How to strengthen our midfield

It's now a fact that we have the most horrid midfield amongst the all top teams. When all our midfielders play to their best we look like a decent side. And then when I look to our bench?

We must improve our midfield for the next season if we seriously think of winning anything in Europe.

What we have now: Matic, Cesc, Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Cuadrado, Ramires, Mikel. Not counting our loanees.

What we need to have:

1. An Oscar replacement. We have seen enough of Oscar. He is a telented boy and works very hard for the team but lacks the creativity and vision of Mou's past playmakers like Deco, Schneider or Oezil. We even sold who could have become our answer to this question! Now we must buy a new number 10- a real world class playmaker. Isco/ Coutinho or bringing back KDB? Is thinking of Goetze too much unrealistic?

2. A partner for Matic: Mikel and Ramires is not the answer. Cesc is good until the opposition do not put him under pressure. Probably a Pogba/ Ramsey/Koke/ Gundogan will solve our problem here.

3. A Matic backup: This is really hard. No top player will like to always sit on the bench! But if we can throw enough money to schneiderlin will that be impossible?

It's obvious we need at least one central midfielder, if not 2. An AM is also needed.

With the comments about Loftus-Cheek, I am hopeful he could fill that 4th/5th CM spot. However, I doubt it will happen.

If I were in charge, I'd sell Ramires and perhaps even Mikel depending on who is available.

Ramsey, for me, would be ideal. Due to him being homegrown (something which Pogba would not be). However, Arsenal could well stand in the way and we've not been linked to him at all. Pogba would be massively expensive and would more than likely limit our other purchases. Schneiderlin would be a decent signing, for sure. He'd be one I would target.
I'd be careful about Gundogan and Koke, since Gundogan has been injured for a long time and Koke generally plays further up the pitch. However, like Most Spaniards who come to the EPL, might be suited to pivot play.

So assuming that Cech, Mikel and Ramires leave:
I'd target (in decending order): Ramsey > Schneiderlin > Pogba > Pjanic > Khedira > Koke > Gundogan

Purchase one or two of them depending on the cost and then target an AM such as Douglas Costa or Karim Bellarabi. Perhaps we could bring back KDB?

We really have two options for AM, be content with what we have and add depth, or drop Oscar and try to improve. I don't mind either way. Our midfield is a proven force, it's just tired at present.

Douglas Costa, Verratti, Pogba, Isco (instead of Cesc) are perfect choices. Bringing back KDB would be another good decision but I don't think Mourinho has the testicular fortitude to admit his mistake so you can strike that.

Bringing in Benzema would be a good upgrade to our one dimensional attack. Madrid are not keen on him anymore. He's not that flashy to their liking.
Bring in Varane.

That would be a good start.

huntsman wrote:Douglas Costa, Verratti, Pogba, Isco (instead of Cesc) are perfect choices. Bringing back KDB would be another good decision but I don't think Mourinho has the testicular fortitude to admit his mistake so you can strike that.

Bringing in Benzema would be a good upgrade to our one dimensional attack. Madrid are not keen on him anymore. He's not that flashy to their liking.
Bring in Varane.

That would be a good start.

Anyway, what about Matuidi? Mou likes players like Khedira, Ramires, Essien because they have high energy engines! So Matuidi fits in perfectly and pressently he is miles better than the others I mentioned. He can be a backup for Matic or play alongside him.

I'd take him in a heartbeat.

I don't know if PSG would sell though.

Kick wrote:I'd take him in a heartbeat.

I don't know if PSG would sell though.

Why would they? They have more money than Chelsea and are better. The only reason for them to leave would be finance.

I think a mf like Pogba should be priority so that Cesc can be played as a SS. Cesc is not an #8 or #6. I'm surprised that Mou doesn't use 2 holders tbh, then again Mikel and Ramires are pretty average. Pogba-Matic Double Pivote would be great.

I wouldnt mind Ibra signing for a season or two to replace Drogba / Remy.

