Cooper - OUT

[LCFCJohn]

Let’s be honest, first things first, it’s a waste of time calling for his job after back to back wins. It’s not even a stick to beat Top and Rudkin with. It’s very rare (not to say it never happens) that a manager would be relieved after a win let alone back to back. What I would expect from Top and Rudkin is to be in a position to act when it does become time and have researched replacements (haha).
 

Also, being so early in the season makes it unlikely. Despite being content with Cooper’s appointment, I’ve been very disappointed with the line ups and game management but at the moment, he is getting results. If we can keep, at worst, our heads above water and even keep a bit clear, if we get sucked in as we get on through the season, it would present much more likely circumstances to change the manager. 

And there are positives for all the negative. 
 

We are scoring in every game and in good numbers.

 

Unlikely under Rodgers, we do not look likely to conceded regularly from set pieces and unlikely Rodgers and Enzo, we also look more threatening from them. Yes we have a specialist coach but a good trait for a manager is allowing specialists to improve on areas like this. 
 

You can point to the fact we are behind in the first place and that is a problem, but we are definitely showing more fight to get back in games than we have previously. Could you see a 2-0 deficit turn until a 3-2 win under Rodgers or Enzo? I couldn’t (thought as I write that, I’m thinking maybe there was one good comeback under Enzo last year).

 

And for the first time, yesterday, his changes seem to positively affect the game. Again, it was undoing the mess and that is a problem. 

[DennisNedry]

9 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Let’s be honest, first things first, it’s a waste of time calling for his job after back to back wins. It’s not even a stick to beat Top and Rudkin with. It’s very rare (not to say it never happens) that a manager would be relieved after a win let alone back to back. What I would expect from Top and Rudkin is to be in a position to act when it does become time and have researched replacements (haha).
 

Also, being so early in the season makes it unlikely. Despite being content with Cooper’s appointment, I’ve been very disappointed with the line ups and game management but at the moment, he is getting results. If we can keep, at worst, our heads above water and even keep a bit clear, if we get sucked in as we get on through the season, it would present much more likely circumstances to change the manager. 

And there are positives for all the negative. 
 

We are scoring in every game and in good numbers.

 

Unlikely under Rodgers, we do not look likely to conceded regularly from set pieces and unlikely Rodgers and Enzo, we also look more threatening from them. Yes we have a specialist coach but a good trait for a manager is allowing specialists to improve on areas like this. 
 

You can point to the fact we are behind in the first place and that is a problem, but we are definitely showing more fight to get back in games than we have previously. Could you see a 2-0 deficit turn until a 3-2 win under Rodgers or Enzo? I couldn’t (thought as I write that, I’m thinking maybe there was one good comeback under Enzo last year).

 

And for the first time, yesterday, his changes seem to positively affect the game. Again, it was undoing the mess and that is a problem. 

I came here to make a few of those points and see you've done so better that I could have done.

[worth_the_wait]

7 hours ago, CH1_Fox said:

Tactically all over the shop. Starting XI often puzzling. I’m as big a Steve Cooper critic as anyone but he’s clearly doing something right, the graft and mentality has been decent since game 1. With some poor sides in the division, that probably keeps us up 

That's the point.       

We've only lost one of our last 5 games (away to world-beating luvvies Arsenal).    So even if you can't understand it, the management team must be doing something right.

[Tommy G]

Who thought we’d have 9 pts after 8 games with a better GD than 7 other teams, not me! 

[Stadt]

Credit to him for making the subs earlier than usual. 
 

Strange game, play it 10 times and I don’t think you get the same score like twice. 

[Lcfc-1992]

The annoying thing is he doesn’t even have to change that much. Start Ricardo and Fatawu, stop the tactic of one full back pushing on.

[hejammy]

1 hour ago, Kent said:

Giving the manager an ounce of credit won’t get you banned from the forum.

As they say, credit where credit is due, but if I don't feel like the credit is due then why would I give him even an ounce? Makes no sense? 

