Koeman: I knew this would be a difficult job

Saturday, 3 December, 2016 43comments  |  Jump to most recent

Ronald Koeman says that he was under no illusions about the size of the task he was undertaking when he took the Everton job but he has hinted that, in the context of his team-building plans, the Blues' poor run of results since September could be a blessing in disguise.

The Dutchman got off to a flying start as Everton boss with four wins from his first five matches in charge but, since beating Middlesbrough at home, his side have beaten only West Ham, leaving them in eighth spot following today's results elsewhere in the Premier League.

That has led to mounting disquiet among supporters regarding the players' performances and the manager's apparent problems motivating them to greater effort and effectiveness. He has reiterated, however, that recovering from two 11th-placed finishes under his predecessor will take time.

“From the beginning I knew it was a difficult job,” Koeman admitted in his familiarly matter-of-fact manner. “It is about expectations of the fans and not one manager will change the 12th position of the table and you finish second or fourth.

Article continues below video content


“We like to change the style of play and everybody finds it difficult to press higher. That means we like to press but the defenders are a little bit more afraid. If the defenders are more afraid he drops more back and that is the reason we get more distance between the lines and then it is very difficult.

“OK, we spoke about this. Maybe it is good to make one step back and then with more confidence in the future to make two steps forward. That is the realistic situation at the moment.

“Overall we need to do more, we need to run more and we need to be more aggressive.

“Maybe one or maximum of two players had the normal level against Southampton. The rest were under the individual level that they need to show and can show,” Koeman continued.

“It is always difficult but a lack of confidence and a lack of belief but it is good for me to see the reaction of the team in a difficult time. It is better to see that.

“Of course you like to have every weekend a win because everyone is happy but sometimes to get your eyes really open maybe this time is the best to understand that if you need to change but we need to change.”

 

Reader Comments (43)

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


Neil Sagar
1 Posted 04/12/2016 at 00:09:59
He and everyone else now knows the players are good enough for his system so please Everton don't fuck the next transfer window up
Mike Gaynes
3 Posted 04/12/2016 at 00:43:19
Dr Koeman's diagnosis is correct. The side is not playing with confidence or aggression – or full effort. Only when desperation checks in does this team raise its level.

Questions: Is the disease incurable among the current players? Are they immune to his attempts to inject intensity? And if so, what's the cure? Give opportunities to the U-23s or bring in new players in January?

I think the doc has already made his decision. When the window opens, prepare for multiple amputations and multiple infusions of new blood.

David Pearl
4 Posted 04/12/2016 at 00:45:12
The players are good enough? Maybe... But collectively they don't have a big enough heart. When we clicked under Martinez we looked good. Till he lost them completely. Under Koeman its not happened. Glad he noted the distance between the lines with defence sitting too deep.

We need 4 players in my opinion. Starting with 2 we missed out on in the past. Can Koeman convince Van Dijk and Shakiri to come? There is also that young lad from Sunderland looking okay. Pienaar in think his name is.

John Pierce
5 Posted 04/12/2016 at 00:45:22
So Ronald dulling expectations now you realise we are shit? Standard chat I guess.

Oh by the way Leicester went from nothing to champions with much poorer raw material than we have so chin up Ron laaa your only in charge of the 9 times champions of England.

Get your finger out fella, stop dampening expectations, and get more out of what you've got!

Ah you can't because you told all our shithouse players they're crap and you're gonna sell them? Now they're playing like mutinous twats. Okay then I'll let you have a pass on that whilst we wait for you to buy the players you want, on the proviso that you win every game? Obviously that seems fair Ron laaa?

Do me a favour stop talking us down, stop sending a poor bastard out each week to applogise for previous week's shower of a performance. If you must apologise then it should be you to front up as you are the one accountable.

Whilst we are at it don't shove you 'missus under the bus for even to get a laugh.

Accountability Ronald, look it up because at the moment everything is someone else fault other than your own.

Smacks of Kopite behaviour that.

Love and kissses,

Pissed of New Jersey, formerly of Bootle

Bob Parrington
6 Posted 04/12/2016 at 01:07:13
Neil #1 did you mean to say, "we all now know the the players are NOT good enough"? .. but mistakenly left out the NOT.
Dermot Byrne
7 Posted 04/12/2016 at 01:07:18
Seems about right what he said.

(God that lacks drama saying that!)

