31 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

The number of players Maresca appears to not rate or have fallen out with is very concerning. It's only January for f**k's sake!

It's not surprising though. He did it the moment he came in when he said Chilwell (our vice captain) isn't good enough and Chukwuemeka needs to leave on loan.

He also said James needed to step up as a captain, but also gave the captains armband at the start of the season to a player that upset every black player in our team, especially the French ones.

Love to be a fly in the dressing room, how many players want Maresca gone?

what is Jackson doing to make the coach keep picking him?

I think something has gone wrong behind the scenes. I get form and especially us have bad patches, but the manner in which it has gone wrong so quickly against the lesser clubs in the division makes me go WTF. Thought Palace would be a tough game, it was. 

We have players in the bomb squad still here after the transfer window has opened... So the players/ agents/ club havent (as yet) managed to find a club over teh past five months. Players who have signed just haven't really stepped up yet and others on loan or sold are playing better. 

Madueke has all but vanished and outside of Jackson and Palmer, he carries a potent threat despite being indifferent form-wise. (think he may be sold this January) 

not sure if anyone plays on the left wing its been so absent of goals from it and we dont score from set pieces and midfield when Palmer isnt on form. 

From free scoring and the gaffer tweaking things so we're not so attacking we've started to struggle. 

bad Xmas, new year is here, we will see what this squad has going forward. 

 

36 minutes ago, bluetrooper said:

I think something has gone wrong behind the scenes. I get form and especially us have bad patches, but the manner in which it has gone wrong so quickly against the lesser clubs in the division makes me go WTF. Thought Palace would be a tough game, it was. 

We have players in the bomb squad still here after the transfer window has opened... So the players/ agents/ club havent (as yet) managed to find a club over teh past five months. Players who have signed just haven't really stepped up yet and others on loan or sold are playing better. 

Madueke has all but vanished and outside of Jackson and Palmer, he carries a potent threat despite being indifferent form-wise. (think he may be sold this January) 

not sure if anyone plays on the left wing its been so absent of goals from it and we dont score from set pieces and midfield when Palmer isnt on form. 

From free scoring and the gaffer tweaking things so we're not so attacking we've started to struggle. 

bad Xmas, new year is here, we will see what this squad has going forward. 

 

Curse of Mudryk I tells ya...

3 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

My theory is that the players are in revolt now Mudryk is no longer around to share the good stuff.

The other theory, (and I think this theory is more likely), is that numerous players are now on the same "performance enhancing" substance as Mudryk was.

3 minutes ago, just said:

The other theory, (and I think this theory is more likely), is that numerous players are now on the same "performance enhancing" substance as Mudryk was.

I dont even want to consider this as a theory if im honest. and im sure it would have been found out about if true... I dont relly want to believe Mudryk is a juicer but we're waiting on news... 

3 minutes ago, bluetrooper said:

I dont even want to consider this as a theory if im honest. and im sure it would have been found out about if true... I dont relly want to believe Mudryk is a juicer but we're waiting on news... 

It's was a satirical post BT. 

But my God, if Mudryk was found to be taking some performance enhancing drugs, I would imagine that the company that makes it would go bust overnight.

1 hour ago, just said:

It's was a satirical post BT. 

But my God, if Mudryk was found to be taking some performance enhancing drugs, I would imagine that the company that makes it would go bust overnight.

Sorry... got my blue doom glasses on after the last few results. 

We don't seem anywhere near as good without Lavia in the team. Enzo doesn't offer the same physicality

12 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

We don't seem anywhere near as good without Lavia in the team. Enzo doesn't offer the same physicality

I'm struggling to understand where this whole Lavia thing is coming from. He started in three of the games we have won this season, and we were behind when he went off injured against Tottenham. We lost and drew twice in the other games he started in.

I agree that Lavia makes us look better and takes the pressure off Caicedo, but I don't think his availability has much to do with our slump in form. With or without Lavia, the problems we have are still there. Sanchez still faces too many shots per game, we don't control games well, we miss too many easy chances, and Maresca has no idea how to wrestle back control of a game when teams start to get a bit more confident against us.

I think we are over complicating the issue(s)

- He has alienated at least 4 (chilly, chuks, felix and chris) of the squad - and failed to integrate a number of others (Veiga, KDH). There are also issues with mads. 

- he has clear favourites and isn't picking players based on form or output. 

- This type of squad management will only go one way....it isn't sustainable.

- His sole tactic seems to be give the ball to palmer. He isn't able to change the way we play, change the game tactically or influence positively from the touch line. If plan A (palmer) fails - then the wheels come off. 

It's all on him.....with a squad full of the attacking talent we have, we should have a lot of options.... not simply the like for like bs we see over and over again

4 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

I think we are over complicating the issue(s)

- He has alienated at least 4 (chilly, chuks, felix and chris) of the squad - and failed to integrate a number of others (Veiga, KDH). There are also issues with mads. 

