Mikel John Obi

[The Mak 4,459]

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 don't necessarily disagree, but I think it's as simple as you're portraying it. I feel that Mikel's decline in the eyes of fans is for a number of reasons...

First off, we've had Mikel as a starter for almost all of the 8 years he has been here. Maybe at the start of his tenure people were more willing to cut him slack because he was young and knew it would take time to replace someone of Makelele's quality. However, he never even came close to replacing Mak (who could?) but everyone just seemed to get used to his average performances because, gradually, that's all we came to know - as we had no real comparison in the team for years.

Then Rami came along, had a few performances as DM and his athleticism made Mikel look like a pensioner. Here is where even more people began to lose patience. Our attention then turned to getting an adequate DM partner for Ramires.

Now Matic has come along and, to be honest, is starting to make Ramires look average, nevermind Mikel. It seems now we (the fans) are actually looking for a new partner for Matic. I will say about Ramires though that I don't think people are so annoyed with his passing it's more about his decision making as of late, which has been absolute dogshit. Passes to no one, making the wrong decision in the final third killing our momentum and simply giving the ball to the opposition countless times - this is the most frustrating thing. We know he can't really pass, so he should just be keeping it simple and using his athleticism when he can.

Anyway, now that Matic is here and has cemented himself in front of Mikel with such ease. He is displaying everything we have been missing from a quality DM for the past 8 years, therefore putting Mikel's deficiencies in the spotlight once again. He does absolutely everything Mikel does except he is a lot quicker of mind and feet (despite being taller), a more incisive and progressive passer and not to mention a decent goal threat. He is what the modern DM should be and what Mikel should've really evolved into. The fact he is showing all of this in a matter weeks of arriving makes it even worse for people's perceptions of Mikel.

As well as all of this, I'll mention again that Mikel has been here for 8 years. Besides from Cech, he was our longest standing servant on the pitch last night but you wouldn't think it at all. You would think that a player who has been here for so long would be pretty influential on the pitch and for other teammates, but he was a passenger. A player here for that amount of time should be barking orders, trying to inspire others and showing them the way - but nothing. He is the captain of his national team for fuck sake and he seems to show no drive whatsoever. Saying 'everyone had a bad game' as an excuse will only get you so far - such a long-standing servant should at least be showing something on the pitch to show that they care. Mikel defenders will say that his job is thankless and anonymous and so can't influence in the same way, but it's still no excuse for showing no passion on the pitch after 8 years.

Anyway, that's just my take on things. Personally, I just hope his wages at the club reflect that of a squad player because that is all i'll ever see him as.

[duo11bluecl 207]

Yes, Mikel played no part in us winning the CL, he wasn't one of our best players in the final and semis, played no part in us winning the FA cup 4 times, wasn't a key player in us winning the league in 09-10

This thread is hilarious at times.

Yeah sure what the heck did he do? unless you count having him in the bus parking tactic against Barca and Bayern as contribution, through out the season he done fk all, absolutely nothing. In 09-10 again he was useless, Essien, Ballack, Deco, Lampard...etc played much bigger roles.

At the end of the day, the sooner he get away from Chelsea the better. But it is alright for many people because he adds 'depth' to the team isn't he.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Yeah sure what the heck did he do? unless you count having him in the bus parking tactic against Barca and Bayern as contribution, through out the season he done fk all, absolutely nothing. In 09-10 again he was useless, Essien, Ballack, Deco, Lampard...etc played much bigger roles.

At the end of the day, the sooner he get away from Chelsea the better. But it is alright for many people because he adds 'depth' to the team isn't he.

Whatever gets you through the night

[The Skipper 20,593]

To me, JOM is good enough as a squad player and could be great in the pivot if he had a passer/DLP next to him.

He's not indispensable but at the same time it doesn't hurt to have him as a squad player. Him and Josh McEachran would be a pretty solid pivot for example IMO, especially if we played a possession game.

[duo11bluecl 207]

To me, JOM is good enough as a squad player and could be great in the pivot if he had a passer/DLP next to him.

He's not indispensable but at the same time it doesn't hurt to have him as a squad player. Him and Josh McEachran would be a pretty solid pivot for example IMO, especially if we played a possession game.

Matic?

