New CM? Or stick with Mikel and Lamps

[CHOULO19 24,332]

To be honest the whole squad got better towards the end of the season because of RDM... but I dont think Obi Mikel can do what Essien could once do and what Makelele made his name doing! And if Lampard is to stay, we need a reliable player alongside him to shield our back four because with Lampard's attacking intent, he'll be going forward a lot and the opposition can hit us on the break and thats where Mikel will have to be responsible.

Mikel and Essien are two different players even if they play in the same role. Mikel can't do what Essien used to do and Essien could never do what Mikel currently does. Essien was perfect for 4-3-3 while Mikel is more suited for the double pivot role.

I really don't understand all the doubt about Mikel. The man is on top of his game, he was our best player towards the end of the season and was by far the best in the league at what he does. If you re-watch the CL final, his performance was the best I've seen by a DM in a long long time. He is excellent at breaking play up, he is unbelievably composed on the ball, and his passing is sublime. So to quote the great SeB: "When will people realize that Mikel is great at what he does and not some random guy we play just because we don't have anyone else?"

As for Lamps, I know that he is not getting any younger, but he is yet to show that he can't play at this level anymore. In fact his performances in the double pivot role were not only class but showed a side of his game that we didn't know he had. As some one already said, replacing him just because he's 34 is ridiculous.

Modric for 40mil or even 28mil will not add much to our squad. We have more than enough CMs (Lamps, Mikel, Romeu, Raul, De Bruyne, Essien, Josh, Ramires) to rotate players the two CM roles we have in the starting XI; but for me, Lamps and Mikel have to start in the big matches. Not to mention that buying a new CM will make it much harder for the youngsters to be given a proper chance.

People say that RDM turned our season around, it's true, but it was also the Mikel-Lamps partnership that was, imo, the key to winning the two cups. I say we keep that for another season.

[capriccioso 2,545]

John Michael Nchekwube Obinna is a fine midfielder and doesn't need replacing. He's only 24-25 years old, as well.

God, I love saying that. John Michael Nchekwube Obinna.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

With Lampard looking weaker by the day and John Obi Mikel still not looking reliable enough ... should we get a new CM/DM or should we stick with Mikel and Lamps ?

Did you even watch Chelsea in the 2nd half of the season.............

[Severinb 309]

We should have bought nick powell!

[LondonPride1905 236]

With the likes of Meireles, Romeu and Mceachran being back-ups, I don't see a point, but to be honest, I would love Cabaye or Fellaini here.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

We should have bought nick powell!

No, just another average, nothing special player...

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

Bring in Fellani and we have enough centre midfielders imo.

Yep agree wholeheartedly!

However can people just share way they think of Ramires in that role? Is he reliable or hampered or fit for that, I personally have doubt but not sure what consensus is here

[Strike 7,474]

Bring in Fellani and we have enough centre midfielders imo.

disagree. fellaini, essien, mikel, meireles and romeu will all be CDM's. that means its just lamps (and josh) in the creative CM position. the schemer in the mid was our main problem last season. look at how pirlo's passes helped italy counter against spain. we do need a schemer in mid and if we don't get one, we will all be regretting it by december.

options -

1. Yohan Cabaye - history with hazard, deep lying, creative, good right foot, prem league experience

2. joao moutinho - portuguese modric although no experience in the prem league

3. nuri sahin ( as ss mentioned) - if added, he should be given time to develop and must be nothin more than a squad player

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

New,only if one of them: Fellaini,Cabaye,Tiote,Modric( for logical price).

[Clevemayer 764]

1. Yohan Cabaye - history with hazard, deep lying, creative, good right foot, prem league experience

2. joao moutinho - portuguese modric although no experience in the prem league

3. nuri sahin ( as ss mentioned) - if added, he should be given time to develop and must be nothin more than a squad player

agree with them, but its gett'n quite around moutinho, Cabaye is a very nice choice from you, I like him, nur sahin is for the future at RMFC and not for sale, like they've often stated.

I would like to thro Etienne capoue into the frame, I really like him, or may be KPB, when I wanted him three years ago ppl where bashing me for stateing so, but he is topclass and showed so at ACMilan, he has done tremendously well there...

