It seems we are playing a counter attacking system; we let teams have the ball win it and break. But its a controlled counter attacking system. The last time I have seen us play this way was Contes first season. We were devastating on the break, similar to when we had duff/Robben on the wings.

As the season develops I think matches like the one against Palace will be a rarity and we are going to always manage to put 2-3 past lesser teams with ease, especially at home.

With a defence of Cucurella, a fully fit James and Colwill and Fofana already settled as PL solid defenders with years of experience, I'd have dared to dream for more.

But we are not yet there and the defensive line is still incredibly young to be relied on for a title winning campaign.

Top four, though, we'll be fine IMHO.

Maresca is doing a very good job so far and the great news is that the best is yet to come. We're probably only at 30-35% of what this squad is capable of.

Exciting times.

A good time to repost this, wonder if he still things we aren't a young and exciting team

13 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

A good time to repost this, wonder if he still things we aren't a young and exciting team

twat!!!

Hopefully those unwilling to give him a chance are hanging their heads now.

Really good start by Maresca. Hopefully he will keep it up and he need to sort out Nkunku situation.

I’m not saying there is a situation but he’s clearly one of the best players in Europe and he won’t accept being a bench player.  He’d be a starter for most top teams in Europe, easily.

49 minutes ago, dkw said:

Hopefully those unwilling to give him a chance are hanging their heads now.

At the very least his good start should be a reminder that pre season is pre season. 

2 minutes ago, g3.7 said:

At the very least his good start should be a reminder that pre season is pre season. 

Yeah, good point. Pre season results are rarely an indication on how a season will go, probably even less so with a new manager.

Really pleased with the progress Maresca is showing. He learns quickly, makes very rational and logical selections and subs, and adapts to the opposition very well. 

Keep it going Enzo! 

1 hour ago, dkw said:

Hopefully those unwilling to give him a chance are hanging their heads now.

Why ? For not being convinced he was the right appointmemt ?

😂😂😂

3 hours ago, dkw said:

Hopefully those unwilling to give him a chance are hanging their heads now.

Don't worry, the next time we drop points or even win when we shouldn't have I'd bet the "shouldn't have sacked Poch for a Championship manager" narratives will be back with a bang.

Table for one here.

I genuinely want to get on the Maresca love boat and sail serenely into Portofino harbour with our multitude of Italian friends on here but, still early days and too many questions for me. 

1. Sanchez. And yet you want us to knock the ball about at the back?

2. What is a Mudryk? What does a Mudryk do? Why is a Mudryk on the pitch? Why is a Mudryk even on the bench.

3. Jackson over N'kunku everytime. Really? Please explain. One is a stone cold killer the other is Jackson.

4. Set piece defending. Can you make us much, much, much better. You've had a bit of time to work on it. Can do better.

5. Don't isolate players who are genuine assets like Chilwell and Carney. Bin players who aren't like....... Mudryk.

TBH I am partially there. Sarriball MK II was my worst nightmare and he certainly isn't that but still, for me lots of room for improvement.

 

57 minutes ago, just said:

Table for one here.

I genuinely want to get on the Maresca love boat and sail serenely into Portofino harbour with our multitude of Italian friends on here but, still early days and too many questions for me. 

1. Sanchez. And yet you want us to knock the ball about at the back?

2. What is a Mudryk? What does a Mudryk do? Why is a Mudryk on the pitch? Why is a Mudryk even on the bench.

3. Jackson over N'kunku everytime. Really? Please explain. One is a stone cold killer the other is Jackson.

4. Set piece defending. Can you make us much, much, much better. You've had a bit of time to work on it. Can do better.

5. Don't isolate players who are genuine assets like Chilwell and Carney. Bin players who aren't like....... Mudryk.

TBH I am partially there. Sarriball MK II was my worst nightmare and he certainly isn't that but still, for me lots of room for improvement.

 

I think with Jackson it is all about the pace on counter. Nkunku is a fantastic player and is probably more likely to unlock a well organized defense. Hopefully he gives both plenty of playing time,

5 hours ago, dkw said:

Yeah, good point. Pre season results are rarely an indication on how a season will go, probably even less so with a new manager.

Pre season, he tried his Leicester idea. Man to man high pressing, controlled ball. it was not working. 

Now we are more of a mid block, chaos ball team. 

1 hour ago, forbzy said:

I think with Jackson it is all about the pace on counter. Nkunku is a fantastic player and is probably more likely to unlock a well organized defense. Hopefully he gives both plenty of playing time,

Nkunku will be a key option to unlock the low block sides imo, along with Sancho. So it does not end up all on Palmer.

As Neto and Madueke will be limited against low block teams, and Mudryk is no use against anyone.

2 hours ago, just said:

Table for one here.

I genuinely want to get on the Maresca love boat and sail serenely into Portofino harbour with our multitude of Italian friends on here but, still early days and too many questions for me. 

1. Sanchez. And yet you want us to knock the ball about at the back?

2. What is a Mudryk? What does a Mudryk do? Why is a Mudryk on the pitch? Why is a Mudryk even on the bench.

3. Jackson over N'kunku everytime. Really? Please explain. One is a stone cold killer the other is Jackson.

4. Set piece defending. Can you make us much, much, much better. You've had a bit of time to work on it. Can do better.

5. Don't isolate players who are genuine assets like Chilwell and Carney. Bin players who aren't like....... Mudryk.

TBH I am partially there. Sarriball MK II was my worst nightmare and he certainly isn't that but still, for me lots of room for improvement.