[HighPeakFox]

It is perhaps worth mentioning that one of the reasons he is our manager is that others really did not fancy it. If he manages to keep us up and the PSR stuff goes away, then (perhaps) we become more attractive to better managers.

 

Or maybe the way the club is run is now widely known and the damage is done in that regard.

[Mike1983]

The issue I have with Cooper is that we consistently botch the first half and only show fight in the second when our backs are against the wall. The Bournemouth game being the one exception.

 

I’ll give him credit for at least getting us to show some fight, which is more than we saw with Enzo or Brendan towards the end.

[foxfanazer]

He's here for the season, think we've just got to accept it and hope there are at least 3 worse teams than us this season. There's genuinely no style of play or obvious tactics and the players don't look at all motivated by him. Luckily this bunch of players look like they have more personal pride than the side that got relegated under Rodgers 

[Foxin_Mad]

I'm not a fan but somehow he seems to get results. 

 

We seem to operate on a general system of keep it out our end and get it in theirs as much as possible by any means. 

 

If we played as we did 2nd half on the front foot, we give a lot of teams problems.

 

If he keeps us up then fair dos, he will have done a job. The thing is he seems a decent bloke.

[foxfanazer]

1 minute ago, Foxin_Mad said:

I'm not a fan but somehow he seems to get results. 

 

We seem to operate on a general system of keep it out our end and get it in theirs as much as possible by any means. 

 

If we played as we did 2nd half on the front foot, we give a lot of teams problems.

 

If he keeps us up then fair dos, he will have done a job. The thing is he seems a decent bloke.

It might sound harsh but he relies on the opposition turning to absolute shit or individual brilliance, whether it be Mads in goal or the likes of Fatawu or Facundo making something from nothing. Imo it isn't sustainable and our luck will run out.

 

Don't get me wrong though I was buzzing to see us come back yesterday and the table is looking more than alright. Just don't get the impression he'll learn anything from the first half performance 

[gazzaa2]

Obviously he isn't being sacked at the moment but the issue will be if Southampton and Wolves get new manager bounces.

 

Cooper has been massively lucky with results this season, our outlying numbers are awful. You'll take any win but it's not sustainable. Survival is achievable but it'll probably take a mid season change if performances don't improve. The players are battling but they don't seem to be taking the tactics on board 

[Jacnah]

There is clearly a fighting spirit in the team that, if the players weren't with the manager, would not be there as consistently as it is. He's doing better in terms of results than many of us feared. There comes a point where those of us who are actually prepared to change opinions based on evidence start giving him some credit.

 

Im not saying I'm fully convinced, but hes clearly doing somethings right.

Edited 20 October 2024 by Jacnah

[The whole world smiles]

Saying you cooper out is like me saying I'm pro sleeping with Margot Robbie, it's an irrelevant statement because it's just not realistic at this time. 

 

And if you went pub with me and that's all I talked about you would probably think I was a boring weirdo. Luckily I don't talk about it all the time because I've come to terms with the fact it isn't happening and it's time for you guys to do the same with cooper.

 

The club in the king power era have never been particularly trigger happy i mean what's the earliest into a tenure that we have sacked a manager? I especially remember Pearson and Rodgers getting more time to turn it around than a lot of other clubs would have given them. But this is also irrelevant because in the eyes of the people that matter (the ones who appointed him) sacking him isn't even a tiny consideration he is performing well in the only metrics that really matter points and league position. 

 

So all your doing with your constant moaning is upsetting yourselves.

[jonny_wright]

I’m not a fan of Cooper, but if before the season you’d say we would have won 2, drawn 3 and lost 3 from those opening fixtures I’d never had believed you..

 

it’s a results business, and Cooper is getting them 

[jonny_wright]

24 minutes ago, gazzaa2 said:

Obviously he isn't being sacked at the moment but the issue will be if Southampton and Wolves get new manager bounces.

 

Cooper has been massively lucky with results this season, our outlying numbers are awful. You'll take any win but it's not sustainable. Survival is achievable but it'll probably take a mid season change if performances don't improve. The players are battling but they don't seem to be taking the tactics on board 

Oh on stats we are bottom 2… maybe we have that little bit of quality, and a good-ish bench to call to, we seem to have a good 25mins in games and be awful for the rest. 

