Scotland fans have been gushing with praise on Twitter over Liam's performance on Thursday against Moldova. The Daily Record described it "as a strong showing at the back from the Leeds skipper, he won all his duels. Came close to adding a third when his header was cleared off the line". It's great to see our captain finally getting the praise he rightly deserves. Over the last five seasons, he's improved year upon year. And it's not just his defensive qualities, his passing rate is top notch, and he starts more attacks from he back than anyone. I've highlighted before that the Daily Mirror have already rated him as one of the top performing centre backs in the premiership, and the stats back that up.
https://www.premierleague.com/players/3622/Liam-Cooper/stats?co=1&se=418
well said bb
How many times have we all looked at players in the past (many of them sadly) in white jersey's not giving two flying fcks?, Not even breaking sweat??
How many times have we all said "i don't care if we are beaten so long as the players put a shift in and left everything on the pitch"? How many times? and for how many seasons? Thankfully that cant be and shouldn't be fired at this current crop of players.
Now how many times can Cooper be accused of not trying?
and that's just the on the field stuff,
now look at the work / commitment / desire / passion that Cooper delivers off the pitch @ TA, in the community, all around the city of Leeds (schools / hospitals / youth groups / etc) they are immeasurable but as bb rightly points to he imprints the LUFC DNA into other guys.
Please get over it Steve. Coops saves more shots on goal than anybody else by throwing his body on the line. That commitment transfers to other players.
Off the field he imprints the LUFC DNA into other guys. They now know what it means to wear the famous white shirt.
Pascal and Leo will eventually get his spot but until then I will enjoy him putting "side before self"
i still have nightmares over his back pas to kiko v derby
Yes, Coops has very much won over the Scots, and particularly the Scottish press. The Herald described him as strong, fearless and a leader amongst central defenders.
Note: Cooper just set up Scotland's opener against Denmark......
I have championed Struijk as the LCB for a season now - Llorente is our first choice RCB.
Coops is a reasonable backup to Struijk and Cresswell may be the backup to Llorente in a season (at the moment Koch when fit is that man)
I totally agree with all the sentiment about Cooper as a captain, as a club ambassador and as a long serving club man these days - BB puts it very well when he says Cooper is worth more off the field than on it.
Ya this has all the hallmarks of when Berra was coming to the end.
Coops gives everything to the Jersey both on and off the field, i think the guy has earned the right of respect from the fans, and we (fans) mustn't forget that. Yes he makes mistakes but we all do in our jobs if we are honest with ourselves.
As the saying goes "show me a man who hasn't made a mistake, and i'll show you a man that has never made anything".
I agree with you re Pascal taking over from Coops BB with more than likely Kalvin becoming Club Captain.
You need players like Cooper, Ayling and Dallas to integrate new players into the first team squad and imprint what it mean to be part of LUFC.
When Bartley and Jansen were the 2 main CBs and he never got a look in, he still was professional.
Coops is worth more off the field than on it. I know he is prone to a mistake ot two each game but he puts his body on the line and always gives 100%.
Totally love the guy.
I know a changing of the guard will come in the next 12/18 months with Pascal taking over.
I know somebody that knows somebody that knows him. Apparently he is a really sound bloke, not flash just a grafter.
He has come on leaps and bounds in the years with us. Good on him.
If he wasn't the captain, he wouldn't get in the team.
Yes Smurf and congrats to Captain Coops on a great performance.... albeit Moldova!
Not taking anything away from an apparently excellent performance but where would Moldova be in English football? L2? Conference?
It seems to me that he has one great game, one average game and a couple of of poor ones.... he always has a mistake in him.
He switches the ball perfectly from left CB to right wing but can't Strujik do this as the left sided CB?
I just think that if we want to get to the next step higher, Coops, Ayling, Roberts, Klich, Forshaw etc are not the players to get us there. Would they get in any other mid table teams? Yes, maybe they would but those teams are more than happy being mid table and know they can't get any higher.... your Brentwoods, Wolves, Brighton, Palace etc.
Love him as our captain....
Love him and his work in the community....
Love the way he knits our squad together....
Love him as our leader....
Love his left foot....
Love him as our 4/5th choice.... if Cresswell comes through behind Llorente, who will get better and better, Koch, when fully fit and Strujik.
Love Coops overall....