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21 Jan 2025 14:46:24
It is hard to. make sense of the rumours about possible in and out transfers this window.
Why for instance are we doing a pre. transfer agreement for 19 Yr old Strasbourg CB Sarr for the summer? Will TC be sold . I certainly hope not given how he has always played well for us.
Why are we linked with yer another wide player in Ganacho . as a Mudryk replacement? Because no good striker available? Does the same go for goalkeeper or do either Petrovic or Johansen still have a chsncebof making it?
Why dies EM not trust either Chucky - who looked do good at start of last season - or Casadei who has also looked v promising on few occasions he's been given minutes in first team? Neither were even on the bench yesterday.
Presumably Nkunku was notbused because going to be sold? Otherwise he should surely come on for Jackson at some stage last night?
1.) 21 Jan 2025 15:42:15
Do we really need to replace a player (Mudryk) who hardly played this season?
2.) 21 Jan 2025 15:54:34
I think we look a mess. Starting from the players we’ve bought. To players we’re forcing out, then calling back. Maresca is a one trick pony. I can see the next couple years being a waste.
Who would you actually keep. Gusto, James, cucurella, challobah, Collwill. Caiciedo, enzo, palmer. Would keep lavia and fofana if injury free. Neto and madueke, I don’t think are good enough to be starters. The rest of them I really wouldn’t keep. Also it’s a shame chillwell can’t get a wing back role sometimes and maresca change his tactics now and then.
I really believe the sterling and chillwell situations was down to the owners removing big money earners. Also they wanted the profit from challobah. I know we’ve been singing we’ve got our Chelsea back at leicster away Southampton away. But I think we are from it.
3.) 21 Jan 2025 16:00:24
JBS,
I feel your frustration and I'm pretty sure we are not alone.
We seem to collect wingers and goalkeepers, have a number of CH's who are normally injured and a ST in Nkunku and the young Spanish lad who seem not to get a look in despite Jackson not being able to hit a barn door from 6 inches since Xmas.
I really do not know what our SD"s thinking is apart from buying up lots of youngsters only for Maresca to say, they are not needed. I just hope the media start to question our DD's and put pressure on them and the club to explain what their thinking is.
Whist I'm at it, still no word on the fantastic FOS we are supposed to be soging up with and not a peep on the so called SB project. When the owners first arrived updates were coming out on a regular basis, now absolutely nothing from them.
4.) 21 Jan 2025 16:17:29
JBS, I would have a clue about the young CH from Strasbourg but I hope it doesn’t mean we have no more interest in the young lad from Ajax.
Looks like Chuka is going out on loan (thankfully) and we are selling Casadei with a substantial sell on clause. I personally wouldn’t have signed Felix on KDH. If they hadn’t signed them maybe things would have been different.
I don’t think the club want to sell Nkunku unless our valuation is met but maybe the sale could be driven by a player transfer request. There are two things to consider (a) we have a valuation that Bayern don’t want to pay and (b) the club would probably want a replacement in this window.
The Ganacho rumours are a worry to me. I can only assume the club feel that Mudryk is going to get a ban if some sort but more importantly to me I would be happy to stick with the four wide players we have and that includes George. I really don’t know enough about the lad himself other than he is playing Utd.
5.) 21 Jan 2025 16:58:07
Bloody hell, just seen about Ed002. I'm a bit off the pace here. Condolences to his family – and to you Ed001.
JBS, I generally find your posts well reasoned and thoughtful, and this is no exception. Surely – surely – these Garnacho rumours are just agent faff? Another inconsistent, arrogant young winger with a sulky attitude who doesn't get his head up – would at least provide balance with Noni on the other side I guess. I'd be hugely disappointed in this transfer, especially at the prices quoted – although his output would probably be higher than Mudryk at least, saying that isn't saying much.
I wish Maresca wasn't treating Chucky like this. I get that he's coming back from a severe injury, so a loan might make sense, but every time he plays he's looked more dynamic than, say, Enzo, to me (although in recent European sub appearances, understandably a bit nervous. Wish he'd scored one of the chances he had in the last game he played) . I really rate him, and we're killing his career at the moment. Casadei also always looked good to me when he's been given minutes by the club – though clearly asked to do a much more conservative safety-first Lavia-style job by Maresca this season, he wins headers in the midfield and can bomb forward. Maybe not the profile of midfielder we want in this setup, but another talented player on the pyre of the SDs' confusion.
