Mikel John Obi

[The Skipper 20,593]

I don't think Mikel is Matic's back up per se, what Mikel offers us is a different option in midfield. He can play the anchor man role in a three man midfield very well, and is a good shield for the back four. He's also an okay option to have in the pivot - especially next to someone like Fabregas as Mikel doesn't offer much offensively. A Mikel - Fabregas pivot is okay.

If anything, MVG is more of a back up to Matic.

[didierforever 7,349]

There are better options, more enegetic and pacier, than Mikel in that purely defensive role. Players with a bit more urgency in their game, who can actually pull a counter attack with a well-placed long ball - something I reckon Mikel can/could never do.

I, and reckon TPtB, don't think Mikel can possible replace Matic unless in very specific conditions, such as the one you listed above: defending very deep.

Matic moves seamlessly into a CM position and can offer something in attack, something (again) Mikel just cannot do or at least hasn't been able to.

Jose may not be as much a fan of Mikel as you imply. Mikel is currently available and on a long term deal, which was signed before Jose was in charge. Such deal, with so high wages, for a squad player, is what made people suggest this had something to do with Emenalo being his countryman as well. Mikel may not be willing to leave because of his upcoming British passport and when players don't want to leave they don't.

there are better options AVAILABLE in the market. mikel is the best option in CFC's service at the moment. an option like khedira would be immense and brilliant. but would cost us 20mil and 200kpw (apparently thats what he is asking). mikel will cost us NOTHING and his "HUGE" wages are 70kpw. compared to that even someone like song would cost 10mil at least, with his current wages being over mikel's current anyways.

also, i am not saying jose is a mikel fan. infact keeping mikel as the 4th/5th choice DM is hardlysaying much except as a good squad player. and thats what he is - a solid and a good squad player. i can see why jose has chosen mikel over romeu and chalobah. experience being one of those things. secondly, mikel's main role this season is going to be to close out games, and i honestly would give that task to mikel over those 2. thirdly, mikel will be started when we will be sitting deep, in need of pivot players who can attack, we have 4 better options, nat and romeu would not have made a difference. mikel offers us that something different, hence the inclusion.

[5354 204]

As much as I like mikel, i think we should look for an alternative squad player.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

Classic Mikel photo.

Has he taken the ice bucket challenge yet after his captain nominated him?

[TheIceMan 596]

Classic Mikel photo.

Has he taken the ice bucket challenge yet after his captain nominated him?

Is that his girl?

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

Is that his girl?

Yeah.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Yeah.

Wow, she's way out of his league!

Remember how he used to dress when he first arrived here? I can't find any pics put it was hilarious!

PS: It appears her name is Olga Diyachenko:

[robsblubot 3,502]

Wow, she's way out of his league!

Remember how he used to dress when he first arrived here? I can't find any pics put it was hilarious!

PS: It appears her name is Olga Diyachenko:

talking about out of his league...

https://www.google.com/search?q=schweinsteiger+girl&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS503US503&espv=2&tbm=isch&imgil=tfhisZmbrCjj-M%253A%253BY3HZTRKpaN_BSM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwovibes.wordpress.com%25252Ftag%25252Fgermany%25252F&source=iu&usg=__qzLIiJZz0oGFdS3CqwAIVA6NeBg%3D&sa=X&ei=n7P3U7WBFZXNsQT4ioG4CQ&ved=0CCQQ9QEwAg&biw=1382&bih=714#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=J31VScGtpM0WVM%253A%3BLFIwtf1XHZv9KM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.tumblr.com%252Ftumblr_lbh6mgSiM71qd3znl.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fjegelskerdannyagger.tumblr.com%252Fpost%252F1498098218%252Ftop-10-wags-1-sarah-brandner%3B470%3B490

I shan't be too surprised though; I'm not a famous footballer making millions and my wife is also way out of my league - unanimous too btw.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

talking about out of his league...

