Guppys Love Child

Oh come on, really ? Ok forum, what say you on this?

Ha Ha. After 23 years of marriage, I'll take what I'm can get pal.

In my opinion. We won that due to the Semi - (and a bit.more) abandonment of EnzoBall. 1st half was the best, and might I say the most entertaining we have played in a long time. Less tippy tappy, 'to me to you' pass fest in the name of control, and more to the playing to our individual players strengths. Some may say it was because we had Ricardo and Doyle in the side ( yes we did look better and more balanced) but it was the lack of EnzoBall for me was the real reason. We looked to get forward. Yes around 70 mins we retreated to a bit of control and put ourselves under a bit of pressure but then tried to push on again. Which was pleasing For me there was noticeable increase in the amount of forward and cross field passes from previous matches and far less EnzoBall back and side passing to control. And didn't we look and perform so so much better for it. Let's hope Enzo has learnt and plays the same way again. As said, we are better at it then EnzoBall.

I totally agree. But the fact that this 'is the best we've played in weeks' means we have a better chance of getting them

Yep, bugs me too. We have played with a far better tempo than in previous matches and we look far better because we are finally showing some intent to get forward. Slowing it down is the last thing we should do. If we come out 2nd half with a Slow, methodical, controling 'pass fest'. Than I'm done with the guy. The semi abandonment of EnzoBall we have witnessed this half has made us look and perform a whole lot better. Don't mess it up Enzo, just to keep your boring philosophy intact, it's working so carry on. And LEARN from it. !

Amazing what happens when we stop tippy tapping around with the ball trying to 'control it' and actually look to get the ball forward by whatever means. Better, much better.

And I bet his has the following inspirational poster on his office wall

Spot on my friend. I've been posting as such, for a number of weeks now, praying that Enzo changes it up, stops making it easy for the oppositions manager, and makes us a little less predictable. Neeerver going to haaaapen ( in my worst singing voice)

It's a shame Enzo doesn't see it the same as you my friend. He'll start the same tactics, but has zero intention of being prepared to change them at any point. The same EnzoBall we've had from day one or nothing. 10 mins to go... Lets pass the hell out of it, sitting on our 18 yard box, inviting unneeded pressure, being patient and methodical "looking for solutions" with slow build up play. All whilst being 1 nil down.

95% of the players have just had the international break.. and then can't play a full 90 mins. Football is their job, and keeping fit is a basic requirement. But tired or not, you may see Ricky P and Daka as the only swaps, but nothing else will change, qué the turgid, formulaic, EnzoBall to send us all to sleep.

How dare you suggest something remotely sensible that deviates from our identity of EnzoBall... You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself for even suggesting we try something different because our current playing style has been 'sussed out' and the fact it would possibly suit the players you have mentioned a whole lot better, and our opposition wouldn't be expecting us to play anything other then EnzoBall.....it's scandalous

On a side note /!slightly off topic, anyone convinced of drink driving is no hero of mine And yes he is a liability in this position too. But that's on Enzo for playing him on each occasion that Ricardo is absent, and not being willing to explore other ideas to field our best available players, instead of shoehorning the wrong player into the EnzoBall system. Which remember boys and girls according to Enzo is "the way we play now". Like it or lump it.

Without a doubt, the best post of this entire thread. 100% agree, even with the turning off of Man City (and England to a degree, as "Mr Charisma" Tw@tgate is another passback merchant) as i don't like possession football. - it bores me silly. But I do fear that 'the powers at be' at our club do like it, or see it as the way forward as, "all the other teams are doing it, or moving towards this way of playing". However, unless you have pots and pots of gold, and the Big Six freedom to spend it, it's not going to work. Be that for us or the other any small, medium or large club. Maybe the recent allegations are a blessing in disguise and are a early warning that we to are in this group who can't afford to finance EnzoBall styles of play if the club is really honest about it. But silly me. This is Top and the LCFC board we are talking about.

No, a game changing sub is someone who comes on and potentially changes the setup. Someone who brings something different or something that was missing from a side, like a 2nd striker ( instead of our usual set up of playing one) not just a like for like in then play the same system. You also mentioned in a previous post "after 75% of a season where it has been massively successful" Was this with references to our midfield or our whole teams performances in general. If we initially doing so well what in your option has caused the current dip in performance and the flushing of a 14 point lead down the loo. The team /midfield was good enough at the start to put a winning and points gathering streak together, surely they all haven't gone cr@p overnight. Something has changed.

