Mikel John Obi

[The Mak 4,459]

Ahh, there's nothing like visiting the 'Choulo Vs. Everyone else' thread!










Seriously though, I don't think he's Chelsea standard in terms of starting. Good squad player for us, but that should be it. I'd like to think my club is a little bit more ambitious than 'Mikel'.

That said, he is our only true DM at the moment and, like it or not, the Rami-Mikel partnership is one of the best as it allows Rami more freedom compared to being paired with Frank.

[lionsden 4,689]

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?

Don't worry emenalo will buy more attacking midfielders and wingers in jan and next summer. when all else fails, buy more AM's.

[robsblubot 3,250]

Ahh, there's nothing like visiting the 'Choulo Vs. Everyone else' thread!

Seriously though, I don't think he's Chelsea standard in terms of starting. Good squad player for us, but that should be it. I'd like to think my club is a little bit more ambitious than 'Mikel'.

That said, he is our only true DM at the moment and, like it or not, the Rami-Mikel partnership is one of the best as it allows Rami more freedom compared to being paired with Frank.

yup... I used to come here for the discussion, but I just don't care... I just know I don't enjoy watching him play, because to me he doesn't do anything special on the pitch.

[OneMoSalah 8,616]

yup... I used to come here for the discussion, but I just don't care... I just know I don't enjoy watching him play, because to me he doesn't do anything special on the pitch.

Which holding midfield player does anything specifically special on the pitch? Not many do. Its just some sort of myth because Sergio Busquets since he broke into the Barca team, Xabi Alonso although I find it hard to believe hes a holding midfielder and Alex Song in his last season at Arsenal (when he basically played as a box to box midfielder) played some nice passes in between the lines. Its not that Mikel can't, he just plays his role very well, safety first, no risks, fills in when he needs to do so and tackles when he needs to tackle. I am honestly baffled by this argument, I've seen others post it "I don't think hes good enough because he does nothing special" other players like Arteta/Carrick/Britton/Lucas/Allen etc. do a similar sort of job, just keep the ball moving on, safety first, no risks as do other players...

[lucio 5,418]

Which holding midfield player does anything specifically special on the pitch? Not many do. Its just some sort of myth because Sergio Busquets since he broke into the Barca team, Xabi Alonso although I find it hard to believe hes a holding midfielder and Alex Song in his last season at Arsenal (when he basically played as a box to box midfielder) played some nice passes in between the lines. Its not that Mikel can't, he just plays his role very well, safety first, no risks, fills in when he needs to do so and tackles when he needs to tackle. I am honestly baffled by this argument, I've seen others post it "I don't think hes good enough because he does nothing special" other players like Arteta/Carrick/Britton/Lucas/Allen etc. do a similar sort of job, just keep the ball moving on, safety first, no risks as do other players...

he dosent always tackle when he needs to though. he loses alot of them for a guy his size.

[OneMoSalah 8,616]

he dosent always tackle when he needs to though. he loses alot of them for a guy his size.

Really... I wouldn't say that, I feel he doesn't give away unnecessary fouls like other players do when they are in positions when they cannot really take the ball without taking the man (Luiz, Ramires, Lampard).

[lucio 5,418]

Really... I wouldn't say that, I feel he doesn't give away unnecessary fouls like other players do when they are in positions when they cannot really take the ball without taking the man (Luiz, Ramires, Lampard).

not talking about fouls. i mean when he goes into a challenge with the other guy and is too weak and the other player comes out with the ball. or when he steps out forward and the player dribbles around him easily.

[robsblubot 3,250]

Which holding midfield player does anything specifically special on the pitch? Not many do. Its just some sort of myth because Sergio Busquets since he broke into the Barca team, Xabi Alonso although I find it hard to believe hes a holding midfielder and Alex Song in his last season at Arsenal (when he basically played as a box to box midfielder) played some nice passes in between the lines. Its not that Mikel can't, he just plays his role very well, safety first, no risks, fills in when he needs to do so and tackles when he needs to tackle. I am honestly baffled by this argument, I've seen others post it "I don't think hes good enough because he does nothing special" other players like Arteta/Carrick/Britton/Lucas/Allen etc. do a similar sort of job, just keep the ball moving on, safety first, no risks as do other players...

He's too slow to be an effective guardian of the back four. It takes too long for him to move to where he's needed. That's why IMO he plays better for Nigeria where he doesn't need to do that.

however, I disagree and think he simply does not have the ability to do more. Mikel can't do what he hasn't done ... ever. I watch him for Nigeria, and aside from being the center of the team, I think he's also not good enough (for a team like Chelsea) even if he did what he does for them. Again, he's not a bad player, just not good enough to start for Chelsea. That's how I feel when I watch him play - nothing special.

Players better than him as a DM/CM? There are too many to name... All our PL opponents have better options there - some a lot better.

[chelseawise 115]

Does anyone have statistics on percentage of passes that Mikel makes are either sideways or backwards. I would guess it would be more than 95%.

He slows the game, kills creativity and brings absolutely nothing to the team. Why has he survived this long at chelsea is a mystery. In my opinion we should start a game with Ramirez and Oscar as holding midfielders.

[happy_juan 64]

Does anyone have statistics on percentage of passes that Mikel makes are either sideways or backwards. I would guess it would be more than 95%.

He slows the game, kills creativity and brings absolutely nothing to the team. Why has he survived this long at chelsea is a mystery. In my opinion we should start a game with Ramirez and Oscar as holding midfielders.

By the time a coach realizes Mikel's true value or lack there of, he will be fired and we go throuhh the entire painful process again.

[The Skipper 20,593]

By the time a coach realizes Mikel's true value or lack there of, he will be fired and we go throuhh the entire painful process again.

So it's Mikel's fault our managers get sacked? Haha... Amazing.

[happy_juan 64]

So it's Mikel's fault our managers get sacked? Haha... Amazing.

Must commend you on your amazing reading comprehension skills.

[Phil Driver 503]

Man of the match for sideways passing once again ,but our counters are oh so slow ,he plays we lose ,again. The theme is continuing.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Utterly dire performance from him tonight. Well done on completing 792 sideways/backwards passes, though.

[Korea 734]

How was Mikel when he came to Chelsea??? (first came)

Was he always this static of a player or are those the managers direct instructions?

[Phil Driver 503]

Utterly dire performance from him tonight. Well done on completing 792 sideways/backwards passes, though.

That is the issue ,how does the above help us to win a game? Anyone can play there and play 90% pass success rate in any game slow, sideways and backwards and that is all he can do. In that role you need quick one and two touch and a very good defender whe reads the game ,Mikel does neither.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Yes, yes, blame Mikel whatever happens...

He was actually very good yesterday. A bit of different role given to him by Jose as he would join the front four's pressing at the moment that the Sunderland defense gets into trouble and he did it excellently and won the back in the opposition half many times especially in the first half. Our pressing was so good, Sunderland barely completed a few passes in our half. But in the last 10 minutes the front four (bar Willian, tbf) just stopped doing their job and stopped pressing and our whole defense looked clueless because we were practically defending 8vs11.

[Phil Driver 503]

Jose did try and get him pressing and running more ,sadly his stamina gave up and in the second half and especially in extra time he was shot, when he plays we do give games away in the second half,the quick one ,two touch passing and the ability to defend and read a game will never be there which a true DM needs,no doubt there was a 90% pass completion again though,but where does that take us?