Has this lad trained recently?

Hopefully after this international break he will be ready to go. I haven't seen him play at all really! A few moments in preseason, that's about it.

He was on the bench for the COC game. and played for the under 21's as they call them now.

I just think that Robbie doesnt fancy using him very much. Shame because i thought he was our best player pre season. I would like to see him play next to Mikel.

If I remember rightly, he played against Wolves in the League Cup. I think he got 20 minutes though I could be wrong. He certainly played though. Or is my memory playing tricks?

He's getting his fitness up and soon he'll be in contention to start games, with him and Moses giving us options on the flanks.

Next to Mikel? Are you insane? He's a small, pacy winger...you want to stick him in defensive midfield?

Yh he did play against wolves , looked lively and set up a chance for Torres which should have been a goal. He'll play some part this season if he stays fit. Anyone know what's happening with Sturridge ? Is it likely that hell be available for our next game ?

People would say playing Frank next to Mikel is insane but it still happens. Marin has vision and a nice little pass on him. Mikel would be there to break the play up and Marin to get the ball moving forward again. It could work very nicely, maybe not against team like Everton or City but against Southampton or west ham it could work quite nicely.

Well each to their own, but all I can say is thank goodness you're not the manager!

People would say playing Frank next to Mikel is insane but it still happens. Marin has vision and a nice little pass on him. Mikel would be there to break the play up and Marin to get the ball moving forward again. It could work very nicely, maybe not against team like Everton or City but against Southampton or west ham it could work quite nicely.

But there difference is that Lampard is a central midfielder and Marin is a winger. So it's hardly insane to say that Lampard can play next to Mikel. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some thought the idea was quite good before this season started, but due to some less than good performances people are now doubting Lampard in that position.

Marin is, as far as I know, an attacking midfielder who usually plays out wide. I haven't seen many games with him, but I doubt he's played many as a deep midfielder.

Can't wait to see him out on the left wing, stood on the touchline waiting to do his stuff, we've had to rely on players running onto the wings from central positions, Torres most noticeably.

With Sturridge and Marin coming back and considering our starting line up most games will likely be Cech; Ivanovic-Luiz-Terry-Cole; Mikel-Ramires; Mata-Oscar-Hazard-Torres, who would you think will make our bench? Will Moses gets out of the subs with them coming back?

I cant see Moses getting many games at all really, cup games probably. He just isnt at the standard of Marin, Hazard, Mata and Oscar.

I hope to see the lad back soon, He (and Moses) can be a real asset in tight games when we are looking to widen the play.

I cant see Moses getting many games at all really, cup games probably. He just isnt at the standard of Marin, Hazard, Mata and Oscar.

But yet he might offer an attribute that none of the players you list has.

He is a natural winger with great strength and when he came on against Stoke he changed the game if I remember correctly.

He can score and he can set up, I think he will get chances.

He was on the bench for the COC game. and played for the under 21's as they call them now.

I just think that Robbie doesnt fancy using him very much. Shame because i thought he was our best player pre season. I would like to see him play next to Mikel.

square peg, round hole.

square peg, round hole.

You've been watching that weird asian porn again, haven't you.

You've been watching that weird asian porn again, haven't you.

pretty sure that was square leg, wrong hole but I can see the confusion!

Moses wasn't bought to be a first team starter YET. He may come into one, but he wasn't signed to go right in at this point in time. Marin I think is good enough to start, if he can get back to his German youth & form of two seasons ago, he'll be a super player, he looked fantastic in pre-season and I hope he isn't too far away. Sticking Marin in DM would be an absolute waste, even playing him as the advanced CM in a 4-3-3 would be stupid - he's a winger/attacking midfielder VERY similar to Mata & Hazard, if he can get back to form he'll be a great player for us, 8m was an absolute bargain.

Moses wasn't bought to be a first team starter YET. He may come into one, but he wasn't signed to go right in at this point in time. Marin I think is good enough to start, if he can get back to his German youth & form of two seasons ago, he'll be a super player, he looked fantastic in pre-season and I hope he isn't too far away. Sticking Marin in DM would be an absolute waste, even playing him as the advanced CM in a 4-3-3 would be stupid - he's a winger/attacking midfielder VERY similar to Mata & Hazard, if he can get back to form he'll be a great player for us, 8m was an absolute bargain.

+1

I cant see Moses getting many games at all really, cup games probably. He just isnt at the standard of Marin, Hazard, Mata and Oscar.

Can't say I really agree. Moses is proven in the Prem, is just as apt defensively as he is offensively. The only thing Marin brings is he adds natural width as a pass first player but is pretty liable defensively. Each player will have roles to play in this team going forward.

i think both will have their chance over the course of the year. Remember that we are competing in five competitions this year and it will be a busy year. I believe both players can be used as subs on respective wings (Marin on the left and Moses on the right).

I think too many people over rate Marin. He's not Premier League proven, and I'd much rather have Moses in the team. I haven't seen much of Marin I admit, but from what I've heard he's not great. A good squad player though

Didn't see pre season then?!

Did have to laugh at the suggestion of playing Marin in centre mid

Marin looked lively in pre-season, but I dunno where this myth has come from that he was 'best player' standard. He was what I expect him to be, a quick and exciting, but equally frustrating player

When we signed Marin I saw it as exceptional business from the perspective of value, but realistically knew that if the club was going to challenge he wasn't going to be seen as the attacking signing of the summer (Hazard a few weeks later confirmed this)

He's not a bad player by any stretch and as has been said if he gets over these injury issues and finds his form from a few years back he'll definitely be an asset, but I'm not losing sleep over it, personally I prefer Moses tbh

Edited October 10, 201213 yr by J.J

I think too many people over rate Marin. He's not Premier League proven, and I'd much rather have Moses in the team. I haven't seen much of Marin I admit, but from what I've heard he's not great. A good squad player though

hazard was definetely over rated to, coming from france. dont know what these guys thought mata would amount to either, coming from the spanish league

marin was our best player in pre season, even better than hazard. his close control when dribbling at pace is pretty outstanding, i've seen some people say hazard isn't beating players like they thought he would... imo, thats what marin does best... getting defenders on their back foot and running at them with the ability to turn them in and out

i'm really looking forward to his return to the squad. pretty amazing we're doing so well and still have players like him on the sides

The problem with Marin is that he's another inverted winger who likes to drift into the middle and shoot. Robbie seldomly makes like for like substitutions, so if he's taking someone like Hazard off, he's more likely to bring on Bertrand for defensive purposes or shift the front around and bring on Moses for natural width. That, combined with the fact that he hasn't been healthy to start the year, is why we haven't seen much of him. He'll get his chance in the Cup games and when the likes of Hazard and Mata need a rest, but if you think we tend to lack width with Hazard, Mata and Oscar on the pitch, then you certainly don't want to see Marin replace one of them.