Kojo

What and leave all our defenders exposed? He's lazy and arrogant, fantastic footballer yes, but not on Essiens level. Essien was a fantastic DM, used to work huge shifts, Toure doesn't run games. As for Toure never liked him, always came across as a prick, and most african players seem to come across as nice people who do a lot of charity work, despite Toure being probably the most paid african at the moment, i never see anything about him doing charity work. Though despite going a little off topic there, yeah i would have him here definitely, but he wouldn't be a perfect Essien replacement by any means.

Haha thanks, i think anyone can replace Emanelo, it also looks like Benitez is going along with a win, so win win?.

Very impressed with him, he kept it simple, he also got the ball forward now and then, did he even give it away?. Won quite a few headers and Boro are a very physical side, some good tackles, one great interception in the second half which could've lead to a boro goal had he not of been covering. I even heard a a boro supporter next to me, some bloke saying he's been impressive Ake and looks like one for the future. Be good to see him get more games, but obviously take it slow first.

Just came back, shame i couldn't celebrate mind, but i loved watchig Ake, he was fantastic all night, made a great interception at the end also. He seems like a good prospect.

And if you've noticed, we can rarely get the ball upfield from the pivot. We need good passers from all round, not just from our attackers. It's not only that we are playing the incorrect formation, but the fact that we have the most unbalanced squad in the league, we have a zillion number 10's and then hardly any midfielders. I can't say I'm too happy with the strike force or defence either. That's far too short sighted, I don't mean to go down this road again, but just because we won the Champions League (on a very rare and lucky occasion i might add) doesn't mean we should stick with those players. Ramires is a brutal footballer, first touch very poor, and his passing is poor also. You know my opinion on Mikel. The main point is, if you actually think that this double pivot is good enough, you seriously need your eyes checked. What could even remotely impress anyone about our midfield? i can't even credit a single bloody thing, it's been the let down of the season, we have been so unbalanced and teams have took advantage of us so many times, simply because we have a huge weakness. Ramires-Mikel pivot is just not good enough, maybe for a midtable team sure, but i want to compete for the title here, and I'm sure we all do. So if you can possibly believe that with those players we can be destined to have a great future then god help you mate.

To be fair i fully understand this, and it's also going to be a great cover for me so i don't get my arse kicked at the game. Benitez just has to go, i don't care anymore, even get mick mcarthy in or something, at least then we will have some spirit. I watch this team and i don't even know if we are playing to win most of the time.

I would give anything to have him back in his prime, ANYTHING, my favourite all time player at Chelsea. Not just his abillity his attitude, this guy donates shit load to charity but doesn't brag about it, it's like a casual thing for him, he's also a very nice person, always smiling, doesn't fight or have an attitude on the pitch. Not like bully boy Roy Keane or anything, Dennis Wise was also a prick on the pitch, just to be fair with the arguement.

A win ratio below 50 percent is just pathetic, 15 games in charge aswell, what fucking shambles the man really is. He was never a good manager, fucked Liverpool up, fucked Inter up, and he's going to fuck us up.

If Gareth Bale gets his hattrick... no scratch that that's going too far, but yeah I'll do something badass.

NO! It's not good enough, what we need is something else, something different! not just a billionare a super billionaire. Someone like Bruce Wayne! not only would he invest in some players, he could kick fergies arse and no one would know, because he is the man of disguise afterall. I'm liking this idea of Wayne Industries taking over, fuck Roman, lets get the Batman in charge and see if we can actually do some damage, Alfred get ready!.

Well unless you're richer than Roman, there is no way we will survive without him, if he goes, this club goes. And if he goes who the fuck is going to buy the club off him? I suppose we can always give Bill Gates a ring.

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Exactly, it's a disgrace that some people think Mikel is a worthy replacement, Essien was like a god in his prime, A BIG FUCKING GOD MAN.

I was going to get away ones with a few mates who aren't boro supporters, but then my other friend as stupid as he is, goes and gets me a ticket in the north stand with him and his little brother, he thought i wanted to get home tickets. But I'm not going to be an arse about it, I'm just greatful i can go to a game because i haven't been to one since last season, and that was up geordie land. It will just be awkward that's all if we end up losing, and no matter what I'm not going to cheer for Middlesbrough, but damn hopefully Red Faction don't catch me sitting down all angry.

