Surprised Adebayor isn't on the list.

My word, what a damning statement it would be on the current state of African football if Mikel was to win that.

Its gotta be Toure's

African player at a top european club who has won PL, CL, EL, FA, CC. Pretty damning stuff.

African player at a top european club who has won PL, CL, EL, FA, CC. Pretty damning stuff.

 

I guess Mikel is better than fat Ronaldo because fat Ronaldo never won the CL, right?

 

Bosingwa won a lot of trophies too, does that mean he shouldve ever been in contention for the best Portuguese player?

Edited November 20, 201312 yr by Lane

When did I ever say Player A > Player B cause they won the CL ?

 

If you think an African player winning major trophies at a top European side winning an award is a damning statement on African football then that's your problem not mine.

 

If anything he should be the African player of the century cause he did these things whilst being f**king awful and only passing backwards and stuff right?

Well, I believe if he is to win it, it must be on account of what he's done with the national team. If you remember correctly, he was AFCON's MVP and gave a good account of himself in CONF CUP, and he played all the WCQ qualifying matches, where they didn't loose a game. Throw in the CL and EL, he may likely win the stuff.

It's not a damning state of football in Africa if he wins it, I'll say he has stood out among his mates when playing in Africa and has risen to the occasion many a times. Toure may still win it though, but who knows?

Just an opinion of course.

If you remember correctly, he was AFCON's MVP.

 

I'm afraid you've remembered it incorrectly.

Ok ok, Pitroipa won it, but I believe Mikel won the final's MotM :-D

African player at a top european club who has won PL, CL, EL, FA, CC. Pretty damning stuff.

 

wow. he did all that in 2013?

 

no. he didn't. nice you give him credit for the el win though. without his sterling job marking the bench for the whole game, who knows what might have happened? 

 

maybe it's "damning" because he's an african player at a top club who has started a grand total of 14 games in all competitions so far this calendar year. 

 

if that's the best african player then god help the continent. 

 

(kalou is only one trophy off that haul btw...the el...and if he were voted the best player in africa, that would be pretty damning too). 

So we are disregarding his contributions to his exploits with Nigeria then? We all know the European counterpart is heavily favoured by the WC or CL winners.

 

I wouldn't see any problem with Mikel winning it. Toure will though obviously, he is everyones favourite but Mikel is right up there on international form even if no one cares what he does for club.

Edited November 20, 201312 yr by Stim

So we are disregarding his contributions to his exploits with Nigeria then?

 

i must have missed you mentioning that in your post. you know, the one i replied to (or indeed, the follow up post on the same subject). 

 

cos you didn't, ya freaking genius. 

 

African player at a top european club who has won PL, CL, EL, FA, CC. Pretty damning stuff.

Lol, you're just looking for an argument.

 

I'm continuing the discussion but you want to just attack the one post. Go pick a fight with someone else. "ya freaking genius"

Edited November 20, 201312 yr by Stim

Lol, you're just looking for an argument.

 

no...i'm looking to point out that your argument was flawed...

 

and then i was looking to point out that you had moved to goalposts of the discussion rather unsubtly. 

I'm continuing the discussion but you want to just attack the one post. Go pick a fight with someone else. "ya freaking genius"

 

sorry...but this whole discussion is you attacking one post. 

 

"damning stuff". 

Ok I'll bite.

 

You attacked my post.

 

I responded to your bit about (next time I'll quote it so you don't miss it) :

 

 

maybe it's "damning" because he's an african player at a top club who has started a grand total of 14 games in all competitions so far this calendar year. 

 

if that's the best african player then god help the continent. 

 

 

And you went off on your own thread about what I'm posting about.

 

So are we on the same page now?

 

Edit for that other thing: Regardless of having a low year, him winning it wouldn't be damning because if you look at his career he has shown to be a good ambassador for the African continent. Whilst I think he has and you probably don't, that's why its my opinion and not yours. I was more looking at the idea of mikel being one of the best as damning which is a bit off from -> in 2013, my apologies. But even then he has a case for 2013 at international level if you want to narrow the scope to 2013.

 

edit: I edit a lot.

Edited November 20, 201312 yr by Stim

actually, you attacked this post:

 

My word, what a damning statement it would be on the current state of African football if Mikel was to win that.

 

twice. 

 

and i pointed out your attack was flawed...in fact, it made no sense. you didn't really have a response to that, so you started talking about something that neither you, i or the original poster were talking about...now you won't even respond on the subject...just this weird pedantic thing you're doing to dodge the topic.

 

i have no idea why you are acting like this. perhaps you are strange. perhaps you are trolling. whatever, if you would like a response, try to stay on topic. 

if you want to narrow the scope to 2013.

 

i don't "want" to "narrow the scope". the award is for the best footballer in africa in 2013. 

