With Essien out, you think Mikel will flourish?

[Henrique 9,133]

Mikel has nothing to prove.

We already know he is awful.

We need someone to replace Essien.

[True_Blue 469]

Mikel's first goal will be cheered more than Torres'

as for the actual topic: Yes I do. It remains to be seen what system we play in midfield. Mikel is a very good defensive midfielder, we all know his interception and composure are his best attributes. That being said, we need him to push forward a bit more with our current midfield. While we have Ramires, who never tires and works very hard, he lacks the technical play to play pinpoint pass through to the strikers. If we can find a player to take the ball of Mikel and do something with it, it would be ideal. As Ballack & Lampard used to. Perhaps Lampard will be that player again, with age restricting his energy, perhaps we'll see him sit deep more.

I regard Mikel very highly. He's still very young, but has all the attributes to be a great successor to the Essien-bumped-Makelele role. With the right coaching, adding an attacking instinct to his play, he'll be as effective as the latter.

He scored for us twice,just no one recall's it.In Season 2006 he scored vs Macclesfield Town and against Nottingham Forest in the following round.

[Kostas 1,468]

I have to question the football knowledge of those who don't appreciate the work Mikel has done for us in the last 2 seasons.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

He scored for us twice,just no one recall's it.In Season 2006 he scored vs Macclesfield Town and against Nottingham Forest in the following round.

My mistake.. Probably league goals everyone mentions then.

Still, the rest of my post holds true

[GodZola 630]

I have to question the football knowledge of those who don't appreciate the work Mikel has done for us in the last 2 seasons.

Oh that would be me then!

Starts off playing well last season then plays the rest of the season below average along with most of the team I might add, he even got dropped by Ancelotti towards the end of last season.

Oh & as for the double year, he got injured & was replaced by Ballack who showed him exactly how he should of played in that role & a major reason why we won the double that season.

He is not world class like Makelele or Essien was before he got injured, now does that make it any easier for you?

[Guest justin_3d]

Maybe you're right. But I don't think Essien contributes to the 'defensiveness'. (I don't like how 'negative' sounds) Essien is a box-to-box midfielder who contributes both offensively and defensively. He's a formidable defender but at the same time, he likes to get forward.

I think the problem is that Mikel doesn't quite get how to play world class. When he first started to play in the DM position, Mikel had a lot to work on. First off, he had to restrain himself from going forward. That was important because back then, Mikel lacked many things. For one thing, he couldn't tackle for shit, which had to do with his getting sent off way often. So, he really couldn't afford to get forward and develop as a DM at the same time.

But, right now, he is defensively capable, he can read the game better, and he is physically stronger, which means that he can now afford to get more involved offensively. But, what I think happened is that now that he's been playing a defensive role for years, he doesn't know how to contribute offensively. To bring about his offensive potential, in my opinion, was one of the big challenges Ancelotti had with Mikel, and it is going to be pretty tough for Villas-Boas as well. Now, I might be wrong. Maybe it was a tactical flaw as you pointed out. Nonetheless, I'm really looking forward to what AVB will do with Mikel.

Well I really think Essien and Mikel is so negative.

Even Guus never used them together only when we have to be ultra defensive.

I would love to see Mikel-Modric, or Mikel-Josh. All the creativity we need.

[zolayes 14,489]

Mikel has nothing to prove.

We already know he is awful.

We need someone to replace Essien.

again you bring ignorance to an art form.. we should exhibit you in the Tate

[Henrique 9,133]

Oh that would be me then!

Starts off playing well last season then plays the rest of the season below average along with most of the team I might add, he even got dropped by Ancelotti towards the end of last season.

Oh & as for the double year, he got injured & was replaced by Ballack who showed him exactly how he should of played in that role & a major reason why we won the double that season.

He is not world class like Makelele or Essien was before he got injured, now does that make it any easier for you?

This. I have to question the knowledge of those that claims he is briliant.

[zolayes 14,489]

This. I have to question the knowledge of those that claims he is briliant.

you wouldn't recognise class if it smacked you in the ass

[lionsden 4,689]

Mikel has flourished consistently in essien's presence and absence in the past. why would the case be any different now? considering the Nigerian is just entering his prime and can only get better.

[Guest justin_3d]

Mikel has flourished consistently in essien's presence and absence in the past. why would the case be any different now? considering the Nigerian is just entering his prime and can only get better.

Because it was either Mikel in the team, and Essien on the bench.

Both never really where wise to have at the same time.

Now with Essien out, Mikel should have more time, unless we buy one new player.

[lionsden 4,689]

Mikel has nothing to prove.

We I already know he is awful.(personal perception rather than general opinion)

We need someone to replace Essien.

Fixed

speak for yourself henrique

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Mikel has nothing to prove.

We already know he is awful.

We need someone to replace Essien.

Yes maybe we could do with another midfielder but I dont think we need one specifically to replace Essien simply because we already have someone who can play that role and play it at a very high level, that being Ramires.

[Kostas 1,468]

Oh that would be me then!

Starts off playing well last season then plays the rest of the season below average along with most of the team I might add, he even got dropped by Ancelotti towards the end of last season.

Oh & as for the double year, he got injured & was replaced by Ballack who showed him exactly how he should of played in that role & a major reason why we won the double that season.

He is not world class like Makelele or Essien was before he got injured, now does that make it any easier for you?

Don't flatter yourself. You're not the only fan in the forum or on the Internet who holds such an opinion.

He was our best midfielder for the first half of the season. Held our midfield on his own during November and December. Got injured and rarely started games after that. Afterwards what you described as playing below average was actually not playing much at all. The fact that he got dropped by Ancelotti doesn't affect my opinion of his ability or performances in the slightest.

Ballack played in the holding role for only a few games and once we were already on the high, killing games in the first 10 minutes and never having to defend since we were well ahead.

This. I have to question the knowledge of those that claims he is briliant.

Witty. That was not.

[Naked Mole Rat 437]

Mikel has nothing to prove.

We already know he is awful.

We need someone to replace Essien.

Hater, no doubt. You don't even try to build constructive arguments. You just like to insult Mikel and make a fool out of yourself.