Ronald Koeman discussion

[BrendanGOT]

I'd say it is ridiculous to finish in the top 4 this season. We are miles behind clubs who have invested in their squads consistently for years. To expect to finish above them after one really big window of spending is daft.

Agree with you, but it was also ridiculous that Leicester won the league. Would they have done so with the manager telling them they've not a hope in hell, aren't good enough and should settle for mid table at best? I don't think for 1 second we should be mixing it with the top 4 and that doesnt annoy me, we're still about 150m of transfers away in my opinion and that's provided we don't lose players but what annoys me is the managers defeatist attitude, the same guy who's responsible for winning us games and trophies with his team selections and tactics.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Wish he would just shut up now with some of the negativity and start earning that massive £6m a year wages.

 

[Khalekan]

I wish I could share your optimism over our chances of attaining a top 4 position. The moment we failed to get an adequate replacement for Rom, are chances for a top 4 finish nosedived. We have already been taken apart by united, Chelsea and Spurs and were lucky to get a point at city (due to our negative second half performance). To attain a top 4 position you have to take points off the other top 6 teams, one point out of 12 suggests we won't.

OK, I agree with almost all of that.

Where I differ slightly is that I believe the Manc clubs and Chelsea will play in a little league of their own this season.

Which IMO rules out the top three places.

So if that is the case, our own mini league will be us with Arsenal, Spurs and the RS.

None of those three teams look particularly scary right now.....us bending over for Spurs notwithstanding

And we are not too far off those three teams right now points wise so as far as I am concerned, from 4th place down is up for grabs.

 

[Khalekan]

Wish he would just shut up now with some of the negativity and start earning that massive £6m a year wages.

Yip.

All very late Moyes era from him.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Yip.

All very late Moyes era from him.

Maybe it's like that film 'face off' mate, and it really is Moyes wearing Koeman's face!

 

[rochdaleblue]

OK, I agree with almost all of that.

Where I differ slightly is that I believe the Manc clubs and Chelsea will play in a little league of their own this season.

Which IMO rules out the top three places.

So if that is the case, our own mini league will be us with Arsenal, Spurs and the RS.

None of those three teams look particularly scary right now.....us bending over for Spurs notwithstanding

And we are not too far off those three teams right now points wise so as far as I am concerned, from 4th place down is up for grabs.

I know I keep harping on about it, but with no recognised centre forward, we are no way going to overtake the RS and Spurs. Even if we somehow managed to get one in January, we could well be out of the running by then anyway. I'm not being pessimistic just realistic, but I'd loved to be proved wrong

 

[windymiller]

OK, I agree with almost all of that.

Where I differ slightly is that I believe the Manc clubs and Chelsea will play in a little league of their own this season.

Which IMO rules out the top three places.

So if that is the case, our own mini league will be us with Arsenal, Spurs and the RS.

None of those three teams look particularly scary right now.....us bending over for Spurs notwithstanding

And we are not too far off those three teams right now points wise so as far as I am concerned, from 4th place down is up for grabs.

Maybe we should get out of the bottom four before we concentrate on getting in to the top four?

 

[Khalekan]

Maybe it's like that film 'face off' mate, and it really is Moyes wearing Koeman's face!

 

[Khalekan]

Maybe we should get out of the bottom four before we concentrate on getting in to the top four?

Nah.

We may be in the gutter, windy.

But some of us are looking at the stars

 

[captainvindaloo]

I know I keep harping on about it, but with no recognised centre forward, we are no way going to overtake the RS and Spurs. Even if we somehow managed to get one in January, we could well be out of the running by then anyway. I'm not being pessimistic just realistic, but I'd loved to be proved wrong

Nothing wrong in being a realist. I think you are right.
Our only hope would be a lack of consistency in those above us. Spurs, on current form, look unstoppable, but there is a very good chance that Kloppite and co will drop a few clangers, and the Arse will be their usual dithering selves.
As has been said though, it is up to us to first pull ourselves out of this mire before we can even consider flirting with the top four perimeter fence. We desperately need to get a good run going now, and build momentum, or it will be a sack of coal for us for Christmas, and a bleak new year.

 

[gorgeousgeorgeEFC]

In fairness to Koeman, he wasn't going out of his way to be negative; he was simply responding to Mourinho's bizarre assertion that we have to finish top 4 this season.

 

[Paul w]

Why not mate ?
Why write us off after 5 games ?
5 pts off 4th with 33 games left.....there's pessimism and there's lets have a good old moan just cos we can....sake lad.

Come and say that when we finish 4th,get your head out the clouds lad.

 

[EFCccc]

In fairness to Koeman, he wasn't going out of his way to be negative; he was simply responding to Mourinho's bizarre assertion that we have to finish top 4 this season.

Is that bizarre to think we should be challenging for top 4?. Koeman has spent £250m since hes been here.

 

[kenada_blue]

In fairness to Koeman, he wasn't going out of his way to be negative; he was simply responding to Mourinho's bizarre assertion that we have to finish top 4 this season.

He didn't. He said we spend £140mill to challenge for a top 4 spot.

He's not wrong.

But Koeman doesn't believe so, so here's to hoping for that 7th place trophy.

 

[kenada_blue]

Is that bizarre to think we should be challenging for top 4?. Koeman has spent £250m since hes been here.

Excuses for failure. He got it in early.

The idea that other teams have spent more means it rules us out is daft imo.

Spurs have spent less than City, United, Arsenal, RS, Chelsea...but are now a top 4 side.

Maybe it's down to the manager...