Koeman Feel the Noize: Everton 2016-17

The 5-0 scoreline at Chelsea today was deceiving.

It wasn't even that close.

This was like watching Spain play Gibraltar or San Marino, except a lot worse.

So maybe the ship got righted today with a thrilling 2-1 win at Goodison over Arsenal.

I watched as best as I could at work. Everton started out looking disjointed and disinterested, as they have for the last several games. A dumb foul led to a free kick at the edge of the box for Sanchez, which wrongfooted Stecklenberg off a deflection for a 1-0 Gunners lead at about 20'.

Everton woke up after that and stayed the aggressor for most of the game. The back four were effective at both ends - Baines set up Seamus Coleman for a nice header to draw even just before halftime, and Ashley Williams scored what turned out to be the winner at 86'. In stoppage time, Jagielka got sent off with a second yellow, Cech came forward to help with a furious 11-on-10 attack (although he seemed a little unsure of what to do), and the Toffees managed to keep a few screamers out of the net for the win.

Gueye is doing very well as a defensive/holding midfielder - he's everywhere. Barkley was given the start for the first time in a few weeks and seemed to respond to the benching with energetic play. So it was a marked improvement over the recent lethargy.

Yet problems are still evident. Losing Bolasie for the year is a huge blow. There is simply not enough quality in the attack. The midfield doesn't get the ball forward or distribute well enough. Barkley has talent but not awareness to go with it. Deloufeu has pace but not much else. Lukaku can beast, of course - he had two last week in a loss at Watford - but often he kind of mopes around up front without the ball, which he did today. The quality in attack came from the back line. I'd rather see the ball brought up by Seamus Coleman than any of the mids. Baines had a great game, but is getting on in years. Jagielka has lost a step - two yellows for just not being able to keep up with guys. Worst of all, they seemed to have tuned Koeman out over the past few sucky weeks.

Today had the feel of a season-changer, though. Goodison was going batshit crazy. Let's see where they go. A quality add or two in the transfer window, who knows.

More evidence, if any be needed, that Everton are what they appear to be: a side destined to finish somewhere between 6 and 12, probably to the lower end of that; with some good players, most of whom have a major vulnerability (too old/slow, too young/green, too one-dimensional; in the case of Lukaku, a world-class striker who doesn't get the ball in good spots enough and is prone to sulking); lots of holes; not enough depth; a good manager but one who hasn't (yet) been able to get this group to play as more than the sum of their parts. Maybe some transfer window money will help, but that's just a wish right now.

0-1 to Liverpool, giving up a goal in stoppage time, after Liverpool mostly controlled the game. In other words, completely in line with expectations.

More evidence, if any be needed, that Everton are what they appear to be: a side destined to finish somewhere between 6 and 12, probably to the lower end of that; with some good players, most of whom have a major vulnerability (too old/slow, too young/green, too one-dimensional; in the case of Lukaku, a world-class striker who doesn't get the ball in good spots enough and is prone to sulking); lots of holes; not enough depth; a good manager but one who hasn't (yet) been able to get this group to play as more than the sum of their parts. Maybe some transfer window money will help, but that's just a wish right now.

Koeman is publicly pressuring Barkley to shit or get off the pot:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-boss-koeman-not-sure-12367521

The Dutchman has called upon Barkley to add "productivity" to his game, and has also questioned the 23-year-old's work rate and pressing ability.

Koeman was visibly frustrated with Barkley during Monday's Merseyside derby with Liverpool at Goodison Park, and ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Leicester City he has again spoken of where the player needs to improve.

He said: "First of all I don't like to say because every word I say about Ross is used by the media in a negative or positive way.

"Of course I think the player needs to improve. He needs to improve the tactical aspect of his football, out of his position, he needs to be more clinical and have more creativity in the offensive part of the team. But he is working hard on that and trying to get the best out of himself.

"Maybe that type of aggression meant he lost a bit of control in that action but he is working hard. But he needs to improve to be the player that maybe everyone expected when he was 18 or 19."

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He gone.

Good #10s (or 9s or 8s) don't grow on trees, but that's what this team needs. Although Barkley looked very good against Arsenal, he's running out of time to show that he's that guy.

