2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Yeah don't agree on the squad thing myself. Think most of our buys are poor.

We have Palmer, Caicedo, Lavia, James and Cucurella who would all get spots, if fit, in any of the top squads.

Everyone else is vastly overrated, imo. 

Maresca is a part of the problem, but a small part. The directors picked him, like many of the players we have. They are a bigger issue. The owners being the biggest issue.

Totally agree. And 2 of those 5 that you mention have chronic injury issues.

Although does anyone get Rafa vibes with his very late subs?

Apart from missing multiple sitters, we are wide open to getting pressed into making mistakes in and around our half. Gifted palace and Bournemouth goals from there and to a lesser extent the Fulham winner too.

Disasi error against may not be something the shape/structure can account for, but would have thought it’s something that needs to be fixed asap. 

I don't think Maresca ( or any of his predecessors) happy with the young team, but he's smart enough not to talk out loud and just get on with it. He simple doesn't have the capacity to be hands on with every young player in his team, some will just sit on the bench until others fall down. I haven't watched the full game to judge whether that was the right call to sub the young defender, but it's his job to get the points, so I would cut him some slack on that. The bigger issue is we are so open and vulnerable in defence, we aren't limiting the damage to a single goal, let alone a clean sheet.

30 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Yeah don't agree on the squad thing myself. Think most of our buys are poor.

We have Palmer, Caicedo, Lavia, James and Cucurella who would all get spots, if fit, in any of the top squads.

Everyone else is vastly overrated, imo. 

Maresca is a part of the problem, but a small part. The directors picked him, like many of the players we have. They are a bigger issue. The owners being the biggest issue.

Cucurella wouldn't get into any other teams first 11 in the top 8 outside of City. None of them play with inverted full backs. It's the only role he can play.

41 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Cucurella wouldn't get into any other teams first 11 in the top 8 outside of City. None of them play with inverted full backs. It's the only role he can play.

Think Pool would happily take him over Robinson and his back up.

Think Maresca might be on thin ice if this continues. well done up to xmas, in a little tailspin right now and we look short of momentum. 

85 goal attempts. 
 

4 goals. 

2 hours ago, loz said:

You really think that?

Not convinced. If we put every player on the market how many would Liverpool, City or Arsenal want as a regular first team player?

Obviously Palmer, maybe Caciedo.  I'm already struggling.   James if fit.

 

Fofana, Colwil, Palmer, James, Nkunku, and Caicedo for first teamer

Madueke, Jackson, Sancho, neto  Lavia, Enzo, as rotation

If we look at our team from individual perspective, it is actually very good. 

Edited January 15, 20251 yr by Bob stark

I don't know about Madueke, I think he's boom/bust type guy. He through a bit of a fit on trying to handle a tough ball right before the goal. Just don't think he has the mentality.

Many question our squad quality to even challenge top 4. That I completely disagree. 

Contrary to last season insane squad, our squad this season is normal for top team. There are definitely some issues before we can genuinely challenge for title but top 4 more than good enough. 

 

Serious question. Do our shed end members believe, as we are, board, manager and squad, we have the ability to be competitive in the CL and for top 4 next season, especially after the club world cup?

I don't.

49 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Serious question. Do our shed end members believe, as we are, board, manager and squad, we have the ability to be competitive in the CL and for top 4 next season, especially after the club world cup?

I don't.

Not sure us getting top 4 this season is a guarantee. I think we will get it but the margin is tight 

3 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Not sure us getting top 4 this season is a guarantee. I think we will get it but the margin is tight 

Depends on if Forest drop off for me.

I believe Pool, Arsenal and City finish above us, so if Forest don't drop we don't make top 4, imo 

16 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Depends on if Forest drop off for me.

I believe Pool, Arsenal and City finish above us, so if Forest don't drop we don't make top 4, imo 

Top 5 could well be enough for Champs League this season. But putting that aside, if we did qualify for next season's Champs League I would certainly worry about our ability to compete in it while staying in the top part of the league table. We've managed to avoid playing the same squad in Europe this season but we wouldn't be able to get away with the B team in the Champs League. I think we would need to some more experienced players in the squad, and also we would need to keep the likes of Reece/Fofana/Lavia fit.

