We have enough difficulties without needing to find a new left back. I think Hughes had a negative impact on Bertrand as they clearly didn't get on, hopefully he will be back to his best next season. Experience is useful, we don't just want youth.
Hughes had a negative effect on the defence, full stop. He inherited a strong defence at Stoke, yet oversaw it’s weakening until they became relegation candidates. I have no doubt that he would have taken us down as he didn’t know how to improve defences.
I think the team has been in decline since the Koeman era simply because the squad quality has been reduced. Confidence, a winning mentality and higher quality team mates will make a player look better, whereas the opposite can make you look worse. Personally, I thought Bertrand started to look like his old self once Hasenhuttl came in and perhaps Hojbjerg being the captain freed him up and took a burden off him.
Has he noticeably declined, or has he been playing in a noticeably poorer side? He’s consistently been one of our best players, imo.
You are perfectly justified in saying that, if it’s what you think. The concern has to be when the football geniuses in the crowd start getting on his back. They loved him at Fulham btw - maybe that’s his level, or maybe they saw something we didn’t because he was a regular starter.
I too like Matty. Always done a job when needed. Made some important goals last year with his crosses.
Always confused me a little bit when he took so long to come back from his back injury when Ralph first arrived....its almost as if he needed to recover from the injury as well as get his head around his new tactics. I wondered if there was an issue with whether he saw eye to eye with Ralphy-baby...
Ralph wants younger players so may go with Matt. I think Matt is not experienced enough at this level yet but if he doesn't play he never will be.
I don't think Ralph is the sort of man to play a player if he doesn't see eye-to-eye with them - see Mr Hoedt as evidence.
I agree about the crowd. I hate that and always have. Separate discussion me thinks. My concern for this debate is if Matty is good enough for Ralph and where he wants the team to be.