Mikel John Obi

[bushman 2,043]

Some say, Mikel is valuable, some can not see him hitting the net though.

Certainly, if I remember correctly he even caused Chelsea to pay over 10- 12m to Manures. He signed for United, too.

I believe, his price was 16m, then. Now, I do not mean to be disrespectful of him, but he is not worth it. The kid Van Ginkel went for 8m & I bet he will be better. Let´s see what Mikel does in America, soon. I still prefer to see him go & allocate the money for better DM.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

"I would still expect us to win those games with Luiz or Mikel"

Unfortunately, football does not work on how YOU think. It is played on the field and the results of last year seem to be exactly opposite to how YOU think.

These variables you listed down, they average up over a period and a season is long enough.

You come up with arguments like

1. "Mikel is good at defending the back four"

I disagree and back my statement with the fact that we conceded 1.53 goals per game when Mikel started last season vs 0.89 goals when he did not start. Surely, I have a stronger argument.

2. "Mikel lets our attacking players to concentrate on their strengths and hence benefits the team"

I disagree and back my statement with the fact that we scored 1.6 goals per game when Mikel started last season vs 2.51 goals per game when he did not start.

Surely, I have a stronger argument

3. "Mikel played games against tougher opposition "

I tell you that the average league standings of our PL opponents when Mikel started was 10.3 vs 11.5 when he did not start. That is not a big enough difference surely?

4. "Mikel has superior positional sense, is strong physically"

That is the most subjective thing you can say about a player. Even if I were to agree with you (which I don't), good positional awareness, physical strengths are not the end game unless you use those qualities to add to your performance on the pitch.

Considering the fact that

Chelsea win more games when mikel does not start.

Chelsea lose fewer games when mikel does not start

Chelsea score more goals when mikel does not start

Chelsea concede fewer goals when mikel does not start

He sure as hell is not using those qualities which you think he has.

You guys have not even a single solid reason, all hot air.

And my counter argument to that is this: http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/13977-john-mikel-obi-the-keystone/

We've been through all the arguments countless times. You predicted that Jose will sell Mikel and now you predict that he will be benched. I think he will be a key player for the team just like he's been for the past four seasons. Let's wait and see if football works like I think it does.

[meetdoscar 335]

Mikel isn't stopping chelsea from signing any DM in the world. If you must hate then hate the coaches or the board or who ever the hell buys and sells players because we have the money to sign almost any player we want and if they did not sign a DM its their fault because poor mikel knows nothing about that. This taunting makes no sense

[bushman 2,043]

Personally, I wouldn´t call it taunting. Mostly, it´s a speculation here & folks are posting their opinions, that is all.

Whether he stays or not, only time will tell.

[zolayes 14,489]

And my counter argument to that is this: http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/13977-john-mikel-obi-the-keystone/

We've been through all the arguments countless times. You predicted that Jose will sell Mikel and now you predict that he will be benched. I think he will be a key player for the team just like he's been for the past four seasons. Let's wait and see if football works like I think it does.

a few posts ago you were stating statistics were irrelevant ,,,now your main point is pages of stats

[CHOULO19 24,332]

a few posts ago you were stating statistics were irrelevant ,,,now your main point is pages of stats

I said they can't be your sole argument but instead they're something you use to back a point that you've made from observations and that is exactly what that article by SeB does. Stats can be manipulated to support almost any opinion, but they can also be very insightful. Depends on how you use them.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I said they can't be your sole argument but instead they're something you use to back a point that you've made from observations and that is exactly what that article by SeB does. Stats can be manipulated to support almost any opinion, but they can also be very insightful. Depends on how you use them.

Support Choulo's opinion = Very insightful.

Don't support Choulo's opinion = Clearly manipulated.

[bleed_blue 136]

So last season

I OBSERVED that chelsea were performing better when Mikel did not play. I back that up with stats that

Chelsea won fewer games with Mikel

Chelsea lost more games with Mikel

Chelsea scored fewer goals with Mikel

Chelsea conceded more goals with Mikel

But you are right, they are clearly manipulated.

Regarding that article by SeB, are you this naive not to understand that our football has evolved. We no longer have Drogba upfront. Over the past two summers, we have brought in players like Mata, Oscar, Hazard. The defending with 10 men behind the ball days are over at Chelsea.

