13 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Some are saying he is already better than Kante, I don't agree personally. Kante's ability to break up an attack and get us moving forward again is unmatched. An injury free Kante had a cleaner tackle, carried the ball better and dribbled better. Caicedo has a better shot and can pass a bit better. Pressing and work rate is the same.

Personally I rate Caicedo higher. I was not as assured with Kante in possession as I was with Caicedo. I think Caicedo is stronger and more physically dominant. Kante was good in a possession based Chelsea but not great imo, while I think Caicedo is. I never worry when Caicedo has the ball, while Kante I was not as assured. Caicedo it feels impossible to take the ball off.

Edited November 4, 2025Nov 4 by STATS

21 hours ago, STATS said:

Personally I rate Caicedo higher. I was not as assured with Kante in possession as I was with Caicedo. I think Caicedo is stronger and more physically dominant. Kante was good in a possession based Chelsea but not great imo, while I think Caicedo is. I never worry when Caicedo has the ball, while Kante I was not as assured. Caicedo it feels impossible to take the ball off.

Caicedo is a great player and I think he still is improving, but wow. Kante was immense. He would win the ball back all over the pitch, rarely give away fouls unless he had to, started attacks and scored goals. He was instrumental to us winning the league under Conte (and for Leicester) and in winning us the CL.

Caicedo still has a long way to go in order to eclipse Ngolo. I think he has the ability to do it, but he's not there yet.

Cannot even get a rest vs the mighty qarabag following needing to come on as a late sub vs Wolves. we are hopeless without him. sooner or later he is going to get sick of carrying this team.

He'll go to Madrid within the next couple of years, far too good for us.

Same with Palmer to PSG.

On 05/11/2025 at 16:42, Shweaves said:

Caicedo is a great player and I think he still is improving, but wow. Kante was immense. He would win the ball back all over the pitch, rarely give away fouls unless he had to, started attacks and scored goals. He was instrumental to us winning the league under Conte (and for Leicester) and in winning us the CL.

Caicedo still has a long way to go in order to eclipse Ngolo. I think he has the ability to do it, but he's not there yet.

Yes, you are correct, but he played in counter-attacking systems under Conte and Ranieri. Maresca is possession based manager. I think Kante was the best CM you could get in a counter attacking system, however personally in a possession based Chelsea, I think Caicedo is more suited to a team looking to dominate possession. So I am not saying Caicedo is better than Kante. I just think in the system we are playing now and dictating play, Caicedo is more suited.

Kante was fine in possession. Wasn't someone that would dictate play, but as Scott mentioned he'd was very good at dribbling in transition. Don't recall him ever being dispossessed when under pressure.

Caicedo and Kante would actually complement one another incredibly well.

He looked tired at times today. He really needs an extended break or for somebody to come in for the odd game.

11 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

He looked tired at times today. He really needs an extended break or for somebody to come in for the odd game.

He looked heavy legged from very early in the game, worryingly. If hes carrying an injury then surely a game against the worst team in the league who don'teven have a manager is the time, especially as we had Santos available.

1 hour ago, dkw said:

He looked heavy legged from very early in the game, worryingly. If hes carrying an injury then surely a game against the worst team in the league who don'teven have a manager is the time, especially as we had Santos available.

As proven by the first 45 minutes yesterday we always have the capacity to be the worst team in the league! So I wouldn't have rested our most important player. However I would have hooked him as soon as Pedro scored the second.

13 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

He looked tired at times today. He really needs an extended break or for somebody to come in for the odd game.

Well he was rested against Wolves. Only came on or like 5 mins. He did not join Ecuador on the last international break thankfully and even then was on the bench against Forest. He was planned to be rested on Wednesday night but Lavia got injured, which ruined the plan. I just don't see why Maresca didn't sub him when we had the game sealed at 3-0 yesterday. These are sort of things that frustrate me about Maresca. We saw what happened last time we were winning 3-0 against Forest and he did not sub of one our players who was playing in similar position to Caicedo and on a yellow and got sent off (Gusto).

