If we HAD to buy a midfielder I would go for Nasri personally:

Ramires-Mikel-Nasri

IMO he'd be just as effective as any of the midfielder's with been linked with and he'd be a fraction of the price. If we waited till January he'd be on a free, although our club is hardly one for Patience

I like Nasri too but I just can't see him and Mikel taking control of a midfield battle like Modric and Mikel. With that said Nasri is a very talented player and one that I rate quite highly

Nasir plays further up the field, either off the striker or on the wings are his best positions. I would get Modric and play 4-2-3-1 with lampard in the middle of the 3 and Essien and Modric behind in the two.
If we could also get Nasir, he would play on the left or right of the 3.

SDS so what the will become of Ramires who is really starting to string some fine performances together at the latter end of last season

We tried Lampard there last seaosn in a diamond - he plays very bad thee. He's best coming from deep, and even then he should not be starting regularly next season, he should be a squad player. So should be Essien. Why should Essien start anove Ramires when the latter has been our best midfielder. Nasri I see what you mean but if we just want to be direct and drive forward Nasri would be a good bet. SDS he can easily adapt his game to play in a 4-3-3, like many players have who previously either played deeper (Essien) or higher (Montollivo)

Essien- Must keep, pivotal to any success.
Lampard- We all know why he should stay. But as he is 33, perhaps he needs good bacjup who can step in for the less vital matches.
Mikel- sell now.
Ramires- excellent prospect
Zhirkov- give another chance, but as a winger.
McEachran- needs to experience, but I think he can get that from being an understudy rather than a loanee.

Bring in
Modric
and Adam as he is good cheap back up.

Midfield

Essien
Ramires

Lampard
McEachran

Modric
Adam

Move Zhirkov to winger role.

He can be rotated with Essien (or play instead of him if form is better) and on the right of a 4 man midfield.
The rotation with Essien will hopefully get the best out of him and if we rotate Mikel with Lampard and use Modric further up, when frank isn't playing, this will also hopefully get the best out of Lampard.

Why should Essien start anove Ramires when the latter has been our best midfielder
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Because Essien is better. Mikel must go though.

Yes frank cant play in a diamond, but i can remember when we played this formation under Hiddink when he was here and frank played outstanding in that 4-2-3-1 formation.

Mikel had a decent campaign whereas Essien was playing like a pub team player for most of it

So why are people adovcating selling Mikel? If anyone should be sold it's Essien

Like the sound of a Mikel-Ramires-Modric team

I think what we need in midifield is someone who creates goals rather than scores them

In this sense is Nasri or Pastore really needed?

As a Ghanaian it hurts to to admit this but Essien seems to have dropped down in calibre and can't find his way back up. Mikel holds more promise in my opinion...but that's just me

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