It's beautiful

Costa's run is fantastic as well, the exact kind of predatory vision which we have sorely lacked with Torres.

 

It's beautiful

 

my only question about the play has to deal w/ Phil Jagielka? He was made simply foolish by Mikel's backheel And JT can't get any run w/ the English Nats?

my only question about the play has to deal w/ Phil Jagielka? He was made simply foolish by Mikel's backheel And JT can't get any run w/ the English Nats?

JT retired from international football when he was found not guilty by law, but guilty by the FA of racism

I am still trying to analyse that pace and pass to make sure it wasn't really either Ramires or Drogba!

The backheel was just icing on the cake...never seen him run like that..I think I've never seen him run before. I like this Mikel.

JT retired from international football when he was found not guilty by law, but guilty by the FA of racism

 

still I don't think JT would end up like Phil Jagielka. If I was an English fan, I would generate a campaign to get JT on the English squad. As a CFC fan I am happy that he isn't on the squad cause it will spare his body from useless wear & tear.

 

 

The backheel was just icing on the cake...never seen him run like that..I think I've never seen him run before. I like this Mikel.

 

when Mikel play for Nigeria, he generally does make good plays for The Super Eagles. Don't believe me, ask Mr. Pogba

Edited September 2, 201411 yr by robdog

Another example of Mikel's quick feet getting the opposition defence into trouble:

 

I think Mikel is being ''held back'' by Chelsea.

When he plays for his national team he gets into more advanced positions and he generally looks a better player.

The problem is though, we have better players than Mikel for those advanced positions. And if we don't have Mikel guarding the defense, we're open at the back and very vulnerable for opposition attacks. 

 

The problem with Mikel and his position is that it's a very humble role that he is playing. He doesn't generally help us win games by scoring, but he helps by preventing the oppisition from scoring. You don't get to be the hero in that role.

 

Admittedly I do think he is often too lazy, and could try to run more or make more tackles. But in general, I really don't mind him as a squad player, and I think he can be a valuable asset to our side, especially when we're leading and need to make sure that lead stays intact.

 

(So by held back I don't mean we are ruining his potential or anything but I literally mean he is being held back)

Edited September 2, 201411 yr by CFCholland

I am still trying to analyse that pace and pass to make sure it wasn't really either Ramires or Drogba!

I thought it was Drogba when I first saw the goal because:

A, it was a good pass (not normally Mikel or Ramires territory).

B. it was a back heel.

C. it was a player that seems up top when we broke.

D. Drogba hugged Costa after his celebration almost right away.

I was really shocked when I watched back and saw it was Mikel especially in light of A and B.

I think Mikel is being ''held back'' by Chelsea.

When he plays for his national team he gets into more advanced positions and he generally looks a better player.

The problem is though, we have better players than Mikel for those advanced positions. And if we don't have Mikel guarding the defense, we're open at the back and very vulnerable for opposition attacks. 

 

The problem with Mikel and his position is that it's a very humble role that he is playing. He doesn't generally help us win games by scoring, but he helps by preventing the oppisition from scoring. You don't get to be the hero in that role.

 

Admittedly I do think he is often too lazy, and could try to run more or make more tackles. But in general, I really don't mind him as a squad player, and I think he can be a valuable asset to our side, especially when we're leading and need to make sure that lead stays intact.

 

(So by held back I don't mean we are ruining his potential or anything but I literally mean he is being held back)

I agree that in some situations he can be a useful player, especially when you need to slam then handbrake on for the last 10/20 minutes to absorb pressure. I think he's our man for that situation.

He proved again that he is a useful squad player and I have to admit he did really well on that 6th goal.

 

But I do have to counter that with his first touch when he came on was to give away a needless free-kick from which Everton grabbed their third!!

Yeah, I noticed this too. He can be a little clumsy at times, that's one of his faults I would say.

I think the most impressive part of that move is that he instantly thought to draw across the other defender and make room for Costa, great awareness.

I think Mikel is being ''held back'' by Chelsea.

 

Hard to argue when he wasn't a DM in the first place, we just put him there for nearly his whole Chelsea career. Who knows where he'd be if he stayed in his original position.

There have been various times where Mourinho has brought on Mikel to control a game.  

 

However i have yet to see a game where this actually happens. Normally the team gets worse.

 

I really don't care how long he's been here and the fact that he played in Champions league semis and finals.

 

The fact is that he's not good enough for this Chelsea.

 

We're not going for 3rd place, we're aiming for championships and CL glory.

