He clearly should have stuck with the same team that thrashed Everton. Despite green shoots of hope, and all the goals, it's these baffling decisions that turn people against him.

14 hours ago, Gol15 said:

In the end of the day it didn't work, De Bruyne did what he wanted and it didn't matter where Gallagher was.

Their most influential player did the job, De Bruyne was MOTM while Palmer couldn't do it for us and having him wide in order to implement all the other stuff didn't pay off, you don't put Messi somewhere else after he just scored a few from his best position.

We are flattering ourselves here by trying to make it look as if the manager won the tactical battle, the ball was coming to our box from both sides in the second half, Man City looked better.

When they gave him that they struggled to name someone for MOTM and predictably went for De Bruyne with a workman-like performance resignedly saying he probably made the most tackles.  Of course he played a fundamental part of the goal they scored. 

I feel for Poch. Even with people disagreeing with his line up and tactics, there’s no denying we would be much closer to top 4, already won a cup and be in the final for the other if we could finish. 
 

Once it all clicks there’s potential there to become a good team. 
 

Think Poch should've gone with the same team that started against Everton but at the same time why change the starting lineup that almost beat City twice? 

So can't be too critical, Poch set that game up well and we should've won it. This was 100% down to the players, we missed our chances and City with their experience and Doku coming on changed the game. While we drifted towards the end, I feel there's just a lot of arrogance with how we play. 

14 minutes ago, Victor90 said:

Think Poch should've gone with the same team that started against Everton but at the same time why change the starting lineup that almost beat City twice? 

So can't be too critical, Poch set that game up well and we should've won it. This was 100% down to the players, we missed our chances and City with their experience and Doku coming on changed the game. While we drifted towards the end, I feel there's just a lot of arrogance with how we play. 

Everton terrorized our left hand side with Coleman and Ashley young. 

1 hour ago, Gonoir Beniashile said:

He clearly should have stuck with the same team that thrashed Everton. Despite green shoots of hope, and all the goals, it's these baffling decisions that turn people against him.

Disagree. We would not have gotten away with the things we did v Everton against City. 
 

You can question the subs but the line up and tactic was perfectly fine.

Generally this season I feel he sets us up well. Cant think of too many instances where our plan A hasn’t worked, at least to a degree. 
Its when the momentum in the game shifts that he struggles. He waits far too long to change things even when we can smell a goal coming from miles away, and when he finally does change something its at best ineffective - sometimes even detrimental. 
Kind of a mixed bag, I think we would benefit greatly from a summer of peace and stability, not with another coach coming in, needing the entire summer to assess the squad etc. At the same time, if we really want to be a serious team I’m not sure Poch is good enough, pure and simple. 
At this point I’d say let him sit out his contract, but I wouldn’t be too bothered either way

1 minute ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Generally this season I feel he sets us up well. Cant think of too many instances where our plan A hasn’t worked, at least to a degree. 
Its when the momentum in the game shifts that he struggles. He waits far too long to change things even when we can smell a goal coming from miles away, and when he finally does change something its at best ineffective - sometimes even detrimental. 
Kind of a mixed bag, I think we would benefit greatly from a summer of peace and stability, not with another coach coming in, needing the entire summer to assess the squad etc. At the same time, if we really want to be a serious team I’m not sure Poch is good enough, pure and simple. 
At this point I’d say let him sit out his contract, but I wouldn’t be too bothered either way

Part in bold has been Poch's biggest criticism throughout his managerial career. It's the very reason why I believe that even if we do have an injection of quality and players return back from injury, we will be showing the same concerns and criticism about his game management. We had a fit Carney and Poch still did nothing whereas Pep changed his midfield like 3 different times. 

I'm just completely indifferent at the moment because I don't trust the owners or co-directors. They could very well sack Poch and bring in another manager who gaslights the fanbase and is equally as poor. Maybe even worse. 

6 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Part in bold has been Poch's biggest criticism throughout his managerial career. It's the very reason why I believe that even if we do have an injection of quality and players return back from injury, we will be showing the same concerns and criticism about his game management. We had a fit Carney and Poch still did nothing whereas Pep changed his midfield like 3 different times. 

I'm just completely indifferent at the moment because I don't trust the owners or co-directors. They could very well sack Poch and bring in another manager who gaslights the fanbase and is equally as poor. Maybe even worse. 

My concern with retaining Poch, I have some real concerns and distrust of the back room staff and their training regime in line with our medical department.  I am just not confident that they will get these players fit and keep them fit. I do think there is potential and real quality here but if they continually break down then you have to question your regime and set up.

