VVD is the only one you say 'has been' captain. That when the Celtic captain and vice captain were both out and in honour of VVD's 50th game. The others duly noted but Wanyama is on his way, Yoshida and JWP are 'backups' and Clasie is still finding his feet. We already have a captain on the bench in SKD. Davis plays every week and is the captain of NI. As for what makes him a leader on the pitch? I have no idea what makes Fonte a leader on the pitch nor Davis nor anyone. Purely going by the fact he is captain of NI that he has experience in the role and that someone with more football knowledge than me considered him captain material. I personally could not tell who would make good captain material although I would rule out Wanyama and Mane as I don't think their heads are in the right place for the job wherever they were. Maybe Clasie will make a good captain next season once he's settled.
Bertrand is the only captain material in the squad apart from Davis and Fonte in my opinion. Bertrand is a nailed on pick, has played for England and won the Champions League.
You think so, really? I didn't go yesterday and also didn't see the W Ham and Norwich games, but against Arsenal he was his usual faultless self, and up to then he's been one of our best players imo. He's the only mid fielder who doesn't consistently give the ball away.
TinTin, please bear with me here. I think this is why a few people get pissed off. Read the bit of your post I have cut out below: "I don't see what goes on behind the scenes, but my gut feeling is Koeman isn't a very good man manager at all when the chips are down." You adamantly and vehemently batter Koeman most weeks with statements of fact, yet here you sensibly posting that you don't actually know what goes on behind the scenes. It's your gut feel. You may be right, but you may be wrong and so no wonder people get upset when you post so emphatically about the managers faults. It's not that we worship him, but we think it's clearly unfair that you say these things without really knowing. I don't expect you to respond because you do rarely respond to a question that may potentially undermine your views, but here is another question I'd love the answer to: You state above "in your experience running a side..." What was that experience and side and does it really compare to managing a Premier League side full of millionaire footballers? I have run aside for 8 seasons and despite all my other management experience, I'd say none of that really can give me an insight into managing a Premier League team.
I think I have replied to you previously on this. I'm not sure how much we miss him. I believe he was only with us approx a year (someone may correct that), so it depends how good he was. I thought he was the "system" man rather than the "scouting" man. Maybe someone who knows people inside the club can confirm or deny this.
I've just seen the goals. Why were people blaming Clasie for the first goal? It was Davis and Yoshida.
I would ask another question: Anyone defending Koeman's tactics yesterday. When the line-up's were announced, did you think "yeah great, we're definitely going to win" or "right this will be a great game"? He changes formation essentially because he doesn't trust his back four - what message does that send to the back four?! Surely this will add to their lack of confidence. Better to just absolutely go for it IMO. I know if I was a player in that team, I'd thinking "FFS, it's palace not Barcelona", and if I was a youngster in the squad I'd be thinking "FFS, why aren't I getting a chance here". If I was Alan Pardew id have been rubbing my hands We have been spoilt for choice with manager s in the last few years, so it's hard to watch. Let's not forget we were beating teams with Hooiveld, Yoshida and fox in our back four at one point... I've been saying that I blame Koeman and not the club, because I KNOW that there is a good mid table premier league team in there, but Ron isn't unlocking that potential. Fingers crossed Graziano will be on it when he comes back.
I saw the line up yesterday and thought "He's trying to shore up a leaky defence. Get that right and we can build from there". I still think that. Cut out the sloppy errors and get back to being hard to beat again. And get a RB (how was Martina yesterday?).
Os - we weren't beating many teams with all those players in our back four in the Premier League... I didn't like the formation and have said that - what's the point? I and some others have been defending them because we could understand why he did it, not saying we would have done it. I've said several times I wouldn't have. It's a fine balance always and there are always pros and cons. I believe there is a good mid table team in there. How did Ron manage to do it last season if he is that bad? Three players gone is the only difference and he managed to get a squad that lost 5 of its better players, to achieve a record points total and highest position. This was when everyone expected us to struggle. If you don't give him credit it for that and offer up mitigation, then that's you just not likening him. We're back full circle. If we just consider what's happening on the pitch and ignore the recent off-field rumours, then I am currently prepared to give the man a chance to put it right. He has to sort it now though.
Yes. I mentioned Clasie as he has had some more stick after yesterday. I am one who has been seeing him steadily improve. He was very good at Norwich and for me he is beginning to show what he can do. I haven't seen his performance form yesterday.
Good to hear. At Norwich I particularly two monster tackles, one in each touch line where he had chased and harried the ball until he won them. His distribution was good too. I believe he really suffered for missing two and half months of the season so early in his time here.
Just saw this. It's is not pretty reading. If we don't get at least 2 points from our next 2 home games against Watford and west brom then I think Ron needs to go. I like him and voted for him to stay in that poll on here, but it may have to be a change just to save us from relegation.
I think Stekwlenberg (as has been said) flatters to deceive. Watching those goals, we need Forster back desperately. They were both preventable. As for Davis' hospital pass for the first goal... Bloody hell.
I thought Clasie was decent. The majority of the team were decent without being special. Targett looks out of his depth in my opinion. Martina is nothing special. Long worked tirelessly without reward, hennessey with some good saves. Mane got into some good situations and his decisions let him down.
Is that the last 8 games form table? Worrying indeed, but form is temporary. we'll turn this around soon enough imo, and I still trust Ron to do it.
Yes on the first point. The pass by Davis was terrible but just before Yoshida makes an awful pass to Davis who has a man right on him. We were doing it all game yesterday; misplaced passes and passing to players under pressure. Not surprising we gave away the ball.
