Koke

[Viper22 2,418]

[OhForAGreavsie 6,064]

I say buy Koke, and switch to a diamond in midfield

Mikel

Cesc-Koke

Matic

Mikel as a cam will make the best out of his explosive power and technique, while Koke can help do the dirty work. Mikel on the counter will be brutal.

I know Mikel divides opinion so I tread lightly when I say that, for me, Mikel's regular inclusion in the starting line up would only be a backward step. Having realised that we needed an upgrade in Mikel's position, I really doubt that Jose will reverse his thinking now. Even if Jose wanted to switch to a new base shape, and even if he felt Mikel had a place in that shape, it wouldn't last. Jose would soon decide that we needed to upgrade from Mikel once again. A sizeable percentage of Chelsea fans believe that Mikel is not good enough to start for Chelsea and it seems clear that Jose agrees with them.

[Rom2013 446]

Chelsea was linked to Neymar and instead bought schurrle...........It goes on to tell class.

Neymar received 10M€ from Barcelona in 2011, if Neymar didn't go to Barcelona he would have to pay 40M€ to Barcelona. In other words, Neymar would cost more 40M€ to any team than Barcelona paid.

Neymar right now cost nearly100M€ to Barcelona and there are problems with taxes and the investment group that want more money, Neymar will cost to Barcelona a lot more than 100M€.

Neymar was an impossible buy to any cub in the world since 2011, and Florentino Perez also said in "Chiringuito de Jugones" that Neymar would cost to Madrid nearly 150M€ and said that this business was strange.

There is no correlation between Neymar and Schurrle.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I say we sell Cesc in january after only half year here and Oscar after he just extened contract. And buy Koke and Pogba instead. Maybe then people will be finally happy here.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I say we sell Cesc in january after only half year here and Oscar after he just extened contract. And buy Koke and Pogba instead. Maybe then people will be finally happy here.

Jose out, Rafa in

[Spike 12,049]

Why do people want to play Koke in the central midfield when he has spent nearly his whole career on the flanks? Sure he could easily be a CM but I wouldn't be opposed to him taking up the RW position.

[Epikur 34]

Why do people want to play Koke in the central midfield when he has spent nearly his whole career on the flanks? Sure he could easily be a CM but I wouldn't be opposed to him taking up the RW position.

Didn't realise he played on the RW. I think he should be our number one target now that Reus is gone. Absolute jet.

[Spike 12,049]

Didn't realise he played on the RW. I think he should be our number one target now that Reus is gone. Absolute jet.

This season however, he has been spending time on the LW. So he can play CM, DM, CAM and both wing positions. I guess he is like David Beckham in the sense he is a wide midfielder? That might be a decent description.

Good to see more Aussies.

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

Didn't realise he played on the RW. I think he should be our number one target now that Reus is gone. Absolute jet.

He was LW.

Turan was RW

[chelseafc9010 224]

He was LW because he can press, defend and attack, also he has an amazing pass. That doesn't mean he is a winger though far from it, he was more of a left center mid and his best position is cm.

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

He was LW because he can press, defend and attack, also he has an amazing pass. That doesn't mean he is a winger though far from it, he was more of a left center mid and his best position is cm.

This.

Different leagues being different environments.

Mata was quality as a LW at Valencia but outmuscled and excluded with his time with us.

[Spike 12,049]

This.

Different leagues being different environments.

Mata was quality as a LW at Valencia but outmuscled and excluded with his time with us.

However, Koke is not Mata and the rationale behind Mata's failure as a winger in the Premier Leaugue should not be applied to Koke. From a purely physical perspective Koke (178cm) is 8cm taller than Mata (170cm) and 12kg heavier, 73kg and 61kg respectively.

[Rekin 835]

I wanted Koke ahead of Fabregas when both were heavily rumored to come, even though I would happily take either back then.

With the success that Fabregas have had so far its hard to really force some tears over missing Koke, but I still think that he is a fascinating player.
His creativity is not as good as Fabregas's, but he makes up for it with being a very dynamic, defensively solid and able to do well in several positions (enabling him to stay relevant in more than one formation).

My dream centre midfield was Koke and Matic slightly deeper with Pogba as the forward one in a 4-3-3 (absolutely perfect combination of solidity, muscle, technique, creativity and threat forward), but with Fabregas here it is no longer possible.
I still think however that a midfield with Koke, Fabregas and Matic would be highly viable (with Matic and Fabregas as they are now and Koke as the more forward one, essentially replacing Oscar in a 4-3-3). Oscar has been excellent this season, so there is no need to rush it, but having four world-class players for three positions is not too much.

Yes he would be very expensive, but Chelsea are approaching a point where they have excellent depth in most departments (CB might need some looking into though) and would benefit from adding quality rather than quantity (and Liverpool/Spurs have shown how much value you get from several kind of good players over few really good). Add to that our excellent financial position right now and buying Koke does not seem like a pipe dream.

Still, he should not be a priority, I would hold CB and RW as positions needing reinforcing earlier. There is also the situation of a few promising youngsters who if given the chance might turn out to be right for the role Koke would have (RLC especially).

[lucio 5,418]

He played/ plays left midfielder. Not left winger / left attacking midfield. A position we never have.

I bet he could play any midfield role for us. I see no obvious weakness in him

[iseah100 5,612]

He was LW because he can press, defend and attack, also he has an amazing pass. That doesn't mean he is a winger though far from it, he was more of a left center mid and his best position is cm.

But if he can play there effectively whats it matter?