7 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

When we need energy surely Guiu is the better option?

Absolutely crazy. 

6 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Nkunku coming on invited Fulham on, as predicted our pressing game died.

It was never there. Our pressing was terrible throughout, and Jackson was often not looking or wiping his sweat in his shirt instead of paying attention to anything going on around him.

Nkunku, Jackson, Sancho, Neto, Madueke - all out of form. Not good enough and it’s costing us. 

9 minutes ago, jack h said:

Infuriating, deserved loss. Jackson should have been hooked after 15 minutes, Felix and Nkunku I can't blame if they're looking to leave given how they're being used (or not used to be more accurate).

Cucurella being upfield and offside when Sanchez sent it forward for their second just about sums the game up, dawdling and sleepwalking through the entire game.

Agree with all of that Jack. 👍 

Blaming Sanchez for that is crazy that’s on the manager and players switching off 

3 minutes ago, Dr. Socrates said:

Their manager made changes which paid off. Maresca sat on his hands hoping to see the game out. They deserved it.

Palmer goal aside, Sancho, Jackson and Neto have been poor for the second game running. That was arguably our strongest side and we just weren’t good enough. 

Gave them another chance, they failed.

Looks like the title has been handed to the scousers already, ffs.

Down to 3rd after tomorrow night.

Maresca has had a brilliant start, but these last 2 games have raised some big red flags.

Why on earth is it at home to Fulham, we completely gave up playing out from goal kicks? Colwill playing a square pass to Sanchez who just lumps up forward to concede possession. Mind boggling, and that mindset has lead to the winner. We had less possession and less shots today. We played like an away team. Then you have players slowing things down on 60 minutes to take the sting out of the game, this is at 1-0, at home, when we have kept 4 clean sheets all season. That has to be on the manager.

Deserved to lose both the last 2 games.

We have gone from looking like a slick well oiled machine, to a team that is scared to have a go. Maybe the negativity about a title challenge has lead to players thinking they aren't in one either, as we are playing with no bottle now.

Needs to stop this Spurs talk. 

 

Not sure what's more pathetic

 

That 90 minutes from Sancho or people turning on Maresca already.  

We are way ahead of any rational person's expectations after the mess the club has been in for seasons and that was our first defeat in a long time relatively speaking.

No doubt we were poor from 50th minute onwards and I'm surprised we didn't hook Sancho but, then again, a similar change was made against Everton and delivered nothing.

Anyone who seriously thinks Maresca is f**king things up really needs to focus more on playing Championship Manager than watching actual football.

To be honest if at the start of the season you said we’d be second and only lost 3 at the halfway point, I’d have bit your hand off.  

Not our best day but we’ve had it pretty good recently.  Still work in progress but moving onwards and upwards.

6 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Nkunku coming on invited Fulham on, as predicted our pressing game died.

It’s absolutely clear that neither Jackson or Nkunku are top quality strikers. It doesn’t really matter which is best as neither is good enough.

We’re half a billion quid on top quality and vitally, fit and healthy defenders and strikers and quite possibly a better coach away from even forming a side that can challenge for a trophy. I’m not sure our cocksure attitude in the European ‘special teams’ cup will not leave us being embarrassed eventually.

12 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Nkunku coming on invited Fulham on, as predicted our pressing game died.

Yeah that's why we lost, Cristiano Jackson was taken off 🥴

I mean I am starting to get nervous of our drop off if we get Champions League football next season. Playing once a week and we have players who are slow on their feet and not executing what they are supposed to be doing. 

I fear Marcesca is repeating his Leicester form. 

Just now, Sconnie Blue said:

I mean I am starting to get nervous of our drop off if we get Champions League football next season. Playing once a week and we have players who are slow on their feet and not executing what they are supposed to be doing. 

That’s a very good point that our ‘best’ eleven are only playing Fulham and Everton quantities of football. Imagine we were playing the number of games that Arsenal and Liverpool are playing.

Just now, Sconnie Blue said:

I mean I am starting to get nervous of our drop off if we get Champions League football next season. Playing once a week and we have players who are slow on their feet and not executing what they are supposed to be doing. 

