🇳🇬 Mikel John Obi

[The Mak 4,459]

I disregarded the level if opponent because I was not judging his whole performance. I did not say he was brilliant against Tahiti. I said it was a brilliant pass. That pass took great vision to spot and excellent passing technique to execute just right. That has nothing to do with the opposition.

And Torres scored 22 goals this season, some great ones in the Europa League, but I can't find many people here who want him to be at the club.

Another example is Mata. Scored a nice goal against my own country the other day, but I didn't think much of it because I know how bad Ireland are and I know how good Mata is. I expected him to score (at that moment) because the gulf in quality. The same way Mikel is expected to execute such a pass because he's the best player on the pitch.

Don't regard my criticism of Mikel as trivial hate. He's a good lad, but I think a club such as Chelsea should move past such an archaic type of DM. However, I do think it's trivial to praise one good pass against what is the closest you'll get to an actual 'pub team' and in a game that ended 6-1.

I find myself agreeing with a lot of your arguments, but just not when it comes to some on Mikel.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

And Torres scored 22 goals this season, some great ones in the Europa League, but I can't find many people here who want him to be at the club.

Another example is Mata. Scored a nice goal against my own country the other day, but I didn't think much of it because I know how bad Ireland are and I know how good Mata is. I expected him to score (at that moment) because the gulf in quality. The same way Mikel is expected to execute such a pass because he's the best player on the pitch.

Don't regard my criticism of Mikel as trivial hate. He's a good lad, but I think a club such as Chelsea should move past such an archaic type of DM. However, I do think it's trivial to praise one good pass against what is the closest you'll get to an actual 'pub team' and in a game that ended 6-1.

I find myself agreeing with a lot of your arguments, but just not when it comes to some on Mikel.

Again, I'm not discussing his performance which is of course expected to be great because he is by far the best player on the pitch, I'm talking about that pass in particular. It was a great pass. It's not a big deal, it's just a pass and I was just making a remark that it was a great pass just like I made a comment that Oscar's was a great pass as well. It would have passed a regular remark just like the one about Oscar if some people didn't get butt-hurt every time someone gave Mikel a deserved compliment. So, I'm sorry Mikel made a great pass if it is going to hurt you so much.

[lucio 5,418]

mikel always exhibits his fine passing range when playing against piss poor opposition for nigeria.

[The only place to be 11,313]

So some people have said that Chalobah isn't ready because he's only played at Championship level (which is a quick way of saying they haven't watched many of his matches this season), but we're seriously discussing what Mikel does against Tahiti?

Look, he's a nice chap who is a decent player...but fuck me if he isn't the most divisive player that we've had at this club for a long time. Personally I've never left the Bridge thinking he had a really strong game. I don't know many people who have either, but the amount of arguments he causes far outweighs his talent or level of importance so for that reason alone it would be refreshing to ship him off.

[Kostas 1,468]

What is/was your position?

Kalou detractor and a fan of Mikel's play. One wasn't fit to be a starter for any PL club (and earned more than some) while the other used to be amongst our top 4 most technically astute players up until a few transfer windows when we started signing the likes of Mata. Up until last season he was (in my eyes) the easiest player to pick for our starting XI after the likes of Cech and A.Cole.

On a more relavant note, I see the tiring discussion regarding his value/talent absolutely redundant and only wonder whether Mou will be the first Chelsea manager to experiment with him since he did back in the day (apart from a brief attempt by AVB). Mikel's ability to hold the ball under any sort of pressure and lay it off perfectly for a speeding runner could be quite usefull further up the pitch.

[Jase 43,479]

Blimey. The thread has gone quiet for the past 2-3 days. @CHOULO19 basically just praised the execution of a pass (only 1 pass!) and suddenly here we go round and round again with the Mikel debate...

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Kalou detractor and a fan of Mikel's play. One wasn't fit to be a starter for any PL club (and earned more than some) while the other used to be amongst our top 4 most technically astute players up until a few transfer windows when we started signing the likes of Mata. Up until last season he was (in my eyes) the easiest player to pick for our starting XI after the likes of Cech and A.Cole.

