Cunningham expects Koeman to stay

Former Ireland international Kenny Cunningham says Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is unlikely to sack Ronald Koeman "because it reflects badly on him".

Billionaire investor Moshiri took over Everton in February 2016, and appointed Koeman as the club's manager on a three-year deal in June 2016, paying the Dutchman's previous employers Southampton £5m in compensation.

After a creditable seventh place finish in his first campaign in charge, Koeman's Everton sit just two places and two points above the relegation zone this season, with eight points from eight games.

And the Toffees have struggled even more in Europe, with just one point from three Europa League matches following Thursday's 2-1 home defeat to Lyon.

"It is obvious thing to say [that Koeman faces the sack], given the run that they are on, but I don't sense that he is under any real pressure," the former Birmingham and Wimbledon defender said.

"Koeman was probably Moshiri's biggest signing, bringing him into the football club.

"He is his man - he went out of his way to go and get him. He targeted Ronald Koeman, so in some respects it reflects badly on him, and his decision making, if he relieves him of his position.

"I personally think he is there until the end of the season, good or bad, and they will review the situation then."

Cunningham's former Ireland team-mate Gary Breen says Koeman needs to bring in reinforcements during the January transfer window if he has any hope of surviving until the end of the season.

Everton spent over £120m on players during the summer, bringing in £25m centre-back Michael Keane from Burnley, £25m goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland, and splashing out a further £45m on Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea City, and £23.6m for Dutch midfielder Davy Klaassen from Ajax Amsterdam.

But Koeman missed out on the signing of Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud at the end of the transfer window, leaving him with just Wayne Rooney, out-of-favour Senegal striker Oumar Niasse and £5.2m forward Sandro Ramirez as his frontline options.

"He has to get to the window and address the centre-forward position. That is what he has to do," Breen told eir Sport. 

"The lack of goals has been the major issue, although they have also been so unreliable at the back, that has compounded the problem all season."

You can watch former Ireland internationals Kenny Cunningham, Shay Given and Keith Andrews chat football on eir Sport as part of the station's Champions League coverage. Join us on Tuesday, 31 October, and Wednesday, 1 October for Champions League matchday four.

You can watch all of Everton’s Europa League campaign on the eir Sport package. Ronald Koeman's side face Lyon, Atalanta and Apollon Limassol in Group E. Everton face Lyon at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, on 2 November, a match which will be shown live on eir Sport 2 [kick off 6pm]

Photo Inpho/ James Crombie

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