Koeman: We need time but title challenge has to be long-term goal

Seems like the press won't be short of quotes when Koeman is around. Whether it's Lukaku will have wasted his career if he stays at Everton, or Liverpool look very strong... or just discussing the possibility of signing Rooney or Depay.

I see Deulofeu was quoted after scoring his 16th goal in 31 games for Spain's under 21 team. That he liked playing for Spain as he was amongst people he liked.

Sorry but I would rather have Unsworth and Sheedy.

I prefer that to the bullshit we got from the last boss.

At least he says that the club should be challenging but he needs time to address the current issues.

I'd say let's give him some.

Koeman has been at the club for a couple of months! The last manager overstayed by one season and the man before him overstayed by six seasons at least. Just get behind the man.

Regardless of the circumstances leading up to that match earlier this year, the reaction of Klopp and Company has left a sour taste in my mouth ever since – I hope our players feel the same way.

He's had only one partial transfer window, in which he delivered four new starters -- Williams, Stekelenburg, Gueye and Bolasie.

Let's see what this team looks like a year from now after he's had a January window and a full summer to bring in the talent he wants.

I am sure if there was a transfer window every month, he would be in there trying to purge our team of the likes of Barkley, Deulofeu, Mirallas , etc. Players who many Evertonians put their faith in and are still willing to do so.

Yet, they criticise a man who has already shown he has enough of what it takes to transform a mediocre team into top six challengers.

I think we have to get used to having an A list manager. When Koeman talks, it is reported all around the world. Some reporters will be mischievous and will try to twist his comments.

As much as I like Unsy, Sheedy etc, they would be small time appointments on a worldwide scale. They might say the right things locally, but no-one would be even interviewing them on an international week.

Koeman is big news. His words will be twisted now and again, but I can handle the odd mis-quote if he gets things right on the pitch.

The thought of a couple of years and then 'onwards and upwards' is depressing tbh. If that's the case then we need someone else who does have ambition with EFC.

Whether you like it or not he is our manager. He wears the club crest. He is employed by Everton Football Club. He wants to do well. He is not a loser.

Any chance that we can relax the amount of negativity. Can we try and support him and for all the individual player haters, just give that particular player until the January window.

We might just get rid of the particular player you like to continually rebuke and then you can be happy. I think the yanks have a saying for what I'm trying to say... it's "enough already".

We even have folk here saying the derby is the most important game. If ever that gives them status.

This takeover regardless of manager is the long game lads. We may get some respect in 4 years or so but until then it will be gradual rebuilding of decades of being exactly what we have been – punching above our weight.

So get some reality. This dream we all have, such as winning foremost and also in an iconic stadium, it will take time and we will have shit times on the way.

And, as a man who started supporting the Blues in 1960 (my birth), however many years we claim to have suffered (tiresome trend on TW lately), it will take time.

I know we need to express frustration and disappointment. It is in many ways what TW is for.

But soon after someone is a gimp, Dutch money grabbers, lazy striker (me that), the reality and long game of hope is still there. To me, I see a yellow brick road that will get there!

He has also, without saying anything to the press, sidelined both Sturridge and Mignolet to the bench without alienating either of them. A very clever man and someone who is a joy to listen too, as well as doing it all with a smile on his face. Although I imagine the players wouldn't take any liberties with him, and they know whose boss.

So Koeman, if we are being honest, I would like to see you emulate Klopp and I am not forgetting in his first season he failed to get Liverpool into a Europa League spot. You're the man I wanted to manage us and I hope that my faith in you is not misplaced.

I would hope to be challenging for the title in 4 years. After a long barren period for our team, I have the patience to wait a bit longer.

As regards him saying the Red Shite are contenders, I couldn't care less. He was probably asked a direct question and answered it. If anything, it puts more pressure on them, it would actually spur them on more if he said he didn't rate them. They won't win it anyway, so fuck them

Then, when asked about Liverpool, who currently sit top, he says very diplomatically 'you can never predict anything, but of course they are in with a chance and they are playing well' ... what do you expect him to respond?

Let's see how it all goes game by game, goal by goal and then, if we want to hand out brick-bats or garlands of flowers in May, so be it.

Too often we are far too quick to denigrate our own team and put our neighbours on a pedestal – screw them! Why? Because they ain't Everton.

