Thread by @EBL2017

Moises Caicedo is a unique player. The notion that he's *just* a top ball winner couldn't be more inaccurate. In fact, you can forget about profiling him as a defensive midfielder.

Caicedo can become an *ELITE* #8 because he's special in *and* out of possession.

MEGA-THREAD! 🚨

Caicedo does his best work in the first and second phase. He demands the ball under pressure, instructs others where to pass in the build-up, has the optimal balance of circulating & progressing play, is technically secure within those pass selections, can receive in all areas...

Caicedo turns fluidly upon receiving which is down to A) his low centre of gravity, B) his close control dribbling, and C) his unique ability to 'scan'.

He is *ALWAYS* aware of his surroundings and has the physical and technical traits to match that optimal cognitive trait.

All elite possession-based central midfielders regularly 'scan' in the anticipation of receiving a pass, and Caicedo is no different.

He's constantly checking his shoulder and often receives possession by turning into space, making him press resistant.

That 'scanning' ability in tandem with the fact that Caicedo operates within a low centre of gravity and has close-control dribbling skills means he's *ultra* press-resistant, and he's brave enough to turn in possession to subsequently use those technical and cognitive skills.

Not only that but his actual passing quality is sensational too. Caicedo curls passes into the path of players, fizzes passes into his teammates, can strike through the ball (although he doesn't do this to an elite standard with reliability as his physique lacks ferocious power).

And, as we all know, Caicedo is one of the most physically gifted and mobile players to grace the Premier League this season. He glides across the park, and that same quality can be seen in possession where he can ride tackles and carry the ball for large distances effectively.

Stylistically, I would like Caicedo to Naby Keïta in terms of what he *can* do with a football, except Caicedo has a much bigger impact on games and is subsequently a far better player because of his mental qualities as he's technically secure and orchestrates the build-up.

De Zerbi often uses Caicedo in a more conservative role to that of Keïta at Liverpool in the sense that although Caicedo does position himself between the lines on occasion, most of the Ecuadorian's work comes in the 1st & 2nd phase, but that's purely a result of the system.

Caicedo undeniably has the base skillset to operate higher, but De Zerbi uses him in the #6 because he's Brighton's best option there, but there's no denying Caicedo has *ALL* of the necessary qualities to play further up the pitch too.

In fact, it's likely *more* suited to him.

Caicedo may be fantastic defensively due to his phenomenal mobility, tenacity, aggression, and general approach to duels where he delays as opposed to diving in, but he lacks height at just 5'8. A prerequisite to excel as an elite #6 is height, otherwise aerial duels can be lost.

Caicedo is tenacious to battle for aerial duels and wins a good amount of those duels for his height, but he'll never dominate long balls from goal kicks the way a Fabinho, a Rodri, or a Casemiro does aerially.

He's simply not as tall, and that's a problem for him in the #6.

In the #8, however, that factor is a non-issue, and if anything it'll further improve Caicedo's ground duel winning abilities because he'll be allowed to roam & destroy, akin to N'Golo Kanté.

From there, Caicedo can also use his technical qualities higher up the pitch in the #8.

This is where the Arsenal links become exciting.. Arteta transformed Granit Xhaka from a 1st and 2nd phase specialist into a monstrous box to box midfielder who retains possession high, can use his ball-striking from range, & attacks the box relentlessly.

Caicedo can evolve too.

Xhaka may be exceptional, but he's one-footed, and he can't turn as fluidly as Caicedo can which makes him less press resistant.

Caicedo has all of Xhaka's 1st and 2nd phase qualities and MORE. Then, higher up the pitch, he can offer superior dribbling qualities in the #8.

Caicedo's game will always naturally excel in the 1st and 2nd phase, but that's the case with Xhaka too, and that's *EXACTLY* what the #8 role requires - a 1st and 2nd phase specialist who's also comfortable combining, interchanging, and offering penetration in the final third.

Caicedo has yet to showcase those qualities in that exact role, but what's absolutely clear is that his profile is directly translatable to succeeding in that area.

It reminds me of the time Maurizio Sarri got his hands on N'Golo Kanté and made him an effective runner from deep.

Arteta made that same transformation with Xhaka, and he can do something similar with Caicedo. Now, this isn't to say that he will be a devastating final 3rd player, because he'll never be that. It's not his natural game, but he can be dynamic with his dribbling & runs in behind.

Then, in the build-up, he can offer qualities that Xhaka doesn't quite offer to the absolute elite level, and that's a fluid turning radius, the ability to turn in any direction, and a low centre of gravity making him near impossible to press. That's the gamechanger with Caicedo.

Mikel Arteta doesn't want to sign him to become a #6, he wants to sign him because he has the qualities to become an *elite* #8 AND play in the #6 to a top, top standard, even if his height does present as an issue, but how many players can flawlessly play both roles, if any?

We also have to consider that Moises Caicedo profiles as a physically, technically, mentally, and cognitively elite footballer with an outstanding tactical education behind him at Brighton under both Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi, and he's just turned 21 years of age 🤯

This is his *FIRST* season in elite football. If he only displayed physical and technical potential then he'd be a frightening talent, but he's displaying the mental qualities of a veteran.

He demands the ball, instructs others where to pass, and is brave as hell in possession.

Even Real Madrid touted Caicedo as a potential replacement for Luka Modric... He has the potential to replicate Modric's intensity and work rate out of possession whilst also possessing the technical and mental qualities to control the build-up and drift in the #8 to make passes.

It's obvious why the elite clubs have all expressed an interest, but it's clear the best environment for Caicedo to develop is at Arsenal.

There is no set role or system for him to slot into at Chelsea, Liverpool are in transition, and the United + Madrid links have cooled.

Caicedo epitomises the word complete, but there's many 'complete' players who fail to nail down a specific role.. that ain't Caicedo.

He's a tactical dream because although his future lies in the #8, he can also provide superb cover in the #6.

He's destined for the VERY top.