Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Koeman will take time to assess player needs at Everton


Ronald Koeman will begin the process of assessing the squad of players he has inherited from Roberto Martinez now that he is on Merseyside and the formalities of his appointment are out the way.
The Dutchman was officially unveiled as the Blues' new manager at a press conference with Chairman Bill Kenwright this afternoon where he was asked about his plans for the team, what areas of the squad he might look to improve and what he will do about the likes of John Stones and Romelu Lukaku who have been strongly linked with moves away from Goodison Park this summer.
Lukaku has made no secret of his desire and that of his agent Mino Raiola to secure a move to a Champions League club while Stones continues to be talked about as a much coveted potential acquisition for the likes of Manchester City.
“I had the experience in my last two years with there always being a lot of interest in the [club's] players,” Koeman explained. “First of all, like everybody, I'd like to keep these key players because you don't sell your best players.
“But that's about meetings I will have these players and we'll see what happens.
“I will talk to many players. Lukaku is a key player, a goalscorer. You don't want to lose one of your best players. If I can do something about that, I'll do it.
“He's still a young player, he needs support and needs to improve.”
The 53-year-old spoke in similar terms about Stones who, like Lukaku, is currently on international duty at the European Championship finals, and he was also asked if the 22-year-old being a “ball-playing” centre half like Koeman was in his playing days would make things easier.
“Of course sometimes you have something more [to offer a player] because they play in the same position as you did in the past so it will be good support for him,” Koeman continued.
“First of all, I'd like to talk to him personally and [see] what he's feeling and then make conclusions.”
Aware, of course, of Everton's poor record last season, particularly at home, Koeman explained that turning Goodison Park into a fortress will be one of the priorities for him and his backroom staff.
Part of that will entail squad strengthening but the Zandaam-born manager said that he will take the time to vet the players that he will has at his disposal before outlining what moves might be needed in the transfer market where he has reportedly been promised significant funds.
“There is budget, of course,” he said. “That's part of taking the next step but you need to know what we have in the Academy and if we agree, finally, that we need better players or players in differet positions then we will work on that. But that's always after we know what we have in the squad.
“The best way to do this is to talk about the squad with the people involved at the club. It's not the way to [assess things] from outside of the club. First, we will have meetings about the players, about the squad and what we need.
“We're keeping David [Unsworth] and Duncan Ferguson in the club and they have more experience than I have with Everton players.
“We have some good young players, good players in the squad. I remember the 3-0 defeat to Everton last season. To make the next step, maybe we need to sign [new players] but we will take our time for that.
Koeman was asked about whether he would be looking back towards St Mary's Stadium for players he might wish to bring with him to Everton.
The Blues have already been linked with the likes of striker Graziano Pellè and goalkeeper Fraser Forster but the manager was cautious about further inflaming the situation with his former club.
“It's difficult,” Koeman said. “I like most of the players. We will see what happens but maybe it's better not to [pick] more fights with [Southampton].”
Reader Comments (46)
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2 Posted 17/06/2016 at 22:02:33
3 Posted 17/06/2016 at 22:25:06
4 Posted 17/06/2016 at 22:25:36
5 Posted 17/06/2016 at 22:28:25
nice to have a manager talk and not make me want to vomit though
6 Posted 17/06/2016 at 22:39:14
Meantime, we should beware of reading him as a straight-talking Dutch maestro just because he doesn't talk outright shite. The thing, as always, is what occurs when we start playing and we'll see about that. Confident though.
7 Posted 17/06/2016 at 23:06:15
8 Posted 17/06/2016 at 23:07:29
He makes a lot of sense.
Let's see how it develops.
9 Posted 17/06/2016 at 23:14:47
10 Posted 17/06/2016 at 23:26:14
Which makes it all the more bizarre...
11 Posted 17/06/2016 at 23:49:58
12 Posted 17/06/2016 at 23:50:46
We do that by signing big name players and actually winning things, then they will take us serious and show respect, until that happens..... plucky Everton I'm afraid.
13 Posted 17/06/2016 at 23:59:39
Like everything, I'll judge him with his transfer activity and how we play. So far, all standard stuff from the new boss.
14 Posted 18/06/2016 at 00:08:00
Next question?
15 Posted 18/06/2016 at 00:25:04
I agree with Colin 9# too - I don't give a fuck to be honest. Half of the papers are LFC Fanzines, let's just go out and win things and stick two fingers up when we get there.
I get the feeling Koeman is uncompromising, backed by a man who gets what he wants. Break up the status quo and the press will be following us like dogs trailing in the scent of success. If Koeman achieves his goals we achieve ours, if he moves on we can go again. This feels like we are on the upward spiral.
Come On You Blues.
16 Posted 18/06/2016 at 00:30:08
17 Posted 18/06/2016 at 01:46:28
I believe Koeman has given a few young ones a chance in his short spell at St Mary's, namely young Targett, and cementing the place of Ward-Prowse as a regular. It all bodes well for the future then . . oh wait, this is Everton under the Panto-Prince - "look behind you"
18 Posted 18/06/2016 at 07:11:09
19 Posted 18/06/2016 at 07:32:27
20 Posted 18/06/2016 at 07:53:05
21 Posted 18/06/2016 at 08:06:28
Leicester then broke the mould last season, yet the Shite still apieared on tv more often. Change is hopefully coming and the game needs it.
