Hard to believe he is only 21, his role has changed substantially during the time he has been with us and he is improving every game when it comes to the inverted full back role. Probably lacks a bit of composure in the final third especially in central areas which is understandable but no complaints so far.

https://x.com/Ahmz_04/status/1870864786281656561

The experiment of having Gusto play in the half space needs to stop. Maresca either needs a plan B when we're playing Gusto or questions need to be asked about whether this is the profile of player we need. Looks a shadow of himself from last season.

3 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

https://x.com/Ahmz_04/status/1870864786281656561

The experiment of having Gusto play in the half space needs to stop. Maresca either needs a plan B when we're playing Gusto or questions need to be asked about whether this is the profile of player we need. Looks a shadow of himself from last season.

Quite a funny thing for Maresca to even try really ...

Gusto has scored precisely one goal in his entire career to date - and that was in the 4th tier of French football ! 

 

2 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Quite a funny thing for Maresca to even try really ...

Gusto has scored precisely one goal in his entire career to date - and that was in the 4th tier of French football ! 

 

Its one of the few negatives i have about Maresca's tenure to date

Maresca just isn't a flying wing-backs kind of guy I guess.

Saying that Ben Chilwell should start for Thomas Tuchel's England.

31 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

Maresca just isn't a flying wing-backs kind of guy I guess.

Saying that Ben Chilwell should start for Thomas Tuchel's England.

Chilwell needs some regular club football before that happens, and there seem to be precious few links to any clubs interested in coming in for him.

A few people are saying he's a great fit for Manchester United, but honestly can't see why they would want yet another injury prone player on massive wages when they have more than their quota of those already !

Edited December 24, 20241 yr by Sexyfootball

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

Chilwell needs some regular club football before that happens, and there seem to be precious few links to any clubs interested in coming in for him.

A few people are saying he's a great fit for Manchester United, but honestly can't see why they would want yet another injury prone player on massive wages when they have more than their quota of those already !

There is no interest because of his ridiculous wages, and I don’t think he is interested in taking a paycut. Club is also insistent on getting back £50m for him which is laughable. Won’t be surprised if he is still here at the end of the season 

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

Maresca just isn't a flying wing-backs kind of guy I guess.

Saying that Ben Chilwell should start for Thomas Tuchel's England.

I'm really disappointed he doesn't fit into Maresca's thinking. Chilwell is a great player imo, and an intelligent one too. I find it difficult to believe he couldn't be playing a serious role for us now, if given the chance to adapt to Maresca's needs. 

Saw the Pickford tackle.. how on earth he didn’t get sent off and us a penalty is crazy.. epl refs are useless and real bottle jobs.. 

26 minutes ago, Jangz said:

Saw the Pickford tackle.. how on earth he didn’t get sent off and us a penalty is crazy.. epl refs are useless and real bottle jobs.. 

Yeah - was reckless - should have had a red and been sent off.

Not good enough this season. He is also still very young, is not like he is 23 or older, so why can he play cr@p game after game and keep playing?

He makes Disasi look passable, and now we have Josh available so why can Gusto keep letting us down and not fear for his place? Apart from the 10 games a year we get from Reece.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Not good enough this season. He is also still very young, is not like he is 23 or older, so why can he play cr@p game after game and keep playing?

He makes Disasi look passable, and now we have Josh available so why can Gusto keep letting us down and not fear for his place? Apart from the 10 games a year we get from Reece.

I agree, Maresca should try Acheampong on the right. He might prove to be too raw for the PL but you never know until you try him. Gusto is not playing very well in this system.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Not good enough this season. He is also still very young, is not like he is 23 or older, so why can he play cr@p game after game and keep playing?

He makes Disasi look passable, and now we have Josh available so why can Gusto keep letting us down and not fear for his place? Apart from the 10 games a year we get from Reece.

Agree. Thought he was particularly poor tonight, well out of position for the first goal cross and eventual header. There was one just earlier also where he was absent on back post. 

Entire team was poor today, but Gusto needs to up his game

Edited December 26, 20241 yr by PhilH930

Had a bit of a nightmare today, he was all over the place for their equaliser. He has not been at the races this season but I think he’s shown enough promise to warrant more time. 

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Not good enough this season. He is also still very young, is not like he is 23 or older, so why can he play cr@p game after game and keep playing?

He makes Disasi look passable, and now we have Josh available so why can Gusto keep letting us down and not fear for his place? Apart from the 10 games a year we get from Reece.

Because the way gusto is being used all we see this season is the bad stuff (defending) and we don't see the good stuff (playing on the sideline as attacking fb) 

Gusto pretty much gets a free pass from me until he is used properly. I can’t be critical of someone that’s being set up to fail. 
 

Some poor individual defending down his side this game but honestly he had very little help from Neto and the manager failing to make adjustments. 

11 hours ago, Remodez said:

Gusto pretty much gets a free pass from me until he is used properly. I can’t be critical of someone that’s being set up to fail. 
 

Some poor individual defending down his side this game but honestly he had very little help from Neto and the manager failing to make adjustments. 

This.

He was given instructions which I could see was clearly exposing him and Maresca didn’t make the necessary changes. Our midfield was left exposed constantly.

13 hours ago, Remodez said:

Gusto pretty much gets a free pass from me until he is used properly. I can’t be critical of someone that’s being set up to fail. 
 

Some poor individual defending down his side this game but honestly he had very little help from Neto and the manager failing to make adjustments. 

Think we watched completely different games. 

23 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Think we watched completely different games. 

Maybe I should rephrase, he was there but wasn’t effective in any regard. First goal came as a result of him doing all the wrong things. 

Just now, Remodez said:

Maybe I should rephrase, he was there but wasn’t effective in any regard. First goal came as a result of him doing all the wrong things. 

For 90 minutes I saw Neto break his back covering for Gusto defensively. The idea that both Cucurella and Gusto should be inverting/driving forward is a recipe for disaster and Silva exploited it brilliantly. 

Which is weird cause before yesterday only of the fb was inverting and the other was staying in his line.

Why the sudden change all of the sudden?

17 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Because the way gusto is being used all we see this season is the bad stuff (defending) and we don't see the good stuff (playing on the sideline as attacking fb) 

Bob, I agree that traditionally we have used him as an overlapping full back and this season he is occupying the half space and roaming in advanced areas but his delivery of the ball during phases of advanced play has been very inconsistent, his crossing has been bland and ineffectual and his shooting has been comical upon occasion.

Even his defending has been up and down. Most attacks down that side ends up in a cross unless another player steps in to double up and help.

20 hours ago, Dubair said:

Had a bit of a nightmare today, he was all over the place for their equaliser. He has not been at the races this season but I think he’s shown enough promise to warrant more time. 

Glad it's not just me. He's been pretty poor so far. I'm glad he's here to provide cover for James but he is not in (a fully fit ) James's league.

5 hours ago, Ledgerson said:

Which is weird cause before yesterday only of the fb was inverting and the other was staying in his line.

Why the sudden change all of the sudden?

No idea. It was a horribly managed game. 

It's no surprise Fulham's best players were the 3 players occupying that left hand side. 

Gusto doesn’t suit Maresca’s system at all. He’s by no means a bad player as shown last season just not going to fit into this style, replacing TAA at the Scouse would probably see him get mentioned in a World XI…

Reece is never going to be available for even 25% of a season I really think it’s time, now he’s signed the extension, to give Acheampong the reins to this RB spot.