Mikel John Obi

[Kojo 4,676]

I don't know how Mikel will fit in this system, Ramires is going to start almost every game, that's clear.

But how is Mikel going to be needed? we don't need someone who sits deep, Van Ginkel and Lampard in the other slot play very well, they go forward now and then and the team becomes more fluid and unpredictable. We work harder so we don't get caught out on the counter attack as much, and we've gotten better so where not losing the ball as much.

I just can't see Mikel getting much playing time in this team, and I'm not basing this after one game, because I hate people who do that. But I've said this pre season now. As for the Mikel supporters, Skipper and Choulo, do you think he has a place in the side?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Choulo, do you think he has a place in the side?

I think he does as he is our only geniune holding midfielder. Ramires did a very good job in that role at the weekend, but it was only Hull. And more importantly, when Rami plays that role, it restricts him and takes away his best asset which is his ability to play box-to-box and make those trade mark runs of his. Van Ginkel looked very good defensively in preseason, but he's still young, and I think his role may be restricted this season in bigger games. Not sure what Jose's plans for Essien are, but I doubt he'll be more than a squad player.

So based on the above, I think Mikel will definitely play an important role. On any account, we'll have a better idea what role each player will have a few weeks into the season.

[Phil Driver 503]

Our only genuine holding midfielder was Makelele ,Mikel is in no way a genuine holding midfielder ,he is a failed Attacking Midfielder and that is based on seven years evidence. Did anyone else notice Rammy in the Hull penalty box in the first ten minutes on Sun?

[Reddish-Blue 2,345]

Our only genuine holding midfielder was Makelele ,Mikel is in no way a genuine holding midfielder ,he is a failed Attacking Midfielder and that is based on seven years evidence. Did anyone else notice Rammy in the Hull penalty box in the first ten minutes on Sun?

That's a bit unfair on Mikel. He's still a solid midfielder, when given the chance to express himself on the pitch (as shown by his performances for Nigeria).

Very interested to see how Jose utilises Mikel's skill-set...he's not a genuine defensive midfielder...but in a 3-man midfield, he could finally show some consistency in his performances.

[haranr 485]

Sell this lazyass

[didierforever 7,349]

LOL at people saying mikel wont be used and all. its going to be a LONG season and i have no doubt we will be competing for atleast 3 ofthe 4 tournaments that we are going to play in. so mikel will get his CHANCES, and i have no doubt he ll be good.

anyways i trust in jose to make the right call.

[Kojo 4,676]

I think he does as he is our only geniune holding midfielder. Ramires did a very good job in that role at the weekend, but it was only Hull. And more importantly, when Rami plays that role, it restricts him and takes away his best asset which is his ability to play box-to-box and make those trade mark runs of his. Van Ginkel looked very good defensively in preseason, but he's still young, and I think his role may be restricted this season in bigger games. Not sure what Jose's plans for Essien are, but I doubt he'll be more than a squad player.

So based on the above, I think Mikel will definitely play an important role. On any account, we'll have a better idea what role each player will have a few weeks into the season.

Ramires wont play that role, I would say he's still playing box to box. In the Hull game he made a few runs upfield, he didn't play that deep.

I think it's always going to be Ramires in the double pivot

MVG-Ramires

Lampard-Ramires

Essien-Ramires

Mikel-Ramires

Honestly I'm expecting to see a lot more of MVG and Lampard in that pivot, just because Lampards old it isn't going to restrict him, it's clear Mourinho has huge respect for him, and he played very well against Hull. Mikel has barely played any games so far when you include pre season, I think that's very strange if hes supposed to be a key player.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Ramires wont play that role, I would say he's still playing box to box. In the Hull game he made a few runs upfield, he didn't play that deep.

I think it's always going to be Ramires in the double pivot

MVG-Ramires

Lampard-Ramires

Essien-Ramires

Mikel-Ramires

Honestly I'm expecting to see a lot more of MVG and Lampard in that pivot, just because Lampards old it isn't going to restrict him, it's clear Mourinho has huge respect for him, and he played very well against Hull. Mikel has barely played any games so far when you include pre season, I think that's very strange if hes supposed to be a key player.

Was having this same discussion about Ramires in his thread and if you look at the numbers I posted you could clearly see that Rami was playing deeper. He didn't make a single run into the box.

Lampard does brilliantly well against sides like Hull because he is so effective when it comes to scoring, but I very much doubt he's start many games in the pivot because tends to get bypassed in midfield. Defensively he contributes little to the midfield.

[bleed_blue 136]

Was having this same discussion about Ramires in his thread and if you look at the numbers I posted you could clearly see that Rami was playing deeper. He didn't make a single run into the box.

Lampard does brilliantly well against sides like Hull because he is so effective when it comes to scoring, but I very much doubt he's start many games in the pivot because tends to get bypassed in midfield. Defensively he contributes little to the midfield.

I must have been dreaming that sequence of play when Ramires pounced on a loose ball in midfield, passed it to Lampard and then almost recieved the ball back when through on goal.

This is why I keep telling you to atleast watch the game before coming here and sprouting random things.

One thing having a wrong opinion/interpretation but even your "facts" are wrong.

[Kojo 4,676]

Was having this same discussion about Ramires in his thread and if you look at the numbers I posted you could clearly see that Rami was playing deeper. He didn't make a single run into the box.

Lampard does brilliantly well against sides like Hull because he is so effective when it comes to scoring, but I very much doubt he's start many games in the pivot because tends to get bypassed in midfield. Defensively he contributes little to the midfield.

Yeah sure Lampard goes up, but you can't say that Mikel enhances the midfield completely, and if you look at the stats with and without Mikel last season it didn't look good.

He made a few runs up, but the ball didn't get played to him, one game doesn't mean he's going to stick deep. But it's not like we need him running up that much anyway, we got 4 attacking players in our formation.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Yeah sure Lampard goes up, but you can't say that Mikel enhances the midfield completely, and if you look at the stats with and without Mikel last season it didn't look good.

He made a few runs up, but the ball didn't get played to him, one game doesn't mean he's going to stick deep. But it's not like we need him running up that much anyway, we got 4 attacking players in our formation.

It's not that Ramires does not want to, or he can't, it's that you need someone from your midfield to play deeper and cover if you lose the ball, even against Hull. Which is why I like to see Ramires next to a holding midfielder and not playing as one, so he do what he does best.

[bushman 2,043]

Well boys, Galatasaray placed a 10m bid for Mikel.

To sell or not, is my question.

I´d say, let him go. Currently, he won´t get to play much under Jose, I feel.

[Pizy 18,368]

It's pretty clear that he's the absolute bottom of the barrel pick in midfield.

I'd say sell him.

[The Skipper 20,593]

It's pretty clear that he's the absolute bottom of the barrel pick in midfield.

I'd say sell him.

After 2 games?

[Pizy 18,368]

After 2 games?

Can you really see Jose selecting him ahead of Lamps, MvG, Ramires, or even Essien? Mikel doesn't really offer anything that the others don't.

May as well cash in while we can and replace him with a player who can contribute much more.

[Mceachran 109]

Loan'm out!!!

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

Sell!

Buy de rossi.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

If we sell MIkel we gotta go for De Rossi. MIkel is our only genuine DM. And whether you love him or hate him, we can't go into the season expecting to challenge on all fronts without a genuine DM.