FRANK DEBOER’S REIGN OVER
77 days and gone! Crystal Palace end the short reign of Frank DeBoer today, after a bad start to their Premier League campaign.
Defeats to Huddersfield 0-3 at home, Liverpool 1-0 away, Swansea 0-2 at home and now Burnley 1-0 away condemned Frank Deboer to the scrap heap and a P45.
To follow after Big Sam Allardyce after his remarkable great escape last season was going to be tough for any manager and so, inevitably, Deboer paid the price.
Last season at Inter, he lasted only 85 days at Inter Milan, on the back of four Eere Divison titles with Ajax.
Frank couldn’t just sacrifice his football beliefs and instead, has twice chosen to sacrifice his career.
His choice of Palace baffled me from the onset and there were many questions than answers when he signed for the club
Would they buy him the players suited to his style of play?
Could he adapt his football to suit a relegation bound team?
Could he attract the right type of players to the team?
With five managers in as many years, the odds were stacked against him from the first day, but if anybody could deliver, that person was Frank. Unfortunately it didn’t work out.
For DeBoer it was going to be about good football; the Dutch way, tikitaka, build up from the back, and you can argue he tried to play, but sometimes, doing something simple is not so simple.
We wish him all the best for the future.
And for Palace FC?
I’m surprised that they gave DeBoer only four games before they threw him under the bus.
Did they not profile him before they hired him?
Were both parties not clear as to the direction they were heading to?
This latest development is as baffling as was Sam Allardyce’s resignation after guiding them to safety
I just hope everything is well at the club. Footballers don’t like the revolving chairs – especially when it’s too frequent- it unsettles them and creates panic.
A club like that would find it hard to attract players as well, especially as they’re always swimming in the waters at the wrong end of the table.
I wonder what the fans make of this latest development.
Worrying signs at Crystal Palace
LIVERPOOL LOOSE HEAVILY AT THE ETIHAD AS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BEGINS
It went all wrong again for Jurgen Klopp at the Etihad on Saturday as Liverpool were trashed by Manchester City 5-0!
Just when they trashed Arsenal and they had their tails up, Liverpool were once again reminded that they are yet to arrive.
Okay Mane got red-carded, so what?
If you’re challenging for the league title, you cannot watch and allow your direct opponents put five past you.
In all honesty, Liverpool were all over the place and out of shape.
Jurgen Klopp has a lot of work to do between now and their champions league qualifier against Sevilla on Wednesday.
As for me, just like Pep Guardiola,
he missed a trick in the summer by not reinforcing at the back, and I hope that decision does not come back to hurt him.
TOTTENHAM BOUNCE BACK
Spurs showed again why many regard them as silent contenders to the title.
An aged Everton side had no answer to this youthful and energetic side with Erikssen to anchor and orchestrate the opera.
Forget the opening blips at the beginning of the season, if they can find a way to play like this week in week out – admittedly difficult especially with Champions league nights beckoning – they are on to something this year. It’s stirring up for Spurs under Pochettino and they’ve done very good business by replacing Walker with Aurier, but I just hope he stays out of trouble with opponents, teammates, authorities and press……
CHELSEA ROCK AT THE KING POWER STADIUM
Chelsea show once again that the spine of the team is rock solid and they may be difficult to knock off the perch this year.
Leicester were opened up twice and three points at the King Power stadium is not easy for any away team. Chelsea managed that on Saturday and there is the bonus of having Eden Hazard back as well.
UNITED WOBBLE AFTER INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Playing Stoke anyday is not a walkover for any team, and playing them at the Britannia stadium is even less exciting.
United were lethargic on Saturday, both Bailly and Jones had a night to forget, Pogba’s energy was missing and Darmaian showed he hadn’t played with his back three for a long time.
Kudos however to Mark Hughes as his team played deep, conceded possession – 63% – to United and were dangerous on the counter attack.
I believe Jose has to find a way to accommodate Mkhitaryan in the middle for United – he is wasted on the wings – and you could see as soon as he came inside he provided an assist for Lukaku.
Herrera changed the balance of team slightly and the runs and vision you get from Mkhitaryan were missing in the middle until he moved to a more central role.
To be honest, Stoke made it very difficult for United and deserve the point they got.
Let’s see how United respond over the weekend, after their baptism in Europe.
MIDWEEK FOOTBALL BEGINS
The big question will be answered after a few rounds of champions league and Euro League games; who would cope better with the demands of midweek football among the premier league clubs in Europe?
Would it be champions Chelsea and their defensive set up, after a year out?
Would it be Spurs with their youthful energy?
Would it be Manchester City’s free flowing football?
Would it be Liverpool with their efficient manager?
Would it be Manchester United and their squad depth?
Let the champions league anthem begin.
We can see a more realistic picture of the premiership emerging after match day 4. The two Manchester clubs are No’s 1&2, Chelsea 3 and Tottenham 5. Watford is enjoying some attention at the top because arsenal and Liverpool are yet to get their bearing. West Ham has been a disappointment so far and crystal palace has escaped relegation for two or three seasons. Leicester may be on the verge of sacking their manager again and Everton seems to be feeling the absence of Lukaku
Yes Olu. Lukaku is a big miss for Koeman and he knew for long that he was leaving. I do not understand why he did not break the bank to replace him. Spurs made a similar mistake after the sale of Gareth Bale, they took the money and bought several average players. Koeman has to sell a few of his ‘similar’ players and buy a solid replacement for Lukaku. I also believe Silva is a good coach and would prove many wrong by mixing with the best if he can get to Christmas. Mourinho talked highly about him when he arrived. Bilic? I don’t know if he’ll survive. As for Liverpool, it’s same week in week out; a leaking defence cannot win you titles….