Neto does make some poor decisions at times but he's more productive and works harder than Gittens and Garnacho.

There is a lot he can improve on but even getting a true number 9 who can get on the end of his crosses could benefit the whole team.

We have bigger problems than Neto IMO.

The board completely ignore players over a certain age, the manager, Enzo being an untouchable, Gusto being used in attacking positions, no proper number 9 etc..

Selling Neto isn't even in the top 10 moves I would do to make this team better.

2 hours ago, Andy North said:

Can't believe the criticism. I know he had a shocker against Newcastle but he's arguably our player of the season so far.

Player of the half season is a bit much, and pinning "ego issues" on him because of a silly goal celebration (in a line of work where that apparently is in the job description) also seems somewhat judgmental. He is not a superstar that we must keep in order to win the title, however he is a hard worker, pops up with good runs and assists, even the odd goal. Has the occasional shocker and questionable facial hair, but on average a very decent squad player.

2 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

He's certainly doing much better than Gittens and Garnacho, but I think it is a bit of a stretch to say he's player of the season ...

Output wise he is up there.

I'd certainly give him most improved player for us so far this season.

He has turned into a very flexible/ adaptable/ reliable player for us who plays up top, left or right wing. He's certainly outperforming Madueke currently and is probably first name down on the teamsheet and he's got us a fair few points.

In an ideal world, he'd be a good squad player for us like Willian.

All this means he's probably nearly ready to be sold under our business model and will probably get what we paid, which I would consider a win and worth a top spot in the Excel spreadsheet champions league.

Can't believe I'm seeing Pedro Neto and output mentioned in the same sentence FFS

4 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

His stock must be at an all time high, which surely makes him ripe for a sale that will hopefully cover his book value ?

Hopefully we can sell before anyone realises that his output is actually pretty poor. He's having a career year and he might just make double figures in goals at current trajectory.

Hopefully we can sell?

Neto is embarrassingly our most productive winger. In no reality will the SDs replace him with someone better. It will be another 18-21 year old with hardly any top flight experience.

Certainly fits into the mantra of Standing Still FC.

For me, the only player who should be in the run in for our player of the season so far is James. He's the only player in the team who has been really consistent. Caicedo and Sanchez behind him. Neto's output has improved, but for the amount of the ball he is seeing, his decision making needs to greatly improve. It's frustrating watching him carry the ball up the pitch and then mess it up when it matters most.

1 hour ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Can't believe I'm seeing Pedro Neto and output mentioned in the same sentence FFS

Who else matches him in the squad, only Joao Pedro?

8 goals or assist contributions, 17 games—one in every two. Strikers used to be happy with those numbers.

In comparison with other midfielders, Semenyo has four more contributions. Rice is on the same as Neto. Rodgers 2 more and Foden 1. He is matching league output with others.

He needed to add goals and assists to his game because over his career, it isnt a strong point for him. He's doing that. To use a dog analogy, he's a scrappy terrier that chews ankles... Not always the most gifted but does work his socks off. I dont mind that at all, hope he improves his numbers.

I'd have him left, Palmer right/ central, and Estevao right all playing.

Cant say fairer than that.

In terms of this season vs last seasons wide attacker/winger options we went from:

1 outstanding option in Cole Palmer

3 decent/average options in Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto.

To

1 outstanding option in Cole Palmer

1 excellent but raw option in Estevao

1 decent option in Pedro Neto

1 decent/garbage option in Alejandro Garnacho, depending whether he is a sub (decent) or starter (garbage).

1 complete waste of space and investment Jamie Gittens.

So for Starters we have increased our quality but for overall depth we have more options but the quality is way worse, imo.

2 hours ago, Valerie said:

Player of the half season is a bit much, and pinning "ego issues" on him because of a silly goal celebration (in a line of work where that apparently is in the job description) also seems somewhat judgmental. He is not a superstar that we must keep in order to win the title, however he is a hard worker, pops up with good runs and assists, even the odd goal. Has the occasional shocker and questionable facial hair, but on average a very decent squad player.

Fantastic squad player, the problem is he cost £50m.