Eric Myles
8 Posted 04/12/2016 at 01:36:41
John (#5), and by way of comparison Bilic accepts all the blame for not getting WHU players to perform:

Link

Mark Andersson
9 Posted 04/12/2016 at 02:10:51
Well said, Ron, you have just confirmed the clubs lack of ambition.
John Pierce
10 Posted 04/12/2016 at 02:12:13
Eric #8 Fair dos to Bilic, he's said pretty much what West Ham fans have being saying for weeks.

I'd personally ease off on 'honest Ron of he was more accountable after games.

But its unlikely based on his previous showing.

My level of unease, is driven by a real worry that Koeman will fritter away what talent we have and invest poorly.

Not looking forward to tomorrow.


Mick Davies
11 Posted 04/12/2016 at 03:08:40
In almost 20 years of club management, all he's ever won is the Mickey Mouse Dutch League title. Walter Smith done much better in a similar league and he never had a clue of how to manage and motivate players in a tough league like the Premier League either, especially at the 4th most successful club with all its expectations.
Malcolm Kitchen
12 Posted 04/12/2016 at 04:31:34
John (#5), absolutely bang on, mate. I'm losing it with Koeman, he can't motivate the players & picks the wrong team!

And Mick, you've depressed me now, but you are right,: Koeman has won virtually sod all! He wasn't my 1st choice (Unai Emery). I would have preferred Unsy to Koeman, he knows what he's doing, players would respect him and Davies, Walsh, Holgate & Dowell would have been in ages ago! Not fuckin rocket science, eh?

Crappy Koeman (my new nickname for him – beat Man Utd later & it's Ronny!), he picks Jags, Lennon and Barkley – I would personally like to see Coleman & Barry out, Holgate & Davies in!

Just to add – fans are superstitious, Holgate hasn't been on a losing team this season, so put the fucker back.

Duncan McDine
13 Posted 04/12/2016 at 06:43:01
Let's see if there is any substance to his words... He says we need to change, lets see if that is apparent today in either the starting line-up or attitude.

We are now looking exactly like the same 'losers' from the last few weeks of Roberto's reign. Sending Jags and Barry to the bench would be a good start.

Neil Sagar
14 Posted 04/12/2016 at 08:38:59
Bob (#6) – defo should say 'are not'.
Chris Gould
15 Posted 04/12/2016 at 09:00:45
The difference between Bilic and Koeman is that Bilic has had time to put out a team of players that he bought. Koeman is still being forced to play players he doesn't rate who are still tainted by the Martinez era.

Also, despite recent results, we're 7th. Not battling relegation like WHU.

I really don't understand why some people seemed to have turned on Koeman so quickly into his reign. The players are not capable of playing how Koeman wants them to, so he'll replace them with those that can. Then we can judge a Koeman team.

At the moment we're getting frustrated watching the same players perform badly that all went backwards under Martinez. It would seem that whatever Martinez did to them is irrecoverable.

For all of Koeman's demands for pressing, they are running less than every other team in the league. Laziness and lack of aggression are traits that stand out with this team.

Every week Koeman is saying 'more aggression, more pressing!' But they don't respond. I would imagine he's quite despondent that he hasn't been able to get them to react how he wants them to. Whether that's down to his motivational techniques or the laziness ingrained into these players, who knows?

Either way, their attitude is unacceptable. Their professionals and should be busting a gut to perform to their managers orders. One thing is for sure, a few will be gone in January and a few will be in.

John Raftery
16 Posted 04/12/2016 at 09:16:40
It was obvious at Southampton the defence needed to be five to ten yards further forward. Their reluctance to do that is easily explained. Both Jagielka and Williams are too slow.
Phil Walling
17 Posted 04/12/2016 at 09:52:43
The jury seems to be saying there can be no verdict brought in until Koeman has received and spent a shitload of Moshiri's dough!

I guess that's how the '49er' sees it too, although he'll get a bit twitchy if the team sinks below Roberto's 11th place watermark.

The Dutchman has NEVER been the 'top manager', Moshiri has made him out to be and had failed to inspire both players and fans at a string of clubs before he got here. But he got Southampton into 'Moyes territory', so perhaps he can do the same for us. Eventually.

Exciting, isn't it?

Dave Ganley
18 Posted 04/12/2016 at 09:58:49
He's spot on, don't know why people are having a go at Ron. We all knew most of the players were over the hill or not good enough with no heart and the last few weeks have proved that. We also knew that this was never going to be a quick fix. Ron has constantly stated he wants a high pressing game and the players can't or won't do that so some will have to go.

