| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem 20:16 - Dec 6 with 2503 views | 9MilesHigh |
Who are we as a team these days? What style of play do we adopt? We're not counter attacking. We're not possession based.
We're a bit boring aren't we?
A bit like Spurs without their lethal attack.
Cooper is safety first, is there anyone that would argue with that?
Notts Forest away we started with 9 (nine) defensive players. Why? Forest a massive club, or they were fairly big 30 years ago but they were one place above the drop zone when we played them. Chris Hughton hadn't long gone there but is that justifiable reason to line up like we did?
But we won. So that's all that matters, yeah? A great 3 points on the road against a "big" club.
I was watching Spurs earlier and discussing Jose's tactics with Risca, how he now likes to drop in his two holding midfielders into the back line so when breaking he can now do with lethal effect with the likes of Kane, Son and Lo Celso.
But that's Jose's style. He's got one and most aren't under any misconceptions about what that style is.
What's Cooper's? What are we looking to achieve in games? Where are we looking to get goals from? Goals, you remember them??
It's a case of keep it tight, don't concede and something may come - from Ayew.
And then if something does come, it's keep it even more careful and pragmatic. Inevitably forcing us deeper and deeper and inviting all sorts of pressure - even against 10 men.
Like the Sky pundits say about Jose, this is ok when you're winning. But what happens when even our 1 goal per game starts drying up or the opposition score two or more.
We are much more enjoyable to watch when we're behind.
Onto Guehi - for me, he is the primary reason we played 3 at the back end of last season - and it worked for us. We were different, we confused teams, they couldn't handle Bidwell and Roberts overloading midfield and outnumbering full backs.
We also had Brewster and Gallagher. Two players we've just not replaced. Yet this season we are higher than last season.
So isn't it more of a fear to stick with the uber-pragmatism and waste a real pop at this division this season - in what is becoming more and more evident, there for the taking, than to start taking games to other teams and be a bit more adventurous?
How long do we keep with a 3 man defence? Will we become more and more predictable by doing so? But if we do shift to a 4, where does this leave Guehi?
The boy has come on leaps and bounds but let's not forget the horrors of February (Hull away for example) - Can he play in a 4? It would be a big worry in this league for me and cute managers a la Pullis, Warnock would be targeting him in the box.
We are also missing a trick going forward because our midfield is too "samey" - we've got a great defensive platform but the team is crying out for more adventure, and hey, goals.
If we need Guehi on the pitch and I think we do, he's a beast and a huge talent, but how do we accommodate him?
Can we play him in DM? Because I'm as sure as hell we don't need the three DM's we've sometimes played with.
Geuhi sweeping up in front of Bennet and Cabango and when our full backs bomb on he drops back into the three man defence we've seen most of this season.
The below team as a platform:
*************** Freddie ****************
Roberts **** Bennett ** Cabango **** Bidwell
*********** Matty *** Guehi *************
Kasey ************ Yan ************* Lowe
***************** Ayew *****************
Then when we're attacking:
*************** Freddie ****************
**** Bennett **** Guehi **** Cabango ****
Roberts ********* Matty *********** Bidwell
***** Kasey******* Yan ******** Lowe *****
***************** Ayew *****************
... with obviously a bit more fluid movement from the attacking players than I can draw on a message board.
For me, we're running out of time with this careful (boring) football. We have nothing to be afraid of in this league. Let's have a bit of boll0x about us. [Post edited 6 Dec 2020 20:22]
|  | | |  |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 18:31 - Dec 8 with 611 views | 9MilesHigh |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 18:22 - Dec 8 by BillyChong |
Nail on head. We defend to win, due to the lack of firepower up top. If we could guarantee we’d outscore we could go back to a 4 at the back formation. |
But he's not even picking teams to see if we can be more pro-active further forward.
Our main attacking threats are from more traditional full backs.
That's weak isn't it. | | | |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 18:47 - Dec 8 with 598 views | 9MilesHigh |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 18:31 - Dec 8 by 9MilesHigh |
But he's not even picking teams to see if we can be more pro-active further forward.
Our main attacking threats are from more traditional full backs.
That's weak isn't it. |
So the same 352 then
Pragmatism. :-( | | | |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 20:12 - Dec 8 with 569 views | swancity |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 18:31 - Dec 8 by 9MilesHigh |
But he's not even picking teams to see if we can be more pro-active further forward.
Our main attacking threats are from more traditional full backs.
That's weak isn't it. |
It’s not weak
It’s assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your squad and making the most of it. We are doing just that so far.
