KOEMAN’S CRISIS
Ron’s four games to turn season around Thank Evans
EVERTON boss Ronald Koeman has warned his squad they must get their act together to halt the mounting crisis at Goodison Park.
Tonight’s Carabao Cup thirdround home tie against Championship strugglers Sunderland marks the start of a defining period for the under-pressure Dutchman.
He left his squad in no doubt the onus is on them to raise their game.
“It’s up to the players. You can support, you can give them the confidence to start, “said Koeman.
“But it’s all about the player making the right decisions himself and not being afraid.
“We started afraid on Sunday. After we went 1-0 down, the team showed a different phase and that’s what I like to see.
“We need to analyse the game but we will take positives from it.”
Tonight’s match is the start of a run of four home games across three competitions in 12 days for Koeman’s side to get their season back on track.
Struggled
Bournemouth and Burnley visit Goodison Park in the Premier League either side of a Europa League match against Cypriot minnows Apollon Limassol before the next international break – and the Everton boss knows he needs a victory fast.
He said: “We just need a winning feeling to give the players more confidence.”
The Dutchman spent more than £140m over the summer.
He broke the club transfer record in August to sign Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea for £45m but the classy playmaker has yet to find his best form in a blue shirt.
Sigurdsson is not the only expensive arrival to have struggled, with England centre-back Michael Keane, brought in for £30m from Burnley, looking a bag of nerves.
But the Iceland international insists Everton will start climbing the Premier League table quickly.
He said: “A lot of us have been in this position before where things are not going your way.
“It does not look too great at the moment but I know we are more than good enough to turn this around.”
Everton are facing problems off the pitch, too, with Wayne Rooney given a two-year driving ban on Monday after pleading guilty to drink-driving. The former England captain is in the frame to play tonight despite his court appearance earlier this week.
But Sunderland manager Simon Grayson claims he is under just as much pressure as Koeman this season.
With the Black Cats crippled by debt and operating on a muchreduced budget, Grayson’s own position looks safe.
But that’s not prevented the man himself feeling the heat during a winless September.
“Ultimately, I will put myself under pressure because I want to win as many games as possible,” Grayson said.
“When I put a team out, I want to make sure it reflects me, regardless of what is happening off the pitch.
“Others can read things into our current situation and say it takes the pressure off but I don’t see it like that.” TONY PULIS insists West Brom were right not to cash in on skipper Jonny Evans.
The Northern Ireland centre-half was a target for big-spending Manchester City and Leicester in the summer.
And City boss Pep Guardiola gets the chance to see exactly what the 29-year-old can do when his side visit West Brom in the Carabao Cup tonight.
Pulis picked up Evans for just £6m two years ago after he fell out of favour with Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.
He is now worth £30m and Albion boss Pulis said: “We’re pleased his value is that and I’m even more pleased we never took it.
“He’s a top player and he’s remained a West Brom player, thank goodness.”