Mikel John Obi

[The only place to be 11,313]

I'm not sure if this is a new low for him because the Juventus, Arsenal and Rubin games were all pretty bad but he was terrible last night. He sucks the energy out of Stamford Bridge like no-one I've ever seen and seems to only be popular on social media sites with people who struggle to speak English properly.

I can't think of another player who has made about 300 Chelsea appearances and been so poor and unpopular.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

I don't know who the co-commentator at Sky was, but everytime Mikel had the ball this guy criticized him. Sadly he was right, sometimes in games like this one truly finds out how slow, uncreative Mikel is. Someone should explain to the bloke that football is not chess, you can't play every ball safe. Its about taking risks.

[Reddish-Blue 2,354]

I'm not sure if this is a new low for him because the Juventus, Arsenal and Rubin games were all pretty bad but he was terrible last night. He sucks the energy out of Stamford Bridge like no-one I've ever seen and seems to only be popular on social media sites with people who struggle to speak English properly.

I can't think of another player who has made about 300 Chelsea appearances and been so poor and unpopular.

I used to think Mikel would come good and be capable of controlling our midfield....but he's just too passive to be a leader in midfield.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Wasn't good at all last night, definitely his worse performance this season. Not good enough John.

[Jase 43,479]

I don't know who the co-commentator at Sky was, but everytime Mikel had the ball this guy criticized him. Sadly he was right, sometimes in games like this one truly finds out how slow, uncreative Mikel is. Someone should explain to the bloke that football is not chess, you can't play every ball safe. Its about taking risks.

It was Tony Gale. He is a bloody wanker! Whenever he commentates on our games, he will slate us at every opportunity, literally. His favorite comments are Chelsea are playing it so slow. And it was utterly hilarious to hear to him blaming Mikel because the other players were passing it so slowly in the attacking third.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Watching the pivot was hilarious though. A pissed off Oscar watching them play it to each other, side-ways and backwards, and finally lose it. Eventually Oscar comes deep and releases the other attacking players by making a clinical forward pass. Ah, has any other team had such a chronical pivot problem as Chelsea has had?

[The only place to be 11,313]

It was Tony Gale. He is a bloody wanker! Whenever he commentates on our games, he will slate us at every opportunity, literally. His favorite comments are Chelsea are playing it so slow. And it was utterly hilarious to hear to him blaming Mikel because the other players were passing it so slowly in the attacking third.

Mikel does play it slow though. There was a break in the second-half that he simply killed and that sucked all the energy out of the air. He shows no ambition, no passion, no aggression, no emotion, nothing. That's why there's no love for him because he doesn't show anything for people to connect with.

Look at someone like Romeu - he puts zip on the ball when he gets it. With him it's very much two-touch football whereas Mikel dawdles on the ball and that allows the opposition to re-align.

Watching the pivot was hilarious though. A pissed off Oscar watching them play it to each other, side-ways and backwards, and finally lose it. Eventually Oscar comes deep and releases the other attacking players by making a clinical forward pass. Ah, has any other team had such a chronical pivot problem as Chelsea has had?

It's been like that for years though and the constant has been Mikel. The only entertainment he provides is that he constantly makes those who defend him look like mugs.

[Spike 12,049]

Well he doesn't bring anything special to the team really. Oscar has he long range shots, Hazard has dribbling, Terry has leadership, Ramires has stamina, Luiz has bravado. What does Mikel give to the team? Nothing out of the ordinary. Good at passing the ball around (sometimes), fantastic at slowing the game down and changing it's pace and he is strong at holding up the ball. He is by all means a decent player but nothing special.

In a cantenaccio system where once that one crucial goal is scored, Mikel is probably a player you would want in your team. Strong, methodical and great at slowing down the game. Outside of a very defensive system I don't see his worth. A few seasons back however, I was convinced he was on the up and up. Improving everygame, becoming more dynamic on the ball but lately I think he has regressed greatly. I'd look for Mikel to shut down a game once it's won but he isn't a player that I necessarily want starting against a team that can leak in goals.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

He should only play when we are in a situation of defending a valuable lead.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Mikel does play it slow though. There was a break in the second-half that he simply killed and that sucked all the energy out of the air. He shows no ambition, no passion, no aggression, no emotion, nothing. That's why there's no love for him because he doesn't show anything for people to connect with.

Look at someone like Romeu - he puts zip on the ball when he gets it. With him it's very much two-touch football whereas Mikel dawdles on the ball and that allows the opposition to re-align.

It's been like that for years though and the constant has been Mikel. The only entertainment he provides is that he constantly makes those who defend him look like mugs.

Have to agree after last night though. Plus the Romeu point is really true. Could have kept him, but definitely in hindsight after what happened to Marco.

[Jase 43,479]

Mikel does play it slow though. There was a break in the second-half that he simply killed and that sucked all the energy out of the air. He shows no ambition, no passion, no aggression, no emotion, nothing. That's why there's no love for him because he doesn't show anything for people to connect with.

But it's not his fault is it if suddenly we just slow it down in the final third?

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

It was Tony Gale. He is a bloody wanker! Whenever he commentates on our games, he will slate us at every opportunity, literally. His favorite comments are Chelsea are playing it so slow. And it was utterly hilarious to hear to him blaming Mikel because the other players were passing it so slowly in the attacking third.

Yeah, you are probably right but I have to say his comments last night were spot on. Also, I find it strange Glen Hoodle doesn't manage anymore, he seems like a guy who knows a thing or two about this game.

We should definitely play Oscar in a deeper role, just try it out. We're that bad that we don't have anything to lose really.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Have to agree after last night though. Plus the Romeu point is really true. Could have kept him, but definitely in hindsight after what happened to Marco.

I've never had a problem with the backwards and sideways passes because that's what you need to do, but just do it a bit faster so that the opposition has something to think about. That's how you create space.

But it's not his fault is it if suddenly we just slow it down in the final third?

We're usually already going at a snail's pace by the time it gets into the final third. He touches the ball more than almost anyone else in the team so he helps dictate the tempo, but he plays like he's got arthritis.

He's just too fucking laid back. He was laid back in losing the ball last night, he was laid back in trying to chase after that lost ball and he was laid back when he was trying to chase down Ireland at the weekend.

Serious question - has anyone ever seen him sprint?

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yeah, you are probably right but I have to say his comments last night were spot on. Also, I find it strange Glen Hoodle doesn't manage anymore, he seems like a guy who knows a thing or two about this game.

We should definitely play Oscar in a deeper role, just try it out. We're that bad that we don't have anything to lose really.

Hoddle is one of the most progressive English footballing minds of the last 20 years....ergo he's fucked. The guy transformed this club and doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves either. If he was French then he'd be at a top club but he suffered after some admittedly weird stuff.

[Jase 43,479]

We're usually already going at a snail's pace by the time it gets into the final third. He touches the ball more than almost anyone else in the team so he helps dictate the tempo, but he plays like he's got arthritis.

I know Mikel isn't exactly the quickest of passers but let's not exaggerate as though he takes like 10 touches before passing it. Even when he pass it forward quickly, the front attacking players will still mess things up and slow down the attacks. And this doesn't just happen when Mikel is playing. Happens even with Lampard-Ramires in the pivot.

[Special Juan 27,439]

Absolute shite last night, we can do a lot better than him if we look about.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Was terrible last night from start to finish. Very sloppy which is very unlike him. I was happy with John so far this season because he has put in a good performance every time he's played, but yesterday was just not good enough.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Recall Romeu?