markbmcfc said:
Im amazed at some of these posts, I thought he was quality.
And that muppet who said for £18m you expected more - go have a word with yourself sunshine. I find the fact people are trying to justify his price tag after 70 mins of football just laughable.
He's a holding midfielder, he's not an exciting player so im not so sure what some of you want from him. He did fade, hasnt played in three months, but he always wanted the ball, always gave an option to the defence and his tackling was quality. Made one mistake in the 2nd half but recovered it well.
He will be a quality signing.
Spot on with all of that... Some people are never satisfied!
He's the type of player who will come into his own in the
big games, as he'll snuff out opposition attacks and really help in protecting the centre halves and linking the play in midfield...
What was most notable last night was how well we kept and played the ball around at the back, admittedly against a v. poor bar-codes 'attack', but it's something, in fact the major thing we've been missing this season... When we had Dunne and Richards in there the ball's been like a hot-potato which has led to either Dunne, Richards or Hart resorting to a long hoof up field, to no one in particular... I don't remember too much of
that last night!
Just wait until Alan Hansen's eulogising about him when we play one of the top 5... I can hear him on MOTD now...
"Greet player, what he gives you is strength, composure and bite..."
I think we got a glimpse of the future last night, with de Jong and Zab in midfield with one being replaced by Elano (or A N Other?) when we need a bit more going forward, Richards back at RB where he's far more comfortable (although his forward play still needs more work, defensively he is really solid and very little gets past him) and Vinnie at centre half and as Captain.
Also Bridge is a vast improvement on any left back we've had since Willie feckin' Donachie, which makes £12M look like a right bargain (IMO), so I'll forgive him the error that led to their goal for now, and once we can choose between Hart and probably Given in goal that just leaves the left sided CB slot that's still up for grabs... Onuoha's looked solid there in the last couple of games, but I'm not sure he's the final answer, but only time will tell whether Hughes agrees on that one eh?
I was very encouraged by last night even though we made it too close for comfort in the end... Newcastle really were there for the taking and if Elano had started I think we'd have won by 3 or 4, but last night was more about bedding de Jong and the new formation in and getting the result. With him and Zab in the team we may score less goals but we'll also concede far less which again in the big games is going to be more important.
We gained ground on everyone except West Ham last night so I really do think 7th is nailed on and if Cahill's out for Everton, then 6th is looking very doable... Only 9 points behind with the Pompey game in hand, which being on a free Saturday isn't going to compromise us with an extra mid-week game.
Onwards... Upwards!