Ronald Koeman and the Everton hierarchy are responsible for a “huge collective managerial failure” after not replacing Romelu Lukaku over the summer, according to a BBC journalist.
Everton have had a terrible start to the season, after spending a huge sum of money bringing in new players, and currently sit in the bottom three, with just one win and a draw to their name.
However, the real problem is goals – Everton have only scored two goals in five Premier League games and conceded 10, giving them the joint worst goal difference in the whole of the league.
Phil McNulty, the chief football writer for the BBC, tweeted to say, “Everton knew from March Lukaku was almost certain to leave. Huge collective managerial failure to not replace him.”
And – finally for now – Everton knew from March Lukaku was almost certain to leave, Huge collective managerial failure to not replace him.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) September 18, 2017
OPINION
Koeman is on the defensive. Jose Mourinho, king of the mind games, aimed a dig his way ahead of the game at Old Trafford on Sunday, saying that after spending £140m Koeman should be targeting a top-four spot. As it is, they’re in the bottom three after a run of terrible results in the Premier League and the Europa League. After winning their first game against Stoke 1-0 and then drawing 1-1 with Man City, Everton haven’t scored a goal, and have conceded nine Premier League goals and three in the Europa League without reply. To make matters worse, new signing Wayne Rooney has scored both the Everton goals and has just been sentenced to 100 hours Community Service for drink driving. It’s about as bad a start as Everton could have had and you have to wonder where the goals are coming from? Koeman signed Sandro Ramirez for £5.5million from Malaga but he hasn’t scored in seven games and the fans are losing patience with him already. He also signed Gylfi Sigurdsson but while he’s a threat, he’s not an out-and-out striker or replacement for Lukaku. Lukaku came up with a late goal to rub salt in the Everton wounds on Sunday and McNulty is right – having known he was leaving, and getting £76million for him, serious questions have to be asked about why he wasn’t replaced. One thing’s for sure – Rooney is not a 20-goal-a-season striker anymore.