2 hours ago, dkw said:

A performance based on playing as an actual right back with Palmer ahead of him, which is how he played so well a few years ago. Hes obviously a quality full back, which makes it even more frustrating that Maresca has had him doing that stupid inverted nonsense for 6 months, which he cant do.

100%.

1 minute ago, Valerie said:

My heart sank when I saw him in the starting lineup, but thankfully he showed why he is a France international.

Because, for whatever reason, Maresca finally let him do what he can be very good at. Exactly what Deschamps picks him to do. He has just turned 22.

Edited July 14, 20251 yr by dermott
Two typos. Where's the revolver and glass of port?

7 minutes ago, Valerie said:

My heart sank when I saw him in the starting lineup, but thankfully he showed why he is a France international.

Me and you both @Valerie

I am happy to have a serving of the below because like many others, Gusto was fantastic last night

Again credit where it’s due, he played a blinder yesterday.

No inverted business please Maresca.

I wrote in comment to a youtube video previewing the PSG game

"Gusto one-on-one against Kvaratskhelia scares me"

I couldn't have been more wrong..........

The fact Kvaratskhelia got subbed and I didn’t remember him doing anything of note shows what a game Gusto had. Credit to Palmer also for helping him.

Gusto in a pure 1v1 is very good so I'm not surprised, I was more worried about him going forward but he was great there too.

Surprisingly he's rated fairly well among the PSG fans that I talk to occasionally.

Only PL fans don't really rate him

On 15/07/2025 at 14:13, Deino said:

Surprisingly he's rated fairly well among the PSG fans that I talk to occasionally.

Only PL fans don't really rate him

He’s had 2 seasons at Chelsea, the first he looked like he had it all and the second he looked completely out of his depth. If he plays as a traditional full back he is frighteningly good. If he is expected to be an inverted fullback that goes into midfield he’s clueless. Hopefully maresca sees this and continues to play palmer on the right and gusto as a traditional fullback.

I was actually worried that on the back of last season Liverpool would get him for cheap and be a perfect right back for salah in their system.

24 minutes ago, carefree franco said:

He’s had 2 seasons at Chelsea, the first he looked like he had it all and the second he looked completely out of his depth. If he plays as a traditional full back he is frighteningly good. If he is expected to be an inverted fullback that goes into midfield he’s clueless. Hopefully maresca sees this and continues to play palmer on the right and gusto as a traditional fullback.

I was actually worried that on the back of last season Liverpool would get him for cheap and be a perfect right back for salah in their system.

And he has only just turned 22.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the inverted fullback plan something we mainly use against packed defenses/low-block? Where there isn't space for a marauding full-back to exploit.

When we play aggressive attacking teams like Liverpool or, case in point, PSG, then Gusto absolutely can attack the space but you're not going to be getting that sort of opportunity against your West Hams, Everton or Bournemouths.

16 hours ago, Shweaves said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the inverted fullback plan something we mainly use against packed defenses/low-block? Where there isn't space for a marauding full-back to exploit.

When we play aggressive attacking teams like Liverpool or, case in point, PSG, then Gusto absolutely can attack the space but you're not going to be getting that sort of opportunity against your West Hams, Everton or Bournemouths.

The inverted FB thing became a staple regardless. That was the problem.

5 hours ago, dermott said:

The inverted FB thing became a staple regardless. That was the problem.

Tell me the inverted fullback thing is binned, I never understood it in the first place. Right wearing pivot, sure, but inverted stuff?

32 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Tell me the inverted fullback thing is binned, I never understood it in the first place. Right wearing pivot, sure, but inverted stuff?

I doubt that it's binned, Maresca's an ideologue. Ditched it for PSG because he saw what Bayern did to them early, set up to do the same, and it worked a treat. Come the PL and it'll be back and Malo will be the poorer for it.

23 minutes ago, dermott said:

I doubt that it's binned, Maresca's an ideologue. Ditched it for PSG because he saw what Bayern did to them early, set up to do the same, and it worked a treat. Come the PL and it'll be back and Malo will be the poorer for it.

I so do not want to hear this.

1 hour ago, Valerie said:

I so do not want to hear this.

I doubt that it's binned, Maresca's an ideologue. Ditched it for PSG because he saw what Bayern did to them early, set up to do the same, and it worked a treat. Come the PL and it'll be back and Malo will be the poorer for it.

First start of the season and I thought his role was different from last season. Hopefully this mean Maresca has given up on turning him into an inverted fullback.

If today's Malo is here for the season it'll be massive for the club- there's a real player here

19 hours ago, Jamieblue said:

If today's Malo is here for the season it'll be massive for the club- there's a real player here

Providing he's played in the position he's good at. RB. Not inverted.

On 30/08/2025 at 14:43, Jamieblue said:

If today's Malo is here for the season it'll be massive for the club- there's a real player here

He's always good when he's hugging the touchline and over lapping. The insistence of him inverting last season was stupid and obvious for everyone to see.

Hes a very good right back being forced to play in a way that doesnt suit him and hes not very good at. So any sensible manager would stop doing it, or not play him. Ours however........

Gusto need to attack the open space?

Gusto need to slow down because the pace of the ball is slow

12 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Gusto need to attack the open space?

Gusto need to slow down because the pace of the ball is slow

Yes the ball is slowing down but this is a simple kick and rush movement, considering he's fresh legs I would bet on him outrunning the defender.

7 minutes ago, Remodez said:

Yes the ball is slowing down but this is a simple kick and rush movement, considering he's fresh legs I would bet on him outrunning the defender.

He cannot outrun the defender, you can see gusto slow down because the ball is underhit and so he need to slow down to control the ball whereas the defender can just run full sprint