by zuricity » Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:44 pm
Here's my take on it all.
De Jong was undoubtably worth the man of the match award for the simply reason that he played according to his 'skills' ( I'll include his characteristics like his strength, his body shape and build in that one word) and what he did was to simply not allow any Chelsea player to get the ball under control pointing towards our goal in his vicinity. If that meant as before my seat, he got to Anelka and kicked the ball out for a throw in, or roughed Essien up. Then so be it and he played the part.
Moreover, I think the terrier role suits him. HE is not a play maker rather a play-spoiler ( to our benefit) and we dare not ask much more than that of him.
Robbie for example , caused panic and chaos just by being on the ball and the 'itch' that was marking him was very physical and I thought quite lucky not to be carded more than once.
However, play maker is not De Jongs forte, but that's ok, we have other players doing that. Each player needs to know why the other is doing his work.
Now there have been times when all he has done is simply get in the way of his team mates.Whether that is him or the job he was asked to do, who knows ?
On saturday it struck me that he had his own agenda, because I felt Barry was very poor, just chasing shadows most of the time and it is as if De Jong wanted to show his mates how to win something. He clearly was over the (blue) moon when he ran over to the crowd near the Chelsea fans to throw his shirt into the crowd.
After the game I said to one of my mates, it's as if the team tore up the managers plan before the game and played for themselves
So for me , if he's been given the role or not, as long as he continues that 'icebreaker' role in midfield and sticks to it, i'll be dead happy. He finally won me over on Saturday.
"Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs."
