From start to finish, de Jong was outstanding. Easily, motm!
You don't win anything without a dominant midfielder. The rags had one in Keane. Red Scouse had Case, Souness and McMahon (Gerrard is a very good player but, put simply, he's either not as good as the press want us to believe he is, or just not consistent enough over the course of a league campaign). The great Leeds team had two devilish midfielders, Giles and Bremner. Everton's most successful sides (twenty-odd years apart) boasted Ball and Reid. Chelsea had Makelele and then, Essien.
It's a terribly important role because it sets the tempo for every other team member. For example, remember Vinnie Jones crushing Steve Mcmahon when Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the cup final ('88?) and also, the lack of a f**k off, bulldog-type midfielder cost the rags the Champion's League final, last May (sad, I know...). Arsenal have suffered since Vieira left.
I've probably missed out on a few great players in the above list but well, my point has been made, I hope.
Over the last few years (since Keane, I mean), Essien has been the top dog - when he's been fit, that is. The sight of de Jong (with Barry, it must be said) playing him -and Ballack (and Mikel) off the park was enough to make me giddy in the head. Not since Asa Hartford have we had one of the top tackling, midfielders in the game, in the prime of his career.
Just a word of warning though, I remember Joey Barton outplaying Gerrard at Anfield a few years ago (we won 2-1, Anelka scored both of ours - can't remember the year). It didn't last though, did it?
Hopefully, de Jong is made of better stuff than Barton. I think he is.