- he has clear favourites and isn't picking players based on form or output. 

- This type of squad management will only go one way....it isn't sustainable.

- His sole tactic seems to be give the ball to palmer. He isn't able to change the way we play, change the game tactically or influence positively from the touch line. If plan A (palmer) fails - then the wheels come off. 

It's all on him.....with a squad full of the attacking talent we have, we should have a lot of options.... not simply the like for like bs we see over and over again

When you bring in a no-nonsense gaffer, you're always going to get the odd player who gets sidelined to make a statement. But I think he's biting off more than he can chew at the minute.

Arteta and Guardiola have fallen out with numerous players and it did work for them in the end, but we've got about 5 unhappy players now I estimate? You're right that's pretty unsustainable. We could really do with the likes of Nkunku, Noni, and Felix at their best atm, Nkunku I definitely feel could be an asset if he was to play with a good striker up top but that door looks shut now unfortunately. 

 

10 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

with a squad full of the attacking talent we have

Are you sure?

On 26/12/2024 at 12:04, axman2526 said:

Ok so not the best start:

 

Fulham (H) - loss.

Ipswich (A)

Palace (A)

Bournemouth (H)

Wolves (H)

Man City (A)

West Ham (H)

Brighton (A)

Aston Villa (A)

Southampton (H)

Ok nevermind the 23 points I asked for too much. Can you get us 8 more points so we can get to the safety of 45 points please...

Our remaining League fixtures:

Arsenal (A)

Spurs (h)

Brentford (a)

Ipswich (h)

Fulham (a)

Everton (H)

Liverpool (h)

Newcastle (a)

Man United (h)

Forest (a)

Re-using this thread to save making another one.

How many points to do you all think big Enz and the team will get from these games ?

I reckon no more than 6.

15-18, max.

Arsenal (A) - draw

Spurs (h) - win

Brentford (a) - win

Ipswich (h) - win

Fulham (a) - win

Everton (H) - win

Liverpool (h) - lose

Newcastle (a) - lose

Man United (h) - draw

Forest (a) - lose

Unfortunately I don't think we are likely to get CL qualification unless we can somehow get 2 more wins.

Man City have by far the easiest run-in, with players returning from injury it would be unsurprising to see them end up 3rd. Brighton next week is their only real challenge.

Brighton have a hard run-in but by the same token they also have "6-pointers" vs Villa (H), Newcastle (H) and City (A), meaning everything is well within their hands.

Aston Villa also have a hard run-in and need to balance that with CL and FA Cup progression, but that tends to make teams match-sharp and ready rather than tired, and they have games against direct rivals which gives them more agency.

Newcastle have an easier next four games that could give them serious momentum for a CL place push. Their games against Arsenal and Everton are likely to be dead rubbers so they have a good chance of finishing really strongly.

Notts Forest have an easier run-in but have to play Villa away, and us at home. They would be favourites for both on current form, though, and they have done their hard work in the earlier part of the season.

We, however, have three local derbies, one historical rival, and two recent bogey teams (Brentford/Man U) while also having to manage the 'serious' part of the ECL.

49 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

15-18, max.

Arsenal (A) - draw

Spurs (h) - win

Brentford (a) - win

Ipswich (h) - win

Fulham (a) - win

Everton (H) - win

Liverpool (h) - lose

Newcastle (a) - lose

Man United (h) - draw

Forest (a) - lose

Unfortunately I don't think we are likely to get CL qualification unless we can somehow get 2 more wins.

Man City have by far the easiest run-in, with players returning from injury it would be unsurprising to see them end up 3rd. Brighton next week is their only real challenge.

Brighton have a hard run-in but by the same token they also have "6-pointers" vs Villa (H), Newcastle (H) and City (A), meaning everything is well within their hands.

Aston Villa also have a hard run-in and need to balance that with CL and FA Cup progression, but that tends to make teams match-sharp and ready rather than tired, and they have games against direct rivals which gives them more agency.

Newcastle have an easier next four games that could give them serious momentum for a CL place push. Their games against Arsenal and Everton are likely to be dead rubbers so they have a good chance of finishing really strongly.

Notts Forest have an easier run-in but have to play Villa away, and us at home. They would be favourites for both on current form, though, and they have done their hard work in the earlier part of the season.

We, however, have three local derbies, one historical rival, and two recent bogey teams (Brentford/Man U) while also having to manage the 'serious' part of the ECL.

I will be seriously amazed if we somehow get 5 wins and a draw from the next 6 league games.

I reckon is more likely we do this:

Arsenal (A) - lose

Spurs (h) - draw

Brentford (a) -draw

Ipswich (h) - win

Fulham (a) - lose

Everton (H) - draw

Liverpool (h) - lose

Newcastle (a) - lose

Man United (h) - lose

Forest (a) - lose

Looks grim. Can we stop everyone from going on international break? 😅

Really need Lavia, Jackson, Fofana & Noni after the Arsenal game.