When Mikel came into limelight in 2005, I was one of the people that thought, a new Zidane had come, that at last, Nigeria has produced a player that will soon be in contention for World player of the year. The world became Mikel's oyster. He became the beautiful bride wanting to be courted by every big Club. But the hype was not out of place, given Mikel's performance in WYC 2005. At home here in Naija, there was a fierce debate on who was better between JJ and Mikel. Many people sid a new JJ had arrived. Segun Odegbami wrote he was more like Oliseh than JJ. Some people contended he JJ,Oliseh and kanu rolled into one.

In international media and online forums, the name Mikel continued to recur, for enviable reason. You feel proud being a Nigerian in those foreign forums. In a discussion thread in an American forum, Bigsoccer, in 2005, many posters listed Mikel in their list of TOP 5 PLAYERS IN THE WORLD IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS. He was highly rated the world over. Some compared him with Zidane. Some said he played like Riquelme at his peak in Villareal and Argentine national team. BBC sports analysts reported a new Superstar from Africa had arrived to succeed Eto'o, Essien and Drogba.
I had not discovered NL then, so Bigsoccer was my favourite online forum. In that American forum, the very few people that cautioned the Mikel trumpeters that 'Let's wait and see what this boy will play first before all these accolades' were regarded as haters and pessimists.

But when Mikel was not able to replicate his Holland performance in his first season in Chelsea, I was still one of those that had confidence in mikel's ability. We all poured blame on Mourinho for converting him to a DM.

Now, I have come to believe that Mikel is overrated. I'm not saying that he's not good, but far less than what people say of him. I don't think he can replicate that WYC performance again.

What surprises me most is that this guy still gets good rating the world over. Or am I watching a different Mikel? Imagine goal.com listing him among africa's Top 10 in 2008, leaving out a better performers like Yaya Toure, Seidu Keita etc.

Trust the ever jealous Ghanaweb forumers. One of out every 5 threads in that forum is on Mikel. Nobody even cares here.

Supported. This is the most overated Nigerian/African in footballing history. Mr Backpass

Its not like he is overrated. I feel he is playing out of position. They guy is not a DM. He should be a playmaker that he was at holland 2005.

For all the love and respect I have for JM, that is the only one thing (converting Mikel into a Holding midfielder) he did that I cannot just understand. Why did he do that?

Many may not agree but Scolari should see better and promote the guy forward or at least give him a free role.

FBS:

Its not like he is overrated. I feel he is playing out of position. They guy is not a DM. He should be a playmaker that he was at holland 2005.

For all the love and respect I have for JM, that is the only one thing (converting Mikel into a Holding midfielder) he did that I cannot just understand. Why did he do that?

Many may not agree but Scolari should see better and promote the guy forward or at least give him a free role.

I also use to give him this excuse until now. Mikel just sucks now. Unlike under JM when he was strictly a DM, he now pushes forward under Big Phil, but still can't do anything special. He has played his natural CM role for Super Eagles a number of times, but his performance is just poor. Not in any way outstanding.
Imagine a player that cannot hold ball for 3 seconds. Imagine a player that only passes sideways and backward.

Jarus:

I also use to give him this excuse until now. Mikel just sucks now. Unlike under JM when he was strictly a DM, he now pushes forward under Big Phil, but still can't do anything special. He has played his natural CM role for Super Eagles a number of times, but his performance is just poor. Not in any way outstanding.
Imagine a player that cannot hold ball for 3 seconds. Imagine a player that only passes sideways and backward.

I think the reason is that he thinks more defensively now. The guy should wake up and play like the Mikel of 2005. Has he a manager/agent at all? that can speak sense into him? The earlier the better.

The guy I would like to see develop is Ibrahim (This guy from the U-17). Looks and play like our great JJ.

What's all this noise about playing out of position?
Michael essien in Lyon was their primary attacking midfieder,before he ceded that role to Lampard in Chelsea to play the DM.
He played that role for Ghana in the Nations Cup 2008.

Mikel was given the 10 position to play in Ghana.He did JACK with it,and all the other times he plays for Nigeria.

I think though,it's a bit early to judge if he indeed is over-rated.However the signs are not encouraging.Or is the money getting to his soft head?

Mikel and Essien are 2 different players entirely. Essien is a power house and he has some ferocious long range shots. I'm sure you can remember that superb goal against arsenal? He likes to bust forward and once he starts, there is no stopping him.

Mikel on the other hand, since taking up a DM role, once he gets past the half way line, he starts thinking of whom to pass the ball to. Sometimes he gets it right and sometimes he results to a sidepass or backpass.

Thee example goes to highlight Mikel's weaknesses,and probably butress the fact that he is over-rated.If he was as good as we hyped him to be,he should be flourishing in that DM role and not missing a beat when he plays 10 for the Eagles.
Besides,hyping the guy was a bit too early.How many talents make it from age-grade tournaments and fulfil the potential they show at those tournaments?