Is it true that Ibra won the domestic leagues in every season with every teams he played for?

Ibra

No thanks, I'd take Lacazette over him.

And he's won league titles with every team he's been with, just not in every season.

Just bring in a CM of Cesc and Matic's level or close to it.

Cesc has been forced to play as a deep lying playmaker and as a #10 at the same time since he returned to London and he can get away with it when we are against scrubs teams but as soon as we face good opposition he's going to have much more pressure and much less space to operate in and his overall play is hindered.

To not mention how much we suffer when one of them is not playing.

Obviously we need another CM of that level. But who is the best option?

I'm in a footballing love with Miralem Pjanic and I personally feel he would fit majestically with Cesc and Matic.
There's Strootman that we could buy from Roma as well because they have shown that if the right offer comes in they have no concerns letting their key players go.
Kovacic is not there yet but he's still very good and has all the tools to become WC.
Gundogan is a fantastic midfielder and he solved his injury problems.
We could attempt an Ashley Cole and snatch Ramsey.

There's plenty of candidates other than Khedira but I suspect he's who we will end up with.

Surely 2 of Pjanic, Ramsey and Gundogan will solve our midfield problem. I will also want Matuidi as we need Ramires and Mikel replacement too.

It's been long since we bought someone from Arsenal. Not sure whether they will let Ramsey go. They don't have that financial constraints now.

junkyard wrote:Surely 2 of Pjanic, Ramsey and Gundogan will solve our midfield problem. I will also want Matuidi as we need Ramires and Mikel replacement too.

There is no way we'd buy two of those listed, we need one of them and perhaps someone like Schneiderlin, to cover Matic.

Think for priority #1 Varane #2 Pogba #3 don't care about any others.

Katy Perry wrote:There's plenty of candidates other than Khedira but I suspect he's who we will end up with.

I don't think Mourinho is that big of an idiot to buy Khedira.
He made a mistake back at Real Madrid. I think he already learnt his lesson.

Khedira is a huge fan of Mourinho, I don't think Mourinho considers him a mistake since he'd be a player who would fall in line and do exactly what Jose wants.

Either of the bender twins pls, they're like ramires but with an IQ >5

Kick wrote:Khedira is a huge fan of Mourinho, I don't think Mourinho considers him a mistake since he'd be a player who would fall in line and do exactly what Jose wants.

Being a huge fan of the manager doesn't bring you success or buy you trophies. Next season will be Mou's last if he doesn't win and win convincingly. Even if it weren't to be his last season, Chelsea should think big.

Khedira is useless. You don't want me to explain to you why he's useless, because I know, YOU know and everybody knows that Khedira is useless.

I second the vote for Kicky Jr. #1 or #2

Khedira is useless. Everyone knows it. No need to explain.

Should we try the Juve formation with Cesc playing the Pirlo role?

huntsman wrote:

Kick wrote:Khedira is a huge fan of Mourinho, I don't think Mourinho considers him a mistake since he'd be a player who would fall in line and do exactly what Jose wants.

Being a huge fan of the manager doesn't bring you success or buy you trophies. Next season will be Mou's last if he doesn't win and win convincingly. Even if it weren't to be his last season, Chelsea should think big.

Khedira is useless. You don't want me to explain to you why he's useless, because I know, YOU know and everybody knows that Khedira is useless.

I don't mind him, and regardless of your opinion, Jose likes him.

junkyard wrote:Should we try the Juve formation with Cesc playing the Pirlo role?

I would not, Cesc is great a getting assists as well as his long passes. If we were to switch to a 4-3-3, I'd rather have Matic at DM, Cesc at CM and a new CM or Oscar as the other CM.

It'll never happen because it'll make it harder for Mou to park this bus, but I would love to see us buy another top class #10 (that De Bruyne guy from Wolfsburg looks good) and move Oscar to the pivot

Realistically, we need a backup to Oscar at #10 (that De Bruyne guy from Wolfsburg looks good), because having Willian as our second choice #10 isn't good enough