Marti Cifuentes appointed new manager

[honeybradger]

I really hope he shows more faith in our academy players than he has so far. It feels like after a promising pre season from our talents he has now stuck them back out in the cold again.

 

Monga benched (should be starting, he's better than Mavididi)

Nelson benched and no minutes

Page benched and no minutes

Alves not in squad.

Aluko not in squad.

Evans sent back the U21s

 

It's looking pretty grim for those of us that were hoping for a rebuild around our talents this season whilst we're at a lower level.

 

Don't say the priority needs to be promotion, it's laughable to think that we wouldnt be better off playing Page instead of Soumare or Skipp or Monga instead of Mavididi, Aluko instead of Justin, Nelson ahead of Vestergaard etc. If anything this approach is hindering our short term success as well as the long term.

[Twitcher]

3 hours ago, STUHILL said:

Will get the usual 15+ games from me before I start judging either way. 

 

It is important he sees his error starting Soumare and Skipp today and doesn't make that mistake again. 

 

I also think he needs to quickly recognise that we need players in who are motivated to do well for us. Players like Vestergaard are just going through the motions here and I genuinely don't think cares whether we win or lose. 

Agree, certainly re. Soumare and Skipp starting ahead of Winks. Why would that ever be? It's like he's already influenced by coaches, others at the club. What is it, we're still teaching Harry a lesson, so we recommend you bench him. I'm starting to think it's me not seeing attributes. All the managers have played Soumare rather than give the younger players a chance. Vesty instead of Nelson. It worries me that the new boss hasn't done his homework on some of these players. Fair enough he was running QPR in a different division, so won't have paid too much attention to us, but watch some videos, and don't be influenced by others at the club. If he can honestly say I've started with absolutely no preconceived plans or ideas re. who I'm going to play, and taken it purely on what I judge from training, then it has to be that either a) the players like Soumare are completely different in training than they are in a match, or b) these younger players are not as good as I'd hoped they would be. Really disappointed with the selection today. I wanted to see a fresh looking team, with young busy players wanting to perform. Instead it was same old, same old. The goals don't alter anything for me. I want to see Nelson, see Monga start. Winks on the bench was criminal as Soumare wandered round. He changed it so fair enough, but it's still inexplicable. Even then it shouldn't have been Skipp. He was better than Soumare. See how it develops, but if we go up with the same personnel, we'll come back down with the same personnel.

Edited 10 August 2025 by Twitcher

[Leicester_Loyal]

Great subs today, I was worried he was going to stick with the same team going into the 2nd half, when it was crying out for Skipp/Soumare to come off and Winks come on.

[Tommy Fresh]

1 hour ago, honeybradger said:

I really hope he shows more faith in our academy players than he has so far. It feels like after a promising pre season from our talents he has now stuck them back out in the cold again.

 

Monga benched (should be starting, he's better than Mavididi)

Nelson benched and no minutes

Page benched and no minutes

Alves not in squad.

Aluko not in squad.

Evans sent back the U21s

 

It's looking pretty grim for those of us that were hoping for a rebuild around our talents this season whilst we're at a lower level.

 

Don't say the priority needs to be promotion, it's laughable to think that we wouldnt be better off playing Page instead of Soumare or Skipp or Monga instead of Mavididi, Aluko instead of Justin, Nelson ahead of Vestergaard etc. If anything this approach is hindering our short term success as well as the long term.

It's one game

[420Hashish]

Love how positive the subs were and went for the win rather than holding out for a draw. 

[dmayne7]

1 hour ago, honeybradger said:

I really hope he shows more faith in our academy players than he has so far. It feels like after a promising pre season from our talents he has now stuck them back out in the cold again.

 

Monga benched (should be starting, he's better than Mavididi)

Nelson benched and no minutes

Page benched and no minutes

Alves not in squad.

Aluko not in squad.

Evans sent back the U21s

 

It's looking pretty grim for those of us that were hoping for a rebuild around our talents this season whilst we're at a lower level.

 

Don't say the priority needs to be promotion, it's laughable to think that we wouldnt be better off playing Page instead of Soumare or Skipp or Monga instead of Mavididi, Aluko instead of Justin, Nelson ahead of Vestergaard etc. If anything this approach is hindering our short term success as well as the long term.

