The crowded bench of AVB

[Peace. 4,352]

I agree, a midfield of Modric, McEachran and Mikel would be very creative and solid imho... Question is where do you leave Lampard, Ramires, Romeu and eventually Essien. Somebody will have to make way eventually and I'm afraid it's going to be either Essien or Mikel, but not this season. I think the club is slowly paving way for Essien to leave by bringing in Ramires and Romeu... he's becoming injury-prone and still has a respectable market value at 29 (soon).

Lampard on the bench. He is no more good enough to be in the starting lineup. Essien is injured at the moment, and after those injuries... I think it will be very hard to find a form... We don't know what Romeu is made of. And Ramires is very good, and we could easely replace Modric or Josh with him dependings what we need. I mean, if we want to muscle our midfield, then play him instead of Modric/Josh.

[manpe 10,861]

Essien's career is over in my opinion. Three big injuries and two bad knees. We've signed Romeu and Ramires and will try to sign Modric. I think the club themselves know that Essien is never going to get back to his level of 2006. Lampard is nearly at the end (already there if you ask me) and Ramires will be a very valuable squad player.

I don't know if it's over, but I think we've milked the best out of him already... Seeing how things are standing and how we are signing youngsters atm, we might see masses leaving next summer, like Anelka, Essien, Drogba, Malouda, Kalou, Alex, Ferreira and Benayoun (if he doesn't leave now)... I think they are most likely to leave, although I don't think all of them will. Hilario or Turnbull might also be on the way with Courtois coming in. This could be the last season with the team that we all know driven by Lamps, Drogs, Essien, Malouda and Anelka... Although Drogba has already been reduced to bench and it's a matter of time before the same happens to Lampard.

[DYC. 7,542]

Lampard on the bench. He is no more good enough to be in the starting lineup. Essien is injured at the moment, and after those injuries... I think it will be very hard to find a form... We don't know what Romeu is made of. And Ramires is very good, and we could easely replace Modric or Josh with him dependings what we need. I mean, if we want to muscle our midfield, then play him instead of Modric/Josh.

Ramires muscle ? I think you meant energy.

[bababoom 4,478]

Ramires muscle ? I think you meant energy.

[lionsden 4,689]

Ramires muscle ? I think you meant energy.

What's next. . . Peter Crouch and pace

[warnie_666 1,081]

I think, this season we will be over stocked like we were during Carlo's first season...as most players will refuse to go. Next year we will see a mass exodus.

Out: Anelka, Malouda for Free. Alex and Essien will be sold. Drogba could be cashed in on or might go for free if he doesnt sign the contract extension.

I do not think, Kalou will be sold, because we are already losing 2 Wingers/forwards in Malouda and Anelka as their contract ends and could potentially lose Drogba too.

Forwards for Next season: Torres, Lukaku, Mata, Sturridge, Kalou, and a New Winger/Kakuta.

[manpe 10,861]

Forwards for Next season: Torres, Lukaku, Mata, Sturridge, Kalou, and a New Winger/Kakuta.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the new winger is De Bruyne

[warnie_666 1,081]

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the new winger is De Bruyne

I dont think so, the last I heard that he will be signed and loaned to Genk this season and Atl. Madrid next season.

[chrismada9 1,948]

Chelsea FC has confirmed the signing of Juan Mata and only personal agreements are still to be met.

Now our front three are expected to look like this :(Mata - Torres - Sturridge)

[manpe 10,861]

I dont think so, the last I heard that he will be signed and loaned to Genk this season and Atl. Madrid next season.

First things first, we need to get his signature, I don't think anything has been agreed with Genk and Atletico yet... My dream would be to have wings consisting of Mata, Hazard, De Bruyne, Kakuta and Sturridge... they are all incredibly versatile players, for example all of the first four can play in the hole and Sturridge can play as a striker. No defence in the world would have recipe to counter that kind of talent and versatility. Although I don't think we're gonna get Hazard, maybe he's not needed if Sturridge and Kakuta come good.

