Marti Cifuentes appointed new manager

[dillonpanthers87]

35 minutes ago, Uncle Monty said:

Obviously he needs time to be judged probably. Saying that, a big thing I liked on the first interview was his talk about him getting the fans on board, showing that even if we lose, as long as everyone puts everything in, fans will be more understanding. 

 

From what I've seen so far, I haven't seen much hunger or desire. Preston won pretty much all the 50/50s and the same with Huddersfield. 

 

Is it a player who thing, like when we got relegated from the prem with Madders "we're too good to go down"? Players simply thinking they are too good and don't put any effort in?

 

I could forgive a team that tries and loses but it just breaks me down watching a half assed performance. It's beyond anger for me, it's just so painful. 

Feel exactly the same. I like Marti on first impressions, I wonder if he has the nasty streak to cut out the toxic elements but it's not just on him.

 

In some ways I don't care about ability. I don't want to see so many of our squad again. I'd love Marti to do what Enzo did at Chelsea this year and create a bomb squad. 

 

I also think any owners or similar need to feel incredibly uncomfortable anywhere near our fans. Within legal bounds, but they need to feel their feet to the flames. Happy clappers too.

[STUHILL]

If he doesn't demand some signings in this window, then I think he will fail here. I don't think any manager could get a tune out of these players currently. 

[mo-rima]

The board must be telling him to play the crap players from last year so someone will buy them.

[adamkhalifa]

Just because he is new, doesn't make him immune to criticism. We haven't been at the races the first half of all 3 games. We have a collection of individual players with poor system and execution. 

 

This time around the opposition teams seem to out muscle and outwork us. Physically winning duels and direct passing through the channels. 

 

I was expecting a heavy tweak to the way we play. Marti talks a good game about attacking with intent in every interview. 

 

I do like how he sees problems and the changes are quite effective. Perhaps he could make the changes from minute one, instead of forty six. 

 

 

 

[Lionator]

23 minutes ago, adamkhalifa said:

Just because he is new, doesn't make him immune to criticism. We haven't been at the races the first half of all 3 games. We have a collection of individual players with poor system and execution. 

 

This time around the opposition teams seem to out muscle and outwork us. Physically winning duels and direct passing through the channels. 

 

I was expecting a heavy tweak to the way we play. Marti talks a good game about attacking with intent in every interview. 

 

I do like how he sees problems and the changes are quite effective. Perhaps he could make the changes from minute one, instead of forty six. 

 

 

 

Could you rebuild a destroyed house if the bricks were all ashes? That’s the cards he’s dealing. 

[Happy Fox]

I would have more respect for Marti if he played a team like this.

 

Jakub

 

Joseph

Nelson

Okoli

Aluko

 

Page

BEK

 

Mavididi

Monga

Fatawu

 

Evans

 

[foxfan92]

9 hours ago, honeybradger said:

Players like Winks, Vestergaard, Faes who dont want to be here do not in fact provide a stable environment for youngsters to flourish. It's the opposite in fact, disruptive players disrupt the others around them. 

 

It's like when you were in school and there would be that one kid that would misbehave and disrupt the class, it tends to lead to the whole class falling into disarray. Once that kid is removed all the other kids tend to fall into line as they are not inherently disruptive. If we are not careful the young players will pick up that disregard for the club from those three players.

 

Midfield would be:

Alves

Khannouss Page

 

With the new Portuguese guy potentially coming in for Alves. Maybe we're stronger with Winks instead of Page but I'm just so sick of seeing Winks sulking around.

 

It shows how far we've fallen that we're referring to Vestergaard and Faes as the only remaining 'quality' in the team, they are bombscare defenders even at this level.

I think we're agreeing just wording it differently.

 

It is very worrying we're having to rely on players who don't want to be here and aren't that good. 

 

But I don't think we'll improve throwing Page and Alves straight in either.

 

Youngsters learn off the older heads around them. They're there in the first place because they have the skill, and aptitude to succeed. What they lack is experience and while that's gained by time on the pitch, there's more to the game than simply learning through playing it.

Older players on the pitch should bring a level of emotional intelligence and psychological resilience that cannot be replicated purely by physical ability or raw talent.

 

They have an instinctual understanding of the flow of a match — not just tactically but emotionally. By playing only younger players we run the risk of being outsmarted in reading the game week in week out and our younger players will look awful because of the confidence that gets sapped losing this battle on the pitch.

 

It can't be replicated easily by coaching off the pitch or reflecting after every game with a manager, they need these older players around them as they play, so it becomes instinctive to them too.

 

There is also the mental fatigue (that comes along with the physical demands) of playing full games and having to be in the right place at the right time every second of the match, which should be something young players are introduced to slowly to build up their resistance.

 

Would I want the players the youngsters learn from to be the current crop we have right now?

 

Absolutely not. 

 

But would I want to ruin their development throwing them in too early either? 

 

Not a chance.

 

This is why younger players go on loan. Its a learning curve and requires mentors on the pitch and allows for a slower integration at this level.

