8 minutes ago, dkw said:

Dogsh*t today, a corner and a penalty dont disguise how bad he was.

I mean it was a very bad performance but as long as he keeps proving goals and assists I can't really complain too much.

Not the same level of player obvious but doubt you hear Pool fans complaining when Salah stinks it up for 89 mins and scores in the 90th.

Played awful but came up with a goal and assist.

Hard to complain.

A goal and assist suggest a good performance on paper. Thought he was quite poor on the day - misplaced passes, slow when breaking, very little defensive recovery.

Need to see more. He clearly has the trust of Maresca, and has earned that, but we need more out of his performances.

11 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I mean it was a very bad performance but as long as he keeps proving goals and assists I can't really complain too much.

Not the same level of player obvious but doubt you hear Pool fans complaining when Salah stinks it up for 89 mins and scores in the 90th.

Hes causing us far too many problems, were basically playing with a 1 man midfield and its only luck, VAR and poor opposition that its not cost us.

He cost Caicedo a booking today for example, that then hinders him and causes a risk of a red.

Edited August 30, 2025Aug 30 by dkw

It’s the trade off unfortunately. At this rate Enzo will provide G/A but we are flipping a coin on how the rest of his game will be, especially off the ball.

I do want him playing against sides that will absorb and counter, but it’s hard to defend him when he shows up like that and Santos is available.

I always want to see Enzo do well and live up to his reputation and pricetag, but today was definitely not one of those days.

If he gets a goal and assist every game, then that cuts him a lot of slack with the rest of his game, but that's obviously not a realistic expectation. I really wouldn't want this version of Enzo in midfield against better opposition.

29 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I mean it was a very bad performance but as long as he keeps proving goals and assists I can't really complain too much.

Not the same level of player obvious but doubt you hear Pool fans complaining when Salah stinks it up for 89 mins and scores in the 90th.

I can. We simply can't have a player in the side that is played through so easily. Enzo shouldn't be playing in every single game. Today was always going to be tricky for him because of how quickly Fulham move the ball around the midfield. It reminded me of the Flamengo game at times. I just don't understand why he is a guaranteed starter in every game, why can't he be rotated the same way defenders and wingers have been rotated since Maresca arrived? Some games are just not suited to for him.

A better player in his position would have had more than just the one assist from a corner today. He messed up at least three excellent breaks in open play that could easily have resulted in goals with a better, or indeed any pass, and led to a more comfortable game as a result. Simply has to provide more than the odd set piece delivery. If he's wearing the armband he needs to be one of the top players in the side, not the worst.

The team as a whole started off on the wrong foot. We are on game 3 of the season with barely any rest, just like everyone else Enzo also needs to gain match fitness. The international break will do us a world of good.

19 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I can. We simply can't have a player in the side that is played through so easily. Enzo shouldn't be playing in every single game. Today was always going to be tricky for him because of how quickly Fulham move the ball around the midfield. It reminded me of the Flamengo game at times. I just don't understand why he is a guaranteed starter in every game, why can't he be rotated the same way defenders and wingers have been rotated since Maresca arrived? Some games are just not suited to for him.

I think the answer to this is that no one else in midfield can play the role Maresca has Enzo doing.

It's not a role I am fond of to be quite frank but that's for another debate.

6 minutes ago, Clown Lake said:

The team as a whole started off on the wrong foot. We are on game 3 of the season with barely any rest, just like everyone else Enzo also needs to gain match fitness. The international break will do us a world of good.

Not really, the majority of these players aren't getting any rest, they're going away to play for their countries. Enzo, Caicedo, Pedro, Santos, and Estervao worry me the most, they're not getting any rest. They play 12am on Wednesday and have to get back with us to play on Saturday.

2 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Not really, the majority of these players aren't getting any rest, they're going away to play for their countries. Enzo, Caicedo, Pedro, Santos, and Estervao worry me the most, they're not getting any rest. They play 12am on Wednesday and have to get back with us to play on Saturday.

Enzo is not going. He had red card so he cant play.

1 hour ago, Clown Lake said:

🤮 Heres another bait master! 🎣

Couldn’t catch a cold🤫🤪

6 minutes ago, Clown Lake said:

Enzo is not going. He had red card so he cant play.

Fair enough, the rest definitely are though.

4 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I think the answer to this is that no one else in midfield can play the role Maresca has Enzo doing.

It's not a role I am fond of to be quite frank but that's for another debate.

There wasn't last season, now there is in Andrey. Although you can say he's yet to adapt to PL, there's an option. Hell, I believe we could even use Essugo further back and Caicedo doing Enzo's role and we could actually improve as a side.

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Fair enough, the rest definitely are though.

True but Enzo definitely needs this 2 weeks to gain fitness and be up to speed. He usually starts the seasons slow, Caicedo does too but this seasons Caicedo has started with his imperious form. Anyway, completely different league of players, Caicedo is World Class and Enzo is a fantastic player but not on the same level.

Better team than Fulham and we get spanked. He can’t run misplaced so many passes and broke down every single counter attack we had every single one.

Enzo has been world class since day 1, match 1.

People first complain about the lack of end product from the midfield but then complain about random things when the midfield provides with end product... Must be some complexes or weak mental.

If Maresca is insistent on playing Enzo then we should switch to a 4-3-3, especially with Palmer out. We get opened up too easily with him in the current system.

7 minutes ago, Drogba1 said:

If Maresca is insistent on playing Enzo then we should switch to a 4-3-3, especially with Palmer out. We get opened up too easily with him in the current system.

Sporting Directors have only provided Maresca with 5 midfielders, one of whom is Lavia, so effectively 4 midfielders. That's not much cover for 3 roles, though I dare say James and Cucurella could be re-purposed ... Maresca seems to like that sort of thiing !

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Sporting Directors have only provided Maresca with 5 midfielders, one of whom is Lavia, so effectively 4 midfielders. That's not much cover for 3 roles, though I dare say James and Cucurella could be re-purposed ... Maresca seems to like that sort of thiing !

We tried it vs Palace

Cucu - Caicedo - Enzo

The ball barely get forward.

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

Enzo has been world class since day 1, match 1.

People first complain about the lack of end product from the midfield but then complain about random things when the midfield provides with end product... Must be some complexes or weak mental.

It's like an episode of Scooby Doo. If we pull off the Enzo mask I suspect it's Jorginho underneath.

Bang average midfielder who has about one good game in 10 and rarely, if ever, has a great game.

Some on here need Specsavers!

3 minutes ago, loz said:

It's like an episode of Scooby Doo. If we pull off the Enzo mask I suspect it's Jorginho underneath.

Bang average midfielder who has about one good game in 10 and rarely, if ever, has a great game.

5 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Enzo,Assist and a Goal, yea he ain’t worth his shirt😱😱😱

Did you watch the game?