Ronald Koeman discussion

[BlueToff]

United were toothless and we had them on a plate for the taking. He played it second half with a pop gun counter attacking unit, not committing bodies to attack in sufficient numbers. Then he loses his nerve and takes off two players in Mirallas and Barkley who were occupying United and putting a shift in.

Never mind agendas and 60 seconds from "unqualified success", Koeman ballsed that up.

He likes to present himself as a top manager (and the gullible fall for it) but he's miles off, and the tactical errors he's made this season at key moments underlines just how bang average this feller really is.

He's got a long way to go to be among the elite, but he's certainly better than the rest currently operating in the Prem and that is reflected by our current league position, which was the target since the very beginning - to get back to the top seven and hopefully secure Europa League at the least.

We haven't got the squad yet to challenge for the top four and yes, Koeman has made mistakes at times - i.e. Calvert-Lewin last night.

The Mirallas sub was probably a bit too early but that change saw us switch systems and Pennington did well.

Barkley was flagging and had to go off but DCL shouldn't have been the player coming on.

 

[Bally8]

DCL is not ready but at least he's doing what most of us were afraid he would do and not play the kids.

Hopefully get to see a bit more of Lookman now

 

[BlueToff]

I like Koeman but I'd be happier if I thought he had a definite system in mind. He came with a big reputation and Southampton were a well organised side admittedly.
Everton should be right up there though and I'll be sorry if we don't have a much more streamlined look next term with better quality players in most areas.

We are 'right up there' though.

We're seventh - level on points with Arsenal and two behind Utd.

Had we held on for another 30 seconds last night we were in fifth.

@Tennessee Blue Mike Koeman got his gameplan and tactics spot on last night. The set-up was fine. We soaked up the United pressure and hit them on the counter. Two or three times either side of HT we had great opportunities to get into goal-scoring positions and the players made the wrong decision. It happens but you can't blame tactics for it. Koeman himself said we needed to kill the game.

In the end, he made an error in bringing on a young lad who had a bit of a shocker but even that wasn't the reason we didn't win. A slip-up from Williams not getting out quickly enough and a moment of indecision from him that led to a penalty.

It's a shame but not exactly the end of the world.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I hardly think Koeman is above criticism, and indeed I've sent some his way this season myself, but COME ON, some people are way OTT over that last night

We were so close to seeing that out

He's getting a tune out of a skeleton squad at the moment

We're moving in the right direction, even if the progress is moving at a slower pace than some can bare to stomach

 

[RFUS]

Disappointed in his decision to try and hold on to a 1-0 win with so long left to go.

We were well in it and capable of producing a 2nd on the counter until the substitute (Kev off). Taking Ross off afterwards only made it worst. We couldn't hold onto the ball or produce anything in their half which invited waves of pressure.

Still, we'd have all taken a point at Old Trafford beforehand. Two games with United and two draws isn't the worst thing in the world. I'd just like to see a bit more ambition from us, when it's clear we're capable of getting something. They're not quite Barcelona.

 

[toffeeblue9]

I imagine Koeman is going to get the lame here (as usually happens whenever a team concedes a late equaliser) or we'll be accused of bottling it. I haven't read the rest of the thread, but that's my prediction.

At the game, I thought the Pennington sub made perfect sense as United had just brought Luke Shaw on and he wasn't being tracked by Barkley, so changing to 3 at the back and putting Holgate at wing back plugged that gap, plus throwing crosses in to Fellaini and Zlatan meant that an extra aerial presence was reasonable too. No issue there, perfectly reasonable change. He could have brought Barkley or Mirallas off, he chose to bring of Mirallas. Again, no issue there but I don't think Mirallas had run out of steam or anything. Straight choice between the two

The Calvert-Lewin sub was an odd one. Koeman seems to have a lot of faith in him, but I don't think he's shown that he's ready to play at this level yet. Bringing Barkley off (who was knackered) and bringing him on was a really bad change as we lost a counter-attacking threat. In hindsight Valencia would have been preferable (maybe even Lookman, although not sure Koeman trusts him yet).

The reason we dropped those points wasn't so much the decision by Williams, in the split second he had to make a decision about whether or not the keeper had it covered (which is debatable even now) and he couldn't have known. I'm happy to let that one slide. Essentialy, we had enough opportunities in the 2nd half on the counter but were let down by poor decision-making from Lukaku, Barkley, Mirallas and Calvert-Lewin. That's it. Bolasie would have been really useful last night as a counter-attacking option.

 

[BlueToff]

Disappointed in his decision to try and hold on to a 1-0 win with so long left to go.

We were well in it and capable of producing a 2nd on the counter until the substitute (Kev off). Taking Ross off afterwards only made it worst. We couldn't hold onto the ball or produce anything in their half which invited waves of pressure.

Still, we'd have all taken a point at Old Trafford beforehand. Two games with United and two draws isn't the worst thing in the world. I'd just like to see a bit more ambition from us, when it's clear we're capable of getting something. They're not quite Barcelona.

