Marti Cifuentes appointed new manager

[Permafrost]

36 minutes ago, cropstonfox said:

Not forgetting Brian Little,he injected life into a sloppy dormant near relegated club.

Wheeled and dealed in a low level transfer market.Missed Premier league by a dodgy

Pen.

Yes, Brian Little for me too (Messiah-wise)

[RowlattsFox]

Can see why Rudkin and Top have fell for him, talks a good game.

 

My first impressions are good though, seems to have walked in with a bit of authority and means business. 

[Noahfence]

It’s easy for him to say but it’s good to hear him make a few references to the academy and looking forward to using it 

[ajthefox]

Sounds positive, I hope he said fearless entirely on his own accord though. The club have used that word to death.

[ithuriel]

3 hours ago, Noahfence said:

It’s easy for him to say but it’s good to hear him make a few references to the academy and looking forward to using it 

If were as short on cash to spend as some have said over the past few months, he's going to need to, wonder if there are any strikers coming through that can try for a place in the first eleven?

[Dan]

On 18/07/2025 at 12:48, Ricey said:

We put far too much emphasis on interviews and presentations. With every appointment we make it comes out that they impressed Top with a presentation, which then changed the direction the club chose to go in. I genuinely think I'd stand a shot at being appointed if I got an interview.

Well run football clubs don't work like this. They do interviews, of course, but they are well researched going into them and know what they want. They don't let a banging powerpoint presentation sway their thinking from, say, an old school manager to, say, a Cruyff inspired continental manager.
 

We are just fundamentally weak under Aiyawatt.. We're dictated to rather than crafting our own way.

[Foxhateram]

I’ve got a good feeling about him. He seems to have a clear vision and is keen to improve the atmosphere around the club. 
 

He seems Pearson esc in his approach, QPR people I know seem to have only good things to say about him and are gutted he’s left.
 

If he can get the best out of Fatawu and Mavadidi and nurture our young talent (which he seems keen to do) then I think we are on to a winner. 🥇 

[cruzFOX]

Are there any academy projects that could possibly compete with Daka in the striking dept? LBH it’s a low bar. First proper game without Vardy up front will be very telling unless we get someone to fill that spot properly.

[cropstonfox]

19 minutes ago, cruzFOX said:

Are there any academy projects that could possibly compete with Daka in the striking dept? LBH it’s a low bar. First proper game without Vardy up front will be very telling unless we get someone to fill that spot properly.

We might play differently,perhaps other players will feel more freedom to express themselves and try things.

Instead of feeding the GOAT.

(Still a legend deserving a statue though

-but we move on now)

[Taz_The_Fox]

I can see Ayew leading the line this season. He isnt much of an athlete, but he is good in tight spaces, surround him with fast wingers and attack mids (Fatawu/Mavididi/Monga/Mcateer) and I think he can come good at this level. 

[cropstonfox]

34 minutes ago, Taz_The_Fox said:

I can see Ayew leading the line this season. He isnt much of an athlete, but he is good in tight spaces, surround him with fast wingers and attack mids (Fatawu/Mavididi/Monga/Mcateer) and I think he can come good at this level. 

With Hindsight, Ayew wasn't a terrible signing.A good sort and decent addition

to the Squad.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

43 minutes ago, Taz_The_Fox said:

I can see Ayew leading the line this season. He isnt much of an athlete, but he is good in tight spaces, surround him with fast wingers and attack mids (Fatawu/Mavididi/Monga/Mcateer) and I think he can come good at this level. 

"Come good"? HE'S 34! He's declining not improving!

[Mickyblueeyes]

Intrigued to see how this works out. I know very little about him as a manager. Bit of Google/wikipedia research isn’t really fair to judge so it is a case of reserving judgement. 
 

Mightily important we have someone to latch onto as a fan base, with the ownership, DOF, poor scouting, poor (attitude) squad, it’s created quite a hostile/disappointing environment around something that should be a welcome release.

 

He interviews very well. I think just his style will appeal to “danger men” like Mav, Winks, Fatawu and maybe Bilal. This can only be a good thing.

 

We need to get rid of some players and support him. Glover and Rudkin have had plenty of brain farts and you have to hope this isn’t a year for further mishaps. However, with the incompetence, it’s a further layer which can impact even the most experienced managers.
 

I still think for this level we have a very good squad. Arguably as to whether it’s as good as last time without Vardy and KDH but you could counter with us going into the season with a more experienced Mav and Fatawu, I also think with Monga etc. we have a couple of X factors which could surprise the league. 
 

Need a striker badly and perhaps a ten if Bilal goes but Marti’s target has to be top 2. 
 

If he manages as well as he speaks, we’ll be thereabouts, 

 

 

[l444ry]

Have to admit being underwhelmed by his appointment but the speed he has got his feet under the table (with Andy King's good work) and created an identity so far is proving me totally wrong. Thought he'd be another Pep/Enzo clone but his style so far is far more direct and entertaining. The proof of the pudding is in the eating but it looks like he might just be right man at the right time.

[lcfc sheff]

Marti should have an idea on who he wants to keep by now. Fingers crossed we may see some of the dross leave in next few weeks 

[ithuriel]

2 minutes ago, lcfc sheff said:

Marti should have an idea on who he wants to keep by now. Fingers crossed we may see some of the dross leave in next few weeks 

Who would want them for the wages they are on and  the price we might want?

