An ode to Obi: Mikel took the armband on Sunday and headed home on his 300th game... this is how Chelsea man has turned from red card villain into crucial component
By RIK SHARMA





Everybody was surprised when Michael Essien handed the captain's armband to John Obi Mikel on Sunday.
Even Jose Mourinho admitted after the game that by right Ashley Cole should have received it when the Ghanaian was substituted.
But Mikel and Cole were both signed by Mourinho in July 2006 and it's clear that the former, rather than the latter, will play the more crucial part in a Chelsea title bid.
In dreamland: John Obi Mikel scored his second goal of the season for Chelsea - his only other goals came in his first year at the club, also under Jose Mourinho
In dreamland: John Obi Mikel scored his second goal of the season for Chelsea - his only other goals came in his first year at the club, also under Jose Mourinho
Picture perfect: Mikel rose to meet Willian's free kick and headed it home with panache
Picture perfect: Mikel rose to meet Willian's free kick and headed it home with panache
During the past seven-and-a-half years, since signing as a 19-year-old, Mikel has matured immensely.
He's 26 at the moment - 27 in April - and approaching the peak of his career.
Everybody was even more surprised, on Sunday, when Mikel scored; his header was only his fourth Chelsea goal, arriving in his 300th game.
Mikel is the fourth non-British player to reach that total for Chelsea, behind undisputed club legends Petr Cech (459 appearances), Didier Drogba (341) and Gianfranco Zola (312).
He has been consistently selected since he joined, by no less than eight managers. Mourinho, Hiddink, Ancelotti and the rest can't all be wrong.
And yet Mikel still divides opinion among Chelsea supporters. Many chide him if he ever misplaces a pass and wonders what he adds to the team.
Perhaps this is a hangover from his early, ill-disciplined days, where he would lunge in rashly for tackles and pick up red cards.
The transfer itself was controversial; he had signed for Manchester United from Lyn Oslo, but Chelsea had agreed a deal with his agent.
Back in the day: Mikel playing for Lyn Oslo
Mikel holds the Chelsea shirt after signing
Back in the day: Mikel playing for Lyn Oslo and (right) after signing his Chelsea contract
A press conference where Mikel sported a Red Devils' shirt only clouded the matter and after lengthy legal wrangles, Chelsea eventually emerged with their prize - at a cost of £4million to Lyn and £12m to United.
Subsequently, Lyn director Morgan Andersen was convicted of fraud and Chelsea issued a High Court Claim against him and the club, to try and recoup the money.
The matter was settled out of court, confidentially, but it likely means that Chelsea paid less than £16m for the defensive midfielder - a pittance given his service over the years.
It did not appear that way at first though; despite Mourinho putting his faith in Mikel, playing him 42 times in his debut season in England, the player's attitude was not quite right.
He was late to training a handful of times and on the pitch some of his decision making left plenty to be desired.
Mikel was booked nine times and sent off twice in 2006-07, and had two reds the following season with eight bookings (39 games). He hasn't been red carded since, and now averages seven yellow cards a season.
Bad times: Mikel, pictured being sent off against Reading in October 2006, and below, against Arsenal
Bad times: Mikel, pictured being sent off against Reading in October 2006, and below, against Arsenal
You're gone: Mikel sent off against Arsenal in 2007 League Cup final
You're gone: Mikel sent off against Arsenal in 2007 League Cup final
As his discipline improves, his awareness of the game and his surroundings increases as well. Or perhaps it's the other way around.
Mikel is composed - he can receive the ball under pressure from several opposition players, drawing them in, before sliding it along to a team-mate in a better position.
This draws criticism that he can only pass sideways or backwards, but if Chelsea are trying to keep possession those balls are crucial.
He is a player that Chelsea's defence can trust to come deep and sit in amongst them if needed, someone who never hides and will always make himself available for a pass.
You notice when Mikel does make a mistake or misplace a pass, because it's so rare for him to do so.
Mikel is the best screen in front of the defence that Chelsea have - and is one of the best in the world at this role.
Ramires makes plenty of tackles but when he's left as the most defensive player in the Blues' midfield, they can look exposed.
Tough tackler: Mikel is not afraid of putting in a shift and makes many crucial challenges
Tough tackler: Mikel is not afraid of putting in a shift and makes many crucial challenges
Following in the master's - Makelele - footsteps was always going to be difficult but some Chelsea supporters may not appreciate what Mikel offers until it is gone.
As you will know, in his youth, Mikel used to be an attacking midfielder. Mourinho saw the potential for him to play as an anchorman and deployed him there from the start.
It does lead people to wonder why he hasn't contributed more goals and assists, but given his role in the side it's safety first for Mikel.
However, given his aerial prowess, he should have scored more goals from set piece situations, like the one against Derby County, rising to nod home Willian's free kick.
Heads up: Mikel is strong in the air defensively... but he should be more threatening from set pieces
Heads up: Mikel is strong in the air defensively... but he should be more threatening from set pieces
Andersen had stated, during the transfer debacle: 'Alex Ferguson said to me that Mikel would be the new Roy Keane and he was offered a contract that was even better than the one they gave Cristiano Ronaldo when he came to the club.'
Perhaps a weakness is his speed; Mikel is not the quickest, and, infrequently, still throws himself into tackles which he might not be able to win.
Mikel is also a big game player. His finest performance to date for the club came in the Champions League final, against Bayern Munich, the greatest night in Chelsea's history.
He was arguably man of the match on that day, although Didier Drogba's brilliant equaliser and cup-winning penalty kick overshadowed him on that day.
That's often the story for Mikel. A quiet, under-appreciated but crucial part of a trophy-winning side.
Key component: Mikel put in a superb display against Bayern Munich on Chelsea's greatest night
Key component: Mikel put in a superb display against Bayern Munich on Chelsea's greatest night

