Another easy one and another alarming eye opener at how short we are of cover. I’m pinning my hopes on Struijk based on just a couple of games. Seems harsh but I’m not entirely confident of Cooper in the PL. Berardi out and Ayling often used as CB cover, we have no option but to keep both and we surely need two new CBS?
Keep both and especially Struijk who is a potentially great CB but also can move with the ball and ping long passes, as well as play a DM role better than White can. White had a few games covering for Phillips and wasnt convincing, yet Struijk was very good.
I’m hoping for great things from Struijk and I agree, he was miles better at covering for Phillips than White was. Looks big and strong too, a big lad at 6’ 3”
I've never been Coopers biggest fan. The lad definitely has a few mistakes a season in him. He is one of those unlucky lads as in when he does make a mistake it usually ends up as a goal. However his improvement last season was immense. The other thing I like about him is that he is a good leader. He organises the defence. Keep him, deserves his chance in the PL. Now, we obviously have to get a partner for Cooper. Struijk did really well covering for Phillips, really well. However, let's not get carried away with him. I also remember him coming off the bench (think it was against Cardiff at home) and he looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Shocking. I would say that Struijk is the natural replacement for Berardi as a squad player who can fill in. He just replaces Berardi in the squad. We'll take it from there. We need another CB to partner Cooper. There are two positions that HAVE to be filled by spending and this is one of them! Have to get it right. Go and get Ben White!
I know what you mean, every season I have wanted us to replace Cooper but all the coaches we have had seem to be happy with him, the players like him as team captain. Even if we do resign Ben White surely we need one more new CB at least
The thing about Cooper is that he is the dressing room, he cares about his job on and off the pitch. He was picked as captain by the players and bleeds for the club. Yes he came to Leeds and will always be ribbed as Rotherham Cooper and played like that under all the previous managers, except Bielsa. He is now more refined and no just hoof it into row Z he actually looks competent on the ball and has cut out 90% of the errors and yellow cards. He was selected for Scotland but he was light years ahead of anyone else on the pitch as the normal CB role is to crash into players and hoof it. His Scotland coach needs to try and use him and the rest of the defence like he has a tactic...... never be my fav player but he deserves a season in the Prem and you never know he may turn out to be way better than Phil Jones
I I think Cooper may be our most improved player. He's a good solid CB which are very hard to find. I think he has been supreme this season, a huge step up. What I am constantly surprised by is people questioning Bielsa selections. He gets them right so much of the time that we walked one of the toughest leagues in football having been in the top 4 all year. All this using a tiny squad of also rans and no hopers. The man is a genius
