Killing Swans

[Andy_Faber]

Good questions...not sure of the answer but right now I’m just enjoying the improvement.
Two players have made an enormous difference imo. CKM, who Cocu chose to rarely play for more than a last ten minute cameo, and Bielik who Cocu was unlucky to not have available from last January.
This side is just too lightweight without those two...CKM has brought character, leadership and physicality to the side and Bielik has been growing towards the sort of stellar performance we saw from him last night allowing others to play with much more confidence.
Without those two we’re likely to be back to square one so further strengthening is required but credit where it’s due...Rooney/Mac or McRooney...is working at the moment. There were far fewer ‘erms’ in his post match interview last night - until the questioning turned to the takeover - and the spectre of John Terry arriving is diminishing.
More of the same at Rotherham please.

P.S. Anyone else notice the state of the pitch last night? Looked more like the BBG than what we’ve come to expect from PP.
Coincidence?

I have to give a shout for my favourite type of player, the 'gritty Scottish midfielder', and I've seen Shinnie's performance last night described as like Gemmill (er, lets not get carried away) and Van Der Laan (more like it). We now have a couple of midfielders who seem to just want to run themselves into the ground for the cause, AND go get the ball back if they lose it

Also, and not just here, pleased to see fans prepared to revise their opinions on players (and management) based on what they see, no entrenched views in evidence (Where's DCFCA when we need him?)

[Ram59]

I think Rooney has made one big change and he alluded to this when he first took over. He said that he's stopped asking the players to do things they weren't capable of doing.

How many famous managers have said that football is a simple game?

[Geoff Parkstone]

12 I think

[ramAnag]

Oddly, the two slight disappointments imo since McRooney are two players who were previously doing really well, Marshall and Holmes.
Didn’t think Holmes looked anything more than ‘willing’ last night and Marshall seems to have taken to punching when catching might be a safer option.
Suppose the ball would have been ‘greasy’ last night, but when everyone else seems to be much more aware of their job in the side, Marshall if anything looks a little less confident.

[macstheman]

These matters are always long winded at the best of times, but a combination of government cuts, closing courts and covid-19 certainly hasn;t helped matters. Hope you get the end result you want and that your wife recovers soon.

Many thanks Swale, appreciate the info and the kind thoughts.

[swaledale]

I think Rooney has made one big change and he alluded to this when he first took over. He said that he's stopped asking the players to do things they weren't capable of doing.

How many famous managers have said that football is a simple game?

That sounds about right, previously the players didn't look as if they either knew what they were doing or how they were supposed to play, now it seems they are being allowed to play with tactics they understand and importantly are capable of delivering.

Heres to it continuing.

[sixtiesram]

Oddly, the two slight disappointments imo since McRooney are two players who were previously doing really well, Marshall and Holmes.
Didn’t think Holmes looked anything more than ‘willing’ last night and Marshall seems to have taken to punching when catching might be a safer option.
Suppose the ball would have been ‘greasy’ last night, but when everyone else seems to be much more aware of their job in the side, Marshall if anything looks a little less confident.

We have better options than Holmes, nowt to do with Rooney.
Despite 4 clean sheets, and one brilliant save against Stoke you highlight Marshall's failings???? Cobblers!

[ramAnag]

We have better options than Holmes, nowt to do with Rooney.
Despite 4 clean sheets, and one brilliant save against Stoke you highlight Marshall's failings???? Cobblers!

I think you’ve misunderstood, sixties.
I like Marshall, think he’s the best keeper we’ve had since Carson’s first season. My point was that, where others appear to have grown in confidence recently, he has, if anything, looked less certain. Tbf he literally didn’t have a save to make against Swansea but his dealing with crosses seemed less convincing than usual and he punched on two or three occasions when, imo, catching would have been a better option.
As regards Holmes, apart from being injury prone I think he’s been a good signing. Earlier this season, when we were really struggling, he often seemed to be the lone creative spark but recently he’s seemed quieter. On Wednesday I thought the timing of his involvement was perfect and expected him to come on and be more effective against a tiring Swansea but he hardly seemed to get involved creatively.
Just my opinion.