I was referring directly to the poster saying this season Mikel has saved us due to Matic's bad form.

But referencing a game from four years ago isn't the most compelling defence you can make for a player.

I think you've missed my point about Mikel winning us matches. He's a tidy player, very safe in possession and rarely loses the ball and often starts attacking moves.

However, he rarely plays an incisive final ball, that passage of play against Villa was a rarity rather than the norm. He doesn't score many goals, his defensive positioning isn't that great, not the most solid tackling defensive midfielder you'll ever see.

So the point I was making is, Mikel at his best makes the team neat in possession, keeps the ball moving etc. but will rarely directly contribute to the things that win you matches.

I know this reads as me knocking him but that's not the intention.

You make some good points, he is not the type of player to play those incisive through balls and yes he rarely does score. Interesting though that since he's come back in to the side we've been unbeaten in the league, hes contributed a lot more this season, than what Matic has.

Mikel is genuinely a horrendous player. The only time he seems to get time is when everyone else is playing poorly, and he only seems to look like he's put in a decent performance because his competition for the same spot is playing terribly.

 

I for one can't wait until he leaves the club. Hopefully he'll join Ramires in China for a hefty sum.

ShiningLight is genuinely a horrendous poster. The only time he (she?) seems to post is when his alt account has been banned, and he only seems to look like he's put in a decent performance because his competition on the same forum are posting terribly.

 

I for one can't wait until he/she leaves the forum. Hopefully he/she'll join splishsplosh in internet purgatory.

How many accounts can one person have?

Either splishsplosh, blue daze or someone else is a little bored.

Whoever it is, they're a loser with far too much time on their hands - it's almost impressive! 

Baring the Montero chance, although I haven't watched it again so it might not even be his fault, he was superb at center back. 

 

Very good audition from Mikel if we ever do go 3 at the back. 

Baring the Montero chance, although I haven't watched it again so it might not even be his fault, he was superb at center back. 

 

Very good audition from Mikel if we ever do go 3 at the back. 

 

The guy is 29 in a few weeks and entering the last year of his contract. Do you think it's likely that we'll give him a new contract on the off chance that he might be a half-decent defender?

 

That's possibly instead of giving JT a new contract too. 

The guy is 29 in a few weeks and entering the last year of his contract. Do you think it's likely that we'll give him a new contract on the off chance that he might be a half-decent defender?

 

That's possibly instead of giving JT a new contract too. 

Depends on the manager, no?

 

If you mean the board then I think they will offer him a new contract on the basis of him being a reliable player who, generally, performs in the big matches. Whether or not he accepts is another matter. 

Depends on the manager, no?

 

If you mean the board then I think they will offer him a new contract on the basis of him being a reliable player who, generally, performs in the big matches. Whether or not he accepts is another matter. 

 

Well I don't see how he fits in with Conte's midfield but I expect he will be offered a new contract, not for the reasons you've presented though. 

 

He's been excellent once this season and that was against Palace where he gave a masterclass performance. Today he did ok, although much better in defence. Maybe that's been his best position all along but I'd much rather go with actual defenders like JT, Cahill, Zouma, Miazga and someone like Manolas than try to keep Mikel around. 

Edited April 9, 201610 yr by ShedEnder91

One of the few to keep their dignity today.

Well I don't see how he fits in with Conte's midfield but I expect he will be offered a new contract, not for the reasons you've presented though. 

 

He's been excellent once this season and that was against Palace where he gave a masterclass performance. Today he did ok, although much better in defence. Maybe that's been his best position all along but I'd much rather go with actual defenders like JT, Cahill, Zouma, Miazga and someone like Manolas than try to keep Mikel around. 

Conte can be quite defensive and be happy to grind out wins, Mikel fits into this. It's not all high energy 24/7. 

 

That's all well and good but irrelevant as I'm not suggesting playing Mikel over any of those guys. 

Conte can be quite defensive and be happy to grind out wins, Mikel fits into this. It's not all high energy 24/7. 

 

That's all well and good but irrelevant as I'm not suggesting playing Mikel over any of those guys. 

