ChelseasMessiah

How about PSG, United, AC Milan, Inter, Arsenal - a fully fit and firing Mata is a better all-round player than Ozil or Cazorla, their two best players..

Did he not win that ball when he darted forward with it a bit to find Hazard who found Willian - who should really have scored - in a quick counter? I'd say that's a defensive contribution that almost lead to a goal, is it not?

Mikel isn't starting games Phil, he's not in the conversation at the moment. The names being speculated suggest they'd go straight into our first 11. We'll wait and see... as for now, let's hope for 3 points tomorrow and a Lampard hat-trick eh.

So you're saying Ramires is gonna be sitting on the bench?

He's nailed on to start then, which is great news as his acquaintance with the German teams could be very helpful.

Then I think you're in for a shock as early as January. I'd love to see what the other lads in here think of the prospect of Lampard getting a new contract if he is to keep a first 11 spot week in week out. The two fellas above seem to vehemently agree with me.

I have, but my opinion remains the same. Like always though, it's not a dig on Kevin, it's just that Mata is world-class (and obviously older). KDB would just about walk into any 11 in the Premier League bar ours, Citys, and maybe Spurs. Uniteds and Liverpools he'd get in blindfolded doing handstands.

Mikel has nothing to do with this discussion, he's just a convenient card you pluck out of nowhere to deviate from certain points you don't want to refute. Other than that I've been watching an unbalanced Chelsea side that could be exponentially better were it to be rectified properly. Bearing in mind all I've said about Lampard playing in one of the pivots, I'd have no problems giving him game time in another role (a more advanced one obviously as that's where his skill-set can be compatible with our pattern of play) where he would only have to close people down and press like any other of our attacking players without actually having to be pivotal to our defensive unit. The beauty of it Phil, is that regardless of what we say here, our opinions bear no weight for or against as to what is actually going to happen in the future.

That was from a few weeks ago. Jose is no fool, he is watching Lampard's performances, the way he was dropped for England, the extremely high level of mobility and fitness one need to possess to play in the pivot at a club as strong as ours. All of these things will aid him to see and evaluate Lampard's effectiveness in that position. The articles/rumours talking about the players we are linked with are from this week. As for the comparison to Zannetti, that's more wishful thinking than anything else as physical dexterity, stamina and agility were never really among the many gifts Frank had/has as a player, that's why people should never compare him to Giggs, Maldinis and so on, the only veteran in our squad that I could potentially see playing at 37/38 ( other than Cech, as he is a case apart because he's a goalie) is Ashley Cole. We would be a much stronger side if we had another world-class box to box player alongside Ramires. Our back four would get the protection it deserves and the attack would get the liberty and support it requires to be truly unleashed. As of now, it's unbalanced in both aspects.

Have you seen Mata crossing a ball before? Look up his assists last season, some were mesmerising.

I honestly think he is, Mata earned his reputation as a top-class player in Spain playing on the wings. The only thing he lacks to be a truly great wide player is raw pace, but him and KDB are on the same boat in that department, but I'd argue Mata is slightly faster and more mobile, quicker on the turn, etc.

Well I'm not, Mata is unquestionably the better player in any of those three positions behind the striker.

He'll be fine, he had a well deserved rest this summer when he wasn't called up to play in the Confeds Cup. I've been watching Ramires since his Cruzeiro FC days when I used to watch a lot of South American football and he never looked tired once, Rambo's body just does not compute fatigue.

Shame Ash couldn't travel with the squad, hopefully he'll be fit for our next game.

We are being linked with about 3 or 4 CM/DMs for as early as January, Smoke, fire, and all that...

I couldn't agree more! We need two players there who are capable of defending and covering space to nullify their good players to make sure ours do the business. It's Ramires - Mikel for me.

Good news, I had just read your post on the match thread.

Has there been any updates on Andre's fitness for tomorrow's game? I know he twitted he'd try to be fit but will he? If so, would he be fit enough to start?

I think it's not a stretch to say we have three strikers in form now. Not in goalscoring form but all three have somewhat played well recently.

That's dynamite. Never gonna happen though, as much as I'd want it to.

That's what Tim Vickery wrote about him last year on his BBC blog. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2012/09/oscar_-_a_midfielder_in_the_fu.html

Relentless pressing also. But that would mean Mata wouldn't start the game.

I kind of did, and he surprised me at how well he did. I wanna see him start a game.

If he keeps his form throughout the season, I think there could be a spot on the bench for him as a striker. As for now, he needs games and more games.

I guess it's still too early to judge, he had mixed reviews last season as well.