1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

So just don't play your highest earner???

Furthermore, many of you take this competition too seriously. I honestly couldn't care less how we play, Maresca can try Sanchez as st and I don't care.

All I want to see in this competition is how estavao handle European opp n Santos.

Firstly, let’s not forget that Maresca said as soon as he joined he saw James as a midfielder so I’m not sure how much weight I put into this idea that he is playing there cause he can no longer play fullback regularly. Unless of course this is another lie by Maresca.

Secondly, yes if your highest earner can no longer perform week in week out in his best position then you manage their game time more efficiently instead of moving them to a different position entirely that they aren’t anything special at.

It’s not just this competition though, he’s been doing it all season. I wouldn’t care if it wasn’t a regular thing.

Edited June 21, 20251 yr by Remodez

Protecting players is fine from a manager, but being a complete bullsh*tter winds me up, and that's what Maresca is.

15 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

I’ve been promised by certain posters on this forum we need to trust the process. The manager has done a fantastic job and has huge upside potential (he’s yet to win a difficult game) and the players potential are huge and we’re building a squad to dominate for decades (any player that proves themself get left out so they can be sold for profit).

Clubs on its arse, but we’re not allowed to talk about it because certain posters, no names mentioned, will get upset and call us negative.

@Clown Lake

Terrible game for the manager to make formation and tactic changes. Flamengo are our strongest opponents in this group. However, I still enjoyed myself at the game and the Flamengo fans were class. 54k attendance yesterday, possibly the highest so far at the tournament. I would have been fuming if I was not in the stadium surrounded by amazing people, so I understand your anger. (Jackson and Maresca got boo’d pretty heavy).

Our defense aside of Cucurella were having a nightmare. Palmer was out of the game, barely a shell of a player. Appeared disinterested and lost out there. This was also due to Gusto not overlapping much, leaving Palmer in his own island 1v2 for majority of the game.

Whatever game-plan Maresca had, does not fill me with confidence. Still early days however, this is essentially a friendly Tournament regardless of the amount of wealth earned.

I'm mot remotely fussed about the red card. In fact, in a way I welcome it. This is a mickey mouse post season tournament that means absolutely f**k all . The Jackson red card is a blessing in disguise as it leaves a wife open door for Delap to walk into. Let's just hope the ban is extended.

And let's rest the likes of Palmer, Caciedo and Cucurella. They shouldn't even be in the squad

Didn’t see the match so can’t really comment on it.

I have seen the goals and the sending off but can’t really form an informed opinion from the 2 minute highlights I’ve seen.

What I am concerned about is that after squeezing into the Champions League this is a really good chance to tweak the squad with a couple of quality signings and at the very least keep the 16 EPL teams behind us at bay.

I actually like Rory Delap but we need more quality and not the same potential only model that we’ve done for the last couple of seasons.

Even upgrading the goalkeeper, buying Mark Guehi (we can get him for a discount), a decent right footed winger and a top striker would improve us dramatically IMO.

Are the board smart enough to take us to the next level or will they be caught flat-footed when teams all around us are improving and we struggle to finish in the top 4.

There’s still time of course as the transfer window has only just opened but the real quality players that move the needle are being snapped up by other clubs left right and centre.

Edited June 21, 20251 yr by 2211

Their first goal looks off-side to me and some fortune with the third.

Netto's goal was superb the control was magnificent and can't work out if Enzo's in the previous match was better.

21 hours ago, Deino said:

Yes. His lovechild Jackson will never be dropped

I think the only time he was dropped, was he was dropped on his head as a kid...and even that didn't knock any sense into him.

8 hours ago, 2211 said:

Didn’t see the match so can’t really comment on it.

I actually like Rory Delap but we need more quality and not the same potential only model that we’ve done for the last couple of seasons.

Rory Delap is well past it, mate. And I doubt we'll ever go for the long throw ins, anway.

Edited June 21, 20251 yr by ross91690

1 hour ago, ross91690 said:

Rory Delap is well past it, mate. And I doubt we'll ever go for the long throw ins, anway.

Of course I meant Liam 😂

You’re right about the long throws, that tactic is far too direct for Maresca.

10 hours ago, ross91690 said:

Rory Delap is well past it, mate. And I doubt we'll ever go for the long throw ins, anway.

If we had Rory under Maresca his long throws would be used to send the ball back to the keeper from everywhere on the pitch.

delete

Edited June 22, 20251 yr by acaeus

1 hour ago, dkw said:

If we had Rory under Maresca his long throws would be used to send the ball back to the keeper from everywhere on the pitch.

I'm more worried about the current Delap, who looks like a project like pretty much the rest of the squad.

1 hour ago, dkw said:

If we had Rory under Maresca his long throws would be used to send the ball back to the keeper from everywhere on the pitch.

If we had Rory under Maresca he'd possibly play him in goal. Which would still be an upgrade.

3 hours ago, loz said:

If we had Rory under Maresca he'd possibly play him in goal. Which would still be an upgrade.

Well his throw outs would be longer for sure.

On 21/06/2025 at 17:01, strider6004 said:

Their first goal looks off-side to me and some fortune with the third.

Netto's goal was superb the control was magnificent and can't work out if Enzo's in the previous match was better.

I think there was a lot more fortune for neto's goal than any of theirs to have the ball deflect off him twice towards goal. We were out matched for much of the game and they looked like the team likely to score following our opener.