1 minute ago, forbzy said:

Top 5 could well be enough for Champs League this season. But putting that aside, if we did qualify for next season's Champs League I would certainly worry about our ability to compete in it while staying in the top part of the league table. We've managed to avoid playing the same squad in Europe this season but we wouldn't be able to get away with the B team in the Champs League. I think we would need to some more experienced players in the squad, and also we would need to keep the likes of Reece/Fofana/Lavia fit.

We would need to be willing to, at least, alter the process to include some experienced players who have good records of fitness.

We would need a spine. All that money spent, what spine do we have?

Our hopes for all the Goalkeepers we signed (how many do we have, 13?) Is all on 20mill 17 years old Mike Penders, the 6 foot 6 "next Tibo who is actually good with his feet".

Sanchez, Jorgensen and all the rest are not it, and never will be.

How about the defenders? Don't think about Fofana, he is done. Too many major injuries. Even if he magically stays fit he won't make his potential, his body has taken too much damage.

So that leaves Disasi, Badiashile, Tosin. Where's the spine there? Out hopes are on our 2 Cobham lads and Aaron Anselmino. Sorry no chance, we need 2 top defenders along with those 3.

Midfield? We have Caicedo, Lavia is a question mark? Enzo? Nope, get shot of him. We used to have Essien, Maka, Lamps, Ballack but never mind them, Enzo Fernandez is not even up there with Raul Merieles or Tiago.

And our striker options...

 

We cannot compete in the CL and for top 4 next season (if we get CL) with just Palmer and Caicedo, while praying Cucu, Lavia and James have clean bills of health. Even of they did, those 5 need more help.

Even without any injuries, I'm starting to think that this team needs one more season of playing together to be able to compete both in the PL and CL. If we get into the CL next season somehow (which is starting to look more unlikely now), Maresca is going to struggle to compete in both comps. Right now, I'd take a top 6 finish and a spot in the Europa League. Also, if we don't win the Conference League this season, it's going to be a huge dampener.

Looks like the honeymoon period is well & truly over.

Just like Potter, Maresca had a very good start but also just like Potter, things are now going badly wrong and Maresca doesn't seem to have any answers. 2 points out of 15 in a run of fixtures that all looked winnable is very concerning. If Palmers has an off-day and doesn't score, you wonder where our goals are coming from (certainly not from Jackson, who he insists on keep playing and leaving on for 90 minutes).

I would give Maresca until the end of the season but if we don't make top 5 or win a cup, and there are no signs of his game management improving, then would seriously look elsewhere in the summer.

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Depends on if Forest drop off for me.

I believe Pool, Arsenal and City finish above us, so if Forest don't drop we don't make top 4, imo 

If we didn't scored on the 95th min, Bournemouth would have the same point as us. 

 

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Depends on if Forest drop off for me.

I believe Pool, Arsenal and City finish above us, so if Forest don't drop we don't make top 4, imo 

We're 3 pts from 7th atm and can only play for the first 45 minutes of matches. If Newcastle keep Isak and he stays fit I can see them above us as well.

7 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

85 goal attempts. 
 

4 goals. 

Wow!!

Laurel and Hardy will however use this as evidence that we are progressing on the right direction so we are stuck will them and without a consistent striker.

This mentality of let’s get into the champions league is such a small club mentality. Unless we are winning cups or the league we don’t deserve CL football.

Celebrating top four is what Arsenal and Tottenham do not f**king Chelsea!!!

I couldn’t care less if we get CL if we are not winning competitions. I will take the league cup/FA cup now over just getting Top 4.

Chelsea are a club now that wins things not just “Get top f**king four”

f**k you Ted Lasso, f**k you Laurel and Hardy.”

11 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

I'm bored of this tippy tappy bo**ocks.

I'm bored of this inverted full back bo**ocks.

Give me a traditional counter attacking manager any day of the week. Watching forest is far more entertaining than us. 

Oh yes please.

I hear Sean Dyche is looking for work

Genuine question, did we ever go 5 league games without a win under Poch?