That article is a complete hogwash in the present context, and frankly having read so many of your posts on this forum, I dont think you have the ability to understand this bit.

and regarding Jose selling Mikel, I have always maintained that we won't get offers for Mikel and eventually that has been the case. Why would another top club take such a liability at their place. Galtasaray assistant manager, Hasan Sas denied all media reports and said they were never in for Mikel, it was just Mikel's agent talk. Similarly when he was linked to Trabzonspor, their president said the same thing. Any person with half a brain knows and understand that but I agree expecting that much from you is a tall order.

and YES I agree that Mikel was a key player last year. His ABSENCE due to "injury" towards the end of the season helped us build and maintain a winning momentum that got us the third place and also the Europa league.

[Strike 7,217]

I personally think Jose has faith in him, and that's why we're probably not buying another midfielder.

He certainly has the ability, so it'll be interesting to see how he plays under Mourinho. I think he can be a beast under the right circumstances and given the right role.

This. He won't work well in a pressing game with a midfield duo looking to recycle possession forward. He works well in the old 4-3-3 where he sits in front of the back four with no much running, pressing required.

[nachikethas 1,149]

DP

[nachikethas 1,149]

WE HAVE NEW BACKSTREET BOY OVER HERE LOL

[cripji 16]

I think some people will run mad when they see Mikel playing week in week out under Jose.. If players are considered surplus to requirement, the are being released. If he is a liabity as one cunt suggest then he should be released.

[The Skipper 20,593]

^No need to call people cunts but I agree with you in a sense that Mikel will play quite a lot of games.

[Johnny Kills 164]

Has no one made the point that SeB's statistics are being used to compare him with other CMs in a league that lacks any real depth there? The Supercup is going to show people how poor he is (in back to back games nonetheless) unless we're playing with 10 behind the ball.

[meetdoscar 335]

Aha...So if chelsea plays poorly its because of mikel and if they play well its not because of mikel despite him playing....just getting to discover that some fans here are not Cfc fans but fans of some specific whow players.

[Johnny Kills 164]

Aha...So if chelsea plays poorly its because of mikel and if they play well its not because of mikel despite him playing....just getting to discover that some fans here are not Cfc fans but fans of some specific whow players.

Excuse me? The fact is when we get dominated by other big clubs, it's because of our midfield, you simply cannot argue that. If you want to, then you don't know as much as probably think you do about the sport. So what are the problems with our midfield? The fact one spot is occupied by Lampard/Ramires and the other is the the level of Mikel. He's not a world class player and it will be exposed every time we play one of the top 4-5 clubs in the world. Shaktar, Juventus, and City bossed the fuck outta us and it's because of those 2 reasons. If Ramires is going to be played in the pivot, he can't have the size of the burden that gets placed on him when he's next to Mikel because he's not really being played in a position that will make him excel. Some may say, "why does Ramires get the pass and not Mikel"? That is also very simple, he's supposed to be a holding midfielder that protects the back 4 and he does not.

[bleed_blue 136]

I think some people will run mad when they see Mikel playing week in week out under Jose.. If players are considered surplus to requirement, the are being released. If he is a liabity as one cunt suggest then he should be released.

oooh, people don't agree with me, I am gonna start calling them cunt.

People like you will be put on suicide watch next year when Ramires, Essien, Ginkel, Lampard relegate him to the bench.

and he can't be released because the club has 5 year contract with him (you can thank emanalo for that). Till no team bids for him, chelsea can't do anything and we all know that is not going to happen. No team will buy such a useless player.

Aha...So if chelsea plays poorly its because of mikel and if they play well its not because of mikel despite him playing....just getting to discover that some fans here are not Cfc fans but fans of some specific whow players.

YES. Some people like you and your compatriots are not Chelsea fans, just Mikel fans who have bandwagonned along to Chelsea. We know that.

regarding that accusation, here is a logical flow diagram that should help you.

IF Mikel starts and

1. Chelsea play well: Mikel had a part to play in Chelsea playing well

2. Chelsea played poorly: Mikel had a part to play in Chelsea playing poorly

IF Mikel does not start, Mikel gets no credit/blame if Chelsea plays well/poorly.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I hope he has a better season, I still think he is a natural CM and not a DM. He might thrive next to essien if essien stays back as the main DM.