Stevie Cooper

[wassy04]

Great post Magic. I agree entirely.

Cooper has been like a breath of fresh air since he came in but would a team of a 'great coach' have conceded 3 goals from set plays the way we did on Saturday? Probably not. Were not doing the basics right and we're at the back end of the season now so there's been plenty of time to sort this kind of stuff out. Cooper has changed formations and players all season but we continue to be terrible away from home. Thats got to be down to coaching, tactics, mental approach.

He's a lovely, genuine bloke and I dont want him sacked but we've got to admit that maybe he's not as good a coach as the fans think, or want to think he is. But that said, next season in the Championship he could do great stuff with us again.

I wanted to just touch on your last point as for me it's not about whether he's some generational coach (which I've never really bought in to). For me he's been the best coach we've had since I've been a fan which in itself is enough to want him to stay and reward him for last year and reward him for the positive atmosphere he created.

However, from a more rational perspective and ignoring the points, I also remain of the opinion that whether Cooper is amazing or not (I think he's young and learning at this level still), I don't believe there was a better alternative out there. Emery was never an option for us, is Dyche better? He's got Everton in broadly the same position as Lampard did. Doesn't feel like a long term appointment either or one that would be able to produce the kind of attacking football we saw last year. Rafa, no thanks. Any of the other options post Dyche were either young and unproven (eg Cooper) or Rafa types. Good managers seem less willing to move mid-season at the moment, particularly to relegation candidates and that was born out in the failure of Leeds, Southampton, Leicester and ourselves to find a better option.