Grant- Ready To Buy If Quality Is Right‏

[DavidEU 2,023]

I can't see us signing a van der Vaart kind of player, because we'd have to completely change our system again, probably to the diamond. The three CM's is going to be (when everyones fit), Essien and Lampard, with Maka or Mikel holding, so where would the playmaker fit?

[EskWeston 696]

I can't see us signing a van der Vaart kind of player, because we'd have to completely change our system again, probably to the diamond. The three CM's is going to be (when everyones fit), Essien and Lampard, with Maka or Mikel holding, so where would the playmaker fit?

Well the point is that with 3 central midfielders you should have in an ideal world a holding midfielder, a box to box midfielder and an advanced playmaker. With a holding midfielder (Mikel/Maka) and 2 box to box midfield grafters (Essien/Lampard/Ballack) i feel we are lacking somewhat. Obviously we have a lot of midfielders, but i feel it is time to sign someone who play the creative role at the expense of someone in the squad.

[HeRo 0]

I think we should sign RB. If Belletti gets injured i just dont trust Ferreira anymore. With Belletti we have solved our problems with RB but we need decent backup. I think that our midfield with Lampard, Essien and Mikel is good and i just don`t know who would we drop than? We have Ballack and Makelele as backup, but it could be problem when Essien and Mikel go to ACN than we just have Lampard, Ballack, Makelele and poor Sidwell.

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

Ferreira always does a solid job imo, and is decent enough back up to have.

but it could be problem when Essien and Mikel go to ACN than we just have Lampard, Ballack, Makelele and poor Sidwell.

What about Joe Cole and SWP. We also have Sahar and Sinclair coming back from loan for January. If we are gonna be missing Drogba then we will have to change our formation. Sheva I feel cannot play the Drogba role and would need a partner alonside him, so if we go 4-4-2 with Sheva and Pizarro up front. A midfield of Lampard, Makalele, Joe Cole and SWP we should do ok.

[Badboy 1,526]

Well the point is that with 3 central midfielders you should have in an ideal world a holding midfielder, a box to box midfielder and an advanced playmaker. With a holding midfielder (Mikel/Maka) and 2 box to box midfield grafters (Essien/Lampard/Ballack) i feel we are lacking somewhat. Obviously we have a lot of midfielders, but i feel it is time to sign someone who play the creative role at the expense of someone in the squad.

Mikel (dm) Essien (box to box) Lampard (attacking) who would you drop then ? ? ?

[Elliott 7]

For the sake of playing a different, more inventive system, Mikel, move Essien to defensive midfield.

[Steve 10,227]

i like the idea of bringing joe back to his orignal position he does so well there and he works so hard so yea good point

[misschief 24]

'It will not be a problem of money, it will be a problem of quality.

So last season when we were desperately short of cover, there wasnt any money coming forward and yet this season its not an issue. Funny that! I know they'll say he's a new manager and needs to bring in his own players etc, but it just grates after what went on the same time last year.

Even with the African Nations, we do not want to take players that will not be good for us in the long term.'

Another dig? Or maybe just a subtle hint at Roman not to invite any more of his mates over?

[Fulham Broadway 17,299]

Like someone said, he must be insecure to keep bigging himself up with subtle putdowns. Interesting to see how much he has prised out of Abramovichs wallet, just hope we dont get an influx of 'promising' Israelis

[bombayblue™ 55]

well he certainly favored ben haim initially over alex and said somehwere that liverpool were missing benayoun for their loss or something like that

[EskWeston 696]

Mikel (dm) Essien (box to box) Lampard (attacking) who would you drop then ? ? ?

Lampard is not and has never been an attacking midfielder. He is the ultimate box to box midfielder, the amount of ground he covers is staggering, and more often than not you will see him pick the ball up well in our own half, the fact he scores a s**t load of goals doesn't mean he is an attacking midfielder.

For the sake of playing a different, more inventive system, Mikel, move Essien to defensive midfield.

I agree, as far as our squad would go for next season with the "2 for each position" we stick to i would like to see DM = Mikel/Essien , CM = Lampard/Ballack , AM = J.Cole/New player. Like you say it would encourage a more inventive system of play.

So last season when we were desperately short of cover, there wasnt any money coming forward and yet this season its not an issue. Funny that! I know they'll say he's a new manager and needs to bring in his own players etc, but it just grates after what went on the same time last year.

I thought everyone came out and said there WAS money available last January (and there certainly was in the summer) it was more of a case of not wanting to get ripped off as clubs were asking stupid money like Bolton for Ben Haim when he had a few months left on his contract...

Even with the African Nations, we do not want to take players that will not be good for us in the long term.'

I can't see how this can be viewed as a dig? It is more like stating the bleeding obvious really......

[misschief 24]

I can't see how this can be viewed as a dig? It is more like stating the bleeding obvious really......

Well he's certainly a master at that if nothing else. Didnt say it was, just asked the question really. So call me an old cynic.

[EskWeston 696]

Well he's certainly a master at that if nothing else. Didnt say it was, just asked the question really. So call me an old cynic.

You old cynic

[misschief 24]

Well I suppose I did ask.

[EskWeston 696]

Well i didn't want to dissapoint...