That said, and I know it goes against every blue grain in all of us, it really bothers me that we load so much anticipation on the derby match. It seems to me that, with the exception of those signed in summer, the entire squad, apart from maybe four or five of them, have zero interest in putting in the extra against Liverpool or anyone else they deem too hard.

I also think they now know they're seen in that way by Koeman too and that their Everton goose is cooked.

Any time any of the various spineless posers want to prove me wrong by coming off the pitch with way less than a yearly hammering or three off the top clubs, I'll be delighted... but I'm not holding my breath anymore in 2016.

Time he kept his Dutch gob shut in the media for a while and instead focussed on talking to our players. Then, when there's some evidence of why he earns so much money, we might give some credence to his inappropriate utterances?

And all this bullshit about the Europa League: check out his Southampton team selection when they got in under his stewardship. He couldn't get them out again fast enough.

I know it's only a few months into his reign, but he's not making me feel enthused, optimistic, confident or proud yet. A BIG win is an absolute priority against Swansea - who worryingly are due their first win under Bradley. Déjàanyone?

Really delighted we got him, but not at all convinced so far.

“It's still too early to say who will be the favourites, but I have been impressed by Liverpool so far,” Koeman said.

“Maybe that is not what you might expect the Everton manager to say, but they have been playing some very good football and deserve to be at the top. They have goals in their team and this is what all successful sides need.

“Of course they can be champions this season, they have a good chance, but they are not the only contenders.”

In the Echo this time, just so our red friends have more mud to sling.

I don't see anything wrong in what he said.

Look, for what it's worth, I think Koeman will do a very good job here but just think about your answers and what effect it will have on your players and fans alike before answering.

Results speak much louder than words; go on a run of 5 or 6 games without a loss and the fans will hopefully forget these last week's comments.

Regardless, Ron's words about having a longer term aim of trying to get the team into a position to challenge for titles are welcome, whether they ultimately prove to be empty or not.

One thing is for sure though, if he's even half serious about having one squinty eye on landing that particular fish, he's going to need both a bigger boat and a more cut-throat crew of his choosing. A repeat of the transfer window just gone (whilst not the outright disaster some claim) isn't going to cut it. It's all well and good the man at the top rolling off the names of players who we tried to sign and how much we tried to spend, but it's nothing but the same old 'we bid for Shearer', 'we came really close to tempting Ravenelli', 'we had Fernandes's word until he revealed himself a right twat' style empty talk until they actually start reeling such targets in.

It's obviously going to take time, plenty of patience and recognition that certain things (contract negotiations, getting transfers over the line, the itchy feet of certain Everton players) are all out of Ronald Koeman's hands.

In the meantime though, following the roasting from Chelsea, he really needs to refocus on the here and now and concentrate on making a better fist of getting more from the current crop of players than he has thus far. Confidence needs to be restored, some sort of playing style other than 'press-punt-PANIC' needs to be implemented and the first real 90 minute performance of the season to go along with three points would be nice as well.

Unsy, you are one of us who passionately cares about our beloved blues and loyal. I hope you manage us in the near future. We know what EFC means to you. coyb

To turn an under-achieving club like ours around, you first have to admit we have problems.

The alternative is to get some one in to tell you that everything is the 'P' word and just keep living on past glories that haven't been relevant since the inception of the Premier League.

I'll take Koeman.

I will take one of those t-shirts.

Press, Punt PANIC.

Bearing in mind, Everton were in the same situation last season, but with worse teams in the Premier League, and managed to go on a losing streak after beating Stoke City away 3-0 after the New Year.

He might not be everyone's cup of tea but personally I like straight talkers who say what they mean and mean what they say.

Who knows if he's going to be a success or not? One thing with our manager is he doesn't seem sensitive about potentially upsetting people.

Is that a bad thing? Professionally speaking?

That'll just be Evertonians you're referring to then?

Very many things are better left unsaid.

What has he said to the supporters about the debacle at Chelsea? I for one am dubious about a) his commitment and b) his ability.

He's got to do a lot more to prove he deserves to be the manager of our club than leaving it to the Major Shareholder to bale him out, and still he hasn't responded – only to heap praise on our rivals!

