Mikel John Obi

[Land 331]

What a load of rubbish. I'm sure German and South American players would never put clubs above a national team.Let Mikel and Moses do whatever they want because they care about their NT and their home fans.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Unethical?

I have no problem with the ACON - I just don't see why it needs to be every two years and in the middle of our season. If we can have summer world cups in South Africa and Qatar, then I think the talk about conditions for the ACON is at best hypocritical and more likely a big bunch of cunty bollocks.

I surely think so, it is immoral to criticize a player or say he shouldnt join CFC because every 2 Januarys he will leave for ACON.

Again, I was nicely debating with you, but when you said that - I honestly needed some time to quiet down!

[The only place to be 11,313]

I surely think so, it is imoral to criticize a player or say he shouldnt join CFC because every 2 Januarys he will leave for ACON.

First unethical, then immoral? I think both of those are a little hysterical.

What a load of rubbish. I'm sure German and South American players would never put clubs above a national team.Let Mikel and Moses do whatever they want because they care about their NT and their home fans.

I don't think it's rubbish, but at least you've acknowledged it's a choice. Maybe I'm being unfair because Chelsea comes first for me, and I'd like that to be the same for the players too.

I think not buying players if they want to play in the African cup of nations is very stupid,

It makes sense to at least factor it into the decision making process when buying players.

Scholes threw a tantrum because he didnt get played in the position he wanted ..encouraged by Fergie of course ... face it ,,,,,you made a rubbish

post and backed yourself in a corner ,,,

Scholes could've played more years for England but chose to retire. Ultimately we lost out.

Oh, and same to you old boy. :dude:

[Hutcho 8,443]

Not buying a player because they may at some point in their career play for their country in the ACON is stupid...

If you are having them on loan for 6 months from january then it would be something to consider as it is a reasonable chunk of it. But if you don't buy someone because of that you are going to be missing out on a lot of talented players.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Not buying a player because they may at some point in their career play for their country in the ACON is stupid...

When you're evaluating talent for a position, then it's clearly something that has to be acknowledged.

Course it would help if it were only every 4 years.....or held in Summer.

[Jase 43,479]

Deary me. Two pages of arguments/debates over such petty matters!

Like it or not, we are gonna have to just deal with Mikel and Moses being absent for us in January. Not ideal and we all don't like it but those players have commitment to their country as well, not just the club. And besides, we have experienced such situation in the past with the likes of Drogba, Kalou, Essien etc all going to AFCON to January as well. Don't get all the moaning suddenly. Arguing over such matters here is not going to change anything. Don't like it? Send your discontent to the African authorities!

[Hutcho 8,443]

When you're evaluating talent for a position, then it's clearly something that has to be acknowledged.

Course it would help if it were only every 4 years.....or held in Summer.

They are either talented enough or they are not. You can't deny a player the chance to play for their country even if the timing isn't ideal. I would rather it be in the summer as it would be much better for us, but alas that is not the case.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Deary me. Two pages of arguments/debates over such petty matters!

Like it or not, we are gonna have to just deal with Mikel and Moses being absent for us in January. Not ideal and we all don't like it but those players have commitment to their country as well, not just the club. And besides, we have experienced such situation in the past with the likes of Drogba, Kalou, Essien etc all going to AFCON to January as well. Don't get all the moaning suddenly. Arguing over such matters here is not going to change anything. Don't like it? Send your discontent to the African authorities!

[Jase 43,479]

So? Despite playing in the England U-16/17/19/21 level, he was born in Nigeria after all. Nothing all with deciding to play for his country birth is it? Same thing has happened with a lot of other players. AND had he chosen to play for England, he would still have commitment to England as well. Point is still the same!

[The only place to be 11,313]

So? Despite playing in the England U-16/17/19/21 level, he was born in Nigeria after all. Nothing all with deciding to play for his country birth is it? Same thing has happened with a lot of other players. AND had he chosen to play for England, he would still have commitment to England as well. Point is still the same!

It was a cunty point that I made and I did wonder whether or not to make it. I'm simply how important national football is to the modern player.

The larger point is that I wish Capello had picked him for England.

[Hutcho 8,443]

How important national football is to the modern player.

I think you have a point there. As i definitely think that playing for your country isn't seen as high an honour as it once was. Previously playing for your country was the pinnacle... For some it still may be, but overall it isn't to the same level.

[Rmpr 8,977]

First unethical, then immoral? I think both of those are a little hysterical.

Alright, I will have to start from the beginning:

Mikel is a very important player for our squad, who plays at a key position. Chelsea needs him to maintain a reasonable depth at DM to say the least. He will be very missed and will most likely cost us a few points (we haven't the easiest of schedules). Also, we will only have Luiz and Ake to cover for him and both arent prepaired to perform during a full month at such a high level. David Luiz can easily handle strong physical teams, but yellows come easy for him and if we pair Ake or Ramires with Oscar or Lampard against the likes of Stoke and Reading, I fear it wont be very pretty.

