grantb

Come off it, 6 games into the season after the disaster we had last season. The results haven't been great, granted, but in what world is changing to a new coach going to help, and if we did then who? Other than goals scored we are performing (statistically) in the top 6/7. Our luck has been awful in terms of injuries and we have hit the woodwork and been offside more than any other team in the league. We narrowly lost to villa who since Emry came in have been 3rd best in the league, and had Gusto not been sent of ridiculously would have likely got a result. Show some patience.

I was really disappointed with the news this morning but actually now think it is a positive. We are not paying Brighton well over the odds for yet another player, get them added to the no transfer list ASAP. For that money I'd want one of the Madrid Midfield 4 who are far more proven. Santos will get a chance hopefully. 3 signings in Lavia, Kudus and the guy from Leeds. 1 bad injury and Liverpool have no cover. Still stings a bit and a colossal waste of time buy I think fits more into our strategy overall just now.

The only conclusion is Potter deemed him too good to play? You really genuinely think this to be the case? I know the Potter Out narrative is ripe but seriously. He hasn't played in months and is in his pre season. The pressure is mounting on the manager who selected 2 fully fit players ahead of him then when we went ahead made tactical changes to try and ensure the result. Something he has been widely criticised for not doing for a while now. I think it was clear from the couple of times he played, minus the cameo again Liverpool, that he wasn't quite there yet and needs more time. If anything I'd actually say Potter is managing his integration quite well and protecting the lad from the everyone and everything is sh**e narrative that is endlessly spouted just now.

Kepa is ranked as the best keeper in the league. Our defensive form has been solid We have a host of young exciting players on long contracts. Jorghino is gone and we got a decent transfer fee for a 30+ player with 6 months left on his contract. The ownership has a plan and seems to be sticking to it. We have been better in recent games (1st half at the weekend excluded) and think we are a goal or 2 away from clicking and going on a we run. Even if we do go down City will be playing in league 2 so it will detract from the stick.

I'm always skeptical about how trustworthy these 'sources' are. I mean are there really multiple people presumably involved in an indepth level with the club with unfiltered access to players, who also happen to be reporting the ongoing to media. If there are then what's their agenda? I don't doubt there are unhappy players in the dressing room. There are 30+ off them after all. Is the average playing squad not 23/24? Potter widely said it would be difficult to keep them all happy, anyone would struggle with that. It's also common for squads to have rifts, infact I'd struggle to name a squad that didn't have a rift of some sort at any given time. The real question is are the core 20 players (those with a future or who'd like a future at the club) downing tools. I don't think they are. As bad as we have been I don't think it's due to lack of effort. Our defensive and closing down stats support this. If we truly down tools, like has happened in the past then I'd expect immediate change. Just now though we aren't getting Europe and we aren't going down. We don't really have anything to lose giving him until the end of the season. Who knows we might go on a 10 match winning streak and end up 5/6th.

I'm sure David Ornstein mentioned we were after Glasner in the summer but he rejected us. Don't know much about him to be fair but assume he fits the data driven model.

Does anyone think it's telling Potter still hasn't done his post match press conference?

I think given our new wide players Broja would do a decent job although likely Nkunku is the plan as a nine or false 9. Think it depends a lot on what happens with Lukaku. I wouldn't be surprised if the loan was to appease him after the fallout with Tuchel and Potter could be taksed with bringing him into the fold again. I'd personally hate that after his interview but wouldn't be surprised. Mitrovic would be a good option IMO but not sure if he would be worth what we would have to pay.

This is a bit of a non argument is it not? Players value (as a financial asset) depreciates over the length of their contract, which is one of the reasons we have given such long contracts to the new signings. From the investor's pov that is gonna happen regardless of results. If you are making the point based on potential transfer value on player sales then I'd be interested to see how many players we have sold for a profit over the last 10 years (bear in mind the price of players has massively increased over that period aswell.) I suspect the percentage would be very low. The argument to sack Potter for the sake of the investors is a non starter.

When Lampard was brought in the idea was to give him time, what had he done as a manager? Same with Di Matteo, AVB, Avram Grant? If we don't give someone time things will never change. Why Potter? Apart from the last 6 months he has been highly regarded across the industry in every role he has held. Compared to those listed above he has proven management experience. I think the owners knew it was a gamble but what alternative do you suggest?

First time poster here although I have been on the forum for a while. I understand that the results haven't been great of late however I think it's unfair to blame potter at this stage. The first 20 minutes of yesterday's game were really good. I could see the patterns of play and development I think Potter is aiming towards ( Sports Science degree). We could and should have been at least 2 if not 3 to the good. Marginal offsides stopped a very comfortable lead. The rest of the game was a bit of a grind. It was West Ham away though, you have to go back quite far to find a match that wasn't. We have basically signed a whole new starting team over the last 2 windows, there has clearly been some good, bad and indifferent signings not all of which were potters men. We have an over inflated squad of 34 who Potter by and large is keeping on side, no mean feat in my opinion. Under any recent manager there would be 4-5 + players alienated, losing all market value. (Barkley, Rudiger, etc under Tuchel/ Lamps). I have no doubt that we will clear deck in the summer and get a more manageable squad size. There has been tremendous change over the last year ( I know Tuchel also had this however it's clear there was more going on behind the scenes there ). My point is a Jose esc appointment 'may' have given better short term results (passion, experience etc) but it's been proven to be a 2-3 year cycle and then wholesale changes with the next manager having their own style, ideas, staff. Give the man some time, 2 years minimum. This is new territory, new ideas and despite what 'experts' such as Garry Neville may suggest, CEOs of investment banking firms tend to have a very clear and defined plan.