I’d say that overall we’ve done very well and don’t forget have lost our most valuable player in Rodon too |  |
| Only an idiot would eat a turkey curry on Christmas day |
| |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 20:44 - Dec 8 with 563 views | 9MilesHigh |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 20:12 - Dec 8 by swancity |
It’s not weak
It’s assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your squad and making the most of it. We are doing just that so far.
I’d say that overall we’ve done very well and don’t forget have lost our most valuable player in Rodon too |
We've admirably replaced Rodon - I don't think that can be used as any reason for why we don't set up a bit more adventurously.
Even in tonight's game against a near top Bournemouth. This game is there for the taking. They're not all that. | | | |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 21:07 - Dec 8 with 549 views | swancity |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 20:44 - Dec 8 by 9MilesHigh |
We've admirably replaced Rodon - I don't think that can be used as any reason for why we don't set up a bit more adventurously.
Even in tonight's game against a near top Bournemouth. This game is there for the taking. They're not all that. |
Bournemouth are a good team with lots of Premier League experience
Stanislaus and Brooks for example are very useful
A point will be a decent result for us. They’re on top aren’t they but we are doing ok so far | |
| Only an idiot would eat a turkey curry on Christmas day |
| |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 21:45 - Dec 8 with 541 views | KeithHaynes |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 21:07 - Dec 8 by swancity |
Bournemouth are a good team with lots of Premier League experience
Stanislaus and Brooks for example are very useful
A point will be a decent result for us. They’re on top aren’t they but we are doing ok so far |
Our defence is a fantastic thing to watch. If only the players in the top half, bar Ayew had that desire. |  |
| |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 21:52 - Dec 8 with 535 views | 9MilesHigh |
It was a good point. - edited "very" out here on reflection
We were the home side and I think it's fair to say we set up for a point.
Now it's in the bag we can move on and we've stopped them getting a march on us.
The back 3 did very well in fairness so massive credit to them. Matty works his socks off in front and protects them and we got away with a stonewall pen but I'm glad that wasn't given against young Lati making his debut - was that his English pro debut?
Yep, a good point but I feel, and even more so after tonight, that this league is there for th e taking,
But are we going to take it or are we going to hope it happens.
I'd like to see Kasey with a run now. Thought he looked good again coming on. You can see he's still missing something because when he does things right he's like Gullit out there.
But he's playing his way in nicely.
I'm pleased - I think. [Post edited 8 Dec 2020 22:00]
| | | |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 21:53 - Dec 8 with 531 views | 9MilesHigh |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 21:45 - Dec 8 by KeithHaynes |
Our defence is a fantastic thing to watch. If only the players in the top half, bar Ayew had that desire. |
The problem with that statement Keith is that the top half ARE our defence as well.
We don't take many chances mate | | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 09:32 - Dec 10 with 454 views | ItchySphincter |
Cooper’s style reminds me of Monkball a bit. It’s a mentality thing - you can keep justifying to yourself that you’re doing the right things when you’re scraping together points, but when the wheels fall off you have nothing, and it’s over. [Post edited 10 Dec 2020 18:19]
|  |
| |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 09:46 - Dec 10 with 446 views | 34dfgdf54 |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 09:32 - Dec 10 by ItchySphincter |
Cooper’s style reminds me of Monkball a bit. It’s a mentality thing - you can keep justifying to yourself that you’re doing the right things when you’re scraping together points, but when the wheels fall off you have nothing, and it’s over. [Post edited 10 Dec 2020 18:19]
|
Exactly, the feeling after the Luton game was weird, don’t think I’ve ever felt so deflated after a win. |  | | |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 12:55 - Dec 10 with 419 views | vetchonian |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 18:26 - Dec 8 by 9MilesHigh |
It is all about opinions yes, but I disagree with your reasoning there. I could be wrong and yes, it was to do with an injury, but Cooper also wanted to make use of a real talent in Guehi.
I guess only time will tell if he can cut it as a CB in a 4 man defence. I have my reservations because I don't think he is commanding enough in the air and where he bullies players on the ground he gets bullied in the air. Especially those balls under the crossbar which Championship managers would take full advantage of. It won't just be Warnock, other managers will see it as our weakness.
So this is why we went to a 3 in my opinion. To get Geuhi on the pitch but to mitigate the aerial risk he presents to us with his height/command in the air. That is covered by the two others, Rodon, Cabango and now Bennett.
But all games will be different, that's not to say we don't get punished every time if he's back there in a 4. But the problems of last season won't have gone away because he's had much more minutes on the pitch.
I don't think he'll play tonight so I am expecting a 4, but also Bennett likely to be out so I hope we don't sit back too much, we'll see.
