Mikel John Obi

[LDN Blue 7,903]

He could become a world class player if he gets regular playing time.

Could not agree more. He's a much better DM (true DM) than Essien. He's taken the Makelele position & turned it into the Mikel position. Just a shame most don't realise it..

[steve5221 91]

Good player. It will be dumb to sell him unless someone comes with a 30 mill offer.

Other then that, he is a good player that needs to get back in form!

He is a good player but both he and Kalou seem to have gone backwards the last few years and thier progress has stalled. That said they do posess the required ability and hopefully both can get back to the standards that they are capable of...Its a no brainer selling either of them though due to thier age, we have to keep them.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

both he and Kalou seem to have gone backwards the last few years and thier progress has stalled.

Completely disagree.

Mikel is our most improved player in the last few years, while Kalou has been as stagnant as the British Economy . Mikel's elevated his game from that ill-disciplined teenager who got sent off every other game to a passing genius. He's made the biggest leap to maturity under the Abramovich years, comparing him to Kalou is quite the oxymoron.

[steve5221 91]

Completely disagree.

Mikel is our most improved player in the last few years, while Kalou has been as stagnant as the British Economy . Mikel's elevated his game from that ill-disciplined teenager who got sent off every other game to a passing genius. He's made the biggest leap to maturity under the Abramovich years, comparing him to Kalou is quite the oxymoron.

I'm not comparing him to Kalou they are totally different players just a similar age and were signed at a similar time....When I think a few years back he was completely dominating the midfield when he played and I always thought his name should have been first on the team sheet. I really thought he could be world class, granted he could still achieve that as he is not yet in his peak years......

[Tomo 21,751]

Although id be sad to see him go for a huge price it might be a good move.

What we should do is play hardball put a £40m price tag on his head and see if any-one goes for him (i bet you City will ).

Plus if Madrid make a £25m plus offer for Cole we should bite their hand off aswell.

[crazy1 24]

He's a much better DM (true DM) than Essien. He's taken the Makelele position & turned it into the Mikel position. Just a shame most don't realise it..

:goodpost: totally agree.............brilliant holding midfielder................n most of all ROMAN won't allow to sell him as he wants to build d young team with the mixture of some expereinced players n mikel (comes in both categories).........so he will b wid us fr sure............

[Kostas 1,468]

Completely disagree.

Mikel is our most improved player in the last few years, while Kalou has been as stagnant as the British Economy . Mikel's elevated his game from that ill-disciplined teenager who got sent off every other game to a passing genius. He's made the biggest leap to maturity under the Abramovich years, comparing him to Kalou is quite the oxymoron.

Cosign every single word. The only thing about Mikel that hasn't tremendously improved is his reputation.

Most opposition fans (who probably watch him like twice a year) still fail to recognize the numerous qualities he has and are quick to say he's limited and his game mediocre. That is probably the biggest Chelsea related lie after Cech never being the same since his injury.

[Clevemayer 764]

Cosign every single word. The only thing about Mikel that hasn't tremendously improved is his reputation.

Most opposition fans (who probably watch him like twice a year) still fail to recognize the numerous qualities he has and are quick to say he's limited and his game mediocre. That is probably the biggest Chelsea related lie after Cech never being the same since his injury.

good post +1

[Manuf 1,448]

Cosign every single word. The only thing about Mikel that hasn't tremendously improved is his reputation.

Most opposition fans (who probably watch him like twice a year) still fail to recognize the numerous qualities he has and are quick to say he's limited and his game mediocre. That is probably the biggest Chelsea related lie after Cech never being the same since his injury.

Amen.

[termninja 5,290]

Cech never being the same since his injury.

Hahaha sure...

[kwylino 329]

Why would we even consider selling him!?!. dude is gonna be a monster when he in full form. i just cant see him having success in real madrid infact i just see him in real madrid as a total waste

[chrismada9 1,948]

Cosign every single word. The only thing about Mikel that hasn't tremendously improved is his reputation.

Most opposition fans (who probably watch him like twice a year) still fail to recognize the numerous qualities he has and are quick to say he's limited and his game mediocre. That is probably the biggest Chelsea related lie after Cech never being the same since his injury.

