The Nigeria coach (forget which one) always reckoned Mourinho made the wrong call by turning him into a defensive midfielder ...

 

Which is ofc wrong, because Mourinho played him in the same midfield as Makelele and we all know who the DM is there.

 

Grant and the rest decided to leave him in DM purgatory.

Mikel: The biggest positive since Jose left.

?

African fanboys.

Happy with Mikel's performance today. Deserves to be in the starting eleven ahead of both Cesc and Matic.

If you push him forward who holds?

Cesc cannot do it, matic certainly cannot.

So Zouma then?

Which is ofc wrong, because Mourinho played him in the same midfield as Makelele and we all know who the DM is there.

 

Grant and the rest decided to leave him in DM purgatory.

 

Sorry but it did start with Jose playing him as DM, and was then continued by other managers.

 

There were a few occasions when he started both together, but it wasn't as if Mikel was playing atacking midfield in those formations ... especially when players like Ballack, Lampard, Essien etc were also selected.

 

Also several occasions where JM had Mikel as a starter in DM with Makelele on the bench.

My memory is probably flawed so you're probably right. Wish we'd use him further forward at least once for a try

 

 

If you push him forward who holds?

Cesc cannot do it, matic certainly cannot.

 

Sad state of affairs when our first choice DM can't hold

I really don't get what's happened to Matic. He was a consistent, dominant presence in midfield, never the quickest, but always there mopping up, blocking attacks, providing refreshing forward passes for a DM, and going on the occasional dribbling surge through midfield.

He looks weak and slower than ever, both physically and mentally.

He needs a chat with the his old mentor - the wilder-looking, slightly crazy third sibling of Wenger and Pellegrino...

Has this become a parody thread or do people actually want to see Mikel play for us?

I would much rather see Mikel starting vs United than Matic. Mikel is consistent and knows his role inside out. Matic has been well off-form this season.

Im a fan of Mikel

Mikel may not be a world beater or key player, but for 10 years whenever he's played for us he's always been consistently good enough to take a spot in the starting eleven.

Mikel may not be a world beater or key player, but for 10 years whenever he's played for us he's always been consistently good enough to take a spot in the starting eleven.

Which says more about the lack of quality in depth we have had for a sustained period more than anything.

Why is there such a hate on Mikel?! He plays good against Sunderland and Wartford and at least half the people here are saying " that just shows the lack of quality we have" i mean wtf?!

Yep, Mikel will always get a bashing on here.

 

I've always been a fan of him, with a  few gripes in there too, but certainly not enough to take anything positive he does and turn it into a negative.

 

I think his close control is very good, he uses his body to shield the ball well, and then his passing is generally very accurate.  Even when he seldom tries a longer pass forward.

 

He has also been Captain of his national team, and selected by every manager that he has played under.

 

I do think his main weakness is that he waits to get the ball before looking for a pass.  Ideally, he'd read where he wanted to pass the ball to prior to receiving it.  

 

I remember when we signed Makelele, I was in a position where I could attend more games and used to go to the Bridge and chat with some of the old Shed Ender/CSR lads pre-match.  I remember some of the comments about him were:  Looks a little lazy, doesn't score goals, his passes are never more than 10 yards and they are either backwards or sideways.

 

Now, I am, in no way, comparing Makelele to Mikel, but I just find it interesting that when Maka showed us all the type of player that he was, the criticisms that often landed at his door were now suddenly being piled onto Mikel...where they stuck.

 

Fantastic player/servant for Chelsea.  Wish there were a few more like him (attitude wise).

put them both in maybe?

 

I think matic has had a diabolical season- I might argue worse than fabregas, hazard or costa- BUT I think he was pretty good yesterday. absolutely ridiculous penalty to concede I would agree, and I can't deny that needs to be factored when you objectively look at his entire performance, but I think he was far better than he has been.

 

mikel is a good player and an excellent servant but I do think long term rehabilitating matic's form and confidence would be of more benefit to us.

I like Matic too much, tbh.

His style of play, midfield dominance and consistency was so refreshing to see after years of .... Well, you know who.

That's why it personally bothers me the most that he seems to have lost everything he had (with the exception of some occasional, sweet passing).

Combination of power and technique is what Matic had.

