Marti Cifuentes appointed new manager

[Bozman]

17 hours ago, lanefox said:

What's your 11 then? 

 

Too many people slate selections but then don't say what they'd pick, people moan just to moan 

 

He's been dealt a shit hand just like Ruud has not been backed and having to select players that don't want to be here

One that starts with Harry Winks who's head and shoulders above anyone else in the midfield..

[Chelmofox]

51 minutes ago, Richmondfox said:

If he’s not going to be backed, he needs to train the players to stop making the same mistakes and playing style.  What manager would be happy with how Ayew plays?

 

If they are ignoring his tactics or individual roles, he needs to set an example and just change them.  We wouldn’t be losing out by changing Ayew with literally anyone. 

 

He's not going to get any significant incomings imho. Re Ayew, we have limited options when Marti opts for the false 9 and for all of Ayew's faults (his pace and overreliance to draw a foul annoys the **** out of me), he is an adaptable player who does get stuck in. I strongly doubt he is someone Marti would have wanted to club to buy. Daka seems way off it, and other options up top are Mavididi (im not convinced, and he was injured anyway) and Evans (not in the squad and doesnt look ready). It pains me to say it, Ayew is the only option to start right now with Daka coming on to (hopefully, but doubtfully) make an impact. At this stage, especially if we are getting points on the board, i will give the manager time to build the framework he wants even when he doesnt have certain players who can fill those roles properly (i.e Ayew).

 

Right now it's not about 'stopping' making mistakes, its about developing and adapting the team bit by bit using the players who have bought into it. I think yesterday was one of our youngest lineups ever - so mistakes are going to happen and should be used to learn from. I think the change in our pressing since Florentina is on purpose as i think Marti has had to deal with the understanding the players weren't ready to do this in more gritty championship games. I don't think we are playing how he wants to - i think he is being pragmatic and getting there slowly.  Really need to see who he opts for when the window closes. If Winks is here I expect to see him being utilised more. I expect Bilal to be gone with no replacement, which means we have to use Winks and Page will be utilised more than he probably should be right now (which will hopefully be great for his long term career). But as we know there are problems with Winks. I real tough one for the manager this.

 

51 minutes ago, Richmondfox said:

How long can he continue to be happy with watching Thomas never attempt to carry the ball, pass and then make himself available for a 1-2, or when in position watch him get outmuscled. 

We know Thomas is a limited player, but i genuinely think he is showing signs of improvement, and for Marti (as he appeared to Ruud) Thomas could be a work in progress. I agree he got outmuscled a number of times but he also made some crucial interceptions and created 2 good chances. I think most of us just see the faults in Luke rather than the better parts of the game.  Everyone we play in that position gets pelters.

 

51 minutes ago, Richmondfox said:

Hopefully he saw the difference when Ricardo came on, how a player can run with the ball, pass and continue running to assist. 

 

He has to start showing more tactical understanding of the opponents and able to change in game, other than keep passing to Fatawu until he can get by 2 defenders and shoot. 

We all know Ricardo is class above all this, but the guy is held together with sellotape. I can no longer get excited seeing Riccy P come on because i know we are 1 tough performance away from a 3 month lay off. 

 

Re Fatawu, our attacking options are limited. Yesterday they doubled up on him most game and Monga had chunks kicked out of him. However, the 1 time they didn't double up is when he scored. That time they couldn't double up because we beat the press quickly in the style that i think Marti is trying to impose. The good news here is that not only did that win us the game, it gives the coach something to work with.

 

51 minutes ago, Richmondfox said:

The lack of movement and awareness by our players is the worry. 

It has been for a few years now. Marti isn't going to change that in a month with no incomings.

Edited 24 August 2025 by Chelmofox

[dooflip]

We need to stick by this guy.

 

We are an absolute mess, and he’s doing alright.

 

Never my first choice, but I’m in support of him 100%.

 

I hope we can continue to back him from the stands.

 

6 points from 9 with everything that’s going on, having to start page among with other issues with yesterdays lineup is more than acceptable at this point. He’s only been in the job a few weeks. Given how doom and gloom we have all been, I think it’s what we were expecting, maybe even better. Getting points on the board is the main objective at the moment, grinding and getting results, even if the performances are awful.