I too think Kev going off was 5-10 mins too early. Kev still had something to offer and was looking dangerous, though as @toffeeblue9 says, the change in system made sense as Koeman was reacting to what United had done with Shaw. Ross had to go off though mate - he was goosed. It was just a bad change as DCL couldn't do that job. Valencia was the one to bring on.

 

[BlueToff]

I imagine Koeman is going to get the lame here (as usually happens whenever a team concedes a late equaliser) or we'll be accused of bottling it. I haven't read the rest of the thread, but that's my prediction.

At the game, I thought the Pennington sub made perfect sense as United had just brought Luke Shaw on and he wasn't being tracked by Barkley, so changing to 3 at the back and putting Holgate at wing back plugged that gap, plus throwing crosses in to Fellaini and Zlatan meant that an extra aerial presence was reasonable too. No issue there, perfectly reasonable change. He could have brought Barkley or Mirallas off, he chose to bring of Mirallas. Again, no issue there but I don't think Mirallas had run out of steam or anything. Straight choice between the two

The Calvert-Lewin sub was an odd one. Koeman seems to have a lot of faith in him, but I don't think he's shown that he's ready to play at this level yet. Bringing Barkley off (who was knackered) and bringing him on was a really bad change as we lost a counter-attacking threat. In hindsight Valencia would have been preferable (maybe even Lookman, although not sure Koeman trusts him yet).

The reason we dropped those points wasn't so much the decision by Williams, in the split second he had to make a decision about whether or not the keeper had it covered (which is debatable even now) and he couldn't have known. I'm happy to let that one slide. Essentialy, we had enough opportunities in the 2nd half on the counter but were let down by poor decision-making from Lukaku, Barkley, Mirallas and Calvert-Lewin. That's it. Bolasie would have been really useful last night as a counter-attacking option.

Perfectly put mate!

 

[BlueToff]

I hardly think Koeman is above criticism, and indeed I've sent some his way this season myself, but COME ON, some people are way OTT over that last night

We were so close to seeing that out

He's getting a tune out of a skeleton squad at the moment

We're moving in the right direction, even if the progress is moving at a slower pace than some can bare to stomach

Schneiderlin hopefully back for the weekend gives me a lot more confidence.

Barry was great last night, but Schneids is a class above any of our current midfielders in terms of controlling our play.

 

[RFUS]

I too think Kev going off was 5-10 mins too early. Kev still had something to offer and was looking dangerous, though as @toffeeblue9 says, the change in system made sense as Koeman was reacting to what United had done with Shaw. Ross had to go off though mate - he was goosed. It was just a bad change as DCL couldn't do that job. Valencia was the one to bring on.

Fair points.

DCL hasn't impressed me too much but people are being ludicrously harsh on the lad. He's not a wide player at all. If he was 5'8 Koeman wouldn't be using him, the lad looks 6'3-6'4 and I think Koeman has often brought him on to help add aerial presence. And to be fair he's won a good amount of headers in his few minutes for us.

It was the wrong sub though. Valencia is a good shout, the added energy and more experienced support for Rom would have helped wonders.

 

[BlueToff]

Fair points.

DCL hasn't impressed me too much but people are being ludicrously harsh on the lad. He's not a wide player at all. If he was 5'8 Koeman wouldn't be using him, the lad looks 6'3-6'4 and I think Koeman has often brought him on to help add aerial presence. And to be fair he's won a good amount of headers in his few minutes for us.

It was the wrong sub though. Valencia is a good shout, the added energy and more experienced support for Rom would have helped wonders.

I like DCL. He's getting a lot of stick and even though he did have a bit of a stinker last night he's not at fault for the defeat. Tough situation to throw the lad on and that was - in my opinion - Koeman's only real error last night.

 

[Papa Shango]

Guys, stop blaming the Manager.
Doesn't matter what he did, they were always going to concede at the end.
Same old story with this squad. Turn them all over...

Aye the mental weakness again.

His substitutions didn't help though obviously. He is allowed a mistake or two though.

 

[RFUS]

I like DCL. He's getting a lot of stick and even though he did have a bit of a stinker last night he's not at fault for the defeat. Tough situation to throw the lad on and that was - in my opinion - Koeman's only real error last night.

It's bizarre, honestly. Why single out the lad without about 50 minutes at Premier League level? Rom is the league's leading scorer and he was anonymous all game.

Old Trafford is a tough place to go and win. We have a threadbare squad at the moment and our tactics did not help the offensive players one iota.

 

[Mozza1987]

I just didn't understand the timing of the first sub at all. We were totally fine in the game and the sub just invited all the pressure on us with a lot of time left in the game.

 

[Markydys]

Judging by this thread, we can all do a better job than Koeman. I think his biggest error last night was bringing DCL on. Other than that, it was a much better performance than Anfield where Koeman did get it wrong but so what - he can't always get it right. Spurs was the other disaster!

I challenge any sane Evertonian to say they're disappointed with this campaign. He's steadied the ship, started to bring in more quality albeit not the quality we want to see in 5 years time, but it will never happen in one season. I see progress at our club. Greater progress will happen when he stops bringing on DCL instead of Valencia or Lookman!!