I thought he was terrific today. The simplier job of being the 1 DM really did help him and the team. Obviously only West Ham, but it gives a great platform to work from. 4-3-3 suits most of our players, except Mata. But Juan is out of the picture now.

Mikel to the rescue. 

Superb performance from Mikel today,very assured.

Jose on Mikel

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho praised midfielder John Obi Mikel after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat of West Ham.

Frank Lampard stole the headlines with a brace against his old club at Upton Park, but Mikel’s assured performance in front of Chelsea’s back four did not go unnoticed by Mourinho.

Nigeria international Mikel is something of an unheralded talent in the Chelsea team but Mourinho appreciates his ability having worked with him during his first spell at the club.

Mourinho said: “Mikel plays the same way he played when he was 18; the same way he played when I put him against Valencia in the quarter-final of the Champions League and he was 18 and I left (Claude) Makelele on the bench.

“He’s exactly the same: position, stability, control. To score a goal is a miracle, but to lose a ball is also a miracle.

“In some matches he’s very important. In his style of play and with the qualities he has, he’s a very good player.”

Once again Mourinho would not be drawn on his best team, insisting it is horses for courses.

“That is very difficult to say this is my best team,” he added.

“This is your best team to play West Ham this game, but probably the next match it’s not the best team.”

That's the thing about Mikel. Managers always rely on him especially on the bigger occasions, yet the majority on here would never agree for a second that he's good enough for our club. I don't get it, I really don't. You can argue that the majority (if not all) of our players are never excellent every single game. Mikel just seems to be the one singled out every time.

That's the thing about Mikel. Managers always rely on him especially on the bigger occasions, yet the majority on here would never agree for a second that he's good enough for our club. I don't get it, I really don't. You can argue that the majority (if not all) of our players are never excellent every single game. Mikel just seems to be the one singled out every time.

Yep!

I think the point people make is Mikel is an ok player but ok isnt really good enough for Chelsea. There are players out there that could do a far better job. My biggest moan about Mikel is he hasnt really improved. We bought him as a young kid with high hopes that he could learn from Maka (at the start) and go on to become a real force but that hasnt happened. He just seems to be the same.

Have been his biggest critic but got to judge him on current form and right now we are a better team when he plays.

I think the point people make is Mikel is an ok player but ok isnt really good enough for Chelsea. There are players out there that could do a far better job. My biggest moan about Mikel is he hasnt really improved. We bought him as a young kid with high hopes that he could learn from Maka (at the start) and go on to become a real force but that hasnt happened. He just seems to be the same.

 

Funnily enough, Mourinho is the only manager who hardly played him as a DM.

Jose on Mikel

 

 

Mourinho said: “Mikel plays the same way he played when he was 18

 

 

That is exactly my problem with Mikel. I would've expected him to show some progress since then.

That is exactly my problem with Mikel. I would've expected him to show some progress since then.

 

But what do you expect? His role in the team is pretty restricted.We all can see how he plays when given the freedom when playing for Nigeria and looks good at it too.

That's the thing about Mikel. Managers always rely on him especially on the bigger occasions

 

rdm is the only chelsea manager who has truly and consistently relied on him, especially on bigger occasions. 

Mainly I expected him to get used to a higher tempo, faster playing style; higher concentration level; learning how to turn a won ball to attack quickly... But any progress really. Saying that a 26 year old player still plays like when he was 18 is not a compliment as I see it. It tells me that from a talent he turned to (or rather, remained) a limited player, suited only for a select few scenarios.

rdm is the only chelsea manager who has truly and consistently relied on him, especially on bigger occasions. 

 

He has pretty consistent starting numbers. High of 49 low of 35.

 

 

Mainly I expected him to get used to a higher tempo, faster playing style; higher concentration level; learning how to turn a won ball to attack quickly... But any progress really. Saying that a 26 year old player still plays like when he was 18 is not a compliment as I see it. It tells me that from a talent he turned to (or rather, remained) a limited player, suited only for a select few scenarios.

 

I'm gonna wait for the full press report before jumping on that select sentence. Didn't see it so don't know if that's all he said about it.

