Season › 2016-17 › News Koeman: Players are prepared for Palace test Lyndon Lloyd , 29 September, 19comments | Jump to most recent Ronald Koeman has put the Bournemouth result behind him and says that tomorrow's match against Palace under the Goodison lights will be a different game. The Blues suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at the hands of the Cherries last weekend, with the manager highlighting a particularly poor first-half display as being his team's undoing. Explaining that a good result in front of Sky's cameras tomorrow would leave everyone happy with the team's record over the first seven games, Koeman has been pragmatic about the loss on the south coast and he says that he and his staff have studied the video with the players this week. “Always after a bad game you need to analyse what happened," the Dutchman said in his pre-match press conference. "The problem in the first half was we tired to press high but not all the team was involved in pressing. The distances in the pitch were not what we want. That was our main problem in the first half. "But, OK, we did everything in the second half. They had one shot on target, a fantastic goal, and sometimes you need to accept a defeat. "Tomorrow is a different game. We play at home. It's a different opponent, a different style of playing. We had a good week of sessions to prepare ourselves in the best way for tomorrow. Asked if he is considering making changes to the team based on the Bournemouth result, Koeman said that any alterations to the starting XI would be tailored to the task of beating Crystal Palace, not because of individual performances in the last game. "[Changes in personnel] are always possible," Koeman said. "You don't always need to make changes when you lose a game. Maybe sometimes it's a technical choice between some players. "[The Bournemouth defeat] was a team performance that wasn't good in the first 45 minutes. It wasn't one or two players, it was the whole team." Reader Comments (19) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Ciarán McGlone 1 Posted 29/09/2016 at 18:21:02 Not sure Koeman's analysis of the second half last week stands up to any scrutiny. We certainly had more of the ball, but we consistently gave possession away needlessly.For me, the second half was worse – as it showed our problems using the ball effectively. The first half was down to Bournemouth's endeavour. The second was down to our incompetence.If Koeman thinks the second half is a template for how we should play, then that's worrying. Clive Rogers 3 Posted 29/09/2016 at 20:21:00 I expect to see Mirallas omitted from tomorrow's team as he has been anonymous for the last three games and has been the main culprit for lack of high pressing. Steavey Buckley 4 Posted 29/09/2016 at 20:43:51 4-3-3 is the best formation to attack and defend against any opposition. Everton against Crystal Palace don't have real options in view of previous performances and injury to Baines, but to play: Stekelenburg, Coleman. Jagielka. Williams (capt) Oviedo. Gueye. Barry (or Tom Davies.) Cleverley. Lennon. Lukaku. Bolasie.Subs: Barkley, Gerard, Mirallas, Valencia, Holgate and Robles. Mark Morrissey 5 Posted 29/09/2016 at 20:47:42 Can't see Barkley missing out. Bolasie to score and have his best game yet against his old team. I'd start with Deulofeu over Mirallas 2-0 Gerard Carey 6 Posted 29/09/2016 at 21:31:34 Maybe a chance for our forwards to show that they can press (defend) high up tomorrow, as they haven't so far. Could be a last chance for some. Will be interesting to see how the game unfolds. Will Koeman still go with Barkley? Trevor Peers 7 Posted 29/09/2016 at 21:51:03 Best formation 4-2-3-1: Stekelenburg Coleman Jagielka Williams Oviedo Gueye Barry Deulofeu Davies Bolasie LukakuSubs: Mirallas, Barkley, Lennon etc.Mobility in midfield should give us the edge. Speed and skill up the flanks should provide Lukaku with lots of opportunities. Darryl Ritchie 8 Posted 29/09/2016 at 22:19:15 For me, it's not that we lost the last 2 matches, it's the way we lost the last 2 matches. I have to disagree with Koeman; while we were better the second half versus Bournemouth, we still weren't very good. We need to turn the wick up quite a bit, if we're going to get a result on Friday. It's just the seventh game of the season, but the result (and the effort) will be a good indicator for future matches. If they can't raise their game for this one, it's going to be a long season. Dave Cooney 9 Posted 29/09/2016 at 23:30:34 I don't believe Koemen does think the second half was