Enzo Maresca’s eye for detail cleans up Chelsea’s muddled thinking https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/02/enzo-marescas-eye-for-detail-cleans-up-chelseas-muddled-thinking?CMP=share_btn_url

He rested his preferred team, had a whole week to work ahead of facing a poor United side with a covering manager, and he messed it up.

His key player Gusto stunk out the joint. He says we need leaders but leaves out Cucurella. The forward line very rarely were a threat yet he does not throw on Felix and Nkunku, the latter showed against Bournemouth he can find space and nick a goal. Was only a stunner from Moises saved us from a loss at this dross opponent.

Not good enough.

3 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

He rested his preferred team, had a whole week to work ahead of facing a poor United side with a covering manager, and he messed it up.

His key player Gusto stunk out the joint. He says we need leaders but leaves out Cucurella. The forward line very rarely were a threat yet he does not throw on Felix and Nkunku, the latter showed against Bournemouth he can find space and nick a goal. Was only a stunner from Moises saved us from a loss at this dross opponent.

Not good enough.

We chucked away the opportunity of a domestic trophy on Wednesday for that performance today. I didn't understand after we lost to Newcastle why so many on here were saying that the League Cup doesn't matter.

Poor decision making all round from Maresca.

 

1 minute ago, The Rising Sun said:

We chucked away the opportunity of a domestic trophy on Wednesday for that performance today. I didn't understand after we lost to Newcastle why so many on here were saying that the League Cup doesn't matter.

Poor decision making all round from Maresca.

 

Indeed.

Then when things are not working he swaps in a direct winger for another that is inferior, rather than try something else, players who are more suited to unlock a deeper defence, like Nkunku and Felix.

He is coming across as a stubborn fool, just as the Leicester fans warned us about.

I thought the set up was fine and let down by player performances.

However the (lack off) subs were ridiculous, this game was screaming for Nkunku.

6 minutes ago, Argo said:

I thought the set up was fine and let down by player performances.

However the (lack off) subs were ridiculous, this game was screaming for Nkunku.

Immediately took off Gusto for Cucurella. 

Rightfully took off Madueke when needed. 

I mean bar Nkunku he made all the right changes. I wouldn’t have taken off Neto and Felix on the wing is actually worse than Mudryk. 
 

Biggest issue is that the players just didn’t show up, which has been a theme this past decade at Old Trafford and better Chelsea managers than Maresca experienced this.

Not scoring enough goals in the PL games.

In 6 games out of 10 we've only scored 1 or 0 and that's not enough given the error propensity of our defence.

We were much better at this last season, when we scored 2+ in 24 out of our 38 games. Scoring 2+ goals generally secures you the points. 

I said a few weeks ago that my opinion on him would be a more positive one if we beat Newcastle (league and cup) and United. Even two wins out of those games I would have been satisfied with, but only getting 1 win from these 3 games is poor. 

I'm not a fan of his tactics. I've not really seen any marked improvement on Pochettino in any area, not defensively (which is arguably worse) not in midfield, not in attack. If anything, it's worse. He hasn't had any of the injury issues Pochettino had, he's had the first team pretty much all season, so we should be looking more comfortable than we have been. Everything, like it has been for a few year now, is way too slow and reactionary. It needed United to score for us wake up and start putting pressure on their goal and have a meaningful shot.

Sticking with Sanchez and Jackson is laughable too, especially when he has Nkunku waiting on the bench who is 10x the player Jackson is. 

I feel like he's overcomplicating things. There is so much natural talent on the pitch, but I feel like most of them are hamstrung by these tactics. It's all so slow and calculated, instead of relying on natural talent. You see it straight from the kick off, the ball goes back to the keeper, and we slowly build. We get to the oppositions box, but if there isn't a clear path way through, it goes backwards. I hate this style of football, I feel like it's been a massive detriment to our success on the pitch over most of the decade. It doesn't suit our club, and I just don't see myself ever backing it.

Edited November 3, 20241 yr by Scott Harris

4 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Immediately took off Gusto for Cucurella. 

Rightfully took off Madueke when needed. 

I mean bar Nkunku he made all the right changes. I wouldn’t have taken off Neto and Felix on the wing is actually worse than Mudryk. 
 

Biggest issue is that the players just didn’t show up, which has been a theme this past decade at Old Trafford and better Chelsea managers than Maresca experienced this.

I wouldn't have brought Mudryk on, the guy can't do much of anything. I would rather see Palmer moved out wide right, Neto stay left wing and Felix bought on into the middle behind Nkunku who should have come on at half time.

I think he was on the right path for a long time but that he's now began to cock it up with his whole James/Gusto on the pitch at the same time shtick. He's tinkered when there was no reason to tinker and its come back to bite us in the arse and i'm not particularly happy about that.

