Ramires

[The only place to be 11,313]

How has that got anything to do with Ramires? Yes he has his flaws, but defence is something different. While he has played RW before Rafa played him in an unfamiliar position. When Ramires was in the CM position against Arsenal he had an excellent game. Today he was on the right and it flopped. The problem lies way past Ramires, believe me.

And yet in that game our midfield was poor in the second-half and failed to control the game, so even at his very best you have to wonder whether he is the right player for us.

Ramires is great when we play with our backs to the wall. His explosive pace allows us to break with speed against teams in transition. Do you think that anyone connected with the club has any intention of playing like that in the future?

If no, where does Ramires fit in the starting XI?

[Stats 7,142]

And yet in that game our midfield was poor in the second-half and failed to control the game, so even at his very best you have to wonder whether he is the right player for us.

Ramires is great when we play with our backs to the wall. His explosive pace allows us to break with speed against teams in transition. Do you think that anyone connected with the club has any intention of playing like that in the future?

If no, where does Ramires fit in the starting XI?

He would be better of, or is better off in a 4-3-3 formations. You would get more goals from him but yes with the 4-2-3-1 formation, I agree with you, sometimes he doesnt suit our general play. However even his quite robust game, I like him in the fact that he offers goals and is one of them players who draws us many penalties due to his pace and unpredictability. The amount of times he has won us a penalty is countless. Next season I hope any manager who comes fits him, into our plans, in a way where we can get the best out of him.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Modric and capoue would be perfect.

Gonalons and Moutinho would be better...

[Kinol 337]

He would be better of, or is better off in a 4-3-3 formations. You would get more goals from him but yes with the 4-2-3-1 formation, I agree with you, sometimes he doesnt suit our general play. However even his quite robust game, I like him in the fact that he offers goals and is one of them players who draws us many penalties due to his pace and unpredictability. The amount of times he has won us a penalty is countless. Next season I hope any manager who comes fits him, into our plans, in a way where we can get the best out of him.

I hope the new manager we get does everything he can to take our club back to the club we were a few years ago. I dont care if its with our without Ramires.

[Peace. 4,352]

I think people need to understand that sometimes a player does not have to be this technically gifted footballer for him to be an asset to a side. There are many flaws in Rami's game but there are also certain qualities that he brings to this squad that are very vital. I think to say that there's no place for him in the squad because his touch isn't first class or his passes aren't xavi-esque is being a bit too simplistic. To be competitive you need one or two players that can bring something completely different from the others. Yes we're in desperate need for a top center midfielder but there's no doubt in my mind that without ramires' qualities we would be even more of a mess than we are now. I personally find him fascinating, simply because he plays football like he was just plucked off the streets of Brazil and thrown into a stadium! He's playing style is so raw and completely lacks any sort of refinement but yet he's still a brilliant player (in he's own way.)

Would love to see what he could become under good coaching and stable management.

First off all, I do not think that anyone is challenging the fact that he is a good player to have in the squad. Actually I believe that we should keep him because he is valuable — and as I stated in my previous post which is on the previous page of this topic, he offers diversity in our options and allows us to make a turn-other.

So basically, I pretty much think that nobody will be disagree with the few parts I've bolded in your text. But as you stress yourself : squad. The people — as me — who have criticized him in the last few pages don't argue over his spot in the squad, but his spot in the first team. And into my book, he doesn't have what it takes to be in the starting eleven of an elite team.

Also, nobody is asking him to make Xavi-esque first touch. It would be quite impossible, since Xavi is one of a kind, to start with. And it's not even the point ! We aren't asking him to have the first touch of Iniesta, the short pass of Busquets and the long ball of Xavi. We are simply asking him to not fuck up with the basic — i.e. having a decent touch on the ball and a decent pass. That's all. However he doesn't get the basics right, at the moment.

Regarding the part I highlighted in red. That is two different things ! There is no correlation between the fact that ideally he should not be in the starting eleven for the forth coming years and the fact that he is a great asset for the team right now. It's indeniable that we would be in much more trouble without him this year. Though, for instance, when you have a car and want to go somewhere, it's better to have 2L of gasoline than nothing, right ? But it's even more better to have 5L than 2L — ain't it ? Know what I am sayin' ? What I am trying to say here, is that it's not because he is important for the team right know that we shouldn't look out for better options. A club which has appetite for trophies should be always searching to improve his squad and his starting eleven. That's how you stay at the top.