It's a big overpay, but the supporters are restless. Koeman wants to play an aggressive, attacking style, but there isn't quality up front other than Lukaku, and the older players can't sustain it consistently over 90 minutes - Jagielka in particular looks ready for the glue factory. So there will be a youth movement. With Bolasie likely out for a long time, I'm not surprised.

Everton is juuust good enough and has enough of a history that its fans expect to compete, but the depth and quality isn't there. Yet the new owner has tons of cash and has pledged to throw it around. Recipe for overpays.

Up 1-0 to Leicester after a Lukaku goal at 66', and then two quick goals conceded to drop out of the FA Cup, at Goodison Park.

Supporters are angry. Las years run in the FA Cup was the only bright spot in the campaign, and the loss in the semis sealed Martinez' fate.

NYC Evertonians post:

Our season is over in January. It's really disappointing to have nothing to look forward to the rest of the way besides the derby. You simply cannot be out of Europe, out of contention for Europe, and out of both cups early on. It's okay to exit cups early if you're in Europe or competing for a top 4/5 spot. But we aren't. So now this season is going to be less interesting than last, despite the improved league form.

Also signed forward Ishak Belfoldiln from Belgian club Standard Liege for 10.4 M.

With Lookman, a lot of money for two young and unproven forwards, but Everton direc or of football Steve Walsh was the guy mainly responsible for Leicester's meteoric rise by finding guys like Mahrez, Kante, and Vardy toiling in relative obscurity in other countries or lower English leagues.

Gueye and Schneiderlin make a formidable central DM pair. If even one of these strikers shows promise, it could be very interesting. If (now I'm fantasizing) Barkley could show a bit of football awareness and acumen to go with his physical gifts...

ninjacornelius said:

Yep. I think that the next 6 months are going to be make-or-break time for Barkley. The squad is filling out nicely for the next few years (even with the inevitable loss of Lukaku), but they're not going anywhere without a reliable CAM. At this point, I'd be happy with Barkley living up to even 80% of his potential if it meant that he could do so on a weekly basis. If he can't do that, then I trust that Koeman and Walsh will find someone who can. (I don't think it'll happen this January for a variety of reasons, but the "Gylfi Sigurdsson to Everton" rumors that were circulating had me absolutely salivating).

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Don't tease me. If they landed Sigurdsson in this window I'd even allow myself to get excited about a possible Europe spot.

Best day at Goodison in a long time, and the high point of the Koeman regime so far, with a 4-0 win over City.

The stats show that City dominated possession and had more shots, but aside from a few moments in the first 20 minutes when they looked close to putting a threat together, and one great up-close save by Robles against Silva, I was never that scared. Most of the City possession was unthreatening and their shots were mostly toothless. City had a few free kicks on the edge of the box, and should have been awarded a penalty early on when Robles cut Sterling's legs out. A goal there would have changed the complexion of the game, but it was a no-call.

Lukaku scored off a nice Mirallas cross a few minutes before the half, and Barkley found Mirallas in the first minute of the second half. Goodison was rocking then.

Schneiderlin came in at about the sixty-minute mark to a nice hand.

The Everton youth movement was rampant. Holgate was effective on the right of a back three with Ashley Williams and Funes Mori, and Coleman playing as a midfielder - which I like, he's very good pressing forward and initiating attack. Davies was everywhere and is clearly a crowd favorite - even more so after netting his first PL goal late in the game after a beautiful run and give-and-go with Barkley. Lookman came on for his first PL action and he too scored in stoppage time, a sweet strike. A day that Davies and Lookman will always remember and the crowd was roaring.

City played beneath their abilities and Everton were the beneficiaries of some questionable officiating, but them's the breaks. Everton buried their chances and, although City had more of the ball, Everton looked well, especially as the game went on. The back three continues to be their best defensive formation. The attack was more lively, with Barkley and Mirallas playing as a front three with Lukaku (who, strangely, seemed to find himself out wide a lot; not a good use of his strengths if you ask me). Barkley had two assists and seemed brighter than he has been.