I've got too much love for this club to hear a man who's paid an obscene amount of money to get us back to the top, continually ignore us and pay attention to his beloved Barcelona and our red rivals, and not respond.

Not much he said isn't true... Too many on here channeling their Inner Jack Nicholson/truth handling thing.

tbh, there may be an element of fence mending in there as well.

Face it or not, it's in his own interest's to get this right...an early bail out if it gets too hard is his very poor 2nd choice.

We soon sorted the deeds, or lack of, from the talk of Roberto. Let's see how his deeds shape up and leave the words as the press fodder they are...for now.

How does that song go...the one we sing EVERY week?...'We don't care what the redshite do'

Some on here just want a moan. Sometimes it is for good reasons, and sometimes it nears ill-educated temper tantrums.

Let's ignore the optimism of Koeman's words, and his hopes for the future. His comments about Liverpool are more important.

If Koeman was being REALLY honest, he would come out and say stuff like "You know what, guys, I won't ask you to deny the evidence of your own eyes. We ALL know I was a proper Frankie at Chelsea and it won't happen again." He didn't, he exonerated himself of all blame.

If he was REALLY "telling it like it is", he would come out and say "Everton had two realistic chances of landing a trophy this season... and guess what? I've already made a proper fucking pig's ear of landing the first."

If his unique brand of "Dutch honesty" was the same as every other Dutch person's honesty, he would tell us how embarrassing it was to be completely out played and out thought by Eddie Howe. Of course he didn't.

He would say he should have gone straight for Dyche's over-achievers from the off, rather than wait until we had gone behind.

I would have far more respect for this "Honesty" if he admitted that he had fucked up playing two ageing and out-of-form centre-halves at the expense of a kid who had done more than enough to warrant his place – ahead of either of them... OR, if he said something like "WTF was I thinking, spunking forty million quid on an ageing centre-half, who makes Stubbsy look like Usain Bolt, and an ineffective show pony?"

Koeman's "refreshing honesty" seems to extend as far as stating the blindingly fucking obvious. There seems to be some confusion between his penchant for highlighting things were are all already painfully aware of and putting us straight on a few things.

A genuinely honest man will not always point the finger. He will give an honest assessment of himself too. This guy's crass buffoonery is really starting to grate, but not nearly as much as the clams that he is only telling us the unpalatable truth.

If he chopped down your cherry tree, he would almost certainly point the finger at some other fucker.

English football is fast and frantic, but unless teams are going for the very top positions, I don't think quality is that important in this vastly overrated league?

This Dutch thing is being overplayed on here. The big issues are that he hasn't excited me yet, there's no shape or strategy in his team and the sharpness and movement of the early part of the season has disappeared.

My only crumb of comfort is that a year ago, a 'charismatic' European manager's team was booed off after a home defeat. He had a go at the fans leaving early and demanded everyone's patience. We all laughed. He's laughing now and I hope Koeman's watching and learning, because I'm happy to admit that I'd like to watch an Everton team playing like his!

Koeman has been here a few months and, because we aren't unbeaten and clear at the top of the league with 100 goals for and none against, he can't win.

Kendall was dire until one day in Oxford. Ferguson was on the verge of the sack at Man Utd and went on to become arguably No 1 in the world.

Who would you advocate taking over? De Boer – he's available – or one of the other turnstile managers who wheel their compo from one club to another? If you and others expect Koeman not to have his own views on football and just to toe the Evertonian line with every word vetted by some sort of Royal Blue Star Chamber, then no-one will ever suit, will they?

We all know what the press are like. Just like Koeman expects us to be challenging for the championship. That wasn't covered in the press. It's all sound bites and answers to direct questions.

Every person I speak to says they don't believe what they read in the papers but happy to spout the daily tabloid rubbish. 5 months and a handful of games and he's being condemned by some. Thankfully Howard wasn't judged so quickly by the board.

Chelsea has wobbled us all but a sense of perspective is required here before we disappear into La-la land like the dump across the park.

Yes it would be preferable that going in to derby games we were playing for our own trophy prospects. But, failing that, it would surely be a source of happiness should Koeman show his mettle and we take 6 from 6 points against them – particularly if other results have failed to improve significantly over the rest of the season.

I'm with you 100%, so I'd better get my armour on too.

