Fair play to him.. Playing DM, Is he at the same level as Yaya, he is not even a Barry? would take Essien any day over Mikel.. Can't wait for the ACON ..
Essien is finished and rarely commands a starting place at Real. Mikel has been immense this season and he will get even better. Hail Obi one
Class player, doesn't fit the style of play we're aiming for though. (slows the game down) As for Essien, are you having a laugh?!
Those who don't rate Mikel are blind, biased living in the past or all three. He has been our most consistent player all year with no help from those in front of or beside him.
Mikel isn't perfect but does a job well, has had a great last 12 months for us and fully deserving of the deal. How many of our players have performed consistently as well as him this season? Mata, err.....
Mikel - the guy does a decent enough job for me. Essien - sadly his time is over at the very top. Christ I wish he was still here at his peak.
I see all the positive responses.. agree he is decent... my question is does he have the calibre to play for us? we compare chelsea to the likes of Citeh.. so we should be comparing Mikel to Toure / Barry.. Mikel is no where near them and how can he play for us every week..
Toure I give you but Barry, come on!!! Mikel is up there with the other DM's in the league bar Toure, who is actually having a poor season by his standards.
I too think JOM is better than Barry. Toure not having the best season but I'd like him in our team - he reminds of a hefty version of Ramires when he is sprinting forward albeit without the same kind of finishing touch.
Toure is the most talented , but he has help. Mikel is doing it tougher. When and if we ever get the controlling midfielder we need, and our defence playing as it used to, Obi will really start to shine.
he is looking improved this season and one day he is going to shoot and the ball will fly into the back of the net. hopefully it will be a cup final winner !!
.... and now he's got a 3 game suspension! It's only when they go missing you realise how important they are!
not sure whether this will be a good indicator - given how dire our run is! Ok, I agree no one is as good as Yaya out there.. good footballer needs to have SPEED & SKILL & STRENGTH - Yaya has all three.. Let's take Barry & our own Mikel.. # Speed - Both don't have # Strength - Both have little strength - perhaps Mikel edges Barry by narrowest # Skill - This is tricky. I would measure skill by the important goals scored by the player.. In that sense, Barry have scored few for Citeh.. You can argue he was helped, then what about Barry's Villa goals? Can we just say Mikel hasn't scored any skills or goals..
