Mikel's tactical flaw

[Clevemayer 764]

That's signature material!

you're free to use it

[Spike 12,049]

Now you can see why SAF was really interested in him.Glad that we snatched him from them.lol

Nah, he was Trequartista back then. José converted him from an Attacker to a Defender.

Fun Fact: At the Under-21 World Cup in 2005 Mikel in the second best player after Lionel Messi, winning the Silver Ball in the process.

Mikel is probably the second best CDM in England after Alex Song. Though to be fair Song doesn't do much defending.

[silkycuts 19]

mikel simply needs to emulate makalele (release the simple pass as soon as you get the ball). He is very talented on the ball, but hence lies the problem, the skills he has works well for an attacking midfielder or even a more central role. But for defensive midfielders such skills are useless, because any cockups would expose the whole defense... ala the Arsenal 3-5 game.

Just Imagine if Makalele would have tried to do a Pat Nevin each time he recieved the ball... we would never have won all those trophies.

I really believe if Mikel is promoted to the lampard role once lamps retires, we will see one the best midfielders in the world.

[Amblève. 4,995]

mikel simply needs to emulate makalele

"Simply" is definitively the wrong word in that conclusion.

[RamiCFC9 258]

I don't rate Mikel as CDM, his postioning is average, he isn't aggresive, rarely makes succesful tackles.

[Steve 10,227]

I don't rate Mikel as CDM, his postioning is average, he isn't aggresive, rarely makes succesful tackles.

You watching the same Mikel as I am?

[Justin_3d 1,140]

The only problem with him is that he is slow to react to a quick build up.

Which is why Tiote would be a great buy to change it up.

Other then that, he is very useful for certain games.

So a team that wants to challenge for big honors needs to have 2 great DM in the shape of Mikel and Tiote.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

The only problem with him is that he is slow to react to a quick build up.

Which is why Tiote would be a great buy to change it up.

Other then that, he is very useful for certain games.

So a team that wants to challenge for big honors needs to have 2 great DM in the shape of Mikel and Tiote.

Having Tiote and Mikel would be fantastic but I don't see us buying him.

[Santiago. 1,500]

You know we do have Romeu?

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

You know we do have Romeu?

Damn I totally forgot about him. Consequence of him barely playing I guess...Well than Mikel would have to go

[Madmax 9,219]

I don't rate Mikel as CDM, his postioning is average, he isn't aggresive, rarely makes succesful tackles.

This is what Xabi Alonso, one of the foremost holding players on the planet, has to say about tackling :

"I don't think tackling is a quality. It is... something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game. I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play. How can that be a way of seeing the game? I just don't understand football in those terms. Tackling is a [last] resort, and you will need it, but it isn't a quality to aspire to, a definition. It's hard to change because it's so rooted in the English football culture, but I don't understand it."

I'd rustle up numbers on interceptions but it'd be fruitless trying to please blinkered fellas pining for a 'hardman'.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Tackling is important, yes, but interceptions and positioning to avoid having to slide in like a madman is more important.

[RamiCFC9 258]

No offenses to Xabi, but he would've been half the name he is, if it wasn't Mascherano tackling everything moving.Damn i miss Masch in the prem.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Lpool sold Torres, Xabi Alonso, Mascherano, Meireles,...then they replaced them with Downing, Henderson,...yes, selling key players for big money is profitable, but only if you are ready to play next 10 years in places up to 7th in prem.

Selling Ramires, Mikel and other key players along with Kalou, Meireles, Bos, Ferreira, Essien, Drogba,...would ruin us and it doesnt matter who we would buy then. There would be completely new team and new key players, that would be disaster. Thankfuly some of the members here are not in CFC board because they would make such idiotic decisions, by selling Ramires and Mikel and...turn us into next Lpool or Arsenal. And I would never sell Mikel or Ramires for big money, not now when they are that good (some of you dont see that). Dont make mistakes like Arsenal by selling Cesc or Nasri, Lpool by selling Alonso, Barca by selling Etoo. Yes they bought Zlatan then who thought is best and they only fucked things up in barca...

[diskoviolente 425]

Mikel is imperious. We need him so desperatly in our midfield. He may be not the most adventorous player but is solid in what he does. He breaks up play and frustrates a lot of opponent midfielders. Selling him would be the stupidiest thing since Real Madrid sold Makelele.

As for Ramires. I remember people wanting to get rid of him after his first season. They probably would like to swallow their words now.