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We were also the better side with 10 after the red card.

Maybe it is a bit of shoehorning but why can't Alonso work on adapting Hato's game to a DM role until we can go into the market. The lad is strong, is defensively minded, can pick a pass (although maybe with some limitations). We need someone strong and press resistant in there. If he can keep it simple in possession and not try to break lines too much then I think Alonso could get a tune out of him in this role. I am not saying to be the answer or to be the main man, but with Caiceido, Lavia, Barco, Henderson, Gusto (haha), and Hato, there should be enough combinations to limit the possible holes in the position. Regardless of perceived quality and just working off of warm bodies, i am still a little surprised that we didn't recall Essugo from Strasbourg when Monaco flip flopped.

I'm totally indifferent about his departure. There would have been a time when losing a star player hurt, but here I think it's for the best for all parties.

If he does well I see Tottenham and De Zerbi convincing them to buy him.

CHELSEA WONT GET SCOTT OR WHARTON UNTIL NEXT SUMMER, NEITHER WILL BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE IN JANUARY

We slapped Arsenal at home last season until Caicedo decided he wanted a early bath and that was with Reece in midfield.

https://talksport.com/football/4553070/chelsea-mystery-deadline-day-transfer-james-garner/

If Caicedo is long-term injured we are completely f**ked. Without him we don't have a functioning midfield.

We have a international break coming up I think we should be back to full strength before too long. Alonso probably unhappy and the clowns will know the last thing they can do is piss of Alonso.

In my parallel universe there is only one rival, Liverpool.

If he was fine the club would have briefed it by now to appease the fans who are disappointed we didn't get a midfielder. I'm afraid he may be out for a while.

The vast majority of our fans up in arms about us not signing him hadnt even heard of him until yesterday.

Do we know anything about him yet, or are we rocking up at the Emirates with a right back in midfield for the third game in a row?

In my lifetime, our biggest rivals have been, in no particular order: Spurs Leeds West Ham Arsenal Millwall Man Utd Liverpool Out of those, some are more terrace related than actual football on the pitch and the likes of QPR and Fulham wanted to be our rivals where we kind of laughed at them. I guess a lot of it, will come down to who is the successful team of the moment, so since the late 70's onwards, the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd have becomes the teams you always want to beat. Of course you always want to beat anyone, especially Spurs & Leeds, but in the last few seasons, I suppose I want us to beat Arsenal and Liverpool more than anyone, because both annoy me equally - especially their fan-bases. But I post this now, because even though they have been very successful for a fair while now, Man City never bothered me and I was of the opinion that if we can't be winning things, I would much rather City did than Arsenal, Utd or the Dippers. But I think that may have now changed. With the two Enzo's now at City, I am looking to the games where we play them, and I probably want to win those more than any others this season. The thought of us losing to the bald pep-lite fraud and the tattooed Argie c*nt....................well it just can't happen. This rivalry might only last all the time Maresca is there (which hopefully won't be long at it will all end in tears), but the first time we play City will be the day after my birthday in December and it will be the best birthday present I could wish for if we take those 3 points.

I`m not even overly concerned if we dont buy in January, we need to make sure we buy the right player when they are available in the right situation, dont just buy for the sake of it.

One game a week will help, but it doesn’t solve the actual problem. We’ve played two matches this season, and in both, a right‑back ended up in midfield. Against Fulham we had basically zero control, and against Brighton our midfield pairing completed twenty passes across ninety minutes. I don’t expect Caicedo to become injury‑prone suddenly, but once again we’re entering a season where if anything happens to him, we’re f**ked. James in midfield is “fine” in the same way Chalobah was “fine” as a backup centre‑back. Barco is still completely untested. Not going to have my perception swayed immediately because he looked tidy against a League One side at home. People pushing Watson or Nicole‑Jazuli as genuine options are being disingenuous; Gusto would play ahead of both. After that, it’s a 36‑year‑old Jordan Henderson and blind hope that Romeo Lavia, for the first time in his career, doesn’t pick up a months‑long muscular injury. Very curious to see what happens against Arsenal now, especially against a midfield that has bullied us on so many occasions.

It is what it is, nothing we can do about it now. I’m ok with Barco getting more minutes to develop. My main issues are James isn’t a midfielder, with a couple of injuries we are light in midfield. My main one I don’t want to see Gusto used as a midfielder under any circumstances, I don’t even rate him as a player and I definitely don’t want to see him in the engine room. I’d honestly rather promote Watson.

Would agree if 2 of the midfield options weren’t currently injured and the other 2 weren’t insanely injury prone (one of whom is arguably better suited to playing anywhere across the back 5 than midfield). Maybe Barco or someone from the youth teams will step up. I don’t think it’s a complete disaster that some are making it out but it’s far from ideal either.

I think we will be fine mate chill we are playing one game a week. We have enough to keep us going, had we got into Europe then it would have been a completely different story. Alonso can now really see who he wants and they better go and get him right at the start of January and don’t drag their feet.

Was just about to post the same thing. It's time for Josh's Rafa Márquez moment. Plus he's ten times the ball carrier that Enzo is.

You’re just getting upset at hypotheticals. Lavia looks fit and has finished 90 minutes. RJ breaks down a lot less at CM. We have no idea about Caicedo. Barco doesn’t get injured and looks an upgrade on Enzo already so far.

We dont need cover in midfield, if thats the case just use Watson and/or Nicoll-Jazuli. What we need is a quality starter next to Caicedo, none of these free agents will be able to do that. Lets keep the powder dry and go again in January for Wharton, Scott or whoever we deem to be our main target.

Well I think Enzo is so bad in the pivot that Reggie Watson would be as good / better. So yes, Barco is a level up for me.

Judging by the words of his agent, it seems the guy did not want to come here anyway. Maybe Liverpool are in touch with him for a longer time and even promised him a better contract, maybe the agent will get a bigger fee from Liverpool. All I understand from his statement is he did not want to be involved in the negociations between Monaco and Chelsea. Same for Ismaila Sarr who wanted Liverpool so bad, but Palace did not let him go there. It seems that the agent is very close to Liverpool and wanted both his players there.