Take your pick.

Essien for me - OK the goal was lucky but he was everywhere today and rarely, if ever, lost out in a tackle. He carried Ballack and Lampard through the 90 minutes today.

there need be only one name on the list today; any votes that don't go Essien's way must be prank votes.

Essien for me too. Played really well today!

Lampard didn't have his best game by a long shot. A few miss-placed passes in the match. Ballack played quite well I thought. And Bosingwa too. And Anelka.

Essien for me too. He showed the drive and hunger that Ballack's been missing for a few months now...

Any news on Mikel or Deco? :S

Essien, no question - he ran the midfield today and eclipsed everybody else on the pitch

Essien for me as well. Great tackling, running with the ball, the goal, everything.

Also thought Ballack played pretty well today put in a few good tackles, only one bad pass that I can think of.

Essien, no contest.

I thought several players played really well, but Essien was the best. He's a frickin God on the pitch. I'm just a bit worried that we play him too much. Can't be good to do that just after being out for a long time.

The Bison is back, big time!

I thought several players played really well, but Essien was the best. He's a frickin God on the pitch. I'm just a bit worried that we play him too much. Can't be good to do that just after being out for a long time.

He's different to most players though, a force of nature who just seems to hit the ground running every time he returns after a lay-off. I wouldn't be overly worried.

Lampard, easily our best player.

Oh okay, Essien, dominated the midfield, no contest.

Thought JT was solid in the air too, won every header.

Didn't watch the game, so I am not voting at all today. But just looking at the poll results makes me very, very happy that THE BISON IS BACK

From what I saw (had to struggle with dodgy streams today), Essien, easily. The man is just a force of nature and really dominated the midfield area.

Edited March 15, 200917 yr by Orangutan

monster performance from essien, his best showing in midfield perhaps since jose was manager. credit to him, such a wonderful athlete to be able to play like that after juve off the back of such a long injury.

credit too to hiddink. using ballack as the deepest player in midfield, freeing essien to get forward.

riccy was quality too.

Easiest MoTM all season. Essien by a country mile.

Cashley had an excellent game as well.

Yeah there was some good performances from Ash, Terry, Carvalho and even Bosingwa.

But it has to be Essien, no doubt

monster performance from essien, his best showing in midfield perhaps since jose was manager. credit to him, such a wonderful athlete to be able to play like that after juve off the back of such a long injury.

credit too to hiddink. using ballack as the deepest player in midfield, freeing essien to get forward.

riccy was quality too.

To be honest I don't think anyone was poor today, at a push I would nominate Deco however he looked about as fit for football as Veron did against Monaco. There were quite a few average performances but nobody was really poor, well apart from Robinho!

You have to wonder what Mikel was thinking while sitting on the bench watching Essien's towering performance.

Probably, "I'll get me coat"

Essien without a doubt. Ballack I thought was really good today and its such a relief to have Riccy back.. he gives so much going forward as well. Lamps had an off day.. esp. his shooting.

You have to wonder what Mikel was thinking while sitting on the bench watching Essien's towering performance.

Probably, "I'll get me coat"

Maybe not as Essien wasn't playing in Mikel's position. Mikel's best hope is that the club don't give Ballack a contract extension and next season we see Mikel, Lampard and Essien as the midfield three.

Why wait for next season Loz? I'm not as down on Ballack as many on here, but that would be my three now.

Who dunnit?

Why wait for next season Loz? I'm not as down on Ballack as many on here, but that would be my three now.

I wouldn't argue with that either Just - I just think Ballack will see out this season as a regular and it could well be that his form picks up again if he plays behind Essien and Lampard.

A big Shed End welcome to Ballack's mum.

Maybe not as Essien wasn't playing in Mikel's position. Mikel's best hope is that the club don't give Ballack a contract extension and next season we see Mikel, Lampard and Essien as the midfield three.

I've been saying that for a while now Loz, and barring us buying any central midfielder in the off season I think that will be who our midfield 3 will be.

I also doubt that we will see another central midfielder bought in the off season if the club are meant to be true to their word. I think Ballack may do a Sheva and head back to Bayern, as Sheva did with AC, to play a bit-part in the team that still loves him.

The other thing that we have to ask ourselves is; who will the new manager be? If a manager comes in that plays 4-4-2, then who will be the midfield 2? Right now, it would have to be Lamaprd and Essien with Mikel being relegated to the bench. However, if we do go 4-4-2 and Mikel has been groomed more as a holding midfielder, then would he even get a look in under a new manager?

Interesting times no doubt, but right now it's great to see most of the team back and in form, and with the dippers doing us a favour over Man U you just never know what could happen.

Come on you Blues

Scott