Evening all. I know I'm always jumping to Cooper's defence but there are reasons why I think he is selected. The PL is tough and the way we play under JM puts a lot of pressure on our CB. Of course they're going to get caught out and make mistakes. I dread to think what would happen if Cooper had been stuck on his heels like VVD was for our first goal. I'm sure Aski will prove me wrong but we're better at the back with Cooper there. I think the biggest reason for that is that he's in charge and sorts it out. Struijk is definitely a better defender but he's not a leader, neither is Koch. Cooper makes either Koch or Llorente play better. If you want to get rid of him you've got to replace that too. It's not easy
I’m not being argumentative here mate because I get what you are saying but, being honest, over his five or so years with us, there have been too many Cooper bloopers to be acceptable for any player at this level (PL or Championship).
Although he seems to have poor communication with Meslier going right back to the playoff days against Derby
I don’t disagree blono… coops has been criminally under-rated by Leeds fans for years. Made the PFA championship team of the year twice. But never able to shirk the calamity coops rep he had got blunders when he first came. On the flip side he has been prone to rushes of blood in high pressure situations… eg derby play off - and just enough of them to keep his detractors in material. It isn’t an easy gig being a centre back for Leeds - think it was a tougher job under bielsa actually where guys would be running directly at them through the middle… but it’s true that they have different challenges under marsch where the flanks are exposed. Having said all of that, coops is not getting any younger, is maybe looking a yard slower and for all his organisational and leadership skills I think the club is due a review of its centre back options soon if we want to move on a level.
honestly narco, Pontus was as big a liability - he made some absolute shockers in important games in bielsa’s first season. But he used to fist pump the crowd so seemed to get a pass. Two terrible positional mistakes cost us the forest game and absolute howlers against Brentford and norwich spring to mind… just off the top of my head.
That cock up from Cooper ruined a good goalkeeper's career Brought in from Real Madrid and then having to play with donkeys like that...poor fella, no wonder he went downhill and lost all confidence.
Huh… you on the skunk? Never said you did mention Pontus. I was introducing a comparative analysis… People remember Coopers fck ups not Janssons. They’re both good centre halves. Both voted in team of the year by fellow professionals. One loved by Leeds fans, one often berated.
Must admit you lost me there a bit milky. Thought you were saying they're both **** and that somehow excuses Cooper's errors. Anyway thanks for the clarification and now we can all get back to hero worshipping Pontus
Just shows he never knows where his goalkeeper is For what it’s worth, it seems we defend better when he plays
Saying all centre halves make mistakes and people just remember cooper’s. My pitiful attempts to introduce a comparative construct as a frame of reference, doesn’t appear to be a winning formula, so maybe I’ll just stick to putting everything into either the ‘great’ category or ‘sh*t’ category to avoid future confusion.
Fair enough, but my thoughts were Bielsa got rid of Pontus because he knew we needed someone better at the back. Ok there may have been disagreements as well but if he'd been vital to the team then I'm sure allowances would have been made. In other words, Pontus wasn't all that and his distibrution severely limited our style under Marcelo.
Anyone remember when Klopp called Van Dyke the best player in the world. Hes nothing but a big lumbering cart horse this season. Gomez is another CB doing a great job of screwing up. Liverpools problems are mainly at the back. Alexander Arnold isnt a RB as he cant defend and even Southgate knows that. So Cooper can be bad and as bad as VVD
