I don't know about you but the suspense is killing me. 

I don't know about you but the suspense is killing me. 

 

Oh god yes, me too!

My crude maths skills tell me on current scoring form Mikel will equal Lampard's scoring record in 13, 184 games time.

And before Liverpool next win the League.

Gotta give him some credit, last night was a good performance from him. I still think he is too reluctant with the ball under pressure though, and his passing isn't great, but for pure interceptions he has been very good.

Gotta give him some credit, last night was a good performance from him. I still think he is too reluctant with the ball under pressure though, and his passing isn't great, but for pure interceptions he has been very good.

I think he has played better recently than last night. His passing was all over place at times, and there was a couple of times he should have been stronger in the tackle.

He did make a few interceptions though and played a part in what was a well executed game plan.

I'm glad to see him get some games always comes across as real club man, and I think the position he plays, is one that players tend to mature into once they lear to read the game better.

The thing is Mikel is usually very sound choice when paired with another defensive player(or semi defensive player). I always though he was best in the pivot next to Essien, right now he seems to be playing very well next to Matic. 

Most of his deficiencies are exposed when playing with an attacking player and he needs to cover more ground. 

Pretty much how I see it, and that's the reason I prefer he doesn't play in games where we don't need to be so defensive, games where we will predominately be attacking. He`s unnecessary in games like that, and it does him no favours. But games like last night he is exactly whats needed, solid, unspectacular but needed.

Don't think he played badly against Stoke but putting him next to Cesc and Matic showed the gulf in class between them.

There should be an apprecition page for this player, a long time player, who gets a ton of stick sometimes, plus gets booed by some of his own fans, which I find completely embarrassing, it's probaly youngsters who have supported the club for a year. Nevertheless he remains a true pro.

Edited December 26, 201411 yr by JoeyBlue25

There should be an apprecition page for this player, a long time player, who gets a ton of stick sometimes, plus gets booed by some of his own fans, which I find completely embarrassing, it's probaly youngsters who have supported the club for a year. Nevertheless he remains a true pro.

 

No mate, it's definitely not, and he's probably appreciated the appropriate, amount, already.

I can’t imagine the older fans booing him, but it's irrelevent anyway, the boos are ridiculous in my opinion.

No mate, it's definitely not, and he's probably appreciated the appropriate, amount, already.

I can’t imagine the older fans booing him, but it's irrelevent anyway, the boos are ridiculous in my opinion.

 

 

It was a small smattering of boos but it's hardly the point. Go to any Chelsea pub, any match and speak to fans young and old and it's pretty much the same story when it comes to Mikel. It's why everyone was so surprised with his recent performances.

I can’t imagine the older fans booing him, but it's irrelevent anyway, the boos are ridiculous in my opinion.

 

 

 

It was a small smattering of boos but it's hardly the point. Go to any Chelsea pub, any match and speak to fans young and old and it's pretty much the same story when it comes to Mikel. It's why everyone was so surprised with his recent performances.

 

TBH, the Mikel debate has been raging on for years. I remember when Don Carlo was the gaffer & there were fans bitching then about his contributions. One of the best arguments I found defending Mikel was this article from The Chels website.

 

 

 

TBH, the Mikel debate has been raging on for years. I remember when Don Carlo was the gaffer & there were fans bitching then about his contributions. One of the best arguments I found defending Mikel was this article from The Chels website.

 

You used to get a few contrarian articles like that, up until January of this year. Funny that.

Edited December 26, 201411 yr by Blue Daze

The Mikel debate is amusing. Jose, we probably all recognise as the greatest manager in our history and certainly the best manager in the world right now. Now that doesn't mean he won't make mistakes but you would think it means he learns from them.

So why does the best manager in the world still rely on Mikel as a good squad (note not first team regular) player? Just maybe because that's exactly what he is. Not world class but far from awful. Happy to be in and out of the team. Never makes a fuss.

Years with the club, hell of a lot of appearances, never in the press for the wrong reasons (bar one misunderstanding), comes across as a likable guy...

I see no reason to bad mouth him at all.

Highlights of Chelsea 6 Maccelsfield 1, on the

road to the FA Cup Final. Mikel scored a beaty, the lazy DVD release of the 06/07 season omitted the FA Cup highlights, barring the FA Cup Final. Our highlights end at 1:07:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jlzxsnpWLe8

TBH, the Mikel debate has been raging on for years. I remember when Don Carlo was the gaffer & there were fans bitching then about his contributions. One of the best arguments I found defending Mikel was this article from The Chels website.

Nice article!

Some funny comments below it though.

Edited December 31, 201411 yr by ashwin

Nice article!

 

Like that? If so, here is another one from The Chelsea Football Fancast.

Highlights of Chelsea 6 Maccelsfield 1, on the

road to the FA Cup Final. Mikel scored a beaty, the lazy DVD release of the 06/07 season omitted the FA Cup highlights, barring the FA Cup Final. Our highlights end at 1:07:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jlzxsnpWLe8

Weird to think that was 7 years ago. I clearly remember that game and when Arsenal and Liverpool played each other in the FA Cup 3rd round as well. 

Like that? If so, here is another one from The Chelsea Football Fancast.

Great, thanks!

Should have started today. Too late now.

Easy to say now he should have started but I'd genuinely fear for Mikel's safety if he put in a performance like Matic did today.

think we missed the big guy today. matic struggled big time and they led an onslaught through their midfield runners

Expect to see a lot more of him playing next to Matic in the pivot after last night. Especially when we face any half decent team away from home

I'd quite like to see him in beside Matic for away games, everyone knows I'm not his biggest fan but I think they've looked pretty solid when partnered together, and hopefully it would help to address our woeful away form of late.