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What are thoughts on Martín Demichelis' contribution since he was drafted in for the Chelsea match? I think he's done wonderfully well, all things considered, and has been a much-needed calming presence at the back. The one thing he could rein in a bit is his eagerness to attack the loose ball. Once or twice he's got it slightly wrong and been left well out of position as a result. He also looks like a ready-made, Dunneyesque own-goal candidate when defending low crosses at the near post!

I think what is important with Demichelis is that he's an on-field conduit for the footballing philosophy that Pellegrini is trying to get across. I like the idea of having an older fella out there who's on completely the same wavelength as the boss (like Hamann, Bellamy, Vieira and Pizarro in recent years). Perhaps this is something we missed last season. Just a thought.

He's a good signing. It's a long season and i'm sure he will make a positive contribution. So far he's done ok.

I wouldn't say he's done wonderfully well but he's been adequate and a good fill in while Vinny is injured. He seems to start matches rather slowly and make some mistake but improves his concentrations as the matches progress. You can see he is intelligent and has a lot of experience which he uses well.
I'm not sure if Micah was given the chance, he wouldn't have done just as well ??

Dubaimancityfan wrote:I wouldn't say he's done wonderfully well but he's been adequate and a good fill in while Vinny is injured. He seems to start matches rather slowly and make some mistake but improves his concentrations as the matches progress. You can see he is intelligent and has a lot of experience which he uses well.
I'm not sure if Micah was given the chance, he wouldn't have done just as well ??

I think the circumstances called for a calmer head at CB. Lescott could do the job, but only instead of Nasti in my opinion. The two of them in there together doesn't seem to work right. Lescott and Demichelis together might be a bit too static.

If we're going to get Micah playing there again, I'd ease him in when things are going well. He's not played there regularly for about 4-5 years.

Alioune DVToure wrote:What are thoughts on Martín Demichelis' contribution since he was drafted in for the Chelsea match? I think he's done wonderfully well, all things considered, and has been a much-needed calming presence at the back. The one thing he could rein in a bit is his eagerness to attack the loose ball. Once or twice he's got it slightly wrong and been left well out of position as a result. He also looks like a ready-made, Dunneyesque own-goal candidate when defending low crosses at the near post!

I think what is important with Demichelis is that he's an on-field conduit for the footballing philosophy that Pellegrini is trying to get across. I like the idea of having an older fella out there who's on completely the same wavelength as the boss (like Hamann, Bellamy, Vieira and Pizarro in recent years). Perhaps this is something we missed last season. Just a thought.

agree ADVT, I think he has looked pretty composed, and a calming influence for Nasti. Looked OK yesterday paired with Lescott also, however, those two are a pretty slow pairing and would be susceptible to pacey forwards.

Overall I am pretty happy with his form.

I think he's been ok. He's only a stop gap signing and in that sense, he's doing his job without too many problems.

We still need to shop for at least 1 new centre back in January. Lescott should be starting every week, but as long as Pellegrini picks Nastasic or Garcia ahead of him, then we'll always have problems as neither are good enough. Demichelis is better than either of those 2 at least.

aaron bond wrote:I think he's been ok. He's only a stop gap signing and in that sense, he's doing his job without too many problems.

We still need to shop for at least 1 new centre back in January. Lescott should be starting every week, but as long as Pellegrini picks Nastasic or Garcia ahead of him, then we'll always have problems as neither are good enough. Demichelis is better than either of those 2 at least.

Absolutely.
He has done better than I expected but he still seems somewhat clumsy and should NOT hide our need for new centerback.

First couple of games didn't think he was all that,but yesterday for me I think he was very good and Sunderland.

I think his personality and experience us just what we need. He generally anticipates well and I like the way he uses the ball. Too many opponents have figured out that JL for all his strengths only can play safe passes from defence. This guy can see and hit more penetrating ones.
Having said that then against top quality opponents his sometimes lax first touch could hurt us, as will his lack of pace. We need Vinny back, and if he can't stay injury free then by latest this summer Pellegrini et al need to decide if we need a really high class replacement for him.

Agree with the general sentiment but the inclusion of Bellamy seems a bit out of place. Wouldn't really describe him as a 'calm head'. He was alongside with Tevez the focal point of our attack and a really influential figure.

Brilliant player.
(Waiting for the laughable 'he high fived Redknapp') remarks off certain posters.

Back to Dimechellis, Settled in nicely and doing well.

Bridge'srightfoot wrote:Agree with the general sentiment but the inclusion of Bellamy seems a bit out of place. Wouldn't really describe him as a 'calm head'. He was alongside with Tevez the focal point of our attack and a really influential figure.

Brilliant player.
(Waiting for the laughable 'he high fived Redknapp') remarks off certain posters.

Back to Dimechellis, Settled in nicely and doing well.

I didn't describe Bellamy as a 'calm head'.

Alioune DVToure wrote:

Bridge'srightfoot wrote:Agree with the general sentiment but the inclusion of Bellamy seems a bit out of place. Wouldn't really describe him as a 'calm head'. He was alongside with Tevez the focal point of our attack and a really influential figure.

Brilliant player.
(Waiting for the laughable 'he high fived Redknapp') remarks off certain posters.

Back to Dimechellis, Settled in nicely and doing well.

I didn't describe Bellamy as a 'calm head'.

Ah fair enough, re read it and it makes sense now.
My bad.

Am I the only one who thinks he was ok at 1st but hasn't been as great last couple of games?

A game or two back he passed to the opposition about 8 times and yesterday he did his best under 9 go charging for the ball impersonation. He was shocking yesterday in an otherwise flawless performance. I'm not writing him off, but Nasti 1st half and Lescott 2nd both mopped up for his headless chicken charges and he's lucky spurs were utter shit or more people would have noticed.

Good player as a stop gap. Not convinced Lescott wouldn't have been a better alternative but there you go. A million times better than Garcia mind.
Completely get the sentiment re older players who managers have had on board previously and can trust. Look at Vieira now. A vital cog in our holistic approach who will do great work with the youngsters. Hamman and Bellamy both brought vital experience at the time.

Don't know what sort of pre-season Demichelis had but then as soon as he came to us he was unfortunate to pick up his injury.

He might still not be fully match fit/sharp and it may take a few more games until he is, especially as he's in a new country and trying to adjust to playing in a League which is a bit different to what he's known previously.

I don't think he's done too badly so far and we may see a lot more from him in the future. I also don't think a Demichelis/Lescott partnership would mean the end of the world had arrived, as a pair of old heads might be just what we need at this moment in time.

He has done well, glad we have him, shudder to think where we would be now if relying on Garcia back there.

He's an intelligent footballer. For me that covers an awful lot of sins. Good acquisition. Think we should buy more of these accomplished squad players who can do a job, particularly a ball winning midfielder who can come on when we are protecting a lead and play in a five man midfield.

getdressedmctavish wrote:He's an intelligent footballer. For me that covers an awful lot of sins. Good acquisition. Think we should buy more of these accomplished squad players who can do a job, particularly a ball winning midfielder who can come on when we are protecting a lead and play in a five man midfield.

We already had that player.

We let him go to Everton.

hes done okay. he's slow and mistimes alot of his passes which, luckily, havent hurt us....yet

He is better FOOTBALLER than Lescott and Nasti