New Everton manager's in-tray: Ronald Koeman's replacement must start players in their best positions, build a bond with supporters and fill gaping holes in the January transfer window

Everton are on the hunt for another new manager after sacking Ronald Koeman on Monday, just a day after a humiliating 5-2 home defeat by Arsenal.

Sean Dyche, Thomas Tuchel and Marco Silva are among those in the frame for the job as chairman Bill Kenwright and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri consider the right man to lead them out of the relegation zone and up the table.

Whoever arrives at Goodison Park faces a number of issues if they are to turn around the fortunes of the Toffees' expensively assembled, underperforming squad.


Here, Sportsmail looks at the five most important tasks facing the new man.

Everton are looking for a new manager after sacking Ronald Koeman on Monday afternoon

Everton are looking for a new manager after sacking Ronald Koeman on Monday afternoon

 

FIND A FORMATION AND USE PLAYERS IN THEIR BEST POSITIONS

The biggest complaint aimed at Koeman this season has concerned his failure to settle on a formation which gets the best out of the players in his squad.

Three at the back, four at the back and, in certain games, effectively five at the back have all been used with little or no success.

We have seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Sandro Ramirez and Wayne Rooney used as lone front men and as part of a pair, while Sunday's defeat by Arsenal saw the Blues begin with a new look 5-2-1-2 (or 3-4-1-2) line-up.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and his team-mates look dejected after Arsenal's fifth goal

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and his team-mates look dejected after Arsenal's fifth goal

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

None of Koeman's choices have worked, but it is perhaps his use of players out of position which has been the biggest gripe among supporters.

Record buy Gylfi Sigurdsson has been shunted out wide too often, as has Calvert-Lewin, despite his best position clearly being as a central striker.

Rooney has been shoehorned into the side at times and, although he has been one of the club's better performers this term, he is clearly not cut out to play up-front on his own anymore.

Everton have lacked pace and width in virtually every game, with the trio of Rooney, Sigurdsson and summer signing Davy Klaassen all possessing similar qualities - as well as all being most suited to the No 10 role.

Whoever comes in to replace Koeman must start using players in their best positions, play wingers out wide and use Calvert-Lewin as a focal point, at least until he can add to the squad in the January transfer window.

Koeman failed to get the best out of Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and the rest of his squad

Koeman failed to get the best out of Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and the rest of his squad

BUILD BRIDGES WITH FRINGE PLAYERS

Koeman's well-publicised treatment of Oumar Niasse in the summer of 2016 was not the only time he fell out with a first-team player.

The Dutchman ostracised the Senegal international when he arrived on Merseyside, but was forced to bring him in from the cold last month after watching his side struggle for goals after failing to replace Romelu Lukaku.

Niasse repaid Koeman with a brace off the bench to seal a 2-1 comeback win over Bournemouth, while he also grabbed a consolation against the Gunners.

He is not the long-term answer to Everton's striking problems, but Koeman was clearly too quick to judge the former Lokomotiv Moscow forward.

Oumar Niasse steals the ball off goalkeeper Petr Cech to score against Arsenal on Sunday

Oumar Niasse steals the ball off goalkeeper Petr Cech to score against Arsenal on Sunday

Kevin Mirallas has also been shunned for much of this season after a disagreement with Koeman, yet he looked lively after being given a rare start against Lyon in the Europa League last week.

The former Southampton boss has also been reluctant to use youngsters Ademola Lookman and Jonjoe Kenny, while Tom Davies has been given limited game time despite the poor form of Morgan Schneiderlin.

There is plenty of talent in this Everton squad but the new man must exploit it, rather than stick with players who aren't living up to their reputations.

Ademola Lookman has an effort on goal after coming off the bench against Lyon last week

Ademola Lookman has an effort on goal after coming off the bench against Lyon last week

BUY INTO THE CLUB AND SHOW SOME PASSION

At first, Koeman's business-like demeanour seemed like a welcome change from the Roberto Martinez era, which too often involved sugar-coated press conferences and hyperbolic praise.

The ex-Ajax boss left St Mary's to be part of a new project, to get his hands on a transfer kitty the size of which he would never have been given on the south coast and to challenge for Champions League football.