22 Posted 18/06/2016 at 08:13:02
As he said, he needs to see if he can get any more from the players here and decide who is not good enough then he can work out who he needs to replace and who he can get to replace them.
23 Posted 18/06/2016 at 08:36:16
An unsung hero for me Hibbo!
24 Posted 18/06/2016 at 08:38:44
25 Posted 18/06/2016 at 08:50:05
The fact he wants to sit with Stones and Lukaku (and maybe Ross) also says a great deal about him impending approach and if JS or Rom still wish to leave then he knows the quality of player(s) he has to bring in to improve the squad. I am loving this already.
26 Posted 18/06/2016 at 09:14:28
They just don't know their history.
27 Posted 18/06/2016 at 09:15:35
28 Posted 18/06/2016 at 09:30:19
Don't forget Ledson, he's going to be a Star. Also agree with all others you said .
29 Posted 18/06/2016 at 10:45:22
Commonsense and diplomacy.
30 Posted 18/06/2016 at 11:00:15
We have a rich Academy set up, this is an area where Ron should look at strenghten the team with experienced older players of whose ages should be between 25 & 28 yrs.
Please,can someone tell me if we still have AM0KACHI twins in our academy. They should have come age now, though they want them educated before playing proffessional football.
31 Posted 18/06/2016 at 11:39:41
If he manages as well as he talks then it should be a great appointment. Different as chalk and cheese from Roberto!
I just wonder how it will pan out if as we all believe, the players are much better than their form portrayed, that they are motivated in a new team spirit, played in their right positions, and we land 1 or 2 quality additions the sky really could be the limit.
Bottom line is the confidence meter has just moved up after the first media discussions and I am really looking forward to the next season, big time!
32 Posted 18/06/2016 at 11:39:42
If he manages as well as he talks then it should be a great appointment. Different as chalk and cheese from Roberto!
I just wonder how it will pan out if as we all believe, the players are much better than their form portrayed, that they are motivated in a new team spirit, played in their right positions, and we land 1 or 2 quality additions the sky really could be the limit.
Bottom line is the confidence meter has just moved up after the first media discussions and I am really looking forward to the next season, big time!
33 Posted 18/06/2016 at 11:50:14
Moyes 41%
Martinez 38%
Royle 37%
Kendall 31%
Smith 29%
Walker 19%
.....
Koeman 47%
34 Posted 18/06/2016 at 12:33:48
I think we must avoid buying big just because we can. Big name buys would attract the interest of the press because they make headlines but what we need is to strengthen in certain areas ( we all know which ones) and sort out the team ethic and fighting spirit which disappeared after the West Ham defeat. Bringing in talented youngsters where they are supported by a strong defence and team full of fight will work better than risking injured or over the hill " names" .
Let's not forget we have a number of very good players who went AWOL in the second half of the season and RK has to reinvigorate them quickly.
Rom is mouthing off again and I expect him to be sold unless RK can really impose himself to the extent that Rom realises that he is not going to be allowed to dictate with RK around and maybe his game will improve within his brave new team if he buckles down to some bloody hard work and really learns his craft. His ego must be enormous to be bragging about how the big teams want him on the back of his embarrassing display against Italy and this to me has to be sorted quickly as an ego like that will get in the way of everything RK wants to do.
I think Stones will stay to learn from the maestro in his position and so will Ross. Shipping Rom out quickly will send a message to the rest of the squad that oversized egos will not be tolerated and will be stamped on rather than encouraged as appeared to be the case with penalty duties last season.
Ronald strikes me as a man who will be ruthless to get what he wants and that is just what we need. The press will soon want to know when they see the winds of change.
35 Posted 18/06/2016 at 12:43:46
Whatever the motivation, and it certainly could not have been a love of Everton which other managers have professed, all we can ask is that Koeman does a bloody good job whilst sparing us the total bullshit that was his predecessor's stock in trade !
36 Posted 18/06/2016 at 12:46:04
37 Posted 18/06/2016 at 12:46:28
38 Posted 18/06/2016 at 12:57:49
He's a born winner and will set us up to win games one way or another... this (I hope) bodes extremely well for the future!
Looking forward to shouting "Koeman Everton, these are shite!" in the coming months!
39 Posted 18/06/2016 at 13:21:51
40 Posted 18/06/2016 at 13:48:21
41 Posted 18/06/2016 at 14:54:10
Plus, he will more than likely sugn one-two strikers.
And Phil has it spot on.
42 Posted 18/06/2016 at 15:01:23
Trevor:
"I am sick at watching our club buying very average players like McCarthy and Cleverley in the midfield."
With you there 100%. Get shot of both.
I love how Koeman said Rom needed to improve - spot on.
43 Posted 18/06/2016 at 15:27:50
44 Posted 18/06/2016 at 16:24:21
45 Posted 18/06/2016 at 19:08:33
46 Posted 18/06/2016 at 23:34:58
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1 Posted 17/06/2016 at 21:13:47
No bullshit which is the main thing.