Mikel John Obi

[Styles 9,790]

You guys know what's going down tomorrow, right?

Mikel is going to put on an absolute masterclass in Newcastle. I can feel it.

Quote me and tell me I was wrong after the game. I dare you.

This of course requires him to start and/or feature for a large part of the game. Don't quote me if doesn't, innit.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

dear mother of GOD!!!!!

LOL That was some guy who was badmouthing Mikel before the game last season against Derby and said that he'd his name tattooed on his arse if he scored!

Credit to the guy for actually going through with it. Takes some massive balls!

[iseah100 5,612]

Mikel will score a screamer and be a rock defensively. Could take Matic's place for good tomorrow.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I feel he will have world class performance that every big club will want him in january.

Maybe we should call him Lord Mikel? The second son of gods after Bendtner.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Mourinho on Mikel: "He's good; every time he plays he plays well, Mikel is ready, Ramires is ready so no problem." #CFC

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

I call him the Bus Driver.

[zolayes 14,489]

I call him the Bus Driver.

better named the Brake man

[Fernando 6,502]

Men this guy is slow!!!

[iseah100 5,612]

Hit on the counter twice. Matic is indispensable.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Hit on the counter twice. Matic is indispensable.

It wasn't his fault we got hit on the counter at all. Both goals were preventable and would've been if Cahill wasn't so bad at the back. Mikel had a decent game and stepped up well enough to at least lessen the Matic blow. Can't fault Mikel for anything today, he did well. There are other players we need to look at.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Hit on the counter twice. Matic is indispensable.

They're different players too, on top of what Skipper said. Mikel did well today, he was actually more positive in his nature then we're used to. He was actually trying to make strides forward rather than rest on his laurels (though that was more out of necessity than anything else). We know Mikel's limited ability, but he's not more liable than others for this loss.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Hit on the counter twice. Matic is indispensable.

What exactly did he do wrong on either goal, then?

The funnies thing about people blaming Mikel is that it is predictable from even before the match starts!

He had an very good performance, one of our better players today. Won almost everything in midfield in the first half, kept the ball moving well, and was vital to helping us keep the pressure on in the second half and even played a few excellent long balls into the box.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Mikel was okay, but his such a downgrade on Matic, its actually really scary

[Sheva. 5,373]

He should have scored, and shouldn't have taken that random volley. But overall, well played.

[xPetrCechx 13,565]

Not Bad (Surprise!), but still too slow.

[Amblève. 4,995]

What exactly did he do wrong on either goal, then?

The funnies thing about people blaming Mikel is that it is predictable from even before the match starts!

He had an very good performance, one of our better players today. Won almost everything in midfield in the first half, kept the ball moving well, and was vital to helping us keep the pressure on in the second half and even played a few excellent long balls into the box.

All of this. His long balls into the box were brilliant.

I was watching the game with Superfrankie and we were joking how someone would find a way to blame Mikel and here we are now. Personally, I don't think we missed Matic at all today.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I wonder if people actualy watch games or just randomly blame certain players i.e. Mikel, Oscar.

I dont think Mikel is starting quality here, but he somehow always puts decent performance in important games and he did very well today. He didnt start over half year and he was still decent replacement for Matic. Cahill and Iva were reasons why we conceded, not Mikel.

However I have my doubts about Mikel as holding DM. He is alot more like b2b player for me (if he was given more freedom), but for that role, he simply lacks speed. He is slow as fuck for african player in prime age. At his size, he obv cant be pacy ala Willian, but he simply lacks that energy that Toure, Pogba, Wanyama, Essien have/had. Thats why I dont particulary like Mikel. He is not mobile, not going into challenges with enough determination, but apart from that he is good player.

Today he was quite brilliant in attack I must say. He had some lovely crosses, dribbles and runs. Apparently he made 3 dribbles, second best after Hazard of all 22 players. Not bad for someone who is apparently shit. His ball control in nice and he holds the ball well. Like I said, he is kinda better in attack than defence and I would love for sake of it to see him in more advanced role in some cup game.

Reason why we lost game is because of Iva and Cahill, and because our attackers were fatigued and because Costa had realy shit game. Not Mikel. That said I dislike his passive defending, his slow reactions, but he is fine as backup Dm as long as others do their job too.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

From statszone:

17 ball recoveries

95/103 passes completed (92% accuracy)

1 chance created

2/3 won aerial duels

2 interceptions

3/3 successful take-ons

3/3 successful clearances.

Also 18/23 passes completed to final third

and 50% completed long balls (4/8).