 

Conte is very defensive but his midfield is dynamic which is typified by the likes of Nainggolan and Vidal, or even Marchisio and Pogba. I don't see room for a player who is supposedly at his best sat in front of the defence as a Busquets-lite player.

 

I think now is the time we move on from the most 'divisive' player I think this club has had in the last 25 years. But I respect if you want him to stick around. 

Conte is very defensive but his midfield is dynamic which is typified by the likes of Nainggolan and Vidal, or even Marchisio and Pogba. I don't see room for a player who is supposedly at his best sat in front of the defence as a Busquets-lite player.

 

I think now is the time we move on from the most 'divisive' player I think this club has had in the last 25 years. But I respect if you want him to stick around. 

I can see it and wouldn't be surprised if he's still here under Conte, unless he leaves for more game time elsewhere seeing as he's been making noise about that lately.

 

It's not a case of me wanting him to stick around. I like Mikel but if him leaving meant Ake would get regular game time then I would help pack his bags, respectfully of course. 

One of the few to keep their dignity today.

Shame he turned he's back when the shot came in for the goal he has a habit for doing that but all in all he played well and was one of the better players for us which wasn't hard

So who all still want him here next season.

 

Another shoddy performance against a quality team to go with PSG and Everton.

I don't mind Mikel, he's a good squad player who can do a good job when we sit back against top teams. That being said, I also wouldn't mind if we moved him on. He barely developed since he arrived and I feel that a youngster like Aké could replace him just fine.

Give it a rest.

I'd bench him for Matic to try and regain some form to impress Conte, his ceiling can be so so high if he can get his head sorted out.

I'd bench him for Matic to try and regain some form to impress Conte, his ceiling can be so so high if he can get his head sorted out.

Defiantly but Mikel is Hiddinks Golden boy. It would make more sense to play Matic, tell him here's your chance to regain some confidence and form and get back to the player who won the PL.

Defiantly but Mikel is Hiddinks Golden boy. It would make more sense to play Matic, tell him here's your chance to regain some confidence and form and get back to the player who won the PL.

 

I don't think Conte will care much about these dead rubber games. The players will have to impress him in the pre-season.

Edited April 16, 201610 yr by undertow

I don't think Conte will care much about these dear rubber games. The players will have to impress him in the pre-season.

I bet Conte is watching every game though. That wasn't the point anyway. It was about Mikel and Matic playing in the same position and playing Mikel is pointless, trying to get the form back from someone who was the best dm in the prem last year and arguably one of the best in Europe would be a better option.

I bet Conte is watching every game though. That wasn't the point anyway. It was about Mikel and Matic playing in the same position and playing Mikel is pointless, trying to get the form back from someone who was the best dm in the prem last year and arguably one of the best in Europe would be a better option.

 

He did get games though and he was terrible all season. I really don't think he will miraculously rediscover his top form in the remainder of this season so he definitely won't impress the new manager. He needs some time off, come back focused for the pre-season and build his form up from there.

its a bit silly to criticise him in this specific way.

 

in the match thread I was reading criticism of him and the central defenders as if subbing cahill out for zouma or mikel out for matic would have made a huge difference. people were actually making criticisms thinking they were seeing poor individual performances rather than a poor collective performance. I'm not saying he was great or anything but to me it was so obvious that, aside from the fact the squad is mentally on the beach, all of our problems were structural. we were repeatedly opened up in open play and in counter attacks within 4 passes. that is a consequence of structure rather than a consequence of any one individual.

 

having said all that

 

I'd bench him for Matic to try and regain some form to impress Conte, his ceiling can be so so high if he can get his head sorted out.

 

I can't believe how few minutes matic has had. something must be seriously wrong here, because we all know he's the best defensively minded midfield player at the club and potentially in the league. he's the only player in the squad who has made no discernible recovery in form or confidence since jose left. it seems like he is definitely on his way out...

Edited April 16, 201610 yr by g3.7

He did get games though and he was terrible all season. I really don't think he will miraculously rediscover his top form in the remainder of this season so he definitely won't impress the new manager. He needs some time off, come back focused for the pre-season and build his form up from there.

Now there's less pressure, it wouldn't hurt would it. We can always see the same Mikel we have seen for the last 10 years, get a lot out of that.