With Gueye and Schneiderlin, Davies would have more freedom to get forward. That would help, as the attack still needs work, despite the improvement and the four goals; still a little too much of bomb-a-long-pass-to-Lukaku going on.

Next at Palace, while City has Spurs and ManU go to Stoke. Seven points behind United in sixth, and nine behind City in fifth. My $.02 is that City is going to come back to the pack - they are less than the sum of their parts and they look disgruntled - and it would be a tall order for Everton to catch ManU. But Evertonians can be forgiven for an optimistic outlook after the beat-down that Koeman put on his old chum from Barcelona.

I got to say it was a good day.

So a few brief updates:

-The thrashing of City was followed by a win at Crystal Palace, 0-1. Coleman scored late on a nice through-ball from Tom Davies, the local boy (came up through Everton's academy, and still lives with mum and dad a couple of miles from Goodison) who, with his long blond hair, tucked-in socks, Everton lineage (uncle Alan Whittle played for the Toffees in the 70's) and work-rate and skill on the ball have made him a Tony C-like darling among the faithful.

This image, of Davies after his first PL goal against City, is becoming iconic:




Bentenke hit the woodwork with a header early on; Everton controlled play for the most part, but could not put something together until late. The fan blogs' sentiment is "this is the kind of game we would have pissed away once - dominating a weaker side but coming up short." Now the refrain is that the Toffees toughed out three away points.

There are now many midfielders. Davies has been so electric that he can't be sat down. Schneiderlin has yet to play a full game and has sat deep when he has played. His natural role seems to overlap with Gueye, who has been Everton's best player this year but is currently away at the African Cup of Nations. Baines and Coleman are playing as wings, and you can call it either a 5-3-2 or a 3-5-2. Coleman, especially, is well-suited to this; his skills going forward are so good that liberating him from some defensive responsibility is a plus.

Koeman has settled into a back three of Funes Mori, Ashley Williams, and Holgate. This has been effective, although Funes Mori is erratic (I can't stand him) and Williams is long in the tooth. Holgate, another of the youth movement, has been exceptional and shows no fear marking and tackling against world-renowned players. Robles has claimed the #1 keeper spot and has been playing very well. Without anyone paying much attention, the Toffees have put up four clean sheets in the last five. Notably absent is Jagielka, who is out of favor and pissed off the supporters after tweeting a picture of himself drinking wine after a loss last month.

Barry is now the starting DM, sitting just in front of the back three, but Schneiderlin seems about to push him out. Barry is a wise head but is also slowing down.

Up front, the emergence of Davies has taken some pressure off Barkley to be the sole distributor to Lukaku and whomever else is forward (lately Mirallas, but another tyro, Lookman, is getting time). The formation they have been playing gives Everton lots of options in transition - any of Davies, Barkley, Coleman and Baines are available to press forward with play built up from the back. Barkley still doesn't seem like a true #10 - he's been playing more like a false-9 - but he has definitely heard the message from Koeman and has been one of the best players during this current run of form.

Everton picked up two points on ManU last week, and although that's not likely to be the case in the next gameweek, with Hull visiting Old Trafford, the supporters are optimistic that a spot in Europe is within reach. Five behind United, seven behind City - it says here that City is more likely to fall lower in the table. So certainly not likely, but some optimism is to be forgiven.

Next up, a visit to Stoke.

ninjacornelius said:

Seven months ago I was screaming for some semblance of a midfield, and now I have no clue how to feel. I think that Barry (God bless him, but he's 150 years old) will be the first to sit, but after that you've got three players for two spots when Schneiderlin gets up to match fitness and Gueye is back from Africa. I agree that Davies has to play every week until he shows signs of cooling off. I think that Schneiderlin is a more natural pivot than Gueye and would be a perfect partner for Davies, giving enough on both sides of the ball to let the youngster play his hair-on-fire style. Then again, Gueye is so good at snuffing out opponents' attacks that he can allow Koeman to play a scrub like Funes Mori without much risk. When Gueye returns, I'm guessing that Koeman will play matchups: start Gueye against teams that are frisky on the counter, Schneiderlin against teams that want to play possession, and switch one out for the other at the 70th minute if they need to snatch a goal or kill a match.

