Mikel John Obi

[The Skipper 20,609]

Read that yesterday's second half was the first time Rafa played Oscar, Mata, Hazard and Mikel at the same time. Will have to double check on that but if true, that does speak volumes.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

You mean like when you said we would all miss mikel at ACON and we didn't?

He almost cost us twice with two stupid passes today which where simple, even with the passing he is supposedly good at, he still shows how incredibly weak he is to fit in with the attacking flow. Your earlier statement about how he is not been able to get the game forward because there is no movement, well against United it was some of the best movement we've made all season, 2nd half of course, and Mikel was still giving it away.

Honestly Mikel could do nothing all game and you would give him all the credit, if Mikel killed someone you would try to find some way to justfiy it.

Am i harsh? yes i am, but you're also too quick to over credit.

You're delusional if you think we did not miss Mikel. During Jan, we lost 3 games, drew 4 and only won 3. We let a lead slip 3 times in those games. I wonder what we needed to win instead? If only we had a player who player who would keep his discipline and stick to his defensive duties and allow us to keep the ball so we don't give the opponents chances to score..But where can find a player like that?

Mikel changed the game. Before he came on, utd were battering us for possession and we didn't get a single chance in the 10mins in the second half. Magically, after Mikel came on, we started to keep possession and build pressure on the utd defense and actually score goals. Not bad for a player who "contributes nothing to our attacks", right? Mikel was key to keeping us in the FA cup, don't know why you're so upset about?!

And in reply to some of the comments above, Mikel had an average game yesterday, in fact it was probably below his standards since some of his passing was uncharacteristically sloppy as mentioned above. But for once, everyone got to see the difference that Mikel makes in the team and how much the team plays better when he's in the lineup because he strengthens our midfield and allows players to go forward. How did yesterday differ from any of Mikel's performances? Can you point out one instance where Mikel was brilliant in yesterday?

People tend to judge footballers on certain instants and plays in matches and not their overall play; that is why Mikel is so underrated. But yesterday everyone got to see the difference that Mikel makes in the side and they're finally praising him for it (except for some sour grapes around here) but in reality, it was just a typical performance by Mikel.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Read that yesterday's second half was the first time Rafa played Oscar, Mata, Hazard and Mikel at the same time. Will have to double check on that but if true, that does speak volumes.

It is. I was actually whining about it when I saw the lineup before the match. It's no coincidence that our best results, even the run of excellent results under RDM that put us 7 clear at the top, were most, if not all, when we played a pivot of Rami-Mikel and had Mata and Hazard behind the striker (or Torres).

[The only place to be 11,313]

You mean like when you said we would all miss mikel at ACON and we didn't?

He almost cost us twice with two stupid passes today which where simple, even with the passing he is supposedly good at, he still shows how incredibly weak he is to fit in with the attacking flow. Your earlier statement about how he is not been able to get the game forward because there is no movement, well against United it was some of the best movement we've made all season, 2nd half of course, and Mikel was still giving it away.

Honestly Mikel could do nothing all game and you would give him all the credit, if Mikel killed someone you would try to find some way to justfiy it.

Am i harsh? yes i am, but you're also too quick to over credit.

Conversely, he could have the perfect game and you'd criticise him.

The truth is that he isn't as bad as you make out and he isn't as good as others suggest. He's in between and yesterday he had one of his better games so he deserves praise for that whilst bearing in mind that he doesn't do it consistently enough.

[Mundaka 243]

Read that yesterday's second half was the first time Rafa played Oscar, Mata, Hazard and Mikel at the same time. Will have to double check on that but if true, that does speak volumes

Well that was RDM's lineup, he played like that + rotated between lamps and ramires, i can see why he wouldnt want to do the same. Would prove RDM was right...

