Another disorganised clueless defeat. Feels a bit harsh ? Honestly, I don’t think so and nor do a huge number of fans if the reaction online is anything to by. It’s not that losing to Chelsea and Spurs is a massive shock. It’s simply the manner of those defeats that tells a story we really didn’t expect.
So what did we “expect” from a really tough start to the season ? Six straight wins against last seasons best teams ? Nope. I think we expected to show up, to see a team competing, some real signs of permanent top six quality and er, maybe a few shots at goal ?
Koeman seems to be setting his team’s up to avoid heavy defeats, but accepting a loss before we’ve even started. Which is crazy, of course, how could that ever be the case but then the manager has already announced we are not finishing top four and also, it seems, top six if the shambles of these two defeats by Chelsea and Spurs are any measure.
Our failure to get close to a balanced squad in the transfer window is pretty well documented. Only Mr Moshiri thinks it’s all about players gelling? It’s not. It’s about a total mind blowing failure to replace by one or yes two, strikers, the 20-25 goals a season we lost when selling Rom with two years left on his contract. It’s also about a failure to see Williams simply isn’t good enough, and that on top of the need to replace him we also badly needed left sided cover. But there you go, we did “good business” apparently because we spent £150m, on a clutch of guys who all play in the same position. We’ve ignored the loss of £109m worth of star and squad players.
Somebody has got this all wrong. No real goal threat, No pace, no width, no defensive cover. Is it Walsh ? Or Koeman himself ? I suspect the latter.
Will it get better ? Well I’m not too confident of avoiding a tonking at Old Trafford but it’s actually a great opportunity to turn things round. A win there will immediately boost confidence and shake things up. It’s a big ask tho isn’t it and one that won’t be achieved by turning up, like we’ve lost before the kickoff. A lot depends on the Atalanta result and performance. But allowing for some changes after Thursday this would be my team for UTD…..
PICKFORD
BAINES, HOLGATE, KEANE, KENNY
DAVIES, SIGURDSSON, GUEYE, KLASIC
DCL, ROONEY
It is risky with two young players in the back four but Kenny has to be given a chance sometime soon so why not Old Trafford? Holgate is a centre back, end of, so play him there. Gylfi would play just ahead of Davies, Gueye and on the right side, and I’m hoping that DCL and Rooney can get some joy from Utd’s defence.
Pie in the sky ? Well we will never know as it’s just too competitive, too attacking for Ronald which is a shame but then maybe we can sneak a draw by parking the bus, as of course that’s worked so well for us in the past.
Cheers, Rustyman.
Before RK became our manager I was a fan, pleased he came to Goodison. Unfortunately early last season I became disolusioned with his style of play and inability to embrace the culture of EFC. His man management is non existent, a quality needed in life never mind a football club. We have too many similar players and none better than already on the books. Keeper and Keane excluded. Two weeks ago Barkley took such a hammering, this week he’s back in favour. Ross for me is a shoe-in every game. On Saturday the team fell apart which tells me motivation is missing. Give me 110% and I don’t have a problem. Hide and you can do one. I was not at the game but I saw a comment RK sat motionless second half. If true tells me everything about our manager.