Marti Cifuentes appointed new manager

[lee7]

Monga and Faes have to start! It's inexcusable not to start them both in our next match. 

 

Winks attitude absolutely stinks and that situation needs sorting ASAP. 

 

A prolific striker is a priority. I'm not asking for a worldie of a striker but atleast get someone in who looks like he's capable of scoring a goal ffs!

[whoareyaaa]

3 minutes ago, JonnyBoy said:

I dunno how he was in the dressing room with the other players and actually bollock them. Yea fairs he froze out winks. If you haven’t already watch the Blues documentary on Amazon. Someone like Chris Davies is exactly the sort of character we need to sort these lot out. 
 

just get the impression Marti is a nice person, which is exactly what we don’t need atm. 

I'm sure he can turn into a not nice person if players are not pulling there weight hard to judge until the window closes imo

[Beechey]

18 minutes ago, Jobyfox said:

I hope people don’t jump on Marti. He has no chance with this squad

 

We need signings before the transfer window shuts. Ideally 4 or 5, but 2 or 3 would be a start. 
 

We can’t measure him until that happens. If it doesn’t then the anger must be directed to those above him. 

Paid his own compensation to come here, wants to be here, is working hard to build a relationship with the fans. He's come into a club is utter turmoil, is selling all it's best assets, and he's not being allowed to bring any players in.

 

If people are expecting miracles, they better find god. Football isn't that nice.

[honeybradger]

7 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

I'm sure we will see these players starting in a few weeks, give him some time.

He doesnt get time, we need points now.

 

I am convinced he's not putting out our best XI or best bench, irrespective of whether they are academy players. I think it's fair to criticise him on the basis that I believe his decisions are costing us points as well as damaging the long term trajectory of the club.

 

Shit ownership or not the manager does have an impact on the direction of the club and instead of offsetting the damage of the likes of Rudkin he is compounding that damage by backing the same old crap experienced players over the academy ones.

Edited 16 August 2025 by honeybradger

[Dahnsouff]

Just now, lee7 said:

Monga and Faes have to start! It's inexcusable not to start them both in our next match. 

 

Winks attitude absolutely stinks and that situation needs sorting ASAP. 

 

A prolific striker is a priority. I'm not asking for a worldie of a striker but atleast get someone in who looks like he's capable of scoring a goal ffs!

Plenty wanted Faes in the stocks after Wednesday,  but I agree he should start (over Jannnik)

[UniFox21]

5 minutes ago, JonnyBoy said:

I dunno how he was in the dressing room with the other players and actually bollock them. Yea fairs he froze out winks. If you haven’t already watch the Blues documentary on Amazon. Someone like Chris Davies is exactly the sort of character we need to sort these lot out. 
 

just get the impression Marti is a nice person, which is exactly what we don’t need atm. 

You mean the same Chris Davies who was actively involved in our relegation first time round?

[JonnyBoy]

Just now, UniFox21 said:

You mean the same Chris Davies who was actively involved in our relegation first time round?

He was a coach, not a manager. 
 

not doing to bad at Brum though is he 

[jim5000]

You can’t just let all your best players leave or be sold, be left with a load of academy players and turds you can’t flush, and expect any manager to get a tune out of them.

 

Our core squad is now made up of players that wouldn’t / couldn’t make the bench 2-3 years ago.

 

We are essentially left with the dross that got put on mega contracts under Rogers, the crap that Cooper signed, and that random right-back we signed in January who has never played. Plus some academy graduates that have never been quite good enough.

[ozvaldo]

Can’t be blaming him 2 league games into the season. 
 

But, if we’re not going to sign players - and it certainly looks that way, he needs to find a way to galvanize the team spirit and get us playing a certain way that aligns to the limited talent and minimal physicality we have. 
 

He has an almost impossible job on his hands if the expectation is an immediate return to the prem.  
 

 

[l444ry]

26 minutes ago, Filberts Treat said:

Feel sorry for the bloke. Probably lied to before taking the job on

Think he got the gig because he partially bought it. Cheap option again but expensive in the long run when the inevitable happens.

[lee7]

1 minute ago, Dahnsouff said:

Plenty wanted Faes in the stocks after Wednesday,  but I agree he should start (over Jannnik)

Vestergaard is too slow for my liking

When he's left 1vs1 he gets done for pace every time. 

[whoareyaaa]

4 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

He doesnt get time, we need points now.

 

I am convinced he's not putting out our best XI or best bench, irrespective of whether they are academy players. I think it's fair to criticise him on the basis that I believe his decisions are costing us points as well as damaging the long term trajectory of the club.

 

Shit ownership or not the manager does have an impact on the direction of the club and instead of offsetting the damage of the likes of Rudkin he is compounding that damage by backing the same old crap experienced players over the academy ones.

Give over its the 2nd game of the season he has been here 4 weeks

[trabuch]

4 minutes ago, lee7 said:

Monga and Faes have to start! It's inexcusable not to start them both in our next match. 

