Ramires was brought to Chelsea primarily to play as a central/defensive midfielder. However, last season he enjoyed fine spells for the club operating as a make-shift right winger under Roberto di Matteo playing a crucial role in the side’s FA cup and Champions League run. As a result of this, many fans feel that his future is on the right flank, rather than in central midfield. This has been fuelled by the player being selected wide right in the club’s recent friendlies versus AC Milan and Brighton. This article will argue that he is best as a central midfielder.
Ramires’ role last season
Ramires played 19 league games as a central midfielder last season and 9 games as a wide player in the Premier League. He mainly operated as a central midfielder under AVB in what was a 4-3-3 only being used out wide on one or two occasions. In the early part of the season when Chelsea were under performing it was Mata and Ramires who stood out as the club’s top performers. Ramires’ contribution from centre midfield was excellent as he added more goals to his game as well as being a willing runner both in offence and defence.
When Robert di Matteo took charge of the club the formation was altered from a 4-3-3 to more of a 4-4-1-1. Sturridge played the majority of games on the right under AVB but, as a converted forward, was deemed too much of a defensive liability to operate in the wide right role. The role of the right sided player became primarily a counter attacking role with defensive responsibility in what was essentially a 4 man midfield; Ramires playing wide with the two anchoring central midfielders in Mikel and Lampard. RDM opted for Ramires because of his obvious defensive ability and work-rate but also because Chelsea lacked a natural wide right player. Malouda was a left midfielder, as was Kalou and Sturridge was a forward not a midfielder.
Ramires’ role was as much about tracking opposition wingers/full-backs as it was about breaking forward. On a number of attacks Ramires was the focal point for counter attacks on the right due to his pace, for example with the FA Cup final opener he scored against Liverpool raiding down the right flank. Ramires actually completed more dribbles than any other Chelsea player last season with 1.4 per game. In a defensive capacity the move worked excellently also, as against Barcelona in the Champions League first leg he was used as a left midfielder with the view to tracking the runs of Dani Alves. The switch was as much out of necessity as anything else. Chelsea became a reactive side under RDM and Ramires was essential to this due to his pace and tactical discipline which allowed him to complete transitions between defence and offence comfortably. All in all Ramires was probably Chelsea’s best (or one of their best) players last season scoring an impressive 5 goals in the Premier League and 12 goals in all competitions.
Where does Ramires play best?
For me Ramires is not a wide player, but best as a box-to-box central midfielder where he can balance his defensive and attacking abilities. With the acquisition of Hazard and Oscar, as well as Chelsea being linked with other attacking wide players such as Schurrle and Moses (who both operate wide right) it seems likely that the side will move to a 4-2-3-1 with three attacking midfielders in behind the striker. Ramires will thus in my view return to central midfield where he plays best. As a winger last season he only managed to play 2 successful crosses out of 44 attempted, which indicates that he is not the best natural wide player, further to this he only managed one assist in the Premier League.
Ramires defensive abilities are definitely good enough for him to play in a more disciplined role. He was Chelsea’s top tackler last season with 2.8 per game as well as completing 1.9 interceptions per game. This is even better when we consider he spent 9 games out wide in the Premier League. His distribution is also good with an accuracy of 85.1% (made worse by the high number of crosses he misplaced) which further highlights his ability to perform in a more central role.
The likelihood is that he may start centrally once Chelsea have Mata and Oscar back from Olympic duty. However Ramires will still provide an option on the right especially if Chelsea are playing against particularly strong opposition. Ramires can provide insurance on the right wing as a more defensive option than either Mata or Hazard who are less inclined and less able to track back. Ramires stamina and work rate make him exceptional at fulfilling this role as well as the central midfield role.
Conclusion
Ramires operates best as a central midfielder, preferably in a 3 man midfield where he can attack and defend. Any central midfield role this season would require a more defensive outlook due to the 4-2-3-1 set up from Chelsea. His dynamic runs might have to be less frequent if he does operate more centrally which would be a shame, but as his defensive stats show he does have the ability to play more of a disciplined game if needs be.
