Jagielka – it's getting similar to what happened to Distin and Howard;
McCarthy – useless
Mirallas – inconsistent
Deulofeu – inconsistent
Lennon – poor final ball
Bolasie – frustrating
Don't get me started on Kone, Cleverley, Oviedo and couple of others.

January has to be the most important transfer market we have in the Premier League era. It is just getting beyond a joke how many deadwood and inconsistent players we have.

Gana Gueye is just pure class, his attitude and determination to win the ball and go forward is second to none. If only the others have the same mentality as him then maybe we would just be high up.

This was a game we should have taken 3 points in. With Southampton, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool (God help us) and Leicester next few games. It could have maybe given a boost but no – it just makes things more worrying.

The thought of the likes of Austin, Zlatan, Rashford, Sanchez, Coutinho, and Mane running at the likes of Jagielka is just fucking terrifying.

Deulofeu was playing in front of me (I was in the Lower Bullens at the Gwladys Street end), he beat his man time and again with consummate skill, then passed or crossed to no-one. Bolasie cannot cross to save his life, Mirallas rarely tries to and Lennon looked off the pace.

Every Baines corner seemed to be a gift for the keeper. Coleman's header was as unexpected as it was welcome.

It was poor fare with a lack of awareness, movement or subtlety. They play to a formula and it is predictable, lacking in flexibility, the off the ball movement is close to non-existent and leaves Barkley and Gueye with no-one in front to give a pass to, so they go sideways or backwards – not that different to Martinez's game plan.

The hypocrites across the park who profess to back their managers have the right idea. They sussed Hodgson out smartish and moved him on. Even King Kenny, after winning a trophy, got his marching orders.

We just indulge losers and – believe me – Koeman is another loser! The clueless, tactless, ignorant and arrogant buffoon just doesn't get us!
Sack him asap!

Koeman's team selection and substitutions: 10/10. He chose the only players available.

Koeman's tactics: 0/10. There was no closing down, that's why Swansea went 0-1.

Koeman's motivational skills: 0/10. Everton players looked scared to lose and scared not put on a good performance.

Stekelenburg: Did everything asked of him. If he did anything wrong, it was going the wrong way when facing a right-footed player. Against Man City (twice) he did not make that mistake. 7/10.

Coleman: Tried hard to get things moving down the right, because Lennon was anonymous. Best position could be right winger, because he is a trier with an eye for goal. Saved the day yesterday. 7/10.

Baines: Must have done something good defensively because the score was 1-1. But his crosses, free kick and corners were atrocious. 3/10.

Williams: Given the benefit of the doubt for his defensive qualities because Jagielka was poor alongside him. But what has happened to his trademark of nicking the odd goal now and again like he did for Swansea and for Wales? 5/10

Jagielka: Has become a liability in the centre of the defence; should have been replaced at the beginning of the season, as Everton need a commanding centre-half alongside Williams. 3/10

McCarthy: Again, nothing going forward. Made a few tackles here and there but failed to get hold of the ball in midfield, especially, in the first half. 3/10

Gueye: Just like McCarthy offers nothing in the business end of the pitch, but made same timely interceptions. Yet, like McCarthy allowed Swansea to dominate in midfield in the first half. 5/10

Barkley: Offered something going forward but when he was needed in midfield when Swansea dictated in the first half, he as nowhere to be seen. 5/10.

Lennon: Totally anonymous and justifies Koeman not selecting him in previous matches. 0/10.

Lukaku: If he decides to leave who can blame him, with little or no service given to him during 90 minutes. 5/10.

Bolasie: Flatters to deceive but with no end product. 5/10.

Subs — Deulofeu: made efforts to take the game to Swansea down the right but, like Bolasie, there is no end-product. 5/10.

Mirallas: Went into the referee's notebook to make a name for himself of any note yesterday after making unnecessary sliding tackle. 2/10.

Valencia: when will Koeman trust him with more minutes on the pitch? But had a hand in the equaliser. 6/10.

These are, after all, professional footballers who, even under the previous nutjob of a manager could at times play exciting attacking football and score goals. His defensive tactics as we all worked out were virtually non-existent but just when, this season have we seen any spark of the attacking play we know in our hearts this group of players can produce.

You can't just 'ship out' a number of players as is being suggested. They have contracts so even if not playing they have to be paid until a deal is in place for them to move to another club.

I've watched a number of Bundesliga games over the weekend and even bottom club Ingolstadt played with passion, high intensity and the will to win. If Koeman can't even get some of that passion into our players, then he clearly isn't the manager we were led to believe he was.

1. The lack of movement from our forwards and midfield players when the centre backs are looking to play through – Lyndon' s referral to passing channels. So often the forward players are static with nobody moving off markers , creating space or showing for the ball. Inevitably we are left with a long ball seeking Lukaku or playing down the wings - which takes me to...

