Hull City boss Phil Brown believes Chelsea are a stronger team than Manchester United

Hull City boss Phil Brown believes Chelsea are a stronger team than Manchester United.

The Tigers have lost back-to-back games to Chelsea and United and in his column for the Telegraph, Brown wrote: "I would say that Manchester United have more talented individuals: Berbatov, Rooney, Ronaldo to name just three – and then you know that Carlos Tevez and Ryan Giggs are on the bench waiting to come on and finish you off.

"But Chelsea play more like a team. Whereas we caught United napping a bit towards the end of the game on Saturday, Chelsea did a clinical job on us."



Mikel Thrilled By First Team Action

At the start of the season many of us were worried about a crucial role in midfield.

With the specialist holding midfielder Claude Makelele returning to his homeland, and a shocking injury ruling out our Ghanaian powerhouse Michael Essien, many wondered if young John Obi Mikel could step up to the plate.

Thankfully our fears have been put to rest, with a string of constant performances from the young Nigerian. Here is what he had to say about his time with the first team.

'I'm 21 years old, and I know I have to keep doing what I am doing. It is so important that the manager has confidence and believes in me, knows that I will always give a good performance."

"Hopefully, I won't disappoint him and can keep on until the end of the season. I am very happy with my performances this season and am going to keep going because it's important for the team."

"It does help my game, I don't have licence to go forward like those in front of me, but I have to make sure I help in defence and help the rest of the team play well. We are playing well, so hopefully it will carry on."

"This season we are playing fantastic football, the manager gives some players a free role and looking through the team we have our balance and we are defending well, creating chances and scoring a lot of goals."

"I am happy with everything, the goals we are scoring and the way we are defending. If we keep doing that we have a very good chance of winning titles this year."

I`m sure most of us here would love to see his strong run of form continue!



Chelsea handing Obi Mikel mega £15M contract
Chelsea are ready to hand John Obi Mikel a stunning £15 million new contract.

The Sun says the Nigerian midfielder is in talks over a £60,000-a-week five-year contract following a string of star displays for the Blues this term.

Mikel, 21, still has three years to run on his current £40,000-a-week package but boss Big Phil Scolari is desperate to tie him down to see off any interest from abroad.

Mikel’s agent, John Shittu, revealed: “It has been an ongoing discussion for two weeks now and only a few details remain.

“The player is happy at the club and the club also want to commit him to a long-term contract.

“There is absolutely no problem and both parties are on the right page.

“In a few days everything will be concluded. The player is at the right club, where the fans appreciate him and he also feels at home.

“Many people questioned his decision to come here but I think now he has proved himself and shown he deserves everything.”




CHELSEA striker Nicolas Anelka has demanded to play alongside Didier Drogba.
The Frenchman has operated as a lone frontman for the Blues this season, scoring nine goals in the absence of his injured team-mate.

Anelka netted a hat-trick against Sunderland at the weekend as the fit again Drogba watched from the bench.

And the man commonly known as Le Sulk believes they should now be used as a partnership.

He said: "Didier and I can play together but we have not done that since I have been here.

"We have never started together up front. If we have started together then I was either on the right or left.

"So it's a shame because I wanted to play with him when I first signed with Chelsea.

"I hope it will happen as I think it could work with the two of us. But it's the choice of the manager."