Marti Cifuentes - Style of Play, Tactics and Analysis

[FoxinNotts]

7 minutes ago, FoxFossil said:

Problem as I see it, with Winks as a single pivot, is that teams will target him, and he's lightweight and we end up losing possession immediately in front of our back 3 or 4. 

When we have the ball, won't Ricardo (or dare I say Hamza) be asked to invert along side Winks to create the base of the box 4, therefore he's not a single pivot?

[Aleksz]

11 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

When we have the ball, won't Ricardo (or dare I say Hamza) be asked to invert along side Winks to create the base of the box 4, therefore he's not a single pivot?

Correct according to the research I've put into Cifuentes. Might even see both full backs invert either side of him let alone one.

[LVFox]

2 minutes ago, Aleksz said:

Correct according to the research I've put into Cifuentes. Might even see both full backs invert either side of him let alone one.

Exactly this by the looks of it. 
under Enzo we almost looked 3-2-4-1 in possession 

Marti is more 2-3-3-2, although his inverted full backs aren’t quite as high up the pitch as Enzo’s.

Will be interesting to see changes to shape on Saturday, if any this early on.

[Groby_Blue]

47 minutes ago, southfox66 said:

The impression I've got seeing him on the lcfc YouTube that he's appears to be too overly confident when he doesn't have an inspirating record, as a manager is only one place he seems to shone but even think in the end they sacked him too, I also felt that the interaction with the players wasn't convincing, you got the feeling from some of players it was a case of here we ago another yet as another manager with big ambitions and have too many players who can make it awkward if they get a manager they don't like or his style of play, I was thinking if Faes stays how as a new manager do you stop him being so constantly poor and telling him he's not as great as Faes thinks he is.

 

I guess we will find out in the first few games hopefully I will be proved wrong.

Genuine question - how would have liked him to behave on his first day?

[whoareyaaa]

4 hours ago, Jazzy_Jeff said:

Quite like the idea of Ayew coming a bit deeper and Mavididi/Fatawu/Monga going in behind.

 

Play BEK if still here as advanced 8 pulling the strings 

If he wants everyone to play fast intensity I don't see how Ayew will be a starter at all, would be surprised if he makes it off the bench.

[StriderHiryu]

@Stadt that's a really good point. It depends on how the team as a whole functions though, as if the press is effective enough you can compensate for a lack of physicality, in this division at least.

 

In the Premier League, there's a reason why CDM's have gone for so much money. Players like Caicedo, Rodri and Rice (even if Arteta changed his position) are worth so much is because they are cool and composed on the ball, but also physically dominant and can put in those tackles.

[Stadt]

Ayew and Choudhury both play backwards far too often, can't see Cifuentes being a big fan.

[Aleksz]

49 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Ayew and Choudhury both play backwards far too often, can't see Cifuentes being a big fan.

Choudhury is a pressing/high line managers dream. He'll be a big fan. 

[Stadt]

8 minutes ago, Aleksz said:

Choudhury is a pressing/high line managers dream. He'll be a big fan. 

I can't see him starting games tbh

[Muzzy_no7]

20 minutes ago, Aleksz said:

Choudhury is a pressing/high line managers dream. He'll be a big fan. 

He’s also about as technically gifted as my left b*llock so can’t see a Catalan coach persisting with him. 
 

Disclaimer: I also don’t like Hamza off the pitch 

[Aleksz]

Just now, Muzzy_no7 said:

He’s also about as technically gifted as my left b*llock so can’t see a Catalan coach persisting with him. 
 

Disclaimer: I also don’t like Hamza off the pitch 

Is this like total possession obssesed Enzo Maresca didn't want him anywhere near his team either..... Oh wait, he used him quite a fair bit actually. 

 

Hamza is a lot of things, technically limited yes, and yeah a tool with his personal life (if that was completely your reasoning, then fair enough)... but what he does give you on the pitch is the ability to eat up a lot of ground very quickly when you've lost the ball and committed a lot of men forward. Especially when your other options are Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp who run like they're carrying a wheely bin, Vestergaard, Faes and Coady that run like... well they can't run.

