Ramires

[Barbara 15,149]

First in his thread after the match

I think he was amazing today - fixed the defensive issues from last match, took our midfield to a new level, gave us stability, played well in the attack, was very good passing, tackling, pressing. He was really one of our best players in the field (Hazard and Costa were out of this world and I think Cesc did very well too, but other than that, I think Ramires was the next in the MOTM pick).

And it's interesting to see how he fitted in, he wasn't playing as deep as I expected he would when Mourinho brought him. It was a 4-3-3 imo with him and Cesc alternating the highest position, which was a welcoming and nice surprise. Not only he did well in the attack with his passing and pressing, but he also did well defensively tackling, pressing and filling spaces. I believe we had already turned the match around when he came in - Hazard did that - but still he made our midfield look much better.

Everybody here knows I'm a defender of us playing 4-3-3 and today's match just proved it further for me, but while I've always thought Ramires would be an option, not a constant, I might have been wrong. It's too early to tell, but I do think he keeps it up and if he does, he's a nailed starter, regardless of the opposition, regardless if replacing Oscar or Schurrle. I just don't think he should replace Cesc. They should play together.

[killer1257 3,282]

Like Barbara said,he was just brilliant.I think that he has to be a starter in the big matches because he gives us more defensive stability,while he also offers us so much offensive power.His pace and his 1 on 1 against goalkeepers is just incredible.So that would be my formation for City

Hazard------Lord Costa-------Oscar

--------Fabrepass----Ramires

---------------Matic

Azpi---Terry-Cahill---Superbran

------------Courtois

[bethos1 802]

If he can keep passing like he did today I will have no problems with him starting most of the games.

[bababoom 4,478]

Ramires last season had the burden of trying to be a creative passer in the middle, he 'forced' the issue way too much against parked buses and was very frustrating. Cesc now is truly our playmaker, this frees up Ramires if you like, he can now play his natural game without trying to be something he's not.

In a traditional 4-3-3 most mangers look for three types of midfielders, a defensive midfielder, a playmaker and a box two box mf, we have that in Matic, Cesc and Ramires. We desperately need legs in midfield, Real had that in Di Maria, Liverpool have that in Henderson and so on. Ramires will be a massive player for us this season.

[zolayes 14,489]

First in his thread after the match

I think he was amazing today - fixed the defensive issues from last match, took our midfield to a new level, gave us stability, played well in the attack, was very good passing, tackling, pressing. He was really one of our best players in the field (Hazard and Costa were out of this world and I think Cesc did very well too, but other than that, I think Ramires was the next in the MOTM pick).

And it's interesting to see how he fitted in, he wasn't playing as deep as I expected he would when Mourinho brought him. It was a 4-3-3 imo with him and Cesc alternating the highest position, which was a welcoming and nice surprise. Not only he did well in the attack with his passing and pressing, but he also did well defensively tackling, pressing and filling spaces. I believe we had already turned the match around when he came in - Hazard did that - but still he made our midfield look much better.

Everybody here knows I'm a defender of us playing 4-3-3 and today's match just proved it further for me, but while I've always thought Ramires would be an option, not a constant, I might have been wrong. It's too early to tell, but I do think he keeps it up and if he does, he's a nailed starter, regardless of the opposition, regardless if replacing Oscar or Schurrle. I just don't think he should replace Cesc. They should play together.

There is only one guy who can replace Cesc ,, The guy from Nazareth who changed water into wine

[CHOULO19 24,332]

"We should move to 4-3-3"

What have we been playing from the start of the season, then?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

When you take away the offensive/creative responsibilities he had on his shoulders last season, Rambo is given a little more freedom to roam and he looks a player again. For me, he changed the game yesterday, and gave us some impressive balance. He's always a willing runner and on the evidence of his last two performances he deserves to start. Whether that's in place of Schurrle, I don't know, but he looks like the player he was in 2012 again right now.

[Polo7 3,496]

Matic holding with Cesc and Ramires in front. Our best midfield I think.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

I liked our midfield in the second half. Matic-Fabregas-Ramires seems to be our best midfield provided Ramires shows some restraint and holds back to help out Matic in defence when needed and let Cesc go forward to link up with Eden and Oscar/Willian.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Lol, can't believe my eyes, seeing Ramires on the list.

[DH1988 1,273]

Fabregas sometimes has been too deep

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

Fabregas sometimes has been too deep

Too deep yet he's assisted 6 goals already.

Ok.

There's always something to moan about, isnt there?

[Nike 373]

Lol, can't believe my eyes, seeing Ramires on the list.

This is why stats can only mean so much....

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

"We should move to 4-3-3"

What have we been playing from the start of the season, then?

Are you even watching our matches? The second half yesterday was the first time we played a pure 4-3-3.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Are you even watching our matches? The second half yesterday was the first time we played a pure 4-3-3.

I have been watching and the formation that we've been playing is much closer to 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1 regardless of what the TV graphics say. It can't be called a 4-2-3-1 when Oscar plays so deep and him and Fabregas have interchangeable roles.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Too deep yet he's assisted 6 goals already.

Ok.

There's always something to moan about, isnt there?

Sometimes you can't help but moan when he goes "too deep"....or so I'm told

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Sometimes you can't help but moan when he goes "too deep"....or so I'm told

Lol!

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

I have been watching and the formation that we've been playing is much closer to 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1 regardless of what the TV graphics say. It can't be called a 4-2-3-1 when Oscar plays so deep and him and Fabregas have interchangeable roles.

you cant judge formations when we attack, you have to look at it how we defend. We have always defended with 2 blocks of 4 with Oscar as the pressing nr 10 behind Costa.