On a more relavant note, I see the tiring discussion regarding his value/talent absolutely redundant and only wonder whether Mou will be the first Chelsea manager to experiment with him since he did back in the day (apart from a brief attempt by AVB). Mikel's ability to hold the ball under any sort of pressure and lay it off perfectly for a speeding runner could be quite usefull further up the pitch.

well look who finally crawled out from under a rock!

[Joe Cool 388]

Some of you guys need to calm down. As much as I find myself disagreeing with Cholo on a constant basis, he was merely commenting on his pass (albeit against a pub team). Nothing more. He wasn't using this as any basis for an argument as to why Mikel should stay, just showing a good pass.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Blimey. Thread has gone quiet for the past 2-3 days. @CHOULO19 basically just praised the execution of a pass (only 1 pass!) and suddenly here we go round and round again with the Mikel debate...

I know.....how could Choulo have known this would happen......

[bleed_blue 136]

Kalou detractor and a fan of Mikel's play. One wasn't fit to be a starter for any PL club (and earned more than some) while the other used to be amongst our top 4 most technically astute players up until a few transfer windows when we started signing the likes of Mata. Up until last season he was (in my eyes) the easiest player to pick for our starting XI after the likes of Cech and A.Cole.

On a more relavant note, I see the tiring discussion regarding his value/talent absolutely redundant and only wonder whether Mou will be the first Chelsea manager to experiment with him since he did back in the day (apart from a brief attempt by AVB). Mikel's ability to hold the ball under any sort of pressure and lay it off perfectly for a speeding runner could be quite usefull further up the pitch.

I think this makes perfect sense when you put it along the news reports that Mourinho wants to sell Mata. I can see Mikel fitting right in the AM spot. NOT

on a serious note,

he plays that pass against Tahiti and we are discussing his ability to "lay it off perfectly for a speeding runner"

Good Lord.

and the experiment which AVB did with Mikel was: Relegate him to bench. This is most likely what Mourinho will do.

Mikel will then try and find a new club, will not get a satisfactory offer and leech off the club till 2017.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

You guys do realise you only just proved my point. You had to go 3 seasons back to find that Ramires pass.

Almost the same thing you're criticizing Mikel for. Carry on though.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Mikel consistenly makes good passes whenever i watch him for Nigeria, regardless of opposition. He has more freedom as they're 2 other combative midfielders beside him, and also like i said during the African Nations Cup, Nigeria's forwards look to make runs in behind just like Ideye did for that pass.

But at Chelsea you have Hazard, Oscar and Mata just standing in the middle and passing the ball sideways

Edit: From what i've seen of Schurrle, he's a different type of player, and he stays wider a lot of times - able to get behind fullbacks.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Mikel consistenly makes good passes whenever i watch him for Nigeria, regardless of opposition. He has more freedom as they're 2 other combative midfielders beside him, and also like i said during the African Nations Cup, Nigeria's forwards look to make runs in behind just like Ideye did for that pass.

But at Chelsea you have Hazard, Oscar and Mata just standing in the middle and passing the ball sideways

Edit: From what i've seen of Schurrle, he's a different type of player, and he stays wider a lot of times - able to get behind fullbacks.

Maybe we should get rid of Hazard, Mata and Oscar and get these Nigerian stars. That way Mikel can be at his very best.

The alternative is that we sell Mikel and buy a player who can operate with 3 of the best young talents in world football.

Sophie's Choice indeed.

[ANDRECHO 432]

Maybe we should get rid of Hazard, Mata and Oscar and get these Nigerian stars. That way Mikel can be at his very best.

The alternative is that we sell Mikel and buy a player who can operate with 3 of the best young talents in world football.

Sophie's Choice indeed.

lol

[Sheva. 5,373]

Maybe we should get rid of Hazard, Mata and Oscar and get these Nigerian stars. That way Mikel can be at his very best.

The alternative is that we sell Mikel and buy a player who can operate with 3 of the best young talents in world football.

Sophie's Choice indeed.

Because that was my point, smh. Hazard, Mata and Oscar are too similar, which is why our play is so narrow.