If we aren't up there next season challenging for the top 4 and impressing in the cups (assuming he has financial support) then he can 'do one'. That's all that maters at the end of the day.

Man gives honest opinion on question asked of him.

I'm going for a lie down, I can't take all this honesty mullarkey...

Barkley, Deulofeu, Lennon, Cleverley, Valencia and Mirallas don't seem to have improved their goalscoring since Koeman arrived.

Yes, he has only been here a short while but until we address this problem, we will have little or no chance of improving. Now is it down to our style or is it that these players are not clinical enough in front of goal? Whichever it is, these problems need sorting and quickly.

As for us? When was the last time we had a manager say that we should be challenging for the title? The guy is just straight to the point and 100% honest. Moshiri likes him and will back him. I'll give him at least another 2 transfer windows before I start going off my block.

What I mean is, should we win our next few games, then it will all be forgotten about... but, should we struggle between now and Xmas, then Ron will be under pressure and the fans will start getting on his back.

We've got Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool all at home in December and so I would fear for Koeman that December will see us struggle to get the wins to keep us in the top half of the table. If that is the case, I can see the pressure rising on the boss big time and these latest comments coming back to haunt him.

Had he said "No, they've got no chance of the title and they're jammy and they're gonna bottle it soon" he'd have come across as small-minded and petty which would have been more embarrassing to us in the grand scheme of things.

Hopefully he's focused on the bigger picture of how we perform and realising who the best teams are helps him do that.

Managers can be plain speaking, honest, outspoken, candid whatever, but they generally do so after they have earned the right by achieving success. He has a long way to go before he is in a position to do that.

He is also intelligent enough to understand that his comments by inference are a judgement on Everton's status as a club. Not incorrect of course after years of BK's sentimentality, half-truths and commercial incompetence. But he has to earn the right to comment like this without Everton fans challenging him hard.

Then we get the comment about how lucky we are to have one of the top managers in Europe? Really? Did I miss Barca, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern, Juve, or Roma coming in for him when we were hiring him? Thought not. His last job in Europe (England excluded due to Brexiting) outside the mighty Eredivisie was a shambles and rather Martinez-esque, resulting in a firing.

Pardon me if I am underwhelmed at this point. I am not stating that he won't achieve success here (It will be long overdue and great for Everton if he does) but perhaps we can reserve the glowing platitudes on how good a manager he really is until he actually does something with Everton by which managers can be and are measured objectively?

I don't understand your logic. It just seems you want to excuse the excellent job he did there to continue a negative rhetoric.

Of course you are entitled to your view of Koeman, but it is a little disingenuous to discount his Southampton job simply because it suits your argument.

I wish people would give Koeman a chance, he's after what... 11 matches, ffs... he was Moshiri's first choice.

Do people want to go back to last January when we had Bill solely in charge and Martinez in charge also? We'd be in the bottom 5 right now for sure leaking goals by the dozen and not scoring because Rom would have left is in the summer.

" but perhaps we can reserve the glowing platitudes on how good a manager he really is until he actually does something with Everton by which managers can be and are measured objectively?"

Don't mind if I rewrite this for you Jim?

" but perhaps we can reserve the unfair condemnation and judgement on how good a manager he really is until he actually has the time to do something with Everton by which managers can be and are measured objectively?

There. That's better isn't it?

1st season, top 8 – stop the rot and make some progress.
2nd season, top 6 and into Europe.
3rd season, top 4 and into Champions League.
4th season, if still here, top 2 plus a new stadium.

Although 'we' now have more money, we still cannot compete with the multi-billionaires so realistically it needs to be Walsh and Koeman plus some big bucks on buying certain players and income from selling a few others (Lukaku?) to achieve long-term success, methinks.

The situation with Koeman is very similar to when Klopp took over at Liverpool, at which point they appeared to need significant rebuilding, and after which performances were still often dire under Klopp. At the time, Klopp said that his players needed to be fitter for his pressing game, that they were taking some time to get used to this new regime, but that they WOULD get used to it because they were young professional footballers who could adapt.

Striking and memorable words, similar to Koeman's comments about us. The fact that Liverpool are now playing well could be seen as encouraging for us, given that they've obviously adapted after a year or so of the new regime.