We also keep talking about top 4 as if it's a done deal. We are only 6 points ahead of 5th. A couple of games like we have just had and we will be back into a scrap.

Maresca is a one trick pony! Honeymoons over now ffs!!...only thing that can save my boxing day is united getting thumped!!

In the past 3 matches, of our 15 subs Maresca only used 3....

1 minute ago, Womble said:

Maresca is a one trick pony! Honeymoons over now ffs!!...only thing that can save my boxing day is united getting thumped!!

Makes zero sense considering he's changed tactics in loads of games this season to fit the opponent. Today though that second half was complete sh*te.

20 minutes ago, nicholas2230 said:

Nkunku was a great sub though… for f**k sake embarrassment. 

Yeah - Nkunku wasn't great. Who would have thought that coming on with 15 mins, playing with players you have hardly had a chance to gel with, and be expected to turn it on, perhaps isn't as easy as expected. If Maresca was doing his job properly, then maybe Guiu and Nkunku would be a bit more integrated into the first team, and we wouldn't be constantly selecting the donkey, however ineffective he plays.

6 minutes ago, loz said:

Not sure what's more pathetic

 

That 90 minutes from Sancho or people turning on Maresca already.  

We are way ahead of any rational person's expectations after the mess the club has been in for seasons and that was our first defeat in a long time relatively speaking.

No doubt we were poor from 50th minute onwards and I'm surprised we didn't hook Sancho but, then again, a similar change was made against Everton and delivered nothing.

Anyone who seriously thinks Maresca is f**king things up really needs to focus more on playing Championship Manager than watching actual football.

Literally the post of the year.

Slow down, have a beer, a glass of wine or a Pepsi. Think about it and relax.

We are over achieving in my opinion since my expectations at the start of the year . An exceptionally young inexperienced team who will only improve.

We fecked up, but we move on. over the years particularly many years ago, Christmas was always our downfall.

All the best people, let’s move on.

 

KTBFFH

7 minutes ago, loz said:

Not sure what's more pathetic

 

That 90 minutes from Sancho or people turning on Maresca already.  

We are way ahead of any rational person's expectations after the mess the club has been in for seasons and that was our first defeat in a long time relatively speaking.

No doubt we were poor from 50th minute onwards and I'm surprised we didn't hook Sancho but, then again, a similar change was made against Everton and delivered nothing.

Anyone who seriously thinks Maresca is f**king things up really needs to focus more on playing Championship Manager than watching actual football.

No one is turning on Maresca, he is there to be criticised when  he makes mistakes and he there to be trained when he has done well. Same as any player or manager ever.

I'm sure Maresca will think he made a mistake today

 If you think he is happy with his own performance, then maybe it's yourself who needs to have a look in the mirror. 

It's obvious what ever he tried today, did not work as we lost, and deservedly so, any sportsman worth his salt will be his own biggest critic. 

Disappointed frustrated, p*ssed off but still think Maresca' s better than our previous 3 or 4 managers. Agree with most everyone here that Guiu needs a chance in the PL. Palace away next. Lets get back on track with that one 

As soon as Madueke said pre-Everton that ‘we’re not in a title race’ wink wink i.e the twitter meme coming to life, you just knew complacency was around the corner in that dressing room. And the scary thing is, if it wasn’t for clubs like Newcastle and Villa falling off and of course the City demise, we’d be way off it.

13 minutes ago, loz said:

Not sure what's more pathetic

 

That 90 minutes from Sancho or people turning on Maresca already.  

We are way ahead of any rational person's expectations after the mess the club has been in for seasons and that was our first defeat in a long time relatively speaking.

No doubt we were poor from 50th minute onwards and I'm surprised we didn't hook Sancho but, then again, a similar change was made against Everton and delivered nothing.

Anyone who seriously thinks Maresca is f**king things up really needs to focus more on playing Championship Manager than watching actual football.

The overreaction by some is just shockingly stupid isn’t it. We are second, no one expected that at all at the start of the season. Our players didn’t look aggressive today at all even Caicedo they just looked like they were coasting around.

Edited December 26, 20241 yr by El regreso