John Obi Mikel's Chelsea goal collection
1. Chelsea v Macclesfield (Jan 6 2007, FA Cup)
A quite superb volley from the edge of the box, rifled into the top corner.
2. Chelsea v Nottingham Forest (Jan 28 2007, FA Cup)
An ugly tap-in after a deflected Frank Lampard corner.
Unbelievable: Branislav Ivanovic (left) looks stunned after Mikel ended his goal drought against Fulham
Unbelievable: Branislav Ivanovic (left) looks stunned after Mikel ended his goal drought against Fulham
3. Chelsea v Fulham (Sep 21 2013, Premier League)
Hooked in strike from close range to break six year plus goal drought. Cue pandemonium
4. Derby v Chelsea
A flicked header from Willian's free kick

John Obi Mikel's trophy cabinet
Premier League (2009-10)
FA Cup x 4 (2007, 09, 10, 12)
League Cup (2007)
Champions League (2012)
Europa League (2013)






Opinions

caio1989, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 27 minutes ago

Mikel is nothing special. It's very hard to find a world class defensive midfield these days so Chelsea sticks with him beacuse he doesn't screw up very often. His job is not very hard because Chelsea olays with a lot of midfields that help him. I wanto to see him been exposed like Fernandinho is in a 4-4-2 tactic than we will know his real qualities.
ReplyNew 1 0 Click to rate


chris, london, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago
The Mourinho effect.
ReplyNew 2 1 Click to rate


Paultsjan, Singapore, Singapore, 3 hours ago
John Obi Mikel is that sort of player who did his work quietly and without fuss as compare to his more illustrious colleague in the team. He hold a vital clout in the between midfield position and defense line at Chelsea. Just like Sami Khedira at Real Madrid and by nature of his position is seldom recognized. Happy to note that there is some positive comment coming his way for his contribution in the team.
ReplyNew 1 14 Click to rate

ChelseaG3, London, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago
If you want to indirectly declare 'I have no knowledge when it comes to football', go ahead and post 'Too many back passes he is so slow'.. Idiotic tools, why woud Carrick and Busquets receive your praise yet Mikel, who contributes in the same manner to the team, be criticized? Top player who consistently does his job.
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Tuwendy, Lagos, 2 hours ago
God bless you bro. Far far better than Carrick in defensive midfield
0 13 Click to rate


Willis_Hide, Auckland, New Zealand, 4 hours ago
The embodiment of Chelski and its bus-parking philosophy. An unimaginative player who offers little to the team apart from sideways passes, reckless tackles and the slowing down his own team's attacking ventures.
ReplyNew 31 0 Click to rate


Willis_Hide, Auckland, New Zealand, 4 hours ago
Better than Makelelele!
ReplyNew 10 11 Click to rate
wizzybang, Sydney, 3 hours ago
Nah boy...
4 9 Click to rate


pamery, London, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago
It's good to see Mikel getting the recognition he deserves. A key player for Chelsea, who will be crucial as this season moves towards its climax.
ReplyNew 2 23 Click to rate


isaacsappor, accra, Ghana, 5 hours ago
unsung hero in the chelsea squad.good managers know what mikel brings to their team,no wonder all managers who have come and gone used him in their team.john obi is a unique footballer.good ball retention and all.
ReplyNew 1 32 Click to rate


Paul, Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom, 6 hours ago
Th defence always look tighter with Mikel in the team. Hes not a goalscoring midfielder leave that to Lamps Oscar and Hazard.
ReplyNew 2 33 Click to rate


johnmacterry, swindon, United Kingdom, 7 hours ago
How on earth has this fella got 300 games the bloke is a donkey with boots 4 goals and many misplaced passes the only decent game CL final out if 300 sell him off or bring in much better talent from our so called youth system
ReplyNew 75 8 Click to rate


Jazz Pee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7 hours ago
You are the donkey with no brains for soccer...He has played under every Chelsea since we signed him and has always performed well when called upon..He is a world Class Player...
6 48 Click to rate


Tuwendy, Lagos, 2 hours ago
All the younger talents we have if they were better they would be in the team by now. Even Mikel made Michael ballak and the likes to retire. You are a donkey !



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2534573/John-Obi-Mikel-How-Chelsea-man-transformed-seven-years-crucial-component.html

Who is going to read all this rubbish, for goodness sake.

Hmmm intresting Wish he was that attacking talen,would have been a bomb

Notice how 70% hold him in high esteem?
Yet some people will still come here and write 50-page epistles on how the guy is overrated.

I think d op should av done some editing b4 posting dis coz of many repetitions. Anyway it's bad if we can't appreciate nd praise our own brother (Mikel) but others (foreigners) ar doing d praising for us.
How many English players are better than Mikel but yet dey praise dem as if dey can lick Ronaldo's nd Messi's shoe laces. God help some ppl dt mixes sentiments nd reality together wen passing judgement in dis country.

Its just because Mikel doesnt score goals... thats why he is not usually recognized. Its d position mourinho started him with and thats what he has been playing for the last 300 games with Chelsea.

safarigirl: Notice how 70% hold him in high esteem?
Yet some people will still come here and write 50-page epistles on how the guy is overrated.

correct.as if all those blabbing can stand a chance in enyimba let alone chelsea.if as much as 8managers cannot dispense with his services,i wonder who the hea l the haters are.

Rhydem: Who is going to read all this rubbish, for goodness sake.

me

Actually,i didnt see any comment dat slated or criticize him.
I found only one nigerian among those comments,d rest are foreigners.