RONALD KOEMAN WAS baffled by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s claim that Everton should be targeting the top four after spending £140million, insisting his new players are allowed time to adapt.
Everton were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by United at Old Trafford on Sunday, a result which condemned Koeman’s side to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions.
Five of Everton’s close-season signings started the defeat, with one more – Sandro Ramirez – making an appearance from the bench in the second half.
Their transfer dealings are estimated to be in excess of £140m, a fact that led Mourinho to suggest in his programme notes that Everton should be looking to finish in the top four.
But that claim did not sit well with Koeman, who pointed to the first-season struggles of Henrikh Mkhitaryan as an example of some players needing a year to fully adapt.
“Every manager in life has doubts,” Koeman told reporters. “There is no one who has no doubts in football who is a manager.
“If you don’t win and you have a big number of players in your squad, you have doubts about the system. But that’s normal.
“I ask the question of myself. If Mkhitaryan gets one year to adapt to the Premier League, maybe I give my eight players one season to adapt.
“It was nice because I read the programme of United, and my colleague [Mourinho] talked about Everton and spending £140million and that we need to go for the top four.
“Sorry, but if there’s anybody who sees something in here [Mourinho's claim] that is realistic and is possible for this Everton, please come up.
“Be realistic. Let’s talk at the end of the season. I’m not happy with how we started the season, but please be realistic about Everton.
“It starts with everybody; fans, press – we need time.”
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Delighted! Fatman and Robin upstaged by Krusty!
Sideshow Fell more like!
I am so proud of the Toffees tonight. A master class by Fellaini!
Great result from Everton tonight, all the talk before the game was about United and Van Persie.
Typically now all of the talk is about Utd’s central defender injury crisis…..
A team like Utd should have plenty of cover for all positions, no excuses please, Everton fully deserved their victory. Come on the Toffees ….
Plenty of cover they have 4 centre halves injured! Ferdinand, Evans, Smalling and Jones, all of them would be starters in most premier league sides.
Disgusting from the united fans, the crowds who sang that disgusting chant should be ashamed.
Let’s hope you’re just as critical when Liverpool and city fans are heard singing their Munich chants…
Brian, disappointed that you think I wouldn’t. You never hear singing to that extent about Munich at anfield and if a few idiots try it, they would quickly be shouted down. I find it fairly sad that no united fan has condemned the singing, it wasn’t by just a few either.
so alan,
1. “disappointed that you think I wouldn’t.” – knowing that Liverpool fans have in fact sang Munich related songs can you please post links to were you have in fact been critical of this?
2. “You never hear singing to that extent about Munich at Anfield” – how exactly do you measure “the extent” of chants sung in bad taste? The loudness ( you have some way of measuring this and/or remembering and comparing to Munich related songs by Liverpool supporters)? The percentage of fans singing? The tone of the singing?
3.”they would quickly be shouted down” – Anfield fans have better morals than Manchester United fans?
4. “I find it fairly sad that no united fan has condemned the singing” – about half and hour after the game and only 9 comments in about a big match and you find it “‘sad” that this important event at the game hasn’t been addressed yet???
4. no utd fans shouted down these chants and no utd fans rushing on to thescore.ie to condemn it…alan, am i to believe, that in your heart, with all you have just said, that you believe that liverpool supporters are BETTER people than Man Utd fans? Honestly Alan?
Eh, so you’re not going to condemn then so
whatever makes you happy baron munchhausen…
I think you are painting the picture as to why so many people hate united.
And for the record I’ve spoken to a few utd fans this evening and all have condemned it. So they’re not all idiots
thank you, first of all, for addressing all my points made to you in the original comment.
i was merely pointing out that that all clubs have moron fans and that united aren’t any worse or better than liverpool fans. so many people hate utd fans for the same reason so many people hated liverpool fans in the 80′s and how so many people will hate man city or chelsea in the future.
I don’t need to address any points, what was sang tonight was disgusting, as are Munich, heysel, ibrox chants. You just found it more important to deflect attention.
yeah english soccer fans in disgusting chant shocker. thanks for the heads up…
Time to sell Rooney while he’s still worth something. Looks overweight and just not putting in a shift.
Poor display from utd their keeper had best match since joining
Textbook Scholesie tackle! That fat kid up front for United’s hair plugs have grown over the summer
Typical utd play two midfielders in defence and lose the match how many times have utd done that over the last few years- fergie buy a defender and shoot the twitter happy Ferdinand who’s over the hill and always injured
Will Fergie get banned for throwing that rattle on the pitch?
The first game if the season away to Everton, just paid €24 million pounds for Arsenals best player, lost the league title on the last kick of the game to their nearest and dearest, City, not 3 months ago and all that’s on their mind is Liverpool. I suppose it’s flattering really.
A disastrous start but Man U will still win the league.
Lmao yea you keep thinking that, where was the savior RVP????
Apparently he’s already handed in a transfer request, told Fergie he wants to win something this season
Lol
De Gea looking ropey again, doesn’t bode well for United’s season ahead, maybe they could get Gary Bailey to come out of retirement too
Put on a pair if glasses gaius de gea has been fantastic in the first half
you watching espn classic?
Everton 1 Manchester United 0, let’s be ‘avin ya!!!
At least United have got their toughest game of the season out of the way. Was always going to be tough with Carrick at centre back and Valencia at right back.
But Kagawa looked like he’s going to be a real star for them, I don’t think he gave the ball away once.
And they’ll still be there or thereabouts when the medals are being handed out next May.
You might be right but for a while tonight I thought I was watching Rugby – United having loads of possession and all backward passes. Of course Fergie will get the act together but a major improvement is required
Toughest game of the season. Everton is a harder game than city, Chelsea or and i can say Liverpool because you don’t win at Anfield that often. Ridiculous comment to make. Typical really, every united defeat is the same. Carrick at centre half, the best winger in the league at right back. Would suggest that the problems lay elsewhere other than 24 million for a striker that has averaged 12 goals a season since coming to England. Before you reply with the usual man united/sky sports opinion I am a Liverpool fan and we are atrocious but difference is im not completely delusional about where we are at.
Toughest game of the season? Not a hope in hell. City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs would be bigger opponents than Everton I think
Won’t sleep a wink tonight. – like fcuk!!
Ask to leave the bar for my own safety as one other person and myself cheered as the beauty of a header went in :) had to stay after that great game utd didn’t show up at all.
of course fowlers gonna say that isn’t he. That nose plaster must ne a bit tight.
wat were they singing?
They were singing “If it weren’t for Scousers we could stand” in reference to the hillsborough disaster
Going to bed disappointed at the result but happy in the knowledge that liverpool will be wallowing in 8th or 9th place possibly lower and rodgers will more than likely be sacked by the end of the season!
Whos Wooton?
No dolce vita for united then….
Alas, not even Fatman and Robin could save MU. :-)