Chelsea Roundtable: John Obi Mikel—Flattering to Deceive or Top-Notch Talent?

5) Does he really make as many mistakes as opposition fans are claiming?

Salomon Gonzales:

I honestly do not think he makes that many mistakes. The only ones that are stuck in my mind are the errors against Roma that cost us a few goals, and in the 2-2 draw against Fulham, where his lack of awareness allowed Clint Dempsey to rescue a point for Fulham in the dying minutes.

He has played virtually every minute since the third game this season, when Essien returned to the club injured from international duty.

For a 21 year old, who is having his first real run in the side, I think he has done remarkably well. He is getting more and more relaxed on the ball and he does not over-complicate things as some players like to do.

The errors he HAS made however, have been crucially punished and hence why it is so highlighted so much.

Steven Ho:

Personally, I've criticized him for some mistakes but it's actually his overall poor play that I'm most critical about, especially defensively.

When he tries to tackle players, he looks like a lost puppy. He's shown a really amateur way of defending, where he simply runs after the ball whilst it's easily being passed around him. Frankly, it's the kind of defending that you literally expect to see on a school playground.

Another key responsibility for a defensive midfielder is to track player's runs into the box. Yet time and time again this season he has simply not done it.

He appears so lazy sometimes, jogging back to goal instead being hell-bent on winning the ball back. You'll often see him tracking a player for a few yards and then give up, relying on the defense to pick him up instead. Is that good enough for a club expected to win major titles?

In the heading department, he's been caught out too, as not being a strong header of the ball. Passing from midfield, he's also displayed nothing special.

All in all, I don't think he possesses the intelligence, skill, or determination yet to be a defensive midfielder.

If anyone is unsure of why I have this viewpoint on Mikel, go back and watch the games that he's played this season and truly analyse his performances in them. I guarantee you that you'll see what I described above. 

You question to me was: does he really make as many mistakes as fans are claiming? I don't know how many mistakes fans are claiming but my answer is that he's made enough crucial mistakes, enough amateurish errors in his poor play, to deserve to be dropped from the side until he's improved a lot more.

Alan McGuiness:

He used to.

Now he retains the ball better and doesn't jump into tackles as much. I think a lot of opposition fans haven't watched him properly and just jump on his reputation he picked up during his first two seasons with Chelsea.

He has an arrogance on the ball that makes him stand out. He just doesn't seem to think he's going to lose it. Sometimes he appears to be a bit complacent but overall he has turned into a very important player for Chelsea.

That's it! I would like to thank Steven Ho for his wonderful and colourful contribution. It was priceless. And Alan McGuiness for his continued contribution to the Chelsea community.

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