Mikel John Obi

[Drogba4ever15 47]

Malouda was useless in his last 3 seasons, Kalou was always useless, he scored some goals but he should have been let go and replaced a long time ago hence why 95 percent of chelsea supporters wanted him out for years. That is my point.

Mikel is deadwood, you can't move on by keeping him here, he has never reached his potential and he has had all the time in the world to become a good player and he hasn't been able to put in any consistent performances in during that time. Despite us needing midfielders for the past 3 season. He will not fit into the system, he play far to safe when we need to be more dynamic, the West Ham game was a big example of it when every time he had the ball he let West Ham regroup despite Azpilicueta right there at the touch line with no players around him, Mikel still hesitated to pass it then finally passed it back.

So what is the need in him being here when we can replace him and move on, that doesn't mean to say we need to go spend 40 million on a world class player, no one has said that. It means simply replacing him with someone who can actually put in a good performance when he is really needed.

[Blue Armour 4,300]

Unspectacular? No Problem

Unspectacular AND regularly makes mistakes that lead to goals? BIG problem

[happy_juan 64]

Embarrassing posts on the last page by choulo19 and skipper. But hey, still not as embarrassing as Obi Mikel's performances.

[OneMoSalah 8,783]

Mikel is still our best holding player, not getting into any arguments with anyone who disagrees either. There is a reason why hes been playing for us so regularly under so many different managers since he was signed and that we have never looked to replace him*. When we see a Chelsea midfield player play so well against a massive European team like Mikel did against Bayern in the biggest game in the clubs history then we will talk. Best holding player we've had since Maka and I stand by that.

*also don't say to me Matic was signed to replace Mikel. Matic was signed as we were short in CM in the first place, the fact that we got rid of Essien too was a major factor as well the fact Lamps is 35 and can't play every game in a position where he has to be very disciplined.

[duo11bluecl 207]

Mikel is still our best holding player, not getting into any arguments with anyone who disagrees either. There is a reason why hes been playing for us so regularly under so many different managers since he was signed and that we have never looked to replace him*. When we see a Chelsea midfield player play so well against a massive European team like Mikel did against Bayern in the biggest game in the clubs history then we will talk. Best holding player we've had since Maka and I stand by that.

*also don't say to me Matic was signed to replace Mikel. Matic was signed as we were short in CM in the first place, the fact that we got rid of Essien too was a major factor as well the fact Lamps is 35 and can't play every game in a position where he has to be very disciplined.

Only took the club 5-6 years to buy proper attacking mids, then when they do they go out there and sign like 10. Also needed a new top class striker since 2010, 4 years later and nothing has changed. Not saying what you are saying is wrong, just that the club have proved in the past and current that they don't always sign who they need. RB took ages to be bought, CDM now finally being bought after Jose has clearly told them too. Mikel only played well because the whole team's job was to defend until penalties, we knew we would get destroyed if we tried hand to hand combat.

Lampard will never be a good CAM, he is not as versatile as Gerrard although he is a better CAM in my opinion as his stats shown. Essien was sold because he was so crap now he decided to concede a goal within a few seconds of his 1st start in ages. Matic was signed to play at CDM and not replace anyone, the other position is usually belong to Ramires now.

[Drogba4ever15 47]

Best holding player we've had since Maka and I stand by that.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

I always said he was a poor player. But somehow the whole forum (including you) used to say he was important because his role was special...(?!). I always said Luiz was a better option than Mikel.

Now, somehow, a lot of people are "losing patience". I dont see any problem in saying Mikel is not Chelsea material, I see problem when people change their minds in a matter of games. I see those things happening all the time at TC. When Ramires signed he was poor for the entire season when Ancelotti was the manager, but everyone said he was good, next 11/12 he was our most consistent player, he has been consistent for the past seasons, his passing skills have been the same, but now, somehow people decided those flaws are not acceptable for a Chelsea player.

Mikel has been playing like that since he signed for Chelsea, but now Alex, who wrote an article seasons ago saying Mikel was our midfield maestro, lost his patience after a defeat. You lost your patience.

The same will happen with Matic. Now he is considered the best DM since Makelele, after some seasons, he will get the blame for some defeats, people will notice his weaknesses, people will forget his good games.

Something really odd is happening with TC forum members. Seasons ago people were happy to lose, happy to finish in 2nd or 3rd position, now the word is: finish 2nd, and you are a loser. Oh, well...

I agree with your general point, but I disagree on Matic. Matic, unlike Mikel has already proven himself to be a top quality midfielder and he has many attributes this team has been crying out for. I'm certain he will be a success at this club. Mikel on the other hand has always been overrated and average.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Malouda was useless in his last 3 seasons, Kalou was always useless, he scored some goals but he should have been let go and replaced a long time ago hence why 95 percent of chelsea supporters wanted him out for years. That is my point.

Mikel is deadwood, you can't move on by keeping him here, he has never reached his potential and he has had all the time in the world to become a good player and he hasn't been able to put in any consistent performances in during that time. Despite us needing midfielders for the past 3 season. He will not fit into the system, he play far to safe when we need to be more dynamic, the West Ham game was a big example of it when every time he had the ball he let West Ham regroup despite Azpilicueta right there at the touch line with no players around him, Mikel still hesitated to pass it then finally passed it back.

