Marti Cifuentes appointed new manager

[An Away Move]

11 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

The culture of this club is abysmal. Complacency, no accountability, intrinsic arrogance - they are a dreadful bunch from the Top down. 

We used to be all about positive energy. Prayer flags. Monks. Team psychologist. How has this side of things turned to shit so badly?!

[Tielemans63]

1 minute ago, kingfox said:

He needs to get ruthless, otherwise I fear some of these players will hang him out to dry. 
 

This squad consisted of too many unlikeable players last season, a good chunk of them still remain. 
 

It’s going to be a tricky task for Marti to make progress, if those chunk of players are still here by September. 

I completely agree with this. He seems like a nice guy, willing to give everyone an opportunity....which isn't necessarily what was needed right now. The squad is full of lazy, overpaid *****, it needs someone to rip into them. To be fair, Maresca had that edge to him, I hope Marti does or you're dead right, he'll get eaten alive and we'll be in an even worse position.

[TrentFox]

14 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

The training ground was the worst thing to happen to this club, they never seem fully fit.

It can’t be superiority complex because they were just as bad in the top tier. 

You think the likes of Page Aluko, Monga, Evans, Nelson, Alves, Wilson-Brown won’t even begin to make a dent in the cost of the thing when they  are eventually sold……….. 🤔

[FoxOnWheels]

The whole club is just a steaming pile of shit don’t know why he even wanted the job 

[Tielemans63]

2 minutes ago, An Away Move said:

We used to be all about positive energy. Prayer flags. Monks. Team psychologist. How has this side of things turned to shit so badly?!

[Philkeavo]

15 minutes ago, Guest said:

Alarm bells must already be ringing for him with how the window's going and the performance/application levels from some of the more established senior players. I think he's got a massive job on his hands and I hope he's capable of doing it (start by abandoning the Soumare + Skipp midfield please) but I'm already worried the environment around him is just completely ****ed.

Post of the day 👏👏

[STUHILL]

This is why I wanted an arrogant so and so, who would tell Rudkin and Top that he wants these lot gone whether sold or loaned and wants 6 players IN. 

Just can't help feel that Marti is going to politely work with what he has got and not rock the boat too much, as this is his biggest ever job. 

Hoped to be proved wrong, as we know that is unlikely to work with this squad of players with lack of quality and poor attitudes scattered throughout. 

Starting Soumare and Skipp is very concerning. If he does that again in the league, then I will begin to have doubts about his ability. 

[An Away Move]

2 minutes ago, Tielemans63 said:

Yes. This is not a healthy relationship for our club. 

[coolhandfox]

I don't see how many managers can be successful in the current situation, the relationships between the fanbase, players and the club is so toxic.

 

That before you even talk about the issues in the squad.

[An Away Move]

Just now, coolhandfox said:

I don't see how many managers can be successful in the current situation, the relationships between the fanbase, players and the club is so toxic.

 

That before you even talk about the issues in the squad.

I hear the squad is quite cliquey too. Never great. 

[Tielemans63]

20 minutes ago, Guest said:

Alarm bells must already be ringing for him with how the window's going and the performance/application levels from some of the more established senior players. I think he's got a massive job on his hands and I hope he's capable of doing it (start by abandoning the Soumare + Skipp midfield please) but I'm already worried the environment around him is just completely ****ed.

It clearly is. It's been evident since Maresca left. It's a total shambles

[kingfox]

4 minutes ago, Tielemans63 said:

I completely agree with this. He seems like a nice guy, willing to give everyone an opportunity....which isn't necessarily what was needed right now. The squad is full of lazy, overpaid *****, it needs someone to rip into them. To be fair, Maresca had that edge to him, I hope Marti does or you're dead right, he'll get eaten alive and we'll be in an even worse position.

Maresca was very particular in his ways about the type of player profiles he wanted, he has done similar at Chelsea, especially with their winger situation. 
 

Marti needs to do similar, you can’t keep integrating players who look like they’d rather be elsewhere. 
 

There’s sprinkles of promise with this team, but as we saw tonight, you’ll always get reminded that there’s a tonne of shit in this team too. 
 

The shit is currently outweighing the promise imo. It’s difficult to fully get on board because a chunk of players are just so unlikeable. 

[Lesta2014]

Biggest plus so far is he’s been willing to change it up and sacrifice a defender etc in his subs. Means he’s not married to one style/formation like it fell under maresca at times.

