Ronald Koeman’s Everton were not the ‘People’s Club’ David Moyes called them

BACK in my playing days, when Arsenal went to Goodison we knew we were taking on more than 11 men in blue shirts on the pitch.

We wouldn’t simply have to get the better of the players,  we’d have to conquer everyone, from the tea lady and kitman, to those incredibly passionate fans. That’s how it has always been up there. David Moyes was spot on calling Everton the People’s Club, because it’s long been an “all for one, one for all” mantra.

At least it has been until now, that is. The ethos they needed like never before was one sorely missing under Ronald Koeman — now he’s paid the ultimate price for it.

We can all see what’s being going wrong on the pitch. A lack of confidence, fluidity and cohesion.

What they have had in the past, one thing which has helped them through the dark times, has been that unity and spirit. But it just isn’t around the place any more. Koeman replaced the velvet glove of Roberto Martinez with an iron fist. More divisive than inclusive and it showed.

Just look at what he did with Ross Barkley. He publicly slaughtered him and effectively told him to clear off. It was a case of “if you are not going to perform for me, then get lost.”

Talk about reaping what you sow. Clearly the Everton board listened to his words, and chose to take the same approach.

Of course if you are losing matches, there isn’t going to be a lot of laughing and joking about the place but Everton has seemed an unhappy club all season.

Some have said the team wasn’t playing for the manager, and only they will know that. But there clearly wasn’t any sort of close relationship. There has been a lack of connect — and for a club that has always been based on such, that’s very worrying.

Whoever gets the job now needs to bring it back sharpish. Across the city, you could never accuse Jurgen Klopp of not caring but Liverpool’s weekend was no better.

The Reds’ defending at Spurs was embarrassing and incredibly it’s a problem which has been there for years.

When they had Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling, they would have won the title with a decent backline. It cost them then and it’s the same now. Klopp says he could write a coaching book on defending in two hours. If that’s the case why hasn’t he spent time on the training ground putting it into practise?

Liverpool are shocking at the back — and that disappoints me because I’ve met Jurgen, he’s a lovely bloke, and I’d love him to succeed.

Yet they just keep making mistake after mistake. If it doesn’t get any better you do fear it could eventually cost Klopp his job too.

From The Sun