At one point he seemed the real deal but clearly it never quite worked out
Turned it off when he messed up the chance in the box
I watched that whole video - and I wonder what it was that you saw. I always loved Mikel - he provided a solid physical presence, and was surprisingly skillful for a big guy - but I think it's fair to say that he did not have a great end product. He allowed other better attacking players at Chelsea to play - but there is no way you could say that he didn't fulfill his potential at Chelsea because he wasn't playing further forward. He played incredibly well in his defensive midfield position - and amongst other things allowed us to win the Champions League. He may have been Nigeria's number 10, but that's only because they didn't have any better attacking players. Chelsea did.
Here's another one in Chelsea's colors. Found it on one of these Youtubers twitter handle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV4UbEv2NkM&feature=youtu.be
He plays with so much guile not typically appreciated in English football. Mourinho was said the way Mikel played was not an easy way to play soccer. Only talented player can make playing soccer look so easy
Jon Obi was actually a very good footballer given a bad rap by some ignorant fans. Played most of his career out of position and did it very well. Had very good ball skills for a big lad too.
comment by The Blue Texan (U11585)
posted 10 hours, 7 minutes ago
He plays with so much guile not typically appreciated in English football. Mourinho was said the way Mikel played was not an easy way to play soccer. Only talented player can make playing soccer look so easy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe that’s why he was so awkward, usually out of position and slow to move about. Guy was like the qe2 at times.
comment by vavarising (U21731)
posted 7 hours, 40 minutes ago
Jon Obi was actually a very good footballer given a bad rap by some ignorant fans. Played most of his career out of position and did it very well. Had very good ball skills for a big lad too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
comment by Devil D.A. (U6522)
posted 47 minutes ago
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Disagree with this, Devil. He was a very good player - in his defensive midfield position. He created space for himself, and frequently seemed to have so much time on the ball because he had such great skills. But I agree that his speed was his downfall. He played as a number 10 for Nigeria, but was not quick enough in the premier league to play as a number 10.
He was frequently undervalued by a selection of Chelsea fans though - he did a great job for us.
comment by Devil D.A. (U6522)
posted 18 hours, 32 minutes ago
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh on Mikel and Kalou. We had many average players who looked out of their depth and were duly sold. Kalou spent years at Chelsea managing double figure goals each season, frustrating style of play, yes, but also talented, the type of hard working, versatile and efficient player every team needs. When you look at how our team is struggling for goals he would probably be even more suited to this system then most of the other systems he played under. Still going strong in the Bundesliga at age 33, turning 34 this year
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 17 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by Devil D.A. (U6522)
posted 47 minutes ago
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Disagree with this, Devil. He was a very good player - in his defensive midfield position. He created space for himself, and frequently seemed to have so much time on the ball because he had such great skills. But I agree that his speed was his downfall. He played as a number 10 for Nigeria, but was not quick enough in the premier league to play as a number 10.
He was frequently undervalued by a selection of Chelsea fans though - he did a great job for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Was valued perfectly at his level by Chelsea fans. Probably a nice guy off the pitch, like Ferreira and was happy being on the bench. Stole a living imo but fair play to him. Probably the worst defensive midfielder at actually defending and marking I’ve seen lol
Kalou was fun though, productive player.
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh on Mikel and Kalou. We had many average players who looked out of their depth and were duly sold. Kalou spent years at Chelsea managing double figure goals each season, frustrating style of play, yes, but also talented, the type of hard working, versatile and efficient player every team needs. When you look at how our team is struggling for goals he would probably be even more suited to this system then most of the other systems he played under. Still going strong in the Bundesliga at age 33, turning 34 this year
----------------------------------------------------
Not harsh at all. Both were OK players whose weaknesses were magnified because our team was so good back then. Neither of them would be out of their depth in this Chelsea team, infact both would be very valuable squad options (especially Mikel as that Jorginho backup), but for the Chelsea teams they played in they were a hindrance.
In Kalou's case the team didn't really need a player like him. Because it was so direct and functional it needed either a perfect compliment to it (e.g. an in-form Malouda) or a complete contrast to instill an element of unpredictability and flair (e.g. what Robben was/Robinho could've been). Kalou was somewhere between both, he didn't really fit.
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Is this really Mikel?!
