Mikel John Obi

[wilander 35]

no point in loaning him out,if Jose would be happy to keep him only a transfer fee will do to get him away and quite sad if Mikel is content to essentially retire from competitive football at 28 by going to a league of that level of competition.

The problem is, except Chelsea, no First -tier team in Big 5 Leagues (Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AS Roma, PSG, Monaco, Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg) is willing to offer him a bench position.

[Unionjack 7,531]

I'll always remember his first couple of seasons with us. He was a madman. Always getting booked and sent off but he calmed down. He does kinda throw himself into tackles, like Cahill sometimes, but I reckon thats cause hes not very fast.

Remember the palava when we signed him eh. Even press stuff with him in a United shirt. With Fergie saying he was going to be the new Roy Keane lol

We gotta remember Mou signed him and even tho hes made a few transfer mistakes (IMHO) he wont want to give up lightly on someone hes always praised.

Altho I'll always thank him for Bayern I wouldn't miss the lad if he went. For some reason, dont ask me why, Ive never felt a bond with him and I find that strange.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

indeed. he`s been with us for what 9 years. anyone else who stayed that long would be loved by most. I loved John Bumstead who stayed for around the same time and yet Mikel has a bucket full of winners medals and he just doesn`t pull the heart strings.

he`s been good at times,willing to do whatever is asked of him but when you think his predecessor is Makalele and his successor is Matic. out of the 3 "M`s" Mikel is the weak link between the other two greats at his position.

[didierforever 7,349]

indeed. he`s been with us for what 9 years. anyone else who stayed that long would be loved by most. I loved John Bumstead who stayed for around the same time and yet Mikel has a bucket full of winners medals and he just doesn`t pull the heart strings.

he`s been good at times,willing to do whatever is asked of him but when you think his predecessor is Makalele and his successor is Matic. out of the 3 "M`s" Mikel is the weak link between the other two greats at his position.

[termninja 5,290]

Well really when your first DM sub is rumored to leave and your hear only some Arabian club is interested that speaks volumes about how much your player is rated by others.

If he leaves I really hope we get an adequate replacement because we would be left with only Matic as a DM. Perhaps Romeu can make a return or Van Ginkel.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

Well really when your first DM sub is rumored to leave and your hear only some Arabian club is interested that speaks volumes about how much your player is rated by others.

If he leaves I really hope we get an adequate replacement because we would be left with only Matic as a DM. Perhaps Romeu can make a return or Van Ginkel.

Pasalic please, his natural position is a no 8 but he played holding midfield at the age of 20 for the whole season at Elche and I certainly think he's ready. I'm a huge fan of his and he's ready imo. It'll also save us a lot of money. He was probably our most successful loan this year, and it's not like he was a bit part player. He played 35 games.

It's not the best compilation ever but they aren't very common for defensive midfielders. He's proactive and he kind of reminds me of Matic. He's number 24. 2 footed. Got a good set piece in him too, and Cesc-y levels of passing range.

[Stats 7,059]

Well really when your first DM sub is rumored to leave and your hear only some Arabian club is interested that speaks volumes about how much your player is rated by others.

If he leaves I really hope we get an adequate replacement because we would be left with only Matic as a DM. Perhaps Romeu can make a return or Van Ginkel.

I disagree. I think it is the fact that he is on around £75k p/w wages at us and there is no club who is willing to pay that much wages for him. So most teams know they will not match his wage demands anyway. Same reason when Falcao joined United, not much other teams wanted him, because of his wages. If teams knew they could get Mikel for wages around £50k p/w at a cheap price there would be a lot of teams after him.

[lucio 5,418]

Pasalic please, his natural position is a no 8 but he played holding midfield at the age of 20 for the whole season at Elche and I certainly think he's ready. I'm a huge fan of his and he's ready imo. It'll also save us a lot of money. He was probably our most successful loan this year, and it's not like he was a bit part player. He played 35 games.

