12 minutes ago, big blue said:

It didnt sound like Boehly was too happy with what he saw, so I'm hoping he hasnt given up on maintaining some level of standards in the remaining league games.

What you on aboot? 

All honky dory with standards from the Yank's perspective. 

GP top man, getting us top marks, just what the doc ordered before we got him on board. 

1 hour ago, SFL82 said:

If he tripped and slid on dog sh*t you would say he practicing tackling drills, what nonsense honestly. 

No I actually think the whole thing was sh*te yesterday and we need to stop giving these crap teams a way back in. 

I'm just putting forward a counter narrative.

1 hour ago, SFL82 said:

What side of defence does kk play on? What side did he lose the ball on? Who was he covering for ? What was he left exposed. 
So simplistic to blame that on individual errors. The subs were the problem who takes off their best CB with 5 minutes to go? Destroys the midfield balance? 

He was more concerned with giving players minutes to keep everyone happy and thinking he’s a good PE teacher than seeing out the game. 

I cannot think of one manager we've had that hasn't made defensive changes that have cost us at one time or other. Mourinho often shut up shop early. You could literally set your watch by the overwhelming majority of Sarri's substitutions, 70-80 minutes. Ancelotti was another who was generally caution first with his in game changes.

Even Tuchel in the 2-2 home draw with Wolves. Guilty as charged. A game we had dominated but sat deeper and deeper as Wolves started to push forward in the second half. He did nothing to regain momentum instead he opted to replace Azpilicueta with Sarr in the 87 minute, in what everyone at the time said was a pointless substitution, and,  of course, shock, horror, Wolves equalised in added time.

 

4 minutes ago, just said:

I cannot think of one manager we've had that hasn't made defensive changes that have cost us at one time or other. Mourinho often shut up shop early. You could literally set your watch by the overwhelming majority of Sarri's substitutions, 70-80 minutes. Ancelotti was another who was generally caution first with his in game changes.

Even Tuchel in the 2-2 home draw with Wolves. Guilty as charged. A game we had dominated but sat deeper and deeper as Wolves started to push forward in the second half. He did nothing to regain momentum instead he opted to replace Azpilicueta with Sarr in the 87 minute, in what everyone at the time said was a pointless substitution, and,  of course, shock, horror, Wolves equalised in added time.

 

All had multiple games where we played well and not won aswell, especially from Sarri onwards (Conte, Sarri and Tuchel all had a similar experience at Stamford Bridge against the very same manager we faced yesterday) yet apparently that only happens under supposed loser managers.

i hope he learns from this and doesn't make these crazy substitutions anymore, especially in the PL where we don't compete anymore

i would like us to keep on attacking and maybe in big games we go defensive if we have a 2 goal lead or the last 5/6 minutes 

not with 30 minutes to go

4 minutes ago, Argo said:

All had multiple games where we played well and not won aswell, especially from Sarri onwards (Conte, Sarri and Tuchel all had a similar experience at Stamford Bridge against the very same manager we faced yesterday) yet apparently that only happens under supposed loser managers.

Totally agree Argo. Potter is being blamed for what was an awful individual defensive decision/lack of concentration by Koulibaly that allows Simms to shoot and score the equaliser.

Just as he was slaughtered for apparently leaving Enzo as the last defensive screen when Adayemi ran half the length of the pitch to score for Dortmund. We had seen that before too. I posted up the video of Sancho's goal for United from our free-kick on the edge of their box, Jorginho was left as the deep defensive screen, ball breaks free, Jorginho miss-controls, Sancho nicks the ball runs away from him and scores. Individual errors like that happen and there is nothing any manager can do in the moment.

14 minutes ago, just said:

Totally agree Argo. Potter is being blamed for what was an awful individual defensive decision/lack of concentration by Koulibaly that allows Simms to shoot and score the equaliser.

Just as he was slaughtered for apparently leaving Enzo as the last defensive screen when Adayemi ran half the length of the pitch to score for Dortmund. We had seen that before too. I posted up the video of Sancho's goal for United from our free-kick on the edge of their box, Jorginho was left as the deep defensive screen, ball breaks free, Jorginho miss-controls, Sancho nicks the ball runs away from him and scores. Individual errors like that happen and there is nothing any manager can do in the moment.

Disagree. Potter is being blamed for the same mistake he's made 3 league games running, which is sacrificing complete control of the game in favor of scrappy/defensive football. Against the worst teams in the league. 

We've mitigated the liabilities that are Kepa and Koulibaly by controlling matches. By inviting pressure, we are only further putting at risk more errors from those two specifically. Leeds and Leicester both were unlucky not to get score. Everton made the most of it and were rewarded. 

