Our best midfield...

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Now we have Essien back, it gives Hiddink a very interesting choice at midfield. Who does he pick? Lampard, Essien, Mikel, Deco, Ballack? Which two does he drop?

Now, Lampard and Essien are certainties I think, as they, along with JT, Cech and Drogba (on his day), are the soul of our First 11. Now to choose the 3rd and final spot. Mikel, Ballack, Deco.

Ballack and Deco play in the same role (attacking midfield), but have different styles. Ballack is the power, Deco is the creativity. Now you could argue that if we were to pick Deco, we would lose his presence on the field. If we were to pick Ballack, we wouldn't have as much of a creative midfield.

Now Mikel is a weird one. Mikel has now solidified himself as a Holding Midfielder. His strength, passing and defending have got him that role, a la Makelele. But do we really need a holding midfielder? We have a strong defence as it is, and Essien can defend as well as anyone. Mikel has no attacking ability whatsoever, but he has been a very important player for us this season.

Now what if we go a different route and change our formation? To a, say, 4-2-2-2? With Lampard and Essien as the first 2, Kalou and Quaresma as the second 2, Drogba and Anelka as the third 2. It's a tough choice.

But this season, unless Hiddink signs a permanent contract, I can see us sticking with a 3 man midfield. But what would it be?

[sexelk]

essien and lamps in the middle. quaresma and kalou out wide. 4-4-2

if (for some unknown reason) we stick with 4-5-1 then mikel, lamps and essien

lol at dropping ballack means we lose the power. essien has far more physical presence than ballack. essien is the power and lamps is the creativity

deco and ballack should bring a pillow with them from now on cause they should not get 1 minute of playing time (i would maybe give deco 30 secs)

[evissy]

It really depends on the formation but I would think sexelks formation is my farvorite too:

--Boss----Carvo----Terry----A.Cole

----------Essien---------Lampard

--Quaresma-------------------Kalou

--------Anelka-------Drogba

Ballack has been really lucky to been playing as much as he has. He doesn't fight for the ball as much as needed and he visibly gives the ball away the most, his pace is not enough and he doesn't even score.

Deco is still a questionmark for me. Brilliant when on form and everyone knows he is a winner but I hope we get him back and let him show his qualities. I think it would be harsh to say that the part before LFS was sacked was because of Deco. LFS chose him for every game although he had played below par.

Quaresma has earned his place to start. He was again very good and his pass to Alexs' goal was sublime. My biggest fear on Quaresma is that if he gains more ground in the team he starts acting like a big star he loses his form and becomes a c*nt.

[blizeH]

Yeah, our midfield lining up with Essien and Lampard in the middle, with Quaresma and Kalou down the wings would be ideal I think.

One thing I didn't like was that Mikel came off on Saturday and not Mikel. Hope that was just a one off, as if we're going to play 3 across the centre of midfield in the future, I'd much rather see something like: Lampard - Mikel - Essien than having Essien playing the DM role and Ballack alongside him.

[c3blu]

I think its horses for courses, in some home games we wont need mikel in the holding role and can use Essien there with Lampard and either Ballack or Deco. But in the big games i'd play Mikel holding with Lampard and Essien.

[sexelk]

Yeah, our midfield lining up with Essien and Lampard in the middle, with Quaresma and Kalou down the wings would be ideal I think.

One thing I didn't like was that Mikel came off on Saturday and not Mikel. Hope that was just a one off, as if we're going to play 3 across the centre of midfield in the future, I'd much rather see something like: Lampard - Mikel - Essien than having Essien playing the DM role and Ballack alongside him.

mikel off and not mikel ;). I know what you mean though lol. I was outraged by that. I'm just praying that was only to keep mikel fresh for tues night

Essien is wasted in DM role

Edited March 9, 2009 by sexelk

[BLUENUT]

mikel off and not mikel ;). I know what you mean though lol. I was outraged by that. I'm just praying that was only to keep mikel fresh for tues night

Essien is wasted in DM role

If it's a three then Lamps Essien with Mikel holding.

If it's a 4 then Lamps Mikel Essien and Queresma.

On current form It's Bye Bye Ballack for me.

[andy]

Some have short memories, it is nice to have Essien back a great player, but in midfield he was a bit inconsistent, his best performances where at Right back ! .. even then he was totally undone at Right back by Ronaldo in the Champions League final.

I like him a lot and on his day he is great but lets not think he is a savoir.

for me the best Midfield would be a diamond but I can see any modern manger playing it

Mikel

Lampard Ballack/Essien

J Cole/Deco

if a three man and I was pushed

Lampard Mikel Essien

although I think Ballack has not had his best season still a great player.

which ever way we look it, we have a great midfield for me the best in midfield, we need to look for long term replacements for Lampard and Ballack though.. Essien and Mikel are still reasonably young.

[BLUENUT]

I don't think he's a saviour, but we have missed his drive in midfield. Lampard sometimes pushes on, but no-one else in our midfield picks up the ball and drives on into the oppositions half like Essien.

[sexelk]

For me he is a saviour

We have the best box to box midfielder in world football in my opinion ;)

can't think of a midfield/team which he wouldn't walk straight in to

Edited March 9, 2009 by sexelk

[Tim]

Agree Andy.

As is often the case, in a player's absence the hyperbole about their abilities and impact often goes through the roof.

He has huge potential, no doubt, but needs to be given the time and opportunity to realise it. A long run in midfield for the rest of the season would be a good start, but we'd be foolish to expect too much from him after so long out.

