1 hour ago, petre ispirescu said:

Lot of knee jerk reactions. He is a fine manager having a rough time in his in game management and the choice of starting line-ups lately. But not tactics. We're in a poor run of form but in none of the matches we looked clueless in terms of tactics. We actually were the better team in all of the matches, but poor decisions in front of the goal and lousy mistakes cost us the games.

Everton away we controlled the game and if Jackson taps that easy ball in, we get the three points. Palace today we should have put at least four past them and of course we then concede late in the game after Palmer had a brainfart and Jackson could not score to save his life. Ipswich away we dominate the full match, miss lots of chances, we hit the post twice, yet we concede from a penalty that is not a penalty in a millions years and another goal in a dead moment of the match when Ipswich were not touching the ball for minutes. Fulham at home we were not at our best, but that Sanchez brainless pass for their second goal is one of the highlights for the dumbest moment of the season.

We're ok given how incredibly young and inexperienced this squad is. Give him at least two or three very good, experienced starters as well and then we can judge him. We simply can't do with young players and inexperience in every single position.

Had this team had Van Dijk for Gusto and Salah on the right wing for this run of games, we'd win four out of four, I have no doubts about it. Not a single doubt. It does not even matter who the striker was. It is how much of a difference class and experienced players makes.

But you can decry the youth and inexperience but the reality is that this is the chosen strategy at a club level. So saying knee jerk reactions and then saying that we can't do it with young players in every position, we'll that's what's going to happen. 

Therefore the shortcomings and failings that may well come along this year will be our choice, our direction.

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

I just can't see it happening. Getting a striker in January and getting him settled almost never works. I remember when we signed Anelka from Bolton, he was in great scoring form, scored 10 in 18 games, then he only scored 1 in 14 for us. It was only the season after that we saw the best of him. These types of moves don't work instantly.

I don't believe we can finish top 4 with only Palmer being the player capable of scoring goals. A new player is needed or a miracle, a good coach has to make several players involved in the scoring systematically so we need a winger/inside-forward to start getting goals and a real striker because Nkunku has proven to be a useless signing so Jackson can do whatever he wants and he's still going to play the next match...

We have to try to get a real attacker.

1 hour ago, Ledgerson said:

I don't know if we are watching the same games but we competly don't know how to slow games down and it's on the manager.

The second half when Palace were on us, every time Sanchez got the ball, he imeddiately looked to start a counter when we were leading. Just stop for a second, let the team take a breath, compsoe themselves.

A lot of great managers quickly figured out this gung-ho football the whole 90 minutes is not gonna cut in the Prem.

Not sure about that. I just watched another 1-1 match fullmof movement   pace, intensity. Either of those teams would have beaten us today, and I don't think we played bad.

Even during that little purple patch we were going through, there has been serious issues that were going to hurt us eventually. Look at the amount of saves Sanchez has been forced to make this season. I see more saves from him in every game than I do the opposition keeper.

Jorgensen in the Conference League is being called on to do the same thing.

Maresca says this is normal because it's how we play. Well how we play is just going to lead to more and more points dropped. This is the first thing Maresca should be looking to stop.

1 hour ago, RMH said:

Felix is the last player I want on the pitch when defending a one goal lead or chasing to win the match. Nkunku was quite bad against Ipswich and did not put much effort in. If he plays, it’s in Palmer’s place, which means subbing the only player capable of a magic moment. I think Madueke should have come on earlier and James for Gusto, but I’m unsure about the fitness level of James and whether it would have broken him again.

Although Palmer produced virtually nothing in the second half with Maresca insisting on playing him in the left side half space.

I agree that Nkunku has underwhelmed but there is no point in putting players on the bench if you have no intention of using them.

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

This is a huge problem if he thinks all those on the pitch were good.

Also - the "for who" bit is appalling. Felix and Chris have not been integrated properly into the squad. Thats on him.

Also whats the point in Bobby Vincent asking a question that he himself has no idea or opinion on.

57 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Even during that little purple patch we were going through, there has been serious issues that were going to hurt us eventually. Look at the amount of saves Sanchez has been forced to make this season. I see more saves from him in every game than I do the opposition keeper.

Jorgensen in the Conference League is being called on to do the same thing.

Maresca says this is normal because it's how we play. Well how we play is just going to lead to more and more points dropped. This is the first thing Maresca should be looking to stop.

Yeah we still face a sh*t ton of shots. 

The problem is that we’re no longer out scoring opponents. We got away with having a dodgy defence because of our scoring abilities. 
 

But now we’re not scoring as many goals, our frail defence is being highlighted and costing us points. 
 

Enzo either has to get us scoring again or tighten up the defence to help us get over the line in tight games. 

