11 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I agree but you could also argue the converse. Go full and win the game in 45-60 minutes, then bring Estevao when there is more space, the opposition are tired and declared with less opportunity for contact injuries and muscular injuries from full out physical exertion

Well said. I feel fans are just being impatient which is fair, but Maresca has been perfect in his handling. He has kind of gone under radar, taken the pressure off him and eased him in quietly.

John Terry who knows better as an ex-player and fan addressed this perfectly; "He's an absolute superstar. And what he's doing at the age he's at is absolutely incredible as well. What I like at the moment is that the manager [Maresca] is looking after him. I think the fans and a few of us will want to see a little but more game-time at times, but as a young kid you have to be broken into the team a little bit."

Maresca has been clear that the idea was to gently ease him in the first half of the season, and that he has been surprised by his quality.

36 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I agree but you could also argue the converse. Go full and win the game in 45-60 minutes, then bring Estevao when there is more space, the opposition are tired and declared with less opportunity for contact injuries and muscular injuries from full out physical exertion

Okay so lets meet in the middle. Bring him on after the rest of the team spend 70 minutes passing the ball mindlessly and our one fit DM has been doing the bulk of the defending by doing shuttle runs that while time.

I call this tactic Marescanaccio

1 hour ago, markpitts said:

Well said. I feel fans are just being impatient which is fair, but Maresca has been perfect in his handling. He has kind of gone under radar, taken the pressure off him and eased him in quietly.

This is plainly not even true, he has barely played him and he has most definitely not gone under the radar, I honestly have no idea where you pulled that one from.

2 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

I agree but you could also argue the converse. Go full and win the game in 45-60 minutes, then bring Estevao when there is more space, the opposition are tired and declared with less opportunity for contact injuries and muscular injuries from full out physical exertion

Not sure I see the value in that approach. For one thing, when have we ever won a game in 45-60 minutes, especially whilst leaving our best players on the bench. And bringing him on in a scenario where it’s 3-0 with twenty minutes left is little better than weekday training. Loads of subs leaving a hotch-potch team going through the motions. Even the idea of less injury risk is debatable. I imagine aome frustrated player already 3 goals down is just as likely to hack at Estevao when he runs past him, if not more so.

Anyway, I’m sure we’ll rest him and other star players for the Barcelona game and send out the reserves against Burnley, and expect them to roll over and die because we are CFCLDN!

2 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Okay so lets meet in the middle. Bring him on after the rest of the team spend 70 minutes passing the ball mindlessly and our one fit DM has been doing the bulk of the defending by doing shuttle runs that while time.

I call this tactic Marescanaccio

Gegendepressing

We either start the game well then do nothing 60 minutes onwards, or start the game poorly and do better 60 minutes onwards.

Choose your poison. I don’t believe having Estevao start matches is going to immediately improve given this is a collective coaching issue.

21 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I don't think anybody is saying Estevao should play every game, but he hasn't started a single league game for us since September. He has more minutes for Brazil in two games than he has for us in the league since August.

Scroll back in the thread. Increasing clamouring for it.

1 hour ago, dermott said:

Scroll back in the thread. Increasing clamouring for it.

I think everybody would have been fine had we not played him against Wolves in the cup and he had started the league game against Sunderland instead.

Maresca is basically only starting him in games where he heavily rotates. He's treated like a squad player. It's clear that Maresca prefers Neto over him, which is something I find laughable.

38 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I think everybody would have been fine had we not played him against Wolves in the cup and he had started the league game against Sunderland instead.

Maresca is basically only starting him in games where he heavily rotates. He's treated like a squad player. It's clear that Maresca prefers Neto over him, which is something I find laughable.

Maresca-ball is all about the work rate and being able to pass back rather than beating your man with skill.

7 hours ago, dkw said:

This is plainly not even true, he has barely played him and he has most definitely not gone under the radar, I honestly have no idea where you pulled that one from.

I think his integration has been good. I fault Maresca regularly but think he's getting this right tbh. Yes, I'd like to see more of him and what he can do but I also remember the talent that was Ronaldo back in 2003 signing for United. Was integrated a bit like Stevo is and Ronaldo clocked up 1500 mins from 15 games across his first season 4 goals 4 assists so says the record books...

If and it is a big if, Stevo is going to be as good as Ronaldo, I am quite happy to see him flourish over a couple of seasons with us sprinkling his magic stardust when he's on the pitch.

I'd hate to see him get walloped every weekend while he toughens up a little with us and is ready for full combat.

I like him and would like to see more yet am also cautious in the view that he needs more experience in the league to understand the pitfalls.

I do expect him to play more once the injury crisis starts to hit and then we will see how he does over 90 mins.

Very coo! Some footage from him when he was 8! https://youtu.be/MQ8AEXBwxiw?si=JUupPI7UHRdy5NEt

Special.

This kid is unreal, looks like he can go on to be one of the very best in the world.

Stevie baby!!! Please be a Chelsea lifer and become a great in my lifetime!

What a player he is going to be. I feel privileged in my time following Chelsea to have seen Pat Nevin, Gianfranco Zola, Eden Hazard and now Estêvão. We’ve had many great players in my lifetime, but those have been (will be) very special in their eras.

Back in 2006 when we played Barcelona at the Bridge it was actually Messi's introduction to the big stage of football. It was the first big UCL match he took part in. Had only played only four UCL matches up until the game at the Bridge. Against Werder Bremen, Udinese and Panathinaikos and only two times as a starter. And in the Spanish league he was playing most of the time coming on from the bench at that point. That match at the Bridge was also intense, had a red card and also two own goals.

Now it was Estevao's turn to be introduced to the very big stage. Also in a Chelsea - Barcelona match at the Bridge that saw an own goal and a red card.

Don't think he will reach the heights of Messi, that guy is a God of football, but he will surely be a superstar and I am sure that Real Madrid and everybody around the Spanish league will do all sorts of dirty things to try and sign him and have Yamal vs Estevao in their league. Roman was always a tough negociator and Chelsea has always had this aura of being a nearly impossible club to deal with when it came to our best players. Hopefully Boehly and Eghbali will be even harder to negociate with.

A special talent. It's going to be a lot of fun watching him in the years to come.

I tend not to get carried away but he looks very good. Apart from his obvious skill, what has also impressed me the most is his tenacity and application. For a smallish guy, he seems very brave and doesn't get easily pushed off the ball. If he keeps grounded and continues with the same attitude, he will go very far.

The thing is…. You just know that he’s nowhere near his best yet.

Once he’s got the language down he’s going to fly

He's in good company.

Unbelievable goal.

4 hours ago, TheSage said:

I tend not to get carried away but he looks very good. Apart from his obvious skill, what has also impressed me the most is his tenacity and application. For a smallish guy, he seems very brave and doesn't get easily pushed off the ball. If he keeps grounded and continues with the same attitude, he will go very far.

He played in the favelas and the Brazilian league. Only difference between him and young Neymar is that Estevao had Endrick take all the spotlight growing up.

Just imagine how much profit we can make on him in the summer if he keeps performing like he is!

24 minutes ago, Munkunku said:

Just imagine how much profit we can make on him in the summer if he keeps performing like he is!

Even these money grubbing VC guys aren’t that stupid 😂😂😂