quickpassnmove

this deal would be great if Chelsea could give ManUtd a discount on Mata for taking Torres too.

send torres with him, pls.

today, I feel like singing Chelsea songs for the first time in over 3 years. happy CFC got a CM to admire & for the future, who is not called, "Ramires." That's two solid CMs in the squad with one or two possibly good for the future (vanGinkel, Romeu), not to mention the reserve and youth players (hopefully coming good).

funny stuff... Schuerrle to Chelsea and maybe this http://talksport.com/football/liverpool-transfer-news-rodgers-turns-ps15m-man-salah-move-stalls-14011075004 more talented dribbler than Schuerrle, taller, stronger, bigger personality, dangerous on the international competition. under-rated.

I wish Chelsea had a player so good at what you are describing. Matic is very good, but it's nice to also have a bulldog in the midfield who is lower to the ground. I don't watch Cagliari much now, but I do like Naingolan.

Just as I expected, you have nothing interesting to say. But I'm guessing you spend time on the board antagonizing and ridiculing users with whom you disagree. Ignored.

Scoring is not the priority of a center midfielder's performance. In my book, a center midfielder needn't be expected to score but around 5-7 goals in all competitions. I would argue that although Frank has been very good, he's not been as good as the best players in Europe in center midfield, in EVERYTHING but scoring. I've no problem with him being a sub and infrequent starter even next season, so "the new contract will be signed soon" doesn't work for antagonism.

I am posting this to see what the counter-argument might be because I, myself don't see a counter-argument. Chelsea have not had a group of high-quality center midfielders for much of Frank's time with Chelsea. This is similar to the problem with Didier's years with Chelsea since Robben and Duff left the club; Chelsea didn't have top wingers despite the millions spent, to play alongside Didier. Frank has done well, but even as I'm a Chelsea fan, I might have never have selected him for a top European fantasy squad outside of maybe 2005. Before any hyper-sensitive fanatics believe I'm just here to wind people up on this topic, I will just say that I like to see a squad that can play in every way possible (all passes, any tempo) and Chelsea have NOT been this kind of club for years. I like the fact that Frank can score--of course! But, in setting up a squad and starting XI, I prefer to have at least TWO top all-around center midfielders--meaning, players who can DO EVERYTHING in center midfield better than most players in the world (the best examples could be found at the biggest clubs). Looking back at Frank's time at Chelsea, I see a brief time when Chelsea could have fielded Frank with Thiago and Makelele. Essien, Ballack, and Lampard is OK, but in both of these midfields, I doubt the ability of the group as a whole to pass accurately and quickly on the ground. Looking at some of the top sides in Europe from years past, how do you honestly rate Chelsea's midfield against the likes of Bayern, Barca, Juve (esp. 2001 with Davids, Tacchinardi, Conte, Zidane), Milan, and Liverpool. I'm not accepting the argument: "no midfield is perfect," or, "this isn't fantasy football, Chelsea do the best with what they have." For the money spent at Chelsea by Roman, since 2003, I find it really poor that a better midfield and overall squad was not maintained during Drogba and Lampard's best years. But, back to my point about Lampard and Chelsea's midfield, how many of you who spend time countering the anti-Frank posts would put Frank in a top European fantasy squad, starting XI and which formation would you use? Why? Would you also use him alongside two strong, all-around center midfielders in a 4-3-3? Could Frank ever face a defender, and beat him with strength and speed or trickery? If so, when? Did he ever excel as a defender? Was 2005 his best year? Should Chelsea have bought better center midfielders and maybe wingers from 2005-2010 while Frank and Didier were still in their prime? And, even if you're a long-standing fan of Frank, can you tell us what his weaknesses have been even while he was younger? Where have a Frank and England fallen short with the possibility of playing a midfield of Gerrard, Lampard, and Scholes? Not good enough defensively with Scholes and Lampard in center midfield? There were stunning moments in years past and Frank has been a top European midfielder but, for me, not the player I would select for my starting XI fantasy and IF I did select him for a squad he would have needed some very strong center midfielders alongside him which Chelsea only intermittantly provided during Frank's years at Chelsea.

Doesn't matter. The fact is, Chelsea didn't have enough in centre midfield before the summer window closed. I'm happy that Frank has been doing well recently, but he shouldn't have been expected to play as a starter in a 4231 formation every week or sometimes more than once per week. Chelsea need someone quicker who can drive past defenders with the ball and come up quickly for support on the left side while also being strong in front of the CBs.

The WORST part of watching the match today were all the times the camera was close-up on Suarez' whiny, play-acting, accusatory facial expressions.

great effort today by the Blues. we might want to acknowledge that the early Liverpool goal might have served Chelsea well (along with a diving shot by Eto'o, A STRIKER SCORING). Eto'o looked fine... Chelsea could use a new striker, BUT THE WEAK PART OF THIS SQUAD IS STILL GLARING IN CENTRE MID AND FULLBACK (not Azpi).

2005 was easily the best I've seen Chelsea and Mr. Lampard. Lampard deserved praise at that time.

duplicate

There's always been a vast difference in the build and athleticism between someone like Lampard and Zanetti. furthermore, Zanetti is an all-around footballer that Lampard has never quite been (defensively or from the back).

I've watched this guy play. very interesting.

remember this discussion next summer when Chelsea fail to make top four, there are only a limited number of top all-around center midfielders already, and none of them want to transfer into a non-Champions League club. Chelsea don't need the very best center midfielders right now; Chelsea need some quickness of thought and body along with the strength to drive past defenders in center midfield. as I said before, even though a player like M. Diame isn't rated highly by many, he is more than capable of improving Chelsea's center midfield (as Mikel is not good enough and Lampard can't take on any defender) if Matic doesn't come along with Guarin (or, whoever might be on the way).

My point is: if someone goes down, Chelsea are already fragile and barely a candidate for a top four finish in the table. Better in January IMO. The better center midfielders will be even more coveted following the World Cup. beat the rat race; sign now.

dunno if I said this already here, but for me, ONE centre midfielder is just not enough for this team. <<<PUT A STAR NEXT TO THIS>>> The sooner two come in, the better. if ONE of Ramires or the next-best CM goes down to injury, Chelsea are either right back where they are now--or worse. No telling when vanGinkel will be back and fully fit, plus he's neither experienced in this league, nor a seasoned international with Nederlands.

every time I watch Chelsea, I see players failing to move into space or away from defenders to receive the ball whereas with Arsenal there's a constant flow of movement that precipitates quicker passing. or, someone is just not passing quickly enough.

At least Ramires is getting rest... look on the bright side. maybe he can retain knee cartilage.

hmmm, thought Kalas would be on the bench. bad thing about Azpi: his knees. He could be injury-prone every year.

better play from Chelsea now

actually, I will take back what I said on Eto'o in the first half. it's not losing the ball that bothers me. Mourinho yelled at him to stay in the middle and Samuel kept moving to the wing.

I think Eto'o, Schuerrle, and Willian look fine while it seems Mikel's biggest problem is being told to stay back. de Bruyne is not comfortable with the middle as our players constantly cut inside and he has Lampard coming up his ass from deeper, while Eto'o floats all over the front. It's confusing for any player to slot into that position with this team; it's disorganized, or without a strong structure. Azpi has made me happy so far this season. At least we know we have a good RB for the future who can improve within our squad--assuming Chelsea move onward ITF. I'm not defending KdB, but personally, I would not want to be playing in this dumb formation the way that it's being played. Who is spreading the formation and creating space? 4-3-3 would be better.

so disjointed the whole 1st half. would rather see Lampard holding runs, alternating with Mikel.