World Soccer: Claude Mekelele:The French Water-Carrier

Good piece on Makelele. One person who will be happy to see the back of Claude is Jon Obi Mikel. The Chelsea midfielder will feel that he will be no1 contender to fill the water carriers boots. For Chelsea's sake lets hope Scolari doesn't feel the same way.

Jon Obi Mikel does not have the relevant knowledge of this position and experience to fill the 'Makelele role'. Also, his physical size may prove a hinderence rather than an advantage if selected to play in this position.

Makeleles' main purpose of playing in this position was to break up attacks by means of 'picking strikers pockets' and scuttling around in front of the centre halves anticipatiing the oppositions next pass. Not towering over midfielders/strikers winning aerial balls, shoulder-charging into opponents or launching into tackles. The role requires a huge amount of graceful stealth. Queitly, pinching a ball here and picking off a ball there. Makelele was no taller than 5"5 and his body would probably have been a pound or two heavier now than at 16.

Being 6"3, built like a heavyweight boxer and possessing the lumbering running style of a giraffe, Jon Obi Mikel may find himself at the sharp end of messers Terry and Carvalho's tongues next season. If employed in this position, expect Mikel to give away plenty of free-kicks around Chelseas' box. The clumsyness of his gate and overpowering physical nature will result in strikers being felled whenever they come into contact with Big Jon.

When Makelele, on rare occasions, was enforced into a physical encounter with a striker which resulted in the frontman on the floor, Makelele was seldomly punished. Why? Simply because referees believed that the striker had either lost his balance and that Makelele did not possess the warranted strength to ground a striker greater in physical stature to the frenchman. Therefore, Makelele must have gained possession by fair means.

Apart from Adebayor and Crouch, Mikel casts a shadow over most other Premiership frontmen and attacking midfielders. Both in height and width. However legal Mikel's challenges may be, referees will be quick to penalise when strikers hit the turf. The imminent future and ideal of football as 'a non contact' will soon be upon us and referees will not grant the giant Mikel the same liberties as the mini makelele.

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