[warnie_666 1,081]

First things first, we need to get his signature, I don't think anything has been agreed with Genk and Atletico yet... My dream would be to have wings consisting of Mata, Hazard, De Bruyne, Kakuta and Sturridge... they are all incredibly versatile players, for example all of the first four can play in the hole and Sturridge can play as a striker. No defence in the world would have recipe to counter that kind of talent and versatility. Although I don't think we're gonna get Hazard, maybe he's not needed if Sturridge and Kakuta come good.

That would be good if we are playing 4-2-3-1 with Mata and Kakuta to play the no. 10 while Sturridge, De Bruyne and Hazard are on the wings. But with 4-3-3 having 5 wingers for two slots is just waste. Plus Kakuta is not a winger.

[manpe 10,861]

That would be good if we are playing 4-2-3-1 with Mata and Kakuta to play the no. 10 while Sturridge, De Bruyne and Hazard are on the wings. But with 4-3-3 having 5 wingers for two slots is just waste. Plus Kakuta is not a winger.

Yeah, 4-2-3-1 is a variation of 4-3-3, something similar that City play. I can see it work with Modric and Mikel being deeper and De Bruyne/Mata/Kakuta ahead of them.

[Guest justin_3d]

Looking at our current line up...

1 Petr Cech

2 Branislav Ivanovic

3 Ashley Cole

4 David Luiz

5 Michael Essien

6 Oriol Romeu

7 Ramires

8 Frank Lampard

9 Fernando Torres

10 Yossi Benayoun

11 Didier Drogba

12 Mikel

15 Florent Malouda

17 Jose Bosingwa

18 Romelu Lukaku

19 Paulo Ferreira

20 Josh McEachran

21 Salomon Kalou

22 Ross Turnbull

23 Daniel Sturridge

26 John Terry

33 Alex

34 Ryan Bertrand

38 Patrick van Aanholt

39 Nicolas Anelka

40 Henrique Hilario

44 Gael Kakuta

00 Mata

I still find it hard to figure out who should get the boot. Kalou is the only player I'm 100% sure could go. Both Malouda and Anelka can be frustrating to watch at times, but then they pull some goals out of the bag as on Saturday and save our skins. Frank is looking worse for wear these days (another apology to justin_3d for my run ins with him on the subject) and Drogba hasn't done a great deal the last few games either. Obviously the latter wont, and shouldn't in my opinion, get kicked out. But are they happy to spend time on the bench? If not, how does that effect the team and the dynamic? Does that lead to falling outs and the manager being undermined?

In my mind the squad is too big, and we do need to lose a few bodies. But there are others who I'd much rather see recapture their form so we could have a good strong squad going forward.

:goodpost:

If AVB does the smart thing of only playing Lampard on important games, and other games as a super sub, we would never be talking as to how bad Lampard has been these past few months.

Lampard and Drogba are no longer starting eleven material. They should know that.

Now if we get Modric that should put Lampard as a super sub. And one hell of a super sub we will have with Lampard, Drogba and Malouda!!!

Sell or let go for free Kalou, Anelka, Paulo and Alex.

I cover the topic of Alex many times, and will not repeat myself.

And as far as loan for our younger guys, do it during the mid season. Cause the younger players can play the Carling, FA and certain matches of the CL group stages.

Second half of the season is the best time to send them out, cause it will be hard for them to get much more time with our squad due to getting more competitive all fronts.

[Henrique 9,133]

You realize our bench wont look like this. We need at least one defender and one gk, and there are too much strikers in this bench.

Some of this players will leave or wont even sit in the bench. Kakuta will go on loan, and perhaps Kalou or Malouda will find another place.

[bababoom 4,478]

You realize our bench wont look like this. We need at least one defender and one gk, and there are too much strikers in this bench.

Some of this players will leave or wont even sit in the bench. Kakuta will go on loan, and perhaps Kalou or Malouda will find another place.

I agree, This will be the ideal situation.