Koeman may need fresh approach to solve lingering problems

We keep repeating the same mistakes, ploughing through god knows how many inconsistent wide men and holding midfielders who can't defend properly and never attack.

Every manager in the Premier League works out our dismal style of play and how to counteract it easily. It will take a massive change of strategy for us to improve and no-one at the club seems able to even work out what we need.

The Swansea game was dire to watch and the second half was the absolute minimum level we should be reaching let alone being looked upon as an improvement. It was only an improvement on utter shite after all. Really frustrating watching Everton lately.

When the ball went to any of the four wingers deployed during the game, their total inability to cross to an Everton player left us vulnerable to counter-attacks. Deulofeu went past his man so easily, but never found a ball to Lukaku. Partly this is Lukaku's fault, his strength is running on to a ball, but he never thinks of making runs to create space for another attacking player.

Baines's corners invariably went straight into the keeper's arms and the keeper was never challenged by an Everton player.

Koeman may have improved us defensively, but in offensive play, we remain totally one dimensional, waiting for Lukaku to counter attack, or to run on to a ball with space in which his first touch will not prove to be too heavy or cumbersome.

Bolasie looks a simple waste of money, Mirallas is, as he has always been, an individual with little sense of the idea of team, Lennon is off the pace and Deulofeu will score the odd brilliant goal, but generally fails to use his talents to find a team-mate .
Koeman's job is to do something with these individuals that makes them team players. I wish him luck, but don't feel he has a clue how to do so.

Surreal.

All passes are to feet generally due to everyone being petrified to lose the ball. We don't have anyone running past Lukaku who can then be found with a pass into space. Without Lukaku we would struggle big time.Putting anyone like an Erikson or Sigurdsson in that midfield playing to those orders would look exactly the same.

Sunderland have a group of players that look poor at the start of every year, they bring in a new manager and have a reaction to beat the top teams and stay in the Premier League.

My worry is that I haven't seen a reaction out of our squad to the new manager. Tactically the fullbacks aren't bombing on as much under Koeman; other than that, I can't tell who is managing us.

Paragraphs 7 and 12 describe our problem perfectly

Get rid of all the slackers and best centre-forwards in the world, who by the way probably pisses off all the other squad players with the "I am God that hovers on a blade of grass" and we may just start to get a bunch of guys together that could get into the thought patterns of what a team playing together means.

He may score goals but from what I've seen and read, I think this guy rules our team by fear.

I think the rest of our players are scared shitless and become oh so nervous when they have the ball and therefore not thinking on what they have to do when in possession. Hence attacks breaking down.

Everyone can argue with me till they're Blue in the face BUT no-one will persuade me other wise.

1) Get rid of this egotistical nightmare;

2) Let the rest of the players start to ENJOY their football.

Spot on; the boo-boys are on Barkley's back but the problem is the statues in front of him when he has the ball. Lukaku is a good goalscorer but, if he put the work in, he would have twice the goals.

The problems (as I see them) simply can't be tackled by getting in a couple of new players and getting rid of a couple of old players. (See insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, etc.)

For me, if the big problems aren't addressed/sorted, everything else is a band-aid on a broken leg.

So... firstly, we're not a smart side, so much of what we do on the park is dumb and mistakes are repeated over and over and over.

We need some smarts, some brains and some guile – a few players who can think their way through a game and lead the rest.

Secondly, we're (seemingly) not as strong physically as many of the sides we come up against and are too easily pushed and pulled around.

Our (for want of a better expression) 'will to win' is lacking (nb: I don't mean saying before a game 'the lads are desperate to do well', I mean actual will to win).

"How can you say that?"

Because I see how much second ball we don't get and I see loads of headers we don't contest (and we simply don't press teams like they press us).

We are lacking genuine leadership on the field, far too quiet, far too 'nice.'

Each week I hear/read "Why did he replace...?" or "He should have played 4 at the back instead of 5 coz..." but I can't get involved with any of it because it makes no difference to me.

Until I sense some real change and a new ethos, I'll continue to go to the game, sigh and wait for... something.

(And while Kenwright is still in there, 'working his magic', I'm not expecting anything ground-breaking.)

It's Koeman's style but he's perhaps picked on the wrong team. It's perhaps not the time to say "buck up or ship out" because most of the players know they are going nowhere fast.

If this weekend ends in a defeat, I think Koeman's in for a long season. A winter of discontent is looming large and I'm one of the people backing him to succeed.

This team stinks of ineptness. Players who in their preferred position cannot fulfil their role, or adapt to be an integral part of any strategy. They are purely incompetent, barring (Lukaku, Gueye, Bolasie, Coleman).

