20 Jul 2026 08:20:04
Just checking our top goap scorer stats for last season.
In all competitions it wasbof course Pedro first with 20 goals followed by Enzo with 15 then Neto and Cole with 11 andc10.
In the EPL it was Pedro with 15 followed by Enzo and Cole with 10 each. Given Enzo's defensive contribution his scoring record in v low scoring Chelsea side not bad. I think Delap bagged only 1 goal although to be fair he hsd that injury early on.
20 Jul 2026 09:42:28
Jbs, I made my position clear on Ef after he and his representative made the Madrid comments. I have always rated him as a player, but I don't want players at my club who do not want to be there. I can't see that anything has changed, and it would take yet another of his apologies to maybe change my mind.
20 Jul 2026 11:14:57
Tom I completely agree that it is not sensible to want to keep a player who does not want to play for us. The club has always had that policy. It makes complete sense.
But It is not as if EZ has put in a transfer request or gone on strike - as Courtois did - to show his desperation to leave. And let's face it by finishing 10th and with no Champions League football he will have been one among several who will have had thoughts about whether CFC vision/project and ambitions matched tgheir own. The days of one club loyalty long gone.
Many players including CFC will have harboured - if more diplomatically/secretly than EF - the desire to move to one or other of the Spanish giants. The question is what they do if thiose clubd cannot afford them and/or whether they go on hankering after a move once it seems not to be possible.
There have been plenty of players who have had thoughts about moving away from CFC or other clubs over the years though most have probably been too sensible to not say out loud that they fancy living in Madrid or love um, er love the weather in Manchester or Liverpool. Famous cases like Gerrard putting in a transfer request to move to CFC or Modric wanting to come to us when at Spurs come to mind. In Gerrard's case the fact was obviously that he stayed - and got a pay rise - and played wonderfully for Liverpool and LFC fans were relieved and gorgave him. While in Modric's case Levy refused to sell him to us and Modric then went on strike at Tottenham. Then the next season hew ent on strike at Spurs to engineer a move to Real Madrid. Well it was Spurs and they had appointed AVB as manager so who can blame him!
I am happy to understand and forgive EZ for having hopes/ambitions of a move to Real Madrid after our very, very disappointing last season and EF having had several pretty good seasons for us under his belt after presumably being lured to the Bidge by the VIsion/Project being explained to him. In fact last season he stood out for us much of the time in his efforts and leadership by example while many others disappointed. Maresca leaving and being replaced by LR would have disappointed many of the top players and the efforts of most dropped off accordingly. Gustoo became dreadful having once been pretty good for us. But EF's efforts not as noticeably so, less than many, hence him ending as second top scorer and with very high successful tackle/turnover rate as well.
Yes perhaps Enzo is not someone it is easy to like but when he has played for us he has surely as much or more than most other players displayed consistency of effort to win on the pitch and offered positive contributions to that end.
Anyway I expect Alonso will have gauged some of Enzo's views on staying/leaving in their first reported conversation and will probably test EF in this respect in further talk/s.
I am sure neither Alonso or the club would disagree with you - or me - and want to keep a player who does not want to be at CFC. But people can change their minds. Enzo may be successfully persuaded that RM cannot afford him and that CFC cannot afford to sell him for relative peanuts. But more importabtly, EF might also be persuaded that Alonso is a manager he can respect and trust -unlike LR - and that his appointment in itself and perhaps incomings like Roger signing suggests CFC are now set to be more urgently pursuing success on the pitch not just by 2030.
If so, EF may well recommit to CFC. If he does, I think he would again lead by example on the pitch - he clearly wants to be a winner more than most (whether by fair means or foul?!)- and together with Caicedo offer some toughness in the tackle in our midfield that MR or CP cannot. Otherwise we look a bit short on players who can supply tgis given Lavia fitness question and relatively untried Essugo plus Santos sold.
20 Jul 2026 12:26:47
JBS, I am the first to accept that everyone makes mistakes. My issue is he was vice captain, and his comments were during the season, a very tough season when everyone at the club should have been pulling in the same direction. I believe when things are tough is when you judge the manager, the players and the supporters.
Until he comes out and apologises publicly to the club and the supporters, I want nothing to do with the bloke. I repeat, I like him a lot as a player and in normal circumstances I wouldn't want him to leave.
20 Jul 2026 13:00:03
Just to add that EF did apologise personally to the manager, players and club in April about his Madrid comments (and was suspended for a couple of matches for them), but yes only to everyone else, ie us fans and the world in general, only via his agent on 9 April. That alone was not enough for me, but it was combined with his efforts on the pitch. Actions, for me, speak as loud, if not louder, than words, though both are of importance, and this allowed me to forgive him.
But I understand that it probably may not be enough for others, including you, Tom.
But I sometimes find public apologies to be stage managed and hypocritical, whether made by football players or politicians!
Anyway, we will see what happens with EF in terms of CFC's future fairly soon and you may well get what you want.
20 Jul 2026 14:11:50
JBS, I do not want him to leave, but if he stays, I do want him to apologise directly to the fans who sing his name at home and away matches.
I do not recall so far reading any apology directly from him to the fans, but that doesn't mean I haven't missed it along the way!!