1 hour ago, Argo said:

All had multiple games where we played well and not won aswell, especially from Sarri onwards (Conte, Sarri and Tuchel all had a similar experience at Stamford Bridge against the very same manager we faced yesterday) yet apparently that only happens under supposed loser managers.

Of course it has.

I remember when we were winning 1-0 at Old Trafford and Mourinho subbed on Kurt Zouma for a midfielder and RVP ended up scoring a late equalizer from a freekick he gave away, United put the pressure on us once we went into defensive mode.

It's happened, but surely you can see the difference here. The Leeds game was where it started and it's getting over the top, there was no need for it. Now it's finally come back to bite us in the ass. 

Some of the Chelsea fans with YouTube shows, Like GBFC, YTF and Football therapy, quoted media sources saying it was not just Leeds and Dortmund games that would determine if Potter finished the season, but Leicester and Everton as well.

Todd support of Potter (an henis reported to be Grahams biggest supporter from the owners) is said to be getting very thin. Pressure is said to be coming at him from the Eggman and the rest, and Vivell is said to have doubts about Potter as well.

Todd showed the strain of this when he made his "sh*t f'n game" comment to the fan after the game.

Some of the Podcasters I mentioned are saying Potters position is being considered during this international break. Blame is clearly being place on Potter for dropping those two points and the overall display yesterday.

It may be unlikely, but it sounds like Potter is on the edge of the knife and may well be gone during the international break.

May well depend on if a suitable replacement is available that fits with what the owners want and they believe can push us on in the CL.

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Some of the Chelsea fans with YouTube shows, Like GBFC, YTF and Football therapy, quoted media sources saying it was not just Leeds and Dortmund games that would determine if Potter finished the season, but Leicester and Everton as well.

Todd support of Potter (an henis reported to be Grahams biggest supporter from the owners) is said to be getting very thin. Pressure is said to be coming at him from the Eggman and the rest, and Vivell is said to have doubts about Potter as well.

Todd showed the strain of this when he made his "sh*t f'n game" comment to the fan after the game.

Some of the Podcasters I mentioned are saying Potters position is being considered during this international break. Blame is clearly being place on Potter for dropping those two points and the overall display yesterday.

It may be unlikely, but it sounds like Potter is on the edge of the knife and may well be gone during the international break.

May well depend on if a suitable replacement is available that fits with what the owners want and they believe can push us on in the CL.

Honestly I think appointing a new manager now could be a risk, as we most likely would rush the appointment, and there's not much left to play for this season anyway.

Better to just sack Potter at the end of the season (barring a dramatic improvement), and let someone new take over for the summer.

I wonder if Potter has added more pressure on to himself with the Dortmund win. 

There would be no reason at all to sack him of we are out of the CL. We are not going down, we are not making top 4. Just ride out the season.

Yet with us going through we have a chance, no matter how small, to win the CL. That may put more pressure on the board to consider our best shot at winning it, and being in the CL next season.

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2023/3/19/23647031/graham-potter-explains-the-late-wesley-fofana-substitution-against-everton

Wes came off with muscle fatigue and a tight hamstring. So not a tactical change by Potter.

4 hours ago, bisright1 said:

Bit of a counter to all this "why did we go defensive" (that I don't necessarily believe)

Maybe it's because the result against Everton doesn't matter. It's all practice for Madrid. 

If we're 2-1 up against Madrid, we are going to bring on Gallagher, we are going to want to make it scrappy. We aren't going to be controlling the game and going for a third. 

So perhaps the thinking is let's put ourselves in that mindset and get ready for it. 

Everything we do now is practice for Madrid. Every game has to be about playing against Madrid.

And the rotation is natural, he wants to get a look at Pulisic, he can't completely put Badiashille in the cold. It's a lot less than he was doing 6 weeks ago. I could probably name our strongest XI. 

I am not sure that even if this had any creedence that it paints Potter in any better light. Setting yourselves up to be able to dig in against a powerhouse team like Real Madrid and then get mugged off by a team like Everton with a kid scoring in what his second appearance, first goal. If there was any plan like, which i don't think is the case, it backfired massively.

It's too late to sack him. Chance was after the Saints match. 

He's earned the Champions League and rest of the season. A contingency plan should be in the works however. 

1 hour ago, Drogba1 said:

Honestly I think appointing a new manager now could be a risk, as we most likely would rush the appointment, and there's not much left to play for this season anyway.

Better to just sack Potter at the end of the season (barring a dramatic improvement), and let someone new take over for the summer.

Depends who it is, if we decide to go with Zidane, Pochettino or Luis Enrique we can get them in straight away and gives them another couple of months with the squad ready for next season as well as a pre-season. Plus who knows, a top manager with this squad could take us to the champions league trophy.

