Fair enough, although I consider the Starting XI to mean who our first choice XI would be disregarding injuries and suspensions, and I don't think at any point of his Chelsea career would I have considered him to be a part of it. He would have been behind a fit Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard when he joined, Ramires from 2011 onwards too, then Luiz in midfield and finally Matic from the season before last. If not for Essien's extensive injury woes he likely wouldn't have played anywhere near as many games and may even have been sold, however our loss was his gain in that regard.

 

But in terms of making lots of appearances as a result of injury and necessity, clearly he has racked up a lot of them, can't argue with that.

 

That sums it up perfectly. He has been and probably still is a handy squad player. But he has never really been what could be considered as a starting 11 player and now, less so than ever.

You pretty much just lied yourself at one point in your post that Jonty quoted, so you just made a false argument....

 

What's my "pretty much lie"? 

Claiming Mikel had more games than Rami you motherf**king liar

Claiming Mikel had more games than Rami you motherf**king liar

Grow up you prat

Every time he receives the ball I get nervous, because I know he does too, he seems very uncomfortable on the ball and in my eyes he always has done since he's been at Chelsea.

However, I actually think he tackles pretty well and has a decent positional sense, I don't think he's anywhere near as bad as people make out. I think people just like to blame him for things because he's nowhere near the quality of the other midfielders around him

Grow up you prat

 

It was a joke tbh

Claiming Mikel had more games than Rami you motherf**king liar

 

Nope, I said he had more "starts" than Ramires. 

 

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Chelsea_F.C._seasonhe made 28 starts that season whereas Ramires had 22 starts. 

 

Seeing as your original point was that Mikel has never been a starting XI player I used total starts, rather than total appearances, as the most relevant statistic. 

Nope, I said he had more "starts" than Ramires. 

 

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Chelsea_F.C._seasonhe made 28 starts that season whereas Ramires had 22 starts. 

 

Seeing as your original point was that Mikel has never been a starting XI player I used total starts, rather than total appearances, as the most relevant statistic. 

 

Fair enough, you are right on that one then, my bad. 

 

He has been a starter at some point then, but a poor one at that. 

No need for that Sloth.

I'm surprised Mikel is happy to stay. Jose may be happy to have him around but it's patently obvious he doesn't rate him very highly. He's an established player and he's not old. He's more or less accepting a bit-part role. Sure, we do need the odd squad player who will accept their lot, and in that respect you can see his appeal to Jose, I'm just surprised Mikel has accepted it so readily. No way will he ever be a first team regular under Jose.

Edit: Oops sorry Sloth just seen you said it was a joke.

Edited July 29, 201510 yr by Davey Baby

No need for that Sloth.

I'm surprised Mikel is happy to stay. Jose may be happy to have him around but it's patently obvious he doesn't rate him very highly. He's an established player and he's not old. He's more or less accepting a bit-part role. Sure, we do need the odd squad player who will accept their lot, and in that respect you can see his appeal to Jose, I'm just surprised Mikel has accepted it so readily. No way will he ever be a first team regular under Jose.

Edit: Oops sorry Sloth just seen you said it was a joke.

 

Aye, I've been inspired by you and our Mourinho Davey, loving the pish poor immature banter lately. 

Aye, I've been inspired by you and our Mourinho Davey, loving the pish poor immature banter lately.

Call it by its proper name mate.

Bantzzzzzz, innit.

BANTZZZ has to spelt uppercase, you know that Davey. Its the rules

Great so we are going to hear about his CL final performance once more. Maybe we should resign Kalou and Bosingwa, they were also good in that final.

I just brought it up, because people say that he's rubbish, when clearly he's put in some very good performances over the years. Kalou was not that good in that final, Bosingwa was okay.

BANTZZZ has to spelt uppercase, you know that Davey. Its the rules

Tis true mate. My bad.

I think its easiest if everyone agrees on this truism for Mikel. He is not as bad as many like to make out, but also not as good as we all hoped he would be. He is a good squad member, but not good enough as a first choice.

I think its easiest if everyone agrees on this truism for Mikel. He is not as bad as many like to make out, but also not as good as we all hoped he would be. He is a good squad member, but not good enough as a first choice.

Mate, that is sh*t BANTZZZ.

Mate, that is sh*t BANTZZZ.

SMH!!!!

Always rated Mikel, but I understand why some don't.  He isn't exactly the most energetic of players, and his languid style goes against the pervasive british ethos of "he's a hard worker" just because a player runs around like a headless chicken.

 

As for the "he rarely passes it forward," i remember the same being said of Makelele.  Now, I am in no way comparing Makelele and Mikel; I'm merely pointing out that they were both put in a position with a job to do and that job isn't exactly spraying passes from deep midfield.  his job is, and always appears to have been, break up an attack - shield the ball - pass it off to someone who can start our attack.  My criticism of him in this aspect, and I think it was BJD that fairly pointed this out, is he waits to collect the ball before passing.  Rather, to be more effective, he should look before collecting the ball in order to release it quicker.

 

His close control and shielding of the ball are very good.  I'm sure he makes mistakes, but every player does.  As said earlier in this thread, if we are going to count Mikel's mistakes we better start counting everyone's.  And, FWIW, to criticize him in this thread for messing up against PSG is rather silly.  It's pre-season!  Does that mean we should be looking for another striker, or claiming that Costa isn't good enough because he missed a sitter against Barca last night?

 

I will repeat: we have had a tremendous amount of talented managers over the years, and they have all played Mikel.  Sure, Jose isn't playing him as much 0 in essence Mikel has been used as a late sub to come in and shore up a game.  But Jose obviously trusts him to do that, and we all know how Jose loves a few key players with longevity at the club to be in the dressing room.  That, in my opinion, is why we are not seeing a youth team player like Chalobah or Ake taking the spot in the squad.

 

Mikel is just that, at this point:  An experienced, well served, squad member.  If he wants to see out his contract while he is here, then I've no problem with that.  Maybe, just maybe, he's a fan of playing for Chelsea?

Mikel and Oscar playing today would have giving us a better result

Mikel and Oscar playing today would have giving us a better result

Unless you have a crystal ball you couldn't possibly know that

Got Mikel on my home kit this year. Have been meaning to get him for a while. Love the man.

I'm presuming you're the first one, congratulations

I'm presuming you're the first one, congratulations

 

2nd - I think Plokoon might have one.

I've got a Mikel tattoo!

I've got a Mikel tattoo!

 

I've heard it is on your knob Yorkley and you spread a rumour that it spells out his full African name, whereas the truth is it only says Obi!!!