We shall see how it pens out; I've never written Mikel off myself; simply put he is a player who is most comfortable when we are playing conservative football so under managers we've had who try to play attacking or high defensive lines he has usually failed to adapt. But we usually revert back to conservative football when the managers in question get the sack. 

 

But realistically I think the main reason Matic is coming is his mobility and capability of covering a lot of ground. Which next to Ramires would allow a little bit less need for us to play one of our attacking players with more defensive responsibilities.

 

I think the signing of Matic would allow Mata; Hazard and Oscar to be on field at the same time while not leaving us exposed at the back.  

Edited January 14, 201412 yr by Las7

Yeah, the man himself mentioned leaving it until 31st to wait and see, so we should know better to just assume its a done deal!

Even if he was signed this afternoon I don't think there's even a chance he'd start against Utd as preparation is everything to Jose.

We shall see how it pens out; I've never written Mikel off myself; simply put he is a player who is most comfortable when we are playing conservative football so under managers we've had who try to play attacking or high defensive lines he has usually failed to adapt. But we usually revert back to conservative football when the managers in question get the sack.

But realistically I think the main reason Matic is coming is his mobility and capability of covering a lot of ground. Which next to Ramires would allow a little bit less need for us to play one of our attacking players with more defensive responsibilities.

I think the signing of Matic would allow Mata; Hazard and Oscar to be on field at the same time while not leaving us exposed at the back.

Interesting thought! you are probably right, it would take a little pressure off our creatives if the holding midfielder is a beast who runs endlessly, tracks, covers and tackles.

If he comes and is half the player that Yaya Toure is we are in for a treat..

Edited January 14, 201412 yr by Zola

If Matic does come in I can imagine the option of going 4-3-3 is more likely, especially as a tactical change if we are winning.

 

A bit like at the weekend against Hull when we were 1-0 Jose took of Oscar for Mikel and packed out the midfield, should we have better options in central midfield then we might see that more often.  

But realistically I think the main reason Matic is coming is his mobility and capability of covering a lot of ground. Which next to Ramires would allow a little bit less need for us to play one of our attacking players with more defensive responsibilities.

 

I think the signing of Matic would allow Mata; Hazard and Oscar to be on field at the same time while not leaving us exposed at the back.  

 

I think Jose will see it as an opportunity to be even more defensively solid and the 3 starting AMs will remain pretty much the same

Interesting thought! you are probably right, it would take a little pressure off our creatives if the holding midfielder is a beast who runs endlessly, tracks, covers and tackles.

If he comes and is half the player that Yaya Toure is we are in for a treat..

 

We certainly would be though he seems to me to be in a different mould to Toure. And at this stage of his career Toure is the furthest thing from a beast who tracks, covers and tackles.

Lovely article/interview in tribue to Mikel's career and performance in the Champions League final:

 

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3621340/title/words-with-john-mikel-obi

 

 

I do love how down-to-earth he always seems, also that he loves playing for the club. May he keep it up for many more years!

Good

'Of course I want to score but at the same time

not all 11 players can score, you have people

there to keep the shape of the team. If I'm

playing with Frank he is always going forward. If

both of us go it's a disaster, likewise with Rami,

he's a box-to-box player. I have to make sure I sit,

and if we keep a clean sheet and we win then I'm

very happy.'

Sums it up.

Can the fans at the Bridge stop telling him to shoot whenever he gets the ball, because judging by tonight's performance he's actually starting to do it.

I actually like to see Mikel shoot. Recently he's been getting himself into a very good and open position when it comes to forward play, and most opponents know that when its mikel, its not really dangerous cause this guy doesn't score, opening and giving him even more of a clearing towards goal. He had a few shots yesterday which were pretty tame, but tbh most of the team were guilty of that. Yesterday was just one of those days...

'Of course I want to score but at the same time

not all 11 players can score, you have people

there to keep the shape of the team. If I'm

playing with Frank he is always going forward. If

both of us go it's a disaster, likewise with Rami,

he's a box-to-box player. I have to make sure I sit,

and if we keep a clean sheet and we win then I'm

very happy.'

Sums it up.

 

Of course Mikel should venture forward more. His shooting prowess is unrivalled.

Can the fans at the Bridge stop telling him to shoot whenever he gets the ball, because judging by tonight's performance he's actually starting to do it.

Our players don't actually listen to them. Except Matic cause he's a newbie lol

I actually like to see Mikel shoot. Recently he's been getting himself into a very good and open position when it comes to forward play, and most opponents know that when its mikel, its not really dangerous cause this guy doesn't score, opening and giving him even more of a clearing towards goal. He had a few shots yesterday which were pretty tame, but tbh most of the team were guilty of that. Yesterday was just one of those days...

 

He's getting into good and open positions because the opposition know he can't shoot to save his life, and then every single time he justifies their decision.

