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Koeman: Transfer window was a positive one
The manager acknowledged the failed deadline-day bid for Moussa Sissoko in his press conference today, but described the group of incoming players since he arrived as being "really positive."
Everton made a late bid to bring on Sissoko from Newcastle United on Wednesday last week but were pipped to the £30m signing by Tottenham Hotspur whose offer of Champions League football likely proved decisive in the Frenchman's decision.
Koeman was asked how he felt the window went for Everton in view of that last-day disappointment but the Dutchman was upbeat.
“Overall [it was] positive window because we signed some good players like Stekelenburg, the goalkeeper, Williams, Idrissa Gana, Bolasie, Enner Valencia.... I think that is really positive.
"I'm happy about the signings and I'm really happy about the squad and what we have at the moment. Of course, we need to keep going, keep fighting at keep the spirit.
"Of course, we had a disappointment on the last day but that happens in football. You don't always get what you like to have and that was not in our hands.
“The player Sissoko... OK, he chose finally a different option, but I can't say anything against the club, the board, the chairman because he did everything to get the player."
Much has been made of Sissoko's volte face in the final hour of the window just when it looked as though he was destined for Goodison Park.
Koeman was asked of how he thought the player conducted himself but the Dutchman declined to pass judgement due to the fact that he was not privy to the conversations and negotiations at that point.
"From my position, it's difficult because I didn't do the business," Koeman explained. "I didn't have the meetings with his agents but, of course, from outside it was difficult. I spoke to the player about 10 days before the last day of the window and the player showed his interest in coming to Everton.
"It was difficult because [we felt] he was the player for us and what we needed at that moment and then the picture [would have been totally perfect]. But still, [even] without that player the picture is very good.
"It was more difficult for everyone to sign players. It's all about money and sometimes it makes the business very difficult."
Reader Comments (88)
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2 Posted 08/09/2016 at 16:52:51
Or the frenetic TDD knee-jerkers who claim he is deeply unhappy, betrayed, leaving for sure this season?
Perhaps the more ridiculous posts can now be set aside until the madness resumes in January?
5 Posted 08/09/2016 at 16:58:52
Now I know some will say "Well, he had to say that" but I think if he had felt the club had let him down he might have just said he was disappointed not to get him, but he didn't – he said they did all they could.
I think it's time to put the transfer window to bed and get on with picking up points in our next few games which all look winnable to me.
6 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:01:29
7 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:16:50
8 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:17:09
I'm sure he was disappointed by the failure to add more players before the window closed but he's also talked of things in terms of a two-year horizon to get the team to where he wants it so I'm sure he'll just get on with it.
9 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:20:13
As for Sissoko, if you read most Newcastle fans opinion of him it's that he only shows up occasionally and considering his actions on deadline day I think we swerved a headache with him.
Time to move on, looking forward to giving the ginger twats mob a good hiding on Monday.
10 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:21:15
11 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:22:14
So apart from Kenwright, one of the few people happy with the players brought in is Koeman. Absolute bull.
12 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:23:33
Just perhaps, Bill was about as enthusiastic for Sissoko as most of us were. So thanks, Bill for missing the bullet!
13 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:25:21
There are areas of the team/squad that need vast improvement and we have fallen short in acquiring players to sort the problems. We identified the players but couldn't do enough to persuade them to join, or got gazumped!
Hopefully under this new regime we will learn from our hard luck and bad results in the transfer market and make sure we rectify things when we next get the chance.
14 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:26:47
15 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:28:15
Paul, you sound very certain about all that. How do you know he's toeing "the line"? Evidence? What has he been "told"? You were clearly there when he was told, so let us in on the secret!
16 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:29:52
I want him fuming at this TDD, saying he will get the type of players he wants in January or next Summer, we don't want another Martinez.
If I was Koeman, I would be telling the board that if this is the way things are then I'll resign.
17 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:32:21
18 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:38:00
On another note his comments show that Sissoko is as two-faced as some of us thought. He denied any talks, or chance of coming to Everton (understandably perhaps after having signed for Spurs) and yet Koeman mentioned that he'd been speaking to the player over coming to our club.
Have to say though, if we were willing to pay the 㿊m asking price why didn't we just do that ten days before the window shut, when Koeman was talking to him?
Guess we'll never know.
19 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:38:56
(1) Either Moshiri didn't tweet, or he lied by saying we'd withdrawn interest in Sissoko so as not to upset McCarthy. I believe the former.
(2) Koeman wasn't frantically phoning Sissoko only to be ignored, as was claimed in the tabloids.
