funkyrobot

Rambo surely will be out for 6 weeks +

Still not learnt to successfully pass a ball to his teammate 10 yards away…

He’d argue that 10th place is performing to expectations for this squad. Twice relegated players, no strikers, liabilities at left back, no money to spend.

Genuinely would rather see Wout Faes out of position at left back then Luke.

Because we had a significantly better squad than we do now! The issue is not Cifuentes, the issue is Rudkin and Top’s mismanagement. Cifuentes has a weakened, twice relegated squad with no option to spend, no goal scoring strikers and with very vulnerable left back options.

Enzo arrested the slide because he’s a good coach and he had a significantly better squad that Cifuentes. Vardy, KDH, Ndidi, Akgun, Praet, Iheanacho, Casadei and Doyle are better than their respective replacements in this squad.

Soumare is better than the only other senior midfielder in Skipp that’s why he plays when there’s a necessary rotation. Ayew isn’t a number 9 from a goalscoring perspective but nor is Daka. The jury is out on Carrenza and so if you assess the overall ability of the 3 players in question and what they bring to the team, it’s hard not to play Ayew at times. Personally I’d give up on Daka and persist with Carrenza but playing Ayew when we are so limited at centre forward but have other capable players at 10 and on the wing is understandable. A quality number 9 given good game time would’ve created more chances for himself and his team than what our 3 can muster with their skillset though the jury is out in Carrenza and Ayew has many positive attributes to his game. I wouldn’t play Thomas personally but then I’ve always said I even preferred a past his best James Justin playing on the left (despite having no left foot) than Thomas or VK, and maybe Marti would’ve too but the PSR situation meant he had to be sold. At the moment, with Aluko struggling to play for a full game at U23 level (keeps having to be subbed early) I’d give VK another go but I have big concerns with him defensively as I do Thomas. Cifuentes has had to manage the team under the most challenging PSR situation we have found ourselves in. Having to sell and not being able to buy will only weaken a squad and that’s exactly where we are now. The issue is not Cifuentes here, the issue is the mismanagement above him that has resulted in us being the only team other than administration bound Sheffield Wednesday that haven’t been able to spend ANY money.

Cifuentes getting battered on here for not playing multiple 17 year olds in a Championship team all at the same time is very unfair. I can’t remember another team that would play the likes of Evans, Page, Aluko alongside Monga all at the same time. It’s unrealistic and unfair on him and the lads that would ultimately get hung out to dry as we drop down the table. He’s got a squad weakened from last season that was already weakened after Enzo left. He’s trying to juggle long term fitness issues with Ricardo and Ramsey and deal with an imbalanced squad lacking in vital areas. Hence why he selects Hamza, moves James and chooses Soumare and keeps juggling strikers who don’t score. It’s rare that as fans we will agree with a manager about everyone in the team. I personally don’t agree with continuing with Thomas but tbf to Cifuentes, VK is only a slight improvement at best. Nelson is more an alternative to Vestergaard than to Faes and Vesty has been good this season. As for Okoli, many on here were calling him out earlier in the season for his passing and even his heading. He’s improved his reputation by not playing. I still think Nelson will get his chance and one or two of the other youngsters will get rotation time this season. Page, Aluko, Evans and Silko will get bench time, occasional starts but realistically we are playoff level at best unless Cifuentes is helped during the January transfer window.

Well the only young lad that could get a chance would be Page there’s not ‘lads’ that could cover that role. It’s a big ask for a 17 year old.

Skipp hides from the ball.

Who would you play when James is unavailable or being rested? Page is very inexperienced and very young and didn’t look ready in his two games. Skipp is worse than Soumare. Cifuentes has had to deal with a weakened squad. Enzo had Ndidi, with multiple back up options. Including Praet and Casadei.

Hes better than Skipp for starters!

Harry Winks is currently our best midfielder.

He has to rotate the squad. Most teams in The Championship have made significant changes to their teams and we have to protect Ramsey and Ricardo due to injury issues and James because of his international duty and the work he has to put in in midfield. That’s why they had limited minutes. He has real issues in key positions is the problem and the fact we couldn’t buy this season is not this manager’s fault. Enzo rotated but with much better squad options than Cifuentes has got. Currently he’s got no centre forwards (hopefully Carrenza will improve) and only one quality fullback across right and left in Ricardo.

You need centre forwards making intelligent moves to create chances. Ayew is good on the ball but not a centre forward. Carrenza looks slow or unfit or both. Daka shouldn’t even be considered as an option.

Still miles better than Patson Daka

James is obviously tired, the manager managing the time of two knackered key players in him and Rambo. Quite what Cifuentes is expected to magic up with centre forward options of Daka, Ayew or Carrenza I don’t know. The only other centre forward options are u21’s with no league experience. Without goals you don’t win games.

Sounds like a good plan 😂

So watch it back then. The club might be able to send you a video. If you don’t want to then you’ll have to take my word for it. Or not. Whatever you prefer to do mate.

Find a video of it and watch it if you’re that bothered mate. I’ve moved on, I didn’t appreciate the staunch defence the lad would get on here!

Presumably Ramsey not ready to play a full match after Saturday. Ayew is the only fit option to give Monga a break wide. James is the best alternative as the next back up number 10, Soumare is the best back up to the position James has had to vacate. Hence Soumare starts. Unless you’d prefer Skipp? 😬

Fair play, you’ve certainly provided a spirited (and slightly smug) defence of the ref. I thought he was poor. You liked him. I thought his warm up was a bit preening and indicated it might mean he likes to be the centre of attention. You don’t agree. Let’s move on.

Due to the way he kicks the ball, which is pretty much always a backward curved hook with the inside of his left boot, he would’ve had to had his body facing the steward I’ve circled to get that shot on target. Never known another footballer with such a strange technique.

Ipswich have a stronger squad. Coventry and Boro aren’t that different to us and have a better mentality having not had a season of being absolutely battered in the prem week in week out. They also have better strikers, as do most of the division which means we are going to struggle to win games without that threat up front.

Reid has tweaked his hamstring