I would worry to go back to "patience and give him a window or two". This is a critical season in terms of keeping players, attracting new ones to improve the side.

What is more worrying is both Ronald and his brother are rowing back slightly on getting into Europe. This is the bridge to the above and allowing us to increase our income etc.

For this ToffeeWebber, if he fails to get us into Europe the job becomes so much more difficult, and will damn his tenure at Everton.

For example, whatever you think about Lukaku, he scores goals. Most on the site believe we have one last season with him. Losing him will kill our goal output (another debate for another day) and chances of getting decent players to replace him.

Evertonians beware –we have to over-perform this season to bridge the gap, otherwise I fear, even with the money and vision, Everton will tread water in oh so familiar style.

We keep talking about transfer windows, but the focus should be on getting existing players to perform, the sooner the better, preferably NOW.

Players like Barkley, Mirallas, and Deulofeu have shown in the past what they can do, so they can show it again. Surely the skill and expertise of Koeman is making this happen, similarly to Klopp making his squad perform better.

Coutinho has been mentioned repeatedly on TW threads because he's playing well, but he was far from playing well a year ago. Our players have the ability to adapt to what Koeman wants, because (to repeat Klopp's words) they are young professional footballers who can adapt.

Other managers: "I can't comment on other club's players".
Koeman: "I'd like Rooney if he's available" ... "I'm interested in Depay".

Other managers: "We let the fans down badly, and as manager I'm responsible".
Koeman: "Everton didn't play well today, the opposition worked harder".

As an Evertonian in my mid to late 50s, having suffered Bingham, Lee, Harvey, Walker, Smith, Kendall Mk 2 and Mk 3, Martinez and the later Moyes years, I can honestly say that I've never had less confidence in an Everton boss so early in his reign. I hope this turns into an unexpected surprise and he comes up smelling of roses, winning us trophies etc... but I won't be holding my breath.

Highly enjoyable post, probably shouldn't encourage you, but that's just about where we're at with Koeman at the moment.

Only a good run of results and a great January window can turn things round for the Dutchman, who's beginning to make as many gaffes as his bullshitting predecessor, and that really takes some doing!

It's apparent that Koeman has things to learn when he speaks. However, performance on the pitch has to be judged as results accumulate, and it seems too early to judge just yet.

Re-write all you want. I didn't condemn him, merely asked what has he done to warrant the plaudits being thrown his way. As for what he did at Southampton getting them to top 6-7, great but I thought we were done celebrating Moyes-esque achievements, as the makings of a great manager, weren't we?

As for Premier League accomplishments, based upon the results there, then we should not have gotten rid of Martinez as he won a Cup and finished higher than Koeman. Is he then the greatest manager we have had in a long long while?

All I am saying is that maybe less on the superlatives and more focus on the actual results (not really very good recently) and work before we erect a statue of the man outside Goodison Park. Although, if we want to, I hear Southampton may have a spare one collecting dust.

Pep – has suffered allegedly the worst defeat of his career, despite the funds he has available and Man City not playing well.

Jose – at the mighty Man Utd with the club having spent more money in the past 3 years than Fergie did in all his time in charge. Money spent would be enough to build our promised new stadium.

Klippety Klopp – doing okay at the moment after one year in charge, made two finals and lost both, one quite comprehensively I believe.

But dat dere Koeman... 'e's fucking shite 'e is!!! Bin 'ere ages and we play like yard dogs, 'eadless fuckin' yard dogs. Get shot of 'im.

I am not being an apologist for him, just pointing out some realities?

Also, I think his success as a player counts for little but his work at Southampton, to me, means a lot. I believe he will succeed at our club but I will moan at the blips on the way.

At the beginning of the season, most people on here thought that if we finish in the upper half, then it would be progress. It appears that the need for constant games, regular interviews and the media spotlight has led most of us into a constant state of impatience. This reaches a peak during these interminable international breaks.

The debacle at the 'Bridge has been hanging over us all for too long. Normally we could have got on and put things right the following week. Thank God we have a game this weekend so we can concentrate on the football instead of arguing over the minutia of what Koeman has said. I hope we bloody win!

Martinez is just another manager to add to the long list Mick Davies trots out at 78 above. A mere mortal!

Erm... I don't think I need to rewrite anything else, Jim. I think I covered it well enough at (#72).

