FAN VIEW: The majority of Evertonians are delighted Ronald Koeman’s gone… every decision of his was baffling

  • Ronald Koeman's selections and style of play turned Everton fans against him  
  • Despite £150million spending spree manager played square pegs in round holes 
  • It seemed the constant tinkering meant the Dutchman had no coherent plan
  • Goodison Park became subdued and there were parallels to Roberto Martinez 

It had been the most optimistic summer at Goodison Park for a generation yet the vast majority of Evertonians are now delighted Ronald Koeman has been sacked just two months into the season.

Vast amounts of money were spent, quality was added to the squad and Blues had genuine reason to be excited for the new season.

With the backing of Farhad Moshiri, the Toffees splurged £150million in a bid to challenge the top four. Supporters had never seen such swift dealings and Everton meant business.

Ronald Koeman was his own worst enemy at Everton and his tactics baffled supporters

Ronald Koeman was his own worst enemy at Everton and his tactics baffled supporters

The Dutchman's final game in charge was the heavy 5-2 defeat by Arsenal at Goodison Park 

The Dutchman's final game in charge was the heavy 5-2 defeat by Arsenal at Goodison Park 

So now, still with a week of October left to go, those looking on from afar can be forgiven for scratching their heads after Everton pulled the trigger on a manager they were paying £6m-a-year in order to push them forward.


Last season, the signs were there that Koeman could challenge the big boys after sealing European qualification and returning Everton to the top seven, where fans feel they belong.

However, things went drastically wrong and based on the evidence of the season so far, Everton may well have got a top four spot under Koeman - in the Championship next season.

Koeman has gone and only has himself to blame. And that is what has irked fans for so long and why they are so chuffed he has been shown the door. He could and should have fixed the mess he caused but he stubbornly refused.

Yes, the board failed to sign a replacement for Romelu Lukaku, and yes, there was a worrying hole in the defence but while this proved to be a problem, the Dutchman added around ten of his own to proceedings. Before you knew it, this was a crisis.

Every matchday, fans grew to dread seeing the teamsheet, for every week, Koeman needlessly and erroneously changed the formation and personnel. Every decision was baffling.

Young players such as Tom Davies were not given ample opportunities to impress 

Young players such as Tom Davies were not given ample opportunities to impress 

Koeman's side lacked pace and width, meaning the football produced was often turgid

Koeman's side lacked pace and width, meaning the football produced was often turgid

The solutions were obvious. Square pegs in round holes do not win you football matches. Inconsistency with team selection does not yield consistency in results. 

Limiting youngsters game-time as they continued to impress while sticking with your failing big money buys will not increase confidence. Chopping and changing the defence and giving Michael Keane a new right back and centre back partner each game will not earn clean sheets.

'No width, no pace, three No 10s on top of each other' were the shouts repeated day after day on podcasts, forums and phone-ins across Merseyside.

The football was slow and turgid. Players who had excelled the previous season had gone backwards and their passes no longer went forwards. Sideways, sideways, sideways was all they could muster as Everton went through the motions. 

It has been described as some of the worst football seen in L4 - these fans have witnessed relegation fights but it really was that bad.

The atmosphere at Goodison Park became pessimistic and the players looked lost 

The atmosphere at Goodison Park became pessimistic and the players looked lost 

There was a giant chasm for a goalscoring centre forward, but such was the abysmal, clueless football being played, even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would have struggled to find the net in this Everton team.

The feeling was that the 40,000 Blues inside Goodison would pick a better starting XI than Koeman. It was hard to disagree, his side's continually lacked balance, shape, cohesion. Nobody had a clue what he was trying to do, and in turn, the players looked completely lost too.

It was frankly bizarre after a solid and sensible first season in which he seemed to have a clear way of playing. A clear direction he hoped to take the club in. Then, he splashed the cash and suddenly, it all went awry.

Some think, so desperate was Koeman to find a solution to the dreadful performances and poor results, he continued to tinker.

However, others called it right, stating the continued changes showed he was a man with no plan and no idea.

The former Southampton manager parted company with the club after a poor start this term

The former Southampton manager parted company with the club after a poor start this term

The Europa League campaign offered no respite to the Premier League woes under Koeman 

The Europa League campaign offered no respite to the Premier League woes under Koeman 

As well, he arrived with a winning mentality and stellar CV. He had the right attitude. However, when the going got tough, all of a sudden he became a defeatist. He talked of difficulties, struggles and claimed beating Arsenal with ten men was 'impossible'.

With an eye on the Barcelona job one day in his beloved Catalonia, it seems this was all self-preservation. It proved to be another black mark as he pushed Evertonians further away and surely a black mark for those recruiting at the Nou Camp.

Back when he was first appointed, after much progress with Southampton, Koeman was tasked with fixing the mess left by predecessor Roberto Martinez. And he did an excellent job, swiftly clearing the debris left by the Spaniard and Everton started making forward steps.

There were parallels between the end of Roberto Martinez's spell in charge of the club

There were parallels between the end of Roberto Martinez's spell in charge of the club

However, what has happened this season could not have been predicted by anyone, and the parallels between the tenures of both managers is scary.

Under Martinez, the atmosphere became toxic, going to Goodison was a chore and there was a general mood of depression across the stands. It all came to a head after a dismal two years and Everton wielded the axe.

Fast forward to 2017, and Goodison was gripped with anger, frustration and melancholy once more... but in just two months! It was the same living nightmare. But the most horrifying scenes came far sooner.

As both Koeman and Martinez learned, when the fiercely loyal Goodison faithful turn, there is no going back for an Everton manager. You are a dead man walking.

Hopefully there is still enough time left for Everton to revive their tumultuous season 

Hopefully there is still enough time left for Everton to revive their tumultuous season 

Large numbers had cancelled trips abroad with the Europa League campaign in tatters, others had lost the will to travel to Leicester away next Sunday and couldn't shift tickets. The soul of the club was slowly being ripped away and when that happens, it's done.

Just as with Martinez, protests had been tentatively planned and Evertonians were taking action. While the Spaniard's dismissal in 2016 took much longer than hoped, on this occasion, the club heeded the warning and acted before a vital League Cup clash at Chelsea. No banners (or tennis balls) needed.

Looking forward, the season is in ruins but is salvageable. It may have been a different story had the powers that be waited a week longer.

As for Koeman's career, he will move on as, afterall, the feeling was he didn't care much for Everton. Though now, I'm sure Evertonians too will be glad they no longer have to worry about him... or his awful team selections.

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