6 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Depends who it is, if we decide to go with Zidane, Pochettino or Luis Enrique we can get them in straight away and gives them another couple of months with the squad ready for next season as well as a pre-season. Plus who knows, a top manager with this squad could take us to the champions league trophy.

I would be very wary if he were replaced at the moment. Jesse Marsch is currently out of work. American, previous clubs part of the Red Bull franchise, he is not far away in the conversation when discoveries of players like Haaland, Adeyemi, Minamino, etc are mentioned.

I am wary becuase to me he has proven to fall short at this level and isn't good enough, but I could see him being on a Todd list though if Potter is sacked

4 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I would be very wary if he were replaced at the moment. Jesse Marsch is currently out of work. American, previous clubs part of the Red Bull franchise, he is not far away in the conversation when discoveries of players like Haaland, Adeyemi, Minamino, etc are mentioned.

I am wary becuase to me he has proven to fall short at this level and isn't good enough, but I could see him being on a Todd list though if Potter is sacked

Well he was sacked by Leipzig for a reason and I genuinely can't see a risk like this being taken again, we've hired an unproven manager who was doing well and it hasn't worked so what sense would hiring a sacked unproven at the top level manager make? I think the American thing is just a bit of a lazy connection.

40 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Depends who it is, if we decide to go with Zidane, Pochettino or Luis Enrique we can get them in straight away and gives them another couple of months with the squad ready for next season as well as a pre-season. Plus who knows, a top manager with this squad could take us to the champions league trophy.

Think Luis is the only one of those 3 that would come.

7 hours ago, coco said:

I'm convinced we can't give up yet on him, not without looking like complete twats.

If Kepa (and KK) does his job we win our fourth on the trot, i can't blame Potter for Kepa's failings.

We look like twats keeping with him.

If Potter hadn’t dicked about with the back line with 3 minutes to go, maybe we don’t get in that position.

10 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Think Luis is the only one of those 3 that would come.

I think Pochettino would come as well but I think the atmosphere could become too toxic for him to succeed being ex-Spurs, a bit like Rafa Benitez at Everton. 

4 minutes ago, Wearyourcolours said:

We look like twats keeping with him.

If Potter hadn’t dicked about with the back line with 3 minutes to go, maybe we don’t get in that position.

Heavens forbid we should rely on our keeper to make a simple save?

9 minutes ago, coco said:

Heavens forbid we should rely on our keeper to make a simple save?

That same keeper bailed us out in multiple games, if it wasn't for Kepa finding his form this season Potter's league record would be even more dismal

13 minutes ago, Wearyourcolours said:

We look like twats keeping with him.

If Potter hadn’t dicked about with the back line with 3 minutes to go, maybe we don’t get in that position.

Wes felt his hamstring and had muscle fatigue, he had to come off.

9 minutes ago, Drogba1 said:

I think Pochettino would come as well but I think the atmosphere could become too toxic for him to succeed being ex-Spurs, a bit like Rafa Benitez at Everton. 

I think Pochettino is set to go back to Spurs.

9 minutes ago, coco said:

Heavens forbid we should rely on our keeper to make a simple save?

Kepa has looked like worst version of himself these last 2 games.

Is rare to say this, but I believe even having Marcus B in goal yesterday and we would have won.

1 minute ago, Drogba1 said:

That same keeper bailed us out in multiple games, if it wasn't for Kepa finding his form this season Potter's league record would be even more dismal

Of course he's going to have some important saves, but he is nowhere near reliable enough for a top six club. He's been here ages now and he still cant command his 6yd box and his wrists are still as strong as a wet paper bag.

2 minutes ago, Drogba1 said:

That same keeper bailed us out in multiple games, if it wasn't for Kepa finding his form this season Potter's league record would be even more dismal

Some weird logic is being thrown around lately. If a player has been sh*t, it's not the manager's fault, but they are the same people giving the manager praise when the player bails us out of a sh*t game, as Enzo, Chilwell, and Felix have done numerous times through individual quality. But vice versa with people who want Potter gone, if players are playing pish, it's the manager, if they're playing well it's in spite of Potter.

Kepa has been a mixed bag this season, saved our bacon a few times but has also screwed us over on several occasions, that's typical of him. I would say Potters subs have finally come to haunt us, I didn't like how negative he's been with subs against mediocre teams and I dare say we've rode our luck a bit, especially against Leicester. 

The 3-4-3 formation is a decent temporary solution to ride the season out, so I give props to Potter for going for it. However, I think as soon as we start playing with 4 at the back again we're going to run into the same problems, which will very likely be next season.