It's just plain pathetic to see players raking in serious wages performing the way they do. The only thing some have to offer is a different, expensive, paid by the fans hair-do. They are championship material and going nowhere with an attitude. The sooner these names are history the better.

The most frustrating thing about it is, during the Barron years of Walter Smith's and mike walkers reign, we had no expectations. So, when we got walloped, it was par for the course. Whereas, we have become more financially sound in the last few years, yet, we have the same misery heaped upon ,us. Bollox to these excuses for players, let's drop them and get a new team!

I'm interested in your first para. Could you expand on that please. I meant this:

"Only an opinion but I think he's perhaps lost the dressing room over his mis-management of Lukaku and Barkley."

Thanks.

It might be the realisation that they are wasting their collective time, but that doesn't wash when it happens against the struggling clubs in the Premier League. It might be because they feel 'underpaid' in comparison to the high fliers in the league or it might be they do understand that Everton FC cannot afford to get shut of them in any great numbers and therefore they know they can get away with minimum effort.

Given Unsworth's observations about the younger players last night, it would seem that this 'casual' approach to playing for Everton FC has swept throughout the club. If I knew why this is so, I would be on £6m a year, but bad habits and bad attitudes are difficult to break and I sincerely hope that our current manager can at least address those issues, otherwise we are in for a torrid campaign.

Eugene, I agree. We do not have a sore loser. I mean a really bad loser, not a cheat but some ferocious fucker who will galvanise the others and send them on to the pitch with a will that no team can match.

We are easy to play against, a pleasure to referee. Addressing this does not require a multi-million-pound solution. It needs WILL. Guile will cost more and I hope and expect we are looking for it and ready to pay.

Lyndon, I agree totally about the young lads. One of them, just one, might provide the spark we need.

We are full of fear at the moment. Two holding midfielders, keeping it tight, ponderous and unimaginative. I believe that Evertonians will get behind a bold team and a bold coach. We are not far away but we need something different, lucky, special, fortuitous... or a spark.

I do feel we need 2/3 players in January that will improve us but I don't want us going mad and bringing in 4 or 5. Let's get a few in to try and help us achieve our aims of Europe this season and see what's on offer to us in the summer. The summer market is usually more open and the possibilities to get in better quality is greater than it is in January imo so let's get what we need in January and have a proper look at our recruitment in the summer and take it from there.

But we could do with a ball playing, creative CM, a quality wide forward that gets goals to help take the burden off of Lukaku and for me another CB to either give Jags a kick up the arse or replace him! Then in the summer we need to get in the obvious ones, a GK, RB competition, box to box midfielder, another wide option and when Lukaku leaves (and he will leave this time, it's probably already agreed...) we need to get a couple of strikers in and then see where we're at.

But we need to persevere with Koeman for now and give him 2/3 more Windows to bring in the required quality and the types of players that will work within his preferred system and way of working before we start to really judge Koeman's Everton as let's face it, this isn't really his team. He's added some good players to it but 4 new players isn't going to turn us into world beaters over night is it. There's a lot of dross in our squad currently and it will take time to shift them but Koeman needs time, more than the 10 minutes he's only had before he starts getting stick which he already is and which I find crazy, even if I do get frustrated with performances and results myself. Let him build HIS Everton team and see how we get on, then we can all judge

You don't see many managers publicly berating their team and getting away with it. We have asked him to be honest and honest he has been. He may just have over-egged the pudding IMO with his frank public criticism. I like it, I'm not sure all the players do.

We have all witnessed the wonderful trio of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta for Barca in recent years who always found a way to unlock packed defences but Everton's midfield have shown in recent weeks that they would have trouble opening a defence of 80-year-old grandmother's.

Whilst a fresh approach is all well and good you still need capable players to carry out that approach successfully. Everton have brought in some decent players but they are underachieving and Koeman, like his predecessors, seems to be a deer in the headlights at times, not knowing what to do next.

Granted, he hasn't had very long so we have to be patient but the Swansea performance coming right after the Chelsea shellacking has thrown up red flags. Hopefully, they can get some decent results over the next month to get rid of the recent sour taste and that some new inspiration can be obtained in January.

We dodged a bullet with Sissoko. I just hope that we bring in players who have hunger and a point to prove rather than some prima donna types.

I can't remember the last time we started with two out-and-out forwards. For now why not use Valencia and bring him on for 20 odd minutes and give defenders an alternative other than marking Lukaku, who is the only goal threat, out of the game.

