Ronald Koeman discussion

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Think it's a good point actually, Koeman won't be here for the long haul.

It's just not in his nature, I'm hoping he does a great job for the two seasons he is here.

I still say that we should look at Loew as a possible Koeman replacement following the 2018 World Cup

 

[ijjysmith]

 

[ijjysmith]

Koeman's first touch is exquisite

 

[squonk]

A lot of football snobbery in here. There's nothing quite like an accurate long pass/ball from the midfield to head or feet or for a forward player run on to. Past players such as Brady and Hoddle made careers out of it because they were so good at it. This sort of tactic and style should not be lumped in alongside Wimbledon-style aimless aerial punts which some purists are prone to do to advance their cause that tika-taka is the proper way to play the game.

 

[Lanolin]

For me we aren't just a long ball team at the moment either. We are mixing both styles up. Prime example was the win at Leicester. Both goals came from huge hoofs. But Gueye missed a total sitter after what must have been a 40-50 passing move. But people won't remember such things as it goes against what they believe. Or they only watch the highlight/goals.

I think that's very unfair.

I watch all of our games, most of them in person, and I can assure you that the passing moves have been very much the exception. Yes we can play nice football at times - we know that, it's not a surprise to anybody. It's seeing the odd move like that which makes the rest of it so frustrating. We know it's in there so why can't they do it more often. The point is, we don't do it very often. Look at our possession stats if you need confirmation, we don't often look to keep hold of the ball and the majority of the time our play is aimless.

I have no issue with direct football, in fact I actually love it. My favourite Everton memories are of Duncan Ferguson nodding them in at the back post, not Yakubu being played in a little through ball. The issue is that much of our play has just consisted of hoofing the ball as far up the pitch as we can at the first opportunity and all running after it like schoolkids. It really has been horrible to watch at times, and it's been commented on by fans of other teams who've watched us so it's not just a pre-conceived idea. Whether it's a deliberate plan from the manager or something the players are doing because they lack confidence/understanding of what they're supposed to be doing I neither know nor particularly care, but I expect the quality of football to improve dramatically between now and the end of the season.

 

[ijjysmith]

I think that's very unfair.

I watch all of our games, most of them in person, and I can assure you that the passing moves have been very much the exception. Yes we can play nice football at times - we know that, it's not a surprise to anybody. It's seeing the odd move like that which makes the rest of it so frustrating. We know it's in there so why can't they do it more often. The point is, we don't do it very often. Look at our possession stats if you need confirmation, we don't often look to keep hold of the ball and the majority of the time our play is aimless.

I have no issue with direct football, in fact I actually love it. My favourite Everton memories are of Duncan Ferguson nodding them in at the back post, not Yakubu being played in a little through ball. The issue is that much of our play has just consisted of hoofing the ball as far up the pitch as we can at the first opportunity and all running after it like schoolkids. It really has been horrible to watch at times, and it's been commented on by fans of other teams who've watched us so it's not just a pre-conceived idea. Whether it's a deliberate plan from the manager or something the players are doing because they lack confidence/understanding of what they're supposed to be doing I neither know nor particularly care, but I expect the quality of football to improve dramatically between now and the end of the season.

I'd disagree. I honestly don't think it's as bad as some make out. Certainly not as bad as last season.

 

[neil999]

Geri still in there! maybe a reprieve...

 

[Lanolin]

I'd disagree. I honestly don't think it's as bad as some make out. Certainly not as bad as last season.

Fair enough, obviously it's a matter of opinion. I was certainly no fan of the football last season either, so I won't argue with that bit!

 

[Moomin]

I disagree completely, if he's given decent money to invest and time to build something special why would he walk away? Besides, where could he go better then here at this point of his career?

I could be wrong, just the impression I get from him. He's ambitious, if he does a good job and a club like Arsenal come knocking he will treat us like he treated Southampton and be off.

So the next appointment is vital to carry on the good work, and I'm sure that will be one of Steve Walsh's tasks to have a list of candidates to replace him.

 

[maccavennie]

I should imagine it was the first time Everton done a one touch pass drill such as this that Ronald realised Oumar was absolutely plop

 

[hallamblue]

I think the point is, Koeman doesn't trust our current team to play "mixed" football, so for now we are very safety first. Once he has players he trusts more, I'm sure we will mix it up, sometimes short, sometimes long. Fergie had no problem with long balls at Man Utd. The hoof up to Sheringham was one of their favourite ploys.

 

[TheGhostOfBolasie]

As long as he continues to bring in better players I don't mind if he has his eyes on a bigger prize. Let's have another 4-5 players by the end of the summer window and we'll be in fantastic shape.

 

[bicycleheader]

A lot of football snobbery in here. There's nothing quite like an accurate long pass/ball from the midfield to head or feet or for a forward player run on to. Past players such as Brady and Hoddle made careers out of it because they were so good at it. This sort of tactic and style should not be lumped in alongside Wimbledon-style aimless aerial punts which some purists are prone to do to advance their cause that tika-taka is the proper way to play the game.

I don't know that it's snobbery. If you think a certain style is crap, then that's just your personal opinion. I don't really like % football at all.

I think we have been dreadful for much of the season with way too much hoofing.

I would love to see the mixing it up or accurate long passes people are mentioning and you mention above, but it's not really happening just yet.

I actually think we will get better and mix it up a bit more, but I don't see any problem with people complaining about the style so far or the few people who feel Koeman doesn't have anything else to bring to the table style-wise.

 

[hallamblue]

I don't know that it's snobbery. If you think a certain style is crap, then that's just your personal opinion. I don't really like % football at all.

I think we have been dreadful for much of the season with way too much hoofing.

I would love to see the mixing it up or accurate long passes people are mentioning and you mention above, but it's not really happening just yet.

I actually think we will get better and mix it up a bit more, but I don't see any problem with people complaining about the style so far or the few people who feel Koeman doesn't have anything else to bring to the table style-wise.

Trouble these days is footballers are so fit there's no space in the game until the last 20 minutes.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

I could be wrong, just the impression I get from him. He's ambitious, if he does a good job and a club like Arsenal come knocking he will treat us like he treated Southampton and be off.

So the next appointment is vital to carry on the good work, and I'm sure that will be one of Steve Walsh's tasks to have a list of candidates to replace him.

But he'll only get the Arsenal job or anything like that if he does an amazing job here. We're a much bigger club then Southampton with much bigger ambitions. He got the job here because he did a great job at Southampton and he'd have to do the equivalent of that here which would involve either winning a trophy and/or getting a top four place, if he goes after that he can do so with my blessings! But why would Arsenal want him at this moment? He's done nothing that would justify their interest at this moment. We're always so worried that Arsenal will steal our manager but in reality they'd never even look twice at him! They weren't interested in Martinez after 2013-14 and they aren't interested in Koeman now. The reality for Koeman is that we are his glass ceiling and until he breaks through it and does something great here then he won't be able to move up to that level everyone thinks he would drop us for.