[Rossiter]

17 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

It might sound harsh but he relies on the opposition turning to absolute shit or individual brilliance, whether it be Mads in goal or the likes of Fatawu or Facundo making something from nothing. Imo it isn't sustainable and our luck will run out.

 

Don't get me wrong though I was buzzing to see us come back yesterday and the table is looking more than alright. Just don't get the impression he'll learn anything from the first half performance 

I think it is harsh. Individual brilliance - well he picked the players that showed it (or got them on the pitch). Messi, Ronaldo - individual brilliance. Pleased we've got some players who can do it. Maybe the effort the team put in contributed to Southampton's downturn during the game. Winning goal was a tactic worked out on training ground so evidently work is done in that area and it's not just effort and hope. SC has weaknesses, we all do, name me a manager that has none. We are Leicester City in 2024, it's going to be bumpy, we aren't going to cruise through games very often if at all. Yesterday was bumpy but we rode our luck (probably due some tbf) and kept going. If he starts with Fatawu on Friday then that will answer your question about him learning anything from the first half. We'll see. 

[SafewayFox]

So I’m not trying to compete with many great posters about tactics @StriderHiryu etc

 

BUT I can’t shake how bad we are defensively as a team under Cooper.

 

Look at where Faes is - he’s so far away from his CB partner in Okoli and this happens in every game….best CB pairings work as a unit.

 

We concede so many chances and like others have said Southampton could have been out of sight in the first half and we’d have no complaints.

 

It’s not realistic to want Cooper out based on our last two results but he still isn’t our long term solution and as long as the board see that, I’ll just enjoy the now.

[foxfanazer]

4 minutes ago, Rossiter said:

I think it is harsh. Individual brilliance - well he picked the players that showed it (or got them on the pitch). Messi, Ronaldo - individual brilliance. Pleased we've got some players who can do it. Maybe the effort the team put in contributed to Southampton's downturn during the game. Winning goal was a tactic worked out on training ground so evidently work is done in that area and it's not just effort and hope. SC has weaknesses, we all do, name me a manager that has none. We are Leicester City in 2024, it's going to be bumpy, we aren't going to cruise through games very often if at all. Yesterday was bumpy but we rode our luck (probably due some tbf) and kept going. If he starts with Fatawu on Friday then that will answer your question about him learning anything from the first half. We'll see. 

For the first half we made Southampton look like prime Barca. I'm delighted we pulled it back but you can't leave yourself with mountains to climb every week. I want to see us being proactive rather than reactive and actually impose ourselves on teams (especially the ones in and around us). 

 

As for Fatawu I don't think he has any option but to start him now but we'll see. I want it to work but I just don't see any tactical nous from the bloke therefore no longevity. We won't be sacking him anytime soon though and to be honest I'm fine with that for now

Edited 20 October 2024 by foxfanazer

[MGLCFC]

40 minutes ago, Mike1983 said:

The Bournemouth game being the one exception.

And Crystal Palace, but I take your point, we rarely play a two halves of decent consistent football. 

[LinekersLugs]

He seems a little clueless at times

 

but seems to be getting results

 

his most clever move has been to get Vardy’s backing and get him scoring

 

I get the feel that as long as that continues he will survive  

[foxfanazer]

What I will say though is as far as points on the board he/we have exceeded my expectations by far. I can see it being a really low total to stay up this season so 9 points from 8 will do nicely 

[Blarmy]

20 minutes ago, The whole world smiles said:

Saying you cooper out is like me saying I'm pro sleeping with Margot Robbie, it's an irrelevant statement because it's just not realistic at this time. 

 

Not completely given up on Robbie then, good to see fella. 

[Claridge]

11 minutes ago, MGLCFC said:

And Crystal Palace, but I take your point, we rarely play a two halves of decent consistent football. 

Strange that with a new manager, new players and being a promoted club in the prem