On 22/05/2025 at 12:27, Sconnie Blue said:

Yeah when we are 2nd in big chances missed and 2nd in chances created in the entire league, I am not going to fault the only player who seemingly knows how to get the ball in the back of the net.

I don't think people are faulting Cucurella, it's the system people have a problem with. Having Cucurella here there and everywhere does cause other issues for our attacking players. Before Christmas, it was Palmer taking up all of these positions, but he's constantly having to adjust and even drop deeper because Cucurella has occupied the space he would usually be in. He's popping up with the odd goal to save our ass, but it wouldn't be needed if Maresca hadn't made such drastic changes to how we play before Christmas.

I think it hurts us having a non attacking players taking up positions other attacking players were finding themselves in and having success with. Cucurella is ghosting into positions and scoring goals, but our overall balance is a lot worse off.

I would also like to see that 2nd in chances created stat broken down, because I know what my eyes see and we are nowhere near as creative as we were between August and December. We're barely testing any keeper these days.

41 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I don't think people are faulting Cucurella, it's the system people have a problem with. Having Cucurella here there and everywhere does cause other issues for our attacking players. Before Christmas, it was Palmer taking up all of these positions, but he's constantly having to adjust and even drop deeper because Cucurella has occupied the space he would usually be in. He's popping up with the odd goal to save our ass, but it wouldn't be needed if Maresca hadn't made such drastic changes to how we play before Christmas.

I think it hurts us having a non attacking players taking up positions other attacking players were finding themselves in and having success with. Cucurella is ghosting into positions and scoring goals, but our overall balance is a lot worse off.

I would also like to see that 2nd in chances created stat broken down, because I know what my eyes see and we are nowhere near as creative as we were between August and December. We're barely testing any keeper these days.

I think its just a lazy argument to take accountability away from our attackers. You're making it sound like everyone was chipping in goals that first half the season when in reality it was just Palmer and Jackson. The latter fell off a cliff and it put pressure on Palmer to deliver.

Maresca's system isn't perfect, but Sancho and Neto have never been productive players in this league. The former is too scared to shoot and the latter is braindead 80% of the time. Noni is vastly too inconsistent and has a tendency to miss absolute sitters.

I also don't agree with the notion Cucurella occupies Palmer's space. If anyone does that its Enzo/Gusto when they take up the right halfspace forcing Palmer on the left side. Cucurella is actually just a box crasher whereas that was never really Palmer's game. The season prior it was Gallagher doing that.

9 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I think its just a lazy argument to take accountability away from our attackers. You're making it sound like everyone was chipping in goals that first half the season when in reality it was just Palmer and Jackson. The latter fell off a cliff and it put pressure on Palmer to deliver.

Maresca's system isn't perfect, but Sancho and Neto have never been productive players in this league. The former is too scared to shoot and the latter is braindead 80% of the time. Noni is vastly too inconsistent and has a tendency to miss absolute sitters.

I also don't agree with the notion Cucurella occupies Palmer's space. If anyone does that its Enzo/Gusto when they take up the right halfspace forcing Palmer on the left side. Cucurella is actually just a box crasher whereas that was never really Palmer's game. The season prior it was Gallagher doing that.

I think there is room for both arguments. The attackers, mainly Palmer and Jackson, have fallen off, but I still feel that Cucurella (or whoever we have inverting) is causing issues with the flow of our attacks. I want Palmer in attacking positions, close to the box, not picking up the ball close to the half way line. I want our fullbacks helping our wingers, overlapping and creating space, not moving inside where the attacking midfielder should be.

2 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I think there is room for both arguments. The attackers, mainly Palmer and Jackson, have fallen off, but I still feel that Cucurella (or whoever we have inverting) is causing issues with the flow of our attacks. I want Palmer in attacking positions, close to the box, not picking up the ball close to the half way line. I want our fullbacks helping our wingers, overlapping and creating space, not moving inside where the attacking midfielder should be.

Cucurella is given license mainly when Lavia is not in the team.

What a year this guy has had.

Absolutely quality left back

He’s gotten to that stage now where I completely trust him and don’t feel worried when the opposition attack down his side and that is a huge compliment considering how fragile our defence have been in recent years

Bloke has Salah, Saka, Dialo, and Antony in his pocket.

Not a world class player but, quietly he's done a very good job this season, even defending when he looks his most awkward. Love his personality.

On 01/08/2022 at 12:52, Zeta said:

I like Cucurella. I think he'd be a great signing if we can get him. 

3 years later and I'm slowly getting proven right. He had a sh*t start, but he's been pretty solid lately.

First name on the team sheet type of player.

My new new Alonso.

Palmer quite rightly has had most of the praise from last night but quietly cucerella was superb! All the talk before the game of the threat betis posed was Antony and it wasn’t until he had a scrap with Fernandez that I noticed Antony was even on the pitch, cucerella had that left side locked down.

Who plays LB if he's missing? Gusto?

Sanchez

Acheampong Chalobah Tosin Gusto

Not quite the back line i'd want going into a semi-final, we need to stop the pointless yellow cards.

We need a backup here - hes playing so many minutes, and doing it very well, but left sided depth is a key position to address this summer.

Marc went from some rando best player in Brighton to Euro and World Champion with us.

Remember when we drew that game against Spuds years back and nobody gave af?

He wouldn't turn into a master of the dark arts if that didn't happen

That block was crucial. Unbelievable player!

His hair has already caused a lot of trouble for rivals.

I said he will leave CFC a legend and cult hero and I stand by that.

His ability to whine up opposition players is elite level and they keep falling for it.

I expect at least two red cards this season for someone pulling Cucu hair.

12 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Oh - I saw that from the stands but wasn't sure who it was. Nice to see it's not just a relationship with Moises. There was pretty substantial Ecuadorian support out.

The hair is just too tempting for opposition players in the heat of the moment. If he cut it there would go roughly 5 mn in his value as a player.

His reading of Doue’s pass. Incredible.

I love Cucu for doing that. What a teammate!

8 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

His reading of Doue’s pass. Incredible.

Doue could have had a shot, but I think Cucurella knew he would pass it. It's one of PSG's main weapons. Their wingers get into dangerous areas and pass it to a player for a simple tap in.

5 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Doue could have had a shot, but I think Cucurella knew he would pass it. It's one of PSG's main weapons. Their wingers get into dangerous areas and pass it to a player for a simple tap in.

It was just superb defending or mind games if you will.

If Doue had shot he would have had to get it past Sanchez and also make sure Cucu doesn't block the shot. The pass was the right option and works 9 times out of 10, Cucu was just excellent.

Cucurella is easily my worst humble pie player we've had. We paid that 68m or something crazy like that of him and it took over a year to find his groove. I am glad I was wrong. I thought we made the worst buy ever with him and saw nothing positive about him apart from the hair.

Easily top 5 left back in Europe and top 3 in the Prem. If UB wants the lists I probably don't have them so don't take it literally 😉