Midfield

[Badboy 1,526]

I think the returns of Essien and Lampard will give us a whole new level of threat. The team that has got to face us with those 2 amazing players will be on the end of a grand Chelsea spanking. I think people don't realise how important they are to the engine room.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

The importance of Frank Lampard, for fans who didn't know before, has been highlighted on a whole new level. Never in his career, certainly for Chelsea, has he been out for so long. We're missing 22/103 goals (last season), that's almost a quarter of goals we scored last season. But he's more than that, he makes the midfield more organised, he knows when to find the right pass and his positioning is exceptional. He knows when/where he needs to be/get into the 18-yard box.

Mikel

Essien - Lampard

Each member of that midfield plays a crucial role in our team. Mikel's the dividing force between the defence and midfield. When Ashley Cole goes bombing forward, Mikel is the one covering. But when our defence get the ball it's given to Mikel who usually sparks off the counter attack with a pass, worthy of Scholes' applauding. Essien is the man who will be the engine of our midfield and team. His stamina, endurance, pace and strength make him one of the most feared players in the league. His absence was highlighted very much last season and now this even more with lack of cover (the likes of Ballack leaving). I've already talked about how Lampard links the midfield to the attack.

[True_Blue 469]

Is he back for Newcastle?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Is he back for Newcastle?

Well Carlo said "2-3weeks" before Sunderland, so by the time we play Newcastle it should be 2. No word yet though.

Essien still has 1 more game to miss as part of his suspension.

[Rambo 1,729]

the spirit and chemistry of the team will be much different when those guys come back, in a good way of course.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Essien is back for the Everton match (December 4th) and with no further mishaps, Lampard will be fit for that match as well. Providing at least one of Terry and Alex is fit, we'll have a team second-to-none:

Petr Cech

Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry/Alex, Cole

Mikel

Essien, Lampard

Anelka, Drogba, Malouda

Substitutes: Turnbull, Ferreira, Bruma, Zhirkov, Ramires, Kalou, Sturridge

[True_Blue 469]

December is the ''be or not to be'' month.

We play three perhaps most difficult fixtures of our domestic season and they are all in a row,after Everton home we have:

Spurs Away

United home

Arsenal away

6 or 7 points from these (Everton not included) game and i am certain we will remain top until the very end.After these matches a serious game is only Old Trafford away three games before the end of the season but hopefully we will have a healthy amount of points by then.