 

TLDR;  These managers don't look at Hamza and get caught up about his technical ability, they look at him and see the safety net he provides in rest defence when their side is committing a lot of men forward.

[Muzzy_no7]

3 minutes ago, Aleksz said:

Is this like total possession obssesed Enzo Maresca didn't want him anywhere near his team either..... Oh wait, he used him quite a fair bit actually. 

 

Hamza is a lot of things, technically limited yes, and yeah a tool with his personal life (if that was completely your reasoning, then fair enough)... but what he does give you on the pitch is the ability to eat up a lot of ground very quickly when you've lost the ball and committed a lot of men forward. Especially when your other options are Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp who run like they're carrying a wheely bin, Vestergaard, Faes and Coady that run like... well they can't run.

 

TLDR;  These managers don't look at Hamza and get caught up about his technical ability, they look at him and see the safety net he provides in rest defence when their side is committing a lot of men forward.

I know he can be a useful tool in the championship. 
 

From memory was Hamza used when Ricardo and/or Doyle weren’t fit? 

[Aleksz]

Just now, Muzzy_no7 said:

I know he can be a useful tool in the championship. 
 

From memory was Hamza used when Ricardo and/or Doyle weren’t fit? 

Indeed, in relation to your technical ability comment I personally thought he was a lot better that season inverting into the middle from RB as he just seemed to have a bit more time. I don't see him ever being an out and out midfielder again to be honest. RB or Inverting RB.

[squidsworth]

My analysis, going on the first day video of training, is it's clear he seems very 'hands on'. Seems like the whole squad get a good ole welcome slap, shake or tap at some point, with I think it was ole Skippy getting one just north of the butt cheeks. That's as much as I was able to ascertain about his style thus far. 😉 

[fox_favourite]

37 minutes ago, squidsworth said:

My analysis, going on the first day video of training, is it's clear he seems very 'hands on'. Seems like the whole squad get a good ole welcome slap, shake or tap at some point, with I think it was ole Skippy getting one just north of the butt cheeks. That's as much as I was able to ascertain about his style thus far. 😉 

Your making it sound like a dodgy film you ordered 'by mistake'.

 

Yeah, you know what I mean,  you definitely got your squidsworth. 

[FoxFossil]

Today's video very interesting imo. Practicing  Anils triangles and Munga as a striker? Maybe reading too much into it.

[coolhandfox]

On 17/07/2025 at 13:14, Stadt said:

I'd be worried if Winks was the lone pivot defensively. Great analysis and picking up on Cifuentes' sometimes weak defensive transitions is really important -  so Winks' lack of defensive output and physicality would leave us exposed down the middle.

 

I can see it being Skipp - he played as the more defensive of the pair in Norwich's 4231 in 20/21.

 

Looks a better fit for me - plus Winks only has a year left, cash in now or we lose him on a free or extend ffs.

Have to agree with this Winks can't be a lone pivot, neither can Wilf sell both for as much as possible, use Skipp for now.

 

Bring in a younger player with the right profile to develop.

Edited 18 July 2025 by coolhandfox

[Foxdiamond]

23 hours ago, southfox66 said:

The impression I've got seeing him on the lcfc YouTube that he's appears to be too overly confident when he doesn't have an inspirating record, as a manager is only one place he seems to shone but even think in the end they sacked him too, I also felt that the interaction with the players wasn't convincing, you got the feeling from some of players it was a case of here we ago another yet as another manager with big ambitions and have too many players who can make it awkward if they get a manager they don't like or his style of play, I was thinking if Faes stays how as a new manager do you stop him being so constantly poor and telling him he's not as great as Faes thinks he is.

 

I guess we will find out in the first few games hopefully I will be proved wrong.

Overly confident? Would you prefer a diffident attitude perhaps?