That's a perfect way of putting it IMO! Perfect example of people who know nothing about football!

Selling Mikel is madness IMO. I mean, he can be prone to the odd mistake, or an early booking, but by god does he do a job well, particularly in defensive midfield. I've always seen Mikel as the closest we have to a Makelele-esque player.

Edited March 29, 2011 by CJ Revo

[Fulham Broadway 17,305]

Having made his debut against Liverpool in the Community Shield, Mikel impressed on his first start for Chelsea on 27 September 2006, in the UEFA Champions League against Levski Sofia. However, the Nigerian's early career was characterised by indiscipline both on and off the pitch. He was sent off in a match against Reading on 14 October 2006, and was fined on three separate occasions by Chelsea for turning up late to training. At the time, Chelsea manager José Mourinho was believed to have strong reservations about his lifestyle outside of Stamford Bridge and the club were reportedly considering offloading the player. Mikel was dropped for over a month.

After improved punctuality and showings at training sessions, Mikel earned a recall for Chelsea's Champions League group away game against Werder Bremen on 22 November 2006, with Chelsea qualifying for the knock-out stage despite a defeat in Germany. Mikel scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 6-1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town on 6 January 2007. He also scored against Nottingham Forest in the following round of the competition. During Chelsea's triumph in the League Cup Final in 2007 against Arsenal, Mikel was sent off in injury time (having come on as a substitute) after clashing with Kolo Touré, the incident was followed by a huge fracas, in which Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal were sent off, Cesc Fàbregas and Frank Lampard were booked, with managers José Mourinho and Arsené Wenger also involved.

In subsequent games, Mourinho deployed Mikel as a starter in a holding role in key games where he impressed greatly, notably in the FA Cup Sixth Round replay against Tottenham Hotspur, the Champions League quarter-final games versus Valencia, the Champions League semi-final games versus Liverpool and also the victorious FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Mikel's height and great strength, allied to good ball control and an unusually wide range of passing, allows him not only to disrupt opposing attacks, but also to spread the play effectively. With Claude Makélélé coming towards the end of his career, Mikel was widely tipped to be his successor in defensive midfield.

Mikel's development continued with 39 appearances in all competitions during the 2007-08 season, but was sent-off for the third time in his career in September 2007, when Mike Dean dismissed him for a tackle on Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea appealed against the red card but the three-match suspension was upheld. He was also sent off in the Semi-Final of the League Cup against Everton, for a challenge on Phil Neville.

Following the departure of Claude Makélélé in the summer of 2008, Mikel was presented with the opportunity to make the defensive midfield position his own during the 2008-09 season. His main rival for the role, Michael Essien, could play elsewhere, and was injured for much of the season. Mikel impressed during his extended run in the side, earning praise from manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, a free kick from which Salomon Kalou equalised against Manchester United an example of the Nigerian's contribution to the side beyond breaking up attacks and providing protection to the defence. [12] Mikel made 49 appearances in all competitions over the course of the season, and played every minute of the 2009 FA Cup Final. Mikel was nominated for the club player and young player of the season, and on 22 July 2009 he signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.

During another season in which Michael Essien was largely absent due to injury, Mikel continued to play an important role in defensive midfield during the 2009-10 season under new manager Carlo Ancelotti. He made 35 appearances in all competitions, helping Chelsea to the League and FA Cup Double, which included the first Premier League winners' medal of the young midfielder's career. The 2010-11 season was much less successful for the Blues; a promising start undermined by a mid-season collapse as Chelsea finished the season without a trophy. Mikel continued to appear regularly in the defensive midfield role, making 37 appearances to pass the 200-appearance mark by the end of his fifth season at the club.

Click here to view the record

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Carlo has to realise by now how vital Mikel is to the squad balance! Him and Essien actually linked up very well and as does he & Ramires.

Mikel should have a permanent roll in the squad now. Essien & Ramires must do battle for their positions!

[Peace. 4,352]

He made 78, whom 73 were successful, won 9 tackles and lost 1.

I just have seen the first half, but I thought he was rather good. And I also thought he has improved in the tackles.