I'm not asking him to be a playmaker either

I much prefer Mikel to Ramires in the DM position.

Going on our recent signings and the players we have been heavily linked with i would expect by the end of October beginning of November our 1st team in most matches will look something similar to this:
Cech
Ivanovich, Luiz, Terry, Cole
Ramires, Oscar
Moses, Mata, Hazard
Torres
Subs: GK, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Bertrand, Mikel, Lampard, Sturridge/ Marin

Don't think Oscar will play deeper

Moses won't start

We wouldn't have 3 defenders on the bench as well.

Upto me it'd be:

Ramires/Mikel Lampard/Essien
Mata Oscar Hazard
Torres

Cech
Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole
Mikel, Lampard
Ramires, Mata, Hazard
Torres

Oscar could play in the 2 next to Mikel, but again I think it would be better to play christmas tree.

No Oscar?

Christmas Tree would suit us tbf, though the main worry is that we need attacking width from the full backs espiecally on Oscar's side, and only Bertrand and Azpili(assuming he comes) could provide that, and they're the back up full backs

Bench to begin with, if he settles quickly i like your front 4.

Cole can still be used as an attacking full back imo. Doesn't need to burst forward, just go forward early just to stretch the oppositions defence. One of Mata/Hazard can go wide and Rami's surprise runs from the middle out wide. Then potentially Marin and Moses would be more wingers, which would mean the full backs would be more defensive, so Lampard could play as the 6 in that scenario.

For me Ramires doesn't really have a place in 4231, especially not with our summer additions. He is a top player and as you can tell from my username i love the bloke, but he doesn't have the technique to play in the pivot or the skill to play on the wing.

His best role is in the midfield 3 of a 4-3-3 as the box to box midfielder

---Ramires----Anchor (Mikel/Romeu)----Playmaking midfielder (Frank, Oscar, Raul)

Whether we play such a system remains to be seen, it would be great to find a way to accommodate him though.

Anyone think we ll struggle to find a good balance to the team, gonna be a lot of unhappy players,

Ramires has played with Lucas in the double pivot many times for Brazil, pretty good there.

Ramires style means his unlikely to start to many games as you have signed some top talent this summer. I see a similar situation with Lampard whos best position is behind the striker in my opinion.

Cech
Ivan Terry Luiz Cole
Oscar Ramires
Hulk Mata Hazard
Torres

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-------------------------Cech
-Ivanovic--------Luiz----Cahill/Terry--------Cole-
---Ramires-----------Romeu-------------Oscar---
---------Mata---------------------Hazard-------
----------------------Torres-----------------------

If Azpilicueta signs he could slot into RB, and I expect Lampard to start the season, until Oscar proves he's ready to start. But with Ramires and Oscar in the 3-man midfield, it will give them chance to overlap on the outside, and enable Mata & Hazard to tuck inside where they prefer to play and can slide through balls to Torres.