Why as backup?

Complementing Matic seemed to work very well, wouldn't mind seeing them play together in the league a couple times to see how it works against better oppo.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing that as well.

 

People say he's 'scapegoated' but last night showed that to be bollocks because he put in a good performance and everyone is complimenting him (and rightly so).

 

That may well be his most complete performance for this club in 316 appearances. Hopefully he can keep it up.

Why as backup?

Complementing Matic seemed to work very well, wouldn't mind seeing them play together in the league a couple times to see how it works against better oppo.

Because that would involve dropping fabregas or Oscar

I wouldn't mind seeing that as well.

 

People say he's 'scapegoated' but last night showed that to be bollocks because he put in a good performance and everyone is complimenting him (and rightly so).

 

That may well be his most complete performance for this club in 316 appearances. Hopefully he can keep it up.

 

 

As the saying goes, "a week's a long time in football"!

 

 

Mikel and Matic are so far apart in terms of quality that it really is amazing that we stuck with him for so many years. We talk about all these managers who picked him but you have to wonder just how hamstrung they were by having him in the team.

 

I think that Mourinho's actions spoke louder than words last night - against Shrewsbury Town when we were looking for a winner, Mikel (and Salah) were replaced. This notion that he's in any way, shape or form a reliable 'back-up' for Matic is dead.

 

I also think Nathan Ake is already a more imposing presence than Mikel. I think he's better both defensively and with the ball at his feet, although I've thought that since his appearances against Rubin Kazan and Everton under the FSW.

Having seen 2 of John Obi Mikel's goals in the flesh, the experience will definitely go down as part of an 'I was there' story in the future. What a hero. 

As the saying goes, "a week's a long time in football"!

 

Not in the slightest. He still isn't a reliable back-up to Matic in the sense that we lose so much without Matic in the side. Maybe he's a decent compliment to him like Luiz was but one good performance last night and one decent performance at the weekend doesn't suddenly make him a 'reliable back-up' (and I'll put this next bit in bolds and capitals) WITH THE EMPHASIS ON RELIABLE.

 

Hopefully it's put paid to this notion that he's unfairly judged or scapegoated when people have praised him for a good performance.

 

Thing is everyone's expectations are so low that he's currently leading the MOTM voting for putting in the type of performance Matic puts in week-in and week-out.

Wouldn't waste your time Just, this is the man who blamed Mikel for the Newcastle goal on the weekend because he didn't score. Not Cahill who completely ballsed up, Mikel because he was unable to score up the other end of the pitch. Marvelous.

 

Also, looking at the MOTM thread from last night it looks like his dislike is more hatred of Mikel, actually taking offence at anyone picking him as man of the match.

Edited December 11, 201411 yr by dkw

Wouldn't waste your time Just, this is the man who blamed Mikel for the Newcastle goal on the weekend because he didn't score. Not Cahill who completely ballsed up, Mikel because he was unable to score up the other end of the pitch. Marvelous.

 

 

This is what I actually posted.

 

He misses an open goal and they go up the other end and score. Then in the build-up to the second he simply doesn't take the player out, something Makelele and Matic would've done instinctively. Instead the player goes on and Fabregas has a kick at him, gets booked, misses a game and Newcastle score.

 

Maybe it's harsh to pick out little things and other players were clearly at fault too, but it's those little things that Matic has in his game and the reason we have a better chance to win matches with him.

 

Their first goal wasn't Mikel's fault, but the sequence of events begins with him missing a clear chance in front of goal. That's just a fact. He scores that, the whole game is different just like if Hazard's shot was two inches to the left.

 

I also criticised Cahill for not cutting out the cross and Willian so why f**king lie about me?

 

 

 

Also, looking at the MOTM thread from last night it looks like his dislike is more hatred of Mikel, actually taking offence at anyone picking him as man of the match.

 

Again, more bullsh*t. I don't hate Mikel. I simply pointed out that whilst he will get the attention for his goal and a game that was above his usual standards, Matic was clearly the biggest factor in our win. 

 

I don't hate our players, in fact I've probably given them more vocal support than you have but when there are faults I criticise them. This isn't a new thing amongst football supporters. The thing is I also praise them, as I did with Mikel (and others) last night.

Edited December 11, 201411 yr by Blue Daze

Is Mikel's best position when he is in a midfield 3 with an out and out defensive mid/beast like Matic. Logically it would make sense as when we signed Mikel he was a second striker.

I do think that Mikel or Ramires should play over Oscar in the bigger games/ tough away games. Primarily to give Fabregas a bit more freedom and also because Cesc can go missing a lot defensively.

I do think Blue Daze's reasonable debating of Mikel and his contributions is being misconstrued possibly because of historic discussions about the same player. 

 

Whether or not anyone agrees with Blue Daze and the points he is raising is another thing but he has been more than willing to debate his point and back it up with his own observations that go beyond just labeling a player as just sh*t or whatever. 

 

I would argue that certain players, Mikel included, get some people feeling rather defensive when they are criticised and that's fine but let's try to promote a healthy debate where possible. 

I'm a big supporter of Mikel and can't think of many players better than him who would be happy to play such a small amount of football and step in when needed.

 

However I think Blue Daze, as a critic of Mikel, has actually given his opinion pretty fairly and a lot more fairly than others have done in the past. As ForeverCarefree says, he's never just called him sh*t without reasoning or been rude about him. He's given his opinion on Mikel a lot better than most have.

Was that his 5th Chelsea goal yesterday? I believe he scored two very good goals for us in his first season, maybe both in the League Cup, or one in the FA Cup, one in the League Cup, I know he scored two last season in the Prem, one this season in the CL.

Edited December 11, 201411 yr by JoeyBlue25

Now averaging roughly one goal every 64 games. Prolific.

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

I'm not Mikels biggest fan, but I think he deserves a start against Hull. That's two positive performances from him were he has for once looked ambitious, I always thought he was some robot with just no emotion whatsoever.

 

I've never seen Mikel be adventurous before like he has been in the past two games, I hope he is in the pivot with Matic come the Hull City game, he definitely deserves it. If he puts in another good performance, not solid, not coasting by, not being the passenger. If he gets play going like he did the last game and the game before that it will be interesting.

 

God, I really hope this bloody optimism pays off.

Thunderbar steward

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

when will he catch up to messi in champions league goals?

when will he catch up to messi in champions league goals?

 

Who do you think I am, Carol Vorderman... My maths skills are limited, I'm not a f**king wizard. 

he's been really good last 2 games, stepped it up big time

he's been really good last 2 games, stepped it up big time

 

rubbish.

 

he was ghastly against Newcastle.

rubbish.

he was ghastly against Newcastle.

You must have been watching a different game cause he was far from ghastly.

Edited December 12, 201411 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

rubbish.

 

he was ghastly against Newcastle.

 

Alright Alan Shearer how you doing?.

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

Well that is something nice to look forward to.

So what's happened with him then?? Started working harder off the ball, showing more adventure in his passing and just playing a lot better. Is the effect of having Matic alongside him or has he just had a kick up the arse?

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

 

So now only 13,182 games!