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I keep playing around with it and it's one midfielder too many, especially with Coleman now essentially a midfielder.

Well then.

6-3 over Bournemouth, in case you missed it.

This game was off-the-charts crazy. Lukaku scored at 1', and there it sat until about 20', when I took my daughter to the Y for swimming lessons. Once she was in the pool, I flipped back to the game and it was 3-0, with goals from McCarthy (seemingly the odd man out in the midfield, but started and played well) and Lukaku again.

From the start of the second half, it was all Bournemouth. Koeman - still tinkering - went with a true back four. Funes Mori (who I can't stand) and Williams (starting to age) were struggling, and Bournemouth was looking frisky. At 59', Wilshere split the CBs with a perfectly weighted pass that Joshua King settled and calmly converted. It was executed to perfection, but it still was an embarrassment. Bournemouth continued the attack and at 70', King scored again. 3-2.

I was remembering Bournemouth's comeback against Liverpool and getting very uncomfortable. Everton were on the back foot and the crowd was getting ugly.

Lil' OCST emerged from the pool. I put my phone in my pocket at 80' and we went home, stopping for bagels on the way. Given form, I was afraid that the Toffees would be looking at one point, or none, by the time I could check the score again.

When I pulled out my phone at the bagel place and saw "Everton 6 Bournemouth 3 Final," I was in disbelief to put it mildly. I watched the replay later.

Lukaku scored two more within a minute, for four on the day. It was as dominating a performance as you will ever see. No sulking this time. All of his skills were on display. He used his size and speed to devastating effect, and was always in the right place at the right time. Barkley (with a goal in stoppage time that he cheekily celebrated before it went in) and McCarthy were fantastic in attack. Davies did not start, but when Bournemouth asserted itself, he came in for McCarthy and gave the side a shot of energy. Schneiderlin played very well as the distributing midfielder, almost never wasting a pass or giving away the ball Lookman started up front and did not tally, but was a constant threat and gave Lukaku space to work by occupying the defenders. The defending was admittedly poor. Holgate did not start and should be starting IMO.

There is still a glut in midfield and the rotation is not settled but it's a nice problem to have - depth was a complaint earlier in the year.

Five points back of ManU for sixth, and only six back of Liverpool for fifth. United has fixture congestion, with FA Cup AND League Cup AND Europa all in the next few weeks. Liverpool is struggling. Everton has a favorable schedule for the next few weeks.

The supporters are starting to say it aloud.... could it be?

At Middlesbrough, they of the stingy defense and anemic attack, in a howling North Sea storm.

0-0.

Next.

Lookman had trouble with the physicality of the Sunderland defense. He's a young 19, physically, and needs to build his strength.

No such concerns for Lukaku. He is about a half a foot taller than Oviedo and probably 40 pounds heavier, and still he's faster. Watching Lukaku rampage toward goal with Oviedo trying to stop him was like a huge shark being followed around by one of those scavenger fish. Amusing.

One problem- lots of set pieces in the first half, mostly taken by Barkley, and he was awful, especially on the corners.

Dominant for most of the first half, but not the second. Still it's the kind of game where they would have dropped points in the past, so a boring win against a weak side is progress.

Agree with the 3-5-2 against Spurs.

ninjacornelius said:

Spurs 3-2 Everton. The final score flatters the visitors, as Spurs dominated throughout. I have no idea why we lined up in a 4-3-3, especially with Gareth Barry as a DM. He provided less than nothing today. I'd say sell him to whoever wins the Championship playoff, but at this point I don't think he'd even start next season for a newly-promoted side.

Further fume goes to the CBs, who were second to every ball and looked altogether awful. My opinion of Ramiro Funes Mori is well documented, but Ashley Williams was just as bad today. Reshaping the defense should be the top priority in the offseason.

At this point Everton have proven that they're not ready to challenge the top 6, but that's OK. I'm willing to give Koeman and Walsh a couple of windows to clear out the dreck. For now let's lock up 7th and get back to Europe next year.