[sexelk]

As is often the case, in a player's absence the hyperbole about their abilities and impact often goes through the roof.

that does happen a lot but I really don't think this is the case here

i'm suprised to see people still labelling Essien as potentially great tbh

[g3.7]

that does happen a lot but I really don't think this is the case here

i'm suprised to see people still labelling Essien as potentially great tbh

it's because when you look at his midfield performances, his average ones outweigh the good ones by a distance.

he rarely plays to his best.

when he does, he's a force of nature. but next season is a big year for him, until he finds that consistency he does not deserve the "world class" tag so many are keen to give him.

as for our best midfield, I think quarema and kalou makes it a 424 more than a 442, it's hugely top heavy. we could get away with it chasing games, or at home to weak wides but it doesn't fill me with much confidence at all.

our best midfield can only be described IMO as lampard and two others depending on form.

Edited March 9, 2009 by gullit4

[sexelk]

it's because when you look at his midfield performances, his average ones outweigh the good ones by a distance.

he rarely plays to his best.

when he does, he's a force of nature. but next season is a big year for him, until he finds that consistency he does not deserve the "world class" tag so many are keen to give him.

when he is playing to his best he is playing in his preferred role (the one frequented by ballack at the minute)

many of his average performances come when asked to play mikels current role

give him the freedom and you really see the best of him

can someone name a midfield he wouldn't walk straight into?

[midlandblue]

Spains

[g3.7]

when he is playing to his best he is playing in his preferred role (the one frequented by ballack at the minute)

many of his average performances come when asked to play mikels current role

give him the freedom and you really see the best of him

can someone name a midfield he wouldn't walk straight into?

with respect that is a popular untruth. he's had loads of sequencial games in the flat part of midfield you refer to, and more often than not has made little impact. in fact even in his one world class season, it often took moving to rightback in the second half to trigger an increase in form.

barcelona- he'd not get ahead of xavi or iniesta, and busquets and toure are better at the role they play than he is. (though he is a better player).

and chelsea.

Edited March 9, 2009 by gullit4

[ethicalstrategy]

can someone name a midfield he wouldn't walk straight into?

Chelsea.

I don't expect him to start against Juve.

Andy is right. Many of Essien's best performances for us have come whilst nominally playing at right back. In fact he played more as a right half, getting up and down the field like a force of nature. In the CL final he struggled defensively, but as soon as he gave up bothering with defending and just concentrated on getting forward he caused untold problems. That's why a role on the right of a flat 4 would be a definite option for me.

[BLUENUT]

Spains

:D :D very good

[blizeH]

What the f**king f**k are you lot on about? He was best at right back? But even there he wasn't that good?

We are talking about Essien here, right?

I know plenty of people who cannot stand Chelsea, yet say Essien is a garan if they had to pick a World XI or whatever, my mate supports Tottenham and thinks he's the best player in the world for god's sake.

[sexelk]

What the f**king f**k are you lot on about? He was best at right back? But even there he wasn't that good?

We are talking about Essien here, right?

I know plenty of people who cannot stand Chelsea, yet say Essien is a garan if they had to pick a World XI or whatever, my mate supports Tottenham and thinks he's the best player in the world for god's sake.

same, housemates a utd fan and even he can admit essien is the best all round CM in the world

edit: i'd take him over xavi in that barca midfield anyday

Edited March 9, 2009 by sexelk

[midlandblue]

What the f**king f**k are you lot on about? He was best at right back? But even there he wasn't that good?

We are talking about Essien here, right?

I know plenty of people who cannot stand Chelsea, yet say Essien is a garan if they had to pick a World XI or whatever, my mate supports Tottenham and thinks he's the best player in the world for god's sake.

Thats the problem with Spurs fans, they think they're the best at everything.

[g3.7]

What the f**king f**k are you lot on about? He was best at right back? But even there he wasn't that good?

We are talking about Essien here, right?

I know plenty of people who cannot stand Chelsea, yet say Essien is a garan if they had to pick a World XI or whatever, my mate supports Tottenham and thinks he's the best player in the world for god's sake.

hi- they are limited to motd etc, I see every game we play, and a large amount of those live.

I am extremely well placed to judge, and even more so given that I am capable of looking at it objectively.

p.s. xavi is barca's best midfielder, and key to how they play. essien cannot do what xavi does.

Edited March 9, 2009 by gullit4

[Nibs]

As is often the case, in a player's absence the hyperbole about their abilities and impact often goes through the roof.

No, I don't agree Tim.

Anyway, our midfield won't be at its best until Joe Cole is back. As I was only saying to Ethical the other day (and he was in full agreement), once we have the world's best player back in our midst, we'll be fine..........

:D

[ethicalstrategy]

Talking of which, there is an interview with Joe on the official website and on Chelsea TV. Seems his rehab is going well. Looks like he'll be fully fit for his pre season at Man City.

[ethicalstrategy]

I know plenty of people who cannot stand Chelsea, yet say Essien is a garan if they had to pick a World XI or whatever, my mate supports Tottenham and thinks he's the best player in the world for god's sake.

same, housemates a utd fan and even he can admit essien is the best all round CM in the world

edit: i'd take him over xavi in that barca midfield anyday

Essien is a terrific player and I'm really glad he is fit again. He will be a big plus for us for the rest of the season.

BUT, he isn't the best player in the world or the best midfielder in the world. In fact, he's not even the best midfielder at Chelsea.