What would people say is the pecking order for our pivot players?

 

Out of the 5: (In no order)

Ramires

Van Ginkel

Mikel

Essien

Lampard

I'd like to see us start against Hull with Ramires + MvG.

 

Essien will hopefully continue his good form and if he does it should mean that Mikel drops to the bottom of the list.

 

Playing strong teams:

 

Ramires - Essien

 

Playing weaker EPL teams:

 

Ramires - MvG or Ramires - Lampard

 

Easy cup games:

 

Mikel - MvG or Mikel - Lampard

Mikel -Ramires  

 

Mikel  VG

 

Mikel Lamps

 

Mikel Essien 

 

the only way Mikel should be benched is if he gets suspended or during league cups games,

Judging on pre season I'd go 

 

1. Ramires- van ginkel

2. Ramires- essien

3. Essien van ginkel

Still like to see Oscar given a game in there.At the moment i'd have Ramires and Van Ginkel .

Mikel is much better with the ball at his feet and a better passer than MVG. C'mon guys! MVG could benefit from one year on loan, like KDB did last year. He is going to be good, but give it time.

Mikel is much better with the ball at his feet and a better passer than MVG

 

and van ginkel is better defensively than mikel

Edited August 5, 201312 yr by Lane

and van ginkel is better defensively than mikel

Not even close.

Not even close.

 

Yes, I agree they arent even close

Ramires - Essien w/ Lampard sub.

Ramires - MvG w/ Lampard sub.

Lampard - MvG

A giant turd.

Mikel.

It'd have to be Rami and Mikel for me,especially in the tougher games.

Really tough position to call. The 5 listed are all very different players.

 

Have to agree with Lane's comments, van Ginkel's closing/harassing of opposition has been very impressive in pre-season, something Mikel's game in defensive midfield has always lacked. Obviously he doesn't have the physical presence of Essien or Mikel, but he's arguably better with the ball at his feet, and appears more comfortable on the ball under pressure. We all know how liable Mikel is to mistakes under pressure, and it should be good to see a composed holding midfielder in front of the back line. Unsure if that role will fall to Van Ginkel or Essien, or if we pull Ramires back a bit.

 

I don't think Lampard and Essien will quite have the fitness to regularly start throughout the season. And the energy and determination Ramires offers is unmatched.

 

I fancy Ramires & Essien to be our main two. Van Ginkel will push for a starting place, and Lampard too.

 

If Mikel can improve his aerial game, which he has the right physical attributes for, then perhaps he can challenge too, otherwise I don't see him competing for a place, as he doesn't really offer much that the others don't do better. That's not to say I don't rate Mikel, I think having him as a cover/backup option is good for the team.

Ramires and Van Ginkel would be my first choice but in games against the top clubs Essien and Ramires would make sense.

I really dislike the term pivot. 

 

All I can think of when I hear it is this.

 

 

Pet hate of mine all these new terms for player positions. 

Ramires - Essien

they've all done well in pre season.

 

if there is a first choice it looks like ramires at the moment.

 

I don't think we will (or maybe the word is 'should') see 2 from mikel, lamps and essien on the pitch at the same time.

 

I think of all the possible partners van ginkel is currently shading it. but it is hard to say given lampard hasn't featured yet.

I would love it to be Oscar and Van Ginkel but I don't think it's very likely.

 

Ramires and Van Ginkel would probably be our best option. 

 

I've stood up for Mikel in the past, but now I genuinely can't think of a reason to have him in the team instead of Van Ginkel.

Lots of good suggestions, but the take home here is this is a good problem to have.

Mikel and Ramires would still be my first choice right now.

I've seen a lot about Essien being in good form in pre-season so I was looking forward to seeing him yesterday against Milan (first pre-season game I've watched this year) and I was surprised but Mikel just looked better than him in every department... better defensively, played with more intensity (!!! Mikel playing with more intensity than Bison) and better on the ball.

 

Will be interesting to see how both do under Jose once the season starts. Maybe he can coax Mikel into being more positive and quicker to act when going forward.

 

Anyway, what I've said may be construed as a positive for Mikel so I better get out of here.

Ramires - Mikel

If we sign Sami Khedira

Ramires - Khedira

Ramires

Essien

Lampard

MVG

Mikel

 

Halfway through the season (potentially)

 

Ramires 

MVG

Essien

Lampard

Mikel

Edited August 8, 201312 yr by gussy122

At the moment:

 

MVG

Ramires

Mikel

Essien

Lampard

 

With Lampard maybe moving past Essien and Mikel when he regains his fitness.

Ramires

Essien

Lampard

MVG

Mikel

 

Halfway through the season (potentially)

 

Ramires 

MVG

Essien

Lampard

Mikel

I think it already is like this:

Ramires

MVG

Essien

Lamps

Mikel

 

Although Lampard and Mikel didn't have many chances to show what they are capable of doing. I think Lamps will overtake Essien.

^{Jose loves Essien... I reckon it will be Ramires MVG and Essien rotated, Lamps playing a Giggs role}