Sergio Ramos - What could he bring to the table?

My posts on Chelseadaft thus far, have mainly consisted of reporting on Blues games, so I wanted to do something a bit different this time around and create a debate on something…

What I wanted to ask you Chelseadaft readers, was whether or not you think Real Madrid defender and Spain international Sergio Ramos would improve our squad. Ever since Ramos was dropped for Madrid’s Champions League game with Manchester City, there have been rumors of a falling out with manager Jose Mourinho. Many newspapers and online sources have cited Chelsea as a potential destination for Ramos, should he choose to depart the Bernabeu in January.

But would he really add anything to our squad? Do we need him? Well let’s look at the evidence.

He is much like Branislav Ivanovic, in that he can play anywhere along the back line, and do a sterling job there. He is good in the air, can bomb up and down the flanks tirelessly, and also chip in with a goal or two now and again. He is physically strong, and is generally regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. He would feel right at home at Chelsea as well, with fellow Spaniards Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Oriol Romeu and Cesar Azpilicueta already plying their trade at the Bridge.

So where would he fit in at the moment? Well, in my opinion, nowhere. Once upon a time, we could have really used Ramos in our defence. Last season, when we were shipping goals for the hell of it, a player of Ramos’s calibre would have unquestionably solidified our back line, and tightened up our leaky defence. But I just don’t think that Ramos would be able to cement a place in the starting 11 at the moment.

His primary position of right back is currently occupied by the aforementioned Ivanovic, and backed up by new boy Cesar Azpilicueta. It would be unfair to suggest Ramos would get in ahead of Azpilicueta, as we haven’t really had a good look at him yet, but one thing is for sure and that is that I would much rather have Ivanovic at right back than Ramos. Ivanovic has arguably been our best defender so far this season, and has really grown in leaps and bounds in the last three years. At 26, Ramos is two years younger than Ivanovic, but I just feel that Ramos isn’t good enough to keep the Serbian out of the team.

Okay, so he couldn’t get in at right back. Center back? Nope, still a no for me, I’m afraid. John Terry has been the heartbeat of the Chelsea team for nearly a decade now, and there isn’t a defender in the world who could take his place. As for Terry’s defensive partners, David Luiz and Gary Cahill, I think both of them are starting to form a solid understanding with our captain, especially Cahill. I think the bond that exists between our defenders currently, is only going to get stronger with game time and it would be foolish to let this slip away. I truly believe that Terry and Cahill could go on to form one of the best defensive partnerships this season.

As for left back, it’s obvious that Di Matteo is lining up Ryan Bertrand as Ashley Cole’s replacement so I’m afraid that’s case closed.

I’m not saying that Ramos isn’t a world class player, because evidently he is. Not many players can say they have won the World Cup and the European Championships one after the other. What’s more is cementing a position in Real Madrid’s defence for the past seven years.

What do you think, fellow Blues? Do you agree with me, and feel that Ramos would be unable to force his way in to our team? Or do you think I’m talking bollocks, and believe Ramos would make a great addition to our defence? Be sure to leave a comment!