There is definitely a horses for courses aspect to consider, in that Fabs is much better in the air, and that was a key requirement in the role he was asked to play. The way the high press works means the DM is often defending long balls pumped up the line and you need someone who can not just defend them, but do so convincingly enough to turn it into an attack. That part of our game has disappeared, and so weâre seeing more and more of the game being played in areas where he doesnt want to be, ones that expose the lesser parts of him.
One of the traits I have always personally valued in a DM is their refusal to be to knocked off the ball. It provides an important safety valve when youâre in possession to know you can give it them and they wont lose it, but it also means that shit like the 5th goal doesnât happen. Casamiro has probably never lost a ball like that in his life. Fab does now does routinely. Maybe once a game
And on the ball it was the best he has been this season which says a lot with regards to his drop off
He kept the ball safe, which is an improvement of late, but when we really needed to try and cut the deficit in goals, there was nothing played forward.
Albeit Fabâs a long way from where he was, we donât often have to deal with Real Madrid. He should be more than able to do the job he has to against the likes of Palace and Wolves.
But he hasnât been and he has been hiding especially when teams press us, even watching against RM, our backs trusted passing to 18 year old than Fab
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Sorry but I havenât seen the improvement that Jurgen has
Iâm not really sure the boss has seen any improvement, either, but you canât expect him to say âFabinhoâs finished. Heâs utter wank these daysâ.
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Just worried tha he is going to continue selecting him when he makes Capt slow look fast
Itâs like heâs won a competition to play football.
I donât think it could fall much more.
Clubs can see how bad he looks.
Not a reason to start him. Love him but donât want him anywhere the team.
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We are carrying too many midfielders who would look good if there were two other good ones alongside them.
To be honest, I half fancy myself to do a job if there were two other good ones alongside me to hide my deficiencies!
At some point we need to sign midfielders who will grab hold of it and make it happen, rather than try to squint and see what they could bring, âif there were two good ones alongside him.â
I would be ruthless this summer, not only letting midfield contract expirations go - Keita, Ox, Melo, Milner (maybe a coaching role though, as he is a top top pro). In addition to this lot, I also wouldnât shed a tear if any of the experienced midfielders - Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho, were to depart too. I understand they wonât all go, but if we just retained Hendo as the old head in the Milner role, that would be fine by me.
So long as we are going into the market to refresh the engine room properly.
Heâs valued at 70 million euros, apparently. Thatâs about 62 mil GBP. Presumably valued by us at that price. Of course the source for the price and the rumor that RM are interested is very far from reliable, but if someone were to offer about half that much then we should take it. After all, his value wonât go up.
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Who is?
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Why isnât someone driving him to the airport.
If we get that then someone replaced Edwards really well 
I would be very surprised if Fabinho left for anything like the number above. If he goes, I see the word âundisclosedâ being used, as a bit of a face saving mechanism.
I actually think he could do a really good job in Italy. But Italian teams are notorious for not wanting to pay a fee, or much of one.
If he goes, we are not going to get a useful fee to rebuild with. But a spot will open up and the wages will be off the books.
If he stays we can hope for an upturn in form if better midfielders arrive, but in all likelihood, he will be passed by and become a squad man, on high wages, while not bringing much to the pitch.
Its not that Italian teams dont want to pay a fee, itâs that they largely cannot afford to. If they can, it is wont be for a 29 year old on a downspiral that the selling club seemingly want to get rid of.
I donât think Fabinhoâs age and bad season would be necessarily such a turn off. 29 is a young man in Italy! Itâs not a bad league for such cases, players who lack a bit of pace, are on the market because theyâve been struggling, etc. Even if I donât like these sentences where it seems like Serie A is still all defensive and slow, because it isnât. Lucas went there and prolonged his career at that level, averaging about 40 games per season. Mourinho wanted Xhaka, ended up with Matic. Someone like Badelj is even slower than Fabinho.
But weâll see whatâs our position, then whatâs the interest from the market, then what would be our financial demands (could be a sale, but maybe it could also be a loan with options) and finally what is the playerâs wish also. Too many questions on all those levels right now to predict what will happen with Fabinho this summer.
Iâm not saying there wont be suitors for him in Italy, Iâm downplaying the expectation of it producing any sort of decent fee.