I know nothing about systems but nevertheless have my doubts about defence when Palmer is at 10 and Enzo is one of the two pivots, and I don't see Enzo as a Lampard style 8 at all.

I do agree that there should be a role for Madueke but unless he can play on the left, then as things stand he ought to be competing with Palmer. Joe Cole was not completely dissimilar to Palmer and he was used on the right as I recall.

For me the best use of the players we have involves Nkunku on the left, Jackson in the centre and Palmer on the right. Behind them you have three mids with Enzo in the centre as six but protected by Caicedo and whoever becomes the real 8. The real 8 is ideally not that different to Caicedo except more of an attacking threat and less of a ball winner.

Enzo's job is as a 6 ie Makele with a longer pass. Simple really.

Edited July 24, 20241 yr by ozboy

If nothing else, I can understand what the manager is saying now.

Poch was incomprehensible to me during interviews

10 hours ago, ozboy said:

Obviously I must have rose tinted glasses, but I like the way Maresca talks at a press conference more than Potter or Poch. He presents calmly, constantly has a sly smile and didn't make any big claims "Aims to compete for trophy and champions league but as to when" sooner would be better than later but he didn't know when. 

Speaks better than the last couple bosses so far, hoping he can get it done on the pitch. Seems like he has a good football brain which is what we need. Man with a plan at the helm.

I'd be hoping Enzo plays as the deepest midfielder amidst the style of football Maresca plays and that Enzo's best football comes in that position. Caicedo and Palmer/Carney as the #8s. 

2 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

If nothing else, I can understand what the manager is saying now.

Poch was incomprehensible to me during interviews

Agree, I warmed up massively to Poch towards the end and hoped he would stay, but wow he went on and on and he was never very clear was he?? Delighted to have Maresca in that department at least as he seems like someone who can put himself across better in interviews and on the training ground.

I am still not fully convinced by Maresca but we must back him, he has been hired for a reason and I think he will lead us to silverware.

10 hours ago, petre ispirescu said:

 

For me this would be something to an ideal line-up knowing Maresca will go for a 3-2-4-1 when in possession (as per Andrey Santos' words, too).

Some special mentions:

- Fofana's spot in defence could be taken by one of Tosin, Disasi or Badiashile.

- James can invert, too.

- Nkunku could replace Jackson and Sterling start on the left wing.

There is a lot Maresca can juggle with and definitely the squad is perfectly built for this 3-2-4-1, inverted full back, tactics.

I truly hope he does not move Palmer on the right wing to accomodate another central midfielder and have Enzo, Caicedo and one of Lavia/KDH/Gallagher all in the line-up at the same time. I think a winger like Madueke is a must in today's game.

If we have cucurella and james both available, James should be starting and inverting and in that case Colwill should be starting LB to form the left CB in the back 3 imo. James would be wasted making up number at CB.

Jörgensen

James Fofana Tosin Colwill

Enzo

Caicedo Carney

Palmer        Nkunku       Jackson

 

9 hours ago, Remodez said:

I think he will have to for any sort of effective pressing and defensive stability to take place.

I know, but on the other hand it only leaves you with only three so called goalscorers - Palmer, the left winger and the striker. Which is extremely risky. Others (Caicedo, Enzo and Lavia/KDH/Gallagher/Carney and the inverted full back) are not going to score that much and will probably get around 10 goals together all season.

Hence why I would personally prefer Palmer in the center and Madueke on the wing. Maybe pack the midfield with the three natural center midfielders plus the inverted full back, with Palmer on the wing away at City or Arsenal, difficult grounds.

4 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I'd be hoping Enzo plays as the deepest midfielder amidst the style of football Maresca plays and that Enzo's best football comes in that position. Caicedo and Palmer/Carney as the #8s. 

 

I just posted in the match thread but one of the reporters was suggesting Nkunku as an 8.

Also I thought the whole invert thing will be dynamic in game. He mentioned both sides were capable. Would be interesting if it was really fluid.

I really do hope it works for maresca, like some of you have said already he talks tactics! Love that. Completely different than poch, I moaned so much last season at how tactically inept poch was and even compared him to Southgate. Good man manager, nurtures kids but tactically useless. So it's great just listening to maresca and really hope he does well.

Really hope i stay up and watch the friendly tonight.

Im interested to see what Marsesca can do with this side. Kyle Walker said the biggest difference between Poch and Pep is that Pep trains them on the tactical side of things. It felt like with Poch, it was all running. 