Nkunku looks a cert to be sold. He's looked disinterested last five games or so – guess he's known the writing's on the wall for a while. Not a great reflection on him, that – I'm not a fan of players sulking and feel you should give your all if you play, regardless – but he looked so dynamic in his first games back from the injury and it seems a strange one to be letting our club's top scorer go when we have an issue with scoring goals.
{Ed001's Note - thank you EdW. He is very missed.}
6.) 22 Jan 2025 07:18:15
Garnacho surely not, the last type of player we need both positionally and personality wise.
The two obvious positions are keeper and centre forward, may as well give the nos 2 keeper a run although I wouldn't start him against city but the games after that.
Centre forward Delap or Duran at Villa
An experienced midfielder would be useful but not vital
If it was up to me would sell Nkunku, Felix Casadei, Diasi, Veiga, Chucka on loan.
7.) 22 Jan 2025 11:50:50
Enjoyed reading all responses to my questions about the logic of our transfer policy and current transfer rumours. Reckon we are all largely on the same page in terms of degree of puzzlement although clearly some (slight) differences in terms of who we should keep and who we might let go.
EdW good to see you back posting and in your typically well considered way.
Yes Ed02 is hugely missed and perhaps particularly in this first transfer window without him. He shed so much light on what were nonsense rumours and what had legs and could happen. We loved his input and even if some replies were (usually justifiably) short and sharp e. g. as in when he used the one word 'twitter? ' (ie did we get this from twitter) .
17 Aug 2023 16:51:12
HI Ed002 many thanks for all your great work supplying info in this v busy window.
Given Olise is now staying at Palace some paper talk now that we may be interested in Brennan Johnson. Do you know if there is any truth in this and whether there may also be other attacking/ striker options being considered?
{Ed002's Note - Not that I am aware.}
1.) 17 Aug 2023 17:17:35
Many thanks for quick reply.
{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}
06 Jan 2023 09:37:25
Hi Ed002 in Zakaria's loan deal was there an option for CFC to buy? Having got fit he is beginning to look like a player who would make us stronger in the long term. Happy New Year to you!
{Ed002's Note - Yes there is an option to buy.}
1.) 06 Jan 2023 11:07:48
At the time 30 million Euro was reported.
2.) 06 Jan 2023 14:29:22
Thanks Ed00 and Nathswindon, good to know.
16 Dec 2022 11:23:05
Ed do you have any update on possibe Zakharyan to CFC situation?
{Ed002's Note - there are issues to be resolved but the club want it to happen.}
1.) 17 Dec 2022 11:01:59
Many thanks for this Ed, good to know that the club are still wanting it to happen so hope those issues can be resolved.
28 Nov 2022 20:09:02
Hugely hope ed002 that rumour about Pulisic to Man United is only paper talk? Hecwas the outstanding player on pitchbin England v USA game and someone who I'd hope we'd keep.
{Ed002's Note - We will see.}
1.) 28 Nov 2022 20:49:13
OK thanks for your response Ed. It seems to suggest Pulisic leaving is a possibility not definite. Would no like to see him go if especially not to a rival.
{Ed002's Note - There is no agreement with any other club.}
2.) 29 Nov 2022 11:56:41
Thanks for further info, appreciated.
JBS's banter posts with other poster's replies to JBS's banter posts
16 Jan 2025 09:26:02
Have jjst been looking upour winless run in Premier League rrecord. Predictably it seems to have been in 2022-3 which saw our lowset ponts total and tgis consisted of 9 games without a win. Before that it had been 5 in the 2012-13 season. Poch's longest winless run was 3.
So Maresca still has a way to go grab the record - and heavens forbid that he does we must surely beat Wolves - but this winless run is the equal second worst. So no wonder the swingometer of fan opinion has moved towards gloomy if still hopeful that EM can at least match but preferably beat beat Poch's total of 32 points in last 17 games (only one loss in last 15). Certainly EM has done much better after 21 games with 37 points compared to Poch's 31 though Poch did have 14 players on the injury list for much of that time of course.
