Ronald Koeman discussion

[Thomasc]

Gonna be interesting to see the line-ups over these 3 games from City thru to Chelsea

Can see Lookman and Mirallas being used in Split from the start, Klaassen and Gylfi too, could really do with Sandro being fit and will go back to 4-3-3 or similar IMO.

 

[bicycleheader]

Can see Lookman and Mirallas being used in Split from the start, Klaassen and Gylfi too, could really do with Sandro being fit and will go back to 4-3-3 or similar IMO.

Was thinking the same.

I said after the first leg that he was probably raging with them for not killing the tie as he knew it would end up affecting all three of these games.

City, Chelsea and a Europa League tie all in one week....good to have the blues back

 

[jtl60]

I didn't see any of the aftermatch interviews etc, but did they ask Koeman why he changed to a back 4 during the second half?
It seemed to give them the impetus to attack us more and the back three of Williams/Jags/Keane were looking solid

 

[zebedee]

Can see Lookman and Mirallas being used in Split from the start, Klaassen and Gylfi too, could really do with Sandro being fit and will go back to 4-3-3 or similar IMO.

I do prefer this back 3 with wingbacks operating, think it has a little more to offer and felt we shut them out more last night. After the tactical switch I was constantly pooping my pants from then on.

 

[Thomasc]

I do prefer this back 3 with wingbacks operating, think it has a little more to offer and felt we shut them out more last night. After the tactical switch I was constantly pooping my pants from then on.

The wing backs and back 3 looked awful against Stoke in the first half in a game where we are expected to make the running, so I suggest we tread carefully with it.

Jags and Williams are just defenders.

If they have too much time to think and try and play out from the back then we can get in a world of trouble.

They looked good last night as we were under the cosh and their job was to defend. Any more than that and I think it is beyond them both.

 

[banno]

I didn't see any of the aftermatch interviews etc, but did they ask Koeman why he changed to a back 4 during the second half?
It seemed to give them the impetus to attack us more and the back three of Williams/Jags/Keane were looking solid

I thought Man City had the impetus already and that's why he changed from a back 3 to 4 with 2 more attacking midfielders on also to help us stop it. It didn't work that well but the back 3 was also showing strain. It was a positive move to try and give us the upper hand.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

I didn't see any of the aftermatch interviews etc, but did they ask Koeman why he changed to a back 4 during the second half?
It seemed to give them the impetus to attack us more and the back three of Williams/Jags/Keane were looking solid

Yeah he explained it. Pep switched it and got the 2 'full backs' to tuck inside, which meant that our 2 wing backs had no-one to mark, and Pep had added another body to the central midfield area which meant they were controlling the centre of the pitch. So he reverted to a back 4 and added another midfielder to counter the change.

 

[rhino_83]

I didn't see any of the aftermatch interviews etc, but did they ask Koeman why he changed to a back 4 during the second half?
It seemed to give them the impetus to attack us more and the back three of Williams/Jags/Keane were looking solid

One of the reports i was reading said williams looked to be struggling with a sore back. Didnt really notice myself but if true could have been partly why opted for formation change.

 

[Stuartisitc1878]

I didn't see any of the aftermatch interviews etc, but did they ask Koeman why he changed to a back 4 during the second half?
It seemed to give them the impetus to attack us more and the back three of Williams/Jags/Keane were looking solid

They didn't ask Koeman anything post match although they made comments about both manangers constantly changing systems. I think it was an attempt to try and wrestle back some control in the middle and with only one striker upfront for City it seemed sound logic. Them going down to 10 men probably worked against us in the end. It forced City to move it quicker and make the pitch wider. Something they weren't doing the first half. It's a shame we didn't have more pace that second half because we could have hit them on the counter and i think that was the plan but Rooney doesn't have that pace anymore and every time DCL got down the channels he had to check back in and wait for support.

 

[zebedee]

The wing backs and back 3 looked awful against Stoke in the first half in a game where we are expected to make the running, so I suggest we tread carefully with it.

Jags and Williams are just defenders.

If they have too much time to think and try and play out from the back then we can get in a world of trouble.

They looked good last night as we were under the cosh and their job was to defend. Any more than that and I think it is beyond them both.

Didn't get to see the Stoke game I'll admit, was away so couldn't make the trip. I see what you mean about Jags and Williams they adopted an old school rear guard approach last night which did work certainly Williams with time scares the hell out of me. Guess baby steps and all that.

Be interesting to see how gylfi pains out as we could switch the play a bit more we seem to be very right hand side atm.

 

[kenada_blue]

Agree with some of that.

But we didn't create much in the first half either if we're honest and he changed things by introducing Klaassen and Siggy. Admittedly that didn't work, but it was a positive change so at least he tried something.

From his post match interviews he was obviously disappointed to not come away with three points. His tactics at City were very Moyes like, but the mentality of the two of them are quite different. They're both, like all managers, bloody stubborn, but one's very self confident and the other's full of self doubt.

Hand on heart I can't say I'm 100% sure Koeman will be successful here, but I do think there's a good chance he will be. If he isn't, he's likely to be shown the door.

1sf half he was bob on. Worked a treat.

But then what followed is how he should earn his money.

 

[Tony Hibbert's 3rd leg]

There is a key issue why we are prone to having a poor second half against top opposition.

It isn't to do with our attacking players. It's the quality of balls played out from the back. Jags was brilliant defensively last night but now as a defender you have to be good on the ball in different situations.

A good ball upfield changes defence to attack in a moment. Keane is good but not outstanding on the ball. Baines isn't what he was. Holgate brilliant defensively not so much going forward. Look how much a good ball from Pickford can set up a goal scoring opportunity.

The modern defender has to be dynamic. Coleman is a player who has great balance to his play. For me this is why we struggle in the second half when some defenders first choice is to boot it aimlessly. All top teams have defenders across the line who can think going forward as well as defensively. I'm hoping Koeman might address this with new additions in the future (CB, LB).

 

[Jebus_lives]

One of the reports i was reading said williams looked to be struggling with a sore back. Didnt really notice myself but if true could have been partly why opted for formation change.

Not surprised he's got a sore back with his gut.

 

[faddy the blue]

I'm surprised he hasn't looked to properly invest in pacy/athletic wing backs cos they really are key in this 3-5-2 system. Seamus is a proper WB but Baines is pushing 33 and is a quality LB but not exactly a WB.

 

[a bell maul]

I'm surprised he hasn't looked to properly invest in pacy/athletic wing backs cos they really are key in this 3-5-2 system. Seamus is a proper WB but Baines is pushing 33 and is a quality LB but not exactly a WB.

I guess he has in mind the eventual return of Coleman and Bolasie