All the bluster and harrumphing round like Colonel Melchett from Blackadder won't hide the fact that Koeman has had a dozen or so games to tidy up after Roberto Baldrick. Let's give him a bit more time before we send him over the top, eh Darling?

Everton won six league games at Goodison Park last season, seven the season before, again a lamentable record achieved by many of the players who remain first choices this season, mainly because the board, manager, owner didn't sign enough quality players during the summer.

The Echo are postulating that Koeman, because he has gone public with his desire to see Depay in an Everton shirt, is putting pressure on the owner and the board to see a more pro-active transfer window in January. We'll see how that pans out fairly soon.

Saturday can't come soon enough for all of us, then we can see what effect the Chelsea debacle has had on the team and to a lesser extent the supporters. A good victory may help to ease some of the tensions, however, a failure to win will have many in a state of high anxiety, and a team full of nervous wrecks the next time they take to the pitch.

He has Kudos and a reputation. He has played at the highest level with the best and won trophies with the best. Not since Howard Kendall have we had someone as manager with such a glowing CV.

He speaks the truth and it hurts to some fans, but players will be hurt also when they are shown the door!

He has potential... Just like Ross Barkley, only I only hope he doesn't last as long as Barkley if he doesn't deliver!

If Europe looks unlikely, what quality player would want to join us? Although money is a major factor, it's not the be all and end all for the type of player we want to see at Goodison.

We get linked with every player who can't get in their current side (Man Utd) for one, so the price automatically goes up beyond realism.

Give Koeman the chance to put the foundations in place for a push to the top next season.

Rome wasn't built in a day. This will be an up and down season, hopefully a Europa League slot at best. Top 4, not this season!

Offload some of the deadwood, we have a lot of the pieces of the jigsaw, but need to locate the missing bits. Joe Hart for a start.

Any other suggestions?

Honesty

I think your post just highlights how bad we were for the last 2 seasons and, as you rightly say, most of the squad is exactly the same. I think getting to the FA Cup Semi-Final delayed the inevitable sacking, thus Koeman came in later than was ideal.

I agree with Koeman changing the mindset of these players will be just as important as any change in style that he is trying to implement. I also agree that Saturdays game has taken on a much bigger profile that it might have been. But with the crushing defeat to Chelsea and some of the comments made on various matters from Koeman has I think put an extra pressure on the result on Saturday.I really hope we get a win and as important play well, then we will all be able to move on in a more positive frame of mind.

As I have said many times I think Koeman will do a great job, he cant change what he has said and I am sure he wont be as open with the press in future. He needs a victory and so do the players and fans, because I don't think that ToffeeWeb will be a happy place at 5:00pm on Saturday, and sadly for a few days after as well.

Tony Barret is a season ticket holder at Liverpool, so hardly an independent voice.

This is Everton FC.

Give the guy a chance.

Yet I have not seen any difference whatsoever from the way we were under Martinez for the last two seasons. Great on paper but disjointed, lacking morale, dispirited when conceding a goal, collectively clueless as a team and playing like 11 individuals rather than a well-drilled team.

Had it not been for a few flashes of inspiration from some of the players in the five (yes, just FIVE) games we have won, not many would have the grounds to commend our new manager on the basis of what he has achieved so far.

Personally, I haven't seen any green shoots of recovery yet, nor any tangible sign that Koeman has changed anything about our playing style, resilience, fitness or confidence.

A tame surrender against Norwich, poor defeats against Bournemouth and Burnley and utter humiliation against Chelsea. Cowardly against Man City too and nothing much to shout about in any of the other games so far.

So, P11, W5, D3, L3, F15, A13 (+2) 18pts

Compare that to his first 11 games at Southampton - where he lost five key players right before the start of his first season: P11, W8, D1, L2, F23, A5 (+18) 25 points

He didn't need three or four transfer windows then, with arguably a weaker squad.

I admire those who have rushed to defend him here and would stress that this is an observation from me, not a criticism.

However, I don't see any particular grounds for optimism yet and even less if he keeps talking us down whilst bigging our fiercest rivals up as well as making a case for our best player to pursue his career elsewhere.

Actions speak louder than words Mr Koeman. Keep your trap shut for a while maybe and let's see some?

