I’ve written an article at the weekend on my personal Substack site basically explaining how Chelsea managed to get Pedro Neto over the line and get it done so fast, as well as how they beat competition to get him.
And now, it’s time to take a look at where he might fit in to this Chelsea starting Xl, because this signing DOES excite me!
If you remember my lineup forecast from a couple of weeks back, I actually had Neto in one of those as my dream Xl with new signings! I promise I didn’t know any more than what I had already reported at that time, I was just picking him as the best of the names that SPTC sources had actually heard and the one who fits in best.
Neto is SO versatile. These are the positions played during his entire career:
- Left wing = 44 times
- Right wing = 36 times
- Centre forward = 19 times
- Second striker = 14 times
- Attacking midfielder = 13 times
Neto is left-footed, so it all depends what Enzo Maresca wants from his wingers, whether he sees more of a cutting in threat like Noni Madueke, or a byline and crossing threat. Neto can do either.
I see him on the right, and I believe this is due to what we keep hearing from top sources that Cole Palmer is going to be playing more centrally under Maresca. Of course, we have to wait and see on that as Palmer has never yet been available for Maresca during pre-season until Sunday vs Inter.
I also think Christopher Nkunku will then move to the left, with Nicolas Jackson, or if we somehow manage it, Victor Osimhen up top. With the wing threat we have and crossing threat, I honestly think we should have a striker with aerial threat in there now, more importantly than ever before. So Samu Omorodion, or if we get him, Osimhen, would be great targets at least. Jackson I still see as a left winger more than striker due to that reason.
Marc Cucurella I think will be the inverted full back, and Reece James will be the centre back/full back on the other side.
Thing is, in this Xl that I can see Maresca going for, I’m leaving out Moises Caicedo which is absolute madness of course. I think Maresca might favour Enzo Fernandez in that 8 role over him, and Lavia over him in the deep role. This is what I think Maresca will go for, just as a reminder. Wesley Fofana also misses out, and many others.
Neto off the right, then the rest as you see below…
Lucky we have a lot of games to play and there will be plenty of rotation and players being switched up with good competition for each position.
If we do somehow pull Osimhen off, or another striker in, then I’ll be circling back to this with a headache trying to fit them in too!
I’m very intrigued to see Maresca’s lineup for Inter (writing this before the game), as that might be very close to what we see at Manchester City the week after – although Neto and Jackson/another striker might have to be added!
*This was written before the Reece James injury news, so obviously this wont be the lineup for City. Malo Gusto will start and would likely be the inverted option and then I suspect Levi Colwill or Benoit Badiashile will start instead of Marc Cucurella to be the left centre back/left full back.
