Mikel

[spitthedog]

Nov 4, 2020 21:33:48 GMT boskampsflaps said:

Nov 4, 2020 21:31:24 GMT mrcoke said:

Another excellent performance tonight.

Did he move further forward when Cousins was brought on?

Given he was alone in midfield I thought he did well, he just needs someone next to him to help him out.

He's generally very good but noticeably tires in the last 15 mins of games and gets a bit sloppy. Cousins didn't really help us at all.

[Chewbacca the Wookie]

He’s a class player but needs better support. Clucas rested at his best or Allen buzzing around.

[Gary Hackett]

Nov 4, 2020 22:36:15 GMT Chewbacca the Wookie said:

He’s a class player but needs better support. Clucas rested at his best or Allen buzzing around.

Mikel alongside Allen would get the best out of both.

[chiswickpotter]

He has played in nearly every game and we have rarely dominated midfield for even part of any game. He is good at helping us retain the ball in tight situations but that generally leaves other players to try and make something happen. If he plays we can’t afford to have another defensive midfielder if we play 4 at the back otherwise we only have 4 attackers and Smith. I think he may be a player who has good games but doesn’t fit the mix of the team. Our best football under MON came when Allen and Clucas played as a flexible two behind Powell

[bayernoatcake]

The pass for the first goal is just a thing of beauty.

[bgreen13]

I can't wait till Allen is back.

I think they'll compliment each other well.

Also clucas could be released from his defensive duties.

[nottsover60]

Nov 5, 2020 10:00:38 GMT bayernoatcake said:

The pass for the first goal is just a thing of beauty.

There was another one later as well when he kept possession surrounded by three players then passed it forward inch perfect to someone, I think Campbell, on the edge of the box. It might have been when Campbell  to fed Fletcher who missed. 

[Championship Potter]

The additions of Fletcher and Mikel do look very astute. Does show there is value in signing ageing pros where carefully done ie not full backs, wingers or box to box midfielders.

[bayernoatcake]

He's poor for another goal though, nowhere to be seen for the third. He needs to learn.

[davejohnno1]

Nov 5, 2020 12:31:25 GMT bayernoatcake said:

He's poor for another goal though, nowhere to be seen for the third. He needs to learn.

He can't be everywhere!

[gingerninja]

I have been pleasantly surprised by him this far. He ideally needs a more mobile CM alongside him than he has at present. I think Allen, Clucas & he would be quite tasty.

[spitthedog]

Nov 5, 2020 12:45:18 GMT davejohnno1 said:

Nov 5, 2020 12:31:25 GMT bayernoatcake said:

He's poor for another goal though, nowhere to be seen for the third. He needs to learn.

He can't be everywhere!

That's true but I'm starting to see a noticeable decline in his performance for the last 10-15 minutes of games where he commits fouls, cant keep up with play, loses possession and cant keep his positions. He's basically knackered which is not surprising given the schedule and it shows MON doesn't trust anyone else.
I think the 3rd goal is a reflection of this (while not entirely his fault either of course), it happened in the Brentford game too.

For the first 70-80 minutes he is excellent in most games, in fact our best player, and then drops off alarmingly. We need to address this. I'd be amazed if he doesn't blow out at some point.

Smith cant keep going without back up either.

[bayernoatcake]

Nov 5, 2020 12:45:18 GMT davejohnno1 said:

Nov 5, 2020 12:31:25 GMT bayernoatcake said:

He's poor for another goal though, nowhere to be seen for the third. He needs to learn.

He can't be everywhere!

He was nowhere though and that’s the problem.

[davejohnno1]

Nov 5, 2020 13:02:24 GMT spitthedog said:

Nov 5, 2020 12:45:18 GMT davejohnno1 said:

He can't be everywhere!

That's true but I'm starting to see a noticeable decline in his performance for the last 10-15 minutes of games where he commits fouls, cant keep up with play, loses possession and cant keep his positions. He's basically knackered which is not surprising given the schedule and it shows MON doesn't trust anyone else.
I think the 3rd goal is a reflection of this (while not entirely his fault either of course), it happened in the Brentford game too.

For the first 70-80 minutes he is excellent in most games, in fact our best player, and then drops off alarmingly. We need to address this. I'd be amazed if he doesn't blow out at some point.

Smith cant keep going without back up either.

Fair enough and I was too pissed off to watch replays of the goal to see who was at fault but to me, it was a blatant handball, we never recovered our shape, the defence were all at sea and Mikel couldn't possibly be expected to fill every single gap, especially given that Cousins was on as well to supposedly help plug some of them.

