Better without De Jong?

[whp.blue]

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.

this is all well and good but where did you take into account that de jong gets dropped against sides who we are excepted to beat. he is first choice against the tougher top sides where we would expect to get beat so your stats are slightly biased,
no de jong against the top four sides and our stats would be even worse imho
but you can't prove that with stats

 

[Bigga]

Fook me! I've not read anything after the first page because I was shocked by the utter guff I read!

Is it me or did NdJ look class when he came on?

Besides Zabby being the one to try and support the attack, when he's in midfield, NdJ looked to actually help Tevez up front. Veira (cos of his age now) and Barry are as defensive minded as de Jong, but the difference is, NdJ is disciplined.

If he's told to stay back, he'll stay back. If he's told to support, he'll support. If he's told to go box to box, he will. None of our other mids have all that discipline. They tend to meander.

And for those who think he can't pick a pass? The ball to SWP, through on goal.

Nuff said.<br /><br />-- Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:45 am --<br /><br />

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.

this is all well and good but where did you take into account that de jong gets dropped against sides who we are excepted to beat. he is first choice against the tougher top sides where we would expect to get beat so your stats are slightly biased,
no de jong against the top four sides and our stats would be even worse imho
but you can't prove that with stats

Eggs-fooking-zackerly!

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Vieira brought a presence in midfield yesterday that de Jong hasn't been able to bring so far. Lately he's been chasing people round the middle of the pitch without stamping his authority on the game or taking the game to the opposition

He's a good player though and handy to have in the squad. Just eneds to raise his game a bit and learn that going out with the sole purpose of defending and tackling isn't good enough and he has to make his mark on the game and drive us forward more often

 

[Bigga]

Vieira brought a presence in midfield yesterday that de Jong hasn't been able to bring so far. Lately he's been chasing people round the middle of the pitch without stamping his authority on the game or taking the game to the opposition

He's a good player though and handy to have in the squad. Just eneds to raise his game a bit and learn that going out with the sole purpose of defending and tackling isn't good enough and he has to make his mark on the game and drive us forward more often

I think his instructions are "Keep it simple, Nigel", as a rule. So, he does. What do you his instructions were yesterday?

"Support Tevez when you can"??

 

[scowy68]

I laugh thinking about all those years we accused City managers of sticking with the same players,maybe it was because our squad was nowhere near as good as the current one,or maybe the likes of Keegan and pearce didn't have a clue.Now Mancini is prepared to make the changes and he's slowly grinding out results by using the squad he has at his disposal.

If we are to push on and challenge to the end for that fourth spot,then everyone has to play a part.The only definate starters i can see for us at the moment are Tevez,Lescott and probably Kompany,Given and Bellamy.

You can more or less rotate Zabaleta,Richards,Toure,Garrido,Bridge,Ade,Ireland,SWP,Johnson,Barry,Viera,RSC.De Jong.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Vieira brought a presence in midfield yesterday that de Jong hasn't been able to bring so far. Lately he's been chasing people round the middle of the pitch without stamping his authority on the game or taking the game to the opposition

He's a good player though and handy to have in the squad. Just eneds to raise his game a bit and learn that going out with the sole purpose of defending and tackling isn't good enough and he has to make his mark on the game and drive us forward more often

I think his instructions are "Keep it simple, Nigel", as a rule. So, he does. What do you his instructions were yesterday?

There's keeping it simple and then there's just playing it safe to the point of severely limiting yourself. I rate Nige, but he needs to up his game a bit

 

[Bigga]

I think his instructions are "Keep it simple, Nigel", as a rule. So, he does. What do you his instructions were yesterday?

There's keeping it simple and then there's just playing it safe to the point of severely limiting yourself. I rate Nige, but he needs to up his game a bit

To some degree, I agree. But, like I said, he follows the order to the letter, me thinks.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Nige will be kept fresh and used sparingly over the next few weeks so that he is ready to come back in when we play the "big" teams.

I expect him to be on the bench against Everton, Wigan, Burnley and Brum unless we have injuries.

Stevie will get a couple of run-outs over these games.

 

[dannybcity]

I'm not a huge fan of De Jong but in certain games he excels, usually againts the better sides. He needs to have a big game on Wednesday though. I only got to see the second half yesterday (damn you Stamford Arms) but what I saw of Vieira looked good. That said it was a game that was always going to suit his style of play. Fulham don't exactly play a high tempo game at the best of times, they certainly weren't going to do it after Thursday night. Everton, I fear will just be too fast for him so Nig comes back in for me. He needs to dominate though, too many times he's been over run against hard working teams like Everton.

 

[masterwig]

He'll be crucial against Spurs when they have Modric running the show. At home to Wigan I don't think we do need him.

There are games he is needed in and games he isn't. Yesterday I didn't think he was needed.