Our 'team'

[Peace. 4,352]

I think Mikel would shine in Italy, a league much slower than the Premier League. I feel that the PL is too quick for him, thoughts?

Yes. Just as he was better with Ancelotti's style than AVB's.

[manpe 10,861]

JT slipped against Arsenal and cost us points but he isn't shit?

did you miss the "JT past it" thread?

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Don't blame Mikel that much. He is not world class, but he certainly isn't shit. Sure he made a mistake, but Cech should take a bigger blame for that horrible pass even though he had both JT and Luiz on the wings. JT slipped against Arsenal and cost us points but he isn't shit?

LOL

I didnt talked about the mistake against Liverpool. Im talking about the season he's having, which is even worse

than he's normal play. He's a bad midfielder to play at a club like Chelsea, he just keep proving this every game.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I think Mikel would shine in Italy, a league much slower than the Premier League. I feel that the PL is too quick for him, thoughts?

Yep, definitely see where you're coming from there.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I think what we are missing most is a descent CDM. It's not about the mistakes that Mikel does, it's about what he doesn't do: tackles and interceptions in the middle which are vital to the system we are playing. Sure this system needs a bit of fixing and tweaking, but until we get a good CDM (or play romeu there ) we will continue to suffer.

People, let's not forget that we are attempting in this season to completely alter the way we play, including our defending, style of passing, attacking system.....we can't expect it to work straight away.

[termninja 5,290]

LOL

I didnt talked about the mistake against Liverpool. Im talking about the season he's having, which is even worse

than he's normal play. He's a bad midfielder to play at a club like Chelsea, he just keep proving this every game.

I won't even bother entering a Mikel discussion...like him or not he is our player and we should support him.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

I won't even bother entering a Mikel discussion...like him or not he is our player and we should support him.

I do not dislike him. I even like Kalou in some way... so its not it. Mikel is just not good enough. Thats it.

We should sell him to Italy really...

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Mikel has been a good servant, but his style doesn't really help with the tempo of the game. Either he needs to be molded into the style of play, into a more attacking minded player or sold and replaced - or even giving Oriol a chance.

[Kez 2,727]

Mikel has been a good servant, but his style doesn't really help with the tempo of the game. Either he needs to be molded into the style of play, into a more attacking minded player or sold and replaced - or even giving Oriol a chance.

Wasn't he an attacking midfielder when we bought him?

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Wasn't he an attacking midfielder when we bought him?

Yes, but he was moulded by Jose to replace Maka - so we are know wanting him to be who he once was

[Kez 2,727]

Yes, but he was moulded by Jose to replace Maka - so we are know wanting him to be who he once was

Yeah exactly & let's face it he's not Maka. I'd like to see the Mikel that us & united were fighting for.

[Tamas Olah 0]

---------------Torres-------------

----------------Mata----------------

Lampard---Meireles---Ramires/Romeu

--------------Luiz-------------

Cole -- Terry -- Alex -- Iva

------------- Cech ------------

younameit

your're soooo fucking right about it.The second line up is absolutely brilliant!I wish you were AVB's assistant coach!Luiz would be so much better than Mikel!He is faster, more aggressive, more skillful!Not ot mention that Luiz loves going forward, and he can actually score!As for Torres....I really don't know either....He looked really good against Man U (even though he missed that 100% opportunity) Then the next game he gets red carded...I really felt like he was gonna get back to his old Torres after the Man u game...maybe I was wrong.I am really not sure.About Lampard, I think he does have experience and I really love him but apart from trying to keep the ball he can not really make a difference like he used to.Few seasons ago he was scoring from everywhere!Now he barely tries and when he does....no comment....

Terry I think keeps us back at the moment.He should sort his private life out first for once and for all cause I still believe that he is a great defender.

Wingers?Creative players?

We fucking need them!!!!Sometime I wish we had 11 Mata on the pitch LOL we wouldn't even need to defend if we did have 11 of him....

One thing for sure is that we need changes and I DO think that AVB is the right person for the job but he needs fresh players.How come that every manager needs to try to win everything with the team that was put together by another one????

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Yeah exactly & let's face it he's not Maka. I'd like to see the Mikel that us & united were fighting for.

I agree, we should try Mikel in a more attacking role. He did have an extremely impressive assist record before we converted him to CDM, maybe he'd turn out to be the creative midfielder we've all been whining about not having.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

...I am really not sure.About Lampard, I think he does have experience and I really love him but apart from trying to keep the ball he can not really make a difference like he used to.Few seasons ago he was scoring from everywhere!Now he barely tries and when he does....no comment....

What matches have you been watching? Lampard is our best scorer (7 goals) and creator (4 assists) so far this season. In my opinion he has been our most valuable and consistent (apart from Mata maybe) player.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

---------------Torres-------------

----------------Mata----------------

Lampard---Meireles---Ramires/Romeu

--------------Luiz-------------

Cole -- Terry -- Alex -- Iva

------------- Cech ------------

younameit

your're soooo fucking right about it.The second line up is absolutely brilliant!I wish you were AVB's assistant coach!Luiz would be so much better than Mikel!He is faster, more aggressive, more skillful!Not ot mention that Luiz loves going forward, and he can actually score!As for Torres....I really don't know either....He looked really good against Man U (even though he missed that 100% opportunity) Then the next game he gets red carded...I really felt like he was gonna get back to his old Torres after the Man u game...maybe I was wrong.I am really not sure.About Lampard, I think he does have experience and I really love him but apart from trying to keep the ball he can not really make a difference like he used to.Few seasons ago he was scoring from everywhere!Now he barely tries and when he does....no comment....

Terry I think keeps us back at the moment.He should sort his private life out first for once and for all cause I still believe that he is a great defender.

Wingers?Creative players?

We fucking need them!!!!Sometime I wish we had 11 Mata on the pitch LOL we wouldn't even need to defend if we did have 11 of him....

One thing for sure is that we need changes and I DO think that AVB is the right person for the job but he needs fresh players.How come that every manager needs to try to win everything with the team that was put together by another one????

No doubt about it, we should stick with AVB...and for a long time. I think the issue here is simply that he was hoping that the core players and backbone of Chelsea would be able to deliver and stay in a obvious role in the team. Clearly this isnt the case, and because of this he will be forced to make some tough decisions. I really believe it is time to re-evaluate the choices of players, and this will be the key to turning the tide. We have these unmotivated players who are paid huge ammounts of money without delivering, and it is about time they sit on the bench for some time.

As for the formation, since we lack decent wingers the main choice should be a diamond formation. And depending on what players are available I think these choices are the most promising. Give it a chance at least!

1) Should be the standard formation and first team, at least try it out. Cant get worse than it is atm!

-------Torres + Sturridge-------

-------------- Mata---------

Meireles/Lampard + Romeu/Ramires

----------------Luiz------------------

Bertrand - Terry - Alex - Iva

-------------Cech-------------

Starting from the back, i think terry and alex will provide a stable inner defence, and by playing luiz in the mikel spot we wont be losing him when he pushes forward. He is much more promising compared to Mikel and Luiz offers great passes and runs forward, aswell as great defensive abilities, yes abit reckless sometimes and that is why he is better suited here. This formation has great PACE and promising younger players. I honestly believe this formation would do greatness.

2) Another formation providing all of the above players arent available/rested.

-------Drogba+Sturridge-------

----------Mata(Meireles)-------

Josh-----Lampard-----Ramires

Cole - Terry - Alex - Iva

--------------Cech--------------

Malouda, Mikel and even Drogba at some times should only be brought on as subs. We have young talented players that need more playtime and they WILL shine. They are the future, not players who are past their 30s and not delivering!