Marti Cifuentes - Style of Play, Tactics and Analysis

[Unabomber]

Just now, ronnup said:

 

Its a bit early for this

Two up top lmao what Daka and Ayew. I assume also 442. 

[honeybradger]

43 minutes ago, Claridge said:

loads he could try, two up top, three at the back, different fullbacks etc… might not work,but surely anyone can see the current team /system doesn’t and never will

With Daka and Ayew as options i would rather play with no strikers than two

[whoareyaaa]

14 minutes ago, ronnup said:

 

Its a bit early for this

This system has been awful tbf, it just don't work with the current players.

 

We don't need to play 3 CMs, didn't work under Cooper or Ruud and now looks exactly the same under Marti, Enzo was using an inverted RB completely different

 

I would happily see a different approach whether its 3atb or 2 up front with only 2 CMs think it would be better than this shit.

[Mike Oxlong]

1 minute ago, whoareyaaa said:

This system has been awful tbf, it just don't work with the current players.

 

We don't need to play 3 CMs, didn't work under Cooper or Ruud and now looks exactly the same under Marti, Enzo was using an inverted RB completely different

 

I would happily see a different approach whether its 3atb or 2 up front with only 2 CMs think it would be better than this shit.

I wonder whether anyone can get a tune out of this unmotivated, entitled and averagely talented group

[whoareyaaa]

19 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

With Daka and Ayew as options i would rather play with no strikers than two

Take Soumare out and put 2 strikers up top would do a lot more good than bad it would at least give the defence something to think about plus with two pacey wingers it allows more bodies in the box as Soumare rarely makes it.

[Unabomber]

Just now, whoareyaaa said:

Take Soumare out and put 2 strikers up top would do a lot more good than bad it would at least give the defence something to think about plus with two pacey wingers it allows more bodies in the box as Soumare rarely makes it.

We don’t have 2 strikers though? 

[whoareyaaa]

Just now, Unabomber said:

We don’t have 2 strikers though? 

Ayew and Daka

[ronnup]

28 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

This system has been awful tbf, it just don't work with the current players.

 

We don't need to play 3 CMs, didn't work under Cooper or Ruud and now looks exactly the same under Marti, Enzo was using an inverted RB completely different

 

I would happily see a different approach whether its 3atb or 2 up front with only 2 CMs think it would be better than this shit.

 

Judging any system after 2 games and a short pre season is nuts. Judging anything really

[whoareyaaa]

7 minutes ago, ronnup said:

 

Judging any system after 2 games and a short pre season is nuts. Judging anything really

I think he will ditch the system though, still believe he will work it out.

[Filbert Fireworks]

57 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

Ayew and Daka

Ayew and daka the chuckle brothers tribute act up top. 

 

To me to you to me to you oh no slap stick trip over the ball. 

[Unabomber]

59 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

Ayew and Daka

[Chief Keef]

To be fair to him there can’t have been much time in between the games last week to do much tactical work. Hopefully for Saturday we start seeing more of his ideas come through. 

[em9999]

He isn't going to have enough capable players left to implement his style of play at this rate 

 

Depressing stuff 

 

I truly feel sorry for him 

 

Edited 20 August 2025 by em9999

[deep blue]

As for midfield weaknesses, noe of our first choices are capable of being box to box, winning tackles,  tracking back, pushing forward with intent.  Possible solutions, but far from perfect, from within our current squad might be Faes (to add aggression, speed, forward surges) but would need solid CFs (Okoli + Nelson?),  Hamza to add aggression, speed and commitment), and/or Page. 

 

As for FBs, I think both Thomas and JJ performed much better in the past but have, for whatever reason, lost form dramatically.  It might be partly a confidence thing or playing with badly reduced support in the quality of players around them. Thomas looks hesitant going forward but he used to have very fruitful attacking interchanges with Barnes; and JJ has performed well on both sides in the past (and I can't forget his first time left-footed through pass for Vardy's goal at Stoke 2 years ago, so he has the capability).  Both are honest and committed players. If Cifuentes can''t manage to regenerate them and get a tune out of them then we have viable alternatives in Riccy, of course, when fit and Aluko and even Hamza.

