Mikel John Obi

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

I actually feel embarrassed for people who actually believe this. Honestly. Maybe the new hipster thing to do on TC since I've been away is to sing Mikel's praises anytime he is on the pitch, I don't know.

As I have always argued, people can throw up all the stats they want about Mikel, that's great, because they only show what he has done. My argument has always been about what he does not do; his general passiveness on the pitch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aVAfcwC5nk

Goal #1: Mikel does his party trick: jogs alongside a player to make it look like he's doing something when he's actually doing fuck all. Marking someone? Nope. Challenges him? Nope. Runs alongside him for about 30 yards and does not attempt to challenge him even though he is well covered with 2 defenders in front. Lets a player freely run 30 yards into the box - great defensive midfield play.

Goal #2: This is where he really fucks up. Tries to win the ball high up the pitch and completely fails, leaving the defence totally exposed. Yeah ok, we were chasing the game, fair enough but if you're not getting the ball you have to at least get the man - especially if you are supposed to be anchorman going to ground in the opposition's half! For fuck sake, it schoolboy stuff. He wasn't even on a yellow. At least Ramires would've taken the man.

I remember giving Mikel stick for being passive and not making tackles, only for Choulo to tell me something like (I'm not digging the conversation up) that he doesn't do it because if he fails it will leave the defence exposed. Well, when we judge Mikel do simple rules like these not still apply?! Or do they change according to the agenda? It seems like they change...

I'm not saying it was all down to him, but considering his involvement (or lack thereof) in both goals, the 2nd in particular, and to say the man had a good game is nothing short of embarrassing.

Well for one Mikel does nothing wrong for goal 1, hes in a position where he can intercept a cross towards the penalty area if it comes to him and clear it/start an attack.

For goal 2, he goes out of position and tries to take the ball, loses it and our back 4 are then exposed. So you set yourself up to fall there really. Hes much much better at blocking passing lanes, positioning himself, making interceptions and reading the game than anything else in my eyes but people seem to complain when he doesn't run about like a pure nutter, trying to steal the ball high up the park, which if he does that means hes not vacating the space in front of the defence (is Cesc gonna do that? No) and even when he doesn't try to do that and sits vacating spaces (to protect the back 4) he gets criticized for not going into challenges or not running enough.

Football isn't all running anymore and in quite all honestly it never has just been about running. I was reading an interview that Jamie Carragher did with Xabi Alonso. Alonso mentions Pep and how he tells players like Gotze to stop running looking for the ball in training and just stand still where he is (presumably he meant a space between the lines or between two players). Its the same for players like Mikel trying to counter that. If he can stand in a space that dangerous attacking players like to get into and block the pass or get there If you can read the game well enough you don't have to run 10 yards to make a tackle on a player that you tried tackling before and missed, you can just be in a position where you can take it off them with very little ease/intercept a pass.

Anyway as much as that might be a load of shite or whatever, the guy can't win, be it from pundits or people on this forum, there is always a problem with Mikel.

[Starman60 1,343]

Thats ok I appreciate fans who stick by players .. I didnt mean a few passes in a game ,,, I meant in a month

I've been married for 30 years and my wife has made more passes at me than Mikel has made in the past month And you can imagine how mant that was !!!!!!!!!!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

How many of those passes were in front of him and not sideways or backwards? He plays football with the rules of rugby

60 out of 103 forwards. 21 square/sideways. 22 backwards.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/8-2014/matches/755447/player-stats/28495/1_PASS_15#tabs-wrapper-anchor

[zolayes 14,489]

I've been married for 30 years and my wife has made more passes at me than Mikel has made in the past month And you can imagine how mant that was !!!!!!!!!!

You are SO fucking .. Ive been married 49 years and mikel is still outscoring her scoring on forward passes

there was a great one in 1964 another in 1966 when we won the WC ,, another about 2 years later ,,,

OH got one today ,,, WHEN I did all the shopping and the housework .. just shows a sweeper is sometimes appreciated

[tiby2979 175]

How many of those passes were in front of him and not sideways or backwards? He plays football with the rules of rugby

He had more passes forward than Matic in the previous game

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

He had more passes forward than Matic in the previous game

Sheeeeeeeeet, I was only joking because that's what everyone usually says.

[Beigl 1,387]

The Mikel haters can say what they want, but he still did very well in the last two games. He is still a level beyond Matic, but still a decent and loyal squad player.

[WNDS 502]

I thought Mikel was excellent today. He was good on the ball, ambitious with his passing, reasonably solid defensively, and somehow scored a goal (yes I will say 'somehow' even though the ball was about 5cm out - this IS Mikel we're talking about). Nothing more to add really; I just thought I would post my appreciation for a good performance by a useful squad player who doesn't seem to receive much.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I have to be honest, I was surprised he didn't miss regardless of the fact he was virtually under the crossbar.

[The Skipper 20,609]

He's had two decent games in a row. Impressive considering he barely had any game time before.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

John Obi Mikel for the Puskas award!

[zolayes 14,489]

I have to be honest, I was surprised he didn't miss regardless of the fact he was virtually under the crossbar.

He may not be Messi BUT He isnt TORRES

[Amblève. 4,995]

There's only one John Obi Mikel.

[didierforever 7,349]

he scores when he wants!!! he scores when he wants!!!!!!!!

[Jase 43,479]

Think we need to build a statue of Mourinho outside the Bridge. Mikel has only ever scored under him - 2 in 06/07, 2 last season, 1 this term. He didn't score any between 07/08 and 12/13 season!