Over the years, it's become beyond embarrassing that we cannot muster two strikers to start at Goodison against mediocre and rubbish opposition.

Only trouble now is Walsh and Co need to find that guy because he is not with us right now.

Players that do not present for a forward pass or give less than 100% publically called out by team mates and manager alike. The team captain should take the lead with this. No more Mr Nice Guy, Jags!

We are the 'last of the Corinthians, jumpers for goalposts, first team to have numbers on our jersey, happy to be in the Premier League' bunch of gobshites.

In any organisation, the narrative is set by the people at the top. The ambition can only come from the people who steer the good ship Everton. Has any manager of Everton been hauled over the coals for not winning a trophy or gaining a place in the Champions League? No chance.

Until that all changes, we will always be the bridesmaid, if that is we ever make it to the church. Some of our fans love all that shit though. I've even read on these very pages they wouldn't want Everton "to buy success."

Who knew? What do they think the modern game is all about?

After the underwhelming summer transfer window there's an expectation of new blood needing to be brought in to freshen things up. If we have a rough December and a shite transfer window, TW will be awash with negative posts, and rightly so.

The club, between now and the transfer window, need to be seen to start addressing the issues both on and off the pitch otherwise patience will be in short supply.

I'm still in the 'give Koeman time' camp but I can understand people's frustrations. Eugene is correct – we need somebody in midfield with brains to pull the strings.

Over to you, Mr Walsh, no pressure like!

That's really it in nutshell "the culture of the club" which in my opinion means as Kevin Tully stated that the club isn't built to be successful, it's more than happy to jog along and say oh well there's always the next game, the next season etc etc. Until that culture is removed, we as fans will have to put up with half-baked performances.

Success At Everton..

For me, Barkley and Lukaku can't play in the same team. Both are a bit ponderous, both need movement around them, and both go from the sublime to the ridiculous. I think Lukaku guarantees you goals though, so I would drop Ross instead.

I don't know if anyone saw any pre-season games when Deulofeu played up front, but he did well. I would like to see us play 4-4-2 with him up front alongside Lukaku. He would offer us some movement up front and support for Lukaku.

We could still have Barry and Gueye in centre mid keeping it tight, with Lennon on one side and Bolasie on the other. Hopefully our manager can see the need to freshen things up in any case...

We have not yet replaced Arteta, Osman and Pienaar, players who played with intelligence and could thread the ball through tight spaces. Frankly, playing two strikers up front will not work if the service to them is of the hit and hope variety.

Last Saturday we saw a charge of the light brigade with three wingers, two strikers plus Barkley on the field. Despite the equaliser from Seamus we created less in that period than we had in the first half.

What can be done between now and January? I agree with Lyndon and others that Tom Davies should be given an opportunity. At the very least, he will bring energy into the midfield areas and from what we have seen he may improve our passing.

Barkley is a prime example of a player with bags of talent but absolutely no brains – no disrespect to the bloke but he hasn't got a clue what to do with or without the ball most of the time.

The rest of them are equally as headless half the time as well, and until we get in some players with the right temperament, as well as footballing nouse, we're going to continue being a mid-table side.

It seems to me that most other teams are grateful when they play us. They seem to know they're not gonna get injured or be tackled until they're in or on the edge of our box (Coleman, Barry and Idrissa aside), and there'll be few aerial jousts in their area but plenty of aerial opportunities in ours.

In short, our shower are riddled with unprofessional lazy wusses content to see out their dream-world contracts.

Finding the path to success hopefully might be closer though; there has been a change at the top that we all craved for. Money is now apparently being pumped in. We should be full of optimism, but strangely, we are as divided and depressed as ever.

The last manager's false promises of instant success have caused untold damage, because now we're faced with the harsh reality. Hard work and bloody mindedness are the route to success, not pipe dreams.

Maybe the answer is to bring in some energetic youngsters eager to impress such as Dowell, Davies, Holgate and the like. Surely they couldn't do any worse?

Rom has to play a certain role but is not mobile enough and quite honestly Bolasie hasn't really showed up yet. Mirallas, Deulofeu and Lennon have not answered the call consistently and Barkley is the enigma who may well be better off in another set-up.

Jagielka, Williams, Baines and Barry are experienced but aging which can make them a step slower in the tackle where it matters. Gibson, Cleverley and Besic are others who are also inconsistent and may now be surplus to requirements.

Yes, we may think on the positive side and say "Koeman will get it right given time" but what I have seen so far is not encouraging. They were a much more potent side when Matinez first took over and he didn't have the backing of Moshiri to help him through.

