4 minutes ago, dermott said:

Yup. Remarkable how Gusto performs very well at RB for France. He's a shadow of what he was last season thanks to Maresca.

I think you can say that about a number of our players ,the guy is hopeless

40 minutes ago, dkw said:

A good manager who needs to then use a different player that doesn't suit hus "system" would work around that, change the formation, make the system fit the players. Not this muppet though, his lack of flexibility and imagination is shocking.

Simply because Guardiola successfully transitioned John Stones from CB to DM, its now deemed to be the way to go. Difference being Gusto couldn't hope to lace Stones' boots, and of course they always had Walker's pace making the remaining three still play like a four.

Pep lite is determined to use a similar approach even though the personnel are completely different

Gusto played perfectly fine under Poch and for France this is a Home bargain Pep problem.

28 minutes ago, El regreso said:

Gusto played perfectly fine under Poch and for France this is a Home bargain Pep problem.

I don't really agree. Anything was better than the hapless Disasi there. So the fact he could win a few defensive tackles and was charged with the responsibility of just slinging the ball into the middle from the wing doesn't really qualify for me. I have always felt that he was weak and limited as a player.

People keep using Maresca's tactics as the reason for Gusto's sh*t form. But he's been sh*t defensively all season, too. Also, inability to pass the ball properly and constant errors that result in losing possession in key areas and lead to problems at the back cannot be explained by just different formation. He's just not a very good footballer with low footballing IQ, and I'm being kind here.

20 minutes ago, abramovich said:

People keep using Maresca's tactics as the reason for Gusto's sh*t form. But he's been sh*t defensively all season, too. Also, inability to pass the ball properly and constant errors that result in losing possession in key areas and lead to problems at the back cannot be explained by just different formation. He's just not a very good footballer with low footballing IQ, and I'm being kind here.

You've never lost confidence playing in a position/role you are sh*t at which has had a knock on effect on your ability? I know I have.

I would agree if he was doing the same thing for France or was this bad under Poch but that wasn't the case.

On 20/03/2024 at 14:13, Sconnie Blue said:

James is tied in 3rd for most big chances created in the league, despite starting only 5 times this season. 

Love Gusto. Really do, but James is the most complete RB in Europe when fit. 

👍👍

I think he's always had weaknesses to his game, but some of the things he looked good at last season have basically disappeared with the way Maresca sets up his full backs, so there is very little positive stuff now to balance out the negatives, and create the view of a promising young player who is "developing" rather than a waste of squad space liability.

For France he still has some of those positive aspects of his play to utilise, so the view of him in international colours is therefore better than his club form.

Having said that, I like Acheampong better than Gusto as our back up to Reece James, so I'd be ok with it if Gusto is sold, and moreover I think he has enough credit from his France outings to attract buyers and a reasonable fee. Fully expect BlueCo to get greedy though and price him out of a move. Either that or the greed manifests itself in a pure profit sale of Acheampong instead LOL

3 hours ago, El regreso said:

Gusto played perfectly fine under Poch and for France this is a Home bargain Pep problem.

I tend to agree when Gusto isn't playing inversion ball he has looked and played much better.

While the inverted role Maresca has him in hasn't helped him at all, under hitting simple passes back to your defender isn't the mangers fault.

There was at least a couple of occasions last night where he passed it back and it just about reached the defender, and I mean just about.

That kind of simple passing between 2 players with nobody in the middle is inexcusable.

His defending has got worse this season and let's not even talk about forward passes - his passing his poor whichever direction he is facing.

He shouldn't be nowhere near the team ATM.

There's a lot of things we can blame the manger for but basic passing failure at club level isn't Maresca's fault, it's a lack of quality on the players side.

I do blame Maresca for still picking him though.

On 29/06/2025 at 09:44, timetowaste said:

Even taking away that he shouldn't be playing as an inverted RB, he's giving the ball away constantly, getting ran past and his touch is super heavy. There's only so much we can blame on him playing out of position.

Confidence goes a huge way with a player. Playing in an uncomfortable role will affect his touch and passing.

12 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Confidence goes a huge way with a player. Playing in an uncomfortable role will affect his touch and passing.

Plus the fact that Deschamps picks him at RB for France, to play as an actual RB, and he's fine. Maresca has undermined a promising young RB.

15 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Confidence goes a huge way with a player. Playing in an uncomfortable role will affect his touch and passing.

I agree inverting to midfield is not for Gusto. Actually it shows his limitations as a player or at least he is very slow to adapt to it. It is not the most complicated job even BUT it is a collective job as any position on the pitch. I think he wants to learn the role, he needs to play a lot more to get into it faster or better at it. I think Gusto is a brave player as he always takes the risky route despite having big limitations as a footballer. His first touch and awereness at any other area than what is normal to him at right back is not very good which is probably very normal to a wide player. I am sure he is the first person to admit that and he wants to get better and learn any role that is given him by the boss.

Personally I prefer the team to win and function over one player but I'd love to see Gusto do well.

I guess it remains to be seen whether Gusto learns the role, Enzo uses him differently or he leaves. Hopefully it is the first one.

this guy popping up in the final third to shoot is why Maresca needs to go.

28 minutes ago, dermott said:

Plus the fact that Deschamps picks him at RB for France, to play as an actual RB, and he's fine. Maresca has undermined a promising young RB.

His competition for France's RB position is not a lot anyway.

That said, Gusto is a good RB in the right system.

In Maresca's half and half system, he's not. It would take someone like prime Brana or really fit pre-injury Reece to do the job there

Bayern Munich have enquired about the availability of Malo Gusto (22), with a view to a potential transfer from Chelsea.

You would think the smart thing would be to open talks and sell for around £50m. Josh is ready to step up as James’ deputy.

Gusto as a full back is great - he made us forget that Reece was injured 2 seasons ago.

Gusto as a dm/inverted whatever is trash.... maresca is wasting him

3 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Gusto as a full back is great - he made us forget that Reece was injured 2 seasons ago.

Gusto as a dm/inverted whatever is trash.... maresca is wasting him

So Reece hopefully is going to remain fit. How does Gusto fit in ?

5 minutes ago, terraloon said:

So Reece hopefully is going to remain fit. How does Gusto fit in ?

What could possibly go wrong....

Josh could deputize, but in a Maresca system he uses Gusto, and the role differently. Would have to be a good offer from Bayern.

I wouldn’t sell him - history says his contract will outlast the managers, and he’s a very good full back for his age. Plus we’re getting a little light on quality at the back.

Edited July 13, 20251 yr by PhilH930

A performance out of the blue. Such a frustrating season ends in the best way.

That performance reminded people how good he is. He was learning a new role last season but when playing his usual role, he is quality man.

9 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

A performance out of the blue. Such a frustrating season ends in the best way.

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.

Who'd have guessed he's actually really good when he's a touchline wing back.

2 hours ago, STATS said:

That performance reminded people how good he is. He was learning a new role last season but when playing his usual role, he is quality man.

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