Honestly, I blame the board far more than Xabi at this point. The midfield unit is the most important part of his approach to football, and the board handled that by essentially swapping Enzo Fernandez for 36 year old Jordan Henderson, a player who was never elite even at his best (loaning Essugo out for good measure too). Even if fit, Caicedo is not the type of player who can take on the lion’s share of requisite responsibilities for that type of football, Lavia is washed and it’s a miracle if he can stay healthy for 3 months, and James/Gusto have no business being anywhere near a Premier League midfield. I like Barco, but that’s not enough, this is a failure of management. Not to mention some of the other issues with the composition of the squad in my opinion. We’ll see.
Kane is going to win the Balon d’Or. he’s been the clear, significant favorite for months in terms of odds, would be a massive (very unlikely) upset if someone else wins. The reason Yamal is saying anything is probably because of how much the odds favor Kane. Feel like a lot of people are missing that fact, and still discussing it like it’s an open question…
Wijnaldum on a low risk stop gap deal could work out, better than overpaying for Camara (or having to see more Reece in midfield). Enough to keep things in shape until January, I’m honestly fine with it. I think Camara was getting a bit overhyped ngl, don’t think the season is a write off or anything because he wasn’t signed. He could also cover at #10 in a pinch in case of a Rogers injury (I think we need reinforcement there now but it can wait). We’ll see
Manu Kone is a great player I’ve been a fan of since his Gladbach days (you can check my tweets), but he needs a deeper midfielder, ideally someone who can sit and occupy more of than controller/holding role. Do they see Caicedo somehow becoming that guy? All in on Lavia?
he best/most positive part of today besides Palmer for me, really promising cameo. I like the positions he’s getting on the ball here way more than the advanced areas he’s played in the past few years, this is how he should be used.
Enzo should be the heartbeat/center point of the team in possession: freedom on the ball and with decision making, high volume of touches/reference point in possession for recycling play and positioning, giving him time and space to find attackers up top and out wide. This is what he’s best at, and what made him a 100m player.
He looks comfortable, and maybe even a bit slimmer/more fluid. Some really nice moments and passes in here that remind me of how he was used at River Plate/Benfica and early in his Chelsea career, world class at those first time balls over the top to set up a cross/cut back, and those lobbed passes to a runner in the box (I always think of his assists for Havertz and Felix in 22/23), among all the others he has in his locker.
Imo we 100% have to keep him, I think he’s a great fit in Xabi’s midfield who can provide a similar function to Xhaka/Palacios at Leverkusen, and I think Xabi will know how to best platform him and take advantage of his skills, the midfield is the most important part of Xabi’s teams, and he understands how a player like Enzo should be used.
We also don’t have any player who can offer what he does in central/deeper midfield, particularly wrt his verticality, passing range, and ability to stretch the pitch or quickly start attacks with his distribution, nobody even comes close.
He generated more threat in midfield in those 30 mins than Lavia/James did in 60…
We’re not going to find a player who can replace his skillset this window, and I think Chelsea fans wanting him sold for emotional reasons is foolish. In general, we should be looking to add one more midfielder, not selling one or just like for like replacing them. James is not a viable option in midfield and shouldn’t be factored in to that decision. I think the defensive concerns are exaggerated at this point and can be negated by our setup/back 3.
I think he’s going to stay, and I hope Chelsea fans drop this shortsighted agenda that’s really his agent’s fault if anything… he’s always played with full passion and dedication for the club, anyone who tries to claim otherwise is lying. Hope we can see him starting with Caicedo or Lavia soon.
If there was some option where I could magically redo a player’s career so they fulfilled their full potential, he’d be one of my first choices. As it stands, probably the finest technician (at least in terms of dribbling/ball control) Chelsea have had in midfield, and one of my favorite Chelsea players of the past decade. Some of those years he carried our ball progression so hard, one man press resistance and buildup cheat code, he made it look so simple and easy.
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If this is truly the end of the road, it’s been a pleasure Enzo.
🚨🇦🇷 Manchester City already made contact with Enzo Fernández camp but deal depends on Chelsea valuation.
#CFC ask for £120m fee and would be happy to keep Enzo, Man City hope to negotiate as deal depends on price.
🎥➕ youtu.be/ak_Wejo8OJ4?si=dd9x…
As much as I hate Spurs, would love to see him get a move like this, one of my favorite strikers, so well rounded and skilled. Knew he was special since that Ligue 2 season, nobody scored like he did in that league
Georges Mikautadze among the names attracting interest from #Tottenham as they look to strengthen their attack.
[@pokeefe1] 🥇
I don’t believe this, we already have too many centerbacks, no way we’re signing another
🚨🚨| JUST IN: Chelsea make enquiries about Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini, valued at €𝟒𝟎𝐌. 👀🇮🇹
Scalvini's new agent actively exploring the English market.
{@lucacerchione}
