Ramires

[zolayes 14,489]

guess they've moved to the Oscar thread now.

no they are stalking Kalou in France

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Mourinho claimed he's been carrying an injury in his post-match press conference with the BBC. Is that why he's been so poor recently??

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Jose post match: "Ramires is important, but Ramires is injured. He has been injured for a long time and I was trying to protect him today but I couldn't because I needed his intensity and his runs into space and I needed him in 1on1s."

[didierforever 7,349]

I'm no hater but I often mentioned how good he is when a team attack us and bad when a team Park the bus.

Against city, arsenal, United Liverpool and such he will be vital for us.

Against West brom, West ham and such, he is not needed.

He has limitations. Anyone who watchea footbqll cqn and should know thqt. But the amonut of ridicule he was getting hwre wqs Pathetic.SPECIALLY for a player who deapite his limitations has done some legendary stuff forus. This was the same player who was IMMENSE for uUS in the fieat 3 months. The bare minimum he ahould get is some reapect and support.

[LAB 1,030]

I desperately have to believe that the fatigue was responsible for his latest poor performances. Because Rami on form is a must have for Chelsea.

[Stats 7,060]

I desperately have to believe that the fatigue was responsible for his latest poor performances. Because Rami on form is a must have for Chelsea.

Fatigue does not exist for Ramires. He is the Brazilian version of Mo Farah.

[happy_juan 64]

"Rested" again today... Has Mourinho finally realised his limitations? I hope so!

Awkward?

[The Chels 2,502]

Awkward?

How exactly? That Ramires simply running and offering energy was enough to warrant plaudits from many highlights just how low expectations are for him, a CM. Even in his best match in weeks he couldn't cross for toffee, hitting the first man when attempting to do so and once more he demonstrated his limited technical abilities with his usual poor passing. If someone compiled all his actions into one video, you'll see it. He offered more in this game than he has done recently and played well (for his recent standards), but I stand by my original point in that his limitations will mean he'll cost us more points than he will gain for us over the course of the season.

[The only place to be 11,313]

69% pass completion for him last night. Ivanovic and Schurrle had lower, but compared to Lampard (89%) he was shocking. Technically he's inconsistent at best and been dining off that goal against Barca for the last two years. I just don't know if you can afford to play him in a team with our aspirations if you want to keep the ball, rather than chasing it. Because he can chase a ball like no other, but once he gets it then you don't really know what you're going to get.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Defensively he did well yesterday, but his decision making on the ball at times is just

[Styles 9,790]

69% pass completion for him last night. Ivanovic and Schurrle had lower, but compared to Lampard (89%) he was shocking. Technically he's inconsistent at best and been dining off that goal against Barca for the last two years. I just don't know if you can afford to play him in a team with our aspirations if you want to keep the ball, rather than chasing it. Because he can chase a ball like no other, but once he gets it then you don't really know what you're going to get.

But we're not a team that wants possession so Ramires is perfect for Mourinho. We had 42% of the ball last night which is what the manager wants. Mourinho’s main tactic essentially amounts to conceding possession, pressing the opponent and counter-attacking at the speed of light. I agree with the belief that Ramires wouldn’t make sense in a team that keeps the ball and plays an accurate possession game but we don’t do any of that.

As silly as it sounds Mourinho’s tactics require a player(s) that is wasteful in possession. You can’t counter-attack if you have the lion’s share of possession.

[The only place to be 11,313]

But we're not a team that wants possession so Ramires is perfect for Mourinho. We had 42% of the ball last night which is what the manager wants. Mourinho’s main tactic essentially amounts to conceding possession, pressing the opponent and counter-attacking at the speed of light. I agree with the belief that Ramires wouldn’t make sense in a team that keeps the ball and plays an accurate possession game but we don’t do any of that.

As silly as it sounds Mourinho’s tactics require a player(s) that is wasteful in possession. You can’t counter-attack if you have the lion’s share of possession.

I disagree with that entirely. Why did he buy Matic if he didn't want us to be able to control the play? Why did he rely on players like Alonso at Madrid?

It isn't about letting the team attack you so you can hit them, but maximising the chances that you get when they do open up.

[Styles 9,790]

I disagree with that entirely. Why did he buy Matic if he didn't want us to be able to control the play? Why did he rely on players like Alonso at Madrid?

It isn't about letting the team attack you so you can hit them, but maximising the chances that you get when they do open up.

Matic is brilliant at winning the ball back and making direct passes on the break which are essential for a counter-attacking team. The Man City away win is a perfect example of his game and why Mourinho bought him. If you're suggesting that he's been brought in to be part of a possession-team I disagree.

Under Mourinho Madrid's identity was that they were a great counter-attacking team. Alonso was playing a far more direct game under Mourinho than he had ever done before in his career, in my opinion.

We're not being built to keep the ball so Ramires fits this team. The manager wants to do the same thing he did at Madrid and develop a brilliant counter-attack game. Winning the ball back and breaking at speed are very important for that style of play and Ramires does those things at an elite level. He is an untouchable under Mourinho and will remain so until his legs go.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Matic is brilliant at winning the ball back and making direct passes on the break which are essential for a counter-attacking team. The Man City away win is a perfect example of his game and why Mourinho bought him. If you're suggesting that he's been brought in to be part of a possession-team I disagree.

