"Mikel only knows how to pass sideways."

 

would be a great post if anyone had said that. 

Oh look, it's this discussion again.

 

 

That is an impressive feat of digger driving!

"Mikel only knows how to pass sideways."

 

 

Chelsea should hire Nigeria's pharmacist !

What do you guys think of him?

Personally I've had my doubts for the past 2 seasons about him, when Essien was injured for 6 months I thought he would flourish and I thought he would excel under AVB. But he still didn't, and he failed to do that the season after, he couldn't get himself into the team.

I'm not for the Man City way of thinking, I'm now glad we gave him the chance rather than going out and buying De Rossi like City would've done. I think its good we develop a team of players who are there for a reason and have been trusted with. I don't think Mikel lacks quality, I think he lacks mentality at times, he's composed but he isn't aggressive and can be far too passive, in a league like this you can't have that attitude no matter what type of player you are.

He's looking good lately and that's crucial, it goes to show something for the long term plan.

People should print this post & frame it. Kojo/sloth has been highly critical of Mikel's performance over the the past couple of years. For me I dream of having a player like this on my Sunday League team. Someone that sits in the middle of the pitch and breaking up the opponents attacks. I have a lot of friends that are Super Eagles Supporters. They all hate the way the club and the fans diss Mikel on a daily basis. Mikel's sacrifice has not gone unnoticed in my eyes & I will continue to support the guy @ CFC.

ugh not this again.

Hopefully he moves to the Norwegian league. He can dazzle them all there with his 'ball recycling' skills.

We are set up to be a counter attacking team, when it all flows we look world beaters, when we have to break down the opposition we don't look so good.

Mikel does not fit the counter attacking role, he will not find that killer pass, however he does well when we play a counter attacking team, he takes the sting out of their attack. I'm not his greatest fan but he has looked more effective lately and he is on the scoresheet!

Horses for courses.

We are set up to be a counter attacking team, when it all flows we look world beaters, when we have to break down the opposition we don't look so good.

Mikel does not fit the counter attacking role, he will not find that killer pass, however he does well when we play a counter attacking team, he takes the sting out of their attack. I'm not his greatest fan but he has looked more effective lately and he is on the scoresheet!

Horses for courses.

 

I completely disagree

 

Mikel is quite poor against counter attacking teams. He performs best when we sit deep and soak up the pressure

I hope that one day Mikel will actually do the things that people claim he does.

 

He looks like a defensive midfielder. He looks like someone who can tackle. He looks like someone capable of a dynamic, physical game.

 

However even his best games in Chelsea colours suggest he is not that player, yet so many people continue to assume that's how he plays.

 

Call me when Mikel makes a tackle.

Call me when Mikel stops letting opposing midfielders run past him into the box.

Call me when Mikel starts to make himself available for return passes.

Coaches love a player like Mikel because he makes few obvious mistakes. We all know that he is a good, conservative player. It's what Mikel doesn't do that costs us in the grand scheme of things.

Beggars can't be choosers however and in the case of our CM positions we really seem to be below the poverty line here,scraping  the bottom of the barrel. Ginkel is injured and other than playing Lampard who has been our worst player so far this season we have only Mikel and Essien as the other options. Essien has not put in a decent performance since forever so that leaves the sterling Mikel. He is better than Frank in that position though so we  might as well use him......

 

atleast until Jan. Mikel can then move to the Norwegian league.

 

 

 

I hope that one day Mikel will actually do the things that people claim he does.

 

He looks like a defensive midfielder. He looks like someone who can tackle. He looks like someone capable of a dynamic, physical game.

 

However even his best games in Chelsea colours suggest he is not that player, yet so many people continue to assume that's how he plays.

 

Call me when Mikel makes a tackle.

Call me when Mikel stops letting opposing midfielders run past him into the box.

Call me when Mikel starts to make himself available for return passes.

Coaches love a player like Mikel because he makes few obvious mistakes. We all know that he is a good, conservative player. It's what Mikel doesn't do that costs us in the grand scheme of things.

Edited November 16, 201312 yr by Sing the Blues

He's just qualified for the World Cup!

Well done to him!

 

For all the criticism I give him it should be noted he is well worth a place in the squad. I just think we need a better midfielder to be a clear first choice, with Mikel being an able deputy or even a crucial partner.

 

As bjd said (been saying that a lot lately), our problems in midfield extend well beyond the personnel we have. It has a lot more to do with how we play in midfield as opposed to who we play in midfield.

...our problems in midfield extend well beyond the personnel we have. It has a lot more to do with how we play in midfield as opposed to who we play in midfield.

Spot on.

People should print this post & frame it. Kojo/sloth has been highly critical of Mikel's performance over the the past couple of years. For me I dream of having a player like this on my Sunday League team. Someone that sits in the middle of the pitch and breaking up the opponents attacks. I have a lot of friends that are Super Eagles Supporters. They all hate the way the club and the fans diss Mikel on a daily basis. Mikel's sacrifice has not gone unnoticed in my eyes & I will continue to support the guy @ CFC.

 

I believe all of us are entitled to have our opinions on players. The other Chelsea forum couldn't have a good debate about Mikel without insulting you, I think this forum has a bit more sense and I don't think anyone is going to get ridiculed for their opinion.

