The midfield puzzle

[DYC. 7,542]

Would you say Makelele was a destroyer?

Definitely, he bullied players with his tackling and chasing.

Mikel is not a destoyer? he's just that.

You call Mikel a destroyer? Mikel hardly bullies anyone around. Standing in the way and intercepting is his game.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

You call Mikel a destroyer? Mikel hardly bullies anyone around.

LOL...agree

So Mikel is at least a wannabe destroyer

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Having finally watched the full game. There's one thing that concerns me slightly, and it's actually a good thing too.

Mata definitely like to move around the pitch a lot. Instead of staying stationary on the left, till the play arrives, he chases the play and offers support even on the right by making the run there. Now I am only judging this by yesterday's appearance, but I think he has the attributes required to play behind the strikers in the no.10, playmaker role. It would suit him ideally because he's already performing the kind of positioning and instinct required to play there.

Which is why I think we should still be in the hunt for a left-winger. And I think that's what Villas-Boas has seen too, which is why he is trying to sign someone like Perreira. Because if Mata and Perreira are in the same squad, we won't be as weak on that left hand side. Mata would be able to support Alvaro as well as play in that free role.

Thoughts?

[Madmax 9,219]

Quality discussion so far lads.

Basically we more or less agree that the midfield fabric is out of touch with the times and ball playing midfielders are the need of the hour.

[eldo 868]

Imo Mikel and Busquets are quite on par.

[dodojojo 510]

Having finally watched the full game. There's one thing that concerns me slightly, and it's actually a good thing too.

Mata definitely like to move around the pitch a lot. Instead of staying stationary on the left, till the play arrives, he chases the play and offers support even on the right by making the run there. Now I am only judging this by yesterday's appearance, but I think he has the attributes required to play behind the strikers in the no.10, playmaker role. It would suit him ideally because he's already performing the kind of positioning and instinct required to play there.

Which is why I think we should still be in the hunt for a left-winger. And I think that's what Villas-Boas has seen too, which is why he is trying to sign someone like Perreira. Because if Mata and Perreira are in the same squad, we won't be as weak on that left hand side. Mata would be able to support Alvaro as well as play in that free role.

Thoughts?

I thought Perreira was being pursued as Plan B to Modric. So Mata would play as advanced CM and Perreira would play left wing. What if Modric signs? Can Chelsea still get Perreira and play Modric-Mikel/Romeu-Perreira and Mata on the front left? Mata would have license to roam and Perreira goes up the wing when attacking.

It would mean Cole staying behind and shoring up the D which is ideal anyway since he can't cross or pass very well.

[NoFear 23]

We need a good right winger actually. Flo-Mo can still be utilized on the LW for a yr atleast. Its the crossing from right flank which is non-existent in our side (apart from Boss). Also, like some one had mentioned above, the off-ball movement from Lamps and Ramires is ZERO. Make yourselves fkin available for a pass !!! Mata showed that incredibly in his 20 min cameo. He is on the move as soon as he makes a pass. Never still !!! If we can get Modric and get Ulises / Mata to keep interchanging in the AM and RW roles, it would make our team much better.

-----FT-----

FloMo--Mata--Ulises

---Luka-Rami---

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I thought Perreira was being pursued as Plan B to Modric. So Mata would play as advanced CM and Perreira would play left wing. What if Modric signs? Can Chelsea still get Perreira and play Modric-Mikel/Romeu-Perreira and Mata on the front left? Mata would have license to roam and Perreira goes up the wing when attacking.

It would mean Cole staying behind and shoring up the D which is ideal anyway since he can't cross or pass very well.

It would make sense, the plan b.

But what you said after would be good too. To have Modric and Mata in the middle would make our midfield very strong. Then having Perreira on the left would not be such a liability because Mata can help him, knowing Modric is still in the centre keeping the midfield strong. It would be ideal to hear we sign Modric & Perreira in the next 3 days but even if we get Perriera over Modric, it will still be beneficial to the squad.

I personally think, Mata's quality is wasted on the left wing.

[warnie_666 1,081]

People who say Torres cant score and is a Flop just need to look at Man City and the situation with Dzeko. Last season he had two goals in all competition. This season, he has been banging them in, with two creative players behind him in Nasri and Silva. There is creativity all around that midfield and Torres would do the same. Our midfield is the same as last year's. Absolutely Dire.

We desperately need Modric. A Formation of

----------------Mikel-------------

Ramirez-------------------Modric

Sturridge----Torres--------Mata

Has Pace, Creativity and Movement.

[termninja 5,290]

People who say Torres cant score and is a Flop just need to look at Man City and the situation with Dzeko. Last season he had two goals in all competition. This season, he has been banging them in, with two creative players behind him in Nasri and Silva. There is creativity all around that midfield and Torres would do the same. Our midfield is the same as last year's. Absolutely Dire.

We desperately need Modric. A Formation of

----------------Mikel-------------

Ramirez-------------------Modric

Sturridge----Torres--------Mata

Has Pace, Creativity and Movement.

I was just about to write an identical post.

[dave30 728]

People who say Torres cant score and is a Flop just need to look at Man City and the situation with Dzeko. Last season he had two goals in all competition. This season, he has been banging them in, with two creative players behind him in Nasri and Silva. There is creativity all around that midfield and Torres would do the same. Our midfield is the same as last year's. Absolutely Dire.

We desperately need Modric. A Formation of

----------------Mikel-------------

Ramirez-------------------Modric

Sturridge----Torres--------Mata

Has Pace, Creativity and Movement.

josh or frank instead of mikel and i agree .

[warnie_666 1,081]

Someone said Mata on Left wing is Wasted?

Absolutely not.

Mata only starts on the Left Wing and I am sure, AVB will give him the license to move around in the hole. A Bit like Messi who starts on the Right wing but moves around.

josh or frank instead of mikel and i agree .

You need a defensive midfielder. Would be stupid to have McEchran there. and Lampard is not a defensive midfielder. Mikel is good and he stays

[dodojojo 510]

Said it in another post, City had three creative players feeding their center forward today. Chelsea, yesterday, had? Mata for 20 minutes, of which Torres played about 4 minutes with?

Picture Torres' game at Stoke with Aguero, Nasri and Silva behind him.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Us and City signed the wrong player. Torres would be lethal at City and Dzeko would slot nicely into our formation.

[Joker10 946]

I don't believe replacing Modric with Lamps will solve our midfield problem. The pairing of Mikel and Ramires is our biggest problem.

[Blauw 105]

[warnie_666 1,081]

I don't believe replacing Modric with Lamps will solve our midfield problem. The pairing of Mikel and Ramires is our biggest problem.

How exactly? One is a Box to Box who is quick and drives the midfield, and the other is a holding midfielder who just sits and cleans up ahead of the defense. nothing Fancy.

Modric is the playmaker.

Although I do agree that a Midfield of Josh and Modric with Ramirez at the back is more creative. But Josh cant start games straight away....He needs to assume the Modric role in games like Carling Cup or FA Cup

[dodojojo 510]

Us and City signed the wrong player. Torres would be lethal at City and Dzeko would slot nicely into our formation.

City wanted Torres and was offering him 250K last summer. He said no and that's why they signed Dzeko in the winter. And that's how Chelsea signed Torres--because they waited until Dzeko was signed and avoided a bidding war with City over Torres.

Wonder if Torres watched today's game and wondered what it would be like to play with his buddies Silva and Aguero and add in Nasri. Oh, is that Tevez on the bench? It must be nice.