Pizy

The number of question marks around João Pedro and what he means for the team make it difficult to form a definitive opinion as of now. If he’s being bought as a pure striker then I don’t know how we can have all 3 of Delap, Jackson, and João Pedro in the squad and keep them all happy. Jackson would have to be sold. If we’re Feels like we need to hear directly from Maresca if this move happens to judge whether he’s a decent buy or not.

Yeah, I can’t think of a good sales pitch we could give him that would convince him that it’s best for him to stay. Which is sad. There’s a reason you hear other really top clubs being interested. As a club we are now going to start seeing the consequences of stockpiling super talented young players all over the place. We’re seeing it at goalkeeper, we’re seeing it in midfield, and we’re going to start seeing it in attacking areas soon enough. Look at Paez for example. What’s his future pathway to the first team?

Hard to see where he gets a run of games or consistent minutes if all of Enzo, Caicedo, and Lavia are fit. And as it currently stands it’s clear KDH is also trusted more. If he stays here he will get minutes in the lesser comps and for late game appearances off the bench. But when you have other massive clubs in your ear offering you a big role I find it hard to imagine this situation not boiling over at some point this summer.

Lavia was great today so don’t think he gets dropped. Maresca said at his presser yesterday that he views Andrey Santos as a more attacking #8 like Enzo so I don’t think he’s even considering him to replace Moi for this next match.

You already know our fans are going to lose their minds when Maresca still doesn’t start Andrey Santos against Palmeiras despite Caicedo being suspended and plays Essugo instead. Actually, knowing him he’ll play Gusto or Reece in midfield. 😭😭😭

Justice for us at last. The score line the match actually deserved.

Why is Nkunku still getting meaningful minutes in a Chelsea shirt? Why does Gusto continue to be picked despite being in the worst for, of his life? Our entire energy died with these subs.

Gusto continues to be shit…

Giving them chance after chance to steal this on the break with these sloppy ass giveaways when they’re pinned in their own half. Absolutely dreadful performance in the final third all game. This game should t even be fucking close.

What is Gusto supposed to do there?! Facing away from the ball AND it’s inches in front of him!

THAT IS A DISGRACE

All I know is that it would be the robbery of the century if we come out here and fail to see out the final few minutes. This has been as one sided a match as you’ll ever see between two big clubs. It feels like we’ve been playing a team a division below us in the League Cup or something. Our own dogshit decision making in the final third has made the score appear closer than the match has actually been. We should be completely out of sight and cruising to a 3 or 4 goal win right now.

Bad news is that we aren’t well ahead on the score sheet. Good news is that we actually looked good almost everywhere across the pitch, completely dominated them, and are creating good chances almost at will. Just can’t kill the game off.

Really poor from Delap today.

If these chances were falling to a natural attacker rather than Cucu we’d be 2 up now.

Is this ref BLIND?!!!!

Overall a nice, crisp performance so far. Just missing that last it of quality. But our passing and shape look very good today. The extreme heat is dulling our intensity, though. Nobody really playing at full speed.

Another shocker of a ref performance who gives every minuscule contact as a foul to our opponent but NOTHING to us.

Yep, mentioned it myself. Dry weird selection back there for Maresca. Especially since Tosin played well last game.

Kind of impossible to tell what formation we’ll be playing with this XI until we kickoff. Could be any number of different setups. Have Colwill & Badiashile ever partnered one another before? Both exclusively left sided, left footed players so I’m not sure how this is going to look.

Can’t remember the last time I was this underwhelmed by a big money signing. Not because he’s a bad player or anything but just because I don’t think he’s a ceiling raiser like a bunch of the signings our rivals have and will be making. I’m expecting another Madueke level player with Gittens. Flashes of nice football with lots of mediocrity and frustration the majority of the time.

Like I mentioned before, if we’re targeting a player to play behind the striker or as part of a 2 forward lineup I can think of several players I’d have over Pedro.

Yeah, it’s kind of weird. Maresca refused to use Nkunku or Felix in the PL because they’re awkward positionally. So we’re going to replace Nkunku with Pedro who is much the same? I guess tbf, João Pedro works MUCH harder for the team than either Felix or Nkunku do. He’ll press, run, and harass from the front unlike the other two. I guess that’s why Maresca may fancy him? 🤷‍♂️

I’d be massively underwhelmed if that turns out to be the case. If Palmer needs to be rotated I’d want to see Estevão given a shot at #10. Or if we’re looking to sign a new player for that area why not get a more natural creator? Idk, João Pedro just does nothing for me at the moment. Big time wait and see type of player. Though I must say if Eddie Howe really fancies him there’s a great chance he can become a top player. Howe seems to hit on almost all of the players he fancies and recruits.

Is swapping out Jackson for João Pedro an upgrade if that’s what happens? I don’t think it is. Pretty like for like quality wise in my opinion.