Mikel was excellent last night. Pinning their goal on him would be extremely harsh in my view.

[davejohnno1]

Nov 5, 2020 13:20:40 GMT bayernoatcake said:

Nov 5, 2020 12:45:18 GMT davejohnno1 said:

He can't be everywhere!

He was nowhere though and that’s the problem.

I'll take your word for it as I'm sure you've analysed the goal in infinite detail so as to reach your conclusion.

[robwahlmann]

We are now starting to see why he was so highly thought of at Chelsea! Seems to be improving every game now!

[cousindupree]

I hope he can keep up his excellent form and reman injury free for most of the season as he has become such an important cog in the team. The worry is who can replace him if he is ruled out through injury or ban? Cousin...please no! Thompson...maybe. Maybe it would force a formation change.

[nickhfc]

Nov 5, 2020 13:23:49 GMT davejohnno1 said:

Nov 5, 2020 13:02:24 GMT spitthedog said:

That's true but I'm starting to see a noticeable decline in his performance for the last 10-15 minutes of games where he commits fouls, cant keep up with play, loses possession and cant keep his positions. He's basically knackered which is not surprising given the schedule and it shows MON doesn't trust anyone else.
I think the 3rd goal is a reflection of this (while not entirely his fault either of course), it happened in the Brentford game too.

For the first 70-80 minutes he is excellent in most games, in fact our best player, and then drops off alarmingly. We need to address this. I'd be amazed if he doesn't blow out at some point.

Smith cant keep going without back up either.

Fair enough and I was too pissed off to watch replays of the goal to see who was at fault but to me, it was a blatant handball, we never recovered our shape, the defence were all at sea and Mikel couldn't possibly be expected to fill every single gap, especially given that Cousins was on as well to supposedly help plug some of them.

Mikel was excellent last night. Pinning their goal on him would be extremely harsh in my view.

We had 3 defensive midfielders and not one of them got near - did no one see him?

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2020 13:02:24 GMT spitthedog said:

Nov 5, 2020 12:45:18 GMT davejohnno1 said:

He can't be everywhere!

That's true but I'm starting to see a noticeable decline in his performance for the last 10-15 minutes of games where he commits fouls, cant keep up with play, loses possession and cant keep his positions. He's basically knackered which is not surprising given the schedule and it shows MON doesn't trust anyone else.
I think the 3rd goal is a reflection of this (while not entirely his fault either of course), it happened in the Brentford game too.

For the first 70-80 minutes he is excellent in most games, in fact our best player, and then drops off alarmingly. We need to address this. I'd be amazed if he doesn't blow out at some point.

Smith cant keep going without back up either.

I think there’s a fairly simple answer to your first point, he needs a rest but because of the injury to Clucas and then Thompson he’s had to play game after game.....

[nottsover60]

I think he could have done better for the third but as has been said he was running on empty for the last 10 minutes. I'm amazed he's been able to start every single game but ideally he needs to come off at about 75 minutes but with Smith, Powell, Fletcher and Campbell being the same I suppose at least you keep him on for his experience and organising skills.

[boskampsflaps]

Nov 4, 2020 22:45:31 GMT Gary Hackett said:

Nov 4, 2020 22:36:15 GMT Chewbacca the Wookie said:

He’s a class player but needs better support. Clucas rested at his best or Allen buzzing around.

Mikel alongside Allen would get the best out of both.

Still missing a ball winner.

[spitthedog]

Nov 5, 2020 14:08:34 GMT prestwichpotter said:

Nov 5, 2020 13:02:24 GMT spitthedog said:

That's true but I'm starting to see a noticeable decline in his performance for the last 10-15 minutes of games where he commits fouls, cant keep up with play, loses possession and cant keep his positions. He's basically knackered which is not surprising given the schedule and it shows MON doesn't trust anyone else.
I think the 3rd goal is a reflection of this (while not entirely his fault either of course), it happened in the Brentford game too.

For the first 70-80 minutes he is excellent in most games, in fact our best player, and then drops off alarmingly. We need to address this. I'd be amazed if he doesn't blow out at some point.

Smith cant keep going without back up either.

I think there’s a fairly simple answer to your first point, he needs a rest but because of the injury to Clucas and then Thompson he’s had to play game after game.....

True, but you would think a player like Cousins could manage to fill in that role for 10-15 mins per game for him without doing too much damage, especially based on last season. Something that would take a big strain off him physically. Its not like we are really short on midfield options with Tymon and TOB just to see out a game when needed.

My biggest concern about that goal would be Cousins. He was brought on for just that kind of situation.