What happened to Obi Mikel?

Why did Mourinho turn him from a number 10 to a defensive midfield?

The player in the vids is a completely different player, a real number 10. The second vid especially, close control in tight spaces, killer final balls...what happened?

Mourinho wasn't there to complete the transformation.

big black player = defensive midfielder i guess... happens to a lot of african players like keita, toure etc--

VibeTribe wrote:Mourinho wasn't there to complete the transformation.

Mou was the one who took him from number 10 to holding player....

The Franchise wrote:

VibeTribe wrote:Mourinho wasn't there to complete the transformation.

Mou was the one who took him from number 10 to holding player....

Yeah,and then he left and Mikel was left behind as unfinished product.

I think when Mou moved him back he was expecting to do a Pirlo-esqe transformation.

In theory it should work but Mikel had massive discipline problems and a really poor attitude (improved now) and didn't take to it to well.

I just wonder how he lost all his attacking talents just because he got switched to DM. Now I know playing DM meant he couldn't utilize his attacking skills but I would at least expect him to pass more lethal balls from there but he looks like a overly-cautious defensive player to me. Not the one shown in the video, which is why I wonder.

Oh wow, who is this guy I'm seeing.

I mean I knew he played AM before he joined Chelsea and was second to Messi in that World Cup, but I really don't recognise his style of play AT ALL.

Mourinho curbed everyone's flair and creativity to some extent at Chelsea, guess Mikel being big and tall didn't do him any favours in terms of playing as a AM for Chelsea.

he still plays an advanced role for the NT though if im correct.

VibeTribe wrote:

The Franchise wrote:

VibeTribe wrote:Mourinho wasn't there to complete the transformation.

Mou was the one who took him from number 10 to holding player....

Yeah,and then he left and Mikel was left behind as unfinished product.

Firstly he was making space for him.

Secondly he was trying to turn him into a complete midfielder

Bear-Felix wrote:In theory it should work but Mikel had massive discipline problems and a really poor attitude (improved now) and didn't take to it to well.

Yeah he had major issues in the past, but ironically he is probably the most disciplined player whenever he plays now :lol!:

english_jewel wrote:I just wonder how he lost all his attacking talents just because he got switched to DM. Now I know playing DM meant he couldn't utilize his attacking skills but I would at least expect him to pass more lethal balls from there but he looks like a overly-cautious defensive player to me. Not the one shown in the video, which is why I wonder.

Intresting point.

I guess because as a number 10, you naturally take risks.

So when learning a new position, I assume Mourinho said stop all the risks and play the easy ball. So thats in his head now and he thinks thats what he should be doing.

ragbirjosh wrote:

VibeTribe wrote:

The Franchise wrote:

VibeTribe wrote:Mourinho wasn't there to complete the transformation.

Mou was the one who took him from number 10 to holding player....

Yeah,and then he left and Mikel was left behind as unfinished product.

Firstly he was making space for him.

Secondly he was trying to turn him into a complete midfielder

Why buy a number 10 to play him as a holding player...if you want a holding player, buy one lol

And turning him into a complete midfield by putting him in a position to take no risks and only make easy balls?

Ganso wrote:he still plays an advanced role for the NT though if im correct.

And I bet he sucks at it seeing as he hasnt played there consistently for like 5 years lol

The Franchise wrote:

english_jewel wrote:I just wonder how he lost all his attacking talents just because he got switched to DM. Now I know playing DM meant he couldn't utilize his attacking skills but I would at least expect him to pass more lethal balls from there but he looks like a overly-cautious defensive player to me. Not the one shown in the video, which is why I wonder.

Intresting point.

I guess because as a number 10, you naturally take risks.

So when learning a new position, I assume Mourinho said stop all the risks and play the easy ball. So thats in his head now and he thinks thats what he should be doing.