great. He is probably thinking more of the players' mindsets than the fans'. I think Koemen thinks we pressed better, an important part of his template on how to play. He says that they had one shot on target implying that they were lucky to win. We were dire the whole game but, after two poor defeats, I think he is using the carrot with the players and not the stick – getting the positives, like early David Moyes.Ferguson was the master. From the beginning, when the Mancs got beat, it was because the ref got it wrong, blew up early, the kit was too grey, the opposition were lucky. Even if behind the scenes he would throw boots at their heads if he wasn't happy.Judging from his past record, I really believe Koemen is not doing a Martinez, but is just using an age old managerial ploy. Patrick Murphy 10 Posted 29/09/2016 at 23:52:36 Or perhaps they aren't? Players have mental problem John Daley 11 Posted 30/09/2016 at 00:30:23 "players have mental problem"Link Nigel Munford 12 Posted 30/09/2016 at 07:07:01 One of my old managers said to me once "Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions." It was interesting to read in the article link above how he quizzes the players on how to solve the problems; he's looking for them to understand and implement the way he wants them to play. Also interesting comment: “Our striker is not used to pressing how we try to press the opponent and it takes time." Does this mean Rom's lazy? Steve Carter 13 Posted 30/09/2016 at 11:08:51 He's saying the majority of them don't get it and they're not who he wants or needs. We are in the first stage of the project. James Flynn 14 Posted 30/09/2016 at 11:21:41 Thanks for the link gents. Good read. Thought this would be a longer thread.Goes towards explaining why the team suddenly looked to be meandering around the last couple games after starting fast.How bad it must have been under the previous coaching staff that the basics of team defense have to be re-taught to a squad of top-league professionals. John James 15 Posted 30/09/2016 at 11:45:30 I went to the link and the last paragraph is VERY worrying: “What I know is how I work in my managerial role and it is not different in the Premier League to when I was coach in Portugal, Holland and Spain. My advice with a transfer is the technical side and I am not involved in business.â€Does that mean the keystone cops (BPB and Elstone) will be in charge of the 'negotiations' again in the January transfer window.Someone snapchat, instagram, text or facetime Mosh... or Jim White, and say it ain't so please! George Cumiskey 16 Posted 30/09/2016 at 13:07:04 Trevor @7, the team for me with one exception: Lennon for Deulofeu. Steve Solomon 17 Posted 30/09/2016 at 13:43:57 Bolasie gave away the ball way too often against Bournemouth. I'd like to see him setting up plays more often and so that it's not always expected that he'll try trickery every time. He'll be far more effective that way. I like the direct style of attack and defense but it seems a little too direct at times.The gaps Koeman refers to, I believe, are when the midfield presses; the defense isn't moving up quickly enough, leaving gaps. Don Alexander 18 Posted 30/09/2016 at 17:35:29 We're told Mr Moshiri has already promised no repeat of the disappointing TW so whoever was responsible needs erm, "resting", for the next one. Hopefully Steve Walsh as DoF has now got a perception of the squad's inadequacies, of which failing to press is one. (I can't believe I'm having to write that, what next; "failing to run about"?)Personally, I believe Lukaku and Barkley will sprout wings before they deign to get stuck in to get the ball back. If that penny hasn't dropped by their age, it never will, and if anyone shares their apparent opinion that they're too special to bother doing it, just watch ANY modern successful team, Barca included, to see even the likes of Iniesta (the type of No 10 Barkley can only dream of being) doing it with relish, in every match. Anthony Flack 19 Posted 30/09/2016 at 18:03:41 We were better with Cleverley on the pitch, I think he will start and score... a decent bet! Lev Vellene 20 Posted 30/09/2016 at 20:19:10 Whenever Koeman has several clear choices to replace someone injured, I always hope for either Conor or Davies! I know that Sheff striker is a prospect, but why not try him out if no better senior players are available as a sub (as RK won't even notice Niasse leaving?) Players younger, and older, have made their staying mark before they turn 20 in other clubs! 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