Ronald Koeman discussion

[Osamabindiesel]

He could have put player A B or C on, and we might have got a second.

He could have put player A B or C on and City get 2 and win.

He put player A B or C on and we got a point.

I don't disagree with this Roydo. For all we know Lookman or Mirallas do something incredibly stupid and we end up losing the game. But if Koeman had the opportunity again, I think he would choose different options.

 

[Lanolin]

He could have put player A B or C on, and we might have got a second.

He could have put player A B or C on and City get 2 and win.

He put player A B or C on and we got a point.

Was going to post this in a really convoluted way, but you summed it up much better. All opinions are valid and we'll never know what might have happened in an alternate universe.

 

[JLW]

He could have put player A B or C on, and we might have got a second.

He could have put player A B or C on and City get 2 and win.

He put player A B or C on and we got a point.

Whichever way you look at it is a great result.. I would take exactly the same performance and result against Chelsea on Sunday

 

[Osamabindiesel]

Whichever way you look at it is a great result.. I would take exactly the same performance and result against Chelsea on Sunday

Great result. Tad disappointing in hindsight, but I would have taken 1-1 before this game every time.

 

[willo30]

Great insight. Let me ask you a serious question: Do you think Koeman makes the same substitutions after the outcome of the game? I want you to answer honestly.

Yes. It was a mistake by us that gave them a point. They were overrunning us down the middle of the pitch and were on the verge of scoring.

 

[chippy1722]

More than anything it showed the difference between us and a top 4 team, not only technically but mentally.

No other team in the top 6 would have played the way did last night, so it shows how much we have to improve to compete with them.

We seem to go into the games with quite a defeatist attitude, expect to get beat but hope to come away with something.

Myself, I would have took a point before and If we can get through the next three PL games with similiar results then fair enough.

 

[Osamabindiesel]

Yes. It was a mistake by us that gave them a point. They were overrunning us down the middle of the pitch and were on the verge of scoring.

Fair enough. That midfield overload is exactly what made them so vulnerable though. Their back line proved that they couldn't handle pace. Lookman and Mirallas may have fared better against their back line.

 

[JLW]

Great result. Tad disappointing in hindsight, but I would have taken 1-1 before this game every time.

Of course we all would! One defensive error cost us, but it's a point in which will probably be our toughest away game even with them down to 10 men

 

[roydo]

Yes. It was a mistake by us that gave them a point. They were overrunning us down the middle of the pitch and were on the verge of scoring.

It was a mistake by them that gave us the lead. Ergo, a point.

 

[NilesRossly]

We had plenty of cover in the midfield. What we didn't have was support for DCL. You get one runner with a bit of pace and trickery (Sandro would have probably been brought on had he been available), and City suddenly look very stretched. We weren't going to win the midfield against City. Let us dominate the counter attack instead.

The tactics worked and would have resulted in a win but for a bad error. City had all the ball but they were never laying siege and ironically the main times they threatened was on the counter attack.

 

[cromofo]

I think he's got the defensive part on point. Looking really solid. Top 6 in the league I'd dare to say.

Just sort out the striker position and I'm good.

 

[Osamabindiesel]

The tactics worked and would have resulted in a win but for a bad error. City had all the ball but they were never laying siege and ironically the main times they threatened was on the counter attack.

This is true. What I will say about this is we were trying to get men up field to support DCL. If we had one of either Lookman or Mirallas to run up field, we wouldn't need to get as many numbers forward to support DCL. Therefore we might have more security against the counter.

 

[NilesRossly]

Great insight. Let me ask you a serious question: Do you think Koeman makes the same substitutions after the outcome of the game? I want you to answer honestly.

Depends if he likes a gamble. The subs he made got us a point. The subs he didn't make might have won the game but also might have lost it. The real problem was a lack of composure and too many long balls. Mirallas and Lookman are quick but they also give the ball away a lot. Subs can never be judged with hindsight.

 

[suey_11]

To me them going down a man really galvanised them and put the wind in their sails.

Plus Walker being sent off surely strengthened them.

 

[Osamabindiesel]

Depends if he likes a gamble. The subs he made got us a point. The subs he didn't make might have won the game but also might have lost it. The real problem was a lack of composure and too many long balls. Mirallas and Lookman are quick but they also give the ball away a lot. Subs can never be judged with hindsight.

I personally think he would try to put the game to bed if he had the chance to do it again. The thing I appreciate about Koeman is he usually changes things up if he feels he got something wrong, so it will be interesting to see how he approaches the Chelsea game.