Kevin Ratcliffe on James McCarthy and Ronald Koeman

Koeman shows he isn't afraid of change

Ronald Koeman has already shown himself as a manager who isn't afraid to change things when they aren't going wrong.

Some managers aren't. And some managers don't know how to change a game.

Koeman, though, was brave in replacing James McCarthy before half-time at West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

He's a no-nonsense manager. He knows what he wants, and if he isn't getting it, he'll change things.

This is an interesting time for McCarthy.

I don't think he had a particularly good season last term. He was okay but the standardhe set the season before was one we'd expected to see.

What's certain is that he isn't a right-winger. There are aplenty of players in our squad who were better suited to the job ahead of him, regardless of whether Seamus Coleman is injured or not.

McCarthy is being linked with both Sunderland and Celtic but I'd be surprised if he left.

Yes, he has more competition for his place in midfield now. But that's the kind of thing that should push you on as a player.

You need to show the manager you can perform. And if that fails, you need to be ready to do a job from the bench.

Kevin Ratcliffe / Liv Echo