Everton at the moment are a busted flush and Koeman needs the funds to deliver the remedial action required.

I won't get bogged down in the 'system numbers' game as it's all bollocks anyway. Any system that works well will: (a) maximise the strengths of the players, not flaunt their shortcomings. It will also: (b) fluctuate between, taken to extremes, 8-1-1 and 2-1-7.

Before we get new players in, the current players will need to up their mental attitude, commitment and effort. Or any new comers will find their optimism being sucked out of them and soon they will be as anonymous as the rest.

Koeman's fresh approach may need structural and well as personnel changes... The key is, as you politely dance around the bleedin obvious – the two defensive midfielders.

I would only bring in two kids – this team and most teams tbh are not good enough to carry three potential passengers or newbies... I mean we carry passengers now and look at the state of us!

Davies for Barry (tough decision but age and legs shade it) and try Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a 4-4-1-1-ish type formation, just who else might miss out starting or end up playing is for the Dutch 6-million-pound man.

He has to stop doing that Einstein thing re actions and results.

If Everton were a Test Cricket team at the moment, they would be Australia – all full of so-called big names who under-perform, with fast bowlers who in theory should be terrorising batsmen, but who are 'rotated' to 'rest' the poor ickle sensitive souls.

They've just lost test after test and yesterday – after mucho clamour – have actually dropped players and given 3 or 4 new caps and atm 'seem' to be doing okay.

As to the snidey guile; Faf du Plessis (Saffa capt.) was caught shining the ball with the help of a Trebor Mint in his mouth. He took his fine, more or less laughed and said everybody does it... that's the snide... not Suarez snide but push the envelope snide.

The Guile; deep in one of these new day-night tests under the floodlights, they were 258 for 9 with an hour to go. David Warner, the Aussie opening bat... and one of the few who does mostly perform, pulled his arm throwing the ball – Du Plessis declared immediately and put the Aussies in – without their opener, having to rely on a guy making his debut, while Warner was still getting treatment. Then bowled the shit out of them restricting them to 14 runs in 12 or 13 overs – That's Guile.

How this new Aussie team react has yet to be seen, but the selectors couldn't go on with the same old same old – in fact, one or two of the selectors got the push too. Change has to start at the top.

3 months into a 3 year contract and already the hope of optimism are quickly fading. Ask your self what is the diffrence between Southampton when managed by Koeman and Everton managed by the same coach.

Simply the players.. on paper most of you would say we have a better squad. So as pointed out, it has to be down to the attitude of our squad. After all Koeman done well enough at Southampton before Mr Moneybags persuaded him to jump ship.

Koeman cant motivate, scare or inspire this bunch of players to go out and give 100%. Unless the January window addresses these issues (I doubt it), then expect us to slowly fall away like last season.

Meanwhile the morning papers are declaring Stevie Me some kind of demi God after he hung his boots up. Oh how the media love the red shite while we are still in the shite..

I do believe Koeman will get it right, but I also believe the only way to do that is to buy players with the right mentality and creativity to help us be consistent.

For example, I watched the game the other day and I was just thinking to myself Sigurdsson is a type of player we need. His passing forward, set pieces and movement is what we're missing in the final third. Because in the final third lately we have been piss-poor.

Mirallas is someone to bring on last 10-20 minutes, Lennon works hard to track back, however again final ball an issue, Deulofeu only has 20-30 minutes in him, but also struggles final ball. Is it time now to give Geri a go in the Number 10 role?

Jagielka is finished. As much as I love the lad his legs are gone. Best think Koeman can do with him now is drop him because it's looking at lot more like Distin and Howard.

A thing that does frustrate me however is when the opposition have a corner, every man in a blue shirt is in the 18-yard box and not one on the half-way line, I understand the objective of defending a set piece, however say keeper catches it and looks for options going forward, nobody there. Then onto the sideways and fucking back passes.

Next month is a huge and busy month. Especially with our next three home games ffs. These players really can't afford to start off slow especially against Arsenal or Liverpool. It has to be pure fight and effort from first whistle to last.

Problem is, do we have it in us? Or are we arsed? Unless proved wrong, the answer is No.The frustration of being an Evertonian is second to none.

Koeman finds himself in a similar position to the one Howard Kendall was in, a team relatively high on talent, but completely empty in terms of character.

Peter Reid and Andy Gray were not the most talented players we ever had, but both possessed something even more potent. Not only did they have belief and desire, they were both capable of inspiring it in others. To have one such player in your side is a major plus; to have two virtually guarantees you will be challenging for honours. Koeman himself was such a player and you would like to believe that would give him an edge when it comes to identifying it in others.

