happy_juan

tbf, people would have expected that from you. You still think Obi Mikel is not a shit footballer.

tbf, people would have expected that from you. You still think Obi Mikel is not a shit footballer.

Mikel exiled from starting positions and we are once again dominating the league. Who would have thought?
Stop championing him for not creating a problem about not getting playing time. He knows his level and bargaining power.

When you think to how much Vidic (a year younger than Terry) is struggling for Inter Milan, then it makes you realise just how well Terry is doing to maintain the high level he has been doing.

Fair enough, I just can't see Mikel replacing Matic against, like you say, strong teams like City anyway. It hasn't worked before and it won't work now if we lose Matic. We needed either or both Matic and Luiz in midfield to beat them. Without at least one, Yaya was just too much to handle. In those tough matches, Luiz played, not Mikel.
Again, Mikel hardly ever plays with Jose. He plays less with Jose than with previous managers. I honestly thought that with Luiz gone Mikel was going to play more, which hasn’t happened.
Let me make my point clear here: Mikel cannot possibly substitute Matic because he is not in the same ballpark as quality goes; and when I say quality I’m referring to strength, work rate, mental, and skill. That Jose does not rotate players we know very well, which actually worries me. Why not replace Matic in easy games esp at home after we build a solid lead? That’s also not done.
Say Matic breaks a leg… Now we are talking about starting Mikel in every match and that was not enough in the past – the reason why Matic was acquired.

Yeah because I clearly said Mikel is responsible for managers being sacked... Sigh...
You have your opinion, I have mine, the guy is a liability - my opinion won't change - he's 'coasting' through life at Chelsea - show me clips of him putting his body on the line - like Terry, Cahil, Azpi, Iva, Matic do week in week out - the 'cock' as I will now refer to him, doesn't, he would rather let players run past him...
I wouldn't disagree that he tries harder for his country- which is exactly my point - I don't give a fuck how skilled the player is, every minute they are on the pitch for Chelsea they need to give 100% - he simply does not do that. And that's why he is a liability - both on and off the pitch, because to ME, that's just not acceptable...
I hope he is moved on in Jan or the Summer and AKE given a chance.
I also agree that if Matic gets injured we are fucked in midfield.

Just one more point:
The reason why Mikel does not play isn't because Jose does not rotate players; Mikel does not play because of the difference in quality between him and Matic, which prevents Jose from rotating in that position. Doesn't Jose rotate in other positions where the quality is similar?
Jose does not rotate: Matic, Fabregas, and Costa. Whenever fit, they play.
Many top teams have better options sitting on the bench.... even if not a lot better or as experienced as Mikel is, certainly hungrier.

A major reason behind our solid start to the season. LEGEND

I remember you saying something similar about Lukaku, something along the lines of 'If Mourinho didn't want him then why didn't he sell him last year'.
I'm right aren't I?
Yep, you're absolutely right. It was Luiz and Ramires who were rested, Matic played because he was cup-tied.
He was great in first leg of the tie we lost. He also got himself suspended.
I don't think he's a decent back up no. I think we can cope with him in the side but he is such a limited player that he makes us a far weaker team. A good back-up is one who seamlessly fits in and doesn't force you to change too much.
I think he's purely here for the passport now and he's gone by next summer, maybe even January. But if you disagree then that's fine.

Like Torres is? And Moses?
For a player to leave, someone needs to buy him and then pay him.
Matic was cup-tied for the Madrid game and rested for Liverpool. Mikel has been replaced in the squad by him.
Saying people have a prejudice about him is getting into very dangerous territory. Mikel is a fantastically average player who does nothing exceptional yet has three years left on a £75k pw contract.
And if we actually need him at the start of next year, he'll actually be in Morocco playing in the ACON.
People keep on saying that he's a good squad player or a back-up for Matic....like fuck is he. He's a pale imitation, a replacement in name only. He's not a rotation option because if we do actually play him, we'll be a far more limited team.
Roadkill badger is not a decent back-up for sirloin steak.