4 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Im interested to see what Marsesca can do with this side. Kyle Walker said the biggest difference between Poch and Pep is that Pep trains them on the tactical side of things. It felt like with Poch, it was all running. 

I feel Pep's best feature is he is mad. He is relentless on his ideas, energy and ambition. He is just endless with his energy. 

Arteta is clearly imitating him on that mad personality side. 

Whether it is Maresca I don't know, but I hope we have a long term manager very soon who can stay for at least five years and give us a clear identity and identifiable way of playing. If he really is another Pep, let's see it.

When I was growing up we obviously never had a set manager or tactical identity, our club philosophy was to win and win regularly with confidence and style. That is something I hope he can bring back as well.

Even poor old Poch managed 5-0 vs Wrexham in last year's opening pre-season friendly, so I'm assuming Maresca is good for at least 8 LOL

1 hour ago, JM7 said:

Im interested to see what Marsesca can do with this side. Kyle Walker said the biggest difference between Poch and Pep is that Pep trains them on the tactical side of things. It felt like with Poch, it was all running. 

Maresca has watched back Reece's games at Wigan to access his suitability for while last season Caicedo had to appoint a personal coach to over his games, lol.

8 minutes ago, Argo said:

Maresca has watched back Reece's games at Wigan to access his suitability for while last season Caicedo had to appoint a personal coach to over his games, lol.

One of the most wild things I have ever heard. 

Imagine a player at a top club needing a separate coach to coach him in the tactical side of his game vs the actual manager of the football club. 

 

 

Watching the press conference my vibe was that Maresca came across as on the owner's side. I may be wrong about that but to me Tuchel, Potter, Poch came across as "the manager" Maresca comes across as part of the management club, an insider if you like.

4 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Watching the press conference my vibe was that Maresca came across as on the owner's side. I may be wrong about that but to me Tuchel, Potter, Poch came across as "the manager" Maresca comes across as part of the management club, an insider if you like.

Could mean he'll have an easier time getting his targets if so, no? Or that the owners' targets will be his targets haha.

3 hours ago, Simplymo said:

 

I just posted in the match thread but one of the reporters was suggesting Nkunku as an 8.

Also I thought the whole invert thing will be dynamic in game. He mentioned both sides were capable. Would be interesting if it was really fluid.

I really do hope it works for maresca, like some of you have said already he talks tactics! Love that. Completely different than poch, I moaned so much last season at how tactically inept poch was and even compared him to Southgate. Good man manager, nurtures kids but tactically useless. So it's great just listening to maresca and really hope he does well.

Really hope i stay up and watch the friendly tonight.

Nkunku as an 8 in Enzos system makes more sense than left wing to me. 

41 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Watching the press conference my vibe was that Maresca came across as on the owner's side. I may be wrong about that but to me Tuchel, Potter, Poch came across as "the manager" Maresca comes across as part of the management club, an insider if you like.

Probably because Maresca actually explains the tactical fit of said player whereas Poch was probably presenting a load of jargon that ultimately came down to "I need them to run around and head the ball away to cover my systematic flaws".

3 hours ago, JM7 said:

Im interested to see what Marsesca can do with this side. Kyle Walker said the biggest difference between Poch and Pep is that Pep trains them on the tactical side of things. It felt like with Poch, it was all running. 

And lemons! Look after the lemons!

3 hours ago, evissy said:

I feel Pep's best feature is he is mad. He is relentless on his ideas, energy and ambition. He is just endless with his energy. 

Arteta is clearly imitating him on that mad personality side. 

I can see that with maresca too, which fills me with hope compared to poch.

43 minutes ago, Argo said:

Probably because Maresca actually explains the tactical fit of said player whereas Poch was probably presenting a load of jargon that ultimately came down to "I need them to run around and head the ball away to cover my systematic flaws".

How are you all forgetting the part about looking after their lemons! I wouldn't be surprised if he gave them all a small lemon tree. Lol

52 minutes ago, Remodez said:

Nkunku as an 8 in Enzos system makes more sense than left wing to me. 

I'd be very interested to see Nkunku as an 8. Never crossed my mind.

I'll be watching. 

We are in a for season of “We have only been working(insert time since he’s been at the club) comments In interviews.”

Well our Leicester guests have told us that games against the low block will be boring.

Maybe one day we will have a coach who knows how to Crack the low block like a hot knife through room temperature butter.

18 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Well our Leicester guests have told us that games against the low block will be boring.

Maybe one day we will have a coach who knows how to Crack the low block like a hot knife through room temperature butter.

In fairness, almost by definition it isn't easy to open up teams that sit deep.