Ronald Koeman discussion

[davek]

Well we all have to reserve judgement, don't we?

If we are playing better football when he has the players he wants, and if our league finish is better than last season, then that vindicates his early approach, doesn't it?

If it happens yes. I'm talking here in the present tense. That's all we can do. On that basis it's muck so far. Why deny it and sugar coat and talk of jam tomorrow? Just analyse what there is right now as evidence and you have to agree we are a basket case as a football team. Banging the ball 80 yards down the field for goals against tripe teams.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Do I? I went missing after the demolition derby too - so where does that leave us?

The demolition derby was last season at Anfield Dave. You know the one were we got humped 4-0! Or does that not count because your beloved was manager then?

 

[roydo]

Defensively solid. Is that what you see mate? I see a Keystone Cops defence, as per.

I agree he like the big target man. That's why Lukaku staying is just nonsense. He'll be out and a Pell type will be in.

We will be bland and basic and we'll be 7th or 8th.

Great. All hail the new dawn.

No. I said thats what I want to see.

 

[squonk]

some tiresome trolling going on here. best ignored.

 

[bluestevon]

Compare Martinez's best PL performance with Koeman's. It's a pretty easy way to determine where the talent lies. Both came into well drilled organisations for their best season efforts.

Of course the only way to really compare them is what they do with us. Martinez had a great first season and two midtable duffers. Koeman I reckon will give us top half finishes...just.

We may as well have got Moyes back. At least he'd have been cheaper.

Koemans best season was his second at Saints Dave, the season Martinez collpased and the team fell to bits.

martinez btw had to sell exactly zero players whilst manager, Koeman had the heart ripped out the team twice and rebuilt them.

Like comparing Oranges against a brussel sprout mate, and we all know whose the orange

 

[davek]

Fair enough, but so we have over the past 30 months. If you don't rate his signings and we're critical of the players during the latter stages of Martinez' tenure, how can you expect that much in Koeman's first 18 games?

For the record, with much a lesser squad in terms of quality (IMHO) he's gained same points total from 18 games as Klopp and only 1 less than Pochettino at Spurs from 18 games.

For me these take time, but you're right the football isn't the best, first half on Sunday was woeful, but if Gueye had scored that chance in the 2nd half that was on the back of a 20+ pass move, so it's there and maybe things are turning.

Never forget, we are almost at the 2 year anniversary of this



A game during a 4 match losing run, one where he didn't even make a sub.

Is it great now? Hell no.

Has it been worse? You bet.

Yet you still found time to support. Give the fella a chance and that isn't done in 18 matches.

Stop looking back at the previous regime. Koeman is here now, front and centre. Judge HIM.

 

[JonS]

Disagree. A pragmatic manager comes in here and sees that the players he has doesn't suit the method he deploys, and then adapts his method until such a point he has the personnel for his brand of "football".

We were promised a pragmatist but got a high priest of the long ball game who has sacrificed any attacking play for the sake of eking out a few points.

Think he does try different things and to adapt. Don't think the players always do what he wants though.

On hoofball he has explained that against teams that press it is better to go long than slow possession as the latter can lead to mistakes and loss of possession under pressure from the other sides pressing

 

[allen]

If it happens yes. I'm talking here in the present tense. That's all we can do. On that basis it's muck so far. Why deny it and sugar coat and talk of jam tomorrow? Just analyse what there is right now as evidence and you have to agree we are a basket case as a football team. Banging the ball 80 yards down the field for goals against tripe teams.

Avoid defeat tonight and we're doing better than last season. That's my analysis of the present.

 

[davek]

Koemans best season was his second at Saints Dave, the season Martinez collpased and the team fell to bits.

martinez btw had to sell exactly zero players whilst manager, Koeman had the heart ripped out the team twice and rebuilt them.

Like comparing Oranges against a brussel sprout mate, and we all know whose the orange

Koeman did well at S'ton under the testing circumstances. There's no denying it. Just as there's no denying that his predecessor at THIS club put down a first season marker that he will find impossible to emulate given his tactics.

Give and take.

 

[davek]

No. I said thats what I want to see.

Fair enough.

 

[Goat]

I've watched his time at Feyenoord, S'ton and 5 months here: it doesn't deviate. It's direct. It uses a lot of long ball. It relies on wingers to carry the fight charging downfield into space from a long ball. It is bodies behind the ball.

THAT is the method. It wont deviate. It may or may not get results, but it most definitely is BASIC.

Its direct yes, I love direct football, direct mind you, not hoofball, nothing quite like seeing a team in full flow.

 

[davek]

Think he does try different things and to adapt. Don't think the players always do what he wants though.

On hoofball he has explained that against teams that press it is better to go long than slow possession as the latter can lead to mistakes and loss of possession under pressure from the other sides pressing

Yes mate, I get his words. I just dont see an awful lot of diversity in approach. No doubt against an awful and limited outfit like Hull we'll try and play to feet a bit more, but mostly we have seen back to front footy.

Another thing: I want us to have our own style and method and not have to adapt to other club's strategy too much. We need an identity.

 

[USABlue]

Why do people get so hung up on moyes and martinez? They're gone now and neither won anything in the end.

 

[Blues Harp]

Fair enough, but so we have over the past 30 months. If you don't rate his signings and we're critical of the players during the latter stages of Martinez' tenure, how can you expect that much in Koeman's first 18 games?

For the record, with much a lesser squad in terms of quality (IMHO) he's gained same points total from 18 games as Klopp and only 1 less than Pochettino at Spurs from 18 games.

For me these take time, but you're right the football isn't the best, first half on Sunday was woeful, but if Gueye had scored that chance in the 2nd half that was on the back of a 20+ pass move, so it's there and maybe things are turning.

Never forget, we are almost at the 2 year anniversary of this



A game during a 4 match losing run, one where he didn't even make a sub.

Is it great now? Hell no.

Has it been worse? You bet.

Yet you still found time to support. Give the fella a chance and that isn't done in 18 matches.

I was there and believe me it was embarrasing as anything I've seen in over 50 years of supporting the club

 

[davek]

Its direct yes, I love direct football, direct mind you, not hoofball, nothing quite like seeing a team in full flow.

There's not much difference is there really?

I like direct play as a weapon to be used within a more expansive game built on constructing moves on the ground. There's a place for it, as Arsenal prove with Giroud each week etc. What we have is JUST a long ball approach.