Why do we keep on getting dominated in the midfield by better teams i.e City, Benfica and Shakhtar etc ? What can be done to remedy the midfield problems ? Is it the players ? The coach ? 

We uses to have a midfield of Makelele, Lampard (at his peak), Essien and Ballack.

Now we have a midfield of Mikel, Ramires, a much older Lampard and a converted centre half.

Seriously. Lampard. Essien. Ballack. Makelele. Can you get any better than those 4?

We have Mikel, Ramires and a 35 year old Lampard, do you really need us to confirm the answer for you?

The midfield is nowhere near as physical as it once was.

Sell Mikel, buy a big strong midfielder to play next to Ramires, use Lampard in games where the other team will be more interested in defending than attacking.

The midfield is nowhere near as physical as it once was.

 

That's not the only problem. There's been a huge gap between our pivot and attacking band for most of the season, forcing Mata and Oscar to drop deeper than usual which in turns limits their attacking threat. I hope this is something that Mourinho will remedy. We lack someone who can really put their foot on the ball and calm play down, especially when we have a lead. Our midfield simply struggles to control games at the moment, this is nothing to do with physicality. Also I don't think that Mikel is good enough to be a starter.

Edited May 26, 201313 yr by Teritus

Friendlies proved 1 thing. We are soft in the middle. City made us look silly. Too much ball holding on our part. Cities 1-2's were killing us.

No striker now or coming in will thrive. Hopefully Jose can change that

Edited May 26, 201313 yr by The truth hurts

Friendlies proved 1 thing. We are soft in the middle. City made us look silly. Too much ball holding on our part. Cities 1-2's were killing us.

No striker now or coming in will thrive. Hopefully Jose can change that

 

Friendlies proved the games meant nothing, the players were on holiday, and we played a bunch of kids, again, because the games meant nothing

The midfield is nowhere near as physical as it once was.

We are just to nice, other than ramires. Last night loftus-cheek And Oscar were booted all over the place, yet there was no one on our side able to stand up to them. No essien To go fight there battles.

Yeah Ramires is the only one of our midfielders who is prepared to make a tackle, but he isn't actually good at tackling. For me, we need to go 4-3-3, buy a world class holder, drop Oscar in the middle and get Chalobah back into the set up the season after next. Still the options aren't as good as around 2006 but the main problem is our options then were insanely good.

Problem is there is a severe lack of world class holding midfielders.

Problem is there is a severe lack of world class holding midfielders.

And that should be the priority this summer. A CDM and a striker. Loads of attacking match winners on the squad. Need that presence to do the dirty work in the middle and a poacher.

However, the midfield is built to score. Is a "world class" striker really a necessity. I can't really see any striker coming in and scoring 30 goals in all comps. Team is built to score from all over the pitch. Bringing in someone expecting goals to be served on a silver platter may be in for a big dissappointment.

It was obvious from the start of the season that we were lightweight in midfield, great having all these technical players but that only works if you play the ball quicker and around the oppositions muscle men in the centre of the park. We have tended to play slow methodical football at times giving the opponents midfield time to knock our lightweight players off the ball. Definitely need some muscle in the centre of the park....a job Luiz could do if the new manager continues to play him there and if Essien comes back fully fit and playing like his old self given the shortage of world class CDM's .  Romeu should also be back although we haven't seen enough of him to really make an assessment. I thought Lotus-Cheek played well last night he was scythed down a couple of times by Barry and Toure' before going off injured.  

I think Mourinho will improve our midfield alot by teaching Hazard, Oscar and Mata to work better as first defenders. I wouldn't be suprised if he brought back De Bruyne either for more muscle in our attacking midfield. Most important though is to buy a world class CM like Khedira, Gundogan, Modric etc.

So we're agreed that the solution is to tell Mikel to start kicking people? Good call, this will save a lot of money and media nonsense

Yeah Ramires is the only one of our midfielders who is prepared to make a tackle, but he isn't actually good at tackling. For me, we need to go 4-3-3, buy a world class holder, drop Oscar in the middle and get Chalobah back into the set up the season after next. Still the options aren't as good as around 2006 but the main problem is our options then were insanely good.

 

That means Mata would have to play out wide,no thanks.Buy Capoue,play Oscar deeper.

Problem is there is a severe lack of world class holding midfielders.

 

They don't have to be world class but pretty much any option is better than what we already have.

They don't have to be world class but pretty much any option is better than what we already have.

 

I have to agree. Mikel is an okay holding midfielder but we need better. 

As others have said we simply need a good CDM. I'd happily take Gundogan, Capoue or either of the Bender brothers. Gundogan would be my preference though.

As others have said we simply need a good CDM. I'd happily take Gundogan, Capoue or either of the Bender brothers. Gundogan would be my preference though.

 

Gundogan is not a defensive mid by any means, he makes less tackles per game than Sahin.

Dortmund are not going to sell Gundogan right now and like Teritus said he isn't a DM which is what we need unless Luiz plays there next season. Capoue is what we need,that guy loves a tackle.

Gundogan is not a defensive mid by any means, he makes less tackles per game than Sahin.

 

Perhaps, but I still wouldn't be disappointed if we did buy him.

A good CDM would be nice, but what we are missing is the right balance in our midfield. This will depend on what formation (hopefully) Mou chooses. If he goes 4-3-3 like most of his 1st spell at Chelsea then a good CDM should be enough. If he plays 4-2-3-1 to use our 3 amigos then we'll need two midfielders that are strong defensively, but who can start attacks as well. A Pirlo- Javi Martinez - Busquets kind of player. Mikel can't start attacks, Lampard is good at starting attacks, but defensively he finds it difficult, Ramires could be better defensively, and has great runs but i could see him being used in 4-3-3 more.  

 

I would like Felliani as he seems realistic (we're been linked a lot with him), and i think he could work well with Lampard, and maybe Ramires too. Could Luiz develop into that player... maybe in a season or two

Perhaps, but I still wouldn't be disappointed if we did buy him.

 

Nor would I, but he'd need to be partnered with a proper defensive player.