Mikel

[AAF]

The feeling I have about his game is that he is artificially suppressing his natural instincts in order to fit into the DM role. Almost always when he gets the ball and plays a simple sideways pass he looks like in his mind he questions himself if he did the right move according to the DM manual. He just doesn't make the impression that he is in harmony with his instincts anymore. Compare that for example with DD's goal today.

Anyway, I'm not an expert on this stuff, but to me it seems that he needs to be given freedom to make forward runs and pass further than a few meters.

Are there any other opinions on this?

[Alex]

My opinion on Mikel is actually growing. I can appreciate you saying he is less expressive, but in my opinion this has improved him because he wasnt that type of player. He didnt have the quality to be effective going forward. Whereas that DM role is about holding your position, recognising the danger (in terms of oppo players or positions), winning the ball back, and playing the pass to give it to someone who can be more effective going forward.

For me he is growing in that position. Dont get me wrong he is still not world class, but he is getting better and better

[bjd]

Lets not start

[bluegraham]

in my opinion,theres no need for a defence midfield slows everything down specaily when its mikel he never goes forward, he gives away silly free kicks, you might argue hes young but hes on big boys moneys he should do a big boys job. remember when ruud guillit came to chelsea he did,nt really have the legs no more i think jt is getting like that so we should play with a sweeper. it would allow cole and jose to over lap and support the wingers. just an idea said id think my mind of the result today. Id be they manager by the way ha

cech

terry

bosingwa ivanovic alex a.cole

kakuta lampard essien malouda

drogba

[Alex]

I disagree Graham i think if you have a solid back four with two full backs prepared to go forward, then a 4-3-3 with a decent defensive midfielder is the perfect formation

[german-blue]

Not again a Mikel threat please

[bluegraham]

I disagree Graham i think if you have a solid back four with two full backs prepared to go forward, then a 4-3-3 with a decent defensive midfielder is the perfect formation

maybe so alex but to keep jt playing id play him sweeper,he is our leader after alll. but point taken

[ziggazagga]

This defensive midfielder sh*te again,what ever happened to the term Sweeper.....................

The ultimate sweeper was there to break up play,intercept and play defence splitting passes from the back to assist your forward play.......

Maka was effective in front of the back four because he suited our style at the time(under Jose that is),get it and give it,he was a master at this.....

Remember Glenda and Rudd playing sweeper in the mid nineties,oh how id love to see Arteta in that position now giving Ess and Frank the licence to crack on..............

As for Mikel his game hasnt progressed at all in the last 4 years and isnt likely to..........another crab and a slow one at that!

[bluegraham]

This defensive midfielder sh*te again,what ever happened to the term Sweeper.....................

The ultimate sweeper was there to break up play,intercept and play defence splitting passes from the back to assist your forward play.......

Maka was effective in front of the back four because he suited our style at the time(under Jose that is),get it and give it,he was a master at this.....

Remember Glenda and Rudd playing sweeper in the mid nineties,oh how id love to see Arteta in that position now giving Ess and Frank the licence to crack on..............

As for Mikel his game hasnt progressed at all in the last 4 years and isnt likely to..........another crab and a slow one at that!

thatswhat im on about ruud and glenn did nt have the legs but still had the brain.

[Mikstaw]

He cannot play foward at all!!!

[hennerzcfc]

when we bought him he played attaching mid so who's idea was it to change him

[BlueDay]

Mikel going forward would mean him shooting at some point.

We dont want that.

[ScandiBlue]

He has at least added some tempo to his game this season which has improved him a bit but he still isn't naturall enough at closing down quickly and biting at the opposition for me.

A few suggestions to come and play the role more effectively in the summer would be...

Lass Diarra (Mourinho's biggest mistake ever imo)

Mohamed Sissoko (ex Liverpool I know but a great athlete and a bit of a nasty streak which is needed imo)

Yaya Toure (might be available if Barcelona get Mascherano)

Daniele De Rossi (not sure if he would leave Roma though)

Fernando Gago (can't believe he's being frozen out at Madrid,should get him cheaply as a result)

We need one of the above as i'd always play the 4-3-3 and I think Essien is too valauble a driving force to restrict him to holding.

[PloKoon13]

I'm surprised Ancelotti hasn't done a better job with Mikel considering the experience he has had with possibly the best defensive mid/deep-lying playmaker partnership ever in Pirlo and Gattuso. Perhaps if Ballack ventured forward more often he could be some sort of mixture of the two.

[sleepy_gonzalez]

Mikel going forward would mean him shooting at some point.

We dont want that.

Nah course not

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=LXJg4_...feature=related

[TheWestwayWonder]

Funny enough, he is the one now stepping up to say what we are all thinking/know

John Obi Mikel admits the Chelsea players need to pull together if they are to keep their dreams of the double alive.

The Nigerian midfielder insists every player now has to prove they are worthy of their place after two hugely-disappointing results.

Mikel conceded there were basic errors in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Sunday, which followed the exit from the Champions League at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

The 22-year-old insisted however a team meeting with owner Roman Abramovich was not to read the riot act to the players but for the Russian billionaire to show his support.

Mikel said in the Evening Standard: "We are all professionals and when things are not going well we mustn't be down. This is when we need everyone to show support and to be together; team, fans and coaching staff, and hopefully we can put things right by the end of the season.

"It has been really, really difficult but the manager has been there for us and we all are sticking together. We have a game against Portsmouth and we have to go there and win."

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22032010/63/...show-unity.html

Not exactly Churchillian, but certainly a sign that someone gets it. If the players arent looking and talking among themselves to get the ship righted, then we will be in trouble. No more excuses, it starts and ends with playing 90 minutes hard, and hammering the opponents you are supposed to.

Hope his play remains good enough (as it has been of late, undeniably better) to back his words up.

Edited March 22, 2010 by TheWestwayWonder

[Alex]

Nah course not

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=LXJg4_...feature=related

:D

Thats got to be a sarcastic comment, thats his only ever goal! He seemed to go through a phase last year when he thought he could shot, but clearly lacked the ability

[Wolfy]

Ballack's form has been woeful as of late but he still has a good football brain there's always the option of swapping them in a match against lesser opposition to see how they get on respectively. I'm quite curious to see whether Mikel can carry the ball forward.

[smileysmiles]

I would be interested to see if JT/Alex have created more going forward then Mikel this season.

Looked like he was improving a while ago but looks to have gone backward.

His break up of play is poor and results in exposure at the back and stupid free kicks in dangerous areas.

His first touches are poor and result in him getting closed down quickly and just passing backward or sideways at best.

Even when he does have time he seems to lack the vision or the ability (maybe both) to pick out a quality pass.

We need a replacement badly because using Essien there IMHO is a waste and Mikel never will be good enough there or anywhere else on the pitch for that matter.

[Zola]

Agreed.

[DetroitBlue]

Anyone see the pass for Drogs' 2nd goal? Hell of a pass from Mikel. Pirlo-like really.

[Maverick]

Mikel going forward would mean him shooting at some point.

We dont want that.

The fans in the stands watch out !! ;)

Edited March 25, 2010 by Maverick

[jezza]

He may be a horrible little sh*t, but Mascherano is probably the best DM in the prem.

[Cam]

I think I would have to top myself if Mascherano ever played for Chelsea. He is one of the douchiest players in the world.

[jezza]

Like I said, not a particularly pleasant chap but he'd do a quality job for us unlike the players that have been pushed into the DM role.