Edited January 4, 20251 yr by JM7

11 minutes ago, JM7 said:

The problem is that we’re no longer out scoring opponents. We got away with having a dodgy defence because of our scoring abilities. 
 

But now we’re not scoring as many goals, our frail defence is being highlighted and costing us points. 
 

Enzo either has to get us scoring again or tighten up the defence to help us get over the line in tight games. 

Or, you know....

 

2 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Although Palmer produced virtually nothing in the second half with Maresca insisting on playing him in the left side half space.

I agree that Nkunku has underwhelmed but there is no point in putting players on the bench if you have no intention of using them.

Hazard had many games where he was not doing much and then he’d get the ball and produce tha bit of magic. Palmer is not at Hazards level (yet) but he’s the only player that we have that can score out of nothing. Not Nkunku nor Felix, Palmer is the only player I get up when he gets the ball.

16 minutes ago, RMH said:

Hazard had many games where he was not doing much and then he’d get the ball and produce tha bit of magic. Palmer is not at Hazards level (yet) but he’s the only player that we have that can score out of nothing. Not Nkunku nor Felix, Palmer is the only player I get up when he gets the ball.

So move him to his original position on the right hand side and bring Neto off. He was burnt by then, Mitchell had his measure for most of that second half.

3 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

So move him to his original position on the right hand side and bring Neto off. He was burnt by then, Mitchell had his measure for most of that second half.

Exactly what I'd do. Start with  Palmer right, Felix centre and Sancho left.  

 

9 minutes ago, loz said:

Exactly what I'd do. Start with  Palmer right, Felix centre and Sancho left.  

 

Pretty clear Maresca will not use Felix or Nkunku for anything serious.

Shame as I like that as a 3, with Madueke and Neto competing for spots. I think Neto has looked better on the left as well this season.

6 hours ago, RMH said:

I’m not concerned with Maresca, not that long ago he was being praised in here (look around November and early December), and he knew how to change things and the ht talks seemed good. I’m more concerned with how the board is building the team, which is quite unbalanced, and not very good in certain positions, tbh. Any other coach will fail too with this team.

We have been outplayed in the 2nd half, 3/4 match in a row

6 hours ago, RMH said:

I’m not concerned with Maresca, not that long ago he was being praised in here (look around November and early December), and he knew how to change things and the ht talks seemed good. I’m more concerned with how the board is building the team, which is quite unbalanced, and not very good in certain positions, tbh. Any other coach will fail too with this team.

We have been outplayed in the 2nd half, 3/4 match in a row

37 minutes ago, loz said:

Exactly what I'd do. Start with  Palmer right, Felix centre and Sancho left.  

 

Felix, really? Rather play Nkunku there. Plus, the way that we’re playing with wingers touching the line, Palmer is better off central, and if you look at the games, he’s covering right and left, just not as a winger.

What we could have done with is with Gallagher. Someone capable of defending and pressing in the opposition half.

14 minutes ago, RMH said:

Felix, really? Rather play Nkunku there. Plus, the way that we’re playing with wingers touching the line, Palmer is better off central, and if you look at the games, he’s covering right and left, just not as a winger.

What we could have done with is with Gallagher. Someone capable of defending and pressing in the opposition half.

Yes, Felix.

I don't think Nkunku is remotely interested anymore.  Strolled through the Ipswich game as if he was preoccupied wondering if he had left the iron on.

Of the two, given a rare opportunity to start, I felt Felix was by far the better of the two.

13 hours ago, dermott said:

Nowt except this place's propensity for simplistic knee-jerk reactions.

😂😂

This is probably the right answer. The hype around Maresca imo was too much, I thought Maresca was doing good job but nothing really that make me say brilliant. 

The last 5 games worry me big time though, lack of sub when you can see your team is tired is very concerning. This is far worse than tactic

7 hours ago, El regreso said:

All the goals we conceded are transition goals every single one in the last four games.

We haven’t conceded a corner or a goal where we got cut through by patient build up.

What does that tell you?? 

That is the biggest issue for me. Fernandez and Caicedo in midfield is essentially a 1 man pivot, & Caicedo isn’t even a DM. We need to recall either Ugochukwu or Santos now since Lavis can’t stay fit. We will keep dropping points until this is resolved.

51 minutes ago, loz said:

Yes, Felix.

I don't think Nkunku is remotely interested anymore.  Strolled through the Ipswich game as if he was preoccupied wondering if he had left the iron on.

Of the two, given a rare opportunity to start, I felt Felix was by far the better of the two.

Is a shame because I do believe him to be a good player, one who could have been really good for us but I agree, Nkunku does appear mentally checked out.

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Is a shame because I do believe him to be a good player, one who could have been really good for us but I agree, Nkunku does appear mentally checked out.

