RDM has been baffling this season with his team selections, Lampard and Mikel was the partnership that started the season, then he dropped Lampard and started using Ramires and Mikel.
After that Lampard got injured in the shaktar game (away) and he just stuck with Mikel - Ramires.
Lampard - Ramires have only started together in midfield in 2 games this season, vs Nordsjaellen away (1-4 win) and vs Shaktar away (lamps got injured in the first 15 minutes).
I agree with acmilan that no other of our midfielders have the intelligence nor the passing range of Lampard, they're just muscle.
Problem is none of our midfielders are cut out for the system we're playing, Lampard is not a DM, neither is Ramires, only Mikel and Romeu are pure defensive midfielders.
Our squad is IMO more suited to play a 4-3-3 rather than this season's customary 4-2-3-1. added to our lack of DMs the 4-2-3-1 doesn't really work because we're playing a very narrow game were our wide attacking players (Mata, Hazard) tend to drift to the center which makes us rely for width on our fullbacks. They also don't track back enough to make the system work and our fullbacks are left exposed every single time on the counter and subsequently skinned (see RVP goal and David Luiz own goal in the game vs manure and also both the shaktar games). compared to Mourinho's 4-2-3-1 in Inter where he shifted Eto'o into a winger and made them all defend as a unit, ours is lacking in that aspect. Mikel who is supposed to be our best DM is just above average, he lacks the urgency to be our starting DM, he loses the ball upfield and doesn't bother to track back or cover his man, he just jogs. He needs to be dropped and replaced by a better player ASAP, problem is we don't have a replacement. Still can't believe we loaned out Essien and Sold Meireles without getting replacements, poor management.
I think Lampard is still our most complete midfielder and could/should play a role in our team.
Also we have huge problems in our forward line but I think you're all aware of that.
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