2 hours ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Can't believe I'm seeing Pedro Neto and output mentioned in the same sentence FFS

In fairness you quoted Garnacho's G/A stats the other day ignoring the fact a chunk of it was against the cast of Ivor the Engine.

He is a good squad player but nothing remarkable is happening this season in terms of his output.

Neto has 3 assists in the PL from 1,332 minutes. That's not enough creativity for where we aspire to be.

Even Gittens, who is getting it in the neck from just about everyone, has 2 assists in the PL ... from 900 less minutes.

Neto's 5 goals are against teams that were in 19th, 17th, 20th, 17th and 18th positions in the league table when we played them. It's great that we do well and pick up max points against teams in those positions, but we aren't getting anything from him in the games where we really need someone to be a difference maker.

Palmer or Estevao are our best bets at RW ... not Neto.

Having said that, I'd definitely be starting him at LW ahead of Garnacho and Gittens, albeit the best LW we have available remains in the bomb squad ...

Edited December 22, 2025Dec 22 by Sexyfootball

36 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Having said that, I'd definitely be starting him at LW ahead of Garnacho and Gittens, albeit the best LW we have available remains in the bomb squad ...

Mudryk is (officially/unofficially) banned, not in the bomb squad. He should be back to save us soon though.

3 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Mudryk is (officially/unofficially) banned, not in the bomb squad. He should be back to save us soon though.

I was referring to Sterling !

Goals and assists matter, obviously, but they’re only one side of the game. Neto contributes a lot more to the team than his raw numbers show, especially in terms of work rate, pressing, and tracking back.

If you’re only judging wide players by goals and assists, you’re missing half of what modern wingers are asked to do.
For example, Neto ranks well for tackles in the attacking & middle thirds as well as other defensive actions (blocking, tracking etc).

Personally, I couldn’t care less about how flashy a player is or how good his individual stats look. The only thing that matters to me is whether he makes the team better than the alternative.

Another prediction here: next manager will also be a big fan of Pedro Neto.

6 minutes ago, acaeus said:

Goals and assists matter, obviously, but they’re only one side of the game. Neto contributes a lot more to the team than his raw numbers show, especially in terms of work rate, pressing, and tracking back.

If you’re only judging wide players by goals and assists, you’re missing half of what modern wingers are asked to do.
For example, Neto ranks well for tackles in the attacking & middle thirds as well as other defensive actions (blocking, tracking etc).

Personally, I couldn’t care less about how flashy a player is or how good his individual stats look. The only thing that matters to me is whether he makes the team better than the alternative.

Another prediction here: next manager will also be a big fan of Pedro Neto.

I bet you'd pick a whole team of Neto's and Enzo's if you could LOL

4 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I bet you'd pick a whole team of Neto's and Enzo's if you could LOL

Good players, so they'd be picked at any top club anywhere. Either player leaving Chelsea would have no problem finding a spot at another top club.
And, to reiterate, the next manager will play both just as much.

24 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I was referring to Sterling !

Christ. I’d forgotten he even existed.

Our 2 best LW’s not even in the squad. Crikey.

2 minutes ago, acaeus said:

Good players, so they'd be picked at any top club anywhere. Either player leaving Chelsea would have no problem finding a spot at another top club.
And, to reiterate, the next manager will play both just as much.

Yes we did very well to fight off "strong interest" from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City, PSG, Bayern Munich and Liverpool to secure Neto's services in the first place.

Bayern in particular were gutted that they had to "make do" with signing Michael Olise instead ... 😎

9 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Yes we did very well to fight off "strong interest" from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City, PSG, Bayern Munich and Liverpool to secure Neto's services in the first place.

Bayern in particular were gutted that they had to "make do" with signing Michael Olise instead ... 😎

Fans worry far more about form than clubs do. Clubs look at profiles and fit. A player underperforming often says as much about the setup as it does about the player.

It’s actually surprising to me that players like Enzo — and to a lesser extent Neto — get so much criticism at the same time that the manager is widely considered incompetent on this forum. If the manager really is that bad, then surely some slack should be cut to certain players, especially those who do show quality in spells, like Neto.

23 minutes ago, acaeus said:

Fans worry far more about form than clubs do. Clubs look at profiles and fit. A player underperforming often says as much about the setup as it does about the player.

