Deco has confirmed that we're interested in his services. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 18,00.html

The club and Frank have confirmed that contract negotiations are on, that Frank wants to stay and that the club want him to stay.

Ballack has only just arrived and I doubt he's going to leave.

Considering we keep Lamps, and sign Deco. How will we line up ahead of the back 4? Keeping in mind we have Essien [who is now free of RB duties], Makalele, Joe Cole and Malouda, amongst others, to fit in.

If 'sources' are to be believed then we're helping Barca get rid of Eto`o, Deco and Ronaldinho. Honestly, I wouldn't want any! We have Lampsy and Ballack, and if anything we should go for a younger creative player in VDV. I'd take Villa/Berbatov over Eto`o.

Thoughts ..

The midfield in the title looks pretty... awesome. However, it also looks 30+. If we do indeed buy Deco, then in another 3/4 years time we're going to have to get a completely new centre midfield (apart from Essien).

Get rid of Malouda, get a younger, hungrier player, who has a work ethic.

"There is interest from Chelsea, which is normal," he told Marca.

"But Scolari has not told me anything, we are now just talking to the club."

Mourinho, now at Internazionale, is also believed to be keen to working with him again after their time together at Porto and Deco admits he has a number of options.

"Of course, there are other possibilities," he added.

Yes it is 'normal' for Chelsea to be interested in almost all TOP players, cauz we want them all, don't we? I wonder if he's just working Inter into offering him a better deal, considering this is probably going to be his last move.

That bit made me laugh too you can tell he's a Jose player

"I am fantastic, I am brilliant, it is normal for top clubs to want me, I am the best. You got problem? No, I did not think so, Milan, Chelsea, Madrid... Everybody want Deco, but Deco needs to find right club for ambition"

Hope he goes to Milan.

That midfield played together would'nt work which is why i dont think we need Deco. Not only are they all attacking midfielders but as Gem said all are a similar age too. And all would expect to play every week.

Deco is a good player dont get me wrong, but other area's are in need of stregthening ahead of midfield. Joe Cole could also play there instead of out wide,

I suppose it depends what Frank does.

It will be very interesting to see exactly where Cole fits in to the scheme of things if we do bring Deco and Ronnie in.

Nobody has mentioned Mikel in all of this. If we have Mikel, Essien, Ballack, Lampard and Deco then somebody is going to be unhappy.

Don't have anything against Deco as a footballer (except his unsavoury side) but with Lampard and Ballack, he doesn't really offer much more than Ballack or Lampard aside from his excellent short-passing game. I think it'd be better to spend money on someone like Ronaldinho or van der Vaart, who have a similar passing game but are also capable of running at and beating defenders as well.

Deco seems to be confident that he's going to be at Chelsea next season

Sky Sports

I find it really hard to say, as he is a legend in my eyes, and one of the most likeable footballers around, but IF Deco is coming in (and possibly even if he isn't) I think it might be for the best if Frank leaves, largely for the point Ethical makes.

Mikel and Essien HAVE to play, and play in midfield more often next season, if we have any intention of them being part of the club's first 11 for the next few years. Both are hugely talented and both need a good run of games in their preferred positions, and with Ballack, Deco (or A.N Other) AND Frank ahead of them, I just don't see if happening, and one or both getting thoroughly disenchanted with life at CFC.

Really horrible decision to make, and im glad I don't have to, but maybe Frank leaving us with one hell of a legacy, and allowing the youngsters to come through, might be for the best?

????

we have enough quality in the middle,so lets just concentrate on the strikers!

if lampard leaves our mid-field will be something like this -

Essien---------Mikel/Maka----------Ballack

Big Phil should try to make more use of Mikel . He is the future alongside Essien. With the new full back-Bosingwa has impressed in euro 2008- and cover from Ferriera there is no need to consider Essien as a full back. Makalele, on the evidence of the end of last season and euro 2008, is past his time so it depends on whether or not Lampard stays. Do we need another 30+ year old in Deco although he would bring more skill than graft to midfield. Maybe it's time for a rethink on Joe Cole's role and convert him to a more creative position.