 

I wasn't a big fan of Mikel, his performances last season and the season before where not good enough. He proved to be nothing more but a passenger, in a side that only has two midfielders we can't have passengers, we need midfielders who are the backbone of the team, we already have far too many attackers as it is. But as I previously stated I think Mikel has gotten better and I am happy we didn't sell him and get some other player, because I think we need to avoid transition as much as possible, the fact that we haven't won the title in 3 seasons isn't good. Let’s make use of that, replacing all our players like Man City do every season will not help us build a team, it will only lead to making a new team every season. We need legends and characters not people who will come and go every season or two.

I believe all of us are entitled to have our opinions on players. The other Chelsea forum couldn't have a good debate about Mikel without insulting you, I think this forum has a bit more sense and I don't think anyone is going to get ridiculed for their opinion.

 

I wasn't a big fan of Mikel, his performances last season and the season before where not good enough. He proved to be nothing more but a passenger, in a side that only has two midfielders we can't have passengers, we need midfielders who are the backbone of the team, we already have far too many attackers as it is. But as I previously stated I think Mikel has gotten better and I am happy we didn't sell him and get some other player, because I think we need to avoid transition as much as possible, the fact that we haven't won the title in 3 seasons isn't good. Let’s make use of that, replacing all our players like Man City do every season will not help us build a team, it will only lead to making a new team every season. We need legends and characters not people who will come and go every season or two.

 

I wasn't taking a shot at you. I was just emphasizing that you are not a Mikel fan, but you have changed your opinion on his play as of late. I remember the days you were crying out for Tiote to replace Mikel. I think after The Super Eagles defeated Côte d'Ivoire (I love saying this/typing this btw), you could see a Mikel led Nigeria boss the match vs Côte d'Ivoire. Again Mikel tailors his game to suit the need of CFC. I think many fans are looking straight at the score sheet, but a side needs team players to take a role & not to try to be the star. IMHO Jose put this into Mikel's thought process. I have heard him say this when speaking about Jose. Again, I am happy to have Mikel on our side & not playing for le arse, who I think could really use a player like him. Oh & those people are referring how manure fans are saying Mikel is garbage are the same fans that say Roy Keane is an angel. We all know that is not the case.

I wasn't taking a shot at you. I was just emphasizing that you are not a Mikel fan, but you have changed your opinion on his play as of late. I remember the days you were crying out for Tiote to replace Mikel. I think after The Super Eagles defeated Côte d'Ivoire (I love saying this/typing this btw), you could see a Mikel led Nigeria boss the match vs Côte d'Ivoire. Again Mikel tailors his game to suit the need of CFC. I think many fans are looking straight at the score sheet, but a side needs team players to take a role & not to try to be the star. IMHO Jose put this into Mikel's thought process. I have heard him say this when speaking about Jose. Again, I am happy to have Mikel on our side & not playing for le arse, who I think could really use a player like him. Oh & those people are referring how manure fans are saying Mikel is garbage are the same fans that say Roy Keane is an angel. We all know that is not the case.

 

That's only because TalkChelsea was clingy, I said two seasons ago that a more aggressive midfielder would have done than Mikel. I never once said that Tiote is the best defensive midfielder in the league. At the time Tiote was a really good ball winner, and I really wanted him in the side because we would have needed him more than Mikel.

 

As I've always said about Mikel, I think on the ball he's good but off the ball he is very bad. At that time when we had AVB in charge I thought a more aggressive minded DM would've been better, that's why I wanted Tiote on-board. Again I know you're not taking a shot at me, but on that forum can't state an opinion without getting slammed, trolled or even 5 warning points off an admin.

As I've always said about Mikel, I think on the ball he's good but off the ball he is very bad. At that time when we had AVB in charge I thought a more aggressive minded DM would've been better, that's why I wanted Tiote on-board. Again I know you're not taking a shot at me, but on that forum can't state an opinion without getting slammed, trolled or even 5 warning points off an admin.

 

Now, now, what happens on TalkChelsea stays on TalkChelsea

 

Remember we are all CFC fans, but not everyone is going to have the same opinion. Just keep the Blue Flag flying high & you will be ok w/ me bud.

Really not a fan of Mikel but think he's played really quite well in his recent appearances.

Really not a fan of Mikel but think he's played really quite well in his recent appearances.

Really?

Yes really.

Look I'd have moved him on years ago and find it baffling that 6 (I think) different managers since we signed him have made him a regular. But I try to be honest and open minded and think he has looked quicker and more decisive of late. Maybe it appears that way because Frank has been so poor. Among our current personnel Id pick Luiz ahead of him but a bit of credit where it's due.

Ask me again I a few weeks.

Mikel has been nominated for the 2013 African footballer of the year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24945328

Yaya Toure will win it no doubt, but still..

Also qualified for the World Cup too! 

Great thing for Mikel and Moses to get into World Cup. They gave a good game to Italy in a friendly yesterday so who knows maybe they qualify from their group although Nigeria is probably ranked below two bigger nations so will face a tough task.

Mikel is underrated. He should play more and take Franks place more often...

Please vote for John Obi for BBC African player of the year


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24808135

 

My word, what a damning statement it would be on the current state of African football if Mikel was to win that.