I think development is the key word, for some reason under multiple managers the majority of our players are regressing. The pressure that comes with the United short is immense.I remember getting a few pelters when I said 'ETH signing Mount is a bigger red flag for me than the 7-0' because I thought we should have gone for Caicedo (not that we would have got/afforded him but the initial point still stands) or a different profile midfielder.
To see Caicedo's development at Chelsea the past two years sucks.
As per the ball carrying. To be fair to him at Chelsea due to tactic restrictions he barely applies it. But at Brighton it was a main strength of his.It's a crystal clear IQ test; anyone who picks Rice over him can have their opinion immediately dismissed.
The scary thing is he's a better passer than Kante ever was, is far more press resistant, and has shown himself to be more positionally versatile - especially when compared to Kante at the same age. The only thing he lacks vs even prime Kante is the ball carrying - suffice to say the sky is the limit for Caicedo.
The United issue though goes beyond pressure. Our squad profile recruitment till INEOS took over has been awful. It contributes to players being unable to kick on in development on the regular. Its remains to be seen if INEOS will fix it.I think development is the key word, for some reason under multiple managers the majority of our players are regressing. The pressure that comes with the United short is immense.
True! This isn't to suggest he can't do it or anything - but Kante by the time he hit his prime was a truly elite ball carrier; don't think Caicedo is at that level even if he had greater license to do so.As per the ball carrying. To be fair to him at Chelsea due to tactic restrictions he barely applies it. But at Brighton it was a main strength of his.
Fair enough. Personally I felt he showed elite ball carrying potential at Brighton alongside genuine position versatility. A reason I felt many (myself included) rated him as a talent with higher potential than Rice.True! This isn't to suggest he can't do it or anything - but Kante by the time he hit his prime was a truly elite ball carrier; don't think Caicedo is at that level even if he had greater license to do so.
Well, fees are somewhat illusory. You are paying for an appreciating asset, on amortization, and relatively low wages. The cost that matters, how much he costs against the PSR cap, has been really low.How do you underpay for a defensive midfielder when you spend 100m+, it would never be underpaying unless he starts adding goals and assists to his game like Rodri did.
He won’t because Rodri is a unicorn hence why he could win the B’allon Dor
Yes! And Lavia playing next to him allows him to really showcase it. It's a big reason why our play goes up a notch when Lavia is available, besides the player just being brilliant. I think Enzo wants James to play a similar role to Lavia but he's nowhere near as effective, especially in the 3-1 build-up.As per the ball carrying. To be fair to him at Chelsea due to tactic restrictions he barely applies it. But at Brighton it was a main strength of his.
He's fantastic and anyone who says otherwise doesn't know shit about football. One of the very few 100m+ transfers that were truly worth it and easily top3 in the world in his position, phenomenal playerUnbelievable player. Absolutely love him.
Best midfielder in the world right now. Can't think of anyone else I'd pick over him to play as a single pivot by himself in the 3-1-6 we use in possession regularly.
Come on. What about Bruno?Best midfielder in the world right now. Can't think of anyone else I'd pick over him to play as a single pivot by himself in the 3-1-6 we use in possession regularly.
You a fan of Enzo as well? Not wishing to go off topic, just asking out of interest.Unbelievable player. Absolutely love him.
He was an United fan too . Remember reading Valencia tried to convince him to join usTo think lad was available and we were sucking our thumbs and buying their trash to help them out.
That damn complex ownership which gave Brighton the advantage as they had prior knowledgeHe was an United fan too . Remember reading Valencia tried to convince him to join us
He would've never developed into the player he is right now if he joined us back thenTo think lad was available and we were sucking our thumbs and buying their trash to help them out.
You a fan of Enzo as well? Not wishing to go off topic, just asking out of interest.
Ten Hags wet dream of a player.Best midfielder in the world right now. Can't think of anyone else I'd pick over him to play as a single pivot by himself in the 3-1-6 we use in possession regularly.
Thanks for the response. He's at least got a few points in the Fantasy Football!I think he's a good player, but nothing hugely special or spectacular. He had a good season last season, but he started this season terribly. He was good tonight though.
I remember getting a few pelters when I said 'ETH signing Mount is a bigger red flag for me than the 7-0' because I thought we should have gone for Caicedo (not that we would have got/afforded him but the initial point still stands) or a different profile midfielder.
To see Caicedo's development at Chelsea the past two years sucks.