Edited November 3, 20241 yr by OriginalS

9 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I wouldn't have brought Mudryk on, the guy can't do much of anything. I would rather see Palmer moved out wide right, Neto stay left wing and Felix bought on into the middle behind Nkunku who should have come on at half time.

Has to come up with a way to get the best players on the pitch at the same time. 

Our opponents must be delighted each week to see Nkunku (especially) on the bench.

He's making a right cock up of this inverted full back stuff. Maresca seems to want his inverted full backs to be CAM's at times, like Gusto was throughout the first half. I really don't think an inverted full back should be anymore than an extra body in midfield to free up space and open things up for our attackers, but Maresca seems to want them to do a bit of everything. It's impossible though because it's inevitable that some attacks will break down which leads to us being open at the back with the full back so far up the pitch. Everything is built around the inverted full back, and I think it's hurting us more than helping us.

25 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I wouldn't have brought Mudryk on, the guy can't do much of anything. I would rather see Palmer moved out wide right, Neto stay left wing and Felix bought on into the middle behind Nkunku who should have come on at half time.

No point bring Enzo on either. Just wasted subs on 2 players who were never, ever going to help us in this game.

Just now, axman2526 said:

No point bring Enzo on either. Just wasted subs on 2 players who were never, ever going to help us in this game.

Enzo should arguably have scored the winner, but he's such a woeful finisher that he hit it over the bar.

33 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Immediately took off Gusto for Cucurella. 

Rightfully took off Madueke when needed. 

I mean bar Nkunku he made all the right changes. I wouldn’t have taken off Neto and Felix on the wing is actually worse than Mudryk. 
 

Biggest issue is that the players just didn’t show up, which has been a theme this past decade at Old Trafford and better Chelsea managers than Maresca experienced this.

His only good sub was fixing his mistake starting Gusto ahead of Cucurella.

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Enzo should arguably have scored the winner, but he's such a woeful finisher that he hit it over the bar.

And as such was a poor sub. He scores different story, but did any expect him too? Don't think so.

Us not getting 3 points today is on Maresca. He's not the first Chelsea Manager to show a very average United team too much respect but we were really poor today, so only using 3 subs and two of those as late as 70 minutes is a bit head-scratching to be honest.

I do get that we might be game managing Nkuku after he was out for so long but surely he would have been worth putting on for 15-20 minutes?

A draw at Old Trafford used to be an acceptable result but that was 2 points dropped today and we easily could have even lost.

Edited November 3, 20241 yr by Nibs

9 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Enzo should arguably have scored the winner, but he's such a woeful finisher that he hit it over the bar.

Caicedo's goal was the first this season in the PL by one of our midfielders or defenders. Pretty shocking stat given that we are 10 games in, but not really surprising when you watch what the likes of Enzo do when they have a great chance to score.

 

17 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

He's making a right cock up of this inverted full back stuff. Maresca seems to want his inverted full backs to be CAM's at times, like Gusto was throughout the first half. I really don't think an inverted full back should be anymore than an extra body in midfield to free up space and open things up for our attackers, but Maresca seems to want them to do a bit of everything. It's impossible though because it's inevitable that some attacks will break down which leads to us being open at the back with the full back so far up the pitch. Everything is built around the inverted full back, and I think it's hurting us more than helping us.

Why would you want a guy who has never scored in senior football to be up top joining in centrally with attacks ? Make it make sense LOL

Edited November 3, 20241 yr by Sexyfootball

50 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

His only good sub was fixing his mistake starting Gusto ahead of Cucurella.

 

52 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

No point bring Enzo on either. Just wasted subs on 2 players who were never, ever going to help us in this game.

Lavia is being managed appropriately so Enzo was always going to come on at some point. 

11 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

Lavia is being managed appropriately so Enzo was always going to come on at some point. 

We need a better alternative for Lavia than Enzo.

21 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

We need a better alternative for Lavia than Enzo.

I agree.

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

He's making a right cock up of this inverted full back stuff. Maresca seems to want his inverted full backs to be CAM's at times, like Gusto was throughout the first half. I really don't think an inverted full back should be anymore than an extra body in midfield to free up space and open things up for our attackers, but Maresca seems to want them to do a bit of everything. It's impossible though because it's inevitable that some attacks will break down which leads to us being open at the back with the full back so far up the pitch. Everything is built around the inverted full back, and I think it's hurting us more than helping us.

Completely agree, I've never understood why its a good idea to force a full back into a 10' position. Different skillsets

He’s somehow got to turn these young players into winners and get them over the line against the big teams, otherwise we’ll just be flat track bullies. They seem to bottle the big games. 

53 minutes ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Completely agree, I've never understood why its a good idea to force a full back into a 10' position. Different skillsets

The Issue when we play a midfield 2, or pivot, is that one of the wingers gets isolated. Palmer likes to combine with Madueke so the LW is left alone. Thats why we see Cucurella/Gusto to fill into that channel.