The fact they have little or no experience of managing a major club in the top-flight is neither here nor there. They would have worked for a fraction of the wages you pay the Dutch guy and his entourage and they wouldn't have been too bothered if you had kept your wallet closed as they would work 24/7 to ensure the youngsters at the club progressed to the first team in a matter of months.

I'm surprised that Bill didn't let you know how this club ticks and how its supporters have become increasingly impatient, waiting for the 21st Century Oxford moment, or the new Peter Reid to lead them to the promised land.

Don't bother building a new ground anywhere close to the river as it's far too cold and windy there and some supporters are unable to walk very far, despite being physically fit. Keep your money and sit on your hands because there is no chance that Everton FC will turn the corner, regardless of which outsider you appoint, or how many over-paid footballers you sign.

This is Everton FC, Mr Moshiri, we enjoy our traditions and we're not really fussed about success as we prefer to find stuff to moan about – the more often we fail the better it is to be Blue.

Quite right, 'cos that happens all the time.

Typical some fans don't want to hear it because he's a red.

Give a short list of only some of his mistakes so far and its deemed unfair condemnation (even though nobody wants to challenge them). Call for him to be honest in his assessment of himself and you are being overly negative.

Then, after having the last straw man argument exposed, we now have a silly attempt to drag the new stadium into the debate. The inference being, if you are not gullible enough to swallow Koeman's one way "Honesty" you clearly don't want a new stadium... WTF is all that about ?

This "Dutch honesty" nonsense really should be put to bed. He hasn't said a single thing that most of us haven't known for years. There no "truth we can't handle". Its smacked us between the fucking eyes every day for the best part of three decades. We don't we need to pay a guy £20m quid to tell us what we already know, nor do we need a card-carrying kopite like Barrett to confirm it.

What I want to know is what Honest Ronnie is going to do about it? I don't want the excuse factory pointing to our situation and saying "well what do you expect ?" ... I expect the guy to at least look like he knows what he is doing. I expect a guy who has this new found reputation for "honesty" to tell the whole truth. I expect him to admit he got things wrong and stop treating us like fucking idiots.

Seriously, I couldn't give a flying Donald about whether he dances on the touchline, calls us 'we', or is 'honest'. A balanced team that knows what it's doing, a bit of entertainment and genuine goal threat would be the starting point for me. The other stuff is all nonsense.

I'm comforting myself with a vision of Koeman walking round Finch Farm asking, "Guyssh, what issh an Frankie?"

And, quick as a flash, Barkley pipes up with "Fucked if I know gaffer, but me bird's read her diary."

This is an extract from an Amazon-based summary of Anne Frank – the Diary of a Young Girl:

"Cut off from the outside world, they faced...the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters." – A feeling those who attend Goodison Park are familiar with.

And this: "In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty." – Could almost describe ToffeeWeb.

I'm sure Koeman has a plan to improve us, and I'm also fairly sure that plan doesn't involve a 72 year old Gareth Barry, a shitty Tom Cleverley, or even a sulky Kevin Mirallas.

This manager will be backed in the transfer market, so there will be no excuses to peddle once he has a decent midfield, a real goalkeeper and support for Lukaku.

After waiting this long, I'm happy to wait another 12 months to see what he can do before demanding instant results with a bunch of mid-table cast-offs that currently pollute the side.

Note that you were just telling us your observation regarding the first 11 matches between us and Soton.

But do you have any potential explanation of that observation?

I myself can't think of any.

Would you be happy finishing 5th-7th or do you think we should be pushing for top 4?

Which of the current top 7 teams do you think we will do better than?

Personally, I'd be very pleased to finish 5th above Spurs and Man Utd but unless we bring in some goal scoring talent in January, I think we'll finish 7th.

We have all been blinded by Martinez "men in black" pen for the past 3 seasons and thought our squad was a lot better than it is but Koeman is making us realise now how limited some of these players really are.

Last season, Southampton, West Ham and of course Leicester were all ...

Gets piece of A4 and writes down the checklist:

We/Us
Everton
Patience
Pressing
History
Hard work
Project
Window
Frankie

The fact that we're 7th without playing well tells me this league ain't up to much and we should be doing better, and will do when/if Koeman works out what he's doing and can communicate it to the players.