This team is Martinez's team – not big Ron's. They are lazy and used to getting their own way, spoilt brats really. They either buck up or fuck off, it's that simple. Koeman has been in the job for just a handful of games. Most of the players have been here for 2 or 3 years. We know what the players are like, they are the ones that gave us, and still keep giving us, mind numbing sideways passing with little or no effort. The players Koeman has brought in have done okay and are an improvement on anything we had, especially Gana.

So instead of just giving Koeman pellets and ffs accusing Koeman of koppite behaviour because he doesn't take the blame for our shit players lack of effort, give him a bit of time to turn it around. It's koppite behaviour to start moaning like fuck after a few games that he hasn't turned us into world beaters with the same shit players who have given us some of the most boring football we have seen for an age.

Anthony Hughes
19 Posted 04/12/2016 at 10:58:20
This constant blaming all our woes on Martinez is really tedious. The man's been gone 6 months... something of Koeman and his coaching staff should be showing in our style of play by now.

The avoidance of any form of blame for the shite we've endured by Koeman is really quite annoying. Some fans have already placed Koeman on a pedestal and can see no wrong in the fella.

Colin Glassar
20 Posted 04/12/2016 at 11:21:38
Not wanting to become a Koeman apologist but isn't it a bit early to be making final judgements about the man?

We are only a third of the way through the season and yes we've been shite lately, no denying that, but I think we have to give him this season and the beginning of next before bringing Pierrepoint out of retirement.

Two of the world's greatest managers (in recent times) in the game, with vastly superior squads and resources, are also struggling with their new teams and probably want to overhaul their respective squads in the next transfer windows.

We are all desperate to see Everton succeed but it might take some time so, deep breath, I'll try and be a bit more patient and hope he can take us where we all want to go.

Jack Convery
21 Posted 04/12/2016 at 11:22:08
When you buy a house that is falling down you need to strip it back before you can start the improvements necessary. This makes it look even worse for a time but eventually, given time and the right materials, it begins to look the part and ends up once again a house fit to live in.

Ron's our builder. Let him build. Martinez took over a decent house and ruined it in three years. This will take time and as I've said before, real investment. Moshiri's the investor. Let's see him invest real money and not the money raised by salvaging and selling features fancied by City dwellers.

Jon Withey
22 Posted 04/12/2016 at 11:26:08
I agree that blaming Martinez is now getting daft – Koeman's talk is Moyesish but I even think Moyes would be doing more with what we've got – I actually wouldn't be amazed if we passed Moyes on the way down the way things are.

Koeman has time of course.

Also believe we could replace Cleverley, Kone, Gibson, Lennon and maybe even Deulofeu with youth like Davies, Walsh, Calvert-Lewin and Dowell – maybe free up some cash to get competition for Jagielka, Baines and some help for Lukaku's goal drought and Barry's legs.

I think we'd definitely come to regret letting McCarthy go unless there is a solid replacement available.

I'm still a bit concerned that we went for Sissoko though, hope we stay sensible in January.

Damian Wilde
23 Posted 04/12/2016 at 11:32:07
Could we please swap him for Conte? That guy has so much passion.
Trevor Lynes
24 Posted 04/12/2016 at 11:36:05
It cannot always be the managers fault.So far we have not seen any of the £100 million plus investment we were promised when Moshiri took over.Koeman spent less than the money collected from the Stones sale and the players we have are less than fully capable of turning the tide.The initial euphoria and optimism of the fans has waned considerably and quickly.Personally I do not think we have good enough players to compete for a top ten spot at the moment.Koeman and Martinez are bearing the brunt for the lack of spirit being displayed by so called top flight professional footballers.We definitely need a huge overhaul of the current squad.Watching players in other sides showing far more ability, pace and team spirit is galling for any true fan.By the January window we may well be out of contention completely and no one could blame the fans for voicing their disapproval.So far this board of ours has been too satisfied with mediocrity and it is high time money was spent.So far the only regular investors have been the fans who pay to watch and buy the merchandise.
Denis Richardson
25 Posted 04/12/2016 at 12:00:37
Love the over reaction on here from some. We all know that other than a couple of players Martinez brought in a load of duds – what exactly do you expect Koeman to do with a load of average and aging players?

At least half our squad needs shifting on and until we've brought in at least another 4-5 players we'll be in transition.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Colin Glassar
26 Posted 04/12/2016 at 12:15:34
Pretty damning indictment of Koeman on Sunday Supplement today.
John G Davies
27 Posted 04/12/2016 at 12:19:10
Missed that, Colin.

