Ronald Koeman discussion

[Eggs]

I'm sorry but no. That midfield whilst pretty limited on the ball have trained all season to press in that mad dog manner. All Can and Wijnaldum can really do is run hard and fast. Gueye and Davies got ran over by them, Barry would have been road kill. Every man and his dog was saying no Barry before the game. It's too easy to come out afterwards and slam the manager for not playing him now. I think it would have been even worse had Barry played.

You've not named better fit defenders than Holgate and Pennington so Koeman had no choice in his backline but to go with youth.

...I think the problem was more how we played than who played. It's not hindsight, I said before the game that we needed somebody to sit in front of the back four to counter their main threat of Mane and Coutinho. Playing 3 in advanced positions basically meant we had 8 players when the Reds had the ball. It was nothing short of suicidal allowing Coutinho and Mane to enjoy themselves.

I was nervous of playing Pennington but I suppose he had to be given his chance some time. The team shape was a major fau pas. I know I'm alone in thinking this, but once Schneiderlin was deemed unfit Barry had to sit in that space he works so well. I appreciate he's past his best but the Reds wide players would've had to get past him before our back four was exposed.

 

[ianefc]

I think he's a decent manager but won't ever manage at the top clubs, He's very limited and looks massively out of his depth against the big teams

That's so wrong. If I could be arsed, I'd list all his results V City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, United and Chelsea.

 

[Saint Domingo]

...I think the problem was more how we played than who played. It's not hindsight, I said before the game that we needed somebody to sit in front of the back four to counter their main threat of Mane and Coutinho. Playing 3 in advanced positions basically meant we had 8 players when the Reds had the ball. It was nothing short of suicidal allowing Coutinho and Mane to enjoy themselves.

I was nervous of playing Pennington but I suppose he had to be given his chance some time. The team shape was a major fau pas. I know I'm alone in thinking this, but once Schneiderlin was deemed unfit Barry had to sit in that space he works so well. I appreciate he's past his best but the Reds wide players would've had to get past him before our back four was exposed.

Whatever the question is Gareth Barry is not the answer. I'm sorry but if we are reverting to his absence as the reason we didn't win we are more screwed than most of us think. He is past it, yesterday's man, ten years ago he could have started this game but not now.

 

[davek]

We all saw the second half of the Goodison Derby, and the Spurs game. Doesn't matter who you partner with Barry he can't compete with the pace of top 6 midfields away from home. Everyone was saying Koeman had to learn the lesson from Spurs. Barry is a lazy answer to this question. He's been humiliated enough times against Liverpool to be a beneficiary of his absence making the heart grow fonder.

He could have been played in a three in midfield with Gueye alongside him and Davies ahead of those two with a flat back four of Holgate-Williams-Jagielka-Baines. Solid as a rock.

 

[Saint Domingo]

I think he's a decent manager but won't ever manage at the top clubs, He's very limited and looks massively out of his depth against the big teams

Handed Guardiola his biggest ever spanking of his career. Losing at Anfield is a problem far beyond just Koeman. He was probably wondering what was going on in disbelief.

 

[Saint Domingo]

He could have been played in a three in midfield with Gueye alongside him and Davies ahead of those two with a flat back four of Holgate-Williams-Jagielka-Baines. Solid as a rock.

Except everyone knows that's not solid as a rock, as evidenced by that exact formation getting ruthlessly exposed by Spurs.

 

[Eggs]

Whatever the question is Gareth Barry is not the answer. I'm sorry but if we are reverting to his absence as the reason we didn't win we are more screwed than most of us think. He is past it, yesterday's man, ten years ago he could have started this game but not now.

...had he played on Saturday we might have still lost, Coutinho and Mane might have skipped past him but I don't think they would've scored their first two. We'll have to agree to disagree, he'd have been a definite starter for me.

 

[davek]

We paid over the odds for a better than average manager because of Moshiri and his limited football knowledge

Yep.

Tbh, I think if everyone acknowledges that this feller is a Moyes-revisited type of manager, and of that calibre - and he gets 7th for the remainder of his contract whilst not spending massive and the stadium gets built - then it's job done and no complaints.

Too many people have fallen for the 'superstar manager' BS, though. He's not. He's bang average.

 

[davek]

Ridiculous. What about Mourinho. He'll be on more spent more and less s only 2 points clear.

...with a trophy in the cabinet and games in hand to get CL football.

 

[davek]

Except everyone knows that's not solid as a rock, as evidenced by that exact formation getting ruthlessly exposed by Spurs.

A Spurs midfield of Wantama, Dembele and Eriksen aren't Wijnaldum, Can and Lucas are they?

 

[ianefc]

...with a trophy in the cabinet and games in hand to get CL football.

So that explains 0-0 draws at home with Hull, 10-man Bournemouth and WBA.

In all honesty, I'd be intrigued to see your reaction if Koeman got us those 3 results.

 

[Amw79]

Holgate RCB

RWB could have played Kenny / Davies?

It's a difficult one though as we were down to the bare bones

That's the point, repalacing kids with other kids, wasn't a lot of experience to go with.

 

[davek]

So that explains 0-0 draws at home with Hull, 10-man Bournemouth and WBA.

In all honesty, I'd be intrigued to see your reaction if Koeman got us those 3 results.

They went unbeaten for about 23 games mate. They have one trophy in the cabinet with another great chance to add to it with the EL and are still in the hunt for a CL spot.

I really dont see your logic here.

 

[ianefc]

They went unbeaten for about 23 games mate. They have one trophy in the cabinet with another great chance to add to it with the EL and are still in the hunt for a CL spot.

I really dont see your logic here.

Yes you do. He's not even going to get 72 points.

 

[JLW]

So that explains 0-0 draws at home with Hull, 10-man Bournemouth and WBA.

In all honesty, I'd be intrigued to see your reaction if Koeman got us those 3 results.

We took 9 points and scored 13 goals against the above at home!