Mikel John Obi

[We Hate Scouse 10,286]

Salah has barely played for us, is new to the system, new to the club, new to the league and new to the country.

Mikel is one of our more experienced players, and EVERY fan knows what he gives us at this point in time.

It's the same old shit though. If you don't like the way a player plays football then you must be a hater, or you must be scapegoating him or it's just the 'hip' thing to do. That is quite frankly bollocks. I've seen people give him credit for good performances (like Everton away) but they're so far and few between that he simply doesn't get that much praise. Throw in the fact that we've bought a genuinely good midfielder in Matic who is completely different from Mikel in every way and he's going to look poor in comparison.

The fact is that there's a few people on here, on Twitter and elsewhere who have long defended Mikel. They've said he's misunderstood, that what he does is beyond us mere mortals comprehension, that he's unfairly singled out, that he's actually the best DM in Europe (except for Busquets obviously), that he's key to what we do, that he's going to be here forever....and they've had to eat their words because Matic has come in and done a much better job in his first few games. He's been proactive, he's been hard-working, he's been driving the team forward, he's been passing through the lines, he's been taking players on and he's even shown a nice eye for a chance.

It's hilarious.

it really is ridiculous you literally can't criticise the guy or you get jumped on.

People are criticising other players from last night...Hazard, Ramires etc. but no ones jumping in defending them because people can accept the criticism, yet here it seems that people worship the holy Mikel and there will be no slander towards him.

[We Hate Scouse 10,286]

What is hilarious is the fact that people are bashing mikel for a completely good performance.

Which is an opinion. If people think he played badly accept that and get on with it. There's no need to wank the guy off and defend absolutely everything people say against him for fucksake.

[The only place to be 11,313]

What is hilarious is the fact that people are bashing mikel for a completely good performance.

It wasn't 'good' though. It was at best the bare minimum you'd expect from a professional footballer with such a tiny amount asked of him. I'm surprised one of the stats used in his defence wasn't 'number of bootlaces done up correctly'.

One of the things overlooked is that Galatasaray took off Drogba in the last ten minutes as well who, despite being fairly old now, was probably still the focal point of their attack.

[didierforever 7,349]

Which is an opinion. If people think he played badly accept that and get on with it. There's no need to wank the guy off and defend absolutely everything people say against him for fucksake.

why not? If it's their opinion then this is mine.

As u rightly said, people are criticizing hazard and willian right left and center but no one is defending them abd that is the correct thing. They were poor, hence the treatment.

If someone says azpi was poor, everyone will jump down his throat and rightly so. For me, mikel was GOOD in the match yesterday. He gave us the stability that we were cryibg out for and he choked off any momentum from the galatasaray game. Considering the situation and the circumstances in whuch mikel was subbed in, I would say, this was the exact thing he would have been vrought in for. Hence, a GOOD performanxr. Job well done!!!!

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Hate is a strong word, and wrong word to use. I find it very hard to believe any Chelsea fan hates any Chelsea player and think the wording here is used to easy and frequent when it suits people. All people are doing is pointing what issues they have with him and whether people agree with each other or not hate isn't the point here.

Well I didn't mean they hate him, but people def have got it in for him when this thread is more active than others who performed far worse. And people aren't just pointing out issues they have with him, if that was the case then it'd be fine, but they are actually criticizing his performance yesterday. And the criticism is pathetic too, like he passed back to Azpi who had to clear has been brought up 10 times, finding the most ridiculous of examples to criticize a decent enough performance. I don't think that is warranted at all. And of course, people can post their opinions, but in my opinion some are obviously hating.

[Special Juan 27,422]

Well I didn't mean they hate him........ but in my opinion some are obviously hating.

[didierforever 7,349]

It wasn't 'good' though. It was at best the bare minimum you'd expect from a professional footballer with such a tiny amount asked of him. I'm surprised one of the stats used in his defence wasn't 'number of bootlaces done up correctly'.

One of the things overlooked is that Galatasaray took off Drogba in the last ten minutes as well who, despite being fairly old now, was probably still the focal point of their attack.

Sigh.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Salah has barely played for us, is new to the system, new to the club, new to the league and new to the country.

Mikel is one of our more experienced players, and EVERY fan knows what he gives us at this point in time.

It's the same old shit though. If you don't like the way a player plays football then you must be a hater, or you must be scapegoating him or it's just the 'hip' thing to do. That is quite frankly bollocks. I've seen people give him credit for good performances (like Everton away) but they're so far and few between that he simply doesn't get that much praise. Throw in the fact that we've bought a genuinely good midfielder in Matic who is completely different from Mikel in every way and he's going to look poor in comparison.

