Better without De Jong?

[Tricky_Trev]

OK... thought i'd be really sad and go through every competitive game this season and see how we've done with and without De Jong in the starting line-up.

Here are the stats:

WITH

P29: W14 D10 L5 F55 A36

Win % - 48
Unbeaten % - 66
Ave goals scored per game - 1.90
Ave goals conceded per game - 1.24

WITHOUT

P10: W7 D2 L1 F22 A13

Win % - 70
Unbeaten % - 90
Ave goals scored per game - 2.2
Ave goals conceded per game - 1.3

So there you have it. The evidence is quite clear... we are better without De Jong.

 

[ono]

Man United, Arsenal, Inter Milan

Man United - Fletcher
Arsenal - Song
Inter Milan - Stankovic

Well no because all of those players still pose a threat over the half way line, and neither of those players just 'sit' in front of the back 4 for 90 minutes.

 

[Tricky Dickys Right Foot Shot]

Man United - Fletcher
Arsenal - Song
Inter Milan - Stankovic

Well no because all of those players still pose a threat over the half way line, and neither of those players just 'sit' in front of the back 4 for 90 minutes.

Well thats not down to the players, thats down to the managers tactics maybe Fergie/Wenger/Mourinho want there Holding Midfielders to push up but Mancini want ours to hold back as much as possible.

 

[uwe282828]

OK... thought i'd be really sad and go through every competitive game this season and see how we've done with and without De Jong in the starting line-up.

Here are the stats:

WITH

P29: W14 D10 L5 F55 A36

Win % - 48
Unbeaten % - 66
Ave goals scored per game - 1.90
Ave goals conceded per game - 1.24

WITHOUT

P10: W7 D2 L1 F22 A13

Win % - 70
Unbeaten % - 90
Ave goals scored per game - 2.2
Ave goals conceded per game - 1.3

So there you have it. The eveidence is quite clear... we are better without De Jong.

this good work

 

[Mr Rich]

OK... thought i'd be really sad and go through every competitive game this season and see how we've done with and without De Jong in the starting line-up.

Here are the stats:

WITH

P29: W14 D10 L5 F55 A36

Win % - 48
Unbeaten % - 66
Ave goals scored per game - 1.90
Ave goals conceded per game - 1.24

WITHOUT

P10: W7 D2 L1 F22 A13

Win % - 70
Unbeaten % - 90
Ave goals scored per game - 2.2
Ave goals conceded per game - 1.3

So there you have it. The eveidence is quite clear... we are better without De Jong.

this good work

Not that I'm disputing the stats or anything but surely a manager or player clearly has a massively better or massively worse ration when only comparing 10 games to 30 games.

Anyway not many people noticed but when De Jong came on today he played in CENTRE MIDFIELD as Viera was tiring he sat back. NDJ managed to get a chance infront of goal and (I think) set up the SWP chance. Proving that he can play a different role when required, but as he is often told 'You are the anchorman' he does that role. Problem he has is he listens too well.

 

[blueplan]

Yes I have been slated before by fellow BMers for suggesting benching de Jong and whether Mancini has the mental fortitude in a previous post herein & in my blogspot;
http://mancityblueplan.blogspot.com/2010/02/does-mancini-have-cojones.html
Yes, I agree with similar opinions, that at times he is more of a 'negative impact player' on City. That is when we had him in the lineup we lacked the 'Winning Edge'. I will go as far as to say that when we started him, as witnessed by Hughes misfortune or lack of foresight, we signal to the footballing world that we are looking for a draw. Case in point when we visited Anfield last we put forth a defensive team when Liverpool was ripe for the taking then.
Together with the numerous draws, winnable matches IMO, its no wonder Hughes was a 'DEAD MANager WALKING'. This 'defensive strategy or DRAW mentality' is inimical to our BLUE MasterPLAN, i.e. to foster a winning culture at City. No more MedioCrITY!

Forza Man City!

 

[pazzmore]

I love him. I don't love playing with two holding mids.

 

[KingofDraw]

this good work

Not that I'm disputing the stats or anything but surely a manager or player clearly has a massively better or massively worse ration when only comparing 10 games to 30 games.

Anyway not many people noticed but when De Jong came on today he played in CENTRE MIDFIELD as Viera was tiring he sat back. NDJ managed to get a chance infront of goal and (I think) set up the SWP chance. Proving that he can play a different role when required, but as he is often told 'You are the anchorman' he does that role. Problem he has is he listens too well.

yes this is true, but fulham were comitting soo many forward there was alot of space. and as for swp cmoon at least hit the target.

 

[Neil McNab]

Never been a fan of De Jong and I think the notion that it's OK to have a player of limited ability in your side as long as they tackle a lot is ludicrous. I thought the team looked better today because we had an extra footballer in the middle.

-- Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:43 am --

this good work

Not that I'm disputing the stats or anything but surely a manager or player clearly has a massively better or massively worse ration when only comparing 10 games to 30 games.

Anyway not many people noticed but when De Jong came on today he played in CENTRE MIDFIELD as Viera was tiring he sat back. NDJ managed to get a chance infront of goal and (I think) set up the SWP chance. Proving that he can play a different role when required, but as he is often told 'You are the anchorman' he does that role. Problem he has is he listens too well.

He does what he can, he's not good enough to play that position, I rumbled DJ last season as one of Hughe's worst buys and the negative way he effects the team around him. Better without unless we're absolutely under the cosh and I think we're hoping that's not going to happen too often in the future!<br /><br />-- Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:47 am --<br /><br />

Well no because all of those players still pose a threat over the half way line, and neither of those players just 'sit' in front of the back 4 for 90 minutes.

Well thats not down to the players, thats down to the managers tactics maybe Fergie/Wenger/Mourinho want there Holding Midfielders to push up but Mancini want ours to hold back as much as possible.

No, it's DJ's game, neither of those three are defensive midfielders, a position that was invented for midfielders who can't run, pass or shoot.

 

[Dubai Blue]

I think everyone these days needs someone in that holding/ defensive role. Maybe I'm wrong but name me a successful team without one.

Man United, Arsenal, Inter Milan

I know this will be an unpopular thing to say, but if De Jong offered half as much threat driving forward as Fletcher does, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. De Jong is very, very good at what he does, and while Fletcher plays a similar "spoiler" role for the rags, he is more of an all-round midfielder who can help drive the team forward. I just wish De Jong could add a bit of this aspect to his game.

It's probably true to say that every team needs a "holding" midfielder these days, but that player doesn't have to take the role to quite the extremes that our Nige does. He shouldn't just permanently sit in front of the back four playing square/backwards balls. He needs to add a little bit extra to his game, in my opinion, if he is going to become one of the very best midfielders around.