Mikel John Obi

[Blue Armour 4,438]

Honestly disappointed with Mikel's work rate these days,..looking at it now, it would seem that keeping Essien would have been a better option.

And now there's his passing. During Carlo's second season, and sometimes during the start of this season he was more ambitious with his passing. During the last few games, its been really dull, where he doesn't even seem to pass more than 5 yards, always keen to get a forward player to track back and receive. This was acceptable in the 1st half when West Ham were content to sit back...but in the 2nd half they just bulldozed through our midfield due to the lack of urgency from the side.

You can blame Torres all you want for his lack of sharpness in front of goal, but the more pressing concern is the weakness in central midfield. I won't say that Mikel is the main problem (as there is no better substitute in the squad), but he hasn't really been helping the team in recent games.

[DYC. 7,542]

I look at Obi and I often just scratch my head. He's 6 ft 2, muscular and he's shown (mostly on the ball) he possesses impressive strength. Yet he rarely makes use of it in his defending, so strange. He'd be a better player if he would add physicality to his game and it would also help our team a lot as we seriously lack power. You'd think one of the 27 coaches he's played under in the past 6 and a half years would instruct him to do so.

Add aggression to your game and use your strength Obi.

[ja1 1,166]

http://www.carefreechronicles.com/2012/12/mikels-sideway-pass-no121.html

[Blue Armour 4,438]

http://www.carefreec...pass-no121.html

Great pass that...he needs to do more of the same, and stop expecting players like Mata or Hazard to come back to within 5 yards from where he's standing to get the ball. It just destroys the tempo.

[Clevemayer 764]

disappointed with him in the last game, the first half was good but the second was just pure, really pure,,, he can and MUST do better, else, take a seat on the bench my son...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Great pass that...he needs to do more of the same, and stop expecting players like Mata or Hazard to come back to within 5 yards from where he's standing to get the ball. It just destroys the tempo.

He shouldn't and can't be expected to play such a pass. It is too risky. Sure it looks great if he pulls it off, but if he doesn't then we've lost the ball with only 5 players behind it. As a DM it his job to make 5-10 yard passes as it is the job of one of the 3 behind the striker to come within 5-10 yards to receive the ball so we don't risk loosing possession in midfield.

[zolayes 14,489]

our attackers waste great chances ...our back four give away goals AND WE BLAME MIKEL

[Blue Armour 4,438]

He shouldn't and can't be expected to play such a pass. It is too risky. Sure it looks great if he pulls it off, but if he doesn't then we've lost the ball with only 5 players behind it. As a DM it his job to make 5-10 yard passes as it is the job of one of the 3 behind the striker to come within 5-10 yards to receive the ball so we don't risk loosing possession in midfield.

I'm not talking about a defense splitting through ball every time,..I'm talking about finding a player without forcing that player to come back and receive the ball. If you look at the second half of our last game, players like Mata/Hazard/Torres are coming back to get the ball from Mikel and this is ruining our attack. Its fine when the opposition sits back, but it sucks balls when they peg us back.

It wouldn't be a problem if Mikel was paired up with another creative midfielder who could do that job, but when the person he's paired with is Ramires or Romeu, I expect him to make the better passes.

[Blue Armour 4,438]

our attackers waste great chances ...our back four give away goals AND WE BLAME MIKEL

Is it too much to expect a little more from from him, or are you saying he should just be a water-carrier for the team?

[zolayes 14,489]

Is it too much to expect a little more from from him, or are you saying he should just be a water-carrier for the team?

the water carrier was an insult given I think to Deschamps who was vital to France winning the World Cup . I am saying there are much more

culpable players in our team than Mikel

[The only place to be 11,313]

our attackers waste great chances ...our back four give away goals AND WE BLAME MIKEL

I blame him for not working hard enough to provide cover for the back four, and I also think his passing can become slow and laboured at times. He's in a tough position because it requires a lot from the person playing it, but I simply don't think he can do it well enough for us especially when he's under a bit of pressure. I think that it's ultimately a character issue, something that we sometimes overlook as fans.

[Blue Armour 4,438]

the water carrier was an insult given I think to Deschamps who was vital to France winning the World Cup . I am saying there are much more

culpable players in our team than Mikel

Thats exactly why I used that term.., because I feel Mikel can do better that. There are a lot of attacking players not performing at their best levels right now, but I think Mikel can make their job a lot easier with better passing.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I'm not talking about a defense splitting through ball every time,..I'm talking about finding a player without forcing that player to come back and receive the ball. If you look at the second half of our last game, players like Mata/Hazard/Torres are coming back to get the ball from Mikel and this is ruining our attack. Its fine when the opposition sits back, but it sucks balls when they peg us back.

It wouldn't be a problem if Mikel was paired up with another creative midfielder who could do that job, but when the person he's paired with is Ramires or Romeu, I expect him to make the better passes.

Again, it is their job to come back and receive the ball from Mikel. How is Mikel supposed to find one of them between 7-8 defenders without risking loosing the ball? You expecting him to be both the DM and creative midfielder which is impossible for any player.

[Kieran. 6,317]

G'wan Mikel!!!!!

-Mikel fanboy

There has been no real purpose to this post other than to express support for Mikel.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

If only he made more sliding tackles or gives spreading passes to the flanks.