I do have problems with some of his in game management. I will concede that he is hamstrung upon occasion by not having players available but again I would question why we have so many injuries, why they are out for so long and why so many break down during recovery.

If I thought truly this would be fixed going forward I would say stick with him. We all know he is not the guy but he could be the guy to get us to the guy. But if these injuries perpetuate we need to throw the whole lot in the sh*tpan now and try again with a different and better set up.

4 hours ago, ozboy said:

The guys on the ground stuffed up particularly Jackson. Var stuffed up, but in my view Poch also stuffed up playing Enzo, largely a passenger and forcing Gallagher wide left. 

Enzo played Jackson free with a brilliant balanced pass. If Jackson scored that you'd be saying different things here. 

3 hours ago, evissy said:

Enzo played Jackson free with a brilliant balanced pass. If Jackson scored that you'd be saying different things here. 

Good pass that and i'm sure he'll continue to have his moments here and there like any talented player.

But its this kind of general play thats the problem (major) with Enzo. Its more or less the same every week with him but this time against players with 130 minutes in the legs two days before which makes it even worse.
You cannot get away with that kind of "intensity" and lack of positioning in english football and its no wonder Caicedo looks like a completely isolated player just about every time they are on the pitch together.

If he was at Palmers level in terms of creativity and G/A threat one could probably argue that we should put him ahead of two midfielders that would protect him in transitions and otherwise but that task is clearly Palmers for the forseeable future and Enzo is unable to function in a midfield two (certainly in our current system anyways)

He's a bit like late stage Cesc in a midfield two. Didn't work with Cesc (despite him being levels above Enzo in terms of quality) and not going to work with Enzo.

 

8 hours ago, Remodez said:

I feel for Poch. Even with people disagreeing with his line up and tactics, there’s no denying we would be much closer to top 4, already won a cup and be in the final for the other if we could finish. 
 

Once it all clicks there’s potential there to become a good team. 
 

Well our chances of European football is gone now. If there is truth to the rumours Poch can be sacked for cheap if we fail to make European football next season then he may well be done.

6 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Well our chances of European football is gone now. If there is truth to the rumours Poch can be sacked for cheap if we fail to make European football next season then he may well be done.

I had heard rumours of such a clause. Of course the next manager would be selected by the same set of people who picked the last couple, so we may end up wishing Poch was still here.

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Well our chances of European football is gone now. If there is truth to the rumours Poch can be sacked for cheap if we fail to make European football next season then he may well be done.

Gone? 

We're 3 points behind 6th with a game in hand. 

I'd say on current form we are favourites for 6th place. 

15 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Gone? 

We're 3 points behind 6th with a game in hand. 

I'd say on current form we are favourites for 6th place. 

I wouldn't say favourites as we still have to beat Arsenal, Villa, Spurs and Brighton. At the very least we need 6 points from those run of games, assuming we don't choke the other "easy" ones like Forrest and Bournemouth. 

United are even worse than us so we should get 7th quite comfortably but Newcastle have a easier run of games than we do so 6th would be very difficult. If we do manage to make 6th and City win the cup we do get europe though so all to fight for.  

13 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Well our chances of European football is gone now. If there is truth to the rumours Poch can be sacked for cheap if we fail to make European football next season then he may well be done.

Before the season started I said I would be happy with 7th and a cup. We made the final for one, should have won it and should have also got to the final of the other. 

As much as I disagree with Poch's tactics, subs and line ups, I can't fault him solely for how the season has gone cause despite all that we would already be in a europe spot if we could finish. 

Unless we can get an elite manager, I would like to see him be given another season cause if this is Poch's worse (6th/7th and a cup final) then his best should see us become regular top 4 again and maybe compete for the title with some finer adjustments. 

20 hours ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Generally this season I feel he sets us up well. Cant think of too many instances where our plan A hasn’t worked, at least to a degree. 
Its when the momentum in the game shifts that he struggles. He waits far too long to change things even when we can smell a goal coming from miles away, and when he finally does change something its at best ineffective - sometimes even detrimental. 
Kind of a mixed bag, I think we would benefit greatly from a summer of peace and stability, not with another coach coming in, needing the entire summer to assess the squad etc. At the same time, if we really want to be a serious team I’m not sure Poch is good enough, pure and simple. 
At this point I’d say let him sit out his contract, but I wouldn’t be too bothered either way

With hindsight what do you think poch should have done ? 

30 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

With hindsight what do you think poch should have done ? 

