Re: So NDJ IS OFF
Nige is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world on his day, but if he's turning down £100,000-a-week I guess the length of his future here is shortening by the second.
I think as a team we've moved on in terms of why we used Nige: we no longer have a three-man midfield with de Jong sat between it and the defence, and we rarely have someone within five yards of Nige for him to make a quick pass to because Toure is normally supporting the wide men further up the field, and Barry is supporting Clichy.
It really will be sad to see him go because I've really taken to him after his immense displays mid-way through last season and in the season under Hughes & Mancini. In fact, Nige was one of the few players that warmed to Mancini almost instantly (along with Kompany, Richards etc.) and kept his professional career in front of his own views.
Top bloke, top player, but it just wasn't meant to be. Thanks for the memories, Nige - hopefully you can give us a few more before you go. I'll never forget your laughing and cheering when Tevez scored that belter of a free-kick against Stoke. We all knew you were trying to get him to smile.
