27. Malo Gusto

[bluesman2610 1,368]

1 hour ago, Blue Armour said:

I think Reece when fully fit and in form is a superior defender. 

I'll never forget his games against Madrid in the CL.

I haven't seen anything of that level from Gusto yet.

I disagree I don't think it's as cut and dry as fit and form because Gusto has shown that he could pocket some high calibre wingers in Doku and Diaz this season alone. Obviously, as we haven't been in the Champions League it's hard to determine against Europe's best but the kid is 20 years old and plays far beyond his years and will only get better. He is a willing runner for Palmer on the overlap all game and his engine is immense. To keep him healthy and on the pitch, Reece should be moved to CB if he has the ability for it would save us spending more millions on CB and he could always fill in at RB if needed.

[Mário César 1,048]

we need to upgrade our left defender and sell chilwell or cucurella 

[King Kante 1,539]

On 17/03/2024 at 18:38, bluesman2610 said:

Reece might need a position change if he wants to play week in and week out barring him staying healthy of course. We used to say Reece attacking output nailed him as a starter but Gusto has shown he’s capable. 

Reece should've been moved to DM ages ago for a variety of reasons. Personally, I cannot wait until he comes back and gets Caishito out of the team. 

[Stats 7,069]

1 hour ago, King Kante said:

Reece should've been moved to DM ages ago for a variety of reasons. Personally, I cannot wait until he comes back and gets Caishito out of the team. 

I don't get why people make these kind of schoolboy comments. Caicedo has not set the world alight, however he has definitely improved last few games. He is still very young as well and I am hopeful and think he will be a very stellar signing for years to come.

[bluesman2610 1,368]

1 hour ago, Stats said:

I don't get why people make these kind of schoolboy comments. Caicedo has not set the world alight, however he has definitely improved last few games. He is still very young as well and I am hopeful and think he will be a very stellar signing for years to come.

Exactly he's started to find his feet now in this team. If we didn't spend so much money on MF Reece may be an option for the CDM but I still think that might require too much running for him. Reece is better off playing RCB in a 2 or 3 where he can still step into midfield and influence the game.

[King Kante 1,539]

4 hours ago, Stats said:

I don't get why people make these kind of schoolboy comments. Caicedo has not set the world alight, however he has definitely improved last few games. He is still very young as well and I am hopeful and think he will be a very stellar signing for years to come.

Other than run about a lot and make a nuisance of himself what does he do? His ability on the ball is what concerns me most, his positional play is also very poor. Reason he keeps having to make tackles from weird angles is because he has picked up the wrong position. In addition, if you're lucky enough to go to games, you'll frequently see Enzo and the WB's having to constantly talk/shout at him to move him into his correct position off the ball as he has a massive habit of chasing the ball. 

Honestly, once we get someone who can move the ball in a DM position and isn't a complete defensively/physical liability, the quicker people will see Caicedo is incredibly underwhelming. 

[Stats 7,069]

12 hours ago, King Kante said:

Other than run about a lot and make a nuisance of himself what does he do? His ability on the ball is what concerns me most, his positional play is also very poor. Reason he keeps having to make tackles from weird angles is because he has picked up the wrong position. In addition, if you're lucky enough to go to games, you'll frequently see Enzo and the WB's having to constantly talk/shout at him to move him into his correct position off the ball as he has a massive habit of chasing the ball. 

Honestly, once we get someone who can move the ball in a DM position and isn't a complete defensively/physical liability, the quicker people will see Caicedo is incredibly underwhelming. 

In recent games, he has recovered a lot of balls, made interceptions and made good passes also. The positioning I blame on Poch. All the players are over the place and sometimes he is left exposed. Enzo is frequently moving around the pitch. Yes I go to Stamford Bridge quite frequently and I have seen improvements from him. The transfer fee was a lot, but this is his first season at us and he is only recently turned 22. So give him some time and support as he has definitely improved and making comments such as 'Cashito' is quite silly. Maybe give one of our players support and recognise his improvements.`

[King Kante 1,539]

39 minutes ago, Stats said:

In recent games, he has recovered a lot of balls, made interceptions and made good passes also. The positioning I blame on Poch. All the players are over the place and sometimes he is left exposed. Enzo is frequently moving around the pitch. Yes I go to Stamford Bridge quite frequently and I have seen improvements from him. The transfer fee was a lot, but this is his first season at us and he is only recently turned 22. So give him some time and support as he has definitely improved and making comments such as 'Cashito' is quite silly. Maybe give one of our players support and recognise his improvements.`

I support him in all the games. I do not boo my own players in the ground - Sterling I cannot stand but I will always still applaude him off the pitch - even if half-heatedly as my feelings are that crowd chanting can only have a positive impact if positive.