What was the indictment?

Paul Holmes
28 Posted 04/12/2016 at 12:24:23
Koeman is spot on, he inherited a side that finished 11th and would have been in a relegation fight only for Lukaku's goals. Don't people on here remember the Sunderland, Leicester, Liverpool games? Plus we had a so-called £50 million centre-back playing then!

He will sort it out, but he needs to change the players. Remember Southampton? He had to assemble a new team from scratch and look how that turned out, Wanyama, Mane etc... They are far better players than we have got and can play the system he wants. OAP Gareth Barry and Barkley run as though they have diving boots on, ffs!

Denis Richardson
29 Posted 04/12/2016 at 12:31:28
Which supplement is that Colin?
Colin Glassar
30 Posted 04/12/2016 at 12:59:58
On Sky, Denis. They said he was a bit overrated and hasn't won anything at his previous clubs.
Dick Fearon
31 Posted 04/12/2016 at 13:13:54
Despite Koeman having no faith in the kids, despite his pre-match interview on the BBC, and despite his gloom and doom, I am Everton and I pray the Gods of all underdogs will smile on us.

Deary, deary me, now I'm begging for divine intervention.

Darren Hind
32 Posted 04/12/2016 at 13:20:01
The Sky program, Denis.

Bunch of so-called journos sitting around a table talking shite. I don't mind Evertonians criticising/praising our manager because they know what they are talking about.

These jokers talk as much shite as they write.

Paul Thompson
33 Posted 04/12/2016 at 13:30:21
Martinez was criticised for talking up the players, now Koeman is slated (by some) for talking the down.

The manager is only saying what most fans already know. The key observation IMO is that we haven't enough of kind of players to play his favoured pressing game, therefore 'one step back' until we have.

Phil Walling
34 Posted 04/12/2016 at 13:54:52
Well, the Sky panel weren't lying, were they, Colin?

It makes me smile how every one of these so-called managers has his own style and has to sign a shitload of 'his' players before we can expect to see any noticeable improvement. That buys them time (usually) to prove they can't manage a fart and then get paid up for making a bollox of the job!

As for Moshiri – 'a fool and his money....'

Colin Glassar
35 Posted 04/12/2016 at 13:57:32
Agreed, Darren, especially when one of them is a Geordie no-mark and the other some posh soft lad from Highgate, London who probably started watching football when the Russians bought the rent boys and thinks football began in the '90s.

Watching the Bournemouth – shite game, notice how teams are scared shitless of them? Bournemouth are a good, passing, high energy team. They come up against the RS and they totally freeze. When we play these sides they show us no fucking respect and refuse to die. S'not fair.

Karl Jones
36 Posted 04/12/2016 at 14:04:14
The Premier League is one big fiddle, full of dodgy refs and players who only perform when they want to. One big money-making joke. I'm sure Sky (who also have the ability to carefully arrange the fixtures), know full well who will win this season's title.
Denis Richardson
37 Posted 04/12/2016 at 14:05:48
Thanks Colin & Darren – I stoped watching/listening to the 'experts' on football a while ago. Exception being MotD 'cos you have to watch it to see the highlights.

Easiest job in the world being a football 'pundit' – people paid to say what most guys say down the pub every Saturday.

Don Alexander
38 Posted 04/12/2016 at 14:19:17
Anthony Hughes at #19, I think you have to accept that because of Martinez and Kenwright our Ron is lumbered by contracts they doled out to players he, Ron, plainly doesn't rate.

He's between a rock and a hard place though because you can be sure that Moshiri will have told him and Walsh to maximise the value of those who leave in January and summer, and so he picks them rather than a sprog that he may in all truth want to introduce into a team HE created, rather than the spineless lazy shower we currently have to endure.

In this day and age, I don't know of any manager of a mid-table club (and sadly that's what we are) that can quell virtual mutiny in the dressing room. Most admittedly get the sack but Koeman is just 13 league games into a contract that should take in about another 140 games. Moshiri will back him. I suggest the fans do.

Phil Walling
39 Posted 04/12/2016 at 14:24:26
He will survive or fail regardless of whether we back him or not, Don. He'll win nowt but will become acceptable if he manages to 'do a Moyes'!
Gerard Carey
40 Posted 04/12/2016 at 14:52:46
Have the players no pride? How many internationals have we in our panel. Surely there's enough brain cells amongst them to be able to think on their feet, adapt to a different style, play a pressing game etc. To here some say that this player or that player can't press the opposition is woeful.