https://www.google.com/search?q=schweinsteiger+girl&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS503US503&espv=2&tbm=isch&imgil=tfhisZmbrCjj-M%253A%253BY3HZTRKpaN_BSM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwovibes.wordpress.com%25252Ftag%25252Fgermany%25252F&source=iu&usg=__qzLIiJZz0oGFdS3CqwAIVA6NeBg%3D&sa=X&ei=n7P3U7WBFZXNsQT4ioG4CQ&ved=0CCQQ9QEwAg&biw=1382&bih=714#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=J31VScGtpM0WVM%253A%3BLFIwtf1XHZv9KM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.tumblr.com%252Ftumblr_lbh6mgSiM71qd3znl.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fjegelskerdannyagger.tumblr.com%252Fpost%252F1498098218%252Ftop-10-wags-1-sarah-brandner%3B470%3B490

I shan't be too surprised though; I'm not a famous footballer making millions and my wife is also way out of my league - unanimous too btw.

Haha. But being a millionaire famous footballer certainly does help.

Peter Crouch was once asked: "If you weren't a footballer, what would you be?" To which he answered: "Probably a virgin!"

[TheIceMan 596]

Wow, she's way out of his league!

Remember how he used to dress when he first arrived here? I can't find any pics put it was hilarious!

PS: It appears her name is Olga Diyachenko:

I guess she's will never go back !!!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I guess she's will never go back !!!

You need to cut down on the porn, mate

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

Wow, she's way out of his league!

Remember how he used to dress when he first arrived here? I can't find any pics put it was hilarious!

PS: It appears her name is Olga Diyachenko:

I can

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I can

Haha, that's nothing. I distinctly remember an African-style multi-color shirt, but with about 10 pounds of 'bling'!

[The only place to be 11,313]

Classic Mikel photo.

Has he taken the ice bucket challenge yet after his captain nominated him?

And you get ze Passport in ze October and zen vee are marrying, yiss?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

This passport thing that the Mikel haters have come up with is pretty fucking hilarious

As if Jose Mourinho, who benched Lampard and Cech, froze out Cole, threw Carvalho in the reserves. As if Jose, who was just saying this week how the club and the team always come before the player for him, would keep a player just because of a passport

Mikel is here because Jose thinks he's valuable to the team and obviously believes he's currently ahead of Romue and MVG.

But I guess whatever gets you all through the night

[The only place to be 11,313]

This passport thing that the Mikel haters have come up with is pretty fucking hilarious

As if Jose Mourinho, who benched Lampard and Cech, froze out Cole, threw Carvalho in the reserves. As if Jose, who was just saying this week how the club and the team always come before the player for him, would keep a player just because of a passport

Mikel is here because Jose thinks he's valuable to the team and obviously believes he's currently ahead of Romue and MVG.

But I guess whatever gets you all through the night

I'm sorry, but I'm going to trust the people I know over your opinion. Deriding people who are closer to the truth than you could ever hope to be as 'Mikel haters' is pretty fucking pathetic.

You don't seem to understand that if a player doesn't want to leave when he's under contract then there's not much you can do.

You just have to accept that you're simply out of the loop, uninformed and wildly wrong about certain things.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to trust the people I know over your opinion. Deriding people who are closer to the truth than you could ever hope to be as 'Mikel haters' is pretty fucking pathetic.

You don't seem to understand that if a player doesn't want to leave when he's under contract then there's not much you can do.

You just have to accept that you're simply out of the loop, uninformed and wildly wrong about certain things.

And I'm going to trust Jose Mourinho and the simple truth rather some wild conspiracy theory that doesn't add up.

Allowed to stay at a football club just till he gets his passport And in a year we have serious issues the number of foreign players in our squad as well!

But you keep spinning around in your "informed loop"

[Reddish-Blue 2,345]

This passport thing that the Mikel haters have come up with is pretty fucking hilarious

As if Jose Mourinho, who benched Lampard and Cech, froze out Cole, threw Carvalho in the reserves. As if Jose, who was just saying this week how the club and the team always come before the player for him, would keep a player just because of a passport

Mikel is here because Jose thinks he's valuable to the team and obviously believes he's currently ahead of Romue and MVG.

But I guess whatever gets you all through the night

Or maybe Mikel is still here because no other club wants to sign him?