'Best of the Rest' was seen as ultra success by the Kenwright regime and Moyes generally delivered it. Martinez's peculiar vision of re-inventing the game promised but deceived and the jury have hardly been sworn in on Koeman's tenure.

I tend to think that the Mighty Foxes confused us all last season but things are more or less back to normal going into the break. Personally, I feel that EIGHTH will be the best we can hope for this time round and, even if The Mosh raids his piggy back in January, it will only ensure that we reach that lofty perch.

Of course no manager is going to stand in front of the press and admit he's made big mistakes. that would take real honesty.

These threads are becoming identical to Martinez threads. People are beginning to make Koeman into something he's not. Somebody who will deliver a "few home truths" call a spade a spade... it's utter utter bollocks. If Koeman is telling these people stuff they didn't already know, they must have been living in a cave for the past 20 years.

We know where we are, we know how we got here, we know how much ground we have to make up, we know the paucity of our revenue streams, we know how far down the pecking order we've fallen, We know the shite are looking worryingly strong, we know Barcelona are a much bigger club than us, we know... we know a lot more about our situation than Koeman does...

"Big tough Ronald will tell you like it really is!"

Yeah, of course he will.

Arsenal haven't finished lower than 4th, whilst Chelsea and Man Utd have missed out just once on top four places when they have finished in the top six. Leicester City have only managed one top six finish in the last 10 years but they did manage to lift the title.

In brackets indicates the number of top-four finishes:

Arsenal 10 (10);Chelsea 9 (8); Man Utd 9 (8); Spurs 8 (3);
Man City 7 (6); Liverpool 6 (4); Everton 5 (0); A Villa 3 (0) Leicester City 1 (1)

Southampton and Newcastle have one top-six finish apiece in the last 10 years but no top four spot.

Everton have only finished in the top six on 24 occasions since the end of WW2 and have managed a top four place just 14 times from that total, including four title-winning campaigns

Lovely stats. Past is the past. New season, different manager, same-ish players. Expectations are different and rightly so. Should Koeman get 3 years? Nah.

Time for all facets of Everton, fanbase included, to get ambitious and hold the club to those ambitions without letting things meander along. Tight reins, Europe or bust by season's end. If not, significant progress MUST have been made and maybe, just maybe, the first 10 games of the next season.

I think that's fair and not unduly rash to judge a man who makes equally quick decisions and is clear about his objectives.

Cold fish the fella is... but the job is way bigger than he thought. Perhaps ultimately this mass of press work and interviews is his way of saying, "We are shit, I need backing" or "We are shit, I told you so early doors, and I'm off"?

December could be very messy...

I now understand why "post-truth" has made it into the Oxford English Dictionary as an adjective. It seems that facts, when put in a numerical form, are dismissed as 'nice stats'. I share the aspiration and ambition that most Evertonians have for the club and team, however, to achieve those aims it will take time and a great deal of money. Some will argue that it shouldn't and that we have the tools to do the job right here, right now.

I don't share that view and feel we need a major overhaul to get us back on the right track. The club needs a giant shake-up and – apart from the glory days of the '60s and '80s – it has massively underachieved at all other points in the last 70 years.

For example, Arsenal have finished in the top six positions for the last 20 years, only four short of Everton's tally for the last 70 years. It may be statistical but it is a fact and not a very pleasant one at that.

Let's not use a dictionary, you find only facts and reason in there, not allowed on ToffeeWeb!

You are arguing along the same lines as myself. The stats don't need to be presented as it's clear that both the task at hand is an almighty one – even with players better than we currently have. Plus anyone wishing to debate on here should know that crap. Premier Punditry 101.

My crux is that, even with an average squad, we do not have the luxury of 2 or 3 years.

As such, we have to find a manger who can make more out of what we have as, even with each window that passes, so do our chances of bridging the gap to qualify for Europe and the good things that come of that.

Now here's the rub: I believe Koeman has done okay. But okay is no longer good enough, has he done poorly, no, getting that lot to win 5 matches is heartening. However, within the 10 games there have been aspects of our play which warrant serious rebuke to Koeman. Now if this is left to fester or just plain go unchecked, things drift quickly.

New players don't fix the errors in selection or tactics – that's on him.

Dictionaries make excellent doorstops!