To me the most strikingly obvious thing is that we have at least a couple of real troublemakers in the locker room. The players stopped playing for Martinez, Koeman, could never be arsed under Unsworth and Alladyce's tenure is quickly showing similar signs. We have a bunch of mentally weak players. We need to ship out the rotten eggs and get a couple of true leaders in (someone like a Keane (Roy not the one we have) or Terry).
We have no leaders on the pitch and haven't for a while. I think Rooney is trying to do this role, but its better done by a player who is playing every game. I mean a true captain who plays 90 minutes every game. Preferably someone at the back or a defensive midfielder. I want to see someone having a go at people when we are playing gash, its as if this bunch don't care.
Perhaps Coleman could do this role, but he seems to quiet to me.
I think players who were natural “leaders” on the pitch are a dying breed these days.
Keane, Terry, Viera and players of that ilk are almost extinct.
IMO this is because the modern footballer is cosseted from a very early age.
Everything is done for him....every whim catered for.
The sense of entitlement is overwhelming.
Their coaches are obsessed with individual stats on every player so they do the same.
These guys are only interested in maintaining their own stats and very few of them are willing....or even capable....of standing up and setting an example on the field when the chips are down.
As
@degsy put it last night.....they are playing for the name on the back of the shirt, not the name on the front of it.
