The Skipper

I agree, Lamps defensive contribution is often underrated, but Luka isn't too shabby either. Lampard offers more defensively, but Luka would offer more in terms of fluidity to the team. Both would essentially perform the same role though.

I think the need for a deep lying playmaker next to Mikel reduces when you have Hazard, Mata and Hulk (?) in front of them. If we need a more direct threat I think it could work. Personal opinion though. I do realise that Rambo isn't as good in possession, but what I would personally like to see is Mikel stepping up as a Xabi Alonso type player. Ancelotti tried turning Mikel into his Pirlo, we started to see Mikel spraying accurate 30 yard passes, almost being the lynchpin of the team, the quarterback. Add Ramires to aiding Mikel in winning the ball back, sort of like Gattuso, whilst offering carrying the ball at pace and you could have a quite lethal midfield combo. Sort of like how the Mascherano and Xabi Alonso partnership panned out. Regarding Mata... He would do exactly that. I don't think Mata needs 30 yard passes from our midfield to run on to, that's his job more than anything, to provide those through balls for Torres or Sturridge, or even potentialy Hulk coming in from the right. So would Hazard in a sense. They could both in turns drop a little deep to gather the ball in attack just like David Silva did quite often for City which in turn could release Rambo to join the attack which offers pace and diversity in attack. We must also remember that tactics aren't necessarily set in stone, they are a mere indication of general shape of the team. One would similarly wonder how Man City make the below team work: Tevez Nasri Aguero Silva Toure Barry Similarly we could have: Torres Hazard Mata Hulk(?) Ramires Mikel It could work in my opinion. It offers tactical flexibility, a combative midfield, and pace all over the pitch. I see what you mean though. If we needed to slow the game down a little more and keep possession more effectively, we start Lampard instead of Ramires. It would be hard to devise a system but if RDM could find a way to incorporate that sort of idea I think it could work a treat.

Good argument, but playing Mikel and Lamps in that midfield 2 is essentially the same as playing Modric and Mikel in that midfield 2. With the potential front 4 we'll have, I'd rather have Mikel and Ramires in that two. Ramires could perform his ball winning duties well with Mikel protecting the back four, whilst also aiding in counters.

Hunterlaar is a donkey who should go back to the Eredivisie .

Can't believe people are shoving aside Ivanovic just because Debuchy's had 2 decent games at the Euros.

One of my favourite performances by a CFC player ever. Class act.

Daniel will surprise you, and many others, if he plays as "back up" to Torres next season.

Lol. Thank you for making my friday night lively.

Not to me. Mikel has been quite vital to the clubs for a long time now, he's played blinders before, people were just starting to notice and appreciate him towards the end of this season. Quality player, will forever remain underrated.

Ron Gourlay came out ages ago and said that Torres will be the main striker next season... Not sure how you've missed that.

I don't think so, Jovetic is almost alien to the right side. We could perhaps create a system that in corporates the likes of Hazard, Mata and Jovetic alternating between each other but Stefan isn't as suitable to the right side of attack as someone like Hulk is. I think Hulk would be a better fit for us, but Jovetic should be bought if we don't get Hulk just because he's that good.

Dzagoev isn't in the same class as Hulk or Jovetic IMO.

Have a feeling this might be a Luiz esque signing.

You can't play Hulk, Hazard, Mata, Jovetic and Torres in the same team. It's either: Torres Mata - Jovetic - Hazard Torres Jovetic - Hazard - Mata Torres Hazard - Mata - Jovetic (they alternate between each other, ala totaal voetbal) Or... Torres Hazard - Mata - Hulk. If we get Jovetic he's not going to be a replacement for Malouda. Malouda was a bit part player last season. It wouldn't make sense for us or Jovetic. Positions aren't set in concrete.

Fair enough, agree with all points.

Yes, or that alternatively. But that's eye of a needle stuff really.

£26m for Ben Arfa, £38m for Hulk. Like I said, today's market is overly inflated. There's nothing we can do about it, perhaps apart from buying second rate players instead.

I was saying it's quiet because when Torres had a supposedly bad 15 minutes all hell broke lose on here. He had a decent game today and it's quieter than anything in here. People were using a Spain game to slag off Torres, now people are using a Spain game to praise him. Nothing wrong with that.

You know what, I'd be delighted with Jovetic or Hulk. Jovetic is such a good player, he doesn't really fit in as much as Hulk but Jovetic is so good that even if he played on the right side of attack he'd still be very effective. As some one suggested above, just like we Dutch play in our totaal voetbal system, the likes of Hazard Mata and Jovetic could interchange just like Sneijder Robben and Affellay do, with Ramires and Mikel as the ball winners. We wouldn't really need a midfield regulator as Jovetic, Hazard and Mata are all comfortable in possession, as is Mikel who could help in linking up play.

Schweini would be a pipe dream. Better than Modric.

Very quiet in here...

The amount of times Spain could've released Torres was shocking. They ignored gaping holes in the Irish defence that Torres was exploiting, ignoring him and carrying on with the Tiki Taka bull shit.

Drogba should have a banner at the Bridge, just like Lamps and JT do.

The slagging off of players on here is quite disgusting.

Meh, I'll pass. Decent player definitely but no room in the squad for him. Unless we sell off Benayoun and Malouda. He'd be very useful then.