JimJams

To an extent, but I've said before that he's come into a team playing a system that worked and got the best out of it's best players. There was no need for fundamental changes to the system. Coopers preferred method of a high fullback could possibly have been the mercurial "Plan B" that so many seem to desire. Unfortunately the manager has chosen to dismiss what worked last season in favour of his preferred system, which is his right of course. But when his preferred system isn't getting the best out of our best players, as it currently isn't, then he needs to change his methodology. Questions also need to be asked about why you'd appoint a manager whose philosophy doesn't marry up with the players at his disposal. If he's not willing to adapt it anyway. Which he may. When you come in to a club 9 times out of 10 you're replacing a sacked manager. Making changes to the play style is generally a necessity. But with us, that's not the case. He's choosing to play this way when there is a ready made alternative that this squad of players have shown they are capable of playing to a good standard. Now he might not think they can play it at Premier League standard, but if you're then changing that to something different that's not achieving any better results, was it worth changing?

The worst thing about this is it's a tactical decision and it makes no sense. Cooper clearly likes the idea of one of the fullbacks to push up the wing and help out in an attacking sense. He's chosen to make that VK, despite the fact Ricardo is better than VK in all aspects, especially attacking. And because he's decided to use VK, presumably because he wants his left winger to come further inside and thinks it's better for Mav/Reid/Ayew to do that than Fatawu, it means the RB has to become an RCB when the LB pushes up. And so he's obviously decided that JJ is better at dropping in as a makeshift CB than Ricardo. The other issue with this is that VK has been pretty poor playing high up the pitch, and only looked good (like the rest of the team) in the second halves vs Spurs and Villa. In both second halves Cooper made an adjustment and VK was playing further inside, not as far up, and only occasionally moving into that LWB role but more often sitting closer to the other mdifielders. Which is similar to the inverted fullback moving in as a DM. Ricardos role last season. So the high fullback system isn't really working and has been largely abandoned in the second half of games and we've looked better for it. So the other problem is that Cooper is setting up ultra defensive. We're starting games with 3 DMs. So if you want that extra assurance in the midfield then surely having Ricardo playing the role he did last season as in inverted RB that drops in alongside Winks makes a ton of sense. It gives us that DM Cooper craves and hell we could still effectively have 3 DM's with Winks, Skipp and Riccy P dropping in and thus allowing us to add a creative player in the mix. You could even drop Winks and have 2 attacking players! Cooper seems to be handicapping us by not using him because in his mind his tactical plan is best suited to the other options. But the evidence proves it's not. The things Cooper wants to achieve, whether it's having a high fullback to help in the attack or a more solid group in the middle of the park BOTH can be achieved with Ricardo better than the alternatives. But he can't see it.

We've effectively got a number of 6 pointers coming up. We need positive results in those. A 6 point cushion to the drop zone by Christmas is desirable with the impending deduction. And despite our rough start, others are having it just as rough, or worse. We need to take advantage of that.

All 6 of them.

We've played 2 decent halves of football. On the face of it most people outside of the fanbase would expect us to lose to Spurs and Villa and maybe get something away to Fulham. Though it's not happened quite like that, the points outcome is probably how those on the outside would have seen it going. We've got our major games to come after the break. We need to be beating the likes of Everton, Bournemouth (and with the way they've started maybe add Palace) and the other promoted sides. Now we have a finished squad and an international break to work through there's no excuses for Cooper. He needs to start playing to win.

The pen claims weren't pens. The first is a good challenge from Tielemans and the second one Vardy was given offside, so a foul is moot. The Skipp foul I can agree with, but the ref didn't have a bad game imo.

He was making some really good progressive passes too, so maybe he was a Maresca player?

Obviously been kept as injury cover, doubt we see him otherwise, but there's always January.

But Wilf doesn't keep the ball so having a better player on the ball like Buo or Bilal doesn't necessarily mean you're worse off defensively, because the opponent isn't constantly being gifted the ball.

I think the new signings largely did well. Ayew was one of our better players, but I think he needs to sit out and start Mav. Jordan can come on and be an outball and help defend a (dare I say it?) lead. Okoli played well at the back. A few moments where it wasn't quite right but decent overall. Buo scored, Bilal looked good. Skipp played well enough too, but we can't have such an unimaginative midfield. Wilf should be the bench option for injuries.

You did indeed.

BOURNEMOUTH GOAL @CaliFOXnia

Buo got a bit excited there. A little composure needed.

Dunno why everyone is appealing that, it's not a penalty.

WHAT, WHY YOU SAYING THAT!!!! GOD!!!!!

Oh JJ... Not the top of your head lad.

They should both be on the pitch at the same time. It's more difficult for them to cover both sides than one at a time. They'll probably shut Mav down soon. Emery likely will adjust to him.

That goal shows why these players should start but Cooper will see this as a reason to keep them for the bench.

GET IN!

Saints down by 3.

Saints hit again after losing it from playing out.

So slow there to every man in that move. Oh and it's Duran.

Similar change in us to the Spurs game. Need to maintain the pressure and use the subs wisely.

It's not a goal. It's hit him and diverted the ball for us to score. He also blew the whistle before the pass was even made to Vardy,. Seems shit but it's right tbf.

I don't think it needs 10 - 15 games for Cooper. I think you give him to Bournemouth. We'll have Palace, Everton and Bournemouth along with Arsenal. Need a good set of results from that taking points from our relegation rivals because you've then got an international break and a run of what should be winnable games in Saints, Forest and Ipswich. For me this is an audition to see if he merits sticking with through those games.