 

Lets be honest, we’ve not been a club that’s had a lot of luck for a long time, so if we ride our luck this year and get results that we don’t deserve, its about time.

 

I really hope we can get the squad settled, get a few more players out so he can bring in a few he believes fit the system he wants to play.

 

Chair comes in on deadline day and everyone can sit down and relax.

[Muzzy_no7]

3 hours ago, Tommy Fresh said:

Skipp 

Who else? 

[Tommy Fresh]

1 hour ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

Who else? 

Soumare who was comfortably better than him

[Richmondfox]

1 hour ago, Chelmofox said:

 

He's not going to get any significant incomings imho. Re Ayew, we have limited options when Marti opts for the false 9 and for all of Ayew's faults (his pace and overreliance to draw a foul annoys the **** out of me), he is an adaptable player who does get stuck in. I strongly doubt he is someone Marti would have wanted to club to buy. Daka seems way off it, and other options up top are Mavididi (im not convinced, and he was injured anyway) and Evans (not in the squad and doesnt look ready). It pains me to say it, Ayew is the only option to start right now with Daka coming on to (hopefully, but doubtfully) make an impact. At this stage, especially if we are getting points on the board, i will give the manager time to build the framework he wants even when he doesnt have certain players who can fill those roles properly (i.e Ayew).

 

Right now it's not about 'stopping' making mistakes, its about developing and adapting the team bit by bit using the players who have bought into it. I think yesterday was one of our youngest lineups ever - so mistakes are going to happen and should be used to learn from. I think the change in our pressing since Florentina is on purpose as i think Marti has had to deal with the understanding the players weren't ready to do this in more gritty championship games. I don't think we are playing how he wants to - i think he is being pragmatic and getting there slowly.  Really need to see who he opts for when the window closes. If Winks is here I expect to see him being utilised more. I expect Bilal to be gone with no replacement, which means we have to use Winks and Page will be utilised more than he probably should be right now (which will hopefully be great for his long term career). But as we know there are problems with Winks. I real tough one for the manager this.

 

We know Thomas is a limited player, but i genuinely think he is showing signs of improvement, and for Marti (as he appeared to Ruud) Thomas could be a work in progress. I agree he got outmuscled a number of times but he also made some crucial interceptions and created 2 good chances. I think most of us just see the faults in Luke rather than the better parts of the game.  Everyone we play in that position gets pelters.

 

We all know Ricardo is class above all this, but the guy is held together with sellotape. I can no longer get excited seeing Riccy P come on because i know we are 1 tough performance away from a 3 month lay off. 

 

Re Fatawu, our attacking options are limited. Yesterday they doubled up on him most game and Monga had chunks kicked out of him. However, the 1 time they didn't double up is when he scored. That time they couldn't double up because we beat the press quickly in the style that i think Marti is trying to impose. The good news here is that not only did that win us the game, it gives the coach something to work with.

 

It has been for a few years now. Marti isn't going to change that in a month with no incomings.

He needs to get the tactics right and the players actually following them pretty quickly as the rot is already set in from the last two donkeys and the toxic players. 

 

JV is stinking things out by playing a high line as well as holding onto the ball for too long and playing Enzo ball to Ayew with a midfield of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder to try and chase the resulting loose ball. 
 

Monga and Fatawu are getting marked out the game as the team stand around and do nothing to help.  That only changed against PNE when JJ switched sides and yesterday when Ricardo came on. 
 

Thomas, like many of our squad are the finished product, they just aren’t very good. I can’t get excited about him making last ditch tackles when he struggles doing the basics. 
 

The manager has his work cut out. 

[RedSoxUK]

Ricardo in at RB

 

Winksy - Soumare midfield.

 

Justin LB.

 

BEK replacement 

 

 A Striker 

 

And he's HMS pissing the league BEEP BEEP

[lcfc sheff]

3 hours ago, Spanner73 said:

“Back him” 

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 

 

??

[trooky]

40 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

Soumare who was comfortably better than him

Yes, if Soumare didn't have his baggage and just joined the club this window I dare say we'd all be quite happy with him. 

