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Post by evertonfan1968 on Apr 19, 2017 13:20:07 GMT
Apparently West Ham are considering a move for Lukaku.  |
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 20, 2017 13:07:55 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 21, 2017 10:39:39 GMT
 Ronald Koeman has challenged his Everton squad to continue pushing Arsenal and Manchester United for a place in the top six. Should the Blues defeat West Ham United at the Olympic Stadium, they will cement at least seventh place, meaning they will be playing Europa League football next season, after Manchester United’s League Cup success opened up a further spot in the table. However, Koeman is not prepared to settle for the Toffees’ current position, and wants his side to maintain their pursuit for a spot higher up in the Premier League. “Seventh position means European football,” he said. “But we will take up the challenge of trying to win all of our remaining games. If you do that you have a real opportunity to finish fifth or sixth. That is the challenge for the weekend and for the week after that and so on. “Of course a top five finish is still an incentive. It is our target; we know its really difficult and a battle between Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United. The last game of the season is Arsenal v Everton, and if we are still in the hunt, then to beat them will be really nice.” Koeman recognises that he will face a further challenge over the summer when ensuring he has a squad that can cope with fighting on four fronts throughout 2017/18. However, the prize of being able to take the Blues into European qualification is one that he will relish. “Of course we know it means Thursday evenings and weekends,” he added. “But we will try and have a strong squad for next season to play in Europe and then the weekends. “We know we have to be prepared in the number of players in order to battle in all the competitions. That’s a challenge, and I am not afraid of that because it is what everybody likes to have – football in Europe. “I know what we like to do but we will wait to see if it is possible. We did a session this morning with 17 outfield players, whereas most of the teams have 24, 25 players. “I am not a manager to have that amount of players because it is difficult to keep the spirit in all the players without any possibility to start. It is better to use young players.” |
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 21, 2017 10:40:47 GMT
 'Take Goodison Form On The Road'Manager wants improvement on away results, starting at the London Stadium.Ronald Koeman wants his Everton side to replicate their great home form on the road in the final three away fixtures, starting this weekend against West Ham United. The Blues are flying at Goodison Park having won eight straight top-flight matches but it’s only three victories in the last 13 away from Merseyside. It’s a statistic Koeman wants to address with trips to Swansea City and Arsenal still to follow after the Toffees’ first-ever match at the London Stadium on Saturday. However, in the previous away match at Old Trafford, Everton were only denied a win by a stoppage-time equaliser from the penalty spot by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “We need a good away performance because I still think there is a little difference in the way we play, like to press and how we like to make it difficult for our opponents,” Koeman told evertontv. “We need to show that this weekend. “It’s all about the attitude and having that in the same way when we play at home and away. Of course, it’s going to be slightly different because at Goodison we have the backing of 39,000 home fans. When those fans are against you [in an away game], that makes a difference. “But we need to start well, start aggressive and try to score. We need a little bit more of that mentality away from home.” Whereas Everton’s home form this season has been exceptional - 40 points recouped from a possible 51 - West Ham’s fortunes have not been as favourable. Slaven Bilic’s side have lost more league games than they have won since moving to the London Stadium - seven defeats compared to six wins, with three draws too. “They [West Ham] are still fighting to get enough points so they are not in the battle for relegation out of the Premier League,” Koeman added. “They have struggled a little bit and because it’s a new stadium, maybe they don’t feel as comfortable as they did at their old stadium. Maybe that’s a reason they don’t have those home performances that everyone expected.” Everton FC |
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Post by rugbytoffee on Apr 21, 2017 18:22:35 GMT
Valencia unavailable and Besic is playing for the U23's tonight.
Will be a young bench again. Hope Lookman will get some time due to Valencia not being available
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