He signed a three-year contract and there was a general acceptance that, if he was successful, he would move on to a bigger job, perhaps at his beloved Barcelona.

Koeman reacts on the touchline during Everton's 5-2 home defeat by Arsenal at Goodison Park

Koeman reacts on the touchline during Everton's 5-2 home defeat by Arsenal at Goodison Park

However, in recent months Koeman's detachment from the role has grated on some fans. He has never felt like a proper Everton manager, even during a reasonably successful first season at Goodison.

His use of 'Everton' rather than 'we' in interviews may be harmless, but it gave the impression that he didn't quite buy into the club, its history and traditions.

The same cannot be said of Martinez, who threw himself into the job and seemed to understand exactly what Everton means to so many people.

Koeman's replacement will be backed by Evertonians, but he will help himself immeasurably by taking the club to his heart, being passionate on the touchline and showing some long-term thinking.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is among the names in the frame to replace Koeman at Everton

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is among the names in the frame to replace Koeman at Everton

MAKE GOODISON A FORTRESS AGAIN 

Everton's away form under Koeman was always a major issue. 

Last season he guided them to just four wins in the Premier League, while they have picked up just two points on the road so far this this term.

There is huge room for improvement away from Goodison Park, but it's the Blues' struggles on home soil which have been the most alarming aspect of their fall into the bottom three.

Rooney looks dejected during Everton's third Premier League home defeat of the season

Rooney looks dejected during Everton's third Premier League home defeat of the season

Narrow wins over Stoke and Bournemouth have papered over the cracks, with the defeats by Tottenham, Burnley, Lyon and Arsenal telling the true story.

Goodison was a fortress last season, with Koeman's men winning 13 of their league games, drawing four times and losing just twice.

Teams didn't enjoy travelling to play Everton and it showed on the pitch as Lukaku, Ross Barkley and Co steamrolled most of the division, notably putting four past Manchester City in January.

The next manager needs to restore a fear factor to Goodison, make his side tough to beat at home and start putting points on the board.

Alexis Sanchez (right) scores Arsenal's fifth and final goal at Goodison Park on Sunday

Alexis Sanchez (right) scores Arsenal's fifth and final goal at Goodison Park on Sunday

RECRUIT WELL IN JANUARY

Whoever replaces Koeman will have to wait a while until he can get his hands on Moshiri's millions, but the importance of the January transfer window cannot be understated.

Despite spending around £135million on new players last summer, there are still gaping holes in the Everton squad which need filling.

An experienced striker who can hold the ball up and get 20 goals a season is a must, but there are other areas in desperate need of improvement too.

Michael Keane needs a new defensive partner given the erratic form of Ashley Williams and advancing years of Phil Jagielka, while there is no competition for Leighton Baines at left back.

Everton need to buy a replacement for Romelu Lukaku during the January transfer window

Everton need to buy a replacement for Romelu Lukaku during the January transfer window

The new man could also do with a quick, versatile winger to challenge Nikola Vlasic and the returning Yannick Bolasie for a place in the side.

He must also be ready and willing to work alongside director of football Steve Walsh, who has come in for criticism for his role in the muddled summer of recruitment.

Buy well in January and Everton's new manager will have a squad capable of competing for Europe, rather than staving off an unthinkable relegation.

KOEMAN BY NUMBERS

18 - the Toffees occupy the Premier League's final relegation place.

£149million - the total spent on summer signings including Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane and Davy Klaassen. Around half of that total was funded by the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United.

8 - their points total after nine games.

5 - Everton are winless in their last five games - defeats by Burnley and Arsenal in the Premier League and Lyon in the Europa League, and draws with Brighton domestically and Apollon Limassol on the continent.

5 - the number of goals conceded by Everton in his last game in charge, at home to Arsenal on Sunday.

41 - Koeman's winning percentage as Everton boss, with 24 victories from 58 games in charge. His side lost 20 and drew 14.

3 - Koeman is the third managerial departure in the Premier League this season, following Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace) and Craig Shakespeare (Leicester).

9 - clubs managed by Koeman in his career, with Everton his second Premier League job after Southampton. 

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