Ramires Returns

by Graham MacAree on Feb 16, 2012 5:20 PM GMT in Chelsea FC: News

If you were to ask your average football fan who Chelsea's top player has been over the course of the 2011/12 season, they'd probably come up with Juan Mata. While that could well be true, there's another candidate who deserves a place fairly high up that particular list - Ramires. Without the midfielder, Chelsea have looked rather aimless, and although Michael Essien's doing a fine job since his return from injury, he doesn't have Ramires's ability to burst forward at speed, a weapon Chelsea have really missed.

Since Ramires's MCL injury against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, Chelsea have played three matches. They've won none of them, picking up two points from a possible nine. His absence was most keenly felt during the 3-3 draw against Manchester United, where a fit Ramires would be the man picking up Paul Scholes in the second half, but there's no doubt he'd have helped against Swansea City as well (I don't think anything would have helped at Goodison Park!).

Anyway, Ramires. Ramires is back for Birmingham City. I don't really want to use him for a full ninety minutes on Saturday with Napoli coming up midweek, but I'd be fine with him playing 30 minutes at the Bridge. His return is really really good news, so let's all have some sort of Ramires party to celebrate. You go first.

Nobody else is back. Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba have returned from the Africa Cup of Nations but haven't been in training for long enough to feature against Birmingham, John Terry is scheduled to return to full training tomorrow and won't be able to participate in two games in such quick succession, and Ashley Cole is '50/50' to return by next week. That means... more Jose Bosingwa, most likely. What fun.

Anyway, the squad should be at full strength by next weekend. Not a moment too soon.

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awww yeah

by bsally on Feb 16, 2012 5:24 PM GMT reply actions 7 recs

HOLY SHIT

by Graham MacAree on Feb 16, 2012 5:29 PM GMT up reply actions 2 recs

Considering how awsome Ramires is

Thats probably his pet.

by Dlewis on Feb 16, 2012 5:30 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions

It's actually Benfica's mascot

I just wonder which of the two is faster

by bsally on Feb 16, 2012 5:47 PM GMT up reply actions

Chelsea needs to get a real lion

unless they already have one?

by dodgerboy03 on Feb 16, 2012 6:23 PM GMT via Android app up reply actions

Judging by the eagle's disgruntled look, I'd say it just lost

by DPeezy on Feb 16, 2012 6:29 PM GMT up reply actions

Yea,

and I can’t see in the picture, but I bet he’s not even using one of those arm guards

by dodgerboy03 on Feb 16, 2012 6:21 PM GMT via Android app up reply actions

That's so awesome!!!!"

by nsleepy3 on Feb 16, 2012 6:07 PM GMT via Android app up reply actions

I liked Ramires before

Now I may love him.

by cwel87 on Feb 16, 2012 8:59 PM GMT up reply actions

Alright...

now we just need him and the bald eagle in the snow with flipflops and socks. That would be golden.

by alynne4307 on Feb 16, 2012 10:49 PM GMT up reply actions

absolutely fantastic

by dojothecat on Feb 16, 2012 11:55 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions

I think he's probably been our best and most consistent player this year.

by Cablinasian on Feb 16, 2012 5:29 PM GMT via Android app reply actions

Agreed

Mata has had off games (most of which I can hardly blame him for) and it is nice to have Mata’s creativity… But considering the kind of season we’re having Ramires is the kind of player we need more. Regardless of how the rest of the team play he can start a quick break that gets us a goal, disrupt the oppositions midfield… just generally be awesome. I think having Essien back we should play him on the right wing for now though. That way we can play Danny on the left and Mata centrally. I know he’s better though the middle but I’d like Ramires on the right more than Malouda on the left.

by Famouscfc on Feb 16, 2012 8:26 PM GMT up reply actions

I have missed him so much

Incredible ability to unlock a defense with a surging run. Really want to see him partner with Frank.

by Dlewis on Feb 16, 2012 5:30 PM GMT via mobile reply actions

ADFADGJKDBG!

DLGADKJG!
RAMIRES!!!!!!
(Happy news!)

I may not know much about life, but what I do know has taught me to believe in Chelsea.

by CanadianBlue on Feb 16, 2012 5:38 PM GMT reply actions

Yay!!!

Hopefully he will get a small amount of time on the pitch. We need his energy and pace in the Napoli game.

by The Bison on Feb 16, 2012 5:42 PM GMT reply actions

Play him WITH Essien!!

And one of Meireles/Lampard.

by Avinash Mohan on Feb 16, 2012 5:45 PM GMT via mobile reply actions

Fantastic news

Essien/ Ram double pivot could be something special – did they play together much last season?

by XanderL on Feb 16, 2012 5:48 PM GMT reply actions

A little bit but always high up

by Graham MacAree on Feb 16, 2012 5:54 PM GMT up reply actions

Yes please!

and tear that B’ham midfield to shreds.

by forever.blue on Feb 16, 2012 6:11 PM GMT up reply actions

They did well too.

Pretty sure it was Ess who picked up the pass for Ramires for the second goal against City last season . Goal of the season as well .

by ruggedknot on Feb 16, 2012 6:14 PM GMT up reply actions

I surely did miss him

Ramires is one of our most potent weapons in the midfield and pairing him wit bison will be great…..
I will also prefer Lampard to meireles in the midfield,meireles is just a crap and waste of slot during play.
Rambo is welcome back…..

by sop on Feb 16, 2012 6:12 PM GMT via mobile reply actions

Lampard can't press or break tackles...

He’s slow and a defensive liability. He scores good poaching goals, but Romeu, Essien, Ramires all come before him, and he’s level with Meireles in my book. Never thought of Romeu, Essien and Ramires playing together, but AVB liked his holding midfielders to go on the attack at Porto. THese three can all play a holding role, so it could be a question of choose your poison, because whoever is given space will initiate the attack, with one of the others easily sliding into the holding role. Add in Luiz’s abilities, and you have even more options. hmm….

by MikeyF on Feb 17, 2012 4:39 PM GMT up reply actions