[MPH]

On 24/07/2025 at 04:10, RowlattsFox said:

Can see why Rudkin and Top have fell for him, talks a good game.

 

My first impressions are good though, seems to have walked in with a bit of authority and means business. 

yea. It was love at first cheap contract whilst paying his own compo!

 

 

but seriously why might have struck lucky with him…

[Angus Scott]

Winks & Skipp doesn't work in midfield. They are too similar & neither of them is attack minded & don't get forward to support the attack, we really need more speed & attacking ideas there.

Also we have major problems at centre back & it's impossible to see us keeping clean sheets which will be essential if we are to do well.

We desperately need to shift players out but we all know that is going to be very, very difficult

[Philkeavo]

We’re far too easy to play through. The centre back pairing is a problem but the amount of times FC Koln cut through our midfield was equally concerning. Work to do.

[Paninistickers]

Lots to learn with a defeat. I think he'll be pleased in a way. 

 

We need some defensive coping mechanisms when we get caught on the break. We need a ball winner in the middle. Some of the defending far too passive. 

 

But, any half decent manager would know all that (ie,.not the Dutchman)

 

 

[cityfanlee23]

Can see what we are trying to achieve but as of yet it hasn't really clicked, we look quite gutless upfront and open at the back, even with Daka and Ayew being a weak link in the striker position, we aren't really able to get the ball properly into them in many cases and seem to be relying on magic from Monga or later on Fatawu, they get doubled up on and we don't really have any options.
Long way to go and pre season is always difficult to judge, on an individual basis the majority of players have had good spells and overall many good performances but as a team it's just not come together yet. Hopefully we can click soon as taking advantage of the relatively kind first month of fixtures is absolutely crucial. 

Winks and Skipp in midfield is a disaster. Sadly I can't see us being able to get rid of either, and we may end up not getting a bid for Ndidi or Soumare. 
If we can't shift anyone I'm really not sure what the best midfield combination 3 would be. Ideally you'd want Monga playing centrally infront of the other 2, but Soumare and Winks would leave massive exposure to the defence. 

Edited 25 July 2025 by cityfanlee23

[whoareyaaa]

10 hours ago, Taz_The_Fox said:

I can see Ayew leading the line this season. He isnt much of an athlete, but he is good in tight spaces, surround him with fast wingers and attack mids (Fatawu/Mavididi/Monga/Mcateer) and I think he can come good at this level. 

Yea he knows how to score and the Championship is miles away from the Prem.. has he ever played in the Champ.. next seasons Vardy  the only problem he has no pace which might not matter in the Championship 

Edited 25 July 2025 by whoareyaaa

[Philkeavo]

51 minutes ago, cityfanlee23 said:

Can see what we are trying to achieve but as of yet it hasn't really clicked, we look quite gutless upfront and open at the back, even with Daka and Ayew being a weak link in the striker position, we aren't really able to get the ball properly into them in many cases and seem to be relying on magic from Monga or later on Fatawu, they get doubled up on and we don't really have any options.
Long way to go and pre season is always difficult to judge, on an individual basis the majority of players have had good spells and overall many good performances but as a team it's just not come together yet. Hopefully we can click soon as taking advantage of the relatively kind first month of fixtures is absolutely crucial. 

Winks and Skipp in midfield is a disaster. Sadly I can't see us being able to get rid of either, and we may end up not getting a bid for Ndidi or Soumare. 
If we can't shift anyone I'm really not sure what the best midfield combination 3 would be. Ideally you'd want Monga playing centrally infront of the other 2, but Soumare and Winks would leave massive exposure to the defence. 

Great post 👏, says everything I’ve seen today. Let’s hope Marti and his coaching team see the same and can address it. 

[Greg2607]

1 hour ago, cityfanlee23 said:

Can see what we are trying to achieve but as of yet it hasn't really clicked, we look quite gutless upfront and open at the back, even with Daka and Ayew being a weak link in the striker position, we aren't really able to get the ball properly into them in many cases and seem to be relying on magic from Monga or later on Fatawu, they get doubled up on and we don't really have any options.
Long way to go and pre season is always difficult to judge, on an individual basis the majority of players have had good spells and overall many good performances but as a team it's just not come together yet. Hopefully we can click soon as taking advantage of the relatively kind first month of fixtures is absolutely crucial. 

Winks and Skipp in midfield is a disaster. Sadly I can't see us being able to get rid of either, and we may end up not getting a bid for Ndidi or Soumare. 
If we can't shift anyone I'm really not sure what the best midfield combination 3 would be. Ideally you'd want Monga playing centrally infront of the other 2, but Soumare and Winks would leave massive exposure to the defence. 

It will most likely be Faes and Nelson in defence and Winks and Ndidi in midfield with Bilal in front.   Mavididi and Fatawu out wide with Monga and Mcaterer coming on against tired legs. 

 

Hamza or Ricardo at Right back will.offer a bit of cover.  

 

We know from last time that Ndidi is effective on the underlap. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

Learned can’t play Vesty and Coady together or individually so that has to be good. 
 

Has to start Nelson with either Okoli or Faes. 
 

My big concerns are midfield which is shite and centre forward. I think he’ll have to play Ayew but 2 goals and lots of chasing down could see Daka start.