Mikel John Obi

[supporter 3,088]

In Monday's game we play with Mikel - Fabregas - Matic. I think Fabregas played in a similar position to that of Pirlo in Juventus, where they play Vidal - Pirlo - Pogba. Put two defensive midfielders (although Matic is a total player) and Mikel and Matic can help to Fabregas to move more freely in the field and can go up and down (box to box) without much pressure. This does not remove Oscar because Oscar has worked hard to improve defensively and could take the place of William in certain games. The usual equipment is Matic - Fabregas - Oscar and Hazard - Costa - William, but the option to put Mikel can help to get Fabregas play with more freedom in the pitch for complicated games off the bridge. I think so ....

[Cescy 40]

He's a useful player, but mainly in games where we're going for a low block and counterattacking style.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

A freer Fabregas makes up for all of Mikel's shortcomings. I don't disagree that we need somebody who offers more than just defence in the pivot but until we go out and buy that player Mikel is the best solution. I also think he's being integrated into the team now in preparation for the Champions League.

I'm not Mikel's biggest fan and I don't like the lack of creativity in the centre when we play two DMs, but I agree. I'm pretty sure if Willian and Oscar were in Cesc's place against Stoke, they wouldn't have made the run into the box to get that pass from Eden. Fabregas isn't the fastest player around, but he has much better attacking instincts than Willian and Oscar(probably playing as a false 9 helped too). Out of our AMs, Hazard has the best link-up play and understanding with Fabregas, and he is the player Cesc seeks out the most(I think Fabregas to Hazard is our most frequent pass combination). We don't really miss much when we play Mikel in the pivot instead of Oscar in the hole.

But I want Jose to try Hazard-Fabregas-Oscar. Oscar will offer more in attack than Willian, and defensively he isn't worse than him.

[Styles 9,790]

I'm not Mikel's biggest fan and I don't like the lack of creativity in the centre when we play two DMs, but I agree. I'm pretty sure if Willian and Oscar were in Cesc's place against Stoke, they wouldn't have made the run into the box to get that pass from Eden. Fabregas isn't the fastest player around, but he has much better attacking instincts than Willian and Oscar(probably playing as a false 9 helped too). Out of our AMs, Hazard has the best link-up play and understanding with Fabregas, and he is the player Cesc seeks out the most(I think Fabregas to Hazard is our most frequent pass combination). We don't really miss much when we play Mikel in the pivot instead of Oscar in the hole.

Yeah, Fabregas and Hazard almsot always exchange the most passes each game; they really do have a brilliant understanding.

And another thing that's being overlooked is that Mikel also allows Matic to be more progressive and break forward with the ball (something he doesn't tend to do much with Fabregas alongside him).

But I want Jose to try Hazard-Fabregas-Oscar. Oscar will offer more in attack than Willian, and defensively he isn't worse than him.

I think he is, and especially on the wing. And that's not a slight against Oscar who is a real hardworker himself, it just says more about Willian who is an absolute beast defensively.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

I think he is, and especially on the wing. And that's not a slight against Oscar who is a real hardworker himself, it just says more about Willian who is an absolute beast defensively.

Maybe, but I'm not sure. I think we need to see more of Oscar on the wing to judge. The only thing I would be a bit concerned about is the fact that he's slower than Willian. Though considering how often Willian fucks up counter-attacks with his decision-making, it isn't that important. IMO, Oscar is a smarter player than Willian: he's slower but he reads the game better, which allows him to track back and defend effectively. I think it's worth a try.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,775]

He's a useful player, but mainly in games where we're going for a low block and counterattacking style.

Roll back 12 months and many people were arguing that Mikel was the ideal man to occupy the main DM role. Enter Matic and virtually no one is arguing that any more. The arrival of someone who really is good at the job has pretty much ended the made up case for Mikel. Now there is a case being made for Mikel to fulfil another function. Well that case too will continue to be argued until we find an alternative who is genuinely good at the second DM role. We are not Leicester City, we should not be making do. If we need someone better, and we do, then let's go and get him.

Perhaps Mikel's real contribution at the moment is as a place holder for Loftus-Cheek. I've been an RLC doubter; not of his talent, that's undeniable, but of how he applies it. If he gets his act together then he will perhaps earn promotion to the top squad. If Jose believes in RLC then he could well think it's better to have a stop-gap player occupying the place earmarked for Ruben, rather than buy an off the shelf player who will block Ruben's path. Ruben is not a proper DM of course but there are good options available if someone with his attributes replaces Mikel in the squad. Just a speculation.

