Steve Walsh - no longer our Director of Football

[BlueToff]

It's also a nonsense, as both (particularly Klaassen) have also been tosh in the other competitions.

I ain't saying he hasn't been poor. He had a half-decent start but has been awful since.

A big part of that is the system/general confidence of the side, another part is Klaassen trying to play his natural game instead of realising he's going to have to change the way he plays to get into the games more.

But he isn't a bad player. I've seen enough of him over the last few years to know that.

This was meant for @Foot Long Hot Dog

 

[BlueToff]

Why do people insist on using the 'captain of Ajax' tag as if we're talking about the early 70s team? This is an Ajax team that hasn't even won the Dutch league for the last couple of years, him being their captain is absolutely not proof that he's a great player.

He doesn't just have a lack of confidence. He looked poor in pre-season, where he shouldn't have had a care in the world, and has done virtually nothing of any note whatsoever in his competitive appearances for us. Yes he can get better, but he's not done anything yet to suggest that improving would make him any more than average. I'm not writing him off, but he has a lot to do if he wants to be seen as a good signing.

He didn't look poor in pre-season though.

In fact, prior to the close of the transfer window (when it all started going wrong) Klaassen had created more chances than any other player for us.

At the moment him and Sandro look like conference players - in fact worse. But neither of them are. Both are good, young players who have come into a new league into a side without a plan or system in place and devoid of a focal point to even alleviate some of the issues.

 

[BlueToff]

Although I do have growing doubts whether Klassen will be successful in the PL (be that based on ability or adaptability), I do agree in parts.

Koeman has shown a frustrating tendency to shoehorn players into roles or styles that do not suit them, and our current perils can't help this.

Personally, Klassen has shown glimpses of clever movement and balls but unfortunately our approach means there's little options in front of him.

The pace of the Premier League added to our chronic lack of pace has left him floundering, which ultimately will add to his lack of confidence.

Is he good enough? I'm not truly sure, however with proves PL players like Sigurðsson struggling to find form then you have to provide leeway.

Likewise, Sandro is not an overly physical player who likes running onto balls played to his feet, whereas we simply lumped it up to him.

You've put my point across better than I did, Phil!

 

[Prevenger17]

It's never simply the obvious answer, which is: he's not good enough.

As I say, it could well be the case. But it hasn't been the most accommodating environment for someone to make the jump from Dutch to English football. Though he is a Dutch export, so he's either a bad player or has a terrible attitude.

 

[MikeH72]

Pretty much this entire thread is conjecture, nobody knows except those on the inside.

I heard at the match Koeman wanted Giroud or Benteke and when we got neither spat his dummy out. Note this is based on nothing but idle chat also.

Did he want a new defence as well mate? Because that was and is a massive issue at the moment like.

 

[hetion]

Re: Klaassen. He's a perfectly decent player at playing a VERY specific role in a specific type of team. Good touch, clever movement, decent passing, pops up in good places. However, because Koeman and Walsh apparently scout by sorting players on WhoScored by goals + assists, they thought they could just plonk him in midfield and goals and assists would magically appear, with no regard whatsoever for a tactical plan or playing style.

See also: Sandro for a team that can't pick out runners, Sigurdsson for a team that has no target men.

 

[MickA]

Did he want a new defence as well mate? Because that was and is a massive issue at the moment like.

Dunno, ask Koeman not me.

 

[jceverton]

The manager sets out who/what types of player he wants.

The DoF is responsible for getting the targets identified and then getting the deals over the line - with the support of the board, who green light the fees.

Yes I understand that is the normal practice. Doesn't answer the point about why Koeman was telling Agents he was in charge of recruiting players and not Walsh.

 

[MikeH72]

Dunno, ask Koeman not me.

Ah thought you might have heard it, no worries.

 

[Lanolin]

He didn't look poor in pre-season though.

In fact, prior to the close of the transfer window (when it all started going wrong) Klaassen had created more chances than any other player for us.

At the moment him and Sandro look like conference players - in fact worse. But neither of them are. Both are good, young players who have come into a new league into a side without a plan or system in place and devoid of a focal point to even alleviate some of the issues.

I disagree, I thought he was poor in pre-season. As did all of the following people who commented on pre-season games. As you can see, there were quite a lot of us (apologies for vaulting people but it's a positive vault not a negative one).

Pickford and Keane are a hit 100%.

Sandro closing in on them.

Klaassen still meh. Rooney as expected.

Is Klaasen back from his hols yet. I was hoping to see him play in pre-season.


