Better without De Jong?

[ono]

De Jong has been an interesting topic of debate over the last few weeks. Some feel he's a world class defensive midffielder and an integral part of the team, and some feel his all action defensive displays actually hold back the team...

Today it seems we played some top quality football. We had a nice flow to the team, and we stopped them creating chances purely by keeping hold of the ball.

So the question is, are we better without him in certain games? And, does he need to play on Wednesday?

 

[SalfordCityBlue]

Think you will see more interchanging of players into the system now.

De Jong will be able to slot in there without having any major impact on the way we play I reckon. Same with Ade in for RSC, Richards for Zabs etc.

Looking good. Bobby is getting it sorted now he knows what the squad is capable of.

Next year I expect us to be amazing.

 

[Freestyler]

i think he's vital to the team, today though i don't think it was his kind of game, i always want him to play but vieira did a good job in the middle,

the only time you can field de jong is replacing him with vieira, one or the other, but vieira has that edge on passing ability.

 

[LoveCity]

There's room for them all. Barry/Vieira/De Jong, play two of them so with injuries, suspensions, and rotation, it's likely all of them will feature regularly.

 

[BingoBango]

I really like De Jong. He's perhaps one of the best in the division (and in Europe) at what he does, but what he does is essentially negative. You know what you'll get with him: commitment, energy and an attempt to destroy anything the opposition they might try and create.

However, do we seem to move the ball around a lot more quickly and with more urgency when Nigel isn't in the team. Rather contradictorily, I do feel a little more secure knowing he's on the pitch. Given that Everton can be extremely physical, we might be best playing him.

I guess the main question is: do we want to go out there with the mindset of stopping others from playing, or de we want to do the playing ourselves? I'm not convinced that we can't play with Nigel in the side, but at times he doesn't seem to help.

Bit of a quandary for Roberto.

 

[ono]

I tend to think today's performance had a lot to do with the fact we didn't use an out and out anchorman.

 

[Big G]

With Everton's midfield of Cahill, Arteta and Piennar I think there might be too much pace and gusto there for Vieira, but then again that is the type of midfield where Vieira could simply stamp his authority and run the show, plus Vieira has the ability to make the pass linking midfield to attack, sadly for NDJ he is very David Batty square ball.

 

[ono]

Personally i feel De Jong against Everton allows Arteta and Pienaar to play in front of him. It seems harmless but Arteta can run the show if given space. That's why i feel it should be Barry and Vieira.

 

[dctid]

There's room for them all. Barry/Vieira/De Jong, play two of them so with injuries, suspensions, and rotation, it's likely all of them will feature regularly.

Agreed but only two of them at max in any one game - personally i am a big Barry fan and a much lesser DJ fan.

 

[charliebigspuds]

De Jong is a top top top defensive midfielder and in the right side alongside the right players (Arsenal) would be top quality, unfortunately he's too one dimensional for us, we should keep him but only use him in certain games. Also he can't play in the same midfield as Barry as they show off each others limitations massively, he also plays too deep which forces us to play narrow and our full backs to push forward too much which leaves us short at the back. Believe it or not I am a fan of his though!!!!