[robdog 2,084]

Perhaps Mikel's real contribution at the moment is as a place holder for Loftus-Cheek. I've been an RLC doubter; not of his talent, that's undeniable, but of how he applies it. If he gets his act together then he will perhaps earn promotion to the top squad.

IMHO Ake, Chalobah & Baker can also play alongside Matic. Mikel is more seasoned & been in more battles than the ones I have mentioned. One thing I like about RLC is the fact he is strong. I know most people don't remember, but my first time really noticing RLC was when CFC played Man City in St. Louis. RLC had to battle Yaya & Barry. I thought he held his own in that match & couldn't wait for him to get more opportunities. I don't know how Jose Ranks those guys, but Mikel is up first then it's one of those guys.

[Oscar 441]

Mikel starting a few games over ramires really confirms that ramires is still hurt and not fully fit.

No way would Jose start mikel over ramires, unless he wasn't fit.

[didierforever 7,349]

decent performance. cycled the ball really well.

[DH1988 1,194]

Our problem wasn't central midfield today him and Matic snuffed everything today and Mikel let's Matic drive forward a bit more.

Good game.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

decent performance. cycled the ball really well.

Agree. Overall he is having a good game, especially in the 2nd half. He did his job, not his fault we concede, why people blame him I don't know. As I said couple of days ago, unless he score a screamer goal or a hattrick, people will still think he is the culprit to be blamed.

[Svita 10 186]

Playing at Manchester United, City and today=no win

Playing against Newcastle=lose

He didnt play shit in these games..but you know, maybe he brings a bad luck or whatever. I also saw some graphic that we have more percentage of win without him playing

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Playing at Manchester United, City and today=no win

Playing against Newcastle=lose

He didnt play shit in these games..but you know, maybe he brings a bad luck or whatever. I also saw some graphic that we have more percentage of win without him playing

I agree if in all on those match Mikel playing 60+ minutes. But against City and MU he just playing as a sub for 20+ minutes. It is harsh to blame, even his luck, on those two matches.

[Barbara 15,149]

I'm not Mikel's biggest fan and I don't like the lack of creativity in the centre when we play two DMs, but I agree. I'm pretty sure if Willian and Oscar were in Cesc's place against Stoke, they wouldn't have made the run into the box to get that pass from Eden. Fabregas isn't the fastest player around, but he has much better attacking instincts than Willian and Oscar(probably playing as a false 9 helped too). Out of our AMs, Hazard has the best link-up play and understanding with Fabregas, and he is the player Cesc seeks out the most(I think Fabregas to Hazard is our most frequent pass combination). We don't really miss much when we play Mikel in the pivot instead of Oscar in the hole.

But I want Jose to try Hazard-Fabregas-Oscar. Oscar will offer more in attack than Willian, and defensively he isn't worse than him.

I actually disagree and I'm surprised few people realize what kind of damage playing Mikel brings to the team.

This isn't about creativity, this is about fluidity, dominance, quick play and making the opposition our bitches.

What do we realize in ALL matches Mikel played for us this month? That our pressing isn't anywhere as good as it normally is without him. Part of that is because Oscar is one of our best pressers immediately after we lose possession, but that also because Mikel doesn't press much where matters because he's never positioned where matters (way too deep and behind other players), Cesc presses as much as he can, but it isn't that amazing, especially when he's very high in the pitch.

But that could be a coincidence, the players being tired and a lot of other stuff that have nothing to do with Mikel. What really has a lot to do with Mikel is that we lose dominance with him in the midfield because we look soft, slow, toothless, and we play way too deep.

He simply destroys our newly established style by simply being in the team sheet. He doesn't know what means pass onwards, forward, he doesn't present himself to link up with the AMs, he doesn't take one single risk, he delays, slows down and sometimes kills out transition altogether.

He's a good defender - he will offer some stability as José likes to call it, but that's about it.