 

Winks, for all his faults, seems to be the best of the current midfield options we have. That is a very worrying thing to admit. And it shows how far we've fallen as a club.

 

Its up to the manager to get a tune out of him and as many of the other useless players we have left, but that won't happen over night, and certainly won't happen by isolating the more experienced players and not giving them game time to improve either.

 

Even if our youngsters could cope with being thrown straight in, if we got rid of all the rubbish (which I agree, while here does add to a more toxic environment), with no money to replace them, we'd go from an over bloated squad to one where we can't field a team.

 

Its not Cifuentes fault he's forced to include these players, but I will agree there are some that need to be dropped from the starting 11, (like Soumare), and hopefully we see younger, hungrier players coming in to the team to replace these, and without money to buy anymore else, I think its inevitable that during the course of the season a lot of these younger players will slowly be given their chance to shine.

[Haywood_6]

An early defeat like this should be a wake-up call for Marti. If he keeps picking the same old players who've been responsible for our demise. Vestergaard, Soumare, Ayew, Justin to name a few that features yesterday. They’ll keep letting him down and he’ll be gone. Sorry Marti.

 

Play more of the academy lads instead - even if they aren't fully ready yet. At least they’ll try. I’d rather lose with them in the team than watch these our senior players go through the motions again and again. We've just had that all of last season - it won't change. Not even in the Championship 

[Edingleyfox]

I think it is a bit early to be critical of the manager. The team he selected should have produced a reaction to going behind early and 2 shots on target in 90 minutes is very poor. He needs to quickly sort out full backs being caught out of position and too many soft goals conceded without closing down and challenging the opposition.However the manager doesn’t have the calibre of strikers, central midfielder or full back available that suit his fast paced pressing style.with the odd exception. I suspect very little money be made available to correct that with the ridiculous wages paid to some players holding back any movement in the transfer market. 

[jim5000]

13 hours ago, Gazza M said:

Going to take this season to get the squad settled. I'm resigned to that. Give the guy time. 

The squad is exactly the same as it’s been for last 2 seasons, there is nobody to settle.

[filthyfox]

14 hours ago, Unabomber said:

Yeah he played today. 

....and would your great nan's dead cat's anal thermometer have done better?

[Bordersfox]

Cifuentes task is significantly harder than Enzo’s.  I have certainly underestimated the size of his task.  Whilst we had just been relegated when Enzo took over, until fairly recently we had a high performing side playing a particular style for a good manager. 

 

Whilst we let Rodgers hang around for too long for a while he clearly had a motivated set of players.  We have always had a low net spend under KP, albeit a ridiculous wage bill, and it was clear Rodgers was right about needing a refresh.

 

To an extent Maresca got that, bringing in some key new players.  He also did an excellent job of galvanising the ones we had.  

 

Cifuentes is inheriting a team that's been relegated  second time and after a truly dire season.  A team that's much more disconnected from the fan base.  That has had no identity under two atrocious managers and has been allowed to drift.  A squad that seems hugely demotivated as a result with many wanting to leave. 

 

There are no signs of us getting players in, I think the impact of no fresh blood in the dressing room cannot be understated, particularly a dressing room in the dulldrums.  For me I think getting 3 or 4 new faces in and using the younger players as much as possible is vital, just players that want to be here and want to play for Cifuentes.  Try and build momentum and fan connection.

 

The last couple of weeks of the transfer window are going to be huge.  I hope, but have no confidence, that the club recognise this and give Cifuentes a fighting chance.  

[Finn Claw II]

For context, while we sold players last time Enzo was backed by the signings of:

 

Winks, Coady, Mads,, Cannon, Mavididi, Abdul, Doyle, Yunus and Casadei.

 

It’s not his team.

 

Apart from playing Soumane he hasn’t done a lot wrong

Edited 17 August 2025 by Finn Claw II

[fox_favourite]

He has a poisoned dressing room, that is clear to see. I like Marti and he does have a set way of playing, but when you have a set of spoilt, grumpy brats around it beings the mood down in the people and that is obvious to see. 

 

This isn't a one transfer window fix, not is it a one season fix. It's a slow process to get rid of that attitude. Pearson did it, so it is possible, Marti needs to be stronger. 

 

We are a broken club and Rudkin is the man that has caused it. The rot is deep, the rot is getting deeper. 

[Dahnsouff]

Just now, fox_favourite said:

He has a poisoned dressing room, that is clear to see. I like Marti and he does have a set way of playing, but when you have a set of spoilt, grumpy brats around it beings the mood down in the people and that is obvious to see. 

 

This isn't a one transfer window fix, not is it a one season fix. It's a slow process to get rid of that attitude. Pearson did it, so it is possible, Marti needs to be stronger. 

 

We are a broken club and Rudkin is the man that has caused it. The rot is deep, the rot is getting deeper. 

Hard to disagree, so where do WE as fans go from here?

[Happy Fox]

8 minutes ago, fox_favourite said:

He has a poisoned dressing room, that is clear to see. I like Marti and he does have a set way of playing, but when you have a set of spoilt, grumpy brats around it beings the mood down in the people and that is obvious to see. 

