18 Sep 2025 10:17:16
Would we have come away from last nights game with a win under Nuno? Possibly.
Would we have learnt anything? Doubt it.
Would we be looking at players being burnt out in the next couple of weeks? Definitely.
Why? Because Nuno would have played his usual favourite starting eleven.
Nuno has been found out in the Premier league, just look at our recent form, its absolutely terrible. We had a small squad last season and over reliance on certain players contributed to their poor form going into the last month or so of the season. Then he persisted in the same vain into this season.
Nuno complained about not having cover across the pitch, Mr M invested close to a quarter of a billion for him.
Oh and Nuno collected around eight million after negotiating a new deal before manufacturing his own downfall which i suspect was due to the pressure and reality of having to work with a bigger more talented squad.
Now don't get me wrong, i'm a big fan of Nuno. I believe he was our best manager since Frank Clark.
Ange has been given the reins and has had one whole week to lift a squad that's been in relegation form for months. First task after one whole training session Arsenal away, mission impossible if you ask me. Then Swansea away last night, wholesale changes and a first run out for many of our new very young and English football wise inexperienced players. First half was impressive and second absolutely dyer. Could definitely see different patterns of play in our build ups and Jesus looked great.
I have a feeling that for premier and big European games Ange will stick to the tried and trusted trinity of the block, Sels Milenkovic and Murillo.
Ange has had a week in the job and now has had a good look at everyone, something i doubt would have happened under Nuno.
Give the Aussie a chance and get behind him, big Mr M clearly trusts him and therefore so should we. ?.
18 Sep 2025 10:44:05
As long as Ange doesn't say any harsh words about Marinakis he will be alright.
18 Sep 2025 11:02:46
If being found out means finishing 7th and qualifying for Europe and reaching an FA cup semi final I'd settle for all our managers being found out.
18 Sep 2025 11:06:35
Should have been top four, not seventh Fred and the semi was there to be won. What ifs and maybes. ?.
18 Sep 2025 11:16:17
Last fifteen games under Nuno including pre season.
Played 15
Won 3
Draws 6
Lost 6
Not exactly inspiring ?.
18 Sep 2025 11:16:54
Lol hiw can you blame nuno wasn't in charge. ange had a full squad to choose from and do it is way against a championship team. he made wrong decision bringing subs on 2 nil up and lose 3-2 against poxy Swansea Burnley rubbing there hands together ange no clue about defense simple bring back nuno.
18 Sep 2025 11:20:13
Good assessment of things winter
Deffo a game of two halves last night.
18 Sep 2025 11:21:15
We will see the true value of Nuno over the next few months for sure. His Leadership skills worked wonders within his set parameters. 8 million - can't buy a decent player for that!
Signing so many players at once and preying it comes together on the night - If only it was that easy!
Teamwork / togetherness starts from the top man to the kit man. If all on the same page, might have a fighting chance.
18 Sep 2025 11:24:25
Have you considered its the players that were found out as well as the manager?
Everything is there to be won but you can't win them all.
Those 4 points from the first 2 games could come in very handy.
18 Sep 2025 11:28:31
Skegs you plonker read it properly i'm not blaming Nuno for last nights result. ?.
18 Sep 2025 11:31:51
Pre-season ?. Doesn't matter a jot.
Cherry picking at its finest again.
18 Sep 2025 11:34:32
Also you have to remember a lot of these players arrived after pre season so without cup games Nuno or Ange wouldn't have had a chance to see what their all about. ?.
18 Sep 2025 11:45:33
Fred of course i cherry picked those games? proving my point to the maximum ??.
18 Sep 2025 11:48:14
Skegs again? Is it the same Skegvegas that I apparently am? Or is it a different one? DTP might need to clear this one up.
18 Sep 2025 11:48:32
There's a lot of great players in this squad bakwa last night was brilliant Jesus going to be class I just hope he has a rough idea already who is first 11 are mgw be gone at Xmas hopefully and have always said before we bought him sangare not good enough ange as probably 6 weeks to sort it.
18 Sep 2025 11:53:58
RedRobinhood - Agreed - How many signings were made after pre season and prior deadline day? Too many if wanted to hit the ground running.
So the cup match were always likely to be a difficult challenge if throwing all the new players together for the first time in a competitive match. Reminds me of the cooper days.
The positive on signing so many players at once is we should have enough players to be able to play a match against each other in training, with cover for each position.
18 Sep 2025 12:02:30
So let me get this correct BSR?
You want to include friendlies in your form report on our old manager.
You accept we would more likely have won with Nuno (you use the word ‘probably’)
And you say because Mr M chose Ange, you will trust him (and so should we all)? Best leave prior managerial choices off the list like MON etc, and all the countless ones he appeared to have made at Olympiakos.
Let’s hope we beat Burnley, arguably the weakest of the promoted teams. We will I think but Ange is a strange appointment, a strangely timed appointment too (after buying all the players), and this won’t be an easy ride.
18 Sep 2025 12:48:38
Sorry ‘possibly’ not ‘probably’.
18 Sep 2025 13:17:57
Very mixed opinions about last night. Finding hard to deal with giving away 2 goals in the last 3 mins of added time! Careless? Oscar Wilde would have difficulty finding a metaphor for that. Mr Slot will be anticipating our fixtures with glee!
PS Agree about Igor Jesus. Has to play against Burnley.
18 Sep 2025 13:55:56
Ange has an 18 month contract. If results do not improve by Xmas, Mr. M will pull the trigger again and bring in someone else like Silva.
18 Sep 2025 14:53:11
"Every time that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
Oh, it went by like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way? "
Great lyrics for those who canny let go?.
19 Sep 2025 13:09:05
Good post forestc.