At the end of last season the general consensus was that Ronald Koeman had done a reasonable job in his first year in charge at Goodison Park.
The former Southampton boss guided the Toffees to a seventh-place league finish and Everton fans had belief the foundations were set to potentially challenge for a top-four finish in the 2017-18 season.
Significant investment for Everton bankrolled by Farhad Moshiri in the transfer window only increased the level of expectation for the upcoming season.
Results however have not gone according to plan and the latest result a disappointing 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday leaves Everton in lowly 16th position.
The list of incoming players during the transfer window and money spent was significant. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea,£44m), Jordan Pickford (Sunderland, £30m), Michael Keane (Burnley, £30m), Davy Klaassen (Ajax, £24m), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, undisclosed), Henry Onyekuru (Eupen, £7m), Sandro Ramirez (Malaga, £5.2m) and Nikola Vlasic (Hajduk Split, £8m)
The most notable player exit from last season was Romelu Lukaku, with the striker joining Manchester United.
While the Belgian was a derisive figure among the faithful during his tenure at Goodison he was someone who is a proven goal scorer. Everton have struggled to replace Lukaku.
It was a difficult start to the season with Europa League commitments and a fixture that saw the Toffees face Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham in the opening five matches.
With so many squad changes the Everton hierarchy stressed the need for patience for new players to gel and adapt. Patience is not always a virtue that fans possess and results are already testing the fans’ resolve.
Social media is often not the best place to look for rational discussion and it would be fair to say many Everton fans are less than content reading through a cross-section of the commentary.
Tactics and team selection will always be questioned when results are unsatisfactory and two wins from eight league games has turned the blowtorch onto the manager and the whole club.
The media scrutiny has also intensified in recent weeks. Pundit and former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore of the opinion that Everton should be doing everything they can to entice Carlo Ancelotti to the club.
Koeman tried his best to talk up the positives after the draw with Brighton. “My whole football life is pressure. We are in a difficult situation, but it’s one thing to come out of this and show fight like we did today”
A Europa League match with Lyon at Goodison Park awaits next followed by a clash with Arsenal.
Ronald Koeman is remaining stoic that he is the man for the job and can turn things around. For his sake he needs a win sooner rather than later or that blowtorch may just get a little hotter.
Liam Sheedy
Roar Guru
There was not much alternative in the end. The nature of that loss against Arsenal had to see action taken.
Peter
Guest
Well that escalated quickly.
Peter
Guest
Another loss this morning!! Koeman out!!!
Micky
Guest
They seem very disjointed. Kevin Mirallas needs more game time.
Liam Sheedy
Roar Guru
Some very good points raised. Schneiderlin is a massive concern for me at the moment. I am still not sure what he was doing for that Brighton goal. Lookman is going to be an absolute star and he needs more of a taste now along with Davies. Next few weeks will also be interesting, if Koeman is still there will he give Ross Barkley and opportunity if he proves his fitness.
Ben
Guest
It would be a tough sell for fans, but I reckon Rafa Benitez would do well at Everton.
James
Guest
Koeman is extremely stubborn. If he does not change things he will be following the same path as Martinez and will be out the door.
AnD
Guest
A win shouldn't be helping Koeman at this stage. It's not the results that have peeved the fans but the shambolic style of play the team has demonstrated in every single game. There's no urgency or speed, while Koeman selects wingers like Lookman on the bench. Williams and Schneiderlin have been woeful and shouldn't be near the first team on the performances they've put in. And yet Schneiderlin seems to be the first name on the team sheet while players that the side have been screaming out for (Lookman and Davies) are repeatedly overlooked. All this despite not even an inkling that there's a positive somewhere in Everton's performances. Koeman has opted to make minimal changes. Rooney is selected every match despite often being anywhere but where he's needed to be. DCL is played out of position, Cuco Martina may just be the worst defender in the Premier League too. Everton concede early goals and are only capable of winning after significant changes. It's been that way since Koeman arrived. Now the side plays with no identity and can't do any particular aspect of the game well. Sack Koeman and there will be a short term improvement from the squad. It's clear the dressing room isn't behind Koeman now (and after the way he's man managed a few of them it's not surprising).