The pools need to go

I want to pick my opponent. At least let us play standard time controls and see the challenges.

Do you not use the lobby feature? You can pick your opponent if you desire to do so.

Apologies if that is not particularly what you were referring to.

lmao

There aren't pools on lichess. Shortcut buttons are not pools. And you can just click the lobby tab to choose your time control and opponents.

@PhillipTheTank
Actually there is a chess variant called "Pool Chess". I am not sure if this variant is currently available on lichess.
http://www.chessvariants.com/diffmove.dir/poolchess.html

@GMScuzzBall If you are referring to the Quick Pairing, you can switch tabs to go to the Lobby and make your own time control or select someone else's. That has always been an option.