Andrey Santos | 2026/27 Performances

pacifictheme said:
Pretty normal for any top team to have good players on the bench. It's just nice to have that problem again.
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I agree, we had Santos on the bench ourselves a lot of the time. It's a good problem to have.
 
WeePat said:
I agree, we had Santos on the bench ourselves a lot of the time. It's a good problem to have.
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Mount is also very much in the picture for the double pivot and there's also a possibility for another incoming
 
WeePat said:
For us he had license to go chase the ball and press a bit. Caicedo would seamlessly drop in and sit. I think he fits well next to Tielemans, who can do a lot of the deep lying midfielder stuff too, so potentially we could see Santos given license to roam and push forward when Tielemans is introduced into the line up. Do you know what kind of system Carrick wants to play? I want to understand where Mainoo fits into all this.
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It's basically a 4-4-1-1 with Carrick, Bruno is the undisputed 10, Mainoo, Santos, Tielemans the main 3 to rotate for the 2 CM spots and Mount as the 4th. I wouldn't say there is a clear top 2 right now. Lots of games, they'll all split. Cunha vs Dorgu for LM, Mbeumo vs Amad for RW, Sesko vs Mbeumo for CF (who knows how Rashford fits in now, whether if at LW or at CF).

They play as normal CMs, share and rotate who is more sitting and who is more pushing up in the box to support. More control and hold position, less press high up all over the pitch and abandon the middle.
 
WeePat said:
So between Santos, Tielemans and Mainoo, one of them will likely be sitting on the bench?
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With the heavier schedule this season we’ll rotate between them as Carrick figures out how they work together. And then I can see different combos being used against different opponents for tactical reasons. I could also see all three playing in really big games.
 
Zumbi said:
With the heavier schedule this season we’ll rotate between them as Carrick figures out how they work together. And then I can see different combos being used against different opponents for tactical reasons. I could also see all three playing in really big games.
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And then Bruno on the wing? Lets see but agreed on the combos
 
So much pressure now on this guy to instantly perform and become a key player. Entirely unfair on the player having to do such heavy lifting with all the scrutiny around United. It's exactly the kind of environment and circumstance where young players can crumble and eventually fail.

Hopefully he can take on the challenge and measure up to it. Good luck to him. And Mainoo for that matter.
 
sp_cgb said:
So much pressure now on this guy to instantly perform and become a key player. Entirely unfair on the player having to do such heavy lifting with all the scrutiny around United. It's exactly the kind of environment and circumstance where young players can crumble and eventually fail.

Hopefully he can take on the challenge and measure up to it. Good luck to him. And Mainoo for that matter.
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Is there? Tielemans and Mainoo should be doing the heavy lifting in midfield, if Santos settles and performs well, then great.
 
Escobar said:
And then Bruno on the wing? Lets see but agreed on the combos
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Bruno’s played on the right of a diamond before and can be super effective in those right half spaces. More likely as the tip of a diamond with a fluid front two of Cunha and Mbeumo up top
 
WeePat said:
For us he had license to go chase the ball and press a bit. Caicedo would seamlessly drop in and sit. I think he fits well next to Tielemans, who can do a lot of the deep lying midfielder stuff too, so potentially we could see Santos given license to roam and push forward when Tielemans is introduced into the line up. Do you know what kind of system Carrick wants to play? I want to understand where Mainoo fits into all this.
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It's anyone's guess at the moment but the midfield may finally be an area of the pitch where we genuinely might have some proper quality and depth. If they all play well to their strengths then it'll be a lot of rotation and subs with perhaps even CBs or forwards taken off to have potentially 4 CMs on the pitch. Depending on the opponent, I could even see Santos filling in at CB with Tielemans, Mainoo and Bruno in the middle with another front 3.
 
Not sure if Santos will play CB unless we have a pretty major injury crisis (I think de Ligt, Maguire, Yoro, Heavens, Martinez, with more cover/attacking options of Shaw/Maz as CBs, would be ahead of him there).

Also not sure why so many people are saying Santos + Mainoo/Tielemans. I'd expect that against bigger teams, but average/smaller teams, I can definitely see Mainoo + Tielemans as a regularly used option. I don't see Mainoo & Tielemans as pure 8s (unlike Mount - who I see as a 8/10 hybrid who can cover as a defensive winger too), and both contribute more than enough defensively to be partnered together apart from against the biggest teams. (esp. Mainoo who looked like he was being groomed as a 6 in the last few games last season).
 
sp_cgb said:
So much pressure now on this guy to instantly perform and become a key player. Entirely unfair on the player having to do such heavy lifting with all the scrutiny around United. It's exactly the kind of environment and circumstance where young players can crumble and eventually fail.

Hopefully he can take on the challenge and measure up to it. Good luck to him. And Mainoo for that matter.
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If he's playing its because he wanted it and he got ahead of other players, he wont be under pressure he cant handle
 
Unbelievably promising this lad. Can see why Chelsea fans were so sad to see him go.
 
Pre-season I know, but very very promising signs from this guy so far. Everyone is wanting to give him the ball, he tries to pass it forward almost every time, and whenever the ball is turned over he seems to be there.
 
I don’t think many fans understand just how impressive he is.

Forget the excellent passes going forward for a second.

His tactical and positional understanding is OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Watch for 2 moments.

When the front flat 4 presses, Santos is the one tasked with stopping the press bypass. He is not the fastest player but he has a burst and he uses this burst to the absolutely maximum when it comes to presses. He is very important in this 4-2-4 press Carrick is implementing for goal kicks from the opposition. Santos is flawless in this.

