Everton tried to sign Memphis Depay from Manchester United

Ronald Koeman claimed in a presser today that Everton tried, and failed to sign Memphis Depay.

Now, I am not entirely sure why he tried to do this, as it makes absolutely no sense. Don’t get me wrong - this isn’t a criticism of Depay at all - I think he’s an excellent football player who would help Everton, but Ronald Koeman is clearly against playing any capable wide players with any actual pace. It’s like he has a moral creed against it.

As Aaron Lennon, Kevin Mirallas and Ademola Lookman rot on the bench, we are apparently supposed to be believed that if Koeman had a talent out wide of his own nationality then he’d actually use him in games.

I guess some tea and stroopwafel while reminiscing about PSV Eindhoven is what’s actually needed for Koeman to approve of a player who isn’t some variety of a central attacking mid.

Of course the club didn’t get an agreement with Man United and Depay chose to move to Lyon. He’s still a young player, he’s one of the Dutch talents for the future. He’s always dangerous even when he’s not on his level in the game he has qualities in free kicks and shots outside the box - he’s that dangerous player we need to control.

It’s the past and I’m not the right man to explain why something is not done. He didn’t play a lot for United and he’s still a young player. I like the player and we tried [to sign him] but we couldn’t reach an agreement.”

Echo

Of course, Depay is one of several Dutch players who will be suiting up for Lyon tomorrow, a fact Koeman specifically mentioned in his presser.

Lyon’s relentless attack will be an unnerving proposition for a back line that hasn’t seen a clean sheet since Sunderland on September 20th and hasn’t kept a clean sheet against a top flight opponent since Hajduk Split on August 17th.

At this point in the season, Everton fans are just bracing themselves at every turn for the next thing to go wrong.

It’s a shame, because the Blues are more talented than this. Things should be better. Memphis or no Memphis, Seamus or no Seamus, Yannick or no Yannick, striker or no striker, the results to this point have been absolutely pathetic.

I am really not sure what it is going to take for this board to get rid of Ronald Koeman, but it looks like they are going to stay the course until this season is a lost cause in every way.