 

He's head and shoulders above Skipp so far this season. 

[Swarles Barkley]

2 hours ago, Bozman said:

One that starts with Harry Winks who's head and shoulders above anyone else in the midfield..

Poor guy can’t win. Agreed he’s our best CM but lets face he through a strop vs Preston and got benched. Most people on here wanted him gone and was rightly dropped. He then played much better against Charlton as Marti showed him he is not bigger than the team. I am sure if he fixes the attitude he is a guaranteed starter going forwards

Edited 24 August 2025 by Swarles Barkley

[OadbyBlue]

Stol

 

Ricardo/Hamza

Okoli

Faes

Justin

 

Soumare

Winks

 

Fatawu

Alves

Mavididi

 

Daka

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Well the good news for those of you not sold on Marti is that it’s looking increasingly likely that Russell Martin will be available to replace him!

[Spanner73]

58 minutes ago, lcfc sheff said:

??

No manager at this club gets backed 

[Mon.is.a.god]

The brutal truth and the most worrying thing for me is, Marti has been outcoached and tactically outclassed in every game so far. We’ve won our two games from a moment of brilliance from a premier league player and the opposition going down to ten men.
 

I wasn’t enamoured when we announced Marti, mainly due to his past record or lack of to be blunt. He’s hardly pulled up any trees in his career thus far and he seemed to be dining off the fact that he grew up watching Cruyff’s Barcelona.

 

I was definitely won over by his fantastic grasp of English for a foreigner in his interviews and he comes across as a very confident, articulate and positive person which made me instantly warm to him.

 

From what I’ve seen thus this far, he’s not a very good coach/manager and my initial fear when studying into his background has been realised. As has been mentioned before, I even think Ruud is a better manager.

 

I still think we should’ve gone for Mark Robins, but as he’s not got a fancy foreign name, he would’ve been on an uphill battle with our fans from the start.

Edited 24 August 2025 by Mon.is.a.god

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

1 hour ago, trooky said:

Yes, if Soumare didn't have his baggage and just joined the club this window I dare say we'd all be quite happy with him

 

Not for what he cost we wouldn't, no. One decent half against Charlton for £20+ million? And we'd all be happy?

 

Come on now

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

10 minutes ago, Mon.is.a.god said:

The brutal truth and the most worrying thing for me is, Marti has been outcoached and tactically outclassed in every game so far. We’ve won our two games from a moment of brilliance from a premier league player and the opposition going down to ten men.
 

I wasn’t enamoured when we announced Marti, mainly due to his past record or lack of to be blunt. He’s hardly pulled up any trees in his career thus far and he seemed to be dining off the fact that he grew up watching Cruyff’s Barcelona.

 

I was definitely won over by his fantastic grasp of English for a foreigner in his interviews and he comes across as a very confident, articulate and positive person which made me instantly warm to him.

 

From what I’ve seen thus this far, he’s not a very good coach/manager and my initial fear when studying into his background has been realised. As has been mentioned before, I even think Ruud is a better manager.

 

I still think we should’ve gone for Mark Robins, but as he’s not got a fancy foreign name, he would’ve been on an uphill battle with our fans from the start.

I'm not totally sold on him either, but I think it's a bit early and unfair to question him tactically. This is the same manager who out tacticked Enzo when they won at our place and spanked Leeds 4-0. Both were impressive wins against superior sides by far on paper. 

 

He was about two weeks late into pre season and there's definitely a lot of turbulence with transfers right now. 

 

I will judge him in and around October/November after he's had a smoother run of games with knowing the squad he has at his disposal once the window has shut. 

 

I do like Robins though and would have taken him previously too.

Edited 24 August 2025 by Heart-Shaped Fox

[whoareyaaa]

12 minutes ago, Mon.is.a.god said:

The brutal truth and the most worrying thing for me is, Marti has been outcoached and tactically outclassed in every game so far. We’ve won our two games from a moment of brilliance from a premier league player and the opposition going down to ten men.
 

I wasn’t enamoured when we announced Marti, mainly due to his past record or lack of to be blunt. He’s hardly pulled up any trees in his career thus far and he seemed to be dining off the fact that he grew up watching Cruyff’s Barcelona.