Both him and Felix have checked out

Honestly, the first half of the season has been a lot of fun that I really wasnt expecing. Credit due to Maresca for that. Ive called him a w**ker simply because of his refusal to use Nkunku in the league. If we didnt get Sancho, not sure who would be playing on the left for us. He is obviously really stubborn about his selections for his systems. But he really needs to be utilising the entire squad more because the last four games have really taken the wind out of the sails. He just seems to be making a few odd decisions. 

Said he needs a full season and we can see in the summer what has gone well or wrong... but his approach of not using all squad players (presumably becuase he doesnt rate certain players) is highlighting our wonky transfer strategy, perhaps its an aim to get players in January or the summer. 

People keep saying that we’ve got talent on the bench but this is what was available yesterday:

Jorgensen

Guiu - he’s raw and needs minutes in the PL. He is good at pressing and reading the game, and looks like a natural 9. He came on too late for me but I don’t expect him to impress from day 1 against  PL teams.

Tosin - he’s not better than Acheampong and I don’t think that we needed to sub the CBs.

Veiga - I don’t think that we needed to sub Cucurella, he’s tireless. He could have come on in the midfield but, is he a midfielder? I don’t think that he’d made a difference to the result.

Disasi - bring him on for Gusto? God no, please.

James - I think that this was an option, take off Gusto and use James. But, is he fully ready or would that have been risky for his recovery?

Nkunku - he’s quality but hasn’t shown it for us except in the conference league. And it looks like he’s checked out. So not a good option to bring on.

Felix - a player that divides opinions. For me, he’s a lot of hit and miss, good tricks here and there but goes missing too often. He’s not a hard worker either, he might press here and there but not throughout the match. Not a good option when you’re defending a one goal lead, imo. Good when things are going well and we are on top of the game and controlling the tempo but not good in yesterday’s hard fought end of the match.

Madueke - he’s got quality but goes missing in many games. Either way, he should have come on earlier to bring fresh legs.

Of all the bench players, imo, only Madueke and James are of quality enough in this type of matches. Guiu is good and I think that Maresca did well bringing him on but, realistically we need a striker that’s already ready, not the potential that our board like to buy.

And we had no midfielders, which is what we need desperately.

37 minutes ago, RMH said:

People keep saying that we’ve got talent on the bench but this is what was available yesterday:

Jorgensen

Guiu - he’s raw and needs minutes in the PL. He is good at pressing and reading the game, and looks like a natural 9. He came on too late for me but I don’t expect him to impress from day 1 against  PL teams.

Tosin - he’s not better than Acheampong and I don’t think that we needed to sub the CBs.

Veiga - I don’t think that we needed to sub Cucurella, he’s tireless. He could have come on in the midfield but, is he a midfielder? I don’t think that he’d made a difference to the result.

Disasi - bring him on for Gusto? God no, please.

James - I think that this was an option, take off Gusto and use James. But, is he fully ready or would that have been risky for his recovery?

Nkunku - he’s quality but hasn’t shown it for us except in the conference league. And it looks like he’s checked out. So not a good option to bring on.

Felix - a player that divides opinions. For me, he’s a lot of hit and miss, good tricks here and there but goes missing too often. He’s not a hard worker either, he might press here and there but not throughout the match. Not a good option when you’re defending a one goal lead, imo. Good when things are going well and we are on top of the game and controlling the tempo but not good in yesterday’s hard fought end of the match.

Madueke - he’s got quality but goes missing in many games. Either way, he should have come on earlier to bring fresh legs.

Of all the bench players, imo, only Madueke and James are of quality enough in this type of matches. Guiu is good and I think that Maresca did well bringing him on but, realistically we need a striker that’s already ready, not the potential that our board like to buy.

And we had no midfielders, which is what we need desperately.

This seems like it's going to be a common excuse this season, I'm not sure how many times a team we face must make changes and get a result before people realise. Every player on that bench is capable enough to do a job v Palace apart from Nkunku who I'm surprised even made the bench after his performance last time.

Look at the players Palace brought on from their bench, they are not better than the options we have and they are not even better than the players that they replaced for Palace and yet they got a result. 

His presser made it clear he was only thinking of like for like replacements which is what you seem to be doing as well, he didn't once consider changing formation/tactic to make us more compact and play on counter. 

2 hours ago, Remodez said:

This seems like it's going to be a common excuse this season, I'm not sure how many times a team we face must make changes and get a result before people realise. Every player on that bench is capable enough to do a job v Palace apart from Nkunku who I'm surprised even made the bench after his performance last time.

Look at the players Palace brought on from their bench, they are not better than the options we have and they are not even better than the players that they replaced for Palace and yet they got a result. 

His presser made it clear he was only thinking of like for like replacements which is what you seem to be doing as well, he didn't once consider changing formation/tactic to make us more compact and play on counter. 

What would have been your options?