 

i think I would feel a lot more confident in him if we signed a couple of players he wants! I think he will do okay for us but unfortunately don’t think we will be towards play offs as the squad is currently. 

[An Away Move]

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Edited 13 August 2025 by An Away Move
Wrong thread

[STUHILL]

Just now, An Away Move said:

I didn’t like Winksy’s reaction tonight but he is our most important alchemical ingredient. The whole team is better when he’s on it. As long as he is the tide that lifts all boats he can be afforded his arrogance. 

I agree, but I am a bit concerned how he will perform when the window closes and he is still here. Looks like a player who would jump at a move away. 

We will be in some battles this season, and we really need players who want to fight and dig in and enjoy the club being successful. 

Marti should have a word with him and start him this weekend, and hopefully we will see him out of this childish sulk and enjoying playing for us again. 

[MattFox]

7 minutes ago, An Away Move said:

I hear the squad is quite cliquey too. Never great. 

Been like that for a long time especially under Rodgers

 

Some of the local lads in the side being the worst for it sadly 

[Nods]

27 minutes ago, LestaLad said:

Just seen @moore_94 mention how Marti has had 1 month less with the squad at this point than Enzo had, so I am in no way putting any of the blame onto him. 

So not only has he not had long with this squad, his outputs and main attacking fronts are having to go through Thomas and Choudhury, with a Skipp and Soumaré pivot in the middle.. Wtf do we expect? 

I get it, I do. 

 

But nobody is forcing him to play Soumare or Skipp. We have limited options, yes, but it doesn't take much imagination to figure out how you'd drop at least one of that pair. 

 

Regarding the full backs - it's probably our weakest position. Look how well we did last time at this level by playing a system that removes the requirement for full backs. 

 

I don't know enough about Marti to know if this is just his system and that he will always use 2 full backs. Surely at some point you realise we have one guy who passes as a footballer in that position and he's consistently injured. Adapt the system.

 

If our 11 is going to consistently include Justin, Thomas, Skipp and Soumare in those two functions, we're in for a long, long season. 

 

Inability to pass combined with an inability to track back? Some combination, that.

[Parker Pen]

Needs to bin the Skipp and Soumare double act. Winks needs to start and we need someone to play alongside him, maybe Hamza. Teams with pace and aggression will totally bully us and I cant see us being anywhere near the top 6 let alone top 2 at the moment.

[alanf0x]

1 minute ago, Parker Pen said:

Needs to bin the Skipp and Soumare double act. Winks needs to start and we need someone to play alongside him, maybe Hamza. Teams with pace and aggression will totally bully us and I cant see us being anywhere near the top 6 let alone top 2 at the moment.

Hamza...drain the swamp

[Tuna]

We desperately, desperately need some new players to lift the squad.

[mod hero]

He needs time, he’s given everyone a clean slate and on paper 2 midfielders that cost £45M between them should’ve adequately shone in both games. He now knows what he’s up against and the board must do all they can to help him.

 

on the subject of those 2 ***** in CM, they are an absolute disgrace. And the whoever signed off on Skipp can get to ****.

[FLAN]

36 minutes ago, em9999 said:

We have too many players that don't really wanna be at the club .. they have no spirit or desire other than to Rob the club 

Or do want to be here cos they won’t get the same money elsewhere. Or lack of accountability 

[STUHILL]

1 minute ago, Tuna said:

We desperately, desperately need some new players to lift the squad.

It will be the difference between midtable and a genuine promotion push. 

We can't go as we are this time. There must be a refresh with a handful of players coming in and a few going out. 

[5waller5]

25 minutes ago, An Away Move said:

We used to be all about positive energy. Prayer flags. Monks. Team psychologist. How has this side of things turned to shit so badly?!

1. Because we are owned by someone that has lost interest.

 

2. We are Directed by an incompetent fool that’s been promoted beyond his ability (and paid more than he’d ever earn on merit)
 

3. We employ large numbers of our elite athletes who have chosen the club for one reason only, we pay the most, far more than they’d earn on merit.

 

1 doesn’t hold 2 to account, who doesn’t hold 3 to account… where there is zero accountability there are no standards, without standards decline takes hold and everyone becomes de-motivated. But nobody leaves because they’d never get paid this much elsewhere 
 

 

[Dan]

56 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Or play a system and style that suit the squad.

I really don't know what that is - we have some really terrible players.