I whole heartedly agree. But the.parts in bold, whilst severely needed will never happen in a million years under Enzo. He's too stubborn, inflexible and hell bent on carving out a playing identity. I appreciate sticking and persevering with an idea, but his ridgeidity will be his and our downfall with regards to promotion. If people really want him gone, then show him at the home matches that we now 'questioning the idea' and hopefully he'll stay true to his word and 'leave the next day'. (Yes I know, it was probably 'media bluster' to show how serious he was) But that to will never happen, as the crowds at the ground are not like the posters here, you so.much as hint at questioning EnzoBall and you are told to 'back your team', 'sit down', 'you don't know what you're talking about' I fear we are in a mess, as history shows the "corporate clowns" in charge of the club just don't learn from past mistakes.

Which he is not learning from (and) Has no inclination to change,as it goes against his philosophy and EnzoBall identity... Stubborn, arrogant thinking and one dimensional.

Have been saying this for absolutely ages, and said it countless times,but was shot down and given excuse after excuse about key players missing, injuries, tiredness blah, blah, blah. EnzoBall has been found out. The same players who made it work at the beginning ans were able to make it work effectively are the same players now. Not all of them have gone crap overnight. It's the system.... And the bloke who insists on playing the system.... Well Enzo... I'm questioning it, so live up to you arrogant little rant from months back and "leave, the very next day"

Just ref the bold bit.. When 'pissing the league' I was extremely happy we were winning, as any fan should be, so your assumption was totally wrong on that point. However I have from day one, never hidden the fact that regardless of our results from match number one under Enzo until the last against Chelsea my dislike of our playing style, but that just me, regardless of it's affectivness or not, aesthetically it just not my cup of tea. The rest I'm not going to comment on, as we obviously have differing options and it's best to adopt a 'agree to disagree' I think. We both want the same thing but just see the route to achieving it differently.

Ok. I'll bite.. Lets wait for the next two games, and if we have a full Ndidi and Ricardo included and 90% international break rested squad taking to the pitch, playing the inevitable Enzoball, but we still produce the same poor results thet we have recently been suffering what then ? (No, its not so I can say "I told you so" , I've posted before that I find that childish behaviour) Surely if as you suggested at the top of your post the other weaker technical players are at then still the problem then surly Enzo should address this. However the players and their limitations you hi-lighted didn't seem to have a problem or cause us a problem at the beginning of the season when we were walking the league or until recently they were deemed good enough then. Have they suddenly become cr@p overnight?

Well said my friend, well said. I to have posted virtually the same observations on other post's and in different threads, so I'm glad it's not just me who thinks that EnzoBall is boring to watch, and that recently we have been 'sussed out'. Also that someone else is questioning his lack of 'tactical flexibility' means I'm not totally blind. I wonder how many other posters think and feel the same now?

In that case, I stand by my comments then. We are boring to watch, most of the time. And we will continue to be so as long as we play EnzoBall. The style is conducive of it.. sorry but I've never been a fan from day one and that will never change (regardless of the manager)

Go back and read my first line again. I was agreeing with you. Then I said it was affective until just recently...so yet again I was agreeing with you. But I was also agreeing with the original poster in saying it's (currently) ineffective and boring.

At the start of the season and up until recently I'd agree. EnzoBall has been effective, as our points tally and league position shows. But something has changed, and we look nothing like the dominant team of last year and early 2024. Compared to other teams we are slow and pedestrian in our play, and currently the style, which hasn't changed a single bit from day one is ineffective, as the drop in performance and more importantly the lack of wins shows. And yes it is boring to watch for high percentages of the match and our style of play has spoilt my enjoyment of the game personally.. Maybe if we played the 'passing fest' at a quicker tempo, and didn't always pass it backwards as much to "reset" ( there have been numerous times where a forward pass is on, or the opposition has had the time to get it's shape back and regroup defensively while we have passed the hell out of the ball 38 times in midfield waiting to 'pull players out of position', but they've not taken the bate) it might be a little bit more pleasing on the eye. Show just a teeny weeny bit of daring to actually go forward with some intent. Oh wait, sorry that's not our identity is it.

Correct, it is down to opinion.. But who said anything about lumping it long and scrap feeding. I find EnzoBall boring hell, but also I wouldn't want hoof ball as our playing style . A hybrid option of counter attack, with the odd hoof here and there, with some heavy influence towards forward passing and not the unnecessary pressure created by passing back 90% of the time to start the recycling from the back we currently adopt. Teams have woken up to our move the opposition around by 57 passes ethos and are not getting sucked in. (Hence the current blip)

Not fussed either way if I'm truly honest. But my gut says he goes.. It depends on the next 9 games, good finish and promotion he gets a glowing report and looks favourable in the "manager shop window" which increases his chances of being poached. Crash and burn and he can leave under the excuse of the current turmoil ( but anyone with a brain can see through that sham) On a personal note, If he does go at least he'll take that god awful boring as fook, passing fest EnzoBall with him..