Lopetegui (sacked 8.1.2025)

[maverick180]

I was thoroughly looking forward to the start of this season

Was also prepared that things might take some time and wasn't expecting miracles over night What I didn't expect was a manager who after spending 6 weeks with the total dross he'd been left by Moyes would deem them fit to start in a premier league game And low and behold all of them played absolute shit

We're now 1 game in and none of our new players are any closer to bedding in or learning anything from their new team mates cos they barely spent a second on the pitch, half of them not at all I think it's gonna take somewhere between 6-10 games before we see the team anyone with an ounce of sense would play cos this bloke can't identify shit when he see's it I thought we was handed a miracle at half time when we went in level and low and behold he changed nothing I'm sure people are gonna make excuses for him and say it's too early to judge

But from what I've just seen today, this cսnt is David Moyes in a mission impossible mask

[Manuel]

This forum is completely obsessed with talking about players positions, it never fucking stops. They all played in their ''best positions'' against Chelsea REMEMBER?? We were shit and lost 0-3. Jeez. Change the record.

[Rossal]

Put your best player in his best position 

Play Kudus wide right, and Summerville on the left. Play Bowen through the middle and if he continues to be shit then drop him. Same for Paqueta, play him alongside Alvarez and if he continues to be shit give Orford a chance. 

Fed up of watching shit square pegs in round holes every week 

[stubbo-admin]

As a club we're not really in a position to alienate Kudus.  Our whole transfer policy is likely predicated on being able to sell a big name periodically.

At the moment (arguably not now) we have two highly valued stars that we would likely sell....Kudus and Paqueta.

All the signs are that Paqueta will soon have a value of zero.  Which leaves Kudus. 

The plan is likely to try and get 85m for him to bankroll spending next summer, with players like Summerville, Todibo and eventually Guilerme to then take on the saleable asset role over the coming seasons.

We've obviously dropped a massive bollock here in not getting Duran, who has gone from a 35m talent, to the real-deal 100m asset that you'd have to be a top Champions League club to get out of Villa.

So Lopetegui may well be right in that Kudus has been playing brainlessly, but he's also arguably our most talented player, most saleable high value asset, and has always been a quiet grafter.  Maybe the fame has got to him a little, maybe the slow start has affected him....but it's then the manager's job to turn that around in the interests of the team and the club (as we're not a club that can write off our best player and not suffer for it).

Backing the likes of Antonio and Soucek, as opposed to finding the ways to get Kudus firing at 100% is a fools errand by the manager.

At this point I think Lopetegui is gone by the end of October, as it wouldn't take a lot for him to make his position untenable.

[zico]

Must confess last year I thought Kudus could do a good job on the left with pace and power driving to the line and pulling crosses back for an incoming Soucek. Most Clubs would probably love a natural left footer but modern football seems to have drilled into wide attackers that they have to cut inside and contribute goals and Kudus keeps cutting inside onto what it his weaker foot. He is clearly not happy out there but if it's that or the bench he may as well knuckle down and make the best of it.

[Takashi Miike]

do you watch the games? clearly fucking not. he hasn't looked happy playing wide left. neither did vlasic, fornals, paqueta and now kudus but if that's the only position available because every fucking manager has an obsession with picking tomas soucek, then either accept that and appreciate being in the team or continue to sulk and shit the bed as the team continues to struggle. if he feels that strongly about playing there, then yes, hand in a transfer request but that would cost the cսnt and his agent money so instead we'll continue getting this choreographed targeting of the manager by Sullivan's ITK glove puppets like the cսnt Ex & Whetstone

[threesixty]

Kudus is a low key guy from Ghana. I doubt he's kicking off in the dressing room and jumping on planes the next morning lol. Transfer request in October, in 2024?? Who does that? Sounds like bollocks.

It's a well paid job. Loppy has made it clear that the players are under his charge and he gets to sub/pick/drop whoever at any time as ultimately its his job on the line, not theirs if it doesnt work.
He owns up to his mistakes and doesnt seem to blame players personally and def not publicly. He ask admits changes are just strategic generally and not due to players performing badly or not putting in effort.

The issue with our team is that Moyes valued individual brilliance rather than team play. And that got us far but then became limiting. The transition is to make the team be more reliant on style and setup rather than individuals. I dont think that suits Kudus/Paq/Bowen as much. But it should protect our team going forward if we aren't reliant on individuals having an amazing game.

 

[Takashi Miike]

his (kudus) body language during games has been terrible for a few games now, and I've said a few times he's wasted wide left but if that's where the manager wants you just make the best of it. as long as soucek is seen as a starter, they'll always be an odd man out chucked in to that graveyard position. jimmy two years ago, paqueta last year and now kudus. get the fuck on with it, or hand in a transfer request

[,]

At the end of the day we succeed as a team. If anyone in the squad has a gripe with the manager he should not let it affect the teams performance because  the individual owes that to his colleagues.

[Manuel]

I get the impression that Lope doesn't do personal man management very well. If it was me I would be telling Bowen, Paqueta and Kudus in private that they are the main man. Put an arm round them and tell them they are our most important player. That's what Paqueta and Kudus need. Not Bowen so much. But the other two need love and attention. It's all well and good being Mr Tough and telling them there is 'No I in Team' but sometimes you have to be cute and subtle. I don't think Lope is capable of that. 

