What we are crying out for is a central midfielder who can bomb forward and offer a goal threat, sadly we don't have a player like that at our club.

We had a Super one for years.

Would be useful simply because Jose would play him, whereas he doesn't seem to have any trust in Loftus-Cheek or Ake. Unfortunately he's been injured.

We had a Super one for years.

Yeah and sadly it's near impossible to replace a player like that.

We really do need to find one and fast but can't really think who would be available in that mould.

Hehe - Absence makes the heart...

Honestly, though, I'd take a Mikic midfield right now with Fabregas allowed higher up the pitch.

There have been quite a few games lately where it has been absolute chaos: end-to-end, frantic, maddeningly fast football with our midfield completely unable to impose any control on the game. Mikel is the perfect man to slow it down and get a spell of possession going - the six players in front of him can do the rest.

We've struggled to score recently once the opposition defence has gotten set, particularly since Cesc has gone off the boil.

So bringing in someone whose key contribution is to further slow down our attacks and possession seems a bit counter productive unless we're trying to hang on for a lead, something that has been frequently criticized on here lately.

Edited March 16, 201511 yr by Jonty

https://vine.co/v/ezth29uYnBh

 

I've missed you Mikel. 

Wrong thread

Edited April 18, 201511 yr by big blue

Hah I came in this thread to post about that meg, I think it was his first touch of the ball too!

Just came across an amazing chant for John Obi Mikel on Twitter. I don't think many know of it but it's brilliant:

 

'When we're in times of trouble,

Jose plays a midfield three,

He's not quite Makelele, John Obi.

 

And on that night in Munich, 

Robben fcked his penalty, 

Who was that sh*t stirring? John Obi.

 

John Obi, John Obi, John Obi, John Obi, 

Not quite Makelele, John Obi.'

 

Genius! This must go viral!

Edited April 19, 201511 yr by Celery1989

He's a mock-élélé

He's a mock-élélé

Haha brilliant!

If Zouma is used in the games where we need a strong defensive presence in midfield like we did on Saturday, and if Loftus-Cheek gets minutes in midfield in league cup and some CL matches, what happens to Mikel next year?

 

That's without us even thinking about possibly buying another midfielder. 

If Zouma is used in the games where we need a strong defensive presence in midfield like we did on Saturday, and if Loftus-Cheek gets minutes in midfield in league cup and some CL matches, what happens to Mikel next year?

That's without us even thinking about possibly buying another midfielder.

Seems happy enough sitting on the bench.

Seems happy enough sitting on the bench.

 

Keeper, Left-back, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Bamford, Remy

 

Plus Ramires. Don't know if there's any room.

Keeper, Left-back, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Bamford, Remy

Plus Ramires. Don't know if there's any room.

True.

Not sure what we will do, I'm not too confident of Jose picking youth over Mikel for the bench though.

True.

Not sure what we will do, I'm not too confident of Jose picking youth over Mikel for the bench though.

 

If Mikel is just going to be used to close out games then I'd entrust Zouma with that. 

 

Fact is Mikel has started just 4 league matches all season. What might save him from being sold is that he's relatively cheap, he doesn't moan and I don't think there are many teams out there who would want him for the wages he'd want.

 

He's got two years left on his contract so he'll probably just hang around until it runs out. I just don't see where he gets minutes going forward.

He is also counted as homeground player I think

If Mikel is just going to be used to close out games then I'd entrust Zouma with that. 

 

Fact is Mikel has started just 4 league matches all season. What might save him from being sold is that he's relatively cheap, he doesn't moan and I don't think there are many teams out there who would want him for the wages he'd want.

 

He's got two years left on his contract so he'll probably just hang around until it runs out. I just don't see where he gets minutes going forward.

 

Neither. I agree with you completely, Mikel has become surplus to requirements it would appear. He will surely be sold this Summer; it says a lot that Jose is using a 20 year old CB as his designated holding player rather than Mikel at the moment.

Yes he is using Zouma and not the guy who just got back from knee surgery. Ominous signs.

Yes he is using Zouma and not the guy who just got back from knee surgery. Ominous signs.

 

We're talking about next season when we have Zouma and Loftus-Cheek both as options, as well as anyone else we might bring in.

 

What's your opinion on the number of minutes he gets?

Just popped into this thread to see my own thoughts being shared here. Seems with Zouma a good option to absorb pressure, and guys like RLC, Chalobah and Ake around who could play the more cultured defensive midfielder role, Mikel is surplus.

I'm not particularly fussed about Mikel leaving. Would open up space for a few youngsters.

Obviously not the most popular player. For someone so highly spoken of when he first came, he has been overall somewhat underwhelming perhaps, despite his contributions to our achievements in his time here.

'Pot of gold' was Mourinho's description if I remember right. I think the gold was stolen and we received just the pot. Still, a good, solid-enough pot he's been.

The man, the myth, the legend is 28 today. 

 

Happy Birthday John! 

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

 

Thank God this never happened. 

Consistent rumblings at the moment that JOM could be set to leave this summer with Arab Emirates side Al Ain said to have offered a lucrative deal and Fenerbahce also apparently showing a strong interest.