1: Remove Enzo muchå earlier. He was being overrun and clearly isnt fit. Move Gallagher down with Caicedo to get real legs in that midfield. Attackingly we had Mudryk, Sterling and Cairney available so there were some options available should Gallagher be moved further back

2: Dont put Disasi against Doku. Its a tricky situation of course, but we needed someone with some agility out there. Either move Chalobah out there, put Gilchrist on or move Cucu to the right and Chilwell on at the left. This is all with hindsight, though. At the time I wasn’t against Disasi coming on as a physical presence in both boxes, but I didn’t think he would put him on as a right back in that situation

I’m not blaming him for yesterday despite of that, like I said I thought he set us up well, Gallagher on the left worked a treat and we should have won it. Cant expect that much more against City in a semi final, but in general throughout the season his changes have come too late and are very ineffective - as they were yesterday

54 minutes ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

1: Remove Enzo muchå earlier. He was being overrun and clearly isnt fit. Move Gallagher down with Caicedo to get real legs in that midfield. Attackingly we had Mudryk, Sterling and Cairney available so there were some options available should Gallagher be moved further back

2: Dont put Disasi against Doku. Its a tricky situation of course, but we needed someone with some agility out there. Either move Chalobah out there, put Gilchrist on or move Cucu to the right and Chilwell on at the left. This is all with hindsight, though. At the time I wasn’t against Disasi coming on as a physical presence in both boxes, but I didn’t think he would put him on as a right back in that situation

I’m not blaming him for yesterday despite of that, like I said I thought he set us up well, Gallagher on the left worked a treat and we should have won it. Cant expect that much more against City in a semi final, but in general throughout the season his changes have come too late and are very ineffective - as they were yesterday

Yep. I'm not blaming Poch but I too would have hooked Enzo early and brought Chukwuemeka on. Would also have brought Gilchrest on when Gusto went off as we all know how badly Disasi struggles and struggle he did. Finally, would have taken Jackson off on the hour mark as he could still be out there now but he wouldn't have scored, and played with a false 9 (as opposed to the false no. 9 Jackson is) - so brought on Sterling or Mudryk.

  

19 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Yep. I'm not blaming Poch but I too would have hooked Enzo early and brought Chukwuemeka on. Would also have brought Gilchrest on when Gusto went off as we all know how badly Disasi struggles and struggle he did. Finally, would have taken Jackson off on the hour mark as he could still be out there now but he wouldn't have scored, and played with a false 9 (as opposed to the false no. 9 Jackson is) - so brought on Sterling or Mudryk.

  

Agree with all that except I wouldn’t have started Enzo, good player but not fit at the minute. Jackson on another day might score but you have to hook him when he’s had an hour and missed makeable chances. 

4 hours ago, Nibs said:

Yep. I'm not blaming Poch but I too would have hooked Enzo early and brought Chukwuemeka on. Would also have brought Gilchrest on when Gusto went off as we all know how badly Disasi struggles and struggle he did. Finally, would have taken Jackson off on the hour mark as he could still be out there now but he wouldn't have scored, and played with a false 9 (as opposed to the false no. 9 Jackson is) - so brought on Sterling or Mudryk.

  

Agreed about Enzo. Clearly he has some issues with his fitness at the moment, and needs that surgery. Now that we are out of the cup, I would consider letting him go for the surgery straight away. Will give him more time to get fit for the start of next season.

42 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Agreed about Enzo. Clearly he has some issues with his fitness at the moment, and needs that surgery. Now that we are out of the cup, I would consider letting him go for the surgery straight away. Will give him more time to get fit for the start of next season.

Yup. Get it done now. 

Rest time should have him ready for Copa America so it works in his favor too. 

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Yup. Get it done now. 

Rest time should have him ready for Copa America so it works in his favor too. 

Also gives us a chance to have a look at Conor and Caicedo in the midfield pivot. Looked decent against Everton but would like to see that formation tried against a few more teams.

9 hours ago, Remodez said:

I wouldn't say favourites as we still have to beat Arsenal, Villa, Spurs and Brighton. At the very least we need 6 points from those run of games, assuming we don't choke the other "easy" ones like Forrest and Bournemouth. 

United are even worse than us so we should get 7th quite comfortably but Newcastle have a easier run of games than we do so 6th would be very difficult. If we do manage to make 6th and City win the cup we do get europe though so all to fight for.  

I still don't see us finishing any higher than 8th. We throw away too many points in games that we shouldn't. So it doesn't matter how sh*t United are, we won't take advantage of it. 

Ruud saying it as he sees it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13338311/Chelsea-legend-Ruud-Gullit-slams-horrible-embarrassing-blasts-ENTIRE-squad.html