[ja1 1,166]

Mikel is a very underrated player. Glad he got that new contract earlier in the season, he'll be here a long time,

[The only place to be 11,313]

Mikel is a very underrated player. Glad he got that new contract earlier in the season, he'll be here a long time,

I hope that him and Chalobah get some time together in the summer so they can share experiences, discuss the game and in particular the attitude to the game.

That would surely be beneficial for Mikel. :eyebrows:

[Hamilton 2,120]

He did great yesterday, that's the Mikel we want to see.

[Clevemayer 764]

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/john-obi-mikel-its-time-to-stop-rafael-benitez-taunts-8529009.html

[Kojo 4,676]

He isn't getting all the credit though, if you look at the MOTM votes in the match day thread you'll see that easily. That's just something you've fixated in your mind out of your pure hatred for Mikel. What Mikel is getting praised for is the fact that when he came on he allowed Ramires to play on the counter and gave Oscar, Mata and Hazard a bigger platform to play on. In that sense he was pretty essential in our comeback. Give credit where credit's due.

For example, the two moments he lost the ball - why was there so much space for United to counter attack on? Because we were pushing for a goal, and our forward line pushed for a goal because Mikel allowed them to not worry too much about defending. The other players trust Mikel in that sense.

It's quite funny how you always highlight the bad with Mikel, and never the good. For example when he made that crucial interception from Valencia on the left whilst covering for A. Cole, or when he showed great composure and ball control and ghosted past 2 United players that were pressing him. Apart from that he also kept the ball ticking for us nicely, always offering a safehaven for our forward line when we were shifting the ball about.

He wasn't even my MOTM but he had a good game. I don't see why people aren't allowed to praise him because of that.

No, you are the same, if Mikel does something bad then you simply won't mention it. And as for the good things, which i may add are the tiniest things you praise him, even when we win games he gets all the credit. And the reason for that is, is because it's that bad it's all you can praise him for, because he hardly does anything which is good or effective.

[Santiago. 1,500]

Would be so much more beneficial with a proper holding midfielder working next to him.

[Kojo 4,676]

You're delusional if you think we did not miss Mikel. During Jan, we lost 3 games, drew 4 and only won 3. We let a lead slip 3 times in those games. I wonder what we needed to win instead? If only we had a player who player who would keep his discipline and stick to his defensive duties and allow us to keep the ball so we don't give the opponents chances to score..But where can find a player like that?

Mikel changed the game. Before he came on, utd were battering us for possession and we didn't get a single chance in the 10mins in the second half. Magically, after Mikel came on, we started to keep possession and build pressure on the utd defense and actually score goals. Not bad for a player who "contributes nothing to our attacks", right? Mikel was key to keeping us in the FA cup, don't know why you're so upset about?!

And in reply to some of the comments above, Mikel had an average game yesterday, in fact it was probably below his standards since some of his passing was uncharacteristically sloppy as mentioned above. But for once, everyone got to see the difference that Mikel makes in the team and how much the team plays better when he's in the lineup because he strengthens our midfield and allows players to go forward. How did yesterday differ from any of Mikel's performances? Can you point out one instance where Mikel was brilliant in yesterday?

People tend to judge footballers on certain instants and plays in matches and not their overall play; that is why Mikel is so underrated. But yesterday everyone got to see the difference that Mikel makes in the side and they're finally praising him for it (except for some sour grapes around here) but in reality, it was just a typical performance by Mikel.

And before that we where losing games with him, in November we never won a single game. It's stupid that for one game he doesn't play bad in you start coming on and try to say 'I told you so' yet you are in no position to say things like that, when I've proven you wrong from the start of the season. Mikel has been playing bad, costing us in games, he hasn't shown that he's the maestro in midfield, our problems are still occuring from there. And i have said that from the start, and I'm the one who still stands by it.

You have been roasted on this thread, yet you are that stubborn and delusional that you make stuff up in your head that Mikel is actually good, look at Peace, he had about 20 likes on a post and you had none, not even any of the Mikel fanboys would like your posts.