Have always liked having big, powerful, tenacious, etc type midfielders who can actually physically overpower opposition midfields. If they can combine that energy and power with graceful play like Matic, that's the dream player for me.

I've said it before plenty of times here and elsewhere, give me the bulldozering midfield of Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Makelele (not exactly a bulldozer, but you get the point) over Xavi, iniesta, Fabregas and their tici taca, any day.

Edited December 27, 201510 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

Yep, Mikel will always get a bashing on here.

 

I've always been a fan of him, with a  few gripes in there too, but certainly not enough to take anything positive he does and turn it into a negative.

 

I think his close control is very good, he uses his body to shield the ball well, and then his passing is generally very accurate.  Even when he seldom tries a longer pass forward.

 

He has also been Captain of his national team, and selected by every manager that he has played under.

 

I do think his main weakness is that he waits to get the ball before looking for a pass.  Ideally, he'd read where he wanted to pass the ball to prior to receiving it.  

 

I remember when we signed Makelele, I was in a position where I could attend more games and used to go to the Bridge and chat with some of the old Shed Ender/CSR lads pre-match.  I remember some of the comments about him were:  Looks a little lazy, doesn't score goals, his passes are never more than 10 yards and they are either backwards or sideways.

 

Now, I am, in no way, comparing Makelele to Mikel, but I just find it interesting that when Maka showed us all the type of player that he was, the criticisms that often landed at his door were now suddenly being piled onto Mikel...where they stuck.

 

Fantastic player/servant for Chelsea.  Wish there were a few more like him (attitude wise).

My main gripe and only problem I have with Mikel is that he has appeared to be 'happy with his lot'. Never really pushed himself to attain the next level. A squad definitely needs the 'steady eddies' in it, Mikel though could have been so much more

Mikel may not be a world beater or key player, but for 10 years whenever he's played for us he's always been consistently good enough to take a spot in the starting eleven.

Not really! Mikel as a DM is one long running failed experiment, if he played in his natural position then who knows...

How can you not love him?

 

Not really! Mikel as a DM is one long running failed experiment, if he played in his natural position then who knows...

 

I disagree with you. He is a successful DM when the DM's task is to act as a sweeper and provide a layer of buffer between our defense and the opposition. As a deep lying creator or a goal scoring DM he is a failure. But given our situation we dont need either right now.

Why is there such a hate on Mikel?! He plays good against Sunderland and Wartford and at least half the people here are saying " that just shows the lack of quality we have" i mean wtf?!

 

Read through the thread, it's been explained hundreds of times now why people don't rate Mikel that highly. It's getting tiring repeating the same thing over and over again.

Read through the thread, it's been explained hundreds of times now why people don't rate Mikel that highly. It's getting tiring repeating the same thing over and over again.

Ok i get it. You are one of the grazy people then or what?!(just kidding). I stay on that, he is a good player. For me consistensy is key and he gets way too much unfair response for that.

Yep, Mikel will always get a bashing on here.

 

I've always been a fan of him, with a  few gripes in there too, but certainly not enough to take anything positive he does and turn it into a negative.

 

I think his close control is very good, he uses his body to shield the ball well, and then his passing is generally very accurate.  Even when he seldom tries a longer pass forward.

 

He has also been Captain of his national team, and selected by every manager that he has played under.

 

I do think his main weakness is that he waits to get the ball before looking for a pass.  Ideally, he'd read where he wanted to pass the ball to prior to receiving it.  

 

I remember when we signed Makelele, I was in a position where I could attend more games and used to go to the Bridge and chat with some of the old Shed Ender/CSR lads pre-match.  I remember some of the comments about him were:  Looks a little lazy, doesn't score goals, his passes are never more than 10 yards and they are either backwards or sideways.

 

Now, I am, in no way, comparing Makelele to Mikel, but I just find it interesting that when Maka showed us all the type of player that he was, the criticisms that often landed at his door were now suddenly being piled onto Mikel...where they stuck.

 

Fantastic player/servant for Chelsea.  Wish there were a few more like him (attitude wise).

This - in plain English is the nub of the matter. - good man Scott

Another good performance. Passing wasn't as good as it normally is but the whole team was having problems with their passind, United pressed pretty well.

Another good performance. Passing wasn't as good as it normally is but the whole team was having problems with their passind, United pressed pretty well.

Will it be enough for him to get Matic out of the side for a few games?