4-3-3 musings

[Peace. 4,352]

By all accounts, this worked a treat against Bolton. IMO Carlo should stick with this, Essien and Ramires together provide us something Mikel and Essien can't, because the latter partnership takes too much out of Essien. Anyway in recent games Carlo has taken off Mikel at HT when we've needed goals. Ramires is more the all action type and we could use his energy in midfield from the start of games rather than throwing him on when we're chasing. Mikel could do with a rest too.

I've liked Ramires' performance, but I still want to see how works a midfield : Mikel-Essien-Lampard -- before make of Ramires a permanent starter.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Mikel is the best DM at the club.

Once we fix our defence and stop the goal leaks, then I'll be happy to see Mikel sitting at DM. At the moment, I'm still not sure about his defensive abilities, as in getting in that crucial tackle and all. Though often John Terry is the last line of defence anyway. I'd also love to see Mikel attack a bit more, come out with the ball, while Essien or Ramires just sit back to give Mikel that support in case he loses it out. The boy was an attacking midfielder, I'm sure he still remembers how to make a good run.

[Styles 9,790]

Once we fix our defence and stop the goal leaks, then I'll be happy to see Mikel sitting at DM. At the moment, I'm still not sure about his defensive abilities, as in getting in that crucial tackle and all. Though often John Terry is the last line of defence anyway. I'd also love to see Mikel attack a bit more, come out with the ball, while Essien or Ramires just sit back to give Mikel that support in case he loses it out. The boy was an attacking midfielder, I'm sure he still remembers how to make a good run.

I can fully understand why some people dislike Mikel because of his languid style. But he isn't the problem as was proven last night.

And I don't think he needs to attack much. It would be great if we had strikers and wingers we could leave the attacking to as opposed to asking our DM to come up with the good.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I can fully understand why some people dislike Mikel because of his languid style. But he isn't the problem as was proven last night.

And I don't think he needs to attack much. It would be great if we had strikers and wingers we could leave the attacking to as opposed to asking our DM to come up with the good.

Nah, I like Mikel.. I think when he's on the ball, his control is probably the best anyone has on the squad, bar McEachran perhaps. His composure and control and Josh's are fairly similar actually.

Fully agree with the last line, but the fact that we don't, is why I'd like to see Mikel make those runs, just as in impulse. We've seen Terry try it, but if Mikel did it he'd be superb, because of that control he has.

[Madmax 9,219]

We don't even have a proper winger. Malouda's just halfway there - rarely does he take on his man and try to whip in crosses.

[eldo 868]

Yeah soz second half, should've mentioned that.

I agree - Mikel is the best DM at the club, but imo Essien at DM and Ramires at RCM gives us more than Mikel-Essien.

Mikel-Essien passing is good. But something strange is happening with our players. They are all below par lately.

[Peace. 4,352]

The problem with Mikel is not that he hasn't got enough defensive abilities.... The problem is that very often (too much) he has to defend lonely against four players...

Edited December 30, 2010 by killamanjaro

[LDN Blue 7,903]

The problem with Mikel is not that he hasn't got enough defensive abilities.... The problem is that very often (too much) he has to defend lonely against four players...

Yeah, because when Bosingwa or Cole go bombing forward, rarely does Anelka and Malouda track back as cover. As a result Mikel has to cover both of them and just gets crowded out in the end.

[Badboy 1,526]

4-3-3 only works in my opinion if you have 2 pure wingers ! we have anelka and kalou, malouda can play as a pure winger though.

[Kostas 1,468]

3 - All three of Aston Villa's goals came in passages of play starting just after fouls by Chelsea's Michael Essien. Punished.

Any thoughts on Essien>Mikel @ DM now?

[eldo 868]

Mikel is better than Essien there. He covers fullbacks while Essien tends to go forward and leaves us with two Cbs at the back, or only one if Terry goes wider to the left.

He is better used as box-to-box.

[Madmax 9,219]

Any thoughts on Essien>Mikel @ DM now?

Not to play a blame game here but Mikel was at fault for the goal by Pavlyuchenko.

The only goal yest really down to Essien was the penalty. The other two conceded by not putting pressure on the opposition man in possession combined with lack of concentration.

Essien brings an extra something to the DM role that Mikel doesn't - case in point : our 3rd goal yest came from his persistence and desire to nip the ball off the Villa defender and swing in a dangerous cross that was cleared unconvincingly to Terry.

[BLionheart 516]

Any thoughts on Essien>Mikel @ DM now?

kostas , i thought you know better !!!!!

essien >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mikel @Dm and @CM , being not in top form and making an error doesn't make you worse . it's the same case of comparing kalou with Drogba , Drogba was shit yesterday while kalou was lively does that mean kalou is better ??!!!

[eldo 868]

Dear god. Mikel getting the stick again.

[Ollie 4,400]

The problem is that you need 2 proper, world class wingers to use a 4-3-3 properly. We only have one good winger in our squad and that's Malouda. Kalou is never going to give you a succession of great (or good) performances and Anelka is just a wandering striker who simply cannot play out there.

I would have Malouda and Zhirkov on the wings, rotating like Duff and Robben did for us so well 5 years ago (fuck me, is it that long ago...). Both left footers too, it will confuse so many teams defences. Duff and Robben were instrumental to our first 2 title wins, especially the first one. Malouda and Zhirkov could be just as good and have a similar impact if they are used properly.