Restproof

✍️ I'm not someone who minces words or is afraid to say his mind. If I want Enzo gone, I will say it boldly and repeatedly. Now, to clarify, I would 1000% keep Enzo under Alonso. He's going to be extremely important in many ways. But no, Enzo and Palmer as 10s will not give us the best out-of-possession balance and effective counter-press, which are massively important for Alonso. I don't think we should drop Enzo either; I believe the close proximity of Alonso's shape will hide his shortcomings in the pivot. Alonso allows the defensive line to be very close to the midfield, and the defenders are allowed to jump in and help the midfielders mark, press, and win second balls. For me, Enzo Caicedo as a pivot should be fine if the space between the lines is tight. Another reason we need a different profile as a 10 is to have someone who attacks and stretches the defense rather than a ball-to-feet player. Then, on his contract: personally, this shouldn't be a topic. Whether he signs or not, he still has six years left on his deal. That's a lot. What's the rush? I want him to extend if his demands are within the scope of the structure. If his demands will force the club to break the structure, it's not advisable. We shouldn't do that. Barcelona ran into financial issues because of overspending on wages and had to force players to take pay cuts or leave. They even turned down renewing Messi or taking him back from PSG. It helped them rebuild the squad, and they are still winning, while Real Madrid, who have the money to pay big salaries, are struggling. The point is, it's not just about money. Build a stable club, and they will improve what you are paying the players to match your earnings. Don't put yourself in trouble for any player, even if it's Messi. It's not worth it. A football team is much more than an individual. As to why Chelsea can't overpay now: PSR and FFP are regulations put in place to force teams to pay based on their paper revenue. Basically, you aren't allowed to pay more than you earn. Sign-on fees are amortized and spread over five years max, but every wage you pay goes straight into the annual expenditure. For example, a player on £300k a week is earning £15.6m annually; if he's earning £200k, his annual earnings drop to £10.4m. The club saves £5.4m on that player's wages per year. Multiply that by four or five players on such deals and see the difference. That difference is enough to break FFP or PSR. It's not something clubs can ignore until they become financially stable and also stable on the pitch. If you make the UCL every season, such fees won't be much of a problem. Also, there's the issue of the capacity of Stamford Bridge. We are currently earning way less than many big teams in the Premier League, and that includes Spurs. So, let me ask: with limited revenue, do we need to overpay and land in trouble? Obviously, it doesn't concern fans, but if we get to the point of a transfer ban and points deduction, it will concern everyone. Roman did it how he did it for us to enjoy success. I'm happy I had Roman as an owner—the best in the world—but we are not under him anymore, and the current owners don't want to cut corners, and rightly so. I believe we will be back. If Alonso, with his coaching, can help us find stability on the pitch and make better decisions, we will be back for real. Like Barcelona, we don’t need to pay more than we can afford to rebuild. We just need to be smart and make good decisions that will benefit the club and not individuals. Then we will be fine. It's a long read, but I had to be detailed. Anyone who wants to misinterpret or misunderstand me can go ahead. I have nothing more to add on both topics. Of course, this is my personal opinion. Well done if you read to the end. I appreciate that patience. 🤝