I like Verratti but the guy is barely 5 and a half feet, is not very fast, seems to have discipline issues and would probably cost close to 30m. I would take Sami Khedira on a free transfer or Gundogan (who has a year left on his contract) over him.

I wouldn't mind keeping Ramires, though I think the days of him starting in tough away matches should be over (except at the Camp Nou of course). His work rate and energy doesn't quite make up for the lack of a football brain.

I like verratti aswell, but I think he would be hard to get. I think we would be better replacing ramires with a player that is more capable of providing competions for places. Gundogan is a good shout, I think witsel would also be a fantastic addition, or even moutinho. But my personal choice would be modric if he is available for a decent price, even though he is turning 30, he still has plenty of football left in him, and him and fabregas would be fantastic.

I like verratti aswell, but I think he would be hard to get. I think we would be better replacing ramires with a player that is more capable of providing competions for places. Gundogan is a good shout, I think witsel would also be a fantastic addition, or even moutinho. But my personal choice would be modric if he is available for a decent price, even though he is turning 30, he still has plenty of football left in him, and him and fabregas would be fantastic.

 

If Pogba moves in the summer, he could be key to all this. If we can get him for a reasonable fee that would be great, but if he goes to Madrid, then that could mean Modric becomes available.

Next season I'd rather we try and give Van Ginkel a chance.

 

Van Ginkel has played 4 times since moving to AC which includes sub appearances (in serie A)

 

was quickly injured and missed two games. then got benched for 7 of the next 8 matches. Ankle injury then ruled him out for 4 games, and has only featured in two of the last 5 matches. 

 

At this point in time, Ramires > Van Ginkel. 

If we're going with Matic, Fabregas and Oscar as our 3 main midfielders, then Ake and Loftus-Cheek as youngsters coming through then I think we could do with one more guy in the middle replacing Mikel and Ramires. Someone said it earlier but Khedira would be a decent shout, although he'd be expensive. Pogba is another but he'd be even more expensive.

 

How about that Lampard bloke at City? Or Gerrard on a season's loan?

 

Van Ginkel probably needs a season of playing football week-in and week-out.

 

The dark horse is Chalobah who is starting to look like the star he was becoming at Watford. 

 

 

The dark horse is Chalobah who is starting to look like the star he was becoming at Watford. 

 

The Reading forum I have read are very scathing about him, giving him awful ratings and saying he should be sent back to us as they have academy players better.

The Reading forum I have read are very scathing about him, giving him awful ratings and saying he should be sent back to us as they have academy players better.

 

Was that after the Wigan game? For some reason they stuck him at CB where he's barely played in the last few years at senior level. 

http://zippy.gfycat.com/DefensiveAlertGerbil.webm

 

Stupid from Ramires there. Could cost us a lot.

 

Incredibly stupid, there was no need for it. It's possible he'll leave as he's getting less football than last season, but I don't think he will.

The Ramires foul that the ref didn't see.... Might be a stupid question, would it have been a penalty or an indirect free kick? 

The Ramires foul that the ref didn't see.... Might be a stupid question, would it have been a penalty or an indirect free kick?

I thought penalty at the time.

If he doesn't play in a 3 man midfield then to us he is pretty useless. He for me can't really play consistently in a 2 man midfield and i hate seeing him the 3 behind Costa his technique is way to shocking for it. I would like us to look to cash in on him but i get the feeling Jose loves Ramires.

He's regressed shockingly since his first season and a bit here.

He looks clumsy, negative and not as quick as he was before.

The things you could always point to about Ramires was his stamina, speed on the recovery and breaking, and his ability to scrap in midfield.

Even these things are not standing out anymore. Best to offload in the summer for a decent fee. Getting on as well in terms of age.

I haven't been impressed by him since 2012... Not sure if he's had a single game where he's a top performer since then, by now I'd honestly rather have Mikel on the pitch over him. 

 

I mean he used to run past people so easily and was a lot more technical, scoring important goals, where did that all go?

I'm not sure what injury(?) kept him out for a long period this season, but he he hasn't been the same player this season.

 

I wouldn't be so quick to offload him. He might not be as technically gifted as a lot of our midfielders, but with his engine & his work-rate he's a very good player to have in the squad.

 

Keep him through the summer. On his day he's as good as any midfield workhorse, and I don't think he's been off the boil so long as to say he's past his peak.

He's been in bad form ever since we won the CL.

 

It's time to sell him. Give Loftus Cheek the squad spot

I think we'll only see the best of Ramires if we bring in another midfield enforcer in the summer and revert to 4-3-3 (which i'd personally like to see if we're going to have a chance of competing with Europe's elite next season). I'm sure he wouldn't look out of place in PSG's team alongside Motta/Verratti (in place of Matuidi for example).

Edited March 14, 201511 yr by the special one

he always finds himself in good positions but ends up more often than not...ruining the end of moves with a poor touch or poor pass

 

athletically we all know hes almost unmatched and has always been his tool at compensating for his lack of ability but now its getting ridiculous.

He's been found out, used to be my favourite player but was utterly useless against PSG.

Potentially the worst first touch in the league also

He's a good player but not a great player in my opinion.

He's been here a long time now and I don't think he's particularly improved in that time.

I'd sell him and bring in a midfielder that is comfortable playing a possession game in a midfield 2, axel witsel would be perfect.

He actually has become a worst option than mikel, because he just doesn't suit the possesion game we play, and he isn't strong enough technically to link up well with this current squad.

The only way I'd keep him, is if we made a permanent switch to 433.

Did excellent today when he came on. Was expecting the worst, but he was one of the better payers on the pitch.

I would never sell him.

 

He's frustrating as hell but also vital to the way we play.

He was fantastic today. It's strange, everyone talks about tactics, and which player can and can't play in different positions or systems. But as long as we play with intensity and cohesion it doesn't matter all that much.

Played quite well when he came on, won back possession a lot and in good areas of the pitch.

Best game he has had since City away, you could say only good game he has had. He was very good coming on, I bet we were all worried when he came on to do the Matic role but I think he would have done better than Matic would have done if he stayed on. Held his ground a lot, won the ball back but the most bizarre thing I saw was his distribution, really kept the game flowing, very surprising to see from him.

 

However this is Ramires at the end of the day and sadly he will go back to square one next game.