FC Köln 25/07/25

[MC Prussian]

We are desperately in need for another attacking midfielder and another striker.

[JimJams]

Really good run out.  Exposed some of the shit and showcased some of the younger lads.  

Gives Cifuentes something to mull over.  And that something is "how do I get these cnnts out the door?".

[whoareyaaa]

34 minutes ago, Taz_The_Fox said:

Yeah I think its midfield where the issue ultimately lies.  None of them are remotely creative, there's no real top level athleticism from any of them so what do they really offer? 

 

KDH really was the difference maker two seasons ago. He wasn't the most technical but he was a goddamn workhorse who could get box to box. We have no one like that at the moment 

Bilal can do that job but is being proffered as a 10 for some reason 

 

winks skipp Soumare offer naff all going forward Ndidi at least gets up there those other 3 add nothing though really going forward

Edited 25 July 2025 by whoareyaaa

[Lambert09]

38 minutes ago, Taz_The_Fox said:

Yeah I think its midfield where the issue ultimately lies.  None of them are remotely creative, there's no real top level athleticism from any of them so what do they really offer? 

 

KDH really was the difference maker two seasons ago. He wasn't the most technical but he was a goddamn workhorse who could get box to box. We have no one like that at the moment 

I think brownhill walks through the door the moment we shift some bodies 

[two8two]

It’s a pre season game FCS relax, we will improve.

[Lad1966]

14 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

I think brownhill walks through the door the moment we shift some bodies 

This was a mash up of a team. We will play a combination of players that played in the 1st game 2nd game. BEK (if he stays) will be our main creater RP will also add some creation to the team. Can’t see winks and Skipp playing together. Marti should have a better idea of the players and wants and those he happy to let go

[VLC86]

5 minutes ago, teblin said:

If im right, we signed mads, coady and wink early.

 

other than that Stephy was the week the season started, fatawu was near the end of the window as was the Turkish lad who’s name escapes me.

 

plenty of time yet

We do need to sell before we can buy meaning double the work, but I’d be shocked if we are that incompetent that nothing  happens by the end of the window.

[Spudulike]

1 hour ago, Taz_The_Fox said:

I think calling them hoof balls is a little harsh. They were diagonals out to the winger which most of the time found their man. 

 

Koln were set up well defensively and Skipp and Winks are not good enough to turn out from the press so we weren't afforded many options other than to go longer. 

Wouldn't have happened under Enzo's watch! 

[Taz_The_Fox]

Watch some of Enzos games back and it happened more often than you think. But it was typically Faes playing the balls out to Mavididi on the left. It happened plenty

[DJ Barry Hammond]

The worry I have is at no time have I gained an idea of how we’re planning on scoring.

 

We play it about nicely enough, get it wide and then… pfft.

 

I accept it’s difficult to do this with our unconvincing and far from ideal striker options, but I’d have hoped to see a few more patterns that equated to actual chances.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Something that should be said if it hasn’t been already - I was really impressed with Köln in that first half.

 

Every player was on the same wave length, good crisp meaningful passes and movement and a system that had clear threats designed into it.

 

I’m not normally a fan of 3 at the back, but the way they utilised it I could be a convert.

[sm1]

18 minutes ago, Taz_The_Fox said:

Watch some of Enzos games back and it happened more often than you think. But it was typically Faes playing the balls out to Mavididi on the left. It happened plenty

Exactly, Chelsea beat PSG using the same tactics.

[lfu]

15 minutes ago, DJ Barry Hammond said:

Something that should be said if it hasn’t been already - I was really impressed with Köln in that first half.

 

Every player was on the same wave length, good crisp meaningful passes and movement and a system that had clear threats designed into it.

 

I’m not normally a fan of 3 at the back, but the way they utilised it I could be a convert.

As a watcher of German football, their manager Kwasniok is really good, it felt like he always got results against the German team I follow!

[kingfox]

1 hour ago, whoareyaaa said:

Bilal should really be playing there instead of one of those or both I would have Ricardo and Bilal in that deep position, I would even go as far as saying Hamza would be better suited to that role swapping with Ricardo 

The way we’ve looked so far, I’d rather try Hamza in a central midfield role, rather than the combinations we’ve seen so far. 
 

This system and style of play imo needs midfielders who can cover ground well, make tackles and make recoveries. 
 

Ndidi is probably the best we have at this, but him potentially on his way out, we need a younger version of him imo, along with a box-to-box type “8” who is energetic and can make recoveries so we don’t get dicked on transition. 

[James_lcfc]

Abdul looked really sharp physically - Surprised me given how long he’s been out for.

 

We should be really strong in the wide positions this season.

 

Unfortunately the spine of the team is about as fragile as you can get!

[MaidstoneFox]

2 hours ago, Suzie the Fox said:

Quite enjoyed that, a few pros and ofc alot of cons but i'm hopeful for the season.

 

Really hope Cifuentes saw how lazy Winks and especially Vesty were today. 

They were probably exhausted after driving over from London for the game.

[filthyfox]

Comprehensively beaten by a newly promoted Bundesliga side...

 

Oh dear

Edited 25 July 2025 by filthyfox

[GingerrrFox]

At the moment I’d pick this for Sheff Wednesday based off pre-season so far.

 

Jakub

 

Ricardo (even rusty he’s far too good for the championship if he can get fit)

Okoli

Nelson

JJ (much better LB than RB)

 

Skipp

Bilal

 

McAteer (Fatawu to come in once he’s full ready to go after ACL injury)

Page

Monga

 

Ayew

 

 

[fox in the sox]

2 hours ago, whoareyaaa said:

Bilal can do that job but is being proffered as a 10 for some reason 

 

winks skipp Soumare offer naff all going forward Ndidi at least gets up there those other 3 add nothing though really going forward

Many were saying how amazing Winks was last time we were in the Championship.

[Skid_1884]

15 minutes ago, fox in the sox said:

Many were saying how amazing Winks was last time we were in the Championship.

Amazing is a stretch, he was good in Enzos system 

[urban.spaceman]

Missed it. How did we play?

[whoareyaaa]

1 hour ago, fox in the sox said:

Many were saying how amazing Winks was last time we were in the Championship.

Clearly he don’t want to be here get him gone 

[MaidstoneFox]

Only based on the highlights:

 

Monga was sensational; Aluko and Page pretty good as well. How many kids can you play in one team?

No closing down their players and lots of gaps between midfield and defence - SV and Coady seemed to be marking space. 

They were quite sharp, played as a team, looked like they wanted to win. Whereas some of ours clearly hate each other.

What's going on with Skipp's hair, or lack of it? Has he been lying about his age? Is he losing it through stress? Like Winks, is he homesick for jellied eels and pie and mash? If the shedding continues at this rate he will look like Steve Agnew by February.

[Claridge]

2 hours ago, James_lcfc said:

Abdul looked really sharp physically - Surprised me given how long he’s been out for.

 

We should be really strong in the wide positions this season.

 

Unfortunately the spine of the team is about as fragile as you can get!

We seem a physically weak team, need a couple of strong players that look like soumare but are not soft puddings

[Dan]

6 hours ago, Noahfence said:

Hopefully Marti will have realised how shit some of these guys are 

The biggest takeaway. Any of my slagging is aimed at the dross players. Cifuentes will be judged on how he treats them.

 

Such an unlikeable side.