5 years ago if we needed a new manager, we would have had the top names in football applying. Now, I am not so sure. Given the conditions in place and the setup with the owners/sporting directors, many of the top names would not go near the club.

I’m willing to give him more time. The last 6 weeks or so have been concerning but I think that’s where we are at unfortunately. Not sure where we would go after him and I saw enough in the first half of the year to make me think he’s worth sticking with until the end of the season at least.

So the common view seems to be, our GK's not good enough, our strikers not good enough, our center backs aren't good enough, and our wingers aren't good enough. But we're top 4.

A new manager needs new players. I see Maresca as at least a good manager... if we know we can get a great one make a move...if not keep rolling with Maresca.

I'm torn on this one - didn't want him in the first place, then saw elements of play in november that were really impressive. Villa and Brentford games spring to mine - I was at the Brentford game last year and it was terrible so ups and downs. The truth is we haven't got the players to be in a better positon then we are, and that is not his fault and I'm trying to remind my self that both klop and Arteta needed a few seasons to get rolling, I think Arteta took 2.5 years to make champions league, klopp missed it in his first season and scraped in, in his last game in the Conte season.. we are very much used to our managers having an instant impact or being shipped out. So on the one hand, I say keep going, this will be a process and results like yesteday can happen when you are this young as a side... on the other hand, if I woke up tomorow and Jose was walking thought the building ready to tourch the earth i'd be smiling ear to ear 

9 hours ago, Valerie said:

Although I had no great love for Pochettino, our results seemed to improve in the second part of the season. I see no upward trend in the short term, mid term or long term with Maresca.

On top of everything else, I just can't remember his name, I always have to check. So another reason to get rid. The yearly question, though, is: who's next ...

Similarly my irrational irritation is that stupid bench coach with that ridiculous hood. He looks like a tortoise emerging from its shell. I'm embarrassed for him and for that reason......I'm out.

Oh and far too many "For Sure"s

6 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Palmer, Madueke, Paez, Estevao, Nkunku, these are our attacking players with flair now and going into next season, is Maresca the guy you want handling that kind of talent? Because if anything, he seems to be the death of these types of footballers. He's ruining Palmer, and I don't want that to become something that sticks.

Good point. His public criticism of Madueke was terrible both in terms of thought and timing. It came after a game in which he had scored and was voted MOTM in the matchday poll on here. Why did he chose to do that to a 22 year old in  his second season in the EPL? Especially when he continually defends gash performances from Jackson and Sanchez in his post match press conferences. He has no consistency. This is one of the many reasons he has lost the players IMO.

Pepilini Out.

8 hours ago, Sheva said:

Sack Maresca and we just get another version of him in.

Sack the sporting directors and we just get another version of them in.

Eghbali is the issue.

Even to the point that whilst I can't condone Boehly for being a thieving c**t, trying to fleece  his own fanbase, at least his record shows that despite his poor judgement he does have some underlying belief in sporting achievement.

Between the two I would rather Boehly in and Eghbali.  Actually I'd like that Eghbali in stocks in the middle of Fulham Road.

"We want to make Chelsea fans proud" Tossers.

I'm not against sacking the man but it's not that simple. Things looked promising early in the season but the slump we've been witnessing since Everton away game is very concerning. To me, the true value of the manager is apparent in a time of crisis because every team goes through some difficult moments during the season. Better managers respond quickly, adapt and change tactics, formations and you can always sense that the dressing room is under control and the players respond to the man in charge. I don't see it in a current side and it was impossible not to notice the body language of the players in the last night's game. 

The real problem though is the new setup of the club, Maresca is just a symptom, the root of the disease are people in charge and their way of running the club, or should I say ruining it in the process. Sure, we can sack Maresca, and then what. It's not going to make Lavia and Fofana durable, you'll still need better and more established players in almost every area of the pitch and you'll have to move away from the current strategy of buying youngsters in bulk and top players will still expect much better wages than what we're currently offering (case in point Osimhen), etc etc.

The whole thing is a big incoherent mess and sacking Maresca isn't going to make a real difference because the new manager whoever he might be will have to deal with the very same problems his predecessors faced. 

