Ronald Koeman discussion

[ToffeeTim]

He's gone onto a bigger stage now mate. I doubt he'll walk away from managing in a World Cup.

At least he can't get relegated at that

 

[tlefc]

The last 2 years make you realise that Kenwright and Moyes weren't that bad.

 

[Blues Harp]

At least he can't get relegated at that

Is true - he left our club in a mess thats going to take a while to sort out

 

[ianefc]

Given a lot of chat in the thread has been about our current and former managers at Everton - Southampton fans view of Koeman v Puel
http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?57328-Puel-v-Koeman&p=2413358#.WBDMVWNlmi4

• So, we are just over a quarter of the way through the season, and I was wondering what people's reactions are now to our French tactician?Personally, after a gruelling Summer for a lot of our players due to the Euro's, the loss of Mane/Pelle/Wanyama, and a change of formation to the Diamond, I think we look like a better team that we did last season, and this can only be down to Puel. The way he has our team switching to and from the diamond to a fluid 4-3-3, the integration of youngsters and the superb rotation of a squad which has had a lot of games and injuries has been genius, and with more in form strikers we'd have far more wins than we do now. Yes, it is still early days, but if we can continue to play like this and build momentum I see no reason why we cannot challenge for another top 6 place. Some players are looking far better under him than Koeman, namely Romeu, Austin, Martina and JWP. We also manage to play ourselves out of trouble brilliantly at times, almost Barcelona-esque. He does however need to improve on his press conferences as this is one of the most important facets of the game now. Everton on the other hand, although they picked up a number of points in early games (and a very easy fixture list), have looked pretty abject since the early run, and are looking a bit like our recent Dec/Jan out of form teams. Everton fans are also a bit surprised at his non-use of youngsters, although obviously we know all about that. I think we may well see Everton drop off as their fixtures get harder over the coming two months. So far I see no reason to lament the loss of Koeman, and I think Puel has obviously won himself some grace to get this team playing the way he wants them to

• Yep, I concur. Puel appears more of a football technician looking at alternatives and all aspects of a player's game. I also believe he will last more than two seasons. Koeman, like Poch, was in it to enhance his own career path towards Barca.

• I have no problem with Koeman and you can't really argue with 7th and 6th place finishes. However three things have stood out with Puel compared to Koeman:
  
  1. He's been much more trusting of the young players, notably McQueen in the last couple of weeks. I think if Koeman was in charge, Yoshida would be playing at right back and Martina at left back instead.
  2. We have a much more identifiable style. Last year, particularly away from home, we just wanted to soak things up and then hope to catch someone on the break for a 1-0 victory. This year, things seem much more joined up, although it is quite difficult to specify exactly how
  3. The players seem much more praiseworthy of Puel, which is quite telling. Tadic and Mane quite clearly fell out with Koeman last year. VVD, Austin and Romeu have been gushing in their praise the last few weeks from what I've seen
  
  Plus, I hope Puel gives the FA Cup and/or the EL knock out stages more of a go after Christmas. You felt as though Koeman threw the cups in order to protect his Premier League bonus money

• No one can doubt RK achievements with Saints but I never really warmed to him or his tactics and sure some utter dirge under him, away at WBA and Norwich spring straight to mind.
  
  CP, however, I'm liking. I don't know what he's done or how he's done it but he's got Saints playing some wonderfully fluid football where everyone is looking for the ball and wanting to attack. He's prepared to take risks with the youngsters, something RK would never do and it strikes me that he hasn't a "big" move in mind where as we all know/knew RK really wants the Barca job.
  
  Yes we will hit rough patches and the usual cu_nts wll be calling for his head but he's certainly impressed me with the way he's got us playing, squad management and general ethos.

• 100% agree VFTT. Wasn't keen on him at first with some of the other options but, as ever, the club really did its homework. Some of the play right now is beautiful to watch and, on the whole, way better than under RK.
  
