₦airaland Forum

Joebie:
Very true. I read a while back that the holding midfielder role is the MOST important role but players playing that role can be easily unnoticed.

I am pretty sure Busquets, Kroos, Kante and even Matic(plus Makele them) have been well recognised

Joebie:
Now you are talking. That's why I've been canvassing for Joel Obi. That partnership will be deadly. Joel has the pace that Mikel don't have. But pace is not everything. Okocha wasn't fast but he had many other qualities that could cover for it.

Okocha wasn't fast?

TheGoodJoe:
Exactly. Coupled with the fact that Mikel played that Key role for so long at Chelsea during a domestic dominating period and trophy-filled era. That was amazing. Then doing great in the Semi-finals and Finals of the Champions League. Then AFCON. With repeated man to match performances. This should not even be a debate.

and he never made it into the 50man list for the World's Best player award

TheGoodJoe:
It can happen but it is not regular. Shields are often overlooked. Please, Essien played box to box a lot. Same with Lampard. Apart from Canavarro, it is a rear occurrence. Shield are overlooked.

ok so how many times has Mikel been shortlisted in the....50man list for the Fifa World Best player? Atleast at that stage a lot of 'shields' are seen. Even Keita made it in once. Busquets is a mainstay, Ramos is there just about every year and so many other defensive players. Back to the question, did Mikel make that list after his 'legendary' contributions in 2012?

TheGoodJoe:
Mikel will not get nominated because he did not play a flamboyant role. It is that simple. Even the board of Real Madrid thought Makelele was useless until they sold him and Zidane criticised the decision. Most times, awards and accolades go to the flamboyant role players.

Canavarro is a former World best. Essien and Lampard have both been nominated before and they are not in anyway flamboyant

Joebie:
well, i'm going to have to revise my definition lol.. I had to go look at the dictionary.
This looks the most appropriate definition:

An extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field.
Sentences: ‘the man was a living legend’
‘a screen legend’

So we are talking about a player that is extremely famous in a team. Or should I say extremely famous because of his exploits in that team?

Well I must say Mikel is Super Eagles legend considering the 2013 era till date. Kanu also was. But club performances also rub off on these players. And that can boost their legendary status.

Mikel wasn't so famous at Chelsea so Legend? No

Joebie:
Let me define it again in my own opinion.

If we are speaking of a club. I want to look at the long history of the club especially as it has to do with our lifetime. I want to look at the golden era, or the era of best achievement to see those who were monumental to that feat. Those are the ones I will consider legends.

For Super Eagles. I will consider 1994 (nations cup and our first world cup) period our only golden-generation I am conscious of. And it even spilled over to several years after when we at least made bronze several times at the AFCON. The likes of Yekini, Okocha, Amokachi, Amuneke, Rufai etc comes to mind. Nwankwo Kanu had a very successful club career than Nigerian SENIOR career.

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

soetanoreoluwa:
Okay good can you answer the second part?

What makes a player a legend?

these are the go to guys. As in when you sub them the team falls. When they leave a team the hole will be well felt as in you see the team searching for a new player of their mould, say new Terry or New Drogba or new Lampard or new Makele(which is what Mikel was called back then). Players that won games singlehandedly(not just one game) they don't really need to score or even assist

Do you think Kelechi Nwakali deserves a world cup spot?

soetanoreoluwa:
I hear you! Well done sir! Mikel is not legend I hear you.. Can we talk about something else Dokita Alabere!

tbaba1234:
Mikel had almost 400 appearances for Chelsea... He was more or less a regular for most seasons. Comparing that to Sturridge is utterly ridiculous.

Ray parlor is an Arsenal Legend but there were better players than him in that Arsenal team. He is legend because he was an important player in one of the most successful periods for Arsenal.

Malouda, Ferreira and Kalou are Chelsea legends to varying degrees.

i think we have different views on who a legend is

Joebie:
What you have here are two occasions in a short period of time (within a year?).
The striketroughs do not count. We are talking Super Eagles Legend. Or maybe you want to discus Nigerian-Footballer legend (?)

I wouldn't even put Kanu Nwankwo in the class of SuperEagles Legends for the same reason I've stated earlier.
Nigerian-Football legend? Hell yes!!!

now I am confused, so despite being a vital player(not vital alone, infact irreplaceable, only about 4 players in that team were irreplaceable) in our first Afcon win since 1994 he isn't a SE legend? But for being a pivotal piece in a star-studded Chelsea team that cost almost 1bn he is a Chelsea legend?

