CarolinaFox

It would be cheaper to sack him then right? The problem for Marti isn't squad talent, its footballing philosophy. He's too cautious, too risk averse. We have one of the best squads in this league, but his approach cripples that advantage. Giving Marti new players won't solve the failings of his footballing philosophy. To win in this league you have to be aggressive, exploit squad talent differences, play with belief and most importantly: play with consistency. There isn't a scenario in which Marti has us finishing higher than mid table. He's not a promotion manager, he's the guy you bring into to stop the rot. He plays to prevent a loss, but not to win.

Just for fun: Michael Skubala at Lincoln City. He is the anti-cifuentes. Plays with momentum in mind, and is not overly concerned with playing cautiously. He's the type of manager that might really kick on at Leicester and get us back to winning. We need to regain that assertive edge we lost under Enzo in the Championship: the belief that we should be winning, and the game management and tactical approach to make that happen. His managerial approach is a better fit for us if we are truly pushing for promotion this season. He would make the jump up to us if we came calling.

Right now Marti is the canary in the coalmine for this club. If he stays on it shows the club's main priority is safety and a mid-table finish rather than a promotion push. Maybe this has been the club's intention all along. Cifuentes is clearly not a manager who will maximize what we have in terms of squad and financial resources. His football philosophy is good for managing a team in a relegation scrap. Not for a promotion push. I think we see this both in his managerial history and in his tactical approach (he does have one - at least on paper). Marti is a structure guy: he wants his teams to be stable, structured, control possession and warm into games. Even when his teams go up his approach is to protect the lead. His substitutions read very clearly: I am not pushing to win the game, I'm making changes to maintain stability, shape and status-quo. He isn't the type of manager bothered by a draw as long as the players maintained his principles and played with "identity." His long term goal is changing habits, building structure, and playing "not-to lose" football. He doesn't play to necessarily win, but not to lose. This reads like great stuff from a manager brought in to stop the rot, put out the fire and get a relegation squad out of danger, but not if you want immediate promotion. If Marti stays it tells me that the club's hierarchy isn't bothered with finishing mid-table, and is focused on a longer term stay in the Championship to build and make a push in the next 2-3 seasons. I'm not saying this is what I want - but it might be what the ownership want and or are amenable to. One final thought: We often like to compare Marti and Enzo because they like to control possession. Yes, Marti and Enzo both like possession and structure, but the big difference is that Enzo pushed us to be aggressive early. Marti doesn't play that way. Marti is a longer term project manager, one that I believe will not get us promoted, but a safe pick if we are trying to land mid-table. His football philosophy still scares me, but I can see how the club's hierarchy may believe its better now to invest in a longer term project with Marti than hope for quick promotion with a "riskier" appointment. For my money I would go after someone who could maximize our strength of squad and resources and take the calculated risk. I'm sick of overly cautious Marti-ball. If we are only going to finish mid table I'd rather play aggressive chaotic football than play the Marti way, but that's my opinion.

A yo-yo manager. The right fit for us would have used the momentum of the last game to come in with a strong game plan, clear tactics and understood how to really hurt a team that he used to manage. We will keep riding this up and down game until he goes. Marti isn't capable of sustaining any momentum. He's a mid-table manager at best. What do we expect? He's not going to suddenly come good.

Seeing this as a glass half full. Cifuentes must go now. Especially if this ends up being 6+ goals. I hate to lose but if we must lose let it please be the thing that causes us to move on from Marti.

Now that's what I'm talkin' bout Marti...about time! No Winks and No Faes. Using momentum effectively to push in key moments in the first 10-15 minutes. Coming out of the half with intensity and pressure. I like it. BDCR and Skipp are growing on me. Nelson is taking ownership of his starting spot now. Still felt there were times when we were too passive (passing backward). We still need a clinical striker and some more pieces in the January window. If Marti can follow this up with a win at QPR Marti will make me a believer.

Winks must be off in January and we don't want him to get injured. See Ipswich easily winning this 3-0. Ipswich actually have a manager who knows what he's doing.

Age isn't a universal guarantee a player is done being effective. Vardy was 36 turning 37 our last season in the Championship. Worth a shout, he's physical striker who can score. Daka's not built for English football. Ayew isn't a "true" striker, he plays better as a link up man. Carranza is what I would expect from MLS - largely overwhelmed by the physicality of the Championship and speed. Antonio fits our needs and budget. I don't see a better alternative at the price point. Sure, I'd love to still see Joel Piroe but its worth the risk to see if Antonio has what it takes.

Marti has only himself to blame for that 2nd half performance. A draw from a winning position is a loss in my book. How many points has Marti dropped from winning positions? For me he inspires no confidence. We either look inept and slow and lazy at the beginning of a match and get blown out or we start well but give our opponents belief they can come back. I honestly think he worse than Cooper or RVN and will be glad to see the day he leaves. It’s not a question of if, but when. The festive season is going to be brutal for us. Don’t see us winning too many matches with this charlatan.

Not convinced he’s good enough consistently to be our number 1.

Bristol City having more points in the league just sums up what we need to know about Marti. He ain’t getting the job done. The margins are narrow between mid table and the playoff spots but as we go further into the season that will change. Hasn’t shown enough to warrant keeping the job. In fact quite the opposite.

Yep, that the Marti Cifuentes I know!

What is the game plan here Marti??? The game management has been so poor.

We need subs now Marti!!!

This is where we see the real Marti Cifuentes

Think we can still improve with being faster on the counter. Need to start the second half high tempo and putting pressure on their goal.

Still need to see that third goal to feel like this game has been put to bed

No Faes! We have a chance!

Really think we should go after Joel Piroe if we could afford it. Even if it was just a loan. He's barely playing for Leeds at the moment.

Still can't decide whether its his toxic personality or his lack of a footballing brain that I can't stand the most. He's an embarrassment to the Leicester shirt every time he pulls it on. The sooner he's gone the better.

I want to like Harry Winks, I think in spells he's been a good player for us, but the constant issues with him really negate any positives he brings. He has a lot of potential, but just hasn't lived up to it. After a great run of form with Enzo he was anonymous during our premier league season last year. If possible I'd move him out with a loan to cover his salary for the start of 2026. He's out of contract in June, I think he, and Faes are toxic personalities that need to be cut loose at all cost.

Playing with intent, scoring two in the first 10 minutes? I'm in love.

Cifuentes and Eustace have played each other twice, each winning once, but given the mentality of our squad I think Derby will win this one 3-1. Eustace favors a counter-attacking style of football that seems to really work well against us. We struggle transitioning back into shape when teams win the ball higher up the pitch. If Faes is on the team sheet tomorrow Derby are almost guaranteed a goal on a fast-break or through a penalty. I think Derby's mid block will frustrate us and force us into the typical game plan we see every week: going out wide with our only hope being a wonder goal outside the box. Managers know the winning formula now to play against us: seize the early momentum, play aggressively for the first 10-15 minutes and opportunities will present themselves to go 1 or 2 up and put the game to bed within the first half. Ideally, I would like to see us come out swinging: first 10 minutes playing high-tempo football, pinning Derby back in their own half, and showing real intent to put up more than 1 goal. Do I expect to see that? No.

I 100% agree. If we had the resources to back him he would be an ideal solution if Spurs do sack him.

Thomas Frank might be available soon…wishful thinking? 🤣