Didn't like how Poch managed the game,  i still back him but it was worrying how quickly we fell to pieces at 3-0 and just couldn't get a grip back on the game.

A lot to sort out in the transfer market and internally this January.

So for those who like to say things like "the manager coached a win today, but we wasted our chances", did he coach a draw or a defeat today, and Luton just wasted their chances?

Really don't like him. Don't think he's going to get us any higher than we are.

We are scoring goals now but the defence has become a liability, POch's biggest test in the second half of the season will be fixing our defending

Just now, Zeta said:

So for those who like to say things like "the manager coached a win today, but we wasted our chances", did he coach a draw or a defeat today, and Luton just wasted their chances?

Really don't like him. Don't think he's going to get us any higher than we are.

I mean yes, there's a world where coaches coach a win and lose/draw and vice versa.

But there's only one of those circumstances where we get told to stop making excuses and only the result counts.

3 minutes ago, Zeta said:

So for those who like to say things like "the manager coached a win today, but we wasted our chances", did he coach a draw or a defeat today, and Luton just wasted their chances?

Really don't like him. Don't think he's going to get us any higher than we are.

I don’t put much on him tbf. Least not today’s performance. 
 

Bar the obvious (defending crosses) felt he did everything right in terms of management. We don’t have a CF that can win headers and hold the ball with their backs against defenders. Broja kept losing it so Nkunku replacing him was the only option. 
 

I like that he benched Sterling too after last weeks atrocity. 

Edited December 30, 20232 yr by Sconnie Blue

Absolutely clueless, no idea how to manage situations, subs are abysmal and nonsensical, set piece defending is just moronic.

7 minutes ago, dkw said:

Absolutely clueless, no idea how to manage situations, subs are abysmal and nonsensical, set piece defending is just moronic.

Absolutely absymal.

When Enzo came on today I was absolutely sure he was going to stay close to Caicedo & Gallagher in midfield and have us look to dominate to ball. But he essentially left him up top as an attacker while we continued to get run over in midfield and on the flanks.

Not to mention our defensive structure and non-existent build-up patterns.

 

We conceded 47 goals last season and halfway into this season we have already conceded 31. Only 7 teams in the league has conceded more than us. This is an appalling defensive stat and one Pochettino is largely to blame for. Horrible defensive coaching from him in the first half of the season. 

Just now, Scott Harris said:

We conceded 47 goals last season and halfway into this season we have already conceded 31. Only 7 teams in the league has conceded more than us. This is an appalling defensive stat and one Pochettino is largely to blame for. Horrible defensive coaching from him in the first half of the season. 

It’s the same goal too we are conceding 😂

Not like we are being carved open. One cross into the box, especially far post, this team sh*ts themselves. 

Still want to see what he can do with a fully fit team, or at least fully fit defenders, but those substitutions were the worse I’ve seen from a Chelsea manager in a while.  

Despite my critisisms of him I do think he's okay as a stop gap to get rid of stench of last season and has done well with our attacking players, Mudryk especially.

However if/when we want to aim to bring the title back home he needs to replaced but I'm not sure I trust Clearlake to do it or if they do certainly not adequately. With Ancelotti extending at Madrid we should be throwing everything we have at Alonso this summer or next.

10 minutes ago, Remodez said:

Still want to see what he can do with a fully fit team, or at least fully fit defenders, but those substitutions were the worse I’ve seen from a Chelsea manager in a while.  

Fast/mobile CBs

Actual fullbacks

A proper CF

A fit midfield. 

Even im willing to admit not having any of those throughout a season is handicapping. 
 

1 minute ago, Argo said:

Despite my critisisms of him I do think he's okay as a stop gap to get rid of stench of last season and has done well with our attacking players, Mudryk especially.

However if/when we want to aim to bring the title back home he needs to replaced but I'm not sure I trust Clearlake to do it or if they do certainly not adequately. With Ancelotti extending at Madrid we should be throwing everything we have at Alonso this summer or next.

Is Alonso even a sure thing? 

1 minute ago, Argo said:

Despite my critisisms of him I do think he's okay as a stop gap to get rid of stench of last season and has done well with our attacking players, Mudryk especially.

However if/when we want to aim to bring the title back home he needs to replaced but I'm not sure I trust Clearlake to do it or if they do certainly not adequately. With Ancelotti extending at Madrid we should be throwing everything we have at Alonso this summer or next.

Unlike many of the massive contracts handed to players, Poch is also only on a 2 year deal and that is highly unlikely to be extended unless we see a big improvement in the next year. 

11 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

We conceded 47 goals last season and halfway into this season we have already conceded 31. Only 7 teams in the league has conceded more than us. This is an appalling defensive stat and one Pochettino is largely to blame for. Horrible defensive coaching from him in the first half of the season. 

And at the other end of the pitch, 34 goals scored already vs 38 for the entire 22/23 PL season

So on balance it is an improvement. 

Personally I much prefer to watch what we are seeing this season.

Hopefully he can tighten up the defence while maintaining our scoring at the good end !

Did the increase in goals conceded coincide with the switch to a back four?

Need to get Steve Barry back from Bayern or w/e his name was. 

10 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Is Alonso even a sure thing? 

It will be somewhat risky but if we ever want to challenge Pep in this league we're going to have to twist at some point.

But so far from what I've seen and read he looks seriously legit, for me it will be up there with Jose's job at Porto if he holds off Bayern and Kane.

I don't blame Pochettino for anything. Far from being perfect but I think he is managing this U23 side well enough. We are going forward and we can see development everywhere. 

