Quote Originally Posted by swaledale View Post
We have paid over the odds for a lot of non performers over the past few seasons, is that because the players were dross or because the club is unable to get the best out of them?

I do not see Cocu as long term, he has failed miserably to get any style, any fluidity or pattern in the team so far, at least with Lampard one could see what he was trying to do, even if on occasion the players weren't up to it.

Rarely call for a managers head, but with this guy mid table obscurity beckons!
Not sure about your appraisal of Cocu, Swale.
He’s an intelligent and vastly experienced football man who has hardly had the best of luck since he took over.
Not only has the club struggled/proved unable to replace three players now deemed to be of Premiership quality, but we’ve had ‘JoinersGate’, the long term loss of our captain/defensive rock and disruptive injuries to three crucial players in Bogle, Huddlestone and Marriott.
I know it’s been a disappointing first two months of the season but I reckon any new manager would have struggled given those circumstances.