Ramires to Chelsea for £20M

Isn't it about time this Essien argument was moved to an Essien thread?
 
Coincidentally injured ... as is Drogba who is equally rubbish.:lol:

You have really shit comprehension skills mate.

Not once have I said Essien was rubbish. I've been very complimentary about his abilities.

All I've said is that Essien has missed a hell of a lot of football in the past two years and as such, he doesn't deserve to be lauded as one of the best central midfielders in the world. That doesn't mean that I'm implicitly calling him rubbish.
 
You have really shit comprehension skills mate.

Not once have I said Essien was rubbish. I've been very complimentary about his abilities.

All I've said is that Essien has missed a hell of a lot of football in the past two years and as such, he doesn't deserve to be lauded as one of the best central midfielders in the world. That doesn't mean that I'm implicitly calling him rubbish.
So if Messi misses three fourth's of this season, he isn't one of the best in the world? Fletcher would be better than him right?
 
So if Messi misses three fourth's of this season, he isn't one of the best in the world? Fletcher would be better than him right?

Was it you that compared Torres with Fletcher earlier? Stop doing that. And stop taking my arguments and applying them to ridiculous extremes.

Of course that wouldn't be the case.

But Messi is an interesting case. How did he get on this summer, with a poorly set up Argentinean midfield and backline behind him? The Fletchers of this world facilitate the Messis.

Messi himself was never recognised as an absolute elite player until his string of niggly injuries all cleared up and he was able to do it over a full season - 08/09.
 
Was it you that compared Torres with Fletcher earlier? Stop doing that. And stop taking my arguments and applying them to ridiculous extremes.

Of course that wouldn't be the case.

But Messi is an interesting case. How did he get on this summer, with a poorly set up Argentinean midfield and backline behind him? The Fletchers of this world facilitate the Messis.

Messi himself was never recognised as an absolute elite player until his string of niggly injuries all cleared up and he was able to do it over a full season - 08/09.

Like in 2007 when he was third in voting for Ballon d'Or and runner-up for the FIFA thingy? Must have been elite in many eyes.
 
Was it you that compared Torres with Fletcher earlier? Stop doing that. And stop taking my arguments and applying them to ridiculous extremes.

Of course that wouldn't be the case.

But Messi is an interesting case. How did he get on this summer, with a poorly set up Argentinean midfield and backline behind him? The Fletchers of this world facilitate the Messis.

Messi himself was never recognised as an absolute elite player until his string of niggly injuries all cleared up and he was able to do it over a full season - 08/09.
Messi was poor all on his own at the world cup. Fletcher wouldn't have made him clinical all of a sudden.

And no, Messi was always better than Fletcher, by a mile. Similarly, Essien has always been better than Fletcher. I hope he isn't this season though.
 
Back to Ramires...

Don't know if anyone's posted this, but Kaka speaks very highly of him:

"I am pleased that Ramires has joined a top European club, but I actually think it's pretty scary for the Premier League and for teams who are looking to win the European Cup this season," he told the Daily Star Sunday. "For me, there is no doubt that Chelsea have signed the very best young central midfield player in the world.

"Now he is at Chelsea I think he will become the best midfield player in the world within two years and will be placed in the same bracket as Claude Makelele, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.
Not only is Ramires a great player but he is a humble boy and is always willing to listen and learn from those that have been in the game a long time."

He added: "Frank Lampard still probably has another two years left at the top and I am sure he can be a great mentor to him. Those two can form a devastating partnership that nobody in the Premier League will be able to cope with.

"Ramires is the complete central midfield player. He can tackle, pass, he works hard, he is strong and he can score goals. He will make the Chelsea midfield look frightening. At such a young age, Ramires plays with no fear and playing at such a big club and in such big games won't trouble him. I don't see anybody stopping Chelsea making it two Premier League titles in a row."
 
That's interesting. I mean it's natural that you say two or three nice sentences about your colleagues from the national teams but his words are pure praise and he seems to be genuinely convinced of Ramires' talent.
 
Daily Star constantly prints these outrageous interviews that are being knocked down as fakes time after time after time. They make The Sun look reliable.

Shouldn't there be at least some accountability for what you write? I know tabloids in general, and British ones are the worst at that, are not to be trusted, but how can you constantly get away with claiming direct quotes from certain players/managers etc knowing all along that those interviews never happened?
 
He hasn't signed, what is going on who knows.

According to the Guardian he's signing today...

