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Chelsea - Carlo, We have a problem.

The Diamond formation has worked wonders for Chelsea.

We are the highest scoring team in the Premier League, top of the league and no one has managed to stop Chelsea from scoring in 90 minutes.

Yet, the one position Ancelotti has failed to fill adequately in this diamond is the tip of the diamond.

At Milan, he used Kaka to great effect but here he does not have Kaka to use so he picked Lampard, a legend in his own right like Kaka. After a few games he decided to go with other players as Lampard had not been performing as he expected him to.

He used Deco, later on including Joe Cole and Florent Malouda although it was sporadically in Malouda's case. None have really performed to the level expected in that position. Chelsea have probably exhausted every option in trying to find the right player in that position.

The only option left untested is the original owner of the position from 2006, Michael Ballack.

When he arrived at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho quickly made him the attacking midfielder in his new diamond formation. It failed, partially due to Sheva's decline and the fact that Chelsea were too predictable with all their attacks coming through the middle. 4-3-3 or variations of it would dominate until Ancelotti's arrival.

I don't see why Ballack cannot be used since he has played in this position before for Bayern Munich. He may be 33 but he is the best option left. He already coordinates Chelsea's attacks from deep inside Chelsea's half of the field like Pirlo or Alonso.

It is not his ideal position to be sitting so deep, he excels in a more advanced position. I think he should be given another chance to excel in the position. He has the physique to hold off the opposing midfielder trying to shut him down. He has a good range of passing which has led to goals.

Moments include the pass that led to goals against Juventus and Liverpool in the away games in last season's Champions League. To remove him from the right side of midfield would weaken the right flank defensively but Mikel or Essien can play there. If not him, then there is no one left.

Unless you want to go for two unorthodox choices. The two are Essien and Kakuta.

Essien is a choice that will surprise many of you since we know him as a defensive midfielder.

This is a completely new position from all the positions he has ever played. Right back, centre back, defensive and central midfield and even one game as a right winger. Essien has played in almost EVERY position. Essien likes to make runs from midfield even when he is playing as a defensive midfielder so he will enjoy this one.

The downside is that it leaves Chelsea exposed at the back. I don't want to see Mikel playing as a defensive midfielder again since we should be playing him as a central midfielder and not as the defensive midfielder, give it to Ivanovic or Matic. Essien is strong, full of energy and does not give the ball away cheaply like Joe Cole does nowadays.

He does not bamboozle defenders regularly but he can do so on occasion. He can pass well and has shown good crossing. In short, not the choice everyone might go for but if Carlo picks him, he can do well in it.

Kakuta is a choice like Essien's, not many would go for it. Largely due to the fact that the guy is only 18 and he only broke into the first team this season. I have looked up Kakuta and he has been stated as an attacking midfielder as well as a winger who can play on both flanks. So playing there should not be something alien to him at all.

Also because he is the only real attacking midfielder left (Essien is not really one). The tip is turning into Carlo's cursed spot like right back was Mourinho's. Of course we can always not change anything and rely on Deco and Joe Cole, the former being past it and the latter hasn't had a good game since Blackburn.

Whatever Carlo picks, I hope Ancelotti goes for the right one and if he sticks with Joey, he is right in that Joey will be a great player.

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Writer: Seabourch

Date:Tuesday December 15 2009

Time: 4:47PM

Your Comments

well how long has joey got ?he's 26 now!!

springy

28. Not long. At all.

Seabourch

Which Blackburn game was this? The one he got hauled off against at half time? I digress. Kakuta is certainly young, but it is a position he can play, and he did quite well against Apoel. Ballack is the obvious choice, if he has enough energy to handle it. But the other untried choice is Malouda in a rotating sort of triumvirate with Drogba and Anelka. They all play well together and it retains the front three from the 4-3-3 days. I'm surprised we haven't already tried it. He can rotate the position amongst the front three, but also with Frank as he moves forward in one of his infamous box-to-box runs. Seems obvious.

Squiddy

Makes a lot of sense if Ballack is fit enough. Cole certainly is not the answer and I don't think Malouda is suited to play there, in fact when he finally had had enough of Cole on Saturday I was surprsied Ancelotti didn't push Malouda out wide. On the subject of Cole - it really winds up my Spud supporting mate when I tell him Harry will sign Cole - says it all on that subject really, he is not going to change at 28.

Ranners

I will like to see Cole given some more time at the tip considering it's a new formation and he has only got back from an injury..but it should not be an excuse forever..May be try the Ballack option too..What have we got to lose?

samuraisuraj

How many times have we seen Malouda, Ballack and Lampard on the pitch at the same time this season? Last season's 4-2-3-1 worked so well with Essien and Ballack deep, Frank, Nico and Malouda ahead of them and Didi up front. I don't see why we can't fit the same personnel to the diamond (Essien's injury apart.)

Saf 91

if i remember well essien used to play as an attacking midfielder for lyon, it was mourinho who turned him into a more defensive player

mkatsche

Err no. Essien was originally a defender (though not at Lyon)

Squiddy

I'm pretty certain everyone wants to see more of Kakuta!

