COMMENT: I can't get my head around what is going on with John Obi Mikel.
It would appear that a deadline day transfer to Besiktas was blocked by Jose Mourinho, despite him being the most bit-part player you can imagine. Bear in mind that players who've received far more playing time have been sold for peanuts (in today's terms).
It would seem that Mikel is loved very much by both Roman Abramovich and Mourinho, but I really don't understand why him in particular, to be honest. What has he done that makes him loved so much? Sure, he put Arjen Robben off his penalty in the Champions League Final, but there are players that have done far more and been cast aside.
Another thing that I find strange is how he occasionally finds his way into the side out of the blue, just like the Everton game. He barely made the bench for weeks and then all of a sudden starts? To be fair to him, he was probably our best player. With that in mind, he didn't even make the bench for the Maccabi Tel-Aviv game. It just seems very odd to me as to why he drifts in and out of the side with seemingly no pattern whatsoever.
Having said that can you blame him? He can sit on his pay package doing next to nothing, receiving ludicrous wages when he is hardly even a bench warmer most of the time.
It's quite funny really, so many people struggling to put food on the table whilst people receive millions to do almost nothing. Sure, it's the same for most footballers, but most of them actually play quite a bit. Not being funny, but you can't really say that about John Obi Mikel. It's players like Mikel which make me think, 'why didn't we strengthen there?'
I have said this before, it seems that all is not right inside Chelsea at the moment. The squad depth isn't fantastic and to me it seems like Mourinho is reluctant most of the time to play Mikel. To be perfectly honest, I can't understand a lot of the stuff that goes on at Chelsea.
But at the same time, look at what Chelsea have won in the last decade or so. Mikel has been there and done it.
Although he sometimes comes in for criticism every now and then, there aren't many players who can say they have won what he has won multiple times.
Keep the blue flag flying high,
- Charlie
Die Hard Charlie is Chelsea mad and part of the Cheeky Sport team. For more from from Charlie visit the Cheeky Sport Youtube channel and subscribe. And if you see them at the game, say 'hello' and get involved!