I remember an interview with him after Makelele left and everyone was assuming he was going to take over the reins and the interview guy asked something about if he was still going to go forward, and he replied with something like "sure its the John Obi Mikel way"

Lol Mourinho ruined his career ..

The Franchise wrote:

english_jewel wrote:I just wonder how he lost all his attacking talents just because he got switched to DM. Now I know playing DM meant he couldn't utilize his attacking skills but I would at least expect him to pass more lethal balls from there but he looks like a overly-cautious defensive player to me. Not the one shown in the video, which is why I wonder.

Intresting point.

I guess because as a number 10, you naturally take risks.

So when learning a new position, I assume Mourinho said stop all the risks and play the easy ball. So thats in his head now and he thinks thats what he should be doing.

I think pretty much every post-Mourinho Chelsea manager liked the defensive Mikel the way Mourinho molded him to be. But obviously it isn't going to work with Villas-Boas

No idea man lol

I just wonder what could of been to be honest.

I still like him to a degree now and I dont think he was going to be the Nigerian Rui Costa or something, but I think whatever potential he had as a very good number 10 is lost and now he only a decent holding mid.

I just dont get what the idea was behind such a dramatic change of position other than the old "big strong black dude, have him defend"

ragbirjosh wrote:

VibeTribe wrote:

The Franchise wrote:

VibeTribe wrote:Mourinho wasn't there to complete the transformation.

Mou was the one who took him from number 10 to holding player....

Yeah,and then he left and Mikel was left behind as unfinished product.

Firstly he was making space for him.

Secondly he was trying to turn him into a complete midfielder

At that point Chelsea had Lass and Makelele,so I don't think he moved him for more play time.Especially cause Chelsea had no attacking mids...A more logical move would be playing him at CM,where he would compete with Ballack,Lampard and Essien for 2 spots,but he was clearly planned to be a DM.

Ruined his career

Didn't Mikel anchor chelsea's midfield to the double like two seasons ago

Everybody here got reverse Alzheimers?

The Franchise wrote:No idea man lol

I just wonder what could of been to be honest.

I still like him to a degree now and I dont think he was going to be the Nigerian Rui Costa or something, but I think whatever potential he had as a very good number 10 is lost and now he only a decent holding mid.

I just dont get what the idea was behind such a dramatic change of position other than the old "big strong black dude, have him defend"

Like I said, Pirlo was hailed as the new Baggio before Ancelotti played him in front of the back 4, Mou could've had that type of transformation in mind but with Mikel's physical attributes helping him with the defensive side of things.

The Franchise wrote:No idea man lol

I just wonder what could of been to be honest.

I still like him to a degree now and I dont think he was going to be the Nigerian Rui Costa or something, but I think whatever potential he had as a very good number 10 is lost and now he only a decent holding mid.

I just dont get what the idea was behind such a dramatic change of position other than the old "big strong black dude, have him defend"

Yeah neither do I. If Mourinho wanted a defensive player he should had gotten one not convert an AM to DM.

bhends wrote:Ruined his career

Didn't Mikel anchor chelsea's midfield to the double like two seasons ago

Everybody here got reverse Alzheimers?

That's a great point. I highly doubt the AM Mikel would had been as successful as the DM Mikel.

@bear felix

Yeah, I do think that was the idea. It hasnt gone very well though, that dribbling ability has vanished from him game.

He was a Mourinhio signing, Mourinhio is a strange guy, he'll sped 30 million on a LB to play him as a B2b midfielder et al.

I think that is you take a great technical player and teach him defense that you can end up with a very complete midfielder.I think Obi Mikel was an ambitious project, one that needed alot of stuff to go right and it simply wasn't allowed to run its course.

I think he was going for something similar to what Dortmund achieved with Sahin or what Bayern achieved with Schweinsteiger, i dunno exactly why.

Essentially Busquets was a 10 playing as a holding player for a while.........Toure was an 8...the rationale is simple.....to obtain a player who offers more than just hard work at that holding position.