11 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Should play behind Delap with Palmer back on the right. This makes too much sense though so Maresca will naturally leave him up top with zero service.

I said in the match thread, aa decent coach would have seen how isolated Pedro was as he was constantly outnumbered, sent on another striker and we had the perfect one in Delap to "bully" their defenders., create space for Pedro. Instead the clueless f**ker took just did his usual "like for like" subs and changed absolutely nothing.

I wouldn't put Pedro in the number 10 role in this system as he will eventually end up in DM but yes, 2 strikers with a fullback overlapping was worth a try.

Edited August 18, 2025Aug 18 by Remodez

27 minutes ago, dkw said:

I said in the match thread, aa decent coach would have seen how isolated Pedro was as he was constantly outnumbered, sent on another striker and we had the perfect one in Delap to "bully" their defenders., create space for Pedro. Instead the clueless f**ker took just did his usual "like for like" subs and changed absolutely nothing.

Can you not call Maresca useless please, he won a pre season friendly against PSG and beat some farmers in a third rate European competition. The mans a genius, trust the process!

1 hour ago, dkw said:

I said in the match thread, aa decent coach would have seen how isolated Pedro was as he was constantly outnumbered, sent on another striker and we had the perfect one in Delap to "bully" their defenders., create space for Pedro. Instead the clueless f**ker took just did his usual "like for like" subs and changed absolutely nothing.

It wasn’t just the like for like subs that was baffling, it was the bring gusto on for James and ask him to do the exact same thing as him. If something isn’t working try the same thing with different players mentality

If Mersca keeps this setup going forward all our forwards will get isolated.

If you want to play

Delap

Lw - Pedro - Palmer

And you are not planning to ask Palmer to defend a lot. Then either your LW need to play wb or your 10 need to defend like a midfielder.

11 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

If you want to play

Delap

Lw - Pedro - Palmer

And you are not planning to ask Palmer to defend a lot. Then either your LW need to play wb or your 10 need to defend like a midfielder.

Or you realise you’re playing West Ham and attack the game instead?

Let the defenders and Caicedo do the defending. Play some attacking players and attack the game? Play on the front foot.

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

If you want to play

Delap

Lw - Pedro - Palmer

And you are not planning to ask Palmer to defend a lot. Then either your LW need to play wb or your 10 need to defend like a midfielder.

Why do you pretend like Palmer can’t defend?

Neto is pretty blunt in attack so can do the defensive shift.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Why do you pretend like Palmer can’t defend?

Neto is pretty blunt in attack so can do the defensive shift.

This is more or less how we set up against PSG.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Why do you pretend like Palmer can’t defend?

Neto is pretty blunt in attack so can do the defensive shift.

No team want their by far best attacker to really defend.

31 minutes ago, Remodez said:

This is more or less how we set up against PSG.

Now ask him to play wb for full season in PL.

23 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

No team want their by far best attacker to really defend.

Did he defend v PSG?

21 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

No team want their by far best attacker to really defend.

He legitimately could of had a hattrick against PSG in that set up.

21 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Now ask him to play wb for full season in PL.

Except we wouldn't play that set up the full PL season.

I'm sure he'd be willing against the big sides.

26 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Now ask him to play wb for full season in PL.

No one is suggesting he does it for a full season.

I reckon if you stick a better all round midfielder (like Santos) alongside Caicedo, instead of Fernandez, then much of the need for the front four to defend is mitigated anyway ...

8 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I reckon if you stick a better all round midfielder (like Santos) alongside Caicedo, instead of Fernandez, then much of the need for the front four to defend is mitigated anyway ...

Even then it will be difficult. Unless we are talking about two Kante. 😁😁

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

He legitimately could of had a hattrick against PSG in that set up.

Except we wouldn't play that set up the full PL season.

I'm sure he'd be willing against the big sides.

I don't think Palmer will have any problem in most system.

It will be more than big sides, if we use last season, he need to play wb against everyone except the newly promoted team.

We have seen it everywhere

Costa

Hazard - Oscar - Willian

😁😁 Defensive 10

Hazard - Diego - Pedro

Back 5

Mane - Firmino - Salah

3 runner in midfield.

Gakpo

Diaz - Jones/Szobo - Salah

Midfieldder as 10

Pep was probably the only who did it with 5 attacker but you need elite player everywhere.

Slot is trying to do it this season and they have conceded 4 goals in two games so not sure it is working that well.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Did he defend v PSG?

Did neto play as wb vs PSG?

Against sides that will be stubborn to break down, play 5 attackers. (Delap, Pedro, Palmer, Estevao, Simons)

Against the big clubs, play a strong midfield , Neto LW and Palmer RW with Delap/Pedro up top.

Conversation over.

53 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Did neto play as wb vs PSG?

Yes, probably the most use he’s been since we signed him

11 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Yes, probably the most use he’s been since we signed him

I think he is very good. It is just fans expectation of him is very low. Neto is 25, he is in his prime. You need him to be the difference maker week in week out.

Not gittens (21),estevao(18), heck even Madueke who many here thought is very bad is only 22

5 hours ago, Bob stark said:

I think he is very good. It is just fans expectation of him is very low. Neto is 25, he is in his prime. You need him to be the difference maker week in week out.

Not gittens (21),estevao(18), heck even Madueke who many here thought is very bad is only 22

He's just a left footed Willian. He'll add work rate and balance but he's never and will never be a difference maker over a season.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

He's just a left footed Willian. He'll add work rate and balance but he's never and will never be a difference maker over a season.

Willian was better than what Neto showed so far.

9 hours ago, True Blue23 said:

Willian was better than what Neto showed so far.

I’d say he was very similar to Willian’s first few seasons. A lot of hard work and balanced the team but end product was none existent.