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They are what they are, agreed - the best of the rest.

I was optimistic, but their flaws were exposed today.

Robles should have arguably stopped the first goal, a strike from some distance by Kane that was nice but that most keepers get on most days. The second goal was 100% Robles' fault, a poor distribution right at the top of the 18-yard box that Spurs immediately gathered up.

I hate Funes Mori and Williams is slowing by the day.

Barry is ready for the glue factory too. Koeman has done a great job during Everton's extended run of success since the new year, but starting him at White Hart Lane was just dumb. The Spurs midfield is lethal and Barry was a few seconds late throughout the day. Everton badly needed the pace of younger legs and did not benefit from starting Barry.

Agreed that the scoreline flatters Everton - it wasn't that close.

Rut roh.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/romelu-lukaku-not-ready-sign-12731890

Romelu Lukaku is reportedly "not ready" yet to sign his new contract.

A new deal tying the Premier League's top scorer to Everton on a long-term deal has been close to being signed for several weeks.

But Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur suggested this morning that Lukaku putting pen to paper is not immiment.

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If you look at the tweet, it seems as if Lukaku - a notorious practical joker and ball-buster - may just be causing mischief.

If true, though, it's the difference between Everton riding a youth movement and rapidly solidifying as a team ready to compete at the top level - and a nice, Southampton/West Brom/Stoke-type side that won't really have to worry about relegation.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/romelu-lukaku-contract-shock-everton-12741676

balls.

ALIVE!: https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-romelu-lukaku-still-open-to-signing-new-everton-contract-203043191.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw

Perhaps this is the inevitable reporter-going-against-the-run-of-the-news-to-draw-clicks, the sports-journo equivalent of a counterattack, if you will.

But who knows.

Maybe I have my royal-blue-colored glasses on, but if I'm Lukaku, I'm looking at the top teams in the PL and going forward I think that Everton is poised to compete with everyone except probably Chelsea and Spurs next year. Liverpool, Arsenal, City, and ManU are have question marks. So does Everton, of course, but the areas of need are straightforward - upgrades at center back and keeper.

Over the last 10 games:

1. TOT: 23 points, 24/8 (+16) GD
2. CHE: 23 points, 22/9 (+13)
3. MUN: 22 points, 17/5 (+12)
4. EVE: 21 points, 24/9 (+15)
5. MCI: 20 points, 17/9 (+ 8)
6: WBA: 17 points, 13/15 (- 2)
7: ARS: 16 points, 18/14 (+ 4)
8: LIV: 15 points, 15/14 (+ 1) - tied with STO and SWA(!!!)

Yes, it's cherrypicking the most recent results, but I've seen most of every game and Everton look increasingly formidable, especially at Goodison.

It would not be insane for Lukaku to look at his current situation and think that his chance at CL football is right where he is.

ALIVE!: https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-romelu-lukaku-still-open-to-signing-new-everton-contract-203043191.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw

Perhaps this is the inevitable reporter-going-against-the-run-of-the-news-to-draw-clicks, the sports-journo equivalent of a counterattack, if you will.

But who knows.

Maybe I have my royal-blue-colored glasses on, but if I'm Lukaku, I'm looking at the top teams in the PL and going forward I think that Everton is poised to compete with everyone except probably Chelsea and Spurs next year. Liverpool, Arsenal, City, and ManU are have question marks. So does Everton, of course, but the areas of need are straightforward - upgrades at center back and keeper.

Over the last 10 games:

1. TOT: 23 points, 24/8 (+16) GD
2. CHE: 23 points, 22/9 (+13)
3. MUN: 22 points, 17/5 (+12)
4. EVE: 21 points, 24/9 (+15)
5. MCI: 20 points, 17/9 (+ 8)
6: WBA: 17 points, 13/15 (- 2)
7: ARS: 16 points, 18/14 (+ 4)
8: LIV: 15 points, 15/14 (+ 1) - tied with STO and SWA(!!!)