It makes sense because he made no sense sticking to the bizzare claim a Mount " was bought instead of Caicedo". They were never in the same price bracket.. THAT is why that poster rightly got pelters.....Not sure why you would get pelters. ....
Wasn't mount out first signing of that summer? Our priorities were really messed up. I sort of remember Eth thinking mount would just replace eriksen but push further so we have two number ten, which he tried for a few gamesIt makes sense because he made no sense sticking to the bizzare claim a Mount " was bought instead of Caicedo". They were never in the same price bracket.. THAT is why that poster rightly got pelters.....
We simply didn't get a 6 that summer because we paid too much for every signing that summer. ETH wanted an actual 6. Just run outta money.
I don't think there's a single midfielder in the world I'd swap him for. He's easily the best single pivot; it's only because of him that the 3-1-6 formation we use at times when attacking is viable.Steady on. He’s definitely the best of his type of midfielder if that’s what you mean.
Him being the first is irelevant. He was the easiest deal to get over the line that summer. Us being so poor at negotiations that we over paid for him and every other signing that summer meaning we couldn't have money to sign a 6 rather is more important. Mount was rightly bought to eventually replace Eriksen. He just wasn't rightly bought for that fee.Wasn't mount out first signing of that summer? Our priorities were really messed up. I sort of remember Eth thinking mount would just replace eriksen but push further so we have two number ten, which he tried for a few games
Floren get on the phone
€250m and we'll consider itFor enough money Chelsea will definitely sell, and then spend it all on another ten players they might be able to make a profit on.
Was a fairly poor quality game though, so not a high bar exactly.Best midfielder on the pitch yesterday and it wasn’t particularly close.
I kinda think we're saying the same thing.Him being the first is irelevant. He was the easiest deal to get over the line that summer. Us being so poor at negotiations that we over paid for him and every other signing that summer meaning we couldn't have money to sign a 6 rather is more important. Mount was rightly bought to eventually replace Eriksen. He just wasn't rightly bought for that fee.
It wasn’t so long ago cole Palmer was the best attacking player in the world according to Chelsea fans, now it’s Caicedo. Next up, cucurella being the best left back. The disrespect to those PSG Players is insane, dembele just won a ballon d’or and is easily the best attacking player of the last few years, Vitinha and neves (individually and collectively) owned every top midfield in Europe last season and Nuno mendes is so far ahead of the next best left back it’s not even a discussion.I don't think there's a single midfielder in the world I'd swap him for. He's easily the best single pivot; it's only because of him that the 3-1-6 formation we use at times when attacking is viable.
He has absolutely no weaknesses in or out of possession - so he can play with anyone in any system and be effective. Don't think that's true of too many other players (besides, say, Joao Neves).
I mean Caicedo dominated the PSG midfield when they played over the summer. It's not disrespect when he was different class on the same pitch and therefore not a hypothetical.It wasn’t so long ago cole Palmer was the best attacking player in the world according to Chelsea fans, now it’s Caicedo. Next up, cucurella being the best left back. The disrespect to those PSG Players is insane, dembele just won a ballon d’or and is easily the best attacking player of the last few years, Vitinha and neves (individually and collectively) owned every top midfield in Europe last season and Nuno mendes is so far ahead of the next best left back it’s not even a discussion.
I went full muppet in his transfer thread and was gutted when you landed him.I don't think there's a single midfielder in the world I'd swap him for. He's easily the best single pivot; it's only because of him that the 3-1-6 formation we use at times when attacking is viable.
He has absolutely no weaknesses in or out of possession - so he can play with anyone in any system and be effective. Don't think that's true of too many other players (besides, say, Joao Neves).
well no. Rice is a great player in his own right, he's not supposed to be what Caicedo is. They're different players with different profiles and rolesI can't get my head around people thinking he and Rice are on the same plane; Caicedo is what Rice is supposed to be.
We've done this before...well no. Rice is a great player in his own right, he's not supposed to be what Caicedo is. They're different players with different profiles and roles
You spent £115m on him, he should be playing at this level.Unbelievable player. Absolutely love him.
It's a whole separate topic and don't want to derail the thread overmuch but the lack of investment in your midfield is mind-boggling. It feels almost like willful sabotage to neglect the centre so pointedly.I went full muppet in his transfer thread and was gutted when you landed him.
We fail at these mega box2box midfield signings every time: Vidal, De Jong, Caicedo, Neves. Shamelessly muppeted in each of their threads.
I can't get my head around people thinking he and Rice are on the same plane; Caicedo is what Rice is supposed to be.
