8. John Obi Mikel
Another long-time servant of the club, John Obi Mikel has divided fans ever since he started getting regular first-team football. Is he an essential calming presence in midfield, providing an essential barrier in front of the back four and giving Frank Lampard the freedom to make those irresistible forward runs? Or is he so limited in his movement and passing range that his presence detracts from the team's ability to play quick counter-attacking football? Either way, the best word to describe Mikel is probably 'solid'. You know what you're getting every time and he has refined his role in the team about as far as he can. At this point, he's most valuable in coming off the bench to slow games down in their dying moments, providing a point of stability for the team to hold onto possession and frustrate opponents still chasing the match. He arrived on a wave of controversy, with Manchester United having officially announced his signing before questions were raised over the validity of his contract, ultimately allowing him to sign for the Blues from Norweigan club Lyn Oslo. The battles fought over his signature suggested a potentially world-beating talent, and while it'd be a struggling to justify Mikel living up to that label, there's a reason he's managed to hold down his place during the managerial merry-go-round inbetween Mourinho's two spells at the club. He's a perfectly good player but one who has never really managed to stand out, and
rumours of a move to Galatasaray last summer may yet come true after his difficulty in getting starts this season.