CHOULO19

Opposition Views Here

Mikel was immense under Carlo especially against what was then known as "the big 4". The game against Arsenal at the Emirates was his best game in a Chelsea shirt, imo, bar the CL final. That has largely to do with his position. Name almost any pure DM and you'll split this forum in half. For example, Tiote, who is apparently "BOSS" and a "beast in FIFA" is no more than an average player to me; same goes for Diame (not a pure DM though). Heck, I even remember Makelele, who to me is one of the best DMs in history, had a large number of critics when he played here and was accused by some of slowing down our midfield. The concept of a DM is not exciting to the majority of football fans. They like to see someone either making tackles and interceptions or scoring goals and assisting. But very few realize that, in midfield, containing the opposition and closing passing angles on defense and keeping possession and having more than 90% passing percentage on the offense is just as important.

The members at http://www.onlinearsenal.com/forum.php'>Online Arsenal were kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions ahead of our match against Arsenal on Sunday (so be nice in your replies!). Here's what they had to say: -First, how long have you been a gunners' fan? TheDoctor- Could say forever as I'm from Highbury, But I really got interested in the early 00's. Anubis- 7, maybe 8 years now. Threelions- 20 years. Christ I'm old Gunning from Italy- Since 1998.It's a shame that i could never go to Highbury; -What have you made of your season so far and where do you think you can improve? Eddy- Same old inconsistent Arsenal expept we are slightly worse than I've seen us in a long time, but when we turn it on we can still demolish teams every now and then, but then we go and lose to some team that we should be beating, like I said, same old Arsenal. JohnnyH- Disappointing, defensively we are all over the place. Sol- Season has gone as you'd expect really. We were a top 3/4 team with last season's squad so losing RvP and Song is going to knock you down a rung or 2. I do think we've replaced fairly well but not enough to mitigate the loss of RvP. Cazorla especially has been very impressive despite suffering from a lack of consistency (you expect that from a foreign signing in their first year to be fair). Midfield Maestro- Below average season so far. We need to improve both in the final third (be more clinical in front of goal) and also tighten up at the back. -It looks like it'll be a race between Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton and WBA for two CL spots. How do you rate your chances of finishing in the top four? And who do you think will get those two spots? TheDoctor- I feel this will be the year that Arsenal finally don't make it into the top 4. I think Chelsea and Tottenham (ARGGGH!) will get the 2 places. Calum- 30% for us atm. I would predict us and Chelsea. TA#6- I would say 50/50....Think it will end up being between Chelsea, Scum and Arsenal Sol- I see Chelsea as favourites for 3rd with Arsenal & Spurs competing for 4th. And as it stands, I don't fancy us pipping Spurs to 4th unless we add a couple of players in this window. Giroud and Podolski are good forwards but we lack that special player in attack to give us an edge. -What business, if any, do you think you should be doing in this winter transfer market? Gunning from Italy- Howedes, Fellaini and a dream: Cavani Sol- Top priority is a forward, preferably versatile enough to play at CF and in a wide forward role. Second priority is a versatile CB who can double as a DM, such as M'Biwa. We're down to 3 trustworthy CBs now that Djourou has been loaned out. I did want cover for Arteta but my demands for that have been diminished slightly after being reminded of Coquelin's potential. He was very good against Swansea on Wednesday and has impressed whenever he's been given an opportunity. Santi and Lukasz- I think we should be buying top class players like Falcao, Fellaini etc. Eddy- New striker is a must but won't happen. Would love a big name to boost morale but its just unrealistic. -Chelsea were quick to wrap up the Ba deal early. How do you rate him? Anubis- Highly. A strong, powerful forward who has a keen eye for goal. I would not have complained if he'd ended up with us, though I would still have felt we'd need a world class striker too. TA#6- Ba is very good, just not sure he is good enough for the top TOP level. Calum- Great striker much better than Torres TheDoctor- Very good striker, For a very good price! Will probably turn out a better player for Chelsea, Than £50m Torres. -Is a derby match of particular importance to you or is it just another league match? Calum- This Spurs and Stoke are the 3 games I want to win the most. TA#6- There is certainly an extra Edge to it....Especially when you are in the ground, the Atmosphere is up a notch Anubis- It's important to me, but the fact that it's a match between rivals for top four is more important to me. I'm not from London though, which may explain my answer a bit! JohnnyH- Derby games are always bigger for me, Spurs being the biggest, however since Chelsea got oil money, it is NOW a big game. Eddy- I don't consider you guys a derby, same as I don't consider Fulham or QPR either, Tottenham is the derby game to me, you guys are just another league match. I do despise the way your club is run, but each to their own. Gunning from Italy- Not as important as our game against Tottenham, but still a derby to win; -Who has been your standout player this season? Santi and Lukasz- Per Mertesacker Threelions- Gibbs. JohnnyH- Cazorla to start with, now Wilshere. Sol- You'll get a lot of opinions on this but for me, it would probably be Arteta. He's been brilliantly consistent in the DM role. After that, it's probably Cazorla. A player that has surprised a lot is Jenkinson - he has been excellent every time he's started and a real prospect. -If you can have one player from Chelsea at Arsenal, who would it be and why? Anubis- Tough one...I'd say probably Hazard as he's a fantastically talented winger. Mata is a very close second though. Calum- Mata as he is brilliant your best player and would be great here with Jack and Santi TheDoctor- Mata, Because we were in for him and reportedly made an Arsenal record bid for him, That and he's just brilliant. Sol- This is a tough one. I'd probably pick Ivanovic (although I really like the look of Oscar). It's an odd decision given that I rate Mata as your best player but I think we already have a similar player in Cazorla, so I'd rather take something from your squad that we don't have i.e. a world class CB. Threelions- Torres, despite people slagging him off now I think he'd suit Arsenal. Santi and Lukasz- John Terry, I know he is a bit of a p***k off the pitch but he is a great captain with great leadership. -What formation and line-up is Wenger likely to put out on Sunday? JohnnyH- 4 3 3 Ches, Sagna, Mert, Verm, Gibbs, Diaby, Coq, Wilshere, Podolski, Walcott, Cazorla. Patrice- The modified 4-4-2 we used to dominate Swansea's midfield. Sol- Szczesny Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Gibbs Coquelin Diaby Wilshere Podolski Walcott Cazorla TheDoctor- Usual 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, Whichever you see it as. Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Wilshere, Diaby, Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott. Though, Now Theo has signed the contract, Wenger may put him out wide and bring Giroud in for Chamberlain. -Finally, please predict the result. TA#6- I will be there, Cant see us winning, but can get a 1-1. Anubis- 2-0 to Chelsea. JohnnyH- 3-3 Threelions- 1-2 Arsenal http://www.talkchelsea.net/_/opposition-views/arsenal-opposition-views-r198'>Click here to view the article