Edited February 9, 20251 yr by abramovich

12 minutes ago, abramovich said:

I'm not against sacking the man but it's not that simple. Things looked promising early in the season but the slump we've been witnessing since Everton away game is very concerning. To me, the true value of the manager is apparent in a time of crisis because every team goes through some difficult moments during the season. Better managers respond quickly, adapt and change tactics, formations and you can always sense that the dressing room is under control and the players respond to the man in charge. I don't see it in a current side and it was impossible not to notice the body language of the players in the last night's game. 

The real problem though is the new setup of the club, Maresca is just a symptom, the root of the disease are people in charge and their way of running the club, or should I say ruining it in the process. Sure, we can sack Maresca, and then what. It's not going to make Lavia and Fofana durable, you'll still need better and more established players in almost every area of the pitch and you'll have to move away from the current strategy of buying youngsters in bulk and top players will still expect much better wages than what we're currently offering (case in point Osimhen), etc etc.

The whole thing is a big incoherent mess and sacking Maresca isn't going to make a real difference because the new manager whoever he might be will have to deal with the very same problems his predecessors faced. 

I agree with everything you've put here. It won't happen though because we fans are still looking at everything through a sporting lens. Those that now own the club see the football as secondary. Their only interest in sporting achievement is the financial reward it brings, there is absolutely no sporting endeavour involved. If we limp through this season and either miraculously make top 4 or unconvincingly win the Europa Conference against butchers and Uber drivers they will  trot out the glove puppet and clowns above him to tell us its all part of our development,  when in reality it'll just mean they secured some extra dough on the FOS sponsor which they have failed miserably to do so far.

There are so many teams who play with swagger, enjoying their football, who play with freedom, express themselves, relish competing against us. Last night was the latest example of that - but there have been others.  The fact that we don’t mystifies me. Our football is so uninspired and turgid. Rarely any urgency or desire and players terrified to take a risk.  On the field mirrors off the field, we are a club going through the motions who seem to care little for wins over losses. (The players must hate that). 

I completely agree that Maresca has been let down by those whose job security seems to not be based on football performance but let’s face it, he probably only took the job knowing he had to be deferential to them.  And for that reason, I have little sympathy for him. 

We need an elite manager with an exciting distinct style of play. That is not maresca. But in conjunction with that manager (and probably the only way to make an elite manager come) we need a different hierarchical structure at the football club. 
 

 

Edited February 9, 20251 yr by jaffaboy

Dont really care. As others have said in this thread, theres so much else being wrong with our club I dont think it really matters. Someone else will come in, picking Sanchez in goal to please Roberts/Winstanley and having to pretend he’s happy with our transfer window when being left with a mess of a squad in an even weaker state than the window before. We’re going nowhere in a hurry until the investors behind Clearlake panic and start asking some real questions about the strategy and the people who are currently implementing this strategy

I'm normally all for giving coaches time as I hate the merry go round of continually sacking coaches and not getting any stability.

But Maresca was a VERY questionable appointment in the first place and now my fears are being realised. He's out of his depth and is just a yes man to those above.

It's a complete mess and I know we need to get rid of the SD's but I would still get rid of Maresca. I know many didn't rate POCH but we really should have stuck with him rather than gamble with this fraud.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN SACKED AFTER HIS PRESS STATEMENT YESTERDAY..he doesn't help himself with the constant crap he churns out after every defeat, he needs to change things and quick or our season will be over doesn't matter if we win the farmers league it's CL qualification or out the door you go.

STOP this insane inverting rubbish, just play a flat back 4 or a 3 with attacking wingbacks, get Palmer on the right and Enzo or Nkunku at 10 behind a striker (if you can find one)

6 hours ago, forbzy said:

5 years ago if we needed a new manager, we would have had the top names in football applying. Now, I am not so sure. Given the conditions in place and the setup with the owners/sporting directors, many of the top names would not go near the club.

Complete agree with this, but the question is, who actually ARE the top managers in football nowadays? There used to be a plethora of option a decade or so ago, now there is such a limited amount of them it's crazy.

31 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Complete agree with this, but the question is, who actually ARE the top managers in football nowadays? There used to be a plethora of option a decade or so ago, now there is such a limited amount of them it's crazy.

