Mikel has been speciffically asked to do less for CFC, hence the DM role.

I think it's just easier for him. I think everyone knows he actually has a pretty good passing range, he just does not have the speed of thought to exhibit that in most matches. However in ACON, most African teams do not press him, and he also has forwards very willing to make runs in behind the defence in Emenike and Brown, while we have a very static striker.

I also reckon Mikel plays with more confidence for his country. He knows he is one of their best players, and I am glad to see he has taken on the responsibility well for Nigeria, was one of the most experienced in this young squad, didn't faze him. Seen elements of this increased sense of responsibility for Chelsea as well.

Worth noting Mikel got the highest chances created/game in the tournament.

Oscar is another one who seems to play with more confidence for country than club.

Mikel previously has played a more free role for Nigeria but he was a DM for most of this tournament - he still used the ball well though from deep.

BK

Mikel is not a DM. If Chelsea take the shackles off, they will see why he was the second best player in the under 20 tournament to Messi.

That is a fair comment.

We bought him as a attacking midfielder, but Jose soon knocked that out of him and tried to turn him into maka mark II.

However his speed of thought/movement is sometimes very slow, not what you would expect from a player in an attacking role.

Still a young player with time to get better, the best DM players seem to get better with experience/age

I think everyone knows he actually has a pretty good passing range, he just does not have the speed of thought to exhibit that in most matches. However in ACON, most African teams do not press him

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The Premiership is played at 100 mph and as BK says Mikel simply doesn´t have the speed of thought which is probably why he unfairly looks a bit cráp sometimes.

Simple.
Opposition.
No other reasons. Didn't see one player within 5 metres of mikel in the final.
Also Moses who I believe is a good player, looked like ronaldo out there.

Funny thing is most Chelsea fans are still undecided about Moses but in reality he rarely plays badly each time he's been called upon. Poor lad can't just do anything right.

Thanks, TBK - good analysis! The thing is, he's at a level of experience where he should just about be approaching his peak, and it seems that his ability to read gameplay, as well as his confidence on the field (won all significant club and continental trophies now), should be pretty good by now. Is there anything that can be done to get him to contribute to Chelsea's offense the way he contributes to Nigeria's, or would that cause more problems than it solves (i.e. making us more prone to counters, etc.)?

Good point about Oscar having similar issues, although Oscar is much farther from being a finished product as a player.

"Funny thing is most Chelsea fans are still undecided about Moses but in reality he rarely plays badly each time he's been called upon. "

I was initially skeptical about Moses, but the guy definitely brings something to the team - he doesn't have speed, but dances circles around defenders, and can hold on to the ball until attacking players get into position (he sometimes delays a pass for too long, but that's a minor issue). I don't know why people are always complaining about him - at the very least, he's a useful squad player, but he's probably done enough to be more or less level with Oscar in competing for the third AM spot.