Very good debut. He is limited by having to be the anchor. That long range shot is something we've sorely missed since 2015(I think?) when Matic shot a rocket to crush the spuds

Thought he did alright considering he had 2 headless chickens running miles in front of him 

Shows what quality is , same with Felix head and shoulders ahead of what we have now

Great to see him on the pitch.  He has quality and plays well beyond his years and minutes.  Can't wait to see more, and partner him with Kante or Kovacic, or realistically, someone else in the summer who is dependable/fit and available. 

55 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

Great to see him on the pitch.  He has quality and plays well beyond his years and minutes.  Can't wait to see more, and partner him with Kante or Kovacic, or realistically, someone else in the summer who is dependable/fit and available. 

Not sure about Kovacic alongside him. Kante or Zakaria yes. 

11 minutes ago, just said:

Not sure about Kovacic alongside him. Kante or Zakaria yes. 

Kante all the way

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11711493/Chelsea-owner-Todd-Boehly-truly-trousers-PULLED-Benfica.html

We needed him further forward tonight. I was crying out for Chalobah to replace Gallagher and allowed Enzo to be an attacking mid. Think it would have made the difference.

48 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

We needed him further forward tonight. I was crying out for Chalobah to replace Gallagher and allowed Enzo to be an attacking mid. Think it would have made the difference.

With watching Enzo tonight, I am even more on board in getting Rice. 

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

With watching Enzo tonight, I am even more on board in getting Rice. 

All that money spent and we still play Havertz up top. Would sooner Auba plays. In the CL, it can work with Kai there but on the home front it has to stop.

Amazing player but everyone knew that already.

Superb player - will be a fan favorite.  Good presence on the pitch - the guy is brave and wants to make the game happen.

Not good enough ... sell him ... 

21 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We needed him further forward tonight. I was crying out for Chalobah to replace Gallagher and allowed Enzo to be an attacking mid. Think it would have made the difference.

Not at AM but agree he needs to be further forward. He can do more than Mase or Conor to unlock a defence and yet we have them fumbling around the box. Just like with KDB he needs the license to be a roaming 8. Really can't wait to have Zakaria or even RLC back. 

We really got lucky getting this over line.

Lot of alleged bidders are from the Middle East. 

Manchester United to Receive Formal Bids Next Week

11 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

We really got lucky getting this over line.

Lot of alleged bidders are from the Middle East. 

Manchester United to Receive Formal Bids Next Week

They’ll be a host of statement signings this summer if the sales of United and Liverpool go through. Good timing indeed. 

New official Enzo song. Think we will be hearing it on the terraces ? 

 

Edited February 6, 20233 yr by Oli

Lot of commentary about playing Enzo further forward. While he is a creative player and a good passer, I think playing him further forward would be a mistake because he is one of the best long-range passers in the team and we desperately need that sort of passing from someone other than Silva/Badiashile.

The problem with moving a deep-lying playmaker more forward is that they lose the space they are used to having, playing with back to goal or in wide positions, often making them go from great to merely good. He is a very good player at making the penultimate pass for a goal, but that doesn't always translate to raw assists.

I'd want him to take a up role similar to Lampard or Fabregas, in that he starts plays from deep by getting the ball out wide then moves himself closer to the box with the attacking phase, while also being the first line of defense to break up counter-attacks in midfield. I thought he did this really well at the World Cup with Rodrigo de Paul and Alexis Mac Allister providing the hard running leg-work to carry the ball upfield. 

In a more attacking line-up he would do this alongside Kante or Kovacic, and in a more defensive lineup, Zakaria would be the anchor in a double-pivot.

16 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Lot of commentary about playing Enzo further forward. While he is a creative player and a good passer, I think playing him further forward would be a mistake because he is one of the best long-range passers in the team and we desperately need that sort of passing from someone other than Silva/Badiashile.

The problem with moving a deep-lying playmaker more forward is that they lose the space they are used to having, playing with back to goal or in wide positions, often making them go from great to merely good. He is a very good player at making the penultimate pass for a goal, but that doesn't always translate to raw assists.

