Mikel John Obi

[lionking 10]

He can't even make a 2 yard pass to save his life. He's as useless as Oscar

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

It seems that Mikel is on everyone's list of players that should be shipped out ASAP. I just can't agree with this.

He doesn't play that much, he has a job to do and last year he did it well (shut up shop). He doesn't moan about his playing time or that he isn't used in certain ways. He's a great player to have in the squad and on the bench.

He's been a very loyal player to the club, I don't see the point in shipping him out.

[robsblubot 3,527]

It seems that Mikel is on everyone's list of players that should be shipped out ASAP. I just can't agree with this.

He doesn't play that much, he has a job to do and last year he did it well (shut up shop). He doesn't moan about his playing time or that he isn't used in certain ways. He's a great player to have in the squad and on the bench.

He's been a very loyal player to the club, I don't see the point in shipping him out.

The point is to get someone better and/or younger - perhaps RLC to play more.

If that's not possible - financially or RLC turns not that great or too green - then yes keep him.

He's on a 75k a week though which makes it a lot of money per minute play.

[Reddish-Blue 2,350]

The point is to get someone better and/or younger - perhaps RLC to play more.

If that's not possible - financially or RLC turns not that great or too green - then yes keep him.

He's on a 75k a week though which makes it a lot of money per minute play.

Loftus-Cheek isn't ready for the first team...otherwise he would have broken through this season (where Matic, Fabregas, Ramires have all been awful at some point)

He might need a loan spell to 'mature' as a player, like Moyes did with Ross Barkley

[CHOULO19 24,332]

If you look at this team and this season and think that the first player that we should get rid of is Mikel then that is quite clearly not a rational opinion but one based on personal bias.

For me, he's an experienced player who's been a loyal servant to the club and who can come in at any time despite lack of minutes and provide adequate cover in central midfield and even CB as we saw a couple of seasons ago against Atletico. A good squad player and literally our least expensive player outside of the youth. That's not at all to say that he is irreplaceable or even very important.

For me, if he decides to leave, then god bless, and I thank him and wish him all the best in the world, and if he wants to stay and help the team more, then all the merrier.

[11Drogba 2,000]

We can sell Fabregas and Matic and sign better players but Ramires and Mikel would drag them down to their level as well in time. We need better players in bench to keep the first 11 players motivated and competitive.

[marketing media pet 27]

Lool at bunch of comment that says he's loyal.. he's just here to collect the money aint nothing to do with loyalty...

bunch of hick

[lucio 5,418]

Loftus-Cheek isn't ready for the first team...otherwise he would have broken through this season (where Matic, Fabregas, Ramires have all been awful at some point)

He might need a loan spell to 'mature' as a player, like Moyes did with Ross Barkley

being "ready" won't get you shit at chelsea. the manager even said he's ready. the performance vs liverpool did not suggest otherwise either

[DYC. 7,542]

I disagree with the loyalty remark that's always made in Mikel's case. So many squad-players left not because of a lack of loyalty but because they wanted to play. And they were willing to earn less if it meant they could play. It's different when you start 15-25 games and show quality, but Mikel's happy to sit on the bench and come on for a few minutes here and there. That's his decision but I don't understand why Chelsea would have such a player on the roster. Matic and Fabregas would play game after game after game... Tired, exhausted, out of form, terribly out of form. They play. No competition. The alternative options are so bad they can't come in and do better. Forced to continue with Matic-Fabregas because what else is there? That's unbelievable for a club like Chelsea.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I would have thought Ramires signing a contract extension would seemingly be the end of Mikel. Stood up for him loads and do genuinely like the guy, but we're past sentiment now and he is just taking up a space that should be occupied by either a youth player or someone better.. Guus is going to give him third third/fourth lease on life at Chelsea - this much is evident. I hope it's more of a case of him going on a high as opposed to prolonging the inevitable.

[MefiX19 1,092]

Loftus-Cheek isn't ready for the first team...otherwise he would have broken through this season (where Matic, Fabregas, Ramires have all been awful at some point)

He might need a loan spell to 'mature' as a player, like Moyes did with Ross Barkley

How we will know if he is ready when he never plays?

[OhForAGreavsie 5,895]

How we will know if he is ready when he never plays?

I never play either. Do you know if I'm ready?

Managers and coaches have to form an opinion about players from the evidence they see and they see much more evidence than we do. None of our coaches have picked RLC very often so it's clear that, collectively, they don't believe Ruben is ready. Why would they pick him if they don't think he's set? Many in this thread, and elsewhere, announce that Ruben can't be worse than the players he might replace in the line up but they do so without any evidence at all.

Those with the evidence and the decision making power say no, those without either say those others don't know what they're talking about. Football.

