Cucurella being shrugged off kinda reminds of what Drogba did to defenders sometimes — there's not much you can do really.

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 36 seconds ago
Enzo in the #10 position is not ideal, but this is the first game of the season and it’s against Man City. It might not reflect the starting team going forwards.
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I am unconvinced Maresca really sees him as no10 - I think he just wanted 3 in midfield vs City.

Imagine it'll be two of Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia and KDH in the games against teams outside the top six which will be much more significant in determining our season.
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Yeah, I hope you’re right. Much prefer to see Palmer in the middle, and add Neto wide

Watching the replay of their goal, Fofana stops tracking Silva without handing him off, then Colwill leaves Haaland to take a step towards Silva, and then Cucu can’t cover round in time.

Really poor from Fofana imo.

Sanchez could’ve done better for the goal. Angle was tight and he made himself too thin

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted 24 seconds ago
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 36 seconds ago
Enzo in the #10 position is not ideal, but this is the first game of the season and it’s against Man City. It might not reflect the starting team going forwards.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I am unconvinced Maresca really sees him as no10 - I think he just wanted 3 in midfield vs City.

Imagine it'll be two of Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia and KDH in the games against teams outside the top six which will be much more significant in determining our season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, looks more like a 3 to me too. Don't really have any complaints with the line up tbh. 3 in the middle is pretty sensible against a team like city if you want to challenge them for possession

Sturridge literally calling Jackson stupid. Can’t argue with that

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted 24 seconds ago
Sanchez could’ve done better for the goal. Angle was tight and he made himself too thin
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sanchez is just not good enough - it's the one part of the team you can't put a positive spin on it. I think like with Petrovic last season, Maresca will eventually get fed up and play Jorgensen there.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
Sturridge literally calling Jackson stupid. Can’t argue with that
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You really can when the person saying it really has no ground to stand on. Sturbridge isn’t the brightest bulb.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
Racism aside, why is Enzo starting as a 10.

Literally anyone with eyes knows it’s a bad idea. How much more evidence is needed? He said he watched many of our games last season.

Is the manager just stupid or something.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This

Played last season almost the exact same setup/formation and it actually affects our attacking ability so much, Lavia, Moises and Enzo are so close they basically end up doing the work of 2 and we have massive holes in midfield and nowhere to pass the ball

We would be doing better today if we had Gallagher instead of Enzo. The non racist guy who loves the club who is valued at 1/3 of the price by the club

comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 36 seconds ago
comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted 24 seconds ago
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 36 seconds ago
Enzo in the #10 position is not ideal, but this is the first game of the season and it’s against Man City. It might not reflect the starting team going forwards.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I am unconvinced Maresca really sees him as no10 - I think he just wanted 3 in midfield vs City.

Imagine it'll be two of Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia and KDH in the games against teams outside the top six which will be much more significant in determining our season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, looks more like a 3 to me too. Don't really have any complaints with the line up tbh. 3 in the middle is pretty sensible against a team like city if you want to challenge them for possession
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Indeed - Enzo being really poor is much more of an issue for me.

Even at stuff he should be theoretically really good at - like his first touch, positioning, passing to the right player.

I don't expect him to score or make great runs in the box, but some of his errors are just basic stuff

comment by RtM (U1097)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
Sturridge literally calling Jackson stupid. Can’t argue with that
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You really can when the person saying it really has no ground to stand on. Sturbridge isn’t the brightest bulb.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Orrr if something is obvious to Sturridge then how dumb does Jackson have to be to not be able to think of it himself?

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
Sturridge literally calling Jackson stupid. Can’t argue with that
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You really can when the person saying it really has no ground to stand on. Sturbridge isn’t the brightest bulb.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Orrr if something is obvious to Sturridge then how dumb does Jackson have to be to not be able to think of it himself?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was an offside moment. It was more lazy than stupid. I understand you’re angry with…everything I think…but you’ve been going in hard on the entire organization lately. Chill bruh

Their goal was one of those where the defence doesn't cover itself in glory but there is little blame - Cucurella was covering his centre backs remember and almost got a foot in. The two centre backs may have got a foot in at some stage but just the way the ball arrives to Haaland, it's not clean really. Keeper should be diving at Haaland's feet not running out like a headless chicken but ...

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted 1 minute ago
We would be doing better today if we had Gallagher instead of Enzo. The non racist guy who loves the club who is valued at 1/3 of the price by the club
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is funny to think Gallagher probably would have done more with one of the 2-3 times Enzo found himself in City's box, and Chalobah probably wouldn't have made the error Fofana did.

comment by Eric_Draven (U20260)
posted 9 minutes ago
I actually think we grew into that. Frustrated by Jackson - nothing's changed. Frustrated by Enzo - nothing's changed.

