1 minute ago, Ernie_blue said:

 I don’t know any Chelsea fan who rated him.

Hello

2 minutes ago, Stim said:

Hello

Do I know you? 

10 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

........................................... Mikel was a very good Chelsea player who was regularly selected by EVERY manager he played under, in every competition and I know many Chelsea fans who rated him highly.

If Mikel played against City he would have been covering the space that De Bruyne strolled through to score.................................................................................................

 

 

I knew that you saw it the same way as me, really!

1 hour ago, yorkleyblue said:

But what wouldn't we have given for Mikel in several matches this season?

I wouldn't want him, no doubt he had some good games a season but he was just terribly inconsistent to be a squad player. 

Ok - but I can't see the sort of goals we have been conceding through the middle being quite as easy if he was there, myself.

13 hours ago, Liam said:

.............................................the greatest mistake in the history of world football - the sale of De Bruyne. .................................... 

 

Willian shoved it to his many deluded critics. ............................................

Oh, @Liam, @Liam, @Liam.  Surely not you as well? They all said you were a know-nothing paddy with handsome brothers, and I used to defend you on the basis of you just couldn't help it, but I'm kinda losing patience now!

 

At least you got something right about both Willian AND his critics!

5 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

Ok - but I can't see the sort of goals we have been conceding through the middle being quite as easy if he was there, myself.

Case of the old rose-tinted there Yorkley!

Sure Mikel had some decent performances for us but I can remember MANY occasions where he would completely switch off and the guy he was meant to be marking would drift in behind him to score / do damage. I think to claim Mikel would have prevented us conceding goals in ANY game is wishful thinking at best!!

 

12 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Case of the old rose-tinted there Yorkley!

Sure Mikel had some decent performances for us but I can remember MANY occasions where he would completely switch off and the guy he was meant to be marking would drift in behind him to score / do damage. I think to claim Mikel would have prevented us conceding goals in ANY game is wishful thinking at best!!

 

De Bruyne ran straight along a line that would have been filled by a big Mikel-shaped lump.  I said at the time that someone should have taken KdB out long before he got close enough to shoot.  That was Mikel's genius, even though loads of people in here only ever saw side-ways passes or free-kicks given away.

Showing improvement in his form, Conte has to continue playing him, confidence is the most important thing for a player on his level.

That's 2 pretty solid games in a row for him, think he's the kind of player who needs to be on the move all the time, him/Kante works well, plua another CM in and Bakayoko may look lost. It's probably Conte's vision, a more energetic, all round player to partner Kante instead of Matic ( who's solid, but offers very little going forwrd)

When we were rumoured to sign him I read a few people saying Fabinho was the better player in that Monaco midfield. I really hope Baka wasn't made to look better than he actually is. We need a goalscoring midfielder & i'm still unsure whether Baka is going to be that. Give him games and let's see. Expect we'll buy another midfielder summer though. Yes we have RLC but can he score the goals we desperately crave to reach the next level?

Baka is slowly but surely improving... I trust him. Plus, buying a good goalscoring box to box midfielder or a number 8 a la Lampard will cost us at least 75 million £ nowadays...

The premier league is a difficult league and he also started off with an injury so I think he definitely deserves time. If people call for his head like they did when Salah and De Bruyne played for us, it can bite us in the back again should he join another team.

16 hours ago, rtwelch said:

When we were rumoured to sign him I read a few people saying Fabinho was the better player in that Monaco midfield. I really hope Baka wasn't made to look better than he actually is. We need a goalscoring midfielder & i'm still unsure whether Baka is going to be that. Give him games and let's see. Expect we'll buy another midfielder summer though. Yes we have RLC but can he score the goals we desperately crave to reach the next level?

RLC not score lot of, but he gives lot of assist for score.. 

Looks good in a midfield 2.

He's very inconsistent, only had one good game this season against Utd, some poor ones that lead to us conceding but his average game like today offers little.

He wins the ball back half as often as a regular DM and drives forward maybe twice a match.

I think he should lose his place to Drinkwater.

Nothing wrong with him in the last 3 games, his partnership with Kante is becoming stronger and better. They're covering the central very well, offering defence extra help and going forward to join the attack. Could score if Jagielka wasn't clearing it.

I thought he was quite good today

On 18/12/2017 at 10:19, RIP Mourinho said:

Looks good in a midfield 2.

He looks very steady when he plays with Kante in a midfield 2, not with Fabregas ! 

12 minutes ago, Cyborg7 said:

He looks very steady when he plays with Kante in a midfield 2, not with Fabregas ! 

Problem is when you play in that 2 instead of Fabregas we need more then Steady, he has showen signs of being a player that can dominate a game but only signs... r

This guy needs to step up. Bakayoko can be one of our better players but currently he is not even close. Maybe he needs more time to adjust to Prem...

Or maybe he was never that good and this is his level.

He was nothing special at Monaco 

Can't hit a cow's arse with a banjo. 

This guy needs to step up. Bakayoko can be one of our better players but currently he is not even close. Maybe he needs more time to adjust to Prem...

He's not up to the level right now. And what's even worse is that he starts ahead of Drinkwater, which shows how much Conte rates both. I'm all for him being loaned out asap but we're in desperate need of goal threats and creativity. We actually have too many squad-level players. The only ones with real quality - Hazard, Morata, Azpi, Courtois (maybe Christensen as well) - These guys need some help.

Struggled in the first half, missed one big chance, but came better in the second half, like the whole team.