Last years playoff was really down to others teams such as Forest / Reading have brain farts which we capitalised on.
In my view, there were loads of mumblings and moans about Cooper last season - substitutions, game management, failing to learn from earlier games (Millwall away a prime example to me) etc - but he/we benefitted from Forest (as Matt says) in particular imploding and the hugely positive impact of Rhian Brewster.
Cheers imo a good analysis of how and why we are where we are .I really wanted as I do with all our managers for him to succeed (who wouldn't unless you have a warped mind ) , but I'm sorry to say Coopers is not the man to take this Club forward ,as part of the coaching team possibly but as the manager then no .In my view, there were loads of mumblings and moans about Cooper last season - substitutions, game management, failing to learn from earlier games (Millwall away a prime example to me) etc - but he/we benefitted from Forest (as Matt says) in particular imploding and the hugely positive impact of Rhian Brewster.
This season, Cooper had a stronger squad - yes we lost Joe but we signed Bennett, Manning, Smith, Lowe and Latibeaudiere.
However, failing to sign a centre forward was a huge mistake, and - very tellingly for me - the decision to let Celina leave .... Cooper’s inability to ‘handle’ and play that flair player meant that we now have no one with guile to unlock defences with a piece of individual brilliance.
How many games have we won where we haven’t (really) deserved to?
Yes you make your own luck, but when your luck runs out and you have no Plan B - let alone someone like Celina - means that opposing Managers can work you out.....
Lee Bowyer said as much last Friday - that spooked Cooper into making the formation change yesterday, but it was pretty evident early on that the guys hadn’t been practising that system.
What’s more, the lack of penetration and a lack of shots should have resulted in changes being made at HT - not 10 mins from the end.
Anyway, is it true that Glen Johnson said on Sky that he can’t believe we are 4th?
Perhaps, the lazy punditry that has benefitted Cooper is now waking up and smelling the coffee.
If the Managers of Norwich and Brentford had our squad, we would be Top 2 - in my opinion
Cant argue with any of that assessment.In my view, there were loads of mumblings and moans about Cooper last season - substitutions, game management, failing to learn from earlier games (Millwall away a prime example to me) etc - but he/we benefitted from Forest (as Matt says) in particular imploding and the hugely positive impact of Rhian Brewster.
This season, Cooper had a stronger squad - yes we lost Joe but we signed Bennett, Manning, Smith, Lowe and Latibeaudiere.
However, failing to sign a centre forward was a huge mistake, and - very tellingly for me - the decision to let Celina leave .... Cooper’s inability to ‘handle’ and play that flair player meant that we now have no one with guile to unlock defences with a piece of individual brilliance.
How many games have we won where we haven’t (really) deserved to?
Yes you make your own luck, but when your luck runs out and you have no Plan B - let alone someone like Celina - means that opposing Managers can work you out.....
Lee Bowyer said as much last Friday - that spooked Cooper into making the formation change yesterday, but it was pretty evident early on that the guys hadn’t been practising that system.
What’s more, the lack of penetration and a lack of shots should have resulted in changes being made at HT - not 10 mins from the end.
Anyway, is it true that Glen Johnson said on Sky that he can’t believe we are 4th?
Perhaps, the lazy punditry that has benefitted Cooper is now waking up and smelling the coffee.
If the Managers of Norwich and Brentford had our squad, we would be Top 2 - in my opinion
Sorry I have to disagree , our first season with him he still had Potters influences in the team, we fell into the same trap as we're seeing now . Brewsters goals and the collapse of other sides last season gave us a false position . He's either very stubborn or just can't see the obvious. We have more than a decent squad but what we're seeing is a distinct lack on how they should be used. He stumbles upon a winning formula and we muddle through , tries something different which worked then reverts back true to form. Last night we were set up to defend, FFS we were at home needing the points and he leaves strikers on the bench and plays Roberts where exactly , the poor lad didn't know where he had to play , hitting wide balls into the box for Routledge to try and win against 6 foot plus defenders .No one can come out of last night with any credit, either they players are too scared to make a mistake or are not playing for him or the Club either way its not looking good.
Didn’t realise that they’ve changed the date of April Fools Day ....
Levy will **** us over on the compensation, bet it’s only £20 and a tin of sticky sticky. Might be a good deal.
Knowing Levy - we’d have to pay them to take him off our hands ....Levy will **** us over on the compensation, bet it’s only £20 and a tin of sticky sticky. Might be a good deal.
