comment by T.J (U15973)
posted 11 minutes ago
Everton away is tough, I watched some of the Arsenal game and they sat so deep.

Not sure what our recent record at Goodison is but we don't seem to win too many there.
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lost 5 of last 6 lol

Selected Maresca quotes below following game:

1) On why Chelsea are not in the title race:

"No matter how many games we win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title. One of the reasons why is because I think the teams know how to compete for titles. They are not going to concede goals like we do."

"[The goal we conceded] it was a throw-in for us. That's why I don't think we are ready for compete for titles. We cannot concede how we did and open the game and give them a chance."

2) On Marc Cucurella's red card:

"When the final whistle [went], I was celebrating so I did not see nothing."

"Cucu will be suspended and we'll bring another one in his place. Pedro was suspended tonight and Noni's performance was top."

3) On Cucurella's performance:

"Cucurella was top on and off the ball, together with the other 10. We are delighted with Marc's performance tonight."

4) On whether the players have a discipline issue...

"No, I said many times, we can do many things better, the way to manage some moments. Probably it is one of the moments we can improve."

5) On the bench - and why it was full of kids...

"We had Joao and Romeo that can probably be available for the next one. Carney was ill, Chilly was ill, Pedro was suspended. Then we have Reece and Wes injured. Unfortunately Benoit felt something. This is the situation. And Misha."

His comment on why we are not title contenders is so on point. That is reassuring tbh.

However , I think being in the title race is very different concept than being realistic title challengers.

The fact that we are second means we are in the title race, but for many reasons, including those mentioned by Maresca, we are not title challengers.

Felix, Lavia, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell, Neto, Badiashile, Mudryk, James & Fofana all unavailable for one reason or another. He didn’t mention Casadei

Casadei is our 5th maybe 6th choice CM who is probably going to be offloaded in January, I am not surprised he slipped Maresca's mind.

As for the others - if I have understood Maresca correctly Felix and Lavia are likely available for Everton away. Plus Neto's back after suspension.

The others it's less clear.

Champions league places are the priority

7 points from city now

Fantastic from everyone. A title challenge is fun but the champions league is the main target.

Watching Everton today, they will cause us problems, they will sit deep and break forward

But crikey another win next week would be immense

Martin sacked

Blimey, just seen the fixtures

Next weekend

Some banana skins for everyone

IF we want to fight for the PL title the January transfer window is right around the corner, sign a top CB if we have the funds.

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 19 minutes ago
Martin sacked
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when he walked back to the tunnel before HT I was expecting him not to come back out again

comment by ＴＬＬＬ (U4640)
posted 5 minutes ago
IF we want to fight for the PL title the January transfer window is right around the corner, sign a top CB if we have the funds.
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Need more than that, but agree with the principle. Would also need a top class keeper and striker.

Chelsea have lost 3 games since Feb 4th 2024.

Arsenal away, City at home and Liverpool away

was disappointed how Tosin committed himself for the goal. If he'd tried to catch up with Mbuemo he might have been able to block the shot or something. Rather than giving him a clear 1 on 1 by taking the riskier approach.

I feel like when 2 goals up you need to take the more cautious approach with these decisions. The game should be done and the priority is not giving them a reason to believe otherwise.

PL games that is.

shame we couldn't play City during their disaster period

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 1 minute ago
Chelsea have lost 3 games since Feb 4th 2024.

Arsenal away, City at home and Liverpool away
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wow

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by ＴＬＬＬ (U4640)
posted 5 minutes ago
IF we want to fight for the PL title the January transfer window is right around the corner, sign a top CB if we have the funds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Need more than that, but agree with the principle. Would also need a top class keeper and striker.



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Keeper and CB yes - striker, increasingly less convinced that's the case, Jackson keeps impressing me.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
was disappointed how Tosin committed himself for the goal. If he'd tried to catch up with Mbuemo he might have been able to block the shot or something. Rather than giving him a clear 1 on 1 by taking the riskier approach.

I feel like when 2 goals up you need to take the more cautious approach with these decisions. The game should be done and the priority is not giving them a reason to believe otherwise.
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We are the youngest squad in the PL and still lack real leaders on the pitch. We are going to continue to struggle on seeing out games for another season or two.

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by ＴＬＬＬ (U4640)
posted 5 minutes ago
IF we want to fight for the PL title the January transfer window is right around the corner, sign a top CB if we have the funds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Need more than that, but agree with the principle. Would also need a top class keeper and striker.



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Keeper and CB yes - striker, increasingly less convinced that's the case, Jackson keeps impressing me.
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In those key games, when you get the one chance, he is not the man. Not yet anyway.

yeah Jackson isn't world class but I think the decision to stick with him has paid off, instead of splashing out over the summer. At least we also have Nkunku as an option.

I guess Gyokeres will join Utd this summer.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted about a minute ago
yeah Jackson isn't world class but I think the decision to stick with him has paid off, instead of splashing out over the summer. At least we also have Nkunku as an option.

I guess Gyokeres will join Utd this summer.
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I can see Liverpool trying to get him

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
was disappointed how Tosin committed himself for the goal. If he'd tried to catch up with Mbuemo he might have been able to block the shot or something. Rather than giving him a clear 1 on 1 by taking the riskier approach.

I feel like when 2 goals up you need to take the more cautious approach with these decisions. The game should be done and the priority is not giving them a reason to believe otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We are the youngest squad in the PL and still lack real leaders on the pitch. We are going to continue to struggle on seeing out games for another season or two.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I mean last season I blamed Poch for not being extra clear with his instructions in these situations, instead of relying on the naive players to figure it out themselves.

I wonder if Maresca can do more here too. In terms of general tactical setup, he's been doing a good job. But these are more situation specific tactics. At least he commented on the point about conceding from a throw though, so hopefully he'll try harder to get the message across.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
was disappointed how Tosin committed himself for the goal. If he'd tried to catch up with Mbuemo he might have been able to block the shot or something. Rather than giving him a clear 1 on 1 by taking the riskier approach.

I feel like when 2 goals up you need to take the more cautious approach with these decisions. The game should be done and the priority is not giving them a reason to believe otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We are the youngest squad in the PL and still lack real leaders on the pitch. We are going to continue to struggle on seeing out games for another season or two.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I mean last season I blamed Poch for not being extra clear with his instructions in these situations, instead of relying on the naive players to figure it out themselves.

I wonder if Maresca can do more here too. In terms of general tactical setup, he's been doing a good job. But these are more situation specific tactics. At least he commented on the point about conceding from a throw though, so hopefully he'll try harder to get the message across.
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I think we had this debate before and agreed to disagree, For me, I think it takes time for players to mature and we must be patient. The manager has identified it as a weakness, hence why he says we are not title contenders. He knows it takes time.

I am curious to see how Maresca approaches rotation of the squad over Christmas. He's done brilliantly with the whole A and B team thing but won't have that luxury of that over Christmas.

Once Shamrock Rovers is over (where I expect us to play a C team) we have 4 PL games over 12 days where we'll need the best team we can put on the pitch for each game.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted 5 minutes ago

yeah Jackson isn't world class but I think the decision to stick with him has paid off, instead of splashing out over the summer. At least we also have Nkunku as an option.

I guess Gyokeres will join Utd this summer.
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Going by his performances last season, prioritizing him this season was a calculated risk worth taking. So was Werner & we didn't take that risk, and just so happens wound up with two failures.

I'm still very proud of the club (and surprised) for not blinking on Osimhen. It would've been hard given how important getting Champions League is for us this season but it was the correct decision