While our attacking woes are obviously a problem and people will focus on another set of missed chances, the real concern for me is our defensive frailty. We keep conceding sloppy goals. In our first season back in the Premier League we saw Pochettino turn a set of players who'd been conceding lots of goals into a solid defensive unit. Why can't Koeman get this group defending well?
Whereas last year, we (if I remember correctly) only dropped points from a winning position once or twice all year. It's not Koeman struggling to adapt; it's that we have a midfield that is far more porous than a year ago, paired with a defense that isn't anywhere near as composed, the natural result of having lost three extremely good players in those areas, with only one (mostly) replaced adequately. Consequently, if teams throw themselves into the attack, they often get something from it.
Everton, Stoke and Man City are examples of where the boot has been on the other foot this season, and after awful first halves from us we have come out and started the second half well. But on all three occasions, the opposition found a way to kill off our promising start and regain control of the game. That is something which we simply cannot find a way of doing. Whether that has anything with the fact that we generally use the same XI players to get us back into the game, rather than making the double changes like Leicester, Bmouth and West Ham, I'm not sure. (Although I find it very difficult to criticise Ron here, because very rarely do we have attractive enough options on our bench to make reasonable double changes. Leicester were able to bring on Mahrez and Dyer. Leicester!)
Both - 'horses for courses'. Actually thought Long did okay today - Mane did not do much TBH - would have been helpful if he had been more on his game - would have helped Long more.
Do you really think Koeman told them to slow down and relax? The players have to take responsibility, Koeman can only tell them to get motivated the players actually have to o it themselves. I'd blame Koeman for the subs but it's not like there were 2 obvious other choices.
- Started with high intensity - Went 1-0 up - Playing very well - Wasted chances - Could've gone in 4-0 at HT - Couldn't keep the intensity up - (understandable) - Dropped deeper - Committed more fouls - Freak goal for 1-1 - Tap in off the bar after poor defending for 2-1 - Game over Could've been resolved by being more prolific in front of goal first half. On to Norwich, now...
Do you think he tells the team to relax a bit at half time? Koeman probably can't see it and just pats them on the back as they come in and says, "Hard Luck" Maybe we shouldn't start so well.... Here's a serious question Tom and I wonder what anyone would say to answer it: What would you say to players at half time if we're one nil up and playing well?
We seemed to come out after half time playing deeper and we were pressing less (the latter because we were probably conserving energy). Actually - I will disagree with you over the substitutions - there were better options on the bench. Was it Koeman's fault we lost - yes in part - collectively he and the team have responsibility for losing like this. In the same way if he had made an inspirational substitution and we won the game (as like AC coming on for WHU) - he would receive the plaudits. Finally, I would add that it is his responsibility for getting the players mentally prepared for each and every match and to manage them in adverse situations in game time - otherwise he might as well not stand on the touchline and spend his time watching from the directors box. But he is not solely to blame - as I wrote the team did not turn up after half time and they have some responsibility for this.