 

I think there are possibilities in those positions to bring our team up to scratch.

 

The impossible position for me is in goal-scoring potential ... we have no strikers.  The only option I see from within our current squad is Evans, and maybe others from the development squad.  We MUST bring in a new striker during the transfer window.

 

So, in conclusion, I think there's still the possibility for Cifuentes to get a tune out of our current squad as long as we can sign a new striker.

[Claridge]

3 hours ago, honeybradger said:

With Daka and Ayew as options i would rather play with no strikers than two

try that then

[CloudFox]

6 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Biggest concern from what we saw in pre-season is the pressing to win the ball back has vanished.

Same. That felt like the green shoots of Cifuentes' style and plan poking through...but it's gone. I don't get why, it's weird. And without it, I don't think the plan works at all!

Edited 20 August 2025 by CloudFox

[dillonpanthers87]

10 minutes ago, CloudFox said:

Same. That felt like the green shoots of Cifuentes' style and plan piling through...but it's gone. I don't get why, it's weird. And without it, I don't think the plan works at all!

Maybe it's the execution that isn't there, not the plan.

[Long Eaton Fox]

Well after seeing the last  few games I was impressed with the fiorentura game and the pressing. Of course easy to do with 8 substitutions in the second  half.  Since then all of the players  have had opportunities but all have  made mistakes. Some have displayed talent but not consistently. Its a very difficult problem for the new manager and it's going to take time to work through this. Patience will be needed.

[Dan]

Probably going to butcher the explanation here but I feel like tactics are almost a luxury you get after the absolute obvious fundamental basics and the problem is we don't have even those so basically no tactic can work with us.

[VLC86]

Just watching his press conference and he’s the first manager I’ve been able to sit and listen to in a while. He seems pretty honest, calm and wants to rebuild the relationship between the fans and players.

 

He has been dealt the shittest of hands but we need to back him and give him a chance. It’s not going to turn around overnight, and he could need more than this season due to the complete lack of balance so whether he gets that, who knows.

[volpeazzurro]

3 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

Just watching his press conference and he’s the first manager I’ve been able to sit and listen to in a while. He seems pretty honest, calm and wants to rebuild the relationship between the fans and players.

 

He has been dealt the shittest of hands but we need to back him and give him a chance. It’s not going to turn around overnight, and he could need more than this season due to the complete lack of balance so whether he gets that, who knows.

I agree entirely. He’s certainly got a job and a half on his hands with this bunch of muppets! You can have the best tactics in the world but if the horses (or donkeys) aren’t willing then you’re on a bit of a hiding to nothing unfortunately.

[VLC86]

2 minutes ago, volpeazzurro said:

I agree entirely. He’s certainly got a job and a half on his hands with this bunch of muppets! You can have the best tactics in the world but if the horses (or donkeys) aren’t willing then you’re on a bit of a hiding to nothing unfortunately.

Yep, the squad is not suited to his style and is unbalanced , half the players don’t want to be here, fans have had enough, the wage bill will take the club down if it’s not sorted and there is no money for new players. It’s a ****ing nightmare that probably can’t be sorted in a season, but he wants to be here and surely knew what he was walking into and still fancied it.

[StriderHiryu]

 

Here's analysis of the Birmingham game, as well as taking a close look at the 3 new signings and how they might fit into the team going forwards. 

 

[Aleksz]

Great tactical question by Dom on the BBC podcast episode (around 50mins), who does a lot of tactical analysis on twitter for us - Not sure if he's on here? But loved Marti going in to great detail on this. Might be worth doing a deep dive on his answers @StriderHiryu 

[StriderHiryu]

1 hour ago, Aleksz said:

Great tactical question by Dom on the BBC podcast episode (around 50mins), who does a lot of tactical analysis on twitter for us - Not sure if he's on here? But loved Marti going in to great detail on this. Might be worth doing a deep dive on his answers @StriderHiryu 

I didn't catch the question, so am listening to it now!