  We are well drilled, everyone knows their role and CP is not afraid to mix it up and blood the youngsters which will, in turn, make them hungrier as they know they will get a chance if they show potential.
  
  Hopefully the style of play will continue and we will get more clinical in front of goal: that is the one thing that is missing and if that clicks we will be as good as anyone in the League.

• Puel gives the impression of being more cerebral than Koeman. As a disciple of Wenger's he has that air of the professor about him. Tactically he seems to get everything pretty well spot on so far. When he brings on substitutes during a match, you find yourself applauding both the players involved and the timing and soon after, the results on the pitch are palpable tactically, whether it is introducing a fresh pair of legs, minimising the chances of a second yellow card, or neutralising a threat down a weaker flank or strengthening the midfield.
  
  The juggling act required to rotate the players over the additional matches because of the Cup and the Europa League shows that he is able to manage the players and their egos very well, and that they understand that their team mates, even the youngsters, have to have the opportunity to step up to the breach for the greater good of the team. He must therefore command the respect of the players and have earned their trust.
  
  It is still early days, but on the face of it, we have pulled off another managerial coup. Personally I am finding the style of play more entertaining and exciting than under Koeman and surely that's what it's all about.

Does the amount of times you've totally dismissed journalists/pundits/bloggers/fellow fans opinions/articles mean we can do the same to this?

Or is worthy of believing because it aids your hatred of Koeman?

 

[Azza]

From one extreme to another with davek.


Love it!! !

 

[Saint Domingo]

Does the amount of times you've totally dismissed journalists/pundits/bloggers/fellow fans opinions/articles mean we can do the same to this?

Or is worthy of believing because it aids your hatred of Koeman?

Fans prefer their current manager to one who binned them off for bigger club shock

 

[Goat]

He's gone onto a bigger stage now mate. I doubt he'll walk away from managing in a World Cup.

Yeah earning 1m a year must have been all he wanted after getting sacked from his 3m a year job here.

lollollollollol

 

[ianefc]

Yeah earning 1m a year must have been all he wanted after getting sacked from his 3m a year job here.

lollollollollol

That's €1m btw

 

[Goat]

That €1m btw

 

[Saint Domingo]

Will be a massive challenge for Puel to get 6th this season (fair play if he does obviously). That's the bar Koeman set at Saints so it's all well and good them banging on about rotation, kids, fluid tactics or whatever, Koeman delivered results in the form of Europe. Puel has to do likewise.

 

[blue61]

Yeah earning 1m a year must have been all he wanted after getting sacked from his 3m a year job here.

lollollollollol

 

[Goat]

• The default posture of the team is to sit deep in a narrow, compact shape in order to prevent the opponent from creating scoring chances.
• The team only breaks the shape to press the ball when the odds of success are high and the cost of failure is minimal. (And even here it might be better to say that the whole team moves together, causing the shape to temporarily change, rather than saying that the shape “breaks.”)
• When the ball is won, it is played forward quickly because fast attacks can catch opponents off balance and turning the ball over in the attacking third is less costly than turning it over in your own defensive third or in midfield.
• Every player in the team has to assist defensively and sacrifice individual expression for the sake of the system.

Just to help @davek understand how pressing football should be played.

 

[ianefc]

Will be a massive challenge for Puel to get 6th this season (fair play if he does obviously). That's the bar Koeman set at Saints so it's all well and good them banging on about rotation, kids, fluid tactics or whatever, Koeman delivered results in the form of Europe. Puel has to do likewise.

Devils advocate, I like it.

 

[ianefc]

All that waffle about Southampton and their new manager.



Their fans don't seem too interested in watching post Koeman.

 

[Bullet]

Anyone want the lottery numbers?

If only BK had listened we just might have had Tuchel instead of Bobby.
Oh well... if your statistics based rational is correct we're relying on the Dutch Moyes to rebuild and have even started him off with a negative net spend for old times sake.