Must have averaged 3 touches per 45 mins in preseason. Frustratingly there quite decent ones when he does touch it.

Good test on the fitness this, Sevilla so much more comfortable on the ball.

Morgs has looked awful at times misplacing simple passes, Klaassen needs to show anything the game just passes him by and when he gets involved there is no end product.

DCL needs to make it stick more but can't really fault the lad so far barely had a decent bit of service in to him all game.

Do like how we are set up though with Sandro playing as a wide forward, always felt this is the way we should be going in to the season if we bring in another attacker just need to get the front 3 in the game more when possible.

Pickford looks good so far can tell the lad is just naturally confident which a GK needs, Keane been excellent aswell.

Klaassen isnt better than either Barkley or Dowell I'm afraid. Hoping to be proved wrong.

He has improved. Klassen and Davies have been pretty poor today. This is what happens when you put two like-minded players (Rooney/Klassen) in the middle. Klassen looks lost on the pitch.

Klaassen= Schteven Nayschmith

Pickford and Keane have been class, Sandro, 1 chance 1 goal, sorted.

DLC working hard with nobody bothering to get within 20 yards of him to mount a high press.

Schneiderlin annoying me, playing obvious balls in to marked players, CBs exposed 2 or 3 times right through the middle.

Rooney actually looks better today than he has all pre-season, still doesn't look any good.

Davies having to cover way too much ground because of.... Klaassen, sorry mate, would prefer Naismith based on what I've seen so far.

We deffo need some creativty / pace upfront. Very lacking looking at the last few games.

Prefer Ross to Klassen right now.

Klaassen so far looking not up to par. Too slow and sturdy. I'd rather start Rooney over him.

He's presence/influence is practically non-existent and I do think that Rooney is part of the issue.

Remember reading some tweet of a friend of jon jo k who said j jk wasnt to impressed with klassan in training

Rooney and Klaassen offerd very little together I hope they don't both start against Stoke.

Good: Sandro, Lookman, Kenny, Mirallas, Keane, Pickford,
Meh: Besic, Klaasen, Rooney, Martina and everyone else. Sevilla were clearly better than us but no one was outstandingly bad and we defended well.

 

[billyblue80]

Even defeat - an expected one - at Stamford Bridge will not see him removed.

Re: Klaassen. He's a perfectly decent player at playing a VERY specific role in a specific type of team. Good touch, clever movement, decent passing, pops up in good places. However, because Koeman and Walsh apparently scout by sorting players on WhoScored by goals + assists, they thought they could just plonk him in midfield and goals and assists would magically appear, with no regard whatsoever for a tactical plan or playing style.

See also: Sandro for a team that can't pick out runners, Sigurdsson for a team that has no target men.

This is the entire problem they bought players with no regard for how they would fit a system.

 

[MickA]

Ah thought you might have heard it, no worries.

No worries mate.

Was thinking about the defence the other day and it is worrying. Jagielka/Williams/Baines all maybe an injury away from being finished completely at the top level. Funes Mori long term injured and even if he came back as he was that's not really good enough. We should have been replacing this defence piecemeal over the last 4/5 years. It's a big job for the mgr/DOF/whoever

 

[MikeH72]

No worries mate.

Was thinking about the defence the other day and it is worrying. Jagielka/Williams/Baines all maybe an injury away from being finished completely at the top level. Funes Mori long term injured and even if he came back as he was that's not really good enough. We should have been replacing this defence piecemeal over the last 4/5 years. It's a big job for the mgr/DOF/whoever

I think they're already finished at the top level, and Williams and Jagielka were finished last season. Buying Keane on his own was a pointless signing without bringing in someone that can play alongside him, he's been thrown in there and asked to sort out our defence on his own. Baines is our only left back and he has no legs anymore, we were reduced to playing a godawful right back at left back last week because we needed to give Baines a rest. A massive failing of both the DOF and manager in the summer was not addressing these problems, they've been staring us in the face for the best part of a year.

 

[BlueToff]

Yes I understand that is the normal practice. Doesn't answer the point about why Koeman was telling Agents he was in charge of recruiting players and not Walsh.

How do you know he was?

 

[bag a yoko]

Walsh has failed as badly at his job as Koeman but doesn't have to put up with being interviewed twice a week.
He was strolling around Milan in the summer so presumably he deals directly with other clubs and it's his responsibility to get in the players. To start a PL season with 4 competitions and no experienced striker should be a sacking offence on its own.