20 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:41:43
So that's the driver then, Paul, that's the basis for your utter conviction that the man we enticed after a long pursuit is spouting "bullshit"? Not listening to what he says and paying him some respect at being truthful but effectively calling RK a liar because he doesn't say what you want him to say? And therefore that must be true.
There is a strong whiff of bullshit around but it isn't coming from Koeman in my opinion.
21 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:42:55
Personally, I'm happier without Sissoko than I would be with him on board and, indeed, RK's apparent keenness to sign him has planted the first seed of doubt in the manager's judgement.
But three points on Monday may well assuage that!
22 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:43:26
You know that Kenwright is still in charge with all things at Everton and that's not good for this club, this transfer window shows that.
23 Posted 08/09/2016 at 17:54:38
If we'd have got another 3 these types would probably still be moaning why haven't we got 6 as we've got the money need a bigger squad if we are going to blah blah fucking blah.
24 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:00:07
Newcastle fans are berating him the same way many Villa fans did with Gueye. When you're in a shit team it's hard to stand out. It's also hard to motivate yourself when the team is so poor every week. Not that Gueye didn't work hard, but he still couldn't look good in a shit team even when his individual performances were good.
In a good team, Sissoko will thrive. Koeman wanted him and I trust his judgement over Newcastle fans who watched him in a piss poor team. In saying that, I only want players that want to play for us.
25 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:00:09
The Dutch are generally known to be quite direct and upfront about their thoughts. I can't see from recent interviews that he is any different.
Who knows. Shocking though it might be to some TW followers, but perhaps he is reasonably happy with his lot, understands the world of football and how transfers are conducted, the whims of agents and players and definitely knows more than most of us experts on here. :)
We certainly don't have another Martinez in our midst.
Why is it always about spending loads of money??? I am sure he will identify gaps as the season progresses.
26 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:00:36
27 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:06:45
.... and you're telling other people not to be stupid? You honestly think Koeman (or any recent Everton manager come to that) has gone out there to front up the press armed with a script penned by Captain Coro?
As the man himself said, you don't always succeed in securing the targets you set your sights on when you're forced to go shopping amidst a crowd full of jostling competitors all desperately impersonating Arnie in 'Jingle All The Way'. When that's the case, you work with what you've got and get ready to go again next time round.
What would a full-on public fume from the manager achieve apart from disharmony in the ranks, a spoilt bastard like fleeting moment of self satisfaction at showing others up, and a few "s'right Ronald lad" pats on the back from mouthy, want everything this moment, pricks with no knowledge whatsoever of how things actually went down behind the scenes?
"If I was RK I would be telling the board that if this is the way things are then I'll resign." Yeah, course you would.
You'd be ready to forgo your fucking millions and leave with your reputation in tatters as someone who gets a titty lip on and walks out on your club a couple of months into your contractual commitment 'cos dey couldn't make someone say 'yes' when dey didn't want to. What's so hard about dat? Laurence Olivier managed it with just a dentist's drill in 'Marathon Man' mate and he didn't have anywhere near as much dough as Moshiri... and he's dead. Like this club. Dead. Zombieeeees of the Premier League. Walking into oblivion.
People are laughing at us lad! Don't you realise that? People are pissing themselves at the fact Everton never made one of dem new fangled, de rigueur, marquee signings every other fucker takes for granted, after I convinced meself dey would as well, or spent as much money as I personally wanted them to. It's not fucking on I'm telling ya dat right now.'
28 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:19:14
The indisputable fact is that he is on record as saying that he needed 4-6 new players, then he reduced it to 2-3 and he didn't get them. Spin this as you like but the truth is he didn't get the players he said he needed.
29 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:25:57
You're entitled to your opinion, but if you really believe renowned tough guy Ronald Koeman is reading "press statements written by Kenwright and Co" as you put it... your circuits need some serious rewiring.
30 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:28:39
Koeman said he was interested in coming to Everton but we got gazumped at the 11th hour. That's football. RK has reflected on the other business we did and I think he seems relatively happy, pragmatic. He knows he was up against a twat of an agent and you win some, you lose some.
He was not reading from a script at all, he was simply being 100% honest. Let's hope Sissoko proves to be a lazy wank stain.
31 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:31:40
Colin, so we signed:
1. Stekelenburg,
2. Williams,
3. Gueye,
4. Bolassie
All of whom have played for first team. doesn't count as four signings... or are you gonna dismiss Stek as not his?
