Just now, axman2526 said:

I mean we can mate, will just lead to fifa banning them for playing for us for a few weeks if you national association complains.

am glad ecuador have seen sense, and more national associations should as well. For competitive games I get it, but for Friendly's they have a greater responsibility for duty of care for the players.

Teams that played in the club world cup fifa should be stepping in to help in some way, I don't know what. Is no coincidence that we have so many injuries. Psg do as well.

There's definitely a balance. In this case if I was an Ecuador fan I wouldn't want Caicedo playing, he's clearly on his knees and they need him next summer.

But they also need as much time together with the players as possible. Otherwise what's the point

Edited October 5, 2025Oct 5 by bisright1

3 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

There's definitely a balance. In this case if I was an Ecuador fan I wouldn't want Caicedo playing, he's clearly on his knees and they need him next summer.

But they also need as much time together with the players as possible. Otherwise what's the point

Aside from the money making aspect of them for the respective FAs, I think international Friendly's should be used to try out players, for the most part, who are normally either back ups, used by the under 21s, or have very few to no caps.

Such as Estevao, he is just starting his senior Brazil career so I get him going for Friendly's. Don't like it but understand it.

Caicedo has been a boss for his country for years. Players like him, who insist on playing through the pain for club and country, those FAs and national team bosses have a duty to stop and protect from themselves so they have a better chance of a near 100% key player for games that matter.

On 29/09/2025 at 08:00, Gol15 said:

Even Scholes said the guy doesn't do nearly enough.

Overrated, overpaid and unhinged since he didn't even care to help with the buildup while the centre backs are inexperienced.

Are you going to come and say you are sorry for this comment. If there was ever a football comment which deserved a ban, it is this one..

He’s the best in world football now at what he does the argument is over now!!

He's our best player at the club for now. If we played a midfield diamond, his talents would shine even more

Jamie carragher thinks not, sour grapes?

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-fc-chelsea-rice-caicedo-premier-league-carragher-b1251394.html

"got that little bit of extra quality with the ball".

Yet when Rice is the deepest midfielder Arsenal have no build up, whereas Caicedo can play anywhere in midfield and at times plays everywhere in midfield when he's with Enzo.

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

"got that little bit of extra quality with the ball".

Yet when Rice is the deepest midfielder Arsenal have no build up, whereas Caicedo can play anywhere in midfield and at times plays everywhere in midfield when he's with Enzo.

Rice would tear his ACL trying to drop a shoulder when receiving the ball like Caicedo does.

I loved the way Moi backed that overrated twat VVD up. If Moi had carried on VVD would have been in his own 6 yard box.

The blockbuster of a shot, no piledriver, simply put that fella out of his misery, very very weak defending.

John Terry would never have defended like that.

Edited October 6, 2025Oct 6 by OTL

Anyone else watch Adam Clearys tactical breakdown of the win against the dippers? I hadnt appreciated just how instrumental Caicedo was in the winning goal. Basically - getting the ball deep and being closed down by 2 defenders, rather than doing the expected thing and putting the ball down the line - he pulled off a lovely little reverse pass to lavia, that unlocked the "play" that saw us score the winner. Simply put - with anyone else in that position, we would not have likely scored the winner.

Gem of a player.

@Gol15 Do you agree that he is 43 times the player that Jorginho ever was, and Jorgi boy wouldnt be able to get close enough to Moises to even attempt to lace his boots?

13 hours ago, OTL said:

I loved the way Moi backed that overrated twat VVD up. If Moi had carried on VVD would have been in his own 6 yard box.

The blockbuster of a shot, no piledriver, simply put that fella out of his misery, very very weak defending.

John Terry would never have defended like that.

Please sir....can I have some more?

43 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

I hadnt appreciated just how instrumental Caicedo was in the winning goal. Basically - getting the ball deep and being closed down by 2 defenders, rather than doing the expected thing and putting the ball down the line - he pulled off a lovely little reverse pass to lavia, that unlocked the "play" that saw us score the winner.

Problem here is that Maresca hates this sort of play, where the ball is being switched from left to right quickly and early in the phase. It was painfully hard to see against Palace and Brentford. Maresca thinks it's too risky to play passes between defenders deep on the pitch even though so many chances have been conceded because we pass to a wide player who gets crowded out and turns over the ball way too easily.

As brilliant as I think Caicedo is right now, I genuinely believe there is another level to his game that could be unlocked by a better manager who uses his creative and attacking ability as well as his defensive ones. Essien in 2007 vs Essien in 2006, or Kante under Conte vs Kante under Tuchel come to mind.

It's Thursday and the Moises Caicedo thread in the Man United forum (RedCafe) is still the most discussed ever since last week-end. They are so bitter. Trying so much to make average ones like Anderson, Gibbs White or Tielemans look the better players is pathetic.

Edited October 9, 2025Oct 9 by petre ispirescu

On 06/10/2025 at 22:46, SydneyChelsea said:

Problem here is that Maresca hates this sort of play, where the ball is being switched from left to right quickly and early in the phase. It was painfully hard to see against Palace and Brentford. Maresca thinks it's too risky to play passes between defenders deep on the pitch even though so many chances have been conceded because we pass to a wide player who gets crowded out and turns over the ball way too easily.

