Benat

[DYC. 7,542]

Cabbage isn't exactly heavyweight either is he?

Not at all but he's pretty strong, energetic and more importantly, he's aggressive and he's a fighter. We've been bullied far too often this season.

[laura90 556]

Well if you have Benitez as a coach, if he has any say in transfers, you can expect at least one Spaniard during transfer windows.

And who better than Benitez knows importance of a playmaker, decent central midfielder, who are like engines in this formation we play. He suffered major blow at Liverpool after Alonso's departure.

Anyway, he could be eager to bring that kind of a player to the team he coaches,.

So this move makes perfect sense.

Of course this guy isn't Alonso but we have much talent in attacking mids.

I really don't know a thing about this guy, Benat, but After Ba all I want is decent central midfielder and having in mind the time I have been waiting, I'm not picky at all.

Anybody able to provide quick, precise, forward, long range passes to our trio upfront now and than, will mean major improvement and could help together with Ba, likes of Hazard and Mata massively.

His height could be an issue, however. Unless we are in for very tall, strong and aggressive DM too...

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Havent seen him in a full game but i already watched that video on youtube couple of weeks ago... seems like the player we need. What i havent saw in that video its his defensive game. I understand he plays in the double pivot for Betis but i'd like to see how he plays that role when off possession. like DYC. said i think the deep-playmaker in our team needs to be energetic and aggressive in his game, even if he isnt big physically.

Betis are actually playing in 15 minutes i see... i'll watch some of that.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Not at all but he's pretty strong, energetic and more importantly, he's aggressive and he's a fighter. We've been bullied far too often this season.

I see what you mean, but I don't think you should look to your DLP for tenacity. Benat is taller and heavier than Cabaye anyway, and certainly isn't a pushover IMO.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

He is a brilliant midfielder and would absolutely love him here.Plus he is also a dead ball specialist so if he comes then mata will have some competition for corners and freekicks.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF_bqmggbz0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF_bqmggbz0

Imagine all those (pirlo, xavi, alonso, modric) passes in our team. No one should under estimate these type of players. Pirlo single handedly improved the way juventus play by taken it to a better level.

[DYC. 7,542]

I see what you mean, but I don't think you should look to your DLP for tenacity. Benat is taller and heavier than Cabaye anyway, and certainly isn't a pushover IMO.

As a PL team, we need tenacity and mobility unlike Spanish and Italian teams. And with Mikel as a DM, we're in need of it even more. Besides, it's a bonus with Cabaye. He has the passing, vision, intelligence, good technique and also very important, he's a good defender for a CM.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

As a PL team, we need tenacity and mobility unlike Spanish and Italian teams. And with Mikel as a DM, we're in need of it even more. Besides, it's a bonus with Cabaye. He has the passing, vision, intelligence, good technique and also very important, he's a good defender for a CM.

Thats wrong. the Spanish league is all about pressure and mobility. The fact the game there isnt about running from box to box for 90 mins doesnt say mobility isnt important. But i agree about anything else you wrote. When does Cabaye come back from his injury btw?

[Leif 6,006]

Changed my mind. Want him. 100%. He's like a short Xabi Alonso only quicker.

[Marvin123 538]

His passing is ridiculous

Even under pressure!!

Wow I like this kid perfect for us I'd say!

[Blue Gino 377]

I'd rather have Jordy Clasie. "Dutch Xavi"

[blu35_army 551]

For €20 million,,i would prefer take ISCO from Malaga!!! the real trequartista....

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

great passing, would walk into our pivot and is similar to modric

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Our possesion game would drastically increase with a regista like him in our pivot. I want him, to complete our january

The big teams in europe have this type of player

Barca- xavi

Psg - verrati

Madrid - alonso

Juventus - pirlo

Man utd - scholes(old now)

Chelsea - ???(Possesion football without a regista is rarely achievable)

[Severinb 309]

We should just pay his release clause because he is truly a gifted player and exactly what we have been missing a deeplying playmaker! We are also lucky that spain have soo good midfielders that he is not playing for a top club. I could see rafa wanting him so hopefully the club will listen to him. His defensiv positioning is great so he can defend well but sure he is no mikel typ of player!

[bababoom 4,478]

I hate looking at talented players clips on YouTube, it make me instantly want us to buy him..

He does look great, and he's not too young, 25 its a good age.

I'd rather have Jordy Clasie. "Dutch Xavi"

He looks great as well..

[DYC. 7,542]

Thats wrong. the Spanish league is all about pressure and mobility. The fact the game there isnt about running from box to box for 90 mins doesnt say mobility isnt important. But i agree about anything else you wrote. When does Cabaye come back from his injury btw?

Spanish teams play a slower game, keep the playing field short and let the ball do the work, not all teams but most, meaning players have to cover shorter distances and don't have to run/sprint as much compared to the PL, which of course is far less tiring. And with a more hectic schedule, there's less time to recover (Chelsea v QPR). And that's what I meant with that part.

I don't know when he'll be back but I think soon.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

We definitely need a deep-lying midfielder and Benat seems like he'd be a good choice. My real concern though is then what happens with Oscar? I understand the Oscar transfer only if Chelsea were going to make him into their deep-lying midfielder and there was indication from Oscar that this was indeed going to be the case. He's going to have a difficult time getting regular starts up front with Hazard and Mata ahead of him so my preference would be to start giving Oscar more games in the pivot to see what he can do there and if he doesn't work, we can get a replacement in the summer. (It's not like it's Benat or nobody. There are a number of central midfielders who will be available.)

[Corner 456]

We definitely need a deep-lying midfielder and Benat seems like he'd be a good choice. My real concern though is then what happens with Oscar? I understand the Oscar transfer only if Chelsea were going to make him into their deep-lying midfielder and there was indication from Oscar that this was indeed going to be the case. He's going to have a difficult time getting regular starts up front with Hazard and Mata ahead of him so my preference would be to start giving Oscar more games in the pivot to see what he can do there and if he doesn't work, we can get a replacement in the summer. (It's not like it's Benat or nobody. There are a number of central midfielders who will be available.)

I think the intention the Chelsea board always had was to gradually move Oscar to a deeper position (deep-lying playmaker role). I still don't agree with Oscar not being ready, he's more than ready to play there. I think the problem is not Oscar but the formation. 4-3-3 is much more balanced and suits the style of play we're trying to play much better than 4-2-3-1. I think it would accomodate Oscar much better as well.

Assuming we were to buy Benat, then we could have a midfield trio of Mikel, Benat and Oscar, which could work very well with Oscar in a slightly more advanced role than Benat. The only question is how Hazard and Mata would work on the wings. They could still push inside like they naturally do anyway and the full-backs could provide with. It's essentially what Di Matteo was trying to do but playing 4-2-3-1 instead, which left us vulnerable to counter attacks.

[Mr_President 404]

He's quality. If his release clause is €20mil/£16m then he could be worth that IMO and would fit into this double pivot that Benitez is instant on playing.