Koeman targeting 'three or four' more players

Is Stekelenburg really up to being no1? Does Koeman have someone in mind who just isn't available at the moment? Is he maybe seeing is Robles can improve?

A top class keeper can make such difference.

My guess would be CB (Kone), AMC (Mata, Sigurdsson or Ziyech), left sided attacker (Bolasie) and then the fourth would either be a goalkeeper or a striker if the right person becomes available. I think we need a backup for Lukaku more desperately than we need a keeper, at least in the short term.

So far Koeman/Walsh/Moshiri have spent well which gives me confidence that the next 3-4 will really strengthen the team in key areas. Fingers crossed.

I am going to enjoy listening to Koeman all season as I actually trust him.

A confident, commanding, screeching gobshite of a goalkeeper with Vito Corleone levels of concentration and organisation would have been my number one transfer wish, as it as been for about five years now. The single most important position on the pitch in my opinion. Thing is, I can't think of many out there at the moment who would meet the criteria I have in mind (which is basically Southall minus the muzzy and arl scruff chic).

It's looking very much like a case of going with what we've got.

Robles does have ability but the defence don't seem to find him a reassuring presence to play in front of and he, like many modern keepers, seems to struggle to maintain focus for a full ninety minutes. Stekelenburg, who I expect will get the nod over Robles, probably brings with him a bit more authority due to experience, but neither would by my idea of an Everton No1.

He needs to stop waving his arms about and play for the obscene money he's being paid.

We all know he can be brilliant.

He's getting in the beef and then it's on to the guile.

a) not sure he did really, he only played 28 games, 12 goals.
b) Nobody/Martinez. Same thing really.

If you were contemplating selling Phil Jagielka would you announce it in your presser? I wouldn't. I would say we need him in the hope that his suitors lift their offer.

I don't recall him saying too much about John Stones leaving. Of course. Why would he?

As a supporter I think all you can do is judge the team that is built (or being built). Anything else is just words.

The team will be physically stronger than its ever been with the likes of Williams, Kone, Jags, Barry, Barkley, Lukaku and maybe Bony.

The line-up for Saturday concerns me though. Coleman and Lukaku doubts. Possible team without them:
Stek
Holgate
Jags
Mori
Baines
Gueye
Barry
Deulofeuo
Mirallas
Kone

Nobody trusts either Robles or Stekelenburg. to be an improvement on Tim Howard.

This "Dutch honesty" will be slated if results don't go his way...

He said it how it is, we're 70% fit, (we know he's not just blaming the Euros for that). I think he seems shocked at just how much our players are unfit due to poor training sessions under our previous manager.
Yes he's had them in training for a few weeks now, but if he all of a sudden drastically increased the training in an effort to increase the fitness, in such a short time scale they would dropping like flies through injury.

He said they will be upto 100% in 3 weeks, yet won't expect them to play like that in the mean time. That'll do me. No excuses just honesty.

A. Kone is not really what the club needs, but can do a job (in a form of capacity). Yet he's not saying good luck to Kone! yet.

Saying players he has trained for five weeks are only 70% fit is bullshit. Using Martinez's fitness regime as an excuse didn't cut with me. I played football long enough to know it doesn't take a supposed athlete five weeks to get 100% fit. Football is the same what ever level it is, if you're not fit it's down to the player as well as the coach.
'Awaits criticism from Koeman supporters' 😋

Stekelenberg, Baines, Jags, Mori, Davies, Mirallis, Gueye, Barry, Barkley, Lennon, Delboy

Thoughts?

With regards to the comments about 70% fit I made before, from what Koeman said. A large part of any athletes fitness training is for conditioning. This takes a lot longer than 5 weeks to change from what they've been doing for the previous 3 years. If you rush any changes, then you'll get injuries.

Green, immaculately trimmed and striped pitches, new kits and bare arms across heads to shield the sun all point to a false start. Where others hope, our wives and partners hide the razor blades and take our ties.

This is August. This is Everton.

Evertonians in August are like Polar Bears in spring emerging from hibernation, devoid of a decent kip.
Hungry and grumpy!

We have somehow evolved to survive the privations.
We rapidly accustom our dreamy expectations to the less than bountiful reality.
We emerge.
We growl.
We hear Z-Cars!
We GROWL !

It's really about time that we stopped hibernating !

As to the goalkeeper, I think RK is waiting till January, to see what happens with Joe Hart. Until then, the Flying Dutchman will have to hold the fort!

Still I hope that Roberto will be proven right that Tom Cleverley is the "most sensational free transfers you are going to see in Premier League history.”

Unlikely but not a closed case like Niassco

If Martinez was still in charge now and had bought; a midfielder that lets be honest most of us didn't even know before we bought him, Fulham's reserve goalie and to be fair a good solid centre half who is aged 32 most of us would be furious, particularly if he had also sold Stones. I have nothing against Koeman he is however just a paid employee of the club (well paid at that) and he should be judged on results, end of.

I really couldn't care less about how media friendly/savvy he is, just get the results and make us attractive to watch as well.

To even get to Premier league fitness is a major achievement let alone the skill.

I remember a few years ago a lad who played for Marine got to run out at Anfield and play in a charity match for the RS. To say he was blowing for tugs after 5 minutes would be to put it mildly.

Even Souness (I think it was) said he shouldnt be on the pitch with top level pros as he was likely to get seriously injured.

Top level conditioning can take 3 to 6 months otherwise as others have said you risk an injury.

I think that's pretty honest.

