Vegetable

Weird thing to say, especially given current scandals in football.

The window have shown why we didn't - Enrique, Nagelsmann, Spaletti, Conte etc are not on the level of being sold into idea of toying with U23 team. So it was down to Poch or Mourinho I guess, as Lampard was (perhaps fortunately) blocked by fans outrage. It was hard to understand what is going on, but from time's perspective it's pretty clear imo.

I'd say people are bit over pessimistic here or just carried away by emotions; What are we expecting really? If we wanted to push for result, Tuchel should never be sacked. People were justifying Poch instead of Nags, because he knows how to work with players and develop them long-term. All our new players were at best decent-ish in much easier leagues or had a short, bright shot (Enzo, Jackson) but aren't anywhere near proven footballers. If we have like 22 "potential" players, if 3-4 of them will turn world class in the span of 2 years, it will realistically be a success. Some of those players have actually yet to learn even playing football at the PL level of performance and it won't happen after 10 training sessions. The only thing I could be blame Poch for rn is that our biggest issue is still there - it's not like those players look very "hungry" or fighting fot the badge, bar maybe Gallagher, but his killer cardio performances don't translate much to football itself yet, unfortunately, but I do allow the possibility that the club is still a shitshow behind the scenes and offloading Mount won't fix it. I do not like that since TT sacking owners clearly decided not to pursue the step up we needed from 5th to 3rd, but to downgrade, dismantle and someday rebuild the club, but it's clear that it is their decision, so no surprises seeing results like this. The only way to turn it over soon is the players miraculously getting some crazy morale boost trip and pull of something like Leicester campaign or the infamous Ted Lasso stuff, but the thing is it's even more difficult, as we have zero experience and zero world star players. Richmond had Zava at least.

I'm not even sure if I have any strong opinion on either the manager or the team itself personally. I hate trusting the process, but at the moment I don't trust anyone and anything really - Poch was laughed off here for years as the notorious loser. He had a chance to show off with PSG, but they have their own issues. He had a chance to show off with better team here, but we have wiped out the entire team since his arrival. I think he deserves at least 1/3 of what Potter had to tinker around, as we are literally playing the junior team, something I only ever heard relegation teams doing for last bit of season so far, and I'm not sure, despite their cost, that those guys are winning PL this year. Thing is, that we all knew, watching the "rebuilding", it will be a painful season and we will be terrible for a bit. Yet we deeply wanted to believe we are wrong and somehow things will go against the logic, but they aren't and here we are frustrated that things are exactly as we thought they will be. At the moment, I'm hoping we will get the traction before the new year tbh.

It was said here before and I quite agree with it, that the days of manager picking players are over, so no reason to think that Poch picked his favorite FM wonderkids and club paid 500 million for them. We got those 3 (and then 2) directors, data analysts and owners still having some say precisely to avoid the situation of managers picking players and then managers being sacked and club left with random players. Whether it works or not is another thing, but I guess Poch is being consulted about targets at best. It may be some collective work there, but I'm quite sure it's not like it was under Roman anymore. The wave of random youth is 100% corporate idea that Poch was publicly surprised with few times already.

To an extent. He was quite vocal publicly, that is quite high on corporate escalation ladder, about wanting some experienced players in the mix and he haven't gotten shit. I can't say I'm 100% convinced with any of our transfers, but while I hope for Jackson or Caicedo, who is terrible atm, to turn out good, I feel like Mudryk, Noni and Sanchez are quite sketchy moves that will burn us if they won't magically step up, and won't do it fast

Yeah, he stands out positively. Too bad we managed to be put under constant pressure by Forest, guess it should go the other way.

No point for Chillwell to run into ST position, same dud as in previous game

So, have we given up on the shirt sponsor thing at all? Another blank canvas game…

Well, can't really bash the clearly unwanted player on high and long contract for being okay with leaving, instead of kicking a fuss and running his contract down 👀

Our relation with Bayern is all talk no action since a long time. They don't like paying, especially if it's paying us.

You can finalize some stuff on deadline day, but improvising something sensible from scratch is hardly possible - the sales were bit of a fringe thing anyway, so not much surprised. We will probably still offload someone to Turkey.

Club tried to toss him, but I have no problem with him personally - he looks more like guy eager to fight for his place, than going full Bogarte, so he won't hurt to have around. And the FFP thing, well, too bad, maybe one shouldn't buy army of random players for 100 million each if they are so worried about it.

Yeah, incredible downfall, can't not feel pity for the guy. But let's not forget he had his part in it. Very Hazard-esque mentality, not the most intense worker, he considered himself baller before he actually had something to back it up and then ill fate came knocking with the injury. Always seemed to rely more on talent, than training and it looked like he had given up after this injury. AND I will never forget that when things were well and Bayern came to troll us he or rather his team that was his family actually pretty much sided with them to hold us hostage. Disqualified himself in my eyes back then, so he won't be missed.

It will be interesting if Palmer will end up providing the most of actual output of all our recent transfers, seeming a rather random move.

Yeah, stating the obvious is one thing, resisting the pressure, including from above and making it out unscuffed is another thing.

The Sun? C'mon, United finds Cucurella essential to their freaking Carobao Cup campaign? Their own academy will do just fine.

Is there even any paper evidence of it? People constantly claim that it was Tuchel's buy, but I totally can't recall anything like it; Sure, he made some snarky comments about us needing a goalscoring striker and perhaps even laid it out to the board that either they get an elite player or we are doomed and it was like quick, one day shopping trip when Marina went to the shop and bought the most expensive thing to prove a point (and tbf, there was NOTHING available on the market back then). Sure, he said it's great to have him here etc. AFTER we bought him, because what was he supposed to say? Tuchel was rather indifferent to transfers and it led to his first falling apart with Clearlake, so why would he push for Lukaku in particular, knowing he will destroy his system and will be playing outside the tactic at all times?

I think it's quite obvious this deal gone too far, especially given he was the plan B, but neither of plans a, b or c were very impressive and we seemed to have no other backup idea. Him and Enzo may turn out very good quality players, but they would have to become the hall of fame level for those pricetag to be justifiable with "it was worth it".

I want to believe they are going there to do some happy yes-man stuff, congratulate the team and go. If it's anything else, I can see Poch jesttisoning from here before the season ends.

That's true, especially that without Europe I suppose there will be bit more pressure to stay in cups as long as possible and ideally win something, even if it's the mighty Carobao Cup

Cucu is a regular (unfortunately), Maatsen was supposed to be evaluated as 1st team, Madueke is supposed to be a default winger of what I understand, Gusto is a starter atm, Jackson is a starter, Enzo is Enzo, Caicedo barely licked the game, but he was there. And we got a hold of a game when they were subbed in. Not quite what I would expect to see in early rounds of Carobao cup tbh. Moreiro, Burstow and Ugocchukwu were more at their place there.

So, we have scraped a win over League Two opposition thanks to their brainfart, playing pretty much our first team? Nice.

I know it's angled recording of tv on the wall, but how the hell is that a penalty? Wimbledon player pretty much ran into Sanchez making a save.

I have way more tolerance than previous season, but god damn, putting this kind of performance needs to be seriously questioned, if the team won't have enough decency to question themselves. Young squad or not, this is not an accidental cockup, that's the new standard. Unacceptable. And things like even further (!) downgrading our keeper situation are starting to bite, who would expect this. We are fielding pretty much first-ish squad here.