And finished sixth & had to fight for top 4, surely you can't be arguing with the 'FACT' it's been an issue.

 

No but I can argue against it being "poor" which was your choice of words. 

 

"Poor" midfields don't win consecutive European trophies.  

I put it down to the switch from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1.

Before we had one holding player to start off the moves and two box to box midfielders who contributed heavily to both attack and defense. Lampard, Ballack, Ramires, Essien (in his prime) are all at their most effective when dictating the game from all over the field which they could do in 4-3-3.

Switch to 4-2-3-1 and suddenly you have 2 player who need to sit deeper and allow the 4 in front to do the majority of the attacking and that just didn't suit Lampard and Ramires has never looked as good as he did when in 4-3-3... We've square peg, round holed it for a couple of years... It's not that the players aren't good enough but in my opinion they weren't best suited to the formation.

Now we've Matic who looks a lot more naturally suited to the role and hopefully Fabregas complements that.

That's a fair point.

I just don't see Ramires being a great midfielder though, he had one season where he looked the buisness but ever since then it's just not happened and he's not kicked on in the way I thought he would.

Lampard of course was always going to decline with pushing into and past his mid 30's so we lost a fair bit from him (from no fault of his own).

Matic came in and looked solid which especially in the bigger games against teams who attack us was a great benefit and something we have missed for a few years now.

What is certain is we need more goals from all around the park and from our midfielders since we are only playing with one striker in this 4-2-3-1 set up. I think Cesc can bring that and hopefully others step up too.

I would however love a Kroos or Pogba as in my eyes it would 'complete' our midfield and engine room. I do think though you can't change too much too quickly and we would bar the back line have essentially a brand new team that would need time to settle and gel.

Wishful thinking mainly on this one from me.

I was thinking, with Barcelona signing Suarez, Real Madrid will probably be looking to make their own "marquee signing" to make a statement, as they usually do?

I'm not sure if Pogba would be classified as marquee by their fans though, with their high standards...

That signing is Falcao is it not?

Is that actually happening then? I thought Monaco said they weren't selling and he was happy there

I always thought he only went there because after a year he would go to Madrid.

Can't see him staying at a club like Monaco if Madrid are sniffing around.

Is that actually happening then? I thought Monaco said they weren't selling and he was happy there

 

Just a week ago or so, Falcao basically implied its all up to Florentino Perez

I was thinking, with Barcelona signing Suarez, Real Madrid will probably be looking to make their own "marquee signing" to make a statement, as they usually do?

I'm not sure if Pogba would be classified as marquee by their fans though, with their high standards...

 

I think Toni Kroos might well be the marquee signing you're referring to. Rumours are that it's pretty much done.

Pogba is homegrown, another tick in the good buy column

So when's he signing?.

According to @EveningStandard Juventus & Chelsea have agreed a £60m deal for France international Paul Pogba

 

don't do it

According to @EveningStandard Juventus & Chelsea have agreed a £60m deal for France international Paul Pogba

don't do it

Bogus

According to @EveningStandard Juventus & Chelsea have agreed a £60m deal for France international Paul Pogba

 

don't do it

If only lol

According to @EveningStandard Juventus & Chelsea have agreed a £60m deal for France international Paul Pogba

 

don't do it

 

Not going to happen. We are not going to lash out 60m for any player. These Pogba rumours are so random...

My shirt is in the mail.

Would love to sign Pogba and sell Mikel. 

Wow I love this GIF

As a sign of intent Pogba would be a massive signing. Adding Cesc Costa and Pogba to what we've already got would give us one of the very best squads in Europe

Edited July 8, 201412 yr by carrickblue

Pogba would be great.... but he wouldnt complete us.

 

The inconsistency of Hazard, Schurrle, Oscar and Willian is our big problem.

Pogba would be great.... but he wouldnt complete us.

The inconsistency of Hazard, Schurrle, Oscar and Willian is our big problem.

Hazard in some respect yes but don't forget he was our best and most prolific player last term.

We have signed Fabregas and Costa so goals will be there from those two players but I agree Oscar and Willian really need to offer more going forward in terms of assists and goals as last season just wasn't good enough.

Schurrle done well in his first season and unlike the majority of our attacking mid's he looked a threat and scored goals. He will be even better this season

Hazard in some respect yes but don't forget he was our best and most prolific player last term.

We have signed Fabregas and Costa so goals will be there from those two players but I agree Oscar and Willian really need to offer more going forward in terms of assists and goals as last season just wasn't good enough.

Schurrle done well in his first season and unlike the majority of our attacking mid's he looked a threat and scored goals. He will be even better this season

 

RE; Schurrle I'd expect him to really push on.

RE; Schurrle I'd expect him to really push on.

I have high hopes for schurrle this coming season too. I think hazard will benefit from a reduced creative responsibility, now we have fabregas.

Pogba would be great.... but he wouldnt complete us.

 

The inconsistency of Hazard, Schurrle, Oscar and Willian is our big problem.

 

The 'inconsistency issue' of wouldnt be an issue if other players could contribute. Youre making it sound like we should expect Hazard to be on top of his game every match, even though even Ronaldo and Messi cant perform at that level.

 

Hazard is absolutely right when he says 'I cant do everything alone'. I feel his performances would improve if he wasnt stepping out on the pitch with the mindset of 'either i play great or we lose points'.

 

Hes our only creative outlet, along with Matic (to a lesser extend of course). Signing Fabregas is huge step in the right direction, and it would be the same with Pogba.

 

Hazard should, and will learn how to impose himself more and be more consistent. I feel he has it in him. I dont think its the same with Oscar, Schurrle and Willian. I just think theyre limited players. But even if Hazard improves, and is consistent, wed still be counting on 1 player to win us matches.

The 'inconsistency issue' of wouldnt be an issue if other players could contribute. Youre making it sound like we should expect Hazard to be on top of his game every match, even though even Ronaldo and Messi cant perform at that level.

Hazard is absolutely right when he says 'I cant do everything alone'. I feel his performances would improve if he wasnt stepping out on the pitch with the mindset of 'either i play great or we lose points'.

Hes our only creative outlet, along with Matic (to a lesser extend of course). Signing Fabregas is huge step in the right direction, and it would be the same with Pogba.

Hazard should, and will learn how to impose himself more and be more consistent. I feel he has it in him. I dont think its the same with Oscar, Schurrle and Willian. I just think theyre limited players. But even if Hazard improves, and is consistent, wed still be counting on 1 player to win us matches.

Do you think this time next year we will be looking to offload 1 of willian, Oscar, or schurrle, and go for a more proven match winner?

Pretty harsh on Hazard here. Almost pipped Suarez for player of the year at age 23. Had a remarkable year. Oscar and Willian are the concerns. One of them really needs to take that extra step.

Do you think this time next year we will be looking to offload 1 of willian, Oscar, or schurrle, and go for a more proven match winner?

 

Not sure about Schurrle since hes a decent back up and we wouldnt make any profit. But as far as Oscar goes, I think there teams that would take him for +30m, and I wouldnt be surprised of Chelsea do sell him. Im not aware of his contract situation though.