Nigel De Jong - manager dilemma

[CityGer]

There is one simple solution to the De Jong dilemma...

[aaron bond]

At first I rated De Jong quite highly, mostly because some of his tackles are eyecatching. But as the season has gone, I'm increasingly of the opinion that he really isn't very good.

Apart from the odd crunching tackle, he doesn't really add much to the side. We play much better football when he doesn't play. I know he's never scored, but has he ever even set a goal up? I know many clubs play with a defensive midfielder, but there are plenty out there who can also pass the ball too.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if Vieira has the legs for all of the big games coming up so De Jong will get plenty of match time. But in the summer we need to address the centre midfield area. I believe Barry can do the job that we expect De Jong to do, so it would be great if we can buy an attacking midfielder to play alongside him. Ireland ideally would be that player but he is sadly looking increasingly like a one-season wonder.

[Grob]

Birmingham at home, we dont need a de jong.

Infact as the team gets better and better, he can be phased out completly.

For teams that manipulate the play better than we do, he's a nescessity at the moment. When we become the best team in the country, he wont be in it as we will no longer need him.

One tactic I thought worked marvellously, whether Mancini meant it or not, was bringing him on and playing him just off Tevez at Fulham. 2-1 up, Fulham chasing the game, he was pressurising the Fulham back 4 into long balls, which we ate up, by closing them down in their own half. Worked a treat, we rode the game out.

A similar tactic may come in handy as I get the feeling we may have to stand up and be counted to see some results out.

Hopefully this summer we will sign 2 top class midfield players and 1 dimensional players like De Jong will move on within the year.

[Moonchesteri]

but has he ever even set a goal up?

Tevez' 2nd against Wigan with that lovely flick-on. ;o) Was funny too that the first goal was set up by Vieira so both probably most critisized players got the assists..

[Blue Since 76]

The most important fact in our favour is that Joe Hart won't play.

Maik Taylor is not a bad substitute.

Another fucker that always plays a blinder against us!

This is what is worrying me. He's been completely forgotten in Hart's shadow and I just see him having an absolute blinder on Sunday

[Beefymcfc]

Does everyone think that Nigel is played to his full extent, basically as just an extra defensive player?

If so, you need to get out more and actually look at his past. It's only here that he has been deployed in that specific role and it is probable that we are turning him into the player you see today. I think the word is 'Disciplined'.

[gillie]

After Sunday the amnesty for yellows kicks in so it really is simple dont play him then in the other games unleash our pittbull whenever we need like i said SIMPLES.

[Swales4ever]

NDJ is a luxury situational player who might at very least be extremely usefull for certain tasks versus top sides opposition: whether we all like it or not the "attack-attack-attack" is not "always and necessarily" the best and wiser plan A.

Once said that, I'd love to share the same believe of those Mates who highlight his discipline - which is definitely a plus of the lovely pittbull - but I saw too many occasions when the natural answer of a midfielder would had been a pass forward but he just watched and then passed sideward or backward... I also keep faith that a sane competition next season might enhance his desire to force his natural trend to safety.

Yes, De Rossi will be the ultimate answer, even better than my big dream about a possible Alonso's come back to EPL, but can anybody actually see AS Roma selling out another of its favourite sons (Roman born and breed) after Aquilani?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

What does Bobby do?

He leaves de Jong out because I believe he is a liability when we have got the ball (which is kind of sad considering we paid so much for him bnut that's for another thread). For me he should only play in games where we are not going to dominate possession.

MOTM performances against Arsenal and Chelsea this season.

Don't forget we paid big money for Robinho. Remember him?

2 games out of how many?
Seriously, he,s fucking crap for an attacking team like us.....it,s a fact that Barry plays shite when he,s paired with him.

you are spot on about Barry Carl. I have been pleasantly suprised how much better Barry has looked playing alongside Vieira. So basically when we play De Jong right now, we are sacrificing two games.

Yer De Jong is good to have against very top sides but Birmingham leak very few goals, yet aren't exactly huge attacking threat. Having someone like De Jong there will YET AGAIN kill our attacks. Just the idea of him slowing down the game when Bellamy, Tevez and Johnson are on counterattack makes me pissed off.

Truth is, unless Nigel wants to play as specialist against top teams, he'll probably move on in the summer or during/after next season. Mancini has showed the signs that this is the one area where he is looking for change.

[dazby]

If fit, De Jong can play in every away European match next season. He'll be a valuable asset to the club.

[Vhero]

He is perfect for our managers Italian tactics than really get a few goals up then bring him on..

[btajim]

Mancini has showed the signs that this is the one area where he is looking for change.

Change by signing Vieira on loan? Zabaleta and Kompany can both fill in at Holding Midfield.

Some kind of competition for Ireland might have been a better move. Even someone on loan.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Mancini has showed the signs that this is the one area where he is looking for change.

Change by signing Vieira on loan? Zabaleta and Kompany can both fill in at Holding Midfield.

Some kind of competition for Ireland might have been a better move. Even someone on loan.

Vieira's not on loan to my knowledge.