Roberts * Latibeaudiere/Naughton * Cabango * Bidwell/Manning
We've got to get more fluidity in front of them but he'll probably play 10 defensive players and Ayew tonight. If Ayew plays as he looked tired Sat also. |
If Cooper was so keen to use Guehi why hadnt he used the 3 at the back prior to this when he could have played,Van Der Hoorn,Rodon and Guehi together? OR Van Der Hoorn WIllmott and Geuhi?
IT was injury that forced this change ...I see you are suggesting using Geuhi as Laudrup tried a few times with Jordi Amat as a DM dropping back into the back 4/5
I think with time Geuhi will sort the ariel issues he has...its highlighted in the championship as mnay teams play a style of putting balls into the box, I suspect mosty of Geuhi's football has been played where the ball is used mainly on the floor...as we used to like to play and many PL sides do....a few more games and some coaching will see him right | |
| |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 14:41 - Dec 10 with 400 views | Joe_bradshaw |
Not only has going to three brought the best out of Guehi but it has also brought the best out of Bidwell and Connor. Bidwell in particular is a completely different animal as a wing back.
Going to three was a way of using the tools at our disposal in the most effective manner. Whether it was stumbled upon by accident due to injury or by design it should have been apparent a lot earlier last season. I am prepared to but it down to Cooper’s inexperience to some extent but he really should have seen it before Christmas last year. |  |
| |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 14:49 - Dec 10 with 393 views | 9MilesHigh |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 12:55 - Dec 10 by vetchonian |
If Cooper was so keen to use Guehi why hadnt he used the 3 at the back prior to this when he could have played,Van Der Hoorn,Rodon and Guehi together? OR Van Der Hoorn WIllmott and Geuhi?
IT was injury that forced this change ...I see you are suggesting using Geuhi as Laudrup tried a few times with Jordi Amat as a DM dropping back into the back 4/5
I think with time Geuhi will sort the ariel issues he has...its highlighted in the championship as mnay teams play a style of putting balls into the box, I suspect mosty of Geuhi's football has been played where the ball is used mainly on the floor...as we used to like to play and many PL sides do....a few more games and some coaching will see him right |
I think because playing 3 at the back wasn't in Cooper's plans most of last season until the injury AND wanting to make use of Guehi.
Guehi came to life in a 3 and the transformation was huge. His performances in a 3 were in complete contrast to what they were in a 4 - when, let's face it, the criticism he had then was more than justified. He had some horror games.
But Guehi proved to be the player we hoped for in a 3 - but that brought about its own problems. It has meant we play more defensive natured players now and less attackers.
For as good as Roberts and Bidwell have done they are still traditional full backs. And it does show.
We don't play with real width and we don't commit players forward in sufficient numbers to really put teams to the sword.
We spoil, we frustrate, we play during lapses in the other teams performances and we nick a goal. Then we sit back and defend a lead very rarely scoring more than 1 goal a game. | | | |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 16:09 - Dec 10 with 369 views | glanmORJa_k |
Looking back to last season Guehi was a promising youngster with just 2 cup apps for Chelsea when he arrived and as much as he can be criticised for his early performances one must look at the different partners he had not only at centre back but also at full back when playing in a 4 man defence.
Bidwell was also criticised on numerous occasions for not only the defensive side of his game, lack of real pace but also his preference for the long ball down the touchline. Yes, he did provide some good crosses from the by-line but realistically we don't possess those type of strikers that would take advantage of that type of cross.
Fans on forums for weeks had been saying that we should be reverting to a back three and it worked wonders and yes, we have improved this season but what we are missing is the pace of Brewster counter attacking plus the remarkable goals he scored. A player of the calibre of Brewster has sorely been missed but another aspect I feel we are not utilising is the lack of pace out wide with Bidwell to complement Connor's pace and attacking instincts on the counter on our right side. Throw in our lack of pace in central midfield and the mis-match of playing both Smith and Grimes, and is it any wonder to see how easily we are nullified by our opponents.
Arguably, by the time the last window closed our squad was the strongest we have had since relegation from the PL, no doubt thanks to Rodon's transfer to Spurs that funded the new recruits, so lets hope that any significant signing in January does not come about through the proceeds of another one of our players like Cabango or Roberts. | | | |
| Boring Cooper and the Guehi problem on 16:59 - Dec 10 with 356 views | jasper_T |
"The pace of Brewster" come on, every long-legged centre half in the league was reeling him in over more than 5 yards. Those games where we were banging it into the channels for him to chase were dismal. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.