I'm getting tired. I used to start buzzing around Thursday, I'd be so looking forward to going the match, wherever it was getting played. Now, although I'm wide awake (just got home), I have to confess that I'll need to check the fixture list to know who we are playing this weekend.

We need a spark, we need a Peter Reid or an Andy Gray to walk into our dressing room, one of each would be nice.

I'm not normally one of those who will pin their hopes on Everton having a good transfer window (so many more funerals than weddings) but it's all we have. The winner/s we desperately need are not here at the moment. Koeman may as well go and bang his fist on the Kabin counter and demand that Noris Cole gets out there and kicks some arse... Unfortunately, that seems to be what he's trying to do.

I agree with posts on this thread about our attitude – or lack of. None more so than Darren's post re an Andy Gray or Reidy. Both players with injury problems when we signed them, both with hearts of lions.

One thing lost me though: Who is Noris Cole?

Koeman wants to play a high pressing game, but what happens when a few of the forwards and midfielders can't (or won't) play that way. The system breaks down and the play becomes directionless. It seems we revert to sort of a Moyes/Martinez hybrid; hoofball combined with aimless passing.

The players are so tentative. There doesn't seem to be any joy. The goals we score are more of a relief than a cause for celebration.

The fans were fed up with two years of finishing 11th. I got the impression from the manager, when he first arrived, wasn't overly concerned; that this wasn't a do-or-die season. He believed that this season, with the high quality players he inherited, combined with his skills as a top manager, he would see us near, if not in, one of the European spots. Next season, with more investment and the addition of top players, he would push for top four.

It is proving to be a lot more difficult than he thought. The question is: Does Koeman have the management skills to sell his system to the players? Can he get players that don't run without the ball, to start running at the opposition?

Or failing that, come up with an effective style of play that the players we have can make work.

It's time to start earning your paycheque, Ronald.

He's going to have to import it, which is presumably why we hired him and Walsh.

Shuffling the current deck won't make a difference until we get a bit more character and nouse in the team.

Paul, I get your point about there not being many characters out there these days, but alls we are looking for is people who just want to go out and play football, and demand the same from everyone else in their team. Surely some players in the game still have this very attitude?

I haven't been to an away game yet this season, which tells me everything about watching Everton at the minute, and one of my little twins fell asleep on my knee at the game last week. He's telling me he'd sooner go to school!

As so many have remarked, there is 'a disconnect' between Evertonians and this bunch of dispirited jobsworths. Trouble is, the manager is not excluded from that comment.

The reality is that there is little of real quality in the premiership. We talk of the need for players in midfield or up front but in reality who are they and more importantly are they available and good enough? Players playing in continental teams rarely settle quickly, so no short term solution there and the rest. If they can't hold a place in their own team are they really good enough? And if they are keeping a place why would they be sold?

The solution rests, to a great extent, in our own hands and the bravery of the manager. No one expects 5 or 6 youngsters to come through at once but we have to try and bring some on and we, as fans, may have to accept yet another mediocre season, if we can see a purpose to it.

Mindless passing square is the safety first solution of ageing footballers and those with little courage or ability to try things. It equally demonstrates the mindset of the manager – they can't score if we've got the ball and that keeps him in a job!! Younger players are less likely to adopt such an approach and are more likely to be adventurous and try things particularly if used in relatively large numbers, ones or two's can easily be subsumed by the ageing mass so you have to have 3 or more. Whilst I doubt we have the same number that Man Utd had back in the early '90s, their philosophy was to change the whole mindset through change en masse. Are we brave enough to do it?

We still need experience but the right sort, the type that will support and protect, players with intelligence to recognise and cover for inexperience, finding and selecting them is the managers job. We already have a mix of youth and some intelligent experience – Lukaku, Barkley, Baines, Barry, Coleman, Williams, Deulofeu, Gueye and dare I say it – Cleverley and Besic. For me the others are journeymen or players on the decline.

Now let's see who can step up from the U23s and below. Football is quicker and stronger than was in the '60s, '70s and '80s but so are the youngsters, so the old adage still holds true 'if you're good enough you're old enough'

Stand up as a club and say we will create our own dynasty built on a mixture of youth and experience and I for one will accept going to Goodison and seeing us occasionally lose for the bigger picture. Going and seeing £28M one-trick ponies strutting around with no end product is far less appealing.

Ask yourself this-how are kids supposed to understand team ethics and unselfishness when academies are only interested in churning player numbers through the system in the hope that eventually a diamond will magically appear once a season to justify the club's outlay.

