[Written straight after loss to Portsmouth 19-10-24] I still think Cif and team will come good. I just think this new direction for the club will take time. We need to give managers time. We've gone through so many managers the last few years. What other manager could have done what he did last season? We're stuck with him, anyway. So only time will tell. I can't see him being sacked any time soon, especially with what was imo an improved performance. I know it's a bit of an uncountable thing but the club needs to be turned around from the bad psychology it's had for a number of years. It's a new project with the new CEO and management staff. It's not just about tactics. Here is what needs sorting: •bad psychology at club for years •new setup in management and staff •a lot of new players •tactics for survival last season are not the same tactics he will use in a fresh season. He will have been trying to stamp a new method of playing now. This takes time, especially with the new players. •manager has never manager in England before. Even he needs to learn on the go. With that in mind, he did phenomenally well last season. I still expect everything to click at some stage. You can tell everyone at management and leadership has the right attitude. I just think it's a big mistake to sack another manager. If we bring in another and he can't improve with 10 or so games, sack him as well? And then the next? And the next? Why did we lose today's game 2-1? Bad tactics or a player mistake? We were on the up before the penalty. I've had so many season tickets and I've seen managers who have no clue. I've also seen managers who've come good. Cifuentes absolutely doesn't look like he has no clue. If you look at our games this season, a lot of goals conceded came from player errors and/or a handful of players not being up for it. This could in part suggest the system he was playing wasn't suited to the players ability. However, he changed formation today and we actually played more competitively. But a player gave away a silly penalty. Last season's mess was harder to turn around than this will be. Btw, I'm not saying Cif has no questions to answer. He's just got to learn quickly. What are your takes on this?
Correct. Although I'm not sure what point is being made by that. He took over when we were doomed and all the teams were in their full flow of the season, for better or worse. Still a massive achievement. We would be in League 1 now if he hadn't arrived. The club's new direction basically started at the end of managing to survive last season. Should we really give up on it already? It's still early days and plenty of time to recover.
My point is that we're no further on in terms of league position, whilst playing mind-numbingly dull football. I can only think of two games under Cifuentes where I came away excited by how we played. It's just awful
At least we can’t go down this league any further. Good thing is a couple of results changes everything and it’s a long season. I am concerned some of the players brought in are not championship level and need to seriously up their game.
Personally, I think we should play to our strengths with the players at our disposal. We have a few wingers in Chair, Dembele, Saito, Smyth, Lloyd. We have 2 rather large and not the most mobile strikers who are obviously more suited to crosses over running onto balls. A standard 4-4-2 would suit this group of players. It might not be overly pretty football but I bet it would be more exciting to watch than our defenders aimlessly passing back and forth.
We need, bonding, not building ......... as in team bonding at the local. Pies, schooners & pool competitions. At least if they don't bond, they would've had a good time. Todays youngsters ............half cut on a Shelley Temple soda-pop and no stomach for a good all nighter session. Ahhhh ..................the young brigade, their all too soft. Harden up, men........... you tell em' Martin.
It's possible we're just getting our annual extended losing run out of the way earlier than usual and all might come good soon. I really hope Marti can turn this around.
It strikes me this is a mental/confidence issue. There are periods in most of our games where we play quite well - but when things go against us the bottom drops out of the team. I believe in the manager and that he should have time to sort things out, but this needs immediate fixing, beginning with central midfield. Too often we lack central presence, relying on predictable (and slow) passage to wingers. We need to be able to play through the middle too.
Yes, I honestly think that the confidence and psychological aspect is quite bad at the club and is like this now because of the bad several years we've had since Warburton left. Even with bringing in a bunch of new players, that bad psychology is there in the bricks and mortar of the club and can only be turned around when we've had maybe 2 seasons of decent football and 2 half decent final position in the leagues. When Cif came in last season, we had the benefit of players being up against the wall. Unfortunately, maybe the players don't feel very up against the wall at the moment and don't feel responsible for the way things are going. Although, there are some good leaders in the squad now.
One thing I disagree on... I think Frey is actually quite mobile. He doesn't look it but he's relatively fast and is like a steam train when he gets going. He doesn't stop moving and is comfortable both with the ball bouncing off his head and with the ball at his feet.
He does remind me of a wind up toy, takes a while to hit full throttle. Watching him live is like pulling teeth. He basically works the back 4 on his own. We don't actually enforce a press of any kind, certainly not in unison. There's a lot wrong at the moment but I firmly believe that physchology and confidence aren't to blame. That will come when we set the team up accordingly to the players we utilise. That as Strolls says, is Martis job and he's coming across as a stubborn manager with little to no flexibility in his selections and formations.
Equally, how have we gone so far backwards from the last 10 games of last season. With a full pre season to set us up how has he got it so wrong ?