So what is the need in him being here when we can replace him and move on, that doesn't mean to say we need to go spend 40 million on a world class player, no one has said that. It means simply replacing him with someone who can actually put in a good performance when he is really needed.

What? Malouda had his best season in 2010 under Ancelotti. Also, Kalou wasn't exactly Garrincha, but the kid had some talent and all in all was certainly worth the little sum we paid for him.

[happy_juan 64]

Mikel is still our best holding player, not getting into any arguments with anyone who disagrees either. There is a reason why hes been playing for us so regularly under so many different managers since he was signed and that we have never looked to replace him*. When we see a Chelsea midfield player play so well against a massive European team like Mikel did against Bayern in the biggest game in the clubs history then we will talk. Best holding player we've had since Maka and I stand by that.

*also don't say to me Matic was signed to replace Mikel. Matic was signed as we were short in CM in the first place, the fact that we got rid of Essien too was a major factor as well the fact Lamps is 35 and can't play every game in a position where he has to be very disciplined.

Je wasnt first choice under Benitez. He wasnt first choice under avb. He is not the first choice under mourinho. You are wrong on facts only.

[The only place to be 11,313]

When we see a Chelsea midfield player play so well against a massive European team like Mikel did against Bayern in the biggest game in the clubs history then we will talk.

I've always wondered about people using this game to cite Mikel's 'quality' (I'm not sure what you're suggesting he excelled at - controlling the game, being a defensive giant, um....).

Bayern created 34 chances in that game, 21 of which were on target. What exactly are you praising the 'best DM/only DM since Maka'?

Was he equally amazing in the Europa League Final? No, because he didn't play.

[The Mak 4,459]

Thats really strange, because besides the match against City I really dont know why people think Matic is that special. I think he played no more than 4 or 5 matches.

And in the majority of those matches, his contribution was more than that of Ramires or MIkel; I know you like to go against the grain, but it's hard to argue otherwise. It's the fact that he's come in mid-season, meaning he is still adapting to the team and PL but manages to still be head and shoulders above our current CMs - that's what makes him special. He's only going to get better with time.

[lucio 5,418]

I've always wondered about people using this game to cite Mikel's 'quality' (I'm not sure what you're suggesting he excelled at - controlling the game, being a defensive giant, um....).

Bayern created 34 chances in that game, 21 of which were on target. What exactly are you praising the 'best DM/only DM since Maka'?

Was he equally amazing in the Europa League Final? No, because he didn't play.

yep, people can bang on about our defence against bayern but the truth is we were incredibly lucky and on another day could of been thrashed 7-0. mikel may well of put in his best performance that night , he actually bothered putting in some effort, but bayerns midfield still shat all over him

[The only place to be 11,313]

Thats really strange, because besides the match against City I really dont know why people think Matic is that special. I think he played no more than 4 or 5 matches.

Good point. If you completely ignore our best performance of the season then he's only looked great against Newcastle. That's 2 of his 3 Premier League starts but yeah, he looked a little off against West Brom.

Look, Matic has looked a class above in limited appearances. He hasn't been perfect but he's shown some nice touches and also a willingness to do things like press the ball and also show a bit of adventure going forward. That already makes him better than Mikel in my book.

As for Ramires, EVERYONE on this forum knows exactly who he is. No-one will question his work ethic, his engine, his pace or his determination. But there's that bit of the game where the ball either by design or by error rolls to his feet and he's asked to do something with it. That's where he's massively inconsistent, literally from touch to touch.

[The only place to be 11,313]

yep, people can bang on about our defence against bayern but the truth is we were incredibly lucky and on another day could of been thrashed 7-0. mikel may well of put in his best performance that night , he actually bothered putting in some effort, but bayerns midfield still shat all over him

Mikel's best defensive performance apparently came in a game where every other player also defended (including the left-back playing on the left-wing, and even Bosingwa having the game of his life) and yet we still relied on being incredibly lucky.

Mikel's greatest achievement is apparently restricting Bayern Munich to 21 shots on target....I believe those people who use this game to defend him also give him credit for farting just as Robben took his penalty, this putting him off. An amazing talent.

[The Mak 4,459]

Best The only holding player we've had since Maka and I stand by that.

Fixed.

Sorry Ryan, but the fact is Mikel was the only DM we've had since Mak (even still, Mikel was a AM moulded into a DM). You might be right, but that would simply be because we had no comparison for so many years.

However, traditional DMs like Mikel are effectively dying out in the modern game. Would he get into the Munich, Barca, Madrid, City teams? Is he as good as the starting CM/DMs they have? Not a chance. So much more has to be offered now and Matic is a player that offers a lot more than Mikel in every department.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Mikel is so garbage with his 201 PL appearances for us fucking clowns

[lucio 5,418]

Mikel is so garbage with his 201 PL appearances for us fucking clowns

pl apps dont make you a useful player. torres has 100 for us

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Starting against Everton.