I coach kids at grassroots – build a team spirit first, make the game easy for them by coaching appropriately and tell your parents that there is no room for individuals, only kids who want to be part of a team – and stick to it. I would ban academies from player recruitment until age 13/14.

I have witnessed scores of perfectly good, disciplined and talented kids (including my own daughter) have their confidence destroyed by pretentious football academies, whose only objective is money.

Kids need to be developed in a familiar environment,with their mates, not pressurised to conform and meet stats at 7 years old. Hence why you have a glut of professional players who are more or less all the same – pre programmed to meet requirements and stats, who know bugger all about people skills.

Is it any wonder there are no leaders out there?

If you look at it from their point of view they had a manager who told them how wonderful they are and got them believing they are better than they really are. Now they have a new manager in who is very blunt (Niasse) and they know the club is at a stage where they can spend big and bring in lots of new players.

I am no mind reader but if you go through the players who many of them look happy with the current situation/manager. I read somewhere last month that they are scared of Koeman and so if they feel they are on their way out then there is not much motivation for them to work hard and play for their place. Jagielka, Baines, Barry (maybe not yet), McCarthy, Lennon, Mirallas, Deulofeu are all probably thinking this is their last season with the team or at least no longer promised a starting place when new faces come in.

Of course, I could be wrong... but I think we are experiencing the calm before the storm. We are going into a period of transition and so morale might be low for players who think they already have lost their managers belief in them.

I think they all started the season well trying to impress the new coach and Lukaku was on fire scoring for fun. We did have quite an easy run of matches and is the reason why we are still sitting in 7th place. However, I feel that has gone now and a lot of the players don't want to play the hard-working, pressing game the coach is asking them to play which would explain why so many of us are struggling to define what is our system of play.

Koeman has already replaced 4 players and so if he replaced another 3 or 4 in January that is a huge part of the team that will be gone. He knows if he can keep Rom scoring he has a chance of finishing in the top 5 but personally I think we will struggle to remain in the top half after a poor December & January.

Barkley would add 5-10 goals extra a season if he was coached to not always look for the possession behind the ball with play in front. Show him Lampard at his peak. The run past the striker into space.

They need to gamble and run off him not behind. The lack of players in the box when we're attacking is alarming.

Everton cannot afford to be generous to the new manager when the team is failing on the pitch, week after week – it should not be allowed to continue.

Lukaku has many assets, but making runs and exploring channels are not among his talents. He wants a ball to run on to and as for the so-called wingers.

I think Bolasie represents the kind of waste that I last saw spent on Mick Walsh in the late 70s; the other three are only marginally better and Depay's recruitment doesn't suggest that he'd be in any way an improvement.

Since the inception of the Premier League, the club has been happy to just get by and pick-up the Australian's millions while at the same time short changing its fan base.

I sincerely believe that Moshiri wants that to change and that he has put his faith in Koeman to achieve it. Hopefully he gets it right and we can start to be recognised as a force in the modern era.

The soul of our club is rotten and has been for a very long time. Look at our lack of success with youth team players. Just ask yourself how many youngsters we have had come through, only for them to be sold or not even make it – apart from Hibbert. Why?

There have been some great kids at Goodison. Ones that come to mind our Billy Kenny, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, Jack Rodwell, John Stones and of course Wayne Rooney. In my humble opinion, had Rodwell, Kenny, Vaughan, Anichebe come though at our neighbours, most of them if not all would have had much better careers. I bet when they were 16,none of them was worse or better than Fowler, Gerrard or Carragher – all Evertonians when kids.

Why were they not taught how to handle the media and the cash they were being paid or even how to handle fame and the mental pressure that comes with it? They were wasted by Everton and in my opinion only Rooney reached his potential and Stones most probably will do so too.

This is off the cuff but its just an example of the culture Koeman has to deal with and 12 games is nowhere near enough time to sort this mess of a club out.

Derek (#36), I don't know how many of us follow cricket these days but your analogy was quite right. Fans of the Australian cricket team have a big advantage over us though in that their selection committee gave the players who were failing to deliver one last chance before they were brave enough to ask younger lads to step up to the plate. Their response to the challenge set by South Africa speaks for itself.

My main interest, however, is in the culture of Everton FC. Kevin (#22) and Patrick (#24) are correct; the tone is set at the top and for too long that tone has been far too comfortable for all concerned. A little short of two years ago, I walked away from employment at Everton FC because I could no longer accept the culture of complacency that reigns behind the scenes. I made abundantly clear in writing why I left but actually nobody cared; I was one less pain in the ass to have to listen to.

