Juan Mata

[Kojo 4,676]

I think you're being a bit harsh on Ramires. He is the engine of our team and popped up with crucial goals last season. I agree we would be much better having either Marin or Moses on the right wing and allowing Ramires to play centrally, as when we play him right we lack width.

That's why i said he has his moments, he can score a cracking goal or do an amazing bit of play, like against City in the community shield. But consistently he is horrid, 8/10 he will misplace something, and it's mostly a cross or a pass. Great engine and i think he should be used in double pivot, but i think Marin is better than him overall. I would rather have a consistent performer rather than a player who has his moments. And I'm not saying Marin is consistent, but I'm sure he will be more consistent than Ramires at least when it comes to Technical skills.

[Rowan_Osborn 58]

That's why i said he has his moments, he can score a cracking goal or do an amazing bit of play, like against City in the community shield. But consistently he is horrid, 8/10 he will misplace something, and it's mostly a cross or a pass. Great engine and i think he should be used in double pivot, but i think Marin is better than him overall. I would rather have a consistent performer rather than a player who has his moments. And I'm not saying Marin is consistent, but I'm sure he will be more consistent than Ramires at least when it comes to Technical skills.

I agree that he makes errors but he more commonly makes errors when he is played on the wing. When playing centrally he doesn't try any extravagant skill or crosses and his passing is close range, which he is good at. Marin has had only a couple of good seasons, he was poor at Bremen last year. If played in the right position Ramires is consistent, Marin has to prove himself at Chelsea also, although I'm sure he could do a great job on the right wing. He is still yet to prove himself in my opinion.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Why underrate Marin so much?, fair enough Moses but still.

I think Marin and Moses are better than Ramires to be honest, on the right i mean, but overall Marin is better but doubt Moses is. Ramires just has his moments, very inconsistent with his technical ability it's shocking. Marin was awesome pre season a lot better than i expected to be honest, he looked just about as good as Hazard did for me, i seriously doubt he is but he looked it.

I would choose Marin and Moses over Ramires on the right every day of the week, but RDM insists on playing Ramires for balance*, so there's little we can do about it.

Ramires is better centrally where he can make those great runs, but on the wings, he's very ineffective when we aren't on the counter, it's so frustrating.

*I really don't know why we need Balance for games against lesser teams though, can't think of many top teams in Europe that do that.

[Jase 43,479]

I would choose Marin and Moses over Ramires on the right every day of the week, but RDM insists on playing Ramires for balance*, so there's little we can do about it.

Ramires is better centrally where he can make those great runs, but on the wings, he's very ineffective when we aren't on the counter, it's so frustrating.

*I really don't know why we need Balance for games against lesser teams though, can't think of many top teams in Europe that do that.

Not just to maintain the balance though, it's also about the defensive side of things. If any of the wide player on the right flank can provide solidity and do their fair share of defensive work every time, then I'm sure RDM will play him rather than Ramires there. But we don't quite have that at the moment.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Not just to maintain the balance though, it's also about the defensive side of things. If any of the wide player on the right flank can provide solidity and do their fair share of defensive work every time, then I'm sure RDM will play him rather than Ramires there. But we don't quite have that at the moment.

They're not many wingers that can do that though, and it won't be such a big problem if Ivanovic didn't get skinned every time he comes up one on one with a winger lol.

[Jase 43,479]

They're not many wingers that can do that though, and it won't be such a big problem if Ivanovic didn't get skinned every time he comes up one on one with a winger lol.

That doesn't mean our wide players have to be one of them. Not asking them to be excellent in defending as that is not the traits of wingers, as you said, but at least somewhere decent to good enough to protect their FB when needed.

[Sheva. 5,373]

That doesn't mean our wide players have to be one of them. Not asking them to be excellent in defending as that is not the traits of wingers, as you said, but at least somewhere decent to good enough to protect their FB when needed.

RDM just has to tell them to try simple, we don't need Ramires to play there. I've seen Hazard tracking back and helping Cole, Mata occasionally, and i also heard Moses does not neglect his defensive duties.

[Jase 43,479]

RDM just has to tell them to try simple, we don't need Ramires to play there. I've seen Hazard tracking back and helping Cole, Mata occasionally, and i also heard Moses does not neglect his defensive duties.

Hazard does alright for me. Mata not so much. Moses still unknown. They're probably just not up to the standards that RDM wants. After all, he is an Italian!

[Sheva. 5,373]

Hazard does alright for me. Mata not so much. Moses still unknown. They're probably just not up to the standards that RDM wants. After all, he is an Italian!

Hahah true, but it's just very annoying to see many attacks result to nothing when the ball is played out to the right.

[Jase 43,479]

Hahah true, but it's just very annoying to see many attacks result to nothing when the ball is played out to the right.

Indeed. Was watching the matches' highlights from the 2009/10 season earlier and there was a huge difference in that really. We looked really threatening from both flanks(wingers + full backs) and the middle. Also, there really was a stark contrast in the quality crosses back then and now. The number of great crosses we put back then in one game is equivalent to us doing that now over a couple of matches!

[Jase 43,479]

Mata is expected to be back tomorrow in Cobham according to Chelsea TV after being given an extended break by the club.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Indeed. Was watching the matches' highlights from the 2009/10 season earlier and there was a huge difference in that really. We looked really threatening from both flanks(wingers + full backs) and the middle. Also, there really was a stark contrast in the quality crosses back then and now. The number of great crosses we put back then in one game is equivalent to us doing that now over a couple of matches!

Exactly, and we have the players to play like that again, but we keep playing Ramires out wide, smh.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Indeed. Was watching the matches' highlights from the 2009/10 season earlier and there was a huge difference in that really. We looked really threatening from both flanks(wingers + full backs) and the middle. Also, there really was a stark contrast in the quality crosses back then and now. The number of great crosses we put back then in one game is equivalent to us doing that now over a couple of matches!

It's true but it's not only Ramires that is to blame for that. We are essentially playing with no wingers at the moment because Mata and Hazard are both playing in the middle of the pitch and the other attacking midfielder has either been Bertrand or Ramires neither of whom belong there. Our shape needs some ironing out, We need Mata or Hazard to play more to one side for starters.

[Sheva. 5,373]

It's true but it's not only Ramires that is to blame for that. We are essentially playing with no wingers at the moment because Mata and Hazard are both playing in the middle of the pitch and the other attacking midfielder has either been Bertrand or Ramires neither of whom belong there. Our shape needs some ironing out, We need Mata or Hazard to play more to one side for starters.

Both of them are not wingers, but they're our 2 best players and have to play. So we need someone more direct on the right and that person is not Ramires because he can't take on defenders, cross, pass or do anything a normal winger is supposed to do.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Both of them are not wingers, but they're our 2 best players and have to play. So we need someone more direct on the right and that person is not Ramires because he can't take on defenders, cross, pass or do anything a normal winger is supposed to do.

Mata and Hazard have pretty much only played as wingers in their career so I see no reason why one of them (I prefer Mata) should be moved to the left. I don't love Ramires on the right by any stretch of the imagination but he was at his best there last season and he provides defensive cover that our other attacking midfielders don't. I'd love to see Moses or Marin take the job long-term but for different reasons (Marin hurt, Moses late signing) none of them have featured at this point.