Baines: Koeman the appointment we were hoping for

Lyndon Lloyd , 15 June, 23comments | Jump to most recent

Leighton Baines admits that the Everton players have been keeping a close eye on the club's search for a replacement for Roberto Martinez and says that Ronald Koeman's appointment is a welcome one.

The Dutchman was confirmed as the Blues' new manager yesterday, more than a month since Martinez was sacked following a dreadful sequence of results, and he will soon begin the process of rebuilding a squad that has already seen four veteran players leave.

Koeman arrives at Goodison Park with a stellar reputation from his playing days and an impressive managerial record, two years of which has been spent in the Premier League at Southampton who finished in the European places in both of his seasons on the south coast.

"It's something we've all been waiting for and anticipating," Baines said of the 53-year-old's unveiling as the new Everton boss. "We (the players) have been trying to keep an eye on things. We're the same as everyone else in keeping an eye on the media and whatnot.

"It's been really well received and it's the appointment everyone was hoping for.

"It's an interesting summer for this football club and the appointment of a new manager means that everyone can start to look forward to what's to come.

"His reputation speaks for itself," Baines continued in reference to Koeman. "As a player he was obviously top drawer and he's on that path now as a manager as well.

"He's done a fantastic job in what was a difficult job at Southampton with the players they lost.

"And that's why I think our chairman (Bill Kenwright) and Mr Moshiri (Everton's majority shareholder Farhad) were so focused on making him the man.

"We are just delighted that he is in now and are all looking forward to working with him."

Reader Comments (23)

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James Morgan
1 Posted 15/06/2016 at 22:00:58

Well we all know Baines had had enough of the Martinez. Will be interesting to see if he can recapture his best form under Koeman or whether he will start to be phased out gradually for a younger replacement. He should still have a couple years left in him, in my opinion.

John Wells
2 Posted 15/06/2016 at 22:02:58

Love Baines, great attitude but if anyone try's to take the ball off him for a penalty again he should tell them to fuck off.

Bob Hannigan
3 Posted 15/06/2016 at 22:05:46

The change was necessary, I'm glad LB is on board, hopefully the big Belgian will be as well. If not we will progress onward and upward without you Rom.

Minik Hansen
4 Posted 15/06/2016 at 22:06:58

James #2 definitely atleast two more years in Baines, barely had injury on the whole. Koeman will have an undoubted impact on the defence and who knows, Baines might be pushed to the middle (Lahm-style), he must know the team so well.

Jack Convery
13 Posted 16/06/2016 at 00:05:51

Sounds like there's chemistry between the squad and manager already!

Gordon Crawford
17 Posted 16/06/2016 at 00:15:01

All sounds delightful. :)

Nigel Gregson
18 Posted 16/06/2016 at 01:17:46

what exactly were we expecting him to say ?

EFC Fan
19 Posted 16/06/2016 at 01:27:38

Minik, Leighton Baines has been injured for almost half of the last two years, as well as the "Oviedo Baby" period, before that.

Julian Wait
20 Posted 16/06/2016 at 01:51:01

"We're the same as everyone else in keeping an eye on the media and ToffeeWeb." (corrected)

Steve Bingham
21 Posted 16/06/2016 at 03:15:40

Next job... Get shut of the ego ridden penalty fluffer which should enhance the dressing room moral no end .

Karl Parsons
23 Posted 16/06/2016 at 09:19:54

No need for Bainsy to stand up and apologise for these comments. Thank fuck we're free of that fraud.

Dave Pritchard
24 Posted 16/06/2016 at 09:28:15

Agree with James @1. I haven't given up on Baines and hope that his poor form was down to his previous manager rather than a marked decline in his own abilities as age catches up on him.

Jim Wilson
25 Posted 16/06/2016 at 10:34:08

Well said Steve. As well as Lukaku being a lazy one trick pony I have never known a player to be so obviously bad for team spirit. Fluffing penalties and ballooning free kicks over the bar just two things I dislike him for. Watching a team mate running past him to close down an opponent makes him redundant as a valuable influential player.
As for Baines he is an Everton great for sure, with a great attitude.

Alan J Thompson
26 Posted 16/06/2016 at 11:05:21

Head down, gob shut, get on with it.

Damian Wilde
27 Posted 16/06/2016 at 11:46:14

What do people think about how Martinez used (and partly ruined) Baines & Coleman (more so Coleman as I think Baines was on the slide before RM arrived)? They used to gly down the wibgs. Watchibg Coleman ftom last season whenever he got just past the halfway line, rather than go for it like he previously did, he would stop and pass it sideways, he seemed at times, half the player. I like Seamus though, brilliant attitude. Leighton, good attitude, unsure if he is still good enough, though happy for him to get a chance.

Mike Powell
28 Posted 16/06/2016 at 13:35:27

Baines will be back to his best under Koeman, and at his best, there is no one better.

Paul Ellam
29 Posted 16/06/2016 at 13:47:27

I think we will see Baines (and Coleman) return to their best under Koeman.
And by that I mean doing what they're good at, bombing up the wings and influencing our attack more!
For some reason, Martinez (after his first season) seemed to shackle both players and stop them from playing their natural football.
The first thing Koeman should do is put Baines back on penalty and free kicks duty too!

Mick Davies
30 Posted 16/06/2016 at 14:28:08

Nigel @ 18, he didn't have to say anything

Simon Bates
31 Posted 16/06/2016 at 19:49:44

In a different piece on the same subject , it mentions where Baines made these quotes. He was at Finch Farm getting some early pre -season training in. That's why I love the guy and I wouldn't write him off just yet.

Professional, dedicated, determined and quite clever when you think the first thing Koeman's going to see at the training ground is our Leighton practicing his free kicks!!!

Paul Williams
32 Posted 16/06/2016 at 20:54:03

Interesting it was the appoinment they were all hoping for. It's close season, Baines is on hols and he didn't have to say anything. Hopefully they are all fired up.

Jim Potter
33 Posted 16/06/2016 at 23:17:17

I am confident Ronald will get the defence functioning really professionally. Confidence will return and so will the class of Seamus, Bainsey, Jags and hopefully Stonesy.

With this solid foundation our midfield and attack will profit as it is - never mind if we spend a trillion pounds to add more class.

Do your stuff Big Ron.

Jim Potter
34 Posted 16/06/2016 at 23:17:34

Type or paste your comment here. PLEASE capitalise initial letters of proper names and use proper grammar. No txt-speak; all-lowercase posts are likely to be deleted

Michael Polley
35 Posted 17/06/2016 at 03:08:21

More positives. Looking forward to the new season.

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