He is been talked about after his heroic display at the Youth Tournament in 2005. Was it by mistake he got the second best player and he if you will ask me, I will say he was number 1, the best player in Holland 2005. Messi was a cheat (Maybe he is still, who cares anyway).

Mikel needs to step up his game. There should be no question of him been overrated. Kinda too early for that.

No doubt,Mikel was good in Holland.
But he hasn't followed up from there.
He spent most of that time off the pitch determined to play for Chelsea,when we all know he actually signed for Man. United.I thought if he went there at the time he had a greater chance of blossoming because United's middle was kind of neding youth.The experience he would have gained instead of sitting out till he got Chelsea would have paid him off.
Messi went striaght into Barca's first team and has not looked back.Infact if not for injury (especially in 2005/2006) we could have been talking of him being World Footballer of the Year.
There's a big difference between the two.Their career paths haven't been the same.One took his more seriously than the other

yuo only repeated what I said that he needs to step up his game. abi be ko?

No i didn't
Only was tracing their career paths.

good for you and has their career ended? NO. If Mikel improves, no one will say he is been overrated, isn't it?

No but even you admit that if he keeps it up at this pace all he'll be remembered for is so much promise and potential but nothing more.
Does he show any signs of improvement?

I agree that it will be bad for both club and country if he continues like this.
My question is why is Scolari insisting on securing his signature for a longer term and even increasing his wages. The guy must really have some talents. Dont you think so?

Holland 2005 is an underaged tournament.

Ismail Matar was best player at UAE 2003.
Javier Saviola was best player at 2001.

Where are they now?

Who can imagine that Fabregas was at that same tournament with Mikel? Can you compare their improvement.
Even David Silva of Valencia and Spain.

No one cares about your worth in an underaged tournament its what you make of life afterwards.
Who remembers that Sinama Pongolle and Le Tallec were better than Tevez at Trinidad.

Its the Nigerian mentality that makes us stuck up with meaningless stuffs like Jayjay thought DInho how to dribble, Finidi was best seven in the world.

Nigerians still gloat about Atlanta 1996 13 years after.

Kanu was the best player But in that tournament. Ronaldo and Rivaldo have gone ahead to win world footballer of the year. Crespo, Dida, Carlos were all at Atlanta what happened to our own Tijani, Fatusi, and Okocha who were also at the same tournament

Who remebers that? We are still talking about Holland 2005 when Messi, Fabregas, David Silva, Rene Adler and co have moved on.
Kun Aguero of 2007 is the new deal

dayokanu:


Nigerians still gloat about Atlanta 1996 13 years after.

Na that one dey vex me pass.

Letting Obi go at £12m profit was the best things that have
happened to United

akinalabi:

Na that one dey vex me pass.

Letting Obi go at £12m profit was the best things that have
happened to United

I don't think he is over-rated. . . . .The only mistake he made was joining the wrong club.
He shoulda joined Man Utd. Chelsea changed him from an attacking midfielder to a defensive midfielder.
It's like saying ANDERSON is over-rated.

Every nation gloats (as you put it) about its achievements and they will continue to do so. Even in a million years to come. The manner and the way our boyz performed in Atlanta was/is someone to remember for life.

R'Dinho and JJ, them be the same age? Everybody cannot be a star, not all players can be named world best footballers, but that is not to say that they have performed less.

Mikel is not overrated. He just needs to improve his game simple.

Every nation gloats (as you put it) about its achievements and they will continue to do so. Even in a million years to come. The manner and the way our boyz performed in Atlanta was/is someone to remember for life.

R'Dinho and JJ, them be the same age? Everybody cannot be a star, not all players can be named world best footballers, but that is not to say that they have performed less.
Mikel is not overrated. He just needs to improve his game simple.

You think Argentina is still shouting about the Athens gold or Cameroun about the Sydney Gold.

You think Germany remembers it won Euro 1996 or Brazil remembers who won the U17 tournament.

Dinho and Jay Jay are not the same age what Dinho achieved at 24, JayJay cannot achieve it at 70.

Wrong club is telling on mikel. . .lust for money caused him i geuz + wrong agent.

at such young age,he needed to be playing well,with great team mates and unity under a great manager like feggie,but he chose Chelsea instead who as at then don't play pretty football,come to think of it,they have Lampard(English),Ballack,Joe cole,essien,makalele amongst other who had seen it all and can't be benched then. . . we wasted his golden chance to improve after the 2005 exploration in Holland.

MANU would have changed and improved him!!! . . he wasn't overrated. . afterall,Messi was better in the Youth game then at Holland and was rated over Mikel then and He(Messi) is playing the best football right now!!

Holland 2005 is an underaged tournament.

Ismail Matar was best player at UAE 2003.
Javier Saviola was best player at 2001.

Where are they now?

Who can imagine that Fabregas was at that same tournament with Mikel? Can you compare their improvement.
Even David Silva of Valencia and Spain.

No one cares about your worth in an underaged tournament its what you make of life afterwards.
Who remembers that Sinama Pongolle and Le Tallec were better than Tevez at Trinidad.

