New Midfield/Defence

[SeB 1,281]

the defensive steel of Oriol and Mikel,

I don't agree with this point, for me Oriol and Mikel are really different.

Romeu plays quicker and more vertical than Mikel, but really can't afford Mikel's defensive contribution ; Romeu keeps beeing naive in 1vs1, in the air, in his tackles, in his will to anticipate the pass everytime (it's what he was told at Barcelona, but he's not Stan Petrov and even him can miss completely his interception). Romeu covers not like Mikel can, by his will to go forward, he leaves the defense alone sometimes.

The answers to many problems we have at the moment, the transition phasis by example, is allowed by Mikel's return in form. Villas Boas made his biggest error so far in wanting to change Mikel's role, right at the start of the pre-season, Mikel is the cornerstone allowing the others (full backs, Lampard and Essien) to shine.

Villas Boas was too ambitious in thinking his defensive base and team balance main element could change his way of playing, and we all know what happens in Mikel's personal life for months. Mikel has struggled because of his new role, because of his personal problems and because of injuries... in the same time Chelsea struggled to have a solid and coherent back when we lost the ball.

Everyone has to win something with Mikel's return: biggest offensive license for players around, better team balance and coherence, and by than, better results

[Peace. 4,352]

His best position is on a seat on a plane back to Portugal

In a wishful dream yes, but realistically his better place is on the bench, since I can't see him leave before the summer.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I want to use this thread to open a debate about Essien.

If he does recapture his best days, what position (thus, for who) do you all think he should play? We all know he's a renowned DM, but he's also got the capabilities to play ahead of Romeu. This means he might be battling Ramires for his position. I can never envision starting a game with Romeu - Ramires - Essien, it's simply too negative, despite Essien's attacking instincts.

If it were me, I'd replace him for Ramires. I like Romeu in the holding role, and I think it's unfair to take it away from him, Essien's got better qualities than Ramires, in my opinion of course.

[Madmax 9,219]

If he does recapture his best days, what position (thus, for who) do you all think he should play?

That's a massive 'if'.

I don't think he deserves to walk straight into the team just because he's fit now. Romeu and Ramires are pretty much the first two names on the sheet now, and for a good reason. That leaves the no.8 role where Essien's been played before (City away last year being a prominent example), with dire consequences. What worries me is that the manager in one of his pressers said we're not looking at central midfield (when asked about Modric), because Essien is due back.

For me, he is a standby option at the moment, useful for rotation and such.

P.S. If Ivanovic is still out for a couple of games, RB wouldn't be a bad position to play him.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

I want to use this thread to open a debate about Essien.

If he does recapture his best days, what position (thus, for who) do you all think he should play? We all know he's a renowned DM, but he's also got the capabilities to play ahead of Romeu. This means he might be battling Ramires for his position. I can never envision starting a game with Romeu - Ramires - Essien, it's simply too negative, despite Essien's attacking instincts.

If it were me, I'd replace him for Ramires. I like Romeu in the holding role, and I think it's unfair to take it away from him, Essien's got better qualities than Ramires, in my opinion of course.

Agreed, using Essien and Romeu in the same midfield will be very good as long as we also have an attacking midfielder. This would give our midfield a good balance between Defense and attack.just look at a few years ago, our midfield was

---------Lampard-------

Maka----------Essien-----

And now it can be

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

--Romeu------Essien----

Also I agree that If Essien returns to his best he should replace Ramires because other than Running he doesn't do much, very poor technique.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

That's a massive 'if'.

I don't think he deserves to walk straight into the team just because he's fit now. Romeu and Ramires are pretty much the first two names on the sheet now, and for a good reason. That leaves the no.8 role where Essien's been played before (City away last year being a prominent example), with dire consequences. What worries me is that the manager in one of his pressers said we're not looking at central midfield (when asked about Modric), because Essien is due back.

For me, he is a standby option at the moment, useful for rotation and such.

P.S. If Ivanovic is still out for a couple of games, RB wouldn't be a bad position to play him.

I know, I know. I don't dare suggest that he has a right to walk in the team straight off the bat, he does have a lot to prove, especially after last season. However if we do stick to a hypothetical scenario, where do you see him coming in?

[Madmax 9,219]

I know, I know. I don't dare suggest that he has a right to walk in the team straight off the bat, he does have a lot to prove, especially after last season. However if we do stick to a hypothetical scenario, where do you see him coming in?

Then I'd be more inclined towards him as the holding midfielder. Ramires' energy and drive are too badly needed in that midfield and it's not something Essien could replicate.

