When Does De Jong Play?

[Wrighty Wrexham]

Midfield!

 

[johnny crossan]

swp

I think MH will prefer to keep the width and pace that SWP offers.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

It is interesting how people on here and other forums have spent the past 6 months slagging De Jong off but as soon as he doesnt play there is something of an outcry from fans. I have actually supported De Jong but have to say he wasnt missed on Saturday, now maybe this has a lot to do with the opposition and their style of play but it has made me think about how we will line up this season for the majority of games.

The majority of fans including myself looked at our squad and envisaged the following midfield and forward line

------------De Jong------------
------Ireland-------Barry-------
Tevez------------------Robinho
-----------Adebayor------------

However seeing us without NDJ on Saturday and listening to Hughes comments about Adebayor being able to play in the hole I am now starting to consider the following possibility when RSC is fit

------Ireland--------Barry------
Tevez-----Adebayor-----Robinho
-------------RSC---------------

I have to say this does have a nice look to it, my only concern would be it may stifle Ireland a little!

 

[johnny crossan]

It is interesting how people on here and other forums have spent the past 6 months slagging De Jong off but as soon as he doesnt play there is something of an outcry from fans. I have actually supported De Jong but have to say he wasnt missed on Saturday, now maybe this has a lot to do with the opposition and their style of play but it has made me think about how we will line up this season for the majority of games.

The majority of fans including myself looked at our squad and envisaged the following midfield and forward line

------------De Jong------------
------Ireland-------Barry-------
Tevez------------------Robinho
-----------Adebayor------------

However seeing us without NDJ on Saturday and listening to Hughes comments about Adebayor being able to play in the hole I am now starting to consider the following possibility when RSC is fit

------Ireland--------Barry------
Tevez-----Adebayor-----Robinho
-------------RSC---------------

I have to say this does have a nice look to it, my only concern would be it may stifle Ireland a little!

Again, both these formations are short on width and pace. I don't see MH as a natural rotator either.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

It is interesting how people on here and other forums have spent the past 6 months slagging De Jong off but as soon as he doesnt play there is something of an outcry from fans. I have actually supported De Jong but have to say he wasnt missed on Saturday, now maybe this has a lot to do with the opposition and their style of play but it has made me think about how we will line up this season for the majority of games.

The majority of fans including myself looked at our squad and envisaged the following midfield and forward line

------------De Jong------------
------Ireland-------Barry-------
Tevez------------------Robinho
-----------Adebayor------------

However seeing us without NDJ on Saturday and listening to Hughes comments about Adebayor being able to play in the hole I am now starting to consider the following possibility when RSC is fit

------Ireland--------Barry------
Tevez-----Adebayor-----Robinho
-------------RSC---------------

I have to say this does have a nice look to it, my only concern would be it may stifle Ireland a little!

Again, both these formations are short on width and pace. I don't see MH as a natural rotator either.

Lack of width? Possibly
Lack of pace? Disagree, ok no Usain Bolt in the forward line but hardly any Rick Holdens either!

As for Hughes not being a natural rotator I think we may be surprised, in the past he has hardly had a huge pot of talent to choose from but that has changed now. I think the vast majority of our squad can expect to spend some time on the bench at some point this season which can only be a good thing!

 

[johnny crossan]

Again, both these formations are short on width and pace. I don't see MH as a natural rotator either.

Lack of width? Possibly
Lack of pace? Disagree, ok no Usain Bolt in the forward line but hardly any Rick Holdens either!

As for Hughes not being a natural rotator I think we may be surprised, in the past he has hardly had a huge pot of talent to choose from but that has changed now. I think the vast majority of our squad can expect to spend some time on the bench at some point this season which can only be a good thing!

I still think Bellamy & SWP will start more often than not. We'll see soon enough!

 

[cibaman]

blackburn tend to bypass midfield so a dm is not really necessary.

I agree up to a point. Because of their aerial style there were a lot of balls ricocheting about on the edge of the box from headers. De Jong would have been ideal to mop those up. Instead we had Ireland trying to carry out the role when he would have been better used further forward providing an outlet.

 

[DontLookBackInAnger]

blackburn tend to bypass midfield so a dm is not really necessary.

I agree up to a point. Because of their aerial style there were a lot of balls ricocheting about on the edge of the box from headers. De Jong would have been ideal to mop those up. Instead we had Ireland trying to carry out the role when he would have been better used further forward providing an outlet.

Saturday was funny, watching the two teams EVERY time Blackburn got it the ball ended up in the air, we did play some football(which was good to see)but every now and then we too became very route one and that seemed to unsettle Blackburn.

 

[Rammyblues]

I think you have to take each match individually and assess what the opposition have at their disposal before making a decision. It is easy to group teams into A list, B list etc and then say in this group of games the team will be X and in others it will be Y. MH will have done his homework on Wolves and taking into account how the team played on Saturday I personally think it may be an unchanged line up. No one had a mare, everyone contributed and the old adage never change a winning side does spring to mind. But between now and Saturday we have a "friendly with Barca" and I would hope those players who sat on the ench on Saturday get more time on the pitch on Wednesday. Then see who has any injuries before firming up any line up for the Wolves game.

Finally, MH has a squad capable of being rotated and the benefit of that squad doesn't really come into its own until arounf Christmas, when there is a fixture pile up and the cup games as well, no doubt MH has spelled it out to all players that there time will come but when it does he will expect them to be ready and e able to perform.

 

[ninjamonkey]

he'll play against the top 4 teams and the top 8 away. He'll also play most home games imo. May seem rather defensive at first but if NDJ plays with barry and ireland in the centre he will allow the 3 upfront to stay upfront.