The fact is that there's a few people on here, on Twitter and elsewhere who have long defended Mikel. They've said he's misunderstood, that what he does is beyond us mere mortals comprehension, that he's unfairly singled out, that he's actually the best DM in Europe (except for Busquets obviously), that he's key to what we do, that he's going to be here forever....and they've had to eat their words because Matic has come in and done a much better job in his first few games. He's been proactive, he's been hard-working, he's been driving the team forward, he's been passing through the lines, he's been taking players on and he's even shown a nice eye for a chance.

It's hilarious.

There is nothing wrong with criticizing Mikel. Imo he is just a good squad player and no one is saying he is amazing. But to bring up the same shit whenever he plays, even after a good performance is a waste of time.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Well I didn't mean they hate him, but people def have got it in for him when this thread is more active than others who performed far worse. And people aren't just pointing out issues they have with him, if that was the case then it'd be fine, but they are actually criticizing his performance yesterday. And the criticism is pathetic too, like he passed back to Azpi who had to clear has been brought up 10 times, finding the most ridiculous of examples to criticize a decent enough performance. I don't think that is warranted at all. And of course, people can post their opinions, but in my opinion some are obviously hating.

That is just an example of how misleading stats can be. A pass from Matic to Hazard through the lines which forces defences to reorganise and a pass back to a player who has no option but to hoof it long still count as passes completed but are in reality completely different.

The problem is that those who defend him constantly fall back on stats which have little context.

[The Mak 4,459]

Passing the ball around a bit and recycling possession...really? If we had more possession after he came on, fine. But attributing it solely to him is ridiculous - he was an extra body in midfield. Any midfielder, hell, any footballer worth his salt should be able to do what he did last night: PASS THE FUCKING BALL.

Seriously? If that the defence? Desperate times for the Mikel fans now that Matic is here I suppose. It's like saying Torres had a good game because he ran around a bit. Please.

[The only place to be 11,313]

There is nothing wrong with criticizing Mikel. Imo he is just a good squad player and no one is saying he is amazing. But to bring up the same shit whenever he plays, even after a good performance is a waste of time.

I agree....the problem is when he actually has to get on the pitch.

[didierforever 7,349]

What I find funny is, the people who are being called as "mikel lovers" have never once brought up the point of mikel vs matic. Infact since all of us are xhelsea fans, I sincerely douby that any sane fan would.

But some are just so eager to (can't use scapegoat, bash, hatr or critisize) pin point (easy out) mikels flaws and limitations that they themselves will start with the comparision.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

You've never heard "hating" used as a slang? Not sure why it's so hard to comprehend that your definition of hate isn't the same as mine in the context I've used it in. Hating is often used as slang when one overly criticizes someone for no apparent reason. I don't mean they despise him and wish bad things unto him. Simply that some Chelsea fans aren't Mikel fans.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

That is just an example of how misleading stats can be. A pass from Matic to Hazard through the lines which forces defences to reorganise and a pass back to a player who has no option but to hoof it long still count as passes completed but are in reality completely different.

The problem is that those who defend him constantly fall back on stats which have little context.

You're comparing him to Matic, not sure why. No one is saying he's better than Matic, not even close. People are just saying he was put on to do a job and he did what was asked of him so the intense criticism isn't really warranted after a decent enough performance. If it was really just about him then why not make these posts two days ago?

[Strike 7,217]

Which is an opinion. If people think he played badly accept that and get on with it. There's no need to wank the guy off and defend absolutely everything people say against him for fucksake.

there's also no need to call he's shite after he plays 20-odd minutes and actually didn't play all that bad

you keep comparing him to matic when literally nobody is saying mikel is better than matic.

[Strike 7,217]

it's not at all a case of people jumping to defend mikel on this occassion. it has happened before but not the case this time

i get the people saying he's not good enough. i'm with them actually. i'd sell him off in the summer but why do people have a problem with Mikel's performance yesterday? Mikel played 27 mins and had somewhat of a meh game. not good. not terribly bad.

edit : regarding comparisons with matic, he was not available yesterday. he'll play against Fulham and every remaining league game ahead of Mikel.

[We Hate Scouse 10,286]

there's also no need to call he's shite after he plays 20-odd minutes and actually didn't play all that bad

you keep comparing him to matic when literally nobody is saying mikel is better than matic.

I didn't compare him to Matic at all.

I merely responded to this:

Our prejudices always cause us to voew things differently and this is the prime example of it. Had this been matic, I am sure people would have lauded him for his touresque physicality

[Strike 7,217]

I didn't compare him to Matic at all.

I merely responded to this:

okay. fair enough. my mistake

but looking back, almost every other post in the previous page has a comparison with Matic attached to it