He’s also exceptional in identifying how to position when the ball is on the last line between Harry and Ayden. Always gesticulating the exact right move to bypass the press.

Just an exceptional defensive force when he’s not forced to run long distances. Covers soooo much ground. Add to that how he manipulates the press with his passing, he is a tremendous #6. One of the last pure #6 profiles on the market. Awesome buy.
 
Let's hope the high praise continues through the season. God knows we could do with another transformative Bruno type of signing
 
Snormac said:
Pre-season I know, but very very promising signs from this guy so far. Everyone is wanting to give him the ball, he tries to pass it forward almost every time, and whenever the ball is turned over he seems to be there.
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This is exactly what I was going to say. He's always looking to knock it forward, like a lot more than normal. He sees an instinctive body movement when he receives the ball to make the angle and hit the forward pass in almost the same movement, very hard to press someone like that. He's a really good prospect for sure
 
Ekeke said:
He feels like a mix between a DM and a DLP. He's got the vision of a fairly creative CM.
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This is what I'm saying.

The people who feel like we need a Tchouameni type of midfielder in our first team are simply not watching how we play.

We play very quick, intricate free flowing football - Mainoo, Santos, Tielemans & Mount are all pass dominant players & Santos was bought because he ranked 99% of front passes in the league whilst have good defensive ability.

We don't need a player to just be a ball winner because it will literally break any synergy we have in the first team.

Carrick has talked about positive things of PSGs midfield when he signed - I'm sure he wants a more dominant version of a Vitinha type player at CDM than a Tchouameni. People need to remember how Carrick actually used to play because usually that's a good indication of the type of play they will replicate as a manager.
 
Mr. Burns Tuchel said:
This is what I'm saying.

The people who feel like we need a Tchouameni type of midfielder in our first team are simply not watching how we play.

We play very quick, intricate free flowing football - Mainoo, Santos, Tielemans & Mount are all pass dominant players & Santos was bought because he ranked 99% of front passes in the league whilst have good defensive ability.

We don't need a player to just be a ball winner because it will literally break any synergy we have in the first team.

Carrick has talked about positive things of PSGs midfield when he signed - I'm sure he wants a more dominant version of a Vitinha type player at CDM than a Tchouameni.
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So far hes a player for me that sums up the idea of "Vertical tiki taka"

Yes good control and short passes, but he moves the ball forward anytime its on
 
His awareness of what’s around him is incredible; his first touch invariably takes him into space. He’s three midfielders rolled into one, and will be invaluable to us.

Thank you Chelsea.
 
I like seeing a player pass forwards. Even better when it’s a midfielder. We’ve been screaming out for some more incisive passing for years. I like him.
 
This kid is going to be signing of the season. I think he’s good enough to replace Casemiro and some.
 
MadDogg said:
Thought he drifted out of the game a bit in the second half. Tiring perhaps? Otherwise he's been brilliant this preseason.

I could see him being my favourite player in the not too distant future...
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He did. Tielemans and Bruno then came on and took over. Some of the passing was fantastic in the 2nd half especially from Maguire and Tielemans.
 
BuzzKillington said:
His awareness of what’s around him is incredible; his first touch invariably takes him into space. He’s three midfielders rolled into one, and will be invaluable to us.

Thank you Chelsea.
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A move that really suited all parties. He just unfortunately was never going to be a starter for us this season and he’s too good to ride the bench.

As someone who watched every minute of his time at Chelsea and a lot of his time at Strasbourg I knew he had it in him to be a very solid PL midfielder if given the chance to play every week. So a lot of your fans moaning when you signed him I knew wouldn’t last after you’ve watched him a bit.
 
Orc said:
A move that really suited all parties. He just unfortunately was never going to be a starter for us this season and he’s too good to ride the bench.

As someone who watched every minute of his time at Chelsea and a lot of his time at Strasbourg I knew he had it in him to be a very solid PL midfielder if given the chance to play every week. So a lot of your fans moaning when you signed him I knew wouldn’t last after you’ve watched him a bit.
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I feel like Enzo leaving is an inevitable scenario since before the window, do you agree? If so surely Santos would have had a path?
 
VP89 said:
I feel like Enzo leaving is an inevitable scenario since before the window, do you agree? If so surely Santos would have had a path?
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Looking more and more like he’s staying. Perhaps if Xabi Alonso sticks to the wingback + back 3 formation we saw today it will help mask Enzo’s lack of pace and quickness. Having 3 CB’s behind him instead of 2.

If he does go I think we move for either Wharton or Scott. We’ll find out more Monday when I believe he returns from holiday!
 
the_cliff said:
This kid is going to be signing of the season. I think he’s good enough to replace Casemiro and some.
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Replacing Casemiro the DM is no tall task tbf. His goals are a big miss though.
 
Orc said:
Looking more and more like he’s staying. Perhaps if Xabi Alonso sticks to the wingback + back 3 formation we saw today it will help mask Enzo’s lack of pace and quickness. Having 3 CB’s behind him instead of 2.

If he does go I think we move for either Wharton or Scott. We’ll find out more Monday when I believe he returns from holiday!
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What about Lavia? And Barco?

The club really has zero clue how to integrate and plan around players.
 
Orc said:
A move that really suited all parties. He just unfortunately was never going to be a starter for us this season and he’s too good to ride the bench.

As someone who watched every minute of his time at Chelsea and a lot of his time at Strasbourg I knew he had it in him to be a very solid PL midfielder if given the chance to play every week. So a lot of your fans moaning when you signed him I knew wouldn’t last after you’ve watched him a bit.
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Makes him sound like a decent player. I think he’s much more than that
 
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