11 Nov 2026 10:13:31
EbW, the Sunderland game was the worst so far as regards, player performance, ion and tactics. Every man and his dog knew Sunderland would play a low block and use Brobbery to bully our weak CBs. Fofana has been rightly called out for his poor performances but Colwill has just been marginally better. He is living on his "potential " it's about time he lived up to it.
You are are also right about Alonso being decisive which is good, as long as you back it up with results. Clearly, he doesn't trust certain players. On the other hand, he seems to want to show in certain out of position ; Neto being the prime example; no way should he start as a false nine.
So far I would give Alonso a very generous 6/10. It's early days but things must change. We are very lucky to be close to the top four.
11 Nov 2026 21:08:49
Jimbo, Alonso is currently out of his depth and was yet another poor appointment but I think we need to give him time to work, maybe 2 seasons. He did well in the German farmers league challenging and beating Munich but was exposed at Madrid.
He is 3/10 at the moment. Our player recruitment is actually pretty good but our manager appointment is terrible. And who decided Poch and Maresca had to go? madness.
12 Nov 2026 14:14:15
We've certainly recruited some good players EbW but under the new owners we've not allowed a manager - but may be this changes with Alonso - sufficient time or say in building a complete team/squad that is sufficiently strong in every position to challenge for the EPL or ECL.
Some of this is about not sufficient talent but there is also the matter of tehemuch spoken about in recent times mentality of tehnplayers - is it strong enough? Even with on their day supoerb players like Palmer and Rogers there seems tio be too many occasions when their form dip and/or they make too little impact on a game. Only in his frst season did Palmer mote often than not produce his best form. Rogers, a very big money signing, has had some wonderful moments and clearly has great talent, but also seems to lack impact in some games. I think part of the reason us that when Pedro is not playing they have no focal point up front t play off and with, and there is no back up striker for us of sufficient quality to play the Pedro role well enough in his absence.
There is also the matter of the continual problem of a weak defense with no commading figure there as we had with a Terry or Thiago S.
Likewise with Reece James past his best as a RB and with Cucurella sold we are not as strong as we could or should be in thsoe positions, though I think Pep C has dne pretty well at LWB and Neto as a makeshift RWB. Josh perhaps the best of a curent crop of CBs.
Palestra surely has potential, we know Estevao has, Penders too I'd think and Hato (injured? ).Quenda and Emegha possibly too. LC could get back to his best, Anselmino may be good.
But only Caicedo, Pedro and- when fit as he is now - Lavia look to me to be consistently top quality, with Neto close to being as consistent when played in position (RW or RWB) and Palmer and Rogers (on their day!).
I amy have missed some out or been a bit hasrh, but I still think our squad - or petrhaps because of early stage so many of our players are still at in their development - cannot match Arsenal's or City's or CFC squads of much of the Abramovitch era (esp early RA era).
12 Nov 2026 14:58:07
You make some good points JBS but I still think we have a very good starting 11 if everyone is fit and I also think we have some brilliant academy players coming through. What we need is that layer in between to be upgraded.
If all were fit this 11 would challenge.(3-4-2-1)
Penders
James
Achempong
Lacroix
Pep
Lavia
Caicedo
Rogers
Palmer
Estevao
Pedro.
13 Nov 2026 04:49:23
I think it is an overstatement to say that he failed at RM and was exposed. At the time of his sacking, he had a win rate of over 70% in all competitions. He got sacked because of player power, not because he was failing at the job.
13 Nov 2026 09:39:07
Agree re Alonso's fate at RM Dracred.
Yes EbW I think that your lne up looks very competitive if - and I'm afraid it's a big if - all our fit on form and available. Though am not sure that Reece still has the legs to bomb up and down as a RB as he did so very well when younger and before his string of injuries?