Star Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 Having watched this kid closely and especially after his 'forward' play against manure I am convinced he is no defensive midfielder. He is a Ballack / Platini type player no Maka (who could be) or an Essien. He makes mistakes passing sidewards or when he doesn't have time to think. On the ball he is magnificent with crisp passes without thought, or attacking using his power and brain to link up with forwards. I honestly believe he has the potential to be one of the worlds best, he isn't a defensive midfielder in a million years, his mistakes can be put down not to inexperience but to being in an un natural position. Many of you will disagree, but opinions count and a little bit of press missed by everyone was Fergie saying perhaps if Mikel was still there he would have got a lot more out of him - he's better than Hargreaves and Carrick but perhaps hasn't shown it until yesterday where he in forward positions looked a class above everyone on the pitch. Scolari said he was everywhere left, right, middle, at the back, using him in the Platini role is the way forward big man.
Nibs Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 Very few are gonna be able to coming close to Maka in the "Maka role" and Mikel is no exception. Too rash in the tackle and at times he gives me the jitters. He is getting better and better and will hopefully improve the more he plays, but he has a LONG way to go before he can be compared to a Platini.
Scott Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 I see him as a young more gifted Patrick Vieira.
Star Posted September 22, 2008 Author Posted September 22, 2008 I see him as a young more gifted Patrick Vieira. That was my 3rd comparison, but as nibs said he still has a lot of learning to do. But to thrive he has to play in his best position and most definately it's not the defensive midfield role.
Maksimov Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 I see him as a young more gifted Patrick Vieira. That's what I tought as well when I watched the match yesterday. I wasn't sure if I'd dare to compare him to Vieira here on the forums, so it's good I wasn't the only one who saw it that way.
TheWestwayWonder Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 He has no doubt impressed me in many occasions moving foward with or without the ball. I think it would be a shame to use a player that is capable of a two way game in an exclusively defensive role. He has, in the past, scared me a bit as well, and i know his propensity for being a hothead. But this season he has given me absolute confidence in his ability. Im just exceedingly glad that he is getting so much first team experience right now. In a few years when Deco and Ballack are moving on, he and Essien will form a fearsome pair in the middle.
byatt Posted September 22, 2008 Posted September 22, 2008 He does a good job wherever he plays, he's got alot of potential to mature and develop himself as a player, as well as developing the defensive role into a role of his own, in the same way Maka done over the years. I'd just be glad we have a player as versatile as Mikel to play that defensive role, especially in the absence of Essien, and lets face it, for as good as Obi is going forward, he's equally able in that holding role
TomP Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 To be honest, as good as he is currently, at age 21 he's nowhere near his full potential. And that is scary, considering he's already bossed his way into our first team with the strongest central midfielders of a generation ahead of him. I see him as playing exactly the role he currently plays until Ballack and Lampard reach the end of their careers in the next few years. Then, who knows. He will be a different player at that stage - hopefully pickup up the best parts of Lamps/Ballack/Essien/Maka/Deco's games along the way. If he could do that, he will be up there as one of the greatest of all time. I don't think he's going to be a Platini though - I can see him as a Beckenbauer. Someone who completely and absolutely dominates a match through vision, passing, positioning and general reading of the game.
mad_mac Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 Last season I advocated that use of Mikel as the player linking up the mid and the Strikers, at the head of a diamond. I also know that a lot of his countrymen who'd watched him develop to a youngster playing for the National First Team, were annoyed that Chelsea were making him a defensive player At the weekend he played some great pass and moves, and the other week against Bordeaux he linked up with Lampard well for the Malouda goal. I think, right now, he can be utilized well in teh holding role, but I'd like to see him eventually replace Ballack when he's done Scott
midlandblue Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 Mikel will only get better and better, especially seeing as we have Wilkins to guide him also.
evissy Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 Mikel Needs The Platini Role ! You want him to sit in the crowd in important games looking very important and talking serious matters with Sepp Blatter? :D I think he might be too young for that. But seriously I have always thought that Mikel has lot to give in the offence. He plays the 10 spot for Nigeria, although haven't been too magical for them... He gave a h*ll of a show about his skills in the goal against Bordeaux(Malouda's 3-0) and also gave a perfectly weighted pass to Kalou's head to equalise against ManU. I have also noticed his foul passes across the field when he plays just in front of the defenders. He doesn't realise that the attackers and attacking mf's are snooping these passes all the time. He is used to see them completed when he has played more up in the field where the defending line is not that eager to break their line to cut these passes.
Elliott Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 The slightly worrying thing about him is, that as he is relatively in-experienced, opposition managers are happy to stifle our other midfielders, leaving Mikel as the man free to carry the ball. And he gives it away a fair bit. It's what Fergie did on Sunday. It puts alot of pressure on Mikel to create something, as he's the spare man, and a few times the other day, he wasted the ball. It's a bloody difficult situation to be in, but i hope he continues to improve. It would be interesting to see how good he is after a full season under his belt.
Tim Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 The one point worth making, I think, is that although we talk about Mikel playing in the 'Maka' role, I don't think that by playing him here we are trying to turn him into the next Maka in terms of how he plays the position. Mikel is more a combo of a DM and a deep lying playmaker, and although he has played further forward with some success in the past, given that he does not seem to have a natural eye for goal, perhaps this hybrid position is the best place for him. he certainly appears to be thriving there based on the last two games.
Barn Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 Exactly right Tim, he'll play as the deeper midfielder but he'll carry the ball forward and pick his passes which is something that Maka didn't really have in his locker. One other thing to bare in mind is that midfielders more than any other position tend to change there positioning and playing style constantly throughout their career, Wisey for example; winger, top of the diamond, holding mid. It depends on what's being asked of them and what there current skill set is as well as how much running they're capable of doing.
dkw Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 the player i think he resembles most is andrea pirlo. he plays more of a deep playmaking role, linking the play up and keeping the tempo. mikel is more defensive minded than pirlo, but if he can influence a game as much as pirlo can then we will have one hell of a player.
Nibs Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 (edited) In this short thread todate, Mikel who is currently playing in the Maka position (albeit differently), has been likened to: Platini Vierra Beckenbauer Pirlo Any more? Lets hope he doesn't suffer an identity crisis!!! Edited September 23, 2008 by Nibs
evissy Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 In this short thread todate, Mikel who is currently playing in the Maka position (albeit differently), has been likened to:Platini Vierra Beckenbauer Pirlo Any more? Lets hope he doesn't suffer an identity crisis!!! I actually think Mikel probably thinks he is already as good or better than those mentioned :D . Would never admit it but he knows he is good and people have told him that all along his short life/career. Just a good old healthy selfconfidence..nothing wrong to it really as long as it creates positive things on the pitch for him.
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