mikel if he stays

Roman wants him for the stadium build.
Ramires used to be a Labourer with his own dad

Ramires used to be a labourer? So that's where he gets his ripped build from.

handyman

Good to know we will have his fluid passing to look forward to next season...

If he was a labourer he would have been like 12 or something. 16/17

I'm glad. He's not everyone's cup of tea, but he's a functional go to if needed. And that goal against Barca

I like Ramires too, yes he is frustrating and maybe not a 1st eleven player when everyone is fit, but he is a great squad player.

As long as Rami is happy being backup then that's ok.

Still think we'll need a solid CM to come in and replace Mikel though. In an ideal world Loftus-Cheek but not holding my breath after Jose's comments about him in Oz.

In an ideal world Loftus-Cheek stays on the fringes until he improves, not in anyway suitable to be a Mikel replacement.

Anyway, Jose has said a defender, midfielder and striker will be bought.

Defender looking like a LB, centre midfielder and Falcao(as it stands).

How can one even contemplate replacing Mikel(orthodox DM) with Loftus-Cheek box to box? Nothing short of negligence and crazy.

comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 38 minutes ago
How can one even contemplate replacing Mikel(orthodox DM) with Loftus-Cheek box to box? Nothing short of negligence and crazy.
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So you're saying that any player we bring in to play alongside Matic in CM (in games where Cesc plays number 10) would have to be an out and out DM ?

Personally I think we need a bit of an all rounder in that scenario. A CM who can defend as well as create/attack when needed and who has a decent passing range (which is why Ramires isn't entirely suitable).

People have mentioned Schneiderlin as a decent shout although he wouldn't be cheap at all. I don't think we need a world beater, just someone who can do a job to the required level.

There are several CM's in the PL who'd be suitable but convincing them to play a bit part is the challenge as for the most part I think Cesc and Matic will still be our first choice CM pairing next season.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

The problem lies when or if Matic becomes either injured or out of form which based on the second-half of last season results in our midfield being very easy to by-pass. That is why we need a defensive-minded midfielder.

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Surely that's why we need an all rounder CM though who can play the defensive role when needed.

If we bring in a specialist DM (who would essentially just be a backup to Matic) then how often is he going to play ?

If we bring in a versatile CM who can do both the defensive and attacking stuff then we're going to get much more use out of him.

He'd be able to play instead of Matic when needed or alongside Matic in certain games if Cesc is playing number 10 or if he's unavailable.

The idea of an out and out DM is a bit outdated anyway. Matic isn't an orthodox DM, I'd say he's an all rounder CM who can do the defensive stuff well when needed.

Essentially we need another Matic-type CM who's happy to play a squad role.

Essentially we need another Matic-type CM who's happy to play a squad role.
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Thats why we will end up with Song

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by White Wall (U1078)
posted 30 minutes ago
Essentially we need another Matic-type CM who's happy to play a squad role.
__________________________________________

Thats why we will end up with Song

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Yup quite likely. I think he'd be a decent acquisition. Good passer, mobile and able to play to play the defensive and offensive roles in CM.

'People have mentioned Schneiderlin as a decent shout although he wouldn't be cheap at all. I don't think we need a world beater, just someone who can do a job to the required level.'


Since when has £25m been too much for one of the best midfielders in the league in an inflated market?
Find that price tag very reasonable considering Schneiderlin is an integral Southampton player, with a huge potential upside. On his way to being a 'world beater'.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/11698971/West-Ham-close-in-on-Alex-Song-deal-with-Barcelona.html


This link may be of interest to you, Superb.

Since when has £25m been too much for one of the best midfielders in the league in an inflated market?

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I never said he wasn't worth £25 million. I just said he wouldn't be cheap at all and he isn't.

I'd like us to sign Schneiderlin but I'm certainly not going to pin my hopes on it and I'm not sure he's a realistic signing purely from the economics of it.

£25 million is a lot of money for a player who I'm assuming would just be a squad player with us unless the plan is to move Cesc to number 10 full time or drop Matic.

Also would Schneiderlin want to come to Chelsea knowing that he'd basically just be a well used squad player ?

I've discussed that on another thread...that Schneiderlin might relish the challenge to try and break the Matic/Fabregas pairing in smaller matches(or alternatively but unlikely Jose switches to three man midfield) and also knows that Chelsea will be his greatest chance of winning trophies.

Moreover, Ramires played more than I thought he would last season and he's an inferior player.
Schneiderlin would push them all the way IMO, which is healthy for the squad.

Looks like Song is going to West Ham. And Schneiderlin has been linked with Arsenal, Man Utd and Spurs, but not Chelsea. We usually hear a rumour if we are going to sign someone, but there's not a peep regarding a central midfield player. Bit concerned, as I see this position as our weak link right now.