Can Mikel John Obi take heart from Yaya Toure renaissance? John Obi Mikel Yaya Toure PS Solace Chukwu 2 ...
The Ivorian titan returned to the Manchester City
fold in some style this weekend, and his redemption offers crumbs of
comfort for the beleagured Nigeria captain
There was, of course, significant fanfare, occasioned by his game-winning brace to dispense with the awkward threat of Crystal Palace. The parable of the Prodigal Son is so poignant because it is so relatable: bad decisions have consequences, but are not completely irredeemable.
Yaya Toure stats vs. Crystal Palace Super Eagles captain Mikel John Obi will have taken great heart from the triumphal return of his Ivorian counterpart. Like Yaya, Mikel’s ostracism began effectively in the summer, but even before, there were concerns over his suitability for Antonio Conte’s high-intensity demands.
Managers, at least at the very top end, are not wedded so much to system as to style. Conte may be viewed as the great apostle of the three-man defence, but this is only half true. Just as at Juventus, the available personnel lent itself to that configuration, so it is also that with Chelsea, the need for added security at the back has brought the best out of the rest of the side.
Instead, it is the ethos of ‘grinta’ and physicality that defines the Italian, and looked at in that perspective, it is easy to understand some of the early concerns regarding Mikel’s place. Essentially a languid, control-valve of a player, it was unlikely he would ever be a viable starter.
John Obi Mikel 2015-16 stats Indeed, not since Carlo Ancelotti’s time at Chelsea has the Nigeria midfielder been viewed as a consistent starting player. However, he has always managed to make himself useful at some point, if not by necessarily by excellence, then by simple persistence. For the first time in his decade-long Chelsea career, it appears this will not be enough.
There has been little reprieve for him even on the bench.
Nathaniel Chalobah has instead been given a chance to deputize for the seldom-tired duo of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek also seems closer to first-team involvement. It clearly is not a question of ability: even the most effete players would be capable of a half-hour burst of aggression, let alone one of Mikel’s considerable experience.
In much the same manner, it was clear that Toure’s exclusion owed more to personal and professional differences, but unlike the Ivorian, Mikel has made no moves to burn any bridges, either in person or via his agent.
As a matter of fact, bar an impolitic assertion by Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr (which was swiftly explained away as lost in translation), he has sought to keep his head down, making all the right noises in his typically unobtrusive style.
Will his meekness reap the right reward? That remains to be seen - Conte and Pep Guardiola may be similar in their preference for the high-octane, but considering the personality of the Chelsea boss, Mikel’s acquiescent acceptance of his newly lowly estate may be less likely to advance his cause. It certainly has not helped Spain international Cesc Fabregas, now reduced to turning out for the reserve side.
When looked at in that light, perhaps Yaya’s initial second-hand petulance may have been the right gambit after all. If nothing else, it showed unwillingness to be pushed about. To the right manager, the ability to stand up for oneself can be construed as a measure of desire, and if that is indeed the missing element in Mikel’s game, then his political correctness is ultimately to his detriment.
Indeed, to pursue the Prodigal Son analogy, Mikel seems more the loyal, faithful son: uncelebrated, sulking in the shadows, ultimately an afterthought.
However, if there is a positive to be gleaned from Toure’s return, it is that quality eventually shines through in the end. Conte’s Chelsea are flying at the moment, but winter is coming. In a month, the games will pile on thick and fast - the calm efficiency of Stamford Bridge’s second longest-serving son will be needed sooner rather than later.
Even if not, then Yaya’s star turn at Selhurst Park shows that ability does not atrophy. Should the Nigeria international seek a move away, that will be welcome reassurance, not just to prospective employers, but to Mikel himself.