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A lot of players seem to have their own thread, so why not one for De Jong?

I wonder sometimes if everyone understands the role he's meant to play because last night he was absolutely imperious in it - and the progressive aspect of his game came on leaps and bounds too.

My MoTM by a long way and that was in a game including several notable personal performances within a notable team performance.

Kladze wrote:A lot of players seem to have their own thread, so why not one for De Jong?

I wonder sometimes if everyone understands the role he's meant to play because last night he was absolutely imperious in it - and the progressive aspect of his game came on leaps and bounds too.

My MoTM by a long way and that was in a game including several notable personal performances within a notable team performance.

He stepped things up a level last night. He looked more than his normal one dimensional self, but I think I saw the reason for that in the way we played, hunting in packs.

Whenever one of the midfield went in for a tackle, another one was right behind/beside them to pick the ball up. It takes a lot of pressure off the tackling player, as they can concentrate fully on the tackle, and not have to worry about laying the ball off once the tackle is made and they are under pressure - thats where Nige usually fucks up.

Having said that, Nige didn't appear to misplace as many simple passes as he usually would, and in particular I was impressed with the way he stretched the midfield with his passing to the flanks, the sort of pass he usually leaves for someone else.

well done Nige... who next?

My man of the match too and considering everyone played a blinder that's praise indeed

Absolutely bossed the midfield and broke up any attacking threat from the middle of the park

Possibly one of our most underrated players

Such an important cog in the City machine and was super last night. I know there are lots in here that don't rate the lad but I'm sorry he is going to be playing lots of games for City this season.

Weakest link in the midfield for me yesterday.
Thought Gareth and Yaya did far more.

Rag_hater wrote:Weakest link in the midfield for me yesterday.
Thought Gareth and Yaya did far more.

You obviously weren't paying enough attention then

He may not attract the eye but he does the job he has been put on the field to do...and that is break up the opposition play

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Rag_hater wrote:Weakest link in the midfield for me yesterday.
Thought Gareth and Yaya did far more.

You obviously weren't paying enough attention then

He may not attract the eye but he does the job he has been put on the field to do...and that is break up the opposition play

He would probably have preferred that we play Robinho in that position .........

johnpb78 wrote:

Kladze wrote:A lot of players seem to have their own thread, so why not one for De Jong?

I wonder sometimes if everyone understands the role he's meant to play because last night he was absolutely imperious in it - and the progressive aspect of his game came on leaps and bounds too.

My MoTM by a long way and that was in a game including several notable personal performances within a notable team performance.

He stepped things up a level last night. He looked more than his normal one dimensional self, but I think I saw the reason for that in the way we played, hunting in packs.

Whenever one of the midfield went in for a tackle, another one was right behind/beside them to pick the ball up. It takes a lot of pressure off the tackling player, as they can concentrate fully on the tackle, and not have to worry about laying the ball off once the tackle is made and they are under pressure - thats where Nige usually fucks up.

Having said that, Nige didn't appear to misplace as many simple passes as he usually would, and in particular I was impressed with the way he stretched the midfield with his passing to the flanks, the sort of pass he usually leaves for someone else.

I think you summed this up perfectly mate. Well done Nige!

I thought De Jong was excellent, he won tackle after tackle then passed it nice and simple. There was an all round physical presence in our team that I don't think I've ever seen from a City side at this level. De Jong was just one part of that and Liverpool couldn't cope with it, we won the 50/50 tackles time and again.

Murph wrote:we won the 50/50 tackles time and again.

Not only that we physically took the ball from then through constant pressuring...gave them no time on the ball whatsoever

Kladze wrote:

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Rag_hater wrote:Weakest link in the midfield for me yesterday.
Thought Gareth and Yaya did far more.

You obviously weren't paying enough attention then

He may not attract the eye but he does the job he has been put on the field to do...and that is break up the opposition play

He would probably have preferred that we play Robinho in that position .........

Thought you had foed me.
Spoilsport.

Rag_hater wrote:Weakest link in the midfield for me yesterday.
Thought Gareth and Yaya did far more.

You have to be taking the piss. NDJ was the destroyer that stopped Liverpool playing last night, gerrard had no answer and went missing. NDJ wss superb and provided us with the platform to go on and stuff the scousers.

[youtube]CexJn5kg-90[/youtube]

He was class last night....I love him....and Komps.....both are fucking giants in those big matches.

I reckon his newfound decent distribution is due to Kung Fu Nige's new gold boots

On another note:

Did anyone think we would EVER have a first team squad featuring these names? ......

Nigel , Vincent, Gareth, Jolean, Carlos, Mario, Roque, and Emmanuel.

Sounds like the cast list from a second rate soft porn film. ;-o

Rag_hater wrote:Weakest link in the midfield for me yesterday.
Thought Gareth and Yaya did far more.

I thought the three of them together were a perfect blend. Yaya or Barry can get forward when we've got the ball leaving NDJ to hold the fort. And when we lose it, the protection the three give the back four is outstanding. Absolutely brilliant display from all of them and I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more of it.

All this 'three holding midfielders' bollocks is just that. Bollocks.

According to the Guardian
Gareth tried 8 tackles and made 6.
Yaya tried 6 and made 3
NDJ tried 2 and made 2,that confirmed what it looked like to me.
Gareth made more passes than NDJ aswell
NDJ was slightly ahead of Yaya on that front .
NDJ did his job well but I think Yaya and Gareth did theirs better.

Rag_hater wrote:According to the Guardian
Gareth tried 8 tackles and made 6.
Yaya tried 6 and made 3
NDJ tried 2 and made 2.

Even if these stats were true (Incidentally they look bollocks)

You don't have to be a mathematician to work out the percentage works in Kung Fus favour

Hard to complain about any players after last night to be fair. I do think MOTM was spot on though barry was brilliant and broke up the play more and blocked more shots than NDJ by far. Also when hes on song the ball sticks to his feet like glue with 2 or 3 players tapping at his ankles.