All of my concerns over the previous two years prior to my leaving, both written and in face-to-face meetings, were made directly to the Deputy CEO. Perhaps she was too busy adding more initials after her various surnames but her repeated mantra that my concerns "had been investigated by external consultants" smacked of someone who had better things to do than get to the bottom of the evidence-based issues that I raised. Not once, not a single time, did any "external consultants" bother to contact me about these issues. Some investigators!

Until someone has the bottle that those Australian selectors showed and realises that there has to be root-and-branch reform of the way this club is run, we are destined to remain the also-rans. A winning culture on the pitch cannot be sustained without a culture of, well, let's call it nil satis nisi optimum – from the boardroom through to the changing room... and everyone in between.

In the meantime, I am doing the exact opposite to Tony (#46) and only going to away games; I shall always support the shirt but I'll do my best not to give any more of my money to some people there who who actively enjoy wallowing in mediocrity.

Although he is now a pariah to most of us, Moyes had that sixth sense that provided the club with some of our best finds from the lower divisions, many of whom became players of international class. Yet Koeman, like Martinez, seems incapable of this type of lower division 'trawling' which still turns up gems like Vardy & Co on a regular basis while at the same time stubbornly refusing to recognise the talents already available in our own so-called 'reserve' team's backyard.

As far as I am concerned I fear our future success as a really top team is an increasingly distant dream, and as a day one critic of the Koeman appointment will never believe he is the right man to end the malaise that has blighted my beloved Everton and our once famous 'School Of Science'.

Who is running the show on the pitch? Answer: no-one.

Replace James McCarthy in the picture with someone like Fabregas, Kagawa, or Mata and I would bet everything, including the mentality and passing pattern, would change.

There are plenty of good players in this squad. He needs the missing link.

"Yet Koeman, like Martinez, seems incapable of this type of lower division 'trawling'"

Surely that's why Walsh and Co have joined us?

I still pay for one of my kids to travel wherever Everton play, but after watching them play at Chelsea on the telly, I've told him he can fuck off, until the players start giving 100% again.

Like Darren said, I used to start getting ready once Thursday came, but it's as if this season hasn't really started yet, and it hasn't bothered me, not doing something that I really used to love. Let's hope the feeling comes back, because there's not many things better than watching Everton win away from home!

The squad is really poor with problems in defence, midfield and attack. Our best players from previous years are now past it while most of the players Martinez brought in are simply not good enough. We are plummeting down the table and recruits are vital in January to stop us drifting into trouble.

At the risk of causing a storm, even Tony Pulis said last season (after they had beaten us a Goodison), "this is a top five squad".

I do feel Jagielka's days are numbered so I agree with you about the defense, however, my view remains that a if Koeman can, in January, bring in a leader, things will improve.

I think we basically agree. The squad is weak from the previous regime who may well have taken us down this season.

I in no way blame Koeman who has strengthened with his signings, but has perhaps been taken by surprise by the lack of quality. We need quality signings in all departments from goalie to striker.

I actually think Southampton have got more better players than us. By far they've got the best keeper in Forster. Their backline nicks it for me just about. Cedric is a really good right-back, Bertrand is now one of best left-backs in the league, Van Dijk is up there has one of best centre-backs in the league and Fonte is good but if anything it would be a toss up between him and one from either Jags or Williams to go in alongside van Dijk.

There's not a lot in it in the centre of the park. Gueye gets in all day long for me and then it's a choice between either Barry or Romeu for me.

Then in the attacking positions I think only Lukaku would get in, maybe Barkley at a push but I think all of Tadic, Boufal & Redmond are better or as good as what we've got.

But a lot of it is a mental and attitude thing with our players and a lot of them haven't got that work rate. Koeman is demanding they press, they graft and show more aggression and it isn't happening.

And I've seen a lot saying we should play 2 up top, we should play 4-4-2 and I agree we should try something new but if you have managers that play certain systems (Moyes more often was 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1, Martinez 4-2-3-1, Koeman either 4-2-3-1 or he prefers 4-3-3) then their not going to shift from what they like and prefer to play and will work on those systems and get in players that suit those systems as opposed to changing their ways to appease certain players and fans if you like.

However Koeman has been so open with the players – several are clearly not interested in playing for him as they know their careers at Everton are over. The result: the last several weeks' malaise.

This is were Koeman's approach falls down, a disinterested and unmotivated squad waiting to be put out of their misery.

As such, we are not seeing effective evidence of Koeman managing what he has... more a view to managing what he might have in January, hence his very open media policy in recent weeks, dulling expectations with every word.

