Sorry but that's nonsense, players like Drogba, Yaya Toure and an Essien in his prime are some of the most hardworking players I have ever seen. 

 

Point taken, but he reminds me of many Africans in general. They walk extremely slow and are too laid back at times. This is the kind of mentality he brings on to the field, which is frustrating to watch, especially when he keeps passing to teammates in any direction that isn't forward. I just think we should stick Essien in there, as Mikel hasn't offered anything in that position for so many games now. He might make the occasional good tackle or pass, but his overall game just isn't good enough at the moment.  

Wow we are still throwing around the only passes sideways and backwards thing.

I feel bad bringing this up right now because it will come across as a knee jerk reaction to last night which honestly it isnt.

Here goes..... I dont actually understand why Mikel is still at Chelsea. You look at players like Ballack, Drogba, Anelka all let go a season too early even Kalou offered more to the team than Mikel does. I think Mikel is an ok squad player but he gets played more than a squad player should. What annoyes me the most about him is we splashed out on him and went through a lot of hassle to bring him in and he joined with so much promise but he hasnt really improved that much over the years. He has got to a level and just stayed there. He hasnt really gone up a level.

We had the very best DM in the business with Maka and then when he went Mikel was given the nod but he never really has done well enough imo. What i dont understand is why the board havent gone out and replaced him. With the money the club has its not like we cant afford to.

Point taken, but he reminds me of many Africans in general. They walk extremely slow and are too laid back at times. This is the kind of mentality he brings on to the field, which is frustrating to watch, especially when he keeps passing to teammates in any direction that isn't forward. I just think we should stick Essien in there, as Mikel hasn't offered anything in that position for so many games now. He might make the occasional good tackle or pass, but his overall game just isn't good enough at the moment.  

 

I wil have myself a little party when he leaves the club,I cant stand anymore of his 'cant bust a gut' attitude.

I'm sorry guys, I don't understand those of you that say he's been poor of late. He's playing the same way he's played for the vast majority of his Chelsea career, which is why so many have complained about him for so long. He's not in a poor run of form everybody. This is how he plays.

Over 100 passes agaisnt sunderland at 93% accuracy, truly awful.

Over 100 passes agaisnt sunderland at 93% accuracy, truly awful.

 

Passing is one thing, positional sense and tackling when the opposition are in possession is another. 

Over 100 passes agaisnt sunderland at 93% accuracy, truly awful.

 

I'm sorry Stim, that's an absolutely meaningless statistic.

Over 100 passes agaisnt sunderland at 93% accuracy, truly awful.

Yawn

Over 100 passes agaisnt sunderland at 93% accuracy, truly awful.

 

Just to expand, Stim.

 

I play football in the garden with my daughter, who's a toddler.

 

She has a higher accuracy percentage.

Yawn

 

Good contribution.

 

Whole team has been w**k at times but here we are in this players thread only waiting for the day he leaves while other players get excuses made for them. KdB needs playing time but we can all make claims about mikel passing backwards ad infinitum even if it is wrong.

 

I regret getting involved again cause , yawn. He was no worse than anyone out there last night.

Edited December 18, 201312 yr by Stim

Just to expand, Stim.

 

I play football in the garden with my daughter, who's a toddler.

 

She has a higher accuracy percentage.

 

 

Do you reckon she could play the DM role? Could be an option.

Do you reckon she could play the DM role? Could be an option.

 

I've thought so for a long time Nibs.

 

Trouble is, if JT didn't give her the armband there'd be murders.

Good contribution.

Whole team has been w**k at times but here we are in this players thread only waiting for the day he leaves while other players get excuses made for them. KdB needs playing time but we can all make claims about mikel passing backwards ad infinitum even if it is wrong.

I regret getting involved again cause , yawn. He was no worse than anyone out there last night.

Cheers. It was more of a statement about my feelings.

It's all I've got these days when it comes to Mikel.

I'm so Utterley tired of it/him. It's just been the same for so long now. It's like when Bryan Adams was number one with 'Everything I do (I do it for you). Seems endless.

