Nibs

I think the giveaway is your insistence on saying Jackson is a better player than Delap! Totally distorted argument as Jackson had prime Cole Palmer making him look a lot better than he actually is. Delap has had very few minutes, but anyone who knows anything about football, can see that he actually looks like a striker (No. 9). Something that can never be said of Jackson as long as he has a hole in his bum. Such early days but I have no doubt, Delap will be so much better for us than Jackson ever was and Jackson will end up somewhere like West Ham (if he's lucky).

I expect the name will soon appear on Twitter / X.

You saying that with a straight face when Jackson has possibly one of the worst first touches I have ever seen in a No. 9?!! Just go back and look at some of Cole Palmers reactions where Jackson is concerned.

But he's had little playing time - what do you expect? Once they play, most players do exactly that - Improve (Jackson being one of the exceptions!)

If Delap get's anything like the playing time that Jackson was granted, I'm sure he will. AND he won't annoy Cole Palmer with constant f**k-ups!!

Imagine having a Dad and mentor like Thiago Silva. Hope the kid goes far.

Overall, I do prefer Gittens to Garnacho. But Gittens can be rather light-weight and too easy to knock off the ball so I don't think yesterday would have suited him at all. Although hooking Estevao as early as he did, I think Mareca did well and still deserves credit for getting a result with 10 men yesterday. If Arsenal had come back and won 3-1, we would all be super critical for him making the wrong choices, but have to be happy considering how things went yesterday.

Yep. It says a lot, where I'm no longer concerned or having heart palpitations every time I see Sanchez's name on the team sheet. He really has improved a LOT. Long may it continue.

Don't think anyone can really argue the red card. It was a red all day long but as usual it's the inconsistences but unfortunately they will always happen. Think the annoying thing is, without the red card, we could well have got the 3 points as the chances are, Estevao would have stayed on and Maresca might have even thrown Palmer on for 15-20 minutes. But we are moving in the right direction and must be looking at top 3.

Bad error of judgement yesterday. Went in for tackle he had no need to make. But that is Caicedo - he tries to win everything and that's what makes him so good on the whole. Cost us yesterday but he will get a good rest now and hopefully we won't miss him if Santo's plays like he has been.

I too prefer James at right back but that post aged well!!

Remember the game well - would have been somewhere in the Middle of the Shed that day. Great kit - love those socks!

Think 99% of CFC supporters would play James at RB and have Santos in midfield alongside Caicedo. Now and again you get why Maresca plays Gusto. Obviously giving James a rest helps and then the final v PSG where it worked well and he does have plenty of energy to get up and down the pitch but for me, Gusto would not start in any "big" game unless it was at RB and James was injured / suspended.

I have already said earlier in the thread that IF we have a fully fit squad to choose from (barring Colwill and Lavia) and Palmer was starting, I think we could beat them. But if not, then I would take a draw right now (3-3 rather than 0-0 to dent that defensive record!). Would love to beat them, but even if we do, realistically, it is only us and Man City who can possibly pip them for the title and City are too up & down, so we would need Arsenal to have a big drop off and for us to be consistent and regrettably, I don't see either happening. But it would be great to beat the Champions elect - blow them away like we did PSG and Barca! As for line-up, I can understand those saying keep the same 11, but I'd prefer James at full-back in place of Gusto with Santos starting and Palmer in (if fit) and possibly a proper striker. Don't care as long as we play well and give 100%.

That is a point but I really hope that doesn't mean Maresca opts to play Badiashille and Tosin. It would be the stuff of nightmares!

Maresca has a nice headache for team selection on Sunday, with everyone playing so well last night. If Palmer is available, does he go straight back in or on the bench? Team I would like to see is: Sanchez James Chalobah Fofana Cucurella Caicedo Santos Palmer Neto J>Pedro Gittens Would keep Estevao on the bench and introduce him at HT and then Delap to come on too. But I know we will start with Enzo and probably Gusto too. After last night have to have faith with Maresca's team selection and just hope we play just as well.

Did well enough when he came on last night and so pleased he got his goal. Love how he's always got that grin on his face - makes him look a bit of a psycho and you know someone will be on the end of an iffy challenge sometime soon!

Yep, exactly what I was thinking. Went to bed after the game on a high but then remember the first 10-15 minutes where we looked a bit dis-jointed and Barca missed that sitter and thought at the time we were going to struggle. Buy boy how we upped our game and then absolutely battered Barca. Could and should have been 5 or 6. Every player to a man putting in a good performance. Was great to watch and the team spirit looks really strong right now. Just pray we carry it on against the Gooners.

Great team performance with everyone having a good game but Cucurella was MOTM. So much energy and didn't put a foot wrong whilst nullifying Barca's biggest threat.

Ridiculous sending off. Luckily for Everton it didn't cost them. Ref's today act just like robots.

I guess I'm hoping that they have exaggerated the injury to the press to lull the Gooners into a false sense of security, but probably just wishful thinking. It would give everyone such a boost to line up against them with a fit and raring to go Palmer. If he's still missing, I will bite your hand off now for a draw.

Thought Santos was superb against Burnley. No surprise to most of us and it will be so harsh for him to be back on the bench for the big, upcoming games. Still puzzled as to what has happened with Acheampong. Can't see him featuring in either of the Barca or Arsenal games, despite him looking really good when he has played. The lad needs matches.

I wonder if there is ANY chance that Palmer plays in this. Honestly think that if we put our best 11 out (which obviously includes Palmer) and we were up for it, we could beat the Gooners, but I won't build those hopes up too much.

FFS. Desperately wanted Palmer back for the Arsenal game.

RIP Mani.