[robsblubot 3,527]

I disagree with the loyalty remark that's always made in Mikel's case. So many squad-players left not because of a lack of loyalty but because they wanted to play. And they were willing to earn less if it meant they could play. It's different when you start 15-25 games and show quality, but Mikel's happy to sit on the bench and come on for a few minutes here and there. That's his decision but I don't understand why Chelsea would have such a player on the roster. Matic and Fabregas would play game after game after game... Tired, exhausted, out of form, terribly out of form. They play. No competition. The alternative options are so bad they can't come in and do better. Forced to continue with Matic-Fabregas because what else is there? That's unbelievable for a club like Chelsea.

agreed.

Mikel isn't loyal - he is unambitious. Or perhaps he is very ambitious about money ONLY!

Perhaps he and his agent know he cannot do better, and/or he and his family, are comfortable with life in London, who knows?!

Players are NOT loyal to their clubs! Just like people are not loyal to companies/business they work for. because being loyal to a company or club would be fucking STUPID and I hope he and his agent are smarter than that.

Companies and clubs are NOT loyal to players and professionals.

The point, however, is whether we can have a fit replacement at the moment (bought or young) or we have other areas that demand more immediate attention.

I also ^^ tend to believe our expensive coaching staff on whether RLC is ready or not.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I disagree with the loyalty remark that's always made in Mikel's case. So many squad-players left not because of a lack of loyalty but because they wanted to play. And they were willing to earn less if it meant they could play. It's different when you start 15-25 games and show quality, but Mikel's happy to sit on the bench and come on for a few minutes here and there. That's his decision but I don't understand why Chelsea would have such a player on the roster. Matic and Fabregas would play game after game after game... Tired, exhausted, out of form, terribly out of form. They play. No competition. The alternative options are so bad they can't come in and do better. Forced to continue with Matic-Fabregas because what else is there? That's unbelievable for a club like Chelsea.

People call him a loyal servant not because he's stayed a long period, they call him loyal because throughout his time here he always did his best for the team and always acted professionally, helping when asked to and never complaining or acting in a selfish manner. And even when that term is used as one of the reasons to keep him, it's not meant that the club owes him anything, at least not to me; it is used in a sense that we know the level of professionalism and dedication we can expect from him.

Also, Mikel and Ramires are NOT the reasons why Matic and Fabregas were never rested. They were rarely rested because because Jose Mourinho does not believe in rotation. In fact, Ramires and Mikel were still our most used squad players along with Zouma despite all the minutes that Matic and Fabregas still played.

[mccg 1,528]

Overall i think its fair to say that it will be good when we get a Mikel upgrade!

[DYC. 7,542]

People call him a loyal servant not because he's stayed a long period, they call him loyal because throughout his time here he always did his best for the team and always acted professionally, helping when asked to and never complaining or acting in a selfish manner. And even when that term is used as one of the reasons to keep him, it's not meant that the club owes him anything, at least not to me; it is used in a sense that we know the level of professionalism and dedication we can expect from him.

Also, Mikel and Ramires are NOT the reasons why Matic and Fabregas were never rested. They were rarely rested because because Jose Mourinho does not believe in rotation. In fact, Ramires and Mikel were still our most used squad players along with Zouma despite all the minutes that Matic and Fabregas still played.

You're killing me, Choulo. Mikel and Ramires. Flawed, such flawed individuals. Just saying their names sounds like I'm mentioning a bad TV sitcom.

Question marks over whether Matic and Fabregas are good enough to start for Chelsea? Question marks over whether Mikel and Ramires are good enough to be back-ups? Sigh. I know what my answer is. Midfield is dead.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

You're killing me, Choulo. Mikel and Ramires. Flawed, such flawed individuals. Just saying their names sounds like I'm mentioning a bad TV sitcom.

Question marks over whether Matic and Fabregas are good enough to start for Chelsea? Question marks over whether Mikel and Ramires are good enough to be back-ups? Sigh. I know what my answer is. Midfield is dead.

Not really the points you originally made and I tried to refute, but anyway...

Yes, Ramires(technical ability) and Mikel(dynamism) are deeply flawed and so are Matic(consistency) and Fabregas(physical abilities).

For me, Fabregas should not be starting for any top team, while Matic is certainly good enough to start and Mikel and Ramires good enough to be backups, though you can definitely have better options than all three of them. I just don't think that that is a pressing priority considering all the other more critical deficiencies we have in team at the moment (including replacing Fabregas himself).

[robsblubot 3,527]

You're killing me, Choulo. Mikel and Ramires. Flawed, such flawed individuals. Just saying their names sounds like I'm mentioning a bad TV sitcom.

Question marks over whether Matic and Fabregas are good enough to start for Chelsea? Question marks over whether Mikel and Ramires are good enough to be back-ups? Sigh. I know what my answer is. Midfield is dead.

Only one of these players played at the highest level for long stretches of time (for us and previous club) and yet he gets put in the same bucket as others who have never showed and consistency at same high level in their entire careers. * not my opinion only: go back to winning season and check ratings/stats pundits.

I know which players will turn good again once we get the teamwork is back... the ones who were good once.