Mikel John Obi

[The only place to be 11,313]

Them being sacked doesn't make them less of a manager. We are talking about one of the most renowned managers in the sport. Plus you've got to admit that many sackings have been knee jerk anyway - it is very easy to lose your job overnight as a manager of Chelsea even by looking at the camera wrong or not massaging players' egos.

Let's not fall into this trap of thinking we sack managers for no reason. We sack them because they under-perform....players, not so much.

Mikel hasn't been as bad as it is made out to be, he just doesn't get the attention because he is not a forward player nor a playmaker. He has been played as a DM who go on quietly doing their job.

Again with this 'people just don't understand/notice Mikel' argument?

One word - Makelele. Got so much love, attention and respect from the supporters.

[SinineUltra 1,170]

Let's not fall into this trap of thinking we sack managers for no reason. We sack them because they under-perform....players, not so much.

Again with this 'people just don't understand/notice Mikel' argument?

One word - Makelele. Got so much love, attention and respect from the supporters.

So you think players don't under-perform? What kind of an argument is that?

Jedem das Seine - everyone can think of Mikel as they please. Though solid reasons could be brought up to justify such belief.

[bleed_blue 136]

Let us address this frequent "appeal to authority" and 'belief' that Mikel has been the first choice under so many managers.

Mikel was bought when Jose Mourinho was our manager and let us 'assume' that he was a Mourinho signing. Bear in mind, Mourinho was buying a player who had shone in a youth tournament and Mourinho was ultimately betting on that talent to realize its potential.

Lets start with the 2006-07 season.

Makelele was Mourinho's first choice DM.

Mikel made only 10 starts in PL that season and 24 starts overall.

Contrast that to Makelele's 26 starts in PL and 42 starts overall

or Lampard's 36 starts in PL and 57 starts overall (mostly in CM).

or Essien's 33 starts in PL and 53 starts overall

or Geremi's 15 starts in PL and 22 starts overall

Even Lassana Diarra got 7 starts in PL btw.

Overall, 18 players in the Chelsea squad started more PL games than Mikel in the entire season.

13 players in the Chelsea squad started more games across all competitions than Mikel in the entire season. That definitely does not sound like Mikel was the first choice that season. Fair enough, because he was a 18-19 year old kid competing with legends of the game like Makelele, Lampard, Essien who had all been bought in for big money and were proven performers.

Let us move on to the 2007-08 season.

Mourinho left in mid september after we drew against Rosenberg and Avram Grant took temporary charge.

Mikel started 21 games in PL, 1 game in CL and 27 games across all competitions.

Makelele started 15 games in PL and 29 games across all competitions.

Yes Mikel made more starts than Makelele in PL but the 34 year old Makelele was being rested for PL games to conserve his energy for Champions League matches. He started 12 games in Champions League where we lost the final to ManU on penalties.

As far as other midfielders are concerned,

Essien started 23 games in PL, 11 in CL and 38 games across all competitions.

Lampard started 23 games in PL, 10 in CL and 37 games across all competitions.

Ballack started 16 games in PL, 7 in CL and 25 games across all competitions.

Clearly Avram Grant's first choice midfield (as evident from starts in CL) was Makelele, Essien, Lampard and Ballack.

Overall, 9 players in the Chelsea squad started more PL games than Mikel in the entire season.

14 players in the Chelsea squad started more games across all competitions than Mikel in the entire season.

Again it does not seem like Mikel was the first choice.

In the 2008-09 season, Scolari became our coach, makelele left after the expiry of his contract (at the age of 35 years) and the only new signing in midfield was Deco, who was more confortable higher up the field. Mikel's only competition was an out of position Essien. Essien got injured and was out for 6 months (sept-feb). Mikel was the only choice left and he started 34 games in PL and 48 games overall (most he has at Chelsea so far).

Essien came back from injury in March and he was immediately restored to starting lineup by Hiddink.

Essien started 11 PL games and 18 across all competitions.

Lamaprd made 37 PL starts and 56 across all competitions

Ballack made 22 PL starts and 37 across all compeitions at the age of 32.

In many big games after Essien's return, Hiddink's first choice for MF was Ballack, Essien and Lampard.

Hiddink came on after Scolari was fired and after Essien returned, Hiddink's first choice midfield was Ballack, essien and Lampard in many big games.

ONly 4 Chelsea players made more starts than Mikel in PL and across all competitions that season.

This is the season when Mikel made more stats but you have to admit he was helped by lack of competition because of departures/injuries/lack of reinforcements.