Mmmm, a bit cliched, you think the old arm around the shoulder, Redknapp style, and all will be well and Paqueta will then start passing the ball to a team mate? Moyes never did that. Anyway, we're all just guessing here.

[Russ of the BML]

I get the impression that Lope doesn't do personal man management very well. If it was me I would be telling Bowen, Paqueta and Kudus in private that they are the main man. Put an arm round them and tell them they are our most important player. That's what Paqueta and Kudus need. Not Bowen so much. But the other two need love and attention. It's all well and good being Mr Tough and telling them there is 'No I in Team' but sometimes you have to be cute and subtle. I don't think Lope is capable of that. 

[Manuel]

Maybe Lop will still prove to be the right man in time. I don't have a problem with him pulling up cunts who now think they are Louis Figo on the back of a dozen good games, Paqueta can fuck off as well the hopeless cսnt, but obviously there can be a downside to that with the modern day player. Clearly there are problems behind the scenes and we may find out more later in the week.

[Lee Trundle]

I wonder if all this is true, which direction Sullivan will take?

Will he listen to the football people he's employed to make football decisions, or will he be stubborn and continue to think Lopetegui is the right man for the job because he was his pick?

[THUNDERCLINT]

Told you yesterday that he'd alienated Kudus before this broke but didn't want to be more specific. Now yhe dam has cracked might as well get into it. Kudus dropped a transfer request Saturday night and was leaving the country Sunday morning adamant he'd not play for us again. Lopetegui directly insulted hin and the players were gobsmacked, particularly Paqueta who was the first to speak up. Stieden, to his credit has been talking to Kudus non stop trying to resolve it. Lopetegui didn't have a great relationship with the players anyway but this has destroyed it He has to go.

[goose]

It would be nice to go a week or two without some kind of story about internal squabbling.

[Lee Trundle]

I'd be looking a the manager, rather than searching around all day at reasons why Kudus might be pissed off.

He isn't the only one.

[Sir Alf]

Forgot to add, Kudus has had the exact same criticism playing for Ghana. Primma donna ?

[Sir Alf]

Kudus changed his agent to a family member didnt he?  Its got that Ravel Morrison, Reece Oxford, Arnautovic, Onana feel with agent telling him he’s too good for West Ham?

He’s in 2nd season syndrome too with teams now aware of him, stop him running by doubling or tripling up the marking. But he’s playing for himself, not getting his head up, holding onto it far too long, getting dispossed countless times. Sure he’s less happy on the left but he’s been greedy and largely ineffective wherever deployed for some while now.  Play for the team, modify your game, look to improve rather than think ur already the finished article.

Shame but we’ll be lucky to £85 mill for him if he doesnt show some emotional intelligence or get the right advice and if his agent is now a family member the chance of realising “it aint all about him” seems low 

[Fauxstralian]

The amusing thing about the goal at Brentford is that Paqueta fights for the ball on the left sideline moves forward and raps a pass into Bowen
Bowen creates confusion with a clever back heel
The ball falls to Antonio who mishits his shot horribly (surprised?) & the ball falls to Soucek who finishes
So Antonio gets the assist rather than the other two 
Believe that’s 100 goals + assists for Antonio now

[Lee Trundle]

I recon Kudus is the perfect player for the headless chicken, pinball tactics were seen to employ.

Strange he's singled him out.
 

[Takashi Miike]

Sullivan, with his hand up ExWhu's backside saying........

 

[stubbo-admin]

ExWHU saying a 'disconnect' developed between the manager and 'someone in the backroom staff with a potentially cult following'. Sounds like Steidten to me.  Hard to suggest anyone else in the backrooms staff has a cult following.

In fairness to Lopetegui, he's clearly a man of his own principles who expects certain things and rightly so. 

Also suggested that the team was changed by JL right at the last minute before Brentford, with Summerville de-selected as one of the players to be changed.

 

[onsideman]

To many times Kudus, Paqueta and Antonio attempted the miracle pass, the worldie shot, or the speculative punt, surrendered possession and put us back on the defensive. 
 

The other two have no excuse but,  for Antonio, even the simplest pass is miraculous, getting the easiest shot on target becomes a worldie and pretty much everything is speculative.

[Manuel]

Fair enough point, falling out with your best players and showing 'who's boss' is most certainly something that could backfire, but we accused Moyes of having his favourites, so it's a tough balance.

[ironsofcanada]

Not a great watch yet.

Always believe in some patience but there are some not great signs. 

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

"Could you ever imagine someone at Man City trying the womder-passes or 1 in 50 shots they were trying? The style he is instilling is predicated on treating possession as precious, so if there isn't a clear opening, recycle it, keep moving other team around, until a defender misses their position or trigger and presents you with an opening to exploit."

"Maybe they're the wrong players for the system, but there is a system and if they dont play to the plan he's right to hook them."



 

No. but Man City wouldn't be Man City without the entire team being capable of what is demanded.

Lopetegui will not last long if he wars with our best players. They are the most capable of doing the things he needs for his side to succeed, but somehow he prefers to hook them and insist on those that can't obviously play how he wants at a level that will improve the team.

He'll destroy the teams individual qualities instead of utlising them if he carries on. If we are only as strong as our weakest player, our team is less than our best.