Objectively correct, but missing levels of nuance.
We are in a 'false' position based on our current performance and displays. This means that should the trend continue, one would expect the position to change for the worse. That's a completely reasonable statement and assessment, as well as the intent behind the message. It is attacking the wording rather than the argument to pull this statement up on it's factual accuracy, as the statement is one of prognostication.
Bournemouth beat us. They have looked very good against what one would assume to be superior opposition, and appear to be moving in the right direction. They may still finish below us. They have a tiny lil wage bill compared to ours and that would be the natural order. However, when during a season one makes statements about how the table is 'false', the statement must be assumed to be a prognostication.
We've been crap for months. I had hoped Arsenal turned it for us. And being us, and playing them, of course Jamo would be hurt in the infancy of an apparent renaissance. Koeman has to do better. It's not all 'the players'. It's partly the players. But ffs, it's not like Kev and Del don't know how to open up a defense. Koeman has decided that keeping them on the bench in favor of hard workers with no end product is a superior option. Your stance seems to be based on the fact that Koeman did pretty well at Soton, that means he's right, it's all Bobby's fault and the players are trash.
The players are trash. They have no idea how they're expected to play football, and can't maintain any level of focus for more than 45 minutes. I am totally willing to blame bad habits like that on Martinez.
But when do we expect Koeman to make an impact? Are all those players write-offs? Should every one of them retire, because they no longer can play football at all?
Eh, actually that seems plausible too. I get the player hatred. I just think we're crap enough for there to be enough disappointment to spread through the squad and on up to the staff.
Right, see I agree with that, 100%.
But hypothetically, had somebody given you a pic of the table at Xmas in pre-season, you'd have been... relatively speaking - content, yeh?
My argument isn't that at all.
My argument is that Koeman has certainly made mistakes. But today, he got the team and the tactics right.
He stuck with the side that beat Arsenal, and he stuck with the tactics that beat Arsenal.
For the first 30 minutes, we dominated Liverpool. They had one 'effort' on goal - it went out near the corner flag - and about 55% possession. What we didn't do - and this is where I believe the players are at fault - is make them pay and exert any authority. The manager cannot score a goal...
So, we get to half-time having sat off for 10 minutes (at this stage, I wasn't worried - I knew it would happen) and they created their first chance. Ironically, that woke us up, and we rallied a bit before the break - resulting in Funes heading wide unmarked from six yards out.
The second-half, the injury to Jamo rocked us. I find that the most worrying. I find it worrying that the only option was Barry, who can't run, and I find it worrying that the rest of the players crumbled and resorted to sitting deep.
Then, I do not believe that Koeman helped with a poor substitution, though I don't think Calvert-Lewin lost us the game.
