19 Aug 2026 18:03:11
Hi Ed001, what's your opinion on our midfield signings? (Including Baleba) I think we've got a great balance now and could be looking to the future when Bruno possibly leaves. Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - I think you have signed well and given yourself a good balance as well as good players. I really like Santos and was saying ahead of last season that Chelsea should be looking to build around him. I think they have made a big mistake selling him and that is to your benefit. Tielemans is a good option, he can also cover for Bruno, to allow him a rest if you are leading. Baleba is the only 'worry' and that is only that he might not be able to recover properly from his injuries. If so, then Santos means it is not really an issue, but if he does, then you have an excellent midfield now. It is a huge step forward.}
21 Aug 2026 14:13:14
Ed001 i remember you rated Baleba very high the season before. If he recovers from his injuries, do you think he can become one of the best dcm ; I think he is more of an 8 with energy.
Also what aspects of his game we must improve; I think the timing of runs is not right, sometimes there is an easy pass but he decides to go past 3 people, with the risk of loosing the ball.
{Ed001's Note - he is not really a DM, like Kante people confuse any player breaking up play with a defensive mid. You have to give these players freedom to roam, their mobility is a big part of their skillset, and you don't make the most of it by restricting them to a DM role. As a central midfielder, he has it all to become one of the better ones, it is mentality that he was lacking most of all last season. The disappointment of the failed move to United added to him clearly still worried about his previous injury hampered him imo. He has the move now and the injury worries will gradually fade as he plays, so he should get back to his best.
You have hit the nail on the head, he is very physical but sometimes he just needs to release the ball and stand back.}
21 Aug 2026 16:36:14
Exactly my point Ed001, and for me (as i said) he is an 8 with energy. Except last year i saw some games of Brighton, and he was sitting deeper, like an 6, preventing counter attacks and he was really good there also.
Many thanks, i think we have a very good player in our hands but he must improve some aspects.
He is the kind of player that because everything is so easy for him defending-wise and eating opponents alive, he didn't improved the reading of the game as much as he should