 

This isn't a one transfer window fix, not is it a one season fix. It's a slow process to get rid of that attitude. Pearson did it, so it is possible, Marti needs to be stronger. 

 

We are a broken club and Rudkin is the man that has caused it. The rot is deep, the rot is getting deeper. 

Aiyawatt is the man that has caused it because he’s allowed Rudkin et al to still be in their roles.. Until he sells up the rot is deep and won’t subside.

[Noahfence]

Play the youth Marti. Least you’ll get some pride and effort. We’re not going up regardless. 

[CosbehFox]

7 hours ago, dillonpanthers87 said:

Feel exactly the same. I like Marti on first impressions, I wonder if he has the nasty streak to cut out the toxic elements but it's not just on him.

 

In some ways I don't care about ability. I don't want to see so many of our squad again. I'd love Marti to do what Enzo did at Chelsea this year and create a bomb squad. 

 

I also think any owners or similar need to feel incredibly uncomfortable anywhere near our fans. Within legal bounds, but they need to feel their feet to the flames. Happy clappers too.

Ultimately he can’t play his cards yet. He doesn’t know whose leaving and whose staying. He can’t afford to put anyone under the bus yet. Enzo could cos he had 40 players to choose from. 
 

Marti’s season starts in September and that’s caused by the club delaying everything over pre season 

[Unabomber]

22 minutes ago, filthyfox said:

....and would your great nan's dead cat's anal thermometer have done better?

Doubt it 

[RowlattsFox]

Going to sound a bit of dinosaur here but I wish we'd stop trying to be complicated. Until you get players you want, play full backs at full back. Both our wingers would benefit from the occasional overlapping full back so they can cut inside. Doesn't leave our centre backs exposed to the counter. 

[Harpenden Fox]

17 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Hard to disagree, so where do WE as fans go from here?

Show Marti the love. Let him know we’re with him, thus giving him the confident to be bold in his selections and tactics. We’ve been through so many managers, we cannot afford to keep hiring and firing. 

[funkyrobot]

15 hours ago, Shane said:

Having your LB bomb forward when the LCB is Vestergaard is beyond daft.
 

Preston did a good job exploiting the acres of space in behind our left flank.

The left back bombing forward didn’t happen against Preston. JJ was the attacking fullback on the right and Thomas made up the back 3 (probably after he failed in the attacking role against Wednesday and Huddersfield.) Despite staying deeper, the gap between him and Vestergaard was way too big and tbh he was out paced and outfought a few times when Preston played long balls into his channel. 

[RowlattsFox]

Do you think we've got a list of targets to grab at the end of the window, after we've been picked apart with cut price sales. 

 

No, me neither. 

[whoareyaaa]

1 minute ago, RowlattsFox said:

Do you think we've got a list of targets to grab at the end of the window, after we've been picked apart with cut price sales. 

 

No, me neither. 

Rudkin has gave the recruitment staff the summer off due back in 1st of September

[Sol thewall Bamba]

54 minutes ago, Bordersfox said:

Cifuentes task is significantly harder than Enzo’s.  I have certainly underestimated the size of his task.  Whilst we had just been relegated when Enzo took over, until fairly recently we had a high performing side playing a particular style for a good manager. 

 

Whilst we let Rodgers hang around for too long for a while he clearly had a motivated set of players.  We have always had a low net spend under KP, albeit a ridiculous wage bill, and it was clear Rodgers was right about needing a refresh.

 

To an extent Maresca got that, bringing in some key new players.  He also did an excellent job of galvanising the ones we had.  

 

Cifuentes is inheriting a team that's been relegated  second time and after a truly dire season.  A team that's much more disconnected from the fan base.  That has had no identity under two atrocious managers and has been allowed to drift.  A squad that seems hugely demotivated as a result with many wanting to leave. 

 

There are no signs of us getting players in, I think the impact of no fresh blood in the dressing room cannot be understated, particularly a dressing room in the dulldrums.  For me I think getting 3 or 4 new faces in and using the younger players as much as possible is vital, just players that want to be here and want to play for Cifuentes.  Try and build momentum and fan connection.

 

The last couple of weeks of the transfer window are going to be huge.  I hope, but have no confidence, that the club recognise this and give Cifuentes a fighting chance.  

I'd go as far as it's as much of a job as when Pearson first came in. When we got relegated to League 1 we had the two centre forwards that scored about 40 goals between them in Fryatt and Howard, the club captain in Oakley and the breakout youth product at the time in Kingy who scored another hat full. Plus, we could actually shift players out that weren't on huge contracts, and crucially Pearson could actually make his own signings because his hands weren't tied. Those that stayed had the mentality and took the stance that it was their fault we got relegated and they'd fight their way back.

 

Marti has no striker, no captain, the youth are still finding their feet, he can't shift players on because Rudkin is incompetent, and he can't sign anyone. This crop of players don't have a shred of accountability between them.

Edited 17 August 2025 by Sol thewall Bamba