Ich suche » for free agency, along with pitcher Justin Masterson

With Ronald Koeman confirmed as Evertons new manager, what changes can fans expect? Mario Melchiot knows his compatriot well and also worked with predecessor Roberto Martinez at Wigan. Adam Bate spoke to him to find out how the two compare... I really enjoyed his training and the way he prepared during the week, recalls Mario Melchiot. He brought me back to what I was used to at Ajax from the age of nine to 21 and that was a joy. He wasnt a fan of just running, he wanted us to run with the ball. So even if we were working on our fitness it didnt feel like working.Melchiot might be reminiscing about the brief time he spent with Ronald Koeman. But instead its not a fellow Dutchman to whom hes referring. Its the season that the former Chelsea defender and Netherlands international spent with Roberto Martinez at Wigan. He has fond recollections of Martinezs methods. He brought me back to what I was used to at Ajax and that was a joy. Mario Melchiot on Roberto Martinez I spent a lot of time with him and we had a good understanding, Melchiot tells Sky Sports. At that time I was the captain so he gave me quite a lot of responsibility. I enjoyed that. I liked him a lot and with his philosophy of the game he understands it well. He did analyse in a way that was different to what I was used to. Hed talk to players differently.It was interesting how hed work on players individually. Sometimes Id speak to him and wonder about it. When I was upset, hed be really calm. Id ask him, Whats going on? and hed just tell me not to worry. Id be wanting him to show some fire. But then thered be other games and he would show it. So I was trying to figure him out.I liked the way he was playing because it was all about passing the ball out from the back. But sometimes when it doesnt work out, you need that gritty side when its going against you. I think at the end at Everton, people were questioning him about it because the results werent going so well. Mario Melchiot alongside Clarence Seedorf and Robin van Persie in 2007 Given that Melchiot sees much of the Dutch style in Martinezs way of working, theres a certain irony in the fact that Everton have turned to Koeman to turn the clubs fortunes around after a bottom-half finish. His fundamental ethos is similar. Koeman is a Dutch coach with the Dutch mentality, says Melchiot. Thats all about playing football.I worked briefly with Koeman when I had to stay fit for the national team as I trained with Ajax when he was the manager. He was super nice and treated me really well. I know roughly how he works and there are a lot of similarities between him and Martinez. Both coaches are good people-coaches and players like working with them.Perhaps the key difference is that Koeman has shown another side to his management - the grittiness to which Melchiot refers. Southampton suffered eight defeats in 10 games either side of Christmas, but while Martinez was unable to arrest Evertons slide, Koeman turned things around dramatically. Saints picked up 39 points from their last 18 games. Anyone can deal with winning because theres no pressure but how do you react when you lose? That might have been decisive in getting him the job. Mario Melchiot on Ronald Koeman Last season there were ups and downs but you saw his character, says Melchiot. If you can lose games and then get it back on track thats key. Anyone can deal with winning because theres no pressure but how do you react when you lose? That might have been decisive in getting him the job. He knows how it feels to not win and then change things.One of the big changes that Everton supporters will want to see is in terms of defensive organisation - something that was so sorely lacking during the latter stages of Martinezs reign. With Koemans Southampton boasting a far better record in this regard, theres cause for optimism and Melchiot believes the coachs own defensive nous could be an advantage.He was an amazing player and brings a lot of experience on that side of things, he adds. As a manager, what he wants is to get the team balanced. Hopefully, as a defender, if John Stones stays he can learn a lot from him at the back because the gaps that Everton were leaving at the back were exposing the central defenders. Comparing Koeman and Martinez in the Premier League since 2014 If he can manage to make the team a little harder to beat again and keep the players who can change games then Everton will be back where they want to be. I dont think the team needs to change a lot because I like that team. Everton are not a team thats crumbled and needs to rebuild because it has a lot of problems.Everton need to go to the next stage. They need to get back into Europe and then compete for those Champions League slots. They maybe just need a change of manager. Id