It's day 1 of the season. Going to be very different as it progresses. Nelson has been injured which has shunted him down the pecking order for now, but the fact that Page made the bench is a pretty big indication of how much he will trust these young players. Disappointing to see no Alves but Aluko currently has others ahead of him. As for Evans, he doesn't look quite ready and we're absolutely stacked with wide players and then a couple of strikers ahead of him.

[Sunbury Fox]

2 minutes ago, 420Hashish said:

Love how positive the subs were and went for the win rather than holding out for a draw. 

I would bloody hope we were going for a win at home against a team who are favourites for relegation and down to 10 men!!

[Sunbury Fox]

3 minutes ago, dmayne7 said:

It's day 1 of the season. Going to be very different as it progresses. Nelson has been injured which has shunted him down the pecking order for now, but the fact that Page made the bench is a pretty big indication of how much he will trust these young players. Disappointing to see no Alves but Aluko currently has others ahead of him. As for Evans, he doesn't look quite ready and we're absolutely stacked with wide players and then a couple of strikers ahead of him.

People keep saying that Nelson has been injured but it wasn't a major one and he seems perfectly fit from what I can see. Very disappointed he is not starting. 

[MGLCFC]

Just now, Sunbury Fox said:

People keep saying that Nelson has been injured but it wasn't a major one and he seems perfectly fit from what I can see. Very disappointed he is not starting. 

It was - he was out for 4 months

[Sunbury Fox]

Just now, MGLCFC said:

It was - he was out for 4 months

That was last season and he played the final few games for Oxford. 

[dmayne7]

11 minutes ago, Sunbury Fox said:

People keep saying that Nelson has been injured but it wasn't a major one and he seems perfectly fit from what I can see. Very disappointed he is not starting. 

No but he missed a pre season game towards the end which will always affect things. Especially as a centre back where the focus is on the partnership and not the individuals so much.

[MGLCFC]

11 minutes ago, Sunbury Fox said:

That was last season and he played the final few games for Oxford. 

Yes, but I'm led to believe the niggle he had pre-season was related to the long lay off he had at Oxford.

[Lambert09]

Impressed with him today. His tweaks at half time really worked and you always felt we’d win it from the kick off in the second half tbqh 

[honeybradger]

2 minutes ago, dmayne7 said:

It's day 1 of the season. Going to be very different as it progresses. Nelson has been injured which has shunted him down the pecking order for now, but the fact that Page made the bench is a pretty big indication of how much he will trust these young players. Disappointing to see no Alves but Aluko currently has others ahead of him. As for Evans, he doesn't look quite ready and we're absolutely stacked with wide players and then a couple of strikers ahead of him.

Managers usually start out they will look to go on. Only Thomas and Stolarczyk in the starting XI, who are already established, and only Monga coming off the bench, shows how much he is willing to trust the academy players. Very little.

 

0 non established academy players starting and only Monga coming on, who might actually be the best footballer we have so him being a sub is below what you would expect.

 

In respect to Evans if you go off performances in pre season i would argue that he was no worse than Skipp, Mcateer, Daka yet they get opportunities and he doesnt. Sadly the non-established players do not have a level playing field with the established players among fans and managers. The good performances of the non established players get dismissed and the bad ones lead them to be instantly labelled as not ready. Meanwhile the established players can regularly drop clangers and still be in the matchday squad.

 

Aluko for example was our best defender in pre season before he got inexplicably dropped down the pecking order. How is he supposed to stake a claim for a first team spot when he plays excellently then is denied chances to establish himself further. 

[DJW1]

1 hour ago, honeybradger said:

I really hope he shows more faith in our academy players than he has so far. It feels like after a promising pre season from our talents he has now stuck them back out in the cold again.

 

Monga benched (should be starting, he's better than Mavididi)

Nelson benched and no minutes

Page benched and no minutes

Alves not in squad.

Aluko not in squad.

Evans sent back the U21s

 

It's looking pretty grim for those of us that were hoping for a rebuild around our talents this season whilst we're at a lower level.

 

Don't say the priority needs to be promotion, it's laughable to think that we wouldnt be better off playing Page instead of Soumare or Skipp or Monga instead of Mavididi, Aluko instead of Justin, Nelson ahead of Vestergaard etc. If anything this approach is hindering our short term success as well as the long term.

