2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[Cool_Blue]

Was back in early August that article wasn't it?

Even if it was, the observations and comments (from Ratters etc) are bang on. A common phrase you see on here is “let’s get rid of the deadwood”. Well if we somehow managed to do that, we’d have about 5 players left, that’s how bang average this squad is.

 

[BlueToff]

He clearly would have liked more players last summer, but for various reasons it didn't happen. We are still being hurt by some of Walsh players who remain at the club but now Brands players are causing the same issues.

The right back situation with Kenny was the most bizarre one of them all. CA clearly does not rate Kenny so why on earth was no replacement found. We have a director who leaves us very short every year and no manager can fully operate under that. It was exactly the same for Silva where everything was left to deadline day panic. How we operate in the transfer window sums us up as a club. Disorganised, confused and happy to settle for second best.

I agree mate.

But it does seem - from everything coming out from the club in September time - that Nkounkou had impressed so much we (as in the entire management) weren't worried about that as a priority.

So, for Carlo to not play (well, not even pick) our only back-up LB when our first choice is out is daft and on him, unless Nkounkou did pick up a mysterious knock. But given Carlo's comments about Iwobi on Friday, I think it was tactical. And that worries me because it seems like he's gone to extraordinary lengths not to play a youngster.

 

[degsy]

You raise good points but if your left-back is injured - and ours is now going to be for most of the season - then play your other left-back. That shouldn't be a debate. You play the back-up players for those roles.

If Carlo wasn't happy with Nkounkou as Digne's back-up, then we should have gone and got another left-back before the window shut.

This
Baineses retired...it wasn't a secret on unexpected...and Nkounkou arrived...they may have even briefly overlapped (no pun intended)
He is the replacement
If he's not good enough then Brands carries the can
If he is just potential, then a left sided Sidibe should've been signed, or Aarons or Cresswell or any 'kin body.

 

[Deulofeumygod]

Maybe just maybe, Carlo thought Nkounkou would be out of his depth playing against such a high pressing and energetic team and he wanted a more experienced head in like Davies, who did well and made some important tackles and interceptions.

If our finishing had been better, we would have won comfortably. We always planned to beat them on the counter and teams like Spurs would have converted their chances. We did not.

 

[Jim Hopper]

Maybe just maybe, Carlo thought Nkounkou would be out of his depth playing against such a high pressing and energetic team and he wanted a more experienced head in like Davies, who did well and made some important tackles and interceptions.

If our finishing had been better, we would have won comfortably. We always planned to beat them on the counter and teams like Spurs would have converted their chances. We did not.

Davies played right back though?

Alex Iwobi has never played left back in his career and is certainly not defensive minded. This was proven against Leeds as they annihilated him and he was then moved to the right wing and Delph put on in his place. Ancelotti made the wrong decision, he knows it.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Maybe just maybe, Carlo thought Nkounkou would be out of his depth playing against such a high pressing and energetic team and he wanted a more experienced head in like Davies, who did well and made some important tackles and interceptions.

If our finishing had been better, we would have won comfortably. We always planned to beat them on the counter and teams like Spurs would have converted their chances. We did not.

Yep, game could have gone either way, with better finishing we could have been 3 up in that first half (but equally could have been three down). This idea that we’ve been battered by Leeds Newcastle and Liverpool just isn’t correct. Southampton and United were the most disappointing games for me this season that we never really looked in them. Newcastle we went away from home with all of our top players missing and dominated possession losing to a ridiculous penalty.

 

[Zatara]

Even if it was, the observations and comments (from Ratters etc) are bang on. A common phrase you see on here is “let’s get rid of the deadwood”. Well if we somehow managed to do that, we’d have about 5 players left, that’s how bang average this squad is.

Taking it to an extreme with 5 players in the squad...

