A Major Koe – Everton Approach Ronald Koeman

Following the departure of Roberto Martinez, Everton Football Club have begun the search for their new manager and their first official approach is one of a household name, signalling a statement of intent.

The man approached…three time Erevidisie title winning coach, Ronald Koeman. A respected and coveted name in football from his experience in both playing and coaching accolades.

The current Southampton boss has steadied the ship and then some on the South Coast! Following the sales of many of the club’s, then, core players on his arrival in 2014, Koeman has rebuilt and further demonstrated a surge of improvement at the club, with successful foreign players coming in and proving their worth in the Premier League.

Noticeably, the 2015-16 campaign, in which, The Saints (Southampton) finished sixth place, qualifying for UEFA Europa League football next season.

That said, Ronald Koeman, an established footballing brain, will know, Everton Football Club are very much a squad of strength, a club on whole in a financially and structurally sound position and with such status in the Premier League (immediate past form brushed aside), are a more prestigious Football Club than his current outfit.

Koeman’s Way of Play:

Ronald Koeman favours the modern football structural tactic of a 4-2-3-1 set up, the use of two fast paced, overlapping full backs, a central defensive partnership of solidity, with the ability to play out from the back.

Two screening defensive midfielders, favourably, one for strength and driving power and another to pick up the pieces, remain the engine and pick out passes to create open areas of play for attacking options.

The ‘front four’ splits into segments of playmaker, direct wing play, second striker and target man. The playmaker (as shown above – Dusan Tadic) will work from the outside, cutting in to create play, drive at defenders and pick out the pass to release the pace of the winger and/or second striker.

The second striker’s role is simple, and Koeman holds very much an expert in this in his current arsenal at Southampton, namely, Shane Long. His role? To lose the defender whilst the target man holds play and to ‘get in behind’ the back four for a simple poachers pick-out.

Wing pace is vital to Koeman’s phases of play and offers a more direct approach, a mannerism of football very much integrated worldwide from, originally, the Dutch game, which of course, Koeman knows better than most.

The target man offers hold up play, goal-scoring opportunities from deep, direct play and the ability to latch on to crossed balls from wide play.

Will it Work at Goodison Park?:

The Toffees took shape in almost a symmetrical manner to Southampton under Roberto Martinez, which, in theory would set Ronald Koeman up for a quick start to successful change if appointed by Everton. The players are aware of the shape and slight tactical tweaks could be made to enforce the turn of success on the pitch for the Evertonians.

Don’t fix what isn’t broken! An overhaul is not what is needed, despite Everton’s disappointing season, they hold the core strength to get back firing on all cylinders with the right management and correct changes to style of play.

Seamus Coleman, John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku. The big four, that whomever is appointed has the challenging task of keeping hold of through the summer transfer market!

All capable of European football, all at a stage of their career where playing at the highest level, for the biggest clubs is how they will grow and with a highly possible successful showing at the European Championship’s later this month for all, could be the targets of many a club, willing to pay big money for their services.

Another important role ahead for the future Everton Head Coach…re-integrating Kevin Mirallas into the squad. His hot and cold mentality towards the club in previous times must be put aside. The Belgian is world class and offers goals, play making ability and direct pace amongst his versatility in attacking positions. In effect, he would be like a whole new signing for a new coach at the helms of the club.

Who Should The Dutchman Pick?:

Two similar sides, Southampton, in a currently better position, Everton, always in and around the top-half and Europa League contention when in form.

Both sides financially strong, both sides structurally strong, both clubs respected, both clubs comfortably set for a long and successful future in the Premier League.

Both squads with the potential to grow and with bolstered strength in depth of Premier League experience and highly prospected youth players.

The choice of stick or twist is one that we’re sure, Ronald Koeman will not take lightly and will study his options on which club will suit his style and which he can grow further…

Has he hit as high a height as he can bring at Southampton? Is Everton’s prestigious setting tempting enough to pull you away from a job already successful and secure? Would it be foolish to walk away from a club with European football ahead to move to one without?

Whatever the Dutchman decides, the approach is a showing of just how respected Koeman is in the managerial world and how in the midst of Mourinho, Conte, Guardiola and Klopp hype, there is very much a strong guard already set into the foundations of the Premier League and it is a credit to the league, the coaches and the clubs alike to set football fans up for a 2016-17 Barclays Premier League season of tactical and managerial challenge between the finest of such trade in the world.

There are not many big fish in the current crop of managers that have not already been snapped up, Everton must fight tooth and nail to strike a deal with such a coach, secure his services and re-ignite the passion and expectation at Everton Football Club, break their mould of mediocrity and fight to be Merseyside’s and Englands most feared club.

The People’s Club may just be on the verge of a major coup of an appointment and a major surge to European football, where they rightly belong.