1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

The reason why Maresca is our manager

Because he is a Bullsh*tting expert who has the ability to make up complete rubbish on the spot and is able to keep a straight face whilst doing it.

We get it Bob.

Happy to confirm he is actually back at the club and does exist.

1 minute ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Happy to confirm he is actually back at the club and does exist.

I've yet to see a close-up of his face, though.

I thought that he helped to chang the game. He looks like a proper striker, hunting the ball up front and getting into the right positions. Im not sure why Maresca doesn’t play him more often.

19 minutes ago, RMH said:

I thought that he helped to chang the game. He looks like a proper striker, hunting the ball up front and getting into the right positions. Im not sure why Maresca doesn’t play him more often.

An actual striker gave us more space and helped our attack. who would have Thought?

Well he can’t go out on loan in January now, no excuse to not give him serious game time between now and Delap’s return.

4 hours ago, Valerie said:

I've yet to see a close-up of his face, though.

Looks a bit like Torres

Edited October 4, 2025Oct 4 by just

1 hour ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Well he can’t go out on loan in January now, no excuse to not give him serious game time between now and Delap’s return.

Even after Delap returns. Joao Pedro should be used off a striker, not instead of one.

3 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Even after Delap returns. Joao Pedro should be used off a striker, not instead of one.

Pedro isn’t a striker. Delap or Guiu should be at 9.

Just now, GarnachoCheese said:

Pedro isn’t a striker. Delap or Guiu should be at 9.

1 hour ago, just said:

Looks a bit like Torres

Guiu is fine.

Was rusty and may not be good enough to be a starter but infinitely more effective and confuses defences more than George. Maresca has cost us potential points in the last few games by not using him.

18 minutes ago, CaitlinCFC said:

Guiu is fine.

32 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Even after Delap returns. Joao Pedro should be used off a striker, not instead of one.

Maresca has a big problem on his hands if all of these players get fit.

If we start Pedro and Delap together, one of Estevao or Palmer misses out.

If we start one of Pedro or Delap on their own, Palmer plays CAM, which doesn't work well with him in Maresca's system and Joao Pedro can't play the striker role on his own.

Personally, I would hate to see Palmer and Estevao sharing that RW position, they should be playing together in the long run. I'm not sure how we make this happen though.

Edited October 5, 2025Oct 5 by Scott Harris

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Maresca has a big problem on his hands if all of these players get fit.

If we start Pedro and Delap together, one of Estevao or Palmer misses out.

If we start one of Pedro or Delap on their own, Palmer plays CAM, which doesn't work well with him in Maresca's system and Joao Pedro can't play the striker role on his own.

Personally, I would hate to see Palmer and Estevao sharing that RW position, they should be playing together in the long run. I'm not sure how we make this happen though.

Joao Pedro on the left cutting inside.

Palmer on the right cutting inside.

Estevao In the 10 free to go left or right.

All 3 free flowing and interchangeable.

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Joao Pedro on the left cutting inside.

Palmer on the right cutting inside.

Estevao In the 10 free to go left or right.

All 3 free flowing and interchangeable.

Free flowing? Maresca would have a stroke at the thought of it! 😆

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Free flowing? Maresca would have a stroke at the thought of it! 😆

Possibly but I wanted to show there is a way for all 4 of those players to start together.

Happy to see the lad play... i as brilliant to see a proper striker hunting down every ball. Heavy first touch once when a better one would have had him through 1 on 1.... but so much better than George!

The difference an actual striker makes was plain to see. He was constantly moving centre backs around, contacting them, bump and move, creating problems for them.

10 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Happy to see the lad play... i as brilliant to see a proper striker hunting down every ball. Heavy first touch once when a better one would have had him through 1 on 1.... but so much better than George!

Can see however that first touch is what sets him apart from a striker who would be picked every week.

Aside from that promising. That was his moment to put a marker down.

15 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Joao Pedro on the left cutting inside.

Palmer on the right cutting inside.

Estevao In the 10 free to go left or right.

All 3 free flowing and interchangeable.

15 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Free flowing? Maresca would have a stroke at the thought of it! 😆

I wouldn’t play that front 3 if I know it’ll be Enzo behind them. He’s undroppable.

As of now, we are just a far more balanced side with 3 bodies in midfield as opposed to a CF taking up a midfield slot. Maybe when Maresca has the backbone to drop Enzo for Lavia we can think about being a bit more top heavy.

I would like to see Pedro as a LF with Guiu up top at some point.

How does our club ' develop " these players ?

A teenager from the famous Barcelona" La Masia" academy loaned to Sunderland and hardly getting minutes . ?

And that doesn't mean he's no good , Andrey Santos couldn't get a game a Forest either.

I suppose he's just potential profit ?

I have to be honest, I don't think Delap is going to be the answer either .

Just now, The Rising Sun said:

How does our club ' develop " these players ?

A teenager from the famous Barcelona" La Masia" academy loaned to Sunderland and hardly getting minutes . ?

And that doesn't mean he's no good , Andrey Santos couldn't get a game a Forest either.

I suppose he's just potential profit ?

I have to be honest, I don't think Delap is going to be the answer either .

To be fair he was only there for about 5 minutes

4 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

To be fair he was only there for about 5 minutes

😂 From the age of about 7 ?? He's only 19 now . I wish those years were really only 5 minutes, I'd still be a youngster !!

"He went on to join Barcelona themselves in the 2013–14 season, and progressed through the La Masia academy, and was called up to the senior squad for the first time in June 2023, ahead of pre-season matches against Celta de Vigo and Japanese opposition Vissel Kobe.[4] Guiu made his unofficial debut for Barcelona in the latter game, coming on as a half-time substitute for Robert Lewandowski.[5][6]'

Edited October 6, 2025Oct 6 by The Rising Sun
Info

Marc Guiu will be staying at Chelsea for the ‘whole season