Justin was captain so he may be untouchable, although I think he is now no more than a Squad player, filling in when necessary

[foxfanazer]

I think he'll be a lot more flexible than Cooper or Ruud were. He won't get everything right all of the time but I pray to god he's adaptable and doesn't die on the sword of stubbornness like many do

[FrankieADZ]

didnt expect to see MC come around the pitch clapping the fans before the match, good to see

lil disappointed he didnt use more of the kids, but suspect we will see a good number wednesday night

[StanSP]

3 minutes ago, FrankieADZ said:

lil disappointed he didnt use more of the kids, but suspect we will see a good number wednesday night

Reckon we will. 

 

Interesting though he was about to bring McAteer on along with Faes but some reason changed it to Monga. Think it was around their defensive injuries? 

[Chelmofox]

2 hours ago, honeybradger said:

I really hope he shows more faith in our academy players than he has so far. It feels like after a promising pre season from our talents he has now stuck them back out in the cold again.

 

Monga benched (should be starting, he's better than Mavididi)

Nelson benched and no minutes

Page benched and no minutes

Alves not in squad.

Aluko not in squad.

Evans sent back the U21s

 

It's looking pretty grim for those of us that were hoping for a rebuild around our talents this season whilst we're at a lower level.

 

Don't say the priority needs to be promotion, it's laughable to think that we wouldnt be better off playing Page instead of Soumare or Skipp or Monga instead of Mavididi, Aluko instead of Justin, Nelson ahead of Vestergaard etc. If anything this approach is hindering our short term success as well as the long term.

No way should Monga be starting over Mavi in the season opener. But, as the season goes on, he will get starts. Monga was fantastic when he came on and significantly better than his showing against Fiorentina. 

 

I am confident Nelson will feature more and more, and have a hunch Faes is likely off anyway.

 

Page isn't at the level yet. But I do think he will nudge his way in or get a loan.

 

Alves will feature more if we trim the squad. Expect him to start the cup game.

 

Aluko i am sure will feature more. But hes not ready yet.

 

IMO Evans didnt look the level in pre season and i dont see how anyone can complain he hasn't made the 1st team squad today. I think he is a year behind Monga.

 

I get it but management is hard. Its a long season with potential cup runs. As things settle down and we potentially get a few more outgoings i think we will see one or two more come through, but i dont think its worth bashing on day one.

 

I also think its harsh to say 'its pretty grim'. The best way to manage the youngsters is to give them the best chance of succeeding and growing. Lets judge Marti on this by Christmas, not 10th August.

Edited 10 August 2025 by Chelmofox

[Tommy Fresh]

31 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

Managers usually start out they will look to go on. Only Thomas and Stolarczyk in the starting XI, who are already established, and only Monga coming off the bench, shows how much he is willing to trust the academy players. Very little.

 

0 non established academy players starting and only Monga coming on, who might actually be the best footballer we have so him being a sub is below what you would expect.

 

In respect to Evans if you go off performances in pre season i would argue that he was no worse than Skipp, Mcateer, Daka yet they get opportunities and he doesnt. Sadly the non-established players do not have a level playing field with the established players among fans and managers. The good performances of the non established players get dismissed and the bad ones lead them to be instantly labelled as not ready. Meanwhile the established players can regularly drop clangers and still be in the matchday squad.

 

Aluko for example was our best defender in pre season before he got inexplicably dropped down the pecking order. How is he supposed to stake a claim for a first team spot when he plays excellently then is denied chances to establish himself further. 

Once again it's one game, you need to chill out man. We aren't in December having not given any kids a chance

[FrankieADZ]

11 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Reckon we will. 

 

Interesting though he was about to bring McAteer on along with Faes but some reason changed it to Monga. Think it was around their defensive injuries? 

suspect it could have been,plus Mav was fully out of gas, 

tbf felt like the right subs at the right times from MC today

[StanSP]

1 minute ago, FrankieADZ said:

suspect it could have been,plus Mav was fully out of gas, 

tbf felt like the right subs at the right times from MC today

Yeah fair, can't fault them. 

 

Knew what to do to turn the momentum and half time team talk whatever was said clearly worked. 

[MaidstoneFox]

Seems a good, positive manager, I hope he is given time. I'm sure when he was speaking to Pedersen at the end he was gesturing to come and have a drink with later.

[Mendi]

 He will do a good job.

[Scoop Dog]

Give the man a chance.. let him do his job. He's a breath of fresh air and will play the youngsters when the time is right. Some fans are never happy. Enjoy the ride. Feeling positive!!

Edited 10 August 2025 by Scoop Dog