Mikel has been vital for every success we've had since 2008, especially the double under Scolari and the CL and FA cup last year. You can't deny that. Didier, Frank and JT got the headlines, but we couldn't have done it without Mikel either.

Pretty sure Iva was not injured, mate. He was just rested against Southampton.

Very sad indeed. Thoughts with his family and friends.

I read a couple pf months ago, and I'm not sure we will renew his contract. Hoping we offer him a coaching position instead.

The thing with buying a new DM is that we won't need him till the middle of Feb when Mikel returns and possibly till the end of the season for cover. But come next season, we will have a great DM who is approaching his peak and a good young DM who could become great. Would be pointless to have a third.

I don't understand how his channel can send him into the battle field with no protection whatsoever, not even a helmet!

I know hundreds of people are dying everyday in Syria, but this is still very sad to see. Al Jazeera reporter being shot dead by a sniper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_gN3py7zuUQ

Josh starts against Leicester in about 35mins. Should be live on tv.

Bitch, please. Dumbeldore has a ring in his beard; your argument is invalid!

Dumbledore's beard is better!

Seems like an eternity away!

I just have a sinking feeling that Rafa will start Torres and we will lose.

Hmm. I'm not a particularly patroitic person, so I can't relate to them there, tbh. But i can understand how it could be frustrating to Steven to not be able to play the way he does with Everton because of the Bafana's style of play and get blamed for under performing.

It's official, JT and Iva are not human:

Didn't know he retired. But like you said, Pienaar is at his best when he drifts into that whole between defense and midfield and create for others. But his work rate, especially on the defense, is very admirable. I was very disappointed when his move here crashed in the closing stages.

In other news, it has been confirmed that Walcott will not win any trophy for the next 3 and a half years..

Adkins took charge of saints when they were 22nd in League 1 and got them to 15th in the Premier League within 3 years. Madness!

How come Pienaar rarely performs with the NT? He's a very good player.

Most of the games are also very enjoyable: pacy and physical for the whole 90 mins. And the shooting is better than the Euros; always some 30-40 yards screamers in the AFCONs.

Rarely miss a game in it. To me it's almost as important as the Euros.

Adkins sacked?! I didn't see that one coming. And after a 5 game unbeaten streak? Crazy, really. It's like they shot themselves in the foot.

Can we get back on topic, please? Stop the discussion about Mikel or move it to his thread, this is Modric's top.