ozboy Posted January 18, 2010 Posted January 18, 2010 Pick me out an Essien replacment. Qualities required: 1. Great team spirit 2. Run all day; 3. Strong; 4. Good judgement in defence. Capable of playing the holding role. 5. Desire to run at defenders; 6. Good long range shot. 7. Not too old. Can't think of too many that will fit the bill at this point. However they have to be out there.
Iceman Posted January 18, 2010 Posted January 18, 2010 Daniele de Rossi, Marek Hamsik, Xavi, Gourcuff, Alonso (the latter at a push).
valim Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 Xavi, Gourcuff, Alonso Forget all of them Marek Hamsik ( dont play in essien position ) Daniele de Rossi best of best and can play with essien
The Moos Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 Sissoko - surely has the same workrate as Essien and is strong defensively. Marchisio - a two-way player like Essien, though perhaps not as strong defensively. De Rossi is perhaps the best though. Would probably cost a fortune. I wouldn't be surprised if we see that old Gattuso rumour resurfice again however. Might work as a temporary solution, but surely not the player we want.
Barry Bridges Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 Heres a post based on hope. first we wont need 1. 2nd, if we do Mikel can get it done and eventually Matic! But if thats not the case, why not do what the other clubs are doing....BRING BACK MAKELE!!!! (jokes!) What would you guys say of Cattermole? Im not very familiar (is he even aholding mid?), but I have seen glimpses and he tackles like Essien and seems to have a complete array of talents and bottles of potential. Oh, and he would be dirt cheaps compared to above suggestions.....but would Sunderland sell after we just ebat them so bad?
bjd Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 No no no. We should not buy to 'replace' Essien. Short term a temporary midfield replacement never works out. See Minerio, Maniche and Jarosik. We have the biggest and best squad in the league there is and we have enough to see us through a few months. Long term, well its simple really : you cant replace a player like him anyway. Doesnt even bear thinking about. Heres a post based on hope.first we wont need 1. 2nd, if we do Mikel can get it done and eventually Matic! Can get what done exactly ?
chelseabootboy Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 bjd your spot on we don't need a replacement, our squad is strong enough, considering the sh*t thats been thrown at us by the media and our own fans turning on players cause they haven't hit form, but all i have to say is top of the league still in the champs league and the fa cup oh and the dippers season over i love it...
rahul Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 Short term there is no need of replacing him because we have a big enough squad and we have coped without him well enough. In the long term however we need some young blood in the midfield and all those qualities mentioned by ozboy would be very hard to get in a single player. I think De Rossi is a good shout. There is also Fellaini who is just 22 could be a big player in the future...although he too will cost a lot.
midlandblue Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 Fellaini, but it would be imposible to replace like for like as there isnt a player out there to match Essiens all round game.
sleepy_gonzalez Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 If it wasn't a near-impossibility, anone think Lassana Diarra could do the job? (yes i know he wouldn't come) I'd say De Rossi if anyone, but try prising him away from Roma! Let's not get too doom-and-gloom though, I don't think this is the end of the world. We'll miss him- he's key, but not crucial.
Iceman Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 With the exception of the freak Sunderland game, we have struggled without Essien though - lost to Man City and draws with Birmingham and Everton, and a really poor show against Fulham. Carlo does need to enter the market - if Roman has cash, then we should go all out for Daniele de Rossi. The likes of Ballack, Belletti, Deco, Lamps, will all need replacing soon, so we should be looking at the midfield regeneration now whilst there is no ban.
ethicalstrategy Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 I don't think we need to replace him unless he won't ever be fit again. however, if you did want someone who could do the job then I'd go for YaYa Toure.
dkw Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 im not sure we need a replacement, once we find out the time scale for his return we will know more. but ive seen a few rumours about someone called Leko who plays for Monaco. no idea if hes any good.
charierre Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 We have never really replaced Maka I would see a DM player as a good acquisition with the future in mind, freeing Essien for a more forward position when he does return from injury. Mikel is just plain not good enough in this position and we don't have another player on the books that could really call this position his own.
coco Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 We dont need anyone. We already have a temporary replacement in Mikel. But for the long term we have Matic, he's been playing the bottom of the diamond for the reserves for a few months now, he has very good distribution, including the long ball, and unlike Maka, Essien or Mikel, he usually dominates the air.
Blue_Boy Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 We dont need anyone.We already have a temporary replacement in Mikel. But for the long term we have Matic, he's been playing the bottom of the diamond for the reserves for a few months now, he has very good distribution, including the long ball, and unlike Maka, Essien or Mikel, he usually dominates the air. would like to see him tried out against preston on saturday.
The Machine Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 Lassana Diarra ? :D Would love to see him back at the club but it is not likely to happen. He is one player that the club should not have let go while he was there.
Randy36 Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 I read where Jerko Leko, a 29 year old defensive midfielder who plays for Monaco and the Croatian national team is linked as a replacement for Michael Essien. Apparently Ancelotti likes him. I have not seen him in action but am somewhat skeptical about signing him,
Iceman Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 He will be 30 in a couple of months - really do not want another 30+ year old for our already ageing midfield.
forbzy Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 With the exception of the freak Sunderland game, we have struggled without Essien though - lost to Man City and draws with Birmingham and Everton, and a really poor show against Fulham.Carlo does need to enter the market - if Roman has cash, then we should go all out for Daniele de Rossi. The likes of Ballack, Belletti, Deco, Lamps, will all need replacing soon, so we should be looking at the midfield regeneration now whilst there is no ban. I believe Essien played in the loss to City and also in the other 2 losses this season. Of course he is an invaluable player but I think it would be a mistake to think that our bad patch was entirely down to missing him. Where we will no doubt miss the most is in the big games (e.g. United, Arsenal + Champions League). He will definitely miss Arsenal at home but perhaps there is a glimmer of hope for the Champions League if he is only out for a month. I'd like to see Matic get a chance now. He seems to bring some of the same energy to the midfield that we are used to seeing with Essien.
ozboy Posted January 19, 2010 Author Posted January 19, 2010 Watched Diarra play for Real a few times this season. He definitely brings the same energy to the game that Essien does. Why we let him go is a mystery. Still shows touches of immaturity though. Its a worry that's for sure. I am fairly pessimistic about Essien injury but hope I'm wrong.
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