Hopefully Cavalho will stay, 7 or 8 places are then filled. The clear out begins!

I don't think a 433 or a 4231are certs for next season- scolari plays it with portugal because it's the only shape that makes sense for their pool of players.

that said, in a 4231, I think if lamps left, we'd be left with essien (with maka for cover), and ballack with mikel for cover. that's ideal, because of the age gap between ballack and mikel- we'd get to see mikel eventually replace ballack, rather than maka (which IMO suits him more).

deco would be the middle player of the 3, a position lamps cannot play, and that we don't currently use. I don't he would be a direct replacement for lamps.

also- bringing deco and ronaldinho would be extremely exciting.

p.s. I think what's often overlooked about deco is his superb workrate and surprisingly decent tackling, he truly is a jose player in that respect.

I don't think a 433 or a 4231are certs for next season- scolari plays it with portugal because it's the only shape that makes sense for their pool of players.

that said, in a 4231, I think if lamps left, we'd be left with essien (with maka for cover), and ballack with mikel for cover. that's ideal, because of the age gap between ballack and mikel- we'd get to see mikel eventually replace ballack, rather than maka (which IMO suits him more).

deco would be the middle player of the 3, a position lamps cannot play, and that we don't currently use. I don't he would be a direct replacement for lamps.

also- bringing deco and ronaldinho would be extremely exciting.

p.s. I think what's often overlooked about deco is his superb workrate and surprisingly decent tackling, he truly is a jose player in that respect.

One thing that concerns me about Deco that I think was particularly noticeable this season is that he does at times play for the protection of referee, especially when things aren't going his way. It's little things, like exchanging passes or making runs where he expects he can at least draw a foul.

I just wonder if he will get that protection in England, given a) his reputation and B) the "quality" of the referees.

He is a quality player though and his short-passing game is something we desparately need, as long as we get someone capable of dribbling defenders at pace, on the flank.

I don't think a 433 or a 4231are certs for next season

I think what we will see will probably be what we've become familiar with. I know you're thinking of Brazil's wingback system (of all people you know I would be glad to see Scolari have the balls to try it) but apparently, that wasn't entirely his own idea. What I'm hoping for is for him to make Essien the 'destroyer' he should be. Deco I'm not too keen on as I don't think he'll improve us unless there's a departure.

I don't think a 433 or a 4231are certs for next season- scolari plays it with portugal because it's the only shape that makes sense for their pool of players.

that said, in a 4231, I think if lamps left, we'd be left with essien (with maka for cover), and ballack with mikel for cover. that's ideal, because of the age gap between ballack and mikel- we'd get to see mikel eventually replace ballack, rather than maka (which IMO suits him more).

deco would be the middle player of the 3, a position lamps cannot play, and that we don't currently use. I don't he would be a direct replacement for lamps.

also- bringing deco and ronaldinho would be extremely exciting.

p.s. I think what's often overlooked about deco is his superb workrate and surprisingly decent tackling, he truly is a jose player in that respect.

Yeah I most a post similar to that earlier which was lost when we changed systems.

Under a 4-2-3-1 formation, I just don't see a role for Lampard.

Of course we might see something different to that particular formation (including a wing back formation which I admit would be interesting to see).

I think what we will see will probably be what we've become familiar with. I know you're thinking of Brazil's wingback system (of all people you know I would be glad to see Scolari have the balls to try it) but apparently, that wasn't entirely his own idea. What I'm hoping for is for him to make Essien the 'destroyer' he should be. Deco I'm not too keen on as I don't think he'll improve us unless there's a departure.

well you're right, and I do think a 433 variant is most likely, but given players like a.cole. belletti, bridge and bosingwa and that currently we have a lot of central defenders a 352 is possible. also, the thing with the 433's is that it places a lot of responsibility on the wide players, and joe cole (who some see as a no.10 anyway) aside, they aren't great. in fact one of our weakest areas.

p.s. nando was saying he even tried 3 at the back with portugal at the start, so it's obviously something he likes.