Rambo 1,729 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 John Obi Mikel has suffered a slight knee tear and the injured Chelsea midfielder has been ruled out for three weeks, missing the club's crucial end-of-season title run-in.Out: John Obi Mikel is sidelined for three weeksThe Nigeria international picked up the knock during the Blues' 2-1 defeat to Tottenham last weekend and scans showed he suffered a torn meniscus when he was replaced after just half an hour.While the midfielder looks certain to miss title chasing Chelsea's crunch Barclays Premier League fixtures against Stoke, Liverpool and Wigan on the final day of the season, he could return in time for the FA Cup Final against Portsmouth with surgery not required.Daily Mail: Mikel Out for season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskoviolente 425 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 nightmare...it is a fucking nightmare. Even if Belletti, Deco or Ballack can play in that position i don´t feel any better...Mikel is a small and tiny version of Essien, but still a born holding midfielder...not like any of the others mentioned above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskWeston 696 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Absolutely awful timing............Not too sure who Ancelotti will go with to be honest but whoever it is will not do as good a job as Mikel, especially when we come to face Liverpool.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke 60 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Looks like Belletti will be the natural stand in, or Ballack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidEU 2,023 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Mikel is a small and tiny version of Essien, but still a born holding midfielder...not like any of the others mentioned above.Thats so wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubber bullets 1,183 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 So who is going to replace him, Ballack and Belletti are too slow and Deco doesn't have the strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Term-X 7,891 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 time for nemanja matic to shine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubber bullets 1,183 Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 time for nemanja matic to shine.Making him place in the last 3 crucial matches well may crush his confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambo 1,729 Posted April 22, 2010 Author Share Posted April 22, 2010 I'd give the role to Ballack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueboy 14 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Ballack has the best physique and experience i think. Bad timing though -.- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIWATZ 64 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Mikel will be able to play against Liverpool! This is a direct quote from Ancelotti: "Mikel will be ready next week. It is only a little problem but he is not able to play Sunday" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskWeston 696 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Excellent news to have him back for the scousers......think he will probably drop Ballack in there for the Stoke game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
We Hate Scouse 10,326 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Making him place in the last 3 crucial matches well may crush his confidence.Giving him first team games may also give him the confidence to shine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubber bullets 1,183 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Giving him first team games may also give him the confidence to shine.Imagine if he made a big slip up, like Mikel did against APOEL, could easily be the new Chelsea fan enemy no.1! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
We Hate Scouse 10,326 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Imagine if he made a big slip up, like Mikel did against APOEL, could easily be the new Chelsea fan enemy no.1!Imagine if he scored..........It's easy enough to say this and that could happen, but Chelsea have to show confidence in younger players for them to get confidence. Do you really think he is getting anything from playing in the reserves week in week out? You can't make decisions on what could happen, he is going to have to learn sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLion. 21,491 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Giving Matic the role would be perfect if you want to build his confidence.However, it simply won't happen. We need the strongest possible starting eleven, and that means Deco or Ballack at CDM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boshman 1,073 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 He has played 2 (as far as i am aware) games for us and people are talking about playing Matic for 3 of the most crucial games we have had in years. We need experienced heads in this situation. People say... If you don't play him how is he ever going to learn. And i agree. But you don't play a player who has only played 2 first team games in 3 massive games. There is no point in playing any youngsters now. They will have to wait till next year. Then they can get their share of first team games and become experienced enough to play in these high pressure games. Playing them now could be suicidal.On the Mikel thing. Great news that he is back for the Liverpool game. For Stoke i think we should use Ballack there. Experienced head, strong, good passer. Perfect for the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLion. 21,491 Posted April 24, 2010 Share Posted April 24, 2010 Agreed. And without Terry, we're going to need someone tall and physical like Ballack to make up the numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NattyBlue 44 Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 Didn't see the game today, how was Ballack in the role? heard he was disciplined... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warnie_666 1,081 Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 Ballack didnt have to do much as Stoke didnt get a chance to attack much.So we finally will be back to full strength against Liverpool.--------------------------------Cech---------------------------------------Ivanovic------Terry-----------Alex---------------A.Cole-------------Deco-------------Mikel--------------Lampard-----------Kalou-----------Drogba---------MaloudaId even be tempted to go ahead with the same team we played today as Deco is always a Hit/Miss.Bench: Ross, Sturridge, Joe cole, Zirkov, Belleti, Hutchinson, PVN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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