Dominic Fifield guardian.co.uk, Thursday 12 August 2010 23.23 BST

Chelsea have been given the go-ahead to complete the £18.2m transfer of the Brazil midfielder Ramires from Benfica after the player was granted a work permit at a tribunal today.

The clearance came this afternoon after the Chelsea assistant manager, Ray Wilkins, and the club secretary, Dave Barnard, attended a hearing in London and argued their case for Ramires to receive a permit under the special circumstances clause, given that he has not played the required 75% of games for Brazil over the past two years.

The panel sanctioned the signing of the 23-year-old widely recognised as one of the most sought-after young talents in the game. The Brazilian is expected to arrive in London tomorrow to complete the paperwork, although he is unlikely to be considered for Saturday's visit of West Bromwich Albion to Stamford Bridge.
 
You have really shit comprehension skills mate.

Not once have I said Essien was rubbish. I've been very complimentary about his abilities.

All I've said is that Essien has missed a hell of a lot of football in the past two years and as such, he doesn't deserve to be lauded as one of the best central midfielders in the world. That doesn't mean that I'm implicitly calling him rubbish.

Since when was being as bad as Drogba not a compliment? Drogba's actually quite good! :lol:

Do you have a problem with Drogba then I take it?
 
I see red arrows, but I must say I like Chelsea's signings, and I'm not talking about this season only. Despite having a sugar daddy, they usually make reasonable transfers which don't have a Galactico reputation but still turn out great. Exceptions like Sheva only prove the rule.
 
Messi was poor all on his own at the world cup. Fletcher wouldn't have made him clinical all of a sudden.

And no, Messi was always better than Fletcher, by a mile. Similarly, Essien has always been better than Fletcher. I hope he isn't this season though.

Why are you still comparing such obviously different players?

My point was that a team needs balance. At no point did I say Fletcher was better than Messi.

You need to read people's posts properly before you reply.

Also, it's complete and utter horseshite to say he was "poor" at the World Cup.
 
Messi was poor all on his own at the world cup. Fletcher wouldn't have made him clinical all of a sudden.

And no, Messi was always better than Fletcher, by a mile. Similarly, Essien has always been better than Fletcher. I hope he isn't this season though.

Have a look at my quote, and then have a look at your response. You've completely missed that point mate.
 
I thought he was pretty meh, as he has been almost every time I've seen him.
 
Had a great 2nd half - but soo too did almost Chelsea's entire team. Was shocking, close to the point of non existence in the first half though.

So to combine the 2, he had a average match.
 
Didn't think he was all that yesterday, game of two halves, but I do reckon he will be a great player for Chelsea, if they play him in the proper position. He's got a lot of talent.
 
Definitely better in the second I'd agree. I don't agree that Chelsea were total bollocks in the first though, they started off really well.
 
It was pretty embarrassing hearing that he was good in the second half....considering how awful he's been most of the season, then our midfield just randomly lets him have a pretty good half as they crumble.
 
He's been gradually picking up form and was probably their best player in their last league game, and he's got a lot of similar traits to Fletcher that he has shown are even more useful in big games. And he did even better against a stronger Arsenal midfield. But yes, complete embarrassment.
 
I think he has been brilliant recently for Chelsea. Very strong and quick, decent technique. Amazing energy levels and a good eye for a pass. Box to box midfielders are a rare breed currently and I think Ramires is on his way to becoming a top top player.
 
He wasnt that great playing as a box to box midfielder though. He's doing better since Chelsea started to play him right midfield
 
I think he has been brilliant recently for Chelsea. Very strong and quick, decent technique. Amazing energy levels and a good eye for a pass. Box to box midfielders are a rare breed currently and I think Ramires is on his way to becoming a top top player.

Another thing he has is pace, I think he does have all the attributes required to be a top footballers seems to be a bit hit and miss at this point at Chelsea, but that was a real nice goal he scored a few weeks back
 
I was a big fan of his before he went to Chelsea. He just looked like he had great technique and electric pace whenever I saw him before he moved. It was always going to take him time to adapt in England and ever since his old Benfica team mate Luiz moved there too his confidence has soared.
 
Had a great game for Brazil as well. I know it was only a friendly that too against the Scots but the ease with which he brushed off tackles and went past players was very impressive.
 
He's yet another example of what a little patience and faith can do for a young player. We/the press can be far too rash in writing off young talent, even ones we know have quality and have shown it previously(see Jonny Evans now, Nani in the past etc). He looks like he's settling down now and is playing some quality football. He could still do with bulking up a little though, if he does that and continues to mature, he can go on to be a top player.