 

in that context, him having won a lot of trophies in other years is meaningless. 

 

in another context, that kalou can pretty much match his trophy haul, it is meaningless in general. 

 

 

I was more looking at the idea of mikel being one of the best as damning which is a bit off from -> in 2013, my apologies. But even then he has a case for 2013 at international level 

 

it's kinda damning considering africa do actually consider themselves a major football continent and having a guy win who has only started 14 games for his club this calendar year is a bit of a step down from the likes of eto'o & drogba in their primes. essien was never african footballer of the year, even at his best and he was first choice in a better midfield than we have now, whereas mikel is back-up. so, yeah...damning. an indication of a fairly obvious dip in the standards of the very top players from that continent. 

I wouldn't see any problem with Mikel winning it. Toure will though obviously, he is everyones favourite but Mikel is right up there on international form even if no one cares what he does for club.

 

Toure is simply, unarguably, indisputably and unequivocally the better player.

Yep, that's why he will win and Africas name won't be tarnished.

maybe it's "damning" because he's an african player at a top club who has started a grand total of 14 games in all competitions so far this calendar year.

 

if that's the best african player then god help the continent. 

 

 

Wow, that comment i made really stirred something up.

 

To clarify i wasnt particulary having a pop at Mikel. I guess you could say the same thing about Moses too, also nominated.

 

The part above ive highlighted says it really and I dont see how people can debate it. I mean he's started 14 games this year. In all competitions.

 

And he has been nominated as best player from his continent this year. That was my point really, and its pretty damning if you ask me.

Edited November 20, 201312 yr by bjd

African international football has developed nicely over the last few years. The era of depending on stars is waining and for the first time since 1998, the best teams are squad led opposed to stars led. The North African teams have always been good at this, hence why they have historically had a  good World Cup qualifcation record.

Nigeria have built a good team not focused on getting the best of out their stars. Providing they get a decent draw (Ie not two heavyweights) in their group, they can definitely go far in the tournament. Jon Obi to star in Brazil (maybe).

African international football has developed nicely over the last few years. The era of depending on stars is waining and for the first time since 1998, the best teams are squad led opposed to stars led. The North African teams have always been good at this, hence why they have historically had a  good World Cup qualifcation record.

Nigeria have built a good team not focused on getting the best of out their stars. Providing they get a decent draw (Ie not two heavyweights) in their group, they can definitely go far in the tournament. Jon Obi to star in Brazil (maybe).

 

Perhaps youre right, it will be interesting to see how they all fair in Brazil. I saw a handful of ACON matches in Jan and thought the standard was pitiful. Personally id be surprised if more than one team gets out the group stages, but like you say it depends on the draw. I know Ivory Coast are cerainly due a good one!

Perhaps youre right, it will be interesting to see how they all fair in Brazil. I saw a handful of ACON matches in Jan and thought the standard was pitiful. Personally id be surprised if more than one team gets out the group stages, but like you say it depends on the draw. I know Ivory Coast are cerainly due a good one!

Yeah the problem I can see a lot of team's facing is the fact that their tempo is too slow. Ivory Coast problems is they are not built from the back and will therefore always struggle against better opponents, but if they got a group which avoided one of the better pot 2 nations they have a chance.

Nigeria are built from the back and have a great team spirit. These two factors are what have always undermined Nigeria since 98. Ghana are a bit worse than '10, but have a chance to get through.

Algeria are solid and play some good stuff, but are there to make up the numbers. Cameroon have a decent team, but no formula and cohesion; so will ultimately fail.

Ny prediction is that Ivory Coast and Nigeria will get through the group. Nigeria can pull of a shock but are liable to lose to weak opponents aswell. So in this respect, the draw isn't overly important. Ivory Coast will beat anybody they are better than and match anybody they are on par with, but will seriously struggle against better opponents. Therefore, they need a good draw and hope many of the second tier European nations win their groups to help them progress further.

Just reading something on Squawka and it surprised me more than a bit, I'm not one that feels Mikel isn't good enough and feel in certain games he shuld be a nailed on starter but reading this has made me want to watch him more closely next time he plays.

 

Here's a snippet and the link to the full article.

 

"No other Chelsea midfielder has a higher passing accuracy this season than Mikel, and what makes that even more incredible is the fact that the vast majority of his total passes are going forward (72.3 percent)."

 

http://www.squawka.com/news/2013/11/22/should-chelsea-consider-playing-john-obi-mikel-more/2013112235972

I think it's a bit unfair to keep bringing international performances into it. No disrespect to the international teams in Africa but it's not something to look at if he's playing against teams like Ethiopia, Jordan and Burkina Faso.

 

Let’s not get carried away with international performances, we need to judge him in a Chelsea shirt, I don't think him putting in good performances justifies much.

Edited November 22, 201312 yr by Kojo