[MrsJohnMurphy]

On 17/07/2025 at 14:43, southfox66 said:

The impression I've got seeing him on the lcfc YouTube that he's appears to be too overly confident when he doesn't have an inspirating record, as a manager is only one place he seems to shone but even think in the end they sacked him too, I also felt that the interaction with the players wasn't convincing, you got the feeling from some of players it was a case of here we ago another yet as another manager with big ambitions and have too many players who can make it awkward if they get a manager they don't like or his style of play, I was thinking if Faes stays how as a new manager do you stop him being so constantly poor and telling him he's not as great as Faes thinks he is.

 

I guess we will find out in the first few games hopefully I will be proved wrong.

We sacked Ranieri our PL winning manager

We sacked Rodgers our FA Cup winning manager 

We sacked Pearson possibly our greatest ever manager

[Guppys Love Child]

After reading the posted comments from the Hammarby fan  I thought, oh no Diet-Enzoball incoming to grace our pitches.

 

However once I watched the analysis video I'm actually looking forward to Saturdays game to see if any of the "Cifball" philosophy has rubbed off on the players yet and if so how does it/we actually fair?

 

The video I must say was rather good, and explained clearly Cifuentes idea, and I do think  with the current  squad at his disposal, including the youth, it is a better team overall than what  he had at QPR and we have more suited players that can fit into the hilighted  specialist areas, certainly at Championship level,  which is a bit more forgiving.  

 

Have said that...

 

Regardless of Vestergaards passing ability he's lack of pace will be a major liability,  and IMO has no place in Cifball. Take up dog walking my friend. 

 

The Jogging Donkey Soumare ..just no

IMO he has no place in Cifball as we need all players to have a workmate more than his current dead hamster impersonation.

 

I hope he lives up to his reputation of giving youth its chance as Monga needs to start along with Nelson,  whilst Page and Aluko need involvement also. 

 

 

 

[Merchant_Banker]

25 minutes ago, Guppys Love Child said:

Monga needs to start along with Nelson. 

 

 

 

I think Monga would be better on the wing or at 10 rather than CB alongside Nelson! 

[The_77]

On 17/07/2025 at 09:43, southfox66 said:

The impression I've got seeing him on the lcfc YouTube that he's appears to be too overly confident when he doesn't have an inspirating record, as a manager is only one place he seems to shone but even think in the end they sacked him too, I also felt that the interaction with the players wasn't convincing, you got the feeling from some of players it was a case of here we ago another yet as another manager with big ambitions and have too many players who can make it awkward if they get a manager they don't like or his style of play, I was thinking if Faes stays how as a new manager do you stop him being so constantly poor and telling him he's not as great as Faes thinks he is.

 

I guess we will find out in the first few games hopefully I will be proved wrong.

You saw about 1% of the new manager’s first day. 

[Aleksz]

Early observations of an in possession shape in game one… Choudhury, Coady, Faes back three. Skipp and Winks double pivot. McAteer right, El Khannouss in a right attacking midfield area, Thomas appears to be in the left sided slot allowing Monga to hug the touchline wide left - I’m sure those two will rotate as the half goes on. Daka upfront obviously and unfortunately. 

[Aleksz]

Winks happy to drop between defenders to get the ball whilst Thomas pushes on, already signs Thomas and Monga have the freedom to interchange positions.

 

Much higher line and press than we’ve seen for the last 12 months, albeit not aggressive - heat a factor. 

[StriderHiryu]

I'll do some analysis on the gam eon Tuesday. @Aleksz has already covered some points, for me the most interesting thing was the use of "the free man" who in the first half was Hamza Choudhury. At times he found himself next to Daka as a striker, at others as a spare number 8, at times a 6 next to Winks and sometimes even as a CB next to Coady! That facillitated other players to move around and swap positions to make chances.

 

This type of football takes many hours to perfect on the training ground, so give this manager time. But I think we will be pleasantly suprised with the results and performances