I'd want him to take a up role similar to Lampard or Fabregas, in that he starts plays from deep by getting the ball out wide then moves himself closer to the box with the attacking phase, while also being the first line of defense to break up counter-attacks in midfield. I thought he did this really well at the World Cup with Rodrigo de Paul and Alexis Mac Allister providing the hard running leg-work to carry the ball upfield. 

In a more attacking line-up he would do this alongside Kante or Kovacic, and in a more defensive lineup, Zakaria would be the anchor in a double-pivot.

Fabregas is a good shout in fact we probably want him to play similar role to what cesc did for us under mou.

Argentina has Messi who pretty much can do the final 3rd creative stuff almost single handedly, we don't. 

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

Fabregas is a good shout in fact we probably want him to play similar role to what cesc did for us under mou.

Argentina has Messi who pretty much can do the final 3rd creative stuff almost single handedly, we don't. 

Fernandez is also good enough defensively that he doesn't necessarily need to be paired with a solely defensive midfielder, like Matic.

If we did, I'd love to see Chalobah play this role as he would also add much needed height to the midfield. As good as a defender he could be, I think he could be a world-class DM.

You're right that we don't have anyone remotely creative in the final 3rd, but we also struggle at getting our attacking players the ball quickly and in good positions. Fernandez, in theory, improves that. I want to see Mudryk, Sterling, Pulisic etc. consistently getting 1v1 with defenders before judging them.

3 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

If we did, I'd love to see Chalobah play this role as he would also add much needed height to the midfield. As good as a defender he could be, I think he could be a world-class DM.

I wonder how the club have been appraising Ampadu's latest loan, as he is another one who might work as a DM with a bit of physicality, and with the positional discipline to let Fernandez do what he does best ... 

3 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Fernandez is also good enough defensively that he doesn't necessarily need to be paired with a solely defensive midfielder, like Matic.

If we did, I'd love to see Chalobah play this role as he would also add much needed height to the midfield. As good as a defender he could be, I think he could be a world-class DM.

You're right that we don't have anyone remotely creative in the final 3rd, but we also struggle at getting our attacking players the ball quickly and in good positions. Fernandez, in theory, improves that. I want to see Mudryk, Sterling, Pulisic etc. consistently getting 1v1 with defenders before judging them.

Let's say one of of mudryk/sterling (I am not sure puli can do it) can be our final 3rd creative source. I am not sure it is enough, most team has at least two. Maybe Felix can do it, but I want him to score more.

For me, if James and Chilwell can stay healthy which is highly doubtful  since I want them to play wb and we have Kante healthy and firing. 343 of

Mudryx  - Felix, kai 

      Chilwell - Enzo - Kante - James

Badi - Silva - Fofana

Sounds very tempting. With 3 at the back Enzo can be very aggressive with his press and you have Kante as insurance. Since now we have 5000 wingers, this won't happen. 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Let's say one of of mudryk/sterling (I am not sure puli can do it) can be our final 3rd creative source. I am not sure it is enough, most team has at least two. Maybe Felix can do it, but I want him to score more.

For me, if James and Chilwell can stay healthy which is highly doubtful  since I want them to play wb and we have Kante healthy and firing. 343 of

Mudryx  - Felix, kai 

      Chilwell - Enzo - Kante - James

Badi - Silva - Fofana

Sounds very tempting. With 3 at the back Enzo can be very aggressive with his press and you have Kante as insurance. Since now we have 5000 wingers, this won't happen. 

 

 

 

 

Aggressive with his press? You'll have players running right by him. 

Sterling has to play - he is our best goal scorer. I would in fact like to see him upfront a few times as he did for City. Felix is not a big scorer but should be the main creative influence in the final third, with Enzo doing his bit occasionally. 

If we play 5 at the back, Kova is the perfect partner for him. And we may see more of that when Gusto arrives. 

3 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

I wonder how the club have been appraising Ampadu's latest loan, as he is another one who might work as a DM with a bit of physicality, and with the positional discipline to let Fernandez do what he does best ... 

Has he played much this season? I thought he was struggling for his place before the world cup break.

2 hours ago, dkw said:

Has he played much this season? I thought he was struggling for his place before the world cup break.

15 league appearances. He set the Seria A record for fastest penalty given back in October, so that’s at least one start he was given!