Great news. Should clear the doubts about selling our best players and older players for profit. Good to see the club planning with the team in mind FIRST and foremost!!

Great news for player and club. Also a reminder to be patient - after a difficult start on and off the pitch, he’s shown his worth time and time again.

I get year 2-5 Dave vibes with Cucu - reassuring when in the team (noting Dave went even further). Last 12 months he’s been core with Palmer and Caicedo.

Edited August 23, 2025Aug 23 by PhilH930

1 hour ago, PhilH930 said:

Great news for player and club. Also a reminder to be patient - after a difficult start on and off the pitch, he’s shown his worth time and time again.

I get year 2-5 Dave vibes with Cucu - reassuring when in the team (noting Dave went even further). Last 12 months he’s been core with Palmer and Caicedo.

I don't think he deserved the boo's from some fans, but if he had played the same role he played in his first season, he would have flopped. He's not a wing back and he also struggles as a traditional fullback. His role is a niche in the game, but it's one that works for us and for him, even if I think Maresca has him too involved at times.

The near post flick on yesterday was superb

World class! Best LB in the world too I would say.

Proper finish

Bloody little Spanish terrier. 💙💙

On 23/08/2025 at 21:18, Scott Harris said:

I don't think he deserved the boo's from some fans, but if he had played the same role he played in his first season, he would have flopped. He's not a wing back and he also struggles as a traditional fullback. His role is a niche in the game, but it's one that works for us and for him, even if I think Maresca has him too involved at times.

I personally argue that traditional fb suit him. He is more of a runner than a dribbler.

I think he has improved his performance offensively big times this couple years which is unexpected. Defensively, it is still very sketchy.

The problem with cucu is his fee. For 60m you expect game changer fb.

10 hours ago, Bob stark said:

I personally argue that traditional fb suit him. He is more of a runner than a dribbler.

I think he has improved his performance offensively big times this couple years which is unexpected. Defensively, it is still very sketchy.

The problem with cucu is his fee. For 60m you expect game changer fb.

I think he's very solid defensively - he's a terrier and keeps hounding players, often getting us out of tight spots. The old mistakes aren't there in the same way they were 2 seasons ago and nowadays when teams break through our left hand side it's generally when Cucu gets isolated and bypassed with a 1-2.

Also these days 60m does not get you a game changer anymore. Bear in mind he's cheaper than the likes of Fofana, Kepa, Lukaku etc. I think game changers are more in the 100m mark.

Weirdly, I was looking at Transfermarkt and it lists our purchase price of Havertz as €100m. I swear it was more like £60-70m?

Kai Havertz - Transfer history

20 hours ago, Shweaves said:

I think he's very solid defensively - he's a terrier and keeps hounding players, often getting us out of tight spots. The old mistakes aren't there in the same way they were 2 seasons ago and nowadays when teams break through our left hand side it's generally when Cucu gets isolated and bypassed with a 1-2.

Also these days 60m does not get you a game changer anymore. Bear in mind he's cheaper than the likes of Fofana, Kepa, Lukaku etc. I think game changers are more in the 100m mark.

Weirdly, I was looking at Transfermarkt and it lists our purchase price of Havertz as €100m. I swear it was more like £60-70m?

Kai Havertz - Transfer history

Don't believe everything you read on Transfermarket. It was around 70m including add-ons.

On 04/09/2025 at 20:37, Clown Lake said:

World class! Best LB in the world too I would say.

Absolutely love the guy cult hero!!!

Quality tonight, made Yamal look like a league 2 winger.

Just re-read some of the early post in this thread so many wanted him sold without giving him time to settle.

Getting a FB with his quality now would cost you upwards of £90 million. Only Mendes at PSG is on his level that’s it.

Cucu is probably one of one right now.

Also big shout out to Gary Neville every since he made that comment about Cucu at the Euros he’s been a player transformed.

He had Yamal locked down last night. Early on I was worried because Yamal looked so dangerous on the ball, but Cucu zoned in and forced Lamine backwards or to lose the ball nearly every time he got it.

Then to also impact our play going forward, putting the ball in the for the first goal and starting the attack down the left leading to the red card. He is just an immense player

Cracking Performance.

Someone needs to report him to the authorities for what he did to Yamal last night, no child should have to suffer like that.

16 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

Someone needs to report him to the authorities for what he did to Yamal last night, no child should have to suffer like that.

He looked like a child up against Cucu as well!!

He looked defeated yesterday😂

Cucu has locked down both Salah and Yamal on the defensive side, and brought more to the attack than either of those players. Just immense.

Very very very good game last night

Our player of the season so far for me

Beats me where he gets the energy. One end of the pitch to the other. Never stops.

2 hours ago, dermott said:

Beats me where he gets the energy. One end of the pitch to the other. Never stops.

He has a big bag of Mudryk sweets. Takes two of the Blue ones and he can run till next Tuesday.

Edited November 27, 2025Nov 27 by just

He was, and has been, immense. Looking for a repeat please Cucu against Saka!

Was surprised he stayed on the pitch today and should have stopped the cross for the goal. Turns out he is human after the immense season he’s had so far.