Midfield options

[kakuta44 16]

i really like the Christmas tree plan but there is some flair missing when we play with it so how do you think we should play??? a diamond or a Christmas tree or a standard 4-3-3 ......

for me i prefer a christmas tree and our 5 midfielders will be mikel essien lampard malouda and (kalou or joe cole or sturridge or anelka) i really like anelka as a striker but in this formation he looks lost on the pitch and he is not at the right place as usual that's why i would try other options.....

also ballack yesterday was very slow and in the second half was very bad i know he has great technical qualities and helps the team a lot but i would absolutely choose essien and mikel before him for two reasons :

1- from what i saw yesterday mikel really impressed me and showed that he is improving a lot on the ball .... that gives ancelotti the chance to give essien a little more complicated role helping forward and i don't think with essien's physical qualities he will have any kind of problem coming back fast and helping our defense as well so that gives us a solid midfield defensively having both mikel and essien playing

2- that will give lampard a more attacking role so he wont have to rush back every counter attack because ballack cant do it ....

but off course i would like to see ballack starting every now and then also he will make a very good impact sub if we are up 1 or 2 -0 and we need to take more control over the midfield and control the tempo ..........

that's my opinion ...... what's yours ??????????

[boshman 1,073]

My favourite of the formations is the christmas tree. The full-backs get forward and with the two players playing just behind the striker it should give players like Deco and Joe Cole a license to roam and work their magic. Although, they haven't really performed this year so a dip in the transfer market in the summer would be a good idea i think. Also the Christmas Tree gives you an option to have 2 attacking minded midfielders. With one defensive minded midfielder shielding the back four it gives Lampard, Essien etc a license to get forward, thread through balls, score goals etc. Essentially in my opinion, with the christmas tree you can have up too 7 going forward (when needed obviously). The full-backs, 2 midfielders, 2 attacking midfielders and the striker. But you still have the defensive balance when without the ball.

My players for that formation would be, based on everyone being fit.

Cech

Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A.Cole,

Essien, Mikel, Lampard

Anelka, J.Cole,

Drogba,

Having said all that the fact we can play all 3 formations gives Carlo options depending on the team and players we play and the situation in the game.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Agree with the above ^^ with the christmas formation.

Another good choice for the 442 daimond would be

Mikel

Lampard - Ballack/Malouda

Essien/Deco

we have the most depth in the attacking midfeilder role IMO.

[zolayes 14,489]

Essien has been a massive loss to us ,as has joe coles lack of form ..the tip of the diamond should be tailor made for joe to prosper ,

Sadly that hasnt happened . If bos comes back possibly ivo is another option for the holding midfielder . Where we are lucky is in

the versatility of many of our players . Just read that Malouda has played about 15 games at left back.

So much still to play for just wish we could clear all the distractions ,they must be a nightmare for Carlo. I think he has coped with

them remarkably well

[kakuta44 16]

My favourite of the formations is the christmas tree. The full-backs get forward and with the two players playing just behind the striker it should give players like Deco and Joe Cole a license to roam and work their magic. Although, they haven't really performed this year so a dip in the transfer market in the summer would be a good idea i think. Also the Christmas Tree gives you an option to have 2 attacking minded midfielders. With one defensive minded midfielder shielding the back four it gives Lampard, Essien etc a license to get forward, thread through balls, score goals etc. Essentially in my opinion, with the christmas tree you can have up too 7 going forward (when needed obviously). The full-backs, 2 midfielders, 2 attacking midfielders and the striker. But you still have the defensive balance when without the ball.

My players for that formation would be, based on everyone being fit.

Cech

Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A.Cole,

Essien, Mikel, Lampard

Anelka, J.Cole,

Drogba,

Having said all that the fact we can play all 3 formations gives Carlo options depending on the team and players we play and the situation in the game.

i agree with you there except that j.cole can never get a starting place with his current form ... malouda has been the best in that place in our squad so far...... although i think he should do better but he is the best of what we have also anelka seems to be very ordinary when not playing as a striker in the diamond formation .... in my opinion thats what ancelotti have to work on its our wingers/playmakers .....hope that will be fixed

[kakuta44 16]

Essien has been a massive loss to us ,as has joe coles lack of form ..the tip of the diamond should be tailor made for joe to prosper ,

Sadly that hasnt happened . If bos comes back possibly ivo is another option for the holding midfielder . Where we are lucky is in

the versatility of many of our players . Just read that Malouda has played about 15 games at left back.

So much still to play for just wish we could clear all the distractions ,they must be a nightmare for Carlo. I think he has coped with

them remarkably well

off course essien has been a massive loss cant wait for him to be back last i heard it was 27 Feb. .....

but may be we wouldnt have been missing essien and joe so much if we had our other options fit the problem is that now we have cech essien bosingwa a.cole yuri zhirkov and deco all injured also belleti and alex are still not match fit after coming from a little long injury so actually we don't have a lot of options right now

[boshman 1,073]

Kakuta44 your right, Malouda should play over J.Cole. Somehow i manager to forget him, lol!

[James 5,223]

Looking abit thin on the ground now Ballack and Belletti are banned, we need Essien back.

[Kez 2,727]

When is Ess expected back?

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Won't Essien be fit before the end of the month?

[James 5,223]

When is Ess expected back?

Heard someone say end of Feb which is around now. I hope he returns like he did last time, just slots back in like his never away.

[Kez 2,727]

We couldn't need him to return more at the moment. I remember his return last year against Cov, he got stuck in like he'd never been away.

[kbchel 2]

where is deco?

temporary replacement needed

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I know for a fact Bosingwa is back in training, and in terms of their recoveries, Deco, Essien and Zhirkov should all be back by the time we play Inter.

[Luke 60]

Deco seems to have been out injured all season, can see him moving on in the summer along with Ballack and unfortunately, Joe Cole.

My god have we missed Essien.