If you extend this further, with several seasoned professionals downing tools on him, it's a difficult sell to comprehend why the younger players aren't given a chance? Yet more evidence Koeman ain't all that.

My biggest fear is we bring 3/4 players on January and go nowhere. Yet on the hallowed pages of ToffeeWeb, we just get the apologists citing time etc.

But we are likely to have 7 or 8 new first-team players, and Koeman has had 6 months to exert an acknowledged force of personality.

He just ain't all that.

Gerard (#63), what was your job at Everton?

We'll lack winners and lack real creativity. Our best is nowhere near good enough to actually challenge; our worst comfortably ahead of the relegation dogfight.

A step change in this club's ability to compete will only happen with money. That leaves us, the players and the manager treading water. Nothing else will have as much impact as cash.

It always felt a bit pointless. You just hope they can do you proud. Maybe even surprise you. This week's game is just another game. I'll be thrilled if we win and I demand they give their all, but does it really matter?

When did it last really matter? I get a strong feeling that it's not just supporters expressing this feeling.

I think most ToffeeWebbers have a reasonably consistent set of opinion(s) when it comes to the team selection:-

(1) Two defensive midfielders leaves us short in and around the opposition's penalty area.

(2) Romelu needs a goal-hungry foil to play off in front of goal (could that be Barkley?

(3) Wingers cutting inside and supported by attacking full backs works as per Baines and Pienaar but they were special and can't be replicated easily if at all.

(4) We have never replaced Arteta.

(5) I understand Koeman wants to replace most of the playing staff and I get that. He sees first hand exactly the psychological damage brought about by Martinez and 3 years of influencing the squad by his meandering, rambling, favoritism crap.

(6) Replacing the squad en masse is just not practical, or even desirable, but I expect it to happen over the next 2 -3 windows, and I do expect Tom Davies et al to be a part of the process. However if a better alternative becomes available, either from within the club or outside then Koeman will go for it, without remorse.

(7) Expecting some news on the stadium soon.

(8) Gibson, Niasse, McCarthy, (Jagielka? Mirallas?) Lennon, Kone, (Valencia?) et al, with Barry into a coaching role?) I expect all to be gone before we kick another ball next season.

You lost me with the first paragraph. When did we have a chance to grind out a result? To me, that would imply hanging onto a 1-0 away win against Man Utd. That would be grinding out a result.

Getting twatted 5-0 at Chelsea, a last-gasp draw against Swansea at home and the latest defeat against The Saints hardly qualifies as being in a position to "grind out a result".

The simple answer is that I was Chief Steward. “Simple” because that was the work for which I was paid. Less simple to explain is the unpaid consultancy and other work I did in my time as a steward (2007-2015).

As a lifelong supporter who (to connect this with another recent tread on TW) was in the Gwladys Street End when Gerry Humphries scored that great goal, and who was lucky enough to be at Goodison to see goals from Colin Harvey and Roy Vernon that clinched Championships, I obviously have a great love and passion for Everton FC and because of that and the fact that I had the time to do so, I was happy to put my professional skills at the disposal of some senior staff at the club. This gave me a unique insight into the way the club is run and, honestly, the more I saw, the less I liked.

Despite the heroic efforts of some very good people there, the overriding impression I had was of a culture of comfort-zone complacency, nepotism and cronyism.

As I was in the extremely fortunate position of not having to work as a steward for the pay, I did not have to take any crap, as it were, and I spoke out whenever I saw something wrong. Most of the employees were not in that position, of course, and they had to “like or hike”. Some were presumably paid a severance to leave and keep schtumm, but as I left entirely of my own accord at a time of my own choosing when I no longer wanted to watch sycophants with nothing to offer the club ingratiate their way into favour and look after number one, I am beholden to nobody.

I remain convinced that there is an exact correlation between the way a club is run and results on the pitch. There is a huge difference between creating a professional and inclusive, listening culture in an organisation and a superficially friendly and cosy atmosphere in which criticism is unwelcome.

So much kudos to be associated with the Premier league, especially these days with the wall-to-wall media coverage, plus the money sloshing about must attract some people for the wrong reasons.

Of course the club is not a democracy, and apart from adhering to basic employment laws, the club can do what ever it wants. This is why I would like to see fan ownership, like in Germany, so that the fans had a real say in the club's direction. I doubt that it will happen here, with so many vested interests involved, and the big money makes it even less likely.

We haven't much of a clue what has gone on at Everton over the years, and input like yours helps to demist the windows.