Would Deco improve the Chelsea team?

Frank Lampard looks more and more likely to be leaving the Bridge this summer, paving the way for Portugese playmaker Deco to join the Blues. Italian giants Inter Milan are interested in signing Lampard, which would reunite him with Jose Mourinho.

Will moving to Italy help Lampard improve his all round game? Also is Deco a better player than Frank and will he improve Chelsea for next season?

I don't think Deco will be able to produce the magic to take Chelsea to the next level as that would take a player like Ronaldinho in his old form. Lampard in my opinion is better than Deco and scores many more goals.

Lampard could improve in Italy although I think he's pretty great already, being the force behind Chelsea's wins.

Deco is better than Lampard. Much more intelligent player. Lampard only has one trick and everyone knows what it is now, hence his drop in form the last year or so.

Chelsea would be much better with Lampard in the team,it would take Deco maybe at least a full season to get used to the way the english game is played,and he's already 31,or maybe 30 i dunno lol

I said in the transfer forum that I'd take Deco at United in a heartbeat, he's a player of the highest quality and one which would probably improve any team in the world.

He has a lot of the qualities that I admire in a central midfielder, great touch and control, fantastic passing and the ability to navigate himself through close quarter encounters with sheer finesse.

Doubts have been raised about his age, you only have to have watched Portugal in Euro 2008 to see that he still has everything intact. He was easily Portugal's best player, everything goes through him and he is simply sublime to watch.

I do not rate this player. As far as i have seen he is vastly overrated.That being said i was never a big fan of Lampard ,thought he was a selfish player who craved stardom too much. In recent times i have grown to like him a bit more and i thought he played quite well in the chapions league final for a player of his limited ability. I would not exchange Lamoard for Deco though ,because i don't know if Deco could hang in the premiership.I know Lampard can at least perform against the mid level teams consistently ,but i don't know if Deco could do the same against them.

I really don't know why Mourinho rates Lampard so highly ,i just don't see what it is he does.

Depending on how quickly he adjusts to the pace of the EPL I think Deco would improve the way Chelsea play and make it more attractive.

The major thing that he does differently to Lampard is carry the ball, Lampard is a one and two touch merchant, control the ball and move it on quickly or arrive late in the box and shoot. Which is fine and Deco can play that way but the other part to his game is moving with the ball and holding it up to let other players join.

I am not so sure that Lampards style would suit the Italians but it would be interesting to see what he learnt playing over there for a couple of seasons.

Deco for me would be a massive asset for Chelsea,i'm sure he would work very well with Ballack as a foil.
His passing,tecnique and shooting are not in question.One element of his game that does worry me is his blatant diving!.We've all seen it time,and time again for Barca and Portugal.This would soon catch him out in the PL,though one would hope he could loose this from his game?.
Put it this way,i'd love to see him at Upton Park!

As far as Lampard is concerned........................... Bye Bye.

Deco is a very good player and would improve most teams including Chelsea

I just remembered that John Terry once kicked the ball into his Nuts after he was hacked down in teh champions league. Time to kiss and make up i guess.

I think Deco is a much better player but Chelsea will miss the goals from Lampard.

Yeah he will make more of an instant impact than Ballack and Shevchenko did. Felipe Scolari as the manager will help as they know each other and will get the best out of him.
Same for Lampard if he goes to Italy. He can play the more physical/intense pace of the premiership which is great use in any league.

I agree - Lampard is very good in the EPL and Deco may take time to settle - it took Ballack a while didn't it...


Altho FL scores lots of goals from midfield he does not create that much - or does he?
Deco may not score as many but he may create more than FL - so there may be a case for Deco in the long run.

FL seems to enjoy working with Jose - so why wont he like working with Big Fil?

I think it would be better for Chelsea, FL and England if he stayed in the EPL....

As for Deco - i think the EPL would be too fast for him.....

I must admit i did have doubts watching Deco in previous years with regards of how he would cope with the large physical aspects of the game here if ever he were to move to England, but I think now more that he will be able to adapt, because he is a very, very decent footballer. Providing they can get the balance right in Midfield i think they will be able to reap the benefits of Deco's experience and abilities, superb passing, great technique and control and movement.

There's Some good points made by people in this thread, But I don't buy this about players turning 30 and losing their pace and ability. A few months before they turn 30 they are supposedly at the peak of their career so I don't see how all that can go as soon as they turn 30. Plus times have changed, players look after themselves better nowadays which which means they're in better shape and this prolongs their career. Unless they have had a series of injurys I don't see why they will be any different from the ages 28 to 32... maybe just getting better by gaining experience on the way. They good thing about turning 30 though is the transfer fee's aren't at a ridiculous price... Unless your surname is Shevchenko.

Saying all that though when a player does come to play in the premiership at the age of 30 or above they can find it hard to adapt to the pace and physical side of the game which I think will be the case with Deco, he is a great player there's no doubt about it but i feel he will struggle to find his best form for Chelsea.

As for Lampard I think he's desperate to go and play for Mourinho at Inter, This may well be his last chance to get a taste of playing regular football on foreign fields... Something almost every player wants to do at some stage of their career, And where better to do it than a place where there's the manager who you've had a great relationship with in the past and knows your game. Lampard will be a big loss for Chelsea because he's been a big player for them so no wonder they want to keep hold of him but i can see him leaving.

There you go, you can now see what Deco brings to ANY team he plays for. He's just a sublime player and still in my opinion, one of the best midfielders in the world.

Man of the match today for Chelsea. Fantastic performance.

Not bad. first game of the season surrounded by the comfort of the home crowd and a poor Portsmouth perfomance... i'll stand by my original opinion.

I have had the pleassure of seeing Deco perform Live and he is the best player I have ever seen in the flesh on the pitch infront of me.
He is so gracefull on the ball. His intelligence is unrivaled and he see's things other do not. When you see a player in the flesh and not just on television you can really see what a player is about. You dont get the full picture on the box. Chelsea fans are in for a treat with him in their midfield. He will create no end of chances for the likes of J cole, Drog and Anelka. He is the key reason I have predicted them to win the league again.

I'm happy as well, he is in my dream team. An assist and a goal! Not bad.

i have him too and now i regret not giving him the captaincy. i gave it to Tevez, who didn't even play. a death in the family it seems and he had to go home for a few days

Of Course Deco will improve the Chelsea team. They have so much quality in midfield in Lampard, Ballack, Essien and Mikel i understand why people would think that Deco wouldnt improve this squad. Although i don't agree with the people who think this i can understand their reasons for thinking this, his Age, thinking he'd struggle with the style of the premiership, also the quality Chelsea already have people may think he has lost it a bit and isnt quite as good as these players anymore. I think Deco will be excellent for Chelsea, they have the quality in Lampard and Ballack but what they do not have is a clever player who can move the ball around very well and he has such excellent vision he will create many chances for his team mates, and i reckon he could be their player of the season and will be very important at winning the title back for Chelsea.