goldfish80:
Let's not pretend like we don't know why most people don't see Mikel as a Chelsea legend. I am not saying they are right or wrong but some perspective will do everyone alot of good.

For me, it was pitiful to watch a highly talented player like Mikel reduced to a role of a water carrier. He played with a lot of handbrakes, couldn't venture forward to express himself, he basically lumbered around in his own half,marking out players and providing an extra man for his team to pass the ball to and retain possession.
Look, let's be honest, this role is reserved for technically limited players like Roy Keane, Didier Deschamps and Dickson Etuhu. Mikel was too good a player to be reduced to a lumbering quater back.

If he had played the sort of role he played for Chelsea at the U20 world cup, nobody would have listed him as the better players of the tournament. Why wasn't Sani Keita rated next to Messi in 2005?

We can pretend like we don't know these, I see alot of people on this thread prefer quasi truths. Mikel at Chelsea became an object of mockery when he scored a one off goal off a corner kick against PsG.
The reaction to that goal should indicate what people expected of Mikel at Chelsea.

Yes, he could be a Chelsea legend but he never fulfilled the potential his talent deserved at Chelsea. That is the gospel truth.

edi287:

Only a fool would say this. Roger Milla played in europe when there were quotas for foreign players

Mujtahida:

Be more explicit. Only a fool says what?

Mickael2:



wasn't Kanu part of the team from 96 till 2010? I can remember we made the semis in all but one Afcon he participated and he scored some vital goals and earned some vital penalties and assists as well.


Chelsea's golden era can also be the year they won their first Epl or when they won it under Mou back then or when Ancelotti was destroying teams enroute to a double etc etc

edi287:

That Roger Milla isn't a legend.

edi287:

I think Moses Simon takes some good ones.

[/quote][quote author=Mujtahida post=60997587]
You sabi. In any case on this Mikel legend stuff it's all a matter of opinion. But if the club says he's a legend then legend he is. All other contrary opinions are academic.

somehow:
Really? Bit has he ever scored for us or when last did he score a FK?

Mujtahida:

Kanu never scored a single goal at any of the Afcons he participated in

kellycute:
To all Mikel hater club!!. I just wanna let you know that your opinions ain't matter. Go to Chelsea fc, go to Africa, everybody kip saying john Mikel obi is a legend. You can sit behind your phone and type hateful statement, you can believe whatever you wanna believe but it ain't phase Mikel. Chelsea gave him the legend status and if it make you sad or angry, you need to go for deliverance from the spirit of witchcraft cos envy is witchcraft trait. I know of someone who seriously need it.

edi287:

Think he scored one for us against Tanzania or so.

somehow:
Really? Let me look that up but who's our main FK player?

tbaba1234:


How about Chelsea's view?



How about John Terry's view?

TheGoodJoe:


I wonder who will tag Okocha pacy. Unless he has not watched Okocha before.

Mickael2:



Okocha is fast as simple as that. Is it thesame Okocha? Maybe you need to watch his highlights for Bolton again, if you see the speed he uses to hit teams on the counter you will not say what you just said. Maybe you can only recall his last years as a footballer, there is no shame in that, the human brain can be funny sometimes

edi287:

Probably Mikel

Mickael2:
What is the difference between pacy and fast? Pacy is more of like a player who relies on his speed but a fast player is a player who has the speed although he may not use it unless the situation calls for it. Okocha was fast but he relies more on skills

Gerrit?

Chrismario:


Bro keep giving your facts but you may not use the word *haters*

Danycrusoe:


Excuse me are there just 11 world class player playing every year? there are many exceptional players who miss out of the FIFA 11 and dat doesn't devalue their talents and qualities most of the times the trophy winning teams like BARCA and Madrid dominates the fifa 11 and say bayern but that doesn't mean legends don't exist in other parts of Europe and elsewhere. if u use ur logic then people like Giggs isn't a legend cuz he never played a major international tourney abi? remember unknown players from Saudi and Honduras players do make the World cup.

Mujtahida:

He's just making the thread sour. Not good. Kog45 does well on issues like this. People's age do really show through their posts.

Mujtahida:

Kanu never scored a single goal at any of the Afcons he participated in

neighy:
Una no dey tire??

Danycrusoe:


the thing is YAYA'S IMPACT @Barca is nothing Compared to Mikel's IMPACT @Chelsea, if I was lucky to sit on Barca's bench during their champions league winning campaign I too will v a champions league medal. u get?

the IMPACT over a LONG PERIOD is what stood MIKEL out. yes MIKEL won the Afcon before YAYA.

another thing, Mikel SURVIVED over 13 managers in one team before Conte came, but YAYA in his prime lost out under only the 3rd manager. Mikel survived different philosophies even when he was in form, out of form, inside form, on top of form he was always innit.

somehow:
I have one reservation for the current SE squad, does it mean we have no one who can take accurate FK? By now, we should have a 50% (accuracy) free kick taker.

There was a time Emenike used to take for us, Taiye Taiwo, okocha, oboabona, osaze but of recent, we haven't scored a free kick.

Shouldn't our players be taught this or learn on their own?

Countless times have clubs/countries been saved by FKs.

It's a leverage just like PKs

Joebie:
Right. That's why the argument has been, for now. Trust me I want to see Omeruo improve and become even better than AFCON 2013. You never know Conte may just retain him.

tbaba1234:


A get together will be great but distance will not allow me attend.....

Joebie will make a good journalist if interested. I think he does a great job with his updates.

Bros Icon4s is a chairman. Kog45 is also part of the committee of chairmen.

I love the honesty/bluntness of safarigirl.

Goldfish80 always offers good insights that are sometimes missed.

Goodjoe has very strong valuable opinions even when i do not agree.

Komekn's knowledge of the English game is a real asset.

Mujtahida:

Okocha was fast. Not very fast as Ronaldinho, not as slow as Mikel or Kanu. His pace was more like that of Maradona.

Mujtahida:

This is the intolerant spirit we must all combat here to create an open, thriving space for discussions and avoid a repeat of what played out not too long ago.
They have a different opinion on Mikel. Mickael2 is almost habitually negative in his views which you can either respect or ignore(his comments prick me raw but I do respect them). People disagree - Doesn't mean they are haters. Please quit this stance of tarring others who disagree with you with the tar brush of hatred. It doesn't help create an atmosphere for fruitful engagement. Please enlarge your heart. Cheers

TheGoodJoe:


Raheem Sterling not groomed? Means you are arguing a point you do not understand.