Let's Hear It For Mikel

[MannyJello]

Our own "Maka 2.0" has had quite a start to the season; with Essien's injury, he has become a mainstay on the pitch, one of the first in Scolari's starting XI. He has played all 90 minutes in 11 of our 14 matches to date, with only Bosingwa, Terry and Lamps playing more.

The two things about him about which I am most pleased:

1. The lad only has 2 yellow cards, and hasn't come close to seeing red. Which is a huge improvement over years past.

2. Maka is one of my favorites ever to have worn the blue shirt, but Mikel seems to be 10 times more aggressive in terms of pushing the action. You could almost always count on Maka, with the ball, to make a short side pass but more often a back pass to the defense. Mikel seems to want to pass diagonally up the field first, switch the ball out to wing second, attack the defense with some dribbling next, and only as a last resort play the ball backwards. That has really added a new dimension to our club.

[Chelsea FC Champions]

all hail

JOHN OBI MIKEL!

[Mr Chelsea]

obi is having a great season so far

he seems well settled in the holding role and very rarley misses anything, he is very confident and at times makes it look easy

cant shoot for love nor money though (to long spent with makele me thinks)

[blizeH]

Our best and most consistent player by a mile so far this season, along with Lamps of course, but that's a given.

B)

(forum needs a Mikel smiley!)

[TerryIsALegend]

have been very impressed with mikel, will be interesting to see what scolari does when ballack and essien are both fit, on the performances so far i would not be dropping mikel

B)

[byatt]

I'm all for credit where its due and Obi has been outstanding so far this season and i think he can only get better, if we keep hold of him for years to come, when he hits his 30's he'll be better than Maka

[ethicalstrategy]

I'd agree with that. Neither Essien nor Ballack are ideally suited to the role anyway. As long as he remains fit and in form he will be hanging on to that slot no doubt.

[byatt]

I'd agree with that. Neither Essien nor Ballack are ideally suited to the role anyway. As long as he remains fit and in form he will be hanging on to that slot no doubt.

I'd rather see Essien bombing down that right hand-side of midfield to be honest with JC on the left, Deco, Lamps and Mikel in the middle

[BLUENUT]

He has cut out the back-chat to ref's and silly tyackles, the lad has matured this season - but I think there is a bit more to his game than just holding, I look forward to that side of his devlopment aswell.

[Liam]

I've never seen a player as overrated on these forums as Mikel, and there has been a few over the years.

He's young and has potential, but he has a long way to go in my opinion. I realise he has a lovely languid style, and is easy on the eye, but I think he flatters to deceive.

He's had very little to do this season in any case as we've dominated practically every game we've played. It's easy to hold when there's nothing to hold against. He has generally had plenty of time and space in which to operate in almost every game we've played.

He doesn't ever dictate the pace of play, something he has got to learn to do, and his range of passing is largely limited and often too long delayed.

Since he came to Chelsea I can remember 2 matches in which I thought he looked like a decent player.

Having said all that I voted for him for Man of the Match.

[ethicalstrategy]

You're a hard task master Liam. I think what has impressed me this season has been his ability to drive forward with the ball and not just play in the traditional Makelele style.

[Scott]

At this point I would probably pick Mikel for player of the year.

ps why have the colours gone all Hull City around here.

[Lofty]

At this point I would probably pick Mikel for player of the year.

Early days yet but not a bad shout.

ps why have the colours gone all Hull City around here.

Hullowe'en? Not into it myself. All that yellowy orange does my head in. The good news is you can choose 2.3 Glassy Series Blue from the Skin drop down box at the bottom left of the page.

[ethicalstrategy]

Early days yet but not a bad shout.

Hullowe'en? Not into it myself. All that yellowy orange does my head in. The good news is you can choose 2.3 Glassy Series Blue from the Skin drop down box at the bottom left of the page.

Thanks Lofty. That is such a relief!

[dkw]

for me mikel has been our best player so far, even more than lampard. simply because he had to step up and replace maka, something a lot of people thought wasnt possible. in fact, he actually brings more to the team than maka. against weaker opposition maka was sometimes left idle on the pitch because his defensive dutys werent needed, and he wouldnt really contribute to the attack. mikel on the other hand is very comfortably injecting himself into the attack, and is getting a lot more accustomed to the defensive side. he keeps the rhythm and pace of our game going, and is more like pirlo than maka in hte way he plays the game.

[ChrisC]

Hopefully he's at the Bridge for a long term stint, he'll become one of the top players in the Premiership

[midlandblue]

He's progressing well, but he needs to add goals to his game.

[dkw]

He's progressing well, but he needs to add goals to his game.

not really, not for the position and job he does he doesnt. the thing you dont see in highlights or on telly it the covering he does of the full backs when they bomb on. any spaces in the defensive cover are soon filled by mikel. its not his job to get forward and score goals, thats down to the attack. it would be nice if he got a couple, but i for one wouldnt mind if he never scored for us. remember, maka hadnt scored a goal in yeasr, until his (rubbish) penalty v charlton.

[midlandblue]

Yes realy, with the amount of forward attacking runs he makes, he will find himself the furthest midfield player and will have no better option then to take a pop at goal. This has happened all ready this season and he's not threatened the keeper yet.

this part of his game has to improve

[BLUENUT]

This has happened all ready this season and he's not threatened the keeper yet.

He may not have scored, but knocked £3 quids worth of hotdog out of my hand in the MH upper, or was that Malouda, or Kalou, or Anelka..........anyway our finishing needs improving all round, those hotdogs don't come cheap :D

[bonetti]

Mikel can pass forward and thread balls through the eye of a needle - never Makas strongest point for all his brilliance

[bennyboy1976]

I have got to take my hat off to the boy. I was realy concerned with him playing in this position. Nothing to do with his technical ability or positional sense, just his discipline, and he has proven me wrong thus far. Well done.

[Chippy]

Got to agree with both above posts...can you imagine what this Boy will be like in his late twenties?

[loz]

I think that a part of the reason for some of Mikel's 'unnecessary' challenges previously was because he was always in a position where he felt he had one game to prove himself and as a result he made rash decisions. Now he is playing week in week out he it not under that same pressure and his performances are far more assured.

When Essien gets back to fitness he is going to have a job getting Mikel out of the team (at least he should) and based on current form it is Deco whose place is most vulnerable however I'm not convinced Scolari will be dropping Deco in a hurry. Having said all that I would be surprised if we saw Essien ready for the first team before March so a lot can change between now and then.

And then there is Ballack as well.

[bennyboy1976]

I think that a part of the reason for some of Mikel's 'unnecessary' challenges previously was because he was always in a position where he felt he had one game to prove himself and as a result he made rash decisions. Now he is playing week in week out he it not under that same pressure and his performances are far more assured.

When Essien gets back to fitness he is going to have a job getting Mikel out of the team (at least he should) and based on current form it is Deco whose place is most vulnerable however I'm not convinced Scolari will be dropping Deco in a hurry. Having said all that I would be surprised if we saw Essien ready for the first team before March so a lot can change between now and then.

And then there is Ballack as well.

Leave it out Loz, your making me look forward to March already.