Closed Fenerbahce 0-2 Chelsea/Chelsea 0-1 Besiktas

[Iainrfc04 39]

1st

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a70MA-f1O7Y#t=1585

2nd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lflG3t5CRfk

Cheers for them

[Dion 2,476]

The hatred for Ramires is so comical right now... Like he is the root of the problem in 4-3-3 in his first game back in action. LOL. I think you guys need to take a few chill pills and realize this is PRE-season and Ramires, Cesc and Matic don't have any understanding of how they are to function as a mid 3 yet. let me preface this by saying I prefer us to play 4-2-3-1 because I think it best utilizes the strength of this team which is our attacking mids, however when we need to defend and counter attack 4-3-3 is a very good system to employ. First off Ramires was OFTEN used on the right flank yesterday so it wasn't exactly a 4-3-3, looked more like a system that would allow Hazard and Willian take turns coming inside with either Filipe or Ramires providing the support when they did.

I thought Ramires did a great job of recycling the possession and joining in on the few opportunities we had to get into space. I also thought he was useful in winning the ball back cleanly even though the ref blew foul a couple times. No matter what he does whether it be good or bad you guys are hell bent on casting him as a guy we don't need, I'm just thankful Jose Mourinho is the decision maker and not any of you guys, we'd look like Arsenal overnight if you guys had it your way; pretty passes, no tackling and absolutely no defensive shape whatsoever... Ramires had an awful 2nd half to last season, as did many Chelsea players yet none of you seem to recognize the good he brings to the team... Hilarity.

What's even funnier is when you're once again proven wrong none of you will have the balls to admit it.

Ramires is EXACTLY what I want in a squad player, a willing runner who can play multiple formations and positions who works hard whenever called upon. I'm still trying to figure out what most of you expect from him?

Anyway I may be the only one out there who absolutely loves our squad this year, with the exception of Torres I think the board and Jose have assembled a fantastic mix of players and styles which will allow us to play well in whatever situation the game calls for. Most of you just want tiki taka and pretend you want steel, I want balance and with Ramires you get that.

I don't like Ramires very much because he has a tendency to misplace passes every now and then - and I like good passers - but I don't think it was his fault that we failed to produce. Actually I blame it more on Fabregas for the second game, I think he was the one who should be advancing and orchestrating the attack there, but for the most part of those 45 minutes he didn't (unless Mourinho gave Ramires the job of being that man, which I don't think makes sense unless we're counter attacking - in that situation Fabregas should initiate with a pass while Ramires would be the one to join the attack with his speed). Other possibility would be akin to what you suggested, either Hazard or Willian roaming to the middle behind Costa while either Ramires, Cesc or one of the fullbacks took their place wide, but I reckon this isn't something that just happens, it has to be trained and instructed.

That's why I said it all felt like it had not be trained before, everything was just too predictable - everyone in their fixed positions, no overlapping, no element of surprise, nothing. And our midfield looked like as if there were 3 holding midfielders, because none of them wanted to take risks going forward. As some have said, it was somewhat reminiscent of our problems from last season, but I still thought the amount of control we've shown against Besiktas surpassed many of the matches when we failed to create last season, that's a positive we can take.