04 Apr 2012 18:19:23
Our midfield is probably going to see the most changes during the summer...Obi Mikel, Malouda, Kalou (if you see him as a wide player) and even possibly the likes of Lampard and Essien set to see the door!
A few people have said Obi Mikel has shown signs of improving recently however he still doesn't meet the grade required as far as I'm concerned! I dont really see any development in his play from when he first signed for the club! The same can be said for Kalou, they're both Premier League players but not of the highest standard; as a team with top four / championship ambitions I'm afraid they simply are not good enough!
Malouda had a couple of decent seasons but now looks disinterested and is certainty not a starting player, De Bruyne has been been signed as what could be a replacement in the long term; he'll probably be assessed in the summer but ultimately will spend another season out on loan! A winger / wide forward capable of playing on either side is a definite must for the summer; allow Mata to come into the middle and offer cover for Sturridge.
Lampard surely has another season in him, he will however have to accept - in the same way Giggs has at Utd - that he will not start every game; his comments suggest he has accepted this. I hate to say it but Essien for me is done as a Chelsea player, he leaves a massive gap in the squad but his injuries really hampered what was already a stirling career!
Sturridge (when played out wide), Mata, Ramires, Romeu & McEachran offer a view of the future of the Chelsea midfield for the next ten years! 2-3 new additions needed!
13
Need it after tonight we cant play that formation against barcelona
Josh has some way to go before being included in that bracket, as it stands, he's far from featuring for Chelsea anytime soon.
I think one thing that should be mentioned is we didn't have Ramires creating chaos in the middle for these two games. RDM had a brilliant strategy to put him on the right to assist with Gaitan. While he isn't a great distributer he adds a different feel to the midfield with someone who covers every blade of grass both pffensively and defensively unlike where we had mikel who for the most part stays back and lampard who doesn't cover a lot of ground and looks for space going forward.