Well I'll be honest, i don't like you or most of your posts, but you sum this up much better than i do. I've never known any player so protected in all my life, even worse than the Torres fanboys, how people can say Mikel is the most bullied and hated player is just damn right stupid. When we win games It's Mikel who gets all the credit for it, even though he did nothing, when we lose games everyone defends him. I was on my own on this about a few month ago, now more people are coming to realise that Mikel is shit, and soon i hope everyone will. But coming to see such blind people, it seems that it will never happen.

No, you're praising him for so little, it was like when Liverpool at first where praising Andy Carroll for all the work rate he did, and all the small bits, when really he was just not good enough at all. What Mikel is doing there, is the type of stuff Sandro like that do for fun, they are different players but Sandro taking pressure off other players is the thing what people wont even mention, because he does other things what make him so great. One day you will realise Mikel isn't good enough, i bet money on it, because theirs no way he will become even close to Michael Essien, what a poor replacement he really is.

What a fucking surprise, fuck off stupid one man team they are.

They aren't holding midfielders, but they are better in the role, they play very fluidly.

Arteta Wilshere make a good double pivot, and are much more inferior to Mikel passing wise and defensively. I don't rate Fellaini as most do, but i would rather have him than Mikel, as he is better, Carrick as you mentioned incredibly underrated player, his passing range is fantastic. I'm glad he's actually been getting mentioned by pundits now, Barry is an excellent player when it comes to covering, technically he's not great, got a good passing range but that's about it, he is prone to mistakes however. Sandro for me is the best DM in the league at the moment, he is more box to box but he is fantastic, a great passer of the ball also. Mikel wouldn't get into any top 7 team in the league, just wouldn't happen. Nevermind a top 4 team, and that's why we are slipping out of top 4, because we lack the quality and have to put up with these average players.

Mikels role isn't needed, i think we need a proper defensive midfielder, like Lucas was for Liverpool last season. Like Sandro is now for Spurs, it's a shame really because them two players are currently injured, but fantastic players regardless. Then a CM, but I'm looking forward to De Bruyne, that's if he comes back next season, he might stay two years, but anyway like a Mikel Arteta sort of player for Arsenal. What fucking use is Mikel exactly? what's the point in finding some use for him when it's very unlikely when we could simply just get new players. And so we should anyway, he's never flourished, when Essien went, he never flourishes, he's never actually got that fucking top on and proved he deserves to wear it. He doesn't put consistent performances in, he has a few moments then fucks up, what sort of lame excuse of a player is this?. Time to actually get some guns, rather than sticking with players like that, he's not good enough and the sooner you accept it the better.

Our best signing we've made the past few seasons if you ask me. 7 million is a pure steal, and he will become fantastic, making him into a midfielder is the right choice, i was always concerned about his developement in position because at Genk he was playing just about everywhere and he needs that natural position. But i think we've found it, he's so good at keeping the ball, and his forward passing his excellent. Also unlike Ramires De Bruyne has got a nice first touch and can play fast passing games when we need to step up the tempo against better teams, like against Bayern there is an example, he was making some excellent first touches with heavy passes coming his way. I've liked this lad since i first seen him at Genk, i never heard of him till my friend who is from belgium told me about him and how good he is, thought it was just a load of bull shit, but when i seen him play he was awesome. He's one of the few good things to look forward too in the upcoming seasons, looking forward to him and Lukaku, and i still think McEachran will make it, but not for a few years yet.

I love how the writing goes over John Terrys finger.

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If you want Roman gone, get your fucking head checking, because it's unrealistic to think anyone else can take over. If he left this club would be fucked and crawling with debts, some reckon we would be wiped off football in weeks. Every club has debt, we can handle ours, ONLY WITH ROMAN. No other billionaire will jump in and save us, why would they? this club seems like a death trap, and after you spend billions no one seems to appreciate it, ESPECIALLY THE FANS.

That's the bottom line mate, he is fucking useless. His strengths are his passing and his strength, but check this, when we needed that good passer for Juventus, Mikel fucked up for us and cost us a goal and they ended up scoring an equaliser. When we needed someone to mark Cartlon Cole against West Ham because they where hoofing it too him in midfield, Mikel couldn't win one fucking header, he was useless once again. What is the point in this player? he has nothing to offer just nothing, the only passes he makes are back to the defence, he's like what 26 now? if not then he's coming up 26, he's not exactly young. Really do need to get rid, i can't believe people are still making excuses for him, when he has done nothing. The funny thing is, when our team has a good game and wins, Mikel gets all the credit and praise, when he's actually done very little.