RB: Coleman
CB: Godfrey / Holgate / Branthwaite
LB: Digne / Nkounkou
CM: Allan / Doucoure / Gbamin
LF: Richarlison / Gordon
RF: James
CF: DCL / Kean


Thats a squad of 14 players which isnt too bad seeing as we'll be turning over about 12 players in the next two summer windows...

Add in 3 a summer + see a couple come up from u23s and we'll be fine...

 

[BlueToff]

Davies played right back though?

Alex Iwobi has never played left back in his career and is certainly not defensive minded. This was proven against Leeds as they annihilated him and he was then moved to the right wing and Delph put on in his place. Ancelotti made the wrong decision, he knows it.

It also negated anything that Iwobi was good at from the Fulham game.

All Iwobi did well against Fulham was get on the ball, drive and cross.

Against Leeds, he did his usual that he does on the left. Run 5/10 yards, stop and turn back.

There was no balance to the side and defensively he was caught out.

To not even have Nkounkou on the bench to bring on was daft.

there's no other explanation - Ancelotti got it wrong. It happens, but he needs to start getting it right. We've not got Digne for ages now so we have to start playing our actual only other left-back.

 

[COYBL25]

But like players, managers too decline. We’re probably Ancelotti’s last job unless he fancies the MLS or something.

@neil999

His head has detached and is now in orbit.

 

[Toffeelover]

Maybe just maybe, Carlo thought Nkounkou would be out of his depth playing against such a high pressing and energetic team and he wanted a more experienced head in like Davies, who did well and made some important tackles and interceptions.

If our finishing had been better, we would have won comfortably. We always planned to beat them on the counter and teams like Spurs would have converted their chances. We did not.

Whose to say that Niels might have been even better, we will not know now. But Davies is not exactly a good player for setting up attacks or assists is he? Niels should have been played IMO, he is an LB If Digne is out for mounths then who is going to play at LB if not Niels, Delph, Doucoure, Davies, what a load of rubbish. If Carlo is preferring more experienced players then our young guns will never get a chance.

 

[Toffeelover]

It also negated anything that Iwobi was good at from the Fulham game.

All Iwobi did well against Fulham was get on the ball, drive and cross.

Against Leeds, he did his usual that he does on the left. Run 5/10 yards, stop and turn back.

There was no balance to the side and defensively he was caught out.

To not even have Nkounkou on the bench to bring on was daft.

there's no other explanation - Ancelotti got it wrong. It happens, but he needs to start getting it right. We've not got Digne for ages now so we have to start playing our actual only other left-back.

All hinges on the other playersd around and what were the managers instructions.

 

[BlueToff]

All hinges on the other playersd around and what were the managers instructions.

Well, to an extent, but we saw how out on the right at wing-back it was pretty clear Iwobi's instructions - and he did it well - were to get the ball, drive and either cross or run towards the area.

On the left he just slipped back into old, bad habits.

If he'd have put Nkounkou there, we'd have had a) a left-footer on that side rather than three right footers (Holgate, Iwobi, Richarlison), b) natural width, c) an actual left-back

 

[DaChunk]

The stakes are high he really needs to pull off some results. If we aren't in Europe richy etc will be off.

 

[Old Blue 2]

I see the present situation as similar to when Kendall arrived as Manager.

A club with some good players, and others that need to be moved on/not good enough.

It took years for Kendall's work to come to fruition; it will take time for Ancelotti to do the same. He has started by bringing in decent players, while having to retain others of a level that we don't want because he could not run the squad down to the point where major difficulties would be encountered.

I envisage that in the January and Summer transfer windows he will obviously look to bring in more of his own style of players, while gradually removing those who do not show the necessary desire or ability for the club.

Be patient, give the man time...

 

[Lanolin]

Klipperty across the park took two years to get into the top 4 and four years to win a trophy. And he didn't inherit as awful a squad as Ancelotti did.

Patience.

They got into the top 4 in his first full season in the job. They won a trophy in his 3rd full season. So neither of those examples is right. I agree we need to be patient, but it doesn't really help if people just make up terrible examples to back up their points to be honest.