Humility017:
see how you shifting goal post...
so Chelsea was just applying courtsey ?
how many players have them addressed in such way ?

you leave me surprised sometimes the way you downplay these players achievements.
you think mikel was not a good material but still he survived the influx of coaches that managed Chelsea during his 10 years era.....and partook in the club milestone of winning the ucl

this is how wars start, misunderstanding. I NEVER said Mikel is/was not a good material. I said he was a great player for Chelsea but not a legend

Humility017:
and so what....?
does that stop him from being a club legend...
eveeyone has a vital role they played in the team success...just like everyone can't score goals or defend.

Mikel did his job in the team, that does not make him a legend. Yaya Toure was a vital part of the 2008 treble winning barca side, still he isn't a Barca legend

Humility017:
please go watch the champions league final again against bayern Munich...
please do and come tell me....his ratings from that match...

one match, one match and Drogba had a higher rating. I think Lampard too, he did a good job though

Humility017:
you should forward this long epistle of yours to Chelsea board...that calls him a legend...
to you he may not be one..
but not to the club....

do you know when Douglas Perreira(you haven't heard the name abi?) left Barca what the Barca site announced? 'Barcelona Superstar moves to so so and so club'. Is Douglas a superstar? It's called courtesy

Joebie:
Consider the history of Chelsea, their best moments. Was Mikel involved?

I won't consider Mikel an SE legend though. I want to think of the period of SE successes (our golden era) and those who propelled it. Now that's legendary.

he appears in just two or three. Can you compare Mikel's achievements to any of Lampard or Drogba?


We did win the Afcon with Mikel holding our midfield, the U20 too(not SE but still) plus Olympics(granted he messed up at the world cup) but he was also great at the Confed cup so SE legend? Absolutely

soetanoreoluwa:
Nope... Is not about my view... Most times we might not be in thesame page.. . That make us human..

All am saying he's that even though you don't like his style of play or you don't like him as a person that doesn't mean you bring him down with your words


We have seen some players trying to mould their style of play like that of Mikel..

And he a a role model to alots of players


All I am asking from you guys is RESPECT... He deserve your respect that's all...

Like me there are some players I don't like... You won't hear me talk them down... I wont even mention them at all... That why you see some coaches will never talk about some players not to talk of playing them or invite them...

About the bold part... Lemme ask what are things you don't like about Mikel... ?

And what's the meaning of legend or what can a player do to become a legend...?

Please enlighten me...

I liked your comment because it exposes the entire problem we are having now.


Simple Mikel deserves maximum respect, he was a great Chelsea player but he was not a Chelsea legend, he is a SE legend for sure but very far from a legend at Chelsea. For top clubs your exploits in a season(granted a Champions league winning season) does not elevate your status to a legend, it makes you a great player for sure

Well if not for some of Ramires' goals they wouldn't even be in that semifinal would they? So Ramires is a....complete the statement

edi287:
Carrick won't go down as a man united legend?? Can you talk about Chelsea's ucl win without mentioning Mikel's performance in the Semi and final?

soetanoreoluwa:
Lol ...Dr.. Micheal... Why you dey use question answer question

lol during diagnosis I need to ask you some questions to know what is wrong with you na. You may come and ask me 'Doctor, constant headaches is a sign of what'. Now it could be a sign of malaria or just normal pimple sef, I will then need to ask you if you've also lost your appetite or if you are having cough before I can decide....


Don't let me bore you with stuffs sha, just answer the ajuju

do4luv14:
chill don't let him provokes you, you are more than that man

I don ignore am already, thanks for the advice

edi287:
The legendary status comes with longevity and being involved in some of their best seasons ever.

he did spend some seasons on the bench now didn't he? If longitivity is all that is needed then.... Is Carrick a united legend?

tbaba1234:
Real Madrid has about 11 champions league, won 5 champions cup trophies back to back. Won champions league 3 time in 5 years in the late 1990s and early 2000. And are on a golden patch again.

