Injuries ruined him.

Well hes made 26 apps for madrid this season soo....

when our team was at its best he was our best player if you asked most fans of other teams he is thry guy they would take

He's done alright for Madrid at RB and DM.

This is an article I wrote on Essien about a year ago, I think he’d be ideal this season for the squad.

MOTD (which I watched for the first time in months last night) touched on Essien’s defensive game last night in their analysis and what they highlighted was a very mature display from a midfielder we sorely missed.

In years go by Chelsea fans have always been quick to react badly to Essien being describe as a defensive midfielder and with reason too. The Essien of old was a box-to-box player with bags of energy who would cover all areas of the pitch. We had Makelele being him and Lampard ahead.

Now things have changed, we no longer have Makelele but we also have a different Essien on our hands too. He’s 29 now and has had several career threatening injuries. I’ve heard people saying he should be sold (ludicrous in my opinion, we should at least give hi m a chance to prove his fitness). Essien may not quite have that spring in his step he once did but he’s also shown he’s far from a spend force either. We also have an Essien that little bit older and wiser. He reads the game very well and is quick in mid to react to situations. Yesterday he played a very mature and disciplined game; he knew first and foremost what his role was.

Now more than ever with the buccaneering Luiz who loves a run forward we need a player with the required awareness to react and cover, as soon as Luiz was off Essien was ready to cover. I am a fan of a true DM, some see it as negative (if you think back 15 years a DM in the pure sense hardly existed) but actually I think it gives license to team mates, a DM can either cover an advanced full- back of can now in the case of Luiz drop back in to fill for the centre half. Also in possession it gives you that extra line, that extra dimension for a pass. Essien is not a clone of Makelele by any means and will still have that ability to drive forward from deep when the time is right but he’s cute enough to know when and I can see him adapting his game to fit his changing attributes.

Kean at United did this to good effect, as he became less mobile he picked his times more effectively and relied on a reading of the game.

I really think Essien can make this position his own now and certainly for the moment he would be my preference over Romeu. Romeu has a great future at this club I’ve no doubt but Essien gives us a bit of bite we’ve been lacking. I really do hope he can stay injury free and give us a few more years of quality service in a new role. I still think Essien could play box-to-box box but to prolong his career why not leave this to younger men such as Ramires and look to get the best from Essien by adapting. I think if we’re honest some of us feared we’d never see Essien at his best again but I’d suggest in this role we could see Essien adapt his game, playing to his strengths and become one of the finest defensive midfielders around. Not a carbon copy of Makelele but certainly with elements he’s picked up off the great man. I see no reason so long as he can put his injuries behind him why Essien can re-establish himself as one of the best, in this case as a defensive midfielder.

Well that's the thing, when Chelsea peaked a few years ago, Essien was the player that any Club would take in a heart beat.

Was it just constant niggles or was there a lengthy period out he just never recovered from?

Interesting to see him play so often for Real. Enough to keep Arbeloa or Khedira out the team?

Excuse any ignorance, not really a follower of CFC or Real

Don't know why we loaned him out really, he has had a few good games for madrid, a few poor and a few average.

But the last few games I saw for him at chelsea he was poor, turning was a big issue( has really bad knee problems) and he couldnt get around the pitch that well.

I think being at Madrid has revitalised him as a player and he is really enjoying a new environment in a more glamorous stadium. Also playing with Daddy. Why would he want to be at Chelsea in our mess?

Essien is finished legs have gone, due to three cruciate knee ligament injuries in a row(don't comeback from that).
Would be absurd to retain him as he is pretty much ineffective, offers next to nothing.

Need to get him off the wage bill in the summer and replace with Capoue that would be perfect.

Romeu or Essien?
Romeu every time, no hesitation.

I’ve yet to really make my mind up about Romeu, at times I’ve seen him and he looks like he has it all, can pass, can tackle and is composed on the ball. Other times I’ve seen him and he looks completely off the pace, gets caught in possession and as if he can’t handle the tempo.

I’ll be interested to see how he does after a summer off and decent pre-season.

Essien's last good season was 09/10, and even that was cut short by injury

yes the Essien of old is indeed a player we could do with, but that's a bit like saying Arsenal could do with an Henry at his peak-doesn't mean they should sign him now though!

personally i doubt if Essien will ever be the player he was around 2009

whether Romeu will be able to fill the void long term-who knows? i like to think so but as the above poster says he needs to work on his consistency

I'll always remember that rocket he scored v Arsenal back in 06.

Chaz, i prefer this effort

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyJUrpElkUs

I didn't even have to look click (even though I did) a great goal

Need to get him off the wage bill in the summer and replace with Capoue that would be perfect.

---------------

Replace him with Chalobah

Chaz, brings back all sorts of memories from that crazy night

shouted myself hoarse at that screamer and how that all turned to despiar by the final whistle-i felt as angry as Drogs did, probs worse, lol

thought we'd made it, and i still maintain that with Hiddink at the helm we'd have won that 09 final had we reached it

I know what you mean click, that wasn't an injustice that night, It was a fecking conspiracy mate

that goal against barcelona was one of the most amazing ever!

I'll always remember the cross he did for Terry who knocked it down for Drogba to smash low and hard.

Against Barcelona in 2006 this was. Great game.