have loved to see Martinez take them to the next level because I enjoyed working with him. But now its Koemans chance. Everton fans will be hoping hes different enough to seize it. Also See: Everton appoint Koeman Why would Koeman go? Arizona Diamondbacks Store . Tottenham claimed top spot in Group K by winning 2-0 at Tromso after defender Adnan Causevic scored an own goal before Mousa Dembele put the result beyond doubt. Valencia made sure it will finish first in Group A with a 1-0 win at Swansea thanks to an early goal from Dani Parejo. Diamondbacks Jerseys 2020 .Mack, a reserve guard who came in averaging 3.8 points, made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc.Trailing 50-38 midway through the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 89-48 the rest of the way and sent the Cavaliers to their largest loss of the season. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . "There are a lot of things that are going very well in this organization. Im not coming in here to rip things apart," Nicholson told reporters Friday. "I know what Hockey Canada was when I started, and I know where this (Oilers) organization is today. Arizona Diamondbacks Shirts . But its also a smart game. Theres more to the Kings than banging bodies. They take a toll mentally on their opponents. Diamondbacks Jerseys China . He has spent much of his adult life trying to give back to his native South Sudan, the war-torn African nation the Cavaliers forward and his family fled when he was a young boy.ST. LOUIS - Jon Jay will undergo left wrist surgery later this week, the lone major medical issue facing the St. Louis Cardinals coming off a fourth straight NL Championship Series.MRI exams on Adam Wainwrights sore elbow and Michael Wachas shoulder both came back clean, and the team anticipates theyll be 100 per cent for spring training. Those two and six-time All-Star catcher Yadier Molina, who missed seven weeks with a torn thumb ligament and had his post-season cut short by an oblique injury, are expected to benefit most from rest.General manager John Mozeliak said Monday that Wainwright felt great in his last start. Of Wacha, the GM said even the doctors were a little surprised how well he looked.The front office believes the Cardinals can contend for a fifth straight deep October run next year without making significant upgrades. The rotation is deep with or without lefty Jaime Garcia, an unknown quantity after undergoing tricky thoracic outlet surgery, and the lineup with emerging Kolten Wong and Matt Adams figures to be more consistent.Jays procedure appears routine with a recovery period of 6-8 weeks. The elbow began bothering Jay in late July but he finished strong by cutting down on batting practice cuts.Needless to say, the results were fabulous, Mozeliak said.Jay also had his strongest season defensively and heads to spring training as the starter. Last season, he had to wrest the job from newcomer Peter Bourjos.Right field is up for grabs between rookies Randal Grichuk, who emerged down the stretch, and Oscar Taveras, their perennial top prospect. The team wasnt pleased with Taveras conditioning and lackadaisical defence and are sending himm to the teams spring complex in Jupiter, Florida, to train for a month and then to winter ball in the Dominican Republic.ddddddddddddI think he can be a star, manager Mike Matheny said. Hes never been pushed and never naturally had that passion.Mozeliak pointed out Taveras got a lot of starting time when he was first called up, but didnt do enough to keep the job.Oscar got every opportunity, the GM said. And guess what, he didnt perform.Setup man Pat Neshek and former closer Jason Motte are among five players due for free agency, along with pitcher Justin Masterson, backup catcher A.J. Pierzynski and second baseman Mark Ellis.Matheny was unwavering in his support of closer Trevor Rosenthal, who had control issues in his first full season in that role. Mozeliak, too, although he noted: He certainly gave me an ulcer.Matheny said his confidence in his players has been interpreted as blind faith, and added, Im not going to deny that. They lived up to that faith, overcoming injuries to Molina, Garcia, Allen Craig and Kevin Siegrist to repeat as NL Central champions, then beat the Dodgers in the division series.The manager was criticized for game management decisions that backfired in the post-season, with the insertion of Wacha in the ninth inning of Game 5 at the top of the list. He didnt seem to mind too much after the fact. He said would call for Wacha out of the bullpen again even though hed been idle throughout the post-season.I really liked Michael in that situation, Matheny said. I was quick to point out I put him in a tough spot.Matheny anticipated no coaching changes. Bench coach Mike Aldrete has been mentioned for various openings. ' ' '