Martinez was sacked in May, there's nearly 3 month's gone buy since then, of course its all Martinez fault on here, along with the weather, the nights drawing in and the dog dying.

All the self appointed media experts are predicting us to finish 9th!! Not much improvement on 11th is it, even with the Moshiri money.
Unless we make some stellar signings I fear they may be right.

He appears to be wanting the players to actually be fit. As to the new signings, like others a new GK is a priority and also a striker. Not sure about Bolassie but I am willing to trust Koeman/Walsh on that one. I think the writing is also on the wall for Cleverley McCartney and Barry to be honest. I will be very surprise if we play with 2 DM and the fact that Gueye is here suggests that he will be the man to fit into that role. Bony would also be a good addition.

I think the fans should get used to the idea that until we start producing on the pitch then top players just won't want to come. However I have every faith that RK will lead us to having a successful team with unity, a team that will play for each other and not just gesticulate when things don't go their way. I haven't felt this positive about a new season for a few years. A new era is upon us and whilst we may have to put up with a few disappointments along the way until RK finally gets the side he wants, most likely being a 7th or 8th ish finish this season, all is looking good and regardless of Raymonds unnecessary criticism of a regime in its infancy, it will be a step forward on all the crap we had to endure from the previous regime.

Football, karate, tennis and weight training and working 5 days a week. I played in the Manx league and got fit running up very large hills, near enough mountains.

As I said the players are responsible for fitness, and have no excuse whatsoever not to be fit for the start of the season, and we shouldn't be making excuses for them.

You're right,of course, he's not being honest.

Everyone knows that Niasse has a very serious wrist injury which is preventing him performing well.

Gueye has replaced Besic, Skeltenberg has replaced Howard.

We are more or less where we were last season - I think 9th might be about right !

The very fact that you put Fraser Forster and Manuel Neuer in the same bracket leads me to suspect you have limited footballing knowledge.

Why anyone would be so keen to brand Koeman a 'knob' is beyond me. A ball hasn't even been kicked yet. Get a grip, man.

How much did Big Nev cost us? And Big Nige come to that, both very fine keepers.

Paul Kossoff your team mates must have loved listening to you in the dressing room did you take 13 rabbits feet with you incase a black cat got run over by an ambulance.

If our new financial muscle is a reality, then how about bidding for a few of these young stars before they (possibly) become household names:

Keeper; Bern Leno from Leverkusen.
CB; Almamy Touré from Monaco
Midfielders; Ruben Neves from Porto and Youri Tielemans from Anderlect.
Strikers; Gabriel Barbosa from Santos & Sebastian Driussi from River Plate

Granted, I haven't see much of these guys playing but perhaps others have and can share their opinions. Or have other young starlets to add to the watch-list.

I for one am quite pleased with this outcome too as I don't rate him too highly and anyone who says he could regain his Swansea form are defo in the wishful thinkers bracket as IMHO I can't see that happening.

4 more huh?

I'd be pretty happy with:

Kone
Ziyech
Mata
Slimani

PLay 3-5-2 with wing-backs

Stek
Kone Williams Mori
Coleman (WB) Gueye Barkley(orDavies) Baines(WB)
Mata (or Ziyech)
Lukaku Slimani

Get that team super fit and playing to its potential with the likes of Deulofeu, Mirallas etc to come on against tired defenders and I reckon top 6 or better could just beckon

I'd rather play 4-2-3-1 with

Horm,
Coleman jags kone baines;
Gueye barkley ;
Ziyech mata Mirallas
Lukaku

With another decent striker on the bench and deloufeu, bolasie, cleverly, Barry, Williams and the young lads We'd have a decent bench

Comment 93 for instance, play 4-2-3-1 with Horn who we don't own or haven't made any noise towards buying. Ziyech and Mata in a starting 11 with Bolasie on the bench. Again we don't own any of the three mentioned, but I can't help but feel if we did own Bolasie, and the fee was the fee banded around, then he would have to start, or he's a bad buy.

We have spent around £20m on three players, and recouped £40m from the Stones deal once we paid Barnsley off.

With that is like to believe we at least have the £20m left from that deal, plus £50m from the new owner.

£70m with fees already agreed for Bolasie and Kone coming to around £40m, leaves us £30m.

RK has already stated we need another striker, that's got to be around £20m, leaving £10m, hopefully yo spend on a keeper.

Can see the story of £100m to spend plus the Stones money being true, so if its not true then clearly Mata and Co are off the list.

Next we need another striker, pity Defoe isn't 6 years younger.
Why not Mirallas or Barkley as strikers, I think either would make a fist of it, although thinking about it, neither can head a ball.

I'm happy with Robles in goal as first choice, I think Baines and Coleman are suspect in defence, going forward good, but!

Bolasie would be a good purchase in my eyes, I hope it happens but will they sell.

I just hope our young players get a chance to play this season, it would be a shame if their not used, as there's a few very promising lads among them.

Go and post in the other threads if you don't want to play championship manager here.

Shilton, Nauer, Schmeichel (senior), Bin Man, Clemence etc won the league for their respective teams ...

Never forget going to Southampton - winning with a Mountfield goal I think and then on the Wednesday going to Hoddles Spurs and Nev being our rock with one world class save and three outstanding blocks/saves .

Yes a top class goalkeeper is a must for the new EFC vision!!
and hopefully I am not a knob suggesting it!

He just isn't that good.

Ooh look, the grass looks greener over there.

Let's hope tomorrow we show some grit. I hope Spurs don't turn up, may be they won't? Wishful thinking. Slainte!