See, Cucurella has played get role where he inverts up to the 10. That’s where his heat map was predominantly against the Greece side. Difference being he’s the only one that seems comfortable doing it. His awareness in terms of knowing where to be, when to be there, especially coming back on defense and not being caught out, is simply better than Gusto’s.From what i could see during the game was Gusto seemed to be pushing up next to Palmer when we attacked.
Personally i wouldn't want to see Cucurella that high and if James is sitting in then Cucurella doesn't offer anything different.
If its a choice between a fit Reece James OR Cucurella, no matter how good his form is Reece wins that battle every single time.
Heck, even offensively, Cucu was running pivot in the left channel between Mischa and Joao really well. Tight spaces and playing in midfield is far more in Cucu’s wheelhouse than Gusto. Now if we overlapped? Gusto all day.
Maybe he is working his way back to a Cucu James partnership as others have said. The other thing that worries me, other than wearing Reece out, is a Gusto partnership also seems to mean more Desasi at RB…