The problem is Messi has gone on to become a 100m pound plus player, Mikel hasn't. If that's because he is not playing the same position as then then let's sell him, because he is not better than the AMs we already have. My other point is Mikel is just that for us, a DM. Other DMs offer an extra dimension to their game such as Martinez, De Rossi and Vidal, they do their job (what should be a given) and then add some more, Mikel just doesnt
I think Mikel could if we freed him up. However, he's made to sit in one place with no movement. He may not be a long passer, but he could be a tank in the middle.
Mikel has only given us glimpses of what he can do because of the way we have forced him to play. He is a very good DM, but that's not his natural game. Would love to see Jose free him up and let him rip like he does for his Country.
I'm sure you'd only have to look at previous winners and runners up of the youth cup player awards to know that it says little about their future. African players are fairly notorious for standing out in youth tournaments and then failing to progress leading to accusations that they're actually older than they say they are. Adu and Mikel are great examples of this. Perhaps it's just that they're more physically developed, eitherway it's a tenuous way of proving his any good right now. Integral? Give over, he benefitted from Makelele leaving and Essien picking up a lot of injuries. Mourinho hardly worked with him as did Grant and Hiddink, who didn't even have a transfer window to replace him in. There are plenty of players who do get praised for being excellent defensive midfielders but Mikel isn't one of them because he's not very good. As I said, an average footballer and easily replaceable.
As was Cahill. They're limited players, well suited to a congested pitch where it's backs against the wall defending for the most part. Edit: Just to make clear, I wasn't disagreeing, just adding to what you said
Of course he benefited from Makalele leaving and Essien getting injured, that's how most young players get their break. It happened with Bale who only got in the side due to injuries to other players and was experimented in midfield later on. Messi got his break Guily left and it was decided Deco would be sold. The list is endless. You can't be an average player if you've played a key role in many cup successes as Mikel has down the years. 3 or 4 top coaches can't all be wrong. Defensive midfielders still do not get much praise. The Champions League Final and Championship playoff final are classic case in point. Jedinak and Javi Martinez easily the best players on the park in the respective games but Zaha and Robben get MOTM who were pony for the majority of the match. Along with Cech and Drogba, Mikel was easily our best performer in the CL final as well. Not bad for an average player.
What have Bale and Messi got to do with anything, surely you realise I'm well aware how players breakthrough into teams? My point was that he could hardly be considered "integral" if he needed Essien's injuries and the phasing out and selling of Makelele to help him get games. Maybe we just understand the word very differently, maybe you also think Bale and Messi were also integral parts of their respective sides when they first started getting games. For me, someone who is integral is crucial to how you play and is a first choice. You can be an average player and win trophies. Kalou must have a near identical trophy haul to Mikel and goodness knows how many of the United title winning side you'd consider average. What about Cahill, he's consistently won trophies since joining Chelsea, is he a top player? Mikel wasn't even close to being your best performer in the CL, surely Cech, Drogba and Ramires were all way out ahead of him? Maybe it's you underappreciating midfielders now because if it wasn't for Ramires you'd never have had a lead to defend against Barca(twice!). Now he was integral to your team, no one else suited the countering game you played as well as he did.
I was on about the final. I guess we will have to agree to disagree but nonetheless your opinion is shared by many Chelsea fans. Mikel is a marmite player as this thread has proved. He's either brilliant or average/poor. I agree he would be easily replaceable as there is currently a strong market for DM's at the moment