 

Winks attitude absolutely stinks and that situation needs sorting ASAP. 

 

A prolific striker is a priority. I'm not asking for a worldie of a striker but atleast get someone in who looks like he's capable of scoring a goal ffs!

Horrible situation for a manager. Winks has a shit attitude (but is the best option in that position), Monga is young and needs protecting, Faes is leaving (apparently). Ayew is expected to replace the GOAT. Good luck.

[Unabomber]

We need Pearson back as DOF. Someone to pull no punches and actually help get players in who want to play for us. He would also have the clubs best interests at heart unlike Jon and Top.

[Number 6]

He's learning slowly, but he's got to learn fast. Seen some tweaks but the style seems to have regressed since pre-season. Gone is the high pressure, in is pointless possession and terrible defending. An awful combination.

 

Don't think we'll have a proper idea of how we'll get on until the window is closed though.

[honeybradger]

9 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

Give over its the 2nd game of the season he has been here 4 weeks

Andy King had us feeling like a far more cohesive and fair squad in less time if we're being honest.

 

4 weeks ago we were arguably in a better position with our academy players getting a fair shot and taking that opportunity to impress. It felt like we were ready for a proper rebuild.

 

Now Monga is the only one getting minutes and is getting less than he deserves. Cifuentes has made us a closed shop where the same experienced pros who have screwed us over for years get free reign again and have clear playing privileges over the academy based on their seniority in the squad rather than ability.

 

I won't accept that it's too early to judge Cifuentes as I saw a brighter future for us when he was out of the picture, what he has done in terms of the way he has set up the squad since he has been here has only damaged us.

Edited 16 August 2025 by honeybradger

[StriderHiryu]

I'll cover it on the BTG analysis show on Tuesday, but even in the Championship, you can't play suicide ball with Luke Thomas and Vestergaard next to another on transition. That was hopelessly naive from Marti. He's also got to coach Fatawu and tell him to pass it again, not try to glory ball it every time. Enzo would have given him a massive dressing down. 

 

It's a tough job for anyone in charge though. Restless fans (for good reasons), players who don't want to be here, players who are well past their sell by date... tough times. 

[whoareyaaa]

1 minute ago, honeybradger said:

Andy King had us feeling like a far more cohesive and fair squad in less time if we're being honest.

 

4 weeks ago we were arguably in a better position with our academy players getting a fair shot and taking that opportunity to impress. It felt like we were ready for a proper rebuild.

 

Now Monga is the only one getting minutes and is getting less than he deserves. Cifuentes has made us a closed shop where the same experienced pros who have screwed us over for years get free reign again and have clear playing privileges over the academy based on their seniority in the squad rather than ability.

 

I won't accept that it's too early to judge Cifuentes as I saw a brighter future for us when he was out of the picture, what he has done in terms of the way he has set up the squad since he has been here has only damaged us.

I think you are over reacting.

[Unabomber]

Just now, whoareyaaa said:

I think you are over reacting.

just a bit 

[CPepFox]

1 hour ago, Richmondfox said:

looks exactly like nothing has changed. 

Nothing has changed.  Except the manager. Still same DOF, board and owner. No accountability had trickled down to locker room where the players don't want to be at the club and only show up for the check. It's like the Redskins under prior ownership... toxic

[CrazyKopCorner]

Faes has more attributes but is another bomb scare of course. 

 

You need to have a proper talk to him and get him in the right frame of mind. 

[Dahnsouff]

17 minutes ago, lee7 said:

Vestergaard is too slow for my liking

When he's left 1vs1 he gets done for pace every time. 

Vestergaard is fine at this level if, and only if, the team is not a good pressing team. Otherwise, he is buggered.

[JimJams]

HoneyB just rates our young players highly and is venting his disappointment in them not being utilised.

I disagree a little with him when it comes to Monga.  I think bringing him into games at his age and with his dynamic isn't a bad idea.  Not least because he can play across the attacking line so he can come in if Fatawu needs resting as well as replacing underperformers, as he has so far with Mavididi who really needs to step up.  But the ineffective form of Mav does lend itself to giving Monga a start now.

But I do think we should be looking at Page and Aluko.  For me they're fast, physical, had good preseasons, and merit being in the mix to start because frankly the players we do have starting aren't exactly putting on a show are they?

 

Well.., A shit show I suppose.

[indierich06]

16 minutes ago, Unabomber said:

We need Pearson back as DOF. Someone to pull no punches and actually help get players in who want to play for us. He would also have the clubs best interests at heart unlike Jon and Top.

Would love this - and it would be such an easy win for the board to get the fans back onside, which is why they'll never do it obviously. 

[lgfualol]

Should stop picking players based on their former glories and salaries and pick those who actually want to be here.

 

Bloke spent his own money to join us so he’s probably as upset as we are with this squad