Sigh........

Last night was interesting - in the ten or twelve minutes he got against West Brom I think Mikel's passing was more direct than in any other performance for us. I think he actually started both of our only two decent moves in the last ten minutes. Also did a far better job marking Anichebe at corners than either of our centre backs (evidenced by the fact that he scored from one...) - Mikel's interesting evolution continues...

Last night was interesting - in the ten or twelve minutes he got against West Brom I think Mikel's passing was more direct than in any other performance for us. I think he actually started both of our only two decent moves in the last ten minutes. Also did a far better job marking Anichebe at corners than either of our centre backs (evidenced by the fact that he scored from one...) - Mikel's interesting evolution continues...

He's looked at Matic and thought, oh dear I need to step it up

He's looked at Matic and thought, oh dear I need to step it up

 

Which is just the mentality you want from a player whose position in the first XI is at risk really!

I really don't understand how Mikel can still be made a scapegoat for us . Fair enough he has the odd bad game but he's been a great servant to our club. Maybe in the same way that Milner is criticised at city or united supporters will have a pop at Carrick (though in the past season not as much)  Mikel obviously does something in training and all our managers pick him and think he's up to it so we are under qualified to keep criticising him. I don't think he's brilliant but I'm not one to judge. Matic looks great mind

He wasn't the worst player yesterday but he still flatters to deceive, I've come to the conclusion he must be like Messi on the training pitch...

I just think that managers like Ancelotti , Scolari and Mourinho read the game a lot better than we do. Im not claiming Mikel was the best player that wore the blue and in fact I'm usually disappointed when i see him in the starting line up I just think its food for thought. Maybe because the papers give him a hard time we do too. He's had as many starts for us as Makalele and they played a similar role Its just something to think about.

I don't really read the papers and I tend to disagree with most of the things the media say anyway.

Since Mikel came to Chelsea I have always been skeptical of his performances, I gave him the benefit of the doubt as he was young and could improve but he's at the age now where he should be at his peak level. He just doesn't fit in the system we are trying to build here, he's too slow and lethargic to play beside Matic while he lacks the discipline of quality defensive midfielder.

I'm baffled that he's still here and getting starts and yes of course the managers past and present know much more than me but I can only judge it on what I see and I'm not seeing very much from Mikel to think he's got a future here.

I think he'll be gone in the summer. We definitely need to strengthen in midfield. We don't have that flair like man city have. They have nasri, silva, fernandinho, yaya and garcia, which is a solid midfield. On top of that, they have 4 (at least 3, and one of the best strikers in the world right now in aguero) top class strikers. Compare those to what we have; Willian (overpriced, not clinical enough in the final third, lacks strength), oscar (very good, but lacks strength), ramires (very inconsistent and also lacks strength), Mikel (slows down play, refuses to play the ball forward, and positioning is inadequate). 

 

We need to spend another £50 million just to add some fortitude to our midfield, but it's not likely to happen with the FFP. We have van ginkel to return, but we need at least another top class central midfielder to partner Matic. Ideally, someone who is forward thinking with the ball, hard working and who can read the game well, not like mikel; wants to go backwards every time he gets possession. 

I think he'll be gone in the summer. We definitely need to strengthen in midfield. We don't have that flair like man city have. They have nasri, silva, fernandinho, yaya and garcia, which is a solid midfield. On top of that, they have 4 (at least 3, and one of the best strikers in the world right now in aguero) top class strikers. Compare those to what we have; Willian (overpriced, not clinical enough in the final third, lacks strength), oscar (very good, but lacks strength), ramires (very inconsistent and also lacks strength), Mikel (slows down play, refuses to play the ball forward, and positioning is inadequate). 

 

We need to spend another £50 million just to add some fortitude to our midfield, but it's not likely to happen with the FFP. We have van ginkel to return, but we need at least another top class central midfielder to partner Matic. Ideally, someone who is forward thinking with the ball, hard working and who can read the game well, not like mikel; wants to go backwards every time he gets possession. 

 

 

I hate just about everything you just said and couldn't disagree more.

 

In fact I feel that way about most of your posts.

 

If you think that Ramires lacks strength and Mikels positioning is inadequate it proves one of two things:

 

1) You don't watch the matches

2) You don't have a clue about whats going on when you do watch the matches

 

 

As is said in that interview Plokoon posted up top he is never going to be getting the headlines but he is a fantastic servant to this club and he is the type of player that if you stick on the field you know exactly what you're going to get. No he doesn't have the dynamism of Fernandinho but if you think Javi Garcia is a better player than him then I'm fast losing my faith in humanity.

 

Long may Mikel remain in Chelsea blue!!

Last night's game was a classic mikel petformance. Letting opposition go past him without any resistance, not tracking runners, defensive passing. He showed why Mourinho hardly starts him these days.