Point is that the expectation has been that we would certainly make ECL qualification this season after another transfer window plus with likes of Caicedo, Enzo F, Palmer, Gusto, and Jackson having now had a season under their belts and Lavia at last back to playing some games.
But at the moment tye idea we have put all our troubles behind us and we definitvely have ou CFC back - which some of us though we might have towards end of last season - is being doubted again. Please let EM restore the faith again!
1.) 16 Jan 2025 10:32:34
JBS, we also seem to have a recent history of poor results around the festive period. Probably just a coincidence.
2.) 16 Jan 2025 11:01:41
Yes Tom you're right about often having had a tricky festive season patch - with some managers it almost seemed as if they were telling players to try and conserve energy during it! - though not often quite this tricky perhaps except during Potter stint? Then his replacement and the disastrous second Lampard managerial spell saw us drop to lowest finish we've had in EPL.
3.) 16 Jan 2025 11:59:59
The managerial changes should remind us that things can get worse.
4.) 16 Jan 2025 13:22:23
Or if you get it right Tom, it can get much better than it has been post Christmas.
5.) 16 Jan 2025 14:48:52
Maybe we have got it right already but only time will tell.
6.) 16 Jan 2025 15:15:52
Hopefully you are right Tom, we would all be happy with that.
15 Jan 2025 17:26:36
Reflecting again on last night it is hard to understand quite why or how we were so good in the first half - except in taking several more of the fantastic chances created - but utterly dreadful fand error proen for the vast majority of the second half. and in fact why have we been so bad in so many second halbves in last five games in the EPL?
One reason is that other sides might have worked us out and save their energy to come at us in the second. Knowing that if we come at them fiull steam in first half but if they can keep us goalless or down to just a one goal lead we will fade in the second. They then have a chance to get points of us. They also know by now that with the inverted left or right back idea there will be more space outwide for their pacey wingers in the second half as our players begin to tire perhaps.
Another might be that Maresca uses attacking substitutions far too late in second half. When the attack since c 60 mins needs freshening up or reinforcing or some tactical tweaking eg like eg playing two no 10s with Palmer and Felix. It would also certainly help if we had the iption to bring on someone who is good in the air to offer a difrerent kind of threat.
And/ or is it the fact that we are a trelatively young and inexperienced side and there aren't enough of the Terry/ Drogba/ Lamps types around to keep us going with sharpness and belief for 90 mins?
And/ or is there something there or not there in the manager's half time team talks that needs changing?
Of course games afe won and llst by small margins and any side in a tough league like the EPL with suffer setbacks but to take onkly three points from fifteen looks to be more than just not getting the rub of the green. five times in a row?
1.) 15 Jan 2025 17:58:10
JBS, you make some interesting points and ask some interesting questions.
My guess is it’s a combination of all the things you mentioned.
I will be at next Mondays game and im looking for some changes in team selection.
2.) 15 Jan 2025 19:31:31
Sorry Tom, font bank on team changes on Monday night.
3.) 15 Jan 2025 21:02:40
I agree Tom, the teams needs a change or two.
GOALKEEPER
James Colwill Tosin Cucarella
Lavia Caicado Enzo
Neto Jackson Palmer.
4.) 15 Jan 2025 21:42:03
Bill, Neto will start and so will James and I think Gusto will play LB. Plus let’s not forget TC playing next to Colwill. The rest pick themselves. ’.
5.) 15 Jan 2025 21:42:42
Sorry that should have been Neto starting not Noni.
6.) 16 Jan 2025 08:41:06
We just don't kill games off. Not clinical enough, waste too many chances. I think teams know they have every chance against us if it's only 1-0 going into the second half.
I also think we know subconsciously that we can't defend a 1-0.
I'm not sure if we need a tactical tweak or settle on a front 3 but we 100% need to bring a striker in this window. If we fail to do that we'll finish outside of the top 6.
7.) 16 Jan 2025 09:07:04
Dan, it’s not usually just one thing that’s going wrong.
It sounds easy but what striker do we get? The gooners and on occasions the scousers both miss countless chances and supposedly both are looking for strikers.
I think we want MG from Palace and understandably they are very unlikely to sell in this window.
Goalkeeper needed? Who is available?