In the 2009-10 season, Ancelotti took over the managerial responsibilities at Chelsea and he tried to sign Andrea Pirlo for CM at Chelsea but could not succeed.

Mikel started 21 games in PL and 30 games across all competitions.

Essien was again injured while on international duty and missed the last 4-5 months of the season.

He made 13 PL starts and 18 across all competitions for Chelsea.

Lampard made 36 starts in PL and 48 across all competitions

Ballack made 26 starts in PL and 36 across all competitions

Zhirkov and Deco also started some games as deep CMs

Essien-Lampard-Ballack was the preferred midfield in CL.

Overall 10 players started more games in PL for Chelsea than Mikel and 9 players across all compeitions.

In the 2010-11 season, Ancelotti bought Ramires to address the midfield problem. Ramires took some time to adjust to PL.

Mikel started 29 games in PL and 34 games across all competitions while Ramires started 22 in PL and 33 across all competitions.

Lampard started 23 in PL and 30 across all competitions.

A fit again Essien started 33 games in PL and 41 across all compeitions.

Zhirkov also started a few games at CM.

Overall 7 chelsea players started more PL games than Mikel and 8 Chelsea players started more games overall than Mikel.

For the 2011-12 season, AVB came in and we bought an untested Romeu from the Barca academy.

AVB's first choie was Romeu who started 11 games in PL and 17 overall.

Mikel got regular game time only after AVB was replaced by RDM and he started playing with '10 men behind the ball' tactics.

Mikel made 15 starts in PL this season and 27 across all competitions.

Ramires made 28 starts in PL and 44 overall while Lampard made 26 starts in PL and 38 overall.

Meireles made 23 starts in PL and 37 across all competitions.

12 players started more games than Mikel in PL and 12 players started more games than Mikel across all competitions for Chelsea.

Clearly not the first choice again (except for the RDM reign)

In the 2012-13 season, Emenalo/whoever decides transfers/loans had a brainfart and sold Meireles and loaned out Essien.

Mikel was the first choice under RDM (beating off competition from Romeu) and he started all 12 PL games that RDM managed.

Overall Mikel started 19 games in PL this season and 32 across all compeitions.

Benitez, clearly did not rate him, tried Romeu who got injured, and then experimented with Luiz at CM.

Ramires made 28 starts in Pl and 54 overall

Lampard made 21 starts in PL and 39 overall.

Again, Mikel was the first choice under RDM only.

I have tried to keep the above as objective as possible but my bias might come across at some points. Apologies for that.

But clearly it is a stretch to say that Mikel has been the first choice MF at chelsea under so many accomplished managers.

[Stingray 9,441]

and it's a position where you're a bit of an unsung hero

Indeed. It is a position where you are an unsung hero. I think he does ok in that role, but I expected more.

He's not bad at all, but I always feel he lags the tempo just a tad too much, just like he is out of sync and misses the beat while being the drummer of the band...

[The only place to be 11,313]

So you think players don't under-perform? What kind of an argument is that?

No, I was saying that we don't sack players for under-performing.

Chelsea supporters are able to recognise a player's contribution to the team, and also the effort their putting into their performance. It's not a coincidence that Mikel has never really been taken to heart by a large part of the support.

[GhanaBoy 104]

still no comp of his performances in the CC ?

[Leif 6,006]

Can't really argue with that long post above. Mikel has never been an undisputed first choice aside from under RDM for around 12 games.

[GodZola 630]

Mikel will always divide opinions on here, why I rarely post on this thread, from where I'm from & when I chat to fellow supporters at the Bridge rarely any of those fans rate him as what I would perceive as a top level performer. This is the problem with many members in here who offer excuses for his below par performances, like he needs a quality player around him or he is played in the wrong position or now its Chelsea's fault! Ffs get real people, top quality players don't need excuses they shine through consistent performances week in/week out, something Makelele & Essien (pre injury) had in abundance..........

Now I stated before last season started that if Mikel plays regularly we won't win the league & I still feel the same way, however I have also stated that I will trust Jose judgement & if he selects him as first choice I am happy to be proved wrong, my gut feeling is that Mikel will be sold. I think he is prob better than what I have described in the past but unfortunately he is no where near the player we need to dominate again, hence my feeling that he will leave.

[9jaGooner 15]

I'm suggesting that their judgment may not have been something we should place much faith in.

Their judgement cannot be relied on? How many trophies did the four of them win all together?

Well this theory that mikel has been the first choice of so many chelsea managers has been debunked countless number of times. The only manager under whom he was effectively first choice was RDM and the lesser said about his management skills, the better.