32 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:35:10
The Morshiri episode is interesting in that it has thrown into perspective some of the prior views on his wonderfulness, and superior business acumen. I hope this was an unfortunate blip, as it was getting late and things were going tits-up!
I, for one, am looking forward to the resumption of the League, proper footy and a chance to assess our progress on the park.
33 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:38:43
34 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:42:23
Abuse doesn't strengthen your already weak case, Paul. You have no evidence that Koeman is "toeing the line", as you assert. Pure guesswork.
As Brian #18 says...
35 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:49:40
36 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:52:25
Regarding the transfer, to Spurs. It was a choice that a Frenchman had between another northern city, at a club with no European football, versus a club in the Champions League, playing in London, which I understand has more French nationals living there than any other city in the world outside Paris. Okay, it's £5 a pint but I don't think that will be an issue do you?
Incidentally, no one is asking why the lad wasn't in play earlier than deadline day. NUFC clearly wanted shut but there was nobody seriously in for him. Wonder why not? That being the case, waiting until the last moment seemed a good move, pity Daniel Levy was taking the same approach.
37 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:05:37
Anyone who think Koeman himself has any dealing to do is clearly still living in the '70s. RK is a football man, not a businessman.
38 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:05:53
While we didn't win anything worthwhile under him, his teams gave us some memorable performances both at home and away.
While some posters on TW are lamenting the result of the late transfer window with Koeman being unable to strengthen the team despite his efforts, it may be worth remembering that there are still more than a few, as yet undiscovered, gems in the bowels of those lower leagues where EFC have done so well in the past and where they should concentrate in future.
39 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:09:44
Anyone who thinks our problems would be solved in one transfer window is delusional after the mess we were in at the end of last season, and anyone suggesting that Koeman is a Moshiri - Kenwright puppet is just being plain ludicrous.
40 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:11:16
I Like this guy, so I cant for the life of me understand why he wanted to pay 30m for a water carrier who score's marginally more often than Tony Hibbert.
Everton will not finish below a team that has Sissoko in it. Lump on us to finish above Spurs.
41 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:17:06
With regard to transfers then our beloved Everton did the BEST singular transfer of 2016 .
Ronald Koeman.
(Still should of been sent off though but that's another story...)
42 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:29:00
43 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:33:42
Anyway, no point going over it at this stage... the dust has settled and I've taken a valium.
44 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:33:52
45 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:37:09
46 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:38:59
47 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:42:27
Paul K for manager I say. Cos he's really really good. Cos he says he is and cos he won't toe party line and be really really fuming every TDD.
Oooohh I'm livid I am!!
48 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:49:02
Sissoko chose Spurs Everton didn't fuck up
Moyes wouldn't let Kone go Everton didn't fuck up
The likes of Witsel and the Napoli defender never wanted to come to us in the first place. Money was provided (over and above the Stones money), the players just didn't want to come.
All-in-all, being reasonable, it was a decent window for us imo. We significantly beefed up the defensive side. ALL permanent transfers brought in are better than what we had before. Valencia will provide back up to Rom. Also we have space in the squad for a couple of the youngsters to step up and I'm looking forward to seeing the likes of Holgate and Davies develop in the first team. We've also made a really decent start and could be sitting top 4 come the next international break in October.
Let's give RK the time and space to take us forward. He can't rebuild a whole side in one window but he's made a decent start.
49 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:52:17
Meanwhile, I swear, there are people on here who'd have actually been gratified if Koeman resigned on the spot. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
50 Posted 08/09/2016 at 19:54:54
51 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:09:14
It's not like we missed out on a prolific goalscorer, is it, or another Messi? I mean, 㿊m for a player who rates himself higher than anyone else.
Lets just move on and support the squad we have, still exciting times ahead with Koeman in charge.
52 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:10:49
53 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:12:06
We cannot offer that, we tried and went for those players to see if they may be interested. Until we get back to a regular top six side, hate to say it as the ginger one achieved, then it's unlikely the better calibre players will come to Goodison.
This club needs to start getting the ball rolling on the stadium front, no fannying around with small talk. There now needs to be some concrete work going on with getting a stadium underway and putting a reasonable timeframe in place for when the transition will take place. A state-of-the-art arena and European nights will start pulling in the better players.
As for Sissoko, no thanks, even the Spurs fans can't believe they got him!
54 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:13:11
All I was trying to say was that I thought you were giving a sort of knee-jerk job.
Funny enough I was in the pro-Sissoko scissors camp. I was defo brainwashed by him in the Euros.