It’s so easy for us to be critical but my guess is the SDs know what’s needed. Maybe a bigger question is why it didn’t happen in the last window but I bet it wasn’t for the lack of trying!
8.) 16 Jan 2025 10:39:12
I think the difference between us and them lot you've mentioned is they have far better keepers and defence. They can defend a small lead. For us it's almost like we need to go in at halftime 3 up.
I'm not sure who we get Tom but as much as I love Jackson he just isn't clinical enough on a regular basis and it's starting to cost us. I know goals should also come from our other attackers but he's our main No.9
Someone needs to share the goals with Palmer. Like you say, it should have been addressed before now though.
9.) 16 Jan 2025 14:45:16
Dan, Jackson for me has to been seen play at the bridge to fully understand his overall performance. He gives the team a lot more than I think some fans realise but would I sign another striker the answer from me is the same as it has been for the last two seasons, YES.
When a team doesn’t score and a it’s CF misses chances it’s easy to the lay blame at that one player but in my opinion there some other players dodge any criticism for some reason.
06 Jan 2025 18:41:48
So only three clubs have used fewer subs than we have this season and the average earliest time one of ours comes on is 63 mins. EM clearly doesn't fancy considerable percentage of his squad?
1.) 06 Jan 2025 19:18:07
JBS, that stat might be slightly skewed because the majority of clubs don’t have European football. We have approached this season with one team for cups and one for the premiership.
2.) 06 Jan 2025 23:04:24
But there's a subs bench for both competitions Tom not just a squad of a 11 for each?
3.) 07 Jan 2025 06:28:36
JBS, the manager “may” have been reluctant to use players as subs who already played. I’m only guessing but he seemed to have a preference for players only playing 90mins per week. If that is the case it would slightly limit his substitution options.
Or, maybe my thinking is just very muddled at the moment. Sorry.
4.) 07 Jan 2025 09:47:13
Surely Tom
Substitutions are not just for tired player but also to change things when they are going wrong.
Prior to Christmas, things were going smoothly and he got away with it, now they are going wrong, questions are being asked of his management and the pressure will only increase the longer this run goes on.
5.) 07 Jan 2025 10:56:10
Bill, as I mentioned in a previous post, if we were winning these questions wouldn’t be asked.
I haven’t looked at who was used as substitutes while we were in the league cup and playing conference league games and as those comps are behind us for the time being this is now a historic view.
The original point was about how many substitutions were made by Chelsea in the premiership games in comparison to other clubs. I am just saying that maybe the manager was reluctant to let certain player play more than 90mins per week. If that was the case and I except that I’m only guessing that could limit his substitution options.
In the purest sense you could have 22 players playing 90 mins and that would only leave (depending on size of squad) a few players available to be used as subs.
It sounds as if I’m making an excuse but I’m not. I’m just saying it could slightly skew the stats.
6.) 07 Jan 2025 12:58:52
Tom
Totally get where you are coming from Tom however the issue is when things are going wrong, he is too hesitant to change players.
I fear that if he continues to do this, we are going go have a very unhappy squad for the second half of the season.
7.) 07 Jan 2025 14:12:16
Any player who isn’t starting should be unhappy.
I think he will rotate for the premiership games but then revert back to the two teams for the FA cup and the early stages of the conference cup.
8.) 07 Jan 2025 15:45:35
An unhappy squad? for goodness sake this is elite level football not under 8 schoolboy football.
9.) 07 Jan 2025 16:19:24
Enzo
Are you seriously suggesting that people do not get disillusioned and unhappy at being constantly overlooked.
As Tom said earlier, he like me would expect nothing less.
10.) 07 Jan 2025 17:33:58
Of course they do Bill but so what! It is not schoolboy football where the coach needs to keep the players and parents happy! This is cut throat elite level football where only the very best make that starting line up. The day a Chelsea coach starts picking players because they are unhappy at not getting minutes is the day he gets shown the door. Maresca might not be your cup of tea but he is showing great strength of character in managing the squad. The sporting directors loaded him with way too many players at the start of the season and he took action to filter the group to make things manageable. He has now had half a season working with that group and has formed an opinion on who fits in and who doesn't. To leave Tosin and Disasi out against Palace and play an 18 year old academy player may well of totally p---ed his bosses off not to mention the players and their highly paid agents but so bleddy what. Tough. Happy smiley dressing rooms don't win championships because they don't exist and haven't done so since the 70's and 80's when squads were no more than 17 or 18 players. We want players who work so hard and produce the results on the pitch competing for a starting place. I expect them to be knocking the managers down asking why they don't get a game. Harsh it is but no mamby pamby smiles across 28 players faces for me. Winners is what we want and if they are not happy then phone your gold laden agent and off you go.
