Saturday 10 December 2016 15:00, UK
Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison sits down with Ronald Koeman to find out what he wants to change at Everton, how he plans to change it, and how long it might take...
Ask Ronald Koeman a question. Almost anything. And he will give you a straight answer.
This week was no exception. Right near the start of our interview, I asked: "Do you have the players to play how you want to play?" Without pause, he replied: "No."
It doesn't seem like he plans it. It's not like he's trying to come across as no-nonsense. He's not trying to publicly humiliate or 'hammer' a player to get a reaction. He doesn't even seem to be trying to get across a certain message or portray a certain image.
He just listens to what he's asked and, in his own honest, unguarded way, tells you what he can.
At times this season it's caused him problems. But it meant that, at the end of my 15 minutes with him, instead of being batted away, I felt like I had a real understanding of Everton's problems and the reasons for the run of one win in nine Premier League games that has seen a lot of the enthusiasm that greeted his appointment drain away.
We know it's a big project, we know we have older players in the team...one summer is not enough to get the type of players to play in the favourite system we want
"From the start after pre-season, we knew what we needed a change in the team," says the Dutchman, who got off to a flyer at Goodison Park.
"Even in that good run, we knew that we had to change some things."
And what does he need to change? Another honest answer. The style Koeman wants to play is key to it.
"We're struggling to press opponents. Sometimes we're doing individual pressing instead of team pressing and that starts from the front."
That means it starts with Romelu Lukaku. And the running stats do not reflect well on the Belgium striker. Last year he covered less ground than any other outfield player in the league. He's down there again this time round.
But Koeman is certainly not singling out the striker. He wants to add to that part of the team in January, but to support rather than replace Lukaku. He also admits the problem with pressing extends to other parts of the team.
"If the players at the front are pressing and the defenders are not pushing up, that means there is too much room for our opponent. The team is too long, not compact enough, and then it's difficult.
"Honestly, some players have difficulties with this aspect of football (pressing).
"If it's impossible, you have to go a bit more compact instead of high pressing and that's what we did in the last few weeks."
Koeman expects his Everton team to take shape over the next two transfer windows. By this time next season one of the oldest teams in the league might have a very different look to it.
"We know it's a big project, we know we have older players in the team. Gareth Barry, with all due respect, will not play three more years for Everton and maybe the same for Phil Jagielka.
"But one summer is not enough to get the type of players to play in the favourite system we want as technical staff."
The plan is more complicated than buying in a new team. The club has a number of promising players in their Under-23 team and knocking on the door. At Southampton, Koeman was accused of not giving youth enough of a chance.
But, in one of his first managerial jobs at Ajax, he brought through one of the most talented group of players in Europe.
"Wesley Sneijder, [Nigel] De Jong, [Rafael] van der Vaart, [Thomas] Vermaelen, Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] was 19. There was so much talent that was great to work with.
"It's much easier for a young player to make his debut in the Dutch league than the Premier League. But still I like to give young players opportunities when they deserve it."
Ross Barkley, he says, is no longer a young player after dropping him last weekend. But the manager does have sympathy for the homegrown talent of whom so much is expected.
Koeman went on to be one of the greats of his era but had problems early in his own career.
"I remember difficult times in my own career when I was 22, 23 even 25.
"He's an important player with a big name on his shirt. It's all about his reaction and how he comes back from not starting. And that reaction I saw this week in training."
There's no holding back either when I ask Koeman how his Everton project might end. A trophy, or a "title" as he puts it, is the aim. There's no attempt to play it down or dampen expectations. He's as honest and straight-talking as ever.
Watch Watford v Everton live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 11.30 on Saturday.