It was that quantum leap to that visual mind's eye; of that all-conquering midfield that Napoleon desperately wanted when faced against Wellingkloppton. But I say never mind we have the Everton we have, and we're all Evertonians.
Oh and Brent, in the Bullens Road for the Borough match. Meet in the bar at half time. If you buy me a pint, I'll remember me in your will!!
55 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:15:28
I've said all summer, if you're a European footballer looking at the Premier League, most of them will prefer a London club in the Champions League to a mid-table Merseyside club.
We had to play late for the reasons above, we gambled and we didn't get lucky.
If we make our own luck, win games and look more attractive, our chances will increase in January. And it gives us time to actually source some players.
It's not about what they cost, it's about what they actually do.
56 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:18:11
57 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:21:14
So it's fine for me as a fan to have a go (as I did) but as a manager you have to remain professional.
Anyone who thinks he should have used it as a mouth piece to have a go clearly works for themselves as they wouldn't hold down any job for very long.
58 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:22:17
I also expect some business in January. How anyone can complain is beyond belief... wake up!!
59 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:25:20
"This club needs to start getting the ball rolling on the stadium front, no fannying around with small talk."
Good call.
They need to hurry up cos I'm getting sick of YouTube re-runs of Kings Dock virtual Kenwright shite.
Love the spacey music though. Who wrote it?
60 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:26:42
The TDD only proved that we don't have as much money as everyone was talking about.
61 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:27:49
Yes, that's interesting. 10 days before.
63 Posted 08/09/2016 at 20:57:15
We really could have a class act on our hands with this man as manager picked and recruited by the one and only... Mr Moshiri.
Well done, Mosh!
64 Posted 08/09/2016 at 21:00:31
Rob, not that we didn't have the money only that we were outbid at the death.
What would you have paid for Sissoko to change his mind about going to Spurs, in London with CL football?
Get real.
65 Posted 08/09/2016 at 21:33:10
66 Posted 08/09/2016 at 21:51:00
67 Posted 08/09/2016 at 22:06:21
We done very well in the transfer Window. We avoided another panic buy, whether by fuck-uppery or whatever, it maybe made us avoid another Niasse fiasco.
Let the gravy train chug on! COYB!
68 Posted 08/09/2016 at 22:22:08
69 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:07:20
He's happy with the seven forwards to complete for the three forward spots, don't forget Kone.
He also said we're getting there with the desired fitness levels, nearly but not quite.
And on Barkley playing for England, he said it's down to the player to perform each week so he has to be selected.
There's no day dreaming going on here. He's clinical.
70 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:08:00
To be fair, even the forthright Mr Koeman isn't going to tell the media that he's pissed off because his squad isn't where it should be after the deadline day debacle, is he?
I'm not so sure about that. RK has balls of steel and I honestly believe, were he unhappy, he'd of said so.
My opinion, but this man absolutely tells it like it is. And were he truly pissed and felt unsupported and let down, I think he'd let it be known.
Maybe not... but that's my take on it.
71 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:13:46
72 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:15:55
73 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:27:06
RK would not have come if he did not trust the board. We need a couple of players but, bloody hell, give everyone a chance. New team new and better times.
74 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:33:02
Kone? Slimani? etc, etc. Surely there were things we needed more right now.
75 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:40:08
76 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:50:50
77 Posted 08/09/2016 at 00:20:33
"and Kenwright by default" . .that's one way of looking at it.
It was only six months ago he was congratulating himself on his last choice "what a manager".
Remind me, was that before or after he lined his pockets at the expense of the club he loves?
78 Posted 09/09/2016 at 00:31:00
And stop blaming Kenwright; he doesn't have the power you perceive ... does he? :-)
79 Posted 09/09/2016 at 03:34:02
1. Stek is a more than capable 1st choice keeper.
2. Holgate is a more than capable option as back up right back and centre half.
We signed Valencia as back up forward (even if he wasn't top of our wanted list), and missed out on Mr poor attitude Sissoko.
I think that is why he only mentioned Sissoko as a disappointment, as he is the type of player RK feels we needed one more of... everything else is pretty well covered until
January.
80 Posted 09/09/2016 at 09:52:16
When you thought you'd fill the gaps, but didn't quite do it, it's disappointing, not disastrous. Some on TW are speaking of it as if it were a disaster.