 

Today he was terrible and it's not the first time.  I really fail to see what he brings.  He's slow, not very technical and for his position he is not tough enough.  You can go on about his tactical awareness and positioning but he seems to be in the wrong position all the time.

 

It took the signing of Matic to really show what Chelsea was missing in that area and his performances put Mikel's to shame.  If Matic gets injured we're screwed

 

I think Chelsea need to move on, sell Mikel and sign a better player.

 

sorry about the rant

He's ok when we;re defending the edge of our box and just blocking shots, can't do anything else though really.

There have been various times where Mourinho has brought on Mikel to control a game.  

 

However i have yet to see a game where this actually happens. Normally the team gets worse.

 

I really don't care how long he's been here and the fact that he played in Champions league semis and finals.

 

The fact is that he's not good enough for this Chelsea.

 

We're not going for 3rd place, we're aiming for championships and CL glory.

 

Today he was terrible and it's not the first time.  I really fail to see what he brings.  He's slow, not very technical and for his position he is not tough enough.  You can go on about his tactical awareness and positioning but he seems to be in the wrong position all the time.

 

It took the signing of Matic to really show what Chelsea was missing in that area and his performances put Mikel's to shame.  If Matic gets injured we're screwed

 

I think Chelsea need to move on, sell Mikel and sign a better player.

 

sorry about the rant

 

I'm really surprised he was not criticized on that City game, completely left Lampard bare and John Terry had his hands full. It's such a shame Ramires got injured because his tracking back that game is what really made it hard for City to score.

 

We probably wont sell him though.

Lisbon went past him a couple of times like he wasn't even there.

Retained possession well though.

Typical Mikel performance really.

Wrong kind match for him really, but he's all we have. Decent rotation player but with our foreign quota filled, his spot does seem a bit of a waste.

Surely ake would do a better job, even if he is less experienced. 

I'm really surprised he was not criticized on that City game, completely left Lampard bare and John Terry had his hands full. It's such a shame Ramires got injured because his tracking back that game is what really made it hard for City to score.

 

We probably wont sell him though.

 

Wasn't Mikels job to track him. You'll find it was Schurlle's fault really, as even pointed out by Mourinho.

 

If there was anyone to complain about for last night not being as comfortable as it could have been it's Schurlle. But here we are, knocking the late substitute.

Edited October 1, 201411 yr by Stim

I really don't like Mikel coming off the bench in the final stage of the game, it's the hand written of Jose to the opposition - we are done scoring for the day. Maybe it's just me, but other players stopped playing the same way after Mikel came on. I just don't think his game has improved in the last 3-4 seasons.

I really don't like Mikel coming off the bench in the final stage of the game, it's the hand written of Jose to the opposition - we are done scoring for the day. Maybe it's just me, but other players stopped playing the same way after Mikel came on. I just don't think his game has improved in the last 3-4 seasons.

No it isn't, and no they didn't. We were over run in midfield, mikel was brought on to get control back. And to say players stopped when he came on is nonsense, we created chances and should have scored while he was on.

I actually think you are both right. I kind of agree with Icecoolguy in that as soon as you see Mikel coming on when we are narrowly ahead in a game, you know we are going to try and sit deeper and close the game out and it very rarely works. We seem to panic a bit, the opponents sense that and up their game and things usually become a bit desperate. Last night Mikel started off terribly when he came on - he slipped over and let a Lisbon player go straight past him to get a shot in and he looked all over the place. But to be fair, it can often take a while to get to the tempo of the game and after the initial 5 minutes or so he did settle and got a very important block in.

 

So I remain unchanged. We now have better so he is not starting 11 material week in / week out but he does remain a useful squad player as long as he is happy to be that.

Agreed nibs although I'd much rather we got a replacement for Mikel as he has no imrpoved over the years and I just don't rate him unless we are defending for our lives.

Khedira would be my choice over him if we could manage it.

Agreed nibs although I'd much rather we got a replacement for Mikel as he has no imrpoved over the years and I just don't rate him unless we are defending for our lives.

Khedira would be my choice over him if we could manage it.

 

But I don't think Khedira would be happy to be a squad player and only get minutes now and again. Right now, there is very little I would change in our squad. You have to credit Mourinho. I moaned about him getting rid of favourites like Mata and Luiz and not keeping Lukaku but when it comes to it, I think he might just know what he's doing!! It's the best balanced squad we've had in ages - both in terms of ability and age.