What the f**k is going on? He was great earlier in the season, now a couple of dodgy sub appearances late on, when it's always difficult to come into a game at that stage (plus let's be honest, still nowhere near as bad as some others) and AVB seems to have given up on him..

He would have done a much better job in DM today than Merieles, and I can't see why he's suddenly been dropped...

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by Zeta Orionis

Ask AVB only he can tell you

To be fair he has looked badly off the pace whenever he has played of late.

He hasn't started for a while though, he's only been thrown on late in games hasn't he? That's never particularly easy for that position, where you need to be able to read the game instantly. When he's started he's generally done very well, much better than Merieles for example. Just another AVB decision that baffles me.

No he hasn't, the last few games he started he looked very leggy and badly off the pace. He's only a young player and I think a lack of winter break tired him.

Perhaps. Would be nice to see him start the next one though.

What the f**k is going on? He was great earlier in the season, now a couple of dodgy sub appearances late on, when it's always difficult to come into a game at that stage (plus let's be honest, still nowhere near as bad as some others) and AVB seems to have given up on him..

He would have done a much better job in DM today than Merieles, and I can't see why he's suddenly been dropped...

He had a few good games - I would hesitate to say GREAT. Then he had many piss-poor games in a set of piss-poor team performances. If my job was on the line, I wouldn't be picking him for a crucial Champions League match. And I think you have misunderstood Mereieles's role today - he was NOT a defensive midfielder, but one of two covering box-to-box midfielders (neither of which played very well, I'll grant you)

Another example of AVB's random team selection. Romeu played a bad cameo against United, haven't seen him since. Malouda played badly, benched then all of a suden got picked in the most important game this month. Meireless is consistently bad, and consistently picked. 3 players with similar performance lately, yet completely different treatments.

To be fair he has looked badly off the pace whenever he has played of late.

This may be a stretch but perhaps its the weather? I know it gets cold in Spain but not nearly as cold as it does in dreary old England? TBH, I'm a yank who played soccer as a lad but quickly moved onto ice hockey and baseball as a kid and I know baseball was always rough in the early cold springs in NY where I grew up... Perhaps its all the bad sentiment on the club that's taken his heart out and mind off the game! He did come from the rose like academy of Barca where everything is rainbows and unicorns! My apologies, I still seek to spin the 20 sided dice from Dungeons and Dragons and my fantasy world is still showing, lol! point is he's a good young player from the Barca academy, he deserves a good run up to prove his wealth! Pep still rates him very high and from what I understand didn't want him to leave...

As far as I'm concerned Romeu should be starting every match we play. Granted, his last few appearances as sub have been poor but he isn't alone there.

From what I've seen he is the player who understands the defensive midfield role better than anyone else at the club and the team plays better as a whole when he starts. My word, just how much could we have done with him last night?

Dropping him from the first XI is one thing , but he doesn't even seem to be making match day squads any more, it's more absolutely baffling behaviour from our young manager, so much so that I wonder if something has happened behind the scenes we don't know about.

For me that's the only logical explanation behind his continued absence whilst inferior players and off form players keep getting the nod ahead of him.

And I think you have misunderstood Mereieles's role today - he was NOT a defensive midfielder, but one of two covering box-to-box midfielders (neither of which played very well, I'll grant you).

I disagree. If he wasn't to be played as a defensive midfielder today why was he even on the pitch to begin with? Oh.....

Edited February 22, 201214 yr by youlots

As far as I'm concerned Romeu should be starting every match we play. Granted, his last few appearances as sub have been poor but he isn't alone there.

From what I've seen he is the player who understands the defensive midfield role better than anyone else at the club and the team plays better as a whole when he starts. My word, just how much could we have done with him last night?

Dropping him from the first XI is one thing , but he doesn't even seem to be making match day squads any more, it's more absolutely baffling behaviour from our young manager, so much so that I wonder if something has happened behind the scenes we don't know about.

For me that's the only logical explanation behind his continued absence whilst inferior players and off form players keep getting the nod ahead of him.

We havent seen him in training though bjd, and if the times he has been on the pitch are anything to go by then he is possibly struggling with the pace and power of the prem combined with no winter break. He did say after his first game how amazed he was by the speed of the game and how he didnt have time to even catch his breath. I would hope to see a lot more of him in the next few weeks though, he would have been indeal to have brought on last night to try and bring some control to the midfield.

Dropping him from the first XI is one thing , but he doesn't even seem to be making match day squads any more, it's more absolutely baffling behaviour from our young manager, so much so that I wonder if something has happened behind the scenes we don't know about.

He doesn't speak Portuguese

i still think we need more bite in midfield, mikel looks like he'l be heading for the exit door, i doubt essien can get back to the dominant force he was before the last 2 knee injuries, and although romeu has done ok, he's still very inexpierienced. would love to see us sign ever banega, or yann m'vila, both reasonably priced, although banega is out for 6 months after driving over hiss own leg?

Either way meireles shouldnt have started yesterday

SOMEONE PLEASE PLAGUE AVB WITH THE INFORMATION THAT MEIRELES SHOULDNT BE GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR THE STARTING LINE UP!

is seriously driving me mental that i know every game there is one name i can guarantee will be on there and its that pile of crap.

Abso Joke.

Essien Lampard Ramires. Theres your midfield. Romeu can rotate in he's class. Mikel & Meireles can f**k off.

Saying that, as can Malouda, Kalou, Drogba, Bosingwa....... But lets not change this thread into another Chelsea cull discussion!

As far as I'm concerned Romeu should be starting every match we play. Granted, his last few appearances as sub have been poor but he isn't alone there.

From what I've seen he is the player who understands the defensive midfield role better than anyone else at the club and the team plays better as a whole when he starts. My word, just how much could we have done with him last night?

Dropping him from the first XI is one thing , but he doesn't even seem to be making match day squads any more, it's more absolutely baffling behaviour from our young manager, so much so that I wonder if something has happened behind the scenes we don't know about.

For me that's the only logical explanation behind his continued absence whilst inferior players and off form players keep getting the nod ahead of him.

from the match day squad point of view we yestreday was prehaps the first time we had are entire midfield availible for selection, it could be argues he should be in ahead of on of the senior players but some one had to sit out (i agree i would have him in though)

Reports are, from his personal Facebook account no less, that he is now fully recovered from a hamstring injury and back in training.

Might ut to rest some of the speculation as to why he wasn't playing. Might

Mikel & Meireles can f**k off.

Saying that, as can Malouda, Kalou, Drogba, Bosingwa.andTonyT1988 with any luck