Pizy

Just look at these stats they’re showing. We’re actually getting smacked around by one of the worst sides in the league.

Pure embarrassment.

Second bottom team in the league battering us. We are a shockingly dreadful football team.

Without the danger of Chilly and James bombing up and down each wing and with 2 mid 30’s CB’s in a back 4 we just look like your standard midtable side. Same with having Jorginho adding nothing at all in terms of making opposing teams think about him getting forward. Perfect illustration today why a player with Enzo Fernandez’s profile is needed. Passing between the lines, dragging teams around etc.

We’re just incredibly easy to defend against. Zero danger from either fullback in attack, zero danger from either CM, and walking pace football in general. Koulibaly looks like a shadow of the player from Napoli both defensively and on the ball. He could ping cross pitch passes for fun in Italy. Here he plays every one out of play aimlessly. Need an injection of energy and intent. Bring in Kova.

Goal apart, this is some awful attacking play. Our entire team camped in their half but just standing around static. So slow and ponderous. Zero creativity or incision from this midfield pairing.

lol, wtf

Think I trust Ornstein much more than Fabrizio Romano, unfortunately. If the former says things with Enzo aren’t as far along as has been reported than I believe it. Fabrizio is basically a tap in merchant most of the time. He definitely calls things right and first sometimes but his sources mostly feel like they’re from outside of clubs. Whereas Ornstein has sources directly within clubs. Still really hope we seal the deal. We almost certainly won’t have a better chance in the summer.

If Enzo doesn’t happen just wait for the summer. Don’t go and sign an inferior player. Even Caicedo who I see mentioned doesn’t have the same skill set and quality as Enzo. Just wait and see what’s available in the summer.

Benfica have some of the best scouts in Europe. I highly doubt they’d scupper a deal that would net them 100m or more because one of the potential replacements is off the table. They probably have half a dozen talents lined up in the event that Enzo goes.

True, but there’s just a different expectation for a striker. Felix had that usual wonderkid label and as a striker you’re expected to be a lethal, serial match winner. As a deep sitting CM I don’t think the spotlight will be quite as intense in Enzo. Of course for the price he will be expected to be world class soon, though.

I really don’t see him being a bust. He’s so technically gifted that at worst he’ll always be a solid player. We may look back and think we massively overpaid but don’t think we’ll look back and see him as a mistake that sets us back years.

I’m guessing the structure of the payments is the final hurdle and why it’s not already done.

Would be pretty redundant if we sign Enzo since they occupy the same area.

Barella is probably much more expensive and much more difficult to negotiate for.

I mean, they’re rumored to be favorites to sign Bellingham who will cost as much or more than Enzo. If their ownership situation wasn’t in flux I’m sure they’d be going all out right now.

That last bit in Fabrizio’s tweet is the thing. Liverpool don’t intend to pay the money at the moment. Which is why we need to quickly wrap this up before they do. I’m sure Klopp is really lobbying his board to sign a top midfielder and Enzo would be an unbelievable signing for Liverpool just like he would us.

Yeah, feels like we’ve missed our shot not wrapping it up last summer. That World Cup he just had really exploded his global profile. I’d be shocked if it’s anywhere other than Real Madrid. If not them, PSG.

Enzo starts for Benfica. Nothing imminent, then. Hopefully we don’t wait long to push it through. Don’t want some other club to match our offer and turn his head.

Seeing reporting that MacAlister could be an alternative to Enzo if that doesn’t materialize. Which doesn’t make much sense to me as they play pretty different roles. Enzo plays deeper whilst MacAllister is more of a #10. The latter would more suit the Mason Mount role. Caicedo and Rice as alternatives to Enzo make much more sense. MacAllister should be targeted in addition to Enzo if a couple of our current midfielders go.

We can probably get decent fees for those two. Plus, we’ll probably sell quite a few more. Gallagher will probably want out for lack of game time and we should be able to get a hefty fee for him. Don’t think it’s out of the question that we go big on Leão. Will just take some creative work by our new sporting setup.

Def a no go in the winter window. If it ever was possible which I doubt. If Ziyech and Pulisic leave in the summer I absolutely think we’ll still be after him.

Oooof, that’s rough. I’d probably go with Enzo just because his skill set is harder to find. There are lots of good ball playing CB’s, it’s just that Gvardiol is the standout talent at only 20 years old. Finding a CM who can control the whole game from midfield at only 21 years old doesn’t come around often.

Moscow? I’m assuming you meant Modrić? 🤣🤣🤣

Gvardiol is sadly completely off the table with Badiashile coming in. Both are basically the same age and profile, both left footed CB’s. And we also still have Colwill who fit that same description. So we must surely have been told behind the scenes that Gvardiol has his sights set elsewhere next summer. Hopefully that’s Real Madrid and not one of our rivals. Would really sting if we see him playing in the PL whilst we have the far inferior player. But on your overall point you’re right. Chelsea, much like United over the past few years when they’ve been down, can still attract top players regardless of position and manager.