Yes, I dont like ACON. For two obivous reasons, it is in the middle of the european season and is biyearly. Nevertheless, I do understand both of those reasons. Africa calendar year ends in December (which makes things easier to the everyday fans and students to follow the competition) and the temperature is way better for playing football at that time of the year (we are talking about Africa here). About it being every 2 years and not 4, it is because they wanted to keep with the tournament`s tradition and format (of giving the winner a place in the World Cup). CAF has all the right arguments (excuses) for doing what they think it is best for their own public. What we also have to take into consideration is that the majority of the population lives a very though life and football is a very happy escape valve. It is vital that the interest in the cup stays very high and that is why they are changing the even numbered years calendar to an odd numbered one, so they dont compete with the FIFA's and UEFA'S event (hence we will have two ACONs in consecutive years). It gets even worse when you realise (just like South Americans) it is basically the only opportunity they have to see their own players, since they all play abroad. Africans are probably the most fanatic football fans, they go abosutely crazy when Brazil (or any other top team) visits their countries. Nice that every other year they have something to look for.

With that in mind, it is pretty easy to see why this "shit" cup is very important and how much it means to the players. Just look at Drogba, he even asked FIFA to let him be loaned to some club so he does not lose his form. Everyone wants to play in a World Cup and to become heroic and respected by their own people. I bet any of us would feel extremely proud and overjoyed if we had the chance to become a national legend. How can anyone criticize or judge it as a wrong decision?

I want to be as respectful as possible, but your opinion about him having to place his team above anything else is very selfish, maybe even stupid. Players always want to serve their national team, it gives them prestigue and gratification and, most importantly, its not their fault they have to play at inconvinient moments. African players have the right to attend their international duties just as any other European has. I honestly dont see how leaving in the middle of the season to fight for his country is a disrespect towards his teammates and coaching staff. No one said a bit about Mata losing preseason and entering a very challenging season with his tank low. Things should not change just because the major leagues around Europe will be affected, they have no business in Africa's Cup of Nation. This is not even your worst argument though…

What deeply irritates me is that you mentioned we (as a club) should not buy players in similar situations. That opinion, in my point of view, is highly unethical. I wouldnt be bothered (and would actually agree) if you said we should analyse that aspect when buying a player or that it is a huge downside of having top African players, but that wasnt what you said. Suggesting it (to ultimately choose between club or nation) to any professional footballer should never ever even cross the mind of a single member of our Board. It is like asking for a parent to choose which child he wants to save. All players must have the chance to be able to participate in both ends, period. Treating Mikel or Moses with prejudice because they chose Nigeria over Chelsea is also immoral. As a fan, there is not much consequence to how we think, but imagine Mikel's feeling if Gourlay said anything similar to what you just said.

In resume, I am not liking the fact we will miss two players that were regularly at the starting eleven and I do wish ACON gets a reformulation so it stops interfering with CFC. However, I really hope none of the above happen, it would be a very sad day, such an atrocity would tarnish our bright history!

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Anyways, you have earned a response (after such long post), but all I had to say is in here, so I wont quote and derail this thread anymore...

[nachikethas 1,149]

mikel you go on and win the cup i will take care of the haters jjj

[Kojo 4,676]

I can't believe so many good members are waisting their posts with a very dumb and selfish opinion (not member, to make it clear).

I know the selfish cunt, I'm meant to be the controversial poster around here!, why is he taking my place?.

AND ON THE MIKEL THREAD OF ALL PLACES, where all my greatest work has been made!.

[The Skipper 20,593]

It is quite hilarious how anyone can criticise a player for wanting to play for their country. Did you criticise Drogba and Essien for it too?

[Spike 12,049]

What's funny is to see a debate based on two players' departure for ACON... When we know in Ligue 1 that some teams have 10 players or so going to the ACON

What do you mean we? I did not know that. The coverage in Australia of Ligue 1 is terrible compared to last season.

[TrippingStep 336]

What do you mean we? I did not know that. The coverage in Australia of Ligue 1 is terrible compared to last season.

Not a very huge loss. Seeing so many teams with poor or average midfielders (holding midfielder the exception), many teams not capable of changing the side of play quickly when a side is crowded. Body checks, studs in ankle of the opposition, it's not pretty.

[Spike 12,049]

For various reasons French teams happens to have a lot of African players in their squads, so there's a lot of internationals in Ligue 1

In 11/12, OGC Nice had 4 Ivoirians, 2 Gabonese, 1 Malian by example. Last season Rennes lost Pitropipa (Burkina), Hadji (Morroco), Mangane (Senegal), Boye (Ghana), Diarra (Mali)...

You've mentioned this before....Clairefontaine...etc.