Mikel continues to prove his doubters wrong with another good performance.

 

He definitely deserves the praise he has been getting lately. 

 

Well done, Mikel 

 

 

Nice touch and turn to deny Ramsey by the way 

 

Worked really well against Ozil, really good job against Arsenal.

Well Ramsey believes Mikel knows what to do w/ the ball - Mikel totally broke Ramsey's ankles w/ two touches on the ball

 

I do enjoy it when he does that, I don't even get nervous any more. James Morrison has to go off injured when he did it to him during the West Brom game.

I do enjoy it when he does that, I don't even get nervous any more. James Morrison has to go off injured when he did it to him during the West Brom game.

 

this move on Ramsey is one of my favorites by Mikel. My favorite is the one performed on Pogba in the World Cup. My 2nd one is the one in 2012 when he dribbled through the spuds whole team that was funny.

Interesting, and impressive, graphics. Sorry if this article has been posted previously.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/12118843/How-Chelsea-midfielder-John-Obi-Mikel-has-helped-get-the-best-from-Cesc-Fabregas.html

JOM to be a key player for the rest of the season now if Ramires goes.

I previously predicted that Mikel would go due to Ramires' versatility but in the end Ramires being a jack of all trades, master of none has meant Mikel's ability to bring calmness to midfield won through.

I came on here after seeing the Arsenal game honestly expecting Mikel to get slaughtered and there to be talk of a return to form from Matic.

 

I personally thought Mikel was pretty poor for the first 20 minutes; he looked nervous and a little sloppy (his first contribution on the ball was missing a fairly simple pass to Ivanovic which went out of play, and he made a couple of dodgy clearances), although he certainly looked better as soon as Arsenal went down to ten men, and grew in influence throughout the second half. I did think he dealt with Ozil extremely well, but looked far, far less comfortable when Sanchez was running at him later on.

 

Overall I think he did fine, and I absolutely think he deserves his place in the starting XI currently, but I do also think there is still work to be done if he is to solidify himself as an untouchable. That said, I did think Matic showed a fair improvement over his recent performances, particularly in the first half.

Mikel's touch map, the number is second only to Fab's.

Interesting, and impressive, graphics. Sorry if this article has been posted previously.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/12118843/How-Chelsea-midfielder-John-Obi-Mikel-has-helped-get-the-best-from-Cesc-Fabregas.html

ah i was going to post it but you were first! ;) haha

his discipline helps a lot.

Edited January 25, 201610 yr by Nevamind

Rumours around him moving to China as well. Different club than Rambo is being linked to but is there: http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2016/1/25/10825838/ramires-john-obi-mikel-transfer-rumours-china

 

If we are looking at flogging midfielders to eager Chinese clubs with lots of dosh, can we not sell them Matic while we are at it as well?

Bump

Apparently that was the first game we've ever lost in which Mikel has scored for us.

Apparently that was the first game we've ever lost in which Mikel has scored for us.

 

That's true. He must be gutted.

The goal will overshadow him giving away the free-kick and then turning his back on the shot, because.....goals?

 

Between the high point of him scoring and the low point of him bottling his duties was a whole lot of average. I imagine this is his last season.

The goal will overshadow him giving away the free-kick and then turning his back on the shot, because.....goals?

 

Between the high point of him scoring and the low point of him bottling his duties was a whole lot of average. I imagine this is his last season.

 

Yeah a Turkish club will probably come in and sign him

That yellow card killed off our chances of getting something from the game.

Well, he wasn't the only one to make a mistake, but he was the only one to score, and away.

Goal or no goal, the bloke is a chode and needs to be sold in the summer. Sell him for a packet of salt and vinegar, whatever, just get him out.

Regardless of his mistakes tonight he's still by far a better option then Matic and so should start the most important games. He could and should have done much better in closing down Lucas and at the free kick but he got us an away goal which will be valuable as long as we don't give one away cheaply.

It seemed like he didn't do anything but score and gave them their chance to score, but the midfield was difficult for him to operate in, Fabregas probably won 0 balls and we probably only recovered the ball from their very rare misplaced passes. With how comfortable their midfield was at home I don't think this is quite his level.

Second half passed him by a bit not helped by being on the yellow.

Yeah a Turkish club will probably come in and sign him

 

I'm sure we can get a Chinese club interested now. He's been a long-time servant and put in some good shifts but I think now is the time to make the move.

Probably his worst game since Guus returned tonight.

Took his goal well though.

Probably his worst game since Guus returned tonight.

Took his goal well though.

 

Yep, I think tonight shows how he struggles against better sides these days. I mean teams that pass and move so well and have a fair bit of pace - he just can't get near them. Sure I wasn't alone in cussing him after giving away the free kick and then turning his back on it and deflecting it into our goal!

But fair play, he made up for that with the goal!

Edited February 16, 201610 yr by Nibs