Distinct characteristic for a young team is fluctuation. Great game, good game, disaster, better, okay, great, bad, disappointing, excellent..you get the picture. If you are not at least 7,5 every game you have absolutely zero Chance of winning points like the top dogs. On top of that we have massive injury problems. 

Most of our opponents in the league are far more experienced. Most of the sides have more hours together on the pitch,  most of our opponents have more hours and minutes in a premier league. 

What we have is masses of potential in the players and a proven experienced manager who is used of winning games in the League. 

What we also have is massive pressure over the logo. For Luton every second is an unpressured situation. They go down, they go down. No sweat. 

Be patient. Look at what that has done to Gallagher. He is what we wanted him to be now that he has had the minutes and the trust. 

When we have 6-7 "Gallaghers" in the side that forms our core we have a side that can challenge for things. Even then these boys will still be young boys.

Look at someone like Foden. He has a bad patch and team still wins. Palmer has a bad game and we lose. The difference in pressure is massive. 

18 minutes ago, Argo said:

It will be somewhat risky but if we ever want to challenge Pep in this league we're going to have to twist at some point.

But so far from what I've seen and read he looks seriously legit, for me it will be up there with Jose's job at Porto if he holds off Bayern and Kane.

I could see Alonso replacing Klopp at Liverpool eventually. He has more connection to them as a club.

8 minutes ago, evissy said:

I don't blame Pochettino for anything. Far from being perfect but I think he is managing this U23 side well enough. We are going forward and we can see development everywhere. 

Distinct characteristic for a young team is fluctuation. Great game, good game, disaster, better, okay, great, bad, disappointing, excellent..you get the picture. If you are not at least 7,5 every game you have absolutely zero Chance of winning points like the top dogs. On top of that we have massive injury problems. 

Most of our opponents in the league are far more experienced. Most of the sides have more hours together on the pitch,  most of our opponents have more hours and minutes in a premier league. 

What we have is masses of potential in the players and a proven experienced manager who is used of winning games in the League. 

What we also have is massive pressure over the logo. For Luton every second is an unpressured situation. They go down, they go down. No sweat. 

Be patient. Look at what that has done to Gallagher. He is what we wanted him to be now that he has had the minutes and the trust. 

When we have 6-7 "Gallaghers" in the side that forms our core we have a side that can challenge for things. Even then these boys will still be young boys.

Look at someone like Foden. He has a bad patch and team still wins. Palmer has a bad game and we lose. The difference in pressure is massive. 

Stop talking sense only OTT reactions are needed. 

3 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I could see Alonso replacing Klopp at Liverpool eventually. He has more connection to them as a club.

If it's a head to head at a point we're both looking for a manager probably but there's no guarantee Klopp is going anywhere anytime soon, he's only in his mid 50s and he's never going to find more perfect conditions for his style of management anywhere else. No other big club will give him the slow build he needs and puts up with his off season's the way Liverpool have.

I do think we'll need a strong second half of the season to stand even a remote chance of convincing Alonso however.

35 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Need to get Steve Barry back from Bayern or w/e his name was. 

Anthony !

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Fast/mobile CBs

A fit midfield. 

Even im willing to admit not having any of those throughout a season is handicapping. 

Lack of fullbacks may be a decent excuse but these two definitly isn't.

Colwill is a fast, good and mobile CB and he's played in his actual position once in 20 odd games. And that one game he was brilliant.

In midfield Gallagher, Caicedo, Enzo (bar the last 2) and Lesley have been fit the entire season with only Lavia missing who was never going to be a starter.
He's cocked up the midfield but thats down to Pochettino and very little else. Its almost too little focus on it but he's got both of the most expensive midfielders of all time and he's managed to use them both entirely wrong for the entire season!

Just that is almost a sackable offense (taking into consideration where we are)  because we are supposedly building something for the future here and God knows using Caicedo as a lone DM and Enzo as a quasi attacker is not going to work out or help us in the future. If anything we'll risk losing two very good midfielders due to complete mismanagement.

 

Edited December 30, 20232 yr by OriginalS

I wouldn't really buy anyone in January. We have plenty of players and most of all we have players who haven't had the minutes yet. We bought all of them with very high fees, to sell and re-buy to win 5 more games rest of the season for me is not a reason enough. To please us fans in short term is something I am not up for. 

We just had Madueke back and it seems he has something in him. 

If we need to sell someone because they want to leave, that is okay. Let anyone out who doesn't like the project. 

I would probably bring Andrey Santos back from loan if we are still light in midfield.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

I don't blame Pochettino for anything. Far from being perfect but I think he is managing this U23 side well enough. We are going forward and we can see development everywhere. 

Distinct characteristic for a young team is fluctuation. Great game, good game, disaster, better, okay, great, bad, disappointing, excellent..you get the picture. If you are not at least 7,5 every game you have absolutely zero Chance of winning points like the top dogs. On top of that we have massive injury problems. 

Most of our opponents in the league are far more experienced. Most of the sides have more hours together on the pitch,  most of our opponents have more hours and minutes in a premier league. 

What we have is masses of potential in the players and a proven experienced manager who is used of winning games in the League. 

What we also have is massive pressure over the logo. For Luton every second is an unpressured situation. They go down, they go down. No sweat. 

Be patient. Look at what that has done to Gallagher. He is what we wanted him to be now that he has had the minutes and the trust. 

When we have 6-7 "Gallaghers" in the side that forms our core we have a side that can challenge for things. Even then these boys will still be young boys.

Look at someone like Foden. He has a bad patch and team still wins. Palmer has a bad game and we lose. The difference in pressure is massive. 

We have a completely new team in the last 18 months bar a few players, new coaching staff, new medical staff and fans expect everything to just click. We are playing exactly how young strangers would play.

Didnt Todd even get rid of the grounds men?