It’s actually surprising to me that players like Enzo — and to a lesser extent Neto — get so much criticism at the same time that the manager is widely considered incompetent on this forum. If the manager really is that bad, then surely some slack should be cut to certain players, especially those who do show quality in spells, like Neto.

It’s funny you mention profile.

We spent months trying to get Olise, only for him to go to Bayern. The alternative? Pedro Neto. A polar opposite profile wise to Olise.

These SDs don’t know what they’re doing and it’s borderline insanity Egbahli continues to back them.

1 hour ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Christ. I’d forgotten he even existed.

Our 2 best LW’s not even in the squad. Crikey.

If Sterling can be a$$ed to put in a shift and not be a selfish twit he would be our best left wing option and it is not even close.

And I really do not rate him as a player so is doubly sad to type that.

Garnacho is that poor and gittens is 10 times worse

I dislike the whole bomb squad sh*te. I know it's a name created by the media but it could be created by the media because of the actions of our club. It's pathetic to highlight players and go public to say they are not required and banished to train in their backyard with a cheap version of swingball and a copy of Football Manager on the ZX Spectrum.

Sterling was sh*t for us, and for Arsenal. Nowhere good enough but still better than Garnacho and Gittens. If we had treated him respectfully he would be an option.

However I just use Sterling as an example. I just think the whole concept paints us in a bad light as a club.

46 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

It’s funny you mention profile.

We spent months trying to get Olise, only for him to go to Bayern. The alternative? Pedro Neto. A polar opposite profile wise to Olise.

These SDs don’t know what they’re doing and it’s borderline insanity Egbahli continues to back them.

They are indeed. It could've been balanced out though; reckon they tried that with Sancho to be that creative figure, but that did not work out.
I remember when William was similarly criticized: not enough contribution to goals and assists. And yet we won 2 PL titles (+ cups) with him. Before him, we had Oscar doing all the dirty work that Eden couldn't do, and we also won the PL.

Incidentally, I remember the Mount vs Grealish debate during Euro 2020. People kept arguing about who was better — but better at what? They’re completely different players.
Once you get into tight tournaments like the World Cup or the Euros, in my opinion defensive solidity becomes increasingly important, especially in the knockout stages. Concede a late goal against a team like France and it’s basically game over.
That balance, which for bayern is unnecessary when playing in the Bundesliga, is IMO the reason Bayern often struggles in the knockout stages of the CL.

15 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

If Sterling can be a$$ed to put in a shift and not be a selfish twit he would be our best left wing option and it is not even close.

And I really do not rate him as a player so is doubly sad to type that.

Garnacho is that poor and gittens is 10 times wors

I don't think Sterling has the fitness to do that anymore.
Hmm even when we signed him, Sterling no longer had the physical-mental intensity that his style of play demands. His focus lies elsewhere right now... family?

1 hour ago, acaeus said:

They are indeed. It could've been balanced out though; reckon they tried that with Sancho to be that creative figure, but that did not work out.
I remember when William was similarly criticized: not enough contribution to goals and assists. And yet we won 2 PL titles (+ cups) with him. Before him, we had Oscar doing all the dirty work that Eden couldn't do, and we also won the PL.

Incidentally, I remember the Mount vs Grealish debate during Euro 2020. People kept arguing about who was better — but better at what? They’re completely different players.
Once you get into tight tournaments like the World Cup or the Euros, in my opinion defensive solidity becomes increasingly important, especially in the knockout stages. Concede a late goal against a team like France and it’s basically game over.
That balance, which for bayern is unnecessary when playing in the Bundesliga, is IMO the reason Bayern often struggles in the knockout stages of the CL.

I don't think Sterling has the fitness to do that anymore.
Hmm even when we signed him, Sterling no longer had the physical-mental intensity that his style of play demands. His focus lies elsewhere right now... family?

Yeah he is semi retired now. Will see if he bothers to find a new club after his deal with us runs out or just calls it a day then.

7 hours ago, loz said:

In fairness you quoted Garnacho's G/A stats the other day ignoring the fact a chunk of it was against the cast of Ivor the Engine.

Go have a look who Neto’s goals and assists came against this season.