Hazy wrote:Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Hazy wrote:Beefymcfc wrote:Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:I wasn't having a pop! Certainly not in purpose. Sory if it came through like that.
Obviously we simply disagree about De Jong's performance in second half of the Derby. I thought he was really poor. Like you said, Taggart instructed his players to make pitch wider and hit us from the wings but that was to be expected, especially after they threw Valencia in for Park who was constantly cutting in. However, I seem to recall posting it on the official match thread (or maybe saying it to a mate of mine I was watching the game with) as well, I thought De Jong stopped all the movement and wasn't following the ball at all. He simply stopped working hard enough.
Who I would prefer as holding midfielder? Do you mean in Derby? I would've taken off De Jong as his movement had stopped and previous weeks he had been fairly inactive as well. I would've either thrown in Petrov to put some attacking pressure on them as I genuinely feel that attack is best form of defence against Taggarts sides. The way he sets up his sides, if you start backtracking you are dead. Other option would've been to throw in Zabaleta who is proper never-say-die player and in my opinion would've suited the game in second half better. Like I said, Hughes drew same conclusions only later in the game by taking De Jong off.
Who I'd like as defensive midfielder right now or more importantly, in the future? Well that's trickier question. De Jong has been in excellent form for past two months so shouldn't be replaced right now. However personally I'm not big fan of one dimensional defensive midfielders. I prefer players who are willing to join attacks every now and then and can crack a decent shot from distance. De Jong is a battler and he is nice to watch but in many games our overall attacking play has suffered from him being so negative when he is on the ball. But that's more down to personal preference of how I see the game should be played especially with kind of talent we have got. I've repeated it time and time again that I like teams that attack AND defend as a team. I might be crucified for this but what the hell.... I would actually play Kompany over De Jong. BUT there's two positions I would like to see new players in the future and I would REALLY love a top quality dynamic midfielder.
Nice post mate, thanks for your answer. Don't need to say much more on this subject apart from Nigel has come on even stronger since that day. He is not the box-to-box player that I would like to see against the lesser teams who won't put as much pressure on our back four, but he is the ultimate fighter that I want to see breaking up the play of the more attacking, top rated teams.
We are now a squad, not just a team so the proverbial 'Horses for courses' rings out once again!
Horse shit, I prefer Kompany ove De Jong, I would love to have heard anyone in the highest crowd ever at Coms ! anyone say that at 7.45 last Saturday, you would have been laughed out of the ground mate laughable comment after the week we have had and somes you up., as for 1 trick pony De Jong has over 40 caps for Holland he has just eaten Essien for dinner, how do you come to prefering anyone to a player who the whole crowd last Saturday gave a standing ovation to. MIND BOGGLES. Stop the bollocks talk and fans who go home and away like me might take your computed version seriously. Until then keep watching !
Where was I questioning De Jong's performance against Chelsea? And I'm not asking you to take my opinion seriously, that's completely up to you. I'm sure that if we were standing there side by side (who knows we haven't?) I'd still see the game very differently. Wenger and Taggart see game differently.
Of course it is a game of opinions, and views vary, lets all enjoy what Hughes is doing and roll on Bolton.
IS THAT IT THEN ?? NO HANDBAGS ? NO MORE YOU SAID HE SAID SHE SAID???
WHAT A FUCKING ANTI CLIMAX.