[The Skipper 20,593]

Matic?

Matic is definitely a good passer but he isn't your traditional DLP. I'm talking about players like Modric, Gundogan etc. who would also play next to Matic. So hypothetically speaking if we signed someone in that mould, e.g. Gundogan, our first string for a possession game would be something like Matic - Gundogan, and if either needed a rest we could rotate them about: Mikel - Gundogan, Matic - McEachran etc.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

To me, JOM is good enough as a squad player and could be great in the pivot if he had a passer/DLP next to him.

He's not indispensable but at the same time it doesn't hurt to have him as a squad player. Him and Josh McEachran would be a pretty solid pivot for example IMO, especially if we played a possession game.

Funny you should say that, I was just watching the rerun of wigan's game yesterday and was thinking that Josh is probably a better passer than anyone we have at CM at the moment. It's quite incredible how he always seems to get the right weight and pace on his passes.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Funny you should say that, I was just watching the rerun of wigan's game yesterday and was thinking that Josh is probably a better passer than anyone we have at CM at the moment. It's quite incredible how he always seems to get the right weight and pace on his passes.

I always say Josh has all the talent, but simply lacks the drive to be a top player, which is a shame. If he put his mind to it though he could be a decent squad player for us here, especially considering we lack a true DLP.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

I always say Josh has all the talent, but simply lacks the drive to be a top player, which is a shame. If he put his mind to it though he could be a decent squad player for us here, especially considering we lack a true DLP.

Maybe he needs a manager like Jose to push him to the next level.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

This thread is going to be hilarious when he gets offered a new contract.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

Arsenal would kill to have a player like him.

[Fernando 6,481]

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...

Yeah too many flip floppers.

Also I think many people think that mourinho is like a god and just he coming back we would be some sort of invincible team!

So it hurts them to see something like this.

For me it's simple you need good players to do good in the system you want to implement.

When mourinho came back I remember saying that mourinho revolution will never go anywhere with players like mikel and Torres in his team.

People thought that the special one will make them great as no one else could.....

But shit is shit, no matter how good the manager is.

I think we have come a long way this season and the work looks good. We still have to fix other aspects of our team this summer at which time mourinho should have enough time to had figured out.

[The Skipper 20,593]

When mourinho came back I remember saying that mourinho revolution will never go anywhere with players like mikel and Torres in his team.

Lol, I wish people would stop saying this. You're telling me that if Torres and Mikel stayed as squad players, (especially the latter as he isn't on high wages and can give you at least average performances consistently) we won't go anywhere as a team? Bollocks IMO.

You don't need 25 world class players in a squad.

[Fernando 6,481]

Lol, I wish people would stop saying this. You're telling me that if Torres and Mikel stayed as squad players, (especially the latter as he isn't on high wages and can give you at least average performances consistently) we won't go anywhere as a team? Bollocks IMO.

You don't need 25 world class players in a squad.

Well if they are going to be squad player then let them be of great use. But Mikel really hinders our team. A great squad player was meireles.

Mikel does not offer anything great that a youth from the Academy cannot offer

[The Skipper 20,593]

Well if they are going to be squad player then let them be of great use. But Mikel really hinders our team. A great squad player was meireles.

Mikel does not offer anything great that a youth from the Academy cannot offer

I've always said this - if Mikel really, really hinders the team so much, why does he continue to get minutes here and there? Even when Matic is here, Mikel is still getting some minutes.

If he was that bad surely he wouldn't have been playing at all this season?

As I said in another thread, Mikel isn't anywhere near as bad as most say on here. He isn't world class but he can be a good squad player i.e. He's very useful in a midfield 3 that needs an anchorman or when we go defensive. He's a decent option for Mourinho.

[Drogba4ever15 47]

So useless players make great squad players?

Is there any chance we can get Kalou and Malouda back quickly? I think we made a mistake

[The Skipper 20,593]

So useless players make great squad players?

Is there any chance we can get Kalou and Malouda back quickly? I think we made a mistake

Kalou and Malouda weren't useless at all. The former a good squad player, the second was brilliant for us for a season.

But obviously some need 25 world class players in their squad.

[Henrique 9,133]

Now Matic has come along and, to be honest, is starting to make Ramires look average, nevermind Mikel.

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.