Mikel comes on and we all play well, but that's not all down to him at all. We tend to always come back against United, I've stated that, we didn't give up we showed spirit. But because Mikel came on and we played well you want to give him all the credit, because to be fair it's the only credit you can give him this season. And just for your information, we where outplaying United before Mikel came on. But go on and keep living your delusional ways.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

And before that we where losing games with him, in November we never won a single game. It's stupid that for one game he doesn't play bad in you start coming on and try to say 'I told you so' yet you are in no position to say things like that, when I've proven you wrong from the start of the season. Mikel has been playing bad, costing us in games, he hasn't shown that he's the maestro in midfield, our problems are still occuring from there. And i have said that from the start, and I'm the one who still stands by it.

You have been roasted on this thread, yet you are that stubborn and delusional that you make stuff up in your head that Mikel is actually good, look at Peace, he had about 20 likes on a post and you had none, not even any of the Mikel fanboys would like your posts.

Mikel comes on and we all play well, but that's not all down to him at all. We tend to always come back against United, I've stated that, we didn't give up we showed spirit. But because Mikel came on and we played well you want to give him all the credit, because to be fair it's the only credit you can give him this season. And just for your information, we where outplaying United before Mikel came on. But go on and keep living your delusional ways.

I would reply, but there's really nothing in there to reply to. I read that post 3 times in order to find some sort of logical connection between two sentences, some sense in a point you're trying to make...nothing! I mean, did you even read my post?

If this is an attempt to get me into a personal argument by insisting on calling me delusional and saying I got roasted ( ), then I'm going to have to disappoint you. I have no idea why you hate the man so much and it's even more puzzling why you take opinions about him so personally. I very much enjoy the debates about Mikel when the arguments are logical. No one is 100% right, and I accept that.

[Kojo 4,676]

I would reply, but there's really nothing in there to reply to. I read that post 3 times in order to find some sort of logical connection between two sentences, some sense in a point you're trying to make...nothing! I mean, did you even read my post?

If this is an attempt to get me into a personal argument by insisting on calling me delusional and saying I got roasted ( ), then I'm going to have to disappoint you. I have no idea why you hate the man so much and it's even more puzzling why you take opinions about him so personally. I very much enjoy the debates about Mikel when the arguments are logical. No one is 100% right, and I accept that.

You're the only one taking it personal, what logical answer do you want?.

You mean you want me to pick out how poor Mikel has been this season? I believe I've done that a thousand times, so why should i post my old arguements again if you're clearly not willing to read them?. It's obvious you wont listen to any other opinion, no matter if the facts are there you wont listen. Look at Muzchap, he likes Mikel, yet me and him are really good friends, had a few debates wtih him about it, i don't hate him. Since when did i say i hated Mikel? I don't hate Mikel, as a person he seems like a nice guy, so does Kalou, but just because they are nice people doesn't make them good footballers. Fact is we played well and all you have done is overly praised Mikel, and then suggesting that you've proven us all wrong. By that post alone you have shown how short sighted you are and that you're not able to look at the bigger picture, if you seriously look at one performance and think that will win your arguement, then what is the point really?.

You can call me stubborn, but I'm really not, the only person in denial and who can't admit when they are wrong is you. I didn't think Hazard would do well for us in his first season, i was wrong and i have even said that Hazard has proven me wrong in the Hazard thread. Many people rubbed it in my face, but you know i got on with it, because i play a fair game. It's evident Mikel has been average at best so far this season, It's evident that we need new midfielders, It's evident that he hasn't flourished despite coming up 26. And the biggest point of all is, the biggest point is that you name me one team in the top 8 what Mikel would get into?, that's a question you have been avoiding for ages because you know the harsh truth.

[didierforever 7,349]

this probably one of the very few times that i have been on the "mikel thread"... but reading the last 15-20 pages i would like to pat my self for avoiding this thread so far because all i can say people probably miss kalou. as he is longer here, there is no one to scapegoat and that is where mikel enters.