Yes, it's cherrypicking the most recent results, but I've seen most of every game and Everton look increasingly formidable, especially at Goodison. Ashley Williams is slowing down, Funes Mori is a boob, and Robles is not-quite-it, but otherwise the midfield is excellent, Barkley is starting to realize his potential up front, and the youth movement is tremendous - most of these players have their best years ahead of them.

It would not be insane for Lukaku to look at his current situation and think that his chance at CL football is right where he is.

coremiller said:

Um, yes it would. I think you've got the blue-tinted glasses on here. Everton are a good side, but they're pretty clearly behind the rest of the top 6 right now, AND they have much more limited resources to improve the team going forward. Even if you think Everton are close to the Manchester clubs right now (and that's questionable), both will like spend huge sums (>100m?) on improvements this summer, while Everton won't. Instead, Everton will have to fight just to keep their best players, as Lukaku and Barkley have both been rumored to leave.

Everton also aren't a young squad. Lukaku, Barkley, and Davies are the only players 25 or younger to regularly feature this season. Next season, Williams will be 33, Coleman 29, Baines 33, Barry 37 (if he's still there), Mirallas 30, Jagielka 35: that's six of the nine players with the most starts for Everton this season. That might be balanced out a little by full seasons from Schneiderlin, Davies, and Bolasie, but on the whole this is not a team where a lot of the key players are on the part of the aging curve where you'd reasonably expect them to get better (compared to, say, Spurs last year, where most of the squad was 25 or younger). Instead, you'd expect many of them be declining. That means most of their transfer buys have to be aimed at replacement for players aging out rather than pure upgrades, which means it's harder to really improve or build depth. And with twice-a-week football in the Europa League, lack of depth will be a real issue.

I think the likelihood of Everton beating out three of the big 6 over a full season to finish 4th next year is very small.

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Pro-Everton bias conceded, but regarding the bolded:

Barry and Jagielka have barely featured since the rough patch at the end of 2016; they're strictly depth now and their loss won't mean much. Mirallas is still a useful piece but increasingly redundant. The defense is clearly too old. Williams is a smart player but has lost a step, he reminds me of the way that Ivanovic, for one, fell off a cliff suddenly. Baines and Coleman are essentially wide midfielders and so don't get the same banging and bruising of the CB's, and they are both playing well - Coleman especially - but you're right, they are older.

Still, there are Holgate, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin (who scored today), so lots of youth other than those you mention. Valencia is 27 but just scored so I'll throw him in as another useful piece.

The key, as you point out, is money. Moshiri says that he wants to splash money around. Still Everton have not done much at the windows other than Schneiderlin, and the word on the Everton blogs is that some of the alte cockers on the Everton board are throwing sand in the gears. Koeman has been blunt about the need to compete more aggressively for talent (assuming he is not picked off by Barcelona). Lukaku has been blunt also that Everton's failure to bring in more studs at the windows is a reason for leaving. You might be surprised to know that the fans on the blogs don't blame Lukaku at all - they agree 100%. So there does need to be a culture change.

My hope, stated more clearly and recognizing the truth of your post, is that Everton have enough in terms of a core of quality players, a good brand, and money if they choose to spend it, to follow the path of City and Chelsea into the top tier. We can argue over the % of chance of that happening, but the ingredients are there if used wisely.

two goals from Lukaku in stoppage time in a 4-0 win over hull; after the second, he raised his arms to the Goodison crowd with a big smile and blew kisses to them - sparking speculation from the announcers that maybe hey, he does want to be here?

</fanboy>

ninjacornelius said:

In today's WCQ between Ireland and Wales, Neil Taylor destroyed Seamus Coleman with one of the most dangerous tackles I've seen all year. Taylor got a straight red, and Coleman left on a stretcher. No official reports so far, and I'm not a doctor, but I'd be shocked if his leg isn't broken. Just brutal. Like, I won't even link to the video, that's how brutal.

Edit: It looks like Coleman fractured both his tibia AND fibula. How horrible.

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Fuck me. Week in week out all year, Coleman has been Everton's best, along with Lukaku and Gueye. This is awful.

Arroyo Con Frijoles said:

Every time this thread is bumped I get nervous that either someone has broken something or Lukaku is leaving.

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Well, you're 2 for 2, so there's that.