Moses - before Afcon - made a big difference whenever he was in the team and Schurrle can do the same if he settles in well. This way there is an option out wide for Mata, Mikel, or whoever is playing centrally, when the opposition decide to pack the middle of the pitch.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Because that was my point, smh. Hazard, Mata and Oscar are too similar, which is why our play is so narrow.

Moses - before Afcon - made a big difference whenever he was in the team and Schurrle can do the same if he settles in well. This way there is an option out wide for Mata, Mikel, or whoever is playing centrally, when the opposition decide to pack the middle of the pitch.

Your original point is fair, but logically it would have to apply to other midfielders who eventually replace Mikel. And we see that they ALL (even Luiz who isn't a midfielder) do a better job linking up with the same midfielders Mikel has trouble with. Whoever replaces Mikel also scores goals and assists, yes, even Luiz! Perhaps the problem lies in Mikel himself?!

BTW, Don't think the 3 AMs are that similar: both Mata and Hazard like to keep the ball, but Mata will try to pick up a pass or an assist, while Hazard will burst and try to beat his marker one way or another. Oscar is more alike Mata than Hazard, but he does not keep the ball for long, can track back and does a decent job defending deep in the mf. Both Mata and Hazard are really poor markers.

[JDY 1,290]

That was my point in my Mikel/Fellaini piece back in January, Mikel could be used further up.

Here's an intetesting read as well on that subject: That's Santapelota on "Busquets as an advanced midfielder" ?

http://santapelota.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/busquets-as-an-advanced-midfielder/

Further up but at the expense of Mata?

Not only the ability to hold the ball higher up the pitch, but also to disrupt oppositions deep lying creative players. There's been a growing trend with these players in more advanced positions, Fellaini in the EPL, Guarin more advanced at Inter, Mueller in the latter stages of the Champions League

[robsblubot 3,595]

How many assists Xavi and Modric have ? Not that much for midfielders, that's because they're often in the buildup of the goal, the pass before the assist.

Good example yesterday, Mikel created two goals by picking the diagonal or through ball that led to the short cross then tap-in. Not an assist, but arguably the pass that allowed that simple combo short cross, tap in

The game against Tahiti again... :banghead:

BTW, bullshit:

Xavi (La Liga): Apps 24(6) Goals 5 Assists 8

Modric: 25(8) 3 3

You prob meant Xabi, not Xavi.

Xabi: 22(6) - 5 (he was better attacking @pool)

Khedira: 19(6) 3 2

BPL:

Carrick: 34(2) 1 4

Toure: 32 7 5

Arteta: 34 6 3

Mikel: 19(3) - -

Only (top side) BPL holding mid with (almost) just as poor attacking stats is (coming from career-threatening injury) Lucas Leiva from lpool.

Lucas: 24(2) - 1

And I believe he's got far better defensive stats than Mikel.

...

BTW, Modric is overrated IMO.

[Stingray 9,441]

But at Chelsea you have Hazard, Oscar and Mata just standing in the middle and passing the ball sideways

Now that is the root cause!

/goober:

Comon - be serious.

[Kostas 1,468]

well look who finally crawled out from under a rock!

I'm gonna crawl back under promptly. This season had way too much football for me to spend even more time on discussing it. Not to mention that now that Mou is back I don't really have to worry about 90% of the things I did.

on a serious note,

he plays that pass against Tahiti and we are discussing his ability to "lay it off perfectly for a speeding runner"

Good Lord.

I'm less willing to watch Tahiti matches that respond to wind-ups such as this. If you can't admit the only two things he does brilliantly (retain possession under pressure - release on the path of his teammates) there's no contribution you can make to the topic.

That was my point in my Mikel/Fellaini piece back in January, Mikel could be used further up.

Here's an intetesting read as well on that subject: That's Santapelota on "Busquets as an advanced midfielder" ?

http://santapelota.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/busquets-as-an-advanced-midfielder/

Heh, what do you know .. exactly the function I had in mind. Your point on such a move freeing up Oscar to play his original deep lying mf role complements the idea nicely, Mata is the only one I have doubts about fitting in such a system.