The bottom line is — unless if the board is happy to watch the Manchester teams competing for the title — that Ramires should not be in our starting eleven. Not right now, because he is obviously one of our best midfielders — and it's not like we had many other options. I mean, for the forthcoming year and afterward, once we will be in the position to compete for the biggest rewards.

[Yeboii 1,844]

Modric and capoue would be perfect.

Or just get KDB and buy one DM

[GhanaBoy 104]

Gonalons and Moutinho would be better...

Rmpr do you know anything about Fernando reges ? and if so is he any good.

[Spike 12,049]

I don't really like Ramires being in the first team. Seems more like a utility player...

[remains of the day 564]

First off all, I do not think that anyone is challenging the fact that he is a good player to have in the squad. Actually I believe that we should keep him because he is valuable — and as I stated in my previous post which is on the previous page of this topic, he offers diversity in our options and allows us to make a turn-other.

Peace, I think we both seem to agree more than disagree especially around the importance of Ramires in this current Chelsea team. I agree that although he’s good to have in the squad, if not for the variety he brings in options then for his passion, hard work and commitment, but moving forward he probably would not be the first name on the team sheet (although I would argue that this would be dependent on the tactics of the next manager.)

Where you lost me however, is in your comment that “people who have criticized him in the last few pages don't argue over his spot in the squad, but his spot in the first team.” I find this highly questionable and just plain incorrect particularly since some folks on here have come forward and suggested that he doesn’t fit into the team and should be transfered. I also question overly critical comments like “he doesn’t get the basics right” or mis-directed statements like “ I don’t think he has what it takes to make the starting line-up of an elite team.” Elite teams don’t all play the same formation, employ the same tactics or have quality, world class players in every position so why wouldn't Ramires be able to make the starting XI of some top teams? Some line-ups will fit he's playing style and complement his strengths better than others.

I won’t argue that rami isn’t (at times) sloppy in possession (as many of the players in this team have been lately) however my issue with comments like “we are simply asking him to not fuck up with the basic — i.e. having a decent touch on the ball and a decent pass" is that they tend to grossly exaggerate his weaknesses and tend to paint him as this technically inept footballer who’s always the one consistently losing possession which isn’t the case. It also wholly ignores the fact that 1) Ramires’ dispossession rate isn’t that much higher than Mikel's 2) his pass success percentage is not so much further behind than that of Mata & Hazard’s (in fact I think on whoscored all three have around an 84 percent completion rate) and 3) he wins back possession more often than any other player in this team. Not bad for a player who you claim can’t even get the basics right…..

Though, for instance, when you have a car and want to go somewhere, it's better to have 2L of gasoline than nothing, right ? But it's even more better to have 5L than 2L — ain't it ? Know what I am sayin' ?

Perhaps, but then again one can argue that if there's something wrong with the car that causes it to burn more gas, then does it really make it a difference whether you have 2L or 5?

[Clevemayer 764]

I really liked Ramy I did but can you plz tell me if he is really an Brazilian? seriously why can't he stop the ball if he is?

shit display by him

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Gonalons and Moutinho would be better...

I like modric and capoue more so i want them

Or just get KDB and buy one DM

Tbh i am not in favour of playing KDB immediately in the pivot.I like him as a winger and cam as well so i would like him to play in these positions first and then make the transition to the pivot if it's neccessary.Although if we revert to a 4-3-3 formation(unlikely) then i would play KDB in midfield.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Can understand SOME of the sentiments to remove him from the starting 11, but realistically who else do we have for the double pivot (I'm really starting to hate using those words again and again)....

Its either Lampard/Mikel which is too slow and rigid at times..or Oscar/Mikel or Luiz which may not work well, as Oscar may not be adept in the tactical sense.

The other option is Mikel/Luiz which I haven't seen in action enough for me to judge the combination.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I see everyone's basically forgotten how he was our best player against Arsenal a couple of games ago. He had a poor game, but that doesn't mean he's a poor player.

[DH1988 1,348]

Our best player against Arsenal? For 45 minutes yeah I'd agree with that, otherwise he was headless chicken, like Lamps was in the second 45 of that particular game.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I see everyone's basically forgotten how he was our best player against Arsenal a couple of games ago. He had a poor game, but that doesn't mean he's a poor player.

He was the best player.

Our midfield was shit in the second-half and overrun by Arsenal's.

How do you reconcile those two things?

My belief is that he thrives in games where we're playing with our backs against the wall (Barcelona, Arsenal) and his fast breaks enable us to take advantage of broken transitions. But we can't win football like that consistently and nor should we aspire to.