Kevin de Bruyne

[The Skipper 20,593]

Does anyone remember Schweinsteiger who started out as a left midfielder/winger before being moved into what is now the pivot role?

It's been done before. I can see Kevin achieving the same if he works hard at his defensive side of the game.

[Tomo 21,733]

Does anyone remember Schweinsteiger who started out as a left midfielder/winger before being moved into what is now the pivot role?

It's been done before. I can see Kevin achieving the same if he works hard at his defensive side of the game.

Maybe this is what Mourinho has been planning all along. Im still not convinced but if Jose thinks he could be a solution there, he has my backing.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Does anyone remember Schweinsteiger who started out as a left midfielder/winger before being moved into what is now the pivot role?

It's been done before. I can see Kevin achieving the same if he works hard at his defensive side of the game.

The perfect scenario for us if that pans out.

He definitely has the potential.

Maybe we don't need a CM come January.

De Bruyne- Rami pivot can work magic.

[Miguelito 459]

I wrote last year in this thread I thought his future would be as a cm. I know it might just be me but he reminds a lot of scholes. His passing range has that type of potential.

Obviously scholes was a plain awful tackler too so that is also what made me think of him. But like many have said. If he works on his defense, he could be amazing there. I have really big doubts about it and honestly don't think it will happen, but I could see it

[bouletje 82]

I've heard the theory of KDB replacing Lampard in the future for Chelsea from quite a few ppl that know what they are takling about when it comes to football in general. Please don't give me the KDB fanboy stamp for this....

My own opinion tho is that his defensive qualities are too poor for that role...

[DDA 9,690]

I've heard the theory of KDB replacing Lampard in the future for Chelsea from quite a few ppl that know what they are takling about when it comes to football in general. Please don't give me the KDB fanboy stamp for this....

My own opinion tho is that his defensive qualities are too poor for that role...

People tend to talk up 'the defensive duties' as if every other player who isn't a defensive midfielder can't make a tackle or positiin themselves to make it awkward for the opposition. Kevin has the passing game to become a center mid and if you compare him to the current Frank Lampard then let's face it, his legs are younger and has more energy witch is needed in that role. Lampard isn't a good tackler and isn't effective in the pivot at all. We haven't seen Kev there yet so how do we know he woudln't flourish there??

[Fernando 6,454]

Kdb in the pivot does sounds interesting.

Let's hope this is what Mourinho is thinking.

Or better someone ask him that when ever he's on Chelsea TV. :-)

[LukakutoStamford 779]

He could work in the pivot but it would only work with a partner who can run around for ever and is more defense oriented.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Mourinho... What are you waiting for?

Bring on the Rami-De Bruyne pivot.

[ParNolio7 285]

Everybody agrees then

I for one would like to see the experiment one day where a club is managed entirely by it's fanbase. Democracy rules. Polls to decide who makes it to the squad, what formation is used, etc. Only assistant coaches required for the training ground. Live webcams during all trainings so the fans can see who's training well ... Could just work!

As for Lampard, he's Mourinho's big buddy. I very much doubt Mou would even consider to take him off.

Ramires is a crucial player. All AM positions are fully stacked with other wonderful players, so we might as well face it, KDB will never be part of the plan here. However sad that may be.

[Tomo 21,733]

Everybody agrees then

I for one would like to see the experiment one day where a club is managed entirely by it's fanbase. Democracy rules. Polls to decide who makes it to the squad, what formation is used, etc. Only assistant coaches required for the training ground. Live webcams during all trainings so the fans can see who's training well ... Could just work!

As for Lampard, he's Mourinho's big buddy. I very much doubt Mou would even consider to take him off.

Ramires is a crucial player. All AM positions are fully stacked with other wonderful players, so we might as well face it, KDB will never be part of the plan here. However sad that may be.

That would be a good idea if you want to see us relegated.

If it was up to supporters Drogba and Anelka would have been sold after Moscow, i would prefer us to leave decision's like that to the expert.

[Strike 7,217]

I don't think we should experiment this in what could be a crucial Champions League game. Hold off all experiments till the League Cup tie against Sunderland/Soton.

[ParNolio7 285]

Guys, I was obviously joking ...

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I for one would like to see the experiment one day where a club is managed entirely by it's fanbase. Democracy rules. Polls to decide who makes it to the squad, what formation is used, etc. Only assistant coaches required for the training ground. Live webcams during all trainings so the fans can see who's training well ... Could just work!

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

Does anyone remember Schweinsteiger who started out as a left midfielder/winger before being moved into what is now the pivot role?

It's been done before. I can see Kevin achieving the same if he works hard at his defensive side of the game.

I have a feeling the real reason Bayern showed interest in Kevin was the concept that he could potentially replace Bastian

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Every time I've seen KDB, I don't see any reason why he should be a CDM. He is a very good passer and has awesome technique, but he is way too aggressive of a passer and oftentimes as a CM you need immense restraint over your creative instincts when you just need to help set the tempo and just recycle possession which I don't think KDB can do. This is not a slight against KDB because he's an AM and he doesn't need to be able to do this if he stays an AM but if he is to become a CDM then you're asking him to curb his natural creative instincts which is very very hard to do.

And I know he played CM for Genk, but that isn't the same. Genk didn't need to be patient and just keep possession or set tempo in games cause all their games were like cup games during the period he played CM. The games were much more open than they'll ever be at Chelsea.

Oscar is the only one from our AM that can play as a CM if needed because he is the only one whose natural game is similar to that of a CM.

[communicate 2,703]

I have a feeling the real reason Bayern showed interest in Kevin was the concept that he could potentially replace Bastian

I thought it was dortmund who showed interest which make a lot of sense

[Barbara 15,149]

If the reference is Lampard, then I see where people are coming from and maybe it's worth a shot in one of the upcoming more manageable games in EPL.

If the reference are players who are great in the position, I feel like Kevin won't do it unless he works a lot in his defensive skills. He's similar to what Hazard used to be defensively wise and while Hazard improved it considerably, it's basically more effort than result. He still looks clueless a lot while doing it, but at least he's pressing and trying to tackle, which is enough for an AM, but not even close for a CM.

So we keep saying the pivot is one of our problems, but then we want to move a player there that will continue to offer one of the problems we currently have? Ramires is an excellent tackler imo, his defensive service is good, but Lampard is terrible - for what the position demands if we want to have balance. So while with a guy like KDB we'll probably improve our transition, close the gap between defense-midfield and midfield-attack, at the same time we're perpetuating the large amount of space we offer to our opponents when they have the ball because Lampard is far from impressive closing gaps in defense phases and recovering possession.

I still believe the reason why we failed so badly the last couple of years in EPL has more to do with the amount of goals we conceded than the amount of goals we didn't score. Fixing the pivot is mandatory to remedy that - reason why I don't think Kev would be effective there, but I'm not totally opposed to the idea as we haven't seen him there yet (in EPL). Maybe he'd surprise me, but I don't think he's the answer to our pivot issue and I don't think we have to accommodate him in the team just so he plays. He might be worse than Lamps defending and instead of improving our pivot, he might worsen it overall, although of course, he'll improve transition.