It's not the best compilation ever but they aren't very common for defensive midfielders. He's proactive and he kind of reminds me of Matic. He's number 24. 2 footed. Got a good set piece in him too, and Cesc-y levels of passing range.

he isn't hyped enough. Mourinho probably hasn't taken notice

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

he isn't hyped enough. Mourinho probably hasn't taken notice

Yeah, but he should be. Great player. If he was English he would probably be playing ahead of Ramires and Mikel.

[lucio 5,418]

Yeah, but he should be. Great player. If he was English he would probably be playing ahead of Ramires and Mikel.

I watched the video , I had no idea he was so dynamic , he looks truly awesome.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

I watched the video , I had no idea he was so dynamic , he looks truly awesome.

yep. We actually bought him as a replacement to Frank - he's a box to box player by trade, but at Elche he has spent most of his play time on his defensive game in the Maka role. Ideal partner for Matic personally, he has everything in the locker. Everything Mou would want. To play holding midfield in a top flight team at 19/20 years old is a brilliant feat. And he can be like Cesc. I think and hope he takes his opportunity to impress Mou during pre season. He could be perfect for us.

[termninja 5,290]

I disagree. I think it is the fact that he is on around £75k p/w wages at us and there is no club who is willing to pay that much wages for him. So most teams know they will not match his wage demands anyway. Same reason when Falcao joined United, not much other teams wanted him, because of his wages. If teams knew they could get Mikel for wages around £50k p/w at a cheap price there would be a lot of teams after him.

I agree about his wage, but I would at least try going for him and ask him to take a wage cut. Nothing to lose really.

[OneMoSalah 8,783]

Yeah, but he should be. Great player. If he was English he would probably be playing ahead of Ramires and Mikel.

There's thinking a player is good but then there's blowing smoke out their arse. Hes still nowhere near Chelsea level. He's probably not even the best CM we have out on loan, I'd comfortably say van Ginkel is. There's no point arguing this though but I think most would agree that hes not at Chelsea level just now. I don't see why you say if he were English he'd probably be playing ahead of Mikel or Ramires, when both didn't really play as much as they have before as both of their roles were actually minimized due to the Matic-Fabregas combination in the middle of the park.

[zolayes 14,489]

Pasalic please, his natural position is a no 8 but he played holding midfield at the age of 20 for the whole season at Elche and I certainly think he's ready. I'm a huge fan of his and he's ready imo. It'll also save us a lot of money. He was probably our most successful loan this year, and it's not like he was a bit part player. He played 35 games.

It's not the best compilation ever but they aren't very common for defensive midfielders. He's proactive and he kind of reminds me of Matic. He's number 24. 2 footed. Got a good set piece in him too, and Cesc-y levels of passing range.

could even stand in as a striker from that vid

[didierforever 7,349]

i think the reason why none of the chelsea youth/loanees can ever amount to much in our team would be cos we hype them so much.

RLC was apparently good enough to replace rambo.

pasalic is good enough to replace our 70th minute whistle.

mikel might not be the best 2nd choice DM but he has a lot of utility as we saw last season. the number of 1 goal wins we had last season was tremendous and his 10-20 minute cameos are not a thing to be overlooked so easily.

[DYC. 7,542]

I disagree. I think it is the fact that he is on around £75k p/w wages at us and there is no club who is willing to pay that much wages for him. So most teams know they will not match his wage demands anyway. Same reason when Falcao joined United, not much other teams wanted him, because of his wages. If teams knew they could get Mikel for wages around £50k p/w at a cheap price there would be a lot of teams after him.

Not even the Chinese want Obi!

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/28/demba-ba-shanghai-shenhua-china-besiktas

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-transfer-flop-paulinho-set-5950341

A real shame too. They pay good money. £11 mil for Paulinho...

[TheIceMan 596]

Not even the Chinese want Obi!

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/28/demba-ba-shanghai-shenhua-china-besiktas

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-transfer-flop-paulinho-set-5950341

A real shame too. They pay good money. £11 mil for Paulinho...

The arabs will pay good too!

[DYC. 7,542]

The arabs will pay good too!

Would be nice if you were right.