This is getting like arguing with Liverpool supporters about their title chances.
Season after season, they build up their chances, claiming to be front runners for titles and then once actual football starts........
Mikel is praised to skies every season and then the manager shows him his rightful position on the bench......

This is getting like arguing with Liverpool supporters about their title chances.
Season after season, they build up their chances, claiming to be front runners for titles and then once actual football starts........
Mikel is praised to skies every season and then the manager shows him his rightful position on the bench......

This is getting like arguing with Liverpool supporters about their title chances.
Season after season, they build up their chances, claiming to be front runners for titles and then once actual football starts........
Mikel is praised to skies every season and then the manager shows him his rightful position on the bench......

Essien does not have a british passport, Kwadoh Asamoh does not have a british passport, Atsu does not have a british passport, Keita does not have a british passport. If you are good enough a team will sign you regardless of your passport, Just look at us we signed Drogba despite us being fully aware that we are having problems with our homegrown quota

Everything about him apparently is.
Mikel is just a very average, unexceptional player. If we play unadventurous, unambitious, stifling football then he won't let you down.
I've never seen him step-up and take control of a game. I've never seen him stick his neck on the line for the team or be the one to put his hand up and give us some impetus. It's why that interview he gave made me laugh.
I think the only knowledge he could pass on to players like Costa and Matic is where the toilets are.

Exactly.
Can't other teams see what a great player he is and stump up £5 million for one of the best DMs in Europe?
Who were all sacked by us.
Mourinho has actually replaced him and relegated him to second-choice status hence the fact he's only featured for 90 minutes THREE times since Matic was signed.
The simple fact is that the people who used to defend him have had their arguments shot to bits by the revelatory performances of Matic who has shown precisely what a quality DM should do.
But apparently that defensive midfield role is something that is so nuanced we can't appreciate it....despite Matic and Makelele being well-loved by ALL Chelsea fans and Mikel being loathed, derided and mocked by the majority.

This was the season we should of been moving away from Mikel IMO. Loaning out Romeu was a mistake in my eyes and using the words 'he adds experience' isn't enough for me to justify Mikel remaining. Romeu would of been a great option next to Matic or Fabregas when called upon.
I just find this a very silly decision.

I really really dont see how his managed to stay here this long, should have left along time ago now his being an obstacle to younger guys who imo are better, seeing him on the bench just means the philosophy will not change for the season, park the bus mentality in big games instead of for once taking the initiative to outplay teams

Enough is Enough, Please just fucking go already!!!!

Luiz was actually a better option in defence than Cahill during Rafa's reign he gave him a chance in midfield becoz he believed Mikel was shit, before Romeu was injured he was already gettin more minutes than Mikel

Really? Last reports were that he was being shopped for £5 million because no-one wanted him.
His contract is too expensive and his quality is lacking, so who would actually want him? We need one of them shitehouse Turkish teams to come in for him because everyone else knows the truth about Mikel.

Sacked
Sacked
Sacked
Came to end of contract
Sacked
Sacked
Sacked
Came to end of contract
Replaced him with Matic and didn't use him much after
None of those managers is perfect and the current one has marginalised him.
Mikel can't be sold apparently. No top team wants him and he's holding out for a passport here. He's lucky that Romeu fucked his ACL.

No he was not, Mikel only started starting when Essien got injured, then when he was fully fit we played Essien, Lamps and Ballack

We have always played Essien ahead of him, we also signed Romeu under AVB, 2 seasons ago Rafa even opted to play Luiz in Midfield bcoz Mikel is shit, he has played 303 times because he has had luck with our DMs always gettin long term injuries, even last season Mourinho had to replace him with Matic and look what a difference it made to our team, the difference was instant. Lets face it that dude is stealing a living at Chelsea, he knows he will be exposed if he goes to another team thats why he does not want to transfer

There is no hype both are not worth wearing the Chelsea shirt but atleast Romeu has more hope to improve due to his age.