11.) 07 Jan 2025 20:15:08
Enzo
You need happy players to be a successful club, that's not to sat they all walk around grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Good coaches today know that some players need an arm around them and feel appreciated, something I don't think your namesake top of the class at. The old days of the Fergies and to a large extent, older Italian coaches, are past it.
12.) 07 Jan 2025 21:00:23
Total tosh Bill.
13.) 07 Jan 2025 21:15:20
Yep, there is more than one way to get the best out of players and for that matter managers.
Supporting them can be effective.
14.) 07 Jan 2025 21:25:17
Enzo, Bills opinion is not tosh.
15.) 07 Jan 2025 22:07:15
I believe Bill talks a lot of Tosh Tom but I'm sure he and others think the same of me. It's a banter site for goodness sake.
16.) 07 Jan 2025 22:58:01
That’s absolutely correct.
17.) 08 Jan 2025 10:59:19
I haven't monitored SLot at LFC very carefully but he seems to be proving ED02 right - Ed02 had thougt very highly of him and reckoned he do well for us. OK he inherited a pretty happy squad from Klopp - who was surely a manager who could get best out of players by putting arm round them but also expecting highest of standards even if it took him a coupl of seasions to get there. Klopp also used his full squad even if he clearly had a sense of best starting line up. Slot appears to be in same mould and appreciate and uses squad that is a useful mix of youngesters with experience. his rotations and substitutions thus far pretty spot on. ED02 was ptedictably right to have said - when seemed Poch would be off - that Slot wouod have been good at the Bridge
The question mark for me over EM is whether he is too easily dimissing some plauers of real talent and shose attitude seems v good. Is he getting the calls right e. g. in hardly playing Chucky or Casadei at all for any minutes in the EPL - especially given Lavia imnjury proneness - or (but did he have any say in this? ) letting TC and Santos go out on loan given Disasi shortcomings and Fofana injury history. Why is Nkunku now a shadow of the player he appeared to be when he first signed for us - with such great link uo play eg with Kackson in pre-season - and before his injury, and when he had pergformed pretty well in Conference League? Perhaps his head is alteady out of the door?
Maresca may still prove to be a v good manager for us and thus the vindicated the SD decision to sack Poch after such a strong finish to last season. Point is that many of us thought then that brining in a GK, CB replacement for TS, and proven striker plus outgoings of loanees and likes of Disasi the only changes needed last summer. And most thought we could be Top 4 this season nbefore our rather dreadfiul pre-season perfiormances and easy surrender to City at the Bridge in first game of this season. But having lowered our expectations they rose again as EM did get our team playing good football and as importanbtly getting resulkts to propel us to 2nd in the league.
But we shouldn't be surprised if EM's inexperience in management in the top flight combined with not makin some of the needed improvements in last transfer window costs us top 4 this season though I obviously and fervently hope it won't. But this was why my prediction was 5th to 9th though I mentally/ empotionally upped that for a while when we were doing so well!
Yes of course the EPL is not schoolboy football and wanting happy faces all the time. Though in my distant experience schoolboy football wasn't always like that and there was ppenty of frowning faces, disappointment and competition even at that level! Same went for play for a club after school coached by an ex-First Division pro.
So I still take the view that a manager has to perform as the job title suggests: be a v good man manager. as Klopp was, Slot seems to be and Fergie was. Yes Fergie could fling a hairdryer but as many ex-players of his have testified he also had a softer side and knew that getting the best out of players was also at times a matter of showing understanding and compassion for individual players.