To play as a natural wide man is a waste of Ramires’ talent. He is not technical enough to place precision balls into the box and despite being fast on the ball he is also not the most skilful player to beat opposition full-backs. Ramires’ as a winger represents a make-shift player who can track full-backs and put in a great team shift. His best position is central midfield which is where he should be utilized next season. In this role we’d get the best out of him both offensively and defensively where he can use his pace and stamina to complete transitions between attack and defence.
Thank you. I have been saying this for ages now, and hopefully this will convey to most why he is best suited as a CM.
Actually I think your right about the fact that he’s better in a 4-3-3 but I think he is probably best in a 4-4-2, as a RM. He’s a very different sort of player but he would work best in either a flat middle four on the right or in a diamond. His work rate means he offers great cover and he can get forward. He would be good as a CM but he needs to be more powerful to play against sides like Stoke who will simply outmuscle him. He’s a quality player and would work as the in-between midfielder in a 4-3-3 (Imagine him with Lamps and Makelele in their primes) that would be his best position.
Ramires will b very gud in holding midfielder cos of his workrate, pace, etc. so as 2 improve ur midfield pace up front. Just like makelele.
I think his best position is a hybrid of the two. for Benfica and for Brazil under Dunga he played on the right side of a diamond and shuttled up and down that side of the pitch. he was comfortable attacking from wide positions while also providing central cover when needed.
His biggest asset is his blistering pace and steam train like stamina. Both this assets will be totaly wasted in a more witdrawn holding position. We saw last season under AVB that he is totaly uncomfortable playing as a holding midfielder even alongside someone whos very much experienced – Lampard. The first leg against napoly he was deployed alongside Mereiles in the defensive midfield and i don’t need to remind anyone what happened in that game. Rmires for the right wing using his speed and never ending energy reserves to beat those fullbacks or as number 7 in a four three three formation where he can make surging runs behind the defenders.
He shud b best utilised in d central role in order 2 control d defence and counter attacks.up cfc
As for me, the article is okay infact, it says the whole true. In the case of meeting more physical sides like stoke, it depend on who play with him in the mid field and more so, Ramires knows how to find his way in marking them out. All in all, i like the article and comments cos it shows that you can’t have player like Ramires and ignore him.
I think that he may become a bit of a problem this season. I can’t see him playing wide right in a 4-2-3-1 formation. I suspect that Marin, Mata and Hazaard will be the three. That leaves him as one of the 2. Just remember how he played away v Napoli in that role – poor. I suspect that he will only play wide as a defensive tactic.
My other concern is where does Oscar fit in?
Oscar will vy for one of the 3 AMC roles. And yes I agree Ramires may struggle to fit into the 4-2-3-1…
That was one game in which everyone was poor. Besides, he was our best player in the first half of the season.
Ramires is a typical box-to-box player, which will make it difficult for him to play the role of a holding midfielder, which requires a certain level of positional discipline and to a little degree a level of immobility, so as not to expose the defense. against Stoke in the reverse fixture at stamford bridge, he struggled in this holding mid position after Obi Mikel was taking off.Ramires is also not creative enough to play the other central position in RDM’s double pivot. Unless there is a change to a 4-3-3 formation Ramires’s dynamism will be best served on the wings
our squad numbers leave us with an option of 4~2~3~1 formation of which it will accomodate Ramires in the holding mid but given the go ahead to move up to attack and back to defence he is Ramires he adapts where is instructed to let us remember this now if we go for a 4~3~3 it means we all have likes of mata going to the right wing now what about he Hazard it definetly open and the truth our squad allows the 4~3~3 formation even if we dont like it thats the fact you know when Ancelotti brought Ramires to chelsea it was simple he was a box to box mid evedence of his game is the games of Mancity when he danced through the mancity defence in an amazing style right from the midfield so i dont see the reason to doubt the lad and also the first leg of the champions leauge chelsea vs manutd 2010/2011 season he ramires from the midfielder was brought down by Evra of which we were denied a penalty so its it Ramires is a fantastic midfielder.
his best position is RB not enough creativity or technical. I know for sure that if say Pep comes in he’ll play this team:
Cech
Ramires—Cahill—Luiz—Bertrand
Mata———–Romeu———Oscar
Marin——-Sturridge——-Hazard