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posted on 6/3/19
At one point he seemed the real deal but clearly it never quite worked out
posted on 6/3/19
Turned it off when he messed up the chance in the box
posted on 6/3/19
I watched that whole video - and I wonder what it was that you saw. I always loved Mikel - he provided a solid physical presence, and was surprisingly skillful for a big guy - but I think it's fair to say that he did not have a great end product. He allowed other better attacking players at Chelsea to play - but there is no way you could say that he didn't fulfill his potential at Chelsea because he wasn't playing further forward. He played incredibly well in his defensive midfield position - and amongst other things allowed us to win the Champions League. He may have been Nigeria's number 10, but that's only because they didn't have any better attacking players. Chelsea did.
posted on 6/3/19
Here's another one in Chelsea's colors. Found it on one of these Youtubers twitter handle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV4UbEv2NkM&feature=youtu.be
posted on 6/3/19
He plays with so much guile not typically appreciated in English football. Mourinho was said the way Mikel played was not an easy way to play soccer. Only talented player can make playing soccer look so easy
posted on 7/3/19
Jon Obi was actually a very good footballer given a bad rap by some ignorant fans. Played most of his career out of position and did it very well. Had very good ball skills for a big lad too.
posted on 7/3/19
comment by The Blue Texan (U11585)
posted 10 hours, 7 minutes ago
He plays with so much guile not typically appreciated in English football. Mourinho was said the way Mikel played was not an easy way to play soccer. Only talented player can make playing soccer look so easy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe that’s why he was so awkward, usually out of position and slow to move about. Guy was like the qe2 at times.
posted on 7/3/19
comment by vavarising (U21731)
posted 7 hours, 40 minutes ago
Jon Obi was actually a very good footballer given a bad rap by some ignorant fans. Played most of his career out of position and did it very well. Had very good ball skills for a big lad too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol
posted on 7/3/19
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
posted on 7/3/19
comment by Devil D.A. (U6522)
posted 47 minutes ago
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Disagree with this, Devil. He was a very good player - in his defensive midfield position. He created space for himself, and frequently seemed to have so much time on the ball because he had such great skills. But I agree that his speed was his downfall. He played as a number 10 for Nigeria, but was not quick enough in the premier league to play as a number 10.
He was frequently undervalued by a selection of Chelsea fans though - he did a great job for us.
posted on 8/3/19
comment by Devil D.A. (U6522)
posted 18 hours, 32 minutes ago
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh on Mikel and Kalou. We had many average players who looked out of their depth and were duly sold. Kalou spent years at Chelsea managing double figure goals each season, frustrating style of play, yes, but also talented, the type of hard working, versatile and efficient player every team needs. When you look at how our team is struggling for goals he would probably be even more suited to this system then most of the other systems he played under. Still going strong in the Bundesliga at age 33, turning 34 this year
posted on 8/3/19
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 17 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by Devil D.A. (U6522)
posted 47 minutes ago
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Disagree with this, Devil. He was a very good player - in his defensive midfield position. He created space for himself, and frequently seemed to have so much time on the ball because he had such great skills. But I agree that his speed was his downfall. He played as a number 10 for Nigeria, but was not quick enough in the premier league to play as a number 10.
He was frequently undervalued by a selection of Chelsea fans though - he did a great job for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Was valued perfectly at his level by Chelsea fans. Probably a nice guy off the pitch, like Ferreira and was happy being on the bench. Stole a living imo but fair play to him. Probably the worst defensive midfielder at actually defending and marking I’ve seen lol
posted on 8/3/19
Kalou was fun though, productive player.
posted on 8/3/19
The more time passes I'm not buying the rational that Jose ruined him. With the pace the game is played at in the Premier League he'd have been even worse as a no.10, you can't be as slow with the ball as he was playing that high up the pitch.
Looking back Mikel was just an average player out of his depth in an exceptional team. Same as Kalou.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh on Mikel and Kalou. We had many average players who looked out of their depth and were duly sold. Kalou spent years at Chelsea managing double figure goals each season, frustrating style of play, yes, but also talented, the type of hard working, versatile and efficient player every team needs. When you look at how our team is struggling for goals he would probably be even more suited to this system then most of the other systems he played under. Still going strong in the Bundesliga at age 33, turning 34 this year
----------------------------------------------------
Not harsh at all. Both were OK players whose weaknesses were magnified because our team was so good back then. Neither of them would be out of their depth in this Chelsea team, infact both would be very valuable squad options (especially Mikel as that Jorginho backup), but for the Chelsea teams they played in they were a hindrance.
In Kalou's case the team didn't really need a player like him. Because it was so direct and functional it needed either a perfect compliment to it (e.g. an in-form Malouda) or a complete contrast to instill an element of unpredictability and flair (e.g. what Robben was/Robinho could've been). Kalou was somewhere between both, he didn't really fit.
Page 1 of 1