Ronald Koeman discussion

[Barnfred 55]

The biggest and only acid test is where we finish in the league. It is not about certain games or how we perform against certain teams, the only thing that matters is the league position and if we have won a trophy or not.

Currently we are 7th and the second most improved side behind Chelsea. If it finishes like this or we finish higher, the season is an improvement and that can not be argued with. Yes we had two disappointing cup runs but it isn't like we won them last season.

I would happily get every year at Anfield if it meant we won the league. One single game doesn't make a season. In fact, I would take getting beat at Anfield and finishing 4th.

Especially if they finished 5th.

Seriously though, I agree with most of your point. However I would add that, by analysing the games you lose, you may identify a trend and uncover a weakness in our play or in our squad. Such as breaking down teams who park the bus, or defending our own corners. That sort of thing.

 

[squonk]

Why do you care about the style as long as Everton win? Results mean eveything.

And they are being achieved playing in a style that is improving by the week. We played some excellent stuff against Palace. The tiki-taka merchants hate it because it blows their argument to smithereens.

 

[MikeH72]

And they are being achieved playing in a style that is improving by the week. We played some excellent stuff against Palace. The tiki-taka merchants hate it because it blows their argument to smithereens.

Said it before and I'll say it again, no Everton supporter prioritises style over results. You can go round Goodison and ask every fan in the stadium, not a single solitary one would say style is more important than winning.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Not for everyone. Look at clubs all over binning off managers for not playing the "insert club name" way. West Ham and Man U spring immediately to mind.

The mythical West Ham way that has won them virtually nothing for most of their history.

 

[roydo]

Said it before and I'll say it again, no Everton supporter prioritises style over results. You can go round Goodison and ask every fan in the stadium, not a single solitary one would say style is more important than winning.

Indeed.

 

[blue62]

Not for everyone. Look at clubs all over binning off managers for not playing the "insert club name" way. West Ham and Man U spring immediately to mind.

I disagree, that is generally an excuse rolled out to justify the sacking of a manager, in either case if those teams were riding high and winning trophies I'd bet my pants that little detail would be overlooked. I have no issue with our style of play at the moment, Ron is using the resources at his disposal to get results and he's doing a better job of it than his predecessor and more importantly a better job than Klopp at the moment.

 

[bluestevon]

The mythical West Ham way that has won them virtually nothing for most of their history.

Way of playing comes in two forms as important, when you are winning everything going and it's the cherry on the top - purely because you can afford to favour style and are still good enough to dominate - Barca, Madrid, Man United are classic examples - and probably Bayern now too.

OR

when you are basically a none entity and it's the only thing you can cling on to as a positive - West Ham, Swansea, us for some under Martinez etc

 

[B17BLG]

Because some of us have an eye on the aesthetic side of football. Liverpool won loads in the 70s and they were an appalling team playing sterile football; Leeds of the same period were a bunch of cut-throats - they won though so I suppose that's great.

So if we won the league next year playing terrible football, there would still be a small amount of disappointment inside of you?

 

[davek]

So if we won the league next year playing terrible football, there would still be a small amount of disappointment inside of you?

Who wouldn't want to win the right way?

Unreal.

 

[jinkyali]

Who wouldn't want to win the right way?

Unreal.

Last team to win the PL 'the right way?'

 

[Efcjake]

Said it before and I'll say it again, no Everton supporter prioritises style over results. You can go round Goodison and ask every fan in the stadium, not a single solitary one would say style is more important than winning.

How many times in the boozers after the match last year did you hear people saying "Yea, but the way we passed it about the back line was ace."

Everyone is usually happy with a win, few are usually happy if we've lost regardless of how we played.

 

[davek]

Last team to win the PL 'the right way?'

A terrible team, and a terrible example to any club that want to do well in this league.

Still, they've underlined what they are this season...a massive flash in the pan - the exception that proves the rule that good passing football will always win out over huff and puff, up and under hoofball.

 

[roydo]

good passing football

Yep.

But not an aimless "keep the ball for ever in your own half" mantra that is always right cos Barcelona did it with the best club side in decades.

 

[bluesteak]

So if we won the league next year playing terrible football, there would still be a small amount of disappointment inside of you?

Agreed,prefer to finish 11th playing stylish football,who wouldn't ?????

 

[davek]

Yep.

But not an aimless "keep the ball for ever in your own half" mantra that is always right cos Barcelona did it with the best club side in decades.

It does depend on having quality top defenders to make sure if you break down you don't always get punished. We had Jagielka and Stones - the chocolate fireguard CB pairing.