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Nick Gage's avatar

The owners have just bought a lot of 'talented' individuals without much thought of what a team needs to function at the top level. Rice was just such an obvious buy at the beginning of this. Caicedo and Enzo have been dominated a lot this season even by the Sheffield United midfield. Caicedo has come from a very tactically aware team in Brighton to what appears to be a tactically unaware team at Chelsea. He looks a bit lost. Enzo is slow and is run past a lot. They need help.

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Craige Coren's avatar

Luke, out of interest what type of player in the Premier League would fulfil the role that you suggesting. I’m not proposing that we not go and buy that player just it would help understand what you’re proposing by two or three examples. Thanks.

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Luke Rushbrook's avatar

I think the best sort of examples I could give Craige, a previous Chelsea player, Ruben Loftus-Cheek would have been perfect for the role I envisage, somebody like Jacob Ramsey at Aston Villa or a 10 with good defensive capabilities to be able to play an attacking but box-to-box 8 role would be someone like Morgan Gibbs-White, Lucas Paqueta or Eberechi Eze

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Luke Rushbrook's avatar

I've used realistic options rather than big names that wouldnt be attainable as that would make no sense.

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Craige Coren's avatar

Thanks very much, Luke that really helps.

I also thought about Ruben reading your article. That said I totally understand why he moved on and was actually pleased for him. He seems to be having a great season.

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Luke Rushbrook's avatar

We need to make these 2 work, not sell one, they have a great balance and compliment each others attributes well in the right system/under the right tactics they will flourish

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Umair's avatar

good points in here Luke. Im hoping that PSG come in for Caicedo and offer good money. We can then get someone like Onana. Ideally we needed a Rice or Tchouaméni like profile alongside Enzo. Someone who has the quality as we as the physicality and who can eat up space. For >200m your midfield should be way more well rounded. The midfield should be able to pass, carry, run, press, shoot, tackle, head, score. Onana himself is no where near as refined as Rice or Tchouaméni but he can grow into that type of midfielder very quickly.

Having good players with complimentary profiles > just having good / decent players.

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Luke Rushbrook's avatar

Would love to dig out my live blogs from the weeks leading up to Caicedo signing where I said Tchouameni was much more suited than Caicedo, however I do think Caicedo will improve a lot as he matures, Tchouameni is elite and a player above the level we will be signing in the next year or two

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