Mikel John Obi

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I hate to be the cu*t who says "I told you so" (who am I kidding, I love it! ) but Mikel demonstrated perfectly today how the team differs with a proper DM. Keeping possession might not be as glamorous as scoring or assisting, but it is just as important to scoring.

[JDY 1,290]

I hate to be the cu*t who says "I told you so" (who am I kidding, I love it! ) but Mikel demonstrated perfectly today how the team differs with a proper DM. Keeping possession might not be as glamorous as scoring or assisting, but it is just as important to scoring.

I think most people are aware of his qualities, only seen a handful of people suggesting he's a bad player.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I think most people are aware of his qualities, only seen a handful of people suggesting he's a bad player.

lol you need to come to this thread more often then . He's been called shit, below average, not good enough for Chelsea, he's been slagged off for going to the AFCONs with Nigeria, it's been said that we can't win trophies while he's in the team, he's even been called a weak human being!

[robdog 2,084]

I hate to be the cu*t who says "I told you so" (who am I kidding, I love it! ) but Mikel demonstrated perfectly today how the team differs with a proper DM. Keeping possession might not be as glamorous as scoring or assisting, but it is just as important to scoring.

Plus the discipline of staying back & assisting w/ the defense. Also trying to put a halt on the other side's breaks.

[Beigl 1,386]

One of his best performances in the Chelsea shirt.He has to play in the replay from beginning with Ramires in the double-pivot.

[Blue Gino 377]

Good job by Mikel today but I'm not gonna hide from previous comments. I just don't care for Mikel. I'm a big fan of Romeu and that's not gonna change.

[DH1988 1,193]

Good 45 minutes, doesn't change my opinion. Average player.

[Rambo 1,729]

Good job by Mikel today but I'm not gonna hide from previous comments. I just don't care for Mikel. I'm a big fan of Romeu and that's not gonna change.

What does that have to do with supporting Mikel?

[teignman 441]

Good job by Mikel today but I'm not gonna hide from previous comments. I just don't care for Mikel. I'm a big fan of Romeu and that's not gonna change.

It's ok to like both if you're so inclined.

[Pizy 17,860]

The only calm and composed central midfielder we have. Lamps is just to slow with the ball and our play grinds to a halt most of the time when he gets it. Ramires is either on fire or completely out of it.

Mikel looked like Carrick did for them in the first half. Broke up play, kept his cool and played some great balls. Never looks nervous or rushes, just quietly does the job.

Really don't understand why Rafa doesn't seem to like him. He should be the regular starter alongside Ramires with Lamps having the more reduced role. Frank can be our super sub.

[robdog 2,084]

The only calm and composed central midfielder we have. Lamps is just to slow with the ball and our play grinds to a halt most of the time when he gets it. Ramires is either on fire or completely out of it.

Mikel looked like Carrick did for them in the first half. Broke up play, kept his cool and played some great balls. Never looks nervous or rushes, just quietly does the job.

Really don't understand why Rafa doesn't seem to like him. He should be the regular starter alongside Ramires with Lamps having the more reduced role. Frank can be our super sub.

Because rafa is only here to sabotage CFC for the dirty red scousers. It's the only way they can pass us in the table

[The only place to be 11,313]

Good job by Mikel today but I'm not gonna hide from previous comments. I just don't care for Mikel. I'm a big fan of Romeu and that's not gonna change.

Same here. Let's put his performance in context - United in the second half were poor and didn't put any pressure on our midfield. But Mikel did come on and he did do fairly well (although he still had moments of dilly-dallying).

Comments like 'he's the best midfielder we have' do carry water, but a more accurate description would be that he's the only midfielder we have who has his particular skill set. He's not an exceptional player by any means, but he is essential to the way we want to play football.

I'd like to think that the shift he put in today was a reaction to his benching in the last few games and that he's realised he can't become complacent simply because we're so poor in that area. I hope he continues to buck up his ideas but I still think he's on the clock with Chalobah coming along nicely.

[Blue Gino 377]

Chalobah, Romeu, Ake, players with an eye for quick passing. Makes Mikel look slow. The positioning has been evolving and requiring more than what Mikel brings.

[OneMoSalah 8,607]

Mikel was brilliant today, million times better than what Lamps was.

[Stats 6,980]

Chalobah, Romeu, Ake, players with an eye for quick passing. Makes Mikel look slow. The positioning has been evolving and requiring more than what Mikel brings.

Well maybe it is good that Mikel has a limited role. He offers the freedom for the fluidity of the other CM and players like Luiz playing at CB can play with more freedom like we saw in the game against United today because he knows Mikel is there to sweep up the damage. It is important to have players like him. One of the most important roles IMO. Look at Busquets at Barca, has a limited role, maybe gets the odd goal a season but rarely goes forward. Executed perfectly.

His role today highlighted the ability to help the fluidity of the team. An important unsung hero at the club if you ask me.

[The Mak 4,459]

Some here are really getting too excited.

Honestly, he had an absolutely fantastic second half, changed the game and allowed Ramires to take up a more natural CM position so he could roam up and down the pitch. However, once in a blue moon performances are not going to convince me. Not by a long shot.

For me, saying "I told you so" about Mikel is quite similar to saying "I told you so" about Torres if he scored a brace or something. Obviously Mikel is not as bad as Torres in his respective position, but my point is consistency. I can't remember a game where Mikel performed as well as he did today, and that says a lot.

Mikel just looks laboured a lot of the time in his passing, reactions and movement, key attributes of a DM. Look at what Peace posted about Busquets a while ago. Busquets has reactions and a brilliant, quick, passing range; while Makélélé had quick movement with fantastic positional sense and decision making.

Take nothing away from him, he had a fantastic game today and is our best DM at the moment, but I think some people should really wait until he shows such performances consistently before spouting "I told you so".

[Blue Armour 4,158]

Mikel the "super-sub"....( so used to seeing him being taken off when we go in search of a goal)

[Backstreet09 499]

Good 45 minutes, doesn't change my opinion. Average player.

TOTALLY .