Mancini has been trying different sort of combinations and formations in central midfield and that tells me he isn't too happy with what he has seen. Whether we even play with one dimesional holding midfielder like De Jong, Zabaleta or Kompany remains to be seen as well. I have a feeling he is looking for someone similar to young Vieira. Player who can help defense but can also do something with the ball.

I was not least bit surprised to not see anyone other than Vieira and Jinky come in january. Mancini had only had few weeks with the squad and hardly had time to identify strenghts and weaknessess. Mancini has forgotten more about attacking midfielders position than most managers have ever known so I'm CERTAIN that is area he will be looking at in summer.

[btajim]

Vieira's not on loan to my knowledge.

Mancini has been trying different sort of combinations and formations in central midfield and that tells me he isn't too happy with what he has seen. Whether we even play with one dimesional holding midfielder like De Jong, Zabaleta or Kompany remains to be seen as well. I have a feeling he is looking for someone similar to young Vieira. Player who can help defense but can also do something with the ball.

I was not least bit surprised to not see anyone other than Vieira and Jinky come in january. Mancini had only had few weeks with the squad and hardly had time to identify strenghts and weaknessess. Mancini has forgotten more about attacking midfielders position than most managers have ever known so I'm CERTAIN that is area he will be looking at in summer.

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Players/Midfielders/Patrick-Vieira

He is too my knowledge. 6 months with an apparent decision to be made over the Summer as to his future. Hopefully he'll be moved on.

Do you genuinely believe that the key weakness in the Squad was at Holding Midfield? Not the lack of a strong Centre Half or a creative Midfielder? If we leak too many Goals or don't create enough chances in the Matches to come then I don't think I'll be slapping Patrick Vieira on the back.

[Swales4ever]

Mancini has showed the signs that this is the one area where he is looking for change.

Change by signing Vieira on loan? Zabaleta and Kompany can both fill in at Holding Midfield.

Some kind of competition for Ireland might have been a better move. Even someone on loan.

Vieira's not on loan to my knowledge.

Mancini has been trying different sort of combinations and formations in central midfield and that tells me he isn't too happy with what he has seen. Whether we even play with one dimesional holding midfielder like De Jong, Zabaleta or Kompany remains to be seen as well. I have a feeling he is looking for someone similar to young Vieira. Player who can help defense but can also do something with the ball.

I was not least bit surprised to not see anyone other than Vieira and Jinky come in january. Mancini had only had few weeks with the squad and hardly had time to identify strenghts and weaknessess. Mancini has forgotten more about attacking midfielders position than most managers have ever known so I'm CERTAIN that is area he will be looking at in summer.

You know... I told You so, a couple of months ago ... lol

Btw, let's never forget this gentleman ... he might be dynamite on Mancio hands...

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/20 ... ess-battle

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Vieira's not on loan to my knowledge.

Mancini has been trying different sort of combinations and formations in central midfield and that tells me he isn't too happy with what he has seen. Whether we even play with one dimesional holding midfielder like De Jong, Zabaleta or Kompany remains to be seen as well. I have a feeling he is looking for someone similar to young Vieira. Player who can help defense but can also do something with the ball.

I was not least bit surprised to not see anyone other than Vieira and Jinky come in january. Mancini had only had few weeks with the squad and hardly had time to identify strenghts and weaknessess. Mancini has forgotten more about attacking midfielders position than most managers have ever known so I'm CERTAIN that is area he will be looking at in summer.

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Players/Midfielders/Patrick-Vieira

He is too my knowledge. 6 months with an apparent decision to be made over the Summer as to his future. Hopefully he'll be moved on.

Do you genuinely believe that the key weakness in the Squad was at Holding Midfield? Not the lack of a strong Centre Half or a creative Midfielder? If we leak too many Goals or don't create enough chances in the Matches to come then I don't think I'll be slapping Patrick Vieira on the back.

I stand corrected regarding the deal.

Where you got the idea that I thought "key weakness" in the squad was in holding midfield position? I don't think I ever said that. I did however thought that Vieira and Jinky was as well as we possibly could've done suring january. Last thing we wanted was midfield version of Benjani,ie panic buy.

[Swales4ever]

Well said with due respect, and vaseline too, who still does not see that the key weakness was and still is (because of the age of PV) at holding midfield... is ultimately clueless!

Mancini, who is not an amateur pundit, went in, never worried about CBs, desperately tried to get a whatsoever form of improvement for that role (Mariga & Gago, the most decent available on january, when every moroon knows tops don't move).

Anytime GB had PV even slow alongside Team had been in decent control, game flowed forward to attackers quite good and the 4 backs were more protected.... Then...
Anyone's entitled to be blind...........

[btajim]

I stand corrected regarding the deal.

Where you got the idea that I thought "key weakness" in the squad was in holding midfield position? I don't think I ever said that. I did however thought that Vieira and Jinky was as well as we possibly could've done suring january. Last thing we wanted was midfield version of Benjani,ie panic buy.

I'd have shuddered had Vieira been signed on a permanent deal for big money. Regardless of how rich we are.

Well... I think there's at least two positions that need looking at before Holding Midfield. Centre Half and creative Midfield. I concur that Johnson was an excellent buy. Thankfully we have Brian Marwood to toast for that one.