[SeB 1,281]

It's difficult, for me Mikel has to regain his spot in front of the defense, he's too important tactically. Then Ramires is too important to be dropped (Chelsea is poor without him, Chelsea has never been good without a good Ramires for 1 year) and then it leaves the Lampard/Meireles spot.

I don't doubt Essien's passing palette, lateral, vertical, long or short... When we look at Scholes' "reconversion" in a more static midfielder, it's a good point to consider. I doubt his speed and speed in his play, we'll come to the same point as we are with Lampard at the moment

[Sheva. 5,373]

I want to use this thread to open a debate about Essien.

If he does recapture his best days, what position (thus, for who) do you all think he should play? We all know he's a renowned DM, but he's also got the capabilities to play ahead of Romeu. This means he might be battling Ramires for his position. I can never envision starting a game with Romeu - Ramires - Essien, it's simply too negative, despite Essien's attacking instincts.

If it were me, I'd replace him for Ramires. I like Romeu in the holding role, and I think it's unfair to take it away from him, Essien's got better qualities than Ramires, in my opinion of course.

Romeu's place.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Bosingwa defends like the ones on FIFA 12, he just stands there and sticks a foot out.

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

As far as our current midfield players go, we have 2 orthodox holding midfielders (Romeu/Mikel), 2 box-to-box 'engines' (Ramires/Essien) and 2 attacking central midfielders (Lampard/Meireles).

We have finally found some consistency in the holding position with Romeu, who, despite a slight dip in form lately, has been on the whole, very impressive in the position. We have Mikel as capable backup, and i'd personally argue that Mikel's absence from the team could also contribute to the anxiety we've been experiencing when 1-0 up and defending the lead, we miss his strength and calmness on the ball. When Essien was in form, he was the 'best of both worlds' if you like, calm and assured with a range of passing that could set an attack going immediately. Obviously it's unlikely that he'll ever rediscover that magic that we remember (i.e his performances against Barca), but he's able to cover if need be (I'd certainly play him at holding midfield over Meireles).

We've also seen how much we've missed Ramires' energy and dynamism in the centre of midfield. Arguably our best player so far this season, his pace and stamina is making him one of the first names on the team sheet.

This leaves us with the final spot, ideal for an attack minded midfielder, one of which is a consistent goalscorer and one that, in my opinion, doesn't add enough to a team like ours. I'd love for AVB to try Mata in the midfield, but, obviously, we don't have enough quality on the wings to change the formation of the team to a variation of a 4-2-3-1. If, for example, we were able to pull off a coup in signing a player in the mould of Eden Hazard or Di Maria and, to a lesser extent, Kevin de Bruyne, the dynamic of the entire team changes, with Mata taking the central role, and Essien and Ramires in the 2 'holding' positions.

One notable problem with a 4-2-3-1 formation, is I don't think Romeu suits a shared holding position particularly well. Having progressed through his youth career with two central midfielders in front of him and having the option of playing it either left or right, he is going to have to adapt his entire game. Essien, in my opinion, is suited perfectly. Thinking of City's formation, and how impressive Yaya Toure has been in that role, I think Essien (if he does discover his best form) could replicate this for Chelsea.

Essentially we will see the direction that AVB wants to take the formation of the team by the next signing, be it this window, or the next.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

If Romeu continues to be our first choice holding midfielder, I think Essien should start playing as a right back. I honestly don't want to see both Romeu and Essien in the midfield because not only are we leaking goals, but we are also lacking goals at the moment, and it really wouldn't help if those two played together.

Shitty play 4231. And their creativity come from the AM, LW,RW,and ST. Looks at the goals they've scored this compaign. Then comes one if holding mids and is the Late runner in the box, I think we're smart enough to know who that will be for us. Soo what we really need is a true winger, end of discussion. Someone who will atract a double team (like a nani or bale) and also beat a man!! Cuz frankly lamps isn't pulling no tricks out of the hat, neither is mata or Studge, it's just pace and attackin position which is helpful but a real team needs a mix of both.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Essien is past it. Stop wasting your time on him. He will be injured again next season for 6 months. I would rather have Robben back.

We need creative midfielders not the box to box types.

[francozola 2,040]

Essien is past it. Stop wasting your time on him. He will be injured again next season for 6 months. I would rather have Robben back. We need creative midfielders not the box to box types.

Such wonderful optimism!

[warnie_666 1,081]

Such wonderful optimism!

Thanks for the sarcasm.

But I would rather pin my hopes on a young hungry creative midfielder than a has been box to box midfielder who has been out for 6 months 3 times in last 4 seasons.

Thats called being realist and looking at future...