However, looking at your user name, I doubt you will be able to think about it rationally. You can join the deluded bunch led by Choulo19.

Since he joined Chelsea, Mikel has not played less than 35 games a season. Considering card and injury absences, I wonder how many games a season a player who is considered 'First Choice' would play.

When you say 'looking at your username', do you mean because I'm a Nigerian or because I support Arsenal?

Anyways, I'm not here to argue tbh. I only decided to add my views as someone who has seen Mikel excel in the free role position. I feel he will do better in that role for Chelsea or any other team for that matter. myopinion

[robsblubot 3,262]

Their judgement cannot be relied on? How many trophies did the four of them win all together?

Since he joined Chelsea, Mikel has not played less than 35 games a season. Considering card and injury absences, I wonder how many games a season a player who is considered 'First Choice' would play.

When you say 'looking at your username', do you mean because I'm a Nigerian or because I support Arsenal?

Anyways, I'm not here to argue tbh. I only decided to add my views as someone who has seen Mikel excel in the free role position. I feel he will do better in that role for Chelsea or any other team for that matter. myopinion

Some of us here, perhaps even the majority, feel that Mikel doing better is still not good enough. A free role to player with so few goals and assists?!

As well as he plays for Nigeria, that's *also* not good enough for Chelsea. Essien before injuries, for example, was absolutely dominant for club and country and I reckon we should not settle for anything less. For no other reason but because our opponents have players of that caliber.

We have not been doing very well in the league lately and our midfield has struggled especially against teams with strong midfield and midfielders, like City. At one point we need to address these deficiencies; whether Mikel remains as a rotation player or not is, quite frankly, irrelevant.

[bleed_blue 136]

Since he joined Chelsea, Mikel has not played less than 35 games a season. Considering card and injury absences, I wonder how many games a season a player who is considered 'First Choice' would play.

You just cannot take things applicable to Arsenal and argue for them in Chelsea forums.

We are a team that actually competes for trophies. We invariably compete till later stages of knockout competitions. In these last 7 seasons we have won 4 FA Cups, 2 league cups, 2 community shield trophies, 1 Champions league, and appeared in a lot of finals and semi finals. As a result of this we have played far more games every season than your "top 4 is a trophy for us" joke of a club..

Chelsea have played 421 'competitive' games in these 7 seasons and Mikel has started 222 of them, just above 50%. and he has only started more than 35 games only in one season (2008-09 after the departure of Makelele and injury to Essien).

[Muzchap 8,966]

Didn't he not call Choulo Bin Laden up there? I'd imagine thats why.

Oh I thought that was a joke - a bad Joke - but still a joke?

@Choulo - did that offend you? And is it a permanent ban or temp? Backstreet is ok man - perhaps he was drunk! It's the close season it does funny things!

Dam all kicking off - that's why I said close the forums - 6 weeks holiday LOL

[Jase 43,479]

CastrolEDGEfootball ‏@castrolfootball 59m

Only Andrés Iniesta (11) completed more dribbles than John Obi Mikel (10) in the #confeds group stages

[robsblubot 3,262]

CastrolEDGEfootball ‏@castrolfootball 59m

Only Andrés Iniesta (11) completed more dribbles than John Obi Mikel (10) in the #confeds group stages

disingenuous...

Tahiti skewed all stats in that group.

BTW, Iniesta did not play against Tahiti, but Mikel did.

[JDY 1,290]

He only completed 2 dribbles vs. Tahiti, so those stats remain impressive IMO

[robsblubot 3,262]

He only completed 2 dribbles vs. Tahiti, so those stats remain impressive IMO

Fair enough. Just consider that Nigeria were the only side that used full force against Tahiti (and managed to concede:)), while both Spain and Uruguay employed reserves exclusively. Perhaps his two dribbles against Tahiti was kinda bad then. Perhaps other players would have surpassed him if they had played against Tahiti like he did.

So many variables which makes these types of stats really pointless.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Good interview with Mikel here: http://www.kickoff.com/news/35332/chelsea-midfielder-john-mikel-obi-is-trying-to-find-a-balance-between-his-offensive-and-defensive-play

"I always try to do what my coaches tell me. At Chelsea, I have to play for the team and be more defensive.

"But in Nigeria, the coach allows me to express myself and I enjoy myself.

"Now, I have to find a balance between the two because it is important for my future."

[Clevemayer 764]

thank god, he came out and told it, even if mou himself or RDM himself told mikel did what they wanted and was therefore important to chelsea, nobody belived it.

Mikel must get more Freedom.

now, because Backstreet is gone

#freed0m4M1k3lKn0w