Caicedo was on a yellow yesterday and one silly foul could have caused a red card and suspended for our next PL game which would have been infuriating. He luckily did not do what Gusto did but he made a challenge later on which he won the ball fairly, but if he accidentally caught the player first, he could have been off. Just protect players who play in that position and on a yellow whilst we are in a commanding lead I would prefer.

Love this guy, but calling or comparing him to Kante? Na.. Kante was three players on the pitch for us, won the league and CL. Mr Caicedo has a long way to go before we can talk of him in the Kante bracket. Kante was home made rich tasting stock boiled gravy, Caicedo is currently a spoon of Bistro beef granuals with an oxo cube thrown in for good measure.

Brilliant player, but not Kante levels for me yet.

3 hours ago, bluelightening said:

Love this guy, but calling or comparing him to Kante? Na.. Kante was three players on the pitch for us, won the league and CL. Mr Caicedo has a long way to go before we can talk of him in the Kante bracket. Kante was home made rich tasting stock boiled gravy, Caicedo is currently a spoon of Bistro beef granuals with an oxo cube thrown in for good measure.

Brilliant player, but not Kante levels for me yet.

Agreed. Behind Kante, Essien and Makalele for me but that's hardly a criticism.

4 hours ago, loz said:

As proven by the first 45 minutes yesterday we always have the capacity to be the worst team in the league! So I wouldn't have rested our most important player. However I would have hooked him as soon as Pedro scored the second.

He absolutely needs a rest though, and when you see the games coming up this is the only one even close to being "safe". We need him fully rested and fit for Arsenal and Barcelona.

He’s playing the 180 mins for Ecuador. They never drop him.

23 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

He’s playing the 180 mins for Ecuador. They never drop him.

They did give him the last friendlys off.

11 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

They did give him the last friendlys off.

Because the club told them he’s playing through injury.

He’s been selected and will yet again play the entire 180mins in their meaningless games.

3 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Because the club told them he’s playing through injury.

He’s been selected and will yet again play the entire 180mins in their meaningless games.

Looks like Ecuador has just one game this time, a friendly match against Canada in Canada, one thursday 13th/Friday 14th starting at 5:30PM local time so 00:30AM UK time.

While ideally for us he would be resting this break like Enzo is doing at least it is one game and is not in South America.

Will have the week after to rest and we could always leave him out against burnley or, you know, been sensible and not made him go out to Azerbaijan.

Ecuador played him for the entire 90+ minutes in a friendly

2 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Ecuador played him for the entire 90+ minutes in a friendly

Well at least he has a whole week's rest now. I will also give Ecuador the benefit of the doubt considering they left him out of their two friendly games last month.

On 09/11/2025 at 16:27, Sconnie Blue said:

Because the club told them he’s playing through injury.

He’s been selected and will yet again play the entire 180mins in their meaningless games.

9 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Ecuador played him for the entire 90+ minutes in a friendly

Like clockwork

On 15/11/2025 at 10:49, Sconnie Blue said:

Like clockwork

AND ANOTHER FULL 90 FOR A FRIENDLY.

I actively despise their manager. I bet had the club not done their part, the twat would’ve 100% played him through injury the previous international break.

I know an Ecuadorian who said that Caicedo would always play, but I never knew it was this extreme. He won’t ever get a rest unless he’s suspended.

There's no use complaining about it, the club are only financially viable (in FFP terms) thanks to FIFA's CWC and the club will continue to kow-tow to its whims

19 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

AND ANOTHER FULL 90 FOR A FRIENDLY.

I actively despise their manager. I bet had the club not done their part, the twat would’ve 100% played him through injury the previous international break.

I know an Ecuadorian who said that Caicedo would always play, but I never knew it was this extreme. He won’t ever get a rest unless he’s suspended.

Of course they're going to play their best player.

6 minutes ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Of course they're going to play their best player.

And I imagine he actually WANTS to play every minute for his country too ... it's the pinnacle of sporting aspiration for most players.

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

And I imagine he actually WANTS to play every minute for his country too ... it's the pinnacle of sporting aspiration for most players.

They play about 6 games for their country a year, if its anyone responsibility to rest him its us instead of making him play a full league campaign, 2 domestic cups, European cup and then off-season tournaments and friendlies.