2. Our ability to cross the ball and find a man is woeful. Bolasie puts his crosses in generally with his head down and either fires them in blindly or over hits them. Our corners are generally a joke – how can highly paid and trained footballers produce such a string of poor crosses from a dead ball? What exactly do they practice all week at training? Getting past the first defender is now considered a bonus. Unbelievable.

3. As has been pointed out repeatedly, a lack of intensity from the start is simply baffling.

I rate Koeman highly and was excited when he arrived, but here Is the worry - all of the above are coachable – even if the squad isn't yet as good as we want it so why can't he coach them to move and show? Cross a ball? Close down with energy?

You don't need to be Messi to do any of those things, and you don't need to be the world's best gaffer to make it the routine minimum that is expected at this club. We'd take all three of those things as a start... not a lot to ask?

I too sit in Upper Bullens, and I was excited when we got Koeman; of all the candidates mentioned he was the one I wanted. I liked his initial no nonsense plan and to let players know from the off what he expected.

Then as seems to happen when new managers arrive there is usually an upturn in form which we got. But of late our form has dipped and with that confidence has taken a knock. But what is most worrying is we have started a lot of games of late very lethargically and it has taken the opposition to score for that to change.

Koeman has said that he may have to shout at them before the game to make sure they start with the high intensity he wants. I would suggest that maybe if every training session was played at a very high intensity then it would be very natural to start and finish playing this way.

A couple of seasons back I watched Barca train there passing was so quick it was like a blur trying to follow the ball. The whole session was done with pace and intensity, so no wonder thats how they play every game.

I think our movement from our front 4 is poor, I would like to see our wingers' starting position to be 10 yards closer to Lukaku. At present the gap between the wingers and Lukaku is about 20 yards so how do you build up any inter play between them with such a gap?

Then our number 10 is usually a further 15 yards behind Lukaku. When I watch Chelsea or our neighbours their movement and inter changing positions is light years ahead of what we are doing.

Koeman will need time and we all agree on that, lets not forget this group of players were not good enough to get into the top half of the league for the past 2 seasons. So we know this group will need changing and that will take time... But I want to see that Koeman is starting to change to the new style of play that the top sides in the Premier League are playing.

After Moyes's "penknives to gunfights" / "batten down the hatches" expectation dampening exploits, we had Martinez come in who actually told players to take risks – even unnecessary ones. Was fine for a short time till other clubs sussed us out.

It seems Koeman's tactic is to tell those fans who got tired of Roberto's bull "Yeah, we dare not dream because you are Everton... get used to it."

He has been allowed to disregard our club and we are paying him £6m a year – the 7th highest paid manager in world football wants us to accept that we are some sort of middle tier outfit. Well, give us a rebate then Ronald.

I get the impression that he has been irritated by the reaction to his interviews. Sorry Ronald – we aren't Southampton. Whether you like it or not, you have stepped into the lion's den, and you will be judged – and you will hear what we have to say.

He may see us as a stepping stone to bigger things but up till now he hasn't done anything to make me think that he isn't the right fit for our club.

We will do well to remember Ruud Gullit's tenure at Newcastle where his arrogance near destroyed the team and it ended with him being fired. A dismissal that energised the club.

I'm not saying sack him... yet. However he needs to know that we are not going to allow him carte blanch. He will be feeling the rumbles of discontent – he needs to sort it out and quick. Either get with us or get lost.

I thought Gana was head and shoulders our best man.

We may still be 7th and had a great start to the season but it looks to me like the players aren't willing to raise their game for the manager and all is not well in the camp.

In one way, you can say Koeman is very limited in what players he can play as the team more or less picks itself but, against a team as poor as Swansea, we should be doing a lot better. Koeman doesn't seem to be able to motivate them to play his way or else they are just not interested in listening to him.

A lot of us are hoping that we will bring in some decent players in January but, being realistic, it rarely pans out that way. I fear December will see us drop down to mid-table as we have some very tough home fixtures which will be another reason why some players won't want to sign for us.

Give the man one transfer window at least and by that I mean next summer because this will not be fixed in January as the side needs a complete overhaul.

The players for me don't work hard enough; so the team needs an injection of enthusiasm short-term which would come with the introduction of some of the younger talent.

Hopefully, with the amount of games coming up; we'll see some opportunities for Davies, Dowell, Holgate and Walsh.

Now we seem to think we really only have 3/4 players really good enough. For me, I think we are somewhere in the middle. The biggest factor for our recent performances is lack of confidence, but it is very frustrating that Koeman seems reluctant to give youth (namely Davies) the chance they deserve.

That said, I think calls for Koeman to be sacked are really premature. There is no doubt we need to strengthen in January and I think it will be next season before we really see where Koeman can take us.

