Mikel John Obi

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

Thats just nonsense, he's only good when he doesnt go forward, he cant pass like Luiz or Romeu and thats why Rafa picks them ahead of him.

All his passes are mostly 10 yard jobs, we need defenders to turn defence into attack and he aint it. He is good for some games, but not ones when 10 men are behind the ball and we need a different option to unlock the defence. He keeps shooting shtupid long shots when he cant score.

He's never going to get better and needs competition as he reacts better when he is dropped

Since when was it a defensive midfielders job to unlock defences?????????????????????????

[Zola kinda blue 89]

Since when was it a defensive midfielders job to unlock defences?????????????????????????

Seriously? A DM is there to break up attacks and then pass the ball to the more creative players

Busquets, Alonso etc pinging out long passes.

Mikel is too slow to do this and he is isnt a good passer, which again, is why Romeu and Luiz are preferred

Its all to easy to stop chelsea, just cut of the supply to Mata and co, thats why you need your DM's to be able to find them with a pass when needed

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

Seriously? A DM is there to break up attacks and then pass the ball to the more creative players

Busquets, Alonso etc pinging out long passes.

Mikel is too slow to do this and he is isnt a good passer, which again, is why Romeu and Luiz are preferred

Its all to easy to stop chelsea, just cut of the supply to Mata and co, thats why you need your DM's to be able to find them with a pass when needed

If Mikel is too slow and isn't as good a passer why has he been a regular since 2007-08.

I know what a DM does but you said Mikel isn't a good enough passer, which he is. Before his suspension and injuries he had completed the most passes in our team, with the highest accuracy. Also your argument about Mikel not finding Mata and that, thats either because they are marked or standing still. You can't just assume, oh there not moving or coming for the ball so its Mikels fault honestly.

Also if Busquets isn't Barca's DM and is their playmaker, who is their DM? Messi?

[Zola kinda blue 89]

If Mikel is too slow and isn't as good a passer why has he been a regular since 2007-08.

I know what a DM does but you said Mikel isn't a good enough passer, which he is. Before his suspension and injuries he had completed the most passes in our team, with the highest accuracy. Also your argument about Mikel not finding Mata and that, thats either because they are marked or standing still. You can't just assume, oh there not moving or coming for the ball so its Mikels fault honestly.

Also is Busquets isn't Barca's DM, who is? Messi?

stats stats stats, what they dont ell you is that is his completed passes are 10 yarders to Cech or sideways!

[communicate 2,703]

If Mikel is too slow and isn't as good a passer why has he been a regular since 2007-08.

I know what a DM does but you said Mikel isn't a good enough passer, which he is. Before his suspension and injuries he had completed the most passes in our team, with the highest accuracy. Also your argument about Mikel not finding Mata and that, thats either because they are marked or standing still. You can't just assume, oh there not moving or coming for the ball so its Mikels fault honestly.

Also if Busquets isn't Barca's DM and is their playmaker, who is their DM? Messi?

I agree. I don't have much problem with mikel. Of course I wish that he can pass like carrick/alonso but I can say that about everybody.

He is a natural holding that provide us with good balance

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

stats stats stats, what they dont ell you is that is his completed passes are 10 yarders to Cech or sideways!

Does that mean Barca are pish because all their players pass the ball 8-10 yards horozontially? Honestley just shut up, I watch every game, Mikel doesn't just play backwards 10 yards passes. Are you ready for this?

Average pass length = 17 meters.

604 forward passes (65.7%)

314 backward passes (34.3%)

90% passing accuracy.

BITCH PLEASE

[DDA 9,925]

I must admit, I'm one of the first people to criticise Mikel but it was obvious last night how much we were missing him from the midfield. That's not to say I think he is as good as a lot of people on here make out.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I must admit, I'm one of the first people to criticise Mikel but it was obvious last night how much we were missing him from the midfield. That's not to say I think he is as good as a lot of people on here make out.

Same here. We simply missed someone who we could bring on to shore up the midfield a bit, especially at 2-1. I think he's competent enough to do that against Southampton.

[Kieran. 6,317]

[DDA 9,925]

Same here. We simply missed someone who we could bring on to shore up the midfield a bit, especially at 2-1. I think he's competent enough to do that against Southampton.

