Geoff Nulty
Player Valuation: £750k
Spot on that matey. Top players can have bad games don’t get me wrong. I remember when Suarez first started for Liverpool he was quite a poor finisher and missed a lot of chances but he had something about him.
People slated Lukaku for his performance At Wembley, in many ways it was his worst game for us but also his bets of the last 10. Largely because he put himself about, bullied defenders and got on the end of things. Some days it won’t go in for you, that happens but a lad with his physique should never give a defender an easy game. There were too many easy games last season.
I take the Arsenal game at home and he wondered off to the left wing. Deulofeu put cross after cross into the box and he was nowhere to be seen. He was waiting for the perfect cut back on the edge of the box. Sometimes when the team is struggling they can’t make a perfect chance for you but you have to get in the middle between the posts and challenge for headers. That’s what Shearer did, without fail every week.
In fairness to him a lot of that was the tactics of Martinez. I do think though, top players suss that out and will go against a coaches viewpoint. They see the balance of the game. Can anyone imagine Shearer in a game Newcastle were struggling in standing on the left wing as uncontested crosses went into the box? Or Rooney? Or Suarez? Even if they had a poor game they still wouldn’t make it easy for you.
As for Koeman another good point. I think that's central to it. He has played for and managed the 3 top sides in Holland and is respected by all. The Dutch as a nation and also in football are quite happy to trade. It is expected for top players to leave Holland and always has been. I don't think it will be seen in disastrous terms by Koeman.
Yes, Dutch footballers in particular seem remarkably frank and clear about their personal feelings and ambitions, so it's probably just the norm for Koeman, and he'll feel the same regarding his managerial career. They also seem to have this strange ability to pick arguments and hold grudges while remaining dispassionate and unflustered. Developing the point, a typical Dutchman is just the thing our squad needs - someone who will tell a player clearly and succinctly that he played badly, unlike Roberto. I also reckon Koeman will tell a player how to improve in terms that are just as simple and clear, again, unlike Martinez. Straight talk and home truths will be a refreshing change.