24 Dec 2023 12:13:49
Not happy that Caicedo is not in the team or the squad. I would have also preferred Maatsen at LB rather than Colwill.

Anyway, a chance for others to shine.

1.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 12:51:47
Has Caicedo been allowed home for Christmas Tom or is this a matter of resting himmin London? But yes his absence weakens the midfield.

2.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 15:12:00
JBS, maybe a few have already gone “home for Christmas? ”.

3.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 15:19:10
Tom

They all went home.

Poch might as well give them the whole festive period off as the training sessions are tiring the poor little mites out and they are too tired to take in the lessons our coaches are trying to instill into them.

4.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 15:35:01
Bill the players are poor but as for the coaches, I don’t see any style of play or tactics; they also have to take the blame for this mess.

5.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 15:42:25
Let’s just keep sacking managers time after time in some strange belief it will improve the situation.

So many on this site have called for the last few managers to sacked and that’s really worked. NOT.

6.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 15:44:26
Bill, I’m fed up with the cliched excuses. I would much prefer an honest up front assessment of the players by all coaches but it very rarely happens and it ain’t going to start now!

7.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 15:53:03
I agree with Tom I think it would be a mistake to sack Poch at this moment in time. He is going to have to work a miracle to get a tune out of these players though.

8.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 16:04:50
Whitey, this will come across all wrong I’m sure but I don’t blame ANY of the players either.

I don’t want the manager sacked but he has to find the “cure” for a chronic lack of confidence all over the pitch. Start by consistently playing players in there correct position.

The manager takes the responsibility but that doesn’t mean he should be sacked.

9.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 16:14:43
The thing is we got Poch in when I would have liked to have seen him with the squad we had before the billion was spent. Though I didn’t like the some of the players and the ones I didn’t have now gone but I think poch would have been suited more to taking that squad on and asking for players when he realised what he needed than the situation he’s in now where he has loads to play with he’s not getting anything out of anyone at the minute the individual errors are like watching Sunday morning football. What gets me we make a mistake and conceded nobody has a reaction as to give a shi7 it’s just excepted. Everyone is two nice we need a Roy Keane or a Dennis wise in there someone to show a bit of f8cking passion. The whole Back four just don’t seem to work enzo gone off boil caicedo not worked as yet think he feels sorry for himself Mudrk he’s got something in there just got to train it out, palmer best player but he’s getting frustrated, sterling would be first to go for me massive wages and to in and out games then Jackson and broja they would be next. Massive build in January or will be struggle.

10.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 16:32:38
Nib “to nice” is a term I’ve used frequently to describe our team and manager.

Things need to change. We need two or three leaders who will give everything in work rate but more importantly would prefer anything other than defeat.

11.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 17:07:43
We have been crying out for leaders - providing a spine to our team from GK to Striker - for quite a few seasons now. Time after time, and even under Tuchel in the EPL at least, we saw us falling to 'lesser' sides. Only most often around December and January. Silva may be one, and James another. But Silva now 39 and James has been constantly injured poor lad. Can but wish him finally a successful recovery after surgery in Finland. The biggest gamble in signing so many young bloods was who would provide leadership amonng them? Connor has done his best to lead by example but is not that exper9enced himself.

What we need from Poch is to make the right choices in sorting the good from the bad - or the not good enough - in the group he has. And start to play most of the good most games and crfucially in their best positions to build consistency and hopefully confidence. Constant change through injury or suspension - as well as through having to take a look at all in squad though you'd think he'd have a good enough idea of qualities by now - has not helped. I am convinced we have got some v good players in squad, but of course it is never jiust a matter of skill but about brain and temperament as difference between genuinely good EPL quality and the not quite consistently good enough.

Perhaps come New Year we can all have a go at helping Poch with our views on who makes the grade and who doesnt.

12.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 18:34:42
JBS, support of players and manager I’m sure you will agree should always be a given.

It’s a test of us as supporters as much as a test of the players and managers!

13.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 18:51:52
Those are the indications of a coach who doesn't think winning at Al times possible is compulsory. Pochetino imo doesn’t have the winning mentality of Chelsea. Jose wouldn't unnecessarily rest his best players for flimsy reasons. Some of our misfortune this stem from this mentality and uninterested attitude of the manager. He will rather give excuses for his failings as though it doesn't really matter. One that doesn't make the players have the heart to fight for the team often, the soft tag given to the squad.
Though Jose may not play the sexy football but he can build a team capable of competing.

14.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 18:55:03
We just seem to get worse and worse week by week.

15.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 18:41:10
Caicedo is ill.

16.) 24 Dec 2023
24 Dec 2023 20:48:49
TheBlue, Caicedo has a reported fever and was a big miss for us today and of course now not helped with Ugo getting a hamstring injury. So he will now be out for something like six weeks.