[Strike 7,474]

agree with them, but its gett'n quite around moutinho, Cabaye is a very nice choice from you, I like him, nur sahin is for the future at RMFC and not for sale, like they've often stated.

I would like to thro Etienne capoue into the frame, I really like him, or may be KPB, when I wanted him three years ago ppl where bashing me for stateing so, but he is topclass and showed so at ACMilan, he has done tremendously well there...

Boateng is a bit too forward thinking imo. We have to play the creative midfielder in the double pivot so that mata doesn't have to drop deep to spread the ball. now we will have the option of using both wingers to spread the play wide (i didn't consider kalou a winger last season)

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

They play once a week, and usually come on from the bench, they rotate a lot. They do not play constantly all the time, and they don't play as DM's, Lampard in the double pivot he has to do a lot of work, Scholes doesn't even do that much work anymore and he used to, Giggs goes usually wherever he pleases, he goes about the field.

Again, your comparing 38 year olds to a 34 year old. And once a week for Chelsea is about 35-40 games which is exactly what Lampard should be playing.. Lampard played 49 games last season and was effective. Nobody is saying that Lampard should play every single game. You keep arguing something that nobody is saying when originally you said that Lampard should be a squad player which you can't defend because it's a ludicrous assertion based not on performance or likely performance but just Lampard's age. And defensive midfield does do a lot of work, but it actually does less running than some positions. The way Lampard used to play, truly box to box on almost every play is much more tiring.

[Justin_3d 1,140]

YEAH GOOD JOKE THAT!

Lampard was awful till RDM came, and he was on form when RDM took over. He's 34, losing his stamina, he clearly isn't going to be as consistent. Great logic that like lad, because he's going to give the exact same stats next season aint he, people don't age i guess, age is just a number that's why your girlfriend is probably 9, and your 80 tryna bungee jump.

If a manager has logic then he wouldn't start Lampard next season, he's getting old and for his position he will have to do way too much consistently every week.

[Justin_3d 1,140]

disagree. fellaini, essien, mikel, meireles and romeu will all be CDM's. that means its just lamps (and josh) in the creative CM position. the schemer in the mid was our main problem last season. look at how pirlo's passes helped italy counter against spain. we do need a schemer in mid and if we don't get one, we will all be regretting it by december.

options -

1. Yohan Cabaye - history with hazard, deep lying, creative, good right foot, prem league experience

2. joao moutinho - portuguese modric although no experience in the prem league

3. nuri sahin ( as ss mentioned) - if added, he should be given time to develop and must be nothin more than a squad player

This is the thing people need to distinguish!!!!

We don't got that sort of creativity till Lampard start doing that role. We where all hoping Josh can fit in, but he ain't nowhere near the map.

Can't get into Swansea, can't get into our team. Can't rely on him this season.

It will take a couple of seasons to get in like Ryan.

Now that we got Hazard to interchange with Mata in the wings and the hole, we need that deep-lying playmaker.

Notice we got Meirles as plan C after Modric, because Meireles was thought to fit that role...a bit.

But now that we are trying to improve our squad, that should be our next target.

If we can't get Modric, then a player like Cabaye as you mention will be great.

But for playing the intricate, 4-2-3-1 formation we need a deep-lying playmaker to play next to the CDM.

[daBlackMamba7 174]

John Michael Nchekwube Obinna; "The Most Under-appreciated Chelsea Player".....I appreciate your work man and i know you own the double pivot post and RDM hasn't been as blind as some on here who label you a "huge risk", at just 25 and played out of natural position; the reason why people get some mad as you is because they watched the "GREATEST PLAYER AT THAT POSITION" ever play in the blue shirt and they wont stop comparing you to him and when people call Josh the "English Xavi" , Piazon "next Kaka" or Lukaku "the next Drogba" it is too much expectations to put on a youngster, but you my friend have been constantly compared to Maka from the age of 19....You have done good brother, because even those that call you a "risk" cannot name 5 proven players at 25 that has done it year in year out like you....Stay strong bro, some of us know your true worth....