We know they get paid enough money, so attitude shouldn't be a problem, but they way they have been starting games as been abysmal this season. They have been lukewarm at best and even games they have won they have been second best early on.

The sad indictment in the game against Swansea (now last) is the offensive inadequacies. Ross's glaring miss provided the springboard for Swansea's goal. Alarming that it was down to Seamus to rescue a point in injury time but it still felt like a defeat they way they played.

Koeman may have a motivational problem in his make-up and that doesn't bode well for the rest of the season. A team with real character would have bounced back against a team like Swansea.

Me too, but probably not for the same reason as yourself, I'm dreading that the players, management and staff will see that game, if Everton were to win, as somehow excusing the rubbish we have witnessed for the last 30 months. I want Everton to win obviously but I also want us to beat all the other teams we play.

Am I dreading a pummeling by the other lot? Of course that's always been the case, but there are plenty of teams capable of giving this current Everton team a good thrashing in their present mood.

When he picked on Niasse at the start, I saw him as a bit of a sacrificial lamb in the sense that Koeman was letting the players know how he will deal with sub standard quality. I got that wrong.

Essentially Koeman is a bit of an aloof bully. Seeming to single out the ever-maligned Ross Barkley smacks of the continuing trend of managers to try and destroy one of England's best talents. Moyes, Warnock and Hodgson, have already left their mark on the kid. It was only Martinez who genuinely seemed to show a warmth to the lad that he needs – as misdirected as his tactical use of the lad was, he got the best from him.

Will a transfer window change things? He wanted to sign the arrogant sulk Sissoko from Newcastle. It seems he has a penchant for players who have an overinflated opinion of themselves with their eyes elsewhere... after all, Lukaku is too big for us and will be a failure if he stays at Everton. Maybe Lukaku represents what he sees in himself.

Is it a bit strong to say "sack him" like Paul Roberts @25 said? On the surface ,it appears a bold and premature shout but it's not such a ridiculous notion.

Apathy has destroyed our club and it needs a very powerful message to reverse the trend. This manager has apathy written all over him. If you were to draw parallels, he is behaving like you imagine Lewis Hamilton would if he had to drive a "force india" car... "Only so much I can do" expressions all over his face. Its his job to develop the car if he isn't up to that challenge then go!

It's all very well us wishing for a waterfront stadium – but right now we are at a watershed moment in our history. Koeman has entered our club in a not too dissimilar fashion to how Moyes has entered Sunderland – talking about other clubs he was at... seemingly not bought into it and having the look of a man who isn't accepting ownership for what he needs to do.

We made Chelsea look like Barca – oh for any "Dogs of War" Everton of old – 100% more effort, energy, sweat & tears... not like these prima donnas.

A manager who told us what we'd seen, without these frills. January is just papering over our obvious deficiencies. Player power – managers are just figureheads... what obvious improvements have we witnessed so far? Zero!!!

COYB

Both Williams and Jagielka depend on two dropping back in to supporting them, when Everton need 2 centre-backs who can boss the last line of defence. Otherwise, Everton look a very unbalanced team.

As for Valencia, he helped with the goal, something others throughout the game failed to do. So he deserves a 6, because it does not matter how long a player is on the pitch, but what he does when on it.

Before you pan me, I'm just telling the truth – like Koeman does!

The problem definitely seems one of attitude. I would expect Koeman to be able to sort this out through discipline and motivation, sooner rather than later. If he can't do this, and players seem unwilling to put the effort in, then perhaps we have a serious problem deeper than can be solved by a new manager.

I'm hoping that this is not the case, and that Koeman will improve the situation as time progresses. Perhaps similarly to what Klopp has done.

I wish somebody in a position of power at the club would read these pages as they would be able to see the level of discontent that has built up over the last few years. Never have I read so many plaudits for a club and its manager and team that are supposed to be our fiercest rivals as I have read in the last six months or so.

That this happens so often is testament to how disillusioned many Evertonians have become with the team and the club in the last few years, often taken to the brink of success only to fall flat on our faces and seemingly with no answer to the problems and issues that beset the team.

There have been far poorer players seen at Goodison Park in years gone by, than we have in today's squad, but not so many Everton sides have shown such a lack of appetite for the battle at hand. The fact that Koeman doesn't seem to have the answers either, means he will probably follow in the footsteps of Smith, Kendall Mk 3, Moyes and Martinez as having failed this 'great' club.

It may well be too early to tell and obviously the manager has to be given some time, but there are no signs that anything has radically altered in the short time he has been here and that is worrisome.

Coutinho was crap a year ago, now he's not crap. Barkley was good a year ago, now he's struggling. Hopefully we can iron things out. I think the trick is to stay positive, with a weather eye on things not turning out as hoped, this being Everton.