SPORTS
The Chelsea midfielder is part of the furniture at Stamford Bridge, but
has found a new lease of life following the departure of Jose Mourinho.
As the Fifa Ballon d’Or ceremony draws closer, the eyes of the world will be drawn once more to the world’s most predictable soap opera. The cast is well-known, the props are all the same, the outcome is limpid to the point of tastelessness. It is an acknowledgement of superhuman feats, but if simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, then there should be an award for Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.
His display against Crystal Palace on Sunday served as a perfect reminder of his abilities; in truth, we might be forgiven for having forgetten them—so infrequently has he featured in a meaningful way in recent times. Unwaveringly consistent, durable if not especially lustrous, the Nigeria international is Europe’s most hardy footballer.
Roman Abramovich has built the Blues into a genuine powerhouse on the continent, and that by eschewing
The Chelsea midfielder is part of the furniture at Stamford Bridge, but has found a new lease of life following the departure of Jose Mourinho.the sort of complacent staleness that can come with a long-serving manager. We have seen Jose Mourinho twice, Luis Felipe Scolari, Avram Grant, Guus Hiddink now in a second spell, Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas Boas, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez warm the home dugout at Stamford Bridge.
Only two players have seen them all out: captain John Terry, and Mikel.
If Terry is Mr. Chelsea, the Lord of the Cobham Manor, then Mikel is the wise, wrinkled butler, a picture of servile promptitude, retreating into the shadows when unneeded but secure in his indispensability. The return of Hiddink has been greeted in the Chelsea fold with the enthusiasm reserved for the visit of a favourite Uncle, and the Dutch manager has no doubt noted with warm relief that his slippers are laid out just as he wants, and his bath is run at just the right temperature.
His short stint in 2009, culminating in an FA Cup triumph and cut short in the Champions League semi-final by Andres Iniesta’s late strike, coincided with Mikel’s most productive season (in terms of appearances) at Chelsea. The 28-year-old made 34 league appearances that term, and started 10 of Hiddink’s 13 Premier League games in charge.
While many players, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa primary among them, might have been relieved with Mourinho's departure, Mikel looks to be the Chelsea star to benefit the most...for now at least!
His partnership with Cesc Fabregas in front of the back four at Selhurst Park provided the platform for the reigning champions’ most convincing performance of the season so far. Not the sort of assertive personality to consistently dictate games, Mikel thrives with a more progressive passer, allowing him to focus on the simple things.
He completed seven ball recoveries and 78 of 82 attempted passes. Contrary to the popular criticism of his play, half of those passes were played forward, and he also demonstrated his efficiency under pressure by completing eight out of nine in the attacking third of the pitch.
Since Mikel moved to Stamford Bridge in 2006, the following midfielders have all been and gone: Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Lassana Diarra, Steve Sidwell, Juan Sebastian Veron, Deco. Oriol Romeu and Raul Mereiles. The Nigerian...newly dubbed the 'African Zidane'...remains!
Considering that midfield zone has struggled for the right balance all season long, there is no better argument for a Fabregas-Mikel solution – at least till season’s end – than the Palace performance.
As the Fifa Ballon d’Or ceremony draws closer, the eyes of the world will be drawn once more to the world’s most predictable soap opera. The cast is well-known, the props are all the same, the outcome is limpid to the point of tastelessness. It is an acknowledgement of superhuman feats, but if simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, then there should be an award for Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.
His display against Crystal Palace on Sunday served as a perfect reminder of his abilities; in truth, we might be forgiven for having forgetten them—so infrequently has he featured in a meaningful way in recent times. Unwaveringly consistent, durable if not especially lustrous, the Nigeria international is Europe’s most hardy footballer.
Roman Abramovich has built the Blues into a genuine powerhouse on the continent, and that by eschewing
The Chelsea midfielder is part of the furniture at Stamford Bridge, but has found a new lease of life following the departure of Jose Mourinho.the sort of complacent staleness that can come with a long-serving manager. We have seen Jose Mourinho twice, Luis Felipe Scolari, Avram Grant, Guus Hiddink now in a second spell, Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas Boas, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez warm the home dugout at Stamford Bridge.
Only two players have seen them all out: captain John Terry, and Mikel.
If Terry is Mr. Chelsea, the Lord of the Cobham Manor, then Mikel is the wise, wrinkled butler, a picture of servile promptitude, retreating into the shadows when unneeded but secure in his indispensability. The return of Hiddink has been greeted in the Chelsea fold with the enthusiasm reserved for the visit of a favourite Uncle, and the Dutch manager has no doubt noted with warm relief that his slippers are laid out just as he wants, and his bath is run at just the right temperature.
His short stint in 2009, culminating in an FA Cup triumph and cut short in the Champions League semi-final by Andres Iniesta’s late strike, coincided with Mikel’s most productive season (in terms of appearances) at Chelsea. The 28-year-old made 34 league appearances that term, and started 10 of Hiddink’s 13 Premier League games in charge.
John Obi Mikel | 2015-16 Premier League stats
Much has changed since then, not least the playing personnel, but
Hiddink has again found Mikel, an older and wiser version no less,
useful to the cause of rescuing a team in a perilous nosedive under Jose
Mourinho. Already, Mikel has played more minutes in the three games
since the former Netherlands manager was parachuted in (225) than he
managed the entire season prior to the Dutchman's arrival.While many players, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa primary among them, might have been relieved with Mourinho's departure, Mikel looks to be the Chelsea star to benefit the most...for now at least!
His partnership with Cesc Fabregas in front of the back four at Selhurst Park provided the platform for the reigning champions’ most convincing performance of the season so far. Not the sort of assertive personality to consistently dictate games, Mikel thrives with a more progressive passer, allowing him to focus on the simple things.
He completed seven ball recoveries and 78 of 82 attempted passes. Contrary to the popular criticism of his play, half of those passes were played forward, and he also demonstrated his efficiency under pressure by completing eight out of nine in the attacking third of the pitch.
See the difference! | Mikel's EPL stats in 2014-15
Having been heavily linked to a move abroad in the summer, it would
appear reports of Mikel’s demise have been greatly overstated. With
previous incumbent Nemanja Matic seemingly afflicted by second-season
syndrome, the Nigeria midfielder may once again best another competitor
by sheer forbearance.Since Mikel moved to Stamford Bridge in 2006, the following midfielders have all been and gone: Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Lassana Diarra, Steve Sidwell, Juan Sebastian Veron, Deco. Oriol Romeu and Raul Mereiles. The Nigerian...newly dubbed the 'African Zidane'...remains!
Considering that midfield zone has struggled for the right balance all season long, there is no better argument for a Fabregas-Mikel solution – at least till season’s end – than the Palace performance.
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