(25-09-2022, 11:07 AM)Sniffer Dog (Admin) Wrote:

(25-09-2022, 09:28 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote:

(25-09-2022, 02:02 AM)JWJW Wrote: Freuler played with 4 at the back.

4-2-3-1  is how the Swiss beat Spain.


Can Cooper finally see that we cannot continue playing a very very weak 5 at the back.  He has to stop.............we dont have the players for 5 at the back in this league........we are too weak.

We need to go 4 at the back and have the extra man in the middle...........then players like Freuler can thrive.

OK lets say thats true.

Can someone then explain to me the following. We know 352 is Coopers preferred formation and was successful last season. We had a completely blank canvas this summer to rebuild the squad and bought in 22 players.
So how come the recruitment ended up with a squad unsuited to play the preferred formation?

Perhaps we thought it was suited but only now we are finding out that it might not be the case.

I would also add that a coach needs to be flexible and be able to adjust fluently to different systems even during a match.

(25-09-2022, 09:28 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote:

(25-09-2022, 02:02 AM)JWJW Wrote: Freuler played with 4 at the back.

4-2-3-1  is how the Swiss beat Spain.


Can Cooper finally see that we cannot continue playing a very very weak 5 at the back.  He has to stop.............we dont have the players for 5 at the back in this league........we are too weak.

We need to go 4 at the back and have the extra man in the middle...........then players like Freuler can thrive.

OK lets say thats true.

Can someone then explain to me the following. We know 352 is Coopers preferred formation and was successful last season. We had a completely blank canvas this summer to rebuild the squad and bought in 22 players.
So how come the recruitment ended up with a squad unsuited to play the preferred formation?

(26-09-2022, 05:20 AM)JWJW Wrote: Simple learning..........

Cooper has now found out that to play his preferred formation in the PL, he would likely need to spend another 150 million to get the quality of players needed to play that formation in the PL.

He either adapts to a new stronger formation - less attacking - more solid in the middle.............. or he loses more and more games and gets sacked.

Lets be honest..........we were lucky not to lose the play off semi and we were lucky not to lose the play off final.

We were a very weak promoted team, and are currently a very weak PL team.  Cooper has hopefully learnt some hard lessons and will change things now........back to managing the squad and using the squad as best possible.

(26-09-2022, 08:22 AM)Paplane Wrote:

(26-09-2022, 05:20 AM)JWJW Wrote: Simple learning..........

Cooper has now found out that to play his preferred formation in the PL, he would likely need to spend another 150 million to get the quality of players needed to play that formation in the PL.

He either adapts to a new stronger formation - less attacking - more solid in the middle.............. or he loses more and more games and gets sacked.

Lets be honest..........we were lucky not to lose the play off semi and we were lucky not to lose the play off final.

We were a very weak promoted team, and are currently a very weak PL team.  Cooper has hopefully learnt some hard lessons and will change things now........back to managing the squad and using the squad as best possible.

Bit harsh. You could say Bournemouth were the worst sides of the three promoted and Fulham bot much better by the end. And we weren't lucky to win the final, Huddersfield didn't have a shot on target.

But I take your point. The side was probably not as good as we thought it was. One thing I do know though, that side beats this one currently.

(26-09-2022, 08:48 AM)Username Wrote: I think people are overrating some of the individuals from last season tbh.

I know there was a clamour from some to sign Keinan but he’s actually barely played for Watford, only started one game and not yet completed 90 minutes. He finally has his first goal in four appearances.

I thought Djed died off as the season went on, only showing glimpses of what he could do in that latter half. He’s gone to a Prem team and can’t get in.

Zinc. Is he better than MGW? He’s gone to Oly and then on to Belgium, having been unable to settle at Watford.

Samba. I was a big fan but is he better than Henderson? I doubt it.

Colback v Lodi? I don’t know the answer to that one yet tbh.

(26-09-2022, 08:48 AM)Username Wrote: I think people are overrating some of the individuals from last season tbh.

I know there was a clamour from some to sign Keinan but he’s actually barely played for Watford, only started one game and not yet completed 90 minutes. He finally has his first goal in four appearances.

I thought Djed died off as the season went on, only showing glimpses of what he could do in that latter half. He’s gone to a Prem team and can’t get in.

Zinc. Is he better than MGW? He’s gone to Oly and then on to Belgium, having been unable to settle at Watford.

Samba. I was a big fan but is he better than Henderson? I doubt it.

Colback v Lodi? I don’t know the answer to that one yet tbh.

(26-09-2022, 12:38 PM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote:

(26-09-2022, 08:48 AM)Username Wrote: I think people are overrating some of the individuals from last season tbh.

I know there was a clamour from some to sign Keinan but he’s actually barely played for Watford, only started one game and not yet completed 90 minutes. He finally has his first goal in four appearances.

I thought Djed died off as the season went on, only showing glimpses of what he could do in that latter half. He’s gone to a Prem team and can’t get in.

Zinc. Is he better than MGW? He’s gone to Oly and then on to Belgium, having been unable to settle at Watford.

Samba. I was a big fan but is he better than Henderson? I doubt it.

Colback v Lodi? I don’t know the answer to that one yet tbh.

Nobody has said we only keep last seasons players but we could have kept some and added a few more quality additions.

Keinan (hold up play) and one other proven scorer instead of Awoniyi and Dennis, would have kept Bowler here as back up to Brennan.
Spence (could have tried harder to keep him) plus Aurier (free) instead of Williams
Zinc instead of Lingard, could still have got MGW
Garner instead of one of Freuler/Kouyate/OBrien/Mangala take your pick
Keep Lodi but didnt need Richards. To be honest I prefer Toff anyway. Nobody said play Colback in the PL
Could have Kept Figs considering Biancone, Bade and Mbe Soh are never going to play.

(26-09-2022, 08:22 AM)Paplane Wrote:

(26-09-2022, 05:20 AM)JWJW Wrote: Simple learning..........

Cooper has now found out that to play his preferred formation in the PL, he would likely need to spend another 150 million to get the quality of players needed to play that formation in the PL.

He either adapts to a new stronger formation - less attacking - more solid in the middle.............. or he loses more and more games and gets sacked.

Lets be honest..........we were lucky not to lose the play off semi and we were lucky not to lose the play off final.

We were a very weak promoted team, and are currently a very weak PL team.  Cooper has hopefully learnt some hard lessons and will change things now........back to managing the squad and using the squad as best possible.

Bit harsh. You could say Bournemouth were the worst sides of the three promoted and Fulham bot much better by the end. And we weren't lucky to win the final, Huddersfield didn't have a shot on target.

But I take your point. The side was probably not as good as we thought it was. One thing I do know though, that side beats this one currently.