Can he survive?

[South Coast White]

So, with 2 very difficult games ahead against Liverpool and Utd which we cannot realistically expect any points, based on current form, how many points against the 3 promoted teams following do we expect, and more importantly, how many points does Arbeloa need to survive at head coach.
Personally I think he needs to win 2 of those 3 to keep his job.

[WindyCity]

You might say that I'm a simple country boy, a cockeyed optimist, much like Billy Mumphrey, but I'm not writing off the next two games as zero sum outcomes.  I remain hopeful.  FFC has good players in this team, and if defense can be sorted, ya just never know.  Had a week to prepare for Saturday ko, let's see how the game plays out.

But yes, the following three games v newly promoted clubs will be huge!

[Jim©]

How many points does he need? Around 36 would be my guess. I hope that the powers that be don't knee jerk as quickly as some fans do. The signs are positive and we've got some good players still to integrate into the side.

[South Coast White]

How many points does he need? Around 36 would be my guess. I hope that the powers that be don't knee jerk as quickly as some fans do. The signs are positive and we've got some good players still to integrate into the side.

Agree we have got good player and will score goals, but defensively we are way too poor and tactics are very questionable. We have to play deeper and cover the flanks on transition which he has failed to do in every match so far.

[Jim©]

tactics are very questionable

 I think the tactics need tweaking, not ripping up and starting again. He's not silly, he's a UEFA qualified coach that pulled off some impressive tactics to defeat Benfica, Man City, Monaco 6-1. 
 

[JimmyConway]

Think it might be a case of any losses will be seen as the manner of the defeat!
If after say 8 games we are around 4 points or less then that has got to be a big concern for the club. You would like to think after two spectacular relegations from this division previously they might be a tad more clued up this time? I think/hope he can turn it around but the worrying part is do you have confidence that these owners won't sleepwalk into another disastrous campaign? Blind loyalty won't mean nothing in the Championship?

[Donnie Lonegan]

All this talk of Arbeloa getting sacked is doing my head in. We hardly ever beat Chelsea, Sunderland away is a tough fixture for any team, and Crystal Palace just always seem to have our number. I'm sick to death of all these people saying his job might be in danger after 3 games. Give him 20 games absolute minimum, then see where we are.

[South Coast White]

All this talk of Arbeloa getting sacked is doing my head in. We hardly ever beat Chelsea, Sunderland away is a tough fixture for any team, and Crystal Palace just always seem to have our number. I'm sick to death of all these people saying his job might be in danger after 3 games. Give him 20 games absolute minimum, then see where we are.

20 games

[Andy S]

Yes you are right. I'm not in favour of sacking the manager this early in the season either

[fulhamfever]

Think he will survive just need to work on how to fix a defence.

[john dempsey]

Really hope he survives and thrives.
Why would any other fan of FFC want otherwise,

[Twig]

Of course I want him to survive because that would imply that at some point he has turned the results around.  Am I optimistic? Not especially, I need to see a bit of pragmatism that has been sorely missing thus far. Whilst I don't expect anything from Liverpool (and against Man U a point would be good), I do need to see him adapt his tactics and team selection.

[Luka]

Under Marco we could have played both these sides and conceded a cricket score. I have never expected to get anything other than a battering at Liverpool and United at home is always a very tough test.

I hope AA gets a run of games before his judgement day.

[Trusty Steed]

As someone else has posted before, AA isn't an idiot, he knows the issues. It was always going to be slower start, the whole dynamic of the team has changed. It's natural to have concerns, but his press conference yesterday has somewhat assured me slightly.
If we happen to lose today, it's the manner in which we lost that will interest me.
If it's a close game, then we just need to tweak things.

[Moonraker]

All this talk of Arbeloa getting sacked is doing my head in. We hardly ever beat Chelsea, Sunderland away is a tough fixture for any team, and Crystal Palace just always seem to have our number. I'm sick to death of all these people saying his job might be in danger after 3 games. Give him 20 games absolute minimum, then see where we are.

I agree 100%

[F(f)CUK]

From today's game I just want a professional defensive performance. If we try to attack with 7-8 players then we might as well give in.

I can take us defending well and losing 1-0.

[cookieg]

All this talk of Arbeloa getting sacked is doing my head in. We hardly ever beat Chelsea, Sunderland away is a tough fixture for any team, and Crystal Palace just always seem to have our number. I'm sick to death of all these people saying his job might be in danger after 3 games. Give him 20 games absolute minimum, then see where we are.

You might as well give home the whole season if you are going to give home 20 games. If SK was to pull the trigger he'd do it before the window but I doubt that would happen in any event.