Even Amorim, who was my preferred choice, looks like he hasn’t a clue how to deal with United. 
 

The issues will always stem from up top. 

4 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Even Amorim, who was my preferred choice, looks like he hasn’t a clue how to deal with United. 
 

The issues will always stem from up top. 

Another example of a limited modern manager with one system he will use regardless of whether or not he has the players for it. 

Whatever happened to looking at what you have, and THEN deciding on the best way to set up to try and actually win football matches ?

 

8 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Another example of a limited modern manager with one system he will use regardless of whether or not he has the players for it. 

Whatever happened to looking at what you have, and THEN deciding on the best way to set up to try and actually win football matches ?

 

Who is said manager that can do that? 

23 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Even Amorim, who was my preferred choice, looks like he hasn’t a clue how to deal with United. 
 

The issues will always stem from up top. 

My favourite for some time is Iraola at Bournemouth but I could see him also flopping here. I actually want a manager that plays an attractive brand of football, with a lot of pace and energy off the ball, and where the objective is to win football matches and creating patterns of play to achieve that instead of this fking awful sterile style with this assumption that results will happen naturally. I also want the manager to be sullen and non committal with the press w*nkers actually, and maybe only responding to educated footballing tactical questions. I genuinely don't think any of this is possible in this pi$$ awful version of football nowadays. There is so much about modern day football that I think is sh*t

Edited February 9, 20251 yr by WhiteWall

2 hours ago, Nibs said:

I'm normally all for giving coaches time as I hate the merry go round of continually sacking coaches and not getting any stability.

But Maresca was a VERY questionable appointment in the first place and now my fears are being realised. He's out of his depth and is just a yes man to those above.

It's a complete mess and I know we need to get rid of the SD's but I would still get rid of Maresca. I know many didn't rate POCH but we really should have stuck with him rather than gamble with this fraud.

Agreed.

It's actually funny cause the board got the Poch appointment spot on, he is the perfect manager to give these young players the freedom to develop into top players so the board can sell for profit but of course they had to push him too far with stupid decisions and forced him to leave. 

6 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Who is said manager that can do that? 

There are plenty of managers in the PL who are getting more out of their squad than the sum of the parts, which is the essence of good management.

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

There are plenty of managers in the PL who are getting more out of their squad than the sum of the parts, which is the essence of good management.

In pretty much all instances they don't have fking idiots pulling the strings above them.

2 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

My favourite for some time is Iraola at Bournemouth but I could see him also flopping here. I actually want a manager that plays an attractive brand of football, with a lot of pace and energy off the ball. I also want the manager to be sullen and non committal with the press w*nkers actually, and maybe only responding to educated footballing tactical questions. I genuinely don't think any of this is possible in this pi$$ awful version of football nowadays. There is so much about modern day football that I think is sh*t

 

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

There are plenty of managers in the PL who are getting more out of their squad than the sum of the parts, which is the essence of good management.

I think top to bottom this club is a poison chalice for any manager to come here. As per above, Iriola could come here to try and play that attacking football only to be pummeled for our lack of defensive cover in midfield and weak defence. 

Only Liverpool this season are doing well.

Most other big clubs are also struggling with consistency not just us.

Bournemouth and Forest have both done well and the question for Forest at least is will they still be able to get the results to keep them in top 4 when injuries hit.

I wanted Poch to have another season though the majority wanted him out and like other managers Maresca is having to deal with a lot of injuries though he won't say this openly.

I don't like the inverted wide backs yet we are overloaded with wingers so when our best player Palmer is not at his best in the 10 role he refuses to move him to the right where he has been astounding.

Can't say whether he will make it through the season due to the dressing room or crowd creating problems.

He needs a result against Brighton at home.

 

 

At the start of the season we were playing quickly between the lines , now everything has reverted to slow sideways and backwards again. The most worrying bit though is the lack of effort and how the players seem uninterested. 

It’s only a matter of time before a fiery Italian goes full Poch and speaks out from all the pressure on him, then it’s back to square one again! No doubt hiring someone of even less calibre to nod at the right times!

Enzo isn’t the problem! He shouldn’t be there in the first place!