The Man City example isn't typical. They're probably the only team better than us in the league and yes they dominated possession....then against Newcastle we had 59% of possession. Against West Brom we had 60%. Against West Ham we had 72%.

We're not being built to keep the ball so Ramires fits this team. The manager wants to do the same thing he did at Madrid and develop a brilliant counter-attack game. Winning the ball back and breaking at speed are very important for that style of play and Ramires does those things at an elite level. He is an untouchable under Mourinho and will remain so until his legs go.

Because we did that against Man City....right.

It's not possible that we're looking to play different types of football against different oppositions is it? Because the stats seem to suggest that. We even play different formations at times.

Ramires is great at getting the ball in open space and knocking it a few yards ahead to run onto.....and that's it. Occasionally he'll do a bit of skill (obligatory Barcelona goal reference) but eventually that's not going to be enough. Mourinho didn't need a whippet in Madrid because he had Khedira, Modric and Alonso and hopefully at some point we'll move on from Ramires too....unless we just keep him around for games where we do nothing but counter-attack, like we did last night.

[Styles 9,790]

The Man City example isn't typical. They're probably the only team better than us in the league and yes they dominated possession....then against Newcastle we had 59% of possession. Against West Brom we had 60%. Against West Ham we had 72%.

It is in my opinion. In most of the games against the top teams this season we've had less possession than our opponents. It's clear what Mourinho's primary tactics are.

Teams like Newcastle, West Brom and West Ham concede possession against us in order to be more solid defensively and to try and nick something on the break, which is not too dissimilar to our own tactics against the good teams although not as extreme. If those teams were interested in trying to keep the ball Mourinho would let and we'd play on the counter.

Because we did that against Man City....right.

It's not possible that we're looking to play different types of football against different oppositions is it? Because the stats seem to suggest that. We even play different formations at times.

That's fine but in some games I think we should take the initiative and impose ourselves on other teams. There is no reason why we should allow a team as rubbish as Galatasary 58% of the ball and have our players running around all game. How much damage could Hazard have caused last night if we had 58% of the ball instead of asking him to cover his fullback and then sprint 90 yards once we've won the ball back. He looked dead on his feet after 60 minutes.

Ramires is great at getting the ball in open space and knocking it a few yards ahead to run onto.....and that's it. Occasionally he'll do a bit of skill (obligatory Barcelona goal reference) but eventually that's not going to be enough. Mourinho didn't need a whippet in Madrid because he had Khedira, Modric and Alonso and hopefully at some point we'll move on from Ramires too....unless we just keep him around for games where we do nothing but counter-attack, like we did last night.

There is nothing that suggests that we'll be moving on from Ramires any time soon. Ashley and Mikel are being phased out for example whereas Ramires is a key player for Mourinho. I think that's because he fits perfectly with what Mourinho wants to do.

[The Chels 2,502]

69% pass completion for him last night. Ivanovic and Schurrle had lower, but compared to Lampard (89%) he was shocking. Technically he's inconsistent at best and been dining off that goal against Barca for the last two years. I just don't know if you can afford to play him in a team with our aspirations if you want to keep the ball, rather than chasing it. Because he can chase a ball like no other, but once he gets it then you don't really know what you're going to get.

Seems like we finally agree on this one!

I agree with the belief that Ramires wouldn’t make sense in a team that keeps the ball and plays an accurate possession game but we don’t do any of that.

In the majority of games we play, yes we do. Only away in Europe and away to other top PL sides do we concede possession by a big margin. It therefore makes no sense to make Ramires, a player who's so technically and mentally (footballing brain) limited in a possession-based system that he would not stand out in League 1, a part of the team's core.

Winning the ball back and breaking at speed are very important for that style of play and Ramires does those things at an elite level.

Really? If 'elite' means giving the ball away on the break when you're in acres of space because you cannot pass to a nearby player (never mind a long distance pass that you would expect 'elite' CMs to make) or because your first touch is truly abysmal then sure.

He is an untouchable under Mourinho and will remain so until his legs go.

I think you're right on this one, although we're yet to see if Ramires will play in CM at the expense of a fully fit/available Luiz or Matic. The last time both were available was the 0-1 win against City and they both played in the pivot leaving Ramires out of position (but somehow still in the team; sheesh he's like a cockroach). I think we will find out against Fulham supposing Luiz is fit.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Seems like we finally agree on this one!

I'm coming round to it. I think he can be a situational player next year, against the big teams when we want to play purely on the counter but the introduction of Matic has really been an eye-opener. It's like putting a beauty queen amongst a few good-looking women. You start to notice the acne more, or the lazy eye or the weird bump on the bridge of their nose. Ramires's deficiencies are just magnified when he's given possession. It's weird that a player would look worse when he gets the ball more, but in his case it's looking true.

He's an athlete first and a footballer second in my opinion. That engine of his is fantastic and can be a weapon but it's the inconsistent first touch that undoes all of that.

And yes, he scored a great goal against Barcelona.

[Styles 9,790]

I'm not condoning Ramires' lack of technical ability, far from it! I am equally as frustrated at how he just gives the ball away and makes some of the most ridiculous 'passes' you're ever likely to see. I just think Mourinho values what he brings to the table far more than accurate passes and playmaking ability,