EM may well have what it takes and seems to have been good with younger players at least when with the City academy and did do especially well at Leicester in first half of the season there. But managing bigger clubs with bigger player egos (and fan expectations) is surely a bigger job. and one that is not just a matter of being a hard man . or indeed a Ten Harg man?! But eg picking players up after a bad game/ disappointing result or if dealing with personal problems etc. As said EM may well have these skills and surely all of us want him to succeed. Wouldn't it be great if we could have a manger who stays for some time overseeing the improvement evident towards the end of last season and adding trophies. Yet presumably if EM doesn't get top 4 (or 5 if that is number who get ECL) or fairly comfortably exceed the 63 pounts Poch got when gelling together a squad fiulled with newbees and highest injusry toll in the division, he will be doomed to follow in the now well worn footsyteps out of the door at the Bridge. Again I repeat in case there is any misunderstanding that I much hope this won't happen.
18.) 08 Jan 2025 12:07:55
JBS, I enjoyed your post and it’s a pity it’s so far down this thread.
Let’s be honest over the last few seasons our club has been a bit of a basket case and although I didn’t want him sacked I didn’t want Poch as our manager.
When given a chance in the Premiership team players have to take that chance a force the manager into making a tough decision, Nkunku, as much as I rate hasn’t done that in the premiership.
We have a history of letting unhappy players leave and I can’t see that changing. I can also understand why a player would want to leave if he feels he isn’t being given a chance to prove himself. Nothing has changed at our club on either issue as far as I can tell.
Our manager will come under scrutiny if at the end of the season we haven’t achieved what the owners demand. That’s is probably the same at most clubs.
The club owners also have financial rules to consider and that may well dictate the reasons for some sales. I gave up being precious about home grown players (sadly) some time ago!
I always think, could things be worse and the answer to that question is an emphatic YES.
19.) 09 Jan 2025 18:55:51
Thanks for your post Tom!
05 Jan 2025 20:49:01
Eg tactical subs depending on state of the game . so do watch if you hadn't already and see what you think.
05 Jan 2025 20:46:02
I don't know how many on here watched Enzo M' s post Palace match press conference where on questioner asked him about his use or lack of use of substitutions. EM'S slightly concerning reply was thst he only makes them when he feel a player is tired ( presumably aldo if injured of course) and then it would be a like for like ie Guiu for Jackson or Madueke for Neto late on v Palace. Did he really mean this? If so it would seem very odd and worrying if he is virtually ruling out tactical substitutions? Do listen to hi.
1.) 05 Jan 2025 21:27:44
JBS, I seem to remember a change of shape substitution earlier in the season but like a lot of managers most do seem to be like for like.
I haven’t seen his press conference but I note that a few journalists have produced articles on this subject and particularly EM.
My guess is, if we win games it doesn’t become a question.
2.) 05 Jan 2025 21:45:55
JBS, I’m a bit tired of how things are going- sub me off.
3.) 06 Jan 2025 07:56:43
Nice one Jimbo and have quite often been thinking the same lately! Tom I agree subbing like for like most common but reckon that best tactical managers use subs for successful game management and I've not seen much of this in recent games from EM though yes I do also recall that time EM used it t9 good effect. which raises the question of why he hasn't been a bit more pro active again when needed.
4.) 06 Jan 2025 08:32:23
JBS, I agree it does beg the question. The most recent one for me was the Fulham game and the Gusto/ Neto disaster show. I will go one step further, given Fulham had given the scousers a roasting using Iwobi and Robinson you might have thought we would be aware of there major threat.
The manager is learning with a young team is the only thing that springs to mind and that’s why the Bournemouth game will be interesting as they were all over us at there place. Has our manager learned anything?
5.) 06 Jan 2025 10:55:05
Well put Tom and yes I agree that EM's tactical inaction in the Fulham game was extraordinary and would alo have thought he needed to make some subs beyond like for like and earlier in the Palace game after we had failed to add to our score two-thirds into it. The Ipswich starting line-up went too far in terms of number of changes in starting line-up followed by sue of all five subs, though bad luck in terms of soft pen gibve away and such anarrow offisde ruling v Felix goal. and Felix was lively and has perhaps deserved a little more game time. eg subbing for Palmer who had begun to look tired on 65-70 min mark perhaps v Palace. Chucky doesn't seem to feature in EM's plans/ tactics at all nor does Casadei any more, and there others who could have been used a bit more from our 'B' side in EPL. Doubtless many/ most will play versus Morecombe on Saturday. But iff subbing like for like is about tiredness for EM on the day in EPL I'd think it should also be a matter of thinking about this over the season as a whole as using more of B side to sub in for even not obviously weary legs on the day at suitable times even before last four games.
