Ronald Koeman discussion

[Mountfield1985]

Wonder how Ron will have us lining up tonight.

Hopefully he doesn't change much. Probably Schneiderlin in.

If we win and United or City drop points, we're not far off them.

Schneiderlin in for Barry. I expect a tight tense game tonight, will be a massive result if we can dig out a win.

 

[Deco]

Schneiderlin in for Barry. I expect a tight tense game tonight, will be a massive result if we can dig out a win.

At the start of the season it felt like we would win every game and that's how it feels for me right now so hopefully we can pull it off.

Schneiderlin's fitness against stoke would definitely help.

 

[Steve Wigan]

As I said in the match thread...we are currently witnessing some quite good management from Mr. Koeman. United get beaten tonight and we win...and we're two points off sixth. We could in fact be on the edge of the top four within a couple of weeks.

 

[ianefc]

Regardless of result Koeman has had a shocker here. This formation that we started with has given us 3 consecutive league wins and since HT we've been hopeless. Which is when he changed the formation. Really annoying.

 

[andy4efc]

I disagree Ian. Stoke were finding so much space on the ball when we had the 5 across the back (or 3, depending on possesion). Half time solved that problem by giving us more energy in the middle. Second half they really didn't get as much as they were second half.

I dont think it helped Barkley having a poor game, Lukaku too. A bit more energy and belief from both of them and we may have created more.

 

[davek]

I disagree Ian. Stoke were finding so much space on the ball when we had the 5 across the back (or 3, depending on possesion). Half time solved that problem by giving us more energy in the middle. Second half they really didn't get as much as they were second half.

I dont think it helped Barkley having a poor game, Lukaku too. A bit more energy and belief from both of them and we may have created more.

Correct. Stoke should have been out of sight after 30 minutes. The fact they weren't is down to their finishing and Robles.

 

[bluestevon]

Regardless of result Koeman has had a shocker here. This formation that we started with has given us 3 consecutive league wins and since HT we've been hopeless. Which is when he changed the formation. Really annoying.

We where getting carved open and could have easily been three down at the half mate, good management getting holgate off as he looked terrible today.

 

[Abraders]

Doesnt bring in an out and out striker, doesn't even play the one he brought in who was showing signs of promise anymore. Wth koeman

Other than that, good sub on holgate who was struggling

 

[ianefc]

We where getting carved open and could have easily been three down at the half mate, good management getting holgate off as he looked terrible today.

I thought (with the exception of last 5 minutes) we looked more dangerous in first half.

 

[Dirty Dutch]

We where getting carved open and could have easily been three down at the half mate, good management getting holgate off as he looked terrible today.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[blue to the bone]

I thought (with the exception of last 5 minutes) we looked more dangerous in first half.

So did they though

 

[ianefc]

So did they though

I thought, territorially they were better in the 2nd half. We seemed to go minutes at a time without looking dangerous.

 

[bluestevon]

I thought (with the exception of last 5 minutes) we looked more dangerous in first half.

Yes but they where getting absolute clear cut chances mate, was wise to change it up - holgate plays that second half and could seriously wreck the lads confidence should he continue getting targetted the way he was.

Subbed with a formation change sured us up

 

[ianefc]

I disagree Ian. Stoke were finding so much space on the ball when we had the 5 across the back (or 3, depending on possesion). Half time solved that problem by giving us more energy in the middle. Second half they really didn't get as much as they were second half.

I dont think it helped Barkley having a poor game, Lukaku too. A bit more energy and belief from both of them and we may have created more.

That's fair, but just getting into Feb and with 15 games to go, being just 10 points off last seasons total or 7 when El Fraudo was sacked represents solid progress.

 

[bluestevon]

I thought, territorially they were better in the 2nd half. We seemed to go minutes at a time without looking dangerous.

We looked dangerous whenever we upped our tempo higher up the pitch second half I thought, just Rom had a poor day with mistiming any runs, and Ross had a day that he tried to do too much.

Overall an away point at stoke in the conditions that suited the way they wanted to play ain't a bad result like.