BatterseaBlue

Essien was a centre half originally!

merlin

Ballack would be a perfect choice. Great vision and passing, good shots from behind the box, great header. If he's fit he should get a go at it again. Joey's been disappointing I still don't think he's match fit and he's definitely not as agile as before.

nimz

Could give Ballack a go, but i doubt he's gonna do any better. The position needs a small, pacy, challenging type, in contrary to Didier and Nic in front. Plus, Ballack isn't that great with his headers and shots nowadays. Let Joe (I'm sure he'll come good) and Kakuta share the role!

Bluephoot Cat

Of course Ballack can do it. My only concern is his tendency to lose the ball when he's dribbling in a congested area. He can be a little clumsy. That said, I've contested for years now that Ballack's ability in the air is being wasted (still is); I also can't think of anyone at Chelsea other than Alex who can kick a ball as hard--the difference between them, naturally, is Ballack is more accurate. So why the hell not try him now? I do also appreciate the idea of using Malouda at the tip. He's in good form and does have a good understanding with DD and Nico. In all fairness, too, he's a better dribbler than Ballack. Could be really useful there.

RadioactiveD

Bluephoot Cat: why is it so many feel Joey will "come good" when he's never shown any real consistency at Chelsea? How many years must we wait for him to hit top form, and to then keep it?

RadioactiveD

I have to admit, I don't think it's as much of a problem as everyone says though - we still have players who are plenty good enough to do the role. Yes, it is something that needs to be looked at long term but it's not a short term crisis or anything like that.

The_Legend_Of_Zola

I agree, TLOZ. Even Deco has scored a few in the role. Joey is capable, not brilliant, but still capable. Lamps can do it although he's better when he plays further back. Malouda is my first choice right now, although seeing Ballack get a chance this season would be most interesting.

RadioactiveD

Remember back in 2007-08 when Avram Grant was in charge? He played Ballack in a more attacking role, as an attacking midfielder and Ballack had his best season in a Chelsea shirt, and one of the best of his carreer, scoring very important goals (the 2 goals vs Man U), even though he only played half a season. If Ancelotti plays Ballack at the tip of the diamond, Ballack will excel and score more crucial goals, and the whole team will gel perfectly.

bluestone13

i great article although ballack's speed has reduced he can put the necessary through balls through the defence ...and i dont think essien will fit much because essien likes to make runs through the middle from deep he is a box to box midfielder unlike ballack ..and i think we should use lampard in the defensive midfielders position for once ...lapard at the bottom ..essien on the right ..zhirkov on the left and ballack at the tip..and i dont think ballack will be stupid enough to try beat three r two defenders with his foot work ..because he will try to beat them with his passing ..now what happens passes by lampard and ballack are targeted to joe cole who trys to get past the defenders and he also finds difficuilt to control his first touch ..so i say lets try ballack for once ....

haji ahmed

I've just remembered JM tried Essien at the point of a diamond in an FA Cup semi against Liverpool at the Old Toilet. We were 2-0 down, going nowhere, so he had to bring on Duff, Robben and Cole to get us back into it before losing 2-1. That was the game Poll disallowed a JT goal for little reason and Reina managed to punch Drogba clean in the head while trying to prevent our goal, but no-one noticed (including Drogba, who got straight back up as if nothing had happened!)

Squiddy

and yeah matic or ivanovich being used as a defensive midfielder sounds good ...

haji ahmed

lampard,deco and joe cole are all performing the same these days wonder whats up with lampard...

haji ahmed

We would be amazing there. And will also operate like Malouda swapping positions with forwards besides providing those great through balls and latching on to some balls from midfield with those exquisite touches. With these skills and more important maturity he has shown when called upon, I think he would be a regular starter next season. But I doubt Carlo will start him against Portsmouth. He needs to get off this bad streak first.

Diego_rodriguezz

when mourinhio brought ballack he was planning to use makalele as a defensive mid essien on the right lampard on the left and ballack at the tip .... so why not try it but in a few years kakuta will rise up to the task ..

haji ahmed

Is Kaka available?

JT_daniel

I don't think it's really a problem position - someone just has to make it their own. Malouda, Kakuta, Deco and J.Cole are all capable of playing at the tip, but the latter two have just struggled for consistency this season. I don't think Ballack would be a bad shout there, but with Essien's absence at the moment, I'd prefer the German to be playing back in the midfield proper. A midfield quartet of Mikel, Ballack, Lampard and Malouda for me tonight.

daspecial1

JT, Kaka is at Madrid. It will cost insane amounts of money to get him here if Real want to let go of him.

Seabourch

some might kill me but I think mikel should be tried.he is one of our best passers,can spread the ball,great technique & strong.mikel maybe erratic,annoying to some & have a few defensive lapses at times but he rarely gets shrugged off the ball or dispossessed.he is nigeria's no.10.he was a more attacking midfielder but adapted his game,why cant he adapt again? At 22 he's young enough.he is pacey,its just that we dont see him get to stretch his legs.I would love to see him in the box with his height.we all say he's useless at attacking but its just that he does what he's asked,defend first.come on try him

Chelsea24/7

Mikel rarely gets shrugged off the ball or loses possession? We must have been watching different players these past few months then.

daspecial1