While there are still technically two games to go in the 2013-14 season, and minor miracles may yet happen, our attentions are slowly but surely turning to next season already. And next season includes the excitement of the summer transfer window as well, during which time our hopes and dreams of a world class center forward and maybe a few other reinforcements may finally be realized, alongside the sale of a few useless, annoying bits and pieces.
One of those bits, through a notion that has been gathering a bit of steam lately, is Ramires. The midfielder, Chelsea Players' Player of the Year in 2011-12 (and back-to-back winner of Goal of the Season in 2010-11 and 2011-12), has had a fairly disappointing campaign despite a good start and the idea that he was the embodiment of a player who possessed the will and the physical attributes to be top class with a bit of Mourinho guidance and a bit of maturity. Sadly, that latter bit really went *poof* as we got closer and closer to the end of the season and he let his frustrations get the better of him against both Aston Villa and Sunderland. Ramires is currently suspended and will end the 2013-14 Premier League season by being ineligible through suspension for six of the final eight matches. That he did that without biting anyone is somewhat impressive.
"So the structure and the base are partially there. It was not possible to complete that puzzle [this season] due to different factors. If next season we have, for example, a number nine that we decide deserves to be the first choice, plus the stability that Matic can give by being always available, and with Ramires hopefully getting fewer bans - hopefully then we can have more stability."
-Jose Mourinho; source: Chelsea FC
So, probably bad news for the RamiresOUT brigade, as Mourinho seems to be counting on the midfield sparkplug - in all the senses of the word - for next season as well. Ramires, now in his fourth season with the Blues, has three years remaining on his contract and is currently four games shy of 200 appearances for Chelsea. He will be looking to add to his 41 caps this summer in Brazil, with Brazil.