In that period, they have several legends. Bale has plenty people before you call him

On the contrary, Mikel was an integral part of Chelsea's only Champions League Trophy and was man of the match contender in the semi final and final.

so because of one champions league trophy he is now a legend? You made it sound as if he was a constant regular at Chelsea, I mean some seasons he was warming the bench totally and getting sub appearances when the game is already done and dusted.

Sturridge is not a liverpool legend although he was an integral part of the liverpool team that went so close to winning the Epl after almost 20 years, that doesn't mean he won't be remembered as a great liverpool player.


Now back to the context, this is Chelsea we are talking about not Leicester. Ok is Anelka is a chelsea legend? I believe he was an integral part of the 2007 champions league run, same goes for Ferreira(?), Kalou and Malouda(all these guys also won Epl titles and FA cups with them

edi287:
Mikel has longevity over Ramires and Mata. Tbaba gave the Ray Parlour and Thierry Henry example. You're making it look like Mikel was Wes Brown or something. Sure he wasn't world class, but he was a very good player for chelsea. Some of you guys downplay his achievements because he didn't fulfill the world class potential he showed as a youth player. Dude still managed to fashion out a good career for himself.

he was a very very very good player for Chelsea that I totally agree but a legend? That is another thing

TheGoodJoe:
Players like Ramires, Oscar and Mata will be remembered in the great tales of Chelsea but did not last as long as Mikel helping the team Rake titles. Mikel’s role as a holding midfielder is underrated but was key to their trophy haul.

Leave the dribbling, Mikel is a Legend. May not have a flamboyant history because of his role but his impact is legendary.

Ramires did score some crucial goals enroute that champions league triumph so....?

kellycute:
then stop talking nonsense about Mikel and iheanacho.. then I won't cross your path. If you wanna criticise those two guys destructively, you gotta have to be ready to face me period!.

if you have a brain do you know what you will do? Skip the comment and go to the next one. I mean I can't remember having any conversation with you, you always pop up with some stupid comments that are not even related and I don't like talking to people like you

[quote author=kellycute post=60985208][/quote]this is the second time you will be making such a nonsensical statement, the third time won't go down well, don't start what you can't endure

kellycute:
do you know more than Chelsea fc?.. wether you like it or not, john oni Mikel is Chelsea legend.. it is official. You can laugh but that doesn't change the fact that you are just so jealous of Mikel. Look like jealousy is part of your trait. Lol

is stupidity part of yours?

tbaba1234:
False equivalency...

Mikel was a regular player in the most successful period in Chelsea's history.. Where they won their only champions league trophy.

Real Madrid has legends by the truckloads because they have been successful for several decades. It is the most successful club in history.

Mikel is a bigger legend for Chelsea than Bale is for Madrid. Just because of the stature of both clubs.

no offence but does this make sense to you?


Bale has been a regular for the first madrid team to win back-to-back Champions league trophies and the only team to win 3 champions league trophies in 4 years, how is that not the most succesful period in Madrid's history(bar the 1950 period)?

Joebie:
Yes if Celtics must be fair to him, he should be called a Celtics Legend considering their Champions League exploits.

Babayaro is a chelsea legend, he won an FA Cup with them

soetanoreoluwa:
Who's a Legend? Let's start from their.

Is Gareth Bale a madrid legend?

neighy:
yea.. Its good to know players like cudicini, mata, ramires, oscar et all are legends nd like u said even di mateo.. Nd now know ur definition of "LEGEND"

bro the thing tire me. I couldn't even find enough strength to finish my argument with tbaba and GoodJoe after I heard that comment, I exhausted all the energy in my body laughing

Joebie:
Brazil has a history. Pele was 17 when he turned heads at the world cup level. Of the two things implied in that part of the link I quoted, one remains a fact -- Ronaldo deserved to make that team. The commentator according to you said, "he MAY be too young". I'm still waiting for someone to quote the coach as saying he never intended to field Ronaldo prior to that World Cup. I've said this before and I will say it again, many teams rarely field ALL the players in their World Cup squads. Top teams usually have a star studded sides. No player just makes the numbers, but at the same time it is guaranteed that not all will play. The coach will decide when the going goes tough or when the going is well.

Modified
It's natural to assume that he was there to learn because of his age. What would you say about other players were never pulled out of the bench? where they also there to learn? As long as Ronaldo did excellently prior to that world cup, he deserved to make that team.

Simple and short brother, simple and short