On the money they earn, they should be ashamed of themselves. Koeman too and his coaches have had five months to get them up to speed. Time for less talk and more action.

Andrew James
42 Posted 04/12/2016 at 21:29:49
Koeman has not inherited a Martinez set of players. He's inherited a mix of Moyes's and Martinez's. The back four is dominated by Moyes, Barkley and Mirallas are both his players. Moyes had started playing Barkley before he left.

But, guess what, all the good Moyes players got too old and Martinez hardly reduced the squad's age with his misfiring recruitment policy of either awesome players or guys who played for Wigan or he'd wanted to take to Wigan.

This is compounded by Steve Walsh's policy of bringing in players who are apparently at their peak, like Bolasie who continues to offer little despite being our record signing, and the ageing Williams, who we'll have to replace in a season or two.

As for not recruiting a top keeper...

So Koeman can whine all he wants but he inherited a half-decent set of players and managed to neglect sorting out two key positions buy bringing in Valencia and Stekelenburg. It deeply concerns me we were actually in for Sissoko.

Ed Fitzgerald
43 Posted 04/12/2016 at 22:58:01
Koeman has got many people on here conned – does he ever take any responsibility for the dire performances?

Stop blaming Martinez, Moyes, Moshiri etc – the football we have played home and away is fucking dire. Pressing game? – don't me laugh, defensive tactics at home, hoofball – it's been dreadful.

I just watched the RS demise at Bournemouth but at least they attack and at least they have a manager who is gracious in defeat – unlike Robot Ron.

Anthony Dwyer
44 Posted 05/12/2016 at 11:02:26
Sometimes Ronny really annoys me; at times he talks some utter shite, he has me thinking we took the wrong manager... but other times I think to myself his signings are often the better players on the park, and he has to be given time.

Maybe this season should be a freebe, maybe Ronny's unwillingness to play the kids may be because he's giving many first team squad players enough top to hang themselves.

Hopefully he's showing the board he needs 4-5 players in each of the next 2-3 transfer windows to implement his ideas.

My personal opinion is that he has a better team than some of the teams were dropping points to, but at the same time we have a lot of shite in our squad.

It may be harsh to point fingers and name names, but here goes anyways.

Lennon, Mirallas, Gibson, Oviedo, Robles, Kone, Cleverley, Niasse, McGeady, should all be moved on as they offer very little to the first team. The above names must take around £250,000 a week between them (£2.5m a year), yet other than Mirallas, none of them really play, and Mirallas hasn't done a tap all season.

Then there's big question marks over Jagielka, Barry, Stekelenburg, and Baines now — are they good enough any more, are they slowing us down.

Have Ross or Geri got futures at the club? They both have a lot of ability, but they don't seem to do it on a week to week basis. I worry that there's not enough movement ahead of Ross and Geri; both of them need to do more, but both of them can puck passes, but its pointless passing to stationary players.

I can't help but think both players would fit into an Arsenal team like a glove. Ross playing a bit deeper picking passes to players like Sanchez, Ozil, Walcott and Ramsey. I am starting to worry that Ross will inevitably have to leave to become the player he wants to become, we're far too unkind to him.

Geri playing wide in a similar position to Walcott, staying high and wide, looking at attacking his defender. Geri is absolutely outstanding for Spain u21, he runs there team, and they have some absolutely brilliant players, yet he's the pick of the bunch in every match.

After the mention of over half our first team squad we only have a few really good core players, 3 of which Koemansigned (Gana, Williams and Bolasie who's inconsistent but the best wide man we have), then really we've only got Lukaku and Funes Mori (both of whom will go soon, Rom because he will out grow us, and Funes Mori if he's continually overlooked) leaving only Coleman, Besic (who never seems fit), and the kids.

Koeman needs time and he needs transfers, both of which his hands are tied on, but most of all he has to start trying to create an identity, a way of playing, because I don't think any fan can ever see what we are even trying to do!

Clive Rogers
45 Posted 06/12/2016 at 11:30:19
Koeman and Moshiri have both now realised they have inherited a complete shambles from Martinez and Kenwright. Poor players hanging about on long lucrative contracts, the previously best players all now past it, and others who just don't seem bothered.

It's no secret that there is going to be a clear-out if the club can get them to go. Koeman needs at least two more windows.


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads