Ronald Koeman sacked as Everton manager: Where it went wrong for Dutchman

The old laws of football state the managers carry the can for the sort of wretched sequence Everton have been having. It is the price on the ticket for the lucrative reported £6m-a-year contract that helped persuade Koeman to leave Southampton.

Koeman may, however, feel he has been let down in other areas of the club that have led to the downward curve that has Everton in the drop zone.

He can certainly point to numerous media conferences when he very publicly stated Everton required a striker and a left-sided defender. Neither arrived.

Director of football Steve Walsh was heavily involved in transfer negotiations, seen in Milan at one point attempting to do deals – none of which seemed to materialise.

Was the acquisition of a striker and a defender down to Walsh?

As the inquest is conducted into Everton’s start to the season, it is fair to say the answer to this question will be on the agenda and Walsh’s role is likely to come under increasing scrutiny.

Koeman could also have reasonably expected more of his new signings – but his hand was all over the £70m paid for Sigurdsson and Klaassen, which has reaped no reward.

Sigurdsson was the player he arguably wanted above all others, while Klaassen came from the Dutch league with a glowing reference from his countryman.

Yet he has looked lightweight and unfit for purpose, too easily brushed off the ball and not getting the goals that were his major selling point. He was substituted at half-time in the Europa League loss to Lyon and it is debatable when he will start again.

Rooney has been a success in a playing context, his goal against Arsenal confirmation that he is one of the few Everton players capable of producing match-defining moments.

It all, however, goes back to that unbalanced, unstructured transfer policy – and that failure to replace Lukaku.

Koeman must take most of the responsibility but he would be well within his rights to point out others were involved too.