I was discussing with Choulo that we didn't dominate the midfield at all - I guess against Stoke, when combined him and Matic had 16 successful tackles, but that's not dominating because when you dominate midfield your opponent doesn't even have the ball long enough for you to have sixteen tackles!!!!!!! That's the whole point. It really surprises me how nobody mentions or notices that we play completely different when he's not in the team. Proof of that? Many of you said our best match this season has been against West Ham. One single match where he didn't play among many where he did play. Today our best moment in the match was in the second half, and while he was there for some part of it, it was barely because of him (Southampton got tired) and when he was subbed off we played even better. How can't you guys see it?

The problem is not that he's making mistakes, or that he's having bad matches because despite not being as solid as he normally was when he played more often (which is natural), the problem with Mikel isn't what he does bad or well, it's what he can't do at all.

When Willian, Oscar, Cesc and Hazard are playing - especially the latest three, they go deep to get the ball and they move it quickly, they make 1-2s all the time, they have been working better and better like on that. They're developing chemistry and Cesc has been instrumental for Oscar's improvement imo. With Mikel there he doesn't offer it. When Cesc or Hazard drop to start the play, he ignores them more often than not because he won't pass to them unless it's a 110% safe pass. More often than not he'll pass sideways or backwards. How can we bloody dictate the tempo, dominate the midfield, suffocate our opponent with quick, smart and imposing football if we're softly passing the ball to nowhere that matters? How can nobody notice or mention it is beyond me.

And please, you guys are really lacking observing skills if you say BS such as 'when Mikel plays Matic goes higher in the pitch, something he doesn't do much when Fabregas is playing'. Untrue fact and untrue fact. Today Mikel was ahead of Matic on many occasions - because as I said, Mikel drags the rest of the plays to go deep as he can't for the life of him make a pass forward unless the player is 2m away from him. So Matic naturally plays deeper otherwise Mikel will spend the whole day exchanging passes with our back four. Another untrue fact is that he doesn't go high in the pitch when he's playing with Cesc. He does all the time - exactly because when Cesc click with the AMs we just keep the ball moving faster and forward, objectively and in an involving way that is drags Matic higher in the pitch - exactly the opposite of what happens with Mikel.

Notice I'm not detracting Mikel as a player - as I said he's a very good, albeit limited, defensive midfield, but he doesn't fit our new style, he detracts our dominating play and he simply has no place starting in a team with Chelsea ambitions - titles wise and performance wise. He brings the team down simply because the kind of player he is. In another situation, in another team, or maybe even in the current Chelsea in a very specific situation he can be really good, but that's not the case anymore. Still people won't admit that the only significant change in the matches we dominated and the ones we didn't in the last two or three weeks is exactly John Obi Mikel.

edit: I'll write an article about it with heat maps, passing stats, and whatnot to see how we change our setup completely because of one single piece in the team. Checking the heat maps on Squawka now makes it as clear as day. If anything he detracts Matic's influence in the attack in the matches he plays...

[Daniel1980 1,425]

I actually disagree and I'm surprised few people realize what kind of damage playing Mikel brings to the team.

This isn't about creativity, this is about fluidity, dominance, quick play and making the opposition our bitches.

As I said, I'm not a fan of Mikel and I don't like the pivot Matic-Mikel. It's too rigid and one-dimensional. But I like Cesc at #10 more. Eden links up very well with him. For example, the last 3 matches Cesc played #10 next to Eden, Eden scored 2 goals from Cesc's passes and Cesc scored 1 goal from Eden's pass. That's what I want to see.

Ideally, we would need an upgrade on Mikel for that, though.

[Barbara 15,149]

As I said, I'm not a fan of Mikel and I don't like the pivot Matic-Mikel. It's too rigid and one-dimensional. But I like Cesc at #10 more. Eden links up very well with him. For example, the last 3 matches Cesc played #10 next to Eden, Eden scored 2 goals from Cesc's passes and Cesc scored 1 goal from Eden's pass. That's what I want to see.

Ideally, we would need an upgrade on Mikel for that, though.

So we need to address that we need to sign a player closer in style to Cesc to play in the pivot... I prefer him in the pivot, but he's equally great as a #10. My preference lies on the fact that it's easier to find a creative #10 than a pivot player as influential in the attack as Cesc.

[Sheva. 5,373]

I also saw some graphic that we have more percentage of win without him playing

Obviously - but then he doesn't play in 90% of the easy games lol.

[Kieran. 6,317]

He's been solid and dependable these last few games when called upon.