I'll admit the the naming was probably unwise, however it is a reflection on what my personal opinions/oberservations are of his skill set. Personally, I don't see the improvement you're talking about apart from the interceptions - however even then I have serious concerns about how he does this with the angles he comes in at; therefore, I believe his need to intercept so much - and especially in having to go down to ground to intercept - is largely due to his poor positional play to begin with, so he is essentially just trying to bail himself out most times. I honestly do believe once Lavia or even James come back and put in his position, we'll see a lot more stability in the side when trying to transition the ball from back to front and when dealing with counter attacks from the opposition. 

Edited March 20, 2024 by King Kante

[IMissEden 21]

Love a tried and true trained midfielder failing to be the RB successor to James fucking nutcase fanbase 

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

Unless he's being instructed to be so ignorant with the way he leaves his position, he has much to learn defensively. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

1 hour ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Unless he's being instructed to be so ignorant with the way he leaves his position, he has much to learn defensively. 

Indeed, but he’s 21 and that comes with the package.

[Fernando 6,502]

I been saying it I think this season he has not improve like last season. If anyone that has up his game as to oppose to him is Cucu. 

Nonetheless like many say here he is 21. 

But be interested if Acheampong can capitalize and get opportunity. 

[DH1988 1,332]

Odd one for me, he had some very mature games and we hardly felt the loss of Reece to be honest. Perhaps being asked to do too much in this new system but he has been woeful, not faulting his effort but certainly an opportunity for Josh to take advantage of.

[Thor 2,475]

5 hours ago, DH1988 said:

Odd one for me, he had some very mature games and we hardly felt the loss of Reece to be honest. Perhaps being asked to do too much in this new system but he has been woeful, not faulting his effort but certainly an opportunity for Josh to take advantage of.

He isn't great inverting and like you said - his game suffers when he is asked to do too much. 

Whenever he has been told to just bomb up and down and lock his matchup down 1 on 1, he shines. Anything more, he looks like a tidy player always in the wrong place and not making an impact. 

[Fernando 6,502]

1 hour ago, Thor said:

He isn't great inverting and like you said - his game suffers when he is asked to do too much. 

Whenever he has been told to just bomb up and down and lock his matchup down 1 on 1, he shines. Anything more, he looks like a tidy player always in the wrong place and not making an impact. 

Would love for Acheampong to capitalize on this. As Gusto que has been very limited on the inverting full back position. 

[Vesper 29,247]

Chelsea’s loss to Brighton in FA Cup showed key player may need to leave, he doesn’t suit Enzo Maresca at all

https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/columnist/chelseas-loss-to-brighton-in-fa-cup-showed-key-player-may-need-to-leave-he-doesnt-suit-enzo-maresca-at-all/

Chelsea cannot blame resting all of their key players for why they exited the FA Cup at the fourth round stage last night.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 by Brighton at the Amex, with the comical own goal that was handed to them just five minutes in being the sole bright spot.

There were no real clear-cut chances for Chelsea, even when they were chasing the game and introduced the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke off the bench.

Very few players did well in The Chelsea Chronicle’s player ratings for the defeat, and one of those who did not score highly is Malo Gusto.

Malo Gusto may need to leave Chelsea as he doesn’t suit Enzo Maresca’s system

The Frenchman has been a key player for the Blues since he became a first team player in the summer of 2023. The injury woes for Reece James have seen him have to step up as a regular.

The club captain was absent from the squad last night, however Enzo Maresca cleared up that James was not expected to be missing for the next game.

At times this season, Gusto has been asked to invert into midfield to suit the system that the new manager wants to play, and it is clear that this has not been a seamless transition.

In fact, it seems realistic at this point to think the 21-year-old could soon be on the chopping block if the club believe Maresca is the man to carry the project forwards.

It is incredible to think this opinion can even surface, given just how important he was to the squad last season.

Cole Palmer voted Gusto as his Chelsea player of the season for 2023/24, and it looked as if he was in for a very successful career in West London.

Gusto’s terrible stats from Chelsea’s loss to Brighton

Given that Chelsea operated in a more traditional back four last night, it could be expected that Gusto could be back to his best in a Chelsea shirt.

However, the Frenchman really struggled up against Kaoru Mitoma and even Tariq Lamptey, losing the most duels of any player in the match.

Even if James is not fit, Chelsea have the option of starting Josh Acheampong in that position after he was promoted to the first team earlier this season and signed a long-term contract with the club.

Given he can shift into midfield or a back three far easier, this could spell bad news for Gusto’s future at Stamford Bridge.