For a two player game.
might sound bonkers but there is a reason

Maybe someone with more experience will know a trick that I can use

Could enable private messaging, then you have public chat and private chat.

Or team game, so there's public and team chat, even though it's just you on the team. Dunno if that's what you want.

okay the team bit worked a treat with just one player on each team
Not quite how I was originally going to use it but it means for FFA I can have a notes sheet in game for myself such as player order
And then use the private messaging for stuff me and my son have been doing off app
Thanks for the tips