 

My biggest concern with Maresca based on his Leicester team was controlled possesion and man to mark press which I am not sure is playable. 

After disaster pre season. We don't really press. We are a counter/mid block team. We have less possesion than west ham/brighton. 

Very happy with what we've seen so far. Club seem to be moving in the right direction again despite and Maresca's got a good squad to work with now. City will likely get punished and Arsenal don't look great, you never know...

Do think Poch deserve some credit for making sure Palmer, Caicedo, Cucurella and others came into this season with momentum behind them and so far our style is quite similar to how we ended last season as well so hopefully we can keep going now. 9 wins in our last 11 Premier League games is really good in any case.

8 hours ago, just said:

Table for one here.

I genuinely want to get on the Maresca love boat and sail serenely into Portofino harbour with our multitude of Italian friends on here but, still early days and too many questions for me. 

1. Sanchez. And yet you want us to knock the ball about at the back?

2. What is a Mudryk? What does a Mudryk do? Why is a Mudryk on the pitch? Why is a Mudryk even on the bench.

3. Jackson over N'kunku everytime. Really? Please explain. One is a stone cold killer the other is Jackson.

4. Set piece defending. Can you make us much, much, much better. You've had a bit of time to work on it. Can do better.

5. Don't isolate players who are genuine assets like Chilwell and Carney. Bin players who aren't like....... Mudryk.

TBH I am partially there. Sarriball MK II was my worst nightmare and he certainly isn't that but still, for me lots of room for improvement.

 

Honestly, I cant see too much difference now from the type of football we played at the end of last season. Which to me, only serves as praise to Maresca. Seems like he sees what works for us with the players we have and have adjusted accordingly. We can «overchaos» anyone, so why not let that be part of our identity.

Sanchez, I just dont think Jørgensen is any better. Incredibly we’ll need to sign ANOTHER gk as theres really no way Penders or Slonina will be ready next season. 

As for Jackson - like last season, our attack just works better with Jackson in it. We need his runs to make us tick, you’ll just have to swallow his lack of efficiency in front of goal I’m afraid, and look at all the other good things he does for us

I’d really, really love to get Nkunku in the starting eleven but I just dont see a way with everyone fit - unless we somehow changed to playing with two 10’s like in Contes 3-4-3 but lets be real - thats not going to happen

38 minutes ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

I’d really, really love to get Nkunku in the starting eleven but I just dont see a way with everyone fit - unless we somehow changed to playing with two 10’s like in Contes 3-4-3 but lets be real - thats not going to happen

We'd probably need to go to the 3-2-4-1 that Pep likes to accommodate two 10s. For that to work, we'd likely need significant improvements in the form/ability of the defenders, plus whoever plays alongside Caicedo in the 2,

35 minutes ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Honestly, I cant see too much difference now from the type of football we played at the end of last season. Which to me, only serves as praise to Maresca. Seems like he sees what works for us with the players we have and have adjusted accordingly. We can «overchaos» anyone, so why not let that be part of our identity.

Sanchez, I just dont think Jørgensen is any better. Incredibly we’ll need to sign ANOTHER gk as theres really no way Penders or Slonina will be ready next season. 

As for Jackson - like last season, our attack just works better with Jackson in it. We need his runs to make us tick, you’ll just have to swallow his lack of efficiency in front of goal I’m afraid, and look at all the other good things he does for us

I’d really, really love to get Nkunku in the starting eleven but I just dont see a way with everyone fit - unless we somehow changed to playing with two 10’s like in Contes 3-4-3 but lets be real - thats not going to happen

This right here not even city can “out chaos us” we are now the master of chaos football.

Your score 1 okay we will score 2!

Your core 2 okay we score 4

You score 3 okay 6 it will be then 

 

Teams will know this now.

We can rip anyone apart with our attackers, yes we might give you a goal or two but we have 8 attackers well 7 we have to exclude Misha for now that can open you up. 
 

So you can mark Cole but you still have Nico, Nkunku, Sancho, Noni, Neto, Felix, Misha to deal with. Pick your poison.

8 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

We'd probably need to go to the 3-2-4-1 that Pep likes to accommodate two 10s. For that to work, we'd likely need significant improvements in the form/ability of the defenders, plus whoever plays alongside Caicedo in the 2,

I’m not sure that works without having the worlds best defensive midfielder holding it all together. Lets see how City deal with it without Rodri for the rest of the season

5 minutes ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

I’m not sure that works without having the worlds best defensive midfielder holding it all together. Lets see how City deal with it without Rodri for the rest of the season

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work with Enzo Fernandez in midfield LOL

Just now, Sexyfootball said:

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work with Enzo Fernandez in midfield LOL

That is for bloody certain 🙂

12 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Why ? For not being convinced he was the right appointmemt ?

😂😂😂

No, I know reading is hard for you, but it's for "not giving him a chance"....you know, like I actually wrote.

14 hours ago, dkw said:

Yeah, good point. Pre season results are rarely an indication on how a season will go, probably even less so with a new manager.

Confess to being one of many doom mongers based on pre season. Delighted to have been proved wrong