Madmax

The issue I have with Mikel is that his timing on the pass isn't great imo. He delays it a fraction while deciding who to pick out. Essien's better in that respect. Plus like it's been mentioned he's more box to box and he gives us that added drive from midfield which Mikel while sitting back, doesn't. In any case, Ramires is always there to cover for him when Essien decides to go forward.

It's ok. He's trying to keep their peckers up. After all, they're visiting the den of the champions

No shit, Sherlock.

I know the capital of Brazil! It's Brasilia. I want a cookie along with the tea What's the internet penetration like in England?

The recent games have got me thinking about our rigid 4-3-3, especially it's midfield. Teams have figured out how to play against us. Press Chelsea when they are in possession, deny them time to pick out a pass, stifle space around the midfield and thus cut out supply to the forwards. They've done this primarily by planting 5 across the middle. City did this perfectly in the 1-0 loss and others seem to have taken the idea form them. At the beginning of the season teams were afraid to play us, almost overawed by our fluid passing game and great movement. But once they decided to take the game to us, we've been found short of an answer. Admittedly injuries and suspensions coupled with the thin squad has limited our options. Zhirkov and Malouda have been played in the LCM spot which is usually occupied by Lampard. Mikel, Ramires, Essien and Josh have all been tried out in the DM role, yet we haven't been able to find the correct combination of pace and drive and a balance between attack and defence. I've always been a fan of Mikel and it's been great to see his fantastic performances this season but I think we can do much better without him in that DM role. While his strength on the ball and calmness when under pressure from opposition players is unquestionable, I think he's not been able to move things about quickly in the middle of the field. IMO his decision making while passing is just a tad slow still and we'd be better served playing Essien there. He is the complete midfielder and certainly among the top 3 box to box mids in the world and we're wasting his vision and passing by playing him as a CM. Ramires showed in the Spurs game that right now his best position is at RCM. His pace is terrific and he gives us great energy there, a perfect compliment for Lamps alongside him who will do what he does best now that he's returned. IMO our 3 in midfield should be set up like this : ------------------------Essien---------------------------- --------Ramires-----------------Lampard------------- The second half against Spurs really demonstrated that we have a lot to gain by playing Essien and Ramires as mentioned above, with Lampard providing the creative impetus and late runs into the box. Thoughts?

"It is hard for me to criticise my former club but I said at the beginning of the season that I didn't think they would be winning the championship. "I love them but I really feel they are at the end of the cycle. "When I saw them flying at the top, I wondered if I knew anything about football any more but now we are seeing the truth and reality of that club and those players. "They need to do something at the end of the season where they will need to sell and buy players. "Of course, they didn't have a bad game against Spurs but one or two years ago that match would have been won by Chelsea. "I really feel Chelsea is not Chelsea any more. I am sad about that. We need a new Chelsea for next season." Espnstar I think anyone writing off title chances in December is jumping the gun a bit. Titles are not won or lost in December, especially not in seasons like these when every so called big team is struggling for points one weekend or the next. It's true we've had a horrid November but nobody's run away with the league yet and the top 5 are within 7 points of each other. With wins against United and Arsenal we can be right back in it. But I do agree with the part about the need for some change in personnel. Our squad is too thin and for sure we need some reinforcements.

Wow that really is ignorant General knowledge is out of fashion these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_mkwB9ayK4&feature=player_embedded Stupidity = Universal. Fact.

Well deserved if you ask me.

Welcome

That's quality

Good riddance.

yawn

Santon in, Ferreira out (in the summer) No need to play Ivan at RB either. Makes sense to me.

wtf LOL

Or Anelka. Cech Ferreira, Ivan, JT, Cole Mikel Essien, Lampard Sturridge, Drogba, Malouda.

He's signed a 2.5 year contract at Citeh yesterday /thread.

Shouldn't the Krasic goal against Lazio be an own goal? The shot wasn't on target, the keeper's weak handed 'save' deflected it into the net.

LIke it has already been said, a kid that young when available at that price, we should be interested.

Tevez Ferguson Wenger Mirror, Goal.com, the Sun 'journalists'

Already posted mate.

Excuses. Malouda's better than that.

If you read my post again, you'll realise I'm talking about him being criticised all the time.

Never going to happen.

Roman's not going to spend that much. Plus, Aguero's wage demands are out of our reach, or that's what I read in the summer anyway.