Has the real John Obi Mikel finally stepped forward?
This must be what all that fuss was about in the first place. John Obi Mikel’s £16m move from Lyn Oslo to Chelsea, via a Manchester United contract, was an ugly affair. Both clubs fought hard for a player who was clearly one of the world’s top talents. At the under-20 World Cup just before the deal, only Leo Messi had impressed more than the hulking Nigerian, and Frank Arnesen fought vehemently to secure his services. Managing to split the opinions of his own fans, and PL audiences in general, Mikel is starting to show why there was such a battle in the first place.
As an attacking midfielder for his country (pretty unbelievable considering some of his efforts on goal), Mikel was the youth team’s long term answer to Jay-Jay Okocha’s retirement. As with almost everything Mourinho touched at Chelsea during his time in West London, there were more defensive matters to be dealt with first: thus dictator, became destroyer. Mourinho already had Lampard and Essien, and Makelele was just about entering the twilight of his position-defining career; Mikel’s stature, married with neat touches on the ball, made him the ideal candidate to become chief bouncer at the door of Chelsea’s backline.
Before Stamford Bridge was recording score lines more suited for under-11 games, negativity was the main accusation to make of the outfit, and Mikel, without the rampant box to box play of Essien, was becoming the scapegoat: still excellent at his primary role, it was considered there were too many sideways passes, not enough impetus to drive the team on from deep. Under Ancelotti, and now especially that Essien has returned to partner him, rather than the mechanic Michael Ballack, that role has evolved into a more creative, positive duty.
At 6”3” his aerial ability has never been in question, and his strength is there for all to see. But it is his passing (direction more so than quality) that has seen the biggest transformation. Just under 40% of his passes now go forward, more than double the rate of last season, and what is more, his completion rate of 73.1% is more than other player in the league so far this season.
The adaptability between himself and Essien allows for greater fluidity in the middle of this Chelsea side. There is still the considerable weight to throw around as the league’s heaviest squad, but there is an extra vibrancy to accompany this virility. When Lampard returns to the fold, it will be a formidable threesome, and arguably the most potent combination of defence and attack in the league.
Mikel is not the only big improvement in the PL this season: Nani continues to grow (how much so? We will discuss tomorrow), Elmander suddenly looks like an international striker, Vincent Kompany has gone about his business commandingly while the big names around him grab the headlines, and United’s aloof Bulgarian is reminding everyone just how good he was at White Hart Lane. But you get the feeling with that list that they were simply underperforming, while Mikel was doing what had been drilled in to him, rather than the natural game he was used to, at the expense of his own reputation.
The fact that Michael Essien is already adding goals to his game makes it look as though Mikel will forever stay in the shade of his teammates’ limelight, and perhaps that is where is happiest. Any Chelsea fans that were somewhat perplexed by their nullifier, will now be witness to the fact that it was he that was being nullified. Given the license of expression, Mikel is now really proving, if it wasn’t known to already, that it was money well spent.
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The best thing that happened to Mikel was Mourinho’s depature – which I believe benefitted the whole club in general as Mourinho wouldn’t be able to live with the current sensible mode of business regarding spending and youths like McEachran, Bruma, van Aanholt and Kakuta wouldn’t have got a look in as Mourinho would do what he does – sign old nobodies as squad player – Ben Haim, for example.
Back to Mikel, I’ve said before that Ancelotti has successfully drummed some of Mikel’s natural creativity back into the player as he sees him more as a Pirlo.
He’s still young and can add goals to his game if he’s allowed a little more freedom, but as it is he is one of our most consistant performers and relativily unsung for his achievements.
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“At 6”3” his aerial ability has never been in question”
that must be a joke. he is the worst header of a ball i have ever seen. he doesn’t even go up for corners.
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Carlo Anceloti Reply:
October 14th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Do not judge players by heading, He is the most consistant performer will have this season and you have not even seen the best of him, do not be a hater or a racist…appreciate people for who they are and not the colour of their skin. THANK YOU!
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notagolfer Reply:
October 17th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
colour of their skin? wtf are you talking about? as far as i’m concerned mikel is blue…and a fantastic player who is improving all the time…but he is useless in the air. for such a big lad the ratio of headers he wins is appalling…and when he does win headers he generally has no idea where they are going to go…the first goal against city at home last year being a great example.
big fan of his…but saying “his aerial ability has never been in question” is just plain wrong. & calling me a racist is even wronger.
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You dont have to score goals, or go up for corners, to have aerial ability.
If you watch a chelsea game, see how many headers mikel wins in the middle of the pitch, from free-kicks and goal kicks etc, to get possession back for the team.
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Mikel has always been a good player for Chelsea, just that people didn’t recognize what he brings to the team. This season he has become more assertive and adventurous with his passing. I think Carlo saw a Pirlo in Mikel and wanted him to hit those creative forward passes more often. Just when he started doing that, he started getting more attention and recognition.
“…his completion rate of 73.1% is more than other player in the league so far this season.”
I read its in the region of 90%. 73 is something which even the worst passers in the league come out with.
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”Mikel has always been a good player for Chelsea, just that people didn’t recognize what he brings to the team.”
This is incorrect Edward. Most Chelsea fans have always been aware of what Mikel can bring to the team when he’s at the top of his game. Problem is, he was so inconsistent; while showing signs of his brilliance, he was often caught out of position, got caught in possesion, was wasteful of the ball and made a few too many rash challenges. This has all changed now and since adding these playmaker qualities to his game, he’s an absolute joy to watch.
I have a feeling Chelsea player of the season just might go to Mikel if he keeps up his performances.
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I have never doubted Mikel ‘s potential. He was over shadowed in the past considering the number of big and established stars he met on arrivals and so he found it difficult to take decisions on the pitch to avert been culpabled lest it didn’t material. Now he is more mature and has got more freedom. what do you expect, good football backed up with confidence. I bet you best of Mikel is not seen yet. By the time he scores his first premiership goal you will see the real Mikel.
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I have never doubted Mikel ‘s potential. he was over shadowed in the past considering the number of big and established stars he met on arrivals and so he found it difficult to take decision on the pitch to avert been culpabled lest it didn’t materialise. Now he his more mature and has got more freedom. what do you expect, good football backed up with confidence. I bet you best of Mikel is not seen yet. By the time he scores his first premiership goal you will see the real Mikel.
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