: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:49 pm  

PAUL M wrote:

He's a good player but not sure he is any better than Mascherano, Fletcher, Essien, Palacious to name but a few.

He can only be compared to Mascherano as he is a completely different player to the others. By the end of this season, I will be able to compare the two. Both can tackle, and neirther of them can pass.

Palacios? Don't be daft. What are his strengths?

Fletcher? Ireland and Barry are better. Why does Fletcher look Championshiop class while playing for Scotland?

Since you only give a player a few months (far be it from me to call an out-of-towner fickle), I can then say that Valencia and Obertan are rubbish.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:52 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

:?

Palacios? Don't be daft. What are his strengths?

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:52 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

In a 50:50 I would back him against any Prem footballer.

In what way do you mean 50:50?

In a 50:50 tackle? Aerial battle? Shoulder to shoulder?

To be honest, he'd come off second to Essien in all of the above pretty much every time.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:53 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

It was a block. Babel was injured by the ball. Is stamping on someone's back legal? Skrtel thinks so.

Your very defensive aint ya. And no stamping is not allowed, that was not what i was enquiring about. Never mind you got it in quick enough when someone dares mention something about your team.

It was not a block challenge however, 2 feet off the ground with studs showing. He won the ball which i dont have a problem with, i just thought that this type of challenge was not allowed.

If it was Gerrard or Masch who had done it, then im sure it would have been mentioned before now.

I remember the Everton fans in uproad when Kuyt did it in a Derby, which he should have been sent off for if that is indeed the rules.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:56 pm  

Ajw71 wrote:

As defensive midfielders go in the Prem there is Essien then daylight.

1. He's not a holding midfielder
2. Makele three years ago, with a creaking body, was better in that position than Essien will ever be. Essien is regarded by some as world class. IMO Xavi or Yaya Toure are better in a deeper role.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:59 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

In what way do you mean 50:50?

In a 50:50 tackle? Aerial battle? Shoulder to shoulder?

To be honest, he'd come off second to Essien in all of the above pretty much every time.

50:50 fight for the ball on the ground. I doubt Essien would be brave enough to try.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:00 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

:lol:

Answer the question. You can respond while Paul uses Google.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:05 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

50:50 fight for the ball on the ground. I doubt Essien would be brave enough to try.

Of course he would. I can't recall him backing out of any challenges, he's strong in the challenge and fear isn't a word I'd associate with Essien.

De Jong is good, I thought he was the perfect signing back in January, even if it was for a hefty fee, he's a good player and he brings terrific energy and strength to the midfield, something I felt City lacked at times as they were regularly bullied in the middle. He's done well this year and he was one of the only players who impressed me from City on the weekend, as well as Ireland on occasions.

I thought the game on the weekend was pretty poor, I thought City were poor and we were just as bad, the draw was a fair result but I thought both sides failed to reach anywhere near the level we know they can.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:16 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

Answer the question. You can respond while Paul uses Google.

It's all objective of course but I think he showed almost straight away at Latics that he was far too good for a team of that size and quality.
He is comfortable on the ball and very strong. I've seen defenders and other midfielders charge into him and bounce off. One negative is that sometimes he's too laid back and he can get caught in possession. He isn't a stand out player in the way that Essien, Gerrard or Lampard are, but I'd be more than happy to have him in my midfield.
Redknapp loves him and commented on his arrival coinciding with them moving up the table earlier in the year.
How much did he cost? Wasn't it something around 12 million? Bargain if you ask me.

: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:18 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Of course he would. I can't recall him backing out of any challenges, he's strong in the challenge and fear isn't a word I'd associate with Essien.

De Jong is good, I thought he was the perfect signing back in January, even if it was for a hefty fee, he's a good player and he brings terrific energy and strength to the midfield, something I felt City lacked at times as they were regularly bullied in the middle. He's done well this year and he was one of the only players who impressed me from City on the weekend, as well as Ireland on occasions.

I thought the game on the weekend was pretty poor, I thought City were poor and we were just as bad, the draw was a fair result but I thought both sides failed to reach anywhere near the level we know they can.

De Jong only really impressed on a couple of occasions last season - Villa at home and Liverpool away. He is abolsutely fearless.

I wouldn't say we were poor. Regardless of Liverpool's current form, going to Anfield is daunting (especially when your club has as poor a record as we do at that stadium) and teams will be wary of the threat of Gerrard. You also have to remember that we are not the most confident team at the moment. We conceeded three against a poor team in our last game and we have only played well in patches. Don't forget that the team is still gelling.

I was disappointed because I felt that if we had been less cautious, we could quite easily have won.