Lavia has been very good, Cucurela and Gusto have been decent and there are signs from Nkunku too. We should not be behind imo
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Palms needs to get more involved

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted 1 minute ago
We would be doing better today if we had Gallagher instead of Enzo. The non racist guy who loves the club who is valued at 1/3 of the price by the club
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is funny to think Gallagher probably would have done more with one of the 2-3 times Enzo found himself in City's box, and Chalobah probably wouldn't have made the error Fofana did.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chalobah likely would’ve made a few more errors throughout.

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted 1 minute ago
We would be doing better today if we had Gallagher instead of Enzo. The non racist guy who loves the club who is valued at 1/3 of the price by the club
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is funny to think Gallagher probably would have done more with one of the 2-3 times Enzo found himself in City's box, and Chalobah probably wouldn't have made the error Fofana did.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don’t know about Chalobah but Gallagher 100% loved being in those attacking positions last season. Whereas Enzo has literally never been good in those scenarios.

comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Superb - The Director's Cut part deux (U6486)
posted 2 seconds ago
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 11 seconds ago
Overall we’ve been decent. Not much between us - just a great flick from Bernardo Silva is the difference. And a striker who can finish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah it's a shame we don't have a super clinical, goal machine striker like City do. It can paper over so many cracks and deficiencies.

Feel like a broken record on this though. The club seems adamant that they're not going to buy one. One day the penny might drop I suppose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jackson is actually quite solid outside the box (barring the odd brainless flick). Holds up the ball well and can carry it forward decently too. Just lacks all the instincts in front of goal of a clinical striker
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I agree, I'm not denying all of Jackson's attributes and I think he has a role to play in this squad. But the clinical first choice striker we so desperately need he is not. Certainly not yet anyway, I'm a big advocate of playing Jackson in wider attacking positions. That's where his strengths are to me.

comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 2 seconds ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
Sturridge literally calling Jackson stupid. Can’t argue with that
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You really can when the person saying it really has no ground to stand on. Sturbridge isn’t the brightest bulb.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Orrr if something is obvious to Sturridge then how dumb does Jackson have to be to not be able to think of it himself?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was an offside moment. It was more lazy than stupid. I understand you’re angry with…everything I think…but you’ve been going in hard on the entire organization lately. Chill bruh
----------------------------------------------------------------------

With Jackson - who I have a lot of time for, think there's real potential there with his pace and directness - he does get habitually lazy at watching the line and i am sure Poch and Maresca would have warned him about it.

So, I am slighlty concerned he lacks a football brain.

comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 1 second ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
Sturridge literally calling Jackson stupid. Can’t argue with that
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You really can when the person saying it really has no ground to stand on. Sturbridge isn’t the brightest bulb.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Orrr if something is obvious to Sturridge then how dumb does Jackson have to be to not be able to think of it himself?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was an offside moment. It was more lazy than stupid. I understand you’re angry with…everything I think…but you’ve been going in hard on the entire organization lately. Chill bruh
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As I have already written - a striker may only touch the ball a handful of times in 90 minutes but must be effective when he does - Jackson is not a decent striker

comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 34 seconds ago
comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted 1 minute ago
We would be doing better today if we had Gallagher instead of Enzo. The non racist guy who loves the club who is valued at 1/3 of the price by the club
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is funny to think Gallagher probably would have done more with one of the 2-3 times Enzo found himself in City's box, and Chalobah probably wouldn't have made the error Fofana did.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chalobah likely would’ve made a few more errors throughout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardly, he was one of our best players towards end of last season

comment by Superb - The Director's Cut part deux (U6486)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Superb - The Director's Cut part deux (U6486)
posted 2 seconds ago
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 11 seconds ago
Overall we’ve been decent. Not much between us - just a great flick from Bernardo Silva is the difference. And a striker who can finish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah it's a shame we don't have a super clinical, goal machine striker like City do. It can paper over so many cracks and deficiencies.

Feel like a broken record on this though. The club seems adamant that they're not going to buy one. One day the penny might drop I suppose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jackson is actually quite solid outside the box (barring the odd brainless flick). Holds up the ball well and can carry it forward decently too. Just lacks all the instincts in front of goal of a clinical striker
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I agree, I'm not denying all of Jackson's attributes and I think he has a role to play in this squad. But the clinical first choice striker we so desperately need he is not. Certainly not yet anyway, I'm a big advocate of playing Jackson in wider attacking positions. That's where his strengths are to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn’t that his natural position? He only started playing striker lake the season before he joined us if I remember correctly.

Jackson is only in his third full season of European football - I am trying to be patient.

Question is whether and if we can rotate him with a credible alternative. Osimhen looks a maybe but we'll see..

On the plus side - Lavia is fantastic