 

I was definitely won over by his fantastic grasp of English for a foreigner in his interviews and he comes across as a very confident, articulate and positive person which made me instantly warm to him.

 

From what I’ve seen thus this far, he’s not a very good coach/manager and my initial fear when studying into his background has been realised. As has been mentioned before, I even think Ruud is a better manager.

 

I still think we should’ve gone for Mark Robins, but as he’s not got a fancy foreign name, he would’ve been on an uphill battle with our fans from the start.

Terrible post tbf.

[MPH]

I’m encouraged by his start. I don’t think it was any secret in the footballing world what a mess we are in so it took guts to take us on and to WANT. To be here- he paid some of his compo to come?

 

 It’s no shame to have to grind  out some results at the beginning of the season whilst everything settles down  ( which probably won’t happen until the window closes) and he’s done it whilst also bleeding some youngsters into the team. 
 

Admittedly, as things progress I’d like to see the quality of performances improve… but some of our managers recently have looked like a rabbit caught in headlights but he’s taking the challenge head on , and that’s great to see.

[Mon.is.a.god]

Just now, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

I'm not totally sold on him either, but I think it's a bit early and unfair to question him tactically. This is the same manager who out tacticked Enzo when they won at our place and spanked Leeds 4-0. Both were impressive wins against superior sides by far on paper. 

 

He was about two weeks late into pre season and there's definitely a lot of turbulence with transfers right now. 

 

I will judge him in and around October/November after he's had a smoother run of games with knowing the squad he has at his disposable once the window has shut. 

 

I do like Robins though and would have taken him previously too.

You’re probably right but it pains me to say it, Nathan Jones did a number on us yesterday and you could see he had done his homework.

 

Don’t get me wrong, we’d be mad to sack him as it’s way too early and he hasn’t signed a single player but I’ve not been impressed at all in how we’ve been set up or played in any competitive game so far. The friendly against an unfit Fiorentina B team is the only time I’ve seen us play anything decent.

[whoareyaaa]

Just now, Mon.is.a.god said:

You’re probably right but it pains me to say it, Nathan Jones did a number on us yesterday and you could see he had done his homework.

 

Don’t get me wrong, we’d be mad to sack him as it’s way too early and he hasn’t signed a single player but I’ve not been impressed at all in how we’ve been set up or played in any competitive game so far. The friendly against an unfit Fiorentina B team is the only time I’ve seen us play anything decent.

He has played 3 games in the league and has a group of players who don't want to be here, we have lost Ndidi and Bilal who would probably be starting if they was here and he has not been allowed to make any signings.

 

Way to early to judge

[Mon.is.a.god]

1 minute ago, whoareyaaa said:

He has played 3 games in the league and has a group of players who don't want to be here, we have lost Ndidi and Bilal who would probably be starting if they was here and he has not been allowed to make any signings.

 

Way to early to judge

Tactics are tactics mate and I’m struggling to see any. We got battered by a league one standard team yesterday.

[whoareyaaa]

Just now, Mon.is.a.god said:

Tactics are tactics mate and I’m struggling to see any. We got battered by a league one standard team yesterday.

It's pretty clear he is still trying to work out the best team and has players on the verge of a move away how about we give him some time ?

[Chelmofox]

13 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

Not for what he cost we wouldn't, no. One decent half against Charlton for £20+ million? And we'd all be happy?

 

Come on now

Can't believe i am playing this game. Soumare was reported about £17 mil. £5 more than Kasey went for.

 

Makes you think.

 

Think i'll clean myself off and keep off the forum for a bit.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

26 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

Can't believe i am playing this game. Soumare was reported about £17 mil. £5 more than Kasey went for.

 

Makes you think.

 

Think i'll clean myself off and keep off the forum for a bit.

 

Aha what game? That's still garbage value? 

[Patrick]

Pretty much any manager would struggle to get a tune out of these toxic players. It'll be difficult to judge his managerial ability unless he gets a second season, when he might be able to build his own squad rather than having to work with these mercenaries who don't want to be at the club.