81 Posted 09/09/2016 at 12:00:37
82 Posted 09/09/2016 at 13:05:31
He makes the statement allegedly attributed to Moshiri about us looking after Jimmy Mc by pulling out of the deal for that poncey fuckstick Sissoko, look even more stupid and nonsensical, but I will forgive Moshiri that one for now – Moshiri needs to get something out about the stadium and fuck Elstone and Bill off asap, to fully restore my confidence in him.
Koeman also, beautifully, makes said poncey fuckstick look a total and utter lying little shite, after his statement about his love for Spurs (or is it Arsenal??) and never being interested in Everton! I get the feeling Koeman ain't lying – how about you Sissoko la?
All the chat on these pages about it being the same as always, nothing changed, were still skint, is a little premature and hysterical. TDD was disappointing, but the window was not as bad as some are making out.
If we had sold poncey fuckstick Mk 2 Stones (who didn't want to be here) and not bought anybody of note, then kick off all you want folks, but we have, without a doubt, strengthened the squad.
Koeman's presser also suggests that we were trying to sign players, and had a bid accepted for Sissoko, so how do people come to the assumption that we have not got any money or don't want to spend it? Koeman states he was in contact personally with Sissoko “10 days†before the deadline – seems like we were trying to do business to me.
With Brahimi, Sissoko etc, IMHO it seems we have been arsed about by the players and their agents, or the selling clubs (Porto) – Koeman's remarks about agents and all about the money seem to back that up.
The signings of Koeman and Walsh will be the most important business the club has done in the last 20 years – I'm prepared to give these fellas a chance to show me what they can do with a few transfer windows and seasons behind them, or to properly fuck things up and be let down by the board of EFC in the meantime, before I start slagging everything & everyone off.
Thank Christ the rigmarole of TDD is gone for a few months at least, and I can get back to the footy!
Koeman, You Blues!
83 Posted 09/09/2016 at 13:51:55
We need to be positive and realize it will take time. It took old whisky nose a few years before he struck gold at Man Utd. Howard Kendall was nearly dismissed before our glorious period in the '80s.
I'll make judgement after this season unfolds and a mid- to top-end-of-the-table position would suffice along with concrete evidence of the new stadium in place.
Let's please be patient although understandably frustration is hard to handle by many. Up the Blues!! 2-0 on Monday night!
84 Posted 09/09/2016 at 14:38:43
If you take all of the leads that we lost last year in the final 20 minutes, if you take all of the games blown by atrocious defending and goalkeeping and just give us half of them, we would have finished in the top four. We have every reason to realistically feel good about this season and for our future.
85 Posted 09/09/2016 at 16:07:34
87 Posted 09/09/2016 at 21:02:49
I like his style and believe he would have mentioned the striker (apart from Valencia), if it had really been a concern for him.
88 Posted 09/09/2016 at 22:50:05
89 Posted 10/09/2016 at 10:30:02
However, the long-held view of EFC under Moyes was that we often "punched above our weight" but, under Martinez, the view after his first season changed to "Why is such a talented squad under performing?"
I believe that, even though the TDD was not what everyone expected, and Koeman said it without the tantrums, we have a squad that can again be coached to play at least to their talent, which will be better than the last two seasons. If RK can also get that bit extra out of them like Moyes did, then who knows?
He has already brought organisation, better fitness and confidence, resulting in our best start in a decade, so I for one am upbeat for the first time in years. Remember the time of year that Moyes took over, and we can see that he turned it around only with the players at his disposal, proving that coaching can make a difference.
Let's just get behind the team, remember that the January window often lands you with lame ducks, trust that TDD August 2016 will not be repeated, and I am sure that we will see things pan out a lot better.
90 Posted 10/09/2016 at 16:11:14
If Koeman is happy, I am happy, let's qualify for Europe and let the mercenaries queue up and be rejected by our club. We have dodged two potential Niasses in not signing Sissoko and Witsel so fuck them it's their loss not ours. Onwards and upwards! COYB
91 Posted 10/09/2016 at 17:44:21
We all get sucked in too easily by distractions such as did or didn't he send that text? Did he or didn't he speak to Everton? It doesn't matter and belittles us to harp on about it.
The reality is that the lack of interest shown in EFC by available players reflected our current status over the last few years. We are not the draw we used to be and it will take RK the 2 years he requires to get us somewhere near.
Truth or myth but illustrative anyway, is that when Robinho was told he was going to Manchester he assumed it was United. He had never heard of City. Now look at them. We have to emulate them.
92 Posted 10/09/2016 at 17:55:37
Dave that could be one of the best, most descriptive, turns of phrase I've seen for some on this site. Nice one!.
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1 Posted 08/09/2016 at 16:49:38