Check the post I have replied to, I think it had all the quotes. Yes there was more it but for me no praise from José can make that comment look good.

He has pretty consistent starting numbers. High of 49 low of 35.

 

 

The only two seasons he has the stats of a regular starter are 2008-09 & 2010-11...and he was dropped to the bench for the biggest games we played in both seasons. 

 

hence my comment. 

 

edit. and your stats are wrong anyway. 

Edited November 25, 201312 yr by talkofthetownsend

Check the mighty wikipedia.

 

He started 3/4 FA cup wins, 09 Community Shield win, CL final win. League games are debatable and I can't be arsed to check those.

 

Anyway bored of the Mikel debate. Same motions different week.

Edited November 25, 201312 yr by Stim

In all competitions. Check the mighty wikipedia.

 

your stats are wrong. i sense i may have learned why. 

 

 

He started 3/4 FA cup wins, 09 Community Shield win, CL final win. League games are debatable and I can't be arsed to check those.

 

the cl win was under rdm, as was one of the fa cup wins. he started the 2007 fa cup final cos ballack was injured.  

 

didn't start the 2008 cl final or either semi against liverpool. didn't start the 2009 home game against barca or either qf game against liverpool. didn't start either leg of our cl qf against utd in 2011. so even in periods where he could be considered first choice (going by stats) he was getting dropped for big games. he wasn't first choice under avb and didn't start in the biggest games under avb. he wasn't first choice under rafa and he didn't start in the biggest games under rafa. so far this season, under jose, he hasn't been first choice and he hasn't started in the biggest games. 

 

so:

 

only one of our managers has truly and consistently relied on him, especially on the big occasions: rdm. like i said. in response to someone saying the complete opposite, and being wrong. 

You are so boring

You are so boring

 

ditto. 

 

but at least i'm right. 

rdm is the only chelsea manager who has truly and consistently relied on him, especially on bigger occasions. 

 

First off, I highly doubt that is accurate, but even if it is, did he not have an outstanding performance in the CL final? You make it sound like Robbie was so very wrong to rely on him on that occasion.

Edited November 25, 201312 yr by Amputechture

First off, I highly doubt that is accurate, but even if it is, did he not have an outstanding performance in the CL final? You make it sound like Robbie was so very wrong to rely on him on that occasion.

 

i'm not saying he is wrong. that is a matter of opinion. 

 

but when you say "Managers always rely on him especially on the bigger occasions", you are wrong. that is a matter of fact. 

i'm not saying he is wrong. that is a matter of opinion. 

 

but when you say "Managers always rely on him especially on the bigger occasions", you are wrong. that is a matter of fact. 

 

Alright fine. I shouldn't have said always. Let me rephrase that to: Managers sometimes rely on him on the bigger occasions. The CL final was certainly not the only major final he's started for us, and if memory serves, he played a major part for us throughout the entire season, (as I recall Essien being ruled out that year) when we won the double with Carlo.

Edited November 25, 201312 yr by Amputechture

Let me rephrase that to: Managers sometimes rely on him on the bigger occasions. 

 

fair enough. 

 

and praise indeed.

 

managers have also "sometimes" relied on kalou. 

fair enough. 

 

and praise indeed.

 

managers have also "sometimes" relied on kalou. 

 

Again, I'm not saying Mikel is our savior. I just don't think he's half as bad as many on here claim. If he's good enough for Jose, he's good enough for me. If it becomes obvious to me one day that he is playing worse than the other 10 players on the pitch on a consistent basis, then I will be more than happy to admit I was wrong. He's been at the club for eight(?) years and I'm yet to see that happen.

 

Would I rather have Toure starting every game for us? Of course I would. Just because there's better out there does not mean he isn't good enough for our club, IMO.

Edited November 25, 201312 yr by Amputechture

 If he's good enough for Jose, he's good enough for me. 

 

he's started 4 league games this season out of 12. 6 out of 19 in all competitions. 

 

"good enough" to be a rotation option under jose while we have our weakest midfield options in years? 

 

again, praise indeed.