He's half decent defensively and often the team seem a tad more robust unit with him there but that's as good as youll get from me. It's been going on for ages now and the club need to move on. I think Jose has got his number actually. He is just so slow, at everything. It destroys the fluidity of the team.

And yes. I'm very aware he came second to Messi in player of the tournament at the youth World Cup in 1995.

It was the same sh*t when mikel wasn't in the team. So go figure.

I'm usually very supportive of Mikel and I think he can be quite a useful player (and was very useful in the last few chaotic years). Unfortunately, our current squad cannot grind out wins and dominate the midfield and Mikel is a real liability today. He can still be a squad player but we need quick thinking and quick forward play in our midfield. Not one of our midfielders is capable of this,not even Ramires who again is a player of the past. He might be physically fast but cannot take good and quick decisions and does not move the ball forward well enough (unless he runs with it). I don't know who we should sign or what we can do but I see dark days ahead too! We need battlers and great vision in our midfield.

It is not Mikel alone... none of our midfielders suit us, one way or another.

 

It was the same sh*t when mikel wasn't in the team. So go figure.

Over 100 passes agaisnt sunderland at 93% accuracy, truly awful.

Any Chanpionship player,and I mean ANY can pass the ball sideways or back 10 yards,mostly under no pressure.He is one of worst headers of the ball in the team and as for speed , well he is painfully slow.

Edited December 18, 201312 yr by haifarul

This isn't really just Mikel though, the entire team has been playing at a plodding pace in the last few games, no imagination in possession whatsoever. Then again it's hardly surprising to see Mikel singled out. He hasn't done a great deal to help his case recently but there are maybe three people in the squad who are pulling their weight at the moment.

With all of the various degrees of Mikel-love in here, have any of you ever stopped to consider that maybe, just maybe, Mikel is doing exactly what each of his very many managers have told him to?  Keep it simple, stupid, play it short and re-cycle possession whenever possible and don't take any risks at all, get in the way, and accept a card if necessary, and provide an outlet for whoever is on the ball if they are getting harried by agricultural hoofers.

 

Not saying that is the case, but at least I have a sufficiently open mind about the player to accept that it could be possible.

With all of the various degrees of Mikel-love in here, have any of you ever stopped to consider that maybe, just maybe, Mikel is doing exactly what each of his very many managers have told him to? 

 

jose: ok obi, now remember, if we are 1-0 up in the 87th minute and we need to defend that lead, what i want you to do is completely ignore the midfielder just a yard away from you and man-mark the referee instead...got it? 

 

mikel: but boss...

 

jose: no buts obi...just do it. 

With all of the various degrees of Mikel-love in here, have any of you ever stopped to consider that maybe, just maybe, Mikel is doing exactly what each of his very many managers have told him to?  Keep it simple, stupid, play it short and re-cycle possession whenever possible and don't take any risks at all, get in the way, and accept a card if necessary, and provide an outlet for whoever is on the ball if they are getting harried by agricultural hoofers.

 

Not saying that is the case, but at least I have a sufficiently open mind about the player to accept that it could be possible.

 

Its a nice theory Yorkey, but lets be honest when was the last time JOM provided an outlet ? Or got in the way (people walk past him!), or re-cycled possession confidentley ?

 

Id agree there is a degree of truth in that he must have the managers faith, because so many see to pick him so often. But hell knows what it is. I dont see any aspect of his game that stands out and never have.

 

He does a limited job. But trust me, he wouldnt get anywhere near the other  top teams in Europe starting XIs a regularly as he has at Chelsea. It baffles me. The club need to move on, hes done ok and been involved in a lot of medals. Good on him.

 

But he isn't a top drawer player in a position where we need a top draw player. And ive said that so many times since 2006. Enough is enough.

Its a nice theory Yorkey, but lets be honest when was the last time JOM provided an outlet ? Or got in the way (people walk past him!), or re-cycled possession confidentley ?

 

Last weekend he played a pass which bypassed the entire midfield and led to a goal:

 

 

 

As for recycling possession, there's not a great deal you can do when your forwards don't move off the ball. Last night we were so static it was like watching 11 Mark Pembridges.

That he did, an isolated incident though, I remember posting MIKEL ASSIST a few times, I couldn't believe it!