As brilliant as I think Caicedo is right now, I genuinely believe there is another level to his game that could be unlocked by a better manager who uses his creative and attacking ability as well as his defensive ones. Essien in 2007 vs Essien in 2006, or Kante under Conte vs Kante under Tuchel come to mind.

As much as I now like him as a player, I like him for what he does today "warts and all."
I don’t see that much room for development on the creative or technical side of his game. He’s efficient and reliable, but not the kind of player who will consistently unlock defenses or dictate play in the final third. Ultimately, players tend to operate within their natural skill sets — not necessarily what we hope they might become.

Essien was always way more skillful than Caicedo, IMO. Kante is really hard to compare with any other midfielder in terms of characteristics; he wasn't/isn't that skilled or creative, but is a transition monster... there is nothing like him.

Lavia, on the other hand, does seem to have more potential on that skill side of the game. He just needs to stay fit....

On 07/10/2025 at 12:46, SydneyChelsea said:

Problem here is that Maresca hates this sort of play, where the ball is being switched from left to right quickly and early in the phase. It was painfully hard to see against Palace and Brentford. Maresca thinks it's too risky to play passes between defenders deep on the pitch even though so many chances have been conceded because we pass to a wide player who gets crowded out and turns over the ball way too easily.

As brilliant as I think Caicedo is right now, I genuinely believe there is another level to his game that could be unlocked by a better manager who uses his creative and attacking ability as well as his defensive ones. Essien in 2007 vs Essien in 2006, or Kante under Conte vs Kante under Tuchel come to mind.

It is hard for the deepest dm to have lots impact on final third unless you are a pirlo.

If you want Caicedo to have more impact higher you need the inverted fb, in our case cucu most of the time to sit more.

Edited October 13, 2025Oct 13 by Bob stark

On 06/10/2025 at 18:50, Sconnie Blue said:

"got that little bit of extra quality with the ball".

Yet when Rice is the deepest midfielder Arsenal have no build up, whereas Caicedo can play anywhere in midfield and at times plays everywhere in midfield when he's with Enzo.

Not really, I saw rice pretty much played like a dpl vs west ham, asked the ball from cb and just ran the gam

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Not really, I saw rice pretty much played like a dpl vs west ham, asked the ball from cb and just ran the gam

Worst side in the league. Great.

Now let’s see him do that against Liverpool, City or PSG 👍

On 09/10/2025 at 20:40, acaeus said:

As much as I now like him as a player, I like him for what he does today "warts and all."
I don’t see that much room for development on the creative or technical side of his game. He’s efficient and reliable, but not the kind of player who will consistently unlock defenses or dictate play in the final third. Ultimately, players tend to operate within their natural skill sets — not necessarily what we hope they might become.

Essien was always way more skillful than Caicedo, IMO. Kante is really hard to compare with any other midfielder in terms of characteristics; he wasn't/isn't that skilled or creative, but is a transition monster... there is nothing like him.

Lavia, on the other hand, does seem to have more potential on that skill side of the game. He just needs to stay fit....

Adding more bangers to his game this season, we needed goals from midfield, desperately, makes defenders think differently when facing us. Think he's only getting better, and will carve out his own cult like the players listed above. An absolute standout specimen of a baller.

15 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Worst side in the league. Great.

Now let’s see him do that against Liverpool, City or PSG 👍

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Caicedo has never played playmaker for Chelsea

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Caicedo has never played playmaker for Chelsea

and Rice is only a nominal DM for Arsenal. His role is much closer to Lavia's or Enzo under Potter, hence why they spent so much money on Zubimendi.

19 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

and Rice is only a nominal DM for Arsenal. His role is much closer to Lavia's or Enzo under Potter, hence why they spent so much money on Zubimendi.

I haven't watched arse for a while, so I want to see how arse play. I remember rice usually play in ezo role, more of a 10 on the ball and 6 off the ball.

But vs west ham, he was the deepest dm. He just picked up the ball from cb and pretty much ran the game.

I am a big Rice fan and really wanted us to sign him during Lampard's tenure and there are a number of areas Rice and Caicedo are fairly equal in but playing out from the back is certainly not one of those areas.

Caicedos movement to create space and receive the ball from the backline is easily one of the best in the league.

Somebody want more money

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Somebody want more money

I reckon he ditched them because they were pushing for a move

That said I think he ends up at Madrid in the summer post-World Cup, or in 2027. They are crying out for him

5 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

I reckon he ditched them because they were pushing for a move

That said I think he ends up at Madrid in the summer post-World Cup, or in 2027. They are crying out for him

Real Madrid would have to pay triple digits, and they won't do that.

Palmer and Jackson from my knowledge have been the only ones rewarded with an improved contract. I think there's been a sour relationship with Caicedo and his agent ever since he signed a new deal with Brighton in January of 2023 as a sort of gentlemen's agreement he could leave the following summer. We all know how difficult Brighton made it considering Caicedo improved his contract length.

He's first name on the team sheet and arguably our most important player. Chances are by this time next year he's already gotten a significant contract improvement and rightly so.