This is really quite weird. Can't remember TK ever doing anything like this. Can't think of any good reason to have done it. It's achieved precisely nothing I can discern other than perhaps cooling expectations of an imminent appointment & annoying the hell out of the fans. #ffc
I know this might sound harsh, but that was genuinely one of the biggest managerial disasterclasses I've ever seen.
This man called up 4 wingers and 3 strikers, only to bench all of them and start the opening World Cup game with a 5-3-2 that he hadn't used even once during the friendlies. He benched all of his forwards and lined up with 5 defenders and 5 midfielders against Sweden.
It gets worse. He played a defensive full-back who is basically a hybrid CB profile like Kounde for example and he played him as a wing-back, used our backup left-back, who arguably didn't even deserve a call-up, as a left centre-back, and after going 2-0 down by halftime, he didn't make a single substitution until the 72nd minute.
And when the changes finally came, they somehow made even less sense.
He brought on a central midfielder to play wing-back, and a left winger to play on the right, and then took off both of his defensive midfielders for an attacking midfielder and a striker. We literally finished the game with a double pivot made up of two number 10s.
I'm serious when I say this is the kind of squad management you wouldn't even see in FIFA Career Mode.
We've faced teams like England, Belgium, France, and Spain at World Cups before. We've always been underdogs. Yet somehow, our biggest defeat in World Cup history came against Sweden.
That alone should tell you everything you need to know about how badly this game was handled.
I know most of you probably don't care about Tunisia's tactical disasters, but I just needed to get this off my chest.
Some initial tactical thoughts watching Arbeloa's Real Madrid with #FFC in mind 🤍🇪🇸
TL:DR - Plenty of on ball dynamics which would suit our squad. A few more Qs off the ball. But honestly it feels like a high ceiling, low floor punt in a very unforgiving, physical PL
🧵 1/14
@JChants96@SebOnFootball its a complete guessing game… if we suddenly start loaning in highly rated rm youth players i think public perception will shift very quickly
@JChants96@SebOnFootball icl it’s a risky appointment considering his lack of experience but i highly doubt any of these influencers jumping the gun actually have spent significant time watching any of his rm youth teams and first team (beyond the champions league fixtures)
For anyone worrying about Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso had only managed Real Sociedad B prior to winning the league with Leverkusen unbeaten.
Give the bloke a chance before writing him off, you can’t want new ideas if you’re gonna slate the club for taking a chance. #ffc
🚨 Jose Mourinho & Florentino Perez wanted Alvaro Arbeloa to stay at Real Madrid as they really believe in his potential.
Arbeloa though decided now is the time to go become a No1 in one of Europe's top 5 leagues.
He spoke with Leverkusen, Milan & others.
⚫⚪#FFC#Arbeloa 🇪🇸
@CravenTheHunter@WhiteNoise1879 i get the 6 games things in relation to how cut throat the prem can be if you get these appointments wrong but remember iraola’s first 10 games at bournemouth ..
@chris_meegan@peterrutzler that’s willlld man, i think our equivalent expensive drinks at stadiums are usually around 8£ (11$ish dollars) for a keg pint (20oz i think?)
@rubenchavira@peterrutzler this is the equivalent of 15 quid for a bit more than a pint in the uk which at a stadium would be max like 8 quid maybe (from the tap asw not just a canned beer)
@JackCoul2@FulhamFC needed minutes in the men’s game which we just couldn’t offer last year with the pecking order i guess, one of our rcbs likely off this summer so he surely gets the chance
@cpillitere@ColBennettH4@JBrianR91@WhiteNoise1879 probably just represents this general angst at the board (which is fairly deserved) but i think as a fanbase and a club we are in an even worse position if we don’t get behind whoever is eventually brought in
All I’m seeing is negative reactions to the current manager links… What (realistic) manager options do fans actually think we should be pursuing ? #ffc#coyw@WhiteNoise1879
@cpillitere@ColBennettH4@JBrianR91@WhiteNoise1879 i know it’s no longer an option but this is what has confused me about the initial reactions to mckenna, a guy who’s been looked at by brighton and man united and apparently fans didn’t even want to try and give him a chance lol
My favourite Jimenez goal. The swivel, the strike, the power. A flash of his killer instinct in front of goal.
He arrived with fans not expecting much, but leaves having created an almighty impact. That goal against Chelsea, ice cool pens & more.
An excellent purchase #ffc
@ffccyd12@FulhamTransfer eh he ain’t getting any younger and is on huuuge wages, done a lot for us but just isn’t sustainable, we need to go for someone younger now