How Good is Obi Mikel

               "He has lost the creativity that catapulted him to the world stage six years ago.  Don’t get me wrong here, I am not saying that he is no longer a good player. But what I am saying is that there is a need to see Mikel get to the goal area of the opponents and shoot more."

 Five years ago, Mikel looked like a world great in the making and, despite all the fuss that surrounded him, there was a casual acceptance of his talent that made it look as though he were enjoying himself. Perhaps, given the wrangling in which he was a pawn, he was simply glad to get on the pitch. Now he looks a man under a cloud, and football, with all its hangers on and attendant pressures, must take some of the blame for that. Somewhere in the last five years the fun has gone out of Mikel, and he is a poorer player for it.

Mikel and Messi were once considered the world's two best young players. That's why Chelsea and Man United quarreled over him. He's very confident and comfortable on the ball. He is unique. He has his own style of footballer. He can play as the man in the hole, you can use him as a defensive midfielder and he can work easily on the left or the right.

From the start Mourinho played him at the back of midfield, but he's never looked entirely comfortable in the role which is, in fairness, usually occupied by older, more experienced players. He has, perhaps, tamed the wildness that saw him collect four red cards in his first two seasons, but there still seems an element of frustration in his play

Mikel has played under six coaches at Chelsea, but refuse to improved his game, he prefer passing the ball than moving it forward, he prefer guiding the ball than dribbling, he prefer standing in a hole than running with the ball,i believe he can only improve when he starts using his massive talent in a better way

You really cannot compare him with Messi anymore.Barca built the team they have today to suit the player.They let Eto'o and Ronaldinho go only when they had confidence Messi had progressed.The rest is history. Mikel has put in the work,but there is no way he will fulfill his potential.All he can do now is earn his wages for as long as he can.If  Romeu catch fire, Chelsea will find a way to do without his skill set: his passing is better than most in that team,but that is not enough to keep a place in such a team.Sad story.He could have really helped the Nigerian team and maybe still can. At 25, there is a lot he can still do