15 Jan 2026 08:25:08
I have now watched the game. I know it’s very early in our new managers reign and he is far more knowledgeable than me about all things football but I must be missing something because I didn’t see many positives from that game.

I saw “moments” of good play and that’s about it.

Obviously Sanchez will get deserved pelters but Pedro, not for first, was truly awful.

Still, onwards and upwards!

1.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 11:07:09
Joao pedro or pedro Neto?

2.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 11:20:20
I thought we attacked well any team would miss 4 of their best players Palmer Caicado Colwill and James.

Esrevao was great,

Pedro was truly awful has gone backwards in the last 2 or 3 months and we need an upgrade in goal and defensively our centre backs look low on confidence. With Colwill out I don't know what our best pairing is as I don't rate any of them hugely

Who he picks for Brentford will be interesting Caicado will be back his suspensions have cost us but has only himsef to blame, would expect James and Delap to return if available. Think Cole will be on the bench.

Unless tired Estevao is a must start every game.

3.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 12:21:35
According to that optimistic interview with the owners/SDs by someone called Winstanley I think they justified their long term vision in terms of financial stability but said they could be prepared to get an older player or pay more for a player who could get us to achieve sooner.

Surely all of us have been saying and they mnust know that an experienced quality CB plus striker were required - and Semenyo from Bournemouth would have been ready been highly effective plenty of goals in him winger.

Instead we don't replace LC adequately when injured sell pretty effective EPL winger Noni (and buy not EPL ready yet though perhaps one day may be Gittens) and let (linked well with Palmer and did score 14 goals etc) Jackson out on loan

My thought on Estevao - and as said after I'd firs seen him live in pre-season game against Bayern Leverkeusan - is that he can be a superstar for us and should start in games against the clubs (all the big ones like Barcelona and Arsenal) who will play attacking football home and away and leave spaces for him to exploit. But perhaps that he could on occasion be more effective as a second half sub if we are playing against a low block hack-him-down side when their defenders have been tired out a bit. That would give him a bit of rotational rest too.

4.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 13:04:49
My position remains the same on a CH signing. I sort of get why we didn’t sign one if Colwill is only going to be out for one season but I would have sold Tosin and used that money to sign someone who offer more than him.

I’m pretty sure I’m in a minority but I can see a player in Badiashile. One week I like him the next he is useless. Every small mistake he makes seems to result in us conceding a goal.

5.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 13:15:45
I would add we need a good GK as well.

6.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 15:37:52
He had a bad game but has generally had a good season. I will probably be wrong (usually am) but I think he will start next season as our No1.

7.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 15:41:17
One of Maresca's great tactical moments was when he saw Sanchez struggling to deal with long throws/corners - especially when opposition players were put on Sanchez - was to have three of our players go out to half way line and so draw out same number of their defenders up for the set piece. This might have pulled White away last night?

Point is that Sanchez a pretty good shot stopper and better with distribution if particularly cos now using long balls but he will still have that memory of getting flustered in packed boxed in past or when being pressed by opposing forwards. Just hope we don't see his confidence drop and more giving goals away times again. I think he was one of the CFC players whose thanks to Maresca for believing in him and giving him confidence to shine in quit a few games from final third of last season seemed the most heartfelt.

8.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 20:18:36
JBS total agree with your first paragraph we need to clear the box, Jose also use to keep a few up field at corners, we will probably need to do the same with Brentford and their long throws on Saturday.

9.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 20:45:22
To be fair EM has used the tactic of leaving flyers up the pitch from throw ins and sometimes corners.

10.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 21:52:34
We need a keeper. A too centre back. Need cover for left back. And a top striker.

11.) 15 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026 22:01:50
That's my point Tom and question is will LR do the same now.

12.) 16 Jan 2026
16 Jan 2026 05:20:55
JBS, sorry mate, it’s an age thing!