Exactly. Maybe because he actually understands the defensive midfield role better than Rami and Lampard. Mikel doesn't stray to far from the holding position and keeps it simple. How many times did we see Rami lose the ball from dribbling too much against Southampton, it became a running joke. As I said in another thread, Lampard is an attacking central mid not a defensive mid. Never thought I would find myself saying this but Mikel needs to hurry on home.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Yep we need him and Moses back asap.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Funny how he gets criticised sometimes but when he is gone for a shot or long period we realise how important he actually is to this Chelsea team. His qualities are unnoticed when he plays by some but when he is not we lack a presence for someone in that DM role that he provides. We are much more vulnerable without him and I can't wait to have him back in the starting 11. One of the most important, unsung heroes here.

Thank fuck, I'm not the only one with eyes! Excellent post.

Mikel's importance to this team is so painstakingly obvious but people choose to ignore it anyway. Excellent post indeed. His maturity and discipline are absolutely pivotal to the way we play. It means that Lampard can bomb forward like he wanted to on Wednesday but without leaving massive gaps. JOM12 plugs them instantly. He is incredibly tactically astute and even if he is a little rash at times, in general his defensive discipline is unparalleled in the EPL.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Seriously? A DM is there to break up attacks and then pass the ball to the more creative players

Busquets, Alonso etc pinging out long passes.

Mikel is too slow to do this and he is isnt a good passer, which again, is why Romeu and Luiz are preferred

Its all to easy to stop chelsea, just cut of the supply to Mata and co, thats why you need your DM's to be able to find them with a pass when needed

Claude Makelele is the greatest defensive midfielder of all time and all he did was pass sideways. The players you are referring to - Busquets, Alonso - they are not defensive midfielders. Alonso is a deep-lying playmaker and Busquets is at the rear of the double pivot alongside Xavi, with the two alternating. Barcelona almost have a triple pivot in essence, with Fabregas or Iniesta then rotating with the double pivot positions. And as for your argument saying Mikel isn't a very good passer, you clearly don't watch him. His ability to play weighted long balls into the channels is one of our best counter-attacking tools yet he is not able to use it since we don't use natural wingers. Go back to the Ancelotti era and watch games where Anelka and Malouda operated out wide and you'll see my point.

Either way, you're getting things mixed up a little.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Thank fuck, I'm not the only one with eyes! Excellent post.

Mikel's importance to this team is so painstakingly obvious but people choose to ignore it anyway. Excellent post indeed. His maturity and discipline are absolutely pivotal to the way we play. It means that Lampard can bomb forward like he wanted to on Wednesday but without leaving massive gaps. JOM12 plugs them instantly. He is incredibly tactically astute and even if he is a little rash at times, in general his defensive discipline is unparalleled in the EPL.

People understand his role in the team and what he's asked to do (it's not about having eyes as you assert) but some (like me) simply don't think he's good enough. I don't like his attitude more than anything and I think he lacks the personality or assertiveness to really dominate in that position. It's funny that you mention maturity and discipline as being pivotal to the way we play- I agree which is why their absence when it comes to him makes us weak.

My problem with him is that he's a weak human being. He's not a leader and it's getting high time that people stop making excuses for him because he's not a youngster anymore. He's a 26 year old man with over 200 appearances for this club and he should start stepping up especially when we're struggling, but too often he simply gets carried along with the tide. If we're playing well, he looks good but if we're playing poorly he simply fades into the background.

This club's success was built on men, not boys.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

A pass is about a passer and a receiver. If I have to pick between Mikel's passing range and Hazard (improving) poor positional sense, I know what facet I'll aim first

You realy think that the problem is with our AM's? what do you expect from Hazard? to come back and get the ball from MIkel? he's a winger.

Its a fact that we dont have a CM/DM who can pick passes as good as other top teams have (teams who plays simillar type of football), a Playmaker, and Mikel realy isnt close to be good enough in that. its not only about passing range, its about timing, its about his speed of thought in picking passes, its funny to even think its good enough to "Lead" our central midfield. But the biggest problem for me is with the midfielder besides Mikel, the ball should be played through this player, and we dont have one who can do that.