Emegha as well btw his ball striking absolutely STINKS I have no clue how he took a pen that early.
Barco’s was on the side of bad luck but Emegha’s pen was dogshit.
Austin MacPhee well done 👏
The only thing Xabi gotta be concerned with is he's actually gotta start winning in order to warrant the totalitarian selection he's embedding.
People want Estevao to start, because he's an actual threat, and a ginourmous talent.
Midfield 3 is certainly interesting, Xabi is definitely flexible.
Gusto x Rogers LHS... I see the vision.
Colwill dropped #winner
My Balon d’Or winners (every year since I was old enough)
2026: Kvara
2025: Yamal
2024: Rodri
2023: Haaland
2022: Benzema
2021: Messi
2019: Messi
If you differ, try me. My analysis terra’s yours.
Voting criteria:
— Team trophies: lesser importance. No, Jorginho should not be finishing 3rd in the 2021 Balon d’Or, as a prime example of why (somehow this logic was waved for the 2026 Balon d’Or, idk why or how…)
— The ≈ 10 most important matches a player faces in a season >>> the rest. Only competitive opposition count because that’s when you’re truly tested and what the clubs pay you the big money for.
— Attackers mog. The most skilful players play in the zones that are most dangerous. The skill gap between attackers at the top of the game is so much more valuable than any midfielder, defender, or fullback in the game. Preference towards wingers over #9’s too, since they have to impact the game in a greater variety of ways, with a super soft spot towards truly great all round #9’s like Benzema, Drogba, Suarez etc (No, not Kane). Haaland anomaly for being included as a mere poacher, but he did truly break the PL that season imo.
Colwill lacks all the fundamentals to play as a CCB. Has no awareness defending transition, tracking runners, gets physically dominated versus a lot of league ST’s, hot head mentally as well. He’s a LCB in a 4 and still has issues then.
Scott will be an incredible signing for Chelsea, like Rogers was, no matter the price point.
In order to have an optimal midfield double-pivot, as is preferred under Xabi, you need a combination of 2 different traits, irrespective of individual quality. As the margins are so small you cannot rely upon quality alone, as seen with the failed experiment of a Caicedo-Enzo double-pivot, to win major trophies.
Mobility x Stability (OOP & IP)
IP, one of the midfielders primary responsibilities should be to float or be “mobile” in-possession. This can mean dropping into the 1st phase parallel with the CB’s, drifting wide to open space and combine with wide players, pushing up into an advanced-8 position beyond the 2nd line of defense (perhaps even stretching the defense as Enzo did to open up space and create threat), attacking the box, or carrying the ball up-field, wingplay etc.
The only thing Alex Scott cannot do to a high enough standard for Chelsea is dropping into the 1st phase/being a DLP.
However, this is what Caicedo is so good at, and we’ve already seen in the majority of games he’s featured in, Xabi deploy him in that role, as he also did under Maresca.
OOP is the aspect Xabi would have to improve him upon, as atm, he’s a roaming/mobile midfielder OOP for Bournemouth, as Adams is the one that covers the defense. But for Chelsea, we need the opposite to partner Caicedo, and why Henderson has fit in so seamlessly, to allow Caicedo to be the aggressive, front-footed, ball-winning midfielder he is. Scott is superior aerially and defending transition which is why I think it’s perfectly viable for him to adapt his game in a Chelsea outfit, for the qualities that are needed OOP alongside Caicedo.
Josh was legit one of the best players for us yesterday. Wasn’t a problem under a controlled coach such as Rosenior where there’s clear intent on how we go about progressing the ball.
Leeds and PSG respectively (He sold the Leeds game but for other reasons)
Rogers - JP - Estevao
Is so easily the most balance and functional front-3 we’ve got.
JP-Palmer only works when there’s space between opposition defensive lines like Fulham or even Brighton. Pedro just isn’t a top-tier minimalist yet and doesn’t have that extra stride in behind for Palmer to have more time on the ball like he had with Jackson.