Also agree that how we fare in the Bournemouth return game next Tuesday could be a good indication of progress or otherwise of EM as a manager of an EPL team.
22 Jan 2025 11:50:50
Enjoyed reading all responses to my questions about the logic of our transfer policy and current transfer rumours. Reckon we are all largely on the same page in terms of degree of puzzlement although clearly some (slight) differences in terms of who we should keep and who we might let go.
EdW good to see you back posting and in your typically well considered way.
Yes Ed02 is hugely missed and perhaps particularly in this first transfer window without him. He shed so much light on what were nonsense rumours and what had legs and could happen. We loved his input and even if some replies were (usually justifiably) short and sharp e. g. as in when he used the one word 'twitter? ' (ie did we get this from twitter) .
20 Jan 2025 09:06:24
PS and if adding a new striker it should de someone who can head the ball!
20 Jan 2025 09:04:35
We should surely give Guiu more of a chance in role of young striker with lots of potential. What we need right now is finished article to assist Jackson or for EM to get Nkunku firing in that role. The Dif Delap continues to impress for Ipswich in the EPL - and he did look good against us - he might well be an excellent summer signing though could be at a v high price I guess.
18 Jan 2025 23:39:46
Poch did get us to 5th in the league and only lost 1 of last 15 so we didn't get slaughtered everya5ch Tom thoughnonly 31 points from first 21 matches disappointing even allowing for 14 players on the injury list.
14 Jan 2025 11:06:07
I also think the not using of Chilly apart form injury problems is about age policy but this age policy also goes with a new wage policy/ structure I think. Not sure how completely the club would keepo to it but does seem to explain many out outgoings/ sidelinings and possibly the not meeting of CG new contract expectations? The question though is how eg to know who is a proven goalie/ strike ie key positions (bit would be true for other positions and of course manager) rather than having to gamble more than otherwise might be tghe case on getting right pick with youngsters.
21 Jan 2025 09:23:25
Sanchez has made some good saves this season not least in away game at Bournemouth but he is liability in the so many mistakes he makes that lead to goals. NOt acceptable and apart from his flapping erro last night there was another moment when he had plenty of time on the ball and space to play it into and sent it looping straight to a Wolves player.
Petrovic had done well last season and should surely have started as our number 1 this season. And TC our best defender - after Silva's retirement - also sent out on loan. CG not thought worth giving a better contract though Lavia injury record immensely worrying, seems Casadei not trusted to fill that role, and KDH though had a good game last night surely not as good as CG in turnovers and goal threat and ground covered.
Has antone had an update on Lavia's latest injury and Enzo's injury? Would hugely hope that they could both be fit for crucial City away game though Cucurella did a great job yesterday in coverfing much of the pitch and yes KDH was energetic and tidy and could grow in confidence and creativity perhaps
Some quite a few unforced errors made last transfer window including not brining in either a worlds sttriker - admittedly not that easy to obtain of course - or at least a support striker who could be trusted to make an impact off bench if not a starter and get more minutes than Guiu.
Biggest sucess was perhaps Sancho on loan though Neto has had some ghood moments and Tosin beginning to settle in. Jorgensen not given much of a chance in first team.
20 Jan 2025 22:28:16
Yes good turnaround second half with Cucurella and TC and Caicedo all having good games. Neto and Sanchez not so good.
20 Jan 2025 21:02:21
And a goalkeeper better than Sanchez .
20 Jan 2025 21:01:45
Sorry you won't be there Tom . its half time and looks as though CFC are missing you. but given last fifteen minutes or so might be another good game to miss. After yet another bright start things fall apart again. Sanchez gives another goal away by not lunching the ball out. and did yet anothe sloppy pass out a bit earlier - but Wolves had gained control. Yet again we look to have nomplan B. Does EM have the tactical ability to do so? We will see in second half soon wnough but haven't seen any sense of tactical awareness or game management for many a game now. We look decidedly mid table mediocrity at times.
18 Jan 2025 18:07:27
Agree that some experienced cool heads not least in defensive positions would make a difference.