Its the Nigerian mentality that makes us stuck up with meaningless stuffs like Jayjay thought DInho how to dribble, Finidi was best seven in the world.

Nigerians still gloat about Atlanta 1996 13 years after.

Kanu was the best player But in that tournament. Ronaldo and Rivaldo have gone ahead to win world footballer of the year. Crespo, Dida, Carlos were all at Atlanta what happened to our own Tijani, Fatusi, and Okocha who were also at the same tournament

Who remebers that? We are still talking about Holland 2005 when Messi, Fabregas, David Silva, Rene Adler and co have moved on.
Kun Aguero of 2007 is the new deal

dont mind dem. Mikel ko Platini ni

dayokanu:

You think Argentina is still shouting about the Athens gold or Cameroun about the Sydney Gold.

You think Germany remembers it won Euro 1996 or Brazil remembers who won the U17 tournament.

Dinho and Jay Jay are not the same age what Dinho achieved at 24, JayJay cannot achieve it at 70.

you will be suprised they are still gloating about it or are you a citizen of any of these countries you mentioned? That was one of the peak moments in our international football history, how can you forget that?

Those countries that won at youth level usually have a medium at which they improve thier players,to be sincere,our NFA needs to share part of this blame,there are no adequate transgression of our players from Youth to senior national teams,look at Opabunmi at Trinidad,he was good,where is he now? look at R10 at Nigeria 1999,now 2 time world footballer,that's the difference,any time we manage to win a would tournament,we relax and think the players would grow like agric fowls without any proper management.

Nigeria lacks managerial skills on their players,they fail to do a proper follow-up scheme on them,where as,leaving the players to their fate,not knowing that they are young then and may tends to do mistakes.

that's my opinion.

allboyz:

Those countries that won at youth level usually have a medium at which they improve thier players,to be sincere,our NFA needs to share part of this blame,there are no adequate transgression of our players from Youth to senior national teams,look at Opabunmi at Trinidad,he was good,where is he now? look at R10 at Nigeria 1999,now 2 time world footballer,that's the difference,any time we manage to win a would tournament,we relax and think the players would grow like agric fowls without any proper management.

Nigeria lacks managerial skills on their players,they fail to do a proper follow-up scheme on them,where as,leaving the players to their fate,not knowing that they are young then and may tends to do mistakes.

that's my opinion.

I don't agree totally with this.
I think it is these players that let their success get into their heads and start to misbehave after getting to Europe and making name. Most of those under-age tournaments we excelled in were prosecuted by boys hungry for success, most of which are either still in domestic league or somewhere in Belgium,Norway,Egypt(less-fancied leagues) but once they shine in those youth tournaments and get clubs in England,France,spain etc, they begin to select matches to play for the country, feeling bigger than the coach, when they graduate to the National team.

well Kanu has tried sha and he should be a living and lasting example to Mikel and those coming up.
With all the troubles he faced he is still playing. He may never have won a world cup, or best player in the world, but we all know who PAPILO is.

Can't Mikel just emulate him or even surpass him self?

Jarus,
you spoke my mind,and Mikel is a victim of this success getting into one's head of a thing.
Apparently he is in Chelsea,content to be earning whatever wages he is being paid at Chelsea.
When I will be impressed is when he leaves the comfort zone of Chelsea tostep out to become the lynchpin of another club,just like Messi is to Barca.Then we'll know he has arrived.But for now,he remains content with lying under the radar.And he remains largely rubbish in that role.

EB,

That's correct, for me to be convinced too,he needs to leave Chelsea and to a average club,where he would have enough playing time,in and out. . .and possibly bought by Arsenal or any other BIG club!

allboyz:

EB,

That's correct, for me to be convinced too,he needs to leave Chelsea and to a average club,where he would have enough playing time,in and out. . .and possibly bought by Arsenal or any other BIG club!

very funny, is Chelsea not a BIG club? What if he excels there? Why must he leave chelsea? some people sef.

FBS,

Don't get my wrong,Chelsea is a VERY BIG club,okay? but with the likes of Lampard(English),Ballack,Deco,Joe cole . . . he can't fit in there,no enough games for him. . . look at it this way,if ESSIEN comes back,what do you think of MIKEL in CHELSEA? tell me!

ESSIEN is the secret to Chelsea's Success,Mikel can't bench Makalele then,let alone ESSIEN.

FBS,
You know very well that Mikel cannot become a great player at Chelsea so let's not flog the issue.
Should Lampard's career come to a sudden halt,for example,nobody is going to campaign for Mikel to take over that role.
Chelsea will go and buy another player in Lamps' mould.

You darn skippy Mikel is over-rated as a matter of fact he puts the O in Over-rated come to think of it this dude lacks most of what is required to be a good creative midfielder! so i think the DMF spot is his best option! He has no eye for goal, he cannot cross, cannot pick out the long pass,cannot drive the attack,he is not a dead ball specialist and is probably only good at holding the ball and throwing sideways passes

I find it insultive to hear Chelsea fans mention him in the same breath as Cesc